Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

He put forward a proposal that would leave anyone who understands the relationship between Shinigami and Hollows speechless:

“Stark,” Liu Chuan began, his tone calm and almost casual.

Would you...be my companion?

"..."

"..."

The air seemed to have been sucked out instantly.

Asido suddenly turned his head, his eyes wide open!

Companions?! What did Yanagawa just say?! Invited a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow to become his "companions"?!

This is simply... utterly absurd! Inconceivable! Shinigami and Hollows are mortal enemies etched into the very essence of the soul, symbols of the eternal opposition between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo!

Inviting Xu to become an ally? This is completely beyond anything Asi has learned in his centuries of fighting!

For the first time, Stark, who was sitting on the rock, showed a violent fluctuation in his seemingly indifferent expression!

His pupils contracted, clearly reflecting Liu Chuan's face.

His fingers, resting on his knees, curled unconsciously, and even the hollow in his chest seemed to tremble slightly with the pause in his breathing.

“…Companions?” Stark repeated the word, his voice filled with deep doubt, astonishment, and a hint of instinctive rejection.

"Me? And you? Death and Hollow?"

He looked down at the empty space on his chest that represented nothingness, then looked up at Liu Chuan, his gaze seemingly checking whether the other was conscious.

“We are enemies. When we meet, we fight, or we avoid each other. That’s… normal.” His logic was simple and direct, stemming from the survival rules of Hueco Mundo over countless years.

"For most Shinigami, this is indeed the case; purifying Hollows is their duty and creed."

Liu Chuan nodded, not denying Stark's statement, but he didn't stop there.

He slowly stood up, his pure white Zero Division haori standing out even more against the pale background of Hueco Mundo.

His gaze calmly swept over Arsido, who was still in a state of extreme shock, before finally settling back on Stark. His voice was steady, carrying a rationality that transcended mere opinion:

“But Stark, I am not an ordinary member of the Gotei 13. I come from the Zero Division, and my primary responsibility has never been simply ‘purifying Hollows’.”

Chapter 92 Companions?

He paused, then slowly said:

"Maintaining the balance between the Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo, ensuring that the order of soul circulation is not disrupted, and that the foundation of the world is stable—this is the fundamental meaning of the Zero Division's existence."

Upon hearing this, Asido's body trembled again, and his eyes flashed intensely.

He was not unaware of the Zero Squad's transcendence and mystery, but hearing their core responsibilities explained so bluntly was a shock.

Liu Chuan continued, his tone like that of a calm analyst assessing strategic resources:

"Stark, you are one of the beings at the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo, as a self-governing Vasto Lorde."

Your power is great, and more importantly—over the long years, you have not completely succumbed to the devouring instinct of the Void.

Instead, you achieved the miraculous feat of becoming an "Arrancar," possessing near-complete rationality and the capacity for self-reflection. This in itself proves your "uniqueness" and "controllability."

"For Squad Zero, and for the ultimate goal of maintaining the balance of the three realms,"

Liu Chuan's gaze seemed to penetrate Stark's body, revealing the essence of his power and the state of his soul.

“The value of a ‘special void’ that possesses extremely high intelligence and great strength, and which currently does not seem to have any intention to actively disrupt the balance of the three realms, is far greater to be ‘purified and eliminated’ than to be ‘purified and eliminated’.”

He gave more specific reasons and presented a more shocking background:

"Excessive and indiscriminate elimination of the void will also lead to disorder in the circulation of souls in the three realms and disrupt the balance."

This point was mentioned many times by Lord Hyosube Ichibei when I was at the Rei-o Palace.

The Spirit King Palace views all things, including the void, from the perspective of 'overall balance,' rather than simply good versus evil or opposing factions.

Liu Chuan's gaze deepened, as if recalling his experiences at the Spirit King's Palace:

"In fact, as far as I know, Lord Nimaiya Oue, the 'Sword God' of the Spirit King Palace, once sealed an ancient Hollow within his Zanpakuto using special methods, rather than choosing to completely annihilate it."

The chain reaction and energy imbalance caused by completely eliminating it could cause even greater harm to the Three Realms.

This is enough to prove that at the level of the Spirit King Palace, there is by no means only one way to 'deal with' the void: 'purification'.

Provided it remains under control and is beneficial to the balance, utilizing, guiding, or even... 'coexisting' are all possible options.

Asido was completely speechless. What was the Spirit King Palace's opinion? Nimaiya Oetsu sealed the ancient Great Hollow within Asahi?

This information completely overturned his understanding of death and Hollows!

So... on a higher level, the relationship between Shinigami and Hollows can be so... complex and pragmatic?

Stark fell into a deeper silence; Liu Chuan's words had opened a window he had never seen before.

