Chapter 31: Akira Takes Action
Narrator's POV
"There's one more in your shadow."
Harribel stated in a neutral tone, though her gaze carried a sharp edge. She had clearly noticed that Akira hadn't deployed all of his soldiers.
"Well…" Akira sighed, scratching the back of his neck as if revealing it made him somewhat uncomfortable. "The last shadow is a Gillian. It's too big for this place—it'd destroy everything if I let it out."
Harribel didn't respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on Akira, piercing, analytical. The mention of a Gillian wasn't what surprised her.
She knew that class of Menos perfectly well. What made her raise an eyebrow was that Akira knew exactly what a Gillian was. He didn't hesitate when saying it. He didn't confuse it with another creature. He didn't say it with fear or admiration—he simply identified it.
That sparked something in her mind.
"He knows the name of the Gillian… He's not just a human. Who is he really?"
There was something about Akira that didn't add up. It wasn't just his presence or his behavior—it was the sum of every piece:
A human who had managed to survive alone in Hueco Mundo for days.
An army of shadows under his command.
A dark energy that felt neither Hollow nor Shinigami.
Daggers imbued with some strange power. And now… a Gillian, completely under his control.
No, he definitely wasn't an ordinary human. He was something else. A strange and unique being—a hunter adapted to hell itself. And for the first time in a long while, Harribel felt a spark of something more than mere interest. It wasn't just his potential or his power. It was the sense that she was standing before someone who, against all odds, could not only survive here… but thrive.
And perhaps, just perhaps… he was worth keeping close.
"What are these things?" Apacci asked as she circled the shadows. "And what if I kill them?"
The aggressive tone in her voice surprised no one—least of all Sung-sun, who was already sighing in exasperation.
"And that's why you'll never find a partner… you always think about killing first and asking later," she said sarcastically, though her gaze fixed on one particular shadow—Igris. She studied him more closely; something about him felt different from the rest. "They came out of your shadow…? Can a human even do that? Summon soldiers from his own darkness?"
"Of course not," said Mila Rose, folding her arms with an incredulous look. "No human could do something like that." She stepped closer, inspecting the shadowy figures one by one. "They all look weak… except that one." She tilted her chin toward Igris. "He looks like he's worth something."
Igris stood firm, unshaken. His silent, imposing figure contrasted sharply with the growing murmur among the Adjuchas. Harribel, meanwhile, said nothing at first.
She simply observed, her mind piecing together fragments while the others spoke. Then, almost to herself, she murmured:
"So you're the one who's been taking down Hollows these past few days…"
She had heard the rumors. Something—or someone—had been wiping out every Hollow that crossed its path, relentlessly. No one knew what it was, only that it acted with precision, leaving no trace behind. And now, standing before her, she had the answer: Akira.
She frowned slightly. If he was responsible, then he wasn't just a survivor. He had power. Enough not only to defend himself but to stay and fight. He wasn't like the other beings that wandered Hueco Mundo, desperately avoiding the strong. Akira was different… and that intrigued her.
She looked at him again, this time without concealing her interest. Not just for what he could offer as an ally in her efforts to bring some order to this chaotic world, but because… visually, he wasn't bad at all.
"My shadows aren't toys," Akira commented, raising an eyebrow as Apacci repeatedly charged at Igris—who dodged every strike with effortless grace, almost mockingly. "How do you even put up with her? Just look at her…"
"Time," Harribel replied calmly, with no need to explain further. Over time, she had grown used to Apacci's impulsive nature and Mila Rose's volatile humor. "Though, it seems your shadow doesn't have any trouble dealing with her," she added, watching as Igris not only dodged Apacci but now had her pinned effortlessly—with a single movement, without hurting her.
"Yes, he's my strongest shadow," Akira replied with a faint, proud smile. But his expression suddenly changed. He turned his head toward the entrance of the lair, his gaze sharpening. "I can sense several spiritual presences surrounding the place… I didn't know your group had more members."
"We don't."
Harribel spoke calmly, not moving from her spot as she too looked toward the entrance. She was already used to these kinds of pointless raids or hunts.
"They're other Hollows. In this world, peace rarely lasts… unless you're strong."
"Oh, trust me, I know that all too well," Akira said as his shadows began to move on their own, anticipating the threat. "Ever since I got here, I haven't been able to rest properly. Here, if you let your guard down, you're dead. If you relax too long, you become prey."
Harribel watched silently as Akira's shadows moved with lethal precision—like an elite squad trained to intercept any threat. Without needing commands, each one positioned itself strategically to defend the entrance.
Akira didn't just understand this world's rules—he lived by them. And that earned him a flicker of admiration from Harribel. He knew that here, strength was the only law. But deep down, she still held on to the hope that one day… that could change.
---
Akira stepped out of the shelter, walking with a calmness that bordered on defiance. Harribel watched him silently from within, unmoving. She closed her eyes for a moment. She wouldn't follow him—
not yet. She'd let him handle the situation on his own. Only then could she truly gauge his strength.
