Forest of the Voids

Since the fall of Ikomikidomoe in the less forest, the previously hostile environment had undergone changes. The territory where the elder hollow resided was more peaceful than the others, as no hollow, including Adjuchas, dared to interfere in that place.

Just as animals adapt to the ecosystem and its hardships and calamities, the hollows adapted to the giant hollow. Small life forms of Hueco Mundo flourished around it, with no constant predators. The smaller hollow animals lived in a natural order. Likewise, the generally hunted and enslaved Gillians roamed calmly in this environment, free from the constant and chaotic pursuit. They still hunted, but in reasonable quantities.

Despite these changes in the food chain and ecosystem of the Forest, its "Cause" hardly did anything. Most of the time, it was sleeping, or chasing—futilely—Wonderweiss from its presence. Despite this, a new hollow also sank its presence into the elder hollow's domain. "Hooler," a strange, irrational, mutant hollow. Wonderweiss' pet.

Not only these, but other hollows also made Ikomikidomoe the "Guardian of the Forest," a position that the more rational and powerful Adjuchas of the forest abdicated, aiming to bring some kind of "stability" and avoid mass destruction of the place. For this reason, many of the Adjuchas and more rational hollows lived above the roof of the less forest, where the infinite sands of Hueco Mundo were more ferocious.

___________________________________

A vast and desolate stretch extended under the perpetual twilight of Hueco Mundo's sky. At the heart of this barren land lay the Forest of Vacíos, a sanctuary formed around the sleeping giant, Ikomikidomoe. Without its knowledge, its immense spiritual pressure had transformed the area into a refuge for the most primitive hollows, drawn by the dense Reishi that permeated the air.

The landscape was in stark contrast to the surrounding deserts. Quartz trees, their crystalline branches once reaching for the sky, were now toppled, serving as makeshift benches. Clusters of quartz formations mimicked the appearance of bushes and stones, providing shelter and rest for the hollow creatures that inhabited the area. Without the constant threat of predators, these beings existed in an appearance of natural order, their primitive instincts guiding their simple lives.

The Forest of Vacíos stretched for miles, a vast barren plain where the infinite sands of Hueco Mundo gave way to a peculiar landscape, almost organically shaped by the presence of the giant hollow. Here, unlike the vast desert expanses that dominated Hueco Mundo, the land had a life of its own, or at least a trace of it. The source of this anomaly was a being so colossal and imposing that its mere slumber transformed the surrounding environment.

Ikomikidomoe, the elder hollow, had been asleep for countless cycles of time, but its spiritual presence was immense, and the area around it had molded to its influence. It wasn't just the giant power of Ikomikidomoe that caused such an effect, but its essence – a power far superior to that of ordinary hollows. The Reishi field it emanated from its deep slumber attracted a variety of hollows, especially the more irrational and primitive ones, who sought the comfort the territory provided.

As time passed, the quartz trees, broken and fallen to the ground, formed a network of refuges and natural structures, where small hollows, less developed creatures or even hollow animals, took shelter. The quartz was hard but, at the same time, malleable, creating a kind of artificial tree or bush, which offered shade and protection from the scorching heat of Hueco Mundo.

What had once been a territory filled with predators had now become a place of relative peace. The small hollows, once relentless hunters, now wandered freely, seeking natural resources in balance. The most notable, however, were the Gillians, low-class hollows, normally seen as mere soldiers or prey, who, under the shadow of Ikomikidomoe, lived in peaceful equilibrium (as unusual as it was).

It was an anomaly in the less forest. And although Ikomikidomoe was asleep, it somehow controlled everything around it, simply by existing. Such was its power. It didn't need to do anything, didn't need to hunt or destroy. Its mere being imposed order. But it wasn't alone.

Wonderweiss Margela, a hollow who didn't fit into the standards of other hollows, played around the quartz structures. His fragmented mind and erratic behavior caused a mixture of curiosity and fear among the smaller creatures of the forest. However, most of them didn't seem to fear the strange hollow. Wonderweiss was a figure who spent time wandering the forest, like a wild animal. The hollow child, unrecognizable in appearance, always seemed to be searching for something, although he didn't quite know what.

With his impassive smile and unpredictable movements, Wonderweiss moved through the quartz trees, leaping from one formation to another, touching the stones with his hands and leaving a trail of high-pitched laughter. Sometimes, he hid behind one of the quartz bushes, spying on the hollow animals as they rested. His behavior was unsettling but harmless.

Until he saw something. The sound of soft footsteps approaching, a different presence, something that didn't belong to this sanctuary. A human, or rather, a Shinigami. Wonderweiss paused for a moment, watching as the Shinigami's figure approached the forest. His eyes gleamed with unsettling interest, and a smile formed on his face.

