Four days later, Hueco Mundo.
Kaname walked out of the Garganta and came all the way to the conference room deep within Hueco Mundo.
A huge table was placed in the room, and at this moment, ten figures were already seated around it.
Kaname came to the chair in the back, but instead of sitting down, he stood beside it and looked down.
"Has there been any anomaly in the past week?"
"I don't know."
"I've been sleeping lately, not paying attention."
"What do you mean by anomaly?"
Calm or lazy voices sounded, and several Espada members sitting in the front row replied.
Seeing this, Kaname, who was already used to it, didn't pay attention, but just asked a few more questions as usual.
After confirming that there were no problems with Hueco Mundo, he announced the end of the meeting and left the conference room, preparing to return to Soul Society.
However, just a few steps after leaving the conference room, a voice sounded from not far behind him.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
"Szayelaporro? Is there something you need?"
Kaname stopped in his tracks and looked at the pink-haired man not far behind him.
Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses. "I've run out of experimental subjects, I need to go to the Forest of Menos to catch some research materials."
Kaname frowned. "You're going yourself?"
Szayelaporro nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"
Kaname: "..."
Kaname didn't reply immediately, but took out a badge and injected Reiatsu.
A few seconds later, the badge successfully connected, and Kaname immediately reported, "Aizen-sama, Szayelaporro wants to go to the Forest of Menos to capture research materials."
"Forest of Menos?"
Aizen's voice sounded within the badge, with a hint of pressure in its calmness.
"Szayelaporro, has anyone invaded the Forest of Menos recently?"
Szayelaporro let out a light chuckle. "As expected of Aizen-sama, you can guess the truth with so little information."
"I'm not sure about the specific situation, but the number of Hollows in the Forest of Menos has been decreasing since four days ago."
"I sent my subordinates to investigate, but the subordinates I sent were also completely wiped out. If there's no accident, it's the invaders' doing."
Kaname frowned. "Why didn't you report this just now?"
Szayelaporro shrugged, "At the meeting, you only asked about the situation in Hueco Mundo, and the Forest of Menos was not within the scope of reporting."
Kaname: "..."
Playing word games with me, are you?
Kaname snorted coldly, emitting a vast Reiatsu fluctuation, wanting to teach the other party a lesson.
However, just then, Aizen's voice sounded again in the badge.
"Kaname, don't worry about such small matters. Just ask two more questions during the next check."
"Yes, Aizen-sama." Kaname restrained his Reiatsu and returned to calmness.
Aizen said, "Szayelaporro, since you are interested in the invaders, I will leave the task of dealing with the invaders to you. Capture them alive if possible."
"Please rest assured, Aizen-sama."
Szayelaporro chuckled lightly, placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly, his voice full of confidence.
"With I, Szayelaporro Granz, personally taking action, no one can escape."
[Grayfia defeated Szayelaporro Granz, congratulations on obtaining the red trait: Ovulation.]
[Ovulation (Red): Consumes a certain amount of energy to lay eggs within the enemy's body. The eggs will absorb everything from the enemy as nourishment and finally produce a brand new body.]
Hmm?
Tatsuma, who had just walked into the school, stopped in his tracks.
What's going on?
Did Grayfia go to Hueco Mundo?
Looking at the latest pop-up message, a question mark slowly rose above Tatsuma's head.
Asia asked, "Tatsuma, what's wrong? Has something unexpected happened?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it." Tatsuma patted her head and replied.
He wasn't worried about Grayfia having problems.
After he granted them traits, both Grayfia and Restia's strength had greatly increased.
Coupled with the traits he shared with Grayfia, her strength was top-tier among the Gods when going all out. Let alone Szayelaporro, even if all the Espadas came at once, they wouldn't be her match.
As for what exactly happened, he would know once he got home and asked Grayfia later.
With the items provided by Yahweh, Grayfia wouldn't be stationed in the Forest of Menos twenty-four hours a day. Basically, every half a day, she would return home to rest for a while and provide Yahweh with Hollow data.
Thanks to this, Yahweh had recently researched many Reiatsu items, which were said to be remarkably effective.
Withdrawing his gaze from the panel, Tatsuma and Asia came to the notice board under the teaching building.
"Tatsuma, you're here."
Not far away, Yuuto, who had arrived earlier, waved and greeted him.
"The results are out, and you're still the same, first in your grade."
