A new phase of experiments was about to begin. Having completed the Arrancarification of the Hollow beasts, Aizen turned his attention to Shinigami Hollowfication. The initial concept was straightforward: continue where the earlier Hollowfication Seed experiments had left off. But this time was different. Aizen intended to merge the Hollow beast creation process with the Hollowfication experiments themselves, producing results across three distinct stages.

Stage one: create Hollow beasts fused with Hollowfication Seeds.

Stage two: have those Hollow beasts engage Shinigami in combat and implant the Hollowfication Seeds within the Shinigami's bodies.

Stage three: fully Hollowfy those Shinigami.

The dual purpose was elegant. The Hollowfication Seed would infiltrate a Shinigami's body silently and imperceptibly, while Aizen could observe and verify the entire experimental process from start to finish.

But the work remained punishingly difficult. To ensure the Hollowfication Seed could flow into a Shinigami's body without triggering a Reishi conflict, Aizen resolved to solve the problem of Reiatsu rejection during Hollowfication at the very first stage. It was at this juncture that Wayne offered a tentative solution.

A chimera.

Stitch the souls of a Shinigami and a Hollow beast together. Create something that belonged to neither category.

On this point, his thinking aligned perfectly with Aizen's own. Aizen had long advocated using a Shinigami's body as a vessel for Hollow beast Reiatsu, and his earlier experiments had already been designed with this in mind. That was why Yagami Kina had encountered Hollowfication all those years ago. The tragedy of that attempt was that Aizen had been unable to control the process. Back then, shortly after Hollowfication took hold, the vessel would rupture under the pressure of the Hollow beast's Reiatsu. There was no survival. None.

The targets in those days had been mere trainees, souls barely taking their first steps toward becoming Shinigami. Their capacity to bear Reiatsu was far too low. His closest brush with success had been the experiment involving Shinji Hirako and those captains and lieutenants.

They had withstood the Hollowfication Seed longer than anyone else. They were, in fact, the only successful case. But the one who had made that success possible was not Aizen himself, it was Kisuke Urahara. That truth had always rankled. Aizen believed that if his objective at the time had not been to frame and incriminate Urahara, he might already have obtained the answer to how Urahara had used the Hōgyoku to save those captains from dying of Hollowfication.

Unfortunately, at some indeterminate point, Shinji Hirako and Kisuke Urahara had begun guarding against his actions with ever-increasing wariness. Every move Aizen made seemed to draw their scrutiny. It had all started after that Menos Grande incursion into the World of the Living. He still did not know why.

Left with no alternative, Aizen had first been forced to orchestrate the removal of these troublemakers from the Seireitei entirely. Only then could he proceed with his experiments undisturbed.

As the Hollow beast Shinigamification experiments advanced, Aizen's mastery over the Hōgyoku grew steadily more refined. Now, at last, he felt ready to resume the Shinigami Hollowfication experiments.

For this first stage, Aizen decided to use the bodies of actual Shinigami squad members to bear the power of Hollowfication. Simultaneously, he would attempt the reverse: using the bodies of Hollow beasts to bear the souls of Shinigami. Running both experiments in parallel would allow him to probe the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow at a far deeper level.

"My lord, the Hollow side is manageable enough. But how do we proceed on the Shinigami side?" Wayne asked. "Every Shinigami holds a registered post. Kidnapping one silently, without leaving a trace — that's no simple task. The higher-ups will notice."

"For now, we will consider using members of the 10th Division and 13th Division stationed in the World of the Living as test subjects," Aizen replied. "They are the only ones beyond Soul Society's full surveillance. Manufacturing an accident will be relatively easier."

"Yes, my lord."

Wayne understood immediately. The Hollow beast destined to step onto the main storyline, White, was about to be born.

The timing lined up. They were approaching the moment the main storyline began.

Twenty years of concealment and stillness. Now, at last, the origin of everything was drawing near.

"Tsuki, prepare for another journey to Hueco Mundo. Gin, pay a visit to the 13th Division — call upon Captain Ukitake and scout some candidates while you're there. Kaname, accompany me to the World of the Living to lay out the plan."

"Yes, my lord."

The three received their orders and departed. Not long after, Wayne arrived at the entrance of the 1st Division barracks. There, he encountered Sajin Komamura. As the guard division for the 1st Division, Komamura's barracks stood not far from the 1st, and the captain himself was often found patrolling the vicinity.

"Captain Komamura." Wayne stepped forward to greet him.

"Mm."

