Chapter 435

"Hollows—resentful spirits born after humans die, the Hollows that come into being."

Just at that moment, Toushirō continued speaking.

"Becoming a Hollow means losing the memories of one's past. To fill the void left in the heart, and to quench the craving for souls, they devour human souls, thereby evolving toward a higher level."

Upon saying this, a subtle change had already begun to show on Toushirō's expression.

"Once they evolve, the Hollow transforms as well, gaining even greater power. The Hollows before us now are already fully evolved Grand Hollows."

"Every single Hollow is an amalgamation of hundreds of souls, possessing tremendous destructive power."

Hearing Toushirō's words, aside from Fire Long Wang Igneel, the expressions of every Captain present shifted at once.

A Grand Hollow formed from the gathering of hundreds of souls—even the weakest of souls, when amassed together, produce a terrifying power. 17

And the Grand Hollows that had appeared now numbered no fewer than several hundred.

"It's time to leave, Gin."

Just at that moment, the light enveloping Aizen suddenly expanded once more.

The ground beneath him suddenly cracked and rose, lifting his body upward toward the black hole above.

Such a scene was not happening to Aizen alone—Gin, and Lucy beside him as well, were all at this moment floating up toward the sky.

"Lucy!"

Everyone was instantly shocked.

One after another they launched attacks at the pillar of light, but even when they exerted every ounce of strength and unleashed the most powerful magic they had, the pillar of light showed not the slightest change.

Seeing this, Igneel's gaze sharpened. He opened his mouth, gathered terrifying magical power, and once more struck at the pillar of light—but the result was no exception.

Before the absolute power of the system, even someone as mighty as Black Long Wang Acnologia was helpless, let alone a Long Wang on the verge of death.

But even so, none of them were willing to give up. Erza went so far as to change her armor on the spot, gripping her magic longsword, and slashed it against the pillar of light, sending sparks flying in every direction!

"Let Lucy go!"

Staring at Aizen within the pillar of light, Erza's eyes gradually filled with blood, and within her gaze there remained only hatred—she had never imagined she could despise a person so much.

And this person, not long ago, had even earned their trust—he was the Aizen they had regarded as a companion!

At this moment, every ounce of trust had been transformed entirely into hatred.

Within the pillar of light, Aizen lowered his head, his calm gaze sweeping slowly across Igneel.

At last, his gaze came to rest upon Erza.

The two faced each other across the distance, yet it seemed as though spiritual pressure and magical power were clashing between them.

"Although I am sorry, before I leave, I still wish to say thank you to you all. Were it not for your help, I would not have obtained what I desired."

"As a return, this time I shall spare you."

"The next time we meet, it seems, will be a long while from now. I hope you will still be alive when that day comes."

Aizen's gaze glimmered, and he spoke slowly, a trace of pity in his words.

Yet, after hearing Aizen's words, the look in Erza's eyes did not fade in the slightest—on the contrary, it only grew stronger.

Erza stared at Aizen and said in a deep voice:

"What is this for?! Why take Lucy? Have you not already obtained what you wanted?!"

Aizen lowered his gaze to look over, his smile unchanged: "Of course—to pursue a higher realm."

"And Lucy's ability can help me obtain more fragments, greater power. In short, she is my tool—"

"For power, for all those empty things, can you truly abandon everything?"

Once, Erza and Aizen had always conversed happily.

Although she had also longed to obtain some intelligence from him, when it came to Aizen, Erza had always regarded him as her own companion—a person who, in the face of danger, would step forward for others.

But at this moment, Aizen's truest side had been laid bare.

The complete opposite of him.