The Plan: Everyone Advances
E-everyone would advance to Gillian!?
Wien's words surprised all eight Hollows present, including Jekain.
Everyone becoming a Gillian—what did that mean? It meant Wien would give up his priority to advance first and risk being attacked by mindless Gillians to help Hollows he had worked with only once advance.
"M-my king. Are you serious?" Inora stumbled over his words. If Wien was using Jekain's advancement to help everyone hunt, Inora could admire Wien's intelligence.
But as for Wien wanting to help everyone advance, if not for his serious tone, Inora might have thought him mad. Of the seven Hollows remaining besides Jekain, any one of them might become a mindless Hollow upon advancing. That meant seven evolutions, and potentially seven attacks from Gillian Level Menos Grandes for Wien to face. An Elite-Level Hollow facing Gillian Level seven times, this...
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Wien shrugged, looking relaxed.
In truth, unlike the other Hollows, Wien simply treasured this opportunity to cooperate. Since reincarnating as a Hollow, he had lost track of how long it had been since he had spoken to someone conscious who could talk.
Perhaps he had been bottling it up for too long. Once Wien found someone he could talk to again and reached an agreement to fight together, excitement filled his heart, though he no longer had anything that could be called a heart.
Besides, Wien needed to spend this time talking more with these old hands who had survived in Hueco Mundo for a long time, and learn more about Hollows. Of course, there was also the matter of advancing. He also needed to take the opportunity to observe the changes the Hollows underwent as they evolved.
"If there are no questions, let's go. Jekain doesn't have much time left."
The Hollows looked at one another. It wasn't that they distrusted Wien; they were simply stunned by his idea. After a brief moment of shock, the seven Hollows before Wien all chose to kneel and bow to him respectfully.
"We shall obey our king's command!"
Without another word, Wien immediately gathered his subordinates and got them ready. Then, following the Menos Grande Jekain, they set out on a new journey. A journey to help everyone advance.
"Inora," Wien called shortly after they set out.
"Yes." Inora came forward. "My king, what are your orders?"
"While we're traveling, tell me a little about us Hollows."
"Oh?" Inora was slightly taken aback, but he quickly worked it out. Perhaps Wien was a Hollow from the World of the Living and therefore knew nothing about Hueco Mundo. After all, not every Hollow in the World of the Living came to Hueco Mundo. Most stayed in the World of the Living and hunted human souls.
Even after entering the gap between the World of the Living and the Soul Society, few Hollows could open a Garganta and come to Hueco Mundo.
So Inora believed cases like Wien's were exceedingly rare. But what he didn't know was that although Wien came from the World of the Living, it wasn't the same dimension Inora had in mind.
"My king, what would you like to know?"
"Hmm, let's start with how Hollows are ranked." After thinking it over, Wien decided to start with the basics. Although he had defined the ranks himself, he still asked Inora so he could make accurate judgments.
"Yes, my king," Inora said respectfully. "Then I'll start with the weakest. First, there are Rations, which we all know, and Beast Hollows..."
And so, as Inora explained, Wien and the others slowly made their way toward the heart of Hueco Mundo's outer circle, the Forest of Menos.
"...So the supreme kings of Hueco Mundo are the King Hollows. They are the most exalted beings in Hueco Mundo. If there are more than ten Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grandes living in the inner circle, then there are definitely no more than three King Hollows. And even that is only a legend." Along the way, Inora told Wien everything he knew about Hueco Mundo's divisions, giving detailed examples.
"I see..." After listening to Inora's comprehensive explanation, Wien gained a deeper understanding of the various ranks of Hollow beasts. Their classification was almost no different from his own, though the distinctions in Spiritual Power were more precise. He also learned quite a bit from Inora about matters concerning Gillians and the ranks above them. Wien had gained a great deal.
"Then tell me about the Forest of Menos," Wien continued.
"Let me explain the Forest of Menos," Jekain cut in.
"As far as I know, there are three known Forests of Menos, located in the north, center, and south of Hueco Mundo. Each is guarded by an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande. To advance faster, Gillians heed the call of the Forest of Menos and make their way there."
"Adjuchas?" Wien's expression turned serious. "Aren't they only found in the inner circle?" After Inora's explanation, Wien was confused by what Jekain had just said.
"That is indeed the case, my king," Jekain said, taking heavy steps.
"But not every Adjuchas chooses to head for the inner circle immediately. They stay in the outer circle, hunting Gillians here and becoming its rulers."
"..." After hearing Jekain, Wien fell into thought. It seemed the Forest of Menos was far from as simple as he had imagined.
Any Menos Grande capable of reaching the Adjuchas level was bound to have awakened its intelligence. If the Forest of Menos really was home to several Pseudo-Adjuchas Menos Grandes, then it would truly be a dangerous place for Wien.
"My king, perhaps your worries are unnecessary." Seemingly seeing through Wien's thoughts, Jekain continued slowly.
"The Forest of Menos is extremely vast, and most Pseudo-Adjuchas powerhouses live in its central region. After becoming Gillians, the time they spend preying on one another along the way to the center of the Forest of Menos is already enough for some to advance.