Komamura wore a massive helmet that obscured his features entirely. For Wayne, this posed no difficulty. Whether through prior knowledge or Reiatsu perception, he knew perfectly well that beneath that helmet was a very large dog.

"Hinamori-kun. Here to apply for another expedition to Hueco Mundo?"

Komamura had long grown accustomed to it. Over the past twenty years, Wayne had applied to fight in Hueco Mundo more times than anyone could easily count. Thanks to him, Soul Society had not faced a single Menos Grande counterattack in two decades. Occasionally one or two would slip through, but they were swiftly eliminated and posed no real threat. The captain of the guard division had enjoyed a remarkably easy tenure, and even the 12th Division had benefited from a steady influx of research materials, which meant Mayuri Kurotsuchi had grown exceedingly fond of this particular 4th Division 3rd Seat.

Speaking of which, in twenty years, Wayne had never sought promotion. He had neither transferred to Aizen's squad to serve as lieutenant, nor advanced in rank within the 4th Division. He had no desire to compete with Lieutenant Kotetsu for her position. There was little meaning in it.

If anything, Wayne's presence had lightened the 4th Division's workload to the point where healing assignments had become scarce. Peace reigned throughout the Seireitei. Captain Unohana was practically on the verge of becoming a master horticulturist.

"Yes, Captain Komamura." Wayne nodded. "After mapping out the distribution of forces under Baraggan, King of Hueco Mundo, we've spent twenty years slowly whittling him down. We can't eliminate him outright, but every war of attrition costs him another batch of subordinates and denies him the resources to strike at Soul Society." Wayne delivered the excuse smoothly, one he had fabricated on the spot. Aizen's experiments required vast numbers of Hollow beasts as materials. Whatever Hollow beasts died in the process could simply be counted among Wayne's exterminations.

"Your expeditions have been arduous." Komamura inclined his head slightly. "By now, Hinamori-kun, your Reiatsu has fully reached captain-class, has it not?"

"Mm. But the current captains are all excellent. I'm content to remain a squad member. To be honest, I have no interest in a captain's post. Relatively speaking, I prefer cutting down Hollows." Wayne deflected the implication quickly. The last thing he wanted was for Komamura to perceive him as a threat.

Truth be told, the pseudo-Bankai Wayne currently displayed bore some resemblance to Komamura's own Bankai. The difference lay in execution: Wayne created a clone with abilities equivalent to his own, while Komamura summoned the colossal Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, a gigantic construct that sacrificed speed and defense to focus purely on overwhelming offensive power.

If the two of them were to fight, Komamura would have essentially no chance. Wayne would only need to direct his clone to attack Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō. Even if that enormous body could absorb more punishment, it could not withstand Wayne's blade inflicting damage with every strike. Combined with Wayne's own mastery of swordsmanship, his true strength would place him at least in the mid-tier of the Gotei 13. And if he fully unleashed his Bankai, he could easily rank among the top four.

Not counting the old man and Aizen, of course.

"I see." A note of relief crept into Komamura's voice. "Go on. Captain-Commander Yamamoto is inside."

"Very well." Wayne nodded and walked past Komamura into the 1st Division.

"The younger generation inspires awe." Komamura lifted his head to gaze at the sky. Through that tightly sealed helmet, his eyes held something between envy and hope.

Wayne arrived at the Captain-Commander's office and bowed. "Captain-Commander, sir."

"Hinamori 3rd Seat."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood gazing out over the whole of Soul Society, his back to Wayne. Facing that slightly hunched silhouette, Wayne found himself momentarily at a loss for words. This was the guardian deity of Soul Society, the one who had defended it for over a thousand years. Now the hero stood in his twilight. Wayne wondered how much of that former battle strength remained. Reiatsu, of course, only accumulated and thickened with age. But fighting spirit, that ruthless, decisive edge, had it been worn smooth by the Seireitei's internal struggles?

"Yes, Captain-Commander, sir." Wayne kept his voice soft. "I have come to apply for another expedition to Hueco Mundo."

"This is your fifty-sixth application in twenty years, is it not?" The Captain-Commander turned, eyes narrowing slightly. "Thanks to you, our understanding of Hueco Mundo's internal movements is far greater than it was two decades ago. Aside from the central region where the Vasto Lorde-class Hollow beasts gather, we have mapped out nearly all the other major regional powers."

"The Vasto Lorde gathering grounds require less concern. They prefer to contend among themselves rather than target Shinigami. It is those so-called Hueco Mundo factions that pose the greatest threat to us."

