The Hōgyoku Is placed Within Me

In the past few days, the team from the Technology Development Bureau had been frequently sending location updates, claiming that a Hollow had appeared.

Shinji had gone out a few times with Matsumoto Rangiku, but they found nothing.

The strangest part was that there were no casualties.

This was simply unheard of.

Hollows feed on souls—it's their instinct.

But somehow, this strange situation had occurred. The humans who were attacked only became weaker, but their lives were never in danger.

"This is really weird. Could it be some kind of rare Hollow?"

Matsumoto Rangiku shook her hair, releasing a faint fragrance. Stretching lazily, she said with a smile, "Smells good, right? This is a perfume from the Human World."

Shinji glanced at her indifferently. "In any case, we should find it as soon as possible. Since you're still staying in this world, you should do your part. I'll leave this task to you."

"Huh??? Why?! I'm your senior, you heartless little brat!"

"Well, since you have nothing else to do, you might as well earn more credits. That way, you can take leave to come to the Human World whenever you want."

"I refuse!"

"Then I'll ask Saito Yanagawa to send a report to the Soul Society, stating that Vice-Captain Matsumoto Rangiku of the 10th Division refuses to return due to personal desires and is deliberately staying in the Human World."

Matsumoto Rangiku: "…"

You heartless brat, why?!

Was all that posing and hair-flipping for nothing?!

With a snort, Matsumoto Rangiku turned her head, swayed her hips, and stormed out of the room in frustration.

A long silence followed.

Shinji then looked up. "Come in, Yanagawa."

At the sound of footsteps, Saito Yanagawa pushed open the door and entered. He stopped in front of Shinji, waiting.

"Captain Isshin has been in the Human World for a while, so I haven't fulfilled my promise," Shinji said, glancing at him. "Now, are you ready?"

"Yes, Lord Shinji, I am ready."

Saito Yanagawa's eyes shone with fanaticism and admiration.

After witnessing Shinji's power firsthand, he no longer had any doubts.

"But you might die."

Shinji absentmindedly ran his fingers across his chest. "There's about a 50% chance. Even so, are you willing?"

The Hollowfication experiment was something Shinji had been planning for a long time.

If Aizen could do it using an incomplete Hōgyoku, then with a fully mastered one, Shinji should be able to do it even better.

As long as the process went smoothly, Shinji could not only replicate it but improve upon it.

Based on his calculations, if he oversaw the process, the mortality rate wouldn't be nearly as high. He only mentioned 50% as a way to test Saito Yanagawa's resolve.

"I am willing."

Saito Yanagawa nodded, his gaze unwavering.

"Good. Then I can trust you, right?"

Shinji asked slowly.

Hearing this, Saito Yanagawa knelt on one knee. "I am willing to be your sword, Lord Shinji."

"Then let's begin."

Shinji gestured for him to rise and continued, "I have a method, but it's immature and extremely dangerous. However, if it succeeds, you will surpass the limits of a Shinigami and obtain Hollow powers."

"Hollow?"

Saito Yanagawa's pupils shrank in shock.

Even someone like him knew that Hollowfication was a forbidden subject in the Soul Society.

It was said that a hundred years ago, several captains defected after being exposed to Hollow powers.

And yet, Lord Shinji had already mastered a method to Hollowfy a Shinigami?

"I see you understand." Shinji tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "After successful Hollowfication, even if you don't enter the Hollow state, your Reiatsu will significantly increase. It's an undeniable improvement."

"Lord Shinji, please proceed."

Saito Yanagawa said firmly.

"Very good. Survive this, Yanagawa."

Shinji nodded, stood up, and placed his fingertips on Saito Yanagawa's forehead.

Hōgyoku?

Shinji had no intention of revealing its existence.

No one could know that he possessed it.

He wouldn't allow direct contact between Saito Yanagawa and the Hōgyoku.

Instead, he injected a steady stream of energy capable of breaking limits into Saito Yanagawa's body.

At the same time, a barrier appeared, sealing off the entire room.

The Hollowfication experiment had begun.

Saito Yanagawa's eyes turned crimson as his sanity faded.

White bone-like mucus emerged out of thin air, covering his entire body and forming a nearly three-meter-tall Hollow.

"ROAR!"

A violent roar sent shockwaves through the room.

Instinctively sensing the danger posed by Shinji, Hollowfied Saito Yanagawa bared his teeth and began gathering a Cero.

"I can't let you go wild in here."

The warehouse had just been rebuilt—Shinji wasn't about to start over again.

In a flash, he appeared in front of Saito Yanagawa, grabbed his head, and slammed it into the ground.

BOOM!

The floor cracked, and streaks of lightning appeared out of nowhere.

"Ittōryū: Gravity World!"

A magnetic force field generated by the currents restrained Hollowfied Saito Yanagawa, pinning him to the ground.

The immense pressure made his body creak.

Shinji simply stood there, watching the transformation unfold.

Time passed.

An hour later, Saito Yanagawa still hadn't reverted.

Seeing this, Shinji shook his head.

"Did it fail? Where did I go wrong…?"

But then— Shinji's gaze sharpened as he noticed something.

Cracks appeared on the white bone armor covering Saito Yanagawa's body.

Click.

With a sharp sound, the white bones shattered into dust, revealing Saito Yanagawa lying motionless on the ground.

The Hollowfication experiment… was a success?!

"This... is the power of Hollow? I feel at least ten times stronger than before!"

Saito Yanagawa removed the mask from his face, clenching his fists in astonishment.

A Shinigami is a highly refined form of life.

