The awakening of her Quincy power felt as natural as eating or drinking. Soifon didn't sense any violent surge in her Spiritual Pressure, nor did she feel even a hint of discomfort; it was simply that her body's instincts had gained a few new tricks.
Of course, while her Spiritual Pressure remained unchanged, Soifon's overall combat strength had increased significantly.
For instance, she had mastered new techniques: Blut Arterie and Blut Vene.
These were the innate abilities of pure-blood Quincies, where spirit particles are infused into the blood vessels to drastically enhance the destructive power of physical attacks or the strength of one's defense, though they could not be used simultaneously.
Despite being a hybrid Quincy converted after birth, she had managed to master the power of Blut at the moment of awakening—truly a product of the System.
Seeing Soifon standing still on the spot, Nelliel and Ulquiorra did not step forward to disturb her, silently waiting by her side.
Once she had a basic grasp of her body's current condition, Soifon turned to look at the two of them.
"Nelliel will follow me for now. You, go about your business," Soifon said, waving a hand at Ulquiorra. "No one is to know about my visit today, except for Captain Aizen."
"Understood." The two Arrancars nodded in unison, and only Nelliel remained to accompany Soifon.
Ulquiorra turned and departed without doubting Soifon's motives.
After all, the Nelliel that Soifon had kept by her side was the stronger one; if the intruder intended to cause trouble, there would be no need for such a convoluted ruse.
The time that had passed was more than enough for Nelliel to recover her strength.
"Excellency..."
"Let's go. First, we'll rescue your kidnapped adjutant."
"You even know about that?"
...
Inside Las Noches, the laboratory.
When Szayelaporro saw Nelliel following Soifon, he adjusted his glasses with a hint of guilt.
"I need the progress report on the development of the 'Extinguishing Prince'."
Ignoring his awkward expression, Soifon barked orders at Szayelaporro without the slightest hesitation. She was growing quite accustomed to this persona.
"...I can give you the report on the Extinguishing Prince."
Szayelaporro hadn't fully bought into Soifon's identity yet. He handed over a progress report he had fabricated just moments ago.
If Soifon truly understood Captain Aizen's intent behind designing the 'Extinguishing Prince,' she would be able to spot the errors in his report at a glance. If not...
Szayelaporro hid his hands behind his back, clutching an emergency communication button as he silently waited for Soifon to read the document.
Soifon took the stack of papers. The moment her gaze fell upon the first page, her brow furrowed involuntarily.
The 'Extinguishing Prince' described in this report wasn't just different from the one in her memories; it wasn't even in the same ballpark.
Wonderweiss was meant to seal flames within his body. Why on earth was this report talking about an ice-attribute Arrancar?
She looked up, pinning Szayelaporro with a strange, piercing gaze.
Then, Soifon raised both hands and slowly tore the report in half right down the middle...
"Is this what you intend to show Captain Aizen?" Soifon's Spiritual Pressure began to climb steadily. "In that case, I don't think there's any need for you to exist..."
Oh no, the intel is real! This person in black really is one of us!
Szayelaporro immediately raised his hands above his head, frantically trying to defend himself. "That just now was merely a test! I can give you the correct one right now!"
The rising Spiritual Pressure came to a halt. Szayelaporro seized the opportunity to continue explaining: "Excellency, I was merely acting in Lord Aizen's best interest. Please understand..."
The air, which had grown thick and stagnant under the weight of her pressure, suddenly felt light again. Soifon nodded slowly, acknowledging his excuse.
Once Soifon received the report containing the detailed development data, she realized one thing: she really wasn't suited for scientific research.
With this document, even if the Captain-Commander didn't believe her word, he couldn't ignore the evidence in black and white.
Of course, if her future negotiations with Aizen went smoothly, that would be a different matter entirely.
Tucking the report into her cloak, Soifon checked the time on her Soul Pager. She had already been in Hueco Mundo for half a day.
Calculating the time Shunsui Kyōraku would need to drag Aizen out for drinks, Soifon decided it was time to retreat.
Thus, she opened a Garganta right in front of the two of them.
"Regarding today's events, except for Captain Aizen..."
"I understand, it's a secret. A complete secret."
Before Soifon could emphasize it again, Szayelaporro quickly finished her sentence.
"Good. Then I'm leaving." Soifon stepped into the Garganta and glanced back at the two. "Goodbye, Szayelaporro. And... Nelliel."
Opening a Garganta so casually... but judging by that Spiritual Pressure, this is another Shinigami...
Szayelaporro's eyes narrowed, and he quickly lowered his head to adjust his glasses.
