— — — — — —
Click—!
The door to the lab slid open.
Both Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen turned instinctively, their eyes landing on Aizen… and the unfamiliar figure walking beside him—Ryo.
For a split second, Gin's breath caught in his throat. Tosen's ears twitched slightly, he frowned before asking casually:
"Aizen-sama, who is this?"
"A comrade," Aizen replied curtly, his face still adorned with that ever-fake, unreadable smile.
"Gin, Tosen—this is Ryo."
"Well, well, a new companion, huh?" Gin replied, eyes narrowed in that signature fox-like grin. But behind that smile, his sharp gaze flicked briefly across Ryo, observing.
"Hm?" Ryo raised an eyebrow and looked at the two of them with a strange expression.
Maybe it was thanks to the divine boost to his instincts—he understood Aizen's words far better than the others did.
It wasn't "a new companion", like Gin said.
Just "companion."
Meaning, Gin and Tosen weren't considered companions at all—at least not by Aizen's standards.
Even a casual word carried layers of meaning. Honestly, living like Aizen must be exhausting.
Ryo gave a soft chuckle and pulled out the pocket watch Shiroyasha had given him.
The lone hand on the dial pointed directly to 1.
So… teaming up with Aizen increased his synchronicity with the world?
Or maybe, in other words, he'd already started influencing it.
His act of checking the watch didn't go unnoticed.
Aizen showed no reaction.
Tosen frowned slightly.
Gin just kept smiling and said, "Oho… doesn't look like our new friend is the friendly type."
Ryo ignored the snide remark and looked straight at Aizen. "Got time to introduce me to your subordinates?"
"That was the plan," Aizen replied with a nod, then gave Gin a smile.
Still grinning, Gin pulled out what looked like a remote control.
"Already sent the word out. It's been a few years since the Espada were all called together, huh?"
Espada? They're already formed?
Ryo was a little surprised—but not too surprised.
After all, according to canon, Aizen's Espada went through a long period of selection and culling.
This meant Aizen must've already started his research into Hollowfication.
And as for the Hōgyoku—that rumored tool for breaking one's limits—Aizen clearly already had one. It just wasn't as stable or refined as Urahara Kisuke's version.
That's why he targeted the Hōgyoku hidden inside Rukia Kuchiki, wanting to fuse the two and create a more perfect version—to truly break past the limits of a Shinigami.
Aizen turned to Ryo with a smile. "Let's not keep them waiting. That's not really my style."
"Oh, sure it's not," Ryo replied with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Tosen frowned again, but seeing Aizen unmoved, held back his own reaction.
Meanwhile, Gin's curiosity deepened.
Just how much does Aizen tolerate this guy?
They walked through Las Noches.
The strange, grotesque Hollows that lined the path all dropped to their knees as they passed, bowing in reverence.
Ryo and the others didn't spare them a glance, treating them like air.
Honestly, the sheer drama of it all gave off serious "high society" energy.
These chaotic beasts—born for violence—were kneeling like humans. It was like watching a prostitute suddenly turn prim and proper.
Weirdly fascinating.
Before long, they arrived at a massive double door, slipping inside into an enormous meeting hall.
There it was—a long, snow-white table with ten seats.
Ten Hollows sat around it: Aizen's chosen—the Espada.
Compared to the canon timeline, most of them were already in place. Their masks were a bit more pronounced though, probably because Aizen's Hōgyoku still wasn't strong enough to fully erase their Hollow traits.
Aizen took the seat at the head of the table. Gin and Tosen stood behind him like loyal attendants.
Aizen tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
At the opposite end, a new chair slowly rose from the ground—white, just like the rest.
All eyes shifted toward Ryo.
Clearly, this seat had been prepared just for him.
And the fact that it directly faced Aizen? That meant something. Equality, perhaps?
A few of the Espada exchanged looks, trying to read into the implications.
Aizen flashed another of his trademark smiles. "Sorry the room's so plain. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, please. You're full of tricks and lies. I'd be a fool to trust a word you say."
Ryo didn't bother sugarcoating anything. He strolled right up to his seat and flopped down casually, meeting the gazes of the Espada head-on.
"Not bad. The nine of you combined could maybe give Aizen a light workout."
Silence.
A heavy one.
Coyote Starrk—the Primera— yawned. Not his business, apparently.
Baraggan Louisenbairn—the Segunda— looked pissed. Barely holding it in.
Tier Harribel—the Tres— was hard to read behind that massive chest, but she seemed composed.
Ulquiorra didn't even blink.
Nnoitra licked his lips, murderous intent clear in his eyes.
Grimmjow gritted his teeth like a rabid dog sizing up a rival.
The Séptima? Ryo didn't even bother him.
The Octava? Total freak—staring at him with way too much interest.
As for the Noveno and Diez… one had a hidden face, the other just looked grumpy.
Ten Espada, and not a single one dared to move under Aizen's watchful eye.
Ryo frowned.
"What a waste. No one's taking the bait."
He wanted to make a statement, but with no one rising to challenge him, it felt like flexing in the dark. No audience, no applause—pointless.
He sighed and pulled out his pocket watch again.
The hand had shifted to 2.
Clearly, showing his face to the entire Espada lineup had increased his influence over the world.
It made him wonder: 'If I killed all ten of them, would the hand move to 3?'
…Tempting, but nah.
They hadn't done anything to him, and he wasn't in the mood for mindless slaughter.
Besides, they might be more useful alive. Dead enemies are one-time loot drops—living ones could be milked endlessly.
With that thought, Ryo relaxed, a bright, harmless smile on his face like a normal, cheerful guy.
But little did he know… his complete lack of Reiatsu—like he wasn't even there—was terrifying the Espada.
That sense of being on a whole different plane… they'd only felt it from one man before.
Aizen.
Only Aizen gave off that same dimensional gap of power.
Yet Aizen paid no mind to Ryo's tension with the Espada. He leaned forward, hands folded on the table like it was a boardroom meeting.
"I called you here for one reason. After meeting Ryo, I'm sure you understand what that is."
The Espada said nothing. Though Aizen had given them freedom to speak, none wanted to.
Ryo hadn't realized it yet, but during moments of unstable emotion, his overwhelming malice leaked into the room—so thick it made even hardened Hollows feel nauseous.
Except for Starrk, every one of them was on high alert.
Watching Ryo.
Waiting.
The natural reaction of predators facing something stronger.
Aizen rested his chin on his hands, calm and composed.
"From today onward, Ryo will be joining Las Noches… as a partner."
"And his position among you is simple—"
His glasses flashed in the light.
"—He is Equal to me."
.
.
.