Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Hollow (虚) 2 |
| Species/Race | Fallen soul 2 |
| First Appearance | A Hollow attacks Xia Mu shortly after his arrival in Hueco Mundo 1 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Hollow | 2 | Forms when a soul's Chain of Fate decays completely; a Hollow hole appears, and the soul develops an instinct to devour others. |
| Menos Grande — Gillian | 2 5 | Devouring enough souls can turn an ordinary Hollow into a Menos. Gillian is the lowest named Menos class. |
| Menos Grande — Adjuchas | 5 86 | The class above Gillian. |
| Menos Grande — Vasto Lorde | 5 86 | The highest named Menos class; Barragan reached this level but could not grow stronger through his usual methods. |
| Arrancar | 88 167 | A Hollow that survives the breaking of its mask gains further power; it may acquire a Zanpakuto, with its release restoring its Hollow form. |
Background
A human soul can become a Hollow when obsession or other negative emotions accelerate the decay of its Chain of Fate. Once the chain disappears, a hole forms in the soul's chest. Hollows devour souls in an instinctive attempt to fill that emptiness, and continued consumption can drive their evolution 2.
Hueco Mundo is their base. Weaker or newly born Hollows tend to wander its outer reaches, while stronger ones inhabit the inner circle and the underground Forest of Menos. Hollows also cross into the Soul Society and the Human World, where Soul Reapers fight and purify them 4 6 206.
Destroying every Hollow is not the Soul Society's goal: Hueco Mundo's population forms part of the balance between it, the Soul Society, and the Human World. An unchecked increase threatens the neighboring worlds, but eliminating Hollows altogether would also disrupt that balance 22 91.
Appearance
Hollows vary greatly in form, from humanoid creatures to enormous Menos 5 172.
- Mask — A characteristic facial covering; an Arrancar's mask is broken or reduced to fragments 87 167.
- Hollow hole — The opening associated with the void in a Hollow's heart 2 206.
- Exceptions — The artificially created Hollow White has a filled-in hole, unlike an ordinary Hollow 175.
Abilities & Skills
Devouring and evolution
- Hollows consume souls, including other Hollows, to grow stronger; sufficient consumption can produce a Menos 2 206.
- Evolution can produce distinctive abilities rather than strength alone. Even lower-level Hollows may possess unusual powers 18 88.