Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 189: Murciélago

After chatting for a while, they arrived at Masatsuki Aozaki's temporary laboratory.

The entire room was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere.

Masatsuki Aozaki stood at the center, surrounded by the Arrancars and Menos under his command. Among them, Harribel, who held a slightly higher status than the others and was acknowledged as a "companion," sat quietly at his side.

Masatsuki Aozaki slowly rose to his feet and stepped forward toward the Reishi membrane before him.

Inside the translucent barrier, a figure knelt, completely wrapped in tight bandages. Though concealed, the outline of a human form was still faintly discernible.

Raising his hand, Masatsuki Aozaki extended his fingers into the membrane.

In an instant, a brilliant white Reiatsu flared at his fingertips, radiating such an intense glow that those nearby instinctively narrowed their eyes.

With a sharp, crystalline crack—like shattering glass—the Reishi membrane ruptured.

At the same time, the bandages wrapped around the figure unraveled like brittle porcelain, falling away in fragments.

Amidst the scattered remains, a man clad in half a helmet knelt motionless, his hands slowly dropping to his sides.

"Welcome back, my companion—Ulquiorra."

Masatsuki Aozaki's lips curled into a genuine smile as he extended his palm toward the kneeling figure.

Ulquiorra Cifer, now officially recognized as a "companion," lifted his head slowly.

His emerald eyes, vacant and clouded with uncertainty, fixated on the outstretched hand before him.

"Loly, give him his clothes."

Masatsuki Aozaki let out a light chuckle and withdrew his hand, his tone casual and unconcerned.

"Yes!" Loly responded immediately.

Hearing Masatsuki Aozaki call her name, she hurried forward, carrying a set of pristine white garments in her arms.

In a short moment, Ulquiorra had changed into his new attire, his appearance completely renewed.

His Zanpakutō, Murciélago, now rested at his waist. He stood tall and composed, his sharp features and slender build exuding a cold elegance—an image of refined aloofness.

Yet, despite his striking presence, when standing next to Masatsuki Aozaki, he somehow seemed unremarkable.

As a result, the others' attention was drawn more to his defining trait—the remnants of his Hollow mask, the undeniable mark of an Arrancar.

Masatsuki Aozaki observed him carefully, a flicker of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

Ulquiorra's Reiatsu in his current form was nearly identical to when he was a Half-Arrancar—at the level of an ordinary Second-Class Spiritual Power, slightly below Harribel's.

As for his other abilities, further testing would be necessary to assess them.

"You may leave for now. I will personally test your strength later."

"Yes, Masatsuki-sama."

Ulquiorra gave a slight nod, showing no resistance to the command.

As he stepped out of the laboratory, he cast a brief glance toward Harribel, who remained seated nearby.

He knew that soon, it would be her turn to undergo the Arrancar transformation.

Recalling his own experience of becoming an Arrancar, he nodded slightly to himself, as if something had become clear to him.

Though he didn't fully understand the reason for avoiding the process, he followed Masatsuki Aozaki's instructions without hesitation, carrying them out with unquestioning obedience.

"Everyone here has just witnessed the state Ulquiorra achieved," Masatsuki Aozaki said in a low voice.

"This proves that even a Vasto Lorde-class Menos can undergo perfect Arrancarization."

For a brief moment, silence filled the room.

Then, a flicker of excitement flashed in the eyes of Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose.

"Harribel, come to my side. It's time for your Arrancarization experiment. Once you successfully transform, you will gain even greater power."

Masatsuki Aozaki's gaze swept across the gathered Hollows before finally settling on Harribel. His tone carried both encouragement and anticipation.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I believe you have as well. Let us witness it together."

Harribel met his gaze, her eyes unwavering, conveying a silent promise.

Then, she nodded firmly, signaling that she was ready.

The other women in the room exchanged smiles, each harboring different thoughts.

Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose sincerely hoped to see Harribel grow stronger.

Loly and Menoly, however, were more concerned about their own survival.

Though they had been captured as test subjects, they couldn't deny that Arrancarization had elevated them to a higher form of existence.

But evolution brought more than just power—it also carried immense risks.

After all, within Las Noches lurked a terrifyingly powerful and deranged scientist.

If that madman were to discover them, there was no doubt he would personally capture them and subject them to further cruel experiments.

According to Harribel, this scientist was not only ruthless but also one of the strongest Vasto Lordes, with unfathomable power.

They all knew Masatsuki Aozaki wouldn't remain in Hueco Mundo for long. He frequently left, often disappearing without a trace.

This left them feeling vulnerable and uneasy in the face of potential threats.

Harribel had become their leader, their protector.

If she could successfully become an Arrancar, then even in Masatsuki Aozaki's absence, they would have someone strong enough to ensure their safety.

However, Harribel did not smile.

Lowering her head, she gently placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.

"During the Arrancarization process, I will use a special white cloth to wrap your body and deploy a Reishi membrane around you. This will stabilize your spiritual particles and prevent external interference during your transformation," Masatsuki Aozaki explained.

Then, with a playful tone, he added,

"I wonder—are you afraid of the dark? If you are, don't worry, I'll be right here with you the whole time."

"Let's begin."

Harribel had long since made up her mind. Without hesitation, she steadied her breath and focused, fully prepared.

She allowed Masatsuki Aozaki to proceed without resistance.

White cloth strips, woven from specialized Reishi, coiled around her like living serpents, wrapping her body layer by layer until she was completely enclosed.

Above them, the ceiling of the laboratory began to glow as a spherical device activated, emitting concentrated streams of Reishi energy. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

A transparent, glass-like polygonal barrier formed around her, isolating her from external Reishi.

Masatsuki Aozaki could feel the Hōgyoku within his chest resonate.

Reaching out, he placed a finger against Harribel's forehead—

The same radiant light that had shone during Ulquiorra's transformation now illuminated the room.

...

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