Sarcophagus Stone Mine Laboratory.
Katori Sora and Sōsuke Aizen were conducting adaptive training for Shinigami with Hollowfication abilities.
Currently, there were two Shinigami who had successfully regained their sanity after using the vaccine and were suppressing their Hollow power with their willpower.
The vaccine's success was not an isolated case. As long as one's willpower was strong enough, they could suppress the Hollow power within. Therefore, Sora let Batsu'unsai choose for herself whether to replace her spiritual core with the Hollowfied Reigai's.
A bone-like mask formed on Matsuri Miyanouji's face, and the next moment, she instantly lost her reason.
Her consciousness had been pulled into her inner world to fight against her Hollow power.
"Hahahaha!!!"
The crazed Matsuri let out a strange laugh, slashing wildly at the air.
"Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis is really useful," Sora chuckled lightly.
The frenzied Matsuri had already been hypnotized by Aizen and was desperately attacking a non-existent enemy.
"Actively entering the 'Visored' state also greatly increases spiritual pressure, but you still lose your sanity."
Aizen recorded Matsuri's condition.
This power could not be sustained for long; the mask on her face would fall off before long. Therefore, they called this Shinigami Hollowfication 'Visored'.
"I hope she can tame the Hollow power within her this time. If she can maintain her sanity, the Visored form can be a trump card no less powerful than releasing a Zanpakutō."
Sora nodded.
As the two talked, clarity returned to Matsuri's eyes.
"Aaargh!!!"
Matsuri grabbed the mask on her face and forcefully tore it off.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
A trace of fear still lingered on her face.
As a Shinigami, she was terrified of possessing Hollow powers.
"Matsuri, there is no need to be afraid. You have already defeated it, haven't you?" Aizen showed a gentle smile. "You are very strong. I believe you can do it."
"Lieutenant Aizen!" Matsuri's expression gradually became firm. "Yes... there's nothing to be afraid of. I've already defeated it!"
"Matsuri, there is one more thing I need to tell you..."
Aizen said in a low voice, "Your Shinigami identification number has been erased..."
"What?"
Matsuri was shocked.
Having her number erased meant that a Shinigami had either retired or been killed in action.
But she was clearly alive and had not retired. How could her number have been erased?
"I'm sorry... I told you before that our experiment could not be disclosed."
Aizen's face was full of apology and regret. "Your injuries were examined by the 4th Division. Neither they nor the Technology Bureau could create a Reigai and replace your spiritual core in such a short time.
If you returned to the ranks, it would cause some trouble. Therefore, I reported that 'Matsuri Miyanouji's injuries were too severe, and she passed away in the 5th Division's medical ward'."
"So that's how it is. It's alright. I'm already lucky to be alive!" Matsuri was saddened by the loss of her identity but still nodded. "I can't cause trouble for Lieutenant Aizen... or Captain Katori!"
"I'm glad you understand," Aizen showed his gentle smile again. "Don't worry. you've already seen my Zanpakutō's ability. I can give you a new identity and let you return to the light."
"Thank you! To receive the help of Lieutenant Aizen... and Captain Katori is truly a blessing!"
Matsuri was very moved that he had thought so much for her.
As expected of Lieutenant Aizen!
His kindness was famous in the 5th Division!
"You should rest well for now. A battle of wills must be very draining," Aizen nodded slightly.
Sora and Aizen left the laboratory room.
"She trusts you quite a lot," Sora said with a smile.
"This laboratory has too many things that cannot be shown to the outside world," Aizen sighed softly. "If those people in the Central 46 knew what we were researching, I'm afraid there would be no place for us in the Soul Society!"
The lab contained many Soul King fragments, something that absolutely could not be leaked.
And the Hollowfication vaccine Aizen had developed was a byproduct of studying them.
If the outside world found out, it would probably cause a huge shock throughout the Soul Society.
"Batsu'unsai has decided to replace her spiritual core. I need a dose of the vaccine," Sora said.
"Grandmaster is a first-generation captain, after all. She doesn't shy away from a challenge!" Aizen's face showed admiration.
After the two arrived in another laboratory, Aizen prepared a dose of the vaccine.
