"your Hollowification ability might provide us with a direction for opening a pathway to Hueco Mundo." Aizen's voice was perfectly calm. "The power of a Soul Reaper alone cannot tear through space, but the power of a Hollow can."
"With the power of a Hollow inside you, you are the most suited to lead this endeavor."
Ren fell silent for a brief moment. "What do I need to do?"
Aizen walked over to the other side of the laboratory, where several massive containment vessels stood. He opened one of them, revealing a Hollow sealed within. It lay curled inside the container, its spiritual pressure incredibly faint—clear evidence that it had been subjected to prolonged torment.
"These Hollows are experimental materials I captured." Aizen gazed down at them. "You may use them for your research into the mechanics of the Garganta. Dissection, analysis, testing... do whatever you see fit."
He looked at Ren. "Any thoughts?"
Ren approached the container, staring at the Hollows trapped inside. "I will do my best."
Aizen nodded. "Good." He patted Ren on the shoulder. "There is no rush with this project. Take your time."
Late that night, Ren walked back toward the Fourth Division barracks alone. The earlier conversation replayed in his mind. He had been entrusted with a critical responsibility: mastering the technology of the Garganta.
A subtle smile tugged at the corner of Ren's mouth. He thought of his Hollow clone currently roaming Hueco Mundo.
That Hollowified clone, which he had cast into Hueco Mundo, had been silently devouring the reishi of other Hollows, steadily growing in strength. He rarely paid close attention to it, only occasionally sensing its condition. But now, that alt account was finally going to prove useful.
Aizen wanted to study the Garganta to enter Hueco Mundo. Meanwhile, Ren already possessed a clone entrenched inside that very realm.
Ren looked up at the night sky. The moonlight was cold, and the stars were sparse.
He withdrew his gaze and continued forward. His pace remained steady, his expression entirely composed, but his mind was already calculating his next moves.
His clone had been in Hueco Mundo for quite some time now, and its Hollowification level had risen significantly. Ren could choose a suitable opportunity later to synchronize and absorb the experience points accumulated by this clone. Alternatively, he could let it remain dormant in Hueco Mundo, positioning it to approach Aizen under a different guise to reap even greater benefits.
Aizen wanted to head to Hueco Mundo, completely unaware that Ren had already planted a hidden landmine there. Perhaps this clone would ultimately play an unexpected, pivotal role.
A few days later, in the secret laboratory.
Tosen Kaname stood before the workstation, a file in hand, his brow tightly furrowed. When he first heard that Aizen had appointed Ren to lead the project while relegating himself to a mere assistant, he had maintained a seamless facade. Yet, Ren could still sense his underlying bewilderment.
Entrusting a core initiative like the Hueco Mundo Garganta project to Ren signified that Tosen's position in Aizen's heart was gradually being supplanted. Yet, Tosen could only accept it in silence, completely unable to contest the decision. After all, he had just recently made a massive blunder that left a gaping hole in their operations.
Right now, laid out before him was the preliminary research report on the Garganta that Ren had just completed.
"Are you certain this direction is viable?" Tosen's voice was low, carrying a distinct note of skepticism.
Ren nodded. "A Hollow's power operates on raw instinct. Because of that, it doesn't require complex spell formulas. We simply need to replicate a Hollow's spiritual pressure and push its fluctuations past a specific critical threshold."
Tosen fell silent for a moment. "You mean using a Hollow's spiritual pressure to tear through space?"
"Exactly." Ren stepped up to the workstation, his gaze drifting over the sealed containment vessels. "These experimental subjects are the perfect specimens. If we can isolate and analyze the patterns of their spiritual pressure fluctuations when they open a Garganta, we can reverse-engineer the methodology to manifest one ourselves."
"Furthermore, if the simulation succeeds, we could potentially even summon Menos to project a Negación, actively pulling us into Hueco Mundo."
Tosen stared toward him. "You sound highly confident."
Ren offered a faint smile. "It isn't a matter of confidence, but direction. Once the direction is correct, the rest is just a question of time."
Tosen didn't respond. He set the document down and turned around, his back to Ren. "Lord Aizen placed you in charge of this project, and I have no objections. But you must remember that this project directly impacts the entirety of Lord Aizen's grand design."
Ren looked at him. "I am well aware."
Tosen remained silent for a moment. "Very well."
He turned and began walking toward the exit. Halfway there, he suddenly paused. "Hasumi."
"Yes?"
"Lately, you have grown very close to Lord Aizen."
Ren remained silent.
Tosen continued, "In the past, these responsibilities fell entirely on me. The experiments, the planning, the execution... I handled all of it. Now, Lord Aizen has passed those duties to you." His voice was calm, yet Ren could clearly detect the trace of resentment buried within it.
"Tosen, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Tosen fell into a long silence. "Nothing. I simply hope... you do not betray Lord Aizen's trust." He pushed the door open and stepped outside.
Ren stood in place, watching the door click shut. He could easily sense Tosen's dissatisfaction, but Tosen had chosen to suppress it deep within rather than letting it erupt.
Ren withdrew his gaze and returned to his work. He couldn't care less about Tosen's attitude. He picked up the spell matrix substrate and resumed etching the spiritual pressure nodes.
In the distance, inside the cultivation vat, the biological embryo writhed sluggishly.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Hollow Fragment ×20, Hollowification EXP +200] [SYSTEM: Hogyoku Awakening Rate +0.05%]
As evening fell, Aizen arrived at the laboratory. He looked over the report Ren had finished, glanced at the cultivation vat, and gave a slow nod. "Excellent progress."
Then, Aizen spoke once more. "Hasumi, what are your thoughts on Hueco Mundo?"
Ren pondered the question briefly. "A lawless wasteland. Survival of the fittest, where only the adaptable survive."
Aizen nodded in agreement. "Precisely. No rules, no restraints. Whoever holds the greatest strength rules as king." He turned to face Ren fully. "Doesn't a place like that sound far more alluring than the Soul Society?"
Ren fell silent for a moment. "The Soul Society has its flaws, and Hueco Mundo has its own. No place is truly perfect."
Aizen looked at him. "Well said."
Ren offered no further comment.
Aizen walked back to the workstation and picked up a document. "Once our mastery over the Garganta technology matures, I intend to personally venture into Hueco Mundo. When that time comes, you will accompany me."
Ren's brow twitched slightly. "Me?"
"Yes," Aizen said, keeping his eyes locked onto him. "Your Hollowification ability will be of immense utility within Hueco Mundo."
Ren paused. "What about Tosen Kaname?"
Aizen smiled smoothly. "He has his own assignments to attend to." He chose not to elaborate further, simply patting Ren on the shoulder. "Prepare yourself. Moving forward, the responsibilities resting on your shoulders will only multiply."
Ren nodded. "Understood."
Aizen pushed the door open and departed.
Ren stood entirely still in the center of the laboratory, staring at the closed door for a long time. Hollow fragments continued to stream into him seamlessly, his spiritual pressure climbing steadily as the Hogyoku's awakening rate crept upward bit by bit.
His clone in Hueco Mundo was waiting to be synchronized, Unohana served as his ultimate backing within the Seireitei, and Urahara echoed his movements from the shadows. Every ounce of power was quietly converging around him.
Ren turned his head, his gaze falling upon the Hogyoku resting inside the experimental container, a subtle shift occurring in his thoughts.
'Now this... is the true treasure.'
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