Moving at high speed in his light form, Masatsuki Aozaki quickly arrived at the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
He stepped into the deputy director's private underground laboratory, a space protected by multiple layers of barriers—much like the Aozaki family's underground research facility.
As soon as he entered, Masatsuki was met with the dazzling sight of Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
The man was clad in an oversized, glowing suit.
The brightness was almost blinding!
It only took Masatsuki a moment to understand why.
This was likely Mayuri's countermeasure against the Wandenreich's Schatten Bereich.
Narrowing his eyes, Masatsuki strode forward into the lab.
"Oh my, if it isn't Captain Masatsuki!"
Mayuri looked up, cast a glance at Masatsuki, and let out his signature eerie laugh.
Then, without missing a beat, he returned to rummaging through his workstation, muttering to himself.
"You've come at just the right time."
"I've successfully developed the technology to counteract Medalize from stealing Bankai."
With that, Mayuri picked up a pill-like object from the lab bench and casually tossed it onto the table.
"As long as you keep this on you and let any part of your body come into contact with it, a Shinigami will be able to absorb a small amount of Hollow power."
"Since a Shinigami's Zanpakutō resonates with their soul, once they take in Hollow power, their Bankai will also undergo slight Hollowfication."
"In other words, if a Quincy tries to use Medalize, it's like consuming a poisoned Bankai—the stolen ability may become ineffective."
Masatsuki nodded, saying nothing as he pocketed the pill.
At this point, he no longer wielded a traditional Zanpakutō—its abilities were fully integrated into his being, manifesting at will.
He had little reason to worry about a Quincy stealing his Bankai.
As the saying goes—if there's no target, there's nothing to take.
Besides, leaving Zanpakutō aside, his evolution had long surpassed conventional limits.
He had once relied on the Hōgyoku's power to achieve self-evolution.
With each new stage of growth, his fusion with the Hōgyoku had deepened until the two had nearly become one.
The Hōgyoku still retained its form, but its essence had shifted—it had become something akin to a part of his body.
In a sense, it was now more like an organ than an external object.
And considering that the Hōgyoku had been created using Hollow souls, it naturally possessed Hollow power.
Masatsuki hadn't turned into a monster.
But this Hollow power had undoubtedly become a fundamental part of his strength.
With Hollow energy already within him, he had no concerns about Medalize stealing his Bankai.
That said, even if he didn't need the pill, others could certainly benefit from it.
For instance—someone like old man Yamamoto, who would never accept Hollowfication no matter the circumstances.
If he even mentioned the concept to him, he'd probably get an earful of "beautifully crafted" reprimands.
So why not just hand him a pill and spare himself the trouble?
"Does this thing have a name?"
"No," Mayuri Kurotsuchi shook his head.
"Then let's call it the Shin'eiyaku."
"Suit yourself," Mayuri scoffed before cutting straight to the point. "Did you bring what I asked for?"
Masatsuki Aozaki reached into his coat and pulled out several slender glass tubes, each about the thickness of a pinky finger.
Inside, a red liquid sloshed gently, carrying a faint metallic scent.
He gave one of the tubes a light flick with his finger, causing the liquid to ripple before saying,
"This one's from Candice, and this one's from Bambietta."
With that, he extended both hands, offering the two test tubes.
Mayuri's expression shifted instantly. His eyes gleamed with greed and excitement as he carefully took the tubes, handling them as if they were the most precious treasures in the world.
After all, this was still-active, pure Quincy blood!
Compared to the corpse of Cang Du lying on the laboratory bench, these fresh samples were infinitely more valuable.
Mayuri had yet to develop a perfect method for preserving the spirits of the dead.
Back when he was researching Auswählen, he had prematurely killed Cang Du before completing the live experiment.
As a captain-class Quincy, Cang Du's spirit body didn't dissipate naturally, but it had long since lost its vitality.
To Mayuri, a corpse in such a state was far less valuable for research. A regrettable waste.
Next to Cang Du's lifeless body sat a transparent glass container.
Inside, a glowing mass of blue-white energy thrashed violently against the walls of its confinement.
The essence of life—the soul.
Due to Mayuri's deliberate interference, Cang Du's soul had been prevented from returning to Yhwach.
As a human, Cang Du had technically died centuries ago.
It was only through Yhwach's power that he had remained a spirit all this time.
So, now that he had died again, his soul had not reformed into a new spiritual body. Instead, it had manifested in its raw, essential form.
Masatsuki Aozaki tapped a finger against the glass, curiosity lacing his tone.
"How's it coming along?"
Mayuri smirked with evident pride.
"No need to rush. I've already got a lead."
After all, this was a monumental experiment, and his rival in the field was none other than the progenitor of the Quincy.
That thought alone made his work all the more exhilarating.
Masatsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what about the Schatten Bereich?"
Mayuri shrugged, looking somewhat helpless.
"Haven't cracked the new security layer yet, but my advice? Be careful in the coming days."
Then, he let out a strange, eerie laugh.
Masatsuki frowned slightly.
"Hm?"
Mayuri lifted his gaze, his expression deep and meaningful.
"Based on my observations, the Wandenreich's Schatten Bereich has been unusually active lately."
"And if I recall correctly, someone has quite the history with them."
"Wouldn't be surprised if they come knocking on your door soon."
Masatsuki looked at Mayuri and finally understood why he was dressed like a walking lighthouse.
So this was all to keep himself from getting snatched from the shadows.
"Tch, as if they'd dare."
Masatsuki sneered, completely unfazed.
Last time he had entered the Wandenreich, he had carved his way out single-handedly.
And now?
He had ascended even further.
His strength had grown far beyond what it was during his last invasion.
What was there to be afraid of?
Unless Yhwach resurrected on the spot and reclaimed The Almighty—
In which case, sure, he'd grab his wifes and make a tactical retreat.
But if that wasn't happening?
Then let them come.
"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving. I promised Aura I'd help her with something."
With that, Masatsuki turned and departed.
His figure flickered, growing hazy like a passing breeze—
Then, in an instant, he vanished without a trace.
...
"Hm… so this is the Central Underground Great Prison."
In a void-like world where nothing seemed to exist, a faint light slowly emerged.
Masatsuki Aozaki's figure materialized within the glow.
It had been a long time since he last wore his black cloak, but now he had donned it once again.
Not to conceal his Reiatsu—just to obscure his appearance.
At this moment, he stood in a very peculiar place.
Beneath the 1st Division barracks, in the deepest level of the Central Underground Great Prison—
The eighth layer.
Muken.
A realm of mystery and eerie silence.
Here, there was no up or down, no concept of gravity, and even the darkness itself was indistinct.
Only endless stillness.
This, Masatsuki thought, was the perfect place to solve Aura Michibane's problem.
Any criminal with Reiatsu classified as Third Rank Spiritual Power or higher was imprisoned within this eight-layer underground prison.
The souls here weren't just abundant.
They were of exceptional quality.
He had to admit—This place was a goldmine for collecting experimental materials.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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