"The efficiency of the separator is not high. Fortunately, preparing one dose doesn't require much 'Soul King's Power'."
Sora took the vaccine from Aizen.
The main ingredient was a trace amount of Soul King's Power extracted from a fragment.
It could slow the spread of Hollowfication, buying the Shinigami more time to fight back against the Hollow power.
"This is the effect after six revisions," Aizen said helplessly. "Separating the 'Soul King's Power' is just too difficult. However, the biggest problem in the 'Hōgyoku Project' can be considered solved..."
The name 'Hōgyoku Project' was given by Sora. It was about researching how to surpass the limits of a Shinigami.
The biggest obstacle they had faced before was separating the 'Soul King's Power' from the fragments.
The appearance of a Hollowfied Shinigami proved that the 'Soul King's Power' indeed had the potential to allow a Shinigami to break through their own limits.
"The separator still needs to be iterated further. Otherwise, it will take decades just to separate the fragments we got from the Tsunayashiro clan," Sora said.
"That is my main project for the near future," Aizen paused and continued, "Professor, I plan to apply for the captain's proficiency test."
"It seems Shinji has put a lot of pressure on you, for you to make a move..." Sora nodded. "I will recommend you to the Head Captain."
"The Professor doesn't seem surprised at all that I've mastered Bankai!"
Aizen raised an eyebrow.
"Among all my disciples, your talent is the best. Learning Bankai is probably as simple as drinking water for you," Sora chuckled. "I know you don't want to attract too much attention. You probably mastered Bankai long ago and deliberately waited until Kana and Kensei had also mastered it before revealing it."
His disciples had also grown a lot over the years. Kana Azashiro and Kensei Muguruma had even mastered Bankai and were applying for their captain's tests.
Shinji Hirako had actually completed the materialization of his Zanpakutō even earlier than Kensei, but his Zanpakutō had a rebellious personality and had not submitted to him or told him its Bankai's true name.
Shinji did not have a 'Tenshintai' and could not use it to forcibly summon his Zanpakutō's spirit to fight it.
"You praise me too much, Professor. I'm just a little bit more diligent."
Aizen humbly made a "tiny bit" gesture with his fingers.
He had indeed learned Bankai long ago. He hadn't revealed it because he didn't want to attract too much attention.
Anyway, in the 5th Division, he was no different from a captain.
However, Shinji Hirako was also close to completing his Bankai training.
Aizen did not want to lose control of the 5th Division, which he had managed for many years. He needed to complete his captain's test before Shinji did.
...
Several days later, Sora brought Batsu'unsai to the Sarcophagus Stone Mine laboratory.
"Although I've heard you talk about it many times, this is my first time in this lab."
Batsu'unsai began to look around as soon as she entered, showing no concern for the upcoming challenge.
"You've never been interested in these things," Sora said.
"You need to use your brain for this kind of research... it doesn't suit me."
Batsu'unsai's self-awareness was very clear. She was fine with cutting people down, but thinking was not for her.
"Follow me. Rii is on leave today. She will be assisting me with the spiritual core replacement surgery."
Sora walked towards the Reigai laboratory.
"Rii is your right-hand woman now. I remember when she was at the academy, she almost couldn't graduate."
Batsu'unsai remarked.
"Rii has also worked very hard over the years."
Sora nodded gently.
When the two arrived at the lab, Rii Hoshino had already prepared the surgical environment.
"Professor, Grandmaster!"
"I'll be in your hands later, Rii!"
"Please rest assured, Grandmaster. The Professor has guided me through this surgery several times. I have a lot of experience."
"Let's begin."
Batsu'unsai lay on the operating table and quickly fell asleep under the effect of the powerful anesthetic.
A moment later—
Sora and Rii completed the surgery, replacing Batsu'unsai's spiritual core with the Hollowfied Reigai's.
As Sora had expected, the Hollow power in her body reacted quickly. He immediately injected the vaccine into her artery.
"Aaargh!!!"
A multi-layered roar came from Batsu'unsai's mouth, and her spiritual pressure surged rapidly.
The terrifying spiritual pressure swept out, throwing all the equipment in the operating room against the walls.
Sora stood in front of Rii, shielding her from the turbulent spiritual pressure.
