Bleach: I Love Making Friends

"Are you just spouting nonsense?"

Facing Szayelaporro's questioning, Haruki remained unfazed. He walked over to an instrument, touched it with his hand, and then sat on it.

"If I were you, I would never speak to someone who could help you become a perfect being in such a manner."

Haruki believed that Szayelaporro's obsession with becoming a perfect being was terrifying.

In order to achieve perfection, Szayelaporro was even willing to abandon his Vasto Lorde-level power in a place as desolate as Hueco Mundo.

It's important to understand that once a Hollow degenerates, it might never evolve again.

For example, if an Adjuchas degenerates into a Gillian, it can never return to being an Adjuchas, and its intelligence will be completely eroded, leading to eternal degradation.

Before Szayelaporro, there had never been a case of a Vasto Lorde degenerating into an Adjuchas-level Menos. Even he himself couldn't be sure if he could return to being a Vasto Lorde after degrading to an Adjuchas.

Moreover, in a place like Hueco Mundo, voluntarily giving up power is an incredibly foolish act, something a Hollow like him should understand better than anyone.

Yet, he still did it, which proves that his obsession with becoming a perfect being has reached a terrifying level.

Therefore, as long as Haruki dangles this goal in front of Szayelaporro, no matter how outrageous his demands, Szayelaporro would accept them.

"Sir, you wouldn't want to fail in becoming a perfect being, would you?"

As expected, Szayelaporro didn't react violently. He merely sneered, "As if you could actually do it? Do you even know what a perfect being is?"

"Well, of course, it's 'immortality,'" Haruki replied. Seeing the mockery on Szayelaporro's face, he added, "But this immortality isn't about an undying body. It's about 'rebirth after death.'"

"It's not about transcending death but integrating death into the cycle of life. That is what you call perfection."

Sure enough, after hearing this, Szayelaporro's expression changed. His eyes revealed an intense desire, and he stared at Haruki as if he wanted to devour him.

What Szayelaporro truly sought was indeed 'rebirth after death.' That was his vision of a perfect being. Who was this guy? How did he know what Szayelaporro was thinking?

Could this be his ability?

For a moment, Szayelaporro was filled with doubt and suspicion. Could this man really help him achieve perfection?

His heart began to burn with anticipation. If Haruki could help him, then not just one Loly, but even a hundred Lolys, he would give them all!

"Loly," Szayelaporro called out.

In the next moment, a white spider emerged from the depths of the laboratory.

"Lord Szayelaporro, are you calling for me?"

From her tone, it was clear that this Menos had very little emotion. It was no surprise, as she was merely an experimental creation of Szayelaporro.

She wasn't a humanoid Menos, which indicated that she was only an Adjuchas.

"From now on, you belong to him," Szayelaporro said without a hint of reluctance.

"Is... is that so?" Loly seemed slightly surprised, but she obediently followed her master's command. She turned to Haruki and bowed.

"You are my new master now."

For someone with almost no sense of self, changing masters was no big deal.

"Alright," Szayelaporro turned back to Haruki. "Now, tell me how to become a perfect being."

"Well," Haruki activated his 'Soul Fragment' ability, splitting off a piece of his soul, which formed into a glowing mass.

"You can try this," he said softly.

"Hmm?" Szayelaporro took the Soul Fragment with some skepticism, but as he examined it, it began to emit a strange light.

"What... what is this?" Szayelaporro asked in astonishment.

He had never felt such a peculiar power before.

In his past life, Szayelaporro had been an alchemist, and in alchemy, there existed a substance known as the Philosopher's Stone.

Alchemists believed the Philosopher's Stone to be eternal light, a panacea that could cure all diseases, a phoenix that brought the glory of heaven, the most precious treasure among all wealth, and a vital asset of nature itself.

It was said that the Philosopher's Stone could complete any experiment and achieve anything an alchemist desired.

And now, Szayelaporro felt as though he was standing before the Philosopher's Stone, the ultimate creation of alchemy.

Although he had never seen or used it before, at this moment, he was certain of it.

Szayelaporro stared at the fragment, his entire body trembling with excitement.

"It's perfect..."

He couldn't help but laugh. "With this, I can become a perfect being!"

"Perfect?" Haruki, hearing his words, reminded him, "Actually, perfection doesn't exist in this world. Even gods are only nearly omniscient and omnipotent."

"Especially for scientists, the concept of perfection should not be spoken of lightly."

"What is perfection? Perfection means there's no room for 'progress,' that the wisdom and talent of a scientist can no longer be utilized. For a scientist..."

Haruki pointed to the left side of his head, looking at Szayelaporro seriously. "So-called perfection is 'despair.'"

"If you were perfect, your form would become stagnant, never able to progress. To me, true perfect beings don't exist in this world. There are only beings that infinitely approach perfection."

"No matter how well you do, there's always room for improvement. So, you must fill those gaps to continuously approach perfection."

"Do you understand now?"

"..."

Szayelaporro still held the glowing Soul Fragment in his hand. After hearing Haruki's words, he seemed to fall into deep thought.

After a long while, he finally let out a cold snort.

"Don't think you can lecture me, you foolish Shinigami."

With that, he turned away.

"Hurry up and leave. I can't wait to begin the next experiment."

Watching his retreating figure, Haruki smiled.

He turned to the white spider beside him and said, "Alright, Loly, let's go. It seems he still needs some time to figure things out."

"Or perhaps, after he evolves, he'll have a completely different perspective."

In order to gain Szayelaporro's favor, he had sacrificed a piece of his soul, but it was worth it.

Losing one Soul Fragment would only affect him for a year.

He...

Could afford it.

...

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