Episode 20: Evolution II

"You don't seem to speak much..." Shrieker notes. "You have still preserved a unique mask but your intelligence may have been affected." He strolls past me. It seems I might have avoided another confrontation. "Oh you'll have to meet the others one day. We can forget about old times and reform our group of intelligent hollows...just make sure you reach Adjuchas class to convince me you really are worthy." And so he left the charred forest leaving behind a small trail of reatsu.

It appears as though the others in that group must have also become Menos class. As I recall there were at least eight members. Four of them have already died so that leaves just half of their group. Fishbone D and Hexapodus were killed by that substitute; then I killed Acidwire and Grand Fisher. That leaves just Bulbous G, Numb Chandelier, The giant centipede hollow and Shrieker. Wait a minute! I wonder if Shrieker wanted me to kill Grand Fisher so he could lead the group. I always thought that those two were struggling for power. Maybe he tried to set me up so I would end up fighting the hollow. So perhaps he does not consider me a threat anymore.

All this thinking has made me hungry. The hole in my stomach only seems to grow bigger as I consume more and more hollows.

And now the voices are provoking me again. I have to eat so they'll shut up for a while longer.

I take precautions this time and attack a group of hollow from behind. I try to use stealth tactics (though it is hard when you're this large) and quickly kill the beasts before devouring them. I approach from behind and impale my hand through their body; I cover their mouth so they don't make too much noise. Now I've eaten at least 15 of them, only a few remain.

I sneak up to my next prey but he disappears. A small blur appears in my peripheral vision, cutting down more of the giant beasts until only I remain.

I can barely make out the small hollow on the ground. Well at least I think it's a hollow. A small mask, hide covering most of their body. But what's with the sword?

An Arrancar? No...They only have part of their face masked. This man's reatsu is not of a hollow's either...if anything it resembles more...

"Shinigami..." I finally speak though it's very raspy.

In a blink of my eyes he leaps hundreds of metres into the air, his sword is raised. I can now see the black kimono uniform that confirms himself as a Shingami. I may be stronger but my large size has slowed my movements. I gasp as he approaches me with his soul cutter. Now my mouth appears glowing red. I instinctively have created the energy blast. The strange Shinigami appears surprised and raises a shield made from hollow masks to protect himself. I fire the orb of energy before my mouth melts. The Shinigami crashes into a cliff, boulders and rubble crush him. His body remains entombed in earth.

Not quite just yet. He slashes his way out of the rocks with only superficial injuries. This Shinigami is a strong opponent, possibly as strong as Mitzuki.

He leaps forward for another strike but I manage to swat him to my left side. The impact must be bone shattering, like a flying block of concrete. Alas he still stands...on the air!

He manages to catch dust in the air and runs towards me with his sword raised. He slashes down in a diagonal motion but I can read his movements. Extending my claws, I manage to throw him back once again. Although I cannot see his face, I can only imagine the frustration.

He flares up his reatsu. I feel the heat emitting from his body. Whilst my reatsu is colder than ice, the Shingami reatsu seems to burn like a small but immensely hot flame. This time he manages to whoosh away from my vision and reappears just inches from my weak spot. I fall back avoiding the fatal strike but I'm top-heavy, I cannot support the sheer weight of my new body and collapse to the ground.

The Shinigami stands high on the air. He looks down upon me he waves his sword before bringing it to his face. I can't move... I produce another energy blast but this time he bats it away with his shield. He flies down towards me with his sword in hand. The only way I can avoid this is to try and get back up. So I dig my claws into the ground and prop myself up using the extension power I seem to have preserved through the transformation.

He doesn't expect this and so I spin to the side, using the momentum of my large claws to hit him. He is thrown back into the caves again but this time he doesn't emerge...Satisfied that he is dead. I carry on my search for more souls.

Hmm...I wonder who that strange Shinigami was? What kind of act was he trying to pull? Wearing all those hollows masks...I'm glad he's dead - at least I hope so...After a score of chapters now might be a good time to review. Next chapter will be uploaded soon!