Join my Patreon to read advanced chapters.
Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
patreon.com/FrancisMWFosterHome
The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days.
patreon.com/FrancisMWFosterHome
Late at night.
Kanbaru lay quietly on the bed, covered with a thin blanket.
At some point, the blanket began to shift, and soon, Nilu wriggled out from underneath, lying beside Kanbaru and staring at him without blinking.
"You snuck in again."
Kanbaru smiled gently and ran his fingers through Nilu's soft hair. Although Nilu initially shared a room with Kurosaki Masaki, she always managed to sneak into Kanbaru's bed each night. He had long since accepted it.
"Hmm. I just want to be close to Kanbaru."
Nilu smiled sweetly, wrapping herself around Kanbaru like an affectionate octopus, letting out a small, satisfied hum.
"I really can't do anything about you. But I bet Masaki is quite distressed."
Thinking of Kurosaki Masaki, whose relationship with Nilu had always been tenuous at best, Kanbaru chuckled softly.
"Kanbaru, I want to become stronger than I am now."
"I want to help you."
Suddenly, Nilu looked at him earnestly, her tone soft but resolute.
Evolution is an instinct among Hollows.
Driven by a primal desire to ascend the hierarchy, Hollows relentlessly devour others to grow stronger. Many prey on spiritually gifted humans, seeking to evolve into Adjuchas or even Vasto Lorde-class beings.
But Nilu was different.
She had long since overcome that vicious nature and forged her own will—one built on loyalty and love. When she was at her weakest, it was Kanbaru who protected her without hesitation. Now, she wished to return the favor.
To do so, she needed more power.
Power that could allow her to stand by Kanbaru's side, not as a burden, but as a true partner.
#913 Has it become stronger?
"Let me think about it."
Kanbaru narrowed his eyes, falling into contemplation.
According to current knowledge, even Arrancar of the Vasto Lorde class—like Ulquiorra Cifer, the Cuarta Espada—could only transcend their limits by entering a second Resurrección state, an incredibly rare feat. Another example was Coyote Starrk, the Primera Espada, who was rumored to possess an overwhelming yet tragically untapped second stage. Despite his immense power, Starrk remained detached, almost indifferent to combat, making him an anomaly among the Espada.
But aside from such rare exceptions, Menos-class Hollows reaching new heights beyond Vasto Lorde was nearly unheard of.
Until now.
Kanbaru had something even Aizen once failed to fully master—the Hōgyoku.
The Hōgyoku, a unique spiritual object created by Urahara Kisuke and later partially completed by Aizen Sōsuke, has the power to manifest the innermost desires of its user. While Aizen's version remained imperfect for much of the series, Kanbaru had successfully fused with a complete Hōgyoku—a perfect spiritual entity that resonated with its host's deepest wishes.
As long as Kanbaru's own Reiatsu remained vast and stable, the Hōgyoku could grant evolution beyond all existing boundaries.
In theory, he could help Nilu evolve again.
Aizen had used the incomplete Hōgyoku to forcibly convert Gillian-class Menos into Arrancar, shaping an artificial army. Kanbaru, fused with the perfected Hōgyoku, possessed far more precise control and vastly superior potential.
That meant—Nilu could evolve beyond Vasto Lorde.
Feeling the faint warmth radiating from the Hōgyoku within his chest, Kanbaru's confidence surged.
At that moment, a stream of internal system entries surfaced, verifying his thoughts.
> [Recently, my girlfriend went for a paternity test, and the results said the child wasn't mine. Obviously, the test is wrong—how could I get cheated on? No way!]
[Back to the point. Let's talk about Nilu, who has already bonded with you.]
[Just like how Shinigami can reach perfect evolution, or how Yhwach is the culmination of Quincy bloodlines, Vasto Lorde is not the ultimate form for Hollows.]
[With the Hōgyoku—our divine "Water Dragon Orb"—you can help Nilu surpass the hollow limit and ascend to a higher spiritual dimension.]
[Tip: The stronger your Reiatsu, the faster Nilu's evolution progresses. But don't "recharge" too frequently. Even though Nilu's body is monster-class, it's still... not quite built for that.]
