"Can't be helped. My personal charm is too great." Kensei Kenzuru lifted his chin, his tone self-satisfied. "Details later. Give me a hand for now."
Yoruichi's mouth curved slightly. "Oh? When will the Crown Prince of Soul Society conquer Hueco Mundo with his charm?"
Even as she spoke, Yoruichi stepped forward, helping Nelliel transfer the unconscious Apacci into the interior lab of the base. Only there was the space sufficient, and since Aizen would conduct Arrancarization experiments on her later, it was more convenient to handle it all in one place.
Harribel hurriedly followed. She had to witness Apacci's treatment process personally. Rose and Sung-Sun supported each other, warily stepping into this unfamiliar territory belonging to Shinigami.
Apacci was laid flat on a cushion. Though the wound on her abdomen had stopped bleeding, her condition remained critical. The crack in her mask was particularly conspicuous under the lab lights.
Kensei was preparing to use Kaidō for more thorough treatment on Apacci to restore her consciousness when Nelliel approached him, her face showing hesitation and shyness.
"Let me try."
Saying this, Nelliel lowered her head, allowing thick, sticky saliva to flow from her mouth onto Apacci's wound. Perhaps feeling the action was somewhat undignified, Nelliel sneaked a glance at Kensei, looking somewhat embarrassed.
The saliva's effect was unexpectedly good. Apacci's wound healing speed noticeably accelerated, showing signs of recovery in a short time.
Rose's eyes widened. Sung-Sun flicked her serpentine tongue. Both were somewhat surprised by Nelliel's special ability.
"Your saliva has healing properties?" Harribel looked at Nelliel.
Nelliel nodded, speaking softly. "Mm... when I got hurt before, licking it made it heal quickly."
A smile appeared on Kensei's face. He had thought Nelliel only used saliva healing when she was smaller. Unexpected surprise.
"Feels more effective than Kaidō. I'll just get Nelliel to lick me when I'm hurt from now on."
Kensei immediately betrayed the lowly Kaidō, choosing the more authoritative treatment method.
After about half an hour, Apacci's wounds had completely healed. Her previously weak breathing became steady. After a few more minutes, her eyelids fluttered, slowly opening.
In her blurry vision, Apacci saw an unfamiliar ceiling and several indistinct faces gathered around her.
"You're awake? Congratulations on being selected by the Main God, becoming a Reincarnator"
Kensei said something no one else understood.
"Apacci!" Harribel immediately approached.
Apacci's eyes initially held wariness. She tried to sit up but failed due to physical weakness, only able to look at Harribel.
"Lady Harribel, where is this?"
"Calm down, Apacci." Harribel pressed her shoulder, her tone as steady as possible. "We're safe now. These Shinigami are helping us."
Harribel temporarily did not reveal her pledge of loyalty to Kensei, fearing Apacci would become too agitated upon learning, potentially worsening her injuries.
Seeing the awakened Apacci, Aizen calmly pulled up data related to Arrancarization on the screen. " Now that this issue is resolved, let's proceed to the next step."
"First, clarify your current state, Apacci." Aizen's voice remained calm and emotionless. "Though your external wounds are healed, the damage to your mask is irreversible."
Apacci's body stiffened noticeably. Her hoof subconsciously reached for her face, feeling the crack.
"Of course, this condition is not untreatable." Aizen continued. "As long as you can complete Arrancarization, not only will you not degenerate, but you can also grow further."
Kensei chimed in. "Please watch the VCR."
Footage of a previous successful test subject appeared on the screen—a Hollow's mask gradually cracking and falling away until it eventually resembled a human's appearance, with a weapon resembling a Shinigami's Zanpakutō forming at its waist.
Rose couldn't help but speak up. "Sounds good, but there's a price, right?"
Aizen nodded,not hiding it at all. She was clear these Hollows had no other choice.
"Any experiment carries risks. The worst outcome of failure is merely death." Aizen pulled up footage of failed test subjects, showing it to them. "Based on previous experimental data, the success rate for Arrancarization is around seventy percent."
This probability made the atmosphere in the room become somewhat tense.
"Only seventy percent?!" Sung-Sun's snake tail flicked uneasily. "I think you just want to use us as test subjects."
Harribel didn't speak, merely looking at Apacci. Though also concerned, she chose to respect her companion's choice.
Apacci remained silent. She had just touched the crack on her mask. Whether it was psychological or not, she could even feel her consciousness fading now.
"Rather than waiting to die, or barely surviving to hold you back, I'll gamble."
Taking a deep breath, Apacci looked at Aizen, desperate, all-or-nothing resolve in her eyes.
Rose and Sung-Sun opened their mouths but couldn't voice any refutation. As Adjuchas, once a mask was damaged, the possibility of growth was lost.
"Wise judgment."
Aizen, having anticipated the result, a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth. She turned and walked towards a specially made storage unit.
"Since you've chosen to pledge loyalty to Kensei, I naturally won't let Kensei's efforts go to waste."
Aizen opened the storage unit, taking out two special test tubes from inside.
One contained a milky white liquid. The other held a special reishi emitting a faint glow.
Kensei wasn't bothered by the reishi test tube—this was the concentrated Shinigami factor Aizen had extracted before. But when his gaze fell on the milky white test tube, his expression changed drastically.
"Hey, Sōsuke, that test tube can't be..."
"Exactly what you think."
Aizen glanced calmly at Kensei, as if saying, "What's the big deal?" Isn't it just a sample collected during the previous drugging incident?
Yoruichi, sharing the same experience, could also tell what it was, her face showing a hint of awkwardness.
Aizen ignored their peculiar looks,displaying the two test tubes to the group. "Besides Kensei's blood, these two items can also increase the probability of successful Arrancarization."
Kensei opened his mouth in disbelief, unclear when Aizen had conducted related experiments.
Harribel, seeing Aizen's serious expression,solemnly bowed her head to Kensei. "Thank you very much. I will repay you in the future."
Kensei didn't want to explain anything, only feeling his surroundings were too noisy.
"Then, let the experiment begin."
Aizen skillfully injected the liquid from the test tubes into Apacci's body, then adjusted the parameters.
Yoruichi walked to Kensei's side, bumping him lightly with her shoulder, lowering her voice. "Didn't think your... had that effect too."
"Gifted by nature."
Kensei had given up, throwing caution to the wind. Since Aizen had spoken, any explanation from him would be futile.
After adjusting the parameters, Aizen walked up to the prepared Apacci, the Hōgyoku in her hand. "Arrancarization experiment, begin."
Nelliel, observing the Arrancarization process up close for the first time, opened her eyes wide with curiosity.
Harribel, Sung-Sun, and Rose closed their eyes, blessing their companion Apacci.
The Hōgyoku's light enveloped Apacci. As for the experiment's outcome, all they could do was wait patiently.
***
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