A/N: TRADE OFFER. I receive Top 30 ranking at the end of next week. You receive bonus chapters, depending on rank.
Kazuya's eyes narrowed, taking on the intensity of a predator stalking its prey. The wheels in his mind turned with a creak as he tried to recall things from the manga. He was having difficulty remembering certain things, but there was one image that stuck in his head—a tanned woman with golden hair, her seductive curves hugged by a white skin-tight jacket, and her ever so composed gaze holding an air of authority. The only time she had shown great emotion was at Aizen's betrayal.
The future número tres of Espada, Tier Harribel.
'She should still be a Vasto Lorde like me.'
Unlike other Hollows, Tier Harribel kept most of her humanity in this form. She, who didn't mind sacrificing her life for her Fracción, her Aspect of Death was fittingly 'Sacrifice.'
'Hot, strong, and extremely devoted to her people…. just my type of woman.'
He never hesitated when it came to women. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone after his teacher instead of his fellow students. Was his new race going to stop his vile seductions?
'Nope.'
His new race only elevated his goal. Now he could live without the restraints of conventional morals and target Hollow, Quincy, Shinigami, and even humans. No race was safe from his crosshair. What's more, he didn't mind meddling with the plot either. The timeline had already veered off course as soon as he interacted with this tomboyish tsundere deer currently serving as his mount. He wasn't going to live in fear because of things beyond his control.
After all, he was a—
'What was that?'
The word representing something crucial teased the tip of his tongue, only to vanish like a fleeting shadow. He scratched his head, furrowing his brow as he tried to summon the lost thought. It never returned.
Harribel also disappeared from the hill while he was confused.
'Fuck… System, tell me about your functions.'
An awkward silence answered his inquiry. He asked the same question several times, only to receive a cold shoulder from his System.
'A System without sentience. Am I in the wrong genre?'
He sighed and turned his attention to Apacci. She quietly nibbled at the Hollow like a delicate mouse picking at a giant wheel of cheese. At her pace, it would take weeks to finish the towering beast. Fortunately, she had her fill in a few minutes, restoring her Reiryoku to nearly full.
Kazuya patted her back gently and directed her toward Harribel's location.
"Don't think I'll let you ride me everywhere," Apacci grumbled with reluctance, yet still obeyed his command—a classic Tsundere behavior. "This is maddening."
"Listen here, you little deer. I'll let you 'ride' me when you become an Arrancar."
"Arrancar?" Apacci shook her head. "I don't know what an Arrancar is, but sure. I'll ride you once I become Arrancar."
"That's a promise then."
The unabashed happiness in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her to wonder what she had just agreed to. On paper, there was nothing ostensibly alarming about his proposition, yet she had a feeling as if she was a prey who had willingly walked into the arms of a predator. It left her confused. However, she didn't say anything as it would make her look too ignorant.
After nearly an hour of searching, Kazuya didn't find any trace of Harribel, as if she had retreated into her hidden base after she saw him annihilate that hungry Adjuchas. She may have mistaken him for another bloodthirsty monster. As a lover of peace and a hater of sacrifice, she might go out of her way to avoid conflict with him.
"You know what, Appaci? I'm gonna practice flying."
It would be a colossal waste not to use his wings in this vast Hell-like realm. He stood on Apacci's back and leaped into the air. She howled behind him as he spread his wings like an eagle preparing for flight. His feet brushed the sand before his wings powerfully flapped, thrusting the air downwards before taking him into the air. A swirling cloud of white sand enveloped Apacci. She coughed a few times before forcefully expelling the sand with her Reiatsu.
"Damn you! Get away from me!"
Kazuya nearly tumbled out of the sky with the sudden shift in balance but managed to stay afloat with nimble flaps of his wings. He felt like he was learning the delicate art of balance all over again. As he practiced, the movement of his wings became more familiar. In just an hour, he was soaring through Hueco Mundo's skies like a veteran.
He looked down to see Apacci gazing up at him with envy. "You can't fly?"
Apacci shook her head at his question. "I can create footholds under my feet with my Reiatsu. It's not the same as flying… and boy, does it use a lot of energy."
The dense concentration of Reishi in Hueco Mundo made it more difficult to create footholds in the air. While any Hollow could fly in the World of Living due to its low concentration of Reishi, Apacci's conservative approach to life ruled out flying due to its expensive energy cost.
"Creating footholds?" Kazuya mumbled, his wings continuing their steady rhythm. He manifested his Reiatsu and focused it beneath his feet, instantly feeling a stable platform materialize. "Like this?"
"You improve fast. "Apacci him a rare compliment. "At this rate you'll surpass me… your teacher."
"I don't find it draining, though."
"…"
If she had fingers, she would be flipping the middle ones at his face—that's what he felt from her annoyed expression.
With nothing else to do, he began training his racial abilities. As a Hollow, a creature of instincts, he possessed a basic understanding of every ability in his arsenal. Mastering his racial abilities was simply a matter of investing time and effort.
While frolicking with Apacci, he stumbled upon another Hollow, which he rapidly dispatched with a powerful Cero. He felt grateful for his reincarnation as a Vasto Lorde; random Hollows and Adjuchas posed no threat to him. At present, his most significant concern was the Hollow reigning over the land of Las Noches as its king. His arsenal lacked the means to counter Baraggan's Decay ability. It was wiser not to provoke the current ruler of Las Noches.
'That reminds me of Ulquiorra. Wasn't he a natural Arrancar?'
He saw some hope in fulfilling the seemingly life-threatening task. Ulquiorra transformed into an Arrancar by accidentally breaking his mask. There were more circumstances at play for sure, but at least the feat was achievable.
'Are Espadas a thing yet?'
He remembered Aizen crafting his own Hōgyoku to experiment with Hollows and create Arrancars. However, he was clueless about the current state of Espada as an organization.
'Forget about Espada. I should make some personal goals.'
After all, everyone needed to strive for something to keep life interesting. For now, his objectives were simple and straightforward—traveling across Hueco Mundo to meet Tier Harribel, honing his Vasto Lorde's power to its limits, becoming an Arrancar, while avoiding conflict with Baraggan.
He also wanted Apacci to become an Arrancar, just so he could fuck around with someone. Seducing her wouldn't be hard as her resistance against him was nonexistent.
Heaving a sigh, he let his gaze wander. "Let's take it slow. One day at a time."
He had only just been born. As a Hollow, he possessed all the time in the world to experiment with new ideas.
"It's always night in Hueco Mundo, don't you know?" Apacci snickered. "You silly goose."
"..."
Apacci snickered at his silence. She could scarcely believe this silly man had terrified her to the point of making her unable to move.
Kazuya stroked her ears. "I'm your silly goose and you're mine."
Apacci snorted. Although he was irritating at times, she finally understood why some Hollows traveled in packs, despite the fact that they could consume each other. It made her unimaginably happy to have someone around, someone who could be relied upon in times of crisis, someone who laughed and joked around with her.
It killed loneliness. It motivated her to grow stronger, so she could also protect him. It made her feel… alive.
She was glad to take that risk. If she hadn't, this newly born Vasto Lorde protector wouldn't have become her friend. Because of that, her solo journey in Hueco Mundo was behind her.
She finally had a companion.