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It worked?
Ishikawa stared blankly at the gradually dissipating Hollow in front of him, his attention completely focused on the system interface.
One month!
The research had been going on for a full month, and countless Hollows had 'died in experiments' at his hands during this time.
Low Level Hollows, Gillian, Adjuchas, Arrancar…
And a large number of Hollows with various special abilities. Ishikawa had barely slept for an entire month, dissecting and experimenting on the Hollows Tier Harribel brought him day after day, from a few a day initially to dozens or even hundreds a day eventually.
By now, a Hollow would die in his hands every few minutes.
Various subtly modified Development Spiritual Marks were continuously carved onto and into the bodies of the Hollows by Ishikawa; he didn't miss any place where a Spiritual Mark could be inscribed… including some vital points, but the result was always an explosion starting from the carved area…
And this Hollow was no different.
But it worked!!
…
Special Techniques:
[Chantless Kido] Advanced (780 / 100000)
[Kaido]: Advanced (24209 / 100000)
[Post-chanting]: Advanced (2460 / 100000)
[Kaminawa] Advanced (1200 / 100000)
[Shunko]
[Development Spiritual Mark] Advanced (528 / 100000)
[Utsusemi] Intermediate (4329 / 10000)
[Unnamed Spiritual Mark] Not Activated (0 / 50)
…
The method was the same, the process was the same, the result was the same…
Everything was exactly the same as when it failed before, yet it somehow received the system's approval.
Accident— Coincidence— Luck!!
Although Ishikawa knew very well that the starting point of some inventions came from accidents, coincidences, or luck.
But…
What exactly was different in his research steps just now compared to before?
Ishikawa's eye twitched slightly, because he didn't even know what he had created. Initially, he had a rough goal, but as one Hollow after another died, he had fallen into an extremely irritable state, basically just grabbing a Hollow and messing around with it.
Should he call it luck?
No!
He should say the system is awesome!!
Many inventions do indeed originate from accidents, but to realize the inspiration gained from an accident requires solid knowledge reserves. Otherwise, no matter how many times such 'accidents' occur, they will remain just accidents.
But Ishikawa was different. With the system…
Even the slightest possibility would be captured by the system and further deduced. Once feasible, it would appear on the system panel.
For Ishikawa, there was no possibility of missing an 'accident,' nor did he need extensive knowledge to realize it.
However, many 'accidents' also require solid knowledge reserves. Without Development Spiritual Mark, this kind of 'accident' would simply not exist.
"Did it fail again?"
Tier Harribel looked at the distracted Ishikawa, stood on her tiptoes, and patted Ishikawa's shoulder, comforting him, "If it really doesn't work, then just give up. You are not Aizen… not that Lord, after all." After saying that, she looked at Ishikawa, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, but she quickly hid it.
"Whether you want to or not, I will forcibly send you to the Human World this time. Because the frequent disappearance of Hollows in the Forest of Menos has attracted some attention, you must leave here immediately."
Tier Harribel finished speaking and pursed her deep purple lips: "Given how much effort you've made for me, I won't kill you, but the next time we meet, for that Lord, I will definitely use my full power to kill you. You don't need to hold back against me either. We are destined to be…"
"Friends!"
Ishikawa interrupted Tier Harribel's words, a look of excitement on his face: "I succeeded!!"
"Who said we're friends? Don't get too… huh?"
Tier Harribel instinctively wanted to retort, but her words froze halfway. The tear-like marks on her cheeks twitched twice, and her large eyes were filled with confusion: "What… did you say?"
"I said…"
Ishikawa's face involuntarily showed excitement.
"I succeeded!!"
—Suddenly enlightened!
Special Techniques:
Hollow Mark: Advanced (0 / 100000)
He unhesitatingly invested 11550 experience points into the new Spiritual Mark. Countless new pieces of knowledge about the new Spiritual Mark and the Arrancar's soul core flooded into Ishikawa's mind.
Unlike the Shiba Spiritual Crests, the new Spiritual Mark could be said to be an entirely new system extended from the Shiba Spiritual Crests!
Bypassing activation, Low Level, Intermediate… straight to Advanced, the knowledge Ishikawa acquired was immense, incredibly complex and varied. Besides Spiritual Mark-related information, there were also various detailed explanations related to Hollows.
