Las Noches.
Long before Aizen ever set foot in Hueco Mundo, the name already existed.
It was not yet the white fortress seen in the future.
It was a domain.
A territory claimed by one who called himself king.
At its center ruled:
Barragan Louisenbairn.
The self-proclaimed God-King of Hueco Mundo.
A Vasto Lorde who had reigned for centuries.
The Skeleton Emperor
Barragan's dominion was not absolute over all Hueco Mundo — the realm was far too vast — but within his sphere of influence, none dared openly defy him.
His followers were largely skeletal Hollows.
Humanoid.
Regal.
Floating like wraiths.
They called him:
The King of Hueco Mundo.
His power was terrifying.
Not simple decay.
Not poison.
Not corrosion.
But Respira.
The manifestation of aging itself.
Anything caught within its miasma would deteriorate:
Flesh
Bone
Weapons
Barriers
Even spiritual constructs such as Cero
Time, weaponized.
Few could approach him without being reduced to dust.
The Inner Circle Reality
The inner desert of Hueco Mundo was too vast for even Barragan to rule completely.
Beyond his reach:
Independent Vasto Lorde declared themselves sovereign.
Wandering high-tier Adjuchas formed temporary domains.
Predator territories overlapped constantly.
When Barragan encountered another Vasto Lorde—
He demanded submission.
If refused—
Respira decided the outcome.
Sombravida's Position
Months had passed since Sombravida's arrival.
The reef-cliff stronghold had been reinforced:
Subterranean chambers carved into stone
Narrow canyon approaches trapped
Anti-Membrana rotation units stationed at perimeter points
Expansion was cautious.
Calculated.
Then—
They captured a skeletal Adjuchas scout traveling west.
Claimed allegiance to Barragan.
He now knelt before Sombravida.
Bloodied.
Exhausted.
Interrogation
Sombravida leaned forward slightly.
"Besides Barragan Louisenbairn… how many Vasto Lorde operate within his surrounding sphere?"
The skeletal Adjuchas hesitated.
"…Four that I know of."
Sombravida's eyes sharpened.
"Names."
1. Tia Harribel
"To the west… a female Vasto Lorde. Shark-like. Three companions. They do not submit. They do not flee."
Sombravida exhaled quietly.
"Tia Harribel."
Future Tres Espada.
At this stage:
Likely early Vasto Lorde.
Independent.
Territorially isolated.
"Continue."
2. Rod Fros
"To the north… Rod Fros."
"Humanoid insect head."
"Mid-tier Vasto Lorde."
"Over a hundred Adjuchas."
Sombravida narrowed his eyes.
"Ability?"
"Regeneration beyond reason."
The skeletal Adjuchas swallowed.
"Even if His Majesty corrodes him… he regenerates."
"Even if his mask fractures."
That was… abnormal.
In Bleach canon:
Mask destruction is fatal to Hollows.
If true—
Rod Fros possessed a unique regeneration variant exceeding standard High-Speed Regeneration.
Interesting.
Dangerous.
3. The White Forest Predator
"Southwest… a white forest."
"One solitary Vasto Lorde."
"No subordinates."
"Everything that approaches… dies."
Sombravida did not press further.
Solitary Vasto Lorde were often the most dangerous.
4. The Nearby Presence
"There is one more… rumored to wander near here."
The skeletal Hollow hesitated.
"I never confirmed."
Sombravida did not ask.
He already knew.
Coyote Starrk.
Espada Names
Sombravida tested something.
"Ulquiorra Cifer."
Blank stare.
"Szayelaporro Granz."
Nothing.
"Yammy Llargo."
No reaction.
"Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."
The skeletal Adjuchas paused.
"There was… a panther-type Adjuchas traveling with a small hunting group."
"Led by one named Shawlong."
"Several years ago."
"They moved south."
Sombravida leaned back slowly.
So Grimmjow was still Adjuchas.
Pre-Arrancar.
Pre-Espada.
The timeline was aligning.
Territory Inquiry
"How far to Barragan's core territory?"
"Seven days."
Sombravida raised his hand.
A shallow cut opened across the Hollow's shoulder.
The Hollow screamed.
"Half a month!" he corrected immediately.
Sombravida studied him silently.
Barragan likely controlled a large region.
Direct confrontation now would be suicide.
Respira alone made large-scale assault nearly impossible without preparation.
Strategic Consideration
Sombravida ordered reconnaissance in triads across ten directions.
This was no forest.
Inner Hueco Mundo punished carelessness.
After Jekain departed—
Sombravida fell into thought.
To reach peak high-tier Adjuchas:
He estimated he would require devouring dozens more high-tier prey.
Only then could he approach the threshold of Vasto Lorde.
And even then—
Evolution was never guaranteed.
Nelliel slept beside him peacefully.
Her absorption ability passively accumulated reishi.
Unlike predatory growth—
Hers was steady.
Silent.
Dangerous in the long term.
Sombravida exhaled slowly.
"If she continues at this rate… she may approach Vasto Lorde before me."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
"Should I attempt diplomatic contact with a Vasto Lorde?"
It was a dangerous thought.
But isolation in Hueco Mundo was equally dangerous.
Barragan ruled by dominance.
Starrk wandered in loneliness.
Harribel maintained independence.
Rod Fros regenerated endlessly.
Politics among Vasto Lorde was unstable.
But alliances—
Could change the balance of the desert.
Sombravida's gaze turned toward the distant moonlit horizon.
Las Noches.
The palace without a true roof.
The throne of the Skeleton Emperor.
And beneath that vast empty sky—
Power waited to be claimed.