Ashido Kano, an exiled Shinigami who wandered Hueco Mundo, arrived unnoticed, or so he thought. He wasn't a novice. His battle experience had taught him to read the environment, to look for clues in the shadows, to sense the presences moving in silence. However, something was wrong. Something about this part of Hueco Mundo didn't fit. He knew the area should be filled with dangerous hollows, but what he found was... tranquility.

He walked between the quartz trees with the suspicious posture of a hunter, his gaze alert to every movement around him. What was this? Where were the hollows? It couldn't be possible that this peace was genuine. Hollows, no matter how evolved, had always sought domination. But not here.

The sensation of calm was disturbing. An unsettling peace. Ashido took a cautious step, and soon noticed something in the air: the Reishi, the spiritual energy, was... too dense. This wasn't normal. He knew he was near something extraordinary, but what exactly was it? He felt a growing pressure on his chest, as if the environment itself were reacting to his presence.

That's when a shadow formed beside him.

"No!" Ashido mentally shouted, but the movement was instantaneous.

Before he could react, Wonderweiss appeared, as suddenly as a ghost. The hollow child appeared next to him with a strange smile and childish laughter, causing Ashido to stumble and fall to the ground, his zanpakutō slipping from his hand. He quickly grabbed it back, pulling it with the agility of an experienced warrior.

"Who... who are you?" Ashido asked, his voice deep and suspicious. He had faced monsters in Hueco Mundo, but nothing like this creature. Wonderweiss looked at him with empty eyes, offering no verbal response, merely emitting incomprehensible sounds as if amused by the situation.

Suddenly, the atmosphere around Ashido began to vibrate. The ground trembled slightly, and the spiritual pressure increased exponentially. He felt his bones shaking with the sensation of a monstrous presence approaching. It was as if the world around him were bending before something even greater than anything he had faced before. A wave of terror engulfed him.

"Who are you to venture so far, Shinigami?" A deep, thunderous voice echoed around Ashido, making the air ripple with the intensity of the presence about to reveal itself.

He looked down, and suddenly, the sand began to move. From the depths of the earth, something colossal began to emerge. Ikomikidomoe, an elder hollow, rose slowly, its monstrous figure immense like a living mountain, its eyes glowing. It didn't seem to care about the Shinigami's presence. The mere fact that he was there was enough to make the common hollows retreat in reverence and hide from the supreme predator of that territory.

Ashido felt a wave of dread engulf him. Never, in all his life as a Shinigami, had he felt something like this. Not even in front of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's Bankai, his captain, had he experienced such a feeling of helplessness and fear. The entity before him was something beyond any hollow he had ever known.

The silence was broken again by Ikomikidomoe's deep voice.

"You are too far, Shinigami. What do you seek here?"

Ashido froze. He didn't know what to say. The magnitude of the hollow before him made even the most experienced Shinigami question their own strength. There were no plans, no strategies that could defeat such a being. All Ashido felt at that moment was a desire to disappear and run as far as possible from the creature.

But, against all his instincts, he rose, gripping his zanpakutō and the determination that would never abandon him.

"I am Ashido Kano, and I am here to protect the Soul Society. No matter what it is, I will face you."

The forest fell into silence for a while. Until Ikomikidomoe's thunderous laughter was heard for a few moments, before the hollow spoke again.

"You want to face me? Little Shinigami. Don't overestimate yourself… go… I allow you to leave. I see no point in fighting you. It would only disturb my rest and peace."

Contrary to all Ashido's extensive knowledge of hollows, the ancient hollow dismissed him, turning to what seemed to be a mountain formed by his emergence from the underground.

But before Ikomikidomoe could fully turn away, he felt a flame strike his back with an irritating impact. It wasn't enough to hurt him, but enough to bother him. The hollow's single eye turned to face its attacker, and there he saw the Shinigami with his arm extended, smoke rising from it.

For a few seconds, the Shinigami and the hollow stared at each other motionless. Ashido himself seemed not to understand what he had done, as if the action had been automatic.

….

"Ham?"

Before Ashido's brain could comprehend, he was thrown through the mineral trees like a ragdoll.

'What speed! How can something so big be so fast?'

That was Ashido's quick thought as he rose, wounded, lifting his zanpakutō, feeling his ribs creak, knowing they were broken. This severely hampered his movements and his own breathing.

"Damn."

He had to retreat.

Leaping with Shunpo, the Shinigami tried to escape, but again, he was hit directly by the hollow's paws, being thrown to the ground once more.

