Gabriel staggered into the dimly lit room that was his home, his gaze flickering around at all the stuff in there.
His claws scraped against the walls as he stumbled, his breathing heavy and guttural.
A shattered mirror on the far side of the room caught his attention, the fragments gleaming like shards of truth waiting to stab into his soul.
He hesitated for a moment, his monstrous form trembling. His red eyes locked onto the largest piece of the broken mirror. Slowly, he moved closer, his claws leaving faint scratches on the floor with every step. As his reflection came into focus, a low growl escaped his throat, part fear, part disbelief.
A white mask stared back at him, grotesque and jagged, with long, curved horns protruding from its sides. Black, matted hair cascaded down his back, framing the hollow mask that now concealed his face. His muscular body was covered in black and white markings, their chaotic patterns a stark contrast to the man he once was. Large, leathery wings stretched from his back, twitching as though they had a will of their own. A long, whip-like tail swayed behind him, its movements eerily serpentine.
This was not him.
"What... am I?" Gabriel's distorted voice rumbled, carrying an unnatural echo that filled the room. His claws reached up to touch the mask. Was this his face now...?
No...
As he turned around, he saw a little girl hiding behind a wall, shaking as she gazed at him.
Upon noticing her, Gabriel felt hunger... an immense, unbearable hunger deep within his core.
He found himself salivating at the mere thought of her. His stomach churned violently, his hunger trying to take over, his Id now being the only thing his body wanted to showcase.
He, however, still had control over those instincts—though barely. Eating a human soul did not feel right.
He salivated... but his Ego and Superego kept him from going further. His morals, the way he was raised, told him this was wrong. Society would never accept such a thing. He did not want to become a monster.
The little girl's trembling figure behind the wall sent a surge of heat coursing through him, her spiritual pressure radiating like the most tantalizing scent. Every fiber of his new being screamed for him to devour her, to sink his claws into her fragile form and consume her essence to satisfy the bottomless void within.
His claw twitched... his instincts slowly taking over. He wanted to eat her so badly—he was shaking.
A growl echoed from his throat, reverberating through the room like a predator stalking its prey.
The mask on his face seemed to tighten, amplifying the monstrous urges surging within him. Gabriel's wings flared slightly, readying themselves for a lunge as his tail whipped the air behind him.
But as he took one singular step forward, he saw the girl flinch. She looked terrified.
That fear... triggered a sharp pain in his chest.
A vivid memory erupted in his mind like a flash of lightning: the moment his father fell, bleeding out in his arms. He remembered the tears streaming down his face, the agony of loss, and the overwhelming helplessness.
His father's kind words, his unwavering love, and the sacrifice he made to protect others flooded Gabriel's consciousness.
"No," he rasped, the hunger momentarily subsiding under the weight of his grief. His claws trembled as he lowered them. "I won't... I won't do this."
The monster within roared in protest, thrashing violently against his will, but Gabriel refused to give in. The girl didn't deserve this. No one did. If he gave in now, he would become no different than the beast that had stolen his father's life.
Instinctively, as if his body knew what to do, he raised his clawed hand and tore open a Garganta.
He gave the girl one last glare before leaving.
This seemed to have been the right option, as five seconds after he left... someone wearing a black shihakusho appeared.
A Soul Reaper.
They were alerted about unusual activity in the gates of hell, functioning a bit, a hell hollow might have escaped, it was his job to put it down before it infected anyone.
This was not Gabriel's problem now.
As Gabriel stepped foot into Hueco Mundo, all he could see was an endless expanse of white.
This place resembled a desert.
Gabriel, however, was hungry.
His gaze eventually landed on a Fishbone Hollow nearby...
Gabriel, not feeling like letting his hunger take hold of him—
Jumped on the Hollow. Before the beast could react, its arm had been ripped away, and Gabriel was crunching on its body. He felt hungrier with each bite... his mind filled with only one thought.
DEVOUR.
He could not control himself, devouring the Hollow. He did not care that the beast was screaming in pain.
These things were the reason his father died. He would have no problem devouring their kind.
He ate and ate... until there was nothing left, and yet the hunger was still there.
He craved more food... he needed more food.
He did feel himself get stronger from that. Somewhere deep within him, something told him to keep eating.
Something told him he needed to eat...
To eat to become strong...
"Come buena comida, encuentra una buena mujer... y sé orgulloso de quién eres."
("Eat good food, find a good woman... and be proud of who you are.")
His father's words echoed in his mind... Yes... First, eat well...
He gazed at the land of Hueco Mundo. He could faintly sense the Hollows around him. He would avoid the strong ones and prey on those around his level or slightly above, as he wanted to test himself.
His other two goals would be to become strong enough to protect his loved ones... and find himself a wife.
Now... he was just hungry.
A/N Gabriel Sanguinoso