"My King, will eating this really make me stronger?"
Inside Laboratory No. 1, a massive white python several meters long lay coiled on the floor. She stared blankly at the object in front of her, her face full of bewilderment.
"Stop talking and hurry up and eat it."
Holding a clump of sticky, gelatinous substance, Naraku Sora forcefully pried open the python Menos's mouth and shoved it right in.
"Mmph, mmph."
The python Menos, named Sung-Sun, immediately let out muffled, incomprehensible sounds. After a bout of violent struggling, she barely managed to swallow it down.
Unlike Tier Harribel, who spent her days agonizing over her internal conflicts.
After becoming a captive, Sung-Sun spent a period of time on edge, only to suddenly realize that the Soul Reaper who ruled Las Noches didn't seem to harbor any malicious intent.
Moreover, the Adjuchas living here didn't seem to be subjected to any unequal treatment.
Gradually, she began to let herself go.
To be honest, coming to Las Noches felt like returning to a long-lost home. Being here was much better than wandering around outside.
Not only did she no longer have to worry all day about potential dangers, but there were also no Menos Grandes constantly trying to attack them.
Furthermore, everyone in Las Noches was talented and spoke nicely. It wasn't just her; even Apacci and Mila Rose really liked it here.
The only thing that made a Hollow slightly displeased was...
That Arrancar Menos named Szayelaporro Grantz, who stared at them all day with a bizarre gaze, as if he were admiring some kind of treasure.
Aside from him, there was also that Adjuchas named Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
Acting as if he had some sort of hyperactivity disorder, he spent all day either challenging this person or fighting that one.
Fortunately, her strength was relatively weaker, so Grimmjow completely looked down on her and hadn't come to challenge her even once.
Although she was happy to enjoy the peace and quiet, the feeling of being underestimated was still quite irritating.
All in all, life in Las Noches was wonderful. Even Lord Naraku, the new King of Hueco Mundo, didn't put on any airs, making him very pleasant to get along with.
And today, at Naraku Sora's behest, she had come to this laboratory for the very first time.
Then, under someone's coaxing, she was forced to eat that sticky, unknown substance. In short, it felt terrible.
It wasn't palatable in the slightest.
However, in order to become stronger, sacrificing a little something was acceptable.
Perhaps after the experiment was completed, it might even reassure Lady Harribel enough to stay peacefully in Las Noches.
Thinking of this, Sung-Sun coiled up in place with peace of mind, quietly waiting for the changes to occur.
"Sōsuke, how is it?"
After completing the task, Naraku Sora leaned in next to Aizen, trying to understand the data constantly scrolling across the screen.
After a few seconds, he decisively gave up.
It was all technical jargon, practically like reading hieroglyphics. Looking at it too much made his brain itch.
Aizen glanced at him calmly, then returned his attention to the screen, analyzing the changes in the data.
"The plan Szayelaporro provided is useful, but it also has flaws."
"Both he and Baraggan are Vasto Lordes. Whether in terms of Reiatsu levels or physical strength, they are vastly superior to Adjuchas, which is why they could complete the Arrancarification."
"Furthermore, it is highly specialized. If we were to use it, it would take far too much time."
"Therefore, I made some improvements."
Naraku Sora revealed an expression of admiration, followed by a series of meaningless applause.
"As expected of my adopted son, you already possess half of my wisdom."
Aizen took a deep breath, suppressing his spiking blood pressure.
This guy's way of insulting people was getting dirtier and dirtier.
Once the Hōgyoku was completely finished, he would be the very first test subject.
Ignoring a certain someone, Aizen focused all his attention on the operation before him.
He had seen many Arrancars and researched numerous Menos Grandes.
But creating an Arrancar through external forces was a first.
Although he was ninety percent confident, it still didn't feel entirely secure.
Fortunately, the Adjuchas named Sung-Sun was relatively weak. Even if the experiment failed, he could forcibly save her.
Soon, Sung-Sun sensed a trace of anomaly.
Despite being in the form of a cold-blooded animal, her thick body actually began to emit a faint heat, and her Reiatsu started to grow slowly and uncontrollably.
Aizen, who was recording the data fluctuations, seemed to notice something and lifted his gaze to look at her.
Calm and indifferent, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.
It was as if he were observing a lab rat.
Sung-Sun instinctively prepared to turn and flee, but at the critical moment, she remembered her current situation and forcefully halted her restless body.
Only the small tip of her white tail remained raised high, trembling like crazy.
The frequency was so fast it rivaled a Western diamondback rattlesnake.
As an Adjuchas, evolving and becoming stronger was one of the few goals in a Hollow's life.
Although she was usually a bit of a slacker, she still harbored a dream of becoming stronger.
Now that the opportunity was right in front of her, even if there were certain risks, even if she had to endure unbearable pain, she had to give it her all.
Following Aizen's operation, the laboratory floor split open. A device resembling a railgun slowly rose from below, its laser muzzle instantly locking onto the white serpent coiled in front of it.
Sung-Sun's pupils shrank. Just as she was about to say something, a beam of light shot out and landed squarely on her body.
The next second.
Intense agony instantly swept through her entire body, as if countless ants and insects were biting at her flesh, as if blades were repeatedly grinding against her bones.
