The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

Sure enough, a moment later, the soul of his dear friend slowly floated out from the deformed corpse, his eyes glazed over.

Ryota, tears streaming down his face, smiled faintly and slowly opened his mouth.

"you……"

"You're finally dead! Don't think this is the end! I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you!"

A hateful roar rang out, and the soul that had followed the two suddenly burst out of the darkness, slamming a punch into the face of the boy who hadn't even figured out what was happening. Then came a series of beatings.

"Stop! You bastard, Yuuki, stop right now!"

Ryota shouted anxiously and slid down the tree as fast as he could, trying to pull away the demon who was beating his friend.

However, as always, he could only "see" but not "touch" the soul; he could only watch helplessly as his best friend was beaten on the ground, unable to do anything to help.

Anxious eyes swept past him, and Ryota gritted his teeth, rushing towards a broken tree branch. The next moment, blood gushed out, and his strength rapidly vanished from his body. Ignoring the pain, Ryota just stared intently at his increasingly miserable friend.

Hurry! Hurry up! Why am I not dead yet! Hurry up and let me die!

With a deliberate, violent struggle, the crimson-stained tree branch churned within his internal organs, and Ryota's soul finally burst forth from his lifeless body.

At the same time, the evil spirit with a face full of hatred and blood-stained fists, catalyzed by hatred and jealousy, finally had the last small section of the iron chain on his chest completely disappear. Chaotic and frenzied spiritual power swept in like a whirlwind, and a bestial roar thirsting for souls followed one after another.

The monster appeared.

He needs to eat.

Chapter 183 Really, so beautiful!

A surge of despair almost instantly filled Ryota's heart. He recognized this monster, he knew how terrifying it was, he knew that this monster fed on souls, and he knew how powerless mortals were in the face of this monster.

Can't win!

Absolutely no way to win!

but!

Can't give up!

Clenching his fists tightly, Ryota gritted his teeth and charged forward.

Ryota's actions successfully saved his friend, but also put him in danger.

The newly formed, ethereal monster desperately needed spiritual energy to stabilize its body. Compared to the weak soul beneath its feet, the spiritual energy surging within Ryota's body, whose innate soul was strong enough to "see ghosts," was the most wonderful tonic for him.

The monster decisively abandoned the trash at its feet and turned to charge at Ryota.

"Lyota...run away..."

The boy, whose left eyeball had been shattered and who was spitting blood, tried his best to grab the monster's tail, but he was too weak and powerless to delay the monster for even a moment. In the blink of an eye, the monster had already grabbed Ryota and eagerly stuffed him into its mouth.

Is it finally going to end?

As he looked at the gaping maw about to engulf him, Ryota's heart calmed down surprisingly. He glanced regretfully at his best friend hanging on the monster's tail and calmly awaited his end.

Just then, a piercing sound, like violently tearing cloth, suddenly rang out, and a pitch-black rift opened out of thin air.

Immediately afterwards, a terrifying spiritual pressure, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, descended from the sky. In just an instant, the monster that was invincible a moment ago was crushed to the ground without any power to resist.

"Wow, as expected of Vastod! Ul, the black cavity you created is so stable. I can pass through safely even without restraining my spiritual pressure. Alright, now that we've verified its stability, let's go back. It wouldn't be good if the exit were above a residential area."

A light, cheerful sound emanated from the dark rift. The slight spiritual energy that spread along with the sound plunged Ryota and the monster into a deep terror. In a daze, they seemed to see, through the terrifying spiritual energy, a monster that blotted out the sky and roared as it devoured the entire world.

The souls with keen perception of spiritual power felt fear, while the dying boy, oblivious to it due to his mediocrity, only felt the air become incredibly oppressive, as if he would die at any moment.

However, it's okay. Death isn't scary. We must, we absolutely must save Ryota.

"Save us...please...save Ryota..."

The boy felt he had used all his strength to shout, but the sound he could make as he lay dying was actually as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

But this buzzing sound seemed to silence the entire world.