If the Shiba Spiritual Crests were Spiritual Marks tailored for Shinigami, then the Hollow Mark, as its name suggests, was a Spiritual Mark specifically designed for Hollows!
A brand new system.
In addition to modifying the Arrancar's soul core, Ishikawa could also construct a 'fake soul core' of an Arrancar within his body using the Hollow Mark.
Although it was fake, the effect it could achieve was virtually the same. The reason it was called fake was because the 'Hollow Mark' was based on Shinigami Reiatsu, and the effects it released would not carry any Hollow aura.
"It succeeded!?"
"Yes!!"
Tier Harribel looked bewilderedly at the spot where the Hollow had just disappeared, the tear-like marks beneath her eyes twitching: "What's next then?"
"Of course, to implement it on you."
"…." Tier Harribel.
Implement it on me…
What kind of confidence allows you to say such a thing?
You know, I just witnessed that Hollow screaming for several minutes before dissipating at a speed faster than turning to dust.
If it weren't for their constant proximity during this time, she might even think Ishikawa was trying to use this method to kill her…
"Trust me."
Upon seeing Tier Harribel's reaction, Ishikawa immediately understood her thoughts. He looked directly into Tier Harribel's eyes and said, "Although it might sound strange coming from me, but…"
"How should I cooperate with you?"
"Huh?"
"Since it succeeded."
Tier Harribel looked up, a hint of hesitation flashing in her purple eyes, but in the next second, it turned into determination: "Then let me be your first test subject!"
"Uh…"
Seeing the determination in Tier Harribel's eyes, Ishikawa felt a bit guilty himself and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh: "Although it's strange for me to say this, after seeing the death of that Hollow just now, don't you feel like I'm trying to experiment on you?"
"Didn't you already say it?"
"Hm?"
"Trust me."
Trust me?
Ishikawa remained silent for a long time, finally shaking his head and saying, "I don't know whether to be happy for your trust, or to say… you're a madwoman!"
Having personally witnessed countless Hollows die in his experiments, yet still allowing him to do as he pleased just because of the three words 'trust me' – what else could she be but a madwoman?
However…
Thinking about it carefully, her personality was already quite crazy.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to spare Ishikawa's life in the first place, just to become stronger, and wouldn't have resorted to any means to bring Hollows to Ishikawa's doorstep one after another.
And besides being crazy, she also wasn't lacking in ruthlessness, whether towards her enemies or herself!!
Since Tier Harribel chose to trust him, Ishikawa didn't say much more. Instead, he directly had Tier Harribel lie on the stone platform with her sword in hand.
"I will inscribe the Hollow Mark I created into your body. Strictly speaking, a part will be inscribed into your body, and the other part will be inscribed onto your Zanpakuto, which is formed from your soul core." Ishikawa looked at Tier Harribel, who was lying on the stone platform with a somewhat nervous expression, and comforted her: "You don't need to be nervous, just trust me."
"And once the Hollow Mark is formed, it won't make you stronger as you are now."
Meeting Tier Harribel's confused gaze, Ishikawa smiled: "Creating an Arrancar and evolving an Arrancar are far beyond what I can do. What I can do is… to reorganize and evolve your soul core, so it won't provide any boost to your current form."
"Is it a boost to Release Form?" Tier Harribel's eyes lit up.
Although her normal state wouldn't be boosted, which disappointed her for a moment, if her Release Form could become stronger, then her normal state wouldn't matter as much, since Arrancar always choose to enter Release Form in battle.
"Yes, but also no!"
"Hmm?"
"The existence of the Hollow Mark will not make your Release Form stronger; it will even be the same as before. But the Hollow Mark can absorb Reishi on its own and store it, allowing you to perform…"
"Second Release Form!"
"Even a third Release Form is not impossible. That's why I said this is a reinforcement of the 'soul core,' and it can also be said to be a reinforcement of the Zanpakuto in your hand."
After a moment of contemplation, Ishikawa continued: "You can consider your first Release Form as releasing a seal and unleashing your true power; your second Release Form as the Shikai of a Shinigami's Zanpakuto, and your third Release Form as the Bankai of a Shinigami's Zanpakuto. The evolution of the soul core will drive changes in your Release Form, and what it ultimately transforms into will depend on your own abilities."
