Gremmy's invitation was direct and simple.
Unlike the "overconfident" character in the original storyline, this Gremmy had first entered Squad Eight's interior before taking action, browsing various intelligence.
Not only was his knowledge supplemented.
For Gremmy, what was most important was broadening his understanding of the world.
These Three Worlds weren't simply naturally formed things, but creations under the will of something greater, even god-like.
If normal people knew these things, perhaps they would only think "there are greater powers beyond us."
But Gremmy wasn't like that.
For this extraordinary, even mythical existence, this 'Visionary' with extraordinary power produced the idea of wanting to surpass 'him'.
After all, thinking carefully, wasn't Gremmy's ability to create and bring something from nothing itself a form of creation?
If the Soul King could do it, I have no reason why I can't.
Although it sounded so fantastical and impractical, just thinking about his own abilities gave Gremmy a strong impulse...
He couldn't analyze his own behavior, but even so, this didn't hinder his next actions.
Finding soil that would allow him to grow.
Stepping forward like this, slowly... towards the direction called Creator.
And such thoughts were precisely why Gremmy was standing here now.
Returning to the present, after hearing Gremmy's words and invitation...
Mayuri didn't immediately respond.
He seemed to give the proposal full respect, showing a thoughtful expression.
Gremmy's smile became increasingly teasing, as if seeing the other surrender and finally compromise with him, he slightly opened his mouth...
But before he could say half a word.
An extremely hoarse humming sound came from afar, crashing straight toward him.
Boom!!!
The black torrent completely engulfed Gremmy's figure until he completely disappeared in this surging flood...
"What~ That arrogant guy can also show such a miserable appearance? Heh, indeed living long enough means seeing interesting things."
A very passionate tone.
Permeating with a quality called 'madness', yet having a similar flamboyance to Mayuri.
As the smoke dissipated on one side of the laboratory and the high wall collapsed.
A fine-featured yet inhuman-looking man was taking calm and smug steps, slowly entering the laboratory.
"Mayuri, I never thought you'd have a time of looking up to others~"
With pink long hair, dressed in well-fitted clothes... having a uniqueness that stood out among the Soul Reapers around him, the man half-raised his right hand, supporting his face, revealing a highly mocking smile.
"I really want to interview you, now, about this feeling of yours..."
Szayelaporro Granz.
Originally Espada Eight.
After the Battle of Karakura Town, he was also incorporated into Seiya's Hōgyoku plan, thus becoming a 'resident Arrancar' in Soul Society.
Similar to several other 'colleagues', Szayelaporro's appearance in such a place was essentially a symbol of cooperation.
Szayelaporro moved together with Squad Twelve, and was also one of the experimental subjects mentioned by Mayuri.
Now facing Szayelaporro's mocking tone, Mayuri remained silent, continuously twisting his body.
His body, which had completely collapsed, now emitted a series of firecracker-like hums.
As if refreezing a melted popsicle and reshaping it, so exaggeratedly... Mayuri stood up again amid these jaw-dropping echoes, until returning to normal.
Ignoring the figure beside him, he just hummed, examining his limbs.
"I see."
"If attention is dispersed or redirected, the originally maintained thing loses its effect?"
"That's really, really... precious and valuable experimental data."
Isn't it?
Gremmy.
Silently floating beside the two, like a specter emerging from the shadows.
Gremmy floated in mid-air, his expression having become somewhat frozen at some point, far from being as casual and teasing as before.
"An Arrancar? Another rat appearing from who knows where."
"Seems like Soul Society is about the same, places harboring filth exist everywhere..."
"If you're rejecting this invitation just because of arrogance, Mayuri, I think you'll definitely regret it."
Gremmy opened his right hand flat.
Looking down at the Squad Twelve Captain from afar, he repeated his previous words once more.
"Last chance, Mayuri."
"I appreciate your ability, consider you qualified to be my aide."
"This is also an ultimatum, the so-called Buddha's smile only comes once... that's this situation."
Szayelaporro couldn't help but lightly snort, slightly closing his eyes, then straightening his glasses, as if urging the person beside him.
"Hey, Captain, what's your reply? He's very seriously recruiting you~"
"Shut up, you neither-male-nor-female stinking Arrancar."
"What..."
For Mayuri, the so-called answer?
That of course is...
No.
"You, I don't know whether to say you've read too many useless books, or your brain simply doesn't work well?"
Turning sideways, raising the Zanpakutō attached to his waist, grasping it in his hand.
Mayuri's expression was calm as he slightly spread the five fingers of his left hand, moving them to the end of the Zanpakutō...
Until grasping it completely, closing his hand.
Guh...
A deformed scream burst from the head at the end, accompanied by a spiritual pressure strong enough to turn heads, Mayuri's tone gradually elevated.
"Facing an enemy, yet wanting to hold back, recruit. This superior attitude is truly hateful... but I must say, your carelessness and complacency have indeed given me a perfectly timed opportunity."
Should be grateful.
Yet also quite dislikable.
As for what this guy said...
Creating life? Surpassing the Soul King?
That's simply like a black history.
For Mayuri, he seemed to see in Gremmy a certain extremely dislikable quality...
Similar to a former self who once presumptuously attempted to surpass everything and lord over all beings through the power of research?
