Chapter 176: Vasto Lorde
As the Hōgyoku merged with the final soul, Masatsuki Aozaki tucked it into his arms.
His gaze swept slowly over the three women before him—Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose. The corner of his mouth curled into an enigmatic smile.
"Do you want to live, or would you rather dissolve into Reishi like the others?"
His voice was calm and low, yet it carried an invisible weight, sending a chill through the air.
The three of them froze in disbelief.
A Shinigami encountering Hollows—shouldn't he have slaughtered them on sight?
Why was this man asking such a question, even offering them the choice between life and death?
After a brief moment of shock, Sung-Sun was the first to regain her composure.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm, and raised a hand to stop Apacci and Mila Rose, who looked as if they were about to speak.
Lowering her head, she spoke in a tone of utmost humility.
"We want to live... Please spare us."