"Sora, you did very well."
Inside the laboratory of the Department of Research and Development, Aizen wore a somewhat gratified expression as he spoke with a sigh.
"In the past, Central 46 demonized 'Hollowfication,' causing the captains of the Gotei 13 to pale at the mere mention of it."
"But after this captain's meeting, their mindset has changed."
"Hollowfication is no longer a taboo."
"As long as it is handled properly, it can be transformed into an asset, allowing them to achieve a leap in strength."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora smiled smugly. "As long as I step in, there is nothing that cannot be done."
"Now we don't need to do anything at all. We just have to wait for the test subjects to deliver themselves to our doorstep."
Aizen nodded, turning his gaze toward the high-end equipment nearby.
After multiple improvements, this device could perfectly draw out the Hōgyoku's power, prompting a Soul Reaper to complete their Hollowfication.
However, there was a prerequisite.
The Soul Reaper participating in the experiment could not have a spiritual pressure lower than third-class.
Originally, fourth and fifth-class—the so-called lieutenant-level Soul Reapers—were also acceptable.
But Soul Reapers of that level often exhibited adverse reactions after the procedure, struggling to control their Hollowfication, so Aizen had eliminated them from consideration.
To fully master the power of Hollowfication, one had to possess captain-level strength.
"Now we just have to see which test subject will volunteer to try it first."
Naraku Sora grinned. "I can hardly wait."
Aizen glanced at him without saying much.
Although he did not know the exact time of Yhwach's awakening, judging from the intelligence provided by Ishida Sōken, it seemed it was not far off.
With a great enemy looming, it was only natural for someone to be a little impatient.
In the past, hadn't his own mindset undergone subtle changes due to Naraku Sora's rapid progress?
Aizen shook his head and refocused his gaze on the Hōgyoku in the center of the device, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
Just then, a voice called out from outside.
"Lord Prison Warden, a captain of the Gotei 13 has come to visit."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora's eyes lit up, instantly energized.
"Take me there immediately."
In the blink of an eye, the laboratory fell quiet. Urahara Kisuke, who was recording relevant data, seemed to sense something. He looked up with a serious expression.
"Lord Aizen, if what you plan to do next carries too great a risk, I advise you not to attempt it lightly."
"Because if something happens to you, it's hard to guarantee that Lord Naraku won't do something incredibly foolish."
Aizen frowned slightly, realizing that Urahara Kisuke, who had been involved in the Hōgyoku research all along, might have noticed something.
"What do you mean..."
Urahara Kisuke nodded.
"In the research concerning the Hōgyoku, its original purpose was to allow the user to evolve to a higher plane."
"After countless calculations and attempts, there is no doubt that the Hōgyoku can perfectly achieve this."
"But in subsequent research and supplementary projects, it is not hard to see that the Hōgyoku's power is not limited to mere evolution."
"It is more like an omnipotent wish-granting machine, capable of guiding the thoughts and concepts within a person's heart and manifesting them into reality."
"However, things that seem beautiful often hide traps."
"Do not lose your usual composure due to momentary impatience."
Aizen remained expressionless, but his mind was racing.
Although the creation of the Hōgyoku gathered a massive amount of Hollow and Soul Reaper souls, research revealed that its essence was still an amalgamation of Spirit King fragments.
In that case, everything circled back to an unavoidable origin.
The Spirit King.
After a moment of silence, Aizen raised his eyes to look at Urahara Kisuke. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he spoke softly.
"Lord Urahara, thank you for the reminder."
"I believe I know what I must do next."
Urahara Kisuke: "?"
*'Why does it feel like things are developing in the wrong direction?'*
His original intention was to persuade Aizen not to rashly fuse with the Hōgyoku and cause something terrible to happen.
But looking at it now, Aizen didn't seem to have given up; instead, he had birthed some incredibly dangerous ideas because of it.
"Why is it you?"
Naraku Sora looked at the dark-skinned cat girl in front of him, unable to help but reveal a serious expression.
Yoruichi grinned. "You were the one who said anyone could come."
"After thinking about it carefully, my strength isn't enough to fight side-by-side with you yet, so I took the initiative to come."
Naraku Sora crossed his arms over his chest, putting on a scrutinizing look.
"It's not like you can't."
"It's just that the Hollowfication process might be a bit painful. You'll suffer a little."
"However, I'll be here for you."
Hearing this, Yoruichi smiled and narrowed her eyes, looking exactly like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat.
The two walked toward the laboratory.
Seeing the dark-skinned female captain Naraku Sora brought back, Aizen nodded without saying much.
Urahara Kisuke, on the other hand, revealed a sentimental expression upon seeing his former superior again.
Before he knew it, many years had passed since he left Squad 2.
As a long-lived species, a Soul Reaper's concept of time was different from that of a human.
Their lengthy lifespans meant they didn't feel the passage of time very strongly.
Because of this, even though he had joined the Shino Prison a long time ago, Urahara Kisuke didn't feel any unfamiliarity when seeing his former superior again.
Speaking of which, the fact that Captain Shihōin was actually the first to seek out Naraku Sora surprised him a little.
Logically speaking, shouldn't Captain Muguruma have been the first to come?