The monster and Ryota stopped breathing, staring nervously at the rift in the sky that seemed to connect to the depths of hell, praying that the terror inside wouldn't hear that cry for help.

However, it is counterproductive.

"Gu Shi, I think I heard someone calling for help."

"Hmm? Jiro, did your hearing and sense of smell get better after you evolved? I didn't hear anything. Oh well, since someone is calling for help, I'll go check it out."

Immediately afterwards, footsteps that seemed to herald destruction rang out. After a few breaths, a huge, terrifying head emerged from the crack, its blood-red eyes sweeping across the land shrouded in night, and immediately locking onto Ryota and the others.

"Yes, Erlang, you heard right. Two unlucky guys have been targeted by Xiao Xu."

The enormous head, seemingly proclaiming terror itself, nodded slightly, then slowly emerged from the crevice. Its massive, mantis-like form appeared even more terrifying under the pale moonlight. It walked step by step through the air, descending from the sky to Ryota's side.

The pair of scythes, gleaming with a terrifyingly cold light and seemingly capable of slicing through everything in the world, gently swept across, turning the monster that had driven Ryota into a desperate situation into two pieces of fresh flesh that fell to the ground.

The boy, who was already on the verge of death, stared at Gu Shi in disbelief, instantly understanding just how powerful this was.

If only I could be this strong...

Gu Shi glanced at Ryota, whose mind seemed to have gone blank, and then at the boy beside him whose body was broken but whose eyes were filled with fervor as he stared at him. He shook his head regretfully.

“Little guy, can you still stand up? Head in this direction for a bit. It should take about half a day to find the Grim Reaper who guards this area. Have him perform a soul burial for you. As for your friend, even if you perform a soul burial right now, he probably can’t be saved. Spend your last moments with him.”

After giving a casual word of advice, Gu Shi was about to turn and leave. After all, he was a Hollow, and he had only recently evolved, so his spiritual pressure couldn't be completely contained. If he stayed in contact with ordinary souls for too long, it would definitely cause them some unnecessary harm.

As soon as he turned around, Gu Shi froze. He felt a rough little hand grab his foot, though the weak force wouldn't hinder him at all.

but.

How dare an ordinary person grab Adjuchas's foot?

What's the difference between this and a mortal swinging on a dragon's whiskers?

Gu Shi turned around in surprise and saw Liang Tai, who had grabbed him, staring in disbelief at his own hand that had moved on its own.

The moment he met Gu Shi's gaze, Ryota's mouth seemed to lose control.

"Please save him! Are you going to eat him? You don't mind eating me, please save him!"

"Sorry, I don't have the ability to save people."

Gu Shi shook his head, not intending to say anything more, and turned to walk towards the black cavity in the air.

The spiritual power of the Great Hollow is no different from poison to mortals. If they stay any longer, the little brat who is on the verge of death will probably be affected by his spiritual power and become Hollow.

Looking up at Gu Shi's departing figure, Ryota's pain and despair deepened. Just then, a weak whisper came from beside him.

"……What a nice view……"

Ryota turned around in surprise, only to see the thin boy also looking up at Gu Shi's back. His only remaining eye was filled with longing and yearning. As his gaze moved down, Ryota's pupils suddenly contracted.

The chain on the boy's chest had disappeared completely at some point.

Fortunately, the void that represented the monster did not appear.

The moment this thought arose, a surge of chaotic spiritual energy erupted around him. The boy's left eye, shattered by a fist, had vanished without his knowledge, replaced by an ominous black void from which the eyeball should have been. A murky white liquid gushed from the void.

In the blink of an eye, the form of life had been reversed. The mantis monster, its entire body covered in pale white bone armor and its left eye replaced by a hollow, soared into the air and chased after an even larger mantis in the sky.

"Wait for me! Take me with you!"

Ryota raised his hand, trying to stop his friend, but the words of pleas stuck in his throat.

Actually, he could understand that kind of fanaticism.

The enemy who twice brought him to the brink of death was so fragile in his presence that he was less than a withered leaf. The power and strength that could cut through all despair was so plainly displayed before him. How could someone trapped in despair not feel longing? How could he not yearn to become as strong as the enemy?

Yes, that powerful figure is truly...so beautiful.

A sigh rose in his heart, and Ryota slowly lowered his eyes, letting his raised arm fall limply.

Well, it was just two abnormal people sticking together for warmth anyway, so there's nothing to regret about saying goodbye forever.

"Ryota! I've come to say goodbye!"

A familiar voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Chapter 184 Extreme Cruelty

To Ryota's delight, the pale mantis monster reappeared before him, staring at him and swallowing hard.

"Hehe, Ryota, you look so delicious. I really want to eat you up right now."

The familiar voice was filled with a desperately suppressed hunger, and the intense appetite in the scarlet eye made Ryota feel cold all over and his limbs stiff.

"Hehe, don't be afraid, I won't hurt Ryota! *smack smack* Lord Gu Shi said that only by controlling desires can one become strong. It's delicious! I'll control myself. I will definitely not eat Ryota."

As the pale mantis spoke, it fiercely gnawed at its own left arm, swallowing its own flesh and blood. The appetite in its scarlet single eye was gradually suppressed by an extreme cruelty. It stretched out its right arm, and the sharp scythe trembled as it gently stroked Ryota's face. Although the blade was gleaming coldly, it did not leave even the slightest mark on the soft flesh.

"Look, Ryota, didn't I do a great job! I didn't hurt you, I controlled myself, I did it! I'll definitely become very, very strong, so strong that no one can hurt me, right!"

Feeling the touch on his cheek, Ryota smiled gently, raised his hand to stroke the sharp scythe, and nodded firmly.

"Yes, you really did a great job. You can definitely become stronger!"

The pale mantis grew even happier. He even gave Ryota a small hug. When Ryota was held in his arms, the sweet scent of his soul made his appetite surge once again. He just laughed wildly and knocked his teeth out with his backhand before carefully holding Ryota's body tightly.

"Lord Gu Shi sent me to say goodbye to Ryota. He asked me to tell you not to be sad. Go find the Grim Reaper to perform a soul burial for you. Once you reach the Soul Society, you too can become strong. The world is vast for the weak, but tiny for the strong. As long as we both become strong, we will surely meet again someday."

After speaking, the already somewhat weakened mantis suddenly released Ryota and ran towards the black cavity in the sky with a wild laugh.

"Ryota, I'll be waiting for you in the future!"

In the sky, Gu Shi looked at the mantis with its left arm broken and its mouth full of blood, and felt a mix of emotions.

When he sent the other person to say goodbye to their friend, he was actually prepared to kill the little Void creature. However, to his surprise, the other person actually managed to control their appetite.

It should be noted that when the soul has just completed its ethereal transformation, due to the drastic change in its life form, it urgently needs to replenish its spiritual energy to stabilize its physical condition, and its appetite will naturally be greatly amplified as a result.

It can be said that, apart from a few evolutions, this is the stage when his appetite is at its strongest in his entire life. It is simply incredible that he can suppress his cannibalistic desires at such close range.

It should be noted that even a simple-minded canine like Erlang, when he first completed his ethereal transformation, lost his senses for a period of time amidst his overwhelming appetite, regarding Gu Shi as prey. He only regained his rationality after consuming enough spiritual energy.

But this little mantis...

This guy really is the future Fiftieth Espada, Nnoitra Gilga, right?

In fact, when Gu Shi saw that the other party's shape resembled a praying mantis and that the hole was in the left eye, he began to suspect that he had encountered an "acquaintance" again.

However, just as his form after evolving into Adjuchas was completely different from his Hollow form, he could not be certain that the Adjuchas form was Nnoitra of the Mantis, or that his Hollow form was also a Mantis.