The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

This has always been the prevailing attitude in Hueco Mundo, and no one would object to it, just as no one would demand that normal people communicate with air on an equal footing. However, Nel has always been somewhat dissatisfied with this situation.

Nilu was naive, not childish. She could accept the necessity of hunting when hungry, just as no matter how loving a normal person is, they would not demand that coyotes be prohibited from hunting rabbits and let them starve to death.

Outside of hunting, Nel hopes that all life deserves respect, even the tiny Hollows that are as insignificant as air.

However, her views were destined to be unacceptable to the other Hollows, and gradually she stopped sharing her thoughts with others. She simply continued to restrain herself and not allow herself to disregard any life.

But today, right before her eyes, two Adjuchas, one even more powerful, possibly a Vasto Lorde Hollow, regarded a small Hollow as a true life, even taking that Hollow as a disciple and imparting knowledge to it. A feeling of "I am not alone" welled up in her heart, making Nel incredibly happy, a happiness she had never felt in hundreds of years.

Nel's way of expressing happiness was also very simple. She started chatting with Nnoitra in a very, very enthusiastic way, asking her if she ate enough on weekdays, if she had any troubles during battles, and if she had any worries that she couldn't tell her master.

The intensity of their enthusiasm is so great that it could kill someone with social anxiety on the spot.

Although Neutra was somewhat taken aback by Nel's enthusiasm and felt a little annoyed by her questions, wondering if she was questioning his relationship with Lord Gu Shi, Nel was, after all, Gu Shi's acknowledged senior. The little mantis, who had been educated by Gu Shi for two months, still answered Nel's questions honestly.

This only fueled Nil's enthusiasm even more.

Taking advantage of Nel's attention being completely focused on Nnoitra, Ulquiorra quietly moved next to Gu Shi and asked in a low voice.

"Gu Shi, aren't you going to invite her?"

Not only Jiro, but Ulquiorra also sensed from Gu Shi's introduction that he didn't seem to intend to become friends with Nel, which puzzled Ulquiorra.

He could tell that this Adjuchas, with his unusually long name, had accumulated a great deal of knowledge and experience. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could evolve into a Vasto Lorde. Wouldn't it be more efficient to invite such a powerful being to the universe than to cultivate a Hollow like Nnoitra from scratch?

Moreover, Nilu seems to have a good impression of Gu Shi as well.

Gu Shi's eyes flickered, and he also lowered his voice to reply.

“Ur, Nilu is a good person.”

This answer only confused Ulquiorra more. What did "good person" mean? Could a Hollow be a "good person"? Shouldn't that be the furthest thing from a Hollow?

“I’m not wrong. Nilu is a really good person. Apart from hunting, she rarely kills. Even if someone offends or insults her, she will at most punish them, but she will not take their life.”

Gu Shi's quiet explanation made even the usually calm Ulquiorra's eyes widen slightly. He couldn't help but want to ask Gu Shi, "Are you sure you're talking about Hollows?" Let alone Hollows whose minds are flawed due to Hollowfication, even a living person with a complete mind couldn't do this, right?

unless……

When Nel went into the Hollowfication state, what she lost was precisely emotions like cruelty and coldness.

However, if that's the case, it's no wonder Gu Shi was unwilling to invite Nilu.

Tianpeng used a lot of Killian as materials every day for alchemy and experiments. Erlang also dissected Killian from time to time or conducted experiments on Killian while researching martial arts. Even Gu Shi himself did not really value life that much. He just did not want to eat people, but he did not have much aversion to killing.

This group of people and this Nilu have fundamental differences in their views. If they really become friends, it will probably be a mutual torment.

At this moment, Nnoitra, who was somewhat annoyed by Nel's concern, finally couldn't help but interrupt Nel's speech and asked a question for the first time.

"Senior Nel, why are you here? There probably isn't much food around here for Adjuchas, right?"

Neutra casually threw out a question, intending only to interrupt Nel, as he had no idea whether there was enough food around.

However, his nonsense actually reflected reality; there were indeed no Hollows around who could serve as food for Adjuchas, and Nel's answer also confirmed Gu Shi's explanation of Ulquiorra.

She said so.

"A short distance ahead lies Barragan's territory. He is an extremely powerful Vastod. Any Adjuchas that enters his perception range must either offer up a part of their mask, severing their evolutionary potential to become his subordinate, or be killed by him."

“I’ve been around this area lately to warn those Adjuchas who are near here to avoid this dangerous region.”

Upon hearing this answer, Ulquiorra nodded slightly.

That's right, this is indeed a "good person" who shouldn't exist in the Great Hollow, an absolutely rare species.

