After observing the Espada assembly and understanding his designated role, Seiya Arima wasted no time in heading straight toward Aizen.
At the deepest sanctum of Las Noches—a solemn space remodeled by Aizen himself—was his private chamber.
—Though Aizen had said to come to him directly if needed, Seiya chose a more respectful approach.
After all, while a leader might grant favor, taking it for granted would be its own form of disrespect.
"Excuse me, could you help announce me?"
Seiya asked with a polite smile, facing Loly Aivirrne.
A familiar female Arrancar from the source material—long black twin tails, a short white skirt, black thigh-highs, and dreamy reddish-purple eyes like misty gemstones. Youthful, fiery, and certainly memorable.
Beside her stood Menoly Mallia, more tomboyish in demeanor. The two often acted together—perhaps an old habit carried over from their time before becoming Arrancar.
Aizen clearly chose these two as personal attendants. And while it was tempting to assume some odd preference at play, Seiya, recalling Aizen's pride and detachment, doubted he harbored such base desires.
Still, their names and attributes did carry a suspicious symbolism…
While Seiya mused, the two exchanged looks.
"Who the heck is this guy?"
"Isn't he the one Lord Aizen mentioned?"
"Huh? This weak-looking guy? No way, I could crush him myself!"
"Probably someone who couldn't make it in Soul Society, so he followed Lord Aizen over here."
"Pfft! Figures..."
Their brazen conversation wasn't even whispered—Seiya caught every word.
Exactly as described in the source. Crude, reckless, all instinct and no intellect.
He chuckled.
—Scratch that. "The Aizen I know would never lust after beasts like these."
Before things could escalate, Aizen's voice rang out from inside:
"Seiya-kun? Didn't I say before, you can just come in when needed?"
Hearing Aizen's tone was enough to make the two girls freeze like mice under a hawk's shadow.
"L-Lord Aizen…"
No visible form, just dense spiritual particles infused throughout Las Noches acting as his eyes and ears.
Seiya nodded and stepped inside. Behind him, Aizen's judgment fell upon the trembling duo.
"I dislike people who ignore my commands. That includes you."
"Seiya may not mind your insults, but I do not consider the matter trivial."
"Report to Szayelaporro. He needs help with his experiments."
Szayelaporro Granz. Espada No. 8. The "scientist" of Hueco Mundo—renowned for cruelty disguised as research.
Hearing that name alone drained the color from their faces. They dropped to their knees, pleading frantically.
Anything but that!
Oblivious or indifferent to their begging, Seiya stepped forward into Aizen's inner sanctum.
There he found Aizen reclining on a chair, calm as ever, sipping from a bottle of unknown liquor. He smiled slightly at Seiya.
"So, did you need something?"
"Yes. There's something I'd like to discuss with you, Aizen-sensei."
They were close enough to skip pleasantries.
Aizen shifted slightly in his seat, a gesture of respect—acknowledging this wasn't a casual visit.
Seiya didn't hesitate.
"You've fully fused with the Hōgyoku, haven't you?"
It wasn't guesswork.
Seiya couldn't sense Aizen's spiritual pressure at all anymore. The once sunlike radiance was now utterly gone.
That meant one of two things: either Aizen was dead (which clearly wasn't the case), or his power had surpassed dimensions altogether—rendering it undetectable.
For a moment, Aizen's expression froze.
He hadn't expected that question—not because he was hiding something, but because it was such a deeply personal revelation.
Ordinarily, such a remark would earn someone rebuke, if not worse.
But Seiya was different.
Aizen's expression softened.
"Yes. I've fully incorporated the Hōgyoku into my body."
With that, he had transcended the limits of a Shinigami—evolved into something beyond.
Seiya wasn't surprised. He nodded, then spoke again after a brief pause:
"May I study the Hōgyoku for a while?"
A bold request. But not awkward.
Aizen adjusted his posture, a note of curiosity in his voice.
"…For what purpose?"
"An experiment," Seiya answered candidly. "I want to see if I can replicate its effects—mass-produce it, in a way."
Audacious. Insane, even.
But somehow, coming from Seiya, it felt oddly plausible.
Inside, Seiya's thoughts raced.
This wasn't some spur-of-the-moment idea. He'd considered this for a long time—even while still in Soul Society.
He understood how power in their world was grotesquely imbalanced.
Enemies once terrifying became trivial the moment a new arc began—like copy-paste villains in a rush-job RPG.
Hueco Mundo was the epitome of this awkward limbo: too strong for common foes, but far too weak for top-tier threats.
So Seiya had a proposal:
"I believe the Hōgyoku's power isn't unique."
"Even if I create inferior copies, they'll still be useful—disposable tools that can push others past their limits, even briefly."
If Shinigami could use the Hōgyoku to transcend their boundaries, why not Hollows?
"I want to see if I can raise the ones under your command to a new realm of power."
"I know… you don't really expect much from them."
"But even so, we're allies. It might not be mutual glory or destruction, but I believe they deserve a baseline of respect."
He thought of Tier Harribel, how she had thanked him earlier.
Even among beasts, there were vulnerable souls. He wouldn't voice that aloud—but Aizen knew his thoughts.
After a pause, Aizen smiled.
"You haven't changed at all, Seiya-kun."
"...Hmm?"
"Just like back in Soul Society—always thinking of the bigger picture, always managing your forces."
"You're doing the same thing now."
Seiya scratched his head sheepishly.
Aizen wasn't wrong. Old habits die hard. The looming threat of the Soul King or Yhwach still haunted him, urging him to prepare at all times.
As someone who knew what weakness meant, Seiya couldn't afford to be unprepared.
He was ready to leave, assuming Aizen would decline.
But then—
"But you've changed too."
"This time, you came to me. You sought my approval. That's growth—and I appreciate that, Seiya-kun."
Aizen stood, placed his hand over his chest…
…and then, in his palm, appeared the glowing core of the Hōgyoku.
"It's still newly integrated. I can only extract it for brief periods."
"Also, limit your contact with Szayelaporro. He reminds me too much of someone… distasteful."
Aizen pushed the Hōgyoku toward him.
"Well? Aren't you going to take it?"
Seiya stood stunned.
He hadn't expected Aizen to hand over something this critical—this precious—so freely.
Still smiling, Aizen said:
"Surprised? You didn't think I'd agree so easily?"
"Perhaps you think I've changed… on the surface, in temperament, in methods."
"But do you remember what I once said?"
"We're fellow seekers of truth. Bound by a shared purpose."
"Times change. Appearances change. But that much… never will."
"Seiya-kun, I trust you completely."
"So go on. Don't let me down."
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Powerstones?
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