As beings of concentrated Reiatsu, Shinigami battles are straightforward—a direct clash of spiritual pressure, where the stronger Reiatsu always wins, with no room for tricks.

The stronger party can stand still and take attacks without harm, an absolute suppression of Reiatsu.

Saito Yanagawa understood this principle deeply.

And now, his Reiatsu had reached an entirely different level—something he had never dared to imagine.

"At this moment, if you were to enter a Hollow state, even most vice-captains wouldn't be able to match you," Shinji commented after sensing Saito Yanagawa's Reiatsu.

Of course, this didn't include the combat monster, Kusajishi Yachiru.

"Master Shinji, I cannot express my gratitude enough. If it weren't for your help, I would have remained a nobody—a failure who couldn't even become an official Shinigami, doomed to live out my days in this world."

Saito Yanagawa knelt on one knee, his head lowered. Though his gaze was firm, his voice trembled with emotion.

"Take some time to get used to your new power. For the next few days, let someone else handle the affairs of Karakura Town."

Shinji waved his hand, dispelling the barrier.

Karakura Town was far too large for just two Shinigami to guard.

Besides himself, there were others stationed here.

As Saito Yanagawa left the room, Shinji placed his hand on his chest.

Hōgyoku—it was hot!

"The fusion process is accelerating…"

"It seems that with every use and development of Hōgyoku, the integration progresses even further."

"In just a few more days, I'll enter the 'Collapsed Second State.'"

A hint of concern flashed in Shinji's eyes.

Aizen's "Collapsed Chrysalis State" had already started moving away from human form.

The subsequent transformations—Collapsed Third, Fourth, and Fifth—became increasingly inhuman in appearance. It wasn't until the "Collapsed Sixth State," the so-called "Azure Blood" form, that he regained a humanoid figure.

Shinji had no interest in taking on such grotesque forms…

---

A Few Days Later

Inside a Shopping Mall in the Human World

"By the way, are you still planning to return to Soul Society? If you stay in this world any longer, Captain Isshin might have a breakdown."

Shinji slouched in a chair, looking helplessly at the woman trying on clothes.

He had to admit—if someone had both beauty and an incredible figure, they could make anything look good. It was no surprise she was attracting the attention of many men around them.

Shinji casually observed Matsumoto Rangiku, enjoying the sight.

And Matsumoto Rangiku, well aware of his gaze, would return after changing outfits to ask for his opinion.

She didn't mind his attention at all.

After all, it was free. Might as well enjoy it.

"Finally realizing that mature women are the best, huh? You heartless brat."

Matsumoto Rangiku smirked, holding up a cheongsam in her hand. Just as she was about to try it on, a voice interrupted.

As she turned her head, she saw a lively, orange-haired girl in a high school uniform standing in front of Shinji, chatting with a bright smile.

Her skirt swayed slightly, revealing a glimpse of her fair thighs.

Wait a second…

Wasn't this the human girl that Captain Isshin had been following around these past few days?

Matsumoto Rangiku narrowed her eyes.

She brushed her hair back and walked over.

"It's not very polite to get so close to someone else's man, you know?"

She hooked her arm around Shinji's under his baffled gaze, her eyes scanning Kurosaki Masaki from head to toe.

This girl was quite beautiful.

But at least in terms of figure, she was still a little behind.

Mature women reign supreme!

"But Renji-kun doesn't seem to be your boyfriend, does he?"

Kurosaki Masaki smiled playfully, her gaze flickering toward Matsumoto Rangiku's chest.

Damn. A formidable opponent.

So, Renji-kun likes women with this kind of figure?

Kurosaki Masaki sneaked a glance at herself.

Though she was better developed than most girls her age, she was still a level below Matsumoto Rangiku.

"...Renji?"

Matsumoto Rangiku blinked in confusion.

Who was she calling Renji? Abarai Renji?

But wasn't Abarai Renji in Seireitei? He had just recently joined the 11th Division, the squad full of battle junkies.

Then, she noticed how Kurosaki Masaki was looking at Shinji.

Oh.

So, she had mistaken Shinji's name?

Rangiku folded her arms. "Speaking of which, are you not interested in my captain? Captain Isshin might look a bit rough, but he's actually a very dependable man."

Yeah, right!

This guy slacked off all day, dumped all his work onto her, and treated team duties like an afterthought.

Dependable? Her ass!

"You're a Shinigami too?"

Kurosaki Masaki's expression shifted. She looked at Matsumoto Rangiku warily but relaxed when she sensed no hostility.

It seemed that "Renji-kun's" companions didn't discriminate against Quincy.

He really was a kind man.

Kurosaki Masaki smiled—until Matsumoto Rangiku mentioned a certain someone. Her face twisted in disgust.

"Wait… that perverted guy is your captain?"

"...Pervert?"

Matsumoto Rangiku blinked.

"He's an old man, yet he keeps chasing after a teenage girl like me. If that's not perverted, what is?"

"Please tell him to stop bothering me."

Kurosaki Masaki's expression was dead serious. She wasn't joking—she genuinely found Shiba Isshin repulsive.

Hearing this, Shinji touched his nose.

So, because of him, Masaki Kurosaki had developed a strong dislike for Shiba Isshin?

Then… what would happen to Kurosaki Ichigo in the future?

Shinji's expression turned complicated.

Before he could dwell on it further, the atmosphere abruptly shifted.

All three of them sensed it at the same time.

Their faces darkened as they turned toward the window.

In Karakura Town, an unprecedentedly terrifying Reiatsu erupted.

A spiritual pressure even more fearsome than Nnoitra's!