Hold on!
Oswell cried out in his heart as his inky black Reiatsu surged like a raging tide, rapidly engulfing his bone armor.
Crack!
A sharp, resounding shatter suddenly echoed.
Did it hold…?
Encased in white sand, Oswell felt a fleeting moment of relief.
But in the next instant, as a searing pain shot across his face, his smile vanished without a trace.
"I still couldn't block it! This Shinigami is too strong!"
He gritted his teeth, the crushing force distorting his face beneath the mask.
Masatsuki Aozaki seized his face and mercilessly lifted him high above his head once more. Then, with a powerful swing of both hands, he hurled Oswell like a bowling ball thrown with all his might—straight into the horde of Hollows gathered on the Las Noches side.
A series of heavy thuds followed. Several powerful and high-ranking Adjuchas were instantly reduced to nothing but a mist of crimson blood.
Oswell's body crashed through multiple Adjuchas before slamming hard into the sand.
Boom!
The ground trembled as a massive crater formed, sending streams of sand scattering into the air.
The three late-arriving hollow girls were left in utter shock at the sight before them.
Can this even be considered a Shinigami?
Don't Shinigami usually purify Hollows with their Zanpakutō?
But this… this was nothing short of ruthless carnage—so brutal that even they, terrifying Menos themselves, felt dwarfed in comparison!
"Hah… hah… just who are you?"
Oswell struggled to his feet, his body drenched in blood. The once-pristine white mask on his face was now shattered, revealing half of the face that had long remained hidden from the world.
Beneath the mask was a strikingly handsome man.
He wiped the blood from his face, gasping for air as if he had just survived a relentless battle.
Masatsuki Aozaki swiftly unsheathed his Banshō Senran, his fingers hooking into the slightly trembling cross-star ring blade as he pulled hard.
The blade slid smoothly from its sheath, its hilt dropping perfectly into his grip.
A ribbon as pure as snow trailed from the blade, and in the next instant, the razor-sharp edge shot forward like an arrow, striking an oncoming Adjuchas dead center.
A piercing scream rang out. In a single slash, the powerful Hollow was cleaved clean in two!
"You don't need to know who I am," Masatsuki Aozaki said coldly, his voice carrying the overwhelming authority of an absolute force. "Even if you did, it wouldn't matter."
Step by step, he advanced toward Oswell, Banshō Senran gleaming with a chilling light in his grip.
With every swing, a storm of blood rained down.
With every strike, Adjuchas who dared to stand in his way were torn apart—limbs severed, bodies crippled, left utterly incapable of continuing the fight.
The three hollow girls stared in horror, their eyes wide, their throats tight as they swallowed nervously. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Moving with the utmost caution, they quietly crept over to Harribel. But when they finally got a clear look at her, their eyes darkened with alarm—she was severely wounded.
"Harribel-sama, we're saved! You must hold on!" The three Hollow girls—Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun—cried out anxiously.
Seeing them unharmed, Harribel let out a long sigh of relief.
Although she was filled with doubts about the man who had stepped forward to protect her, uncertain of his intentions, the current situation made one thing clear—this handsome man was not her enemy.
"Sigh… I really am too weak…"
Harribel muttered to herself heavily, lowering her head as her gaze fell upon the gaping wound in her abdomen.
The wound was healing painfully slowly—far too slow—due to her excessive depletion of Reiatsu. Under normal circumstances, an injury like this would have fully healed in less than three seconds.
Masatsuki Aozaki casually glanced at the four reunited women, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile. Then, his gaze locked onto Oswell, standing not far ahead.
As a Vasto Lorde, Oswil possessed only second-rate Reiatsu, but even so, he was considered a rare powerhouse in Hueco Mundo. Even without becoming an Arrancar, his strength was enough to contend with most Captain-level opponents.
Unfortunately, today, he had encountered Masatsuki Aozaki.
"I admire your talent. Will you swear loyalty to me? If you follow me, I will grant you even greater power."
As he spoke, the two clashed once more. Masatsuki Aozaki struck Oswell with a single blow, sending him flying back. A sharp light flickered in his eyes.
Masatsuki Aozaki had absolute confidence in his strength.
A Vasto Lorde of second-rank Reiatsu? He was certain he could suppress him with ease. If he could subdue Oswell, it would be a significant step in expanding his influence in Hueco Mundo.
However, Oswil merely let out a derisive laugh in response to Masatsuki Aozaki's offer.
"After everything that's happened, you still expect me to submit? It seems those three have already chosen to follow you."
"Putting aside whether I'd even be willing to bow my head… even if I agreed, would you truly trust me without hesitation?"
Masatsuki Aozaki waved a hand dismissively and replied with unwavering certainty,
"I have always been tolerant of those with value. As long as you treat me with sincerity, I will respond in kind."
Oswell's mocking smile faded in an instant. His expression grew solemn as he stared into Masatsuki Aozaki's eyes, eyes filled with nothing but sincerity.
For a long moment, Oswell remained silent, as if trying to peer into the depths of the man's soul. But in the end, it was futile.
After a brief pause, he shook his head lightly and spoke in a measured tone.
"I have to admit… in this moment, even I feel a slight admiration for your magnanimity."
He stopped for a moment, as if lost in thought, then continued,
"If I had met someone like you before pledging my loyalty to His Majesty Baraggan, I might have followed you without a second thought."
"But unfortunately, I am now His Majesty Baraggan's knight. Even if I fall here, I will never betray him."
His final words carried an unshakable resolve, leaving no room for negotiation.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake