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This is a story that happened a few hundred years ago…
In a certain country, there lived a pair of brothers.
The elder brother was a general, and the younger brother was an alchemist; both walked vastly different paths in life.
The elder brother found joy in eliminating enemies on the battlefield, while the younger brother, with a smile, manipulated motionless people in his workshop.
Thus, although their chosen paths never intersected, it was often said that both brothers shared a similar look of disdain in their eyes.
Every day, the elder brother would bring captured enemies from the war to his younger brother's workshop, providing them as 'experiment' materials.
No one knew what kind of experiments the younger brother was conducting, only that the workshop was constantly surrounded by never-ending wails and a sickening stench of blood.
Thousands of people perished in the workshop, wantonly manipulated by the younger brother.
Regardless of gender, age, or youth, many were cut by sharp objects, burned by fire, dismembered, cut into pieces from head to toe and reassembled: attached to others' bodies and organs, having their organs removed and replaced with artificial objects, having eyeballs implanted into drained tooth pulp, or immersed in mildly acidic solutions, slowly dissolving over a day… These people were all subjected to various experiments while still alive.
And many of their souls had already become numb from exhaustion, with only their bodies still reacting to these experiments.
Just as these Zombies and dead flesh were about to be buried beneath the workshop, the brothers suddenly died.
A group of souls, liberated from prolonged pain and hatred, transformed into monsters known as Hollow.
These monsters seized the opportunity when both brothers were gathered in the workshop and crushed the workshop along with the brothers in one swift blow.
It intended to torment and then devour their souls after they separated from their bodies.
However, when the younger brother's soul separated from his body, he looked at his crushed corpse and the monster before him, and spoke:
"This is wonderful; this is the result I have always been pursuing."
The almost insane smile on his face stunned the Hollow before him.
This was an instinctive reaction deeply rooted in the monster's core.
The younger brother had performed the experiments he conceived on himself while he was alive, and upon their success, he displayed his usual, devilish smile.
This smile made him appear more monstrous than the monsters present, and it stirred fear within their hearts.
Subsequently, the younger brother floated towards his elder brother, who had not yet realized he was dead.
"Damn it… What happened?"
"...There's nothing to worry about, elder brother."
"What did you say? …Ugh!?"
The younger brother, now a spirit, unhesitatingly tore open his elder brother's throat.
With a joyful smile, he devoured his elder brother and the already exhausted souls of his experimental subjects in front of the monsters, as if he had understood the nature of souls and Hollow the moment his physical body died.
He excitedly broke free from the chains that had been attached to his physical body, creating a large hole where the chains had been on his spiritual form.
By the time the monsters present realized something was wrong, it was too late… The younger brother, who had Hollowfied on his own, quickly devoured the enemies who had killed him and his elder brother, laughing continuously.
Then, after a day and a night, the younger brother, now a monster, gazed at his hand and murmured to himself:
"So that's it. The perfect life I sought exists as an extension of this form."
Time flowed on.
The disappearance of the distorted brothers in the Human World resulted in the emergence of a Menos Grande named Szayelaporro Granz in Hueco Mundo.
He devoured countless Hollow, striking fear into the hearts of others, and eventually became a Vasto Lorde, a high-ranking Menos Grande who regained a human-like appearance.
Although he was usually a calm scholar, once he got involved in combat, he would unconsciously fall into a berserk state, which made him rarely fight personally.
Because when he was in a berserk state, he would tear opponents he originally intended to capture alive into pieces.
Later, after a new king named Aizen appeared, he was selected into the new organization, the Espada, and was given the number '0', making him the most special, and in some ways, the strongest existence among the Espada.
However, he was not satisfied with this, because what he pursued was 'perfect life', not 'strength' or 'status'.
For several years thereafter, he continued to dissect countless Hollow, souls, and even Shinigami, finally reaching a conclusion—with his current human-like form, it was impossible to achieve the power he desired, 'Conception'.
Everything had to start over from the evolutionary process.
This conclusion led to an idea: to revert himself to an Adjuchas, a mid-level Menos Grande with animalistic traits, and re-experience the evolutionary process.
So he split his physical body in two.
He removed the troublesome part of himself that became overly excited and difficult to control during battle, which was his elder brother, whom he had initially devoured, from his soul, allowing him to become a separate entity again.
At the same time, he also removed his 'warrior' traits, transforming himself back into his original pure scholar state.
"You're crazy, aren't you? Who would want to become weaker? In my opinion, you've completely lost your mind."
The man who had once been assigned the number '8' said with astonishment.
And Szayelaporro's answer at the time was simple: "Even if I don't possess the strength and status of an Espada, I can still provide you with equipment to help you defeat Nelliel."
Szayelaporro, who had regressed to an Adjuchas, was indeed eliminated from the Espada, just as he had anticipated.
But this did not discourage Szayelaporro; instead, he focused more on experiments and theoretical organization, finally completing the reincarnation secret art he desired—Conception.
Ultimately, by virtue of his abilities as a scientist, he returned to the ranks of the Espada, receiving the number '8'.
His elder brother, whom he had removed, became a bull-shaped Adjuchas and wandered around, later joining a certain Menos Grande group.
This Menos Grande group, after a powerful leopard-shaped Adjuchas joined, was brought under Aizen's command.
That leopard-shaped Adjuchas received the number '6' among the Espada, while Szayelaporro's elder brother and other Hollow became the leopard-shaped Hollow's subordinates.
Szayelaporro had never paid attention to this, because his elder brother, whom he had discarded, was nothing but unwanted trash to him.
Even if he were to re-devour him, he could regain his incredibly formidable strength, just as Starrk and Lilynette merged.
His existence would only interfere with his research, so even when he learned that his elder brother had died in the Human World after battling a Shinigami named Abarai Renji, he felt no sadness at all.
But…
When a Shinigami used his proud 'Conception' as a medium to make him experience a century of continuous death, Szayelaporro… once again chose to reclaim his strongest power!
Although in reality it was only an instant, for Szayelaporro, it was a century of suffering where he could neither live nor die!
Ultimately, it even made him humiliatingly resort to a backup plan he had long abandoned: manipulating the opponent to revive himself in Hueco Mundo, and also incorporating the backups of his deceased elder brother, which he had preserved throughout Hueco Mundo, into his body.
He wanted to grind that Shinigami to dust, to make him understand what kind of person he had provoked.
Far beyond Las Noches, a tall figure stood in the void.
He looked down with icy eyes, and beneath him, a village-sized funnel appeared in the center of the endless white sand.
Four faint figures were buried within it, and as the white sand flowed, all four were completely submerged beneath the endless white sand.
And above the enormous sand pit that formed the funnel, the scenery shimmered slightly; it was not a mirage or an illusion, but a spatial distortion caused by a casual Cero from him.
"This power feels a bit unfamiliar even to me."
Szayelaporro did not deliver the final blow to the four individuals beneath the white sand; instead, he looked at his hands, his gaze devoid of joy, filled only with disgust and humiliation.
His pride would not allow him to pick up the trash he had once discarded, and as a scientist, he also disliked his current battle-hungry state, as it would affect his incredibly clear mind during research.
But to vent the pain of death he had endured for a century, he could only choose to reclaim his former power.
Szayelaporro looked down at the white sand beneath his feet; Roka, who stored his 'backup', was also among them.
Although the trash he had discarded was not worth mentioning in his eyes, Szayelaporro was somewhat relieved that Roka had been protected extremely well by that bitch Cirucci.
If Roka had been destroyed and his external memory device placed in her brain damaged, he might have truly died.
Because at the moment of death, he even felt the pull from hell.
If he were truly dragged into hell, even if he were to revive, he would not be himself, but merely a cluster of Reishi with his memories!
However, although he survived because of Roka, he had no intention of saving Roka.
His death would only happen this one time.
The reason that Shinigami was able to kill him was entirely because he had been secretly researching him, which allowed him to fall into his trick.
And now, even setting aside this newly regained power, even with his former self, killing him would be effortless!
As for the other useless individuals besides Roka, Szayelaporro didn't even bother to glance at them.
Although there was a familiar face among them, someone who couldn't even withstand one of his attacks simply wasn't worth his attention.
Recalling this, Szayelaporro vanished instantly into thin air.
He could feel it…
That despicable Shinigami was currently in his laboratory, where all his research since birth and various collected materials were stored—a sacred place he absolutely could not tolerate anyone else touching!
As Szayelaporro departed, the sand pit gradually leveled out with the flow of white sand.
Everything looked so quiet; there was no indication that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago, nor that someone had defeated both combatants with a single strike and buried them deep beneath the white sand.
Until…
Buzz—
Amidst the sound of air being torn, a figure appeared in the white sand.
This figure, clad in black work clothes and black high-top boots, was Ishikawa, who had rushed to this location immediately upon sensing the Reiatsu.
After Ishikawa stood still, about ten more seconds passed before Cirucci appeared beside him, holding Orihime.
"Why did you make me bring Orihime along? She can't help much in a fight."
Despite her words, Cirucci carefully set Orihime down and looked around, "Did Szayelaporro really cause this?"
Although the original sand pit had been filled in, from high above, it was clear that the white sand in this entire area was significantly lower than in other places.
Moreover, the residual Reiatsu in the atmosphere caused a solemn expression to appear in Cirucci's eyes.
"If she didn't come, Ichigo might have died."
At these words, Orihime, whose feet had just touched the ground, immediately changed expression and anxiously searched around, "Ku…Kurosaki-kun, where is he?"
Ishikawa did not speak, but instead extended his probing nerves into the white sand beneath his feet.
Then…
He stomped his foot on the white sand, and with that stomp, the white sand seemed to gain consciousness, churning like boiling water.
Pffft—
With a soft sound, a female Arrancar whom Ishikawa didn't recognize was pushed out from within.
"Roka."
Cirucci quickly stepped forward and dragged her out of the soft sand sea.
Ishikawa glanced at her and nodded to himself.
Although she wasn't the person he was expecting, a female Arrancar still had significant healing value.
Of course…
It wasn't that Ichigo had no healing value; in fact, he wished Ichigo wouldn't die even more than Orihime did, because without him, who would deal with Aizen?
Pfft~
Another soft sound emerged, and a figure with leopard ears, blue hair, tattered white tight-fitting armor, and covered in blood was pushed out by the white sand.
Neither Ishikawa nor the anxiously peering Orihime paid any attention to this person, letting him be tossed back and forth by the churning white sand.
And unlike Roka, although this person was severely injured and on the verge of death, he stubbornly held onto consciousness, his entire body being rolled around by the white sand, his eyes wide and filled with anger, unwillingness, and… confusion about the current situation…
Here she comes!
Just then, Ishikawa's eyes lit up as a battle-scarred, scantily clad Arrancar girl with a full figure was pushed out from the white sand.
Seeing this, Ishikawa immediately went forward, a characteristic smile on his face, and with incredibly gentle movements, grabbed her shoulders, pulling her out of the sand pit.
He didn't even bother with Ichigo, who was the last to emerge.
However, he didn't need to bother.
"Kurosaki-kun!!"
Upon seeing Ichigo being pushed out, Orihime immediately rushed forward, using both her hands and feet to drag him out of the white sand.
Ishikawa placed Nel on the flat ground and, meeting her confused gaze, smiled slightly:
"Don't worry, I'm here to help you… um… all of you."
After placing the four individuals, Ishikawa checked their conditions. Among them, the Arrancar named Roka, though the only one unconscious, had almost no injuries, merely being caught in the periphery.
Ichigo and Grimmjow, who was half-buried in the white sand and ignored, both had extremely severe injuries. If not treated quickly, they were highly likely to die. However, judging from the residual Reiatsu in their wounds, their injuries were mostly self-inflicted.
Among the four, Nel was the most severely injured.
At this moment, Nel's clothes were tattered, barely covering her body, and her exposed skin was charred black. Even the mask on her head was completely shattered. From a purely medical perspective, she was practically beyond saving.
Ishikawa frowned slightly, but then vaguely guessed why Nel had suffered such severe damage.
If there were no surprises, it was likely that while Ichigo and Grimmjow were in the midst of their fierce battle, Szayelaporro suddenly appeared and attacked all of them.