He never considered his own value from this perspective: is living more useful than dying?

Because of his power and uniqueness, is he useful for "balance"?

This statement was cold and realistic, yet strangely... it gave him an unprecedented sense of "being recognized".

They are not feared or loathed as “prey” or “monster,” but rather evaluated as a “being” with “value.”

Moreover, the Spirit King Palace actually has a precedent of "utilizing" the Void? Sealing rather than destroying it?

“So,” Liu Chuan stepped forward, looking at Stark again with a sincere and earnest gaze.

"I invite you, Stark, as a member of the Zero Division, to become my comrade."

"Go see different worlds, and even... explore the possibilities that lie beyond your 'Arcane' form."

In exchange, they will assist me in handling certain 'special matters' that may jeopardize the balance of the Three Realms when necessary.

He extended his hand, his posture still calm, yet carrying an undeniable sincerity and strength:

"How about it, Stark? To stay here, with eternal solitude and this desolate desert as your companions;

"Come with me, let's see the scenery on the other side. Perhaps it can help you find some new... 'meaning' in your long and lonely existence?"

On the gray-white rocky ground, the wind and sand had completely stopped at some point.

Asido held his breath, his gaze fixed on Stark's face, trying to discern any emotional fluctuation from that usual indifference.

Stark, the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo, the lonely king, sat quietly on the rock, gazing at the emptiness in his chest that represented nothingness, then slowly raised his hand to look at Yanagawa's outstretched hand.

Finally, Stark slowly stood up from the rock.

Then, in a voice heavy with weariness but no longer entirely indifferent, he slowly asked:

"Companions...? That sounds... a bit more interesting than just standing here doing nothing."

Then, under Asido's complicated gaze, Stark raised his right hand.

His hand paused for a moment in mid-air, as if passing through a heavy barrier called "race" and "position".

Finally, she gently landed and took Liu Chuan's hand.

There was no unusual phenomenon the moment their palms touched.

But Asido seemed to sense that the heavy, cold spiritual pressure around him had begun to loosen in a very subtle way.

Death and Hollow, two beings that should be irreconcilable, now cross the boundary that was considered an insurmountable chasm, under the name of "comrades".

“Alright,” Stark’s voice rang out.

"Since... there's really nothing left to miss here, it might be worth a try."

“Welcome, Stark,” Liu Chuan said calmly, then seemed to remember something.

He reached into his robes and took out a special eye mask.

The style of the eye patch is about 80-90% similar to the one that Kenpachi Zaraki always wore to suppress his spiritual pressure.

"This is a 'spiritual pressure suppression device' specially made by Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division's Technical Development Bureau." Yanagawa handed the blindfold to Stark.

"Your spiritual pressure is too great, and you lack the skill to control it. If it is unconsciously released, it will cause the annihilation of the surrounding living beings."

After you return to Soul Society with me, you will need to keep it within a certain range to avoid causing unnecessary panic and trouble.

Wearing it can significantly suppress and control your spiritual pressure, allowing you to function normally in ordinary environments.

Stark took the blindfold and, without hesitation, put it on his face, covering his left eye.

The spiritual circuits behind the blindfold activated instantly, rapidly scanning and adapting to his spiritual pressure characteristics.

Almost the instant the blindfold was put on, the originally powerful spiritual pressure centered on Stark rapidly subsided!

Although one can still sense the hidden power within him when approaching, at least it will no longer cause indiscriminate and destructive effects on the surrounding environment.

"Oh?" Stark let out a soft sigh, tinged with curiosity. He raised his hand, sensing the changes in his spiritual pressure.

"Indeed...it's much easier now."

Chapter 93 Soul Split

Asido also clearly felt the pressure around him decrease sharply, and couldn't help but take a few more glances at the seemingly ordinary eye mask.

This technique for suppressing spiritual pressure is indeed peculiar, but what surprised him even more was what Stark said next.

Wearing an eyepatch, Stark tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of "confession":

“Actually… if you hadn’t shown up just now.” Stark paused, his tone calm, but he said something that surprised Asido.

“I might… try to split my soul… into two.”

"...What?!" Ashido exclaimed in disbelief, unable to believe his ears!

Splitting the soul?! This is a taboo among taboos in all living beings, a shortcut to madness and self-destruction!

The slightest mistake could result in your soul being scattered or you turning into a mindless monster! Even if you succeed, your own power will be greatly weakened.

A mere mortal, actually considering using this method to combat loneliness?!

Stark seemed to sense Arsido's shock. He "looked" in Arsido's direction, his tone still calm, yet carrying a deep-seated helplessness and resolve:

"Being alone... for too long, so long that even talking to myself feels boring."