Kōe experimented with various Kidō on the captured Adjuchas, all succeeding without exception. If he wanted to, this test subject could be turned to ash in an instant for any number of reasons.
Lower-class Menos, Gillians, couldn't have Kidō implanted in their bodies, but the higher-level Adjuchas could. So, from Gillian to Adjuchas, was it a regression or an evolution?
Kōe couldn't immediately reach a reasonable conclusion. It was possible that their physical structures were different; compared to an Adjuchas, a Gillian's body was like a bottomless abyss.
However, speaking solely of physical structure, aside from a layer of hard skin on their surface, Adjuchas-class Menos weren't much different from ordinary Hollows.
Considering the degree of Reiryoku control didn't make sense either. Starting from the Gillian stage, a Hollow's control over Reiryoku gradually improved. Yet, even an Adjuchas couldn't resist his implanted Kidō, while Gillians—especially those brainless, long-nosed ones—eliminated his Kidō purely on instinct. No matter how he thought about it, it just didn't add up.
The basic approach was still to find the difference between Gillians and Adjuchas. The most intuitive manifestation was probably that Hollows who evolved into Adjuchas gained their own distinct abilities, much like a Zanpakutō after achieving Shikai.
From this perspective, Hollow evolution could, to some extent, be understood as a form of Shinigamification. Aizen's two initial research directions were the Hollowfication of Shinigami and the Shinigamification of Hollows. Whether the former was a method for Shinigami to break their own limits remained unknown. As for the latter, even before Aizen's interference, there were Hollows who achieved Arrancarification on their own, proving that this was inherently a direction of Hollow evolution.
The different effects of Kidō inside Gillians and Adjuchas were likely related to this Shinigamification. This was the most probable guess Kōe could come up with at the moment, though it was naturally based on the fact that Kidō was what he was most familiar with.
Kōe's other Zanpakutō was privately referred to by Yamamoto as the strongest Kidō-type Zanpakutō. Because of this blade, his understanding of Kidō was constantly updating.
Initially, he believed that Kidō was simply a Shinigami using their own Reiryoku to connect with the Reiryoku in the environment, temporarily controlling external Reiryoku to achieve different effects.
Later, he realized that limiting Kidō solely to the Hadō and Bakudō circulated within Seireitei, or even the forbidden spells hidden in the Great Spirit Book Gallery, was a narrow-minded way of thinking. Kidō itself was the manifestation of Reiryoku; a Shinigami's Zanpakutō could even be understood as a constant state of Kidō.
In theory, it was actually possible to simulate the abilities of any Zanpakutō through Kidō. Of course, this was purely theoretical. In actual practice, it was incredibly difficult. Even Kōe didn't have a single successful example yet.
But now, implanting Kidō into a Hollow's body gave Kōe another vague idea about Kidō. Aside from being the manifestation of Reiryoku, Kidō itself must possess something else that Kōe didn't yet understand. Perhaps it was because of this unknown element that Reiryoku could be manifested in the first place.
As for how to verify this idea, Kōe didn't have a clue for the time being. This could be considered an unexpected harvest. Although it was fascinating enough to make him obsess over it, he also knew that locking himself away to brainstorm right now wouldn't yield any good results.
Kōe now needed to see more Adjuchas, and even Vasto Lordes, whose differences from Shinigami were already minimal. At the same time, this was what he absolutely had to do right now.
With a wave of his hand, he turned the Adjuchas he had been torturing for who knows how long into fine dust. Kōe then walked over to Ashido, who was watching Seth eat.
"Have you ever heard the name Roca Paramia?"
"A Hollow?"
Kōe nodded and continued, "She once invaded Soul Society, but was repelled by Kuruyashiki and fled back to Hueco Mundo."
"Never heard of her. That must not have happened yet when I left Soul Society." Ashido frowned—not at Kōe, but because watching Seth devour Gillian after Gillian made him somewhat uncomfortable. "However, for a Hollow to dare invade Soul Society and manage to escape from a Captain's hands, she must be in the upper level."
Kōe naturally knew that this Roca lived in the upper level, but he had only heard the name from Azashiro Sōya and knew absolutely nothing about her physical characteristics.
"What about the names Neliel and Starrk?"
"Are they also Hollows who invaded Soul Society?" Seeing Kōe nod, Ashido continued, "I haven't heard of them either. It seems Soul Society hasn't been very peaceful these past few years."
"Indeed, it hasn't been peaceful. That's why they have to trouble these old bones of mine." Kōe pointed upward and asked, "How do I get to the upper level from here?"
"You're going up? Are you just going to leave him be?" Ashido asked, pointing at Seth not far away.
Kōe shook his head and replied with his hands behind his back, "Let him mess around down here for a while. I don't have the time to keep my eyes glued solely to him."
"And what if he loses control after you leave?"
"I leave him entirely in your hands. If merely stepping away for a while makes him act without restraint, it only proves that I've raised an ungrateful wretch, and keeping him around would just be a disaster waiting to happen." Kōe said calmly, "Of course, I also believe you aren't a bigoted man and will make a fair judgment. Once he becomes an Adjuchas, he will be an asset to you. Aside from looking different from us, you can treat Seth as a Shinigami I've trained."
Ashido lowered his head in thought. Based on his supervision over the past few days, the Gillian named Seth before him was indeed completely under Kōe's control.
Furthermore, Kōe had never allowed Seth to approach his dwelling, clearly providing him with a certain degree of protection. Compared to a Hollow, this Shinigami named Ao was still more willing to trust another Shinigami.
But a fair judgment? To be honest, Ashido didn't have much confidence in himself regarding that. However, if he had an extra pair of hands, his wish could be realized much faster. This didn't conflict with his original intentions; it just made him a bit unaccustomed.
"I will try my best to cast aside my prejudices," Ashido sighed softly, turning to Kōe to ask, "When do you plan on heading up?"
"The sooner the better. Right now would be best."
"Follow me."
With that, Ashido put on his mask and walked toward the south. After giving Seth a few instructions, Kōe followed him.
The two arrived before a stone wall. In the middle of the wall was a crevice about the height of two or three people. Walking inward along the crevice, it didn't take long for them to reach the end.
"Passing through the gap above will take you into the quicksand layer. After that, just follow the quicksand, and it won't be long before you reach the upper level."
Ashido pointed at the massive, light-pierced gap overhead. He thought for a moment before continuing to Kōe, "Unlike down here, the Adjuchas up there mostly move in packs to hunt more effectively. If you run into a lone wolf, you need to be even more careful. Those solitary ones likely possess strength on par with a Captain."
Ashido had seen how Kōe subdued an Adjuchas. That relaxed, effortless demeanor proved his strength was at least at the Captain level. However, the Adjuchas class had a low floor and a high ceiling, not to mention that the upper level also housed Vasto Lorde-class Menos, whose power eclipsed that of Captains.
"Rather than worrying about me, you'd be better off worrying about yourself, brat!" Before his voice even faded, Kōe's figure vanished from Ashido's line of sight. His aged voice echoed from above: "Next time we meet, I hope to see you still kicking and full of life."
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