Deep within a hidden chamber, illuminated solely by the ambient glow of computer screens, three figures stood in silence. The data displayed before them told a story that only they could comprehend. Videos replayed Karin's brutality, each frame analyzed meticulously.
The man in the middle, wearing dark glasses, broke the silence first, "She's as unpredictable as you said, Aizen. Taking the Soul Reaper's garments and their Asauchi... it's as if she's drawn to things that remind her of humanity."
Aizen's expression remained impassive, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Human emotions are a fascinating thing. Even when trapped within the form of a Hollow, they persist. She's gravitating towards her past life, trying to piece together who she once was. Normally, hollows don't show such behaviors until they reach the Adjuchas stage of their evolution cycle. However, Karin Kurosaki is a special case."
The third man, eyes glued to a particular screen, inquired, "And you think she can become stronger than Ichigo?"
Aizen walked slowly, his steps echoing in the cavernous room. "She has potential. If she can evolve further, embracing her Hollow nature while retaining shards of her past, she'll be an asset. An asset we can use to manipulate Ichigo Kurosaki."
He paused, standing before a glowing pedestal. The Hogyoku, a small yet formidable stone, pulsed as if it was alive, its shimmer resonating with Aizen's ambitions. "She isn't ripe for the Hogyoku's power. Not yet. But soon, she will be our trump card."
His smirk grew wider, foreshadowing the grand scheme that was still unfolding. The three men continued to monitor Karin, eager to witness her transformation and the chaos it promised to bring.
"Who knows, she might even end up surpassing beyond expectations." Aizen watched with heightened intrigue. "The ultimate test would be for her to go against one of our more special hollows." He continued as he turned toward one of the two men in the room. "By the way Gin, how is test subject white number fifty three."
The man named Gin turned toward Aizen with his eyes completely shut and face full of mischief "well, they aren't showing any abnormal behaviors besides the usual but, they also aren't evolving no matter how many powerful hollows they eat."
This caused the man to furrow his brows in thought "keep observing them, I want to see if my own creations can follow the same hollow evolution as the normal ones. If we don't see a difference, we will try and see what happens when they consume soul reapers instead."
"Roger that captain" Gin replied in a tone that was only uniquely playful to himself.
Aizen looked toward another monitor that shows an Orange haired man wearing a shihakusho and carrying a giant sized sword. "As for our orange Kurosaki, let's see how he fairs against a Gillian class hollow."
Elsewhere…
The night sky was awash with the iridescent glows of spiritual energy, punctuated by the shrieks and screams of the hollows. Each clash of metal, each swing of Ichigo's giant sword, painted a streak of luminous silver against the dark canvas, dissipating hollows into nothingness. His form, a whirlwind of orange and black, moved with a relentless rhythm, guided by a fierce determination.
The sharp hiss of Uryu's arrows, ethereal and blue, darted through the air with lethal precision. Their glow illuminated the shadows momentarily, revealing hollows' grotesque figures, before snuffing out their existence.
"Ichigo! That's fifty-seven for me! You're lagging behind," Uryu shouted, his tone a mix of pride and playful mockery. His glasses gleamed with confidence, reflecting the energy of his arrows.
Ichigo's face contorted in exasperation, sweat streaming down his forehead. "This isn't a game, Uryu!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the vast open expanse, filled with the sounds of battle. "People's lives are at stake!"
Without waiting for a response, Ichigo leaped into the air, gathering all his strength. His battle cry resonated, drowning out the cacophony of hollows for a split second. As he descended, his sword traced a complete circle, releasing a colossal wave of energy. Hollows, caught in this maelstrom, were obliterated, their cries merging into a singular, haunting wail that faded into the wind.
But then, the atmosphere shifted. An eerie stillness enveloped the battlefield. The incessant cries of the hollows were replaced by a suffocating silence. The energy in the air became dense, heavy with anticipation. Both Ichigo and Uryu felt it— a force, immensely powerful, rapidly approaching.
The tear in the sky was unnatural, the jagged edges pulsating with a white glow. As the giant hand emerged, it moved with an unsettling grace, fingers grasping the edges with deliberate intent. The tension was palpable; the very air seemed to shrink back from this new entity. The world seemed to hold its breath.
Ichigo and Uryu exchanged a glance, their rivalry momentarily forgotten. In its place was a shared sense of foreboding. Their faces, illuminated by the now fully open portal, showcased raw, unbridled fear.
From the tear, a colossal eye, glowing an icy yellow, stared down at them. The size of it alone dwarfed the surrounding landscape. The malevolent gaze sent shivers down their spines, their hearts pounding deafeningly in their chests.
The battle they were in before now seemed insignificant. This new adversary, whose mere presence sent waves of terror, was beyond anything they had ever encountered. Together, they braced themselves for the battle of their lives.
Meanwhile…
The blade in Karin's grasp brought with it a new way of fighting. Instead of expending her spiritual energy with every swipe, she could now engage foes with more finesse, without the fatigue that usually followed. The physical exertion was there, yes, but the spiritual toll was vastly reduced. Yet, as effective as the sword was, Karin couldn't shake off the feeling of how... *unfamiliar* its techniques felt, even though they were etched into her fragmented memories of how she watched the Soul Reapers she had killed - fought.
Every time the blade cut through a hollow, it vanished – a phenomenon she didn't quite understand. She didn't want her prey to go to waste, so eventually consuming them became an art; incapacitate with the sword and finish with her innate skills. Efficiency became her modus operandi. The Menos, those towering specters, no longer presented the vastly difficult challenge they once did.
I'm getting stronger each time. I'm starting to even recognize some of my memories. Places, things, Karin mused to herself stood atop of a colossal tree.
But today was different.
A lone Gillian, immobile and seemingly docile, drew her attention. Beneath it stood a figure, different from the Soul Reapers she had encountered, yet eerily familiar.
Just what the hell is going on here? Is that a Soul Reaper again? She wondered as she was trying to quell her hollow instincts to attack.
His attire was a complete enigma, but his eyes, those piercing orbs, spoke volumes – recognition, intrigue, and a hint of mischief. With a snap, he tore open the fabric of reality, revealing a gateway she instinctively identified as a "Garganta". The term slipped from her lips, an echo from a past she couldn't fully grasp.
His beckoning gesture was both an invitation and a challenge, but before she could process it, he vanished. The Gillian, seemingly invigorated by the man's command, lumbered into the portal. Without thinking, Karin followed suit, the pull of the Garganta too strong to resist.
Karin soared past the Gillian, emerging on the other side, the sensation was overwhelming. The spiritual pressure of humans, rich and dense, flooded her senses. It stirred her hollow hunger, but not in the all-consuming manner she was accustomed to. The intensity was subdued, like an echo of a once overpowering urge.
The sights and sounds of the living world filled her with a sense of urgency. The rampant hollows, preying on innocent souls, set off alarms in her mind. Panic. Fear. An emotion she hadn't felt in her hollow nature.
This place… I know this place, it's… Damn it I can't remember the name, ugh I hate this shit!, Karin screamed in her head, frustrated with her lack of clarity on her countless fragmented memories.
And then, amidst the chaos, a silhouette that demanded her attention. A Soul Reaper, bravely, albeit foolishly, challenging the Gillian she had followed. The orange hue of his hair, glimpsed through the frenzied scene, made her heart race. Memories, hazy and fragmented, threatened to resurface, tethering her to a past that was just out of reach.
Is… Is that? Is that who I think it is?!, she subconsciously thought to herself.
All she could hear other than the shrieks of her fellow Hollows had been the sound of a man yelling out "Ichigo you idiot! Don't just charge in like that!"