Seeing that Ulquiorra seemed to approve of Nel, Gu Shi shook his head, nudged Ulquiorra with his elbow, and whispered.

“Ul, you’re a Vastod too. Do you think if you rushed in, defeated that Vastod named Barragan, and planned to eliminate him completely, Nel would advise you to spare his life?”

...That can't be right, can it? Didn't Nel already decide that Barragan was a "bad guy"? Would she really plead for a "bad guy"?

Gu Shi saw through Ulquiorra's thoughts at a glance and couldn't help but chuckle.

"The Hollow from Hueco Mundo isn't a bad guy?"

Those who can evolve into Hollows are either madmen or fanatics, each and every one of them is a standard bad person, yet Nel still forgives and pardons those bad people who offended her.

Kind people are kind to everyone, and gentle people are gentle to everyone, even if that person is a bad person.

Chapter 195 Angel's Mirror

When Ulquiorra spoke to Gu Shi, Erlang also quietly came over and listened to their conversation. He tilted his head and thought for a while, then blinked and spoke hesitantly.

"Gu Shi, I'm not human, so I'm not quite sure what you mean by the humanity you keep talking about wanting to maintain. If I'm wrong, just consider it nonsense. As I understand it, humanity should be the characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals, right?"

"So, compassion and pity for others, even when you can kill them and have a reason to kill them, still giving them a chance to start over, isn't that human nature? In the pack of dogs I used to live in, not a single dog would feel pity for its prey, let alone give it a second chance after catching it."

Under Erlang's questioning gaze, Gu Shi pondered for a while and had to nod, admitting that Erlang was right. In a narrow sense, human nature is indeed the thoughts and decisions that humans arrive at based on rational thinking and moral requirements, which are different from those of animals.

Of course, if we want to talk about it on a larger scale, or from a philosophical perspective, human nature can also be a debate about whether human nature is inherently good or inherently evil, whether it is naturally selfish, or whether it is born lazy.

However, these things have nothing to do with the humanity that Gu Shi wants to preserve. What Gu Shi wants to keep is only the "humanity" that prevents him from completely turning into a cannibalistic monster. He has no interest in retaining the bad things that come from his genes after losing his physical body.

Seeing Gu Shi nod, Erlang was clearly encouraged and became more confident, so he quickly continued.

"If this is human nature, then what Nilu did was perfectly in line with human nature, wasn't it? Gu Shi, why do you reject her so much just because she has humanity? Is human nature exclusive? Like territoriality, if you have humanity, you can't tolerate others around you having humanity too?"

Erlang's question stunned Gu Shiwen. He quickly examined his own heart to see if he had unknowingly shifted significantly toward the direction of the illusory, which was why he was so resistant to the humane Nilu.

After a thorough check, Gu Shi found nothing unusual about himself. He seemed to have always been like this: a little kind, but never a good person in the strict sense. It was not surprising that he avoided associating with truly good people.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Shi did not immediately accept the answer. Instead, he closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness in his own mental world.

Sensing Gu Shi's arrival, his Zanpakuto wooden puppet and white iron puppet emerged. Gu Shi greeted them briefly, slapped away the white iron puppet that was about to insult him again, and waited patiently for a moment before the glass puppet representing his "Hollow nature" also crawled out of thin air.

Gu Shi remembered that when they last met, the glass doll was covered with cracks and looked like it could shatter completely at any moment. This time, although it wasn't obvious, after careful observation, Gu Shi could still confirm that two small cracks on the glass doll had indeed disappeared.

In other words, the fundamental nature of the Great Void has indeed risen slightly.

Tsk, you really can't relax for even a moment.

With a decisive exit from the mental world, Gu Shi vigorously rubbed Erlang's head, whispered a compliment, "Well done," and then turned directly to look at Nilu, raising his voice to shout.

"Nilu, how about trying to work with us for a while?"

Nel, who was teaching Nnoitra how to remain calm and politely retort when insulted, widened her eyes in surprise upon hearing this.

Seeing the surprise in Nilu's eyes, Gu Shi silently punched himself in the heart.

Nilu's surprise at his invitation clearly showed that she had already understood the hidden refusal in his words, but she pretended not to understand in order not to put him in a difficult position.

Meeting those pure, childlike eyes, Gu Shi swallowed the excuse he had just concocted in three seconds and decided to honestly tell Nilu his thoughts. So he strode up to Nilu and began to speak earnestly.

“I’m sorry for what happened before, Nel. It was only after my friend reminded me that I realized I’m gradually becoming a pure Hollow, the kind of Hollow that abandons humanity and regards life as dust.”

