Ever since Nel joined the group, Ren's life had been a mix of agonizing pain and pure bliss.
The bliss, naturally, came from the fact that Nel was incredibly affectionate and never stingy with her "softness." As for the pain...
"Lilynette! You idiot! Stop biting my butt!"
"Die! Cero Metralleta!"
"Ow!!"
"Oh dear, look what you've done! Brother, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you~" Nel said in a sugary, cooing voice.
"Agh! You green-haired tea-green bitch!"
"Violent brat!"
Seeing the two about to tear into each other again, Ren quickly pulled them apart, adopting the tone of a weary parent. "Alright, that's enough. We're a family now; we shouldn't be fighting."
"Hmph!" Lilynette turned her head away, letting out a dissatisfied snort. Nel, meanwhile, immediately clung to Ren's arm again.
A few days later.
Ren sat with Nel leaning against his left side and Lilynette cradled in his lap. After a few days of "adjusting," the two finally stopped trying to kill each other, much to Ren's relief. Of course, this was mainly because he had used his overwhelming strength to "suppress" them a hundred times over until they behaved.
Just as Ren was enjoying this peaceful harem life and planning to keep it up for the next century, Ulquiorra, who had been asleep in the withered forest for hundreds of years, actually woke up.
"What are you doing? It's been so noisy lately, I can't sleep properly," Ulquiorra said, rubbing his eyes with a drowsy expression.
"Ulquiorra! You're finally awake!" Ren and Lilynette were genuinely thrilled. Heaven knew how long he'd been out; they were getting bored. If Nel hadn't shown up, Ren might have forcibly woken him.
Lilynette looked closer and noticed that the last piece of the white bone mask on Ulquiorra's right forehead was crumbling. In a blink, the mask vanished completely. Aside from the hollow hole in his chest, Ulquiorra now looked no different from a human.
He offered a rare, faint smile. "This sleep was very comfortable. Thank you for guarding me all this time."
"Hahaha! We're brothers, don't be so polite!" Ren threw an arm around Ulquiorra's shoulder. "Now that we have three Vasto Lorde-class powerhouses, how about we start an organization?"
"An organization?"
The group hesitated for less than a second before all nodding in agreement.
"I want to be the boss!" Lilynette laughed.
"Don't be silly, the boss is obviously me!" Ren countered.
"Me!"
"Me!"
After a brief spat, Ren's strength won out again, successfully suppressing Lilynette to become the leader of the squad.
"By the way, what should we call ourselves?" Nel asked with a smile.
"That is a serious question!" Ren rubbed his chin, but a name didn't come easily.
"The Lilynette Knights!"
"No."
"Tch~"
The discussion dragged on as even Ulquiorra, who usually showed no interest in anything, joined in.
Sizzle—
The roasting meat gave off an enticing aroma. The group, eyes glowing green with hunger, wiped their drools and prepared to strike. A second later, several shadows blurred, and the massive roast vanished instantly.
Having eaten their fill, they lay on the sand without a shred of dignity, staring at the moon.
"Hueco Mundo is so boring," Nel mused.
"Let's go play in the World of the Living!" Lilynette suggested.
"We'd be hunted by Soul Reapers," Nel noted. "With our strength, if we just barge in, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 might come after us personally."
"Tch! I don't care about some old Captain-Commander!" Lilynette snapped.
"The Living World..." Ren felt a pang of nostalgia. It was a modern society. With his abilities, he could easily live the life of a happy, shut-in otaku. The more I think about it, the more tempting it sounds! After wandering this desert for centuries, he missed modern technology dearly. The second happiest part of his day was receiving memories from Scientist Ren and enjoying tech vicariously.
With my current power, even if Old Man Yama steps in, I doubt he could beat me in one move. The only real worry is if the Soul King interferes...
But then Ren realized: he just wanted to be a shut-in. Why would the Soul King care about that? Besides, at my current level, what could even the Soul King do to me? Before absolute power, even rules must kneel.
Just as Ren was about to make a decision, a powerful spiritual pressure (Reiatsu) entered his perception.
Lilynette and the others stood up, their eyes narrowing as three figures wearing the haori of Gotei 13 Captains appeared.
On the left was a blind man in black; on the right was a silver-haired man with squinted eyes and a calculating look. In the center stood a man with glasses and a gentle, scholarly air.
The man in the glasses spoke: "You all look quite bored. How would you like to do something great with me?"
The group looked at Ren. Seeing this, Sōsuke Aizen understood that Ren was the leader.
After a moment of silence, Ren asked: "We won't become your subordinates. But... we can cooperate."
"Oh? Cooperation?" Aizen's gaze became inquisitive, scanning Ren.
Suddenly, without warning, both men erupted with Reiatsu. Pillars of white and purple spiritual energy surged toward the heavens, the earth beneath them shattering and cracking until a massive chasm opened between the two parties.
"I accept. I look forward to a fruitful partnership," Aizen said.
"Likewise."
Above the chasm, the two men shook hands, sealing the alliance. Since they were now partners, Aizen revealed his goal: "I intend to create the Ouken and become the only God of this world."
"And I," Ren replied, "intend to settle in the World of the Living and become a happy otaku."
Aizen looked at Ren with surprise. He had expected Ren to ask for a share of the world or ultimate power. A shut-in? Aizen's mind briefly flashed to a certain man in a bucket hat...
They followed Aizen to a massive dome structure.
"Welcome to Las Noches," Gin Ichimaru said with his signature snake-like grin. "Aside from the three of us, the others are Hollows enhanced by Lord Aizen. By your standards, they are all Adjuchas-class."
Ren and the others weren't interested, but Nel's eyes lit up. "Can Aizen really help Hollows evolve?"
Aizen, walking ahead, smiled. "Indeed. Would you like to try?"
Nel was tempted, but she looked at Ren first.
"Go ahead and try," Ren joked. "The worst that can happen is you turn into an ugly monster."
Eek! Nel immediately backed away several steps, waving her hands. "Never mind! I'll evolve on my own!"
Lilynette, sitting on Nel's back, asked Aizen: "Is there a price for this evolution? Like burning away your potential?"
"That," Aizen replied smoothly, "is something you will find out in time."