"I do need your help."
Yoshio thought it over. Hollow White wasn't restraining itself at all—its reiatsu was flaring as it evolved.
The location was somewhat hidden, but if it kept broadcasting like this, it would eventually draw Hollows or Shinigami.
He wondered: if he experienced Cocoon Transformation and gained Souls Abilities, would it be like this for him too…
If too many Menos Grande or Shinigami were drawn in, he couldn't handle it alone—best to have Starrk stay.
Starrk nodded and, looking at Hollow White, asked, "What is this state?"
He'd never heard of a Hollow changing like this.
Hollow White was already strange—its spiritual pressure clearly indicated it was a Hollow, yet its combat style was very Shinigami-like, which was odd.
But transforming into this state was still beyond Starrk's understanding.
He could feel Hollow White's spiritual pressure increasing in both quality and quantity.
"Just like Menos Grande evolve from Gillian to Adjuchas to Vasto Lorde, White's evolution is even more diverse."
"Beyond those major leaps, he can also evolve within each tier. Each evolution massively enhances all his abilities."
Yoshio explained to Starrk, "If he keeps evolving, he might surpass you."
"Is that so…"
Hearing that White might surpass him, Starrk showed no displeasure. He simply asked, "How long will it take?"
"I'm not sure. We'll see." With that, Yoshio walked back to the cocoon to examine it closely.
Waves of spiritual power kept radiating from the white cocoon, each stronger than the last.
If he gained this ability in the future, and his own evolution caused the same phenomenon, he would need to find a secluded place to evolve.
Otherwise, wouldn't it be a public execution?
Not knowing how long it would take, Yoshio simply sat and continued telling stories to Lilynette.
Three days passed in a flash. Hollow White was still inside the cocoon, with no sign of hatching.
But the ruins were not peaceful—today Yoshio sensed a Shinigami's spiritual pressure.
Some weaker Hollows had appeared earlier, but Starrk's spiritual pressure scared them off. Now Shinigami were here; they wouldn't retreat easily.
Hollow White's reiatsu, combined with Starrk's—two overlapping signatures—might as well be a proclamation: an incredibly powerful Hollow is here.
If nothing else, that guy Zaraki Kenpachi would surely come.
"If I'm not mistaken, the one coming is the Eleventh Division's Captain, Zaraki Kenpachi—the guy with the eyepatch. Just stall him. Remember: absolutely do not truly fight him." Yoshio saw Starrk moving and hurriedly warned him.
"?" Starrk frowned. "What do you mean?"
Not fighting him for real—what did that mean?
"It's hard to explain in a few words. In short, Zaraki Kenpachi is weird, and fighting him brings no benefits."
Battling that guy only makes him stronger. Unless you can outmatch him after fully unleashing yourself, there's no point fighting him to the death.
Though puzzled, Starrk didn't press. With a single Sonido, he vanished from Yoshio's sight.
Yoshio needed to prepare as well.
No one could be allowed to recognize him.
After arriving in Hueco Mundo, he hadn't worn the Shinigami uniform; he'd changed into Hueco Mundo's future uniform: white trench coat, long pants, black boots.
But clothing alone wasn't enough. Not wearing a Shinigami uniform doesn't make you unrecognizable. If only.
Yoshio had Appearance Mimicry—he could transform into others at will, even muddle his spiritual pressure—and he had Hollowfication.
Either ability could help hide his identity.
His Hollowfication duration wasn't long yet, but in a pinch he could don the mask to hide.
Plus, the reiatsu permeating the ruins from Hollow White and Starrk would keep anyone from sensing his presence.
Unless he chose to reveal himself—inevitable, this time. He wouldn't just spectate.
After Starrk and Lilynette left, he leapt upward and looked down toward the Shinigami.
"Aren't those Ikkaku and Yumichika? Looks like they made it back."
From above, Yoshio could see clearly—he spotted Ikkaku Madarame and Ayasegawa Yumichika among the Eleventh Division.
But he hadn't seen Renji yet.
Which made Rukia in the squad look a bit worried.
"I need to find a way… to separate Rukia."
Curious about what this Dark Rukia was like, Yoshio focused more on her.
But even if Starrk could stall Captains Zaraki Kenpachi and Shiba Isshin, snatching Rukia from the remaining Shinigami would not be easy.
"Troublesome…"
Yoshio pondered whom to mimic with Appearance Mimicry.
There were conditions to trigger it: he had to have seen the target with his own eyes and even touched them—not something he could conjure from imagination.
Hmm…
He couldn't turn into a Seireitei Shinigami—people would quickly realize something was off.
Aizen, Ichimaru Gin, Tōsen Kaname were even less possible. Well… Aizen might not be completely impossible.
Aizen had Kyōka Suigetsu; he could re-trigger it and freely alter his own appearance.
They were all already under Kyōka Suigetsu's sway; using Aizen might be feasible.
But that would drain an absurd amount of reiatsu.
He'd have to maintain Appearance Mimicry while continuously sustaining Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion—his transformation time would be far too short.
So he could only think of people outside Seireitei—and the target had to be strong…
Baraggan?
Szayelaporro?
Nelliel?
Those three were formidable, Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande—more than capable of abducting Rukia.
Just as he was about to pick Baraggan, he stopped—because he suddenly had a more interesting idea.
"I'll borrow your name, 'Goddess of Flash'—Yoruichi…"
With a mischievous smile, he activated his ability: Appearance Mimicry.