“The healing effect is actually this incredible?” Lin Huang lowered his head and carefully examined his body.
The severe burns he had suffered during his battle against the Giant Octopus Hollow had almost completely healed in less than half a day thanks to Nelliel’s healing saliva.
Only a few faint traces remained.
He then turned his attention toward Nelliel.
The deep wounds covering her back had likewise recovered considerably after she treated herself with the same healing saliva.
Apart from several shallow scars, there was almost no evidence of the fierce battle they had just endured.
The next moment, Lin Huang flicked his tail.
Using his body, he wrapped around two enormous fragments of Hollow mask, each nearly the size of a millstone.
They were the broken remains of the Giant Octopus Hollow’s mask.
After a brief glance, he kept the smaller fragment for himself before gently pushing the larger one toward Nelliel.
“You’re close to evolving too.” “This belongs to you.” He had long sensed that Nelliel had already reached the peak of the Powerful Hollow stage.
Only one final step remained before she could evolve into a Giant Hollow.
This large fragment from a Giant Hollow’s mask was exactly the catalyst she needed.
“You protected me all this time.” “Now it’s my turn to protect you.” Hearing those words, Nelliel remained silent.
A faint blush appeared beneath her Hollow mask.
She gently lowered her head before affectionately rubbing the top of her mask against Lin Huang’s silver body.
Instinctively, Lin Huang lightly tapped her head with the tip of his tail in response.
Without wasting any more time, he picked up the smaller mask fragment and swallowed it in only a few bites.
“As expected of a Giant Hollow.” The instant the fragment entered his body, an enormous amount of reishi spread throughout him.
The spiritual particles rapidly circulated through every part of his body.
Not only did they greatly accelerate the healing of his remaining burns…
They also stimulated the growth of brand-new silver scales.
As time slowly passed, every trace of reishi contained within the mask fragment was completely absorbed.
Lin Huang clearly felt his overall spiritual pressure increase by more than ten percent.
His injuries had almost entirely recovered.
“Go ahead.” Lin Huang looked toward Nelliel.
She nodded without hesitation before opening her mouth and swallowing the much larger mask fragment.
“Little Huang has already become a Powerful Hollow.” “I have to become stronger too.” “I need enough strength to protect him.” After witnessing Lin Huang risk his life against the Giant Octopus Hollow, Nelliel had already realized something.
His combat ability had surpassed her own.
If they wished to continue surviving together in Hueco Mundo…
She also needed to grow stronger.
As the enormous amount of reishi contained within the mask fragment gradually dissolved, dramatic changes began occurring throughout her body.
A soft pink glow of spiritual pressure slowly emerged around her.
Moments later…
That spiritual pressure erupted.
A gigantic pink sphere over ten meters tall rapidly formed around her body, completely enclosing her inside.
It was another Cocoon of Metamorphosis.
Just like Lin Huang, Nelliel had also triggered this extraordinary phenomenon during her evolution.
The instant her evolution began, Lin Huang immediately entered a vigilant combat stance.
Every ounce of his attention remained focused on the surrounding desert.
Time slowly passed.
One minute.
Ten minutes.
Half an hour.
Yet not a single Hollow appeared.
The reason was simple.
They were still located near the outer regions of Hueco Mundo’s spawning grounds.
Most Hollows wandering here had only recently transformed from wandering souls into Newborn Hollows.
Even Powerful Hollows were relatively uncommon.
The appearance of the Giant Octopus Hollow earlier had already been an extremely rare accident.
Furthermore…
The spiritual pressure released by Nelliel during her evolution into a Giant Hollow far exceeded the pressure Lin Huang had emitted while becoming a Powerful Hollow.
Even if another Hollow sensed the disturbance…
None would dare approach.
Because of that…
Nelliel’s evolution proceeded without the slightest interruption.
As more time passed without any enemies appearing, Lin Huang gradually relaxed.
His eyes eventually settled upon the enormous Cocoon of Metamorphosis surrounding Nelliel.
Within his perception…
A faint blue halo shimmered across the cocoon’s surface.
That color represented something extremely familiar.
Nelliel’s spiritual pressure had now entered the activation range required for Demonic Fetus Parasitism.
Even more importantly…
She was completely defenseless during her evolution.
If he activated his innate ability now…
He could instantly seize everything she possessed.
Her body.
Her spiritual pressure.
Her abilities.
Even every memory she had accumulated.
However…
The thought disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared.
Lin Huang had never seriously considered doing such a thing.
Setting aside the fact that Nelliel had yet to awaken the unique abilities she would eventually possess in the future…
Even if she already had…
He still wouldn’t choose to parasitize her.
Without Nelliel’s protection during these past weeks…
He would likely still be nothing more than a tiny snake Hollow hiding beneath the sands while struggling merely to survive.
Lin Huang had never considered himself a saint.
Nor did he believe himself to be an especially good person.
But he also wasn’t an ungrateful beast who repaid kindness with betrayal.
He understood what it meant to repay a debt of gratitude.
Besides…
Although Demonic Fetus Parasitism was extraordinarily powerful…
It could only be used thirteen times throughout his entire life.
Every opportunity was priceless.
He intended to reserve those precious uses for abilities that genuinely possessed extraordinary value.
During their journey so far, every Hollow they had encountered, including the Giant Octopus Hollow, either possessed no special abilities at all or only mediocre talents that weren’t worth sacrificing one of his limited opportunities.
Until he encountered a truly exceptional ability…
He had no intention of using Demonic Fetus Parasitism.
Time quietly continued flowing.
From beginning to end…
Nelliel’s evolution remained completely undisturbed.
After nearly three peaceful hours…
The enormous pink Cocoon of Metamorphosis gradually dissolved into countless particles of reishi.
Standing where it had once been…
Was an enormous antelope-shaped Hollow over thirty meters tall.
Despite her tremendous size…
Her figure remained graceful and slender.
The Hollow mask that had previously covered only part of her face now extended all the way down her neck.
Her fur had transformed into a beautiful light brownish-pink.
Her formerly white hooves had turned jet black, resembling finely forged steel.
Even her tail had become significantly thicker and longer.
At more than six meters in length, it was almost comparable to Lin Huang’s entire body.
The greatest transformation, however…
Was her spiritual pressure.
After carefully sensing it…
Lin Huang discovered that Nelliel’s spiritual pressure had increased by well over five times compared to before her evolution.
Although she had only just become a Giant Hollow…
Her spiritual pressure had already surpassed that of the Giant Octopus Hollow by a tremendous margin.
He was confident that if the Octopus Hollow were somehow still alive…
It probably wouldn’t survive even a single attack from the newly evolved Nelliel.
Looking down at Lin Huang…
Nelliel’s eyes sparkled with happiness.
The next instant…
She gently wrapped her long tail around Lin Huang before carefully placing him upon her broad back.
“Hold on tight.” “It’s time for us to head deeper into Hueco Mundo.” The moment she finished speaking…
Nelliel dashed forward at astonishing speed, carrying Lin Huang toward the deeper regions of the endless Sea of Sand.
Now that Lin Huang had become a Powerful Hollow and Nelliel had evolved into a Giant Hollow…
The spawning grounds could no longer provide them with enough opportunities to continue growing.
Only by venturing farther into the dangerous depths of Hueco Mundo…
And hunting increasingly powerful Hollows…
Could they continue evolving.