Second… and even third Release Form?
Tier Harribel's pupils constricted. Was such a thing really possible?
It was her first time hearing that an Arrancar could undergo a second Release Form; even that Adult had never achieved such a feat!
Although she greatly trusted Ishikawa, the idea of a second or third Release Form was simply too incredible.
"Is such a thing really possible?"
"Because it's me, it's possible."
Ishikawa said with a confident expression, secretly adding in his heart: And the System…
"I hope what you say is true."
Tier Harribel nodded, retracting all the Reiatsu around her, and lay down in front of Ishikawa, completely defenceless and unreserved. If Ishikawa wanted to… he could kill her in an instant.
"You're quite carefree."
Ishikawa smiled and shook his head, reaching his hand towards Tier Harribel's abdomen. However, as if he suddenly thought of something, he withdrew his hand and instead condensed a Reishi Blade with Reiatsu, cutting down… forcefully slicing off a portion of flesh and blood from his arm.
Blood continuously flowed from where the flesh was peeled off, causing Tier Harribel's expression to change as she lay on the stone platform.
"You must have noticed too, my body is a bit special, it has the ability to conceal my aura."
Ishikawa said, grinding the severed flesh and blood into a muddy paste with Reiatsu, and infusing all his own Reiatsu into it: "I will use my flesh and blood to form Spiritual Crests to conceal my aura. This way, as long as you don't use a second Release Form, no one other than me will be able to detect the changes in your body, which should help you avoid a lot of trouble."
At this point, Ishikawa couldn't help but chuckle: "Does this count as having my flesh and blood inside you?"
Tier Harribel couldn't help but glance at Ishikawa upon hearing this, then turned her head away: "Hmph, instead of saying you're helping me avoid trouble, shouldn't you say you're helping yourself avoid trouble?"
"As expected, I can't hide it from you."
Ishikawa smiled slightly: "I don't want that Adult you mentioned to know about me."
"Rest assured, if it's really as you say, and I can achieve a second Release Form, then as long as I don't encounter a life-or-death crisis, I won't use a second Release Form, nor will I tell anyone else about you… including that Adult."
Tier Harribel finished speaking, then changed the subject: "Don't overthink it, I'm not doing this for you, I'm just keeping a trump card. Anyway, with my strength, in most battles, one Release Form is enough!"
"Mm."
Ishikawa nodded, then his expression changed, and he said seriously: "I'm starting!"
The mixture of flesh, blood, and Reiatsu rapidly transformed in Ishikawa's hand, finally turning into transparent runes resembling tree branches.
Almost at the instant the runes appeared, the incredibly dense Reishi in Hueco Mundo surged into the cave where the two of them were, like a tsunami.
The various hidden Spiritual Crests carved around the cave vibrated, humming, as if they would collapse at any moment in the face of this massive amount of Reishi.
Seeing this, Ishikawa's expression darkened, and he sped up his movements.
…
Buzz buzz buzz—
The almost violent Reishi rapidly gathered. If one looked from outside the cave, it would appear as if a giant funnel had formed above the cave, with Reishi pouring madly into the cave along the funnel.
But apart from the visual effect, due to the presence of those hidden Spiritual Crests, no aura was emitted; it only drew the gaze of countless Hollows around the cave, filling their hearts with an inexplicable sense of craving, causing them to unconsciously move towards the cave where the giant funnel was located.
In a blink of an eye, the area outside the cave was already densely packed with Hollows.
Clap clap clap—
At this very instant, a sound like something collapsing was heard, followed by an incredibly violent Reishi storm. This Reishi storm instantly spread throughout the entire Hueco Mundo, even causing the expressions of the Arrancars in Las Noches to change, as they instinctively tried to locate the source of the Reishi storm.
However…
This Reishi storm only appeared for an instant before vanishing without a trace, too short for them to even detect where that inexplicable aura came from.
Except for the countless Hollows scattered around the cave.
The instant the Reishi storm appeared, it caused these Hollows to become agitated, even the Gillian, driven by instinct, began to gather towards this direction.
Time passed bit by bit, just as these Hollows were about to enter the cave.
