After Silas successfully recruited Sol, the two parted ways.

There was little to no chance that Sol would have turned down his offer. It wasn't much to begin with, but it was a promise to ease his burden.

Silas, knowing almost everything about each character, knew exactly the right words to say to someone. Even if that character was a Hollow.

Sol had accepted his offer, of which Silas had informed him that they would not see each other for some time. So long as Sol hid himself from others and approached no one, he would see Silas once again.

Silas, who was not in any hurry to form this new Espada, had to ensure the pieces were lined up in order. The Espada themselves had already been formed. Sol, who had split himself into Starrk, was recruited by Aizen after the latter's defection.

This gave Silas the chance to do the recruiting instead. The only other Great Hollow Aizen recruited was Tier Halibel.

Halibel, a shark-like Great Hollow in the form of a woman, had her backstory expanded primarily through the anime adaptation of Bleach. Calm, level-headed, and analytical, she typically avoids combat unless she and her close companions—other female Hollows—are threatened.

This stems from her understanding that male Hollows often prey upon their female counterparts. Generally, she prefers silent observation, watching battles unfold until their inevitable end.

Halibel strongly opposes killing, especially for power. However, when betrayed, her fury erupts. She has a notable aggression that lies beneath her calm exterior. This was the scene after Aizen betrayed her.

Her alliance with that captain stemmed from a past incident: after showing mercy to an Adjuchas, she and her companions were attacked by the same creature, who had his spiritual pressure increased despite still being an Adjuchas.

Defeated, she was saved by Aizen. He explained that the concept of sacrifice allows for the seemingly impossible, even granting a Hollow Arrancar powers, though not necessarily the intelligence to control them. Offering Halibel the strength to protect those she cares for, Aizen invited her to join him.

She accepted.

Silas was not Aizen, but he knew the right way to approach a Great Hollow like her.

• • •

A week's relentless travel across the sands of Hueco Mundo had left Silas feeling as if he'd never find her.

Hueco Mundo wasn't exactly like the Soul Society, which was structured with districts, towns, and settlements. This realm had none of those things. No maps, no compass—only the moon and the vast sand that riddled the land.

Although Las Noches, a fortress within this realm, had more or less finished its construction by now, Silas hadn't even spotted that!

His journey continued until he finally sensed something odd a few miles away. This wasn't merely desert; these were ruins, the bleached bones of some forgotten civilization. Broken columns rose like skeletal fingers, and the cracked ground beneath bore the scars of ancient battles.

There weren't many areas like this one. And from what Silas had remembered, Halibel did have a hideout.

If his senses didn't deceive him, Halibel had to have been close. So he narrowed his senses to that area. It had taken little time to sense what to search for.

Venturing to the ruins, he rounded a crumbling archway. There, amidst the desolate grandeur, stood Halibel. Tall, composed, her feminine form resembling that of a shark. The mask around her mouth gleamed white against her tanned skin, aqua-green eyes, and blonde hair, remaining still as if she had nothing to fear.

"Halibel," he greeted, the name echoing amidst the land. Silas's voice was measured, devoid of either menace or false warmth.

She and her subordinates inclined their heads. But when they hadn't seen anyone, they looked from one to another.

"Over here."

There, Silas stood at the topmost pillar, a shadow covering his facial features.

There was a bare acknowledgement in Halibel's tone. "And you are...?"

"You can call me Ichigo," Silas answered, jumping down. His appearance came to light, revealing his stark orange locks and fair skin. "I've traveled a long way to find you, Tier Halibel. There's something I'd like to offer."

"Offer?" she wondered with a tone laced with subtle skepticism.

That's when one of her followers screamed, "What's a person like you got to offer to our Halibel?!"

Silas recognized this Hollow's voice and appearance. It had been some time, but there was no mistaking Halibel's subordinates. They were known as the "Three Beasts".

And the one who spoke rudely just now was Emilou Apacci. Apacci, with her deer-like appearance and prominent horn, is impatient, short-tempered, and fiercely loyal to Halibel. Easily angered, she clashes with the more rational Franceska Mila Rose, the second of the Three Beasts, a lioness Adjuchas.

While prone to bickering, both are deeply devoted to their leader.

The last is Cyan Sung-Sun, who possesses a snake-like form and a calm, almost snobbish demeanor. She frequently scolds Apacci and Mila Rose for their squabbles while maintaining an enigmatic air. Despite their occasional animosity, a genuine bond of loyalty exists among the three Adjuchas.

Silas ignored Apacci's question, prompting Halibel to respond. "I'm not in the habit of accepting gifts from strangers. Please do not disturb us."

Silas moved closer, pacing unhurriedly across the cracked stone.

"Perhaps not. But sometimes, our needs align with the generosity of others. You value the well-being of others, a Great Hollow who shows mercy to others."

Her eyes narrowed the barest fraction as she said, "I protect my own. Weakness invites aggression." It was both a statement and a gentle rebuke. He'd pried into her personality, after all.

"Admirable," Silas agreed. "Your strength is substantial. Yet it's not enough. You hesitate to kill, even to defend. A noble trait, perhaps, but in a world ruled by ruthless power, that nobility leaves you vulnerable."

"How dare you treat princess Halibel like that?!" Apacci yelled. Franceska calmed her down, showing her unease about Silas's presence.

Halibel asked, "What does someone like you know?" Now there was a bite to her voice. Silas had touched a nerve.

He stopped to answer, saying, "By providing you with the means to truly protect those you care for: to reach the untapped depths of your power, to become that which no enemy, Hollow or Soul Reaper, would dare challenge."

Her hands flexed at her sides, but her voice remained level. "We do not need protection. Nor do I seek some ill-defined elevation of power."

She rejected Silas!