He recalled the surveillance footage he had seen from the Forest of Menos. Could this mysterious person today be the same one...?
However, Aizen didn't seem to know who had caused the disturbance in the Forest of Menos. If they were the same person, then today's identity was a complete fabrication.
But if it were a fake identity, how could they know so much classified information...?
Szayelaporro felt a headache coming on. He shook his head vigorously, casting his suspicions aside.
Forget it. He couldn't afford to offend either side. He would just play the ostrich.
As long as it didn't interfere with his research, he was fine. If Aizen didn't ask when he returned, then he wouldn't tell.
"Szayelaporro, what's wrong with you? Did the Spiritual Pressure rattle your brain?"
Nelliel looked at her colleague shaking his head, offering a basic level of concern.
As of now, she still didn't know that Nnoitra's backstabbing tool had been crafted by this man.
"I just had a sudden burst of research inspiration. You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Szayelaporro snapped back and turned to walk straight toward his lab bench.
I'm out. I can't communicate with these illiterate Arrancars who can't even read a research report.
...
The Seki-Seki Stone chamber of the Second Division.
Soifon, clad in her black cloak, stepped out of the Garganta. The Seki-Seki Stone material successfully insulated the spiritual energy fluctuations produced by the cavity.
After hiding her black cloak, Soifon sat cross-legged on the stone floor. She drew her Zanpakutō and thrust it quickly toward her left hand...
Hum—
The moment the tip of the blade touched the back of her hand, a layer of deep blue spirit-particle patterns instantly surfaced on her skin. They spread along the paths of her blood vessels, emitting a faint spiritual glow.
Using ten percent of her strength, Soifon felt an unprecedented resistance from the tip of the blade.
It wasn't until she adjusted her output to fifty percent that Soifon's Blut Vene failed to withstand the overwhelming force, and the area in contact with the blade tip began to crumble.
Csh.
A nearly inaudible sound of breaking.
The tip of the Zanpakutō finally broke through that layer of blue light.
Soifon immediately stopped her movements and withdrew her Blut Vene. The cold tip of the Zanpakutō rested gently against her skin, sending a slight stinging sensation through her.
At the same time, waves of Spiritual Pressure rippled from her Zanpakutō.
[You don't use my Bankai, and now you don't even use my Shikai!]
[Fine, ignore the Shikai, but now you're using me for self-harm?!]
[Soifon, what is the meaning of this! I'm angry!]
This was the sentiment conveyed by Suzumebachi's Spiritual Pressure.
"Sigh..."
Soifon walked to a nearby shelf, picked up a clean cloth, and began to gently wipe Suzumebachi's blade.
"Suzumebachi, you've misunderstood me."
"If I had released my Zanpakutō in Hueco Mundo earlier, Aizen would have been able to lock onto my identity the moment he discovered the person in black."
"As for just now, I was testing my defensive capabilities."
"Suzumebachi, you know..."
"No other Zanpakutō possesses power as great as yours. Naturally, you are the most suitable one to use for a test."
The Spiritual Pressure fluctuations from the blade gradually leveled out. It seemed the comfort was effective.
[I'll let it slide this time. Remember to use my powers more in the future...]
After a long while, another wave of Spiritual Pressure came from the blade.
"I know. I will rely on your strength much more from now on, Suzumebachi."
Blinking, Soifon wiped Suzumebachi's blade until it shone brilliantly.
[That's more like it.]
...
Upon leaving the Seki-Seki Stone chamber, Soifon's unmasked Spiritual Pressure was immediately sensed by the two girls dozing in the office.
"Soifon-sensei!"
"Are you alright?"
They circled Soifon several times, and only after confirming she had no wounds did they finally relax.
"I'm fine," Soifon said with a smile. "Did anything special happen today?"
"Special? Not really," Rukia recalled. "However, Vice-Captain Isane came by to find you, Sensei. She invited you to a banquet on the last day of the year."
"A banquet? Where's the invitation?"
Soifon leaned forward, noticing that Rukia and Momo Hinamori didn't have anything in their hands.
"Vice-Captain Isane said 'the usual place.' She said you'd know once you heard it, Sensei," Momo Hinamori added.
The usual place... I see. So it's the Kuchiki manor.
"Alright. I'll take both of you with me when the time comes."
"Eh? Really...? Mmph?! @#$%&"
Rukia instinctively tried to offer a polite refusal, but Momo Hinamori was quick to cover her mouth.
"Soifon-sensei's word is her bond; how could she lie to us?!" Momo Hinamori lectured her friend with righteous indignation. "Rukia, why have you started being all formal and polite like those other nobles!"
What if Soifon-sensei really decides not to take us?!
_____
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