"How could that be…"
Haruki gently ruffled Lilynette's hair and said softly, "He's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. How could he just be killed like that?"
Lilynette broke free from Haruki's hand and then asked a question:
"Can… Hollows really be turned into Zanpakutō?"
"Well…"
Haruki fell silent for a moment, then thought of the ancient Hollows who had once attacked the Soul Society but were sealed by the Monk and Ōetsu. He couldn't help but say, "It should be possible. After all, once a Hollow becomes an Arrancar, they naturally possess a Zanpakutō."
"Speaking of which…"
At this point, he paused again and then said, "It's about time to start the Arrancarization experiments."
"Arrancarization experiments?" Lilynette said in surprise. "Is Haruki going to turn other Hollows into beings like us?"
Actually, they didn't know what they were at first. All other Hollows had masks, but only she and Starrk had their masks broken.
Although a small part of the mask remained, other Hollows had their entire faces covered by masks.
It was only after Haruki kept mentioning the term "Arrancar" that this phenomenon was defined.
"Alright then…"
Haruki thought for a moment and then said, "You and Starrk go back first. I have something to take care of in the Soul Society. When I return, you'll have more companions."
"You're going back to the Soul Society?" Starrk, who had been listening from behind, spoke up. "I thought Shinigami couldn't travel between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society. Do you need help?"
Haruki couldn't help but smile at this. "What you're talking about applies to ordinary Shinigami. Don't forget, Captain Aizen can travel between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society. As his lieutenant, how could I be the same as ordinary Shinigami?"
After saying this, the aura around Haruki suddenly changed.
A spiritual pressure completely different from that of a Shinigami emanated from him.
Haruki placed his hand on his face and then drew a line from the upper left to the lower right. As his hand moved, a Hollow's mask appeared.
"!"
This sudden transformation shocked both Starrk and Lilynette.
"Alright, take care of Loly for me. I won't be gone for long."
With those final words, Haruki opened a Garganta.
Normally, Shinigami who undergo Hollowfication cannot use Garganta.
For example, the Visored and even Ichigo Kurosaki cannot use Garganta, but Haruki's Hollowfication is different.
Haruki's Hollowfication is true Hollowfication. After transforming into a Hollow, he can gain almost all the abilities of a Hollow—not just Cero, High-Speed Regeneration, and Sonído, but even abilities like Pesquisa and Garganta.
This is the nobility of soul abilities. Do you have such Hollowfication?
After saying this, Haruki opened the Garganta and disappeared into the darkness.
"…Haruki… is actually a Hollow."
Lilynette widened her eyes in surprise.
Even Starrk was somewhat shocked, but he quickly thought of himself.
"…It's probably not that simple."
If they, as Hollows, could break their masks, then it didn't seem too far-fetched for a Shinigami to gain a Hollow's mask.
However, he had never heard of such a thing in the past.
Haruki Murakami…
Aizen Sōsuke…
Just who were they?
Even after spending a month with Haruki, Starrk still didn't fully understand his origins or goals.
But…
It didn't really matter.
Whatever their goals were, what did it have to do with him?
"Let's go. By the time Haruki returns, Hueco Mundo might be completely different."
...
Haruki returned to the Soul Society through the Garganta.
However, he had one problem: the Seireitei was covered by the Sekkiseki Wall.
This meant he could only use the Garganta to arrive in the Rukongai of the Soul Society. He couldn't directly enter the Seireitei because it was protected by a massive Sekkiseki Wall, making it difficult to force his way in.
Unless… he had Aizen's technology.
With Aizen's technology, it would be possible to open a Garganta directly inside the Seireitei.
Otherwise, Hollows would be too overpowered. They could open a Garganta, wreak havoc in the Seireitei, and then escape through another Garganta when reinforcements arrived. A few rounds of this, and the Seireitei would be ruined.
You attack them, but they vanish into thin air; they attack you, and it's like divine retribution—how could you possibly fight that?!
Therefore, Garganta cannot be used to enter the Seireitei.
Ordinary methods of travel cannot bypass the Sekkiseki Wall, which is why the Shinigami captains were so shocked when the Quincy later came and went from the Seireitei with ease.
The Quincy were indeed clever. They simply hid inside the Seireitei. The Sekkiseki Wall could only defend against external threats, not internal ones.
However, Haruki wasn't truly a Hollow. As long as he dispelled his Hollowfication, he was the dignified lieutenant of the Gotei 13. He could simply stroll back into the Seireitei from the Rukongai.
"Hey, long time no see, Jidanbō."
Haruki walked up to the White Path Gate and greeted the gatekeeper, Jidanbō.
"Lieutenant Haruki?"
Jidanbō looked at Haruki in surprise. "When did you go out? I didn't notice!"
"You were spacing out when I left, so I didn't say anything."
Haruki waved his hand. "Alright, I have some business to take care of at the squad, so I'll catch you later."
However, he didn't return to his squad. Instead, he went to Aizen's secret laboratory first.
Aizen wasn't in the lab, but Tōsen Kaname was there.
This secret lab usually had one of their four-man group present. Previously, Haruki had spent most of his time there, but now that he was at Las Noches, someone else had to take over.
"Why are you back?"
Tōsen coldly glared at Haruki. In front of him was the surveillance feed from Las Noches.
Through the surveillance, he naturally knew that Haruki had returned.
Tōsen's attitude toward Haruki had never been good. He disliked Haruki's carefree, seemingly indifferent demeanor, and the fact that Aizen had an almost boundless indulgence toward this attitude.
It was an insult to his ideals.
Even Gin Ichimaru had at least betrayed the Gotei 13 alongside them. Haruki had done almost nothing.
However, since Haruki didn't care about Tōsen's soul abilities, he wasn't particularly interested in Tōsen's attitude either.
"When did you install surveillance? That was quick."
So Haruki didn't answer his question and instead asked curiously.
He didn't answer Tōsen's question, and Tōsen didn't answer his either.
He simply continued, "Captain Aizen tasked you with overseeing Las Noches, but in this past month, you've done almost nothing, haven't you?"
"Well… it's not too bad." Haruki shrugged. "There's really not much to do. They haven't rebelled, and Captain Aizen hasn't given any orders. What could I do?"
...
[Check Out My Patreon for 30+ Extra Chapters!!!]
[p.a.t.r.e.o.n.com/rosewhisky]