The power of Batsu'unsai's spiritual pressure burst was far greater than Matsuri Miyanouji's.
At that moment, Rii felt the terror of the first-generation captain of the 8th Division.
Even with her professor shielding her, she could still feel the terrifying pressure.
Her spiritual sense was screaming warnings, throwing her thoughts into chaos.
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"You go out first. Close the door properly."
Sora noticed his disciple's change and ordered.
The walls and door of the operating room were made of Sarcophagus Stone, which could isolate the turbulent spiritual pressure inside.
Rii was not a combatant, so he had never subjected her to spiritual pressure training.
She was completely unable to withstand this pressure, which could render most seated officer-level Shinigami combat-ineffective.
"Okay, please be careful, Professor!"
Rii quickly left the room.
The next moment, a shadow spread from under Sora's feet, pulling him and Batsu'unsai into the shadow space.
A fierce battle was likely to follow.
Until Batsu'unsai defeated the Hollow power in her inner world, she would be in a chaotic state of lost reason.
He needed to deal with her indiscriminate attacks for a while.
...
Inside Batsu'unsai's inner world.
"It seems you are the 'Hollow power'."
Batsu'unsai looked at the figure in front of her, which looked exactly like her, only with different colors.
"That's right."
The white Batsu'unsai's voice had a multi-layered echo.
"Then let's fight!"
Batsu'unsai's face was filled with a surging fighting spirit. It had been a long time since she had had a good fight.
"CLANG—!!!"
The two blades clashed.
...
Crack—
Crack, crackle—
The Sarcophagus Stone shackles binding Batsu'unsai's hands and feet were directly torn apart by her immense strength.
At this moment, her body was covered in a ferocious bone-like shell, looking no different from a humanoid Hollow.
Sora raised his hand, and several shadows coiled out, locking onto the Hollowfied Batsu'unsai's body.
Thump—
A muffled drum-like sound, and she vanished.
The next moment, she appeared above Sora's head.
Sora sank into his shadow, dodging her attack.
"Sonído..."
With a thought, Sora realized that Batsu'unsai hadn't used Shunpo just now, but a Hollow's Sonído.
It was a form of spatial teleportation and could directly break free from restraints.
After losing her target, a black-red light gathered within her bone mask.
A terrifying flash, with power far exceeding that of an Adjuchas-class Menos's Cero, struck the black wall of the shadow space.
BOOM—!!!
Cracks soon appeared in the shadow space.
"I have to interrupt her..."
Although the shadow space could be repaired with spiritual pressure, letting a Cero get outside would destroy the things in the lab.
Although his opponent was Batsu'unsai, Sora was no longer the same as before.
The Hollowfied Batsu'unsai only had a Hollow's instincts and could not use her Zanpakutō's abilities or her swordsmanship. Sora could handle her with ease.
A figure wreathed in golden lightning rose suddenly from the shadows.
Boom—
Sora directly cut the Cero in two.
"ROAR!!!"
The Hollowfied Batsu'unsai spotted a living being and immediately lunged at him.
Sora vanished in an instant, and she hit empty air.
Then, the two figures flickered rapidly in the air.
With the superposition of multiple states, Sora's speed was already the fastest in the Seireitei, even faster than a Menos's Sonído!
The Hollowfied Batsu'unsai's attacks all missed.
Sora didn't want to harm her, so he just kept her busy with his speed.
A moment later, clarity gradually returned to Batsu'unsai's eyes, and the bone-like shell on her body quickly fell off.
"She's awake?"
Sora used Shunpo to appear in front of her, catching her as she temporarily lost her strength and fell from the air.
"I won," Batsu'unsai panted slightly. "It's been a long time since I've practiced. My swordsmanship has gotten a bit rusty!"
Batsu'unsai was afraid of hurting Sora while she was in a chaotic state and had been in a hurry to get out, which had given the Hollow power some opportunities and dragged things out.
Feeling the gradually replenishing spiritual pressure in her body, her spirits lifted.
"Sora, thank you," Batsu'unsai knew that Sora had spent a lot of thought and tried various methods to solve her spiritual core problem.
Now, her wish was finally fulfilled.
"There's no need for that between us," Sora said with a light laugh.
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