Hollow HEART

"Master… I like that word… I always knew it! You were someone important, Lord Yammy! My master!"

While his thoughts were cheerful and content, he barked in agreement with his Master, Yammy. Kukkapūro decided with his simple mind: he would follow his master wherever he went, always protected in his shadow. After all, he needed very little to be sustained.

"Just walking in your enormous, sheltered shadow is enough for me, Master Yammy."

Though he couldn't express himself in coherent words, his barks conveyed his joy—

"WOOF WOOF!"

"GURAHAHHAAH"

And so, in the cold, empty desert of Hueco Mundo, master and servant laughed in harmony, a shared joy—the joy of not being alone.

"To take back what was lost,

Blood, flesh, bone,

and a Heart."

____________________________________

Yammy wandered through the endless sands of Hueco Mundo for what seemed like days. The enormous adjuchas resembled a mountain—calling him a KAIJU would be more accurate.

His steps were slow but wide, ensuring he wasn't exactly sluggish. His little companion, now on his shoulders, barked and wagged his tail with anticipation whenever he saw living beings or something interesting. For example:

The towering ruins of what was once Las Noches—a "Palace" without a roof or walls.

"That idiot Barragan… always so arrogant… but it's not time yet… He's old and powerful, facing him now would only result in me becoming just another dust speck for the Mad King."

Despite seeming foolish, the giant was thoughtful, yet still lazy. Similar to an elephant—massive and strong but lacking much control.

Far ahead, at a distance unknown to him, a singular group of Adjuchas, led by one of the few Vasto Lordes in this decaying world, was once again facing a nuisance.

"WATCH OUT FOR HER CLAWS, IDIOT!"

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU'RE SO SMALL, HORNED FREAK!"

"What dramatic bitches—"

"SHUT UP, SUNG-SUN!" Both quarreling voices united against their companion.

These were three of the pack members and servants of the Vasto Lorde, who observed the hunt from a small distance, smiling lightly at the trio.

This was Tier Harribel, watching to see if her companions' hunting training was bearing fruit.

They were doing what could be called a competition among them, something common between the three. To others, the image of a giant lion, a servant bigger than a car, and a snake the size of a bus would terrify anyone, but for her, it was already something familiar.

"My girls are evolving… HUH?!"

As she watched them finish their hunt, Harribel felt a strange presence, a powerful reiatsu coming from behind, heading in their direction. It didn't seem aggressive, merely unbothered by hiding itself.

Slowly observing, Harribel saw what could be mistaken for a colossal mountain gradually appearing, which turned out to be a GIANT Adjuchas.

In an explosion of Sonido, Harribel placed herself between her companions and the intruder.

"STOP RIGHT THERE! WHO ARE YOU?!"

Tier shouted commandingly at the massive Adjuchas, not recognizing him. Could he be a newly-born Hollow?

The giant was still meters away, but Tier's warning reiatsu must have caught his attention as he stopped and began observing them with a serious expression.

…

…

…

Time seemed to freeze as Harribel and her group watched the giant alertly… until—

"WOOF WOOF!"

A distant sound drew her attention. Running towards them was a small Hollow dog—something so tiny and fragile. Yet before it could reach them at a speed that belied its size, the giant grabbed it in his hands.

The group of female Hollows widened their eyes in surprise at the giant's speed, expecting the sound of the small Hollow's death. However, they were stunned by the next scene.

"Kukkapūro! I told you not to run off like that. One day, some Hollow will devour you before I can catch you!"

The giant seemed exasperated but at the same time, careful as he maneuvered the small Hollow onto his palm.

Seeing the following scene and the intelligence of the giant Hollow, Harribel lowered her blade but remained cautious, ready to escort her companions away should the giant change his mind.

"Wow… a gentle giant?" The lioness Mila Rose was the first to speak in the midst of silence.

"Tsk… he's more like a dumb giant," the deer Apacci growled right after.

"You'd do well not to make enemies of our strange Kaiju resident, airheads," Cyan Sung-sun added, using her usual convoluted language.

"No fighting, girls… I'll investigate. Be ready to flee if there's any sign of threat," Harribel ordered, moving with Sonido before her companions could protest.

…

**[Yammy's P.O.V]**

Yammy watched the small Vasto Lorde approach him. He was already expecting such a reaction; after all, his appearance wasn't the most friendly. However, Harribel was the least hostile among the resident Vasto Lordes. Even Neliel would be cautious and confront him based on her pacifist nature compared to his more brute approach.

With Harribel, he could gain not only a strong ally but also ensure he had at least one connection with the high ranks of Hueco Mundo.

Observing closely, Harribel was still as beautiful as she would be in the future, as an Arrancar.

