In Szayelaporro's temporary laboratory, he was calibrating his equipment, his ever-present smile fixed on his face.
"Oh, your Majesty, please rest assured." Szayelaporro busied himself with his work while explaining to Baraggan behind him. "The extraction of Ikomikidomoe's power is nearly complete. As long as those Shinigami dare to come, you'll be able to show them what true power really is."
"See that it is so. Proceed with haste." Baraggan's hand touched the empty space where his eye socket had been—those scum had actually dared to leave marks on his body. "I have a premonition that those Shinigami may launch their attack against us first."
"At your command, your Majesty. This is the latest power crystal derived from Ikomikidomoe. The quantity is limited; please use it sparingly, your Majesty."
Szayelaporro took a new bottle of pills from a storage cabinet and, bowing respectfully, presented it to Baraggan with both hands. Sensing the bottle being taken, a mocking smile flickered across his lowered face.
"Excellent. This King will go make preparations now."
Baraggan, carrying the new achievement, turned and left the place.
Before exiting, Baraggan glanced back at Szayelaporro. Seeing he still maintained his posture of respectfully seeing him off, he finally left the room.
After confirming Baraggan was far away, Szayelaporro straightened up and caressed his Zanpakutō, Ikomikidomoe. "Baraggan, Arturo... such perfect specimens. Once you've both turned into nourishment, I alone will become the ultimate perfect being."
In the shadows, Szayelaporro's face revealed a cold smile of total control.
On a sand dune on the outskirts of Las Noches, Arturo sat quietly, one hand continuously stroking the hilt of his Zanpakutō at his waist.
"Excellent nourishment." Arturo sensed the spiritual pressures of Szayelaporro and Baraggan in the distance. "An arrogant, conceited skeleton and a madman who only plays petty tricks. If I devour them, my spiritual pressure should advance further."
The technique Szayelaporro had demonstrated—growing stronger by devouring others—had piqued his interest. He could already use his Zanpakutō, Immortal King, to absorb the spiritual energy of the vanquished. Adding this ability would allow him to utilize the bodies of the defeated even more completely.
"Ikomikidomoe, is it?" Arturo narrowed his eyes, tapping his finger on the hilt. "Still need to wait a while longer."
Baraggan returned to his throne. Although Szayelaporro hadn't shown any signs of duplicity, the more normal he acted, the deeper the wariness grew in Baraggan's heart.
This feeling of constraint—power entirely originating from another's hands, his own inability to act—constantly invaded Baraggan's thoughts.
And that Arturo, how dare he show such disrespect to this King!
"Power!" Baraggan's gaze fell upon the pill bottle in his hand. "As long as I can have my revenge, taking some risks is worth it."
However, anger hadn't completely robbed Baraggan of reason. First, he ordered several Hollows with special abilities to keep watch on both Szayelaporro and Arturo. Then, he summoned a few loyal subordinates, intending to first test the new pills Szayelaporro had developed on them.
Amidst this strange atmosphere, within the ruined Las Noches, the three men maintained a fragile balance.
After the departure time was set, the base in Hueco Mundo was filled with a peaceful atmosphere.
Stark was being pulled along by Lilynette on a symbolic patrol outside the base—a flimsy excuse, of course.
They hadn't gone far before Stark plopped down on the sand, then lay back, gazing at the eternally hanging crescent moon above, and let out a long yawn.
"Hey! Stark, you're slacking off again!"
Lilynette crouched beside him, idly drawing in the sand with her finger. Though she verbally scolded Stark's behavior, she made no move to drag him up.
"Lilynette, do you like it here?"
Stark's eyes were unusually clear and serious, a question for Lilynette, and for himself as well.
"Everyone here is pretty nice."
Lilynette pouted, first drawing the two of them in the sand, then continuing to add new faces beside them.
"Even though we haven't known them long, it really does feel different. Isn't this the kind of life we were after in the first place?"
"I suppose you're right."
Before Stark's eyes floated scenes from before, when it was just him and Lilynette, and the Hollows that tried to approach them only to be reduced to corpses by the force of his spiritual pressure.
Ah well, looks like we've landed ourselves in a real mess. Wonder if there'll ever be any peaceful days again...