"And once they reach the central region, Adjuchas can enter the Hollow Night Sandland from there and thus reach the inner circle. Of course, if any Gillians or low-level Hollow beasts born directly in the surrounding area are lucky enough to escape being hunted and reach the sandland, they too can enter the inner circle."
"Aren't they rather pitiful, then?" Wien couldn't help smiling. "They have to face death right after they're born."
"Not necessarily," Jekain continued. "Although it's called a sandland, its structure is actually almost identical to a Garganta created by a Pseudo-Adjuchas Menos Grande. The only difference is that its exits aren't fixed. So Hollows born near the Forest of Menos won't necessarily be hunted as soon as they enter the inner circle. Besides, Hollow beasts that are too weak won't attract the attention of those above them."
"Oh?" Wien's expression relaxed. "Then how many Gillians and Hollow beasts below the Menos Grande level are sent directly to the inner circle this way?"
"The density of Reishi is higher in the areas around the Forests of Menos, so approximately ten percent of Hollow beasts are born near each one. That makes thirty percent for all three," Jekain explained. "Because the sandland's exits aren't fixed, it's almost impossible to encounter one another unless you enter and leave at the same time.
"After all, the inner circle is several times larger than the outer circle. That's why the Hollow beasts born in the sandland who are lucky enough to enter the inner circle have a chance to survive.
"Of course, if they're familiar with each other's Spiritual Pressure, finding one another isn't impossible."
"I see." Wien understood. After all, the inner circle was where the supreme kings lived, and the Spiritual Pressure they released in battle was far beyond what weaklings like Wien and the others could withstand now.
"Then what about the inner circle itself?"
"I'm sorry, my king." Jekain shook his enormous head. "I don't know any more about those above us."
Hearing Jekain's apology, Wien turned his gaze to Inora beside him. But Inora also shook his head and said nothing.
"Hmm, in any case, I have a general idea now. We can only discover the rest together." Letting the matter go, Wien addressed the Hollows.
"Let's go find our new base together!"
Several months later.
"My king, there's a forest fifteen kilometers ahead, with a radius of about ten thousand. I didn't sense any Menos Grande-class Spiritual Pressure." Jis, whom Wien had sent to scout, was now reporting respectfully on one knee before him.
Several months had passed since Wien and his group set out, and they had passed through quite a few small forests along the way.
But those areas were so small that the Hollows in them were nowhere near enough for Wien and the others to hunt. Whenever that happened, Wien led the Hollows in a direct charge through them. One Cero from Jekain wiped out all the Hollows who dared resist.
Few Hollows below the Menos Grande level could withstand a Cero with such dense Spiritual Pressure. That also made hunting much easier for Wien and the others.
"Understood. Thanks for your hard work, Jis." Wien nodded. "Jekain, are you sure we'll pass through that forest on the way to the Forest of Menos?"
"Yes, my king," Jekain confirmed. "Although the Forest of Menos is still a long way off, it is indeed in that direction."
"Good. Then this forest will be our first base on this journey." After a moment's thought, Wien made his decision.
"Jekain, don't stop once you enter. Walk straight through the forest and suppress your Spiritual Pressure as much as possible.
"If you encounter more than five High-Level Hollows acting together, immediately fire a Cero. Continue like that until you reach the center of the forest, then use Soul Suck to clear out the low-level Hollows.
"Inora, Fisilina, you two come with me. Help me sense as much Spiritual Pressure as possible. Everyone else, wait outside the forest for Fisilina's signal."
"Yes," the Hollows answered.
"All right, if there are no problems, let's go." Wien nodded and led the Hollows onward at a faster pace.
About half a day later, Wien and the others arrived at a cliff near the forest and looked down at the vast, magnificent expanse below.
Countless faint traces of Spiritual Pressure filled the entire forest, and quite a few were on par with Wien's. That was what prompted Wien to stay and establish a base here.
"Jekain."
"Yes," Jekain answered in a deep voice.
"This is your last battle. Are you ready?" Wien asked lightly.
"My king, I'm sorry I can only fight for you this far." Jekain lowered his head in salute.
"It's all right. You were the first companions I met after coming to Hueco Mundo, and without your help, I might have died from an overload of Spiritual Pressure long ago.
"Besides, we've been through life and death together, so there's nothing wrong with treating you as my comrades-in-arms. But helping you advance to Gillian is already my limit. If fate allows, let's meet in the inner circle as Adjuchas."
"Yes, my king. Please believe me. I, Jekain, will surely advance to Adjuchas and live up to your hopes. I will await your arrival in the inner circle."
"We shall do our utmost and live up to our king's hopes!"
"We shall do our utmost and live up to our king's hopes!"
"We shall do our utmost and live up to our king's hopes!"
As if making a declaration, the Hollows all knelt before Wien to show their resolve. Wien merely shook his head casually and gave his orders. "All right, there's no need for that. Jekain, Inora, Fisilina, let's go. The rest of you, wait here."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."