"You could have gone away and fled, Shinigami. So tell me, why choose death?"

The deep voice of the hollow echoed in his mind as he struggled to rise. In the face of such a question, Ashido could only rise again and fight.

Unaware of the turmoil in the hollow's mind.

**POV IKOMIKIDOMOE**:

"Why" does he keep fighting? I gave him a chance to escape! I'm not some fool who wants to get caught up in the plot and its conflicts. Although I still want to kill that damned god, I'm not stupid enough to risk my life against the heavyweights of this world like Aizen and Yhwach... damn.

Looking at the fallen Shinigami, I remember him from the canon. More or less. It's been years since I saw and read Bleach. So my memory on the subject is pretty vague, and I've forgotten many parts. But I remember enough to recall events.

My original plans were to remain hidden and not get involved in the plot... but…

Looking at the Shinigami struggling to rise, I simply don't feel like fighting. Why am I facing him anyway? Ah, yes… teach him a lesson, "Choose your battles."

"Shinigami… do you still wish to fight?" I asked while mentally pleading for this persistent Shinigami to give up and leave. But looking into his eyes, I could see it wouldn't be so easy. His eyes were determined, with steel.

I could only sigh as I turned again, abandoning the fallen Shinigami.

"What will you do?"

What will I do?

"How foolish of you, Shinigami. I don't intend to entertain you. You're not worth killing. Just leave before I change my mind."

Yes, that should scare him.

Walking to where I had made my "nest," I leaned against the sands to fall asleep.

…

..

...

.....

What an annoying Shinigami.

"Why are you still here, Shinigami?"

"I have a name, Hollow, and it's Ashido Kano."

Hmm, cheeky.

"And mine is... forget it... you can call me Ikomikidomoe... Kano."

And so, I ignored the Shinigami.

_____________________________

How annoying...

Apparently, the Shinigami had so many broken bones that he couldn't move, so he decided to stay in the forest for a few days, observing and healing. I admit it was funny to see his grimaces as he watched hollows behave like sentient beings, not monsters like he thought.

I didn't hold any grudges against the Shinigami or love for the hollows around me. But life in Hueco Mundo was boring, so they could kill the boredom. Especially seeing Kano's face when he saw FURĀ for the first time.

The days went by, and Ashido had healed enough to walk and had recovered, but even so, he would come and go at times. I didn't care. Whatever that Shinigami wanted to do, as long as it didn't bother me, I didn't mind.

______________

On one of his returns, he started talking to me. Maybe it was loneliness, or the little bastard just loved annoying me out of revenge, but he spoke about how things were going in Hueco Mundo. Apparently, my presence had caused disturbances in the forest's system, hollows that were usually hunted as easy prey were living in my "territory."

The forest was strangely divided into various sections controlled by "guardians," the strongest and most intelligent Adjuchas. And I had become an involuntary member.

It was in one of these that Ashido returned wounded, his Shihakusho and cloak stained with blood and burnt.

I just watched with my optical sensors while he rested.

"Hey, Big Guy, how about helping me out? After all, the Guardians are invading your territory now."

"Don't tempt fate, Shinigami."

What did he want me to do? Face them? Sure, that was ridiculously easy, but it would attract unnecessary attention.

I heard footsteps approaching my sand cocoon and soon felt vibrations; it was him hitting it. Seeing the Shinigami's insistence, I once again unearthed myself from the sands.

"Are you trying to die, Shinigami?"

"Tsk, don't act like I enjoy asking for YOUR help! This is just a precaution. The Guardians ambushed me, and I prefer not to die yet. And you're a great shield." Kano argued, but despite his words, he was panting and clearly exhausted. That was the only reason I didn't repeat the dose and throw him away.

I heard him open his mouth again to complain, but before he could, a kind of scythe/spear struck his side. I saw it as if in slow motion, his eyes widening as he was thrown.

"Well, well, well. Who would have thought a Shinigami and a Hollow talking so amicably?"

A loud and mocking voice was heard.

I turned my body in her direction, following the direction of the chain attached to the Zanpakutō. And I came face to face with three figures.

The first was—no, a group of children flying around the older figures.

An older man with a hollow mask in the shape of a crown.

And the owner of the weapon, a tall and slender man with dark hair.

I recognized two of the figures, the old man and the man.

They were familiar characters from that time. One was a misogynistic Espada-level Arrancar, named "Nnoitra Gilga."

And the other—

"Baraggan?"

I could see the old Arrancar's eye widen slightly at my words.

"So it's really you?.. Old rival?"

So, my bad luck was activated?... Why, out of all the characters, did I have to encounter Aizen's personal army?