"So your fusion process is still unstable," Tim said calmly. "You haven't determined the upper limit of enhancement, the maximum compatibility threshold, or how many ability-cores can coexist before structural collapse. You must have experienced repeated rejection failures."
Silence.
Szayelaporro did not deny it.
He merely adjusted his glasses slightly.
Every experiment had failure ratios.
He simply did not record the embarrassing ones.
Sombravida spoke at the right moment.
"Have you ever tried fusing Hollows with aligned attributes instead of contrasting ones?"
Szayelaporro's gaze shifted.
"Explain."
"You've been trying to stack different abilities to create versatility," Sombravida continued. "But compatibility isn't always about diversity. It can be about reinforcement."
He gestured toward the data panels.
"Water and fire destabilize each other. But water and ice? Mist and liquefaction? Hydrodynamic manipulation and pressure control?"
Szayelaporro's fingers paused.
Sombravida continued.
"Instead of combining opposites, stack gradients of the same attribute. Reinforce one vector until it reaches a qualitative threshold."
Tim added quietly:
"You're attempting horizontal diversification. Consider vertical amplification."
Szayelaporro's eyes narrowed slightly.
He turned back to the console.
Data began reorganizing.
Over one hundred thousand Hollow samples.
Classification trees recalculated.
Reiatsu resonance clustering.
Ability overlap matrices.
After hours of recalculation, a branching structure of over three hundred ability categories formed.
Szayelaporro stared at it.
"…Interesting."
Sombravida and Tim remained silent.
Interrupting a breakthrough would be foolish.
Finally, Szayelaporro turned back.
"Your reiatsu is unusual," he said to Sombravida. "Dense. Condensed beyond normal Vasto Lorde parameters."
Sombravida did not react.
"I do not object to analysis. I object to experimentation."
A faint smile.
"You are cautious."
"As are you."
Szayelaporro leaned back in his chair.
"Very well. Let us formalize this exchange."
Sombravida spoke clearly.
"We exchange completed technologies one-to-one. Imperfect prototypes can be shared and refined jointly."
"Our current technologies include reiatsu spectral decomposition, long-range spiritual signal triangulation within Hueco Mundo, experimental cross-realm signal modeling, directional data transmission, and mobile communication arrays."
Szayelaporro's interest sharpened at the mention of signal modeling.
"And in return?" he asked.
"Biological modification methodologies. Ability grafting procedures. And access to your transformation process."
Szayelaporro tilted his head.
"You are greedy."
"I am practical."
A brief pause.
"Agreed," Szayelaporro said casually. "Knowledge only stagnates when hoarded."
Sombravida nodded once.
"Now, regarding war."
Szayelaporro folded his hands.
"I assume this concerns Susbus Oria."
"Yes."
Szayelaporro's tone became clinical.
"She is positioned near ancient ruins. The sealed entity within emits residual reiatsu fluctuations."
"Level?" Sombravida asked.
"Slightly above peak Vasto Lorde output," Szayelaporro replied. "Deteriorating. Not stable."
"Not law-level?"
"Unconfirmed," Szayelaporro answered. "But unlikely."
Sombravida calculated silently.
"Then Susbus must be eliminated before she fully synchronizes with that energy source."
Szayelaporro's eyes gleamed faintly.
"I require specimens," he said simply.
"Sub-level Hollows below mid-tier are yours," Sombravida stated. "High sub-level and peak sub-level are split evenly—your selection first."
"Vasto Lorde division is even. We select first."
"Saros is yours."
"Susbus is ours."
Szayelaporro nodded immediately.
"Accepted."
No hesitation.
To him, Hollows were resources.
Sombravida continued.
"Three days from now. Final confrontation at the ancient ruins."
Szayelaporro nodded.
"I will arrive when I deem appropriate."
Sombravida stepped forward once more.
"I am leaving Tim here."
Szayelaporro raised a brow.
"He will assist in technical integration."
"And?" Szayelaporro asked.
"I require ability grafting trials."
"Four core attributes: spatial alignment, concealment enhancement, devouring compatibility, and water affinity."
"Time alignment, if available."
Szayelaporro laughed softly.
"You are extraordinarily ambitious."
"They are inefficient for me. You may attempt."
Sombravida handed over a communication emblem.
"Prototype communicator. Limited range. Refine if you wish."
Szayelaporro accepted it without comment.
"That concludes our arrangement."
Sombravida turned to leave.
Then paused.
"If Tim is harmed unnecessarily," Sombravida said calmly, "I will consider you a research opportunity."
Not a threat.
A statement.
Szayelaporro smiled.
"How delightful."
Sombravida left.
After returning to Barragan's advancing army, Sombravida teleported directly onto Bawabawa's expanded back.
He immediately retrieved the corpse of the illusion-type Vasto Lorde.
Only the mask was consumed.
The remaining body was distributed.
Nel absorbed most of it.
Bawabawa received the arm it had previously gnawed on.
Harribel declined.
Sombravida did not insist.
After devouring the mask, Sombravida felt the change immediately.
Not a direct increase in concealment.
But an enhancement in perceptual distortion.
His stealth field gained subtle refractive qualities.
Illusion layering.
A more ethereal masking property.
Still not law-tier.
But closer.
He accepted the improvement.
Then he reflected.
Against Vasto Lordes, his combat kit showed imbalance.
Zero Storm — large-scale suppression.
Cero — high-output bursts.
Spatial manipulation — tactical advantage.
But single-target decisive finishing power?
Insufficient.
His Sky-Piercing Slash.
Dimensional Slash.
Shadow Dance.
All effective against Adjuchas.
Less so against durable Vasto Lordes.
Kamura had proven that.
Sombravida closed his eyes.
He began constructing a new technique in thought.
One concentrated.
One precise.
One capable of overwhelming Hierro instantly.
Three days passed in controlled meditation.
When he opened his eyes—
A massive crimson mountain loomed ahead.
Heat radiated across the desert.
Saros's forces had arrived.
Barragan's army halted opposite them.
No ceremony.
No pretense beyond surface politeness.
This alliance was temporary.
Predators walking beside predators.
Saros spoke briefly with Barragan.
Sombravida ignored it.
Words were irrelevant.
Saros signaled.
Five Vasto Lordes.
Hundreds of sub-level Hollows.
They advanced first.
Across the molten basin—
Ancient ruins glowed beneath flowing magma.
A massive sealing formation pulsed faintly.
Behind it—
Hundreds of sub-level Hollows.
Nine early-stage Vasto Lordes.
And at the center—
Susbus Oria.
Seated.
Extracting residual energy from the ruin.
An ant-like Hollow rushed forward.
"My lord. Saros approaches. A second mid-tier Vasto Lorde accompanies him."
Susbus rose slowly.
Her fox-like mask tilted slightly.
"So he brings help…"
Her voice carried an alluring cadence.
But beneath it—
Killing intent.
"Since they seek death…"
Her reiatsu began to spread outward.
"Then we shall oblige them."
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