Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

As Harribel continued to sniff the lingering scent on her palm, a flicker of doubt passed through her golden eyes...

It was the scent of a Hollow. Yet, as she inhaled, a strange familiarity crept over her, as though she were smelling another version of herself. Instinctively, she felt a sense of kinship.

Noticing the subtle shift in Harribel's gaze, Makoto's expression wavered for just a moment.

For someone as cautious as him, how could he have left such an obvious flaw?

After conducting preliminary research on Harribel's Vasto Lorde-class spiritual body, Makoto had discreetly utilized his Spirit Particle Manipulation ability to create an imperceptible layer of Vasto Lorde-class spirit particle around himself. This temporary disguise ensured that conventional detection methods wouldn't expose his true identity.

Feigning confusion, he asked, "What are you talking about, Tier?"

Harribel quickly explained, "Apologies, Asura Gensei. I caught the scent of a Shinigami on you just now and thought you might be one."

"A scent?"

Makoto's eyes flickered as if a realization had dawned on him, and he responded in a knowing tone.

"The cloak and clothing I wear were things I picked up in Hueco Mundo. Could it be that their original owner was a Shinigami?"

Upon hearing this, the last trace of doubt in Harribel's heart dissipated entirely.

Meanwhile, Makoto, with a playful smirk, asked, "Tier, if I really were a Shinigami, you wouldn't have attacked me just now, would you?"

"Of course not," Harribel replied without a moment's hesitation. She then added, "However, in that case, I might have to reconsider my approach to interacting with you."

"What do you mean?" Makoto asked, puzzled.

"To embrace sacrifice means being prepared to pay its price," Harribel stated solemnly before continuing, "I do not intend to abandon a friend simply because of a change in their identity. However, forming ties with a Shinigami comes with a cost. If I were to appear in the Soul Society, I doubt I would survive for long."

...

Makoto: ???

Wait a second.

Where exactly was Harribel's mind going with this?

We're just friends. There's no need to make it sound like she's willing to elope with me to the Soul Society, prepared to fight to the death if discovered.

Is she really thinking that far ahead about sacrifice?

Makoto coughed lightly, withdrawing his Zanpakutō, which Harribel had been absentmindedly rubbing in her palm. He then stood up and asked, "Tier, with my experience as an Arrancar, I believe I can assist you in achieving the Arrancar transformation. Would you like to give it a try?"

Harribel met his gaze with unwavering resolve. "I would."

"Good."

Makoto pushed aside the lingering oddity of their conversation, nodding in agreement. He was about to begin assisting Harribel's transformation—using the opportunity to further study her spiritual structure—when he reminded himself that his offer wasn't baseless.

After closely observing Harribel's Vasto Lorde-class form, he had discovered that her spiritual composition contained elements akin to a Shinigami's. Combined with existing theories on the Arrancar transformation, he had already formulated a method to facilitate the process.

Of course, without the Hōgyoku, he couldn't replicate Aizen's mass-scale forced Arrancar transformations, which had even affected Adjuchas and Gillian-class Hollows.

However, since Vasto Lorde-class Hollows naturally possessed the potential to undergo the transformation on their own, all Makoto needed to do was give Harribel the right push.

If she successfully evolved on her own rather than relying on the Hōgyoku's power, she would likely become even stronger than in the original version.

A piece that Makoto had been maneuvering into position would now hold even greater strategic value.

That being said, at this critical juncture, he had to consider Aizen's movements carefully.

After his encounter with Baraggan Louisenbairn, the most prudent course of action would be to shadow the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo.

After all, Aizen sought to dethrone Baraggan and claim dominion over Hueco Mundo. No matter how he approached it, he could not bypass Baraggan.

If Makoto simply waited at the end of the path Aizen was destined to take, he would inevitably run into him.

This was precisely why, during his earlier interaction with Baraggan, he had played the role of an ignorant wanderer—to seamlessly align himself with the aging tyrant.

Now, however, he found himself torn between two choices—should he pursue Baraggan or focus on helping Harribel complete her transformation first?

---

Meanwhile, in a desolate and barren desert deep within Hueco Mundo…

Clad in the 5th Division Captain's haori, Aizen Sosuke moved effortlessly through the sand with Shunpo, his presence unmasked.

He suddenly halted, turning his gaze toward the depths of the desert.

Spiritual pressure.

A staggering, overwhelming spiritual pressure—so immense that it rivaled his understanding of Yamamoto's own might.

"Could it be… that Baraggan is hiding here?"

A slight gleam flickered in Aizen's eyes as he resumed his advance without hesitation.

Yet, when he arrived, what greeted him was not Baraggan.

Instead, two figures wandered aimlessly through the desert, both cloaked in tattered gray garments.

One was a middle-aged man whose appearance was strikingly human, his sharp yet languid eyes reflecting a quiet intelligence. The other was a small girl wearing a mask, her lively demeanor a stark contrast to the man's calm presence.

They looked nothing like the Baraggan Aizen knew.

But Aizen's sharp gaze discerned the truth instantly—Arrancar.

Self-evolved Vasto Lorde-class Hollows.

Intrigued, his lips curled into a faint smile.

The middle-aged man, seemingly sensing Aizen's approach, gazed directly at him. With one hand, he pulled the excitable young girl behind him, shielding her as he spoke.

"A Shinigami? To be able to approach me without being overwhelmed by my spiritual pressure… You must be one of those so-called Captain-class Shinigami." His voice was calm, yet carried a weighty authority. "I can sense a hidden power within you—one that is truly formidable."

"You've guessed correctly," Aizen replied, smiling. "However, your reasoning is flawed. Not every Captain-class Shinigami possesses spiritual pressure of this magnitude."

The man slowly lifted his head, his weary yet sharp eyes locking onto Aizen's. "I see. Then tell me—what is your purpose here, Shinigami? If possible, I'd prefer not to discuss battle. I find such meaningless conflict distasteful… Otherwise, I may have to kill you here and now."

In response, Aizen simply gestured toward his waist—where there was no Zanpakutō to be seen.

"Of course," he said smoothly, his smile unfaltering. "I haven't even brought my blade. I have no intention of engaging in a meaningless battle…"

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