"What a sight… Befitting a man who clasped hands with an inferior."
Darwin wiped the blood from the edge of his lips, smirked.
"Even if they are inferior, being someone like me gets lonely." He admitted, life would've went stale if he hadn't met interesting people along the way.
Even if it meant each encounter would lead to potential death, it was fate, it was meant to be.
The shadow's eye slit, growing more sharper with each coming second. Then, it kicked Darwin, sending him further back within this empty void.
Grappled in his spiraling thoughts, Darwin was conflicted at this shadow's attempt to talk sense to him.
"Don't you understand?!"
Throwing both swords toward the defeated man at razor, sharp speed, it couldn't help but feel immense frustration looking at a sorry figure which laid sprawling on the floor.
And that sorry figure was non other than Darwin, light seemed to fade around his body. His once confident demeanour had reverted back to the innocent, oblivious creature he use to be.
That weak Hollow that walked across the many sand dunes of Hueco Mundo, Darwin remembered that he was that being before.
"Solitude is the answer to your journey! It's the only right answer!"
For an eternity, this shadow was watching over Darwin, slowly, but surely unlocking his innate powers.
Meeting stronger beings like Mies and Harribel, it was a bound sign towards leading greatness. And yet, Darwin grew subtle attachment.
As it continued observing his actions, it felt betrayed, immensely hurt.
Darkness clouded Darwin's eyes, he then murmured in whispers, "Didn't you see… I've already cut ties?"
The shadow could tell, that slumbering guilt, burdens of emotional attachment, it was dragging his Hollow life down.
"Then why are you thinking about the friendship you've made with an inferior? Don't you see contradictions would lead to disappointment?"
Drawing the blade that was wedged into the void right next to Darwin's face, it aimed at his throat, though shaken.
"You are no malevolent king… You are just a lost soul who craves connection… A dependent organism…"
Slowly, blood drew near Darwin's neck, but he never twitched, not an ounce of fear was displayed on his dull, listless expression.
"Why aren't you fighting back?! Are you just going to let yourself die right here right now?!"
Laying down flat on the ground, he could sense this connection he had with this shadow.
Overwhelming sadness, overwhelming pain, and a lingering desire to help the man in front.
There's no reason for Darwin to protect himself, because he knew, the shadow that stood in front drawing its dangerous blade against his neck was non other than the one who had gifted him strength.
"You—! YOU—! Do you know how many times I tried talking to you?"
It's voice laced in anger.
"For eons! FOR EONS! Three thousand years have passed…"
It bit its lips, tensing its facial features.
"I should've locked your mind and let you succumb to ruin. Then you would find true strength at the end of this tunnel."
Darwin listened, pondered at each word.
"It must be lonely, you must feel frustrated seeing the state I'm currently at…"
"But just know… I am no grotesque being who would succumb to ruin…I am…Darwin…"
Channeling a powerful shockwave centred around his core, the shadow flew backwards landing himself perfectly stable.
Albeit, it felt a surge of power oozing out of Darwin. Was it powerful? It might've been, but there was a tad of something more.
It couldn't pin a nail onto whatever it was. Was the shadow lost? Did it just contradicted itself in front of the 'lost soul' who was in front?
Gritting its teeth in anguish, the shadow hurled itself at Darwin, whispering through clenched jaws—
"Impossible…"
Darwin, calm amidst the rising storm, raised two fingers. His touch barely brushed the Reishi particles dancing around him.
"Muro De Regla."
A transparent wall bloomed forth—unshakable, indomitable, untouched by the chaos.
The shadow struck with all its might. A punch that would've shattered flesh, bone, and spirit echoed through the void, sending deafening vibrations outward.
And yet… nothing. Not a crack. Not a tremor.
The wall stood still.
The shadow's breath hitched. "H—how…?"
'All those times, questioning my existence left me in dread, unfulfilled. But… now… I understand who I am…'
"Muro De Regla is a skill exclusive to the lineage of the Ancient. If I can use it, there is only one answer that fill up the blanks."
"No… impossible…y—you are not suppose to use that! Not yet!"
The shadow taken aback, staggered in its jittery steps.
Its breath hitched out of sync, it felt like the whole world collapsed on its shoulders.
Immediately, Darwin saw this golden opportunity as he dashes towards the shadow to end it all.
Gesturing his arm towards the shadow, he gently caressed its head.
"Why?" The shadow looked up to see a man unperturbed.
"I am no malevolent king… I recalled my actions, the indiscriminate killings, it just didn't fit me at all…"
He was soft spoken, calm as a river by the lake, tranquil as the traversal ocean.
"You helped me set a path, a path I've never would've imagined taking."
"There's no solitude because you are here helping me out along the way…"
He smiled, gesturing a handshake towards the slumped shadow.
The shadow saw a golden light in front, as it looked closer to the silhouette basking in it, it saw a gentle being.
"Darwin…You are such a weird guy."
Then it took Darwin's hand, alleviating the burdens it had carried on its shoulder.
"My name is…"
Ruination of a thousand lives…
Wield me…
Use me…
All those go against your will be left vanquished…
"Darwin… I have something else to tell you…"
The shadow was hesitant, thinking if it was wise to tell him in advance.
"What is it that you wish to tell me?"
"You have another form, it sleeps deeper inside your soul…"
"But… If you ever want to use it… you will need to fall within depths of despair…"