Episode 15: Hunger II
The mood at the fire was melancholy at best. I had returned to a much smaller group than before.
"We lost three good hollows to that Kurosaki. In a way I'm glad his dead..." Grand Fisher commented as he dug into some hollow orbs. "Shame I won't get to fight toe-to-toe though."
"I underestimated him from the very beginning..." I reflected on my three bouts with the Substitute. "Is it normal for humans to attain Shinigami powers?"
"It is very rare..." Bulbous G responded. "However I've heard of cases before where a portion of one Shinigami's power is exchanged into a human's soul – granting them some Shinigami powers."
"Yes but Kurosaki gained all of the powers...is that normal?"
Grand Fisher shook his head. "Nope matey, never heard of a whole power transfer. He would have been a nuisance to fight."
"That he was." I breathe easy as I poke the fire with my claw. When I stare into the flames I see an image of my brother, only he appears to be wielding a sword much like a katana and he dons a dark kimono. No that's preposterous...but not impossible...
"Oi!" I'm drawn back into the real world.
"Sorry must've spaced out." I excuse myself.
"Tell us how you defeated the boy in the end?"
I begin to stutter. "Well...I uh…just managed to...uh...oh..." I think about a good explanation. Strangely it seemed almost too easy to defeat him in the end. He was able to avoid my attacks most of the time; it was only when his friend was in danger that he was driven by his emotions and succumbed to defeat. "I suppose you could say I found his weakness in the end...his heart."
All the hollows bellow out a chorus of laughter. I join in but something makes me feel queasy so I leave the main camp for respite.
Resting still does not ease my nausea. Something is jabbing inside my body. My only solution might be to eat some more hollow and flush the pain away.
I get up but hack up some white goo. I'm brought to my knees, focusing on my reflection in the liquid. My mask terrifies even me; however Ichigo disrupts my reflection from beyond the grave.
"Who's there?" I'm delirious...noone is behind me. I walk away giving one last glance at the strange bile that erupted from my bowels. I could have sworn it moved but I disregard it and move on deep into the forest.
I must admit I'm feeling a little relived after getting rid of that substance. Perhaps even hollows can suffer from food poisoning.
The spiritual pressure suddenly envelops me and becomes erratic. It is not one entity but an agglomeration of many. The reatsu is violent and nips at every nerve in my body. I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The pressure is getting more and more erratic...I can't wait to find out what is causing it.
I desperately cut away at the shrubs and branches which shield my vision. I am greeted by an awesome display.
The forest clears to a complete cannibalistic orgy of hollows. Their screams superimpose to make a noise loud enough to shatter a man's eardrums. Thousands of hollows clamber on top of each other to gain advantage of the mass feast. I salivate as the potent aroma of hollows drags me towards the epicentre. I am moved by the sheer hunger that oppresses my soul...I must...I must devour them all!
"Not so fast sonny!" My hunger must wait for a little longer as a familiar hollow blocks my path.
"What are you doing Grand Fisher?" I ask him frustrated.
I peer around to see another familiar hollow – Shrieker entering the fray. He can't quite penetrate but I know that once he does he will have taken full advantage of this feast.
"Hurry up and get out of my way!" I urge the large hollow.
"Sorry Banzai matey, but if we let you become a Menos you might become a real threat, so we take first dibs." He aims his claw towards me in a threatening manner. "Do you object Mr. Benendes?"
I stand my ground. "If I have to eat through you then so be it."
He charges me with full force but I weave around him. I can now rush over to the crowd but he engulfs me with his fur. The ends prick my body in a thousand places. I'm trapped until I tear my way out with my extended claws.
He faces me again and slashes towards my midsection with his claw. His range is short though so I can keep my distance while I attack. He realises the futility of his movements and goes for the fur attack again. This time I've seen right through his strategy and backflipped away from the incoming hide of destruction. He returns to using his claws now. This makes me confused.
Why would he be using such predictable moves? Unless he's trying to...stall me...
"Damn you Fisher!" I charge forward, my claws are like a lance. He leaps brilliantly in the air and swallows me once more with his fur. I use my claws as a machete and cut down every last hair. Somehow he is able to regrow the hair but at least he has stopped using that annoying move. I charge one last time but he lifts his body up to dodge raining little blades upon me. I tolerate the pain and grab one of them, bending it upwards and using his own weapon to imale him as he reaches down. Now stunned I press my four claws onto his belly and extend them upwards - imaling him in his critical spots.
"Darn it..." He spits out blood before it gushes down upon me. I open my mouth wide and scull the hollow liquid. It has an old, rich flavour, perhaps this indicates his exerience as a hollow. However in my trance I ignore an incoming slash to my left shoulder. I throw him down but another of his claws drags along my body, cutting deep into my back. I screach in agony and rip into his flesh.
"You bastard!" I curse as I eat his soft flesh. He still struggles and tries digging into my face using his talons. I howl in pain but the hunger drives me to finiish my hostile meal. The cold blades penetrate deep within my mask mutiliating me beyond recognition (however I was already a monster). He finally kicks me heavily and drives me up into the air. Only half a body reamins but his killing intent is larger than ever.
As I'm falling he raises his talons like stakes. I try to block in vain and pierce through them. My body is full of holes but I must perservere. He slides out his claw digging into more of my flesh. I manage to bring out my right arm and strike his mask with my four blades of devastation. He stares blankly into my eyes before blood trickles through the cracks of his mask. It shatters into pieces and he shatters with it- or rather bursts with brain matter flickering my face. I fall the rest of the way to the ground and wrench out his claws.
The screams and howls of the mass of hollows cease. Has it ended already? I observe a dark shadow which extends from the ground and swallows me. It continues to grow larger and larger until it matches a skyscraper. I slowly turn to face the immense monsrer before me. A giant hollow creature draped in black robes with deadly spikes ringing it's midsection. However it's mask is different to a normal Menos Grande's. If anything the mask reminds me of...
"...Shreiker..."
Damn you Grand Fisher...your fight with me cost me the best chance to attain Menos class. Now Shreiker appears to have taken this form...With my current injuries will i be able to face up against a Gillian? Find out next chapter...