Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 194 - Turning Point — The Conversation

"This is..." Wayne looked at the scene before him and slowly stood up. At the same time, he drew his Reiatsu inward, gauging Aizen's next move.

"A seed of Hollowfication." Aizen raised his hand. In his palm, a semi-transparent Hōgyoku glowed with a faint, ghostly light. Floating above it was a wisp of gray-white flame, and within that flame, Wayne sensed the powerful Reiatsu of a Hollow beast. It was this gray-white flame that had coated all six squad members before them with the white viscous substance of Hollowfication, gradually turning them into Hollow beasts.

"So, Yagami China's Hollowfication back then... was your doing?" Wayne did not draw his sword. He simply questioned Aizen.

"That's correct. That batch of students, including Yagami China, was already my sixty-fourth group of test subjects." Aizen revealed the matter with complete indifference. "To be honest, after conducting so many experiments, I had made no progress whatsoever. But it was during that experiment with Yagami China that I saw what made you different. You possess a constitution that can absorb the spirit energy of Hollow beasts and make it your own. So I stole some of your blood from Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory for use in my experiments. And I discovered that your blood can fuse remarkably well with the power of the Hōgyoku, which gave my Hollowfication experiments a major breakthrough."

As Aizen explained, the six squad members had already risen to their feet. Their bodies no longer convulsed, and their Reiatsu was climbing steadily. After the Hollow beast masks settled upon their faces, they continued to spread to their shoulders, chests, and waists. But that was as far as it went — their Hollowfication stopped there. Then, the six squad members awoke from their stupor in bewilderment. Through the masks, Wayne could see that the whites of their eyes had been completely stained black. And when they spoke, he also heard the distinctive resonating cry unique to Hollow beasts.

"Wh-what's happened to us?"

"Why... why am I wearing a Hollow's mask?"

"This power... I feel like my Reiatsu suddenly got so much stronger!"

"This mask... why won't it come off?! Captain Aizen, what have you done to us?!"

SQUELCH!

Aizen's Zanpakuto was drawn in a flash. In a single blurring step, the heads of the six Hollowfied squad members were severed by a single slash.

Wayne stood in place, expressionless, though his body's Reiatsu had long been locked tightly onto Aizen. However, because Aizen's strike just now had carried no killing intent toward him, Wayne made no move. He merely watched Aizen in silence.

"Hinamori-kun, thanks to your existence, my Hollowfication experiments have advanced to a new level. Therefore, I am formally extending an invitation to you here and now. Are you willing to join me? To explore the powers of Hollow and Soul Reaper together with me? To break through the limits of the Soul Reaper together with me, to become the supreme existence in this world, to shatter the restraints of the Soul King together, and to become a truly free existence in this world?"

"..." Wayne said nothing. He had gambled correctly. Aizen was extending an olive branch to him. But such a direct approach — Wayne had not anticipated it.

In truth, Aizen's claim that his blood could fuse well with the power of the Hōgyoku was something Wayne had also given thought to.

Decades ago, Wayne had died beneath the blades of Aizen and Gin Ichimaru. At that time, Aizen had exhausted the Hōgyoku's power, and after the battle, dragging his heavy injuries, he had absorbed the vast majority of Wayne's Reiatsu into the Hōgyoku. Now that Wayne had been resurrected and had awakened his former Reiatsu, sealing it into his Zanpakuto, the Reiatsu of his Hollow beast and the Reiatsu within the Hōgyoku shared the same origin. So it was only natural that it could resonate with the Hōgyoku.

"So..." After a long silence, Wayne spoke indifferently. "So, Yagami China's Hollowfication... it was you? Captain Aizen." Wayne's tone was unfriendly as he threw the earlier question out once more.

"Yes," Aizen said without mincing words. "If you wish to seek revenge, I have no objection. But I must remind you, Hinamori-kun. Although Yagami China is now dead, if you are truly willing, I can help you bring her back to life."

"Hm?" Wayne was momentarily taken aback.

Who are you trying to fool? If you had Orihime Inoue in your hands right now, then Wayne might have half-believed it. But right now, all you've got is half a Hōgyoku. Who exactly are you painting this pie for?

But Aizen was not joking. He actually produced the Hōgyoku and, beside one of the already-decapitated squad members, let the Hōgyoku's ghostly light shine down upon the body. Very quickly, white keratinous matter began extending from the neck of the mask-bearing head, swiftly linking it back to the neck. Then, under the effect of the white keratin, this squad member actually reattached his head, after which his life signs were restored.