The pale bone plates or blue scales covering sensitive parts of her body did not hide her future beauty.

…

**[Narrator's P.O.V]**

"Hello, my name is Tier Harribel, and you're trespassing on our hunting grounds. I'd like to know if you're a member of Barragan's entourage. If so, I'm once again stating that I'm not interested in joining his army."

The Vasto Lorde woman went straight to the point, staring at the giant Hollow before her.

He let out a growl as he looked from her to her companions behind, as if gauging them.

After a few tense moments, the Giant Adjuchas responded:

"My name is YAMMY LLARGO, and that old man has nothing to do with me, nor do I intend to answer to that bag of bones."

His reply, though rude, eased Harribel's concerns. Knowing he wasn't part of Las Noches made her less tense. She realized that if the giant wanted immediate conflict, he could have already attacked with his immense size. The only thing left—

"I'm searching for something… and wandering through these areas… you might be the one who could lead me to it. Besides, I need someone to take care of Kukkapūro while I hunt. When I'm with this little furball, it's hard to defend or hunt without risking destroying him as well," the giant Yammy replied, releasing the small Hollow from his grip, which happily ran towards Harribel with childish curiosity.

The female Vasto Lorde watched the little Hollow sniff her with a smile hidden by her mask. The way the giant showed concern for his small companion was similar to how she felt about her group—a protective instinct! She could feel that the little "Kukkapūro" was the same for the giant Hollow.

"I think I can help with that, Yammy. But why us, of all Hollows? Surely, with your intimidating size, you could form a pack large enough to obey you. So why choose us?"

Harribel questioned curiously as she watched the little dog quickly run towards her companions. It seemed all he needed was his master's permission before running off without a care, as if fearing nothing in the world because of him. It was cute, in a way. Turning back to Yammy, she resumed communication as she observed Kukkapūro.

"The reason? You're… strange in these deserts. A group that came together to protect one another, with no common goal or grudges, is even rarer. A group of females. Something uncommon around here. I guess… I was just curious and didn't want to deal with the old arrogant bag of bones' nonsense so soon."

"I see… Well, I can promise to look after the little one while you hunt. However, this agreement stands only as long as you don't show hostility towards me or my companions!" Harribel concluded, punctuating her words with a flash of reiatsu, signaling she was ready to face him with everything for her pack.

"GURARARARA! I expected nothing less! But before we make an agreement, I have something to ask you."

"Hm?"

"I'd like to challenge you to a sparring match. I want to measure how much power difference there is between me and a Legendary VASTO LORDE like you… I need to know how much I have to evolve to face that bag of bones."

The giant declared this as if he were talking about the weather, disregarding that he had just admitted wanting to dethrone BARRAGAN LOUISENBAIRN!

"YOU WANT TO FIGHT BARRAGAN?!"

Harribel shouted, shocked at the audacity of the giant before her.

"Ha! OF COURSE! I refuse to live in this decaying world where that bag of bones behaves so rudely. He just sits around all the time, has a kingdom but rules nothing. Such great power in his hands, yet he doesn't use it—it's useless. Hollows are packs, leaving control in the hands of an old lunatic with delusions of grandeur would only lead to more pointless slaughter among us." The giant finished his speech, looking defiantly at Harribel, who still gazed at him in shock. She could see pure determination and honesty in the eyes of the Giant Kaiju Hollow… She…

As she looked at Yammy, something… deep inside Harribel resonated with his words… In part, she thought like him… Hueco Mundo under Barragan's control was slowly decaying… Maybe… just MAYBE… a new ruler who cares about and understands the suffering of his people… could be a better king…

In the distance, the shark's and the Kaiju's companions were already getting acquainted—

"AAAAAH, GET BACK HERE, YOU FLEA BAG!"

Apacci, the deer, tried to chase after the small Hollow dog with fury in her eyes, while being held back by her two companions.

"HEY, HEY, APACCI! IF YOU KICK HIM, YOU'LL KILL HIM! HAHAHAHA!"

Mila Rose said while holding onto Apacci's paws with her jaws.

"FUFUFUFU, don't be so dramatic, Apacci. It was just a little innocent joke from the puppy!" Cyen laughed while coiling her large serpentine body around Apacci to restrain her.

Apacci growled as she squirmed against the two—

"SHUT UP! IT WASN'T YOU THAT HE DARED TO USE AS A BATHROOM AND URINAL! I'LL STOMP YOU INTO THE GROUND, YOU LITTLE SHITTY FURBALL!"

As the chaos unfolded because of him, Kukkapūro just barked happily at the scene's humor. He was satisfied with the fun group, just as his master was. It seemed his master's family would grow, as would his own!

"WOOF WOOF"