Time passed in Hueco Mundo, and it was difficult to determine exactly how long; there was no day or night here, only that unchanging, pale yellow sky. I could feel my body transforming—the spiritual energy I absorbed from hunting weak Hollows was slowly accumulating within my being. But something else was eroding: my mind.
Solitude in this place is more dangerous than a Hollow's claws. I do nothing but hide and kill. I began to fear that I would lose my human identity and turn into nothing more than a mindless beast. To keep myself from falling into madness, I started talking to myself out loud. I even invented an "imaginary friend" I called "Nothing." I would discuss my plans with him and complain about the coldness of this world, just to hear a voice break the absolute silence.
"You know, 'Nothing'? I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of forgetting how to speak."
I continued my life of hiding during the day and hunting small Hollows at night. My hideout in the basement of the collapsed building was safe. I had reinforced the entrance with rubble so other Hollows couldn't easily find it.
One day, while I was out hunting, I sensed something unusual. A very powerful spiritual pressure was approaching from afar. It was incomparably stronger than any Hollow I had encountered so far. I quickly hid behind a large rock and held my breath.
Soon, I saw it. A huge Hollow, at least three meters tall, with a massive white mask and a body like a beast. Its spiritual pressure was overwhelming. It walked slowly, looking around as if searching for prey.
'An Adjucha-class... no, maybe even a Gillian?'
I had no way of knowing for sure. But one thing was certain: I couldn't win against it. I had to stay absolutely still and hope it didn't notice me.
The large Hollow stopped not far from where I was hiding. It sniffed the air a few times, then slowly turned its head in my direction. My heart pounded. Did it sense me?
Just then, another Hollow appeared from the opposite direction. It was also fairly large, though not as big as the first one. The two Hollows stared at each other. A territorial dispute. The smaller one growled, but the larger one just stared silently.
Then, the battle began. The two Hollows clashed with tremendous force. The spiritual pressure waves were so intense they shook the ground. I could only watch, terrified. This was the world of Hollows. A world where the strong devour the weak, and the weak must hide to survive.
began with a roar that shattered the silence.
TSCHAAAK!!!!!!
With terrifying speed, the larger Hollow lunged and grabbed the first opponent's arm. With a swift, brutal twist, it ripped the limb clean off from the shoulder.
The sound of spiritual tissue tearing SKRAAAASH!!
echoed, and black blood sprayed into the air, staining the barren ground.
The injured Hollow let out a horrific shriek that shook my very core. It tried to retreat, staggering, but the giant gave it no chance to catch its breath. It was a one-sided fight—a true massacre.
THUD!!!!
The giant charged again, plunging its claws into its opponent's chest
,shattering segments of its bony armor. The air around me vibrated from the clashing Reiatsu. Every strike left an echo like a bomb . The wounded Hollow tried to retaliate with a desperate bite, but the giant seized its head with both hands and began to squeeze with immense force.
CRACK... CRUNCH!
Cracks began to spider-web across the smaller Hollow's mask. The scene was both nauseating and terrifying. With utter coldness, the giant lifted its foe high and slammed it into the ground with enough force to pulverize the rocks beneath them. Before the other could move, the giant leaped onto it with all its weight, completely crushing its chest and head.
The defeated Hollow turned into a mangled mass of spiritual matter before dissolving and merging into the victor's body, who began to devour that energy greedily.
I waited until he completely disappeared beyond the horizon before I dared to breathe normally again.
That was close...'
The battle was over quickly. The larger Hollow tore the other one apart and absorbed its spiritual energy. Then, as if satisfied, it turned and walked away. I waited a long time until its presence completely disappeared before I dared to move again.
'That was close.'
I returned to my hideout with a newfound resolve. I had to become stronger. Much stronger. I didn't want to live in fear like this forever. Someday, I would become powerful enough to face even Hollows like that.
For now, I would continue to grow slowly and steadily. One day at a time, one Hollow at a time.