Drop Some power stones! If you like the chapter! It helps to keep me motivated to upload more!šššĀ
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The battle raged on in the distance, but Neliel was suddenly overcome by an inexplicable force. Clutching her head in agony, she collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.
Time passed, each moment stretching endlessly, and the long-buried memories in her mind began to resurface gradually.
As the memories awakened, wisps of white mist coiled around Neliel, enshrouding her in an ethereal glow. Simultaneously, her body underwent a tremendous transformation.
Once a child, she slowly began to grow taller, her form maturing until she became a well-proportioned woman with striking curves. Her short hair elongated, cascading past her waist in a vibrant sea-green hue. A distinctive crimson facial marking stretched across her cheeks, while a scar ran from her forehead down to the right side of her nose.
The loose cyan robe that had draped her smaller frame was replaced by a battle-worn halter top and tattered shorts, exposing her toned midriff.
As she slowly opened her eyes, a flash of clarity and realization gleamed within them.
At that moment, her thoughts turned to Pesche and Dondochakka, who remained unconscious nearby.
Neliel rose unsteadily, stepping out of the dissipating mist, but her gaze was immediately drawn to a figure standing amidst the interplay of light and shadow.
Aaron smiled and nodded at her.
"Big brother, was it you who just defeated that opponent?" Neliel asked hesitantly, still piecing together the events that had unfolded.
Aaron, who had been about to continue his search for Ichigo and the others, glanced back at the fallen enemy and gave a brief nod.
"Beyond this point lies the depths of the Menos Forest," Neliel warned. "The Hollows here may be of average strength, but their numbers are vast. If you proceed recklessly, unforeseen dangers may arise."
Though Neliel had regained her original form, the memories from her time as a child remained vivid. She clearly remembered Pesche and Dondochakka being attackedāand how Aaron had saved her at the last moment.
While she had no doubts about his strength, she couldn't bear to let her savior walk into danger alone.
Aaron simply smiled again and replied in a soft, reassuring tone, "I'll be fine."
Hearing his nonchalant response, Neliel felt a surge of urgency. She stepped forward, reaching out to stop him from advancing.
At that moment, a brilliant slash of light descended from above, forcing Neliel to leap backward several meters.
A newcomer had arrivedāa figure clad in a tattered cloak of Hollow armor, his face obscured by an antelope-shaped mask. His ZanpakutÅ was drawn, its sharp edge pointed directly at Neliel, as an overwhelming surge of Reiatsu radiated from his body.
"Leave! This place is too dangerous!" the masked warrior commanded, his warning clearly meant for Aaron.
Just as he raised his weapon to strike at Neliel again, a voice rang out from nearby.
Rukia Kuchiki landed gracefully on the battlefield, her gaze immediately locking onto Aaron, who stood behind the masked warrior.
With a relieved wave, she called out, "Teacher!"
Aaron met her eyes and gave a small nod, his expression unreadable as he observed the masked warrior who stood between them.
Using Shunpo, Rukia swiftly appeared at Aaron's side and turned to the warrior. "Asido! What are you doing?"
Asido slowly removed his mask, his cautious eyes shifting to Neliel. His grip on his ZanpakutÅ did not loosen.
Aaron took a step forward, his gaze meeting Asido's as he gave a slight nod.
Those present were momentarily puzzled by Aaron's silent gesture. Though Rukia didn't fully understand Neliel's identity, she trusted her teacher's strength and sensed that there was more to the situation.
She broke the silence. "Asido, this is Aaron, my teacher in this world."
Then, turning to Aaron, she added, "Teacher, this is Asido. He once saved my life."
A groan interrupted them as Pesche and Dondochakka stirred, still weak from their injuries.
Ignoring Asido, Neliel immediately turned and ran toward her fallen comrades.
Meanwhile, Asido, who had been so rigid just moments ago, now looked at Rukia with disbelief. He took a cautious step forward and asked, "Rukia, did you sayā¦ Aaron?"
Rukia frowned slightly, uncertain why Asido was reacting so strongly, but she nodded. "Yes, my teacherāAaron."
Asido's expression shifted as if lost in deep thought. After several seconds of silence, he stepped closer to Aaron.
"ā¦Are you really Aaron?" he asked, his voice laced with shock.
Though Aaron didn't know what was going through Asido's mind, he gave a small nod.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Asido suddenly bowed deeply.
"Senior! Forgive my rudeness!" he exclaimed.
Asido then began recounting the story he had carried in his heart for over five hundred years.
Five centuries ago, Asido and his comrades received an orderāto journey to Hueco Mundo in search of a legendary warrior named Aaron.
As a member of the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force, Aaron had survived in the realm of Hollows for five hundred years.
At the time, Asido and his team had doubts. To them, it was unthinkable that anyone could endure in Hueco Mundo for so long.
Nevertheless, duty compelled them forward. Upon arrival, they split into groups to search for signs of Aaron.
But fate was cruelāAsido's team was ambushed within the Menos Forest. One by one, his comrades fell, until he alone remained.
Though already a seated officer in terms of strength, he was unable to save his friends. Resolving to fight to the end, he remained in the forest, determined to battle the Menos Grande until his last breath.
Yet as time passed, he uncovered a chilling legendāwhispers among the Hollows spoke of a "God-Slayer."
A lone warrior who collected the masks and armor of his defeated foes as trophies.
A being who had personally slain nearly two-thirds of the Menos Grande population in Hueco Mundo.
His name was Aaron.
From that day on, Asido realized the true magnitude of the man they had been sent to find.
Inspired by this legend, he fashioned his own armor from the masks of fallen Hollows, surviving countless battles. For five hundred years, he remained in the Menos Forest, living by the blade.
Over the centuries, he encountered other Shinigami who ventured into the forestābut to honor the promise he had made to his fallen comrades, he avoided them.
Thus, he fought alone for five centuries.
Hearing Asido's tale, Rukia turned to look at Aaron.
From the moment she met Asido, she had sensed an eerie resemblance between him and her teacher.
Now, she understood why.
Aaron, too, was silent, lost in thought. If Asido had not been sent to Hueco Mundo to search for him, perhaps he wouldn't have been stranded in the Menos Forest for centuries.
He thought back to the five hundred years of ceaseless battle he had endured in Hueco Mundo.
Finally, he took two steps forward, reaching into his system backpack. Retrieving a piece of Hollow armor he had once kept as a collector's item, he handed it to Asido.
"Take it. Go back," Aaron said gently, patting Asido's shoulder.
[Time always advances, slipping away before one can even sigh. Do not dwell on the pastāyour hope is behind you, waiting, existing only in the ever-moving current of fate.]
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