Uehara Shiroha couldn't help but feel there was something fundamentally wrong with this world. Perhaps everything was the world's fault.
"Is this normal Hollowification? Is this kind of evolution even supposed to be possible?" Yoruichi asked, struggling to comprehend what she had witnessed.
This Hōgyoku seemed more potent than even the fragments of the Soul King himself. Yet apparently, the material used to create the Hōgyoku consisted of merely ordinary souls, without requiring any particularly exceptional spiritual entities.
Could such a thing truly be considered scientific or rational?
Uehara Shiroha had long since grown accustomed to such absurdities:
"This is of course neither normal nor reasonable. But it is reality, nonetheless. And reality is often outrageous."
In his estimation, both the Hōgyoku and Ichigo Kurosaki's bloodline were essentially "official cheat codes" built into this world's system.
He didn't envy these powers, however, because they paled in comparison to his own advantage.
His task system was the true "cheat code" in this reality.
Yoruichi continued her questioning, her brow furrowed in concern: "Then why has he become so overwhelmingly powerful?"
This development was dangerously destabilizing. The great noble houses had persisted for thousands of years, and even they possessed nothing so perversely powerful.
Uehara Shiroha offered his analysis:
"Because what we're witnessing isn't merely an increase or transformation of power—it's a fundamental change in the essence of his soul. It represents the evolution of a soul itself."
He gestured dismissively. "For me, this is nothing extraordinary. But for you and others, this represents the ascension from mortal to god."
In the world of death and souls, the human physical body functioned like a shell or special cocoon. The human form served as a confinement for the spirit and soul power.
After death, the spirit that broke free from this cocoon represented the true life.
These spirits might become Shinigami, Hollows, or wandering souls with no particular spiritual talent. Quincy and Fullbringers were special categories of spiritually aware beings.
In essence, the spirit was the genuine living entity. The human body was merely a transitional state—a skin bag, like clothing worn on the outside, similar to the milky white armor currently encasing Aizen.
The spirit was the living form created by the soul's influence on spiritual particles, the manifestation of the soul in the physical world.
Thus, spirits and living beings shared many characteristics, both possessing skin, flesh, blood, bones, and internal organs.
The fundamental nature of the soul determined everything about the spirit—including its strength, abilities, form, and lifespan.
The soul's essence manifested according to the will of the mind, forming spiritual pressure and spiritual power.
As long as the soul's foundation was sufficiently powerful, the resulting spiritual pressure and energy would grow stronger, and the spirit body could achieve a form of immortality.
This explained why even after physical death, captain-level spiritual bodies had the opportunity to enter Hell. Like the original living form, they were particularly difficult to destroy completely.
Therefore, the strength of Shinigami, Hollows, and Quincy depended purely on the soul's inherent talent.
Effort could only determine the lower limit of potential. The intrinsic power of the soul determined everything else, including the upper threshold of achievable strength.
This limit could not be transcended through mere effort or experience alone.
To break through the limitations imposed by the soul's nature, Aizen had employed the power of Hollowification to alter his soul's form and achieve evolutionary transcendence.
The cracked layer of armor surrounding him functioned like the human body—a shell. After removing this outer layer, the true spirit body would emerge, and the soul's full capabilities would manifest.
After hearing Uehara Shiroha's explanation, Yoruichi appeared even more astonished:
"Is such a thing truly possible? The Hōgyoku actually possesses this level of power? How could Urahara not have realized its full potential?"
Only now did she comprehend just how dangerous the Hōgyoku really was.
But why hadn't Urahara Kisuke discovered this before? Wasn't he supposed to be exceptionally intelligent?
Uehara Shiroha explained patiently:
"Aizen believed Urahara didn't know, but in reality, Urahara understood this aspect of the Hōgyoku long ago. Although his knowledge was incomplete, he still managed to set his trap based on this understanding."
While Aizen hadn't underestimated Uehara Shiroha, he had indeed underestimated Urahara Kisuke.
This miscalculation represented an important factor in his eventual downfall.
Yoruichi asked with growing concern: "What should we do now?"
She was somewhat puzzled by Uehara Shiroha's apparent indifference toward the Hōgyoku. A weapon of such immense power should logically be secured, even if one had no immediate plans to use it.
Uehara Shiroha responded calmly: "Now we wait."
"Wait?" Yoruichi's confusion only deepened.
"Yes," he confirmed. "We wait for Aizen to destroy himself, and we wait for Ichigo Kurosaki to fully awaken his divine potential."
For Uehara Shiroha, everything was unfolding according to plan.
Despite Aizen's current exultation and apparent triumph, the man was like a grasshopper in autumn—his jumping days were numbered.
When the time came, Uehara would collect his head with little effort.
Simultaneously, he could use the confrontation between Aizen and Ichigo to further strengthen the Hōgyoku, making it even more powerful and responsive to its master's will.
Perfect!
...
Ichigo Kurosaki, however, possessed no such confidence.
He looked at the three fallen warriors with alarm and shouted, "Dad! Urahara-san!"
At that moment, a sinister voice came from behind him:
"Is it wise to ignore me so completely? You're leaving yourself extremely vulnerable."
Hearing this cold voice, which resembled the hissing of a venomous snake, Ichigo felt a chill run down his spine as his pupils contracted in fear.
He spun around quickly to find Gin Ichimaru standing there, eyes narrowed to slits as usual.
"Just kidding! Don't be so tense," Gin said to Ichigo with his perpetual fox-like smile. "There's no need for me to attack you."
His smile widened fractionally as he continued, "Because you can't do anything meaningful at this point. Your Bankai, your Hollow powers, your Getsuga Tenshō—none of these could even harm me, let alone the current Aizen-sama."
His head tilted slightly to one side as he observed Ichigo's reaction.
"I've never seen Lord Aizen like this before. To be honest, I didn't expect him to fuse with the Hōgyoku at this particular moment and gain such tremendous power."
His voice dropped to an almost conspiratorial whisper. "But for you, I'm afraid everything is over."