After a meal the urge to fill the gaping hole within himself eased. Oh, it was never gone. Not completely. It was an insidious thought at the back of his head, an itch on his psyche, but only for a short while after feeding. While blood was still fresh on his tongue.
Anytime else it was a demand that he couldn't ignore or resist for long.
Aciano's tongue flicked out, licking the blood off the edge of the beak of his mask. Aqua eyes looked on as the body of the hollow before him began to dissipate into reishi particles.
Soon the blood covering his own body would dissolve in the same manner. Convenient, that. There was little water in Hueco Mundo.
He breathed out a long, low sigh.
The shining silver reishi glowed in the silver light of the full moon. A color that, while subtle against the white sand, was beautiful.
His eyes closed.
Beauty wasn't something a monster deserved.
… a monster.
Aciano jumped back, eyes darting around for the source of the voice. Nothing was to be found and he could sense no spiritual pressure nearby.
After a final, weary glance around he vanished.
Body tense Aciano scanned his new surroundings. Finding nothing he settled down onto the sand.
Idly he wondered if all hollows lost their minds. Perhaps a side effect of having too many souls in one vessel.
At least if he was starting to hear voices he would no longer be all alone.
Although he didn't think that'd be the case much longer either way.
The hunger, while still violent, was becoming easier to control. He hadn't torn into that last few hollows until they dissolved.
A few bites of their flesh had satisfied him. Really that was all he needed. It was the only requirement for increasing his own power. Anymore was simple gluttony.
Soon he might be able to seek out companions.
If he could stand to be friendly in the presence of another hollow.
Climbing to his feet Aciano sighed again and went off to search for another meal.