Kensei Kenzuru and the others had already spent several uneventful days in their new Hueco Mundo base.
Since there were no immediate leads on Ikomikidomoe, Aizen had begun using the Hōgyoku to restart experiments on Hollow Shinigamification.
"Sōsuke, how's the progress today?"
Kensei wandered into Aizen's lab, placing a hand on her shoulder.
He could ignore other experiments, but the Arrancarization experiment that could make Hollows almost indistinguishable from humans was something Kensei had to pay attention to.
Aizen stood before the experiment table, her gaze fixed intently on the Hollow restrained by a special device. This was an Adjuchas specifically selected and captured, its spiritual pressure already nearing its limit.
However, with a Vasto Lorde like Nelliel on their side, capturing it hadn't required much effort.
"The two-hundredth parameter adjustment," Aizen said calmly, bringing the Hōgyoku in her hand close to the Hollow's forehead. "Increasing the Hōgyoku's output to thirty percent of baseline."
The Hōgyoku emitted a faint blue light. The peculiarly shaped Adjuchas immediately began convulsing violently, the cracking sounds of its bone-like outer shell shattering filling the air.
Yoruichi leaned against the lab doorway, arms crossed as she watched. "Be careful this time. Don't lose control and blow up this new base again."
"Rest assured. This level of power is still within control."
Aizen's eyes were fixed on the Adjuchas's reaction.
Shinigami Hollowfication, Hollow Shinigamification—both were means to break racial boundaries.
Moreover, there was the future threat named Yhwach. Whether it was the clash between Yhwach and Yamamoto or the information gleaned from Kensei, it all pointed to an enemy capable of crushing conventional combat power.
She needed more trump cards, needed to delve deeper into the research of power, to ensure Kensei could emerge victorious from that inevitable future battle intact.
The Adjuchas on the table let out a pained howl that echoed in the lab. Its form began to change. Parts of its outer shell receded, revealing skin approximating that of a human. The bone mask on its face started to crack, but stopped after only breaking about halfway.
The Adjuchas's spiritual pressure fluctuated violently. Aizen's brow furrowed slightly as she quickly used Kidō to isolate it, then withdrew the Hōgyoku.
"Failure?"
Kensei looked at the half-Hollow, half-human creature, unable to hide his disappointment.
"No." Aizen glanced at Kensei. She wanted to explain but gave up. "Never mind. Help me dispose of this and collect some more materials while you're at it."
Kensei shrugged, directly walked over, picked up the Adjuchas, and headed outside, wondering if other Hollows would eat this kind of... ingredient.
Calling Nelliel, their Hueco Mundo guide, the two quickly headed into the distance.
Kensei yawned. Nelliel walked beside him, her eyes alertly scanning their surroundings.
"Kensei, are you conducting experiments?" Nelliel asked.
"After the experiment succeeds, Hollows can be made to resemble Shinigami." Kensei nodded. "Interested, Nelliel?"
"Can I become like you too?" Nelliel seemed happy. "I wonder when it will be completed."
The two chatted casually as they searched for the materials Aizen needed.
Nelliel suddenly stopped, her nostrils twitching slightly. "The scent of blood. Over there."
They exchanged a glance and simultaneously sped up, heading in the direction Nelliel had indicated.
After passing several dunes, they saw roughly thirty Hollows of various forms besieging four figures. The besieged party was clearly at a disadvantage but was resisting quite tenaciously.
Leading them was a tall, female Hollow with blonde hair and green eyes, with brown skin similar to Yoruichi's. Her head was covered by a bone mask resembling a shark's fin, only revealing her hair and eyes. The Hollow skin covering her body was akin to a shark-suit swimsuit, accentuating her impressive figure.
Her entire left arm had transformed into a broad greatsword. Each swing carried astonishing power, cleaving approaching enemies in two.
But there were too many Hollows participating in the encirclement, and she also had to split her attention to protect the three Hollows behind her—a snake, a lion, and a stag—who were clearly not on her level.
"That's... Tier Harribel." Nelliel, who also roamed outside Baraggan's sphere of influence and was a fellow Vasto Lorde, naturally knew her name. "She's not one to actively pick fights. How did she get into this kind of trouble?"
"The good are bullied by the bad, I guess."
As soon as Kensei finished speaking, the situation with Harribel changed drastically. Several Hollows attacked from the flank, aiming straight for the already heavily injured snake-like Hollow behind her. Harribel was held up by several Hollows and couldn't defend in time.
Kensei narrowed his eyes, black spiritual pressure gathering in his hand.
"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi."
Without incantation, as if equipped with an aimbot, several black coffins swallowed all the Hollows except Harribel and her companions. Several seconds later, the black coffins gradually dissipated, revealing only scattered blood and a startling number of corpses.
"No wonder Sōsuke likes using this move. It's pretty flashy."
Kensei nodded in satisfaction and walked towards Harribel with Nelliel.
"A Shinigami?"