Whoosh—
A sound of tearing air was heard, and a petite figure, like a nimble swallow, appeared out of thin air, letting out a sharp shriek.
Swish swish swish swish…
In any area covered by the shriek, all living beings seemed to be cut by an invisible blade, disintegrating one after another.
In the blink of an eye, the entire area.
Whether it was those weak Hollows, or Gillian, or even Adjuchas!
Everything turned to dust under the sound waves formed by the shriek.
And the figure that had turned into a swallow did not stop, disappearing from its original spot in a flash.
Ishikawa's figure appeared in front of the cave, his gaze fixed on the direction the swallow flew, his eyes filled with shock.
He felt…
Like he had created a monster!!
He could clearly feel that the auras of the living beings in the areas that could witness the previous changes were disappearing at an incredible speed.
—Extinction!
Even though he clearly knew that Tier Harribel was helping him hide, this almost insane solution made Ishikawa can't help but wince.
Moreover, this was only the second Release Form.
If Tier Harribel mastered the third Release Form…
Ishikawa's mouth twitched slightly, and he secretly decided that he would absolutely never modify Arrancars randomly again!
Perhaps because his own flesh and blood were added, the effect of Tier Harribel's re-forged 'soul core' far exceeded what a Hollow Mark should originally have, even making Ishikawa feel fear for a moment, as if he had created a creature that should not exist.
Fortunately…
[Tier Harribel's Favorability +1, gained 13,000 experience points, current Favorability: 60]
Just as Ishikawa expected, the moment the soul core was successfully reforged, Tier Harribel's favorability towards him directly increased from the original 40 points to the maximum of 60 points.
Moreover, the experience points gained per point of favorability also significantly increased after the soul core was reforged.
Originally, with 40 points of favorability, 1 point of favorability only provided Ishikawa with 4,800 experience points, but after the soul core was reforged, 1 point of favorability directly provided Ishikawa with 6,500 experience points; when it reached 50 points, each point even provided Ishikawa with 13,000 experience points.
Current experience points: 239,450
This was a full 40,000 more experience points than Ishikawa originally estimated.
Although this number was far from as terrifying as Unohana Retsu's, it had already surpassed Captain Soi Fon, one could say…
In the System's judgment, Tier Harribel's strength after her second Release Form was significantly stronger than Soi Fon or captains of her rank.
Mm…
It's hard to judge exactly how strong she is, but killing his current self would probably be like playing a game.
After all, in just half a minute, the number of Hollows killed by Tier Harribel had reached a point where even Ishikawa couldn't count them.
The only pity was…
Tier Harribel's favorability towards him didn't break through to 61, otherwise he would now have nearly 370,000 experience points. If all of it was added to his Reiatsu, his Reiatsu intensity would immediately be comparable to those mid-tier captains.
However, this was understandable.
Because Hollows are formed from the prolonged torment of grievances in the deceased, their unique hollowness represents the emptiness within; this causes many Hollows to lack many emotions, and even to not understand what 'heart' means, let alone what it means to like or dislike something.
Buzz—
The void vibrated, and Tier Harribel, having returned to her normal state, jumped down from mid-air with an excited expression, then directly clung to Ishikawa.
"You're amazing, I've never felt so powerful!"
Hugging Ishikawa's neck, Tier Harribel jumped excitedly. Ishikawa smiled bitterly, and to avoid being pulled down, he had to bend down so that Tier Harribel's feet could touch the ground.
He didn't think much of it, as the favorability already indicated that this was just Tier Harribel's celebratory behavior after getting excited.
It was less like intimacy and more like brothers arm-in-arm!
And indeed, after a burst of excitement, Tier Harribel jumped down and said with an expectant look: "Is a third Release Form really possible?"
"Absolutely possible!"
Ishikawa pondered for a moment and nodded: "But don't worry, when my mastery of Hollow Marks is higher, I will modify you again."
"Oh, right."
Tier Harribel was delighted to hear this, but then, as if she thought of something, she quickly said: "Although I've eliminated all the Hollows that saw the anomaly, the previous commotion might attract others. I'll send you to the Human World right now."
"Wait, before that, can you teach me something?"
"What is it?"
"Techniques for tearing space and Cero, abilities exclusive to Hollows!!"
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