"Lephas is right."
Without realizing it, Sombravida had already followed Lephas into the core region of the forest.
As their discussion ended, dozens of powerful reiatsu signatures surged into his awareness from every direction. Had he not evolved into a high-density Hollow, the crushing pressure alone might have forced him to his knees.
A small humanoid Hollow stepped forward. Though its body barely reached Sombravida's thigh, the density of its reiatsu marked it as one of the strongest present.
"Welcome, outsider. I am Jacain, acting leader of this group," it said. "As Lephas explained, we need a Hollow with intelligence to guide us through the coming crisis."
Sombravida did not lower his guard.
"Why not leave the forest?"
"It would be pointless," replied a tentacled, alien-shaped Hollow.
"I am Inora. My ability is spiritual pressure detection. My combat ability is limited, so I require protection.
"Our companions have memorized one another's reiatsu. Mirot is one of our oldest members — he knows our signatures as well as I do.
"If we flee, he will track us.
"If he evolves and retains consciousness, he will hunt us.
"If he loses consciousness, the dangers beyond the forest remain unknown.
"So we must strike while he is wounded. That is our only chance."
Sombravida fell silent, weighing the risk.
If he helped them, he might face a Menos-class enemy.
If he won… he might absorb an unprecedented concentration of spiritual particles.
If he refused, he would wander again — hunting, fleeing, or dying at the claws of something stronger.
Both paths held danger.
"Outsider," Jacain said, "tell us your decision."
Sombravida looked around slowly.
"I will help you."
A ripple of tension passed through the gathered Hollows.
"But I have conditions."
Jacain nodded. "Speak."
"First: I will command in battle. I do not know the enemy's final strength. Casualties are inevitable. I may be lost as well. You must accept this."
"We understand," Jacain said. The others signaled agreement.
"Second: if the enemy evolves into a Gillian and I judge victory impossible, I will lead a retreat. I cannot guarantee survival rates."
He paused.
"If we win, the Gillian mask is mine. The body is yours."
"No."
The objection came instantly.
Sombravida's gaze hardened.
Inora raised her appendages quickly.
"You misunderstand. I am not refusing."
She studied him carefully.
"My ability allows me to sense internal reiatsu fluctuations.
Your spiritual pressure is expanding violently. That expansion is why your body has grown so large."
Sombravida stiffened.
"If you absorb Gillian-level energy in your current state," she continued, "and it does not trigger evolution, the excess reishi will force expansion. Your body could destabilize… or rupture."
Sombravida felt a chill.
"You can sense that inside me?"
"Yes. You recently absorbed two high-density masks. Your reiatsu expanded again and remains unstable.
Haven't you noticed? You have grown taller."
Sombravida looked down at his enlarged frame.
"…How do I stop it?"
Inora answered without hesitation.
"Compress your spiritual pressure.
Every Hollow is different. Some instinctively control density — like Jacain. Others must learn.
But what you are experiencing… is unusual. Most high-density Hollows would have destabilized already."
Sombravida listened intently.
"Imagine a container filled with vapor," she explained. "Your spiritual particles are dispersed like steam.
Condense them.
Increase density.
Reduce volume.
That will create capacity for further absorption."
She continued:
"Soul size increases with evolution.
Soul density increases through compression.
The greater the density… the greater the power."
Sombravida closed his eyes.
Until now, he had only gathered and released spiritual power — never compressed it.
He focused inward.
Reishi currents responded immediately.
Clusters condensed.
Particles compressed.
Where one unit occupied space before, two now coexisted.
Then more.
The process accelerated.
Moments later, Sombravida felt a profound lightness.
His frame contracted slightly.
The oppressive pressure inside his body stabilized.
If he devoted time to this process, returning to near human height would be possible.
Inora studied him with fascination.
"You already possessed compression instinct. You simply didn't know how to use it.
You are… a very strange Hollow."
Sombravida cleared his throat.
"I have not been one for long."
"I am Ace Sombravida."
Jacain stepped forward again.
"Outsider, will you help us?"
"Yes," Sombravida replied. "If my conditions stand."
"They stand," Jacain said. "Lead us through this crisis, and we will follow."
Sombravida surveyed the assembled group.
After introductions and reiatsu assessment:
11 mid-tier high-density Hollows
• 2 upper high-density Hollows
• Jacain — peak high-density, nearing Menos threshold
Their enemy: a Hollow approaching Gillian evolution.
Alone, Jacain could not defeat it.
Together… perhaps.
If it evolved…
survival would depend on coordination.
"We prepare for the worst," Sombravida began.
"Assume Mirot becomes a Gillian."
All present grew solemn.
"A Gillian possesses overwhelming reiatsu — dozens of times our own.
Casualties are inevitable."
They nodded.
"A Gillian is enormous, slow, and overwhelmingly powerful.
It can fire Cero.
Its mask is the core. Destroying or critically damaging it is fatal.
We must create terrain advantage and target the mask."
They listened intently.
Assignments
Inora
"Remain beside me. Monitor Mirot's reiatsu fluctuations — especially when he prepares Cero."
She nodded.
Lephas & excavation team
"Dig large pits — five meters wide, ten meters deep. Minimum five pits."
Feslina (spider-type Hollow) would weave reishi webbing to conceal them.
They departed immediately.
Paric & Geese (flight-capable Hollows)
"Disrupt its vision. Redirect its aim when it prepares Cero."
Acknowledgment came from above.
All others
"Fell large trees and position them around the trap zone."
They dispersed at once.
Sombravida turned to Jacain.
"You will assist me in delivering the decisive strike.
If Mirot has not evolved, victory will be simpler."
Jacain nodded.
"I understand now why they chose you. Your mind is our greatest weapon."
Sombravida exhaled.
"I hope that is enough."
A sudden, thunderous howl tore through the forest.
The ground trembled.
The air thickened.
Reiatsu surged violently.
Inora's voice shook.
"It's Mirot!"
"His spiritual pressure is rising rapidly!"
"He's evolving!"
Sombravida's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Move! Now!"
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the trap zone.
Behind him, the forest trembled under the birth of a Menos.
And the battle for survival had begun.