Kanbaru raised an eyebrow.
The data confirmed it: Vasto Lorde wasn't the capstone for Hollow evolution. More importantly, Nilu's progress was linked directly to his Reiatsu.
"Then let's try it."
"Nilu, do you trust me?"
Kanbaru turned toward her, his eyes steady and calm.
"Mm. I trust you completely, Kanbaru."
Her smile was bright and unwavering. Without hesitation, she nodded.
"Then start drawing my Reiatsu."
"Don't worry—it won't hurt me."
He preemptively reassured her, knowing she'd resist anything that might cause him harm.
"Alright…"
Nilu took his hand gently. Even though she believed in him, she remained cautious—ready to cut off the transfer instantly if anything felt off.
She would never allow Kanbaru to be endangered, not even by her own hand.
As she began to absorb his Reiatsu, Kanbaru simultaneously activated the power of the Hōgyoku.
He started slowly, allowing only a trickle of energy to flow into her body, carefully watching her reaction. Then, as Nilu's spiritual pressure began to shift, he gradually increased the output.
"Hm... it's a good thing I didn't go all-in from the start..."
Kanbaru muttered as he observed the strain on her body.
While the Hōgyoku granted perfect evolution, the process still required the recipient's body and soul to withstand the transformation.
An unworthy host—or one with insufficient spiritual strength—would be obliterated upon contact with the Hōgyoku.
> [Her Reiatsu is climbing. As long as she continues absorbing yours, Nilu can break the Vasto Lorde threshold and move into a higher state of being.]
[But hey, the "charging" method is a lot more effective, you sure you don't want to try that?]
Kanbaru ignored the teasing suggestion and withdrew his hand.
He had confirmed Nilu's capacity for further evolution, and forcing more energy into her now could be counterproductive.
Besides, the Hōgyoku inside him had begun to react again—glowing softly, syncing further with his spiritual core.
As he guided Nilu through her growth, he too was evolving. By deepening his connection with the Hōgyoku, he was gradually shifting toward a higher state of existence.
"A mutual progression…"
He withdrew his hand from his chest and smiled.
"Mmnh…"
A soft groan echoed in the room.
Nilu's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes. Upon seeing Kanbaru, she lit up and wrapped herself around him with joy.
"Kanbaru! I really feel stronger now."
Clinging to him, she practically purred in contentment. Her spiritual pressure had indeed increased, and she could feel her body adapting to the surge.
"Okay, okay. Stop squirming…"
Kanbaru laughed and tried to steady her, but Nilu's affection made it difficult.
Outside, the night deepened.
Thick mist rolled through the streets, cloaking everything in an eerie silence. Visibility was no more than ten meters, and not a single vehicle passed by.
Suddenly—
Swish! Swish!
Two shadowy figures shot across rooftops, blurring through the fog at tremendous speed.
Moments later, they landed atop a quiet house.
Kanbaru's residence.
Without a word, they exchanged glances and slipped inside, stealthily advancing until they reached a door.
The occupant remained unaware.
Then—
Shing!
A blade dropped, aiming for the bed with deadly precision.
"It's over."
The man's voice was calm and emotionless.
According to the intelligence they were given, the target—Kurosaki Kanbaru—was a mixed-blood Quincy. Lacking the specialized Blut (Blood Veil) techniques of pureblood Quincy, mixed-bloods were considered physically inferior.
Even with high Reiatsu, their human bodies were fragile. Without Blut Vene (Static Blood), they lacked the defensive capacity to withstand close-range attacks.
Once within reach, they could be eliminated instantly.
However—
Thunk.
The blade pierced the mattress... and nothing else.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"The target, Kurosaki Kanbaru, is not here."
"There's a problem with the intel."
His voice hardened.
Behind him, a second figure stepped forward.
A woman. Holding a talking parrot.
Join my Patreon to read advanced chapters.
Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
patreon.com/FrancisMWFosterHome
The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days.
patreon.com/FrancisMWFosterHome