"I abandoned such similar ideas more than a hundred years ago, hearing these words again now really makes me worry about your mental state."
Szayelaporro beside him chuckled in agreement.
"Technology without aesthetics and value is completely meaningless."
The Arrancar present made an almost identical movement to Mayuri, raising the long blade at his waist, his lips slightly curling upward.
Two statements filled with madness, now like mating pythons, tightly intertwined.
"Bankai: Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō."
"Sip, Fornicarás."
...
"Has everyone evacuated?!"
Akon was now sweating profusely with anxiety.
Because Squad Twelve's damage far exceeded imagination, even with the fastest emergency preparations and corresponding countermeasures...
Nearly a quarter of the squad members were still out of contact.
Losing contact in this situation essentially meant a way of expressing casualty... but Akon couldn't accept this reality.
From the establishment of the Department of Research and Development until now, Squad Twelve had never suffered such severe trauma.
Call it self-avoidance if you will, but now Akon was still continuously urging other squad members to quickly organize into small groups for rescue operations.
"Akon sir, oyster touch oyster!"
"Don't joke around, at a time like this..."
Words unfinished.
Because the steadily climbing spiritual pressure was like terrifying waves one after another, continuously washing over and battering the minds of everyone present.
As if something invisible yet terrifying was rapidly forming...
Forcing Akon to stop pursuing any further actions, turning to look at the position beside him.
There.
It was originally the territory belonging to Squad Twelve, also the headquarters of the Department of Research and Development.
Area coverage, internal facilities, research projects...
Although Nemu was the nominal lieutenant, the actual content and matters, even the personnel configuration, access, interview screening, etc...
Were all handled by Akon as the first-hand 'operator'.
He was Squad Twelve's golden deputy, and had similarly devoted his whole heart to this experimental place of Soul Society.
However.
At this moment.
He witnessed the Department of Research and Development being destroyed.
The expanding pink light ball, along with the accompanying cyan spiritual energy chaos, like a balloon breaking free from constraints, completely tore apart the entire laboratory...
"Akon sir, be careful!"
Someone nearby swiftly pulled Akon, who fell to the ground with a blank expression, his gaze never wavering.
The Department of Research and Development...
It, it it it... it's gone just like that?!
A feeling of loss like a lifetime's work going down the drain climbed up, making Akon's throat suddenly tighten, causing his breathing to become much more rapid.
And soon...
"Whoa! Akon sir is vomiting blood... someone come quickly!"
Standing on the 'ruins' of the Department of Research and Development.
The three parties now confronting each other all displayed different forms.
Mayuri, riding Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, was the most conspicuous, with the Bankai state Jizō transformed into something like a silkworm magnified countless times, now hovering in the air, looking ferocious and terrifying.
Szayelaporro on the other side had also released his blade, returning to his original state...
That should have been the case.
However, he now displayed an even more terrifying form.
The clothing and skin on his body merged, adhering, becoming a completely bonded substance.
Bright and vivid pink and red lines densely distributed on his body, twisting, forming a stark contrast with his pallid skin.
A flower-petal-like skirt device bloomed at his waist, yet simultaneously having texture and patterns like flesh... the extended 'tail' was slender and flamboyant, adorned with strange eye-like shapes.
Such a strange, even 'sensuous' appearance now made Gremmy unable to help but look several more times.
He clearly perceived something 'off'.
"This form of yours isn't your previous appearance, right?"
Squad Eight's archive was all-encompassing, and within it, the group called Arrancar was indeed recorded and browsed and recorded by Gremmy.
According to the described appearance and form within, Gremmy believed the current 'situation' differed greatly from the described content.
Szayelaporro slightly raised his eyebrows, showing a rather surprised expression.
His features trembled for a moment, then... squeezed out an expression similar to mockery.
"Unexpectedly, a small figure like me would actually be valued by a Sternritter gentleman... I feel deeply honored."
As for this appearance.
"I should thank the generous and selfless Lord Arima, without that lord's research and dedication, I would absolutely never have reached this stage."
"It's really quite emotional~ that someone would dedicate themselves to such an extent for a group of deficient beings like us..."
"Even someone as cold-blooded as me, just thinking about these things, can't help but feel a surge of tears~"
Despite these words.
Szayelaporro didn't show even a trace of sadness.
Instead, as he spoke, his tone gradually rose, until it became elevated.
"So even if it's very reluctant, I must repay that dedication."
Slightly opening his right hand, Szayelaporro's smile became somewhat 'dangerous'... like a snake's body coiling to prepare for an attack, flicking out its tongue.
This vivid 'attack posture' was exactly why Gremmy focused his gaze there.
"Are you going to attack me? Such foolish beings..."
When all they needed to do was submit, yet they chose such a thankless behavior.
Just some ant-like things after all.
Gremmy closed his eyes.
He raised his right hand, now lightly snapping his fingers.
In his mind appeared a scene of bones, flesh, skin... all turning into bloody water.
Imagination contacted reality, soon, the expected screams came from his ear.
Gremmy slowly opened his eyes, like a saint about to witness a tragic scene, revealing an expression close to regret.
However...
What he saw were two manic and teasing exaggerated faces.
Two beings of completely different origins, yet with similar personalities, were looking at him completely unharmed.
His ability, it seemed...
Hadn't taken effect?
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Powerstones?
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