Sung-Sun uncontrollably curled up her body. The white serpent continuously twisted into various bizarre shapes, the bone-deep pain causing her to let out desperate wails of agony.
Aizen calmly watched the scene unfold before him, completely devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
It was merely a necessary process on the path of evolution.
To gain immense power, one had to sacrifice something.
The tragic scene lasted for several minutes. The white serpent was twisted almost like a pretzel, nearly tying herself into a dead knot.
Just as she reached the brink of death, an unprecedented power continuously surged from within her body.
Her Reiatsu skyrocketed!
Materialized light bloomed from within. Her thick, serpentine body visibly shrank, and dense cracks appeared on her bone-like mask.
*Crack!*
The moment the shattering sound echoed, a completely reborn Sung-Sun appeared in the center of the laboratory.
Long dark green hair, a slender physique, and a mask resembling a hair ornament adorned among her locks. Her surging Reiatsu violently rippled, distorting the surrounding air.
Sung-Sun subconsciously raised her fair arm, somewhat clumsily touching her cheek, experiencing a wondrous sensation she had never felt before.
Even though it had been explained to her prior to the experiment.
And there were already successful examples in Las Noches.
But when this miraculous event actually happened to her, Sung-Sun still found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Lord Naraku, I feel like I'm absolutely invincible right now."
Controlling her Reiatsu, which had multiplied several times over, Sung-Sun grinned happily, inevitably falling into a state of inflated ego.
"Now, even Grimmjow is no match for me!"
"Oh, are you that strong?"
Naraku Sora raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
"Within normal parameters."
Aizen explained while meticulously recording the parameters of the changes in Sung-Sun's body:
"Arrancarification is inherently a process of metamorphosis, enough to completely renew a Menos Grande."
"However, the fact that she only dares to provoke Grimmjow is somewhat surprising to me."
"After becoming an Arrancar, shouldn't she be benchmarking herself against the Vasto Lordes?"
"But since she has already said so, let's test her true strength post-Arrancarification."
Saying that, Aizen finished recording the basic data and walked toward the exit of the laboratory.
Sung-Sun stood frozen in place, unable to react for a moment.
Soon, inside an empty and spacious palace, a bewildered Grimmjow looked at his opponent across from him.
*A human appearance, a Hollow's Reiatsu, and a familiar aura.*
*Who is this person?*
"Sung-Sun, no need to hold back. Use your full strength."
Hearing Aizen's command, Sung-Sun was taken aback for a moment, but then a very subtle smile appeared on her face.
Previously, that guy Grimmjow had despised her for being too weak and never came to challenge her.
This time, she would let this guy witness her power.
Just as Grimmjow was feeling confused, Sung-Sun drew the long sword at her waist. Driven by instinct, she erupted with materialized Reiatsu.
A pink radiance instantly unfolded, and a fierce storm rose from the ground.
"Strangle to death, Shirakebi!"
Under Grimmjow's astonished gaze, Sung-Sun, who was originally in human form, had her lower half transform into a thick, long snake tail. Her already powerful Reiatsu surged significantly higher once again.
"Arrancar, Resurrección?"
Because he frequently challenged other Menos Grandes, Grimmjow was very familiar with this form.
Every single time, it ended in his crushing defeat.
He never expected that the weak white snake he used to look down upon would suddenly become so powerful.
For a moment, a yearning for Arrancarification welled up in Grimmjow's heart.
He still remembered the promise Naraku Sora had made after beating him up one time: it wouldn't be long before Las Noches entered an era of comprehensive Arrancarification.
Looking at it now, it truly wasn't empty talk.
As expected, compared to Baraggan, who had made zero contributions to Hueco Mundo, Naraku Sora was the true King who would change Hueco Mundo!
Grimmjow took a deep breath, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.
*Let me test the true measure of an Arrancar.*
His slender body crouched low and arched slightly, Reiatsu wrapping around him. Accompanied by a low roar, a streak of light swept across the ground, charging straight ahead.
The azure-glowing claws of the Panther King tore through the air without the slightest hesitation, swiping directly toward Sung-Sun's neck.
*Clang—*
The sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the empty palace. The overwhelming Reiatsu instantly suppressed Grimmjow.
Accompanied by a surging monstrous force, his streamlined body was sent flying backward uncontrollably, crashing into a stone pillar behind him and shaking loose a shower of dust.
Feeling the intense pain radiating from his body, a look of disbelief flashed in Grimmjow's eyes.
The enhancement Arrancarification provided to a Menos Grande was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
No wonder no matter how hard he tried, he could never defeat those Arrancar Menos in Las Noches.
Compared to his current state, Szayelaporro and the others seemed to exist on a higher dimension.
But surrendering was absolutely impossible.
Even if he was outmatched, he would fight to the very last moment.
Enjoying the thrill of slaughter was inherently one of his goals in his Hollow life.
With a low roar, Grimmjow charged at Sung-Sun once again.
A fierce battle erupted once more.
Aizen watched the scene before him with a joyful mood, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
The success of the Arrancarification experiment meant that the direction was correct.
Now, he only needed to proceed step by step, and sooner or later, the Hōgyoku would be completely finished.
When that time came, overwhelming stats would no longer be a certain someone's exclusive monopoly.
As if picturing certain scenes, a gleam of anticipation flashed in Aizen's eyes.