Is that sun on the horizon the lingering glow of a setting sun, hanging at the edge of the sky? Or is it the first light of dawn, heralding the rise of a new day?
Masatsuki Aozaki had no way of knowing. Because that sun simply hovered there—neither rising nor setting.
The afterglow of twilight seemed to drape Yahweh's face in a golden veil, while the light of the rising sun bathed Masatsuki Aozaki's figure, making him shine brilliantly.
"Won't you come with me?"
Masatsuki Aozaki asked softly.
At that moment, the sunlight fell upon Yahweh's face, illuminating it even more. Yahweh froze for a brief moment, a rare look of surprise flashing across his face. Then, he chuckled and shook his head.
"Don't be afraid. The path is wide... You won't be alone."
His voice was quiet, yet it reached Masatsuki Aozaki's ears clearly.
With those words, Yahweh slowly turned and walked away, his figure gradually fading into the endless sea of clouds.
Masatsuki Aozaki stood motionless, as still as a statue. He placed a hand over his chest, as if feeling the warmth of his own heartbeat.
The world around him fell into an unnatural silence.
Sunlight, golden as molten metal, spilled onto the corridor, casting a dazzling array of colors, making it feel like he was standing in a paradise adrift in mist.
After a long while, Masatsuki Aozaki finally stirred, as if waking from a dream. He slowly lowered his hand, then stepped forward, ascending the staircase one step at a time.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He never looked back.
...
The wind howled. Waves crashed. Thunder rumbled. Birds sang. A woman's laughter, crisp as silver bells, echoed.
A cacophony of sounds surged and receded, ringing endlessly in Masatsuki Aozaki's ears. The world around him grew ever more vibrant and dazzling.
Masatsuki Aozaki paused, feeling as though he had just woken from a dream. But when he looked around, he found only the same barren, desolate land stretching before him.
He opened his arms... but had no one to embrace.
From the heavens, he had returned to the Forest of Menos.
Masatsuki Aozaki let his arms fall to his sides, a trace of confusion and emptiness flickering in his gaze.
Just then, the sound of unfamiliar, deliberate footsteps reached his ears.
He looked up.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
A white creature—wearing a long-horned mask. The left side of the mask was shattered, revealing half of a young man's face.
His short, jet-black hair was tousled, his skin pale as paper, his eyes an eerie shade of green. His limbs were long and slender, a pair of bat-like wings sprouting from his back. A deep green streak ran down his face, like a trail of dried tears.
An Arrancar.
Or more precisely, a half-formed one—not yet fully evolved.
The young man gazed blankly at Masatsuki Aozaki, the one who had just "embraced the world," saying nothing. Then, slowly, he began walking toward him.
There was something about Masatsuki Aozaki that inexplicably drew him in.
Setting aside his fleeting reverie, Masatsuki Aozaki took a step forward, carefully studying the half-Arrancar before him. With such distinct features, he already had an idea of who this might be.
"…Vasto Lorde?"
Masatsuki Aozaki asked with a smile.
To avoid startling the dazed young man, he refrained from calling out his name.
In the original timeline, Ulquiorra Cifer was the No. 4 Espada.
From the moment of his birth, Ulquiorra had always been different from his kind. He was a humanoid Hollow, his entire body pure white, with sight as his only sense. In contrast, his peers were pitch black, their eyes and teeth glowing in the darkness. Because of his unique appearance and unnatural disposition, he was rejected and isolated by the others.
So, he left the cave on his own, wandering Hueco Mundo in solitude.
During his long journey, he stumbled upon a strange, white grove. It was colorless, soundless, and scentless—an existence seemingly detached from the world itself, standing in silent isolation.
To Ulquiorra, this grove was the closest thing to true nothingness that he had ever encountered. At that moment, he resolved to bury himself within this endless void.
But the moment he stepped into the mysterious grove, the unexpected happened.
The instant he touched one of its branches, the solid Hollow mask on his face shattered on its own, transforming him from a Hollow into a Half-Arrancar.
"Could it be that the white grove Ulquiorra encountered was actually the Soul King's kidney fused with the Hōgyoku?"
Masatsuki Aozaki stroked his chin in thought.
The truth about the Soul King's kidney had only become clear to him after absorbing the massive tree and forest. It was, in essence, a crucial organ within the Soul King's body, responsible for maintaining "balance."
And this "balance" was not merely superficial—it extended into every detail, regulating the delicate relationships and distribution of all "resources." It functioned like an intricate and precise ecosystem, where every part was interdependent, influencing one another in a continuous cycle of adjustment to sustain overall stability and harmony.
Take himself as an example. On the surface, it might have seemed like he had simply taken a nap after assimilating the Soul King's kidney.
But in reality...
His soul, spiritual body, and Reiatsu had undergone a complete reconfiguration, ultimately achieving an unprecedented state of "balance."
This balance was critical.
It brought a fundamental improvement not only to his physical abilities but also to his control over his Reiatsu.
Even his Kidō—at the same Reiatsu output—could now unleash twice its original power.
Without a doubt, his strength had increased significantly.
As he gazed at Ulquiorra, curiosity stirred in Masatsuki Aozaki's heart.
He watched as Ulquiorra slightly parted his lips, as if attempting to speak, but no words came out.
"Is it because he just completed his Arrancar transformation and hasn't adapted to speaking yet?"
Masatsuki Aozaki speculated.
Ulquiorra Cifer—an existence that ceaselessly pursued the meaning of nothingness.
He never listened, never ate, never touched, never rested. He had no companions.
His only connection to the world was through his emerald-green eyes.
He drifted alone, detached from existence itself. Things that entered his gaze were meaningless. Things beyond his gaze simply did not exist.
Yet, this seemingly hollow existence deeply intrigued Masatsuki Aozaki.
"The void should exist within my world as well. If that's the case... come to my world."
Grinning, he extended a hand toward Ulquiorra, whose puzzled gaze remained fixed upon him.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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