Harribel lay quietly in the dim cave, her gaze slowly shifting to the handsome man before her, who wore a faint smile.
Then, she lifted her head and stared at the pitch-black ceiling above.
On either side of her stood two massive Adjuchas—Apacci and Mila Rose.
The two towering female Menos flanked her, fussing over her condition with visible concern.
However, their anxious chatter was relentless, ringing in her ears and making her already aching head throb even more.
After a period of rest, Harribel's Reiatsu had nearly recovered, and her Ultra-Speed Regeneration had returned to its usual efficiency.
By now, her wounds had almost completely healed.
The once-torn flesh had mended, and a layer of smooth, white bone armor encased her body once more.
Harribel, the golden-haired warrior—Hueco Mundo's Valkyrie—had faced an unprecedented crisis, yet she had survived.
After suffering severe injuries and falling into unconsciousness, she had been carried to this temporary underground refuge by her closest companions, where she received timely medical care.
"You sure can sleep! You've been out for an entire day and night."
After thoroughly examining Harribel's condition, Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled and teased,
"But don't worry, I have some knowledge of healing techniques. Your injuries aren't serious."
Masatsuki had studied Kaidō under Retsu Unohana, and after years of rigorous training, his mastery had reached extraordinary heights.
With full concentration, he meticulously assessed Harribel from head to toe, inside and out, ensuring a thorough examination.
Not only that, but he had even prepared an incredibly detailed medical report, neatly inscribed with the name "Harribel" at the top.
Every detail was accounted for—the sheer level of precision was almost excessive.
"...You're not going to kill us?"
Harribel sat up, her turquoise eyes locking onto Masatsuki Aozaki's with confusion.
He had shown no mercy when dealing with Las Noches before. Even now, he could easily end her life.
So why hadn't he?
Why was this Shinigami tending to her injuries with such care instead?
It never even occurred to her that the man before her might have ulterior motives.
After all, beneath the bone-white armor that covered her like a second skin, her entire body was concealed—even her face was hidden, save for a pair of piercing, luminous eyes.
"I do enjoy fighting, but I wouldn't call myself a bloodthirsty lunatic. Honestly, I don't get you people—always talking about life and death."
Masatsuki waved a hand dismissively and said in an offhanded tone,
"If you want to thank someone, thank Sung-Sun and the others. They practically sold themselves just to get me to save you."
Harribel frowned slightly, still filled with doubt.
"Shinigami... You are a Shinigami, aren't you? Then why are you helping us Hollows?"
Masatsuki Aozaki gazed at the Vasto Lorde before him in silence.
For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze, the only sound between them the quiet rhythm of their breathing.
Then, at last, he broke the silence.
"Believe me, Harribel... I don't care whether someone is a Hollow or a Shinigami."
His voice was steady and calm, yet the conviction within it was impossible to ignore.
Harribel's body tensed slightly, her eyes widening as she stared at this enigmatic man.
She had never imagined that a Shinigami would say something like that.
Masatsuki Aozaki spoke again.
"What I truly care about… is you, Harribel! You, as a person!"
"I need you, Harribel. Will you stand by my side and walk this path with me?"
His gaze remained locked onto Harribel, his eyes shining with anticipation.
"Companion? Walk together?"
Harribel murmured to herself, momentarily dazed. She couldn't comprehend it—Why would a Shinigami with such unfathomable power make such an unimaginable request?
The war between Shinigami and Hollows had raged for millions of years, persisting since the world's very creation.
Shinigami and Hollows were supposed to be eternal enemies!
And yet… even the mighty Oswell had fallen before him. How could she, then, even consider herself worthy of being his enemy?
The thought left her with a sense of frustration.
However, deep within her, an unfamiliar longing stirred at Masatsuki Aozaki's proposal.
She had endured countless battles, steeped in bloodshed. The endless cycle of fighting had long since exhausted her.
At her core, she despised combat—
And to make things more complicated, this man—this undeniably handsome man—had saved her life.
How could she possibly see him as an enemy?
Harribel leaned quietly against the headboard, replaying Masatsuki Aozaki's words over and over in her mind, lost in silence.
A Shinigami… seeking companionship with a Hollow? It was unthinkable!
Yet, for some reason, the sincerity in Masatsuki Aozaki's eyes lingered within her, refusing to fade…
"You have plenty of time to think it over. There's no need to rush—I'll wait."
Masatsuki Aozaki's voice was calm, laced with warmth. Then, with a graceful movement, he leaped onto the other stone bed.
Harribel's gaze first drifted to the man beside her, already fast asleep, his features at ease.
Then, she turned toward Apacci and Mila Rose, who were playfully messing around, and finally to Sung-Sun, who had just entered the cave with a light sway, a faint smile on her lips.
This Shinigami… he treats them well.
Harribel's eyes flickered slightly, as though caught in the midst of an internal struggle.
…
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and a full week had gone by.
Masatsuki Aozaki led his companions to the surface.
Before them stretched an endless desert, its golden sands rolling toward the horizon, so vast that even the farthest reaches were impossible to discern.
As Masatsuki Aozaki had predicted, after seven days of contemplation, Harribel had given him her answer.
Now, she stood respectfully at his side, her head slightly bowed.
"Masatsuki-sama… do you truly have a way to increase our strength without devouring other Hollows?"
That question was the final weight on the scale—the one that tipped it completely.
In that moment, all of Harribel's hesitation vanished, and she chose to stand by Masatsuki Aozaki's side.
She knew that if she wanted to protect Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose, she needed power.
She despised using her strength to harm others, but when faced with those who wielded power recklessly… what other choice was there?
The only way to resist the cruel forces of the world was to grow stronger.
Yet, even though Masatsuki Aozaki treated her as a companion, Harribel still insisted on addressing him with honor.
In Hueco Mundo, a land where the strong ruled over the weak, showing deference to power was the natural order.
"There is a way," Masatsuki Aozaki nodded, "but I haven't tested it yet. And this isn't the right place for that."
"Then where are we going?" Apacci asked eagerly.
"The Forest of Menos."
As confusion flickered across the group's faces, Masatsuki Aozaki elaborated:
"The place you call the 'Forest of Death'—I intend to establish a temporary base there."
Sung-Sun mused thoughtfully.
"As expected of Masatsuki-sama. The Forest of Death, being home to the Gillians, truly lives up to the name 'Forest of Menos.'"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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