Runuganga (ルヌガンガ, Runuganga) is a giant Hollow who serves as the Guardian of the White Sands and acts under orders to protect Las Noches from intruders.

Appearance

Runuganga has a large, grey body and is made from sand. His arms are long, with the forearms being much thicker than his upper arms. Runuganga's head resembles a sand castle, while his Hollow hole is in the center of his chest. He wears a low-slung cloth around his waist and decorated bracelets on both wrists.

Personality

Due to his brief appearance, his personality is not fully known, but he interpreted Ichigo's attack as a treacherous and remorseless attack, which angered him.^[1]

Plot

Hueco Mundo arc

Runuganga blocks the passage of Yasutora Sado, Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, Dondochakka Birstanne, and Pesche Guatiche during their journey to Las Noches who expresses surprise that Nelliel helps the intruders. The three friends from the Human World attack the Guardian relentlessly, but their attacks all fail as they are similar in nature, and Runuganga can simply reform after being attacked by them. They are eventually saved by the arrival of Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki. Rukia uses her Shikai's second dance, Hakuren, and defeats Runuganga.^[2]

Powers and Abilities

Sand Manipulation: Runuganga has the innate ability to manipulate the sand. He can use this ability to create massive pits in order to trap the group of Humans, Shinigami and Arrancar trying to infiltrate Las Noches.^[3] Runuganga can also create multiple tornadoes.^[4]

• High-Speed Regeneration: During his battle with Ichigo, Chad, and Uryū, Runuganga was able to use his sand to regenerate lost body parts and wounds, making him immune to most physical and Kidō attacks.^[5]

• Unhinged Jaw: Runuganga has the ability to widen his jaw to such a size as to swallow the entire group of his opponents in one fell swoop.^[6]

• Multiple Bodies: Runuganga is said to have many bodies as he is basically just sand. Killing his individual bodies does not kill him as a whole.^[7]

Weakness

Water: Being made of sand, Runuganga's only known weakness is water; which makes it impossible for him to regenerate from. This sole vulnerability makes him extra dangerous due to a lack of liquids in Hueco Mundo. Rukia's Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki, which has ice-based powers, was able to kill Runuganga with one attack.^[8]

Trivia

• Runuganga's defeat is altered in the anime to enable the inclusion of the Forest of Menos, which was excised from the initial manga due to time-constraints. In the anime, Runuganga survives Rukia's initial attack, and reappears shortly afterwards to open a sinkhole that sends the group tumbling into the Forest of Menos.^[9]

References

Navigation

Hollow
Hollow Abilities	Cero • Kūmon • Negación • High-Speed Regeneration
Notable Hollows	Fishbone D • Hexapodus • Acidwire • Shrieker • Grand Fisher • The Demi-Hollow • Bulbous G • Numb Chandelier • Metastacia • The Menos Grande • Cuerno • Bawabawa • Runuganga • Angila • Ayon • Hooleer • Guardians of the Forest of Menos • Zonzain • Battikaroa • Michel • Tapeworm Hollow • Yōsuke • White • Ikomikidomoe
Notable Places	Hueco Mundo • Forest of Menos • Las Noches