Chapter 286: Fire and Flesh

    The throne of Las Noches had changed hands from the self-proclaimed God-King Barragan Louisenbairn to Aizen So?suke, but to Szayelaporro Granz, it made no difference. The demotion from Primera to Octava hardly bothered him—in fact, he preferred it. Under Barragan’s reign, power was everything, and it festered an environment that was all about strength. But knowledge had a place under Aizen’s reign.

    Aizen himself was a mass of knowledge.

    Watching Aizen miraculously create Arrancars was always a sight for Szayel. What’s more, Aizen never concealed his vast knowledge on Hollows and Shinigami, teaching Szayel something new with every conversation. Aizen also gave Szayel full freedom and numerous resources for his research. He could hole himself up in his laboratory and pave the path to the perfection he so craved as long as he also worked on creating/finding a specific type of Hollow/Arrancar.

    A Hollow who could absorb fire regardless of its intensity.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    Finding a Hollow with this specific condition was easier said than done, at least for most people. Szayelaporro had many methods. First, every Hollow in Las Noches was subjected to what Szayelaporro called "standard aptitude protocol"—a polite term for testing one’s affinity with flames. Unfortunately, none were found to have any fire resistance.

    When the local supply ran dry, he expanded his search. Orders filtered down through the ranks of the Espada, having their Fraccio?n spread across Hueco Mundo. They brought him specimens from the endless desert’s every dark corner.

    As the numbers soared, Szayelaporro worked up a more efficient method for testing. A new chamber, where flame pillars rose from every corner, intense enough to gravely injure but not enough to kill. None of the Hollow wanted any part of this torture but they had no right to disobey the Espada.

    Some emerged with faces charred beyond recognition. The weak never emerged at all. A select few demonstrated natural resistance—a feat that earned them more tortures in Szayelaporro’s lab.

    “Utterly useless,” he would mutter, making notes as one test subject after another died in his lab. The deaths mounted with every day, each failure pushing him closer to that dangerous edge where work began to blur with obsession.

    Szayelaporro was losing patience when one day a Hollow among the test subjects caught his attention. A tall lanky Hollow with twigs for limbs and four symmetrical holes on his body, two each on his abdomen and thighs. Szayelaporro had seen many Hollows but none ever came close to this level of imperfect proportions.

    “Fascinating,” Szayelaporro whispered, adjusting his glasses as he studied the vents. “Do they have some purpose?”

    Intrigued, Szayelaporro sent the Hollow through the first check. Where others had thrashed and screamed, Wonderweiss walked into the flames. The vents on his body dilated like a hungry mouth, drawing every pillar of flame to it.

    Szayelaporro nearly jumped in excitement. “Finally! A competent subject.”

    Without waiting for another moment, he sent the newly found Hollow to the second test — enclosing him in a small pod with a ridiculous amount of Reiatsu-enhanced flames spewing into it. To his surprise, the Hollow emerged with only minor burns, its body showing an unnatural resistance to fire.

    Szayelaporro couldn’t stop himself from laughing maniacally. “He isn’t perfect but I’ll make him perfect for Aizen.”

    The next few days were hell for the Hollow named Wonderweiss Margela. Szayelaporro worked tirelessly, pushing boundaries, breaking limits, reshaping flesh and spirit.

    “Oh, you will.” Tosen flicked the tiny box in his palm, which cast a blue light across everyone’s face. The projection showed a silver-haired young man in a Shinigami uniform. “This is the Shinigami you have to battle. Kazuya.”

    “Ahhh, let me!” Charlotte screamed as he leapt from his seat. He clenched his fist with determination. “He is beautiful, almost as stunning as me. This must be fate. As the ultimate being of beauty, it must be my destiny to overcome him.”

    Making flamboyant poses in the middle of the room, Charlotte threw one justification after another to face Kazuya.

    Luppi scowled. “Go ahead. It’s not like anybody else wants to—”

    The room suddenly froze as Ulquiorra’s cold, ancient Reiatsu filled every corner.

    “He is mine.”

    It was all Ulquiorra said before leaving the room. Yammy shrugged and followed Ulquiorra out of the room.

    “Do not kill them,” Tosen repeated Aizen’s order.

    “Tosen, when will our king be here?” Szayel asked. “The task he gave me—it''s complete.”

    Tosen turned his attention to the mad scientist, the clear goggles hiding any emotion behind his pupiless gaze. “I’ll inform him... As of right now, he has no plans to return any time soon.”

    “Oh.” Luppi smirked, intrigued. “The throne feels empty without the king.”

    “I’ll be the king,” growled a voice. Smashing open the door, Grimmjow walked in, his hands tucked in his pocket. “One day.”

    Charlotte pressed a finger against his lips. “My, if it isn’t the most confident Arrancar. You might become a king, but Charlotte will always be the most beautiful Princess~.”

    Grimmjow clenched his jaw. “Tosen, what’s the punishment for murdering an Espada?”

    “Oh my!” Charlotte laughed. “I better leave, or this brute will violate me.”

    “...”