Bleach: Gazing Mirage

As Kira sat beneath the quartz-tree, she began to weigh her options. The most immediate concern was survival. She needed to find a way to sustain herself, to avoid the attention of stronger Hollows who might see her as either food or a threat. Turtlemourne and Lorisveil were strong, but they were no Vasto Lorde just regular hollows close to becoming Menos. If they were defeated, Kira would be left vulnerable, exposed to the dangers of Hueco Mundo.

But survival was not enough. Kira needed to grow stronger, to gather more Hollows under her command. She needed to build a force that could protect her, one that could strike fear into the hearts of those who might seek to harm her. She also needed to crave out a section of land that would become her fortress. And she needed to do it quickly, before the Soul Society or any Vasto Lordes took notice of her presence. Either side would kill for the power to control hollows as they please.

Vasto Lordes. The thought of them sent a shiver down Kira’s spine. They were the rulers of Hueco Mundo, the most powerful Hollows in existence, each one said to match and even possibly surpass a captain of the Gotei 13. If they discovered her, there was no telling what they might do. They could see her as a threat, or they might try to imprison and use her. Either way, she was done reacting to and following the orders of others. Soon it would be them that would crushed beneath her heel.

Kira’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Turtlemourne and Lorisveil returning, their bodies covered in the remnants of their meal. The sight filled her with a strange sense of satisfaction. These Hollows were hers, and they were growing stronger under her command.

"Did you encounter any trouble?" Kira asked, her tone casual as she regarded her two subordinates.

Turtlemourne rumbled in response, a low, guttural sound that Kira had come to interpret as a negative. Lorisveil, on the other hand, nodded slightly, its eyes glinting with something that could have been amusement.

Kira smiled. "Good. Continue to patrol the area. I want to know if any Hollows approach. If they seem strong don’t engage and return to me immediately."

The two Hollows nodded and disappeared back into the desert, their forms quickly blending into the darkness.

As she watched them go, Kira’s mind returned to the question of her future. For now, she would remain in Hueco Mundo, building her strength and consolidating her power. But eventually, she would need to make a move. She couldn’t hide forever, and she couldn’t stay in one place for too long. The world was vast, and there were many opportunities out there, if she was bold enough to seize them.

For the time being, Hueco Mundo would be her home. She would survive and she would wait for the right moment to strike. And when that moment came, she would be ready.

With that thought in mind, Kira closed her eyes and allowed herself to rest. The night was eternal in Hueco Mundo, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of peace. She was in control of her destiny now. The Soul Society, her family, Lady Yoruichi, and the Onmitsukidō—they were all behind her now. Here, in the endless white desert, Kira found the bleak scene before her to be the most peaceful she had ever seen.

Kira defined Hueco Mundo as a place where the strong thrived, and the weak were devoured. She however had no intention of being prey. To thrive in such a place, she would need to become stronger, more cunning, and more ruthless than she had ever been before. The thought didn’t frighten her. On the contrary, it exhilarated her. This was a chance to shed the shackles of her past and forge a new identity—a new her.

Her thoughts wandered to her zanpakutō, Hōtei no Kōi. Shinrai had served her well, allowing her to control the hollows she had encountered so far. But she knew that this ability alone wouldn’t be enough. The more she used it, the more it drained her reiryoku, and the weaker she became. As she used her ability more the reiryoku inside her deceased and the usual way to replenish it would be to consume reishi which in essence meant she would starve. She needed a way to replenish her energy, to ensure that she could continue using her powers without wasting away.

That was when she began to seriously consider her zanpakutō’s second ability: Hōtei no Kōsei—Law Creation. It was a main ability of her blade, one that allowed her to create temporary laws within a defined space. In fact, Shinrai also worked in a similar manner as Kira needed to cut her opponent allowing Hōtei no Kōi to create a law within her opponent that they must trust her. Because of this Shinrai needed to be reapplied every couple of days.

Hōtei no Kōsei’s laws had to be obeyed by all within the space, herself included. The potential of this ability was immense, but so were the risks. The more complex the law the more maintaining the law space required a significant amount of reiryoku. She also couldn’t sustain a law for too long else risk damaging her body. However, if used wisely, it could provide the solution to her immediate problem of starvation.

Although difficult Kira figured she could create a complex law that transferred the reiryoku of defeated opponents to the victor. In the harsh environment of Hueco Mundo, where battles for survival would be constant, this law could ensure that she at least remained well-fed. But to make this work, she would need to gather enough Hollows to feed upon at once. She couldn’t afford to expend so much of her energy for just one or two. The law space would have to be activated when the conditions were most favorable—when she could maximize the reiryoku she would gain from her fallen enemies.