The golden glow on my hands wouldn't stop.
No matter how much I willed it, begged it, or tried to push it down, the energy remained. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat, an unrelenting reminder that something inside me had been unleashed. Something that wasn't supposed to exist.
Grimmjow paced the room like a restless predator, his sharp blue eyes flicking to me every so often. The tension between us was suffocating, but I couldn't find the strength to break it.
He stopped suddenly, turning to face me with his usual scowl. "You're gonna have to deal with that eventually," he said, gesturing vaguely at my hands.
I glared at him, clenching my fists to dim the glow. "You think I don't know that? I don't even know what thisis,let alone how to deal with it."
Grimmjow snorted, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "It's not rocket science, girl. That power's got a mind of its own. Either you take control, or it'll control you."
"Yeah? And how do you suggest I do that?" I snapped, my frustration boiling over.
"Figure it out," he shot back, his tone sharp. "Before Aizen decides to do it for you."
His words hit like a punch to the gut. I looked down at my hands again, at the faint golden light that refused to fade completely. If what Grimmjow said was true—if this power really wasn't human—then Aizen wasn't just playing games.
He was waiting.
Testing.
I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the warmth radiating outward. The energy didn't feel entirely foreign—it was like something I'd always carried but had never known was there.
"Is this what he wanted all along?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
Grimmjow shrugged, but there was something darker in his expression. "Aizen doesn't do anything without a reason. If he's got his eye on you, it's because you've got something he can use."
The knot in my stomach tightened. "Use for what?"
Grimmjow didn't answer right away. He pushed off the wall, stepping closer until he loomed over me. His sharp blue eyes narrowed as he studied me, like he was trying to see through me.
"You ever heard ofVasto Lorde?" he asked suddenly.
I blinked, confused by the shift. "What?"
"Hollows," he said, his voice quieter now. "The strongest ones. They're rare—rare enough that Aizen's been collecting them like trophies. But you..." He trailed off, his gaze darkening.
"What about me?" I pressed, my chest tightening.
Grimmjow scoffed, shaking his head. "You've got that same energy. Hollow mixed with something else—something stronger. I don't know how, and I don't care. But if Aizen thinks he can turn you into his next weapon, he'll do it."
I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in like lead. "I'm not... I'm not a hollow."
"Not yet," Grimmjow muttered under his breath, turning away.
The room fell into silence again, but my mind was spinning. Could that really be true? Was this power inside me connected to hollows? And if it was, what did that mean for me?
A few hours later, the door swung open again, and a pair ofArrancarstepped inside, their masks gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"You're coming with us," one of them said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
I tensed immediately, the golden glow flaring faintly on my hands as I stood. "Why? Where are you taking me?"
TheArrancardidn't answer, but Grimmjow stepped forward, his scowl deepening. "Back off," he growled, hisreiatsuflaring slightly. "She's not going anywhere."
The tallerArrancarsneered. "You don't give the orders here, Grimmjow. Aizen does."
Grimmjow's fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, I thought he might attack them. But then he glanced back at me, his sharp gaze unreadable.
"Go," he said finally, his voice low but firm.
I froze. "What?"
Grimmjow didn't look at me again. "Just go. If you don't, they'll drag you there anyway. And I'm not wasting my time fighting over you."
The words stung, but I knew he was right. TheArrancarwouldn't hesitate to force me, and the last thing I wanted was to see Grimmjow punished for standing in their way.
I nodded reluctantly, stepping toward them.
"Smart choice," the tallerArrancarsneered, grabbing my arm roughly.
As they pulled me toward the door, I glanced back at Grimmjow. He was still standing there, his arms crossed and his expression hard, but his eyes flickered briefly to mine.
"Don't let them break you," he muttered under his breath.
Before I could respond, the door slammed shut behind us.
Aizen was waiting for me again.
The throne room was just as cold and vast as before, but this time, it felt heavier—like the air itself had thickened. Aizen sat on his throne, his calm smile firmly in place as I was dragged before him.
"You've returned," he said smoothly, his gaze settling on me with unnerving intensity. "How do you feel, (Y/N)?"
I clenched my fists, the golden glow flaring faintly again. "What do you want from me?"
Aizen's smile widened slightly. "What I want is to help you understand what you are. You felt it, didn't you? The power inside you. It's awakening."
I shook my head violently. "No. Whatever this is, it's not me."
"Ah," Aizen said softly, standing and descending the steps of his throne with measured grace. "Denial is natural. But the truth is unavoidable."
He stopped a few feet away from me, his dark eyes piercing. "Your spiritual energy is extraordinary. A perfect blend of human and hollow. But it is incomplete—untamed. With my guidance, you could become something greater than you've ever imagined."
"I don't want your help," I spat, taking a step back.
Aizen chuckled faintly, the sound low and chilling. "You may not want it, but you need it. Without control, that power will consume you. And when it does, there will be nothing left of the person you are now."
His words struck a nerve, and the warmth in my chest flared again. The golden glow on my hands intensified, pulsing wildly as my emotions spiraled out of control.
The air around me grew heavy, crackling with energy as the glow spread from my hands to the rest of my body. I gasped, clutching at my chest as the warmth became unbearable.
"What's happening?!" I cried, panic rising in my voice.
Aizen's expression didn't waver. "You're evolving."
I dropped to my knees as the golden light erupted outward, shattering the marble beneath me. The air trembled, and I felt something deeper stirring within me—something I didn't understand.
And then, just as quickly as it had started, the light faded.
I collapsed forward, my breathing ragged as I tried to process what had just happened.
Aizen crouched down in front of me, his calm smile returning. "This is only the beginning, (Y/N). You are far more than you realize. And soon, the world will see it too."