"I didn't expect it..."
"You two went through so much trouble, setting everything up just to make me into a Hollowfication experiment subject—"
"But in the end... the power of the Hollow is mine to control."
Kuchiki Ginrei's voice was cold and steady, even with the Hollow Reiatsu raging inside him. His expression no longer reflected confusion or panic—only fierce pride.
"This is the difference between commoners and nobles."
"From the moment of birth, our paths are set."
"It's not about talent. Not about potential. And certainly not something as crude as a Zanpakutō could ever make up for."
"Let alone surpass."
Although he regretted not being able to borrow Tōsen Kaname's Bankai and reverse the situation, Ginrei's voice brimmed with confidence. He spoke like someone who held the upper hand, like someone who saw everything clearly.
"No matter how many schemes you lay... no matter how deep your trap..."
"You never expected that even before the Ten Thousand-Year Era, our Kuchiki clan had already begun conducting Hollowfication experiments. Though they were abandoned... the knowledge was never lost."
"Your birth limits your vision."
"Your bloodline limits your knowledge."
"But me?"
"My Zanpakutō... enhanced by Hollowfication..."
"I stand in a different dimension than you now."
He turned his gaze from Aiyan to Aizen, and back again.
"Understand, Aiyan Sōsuke?"
"Understand, Aizen Sōsuke?"
His voice was sharp, slicing through the Reiatsu-drenched air.
"I appreciate your generosity, truly. Telling me so much—revealing your intent. But you've already lost."
"Your arrogance gave me the time I needed. Your recklessness allowed me to fully integrate the Hollow's power."
He stood tall, a mix of regal poise and Hollow madness.
But then—Aiyan's expression shifted.
Not with surprise.
Not with fear.
But with a calm nod... as if everything had gone exactly as expected.
"You are... exactly the man we predicted, Captain Ginrei."
Aiyan's voice was low and confident, almost... satisfied.
"Able to suppress the Hollowfication... even adapt to it."
"You have our thanks."
Aizen stepped forward slightly, shaking his head gently.
"We weren't hoping for your defeat."
"We were observing."
"And now, we've gathered what we needed. You've helped us complete the final phase of our experiment."
"So thank you, Chief of the Kuchiki Clan."
Ginrei's eyes narrowed. A heavy tension pressed against his chest.
"What do you mean by that?"
He clenched his Zanpakutō.
"Are you trying to soothe your loss with empty words?"
"It's pointless. With my Hollow-enhanced Reiatsu, I'll crush you both."
But Aiyan didn't respond to the provocation.
Instead, he slowly reached for his Zanpakutō...
...then stopped.
"Captain Ginrei."
"There's just one more thing we need from you."
"One final step."
"Help us test the limits."
"We want to know—how far can a noble Shinigami go once Hollowfied?"
His tone didn't mock. It was deadly serious. Scientific. Cold.
To Ginrei, that was the most terrifying part.
This wasn't personal.
He was a subject, an experiment, a tool used to break through the Shinigami's limits.
"You... you let me Hollowfy... on purpose?"
Ginrei's voice shook, just slightly.
The realization hit like a thunderclap. His efforts to delay. To adapt. To stabilize. All of it...
Had been part of their plan.
They weren't caught off-guard.
They'd been observing the entire time.
And now...
They were ready to record the results.
Ginrei's skin crawled.
He felt like a cadaver under dissection—every cell analyzed, every action preordained.
Aiyan's hand hovered over his sword once more.
And then—
A voice echoed in his head.
[Your Kidō is dissatisfied.]
[You've neglected him lately, relying too much on Zanpakutō.]
[He wants to fight. In exchange, he offers you a brand-new Forbidden Kidō spell—designed just for you.]
Aiyan smiled faintly.
"A custom Forbidden Kidō, is it...?"
"How interesting."
He lowered his hand from his sword.
"Very well. You may dance tonight."
His spiritual eyes gleamed.
Unlike other Shinigami, whose Kidō was taught in rigid numbered systems—Hadō 1–99, Bakudō 1–99—Aiyan had gone beyond.
Even Yamamoto Genryūsai, the founder of Spiritual Arts Academy, had only chosen the most refined spells to form the numbered sequence taught across the Gotei 13.
But Aiyan's Kidō wasn't born from that legacy.
His power came from something deeper, wilder, and far more personal.
Kidō that was alive.
And tonight, it will sing.
Ginrei saw Aiyan reach for his sword... then stop.
He narrowed his eyes.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Aiyan smiled faintly.
"Nothing."
"I just changed my mind."
"Captain Ginrei, I don't think you're worthy of dying by my Zanpakutō."
"So I'll use Kidō to end your Hollowfication... and send you on your way."
Ginrei's Reiatsu trembled.
His Hollow aura flickered. "You arrogant little brat...!"
"Is this all to mock me?"
His fury surged.
"You dare...!"
"Aiyan SŌSUKE!!!"
He roared.
His hollowfied golden-yellow eyes burned with hatred.
He was the Captain of the 6th Division.
The man who had revived the glory of the Kuchiki Clan.
The wielder of Wanchuan Kaikai, the strongest flowing water Zanpakutō.
And yet this boy—this upstart—said he wasn't even worthy of being slain by his blade?
Under the swelling rage and unstable Hollowfication...
He snapped.
"All rivers converge—!"
His voice shook the walls.
Reiatsu exploded outward in every direction, forming a howling sea of spiritual energy that swallowed the entire Repentance Palace in an instant.
The waves were crashing, alive.
The building cracked.
The sky above howled.
And at the center of it all stood Kuchiki Ginrei, Hollow mask partially forming across his face, screaming in madness and fury.
...
Hey guys! Just a quick update—
I won't be able to upload any new chapters for the next 10 days due to some personal reasons. But don't worry, this is just a short break.
I've already uploaded 12 advanced chapters on my Patreon for those who want to stay ahead.
I honestly wanted to post more, but time was tight and I didn't want to rush and compromise the quality—so I focused on delivering the best I could.
If you'd like to support me and read ahead, feel free to check out my Patreon.
Regular uploads will resume from 7th July, just like before.
And yes—on that date, the One Piece fanfiction will officially begin as well!
Thanks again for all the love, support, comments, and power stones. You guys really motivate me to keep going.
patreon.com/Ren_Saga
—Author