Chapter 128: The Fourth Espada
The Incomplete Hōgyoku!
Aizen gazed at the gem resting in his palm, shimmering with an interplay of blue and black light. It was crystalline, translucent, and radiated a mysterious, pulsating energy.
By sacrificing the unique chakra power of this ninja world, Aizen had completed an equivalent exchange with the system. Bathed in a divine light, the soul of the Sprite had been transmuted into this imperfect version of the Hōgyoku.
"So, it is indeed in an incomplete state," Aizen murmured, his voice calm. "The energy level contained within is insufficient for my ultimate design."
He stared at the Hōgyoku, a complex mix of excitement and disappointment in his eyes. The excitement came from once again holding the key to his transcendence, the artifact that could grant him the title of a god. The disappointment stemmed from its fractured nature; the power it held was less than a tenth of what his original, complete Hōgyoku had possessed.
Having been recognized by a Hōgyoku before, Aizen understood its true function: to perceive the latent desires in the hearts of those nearby and manifest them, guiding their power. He had used this very ability to create the Arrancar Army and become the master of Hueco Mundo.
Now, with a Hōgyoku in his hand once more, the Arrancar Legion would soon see the light of day again.
As Aizen fell into deep contemplation, the fractured gem in his palm suddenly flared with an intense light, reminiscent of its awakening in Karakura Town long ago.
The Hōgyoku is awakening?
Aizen stared at it, a rare flicker of surprise in his eyes. His heart, usually an unshakable bastion of calm, was genuinely stirred.
Thump… Thump-thump…
In the silent underground space, the Hōgyoku began to pulse with a regular, rhythmic beat, like a newly formed heart.
Aizen lifted the Hōgyoku high above his head. Brilliant rays of light erupted from it, illuminating the vast underground palace with a transparent, shining blue radiance.
An indescribable, terrifying aura radiated outwards. All the blue light seemed to be alive, pouring into Aizen's body like a spiritual tide.
In that moment, an intangible communication rang within Aizen's mind.
He understood all the secrets of this incomplete Hōgyoku.
It was known that the Hōgyoku's true power was to realize the innermost desires of those around it, according to their own hearts. But the condition was that the wielder must possess the strength to see that desire realized.
Now, Aizen had completely discarded chakra, leaving only pure spiritual power within his body. And in doing so, he had become stronger.
Ordinary chakra was like a tasteless piece of chicken rib to him—a pity to throw away, but unpalatable to keep. Though the Jōnin-level reserves he had built were considered top-tier in the ninja world, Aizen did not need them. He had his Reiatsu.
This incomplete Hōgyoku was a concentration of massive chakra and the Sprite's soul. Therefore, even in its fractured state, it could still grant Aizen a single chance to have a wish fulfilled.
But the prerequisite was that Aizen himself had the capability to control the outcome of that wish's realization.
As long as Aizen could control the result, the Hōgyoku could satisfy his desire and create a miracle.
Of course, everything in the world operated on a conventional balance.
Once the Hōgyoku helped Aizen realize this wish, the energy within it would be completely exhausted. To awaken it again in the future would require a far greater price—a colossal amount of energy.
Based on the directions given by the Hōgyoku, Aizen came to a conclusion. In this Shinobi Continent, only the legendary Tailed Beasts possessed energy vast enough to reawaken the gem.
Each awakening of the Hōgyoku could fulfill one of Aizen's wishes, but it also meant he would need to capture the Nine Tailed Beasts, one by one.
In the ninja world, the Nine Tailed Beasts were infamous, having left a trail of natural and man-made disasters throughout history. They were entities of immense chakra, possessing extremely powerful combat capabilities. It was why every nation fought tooth and nail to possess one during the great shinobi wars, hoping to secure victory.
For ordinary shinobi, the Tailed Beasts were invincible, near-immortal entities, their bodies perpetually saturated with unfathomable amounts of chakra.
Only the sheer magnitude of a Tailed Beast's power could barely meet the Hōgyoku's standards and grant another chance at a realized wish.
Aizen closed his hand around the gem, a slight smile touching his lips.
His decision was made. He would use this single opportunity granted by the Hōgyoku to summon the Espada—the Ten Blades—who had once fought under his command in another world.
Back then, Aizen had led the Arrancar to sweep through Hueco Mundo and wage war upon Karakura Town and the Soul Society. The powerful top three Espada had made the Gotei 13 feel the true terror of Hueco Mundo's might. Among them, the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk, was powerful enough to rival captains centuries old.
It was a pity that Starrk, for all his power, had ultimately fallen to Kyōraku Shunsui's bizarre Zanpakutō abilities. The Segunda Espada, Baraggan Louisenbairn, wielded the despairing power of death and decay. Anything that came into contact with his ability would rot away; a human body would be eroded to nothing.
Aizen focused his will, formulating his wish. The moment the Hōgyoku sensed his desire, it erupted with a ferocious light.
The blue radiance shone with an almost tangible intensity. The power within the Hōgyoku was fully awakened, projecting onto the ground before Aizen to form a vertical curtain of light.
The light curtain was dim, making it difficult to see the scene within. But something seemed to be taking shape, a figure gradually emerging from the luminescence.
When all the rays of light finally dissipated, the figure hidden within the curtain revealed itself.
She had short, black hair and pale, almost lifeless-looking skin. Her turquoise eyes held no fluctuation, only a cold, merciless chill. Two dark green tear-like marks ran down her otherwise perfect face, adding a unique, haunting quality.
She wore a high-necked, long-sleeved white jacket with black trim and a black underlayer. Beneath it was a white kimono-style hakama, bound tightly by a wide black obi. On her feet were black tabi socks and white sandals.
A Zanpakutō was sheathed at her waist, much like Aizen's, and she radiated a terrifying, palpable evil aura.
The most striking feature was the horned, helmet-like mask covering the left side of her skull—a rugged, bone-like mask. Emblazoned on the left side of her chest was the number "4."
She possessed a noble yet cold temperament, her face an almost expressionless mask, her eyes revealing a primitive, killing intent.
The Espada who once held the rank of Fourth under Aizen Sōsuke.
Ulquiorra Cifer.
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