At that mont, Nelliel pouted and silently watched Masatsuki Aozaki from behind.
After seeing Cirucci off, Masatsuki Aozaki turned around—only to catch a glimpse of a green blur flashing past.
In the next instant, Nelliel shot forward with astonishing speed, leaving behind a clear afterimage before slamming straight into Masatsuki Aozaki's arms...
A loud crash echoed through the room!
Masatsuki Aozaki was sent flying.
"Masatsuki, you're too an!"
A soft, sulky voice rang out as Nelliel, her head still adorned with her goat-like mask, nuzzled against Masatsuki Aozaki's chest and whined playfully.
She was so adorable that it nearly made his heart lt.
"Nell, get up first..."
Masatsuki Aozaki had been knocked back several ters, but to avoid wrecking Aizen's carefully designed laboratory, he used just enough strength to steady himself.
Of course, Nelliel hadn't reverted to her child form.
And "Nell" was simply Masatsuki Aozaki's personal nickna for her—a na she absolutely adored.
"No way! Not until you pet my head!"
Nelliel clung tightly to Masatsuki Aozaki's waist, refusing to let go.
Masatsuki Aozaki could only sigh in exasperation.
Faced with such an adorable demand, how could he possibly say no?
With no other choice, he reached out and gently stroked her hair, savoring the silky smoothness beneath his fingertips.
Nelliel closed her eyes in pure bliss, letting out a soft hum, as if this was the most wonderful thing in the world.
Despite looking every bit like a mature woman, she was acting like a spoiled child—this kind of contrast was undeniably charming.
Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but smile at her.
Back when they first t, Nelliel had stood fearless against the Arrancar army, and without the events of the original story that turned her into a child, Masatsuki Aozaki had assud she would be a cold and dignified figure.
But after spending ti with her, he realized that she was basically an enlarged version of "Little Nell" from the original story.
Composed and dependable in battle, yet affectionate and clingy in private.
It only proved that a person's true nature rarely changes.
Looking at Nelliel's radiant smile, Masatsuki Aozaki's expression unconsciously softened.
In truth, it wasn't Nelliel who usually assisted him with the Arrancar experints—it was Sung-Sun.
If Nelliel were involved, nothing would ever get done.
She was responsible for the defense of Las Noches, but since she happened to be free today and wanted to spend ti with Masatsuki Aozaki, he had brought her along.
Thinking of this, Masatsuki Aozaki suddenly asked,
"Have those two been found?"
"Those two?"
Nelliel tilted her head.
"The two Arrancars who don't belong to Las Noches," Masatsuki Aozaki reminded her.
"Oh, them... We've launched a thorough search across Hueco Mundo and have found so clues," Nelliel said, wrapping her arms around Masatsuki Aozaki's neck. "But... are you sure they even exist? Hollows evolving into Arrancars purely through their own power?"
"You don't believe ?"
"Of course not! I trust Masatsuki the most!" Nelliel shook her head. "I'll have my people keep searching."
...
In the Captain-Commander's office within Soul Society, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
One of the most powerful Shinigami in Soul Society's history sat in his chair, his hawk-like eyes fixed on the man standing before him.
Sōsuke Aizen stood silently, his expression serious, his presence carrying a heavy weight.
After a long silence, Yamamoto finally spoke, his voice low and commanding.
"Speak. What exactly happened?"
Aizen nodded slightly, adjusting his glasses with a light push to the bridge of his nose. Taking a deep breath, he responded in a solemn tone.
"I have investigated the recent disappearances of Shinigami..."
Yamamoto's sharp gaze never left Aizen.
"According to my findings, there is a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow in Hueco Mundo nad Szayelaporro."
"He is a mad scientist and also the chief researcher of Las Noches."
Aizen's voice carried a certain weight, as if wary of this scientist.
"In order to realize his deranged experints, he captures all kinds of spiritual beings as test subjects."
"Because of this, the Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living have also beco his targets."
Yamamoto's brows furrowed even deeper at Aizen's words.
Stroking his long beard, he seed to recall sothing. After a brief mont of contemplation, he asked in a deep voice,
"The Shinigami Research and Developnt Institute detected an imbalance in Hueco Mundo's soul count. Is this also caused by Szayelaporro's experints?"
Aizen nodded.
"I can't give a definitive answer, but your assessnt is most likely correct," he affird.
"From what I've gathered, before targeting Shinigami, he was already using Adjuchas as research material."
At these words, silence briefly settled between them.
"What about Captain Kuchiki? He was sent to the World of the Living to assist you—why can't I contact him?"
"Where is he now? Why didn't he return with you?"
Yamamoto's brows knitted together.
Aizen shook his head, his expression showing a trace of helplessness.
"Well... truth be told, I don't know where Captain Kuchiki is either."
"That Hollow, Szayelaporro, was terrifyingly powerful. It took both Captain Kuchiki and working together just to barely defeat him."
Aizen paused for a mont before continuing,
"However, after we killed Szayelaporro, we encountered another Hollow—a skeletal one."
"It was even stronger, and it seed to have so connection to Szayelaporro. I heard Szayelaporro address him as 'Your Majesty' before he died."
"Faced with such a formidable enemy, Captain Kuchiki and I fought with everything we had, yet we still couldn't hold our ground. We barely managed to escape."
"After that battle, I lost contact with him."
Yamamoto's face darkened upon hearing this.
With nearly three thousand years of experience, he had led multiple expeditions into Hueco Mundo. He understood the territory and its threats well.
Hearing Aizen's description of the skeletal Hollow, his heart sank.
That sounded exactly like Baraggan, the self-proclaid king of Hueco Mundo.
He recalled his younger years, when he had fought another nos at the sa ti as Baraggan.
Even then, despite giving it his all, he had ultimately lost.
It was only after the Zero Division sealed that nos away that the crisis threatening Seireitei had finally ended.
If Baraggan had once shared power with that Hollow, then it was clear he was no ordinary opponent.
With both Kōga Kuchiki and Sōsuke Aizen—two Third-Class Spiritual Power captains—facing him, escaping would have been an almost impossible feat.
Based on what Yamamoto knew, Aizen likely stood no chance in a direct fight against him.
As for Kōga Kuchiki...
That man was infamous for excelling in internal conflicts but failing in external ones.
Muramasa's abilities were formidable when used against fellow Shinigami.
But against Hollows? His most crucial techniques would be useless, leaving only a handful of Kidō spells as his last resort.
Against Baraggan, he was as good as dead.
Yamamoto let out a long sigh.
If Kōga Kuchiki had perished, it was certainly a loss.
Despite everything, he had been a talented young Shinigami.
But more than that, Yamamoto felt concern for his old friend, who might now face the pain of losing a son-in-law.
At their age, enduring such a tragedy—burying the younger generation—was a cruel fate.
Thinking of this, Yamamoto couldn't help but be reminded of his own disciple.
Fortunately, that troubleso brat, despite always causing chaos, was strong enough and had fists hard enough to back it up.
Otherwise, with his knack for attracting trouble, Yamamoto might have been the one mourning a loss instead.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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