Chapter 243

  Ever since Kaelith st slipped away to tussle with Las Noches, Yamamoto had been keeping close tabs on his movements. The moment Kaelith showed any sign of leaving the Soul Society without permission, the old man would catch him in the act and drag him back.

  That was why Kaelith spent a whole year lulling Yamamoto into lowering his guard. After all, you can’t keep a thief out forever if you’re on alert every single day. At st, the old codger slipped up.

  Emperor Kaelith had returned to Shurima—at least, that was how he put it.

  Watching Kaelith look so smug, Aizen couldn’t help letting out a small ugh. Once they’d confirmed there were no threats nearby, the two raced across the desert dunes until they arrived at a certain expanse of sand. Aizen released a pulse of reiatsu from his feet, sending out a distinctive vibration. A few seconds ter, the silver sand turned into a puddle of inky “quicksand.”

  They both sank into it, revealing a silver, futuristic-style boratory hidden underneath. Hearing the commotion, Szayeporro looked up. Seeing Kaelith, he broke into a delighted grin.

  “Ah, Boss! You finally managed to sneak out of the Soul Society?”

  He spread his arms wide, coming forward in an attempt to hug. Kaelith lifted an arm to block him, and Szayeporro dodged back and tried again. The two of them dodged and parried each other’s moves like a pair of kung-fu actors in an old movie.

  Aizen stood there, speechless.

  Just then, three newcomers approached. One lion, one deer, one snake—Mi Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun. They dipped their heads respectfully.

  “Kaelith-sama!”

  Still adopting a Wing Chun stance to fend off Szayeporro, Kaelith gnced their way.

  “Why are you three here…didn’t you stay with Harribel?”

  Sung-Sun gave a wry smile. “Harribel-sama’s been pestered by a strange individual tely. That weirdo’s strength is on par with hers. She didn’t want us getting caught up in the fighting, so she told us to y low here.”

  “A weirdo?” Kaelith was intrigued. Harribel was a Vasto Lorde. Even if she cked extensive combat experience—given her unusual evolution—very few in Hueco Mundo could threaten her besides Baraggan or Senzo Tsunayashiro. Sung-Sun knew those names, so she wouldn’t have called either one a “weirdo.”

  Kaelith’s expression turned serious. He fixed Sung-Sun with a sharp look, his features seeming suddenly more chiseled.

  “Sung-Sun. Any idea where this ‘weirdo’ is now?”

  Blinking in surprise, she replied, “When Harribel-sama left, she headed in the direction opposite the moon. If you’re pnning to find her, you could start that way.”

  “Got it.”

  Kaelith nodded. Aizen opened his mouth as if to speak, but Kaelith sprang upward, vanishing through the shadowy ceiling at once. Aizen closed his eyes for a moment, visibly suppressing an oncoming headache. Then he turned back to inspect Szayeporro’s test research.

  Unlike Kaelith, Aizen had been visiting Hueco Mundo regurly over the past year. Initially, Szayeporro didn’t think much of him; he assumed Aizen was just another subordinate, much like himself, working under Kaelith.

  But the more they interacted, the more Szayeporro’s views were upended. Whether it was knowledge of Shinigami and Hollow physiology, his expertise in pharmacology, or the terrifying power he occasionally revealed, Aizen never failed to astound him. Szayeporro stopped resisting whenever Aizen asked to see his experiments and even offered expnations on his own.

  “Lord Aizen, over here—this wave chart is from the tests you requested, mixing reiatsu from Shinigami and Hollows. Frankly, it appears impossible to merge the two. We can’t achieve the ‘qualitative leap’ you predicted. Perhaps we should shelve these experiments for now and focus on physical enhancement?”

  Aizen shook his head. “Continue until you find a breakthrough.”

  Szayeporro frowned. Had anyone else spoken to him like that, he would’ve reached for his bde in an instant. But in this man’s case, Szayeporro recognized true capability. He had no wish to oppose him unless strictly necessary. After a brief hesitation, he nodded.

  “Understood.”

  He still seemed reluctant, though, and Aizen gave him a faintly superior smile.

  “Szayeporro, perhaps right now you can’t imagine such a thing. But one day, you’ll see the greatness behind it. You’ll take pride in knowing you had a hand in these experiments.”

  Taken aback by Aizen’s resolute confidence, Szayeporro swallowed, uncertain why Aizen was so sure. Still, he pced a hand over his chest and gave a respectful bow.

  “Yes…I understand.”

  Aizen nodded, turning to leave. Szayeporro couldn’t help asking, “Lord Aizen, are you heading after the Boss?”

  Aizen hummed his assent.

  Szayeporro scowled slightly. “Lord Aizen, with your intellect and ability, you must see it—Kaelith-sama may be…exceptional, but deep down, isn’t he just a fighter, someone who loves a good brawl? His goals and vision differ from yours and mine. Why spend your time following him instead of dedicating yourself here? With your help, our research would advance so much faster.”

  Aizen stopped and looked back, the hint of a smirk on his lips.

  “Szayeporro, how much do you think you understand about this world? You pride yourself on wit and knowledge, but it’s only thanks to your long lifespan that you’ve cobbled together those scraps. You struggle just to see yourself clearly—how can you cim to share my view of things?

  “But if you really want to know, fine.

  The things Kaelith sees and seeks lie far beyond your grasp. Don’t use your feeble mind to measure someone you know nothing about.”

  The instant those words fell, Aizen lifted his head, eyes radiating icy authority. Szayeporro stiffened, and for a moment—despite being a self-evolved Vasto Lorde-level Arrancar—he felt a crushing pressure, barely resisting the urge to kneel.

  By the time he snapped out of it, Aizen was gone. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Szayeporro stood there, lost in deep thought.