Seeing Aizen effortlessly shatter his Thunder Sea realm, Ren did not hesitate at all.
"You all return to Great House!"
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the group of Adjuchas. He knew that no matter how many of them came, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder against Aizen and his forces.
"Whoosh!"
Aizen appeared beside him in an instant.
Standing right next to Ren, Aizen looked at him with a calm smile. Ren felt as if he had been targeted by a colossal beast—his entire body tensed, his hair stood on end, and a suffocating pressure loomed over him, as if he could be swallowed whole at any moment.The terrifying spiritual pressure, strong enough to shake the entire Hueco Mundo, erupted from Aizen's body and bore down on Ren.
"Hmph! Do you think I am that I would kneel before mere spiritual pressure?"
Sensing Aizen's intent, Ren snorted coldly. A dark golden surge of violent energy erupted from his body, shooting into the sky to counter Aizen's oppressive spiritual force.
In that moment, Ren felt like a lone ship caught in a raging storm, struggling to stay afloat amidst the chaos. It seemed as if he could be crushed at any second!
Although Aizen's spiritual pressure was focused solely on Ren, the instant it was released, all of the hollows in the Great House felt its overwhelming presence.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
A series of rapid movements sounded, and four figures appeared beside Ren, surrounding him. They unleashed their own powerful spiritual pressures, helping him withstand the immense force emanating from Aizen.
Just as tensions peaked, Aizen suddenly withdrew his spiritual pressure as if nothing had happened.
He first glanced at Halibel and Nelly, then briefly observed Ulquiorra. His gaze lingered on Starrk for a long moment before he finally spoke:
"I didn't expect to find an Arrancar who could evolve independently… How intriguing."
He regarded Starrk as if he had discovered a rare treasure. Then, shifting his attention to Ren, Aizen's expression changed upon noticing the zanpakuto at his waist.
"You're the leader of the Great House ?"
Faced with Aizen's inquiry, Ren swallowed hard but maintained a balance of humility and defiance as he replied:
"I, Ren, am the leader of the Great House . And who might you be, priest?"
Although Ren had already known of Aizen's true identity, he maintained his facade, playing his role accordingly.
Aizen's lips curled into a faint smile. "Since you ask, allow me to introduce myself. I am Aizen Sōsuke—the one who can guide you to see beyond the illusions and transcend your limitations."
Hearing Aizen's grand proclamation, Ren couldn't help but feel a twitch in his expression beneath his mask. Still, he played along, feigning surprise.
"So, the Arrancars in Hueco Mundo… are your creations?"
Aizen seemed pleased with Ren's cooperative attitude, his smile unwavering.
"Is it possible for us to undergo the same transformation as Starrk?" Ren pressed.
"My research is nearing completion. Soon, every Hollow in Hueco Mundo will be able to achieve a perfect evolution," Aizen replied, adjusting his black-framed glasses with deliberate precision.
"'Nearing completion' means it's not done yet…" Ren mentally scoffed but kept his thoughts to himself.
After a brief pause, he slightly bowed toward Aizen. "Then, Aizen, we humbly ask you to lead us on the path to evolution."
At that moment, Ren let out a long roar, signaling dozens of Adjuchas and Lilynette to emerge from the underground palace of the Great House. Even Wonderweiss and his massive pet Adjuchas Fleur arrived.
Aside from Grimmjow and his subordinates, who were absent, every member under Ren's command stood before Aizen.
This was more than just an introduction—it was a display of power. A show of both willingness and strength, meant to send a clear message: Don't underestimate us. If you push too hard, we will fight to the death.
"I, Ren, on behalf of the entire Great House, propose an alliance with Aizen. As long as you lead us on the path of evolution, we pledge to be the sharp blade in your hand, cutting down all obstacles in your way."
As soon as he finished speaking, the gathered hollows behind him echoed in unison:
"We wish to form an alliance with Aizen!" "We are willing to follow Aizen!"
Aizen was momentarily taken aback. He had expected some resistance or negotiation, but instead, he had won over the Great House without shedding a single drop of blood.
Though they had not prostrated themselves in complete surrender, their posture was submissive enough. Unlike Beligang, they were not seeking to fight to the last man for dominance over Hueco Mundo.
Of course, Aizen was no fool. He knew Ren's loyalty was not absolute. But did it matter?
Not at all.
What Aizen needed were experimental subjects to refine his process of Arrancar evolution, while Ren required Aizen's assistance in helping his subordinates achieve their own transformations.
For both, this was a mutually beneficial cooperation.
Aizen surveyed the gathered Hollows before him, nodded slightly, and then spoke in a measured tone:
"Rest assured, the day of your evolution is near."
His voice carried unwavering confidence, bolstered by his unrivaled strength across the Three Realms and his commanding presence. If Ren hadn't already seen through Aizen's schemes, he might have been tempted to believe in his words.
Suddenly, Aizen's expression shifted as he remarked:
"Ren, you resemble a Shinigami more than a Hollow. If my intuition is correct, you could achieve evolution without my assistance. It seems you've already come far along the path of transformation."
Aizen fixed his gaze on Ren, his eyes gleaming with calculated insight.
Ren smirked slightly. "Aizen, your perception is as sharp as ever..."
Seeing no point in concealing the truth, he acknowledged it openly. But just as he prepared to respond further, Aizen's figure vanished, leaving behind only a parting remark that drifted through the air:
"I hope you've taken that final step by the next time we meet."
"Hah..."
After confirming Aizen had truly departed, Ren exhaled slowly, feeling an unspoken pressure lift from his shoulders.
That brief exchange had solidified his understanding—Aizen's power was on an entirely different level.
For now, aligning with Aizen was a strategic necessity. But true power lay in autonomy. Only by becoming strong enough could he negotiate on equal footing.
The desire to complete his evolution burned stronger than ever.
"Just one last step..."
As long as Kogo Ginjo obtained another fragment of the Spirit King, Ren would achieve his perfect transformation.
"I just hope that day comes soon."