"Heresy," Wayne frowned, cursing inwardly. This was not resurrection at all. It was merely using the super-accelerated regeneration ability of a Hollow beast to restore the physical body, combined with the Reiatsu of a Soul Reaper to restore consciousness. To some extent, it could indeed be called resurrection. But Wayne felt such a resurrection was utterly meaningless, as if it were some kind of stitched-together hybrid of Soul Reaper and Hollow. The future would be spent existing in just such a state.

"Look, Hinamori-kun." Aizen displayed the Hōgyoku before Wayne. "This thing is called the Hōgyoku. It is an all-purpose wish-granting device that can realize a person's desires." Aizen toyed with it, clearly enamored. "Through the conversion of the Hōgyoku's power, I can help you break through the boundaries of the Soul Reaper, becoming a supreme existence that transcends both Soul Reaper and Hollow. If you wish, I can even use the Hōgyoku's power to resurrect Yagami China. As you can see, the fact that the person before you could come back to life is entirely thanks to the Hōgyoku's ability. It's only a pity that the Hōgyoku is not yet complete and its power is still weak. That is why this decapitated body could only regain consciousness through the cooperation of both powers." As he spoke, Aizen raised his hand and blasted the newly resurrected, still-shocked squad member into minced flesh.

"This kind of resurrection is not perfect. It is because our power is still insufficient, and the energy the Hōgyoku can store is far too meager. So, Hinamori-kun, join my ranks and help me perfect it. When that time comes, I will help you resurrect Yagami China — completely and perfectly resurrect her. For this, I need your strength."

"You need my unique constitution, don't you?" Wayne had already confirmed that Aizen now wanted to recruit him more than anything. But calling it recruitment was less accurate than saying Aizen had his eye on Wayne's unique constitution, wanting to use him for experiments.

"Your soul genes are very unique. I believe they will be very helpful for my research into breaking through the boundaries between Soul Reaper and Hollow." Aizen did not deny Wayne's words. "Do you not wish to obtain power?"

"I do." Wayne nodded. "But the vengeance for Yagami China still needs to be exacted." As he spoke, Wayne drew his own Zanpakuto. "Captain Aizen, I have no doubt whatsoever that you can resurrect Yagami China. But I cannot simply do nothing. Regardless of what Captain Aizen's goal may be, I need to obtain power, and you need my constitution to research the Hōgyoku. In that case, the deal is struck. However... right now, I want to avenge Yagami China. Defeat me, and I will join you." As his words fell, Wayne held his Zanpakuto vertically and recited the release incantation.

"Ban! Kai!"

In the next second, pale-gold Reiatsu surged skyward. Accompanied by Wayne's final spirit word, two Waynes, identical in appearance, appeared before Aizen.

"Hollow World Samsara, Reinhardt."

For this Bankai, Wayne did not fully release his Zanpakuto. He was still fighting using the Reiatsu of a Soul Reaper.

"Proving through combat that you are a collaborator rather than a test subject, is it?" Aizen had seen through Wayne's intent. "Omoshiroi."

This so-called revenge was nothing more than a pretense put on for Aizen's benefit. Its true purpose was a mutual probe of strength. Aizen, wise as he was, could naturally see Wayne's real objective. And from this battle, Aizen would also be able to gauge something of the depth of Wayne's skill.

This battle was one Wayne was destined to lose. But the outcome was not important. What was important was that after this battle ended, Wayne would join Aizen's faction. This was something both sides could be certain of.

The battle began. Wayne, relying solely on himself and his Hollow shadow, launched slashes imbued with Reiatsu at Aizen.

No flashy techniques whatsoever — a pure clash of Reiatsu.

This was the combat style Aizen excelled at, but it was also the slash-based duel that Wayne specialized in.

This battle, from its start to its end, took an entire day. Ultimately, it concluded with Wayne's Reiatsu nearly exhausted, bringing an end to this so-called revenge.

"Remarkable, Hinamori-kun." As the battle ended, Aizen sheathed Kyokasuigetsu. Looking at the blind youth panting heavily before him, the corner of Aizen's mouth lifted.

Though he himself could not use Kyokasuigetsu's ability to fight this youth, Aizen was confident that by relying on his own immense Reiatsu alone, he could suppress him. And the opponent, as if having seen through his thoughts, had used no other frivolous techniques beyond Reiatsu-infused slashes. On one hand, this showed the opponent's acknowledgment of him. On the other, it established the foundation for their collaboration through this thoroughly satisfying battle. At the same time, it also demonstrated the opponent's strength to him.

Although Aizen knew the other party had not used his full power, judging solely by the quantity of Reiatsu displayed over this day-long battle, the blind youth before him already more than met the standard to join his faction.