"Mm." The old man nodded slightly. "Hinamori 3rd Seat. In all your travels through Hueco Mundo these twenty years — how much have you learned of the ancient Hollow beasts, and of the King of Hollows?"

Wayne blinked. "I have heard a little."

"Long ago, in the earliest days of the Gotei 13, we once fought a King of Hollows." The old man began to recount the tale. "We could not kill him, but we drove him from Soul Society. Even then, we had already learned to fear Hueco Mundo. That is why the Gotei 13 was established. And behind the Gotei 13 stood the Five Great Noble Clans. But as time passed, the Five Great Noble Clans grew dissatisfied with the status quo. They began to vie for supremacy, greedily seizing resources — including the Hollow beasts themselves."

"Captain-Commander, I don't understand your meaning." Wayne could not grasp why Old Man Yamamoto was telling him any of this.

"Hueco Mundo is far more ancient than we imagine. Some of those ancient Hollow beasts, for reasons of their own, have fallen — one after another — or been sealed away. It is only because of this that Soul Society has possessed the strength to oppose them. But should the balance of Hueco Mundo ever be broken, it is very likely that those old monsters will emerge one by one. And when that time comes, Soul Society will face annihilation."

"Are you saying, Captain-Commander... that I should stop hunting Hollows in Hueco Mundo?"

"No." Old Man Yamamoto shook his head. "I hope that you will establish order and balance within Hueco Mundo." The words carried the weight of deep consideration.

"Establish order?" Wayne's heart gave a small, sharp tremor. Did he know? About him and Aizen? No, the matter of Aizen building his faction was known to no one beyond the four of them. Only Wayne, Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tōsen. If anyone else knew, it would have been exposed long ago. Then the old man's words... did he know Wayne's true identity?

Impossible. Even Aizen didn't know. How could the old man possibly know?

Or perhaps... had he detected the abnormal deaths of the Hollow beasts? Had it caused some subtle imbalance to ripple across the Three Worlds? What exactly was the reason?

Old Man Yamamoto seemed to read Wayne's confusion. He spoke again.

"You can absorb the Reishi of Hollow beasts and put it to use. Can you not?"

"Yes."

"Your Zanpakuto... it should also be capable of absorbing the Reiatsu of Hollow beasts and using it. Am I correct?"

"...Yes." Behind his sunglasses, Wayne's eyes narrowed. It seemed the secrets of his Zanpakuto were about to be laid bare before the old man.

"Long ago, I once saw a special summoning-type Zanpakuto. Its ability bore some resemblance to yours. But it was a blade capable of summoning a King of Hollows. Its name was Ikomikidomoe."

Wayne's mind jolted. He knew that name. Back when he was still a Hollow beast, during a march, Baraggan had mentioned it to him. Ikomikidomoe had been Baraggan's old rival, a King of Hollows. So what Old Man Yamamoto had said earlier about driving it out of Soul Society was merely a cover story. It had been sealed away. A Zanpakuto capable of summoning a King of Hollows.

"That dangerous blade is now sealed away in a certain location. It has never been wielded since. And as for your Zanpakuto... I can sense it. The being within it is not your clone. It is some manner of Hollow beast that possesses the ability to assume your form. Am I wrong?"

Silence. A long moment passed before Wayne slowly nodded. "As expected of the Captain-Commander."

"Your frequent trips to Hueco Mundo serve to strengthen the power of your Zanpakuto. And at the same time, to increase your own power. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Captain-Commander, sir." Wayne saw no point in lying. Even if the two of them truly came to blows, the probability of him not being killed instantly was not high. Even if he unleashed everything, without a Senkaimon, escape was impossible. Using the power of a Hollow beast to open a Garganta and Negación might not be enough to shake off Old Man Yamamoto's pursuit. And the moment he revealed Hollow beast power, he would draw the attention of far more than one or two captains. On Aizen's side, he would have no way to explain himself.

"But Captain-Commander, sir. Since you already knew my objective, why didn't you stop me? Why have you allowed me to travel freely to Hueco Mundo for twenty years?"

"As I just said." Old Man Yamamoto turned his gaze once more toward Soul Society. "I hope that you will use the Zanpakuto in your hand to create order within Hueco Mundo."

Wayne did not reply. He simply waited.

After a long silence, the old man turned back.

"Your blade began its growth from the most basic Asauchi. It did not seal some Hollow beast within it. Rather, a Hollow beast has formed a symbiotic bond with you. In this way, you can absolutely use your Zanpakuto to create a world of order."

➤ Next: The Player — Heartbreak