"Captain Aizen truly lives up to his name," Shiraha said with a faint smile. "You've already created such powerful subordinates not long after arriving in Hueco Mundo."
Ulquiorra stood expressionless beside the throne. Though ranked only Fourth among the Espada, Shiraha knew better than to underestimate him. When Ulquiorra unleashed his Segunda Etapa, his second Resurrección, his strength could easily rank within the top three. Yet that ability was known to no one but himself—neither his peers nor even Aizen had ever witnessed it.
"You're mistaken, Shiraha," Aizen replied coolly. "Ulquiorra wasn't created by me. I merely strengthened him with the Hōgyoku. His evolution was self-initiated."
Ulquiorra was not a synthetic Arrancar like most others. He had torn off his mask through sheer will, transcending his Hollow nature alone. He was a pureborn Vasto Lorde—one of the highest forms of Menos Grande.
Aizen merely refined his potential, granting him the ability to return to the blade. Within all of Hueco Mundo, there existed only two who had achieved independent Arrancarization: Espada No.1, Coyote Starrk, and Ulquiorra Cifer.
"I see," Shiraha said lightly. "Then, Captain Aizen, since the Hōgyoku has been fully fused, may I use it now?"
He hadn't forgotten the true reason he came to Hueco Mundo. His Gojo Satoru Template had reached a perfect hundred percent. To unlock the third template, only one condition remained—touching the complete Hōgyoku.
If that condition was fulfilled, Shiraha could not only awaken his third template but also finally manifest his own Zanpakutō. His power would advance dramatically. And if fate favored him, he might even extract a template far beyond the previous ones.
"Hōgyoku?" Aizen's gaze sharpened slightly. "Shiraha, you don't intend to use it merely to restore your sight, do you? You want to evolve that strange ability of yours even further."
His tone carried faint amusement, yet also certainty.
He had noticed Shiraha's impatience. If all Shiraha sought was vision, his urgency made no sense. Even Tōsen Kaname functioned perfectly despite blindness—fighting, commanding, perceiving through Reiryoku. For someone of Shiraha's caliber, sight was irrelevant.
"Captain Aizen truly sees through everything," Shiraha said with mock surprise.
Aizen's conclusion was logical. During their last confrontation, Shiraha had used his domain—Infinite Space. It was the first time Aizen had ever experienced his consciousness forcibly disrupted, if only for two seconds. For a man like Aizen, two seconds of blankness were an eternity.
Yet even now, Aizen couldn't imagine that Shiraha's goal wasn't to strengthen that domain. His real aim was to unlock the third template.
It had already been ten years since Shiraha perfected the Infinite Space, a domain that could overload the mind with infinite information. Now, its effect on Aizen could extend to nearly four seconds—enough to disrupt even Kyōka Suigetsu's control.
"This is the Hōgyoku you seek."
Aizen reached into his robe and withdrew a gem that gleamed with blue-black light, its aura pulsing like a heartbeat. A faint smile curved his lips.
The complete Hōgyoku.
It had already merged from two into one, though its full potential was not yet awakened. For now, it could only perform basic miracles—Arrancarization, spiritual amplification, adaptive fusion.
"So this is the fused Hōgyoku…" Shiraha murmured, his eyes narrowing.
Through Observation Haki, he sensed its immense energy. Compared to the Hōgyoku that once lay in Urahara Kisuke's hands, it looked nearly identical—but the density within this one was far greater.
Ichimaru Gin's eyes narrowed slightly as the light touched him. Though his expression remained unchanged, his pupils contracted. Tōsen Kaname and Ulquiorra both lowered their heads respectfully, remaining silent.
"Yes," Aizen said softly. "The complete Hōgyoku. After you use it, your previous powers will likely evolve further—and your sight will be fully restored."
He gazed at the orb as though admiring a work of art.
Shiraha tilted his head. "Aren't you afraid, Captain Aizen? Once I've enhanced my power with the Hōgyoku, I might turn that power against you."
Aizen smiled faintly, eyes unreadable. "I'm certain you won't."
His confidence was absolute. Even knowing how strange Shiraha's abilities were, Aizen felt no fear. On the contrary, he found it fascinating. A worthy variable in his grand design.
"However," Aizen continued, "once your eyes are restored, you'll no longer be immune to my Kyōka Suigetsu. Are you certain you wish to use the Hōgyoku? You wouldn't want to fall under Complete Hypnosis, would you?"
If Shiraha regained vision, Kyōka Suigetsu could theoretically dominate his five senses entirely—making him an easy target for Aizen's perfect illusion.
Shiraha smiled. "Captain Aizen, we're partners, aren't we? I believe you wouldn't need to do such a thing. And even if Complete Hypnosis killed me, it wouldn't matter much."
He wasn't bluffing. Kyōka Suigetsu manipulated the five senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—altering the perception of all who witnessed its release. But even if his body fell to that illusion, Shiraha could rely solely on his Observation Haki to perceive truth beyond sensory deception.
"Oh?" Aizen's eyes glimmered. "You seem quite confident, Shiraha."
It intrigued him. Shiraha's composure suggested he possessed something—some hidden force capable of bypassing or negating his illusion.
Ichimaru Gin tilted his head, smiling slyly. "Ah, Captain Shiraha, you really are somethin' else."
His words carried layered meaning. He alone suspected that Shiraha had already discovered his true ability back in Seireitei—and yet, Gin had chosen not to report it to Aizen upon returning to Las Noches.
"Well then," Aizen said softly, flicking his wrist. "Take it."
The Hōgyoku spun through the air toward Shiraha, radiating a pulse that made even the palace tremble faintly.
In that instant, the familiar chime of the system echoed within Shiraha's mind.
First Template: Fujitora Issho — 100%
Ability: Gravitational Control (Complete)
Exclusive Ability: Kenbunshoku Mastery (Complete)
Second Template: Gojo Satoru — 100%
Abilities: Six Eyes (Perfected), Limitless (Perfected)
Techniques: Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, Cursed Technique Amplification: Blue, Hollow Technique: Purple — all perfected.
Exclusive Ability: Domain Expansion — Infinite Space (Perfected)
Third Template Unlock Condition: Gojo Template 100% (fulfilled), Touch Full Hōgyoku (fulfilled).
As his fingers brushed the crystalline surface, light erupted like a storm across the hall.
"Open the third template," Shiraha commanded silently.
Template Extraction: Completed.
New Template Acquired — Dio Brando.
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