In Hueco Mundo, within a secluded mountain cave, Raizen Kō examined the glowing fragment of the Reiō in his hand, its pure white light pulsating with quiet power.
"Absorb it! Absorb it!"
A voice echoed faintly within his mind, urging him to simply consume the fragment.
"I will not simply swallow it!" Raizen Kō roared, calling upon Soul Eater.
Behind him, a spiraling vortex of golden-and-black energy surged, pulling at the fragment like a gravitational maw.
Raizen Kō did not choose the ordinary method of ingestion. Instead, he forced the fragment into his Soul Eater, intending to assimilate it fully, converting its power into his own.
At first, the fragment resisted, but the incredible suction of Soul Eater slowly drew it in, transforming it into a stream of pure Reishi. Gradually, it merged with Raizen's own spiritual energy.
As the fragment entered his body, Raizen felt an unusual warmth wash over him, threads of pure white light flowing around his form.
"What… a strange sensation!"
It was as if he had been returned to the womb cradled, nurtured, and empowered simultaneously.
Raizen observed subtle changes in his body. Though his overall Reiatsu had only increased slightly, the Hollow hole on his chest and the mask fragments on his face had shrunk.
"Could it be that my desire to become a perfected Arrancar is influencing this?" he murmured. "These Reishi particles, derived from the Reiō fragment, are guiding my transformation not forced like a Hōgyoku evolution, but fully autonomous."
He recalled the Arrancar of the original timeline Coyote Starrk, whose mask and Hollow hole were less pronounced than most Espada. Perhaps the ideal Arrancar was one whose Hollow traits were nearly invisible, blending seamlessly with a human form.
The thought ignited anticipation within him. With just three more fragments of similar size, Raizen Kō sensed he could fully achieve that ideal Arrancar form.
…
Three days later, in Yūhua Town, Human World, a neatly folded resignation letter sat on the desk of the Yūhua Welfare Institute.
Before leaving, Raizen Kō had treated young Ginjō Kūgo still prone to tears to another hamburger, and then departed for Soul Society.
Ginjō stood in the unfinished building, staring at Raizen Kō's Gigai lying motionless on the ground.
He hesitated. Leaving the Gigai exposed felt wrong.
So, in the open wasteland behind the institute, he dug a small grave and gently buried Raizen Kō's Gigai.
Raizen, observing through the small centipede clone, twitched the corner of his mouth.
…
At the 13th Division reception room:
"Ito Fourth Seat, three months in the Human World must have been… eventful!"
Ozawa Rensaburo's eyes betrayed understanding.
Raizen offered only a small, helpless smile.
After handing over his duties, he proceeded directly toward the 11th Division barracks.
Along the way, a graceful figure emerged from the shadows.
"Ito… Sir, you've returned."
Raizen Kō glanced at her.
"Squad Member Tamura, is something the matter?"
It was Tamura Yao, from his cohort, tall and slender, round-rimmed glasses perched on her face, a single tear mole beneath her eye. Raizen internally smirked.
"I'm not trying to provoke you… why do you always appear unbidden?"
"She carries the same name as… him," he reminded himself wryly.
"Ito Sir, I wanted to ask… about connecting with my Zanpakutō. You succeeded during your time at the Spiritual Arts Academy!"
Tamura Yao's admiration was evident. Since Raizen had once saved her during the academy assessment, she had grown increasingly fond. Learning he had been stationed in the Human World had pained her, and now his return motivated her to intercept him.
"Squad Member Tamura," Raizen replied gently, "connecting with your Zanpakutō takes patience. Rushing will only hinder progress."
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
"However," Raizen added smoothly, "since I have already mastered Shikai, I can guide you in certain techniques."
Tamura Yao's cheeks flushed crimson instantly.
Raizen inwardly groaned. "Why blush, you ridiculous bubble tea kettle?"
After a few pleasantries, he parted ways with her and proceeded toward the barracks.
Unexpectedly, he sensed two familiar Reiatsu clashing in the distance.
"These…?"
He sprinted toward the source.
At the 11th Division Training Grounds, Ayasegawa Yumichika and Kusajishi Yachiru watched the duel unfold from the edge.
"Yo, Little Ito, long time no see!"
"You're back, Makoto!"
Raizen replied respectfully, though his attention was fully fixed on the combatants.
One wielded a chipped Zanpakutō and wore an eyepatch Captain Zaraki Kenpachi.
The other, muscular and bald, was Madarame Ikkaku, the division's Third Seat, recently returned from seclusion.
Ikkaku smiled, raising Hozukimaru, meeting Kenpachi's attack head-on. Both bore fresh and old wounds, though Ikkaku's seemed more severe.
"Hmph. Ikkaku, after all this training, you've barely improved! Your progress isn't even comparable to Little Ito's!" Kenpachi sneered, deflecting Hozukimaru's three-pronged strike with a single casual swing.
"Captain," Ikkaku replied with confidence, "don't underestimate me. Prepare for a surprise!"
Raizen observed silently. Ikkaku is confident… could he…?
Ikkaku lunged again, Hozukimaru transforming back into a spear as he thrust toward Kenpachi's chest.
Kenpachi, unimpressed, grasped the spear's tip with one hand at the last moment. With the other, he swung his blade down, cleaving Hozukimaru in two, then casually tossed the broken pieces aside.
"Clang!"
The spear rolled to the ground.
"Hmph. Is that all you've gained?" Kenpachi's gaze was sharp, dissatisfied.
Ikkaku retrieved the broken spear and grinned.
"Heh. Captain, don't blink next time!"
He roughly joined the two halves, readying them once more.
"Bank…!"
"Wait, Ikkaku!" Yumichika called from the sidelines, trying to halt him.