Yekawa showed not the slightest hesitation as he watched Aizen Sōsuke effortlessly dismantle his Thunder Sea Domain.
"All of you, retreat to the Great Hollow Home!"
With a wave of his hand, he ordered the Adjuchas confronting the shark Arrancar at the entrance to withdraw. He understood clearly that no matter how many of them stepped forward, they would only be offering themselves to Aizen.
Whoosh!
Aizen appeared beside him in an instant with Sonido.
Standing calmly next to Yekawa, he looked at him with a faint smile. At that moment, Yekawa felt as though he had been locked onto by a primeval beast. Every hair on his body stood on end, as if he might be swallowed whole in the next second.
At the same time, an overwhelming spiritual pressure capable of shaking the entire Hueco Mundo surged from Aizen's body and pressed down directly upon Yekawa.
"Hmph! Do you think I'm Grimmjow? Do you really think spiritual pressure alone can force me to kneel?"
Sensing Aizen's intent, Yekawa snorted coldly. Dark golden spiritual pressure burst from his body, violent and blazing as it shot into the sky, colliding head-on with Aizen's terrifying pressure.
In that instant, Yekawa felt like a small boat drifting in a boundless ocean, struggling desperately against a violent storm.
It felt as if the boat would shatter and he himself would perish in the next moment.
Although Aizen's spiritual pressure targeted only Yekawa, the instant it erupted every Menos Grande within the Great Hollow Home sensed its terrifying presence.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
A series of Sonido echoes rang out as four figures appeared around Yekawa, surrounding him while powerful spiritual pressure erupted from their bodies.
Clearly, the four of them were helping him bear the crushing pressure radiating from Aizen.
Just as the two sides reached a tense stalemate, Aizen suddenly withdrew his abyss-like spiritual pressure.
His gaze swept briefly across Halibel and Nelliel before lingering momentarily on Ulquiorra. Finally, it rested on Starrk for a long time before he slowly spoke.
"I never expected there to truly be a Hollow capable of becoming an Arrancar on its own. This is truly a pleasant surprise."
He looked at Starrk as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.
Then he turned his gaze toward Yekawa. When he noticed the Asauchi hanging at Yekawa's waist, his expression froze for a brief moment.
"You are the leader of the Great Hollow Home?"
Faced with Aizen's question, Yekawa swallowed before replying calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
"I am Yekawa, leader of the Great Hollow Home. And you are…?"
Although he knew Aizen Sōsuke's identity perfectly well, he still had to maintain appearances.
Hearing this, Aizen smiled faintly.
"In that case, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aizen Aizen Sōsuke. I am the one who can lead you to break through illusions and shatter your limits."
Listening to Aizen's dramatic declaration, the corner of Yekawa's mouth twitched beneath his mask.
Nevertheless, he feigned surprise and asked,
"So all the Arrancar appearing throughout Hueco Mundo were created by you, Aizen-kun?"
Aizen seemed quite satisfied with Yekawa's words. The smile on his face never faded.
"Then, Aizen-kun, can you transform all of us into Arrancar like Starrk?"
Yekawa immediately pressed the matter.
"My research is nearing completion. When that day arrives, every Hollow in Hueco Mundo will be able to achieve perfect Arrancarization."
Aizen calmly pushed up his black-rimmed glasses as he spoke.
"Nearing completion… meaning it still isn't complete yet."
Naturally, Yekawa could only complain silently in his heart.
A moment later, Yekawa bowed slightly toward Aizen.
"Then please, Aizen-kun, lead us onto the path of perfect Arrancarization."
But he did not stop there.
With a long roar from Yekawa, dozens of Adjuchas emerged from the underground passages of the Great Hollow Home. Lilynette also rushed out with them.
Even Wonderweiss appeared, accompanied by his massive Adjuchas companion, Fleur.
Aside from Grimmjow and the group that followed him who were not present at the moment every subordinate under Yekawa had gathered before Aizen.
The full appearance of the Great Hollow Home was both a gesture of goodwill and a subtle warning.
Though perhaps the deterrence was limited, it still conveyed a clear message: push them too far, and they would fight to the death.
"I, Yekawa, represent all the Menos Grande of the Great Hollow Home in proposing an alliance with Aizen-kun. As long as you can guide us along the path of evolution…"
"…then we are willing to become the sharp blades in your hand and clear away every obstacle for you."
The moment his words fell, the Menos Grande behind him echoed in unison.
"We wish to ally with Aizen-kun!"
"We wish to ally with Aizen-kun!"
Even Aizen paused for a moment. Clearly, he had not expected this journey to proceed so smoothly, subduing the entire Great Hollow Home without shedding a single drop of blood.
Although the Menos Grande had not knelt in submission as he might have preferred, their stance was already humble enough. He could not treat them as he had treated Baraggan and simply wipe out all of Las Noches.
Naturally, with Aizen's cunning, he saw clearly that Yekawa's sincerity was limited.
But that did not matter.
Aizen required Arrancar subjects to perfect his Hōgyoku research.
Yekawa needed Aizen's methods to evolve his followers.
This was simply cooperation each side gaining what it wanted.
Aizen looked over the gathered Menos Grande and nodded slightly.
"Rest assured, everyone. The day of your Arrancarization is very close."
"I swear that as long as we advance and retreat together, there will be no enemies before us."
His voice rang loudly across the desert. Combined with his overwhelming strength and commanding presence, the declaration carried enormous weight.
If Yekawa had not possessed the advantage of knowing the future, he might have almost believed those words himself.
Then, suddenly, Aizen spoke again.
"Yekawa, you resemble a Shinigami far more than a Hollow. If I'm not mistaken, you do not truly need my help to become an Arrancar."
"It seems you have already walked quite far along that path."
He stared at Yekawa with a calculating gaze.
"Aizen-kun's perception is indeed sharp…"
Seeing that concealment was pointless, Yekawa simply admitted it.
But when he lifted his head again, Aizen had already vanished.
Only a faint voice lingered in the air.
"I hope that when we meet again next time, you will already have taken that step."
"Phew…"
After confirming that Aizen had truly left, Yekawa finally released a long breath.
Only through this brief confrontation had he truly understood just how terrifying Aizen's strength was.
Therefore, Aizen's apparent concession today was merely temporary convenience.
Only true strength could grant the right to negotiate with someone like him.
At that moment, Yekawa's desire to become an Arrancar grew even stronger.
"Just one more fragment."
As long as Kūgo Ginjō could obtain one final Spirit King fragment, Yekawa would be able to complete his perfect Arrancarization.
"I just hope that day doesn't make me wait too long."