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That sun on the horizon, Was it the lingering rays of the setting sun hanging on the edge of the sky?
Or was it the light of the rising sun that had just ascended at dawn?
Aozaki Reiji had no way of knowing.
Because that sun just hung there on the horizon, neither rising nor falling.
The afterglow of the setting sun seemed to drape Yhwach's face in a golden veil.
The rising sun, on the other hand, illuminated Aozaki Reiji's figure, making him glow with dazzling brilliance.
"Aren't you coming with me?"
Aozaki Reiji asked softly.
Just then, the rising sun happened to fall upon Yhwach's face, making it appear exceptionally bright.
Yhwach paused, a rare look of surprise appearing on his face, but then he chuckled and shook his head.
"Don't be afraid, this road is very wide, you won't be alone…"
Yhwach's voice was very soft, but it clearly entered Aozaki Reiji's ears.
After saying this, Yhwach slowly turned and walked away, his figure gradually disappearing into the vast sea of clouds.
Aozaki Reiji stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, like a statue.
He subconsciously touched his chest, as if feeling the fervent heartbeat emanating from there.
The entire world suddenly became extraordinarily quiet.
The sunlight, like gold, spilled onto the hallway, reflecting a dazzling array of colors, making Aozaki Reiji feel as if he were in a misty wonderland.
After a long while, Aozaki Reiji finally came back to his senses as if waking from a dream.
He slowly lowered his raised hand, then stepped onto the stairs, ascending step by step.
A faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth, and he didn't look back.
Howling winds, crashing waves, lightning and thunder, birdsong and fragrant flowers, a woman's laughter…
All sorts of noisy sounds rose and fell, constantly echoing in Aozaki Reiji's ears.
The world around him became increasingly vibrant and colorful.
Aozaki Reiji was startled, feeling as if he had just woken up from a beautiful dream.
He looked around blankly, finding that his surroundings were still a desolate, barren land. He spread his arms, yet didn't know who to embrace.
He returned to the Great Hollow Forest from the heavens above.
Aozaki Reiji lowered his hands in a dazed and lost manner, a hint of confusion and disappointment in his eyes.
Just then, a strange yet mysterious footsteps suddenly entered his ears.
He looked up and saw a figure slowly emerge from the darkness.
It was a white creature wearing a long-horned mask, the left half of which was broken, revealing half of a young man's face.
This young man had short, jet-black hair, a paper-white complexion, and eerie green eyes.
His limbs were long, he had a pair of bat-like wings on his back, and there was a dark green marking on his face, like a tear stain.
This was an Arrancar, but more accurately, a half-Arrancar who had not yet fully transformed.
He stared blankly at the man who was "embracing the entire world," remaining silent, then slowly walked towards the man.
The man in front of him seemed to exert a strange pull on him.
Aozaki Reiji temporarily set aside his love for this world and walked up to the half-Arrancar, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
Based on the other party's very distinctive appearance, he already had some guesses about the newcomer's identity.
"...Vasto Lorde?"
Aozaki Reiji asked with a smile.
To avoid startling this blank-faced young man, Aozaki Reiji did not call out his name.
The Espada No.4 from the original timeline — Ulquiorra Cifer.
When Ulquiorra was first born into the world, he was out of place among his peers.
He was a humanoid Hollow, his body pure white, with only the sense of sight present.
His companions, however, were all pitch black, with glowing eyes and teeth.
Due to his unique appearance and distinct habits, Ulquiorra was rejected and isolated by his kind.
Thus, he left the cave alone and drifted through Hueco Mundo, wandering in solitude.
During his long journey of wandering, he stumbled upon a strange patch of white bushes.
This patch of bushes had no color, no sound, and no scent; it seemed to exist independently of the world, quietly present.
To Ulquiorra, this patch of bushes was the closest thing to the essence of nothingness he had ever seen.
At that moment, he resolved to bury himself in this endless nothingness.
When he stepped into that mysterious patch of bushes, something unexpected happened.
The moment he touched the branches, the solid Hollow mask on his face automatically shattered, transforming him from a Hollow into a half-Arrancar.
"Could it be that the white bushes Ulquiorra encountered were the Soul King's kidney fused with the Hōgyoku?"
Aozaki Reiji stroked his chin, pondering to himself.
The Soul King's kidney was the truth Aozaki had only come to understand after absorbing huge trees and jungles.
Its essence was the vital organ within the Soul King's body that governed "balance."
This "balance" was not merely superficial, but extended to every minute detail, involving the subtle relationships and distribution of various "resources."
It was like a precise and complex ecosystem, where every part was interdependent and influenced each other, constantly adjusting to maintain overall stability and harmony.
Taking Aozaki Reiji himself as an example, although it seemed he merely slept after fusing with the Soul King's kidney.
In reality, During this process, his Souls, Spirit Body, and Reiatsu underwent a comprehensive adjustment, ultimately reaching an unprecedented state of "balance."
This "balance" was crucial.
It brought about a qualitative improvement in both his physical abilities and his control over Reiatsu.
The Kido he usually used could now unleash double the power at the same Reiatsu level!
This undoubtedly greatly enhanced his strength.
Looking at Ulquiorra before him, Aozaki Reiji couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity.
He saw the other party open his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but unable to speak.
"Is it because he just completed his Arrancar transformation and isn't used to speaking yet?"
Aozaki Reiji speculated to himself.
Ulquiorra Cifer, this being who constantly pursued the meaning of the concept of nothingness.
He never listened, never ate, never touched, never rested, and had no companions.
His only connection to the world was his pair of emerald green eyes.
He wandered alone outside this world; things reflected in his eyes were meaningless, and things not reflected in his eyes simply did not exist.
However, it was precisely such a seemingly empty existence that greatly piqued Aozaki Reiji's interest.
"Nothingness should also be in my world. If so, then come to my world!"
Under Ulquiorra's puzzled gaze, Aozaki Reiji said with a grin, extending his hand towards him.
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