Harribel looked warily at Kensei but didn't point her weapon at him. Regardless of his identity, he had just helped her, and he was accompanied by Nelliel, whom she had met a few times before.
"Thank you for your assistance."
As soon as Harribel spoke, Kensei recognized the voice*.
(TN: This is a meta-joke referencing voice actors. Harribel's Japanese voice actress is the same as Shinji Ikari from Evangelion, whom Kensei refers to as "Old Shinji." It's a cultural reference. The humor is in Kensei recognizing the iconic voice. The translation uses "recognized the voice" to preserve the intent without explaining the specific actor.)
"I am Tier Harribel. These three are my companions: Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun."
"To be saved by a Shinigami..." The snake-like Hollow, Sung-Sun, seemed to find it somewhat embarrassing, but she fell silent after a look from Harribel.
"No one has a kinder heart than me."
Kensei waved his hand. "It seems you're being pursued by Baraggan. Can you tell me what happened?"
Harribel remained silent for a moment, her sharp eyes fixed on Kensei. "It seems you're quite knowledgeable about affairs in Hueco Mundo."
Nelliel stepped forward, placing a hand in front of Kensei, her expression displeased. Kensei had just saved them, yet the other party's attitude was so hostile.
"Relax. If I had malicious intent, you wouldn't have survived just now."
Kensei's words contained a bit of exaggeration. Harribel, a Vasto Lorde, was hard to say, but her three companions would definitely be dead.
"Baraggan once tried to recruit me. After I refused, he began sending people to hunt me and my companions."
Harribel chose to be frank. On one hand, Kensei was indeed their benefactor; on the other, a powerful Shinigami plus a Vasto Lorde meant escape was impossible.
"Baraggan is truly unambitious, only throwing his weight around in a place like this."
Kensei pursed his lips, disdainful of Baraggan's methods. If it were him, he'd be holding parties every day. Oh, right. Baraggan doesn't have that function.
"What are your plans next? Baraggan isn't one to let things go easily."
Harribel frowned in thought for a moment before speaking calmly. "I'll take them to find a new habitat. Hueco Mundo is vast. There must be places he can't find."
Kensei nodded and tossed a communication device to Harribel. "If Baraggan makes any moves, remember to notify me. Of course, you can also notify me if you're in trouble, but I'm not free."
Harribel cautiously took it, glanced at the special symbol printed on it, nodded to Kensei, then turned and led her three companions away.
Nelliel looked curiously at Kensei. "Kensei, are you interested in these females?"
"Don't say such things. I'm not a furry."
Kensei hurriedly clarified. Harribel, a Vasto Lorde, was fine; at least she was humanoid. Her three Fracción were still completely beast-like Hollows.
Nelliel thought about Harribel and her companions' appearances, then looked back at her own antelope-like lower body, her eyes thoughtful.
-----------------
At a hidden location in Hueco Mundo, within a laboratory beneath the white sands.
Szayelaporro Granz looked at Gorudo Roikodium, who had finished feeding and entered a dormant state, a frenzied smile on his face.
After attaching various wires to Gorudo Roikodium, Szayelaporro stared at the data on the instruments, his eyes full of excitement. "Ahhh~ My talent truly surpasses all. Such beautiful data."
The heartbeat of Gorudo Roikodium gradually grew louder. Ikomikidomoe, which it had kept by its side all along, also began to flash with a light matching the heartbeat's frequency.
Two forces were drawing near, merging.
In a certain instant, a wisp of spiritual pressure leaked from Ikomikidomoe.
Though just a wisp—if one wasn't familiar with its spiritual pressure, it would be mistaken for normal fluctuations in Hueco Mundo—this place just happened to contain someone very familiar with Ikomikidomoe's spiritual pressure.
Las Noches, with its few pillars.
Sitting on his throne, Baraggan supported his chin with one hand, his hollow eyes watching the battling subordinates below with boredom.
The troops he had sent to eliminate Harribel hadn't returned with news yet. Utter trash.
Just as Baraggan was about to dispatch another force to continue the hunt for Harribel, his fingers abruptly clenched.
"This is..."
His tattered robe billowed from his immense spiritual pressure. Many among the Hollows below couldn't withstand the pressure Baraggan unconsciously released, kneeling and nearly suffocating.
Baraggan slowly stood up, his hollow eye sockets continuously scanning Hueco Mundo.
Though only for an instant, he would never mistake that presence.
His arch-nemesis who could match him evenly, yet had vanished without a trace—Ikomikidomoe!
"Order!" Baraggan retracted the spiritual pressure he had unconsciously released and sat back on his throne. "Dispatch another team to continue pursuing Harribel. All others, disperse throughout Hueco Mundo. Find this individual for me!"
Using his spiritual pressure to imprint the image of Ikomikidomoe from his memory onto the ground, a terrifying light flashed in Baraggan's hollow eye sockets.
One king for Hueco Mundo was enough. Someone who disappeared long ago should stay disappeared.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!