After hearing Ulquiorra's words, everyone couldn't help but think more deeply.
They began to wonder why they had subconsciously ignored this issue before.
Could it be… because they were already afraid of Yuta's power in their hearts?
No-that couldn't be possible, could it?
Had they really begun to fear Yuta just after hearing rumors of his feats?
Only now did they realize just how oppressive the name Yuta truly was.
Sōsuke Aizen nodded. "Ulquiorra is correct. If Yuta can grow so powerful in only a few days, then if given another twenty-nine days, that power may become unimaginable."
As the saying goes: a person's reputation is like the shadow of a tall tree.
Just catching a glimpse of Yuta's presence was like seeing a faint image of a predator through a narrow tube-impossible to comprehend in full, but overwhelming all the same.
Even without directly meeting him in person, they understood the scale: like seeing the shadow of a great tree, they could already sense its enormity. It was no surprise they had unconsciously dismissed Ulquiorra's earlier question.
If Yuta continued growing at such a terrifying pace, then twenty-nine days later might not mark their triumph over the world, but the dawning of their despair instead. Even with the Hōgyoku in their possession, it was not certain they could oppose him.
If another's growing speed could be likened to a bicycle, Yuta's was a rocket.
Allowing that kind of growth to continue was unthinkable.
Yammy Llargo was already drenched in sweat. The idea of such growth frightened him to the core. He remembered when Yuta had chosen not to deliver the killing blow and realized with unease that it was not out of mercy, but because he hadn't been considered worth the effort. Now, he simply felt fortunate that, as Aizen had said, his life had been spared.
At that moment, Aizen stood and spoke. "Although the Hōgyoku is still in a dormant state, no one can truly know the extent of its awakening without using it directly. Even Kisuke Urahara, who created and later sealed it, could not know."
"However, once unsealed, the Hōgyoku-even in dormancy-can temporarily merge with a host whose spiritual pressure is more than twice the level of a captain. At that moment, it can manifest the same power as a fully awakened Hōgyoku."
"Yammy-use the Hōgyoku to restore your arms."
"Thank you, Aizen-sama." Yammy felt humbled. To use the Hōgyoku for such an injury seemed excessive, but to him it only proved how much value Aizen placed on his existence. He silently vowed to devote everything to Aizen in return.
Ulquiorra and the others remained uncertain but voiced no objections as they followed Aizen.
They entered a secret chamber. The room was bare except for a single stone pillar. Atop it rested a reinforced glass container holding a dark-purple orb: the Hōgyoku.
The moment their eyes fell upon it, a wave of crushing spiritual pressure surged from the crystal, cutting into their souls. Even Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez held his tongue under its weight.
None of the Espada moved. It wasn't by choice-the oppressive aura of the Hōgyoku pinned them in place as though any step forward would obliterate them.
Only Aizen, dressed immaculately in white robes with a calm stride, continued forward without pause. He reached out and shattered the glass casing with one hand, retrieving the Hōgyoku as reiryoku crackled across his form.
Instantly, the spiritual pressure radiating from him surged into an overwhelming storm as his power merged with the orb. The Espada could do nothing but witness in silence, their shock evident on their faces.
So this is the power of the Hōgyoku… So this is Aizen-sama's strength.
Under its glow, Yammy's broken arms rapidly regenerated before their eyes. His expression flooded with relief and joy as he flexed his restored hands. The Espada watched in awe at how quickly the Hōgyoku had repaired him.
But just as Yammy began to stand, his smile froze. His regenerated arms suddenly burst apart again.
Blood sprayed from his shoulders in heavy streams, gushing like valves left wide open. Yammy stared in horror at the stumps where his arms had been, his mind overwhelmed by both shock and pain.
Why? Didn't the Hōgyoku heal me? Why are my arms breaking again?
There was no enemy in sight. The other Espada muttered in confusion.
"What happened?"
"Didn't his arms just regenerate? Why did they break again?"
"There's no trace of reiryoku interference-no enemy presence either."
The situation defied their understanding.
Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes as a realization struck him. Normally, Arrancar-though losing their natural Hollow regeneration when their mask fragments were removed-retained resilience and, depending on their reiryoku reserves, could sustain recovery. With Yammy's dormant power and sheer reiryoku density, he should have been able to recover easily, even from such losses.
Then why did his arms refuse to heal?
Ulquiorra's gaze sharpened as a terrible thought crossed his mind. Could Yuta's strike have severed more than flesh? Was it not simple spiritual plundering, but a deeper ability entirely-something beyond what he could perceive?
As if confirming that suspicion, Aizen chuckled softly, his expression calm rather than surprised.
"It's just as I thought," he said evenly.
"Yuta… have you reached an ability beyond imagination?"
"The wound Yammy carries is not simple reishi plundering as Ulquiorra suspects."
"It belongs to a deeper principle… an ability that borders on a rule itself."
He paused, his voice carrying weight as the Espada listened in silence.
"It seems to be… the Perfección technique."
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