Thinking this, Stark slowly closed his eyes.
"Haha! The genius Lilynette has completed a masterpiece!"
Lilynette jumped up excitedly, quickly turning to show Stark her achievement, only to see him with closed eyes, emitting soft snores.
"Hey!"
Elsewhere, Harribel sat cross-legged on her bed, adjusting her condition, her ears occasionally catching the excited chatter of her three fracción.
Talk about giving Baraggan what he deserves, building a new residence on that ruin of Las Noches, and so on.
Feeling this warm and natural atmosphere, the corner of Harribel's mouth, hidden beneath her clothing, curved up slightly.
Choosing to entrust herself to Lord Kensei might be the decision she would regret least in her long life.
She believed that after that Lord defeated these ambitious schemers, life in Hueco Mundo would welcome a dramatic change.
After Kensei Kenzuru made a round of the base, he found he was the most idle person there.
No, there was one other.
He turned around; sure enough, Ulquiorra was there, standing in a corner at a certain distance, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on him.
"Ulquiorra, what are you looking at?"
Kensei walked over and leaned against the wall shoulder-to-shoulder with Ulquiorra.
"Observing."
"Any findings?"
"Many types of observations." Ulquiorra turned his head, his eyes meeting Kensei's. "For example, Stark clearly finds it troublesome, yet he's decided to join the fight. This kind of behavior clearly contradicts his heart."
"Didn't expect you to be observing so carefully." Kensei raised an eyebrow. "But this kind of thing is hard to explain anyway. If I tried to seriously explain it, it'd get way too sappy."
"So, you'll have to gradually figure it out for yourself."
Ulquiorra lowered his head in thought. Although he still couldn't fully understand, the recent samples for observation were already much richer than when he was alone before. He also believed that understanding this mysterious thing called "heart" was something he could only grasp through his own realization.
"Speaking of which, that night last time, I sensed that after Nel entered your room, the changes in your expression were exceptionally rich. Could you explain that to me?"
Kensei, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks and looked incredulously at the completely serious Ulquiorra.
Wait, where did she see that from? There's no window for her to peep through!
Had Ulquiorra secretly learned Presence Concealment from somewhere?
"Um... this... you'll understand in due time."
Having said that, Kensei quickly returned to his room. Just as he closed the door and approached the bed, he heard a faint rustling behind him.
"Ulquiorra, I told you, this question... those who know, know..."
Turning around, Kensei's words caught in his throat as he saw Yoruichi appear before him.
"Oh? Sounds like you were sharing secrets with Ulquiorra just now?" Yoruichi walked up to Kensei, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she tugged at his obi. "Care to tell me about it?"
"Yoruichi, tomorrow's an important battle." Kensei looked at Yoruichi's expression and immediately understood her intention. "You wouldn't try to force me, would you?"
Yoruichi whistled, raising an eyebrow. "What do you think? I'm your major shareholder. I have the right to inspect your condition anytime."
She stood on tiptoe, leaning in to nibble his earlobe. "Or... are you scared?"
What kind of talk is that?
From the day he was born until now, the word 'scared' had never existed in Kensei Kenzuru's dictionary!
"Bring it on!"
Yoruichi chuckled softly, her movements carrying her characteristic initiative and passion, enveloping Kensei with irresistible fervor.
No need for excessive words; all emotions were conveyed through their actions.
Yoruichi's fingers dug deep into the muscles of Kensei's back, leaving a few red marks. Her arched neck was as elegant as a black swan's, soft sighs occasionally escaping her throat.
Their warmth dispelled Hueco Mundo's usual chill, their breaths mingling hotly.
Ebbing and flowing, until only the violent heartbeat and unsteady panting remained. Yoruichi lay limp on Kensei's chest, too spent to even move a finger.
In the laboratory, Aizen caressed the Hōgyoku in his arms, contemplating its next evolutionary direction.
As for Yoruichi's little ventures, he naturally paid them no mind. Occasionally feeding a stray cat a few morsels ensured its continued closeness.
As for the deepest thoughts within Aizen's heart, aside from the faintly glowing Hōgyoku at this moment, no one else could fathom them.
***
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