Towering Shadows

The days of hollow subjugation finally arrived, and we, the students, were organized into groups of five, forming numerous such teams. Each group was meticulously composed, consisting of a kido practitioner, a swordsman, and fighter, a tactician with crowd tactics experience, an all-rounder, and the rare presence of a kaido specialist. Our leader, someone who had recently graduated, possessed valuable subjugation experience.

In an unexpected turn, my presence went unnoticed, even by my teammates. The instructor assumed my absence and filled my place with another. Fueled by curiosity and the desire to witness hollows firsthand rather than through studies, I joined one of the groups discreetly.

Our mission was to scour designated areas for hollow signs, alert nearby teams, and take collective action. Assigned to the northern part of Rukongai, we moved in a synchronized formation, eliminating blind spots and remaining poised to counter any sudden threats.

As night fell, no signs of hollow activity emerged. Fatigue began to etch itself on the faces of my comrades, a result of hours spent in preparation and idling. We would inhabit this territory for three days before another group replaced us, a cycle ensuring continuous vigilance.

Suddenly, some students detected a trace of spiritual pressure resembling that of a hollow. As an enigma myself, I could only observe, lacking insight into their perceptions. Gross and grotesque hollows, marked by sizable hollow holes, emerged, prompting a battle to erupt. Their inability to sense me raised questions about our similarities—were these hollows and shinigami truly so different?

Unable to find a position in the battle, I began studying the hollows' behavior. An observation made me believe I could exploit their lack of awareness to strike their vulnerable masks. However, the tide shifted when a colossal hollow appeared, a Gillian—a fusion of countless human souls. Their existence was theorized, but confronting one was an entirely different experience.

Gillians, also known as Menos Grande, loomed as a towering threat. These behemoths, far more potent than regular hollows usually resided in Hueco Mundo. Their sudden appearance triggered alarm, and our leader swiftly requested reinforcements, including seated members and vice-captains from the Gotei 13 squads.

Yami watched in awe as a red ball materialized near Gillian's maw—a Cero attack. The resulting crimson beam obliterated nearby shinigami, their defenseless forms succumbing to its ferocity. The Gillian's formidable power and lethal arsenal evoked a sense of caution akin to his encounter with the enigmatic man in the spirit corridor. Strangely, the Gillian failed to notice Yami's presence, akin to the man from before.

Determined, Yami planned to shatter the Gillian's mask, a strategy learned from textbooks. Despite its power, the creature lacked intellect, rendering it vulnerable. Unbeknownst to Yami, other Gillians congregated above the first, emitting an eerie yellow light. Captured by surprise, Yami was enveloped by the light, sucked into its grasp.

Yami's struggle against the luminous barrier proved futile. The yellow light, seemingly impenetrable, repelled him with a force beyond his might. Every attempt to escape met resistance, no matter the intensity. It was as if an invisible wall had formed, unyielding and formidable. Despite his determination, Yami was trapped within the confines of the yellow light, a captive of its enigmatic power.

His surroundings transformed dramatically. Instead of the familiar battlefield, he stood amidst an expansive, shadowy forest. The air hung heavy with the presence of countless Gillians, their eerie forms looming like spectral giants. The landscape was a tableau of gray, an amalgamation of twisted trees and tangled vines. Their hollow holes pulsed with faint light, casting an ethereal glow upon the surroundings. Yami's heart raced as he realized he had been transported to an environment he had never encountered, far from the conventional world he knew. This forest, filled with towering Gillians, lay outside the boundaries of his comprehension—a realm of the unexpected and the unknown.