"I don't want to become like that, but the problem is that the Great Void instinct erodes humanity silently. Even though I have always been vigilant, my mind and cognition have still unknowingly deviated."

"Therefore, I need a mirror, a mirror that is always full of humanity, to remind me of the loss of humanity. I think you, Nilu, would be a very good mirror, so I extended an invitation to you."

At this point, Gu Shi paused to observe Nilu's reaction. After all, while his explanation was honest enough, it was undeniable that his invitation was a selfish one that only considered his own needs.

If Nel gets angry because of this and kicks him on the spot, or sprays him with a Cero, Gu Shi thinks it's completely understandable.

However, Nilu's face showed no emotion whatsoever. She simply looked at Gu Shi quietly and listened attentively to what he was saying.

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Shi could only grit his teeth and continue speaking.

“Although I invited you, Nilu, to be my mirror, it is difficult for me to do everything according to your wishes. Because, Nilu, you are a truly good person, but I am not. For example, I will not give up the task of eliminating enemies or the necessary hunting for research.”

At this point, Gu Shi himself realized that what he was saying was completely unreasonable, and he awkwardly wanted to stop. Connielu was still listening attentively, her big eyes filled with seriousness. He couldn't just give up halfway, so he could only grit his teeth and continue.

"What I'm thinking is that as long as we become friends, even if we have some minor disagreements, we can discuss them and find a solution that satisfies both of us. But if one day I do something that you absolutely cannot accept, and you are unwilling to even try to persuade me, and just want to leave me or kill me, then I must have lost a lot of my humanity and need to quickly reflect on myself and find a way to restore my humanity."

Finally, having laid bare all his selfish thoughts under the sun, Gu Shi felt utterly exhausted. He took a deep breath and plopped down on the sand, awaiting Nilu's "judgment."

After Gu Shi finished speaking, Nilu blinked her big, watery eyes and gave her evaluation of his remarks.

"Gu Shi, you... are amazing."

Ok?

Gu Shi looked up in confusion. Erlang and Ulquiorra, who were standing next to him, couldn't help but glance at him as well. When Gu Shi confessed just now, they, as his friends, felt embarrassed for him. Shouldn't Nel be looking down on Gu Shi and scolding him? What kind of evaluation is "so amazing"?

Under everyone's gaze, Nil tilted her head in surprise.

"Am I wrong? Gu Shi, didn't you immediately start trying to stop yourself from becoming a bad person after you realized you might turn bad? I see many Hollows who know they are bad people but don't plan to change. Gu Shi, aren't you amazing?"

Isn't this just a competition of who's worse? It's all thanks to the contrast with their peers in the Hueco Mundo (a popular online community for men) that it stands out.

Gu Shi silently complained to himself, then continued to press for answers.

"And what about yourself? I was trying to take advantage of you, Nilu, aren't you angry?"

Gu Shi, who asked the question, was puzzled, and Nilu, who was asked the question, was even more puzzled.

"Isn't it fulfilling and joyful to help a potentially corrupted Hollow stay a good person? What's there to be angry about?"

"Nilu, are you an angel?"

"Huh? I'm Hollow."

"No, no, no, you are definitely an angel."

"Ah! Our first disagreement has arrived! I think it's very impolite to arbitrarily change someone's race and disregard their wishes. Gu Shi, what do you think? Shall we debate? Let's see who can convince the other?"

"No, no, no, Nilu, you win. I think so too."

Gu Shi sincerely acknowledged Nilu's victory and congratulated her on her first win. Looking at her bright smile, he hesitated for a moment before quietly confirming.

“Then, Nilu, from today onwards, we…”

"We're now partners in action! Please take good care of me, Gu Shi, and everyone else!"

And so, the antelope's hoof and the mantis's sickle came together.

Chapter 196 Plant-shaped Great Void! ?

Nilu's arrival provided Gu Shi with a safety net of humanity, but the one most affected by Nilu's arrival was not Gu Shi, but the pitiful, weak, only junior member, and beloved by his elders, Neutra.

Although theoretically, Hollows, like Shinigami, possess the ability to reproduce even as souls, the relationship between Hollows has always been one of eating and being eaten, hunting and being hunted. No two Hollows have ever engaged in harmonious and friendly reproduction.

Therefore, in the relationship between virtual beings, there has never been a theoretically correct "parent-child relationship." Even the most experienced Adjuchas, such as Nel who has lived for hundreds of years, is no exception in this regard.

It was precisely because of this that, after the arrival of Nnoitra, a younger generation member, Nel, who was kind-hearted by nature, seemed to have her maternal instincts, which had been suppressed for hundreds of years, suddenly ignited, and she showed Nnoitra great care.