Darwin breaks the ice between them. Like a veteran craftsman, Darwin knew his abilities inside out.
"Iyono Barrage."
With loud bangs, a hurl of bullets burst forward aiming at Gorr's head.
The wit, the schemes, the innovative ideas, Gorr had his eyes wide open darting across the battlefield.
'What is he going to do after?' Gorr thought, but something was amiss.
His intuition was always on point. From the day of where he was a scrawny coward, he knew where to go, what to do because he was a survivor.
However, today marked a new beginning, a turn over, a new chapter inked in dread.
"Gorr…"
Darwin spoke, but naming him was adding fuel to this psychological warefare.
The sense of palpable pressure was vivid and heavy.
The Iyono Barrage Darwin made were underwhelming to say the least. Gorr knew that there was nothing that could pose danger to him within his vicinity.
But that was the main reason as to why ants were crawling at the back of his spine.
Darwin knew that Gorr knew that he was as a threat.
But Gorr knew that Darwin knew that he knew.
Darwin grinned, he snapped his fingers as he begin to reveal his trickery.
His bullets were a farce, the small miasmic balls that lingered behind each one.
They were the rock—Gorr was the egg.
Without enough time to guard himself, the unappealing bombs of doom detonate in quick succession. It crackled in a thunderous chain reaction as it sent Gorr hurdling back, metres upon metres, until he landed back first upon the sturdy walls.
A firm and remarkable imprint of his back layed bare on the walls—a testament to the Darwin's growing power.
"What an unbelievable scene! The unknown contestant played a cunning game with non other than Gorr the Dominator!"
Many were in disbelief, their mouth hung low, their nails pierced through their skin in a fit of anger.
Many have thought this to be an easy win for the four known contestants as they have bet their very souls upon the Reishi Betting Board.
The audience couldn't hold themselves back, they screamed at Gorr to stand up and fight back.
The restless crowd were hollowed out from the intense ringing in both of Gorr's ears.
His eyes dulled into the void.
And yet, he got back up, will alone.
"Thanks for waking me up." Cracking his stiff neck, Gorr felt more comfortable than ever, even whilst having blood surrounding his figure.
"Power comes at a cost, and in this wretched world, the cost are the lives of many."
"But power is an answer to the problems we face. Isn't that right Darwin?"
Darwin was stunned, his stone cold expression twitched, this was the second time he felt his world view was being attacked, challenged, and drag down in the midst of mud.
Closing his eyes, Darwin slipped back into that small, innocent bubble within himself.
Like every other soul born of Hueco Mundo, he had once been a lost human—
a wandering spirit with no place to go.
That quiet ache, that silent hunger to know more... it never truly left him.
'I don't know.'
The thought was bitter. Tasteless.
Like having the capacity to understand, but no understanding at all.
Why had he been cursed with such ruinous power? Why had he become a being even Hollows feared and revered?
Who was he?
This narrow, thorn-ridden road—why was he walking it?
Why couldn't he step onto the one others did?
The road that was warm, wide, and filled with unity?
As he transitions his mind to reality.
Gorr stood idly by, waiting for an answer, the others above weren't so patient.
But he continued to ignore, awaiting for Darwin's answer.
"My existence wasn't made for others. Others were made to put meaning into my existence."
Somewhere in his inner domain…
The darken silhouette that sat on the throne, grinned, ever so slightly…
"Gorr!"
"You have reawakened me. As a token of appreciation for your gift…"
Darwin's mind exploded opened, like a Pandora's box without the lid. The things he will do will struck the awe of those around him.
The envy, the greed, the loathing. He will take it all.
He will stand at the pinnacle of Hollow evolution.
"I will show you something… new."
He placed his palms together, firm and tight. Like magic, he opens up his palms to reveal an orb, luminous in beauty, small in mystery.
'Through many quiet attempts. I've finally perfected—'
Something stopped his thoughts, soon, his vision and mind was engulfed by an apparent darkness.
'No wait—!'
Loneliness will seek you…
His soul spoke, like the nerves that controlled his body, it collapsed and shutdown.
Then, the orb shatters, dark energy started to circulate around Darwin.
The audience watching above went silent. Some had a glimpse of Darwin's dark energy felt an unusual fear creeping up in their very souls.
Gorr was no different, he stared wide eyed, focused and eager to know more.
But that tingling sensation couldn't be stopped.
This was no ordinary ability, it was a silent transformation that was happening right in front of his eyes.
"What is this?"
Gorr gulped, his instincts flaring at an alarming rate.
Darwin, transformed into a grotesque figure, giant and slumped, his body radiated pure terror.
Each step, was a step causing everyone's souls to feel violently attacked. Like an unknown plague, it was a death sentence to those nearby.
He was the almagamation of everyone's fears. This sense of dread and foreboding left everyone watching to run out and flee.
There was no Muro De Regla to protect them, there was no one who could stop him.
They knew immediately what was going to happen soon to them.
Who cared about their bets, who cared about staying to watch something exciting.
Their very existence was going to be taken away if left alone.
The announcer was gone, the VIP were gone, most of the people watching disappeared to thin air, no where to be seen.
Gorr lifted his arms up, he was battle ready, this unknown sensation was new to him.
He use to be the one who struck fear into his opponents. That sensation of making each and everyone opponent bend to your will, it was almost euphoric.
Each second passing by, Gorr felt the increasing pressure.
The air felt so thin, he couldn't breath properly as he tugs at his throat.
He couldn't stand up straight and look up at the disturbing, vile existence who was once a rival.