Once outside, Akira stopped a few paces ahead and slightly raised his hand. His shadow rippled beneath his feet like living liquid, and from it emerged an imposing figure—his Gillian. A colossal creature with a bright blue mask and limbs of the same hue, contrasting against the rest of its dark body. The aura it emitted was intimidating, yet controlled.
The Gillian looked around. It could feel the presence of the Hollows approaching—hungry, aggressive. But it didn't hesitate. It knew Akira had given it permission.
With a guttural growl, it advanced. Its enormous tongue, thin and lethal like a spear, shot out from its mouth, piercing through two unsuspecting Hollows, lifting them off the ground before swallowing them whole—mere insignificant morsels.
Meanwhile, the dark knights emerged from the shadows as well. A dozen humanoid figures clad in black and bluish armor stormed into battle. The mages among them conjured spells that exploded among the enemies: electric orbs, shockwaves, freezing blasts. The Hollows screamed, disoriented, before being cut down with precise, clean strikes.
As always, Igris led the charge. He moved like a phantom among them, his sword dancing mercilessly. Every swing was an execution—leaving no room for resistance.
Apacci, drawn by the commotion, stepped out of the refuge with a curious look. She frowned at the sight of the Gillian devouring Hollows voraciously.
"That's a Gillian…? It looks weird," she said, studying it closely.
What caught her attention was the vivid blue of its mask, claws, and spikes. That wasn't normal. In a Gillian, those parts were supposed to be white. Harribel appeared behind her, silent. She stood there for a moment, watching the creatures fighting under Akira's command.
"It seems blue is a common mark among his soldiers… black and blue, like his shadow and his energy."
That army born from darkness was unlike anything she had ever seen in Hueco Mundo. But beyond their power, what truly stood out to her was the order, the coordination… and the cold tactical precision.
.
.
.
.
Minutes later…
Akira exhaled slowly as he slid his dagger through the air, wiping off the blood of the last fallen Hollows. It had been a large wave—one after another, without pause. But nothing he couldn't handle. His shadows had acted with perfect precision, and he himself hadn't lowered his guard for even a second.
From afar, Harribel watched him silently. She had decided not to intervene, more interested in observing how Akira fought than in joining the battle. One detail caught her attention: his soldiers always left the bodies intact for the Gillian to consume.
She approached unhurriedly, her presence as serene as ever, though her eyes carried intent.
"You let your Gillian feed on the Hollows you defeat," she said, stopping right in front of him. "Any particular reason?"
Akira gave a nervous, almost casual smile—but inside, he was carefully calculating his words. He couldn't tell her he was trying to force his Gillian's evolution. Knowing about such a mechanic would be far too suspicious for an ordinary human, right?
However, Harribel didn't need a confession. She watched him as if she could read his thoughts just by observing the way he breathed.
"For a Gillian to evolve into an Adjucha, it needs more than flesh. It needs will. Awareness." Her tone was calm, but each word carried the weight of stone. "Most of them barely have a mind more complex than a starving beast's."
Having said that, she turned and began walking back toward the shelter, as if her words had been a test Akira now had to process on his own. He remained still for a few seconds, feeling as though his soul had nearly slipped out of his body at her comment.
"What… the hell?" he muttered, frowning. Had she figured it out? He had underestimated her intelligence—and her perception.
But what surprised him most was that Harribel didn't seem angry. She hadn't accused him or threatened him for feeding a Gillian—something most Hollows would have considered a dangerous madness. On the contrary, she had given him a veiled warning, as if she didn't want to stop him.
Akira let out a faint smile. Harribel's words—brief yet precise—had given him exactly what he lacked: understanding. Feeding his Gillian until it was full wasn't enough.
For it to evolve into an Adjucha, it needed something much harder to forge: will. Awareness.
He didn't want to create just a powerful beast—he wanted a true warrior of shadows.
In silence, he thanked her inwardly.
Mila Rose frowned.
"Is it just me… or has Harribel been talking way too much with that human?" she asked, clearly annoyed, crossing her arms as she glanced at him sideways.
"Mmm, no, it's not just you…" Apacci muttered, frowning as well. She had noticed it too. Harribel rarely said more than a single sentence at a time—and even less so to a stranger.
Akira said nothing. He sheathed his daggers with a faint flash as they vanished into his inventory, while all his shadows returned to him—melting back into the darkness of his silhouette as if they had never existed. The air grew colder for an instant. Without hurry, he walked past the three Adjuchas.
Apacci gave a simple hmph and turned away. Mila Rose growled under her breath, visibly irritated. Sung-sun, however, remained silent, her eyes following Akira's every step. There was something about him she couldn't quite decipher—and that intrigued her deeply.
Harribel, seated with the calm of someone observing a chessboard from above, never took her eyes off Akira. Her gaze was still cold, calculating—but something within her stirred, a curiosity she hadn't felt in a very long time.
"Let's talk, Akira. I think you'll understand what I'm about to tell you…"
She didn't say it with urgency, nor as a request. It was a statement. A glimpse of the future. Because something inside her told her clearly:
that human was going to become strong—
much stronger than anyone in Hueco Mundo could ever imagine.
---
End of Chapter.