In the plaza, every Arrancar looked up at the two figures on the high platform.
To be precise, they were staring at Ren. They had already witnessed Aizen's terrifying power, but this was their first time seeing the legendary "Leader of the Espada." In the world of Hollows, respect was earned through blood; they would never submit without seeing his strength first.
The most defiant among them was none other than the young Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
He pointed a finger at Ren, shouting arrogantly, "Hey, kid! Fight me. If you lose, give up that seat of Leader to someone who actually deserves it!"
Following Grimmjow's provocation, several other Arrancars began to look restless. Clearly, they shared the same thought: they wanted to test this "Leader."
Faced with their challenge, Ren didn't hold back. He released a mere, minuscule sliver of his spiritual pressure (Reiatsu).
BOOM!!
In an instant, the air turned viscous. It felt as if an invisible mountain had collapsed onto them. Every inch of their skeletal structures groaned and creaked under the weight.
On the platform, Ren sneered. "Anyone who can stand up within ten seconds earns a spot in my Espada. By the way, there are only seven vacancies left. As for those who can't stand... Heh~"
The final chuckle chilled the Arrancars to the bone. The scent of death loomed over them.
"Destroy him, Tiburón!"
VROOOM!
A surge of golden Reiatsu erupted. Holding her massive hollow bone sword, Tier Halibelwas the first to force herself upright, her sharp gaze fixed on Ren. Following her lead, the other Arrancars began to release their Resurreccións one by one, detonating their full power to resist the pressure.
As time ticked away, only six managed to stand firmly under Ren's crushing aura: Halibel, Yammy, Grimmjow, Zommari, Szayelaporro, and Aaroniero.
As Ren's Reiatsu vanished, the other Arrancars looked ashen-faced. Just as they braced for execution, Ren's voice rang out again.
"You six, follow me for the ranking trials. As for the rest of you... go change your clothes. From today on, you are the guards of Las Noches. You'll handle the patrols." He paused, adding, "If you have conflicts and want to kill each other, notify me first. I'll prepare an arena for you."
Ren and Aizen led the way to a desolate plaza, followed by the six exhausted but determined Arrancars. Ulquiorra and the others were already waiting.
"Meet the top brass," Ren introduced. "Lilynette is the First, Ulquiorra is the Second, and Barragan is the Third."
"And I'm the Fourth!" Nel jumped up and shouted.
In terms of pure Reiatsu, only Halibel among the newcomers was slightly stronger than Nel; the others truly couldn't compare.
Ren turned to Aizen with a grin. "Lord Aizen, when are you going to help us 'evolve' a bit?"
Aizen smiled subtly. "Right now."
Under the expectant gazes of the group, a sphere radiating a violet light drifted out from Aizen's chest. "I will use the Hogyoku to enhance your power. Simply do not resist," Aizen instructed.
Nel was the first to undergo the process. As the violet light completely enveloped her, the sound of crisp cracking echoed in the silence. Ren watched nervously, a white coat held in his hands, ready for any outcome.
The light lasted less than ten seconds. When it faded, a tall, striking beauty stood before them. Her centaur body was gone, replaced by long, elegant legs. Aside from the small fragment of a skull mask on her head, she looked almost entirely human.
Ren draped the coat over her shoulders. "How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
"None," Nel replied, throwing a punch into the air. A surge of pink Reiatsu erupted, the resulting shockwave making Grimmjow and the others stumble. "I feel better than ever!"
In that moment, the newcomers felt the sheer gap between Vasto Lorde and Adjuchas. Even a "random person" next to the Leader was stronger than Aizen's hand-picked elite.
Empowered by the Hogyoku, Nel looked ready to deliver a grand speech, but Ren grabbed her first. "Lilynette, you handle the newcomers' rankings. Nel and I are leaving first."
He dragged the protesting Nel away, making even Aizen's eye twitch slightly at his lack of decorum. However, Aizen remained magnanimous. He turned to the remaining three. "Do you wish for enhancement as well?"
"Obviously!" Lilynette chirped.
Subsequently, Lilynette, Ulquiorra, and Barragan were enhanced by the Hogyoku. Their Reiatsu exploded, becoming at least five times stronger than before. Aizen was impressed; these were the Vasto Lorde he had nurtured. In the Soul Society, they would now be top-tier Captain-level threats.
To his surprise, their appearances didn't change. Barragan remained a skeleton, while Ulquiorra and Lilynette looked exactly the same. It seems Hollow evolution has diverse paths, Aizen mused.
With Ren and Nel off "attending a biology lesson," Lilynette was in charge. The little girl waved her hand and laughed. "Now, I shall personally test your strength!"
Barragan's eyes flickered. Being one-shotted by Ulquiorra was still fresh in his mind, but he believed Ulquiorra's powers were just a specific counter to him. He didn't believe this little girl could bypass his aging ability. Strengthened by the Hogyoku, Old Man Barragan was feeling a bit cocky.
"Please, teach us," Halibel said, drawing her sword and looking at Lilynette with resolve.
"Wait, this is just a baseline test, no need to be so serious..." Lilynette muttered. She shaped her hand into a pistol. "Ready?"
"Ready!" Halibel tensed every muscle in her body.
"Then... start running for your lives! Cero Metralleta!"
In the next heartbeat, Halibel witnessed a scene she would never forget. Thousands upon thousands of Ceros manifested in front of Lilynette, saturating the entire horizon and swallowing everything in their path.
One relevant follow-up question: Should Lilynette show mercy and stop the barrage once she sees the newcomers are overwhelmed, or should she continue to push them to their limits to force a "second awakening" through the Hogyoku's lingering influence?