"As expected." Tatsuma nodded slightly, his expression very calm.
Although he didn't take the research route, he had enough learning-related traits. It would be strange if he didn't get first place after secretly competing behind the scenes.
After checking their results, Tatsuma and the others returned to their respective classes for a concluding meeting, officially welcoming the summer vacation.
He let Asia and the others go and meet Rias first, while he followed Natsuki, who had left the classroom a step earlier, and went all the way to the teachers' office.
"Is there something you need me for?"
Natsuki put down the teaching materials in her hand and looked at Tatsuma, who had walked in behind her.
"Regarding Aya's training, the second stage is over. I'm planning to have you two meet."
Tatsuma snapped his fingers, and a Teleportation Magic circle appeared on the ground not far away.
A few seconds later, the Magic circle emitted a bright light, and Aya walked out of it. Her skin was fair, and she wore a black kimono, exuding a classical aura like a refined lady.
Unlike a few days ago, Aya's expression was no longer cold, but had gained some human touch. However, upon seeing Tatsuma, her body trembled, and a hint of fear and awe appeared in the depths of her eyes.
"Don't be afraid. I brought you here today to see an old friend." Tatsuma extended his hand and pointed forward.
Aya followed his gaze and only then noticed Natsuki's presence.
"Long time no see, Aya." Natsuki greeted her first.
"...It has been a long time, Natsuki."
Aya was silent for two seconds, her expression becoming complicated.
"I never thought that after so many years, I would meet you again in this capacity."
"Perhaps this is the so-called unpredictability of fate."
Natsuki carefully examined her friend and found that she seemed different from the past.
"Tatsuma, what have you done to Akaya?"
"Nothing much, just some simple training."
"Specifically?"
"Tickling her."
Tatsuma took out a feather and indicated it.
"This thing is called a Tickle Feather. It's an item invented by one of my Peerage members. As long as you inject energy and touch the skin with it, it will cause immense itching."
As Tatsuma spoke, he used the feather to brush Natsuki's arm. The next moment, an unbearable itch rose from her arm, and Natsuki couldn't help but scratch it a couple of times.
"This thing is a bit magical. You only used this feather to make Aya surrender?"
"Of course not just that."
Tatsuma took out a few bottles of potion.
"This is Sensitivity Potion, which can increase body sensitivity tenfold, to be used with the Tickle Feather."
"This is Laughing Potion. As long as you take it, you will keep laughing until twenty-four hours are over or you take the antidote."
"This is Desire Potion, which can..."
"Stop! Don't introduce any more!"
Natsuki quickly interrupted him halfway through.
Tatsuma's items, taken individually, would just seem interesting.
But if they were put together...
Just thinking about it, Natsuki couldn't help but shiver, her eyes filled with fear.
At this moment, she finally understood what was going on with Aya's strange reaction when she appeared just now.
This was simply torture!
Tatsuma asked with some reluctance, "Natsuki-chan, do you really want me to stop the introduction?"
"These are the training items for the first stage. The items for the second stage are a bit more powerful."
Natsuki was startled. "Really?"
Tatsuma nodded. "Really."
Natsuki: "..."
Natsuki's curiosity rose.
If the training items for the first stage were already this intense, how exaggerated would the training items for the second stage be?
However, glancing at Aya beside her, Natsuki suppressed her curiosity.
With the person involved present, it was better to save face.
"What a pity, then let's talk next time."
Tatsuma put the items back into his storage space, and Aya visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Natsuki."
"That's rare, you actually said thank you." Natsuki was a bit surprised.
"People change. I somewhat understand your actions now." Aya's face was full of vicissitudes.
God knows how she had gotten through these past few days.
Yuuma, in order to make her apologize, spent twenty out of twenty-four hours a day wandering in front of her. As for the remaining four hours, it wasn't because Yuuma was tired, but because it was Tatsuma's turn.
Every day after training, he would drag her and different members of the villa to have a sound party, claiming it was to cultivate interpersonal relationships. Whether interpersonal relationships were cultivated or not was unknown, but her sense of shame was definitely maxed out.
"Originally, I was worried if something would go wrong, but I didn't expect you, Tatsuma, to actually have some tricks up your sleeve."
Natsuki truly felt her friend's change this time, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"After all, I've been paid, so I can't disappoint Natsuki-chan, right?"
***
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