And Nel must have used her Cero body to block most of the power of the Cero; otherwise, given their condition, it would have been impossible for the two of them to survive Szayelaporro's Cero.
Of course…
Whether Ichigo suddenly gained a power-up before dying, or died before he could, was another matter entirely.
"She must receive treatment immediately."
Ishikawa meticulously examined Nel's condition, his face sinking.
Nel's Spirit Body had already contracted due to her shattered Arrancar form. Although Cirucci had carved incomplete Hollow Marks on her, allowing her to temporarily mend the flaw and revert to her original form, after taking a direct hit from a Cero, her mask had completely disintegrated, and her body was in ruins.
Even her Zanpakuto, which was sealed by the Arrancar's power foundation, the 'spiritual nucleus,' had completely shattered due to her Cero being destroyed.
The spiritual nucleus, for an Arrancar, is equivalent to a Shinigami's Spirit Core.
If left untreated, Nel's body would soon dissipate into Reishi, becoming part of the endless Reishi in Hueco Mundo.
Recalling this, Ishikawa extended his hand.
Clang—!
With a soft hum, a long blade with a gray body and a white hilt gradually materialized beside him.
Then…
Pfft~
Blood splattered as the materialized long blade actually severed Ishikawa's arm directly.
This scene made Orihime, who was treating Ichigo nearby, gasp in surprise. Ichigo also blinked, wanting to sit up, but was unable to.
Cirucci, however, vaguely guessed Ishikawa's intention and placed Roka, who was in her arms, beside Nel.
Then, she glanced at Grimmjow, who was half-buried in the white sand and almost out of breath. After a moment of hesitation, she also dragged him out and placed him beside Roka.
Seeing this, Ishikawa looked at Cirucci.
Cirucci looked up at the sky…
Had caring for Picaro for so long made her maternal instincts grow stronger…
However, Ishikawa did not refuse.
He and Cirucci… no, he should say he and everyone else were friends, not in a superior-subordinate relationship. They would only help and care for each other, not arbitrarily order them to do anything. Although they would obey if ordered, Ishikawa would not do so.
If Cirucci wanted him to help them, Ishikawa would not refuse.
After all, Cirucci had always helped Ishikawa a lot, both openly and secretly, whether it was by transmitting information or helping to look after Orihime, Rukia, and others.
Shaking his head slightly, Ishikawa looked at his newly grown arm, then once again took the blade and cut it off, repeating this step twice…
Three arms, along with their bones and blood, were forcibly compressed by Ishikawa's Reiatsu into three blood masses, and the resulting mixture rapidly transformed in Ishikawa's hand, turning into purple runes resembling tree branches.
Almost at the moment the runes appeared, the incredibly dense Reishi in Hueco Mundo surged into the cavern where the two were located, like a tsunami.
But unlike the previous two times, Ishikawa did not set up a Reiatsu concealment barrier this time. Coupled with simultaneously reconstructing the 'spiritual nucleus' for three people, the commotion caused almost alarmed the entire Hueco Mundo.
Within the Forest of Menos beneath the white sand, countless Hollows became agitated at this moment, frantically gathering in the same direction. Whether they had consciousness or not, their instincts were roaring—it was an opportunity for evolution!
Grimmjow looked at Ishikawa with a confused expression, watching the Spell Inscription floating on his body, and also felt that instinctive craving.
"Consider it repayment for saving my life from Baraggan back then."
Meeting Grimmjow's gaze, Ishikawa said that when he was surrounded by the Espada, Grimmjow had once helped him by severing his arm when he was afflicted by the death and decay aura, which could be considered saving his life, although… Grimmjow's action was more about venting his dissatisfaction with Baraggan interfering in his fight.
Ishikawa extended his hand, and the Spell Inscription, condensed from flesh and Reiatsu, simultaneously merged into the spiritual nucleuss of the three, completely destroying their original spiritual nucleuss, and then reconstructing them with the flesh and blood Spell Inscription as the core.
During this process, the Reiatsu within the three of them rapidly transformed.
Cirucci on the side observed intently. Although she had witnessed it twice before, Ishikawa's modification still deeply shocked her.
After all…
This was a modification that even Aizen couldn't achieve!
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