Urahara Kisuke couldn't help but fall deep into thought.
Because they had Hirako Shinji as a practice subject earlier, the subsequent process was very easy.
However, rashly triggering Hollowfication within the Seireitei would cause some unnecessary commotion, so Naraku Sora suggested setting the experiment location in Hueco Mundo.
Under Yoruichi's curious gaze, Naraku Sora reached out and pulled at the empty air nearby, as if tugging on a curtain.
The space emitted a creaking, shattering sound, and dense cracks appeared like glass struck by a stone, revealing a pitch-black passage.
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, recognizing this as one of the unique abilities of Hollows.
Garganta.
As a path of Reishi unfurled ahead, Naraku Sora entered first, with Yoruichi following closely behind.
Aizen and Kisuke packed up the instruments and equipment they would need next. After making sure nothing was left behind, they also entered the Garganta.
Look, in a certain corner of Hueco Mundo, a beautiful thing was happening.
Having gained the power of a Hollow, Yoruichi wore a cat mask on her face. It didn't look fierce at all; instead, it exuded a hint of sly cuteness.
However, her movements were no less fierce. A casual strike blasted a massive crater into the desert beneath her feet.
Despite her slender figure, her strength was unimaginably immense.
Wisps of golden electrical arcs exploded in the air, erupting with bursts of thunder. The smell of burning filled the nostrils as smoke rose all around.
Facing Yoruichi's airtight Hakuda attacks, Naraku Sora spread his arms, effortlessly and accurately catching every single strike without the slightest deviation.
Even though the Hollowfied Yoruichi instinctively used Shunkō, her moves fierce and her posture seemingly invincible, unfortunately for her, someone was even more formidable.
A lithe figure descended from the sky, her plump thighs smashing downward like a battle axe.
*Bang!*
Naraku Sora caught this heavy blow with a single hand. Countless flashes of lightning instantly exploded, continuously ravaging his defenses and attempting to invade his nerves to completely paralyze him.
If it were anyone else, they might have already fallen victim and collapsed.
However, this level of lightning wasn't even as strong as Naraku Sora's Lightning Release Mode. It couldn't shake his indestructible Hierro at all.
Twisting her slender waist, Yoruichi broke free from the confinement of his palm while her flexible body underwent an unbelievable contortion.
Her delicate fist carried a piercing sonic boom, erupting with astonishing air currents as brilliant golden lightning flashed.
Just as that somewhat elegant fist struck, Naraku Sora simultaneously extended his right hand.
Rock, paper, scissors.
*Smack!*
With a crisp collision, Naraku Sora's right hand covered her delicate fist. The movement was light and fluid, giving off a sensation of slowness.
But the moment it completely enveloped her fist, a heart-palpitating roar and loud crash suddenly erupted.
Air currents rolled and raged across the boundless desert.
Yoruichi's body stalled, her reactions instantly slowing down.
Taking advantage of this gap, Naraku Sora closed the distance.
He directly executed the grappling techniques Yoruichi had taught him, incredibly skillfully locking down the dark-skinned cat girl beneath him.
His terrifying strength instantly pinned her in place, rendering her unable to struggle.
Aizen: "..."
It was only because this person was Shihōin Yoruichi. If it had been any other captain undergoing Hollowfication, they would have undoubtedly received a severe beating with iron fists.
This guy seemed reckless and brainless, but when treating those close to him, he was still very gentle.
Most importantly, this differential treatment wasn't deliberate; it was a subconscious behavior.
Perhaps it was exactly this special way of treating people that allowed a certain someone to gather so many supporters around him.
Time passed minute by minute, and Naraku Sora waited patiently.
It wasn't until a cracking sound came from beneath him that he looked closely, only to see the white bone-like layer covering Yoruichi cracking open.
The cracks expanded at a visible rate, spreading across her entire body in the blink of an eye.
The next second, the white bone layer completely shattered with a snap, turning into a cloud of flying ash.
Yoruichi stood there quietly, seemingly comprehending something.
A moment later, Naraku Sora leaned in and asked curiously, "How does it feel?"
Yoruichi opened her eyes, lightning seemingly flashing within her golden pupils.
Looking at the face so close at hand, the corners of her mouth curled into a happy arc.
"Absolutely wonderful."
"My spiritual pressure, which had already slowed down in its growth, has once again returned to a high-speed growth phase. It feels like I'm back in my academy days."
Staring at Yoruichi as she familiarized herself with her changes, Naraku Sora suddenly remembered something extremely important.
"By the way, are you interested in taking a tour of Las Noches?"
Yoruichi paused for a moment before nodding gladly. "Sure."
Ever since the captain's meeting, she had been very curious about Las Noches. Now that Naraku Sora was inviting her, she naturally wouldn't refuse.
Soon, under a certain someone's arrangement, Yoruichi arrived at the first stop of the tour—
The prison.
Although she was a bit curious, out of trust, she still went in and took a walk around.
Right at that moment, rippling ink surfaced before Naraku Sora's eyes.
Looking at the text upon it, Naraku Sora frowned slightly.
*'It seems this is quite different from how I expected things to unfold.'*
*'Just which step went wrong?'*
*'Where is my invincible Transcendent realm?'*