"Lord Aizen." Looking at the young man kneeling on one knee before him, the change in address once again confirmed Aizen's thoughts.

"Very good, Tsukishiro-kun." Aizen wore a faint, ambiguous smile. The next moment, Aizen lightly snapped his fingers, and a Senkaimon leisurely opened. "Come meet our new comrades. Gin, Kaname."

Very quickly, the Senkaimon parted left and right. Two figures clad in white haori emerged from the other side of the gate. Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen appeared before Wayne simultaneously.

"Ara ara, just as I thought. I knew Hinamori would definitely be pulled into our faction by Lord Aizen," Gin Ichimaru said as he hopped out of the Senkaimon, looking as if he had expected this all along.

"Welcome, Tsukishiro Hinamori." Tōsen, for his part, adopted an attitude of indifference, yet one that suggested he too had known about this beforehand.

"Captain Tōsen and Captain Ichimaru? You..." Wayne feigned a look of belated realization.

"Yes. We are both Lord Aizen's men."

"This truly surprises me." Wayne said, as if in astonishment.

"Tsukishiro-kun. Our target is the Soul King, and all of you are essential fighting strength for me. And you, Hinamori-kun, are even more critical as personnel to accelerate our research on the Hōgyoku. In the future, when we break through the limits of the Soul Reaper and step into the Soul King Palace, you will know just how correct your choice was." Aizen slowly brought the Hōgyoku closer to Wayne, and the Reiatsu within Wayne's body began recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Remarkable." Wayne was shocked. "I never imagined the Hōgyoku possessed such formidable power."

"This is merely a fraction of the Hōgyoku's power." Aizen reached out to grasp the translucent gem floating in the air.

"Come, Tsukishiro. Let me take you to see our base of operations."

"Hm?" Wayne was puzzled. "In Hueco Mundo?"

"Correct." Aizen pointed toward a structure in the distance. "All of the territory belonging to the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, is our base of operations."

"What?!"

Wayne put on an expression of shock, an expression that greatly pleased Aizen.

Of course, Wayne had long suspected this. Aizen had already taken down Baraggan and seized control of all the territory under his command. And a large portion of Baraggan's subordinates had likely already been used by Aizen to fill the gaps in the Hōgyoku's power.

What he didn't know was how many of the Espada from the manga, aside from those under Baraggan, had already been subjugated by Aizen.

With their faction now unified, Aizen dropped all pretense and led the group straight toward the core territory of Baraggan.

After roughly a day or so, a massive, yet unfinished, structure appeared before them.

"This is... Las Noches." Beneath his dark glasses, Wayne's pale-purple eyes surveyed the enormous structure. In his heart, he silently uttered its name.

Las Noches. It was dozens of times larger than his own Cliffside Castle. Its white walls were being erected bit by bit through the tireless efforts of countless Hollow beasts. Without exception, those Hollow beasts excelled in abilities involving rock, sand, gravel, and the like. It was hard to imagine just how much manpower and resources Aizen had expended to establish Las Noches, and from where Aizen had gathered all these Hollow beasts with civil-engineering-type abilities. Over all these years building his own forces, Wayne had only encountered a single Hollow beast with rock-type abilities — Mude. But on Aizen's side...

He recalled that in the original work, there was a Hollow beast whose very body was composed of sand and stone. It served as the guardian of Las Noches and could merge itself into a part of the structure. If Aizen had already subjugated that one, then the construction of Las Noches would be many, many times faster.

Casting aside this thought, Wayne gazed at the distant Las Noches, still in its unfinished state, and could not help but sigh with emotion. Looking at the vast scale of the project before him, he estimated that Baraggan's submission to Aizen must have occurred not long after his own death. To have reached this stage of construction over the span of decades — Aizen's control over Hueco Mundo was far greater than Wayne had imagined.

"The structure before you is our future main base," Aizen explained to Wayne with a smile. "When the time comes, Tsukishiro, this is where we will guide the Hōgyoku's power to its ultimate extreme."

"This structure..." Wayne wore an expression of deep emotion. "From the fluctuations of Reiatsu, I can perceive that this construction project is so enormous. Lord Aizen must have begun laying the groundwork for all of this long ago."

"Since over a hundred years ago," Aizen said without reservation. "What we desire far exceeds the current understanding of power among Soul Reapers. For this, I require a vast number of Hollows to complete the Hōgyoku. But those are matters for later. For now, come meet my subordinates first."

As Aizen's words fell, several figures flew over from the distance and landed before the group.

"We greet Lord Aizen!"

➤ Next: Encountering Old Friends Again