For days, Ron had been debating what to exchange his points for.
If not for Aizen's reminder, he would have forgotten the Hōgyoku even existed.
It was a conceptual artifact — a creation of pure will.
Once fused, it would manifest the user's innermost desire, shaping reality according to their heart.
Of course, there was a condition.
To actualize desire, the host must have the strength to make that wish possible.
For example, if Rayleigh fused with it, the Hōgyoku could restore him to his peak…
but it couldn't make him as overwhelming as Ron.
At this moment, Aizen stared at the flawless Hōgyoku before him.
His pupils contracted. His breath grew heavy, heart pounding—
This was the power he had always longed for.
Should he gamble?
One reckless strike, motorcycle from a bicycle?
Driven by instinct, Aizen's hand lifted toward the Hōgyoku—
Then he forced it down.
After a moment of silence, he exhaled, wearing that same calm smile.
"Congratulations. You managed to disturb my thoughts."
"Just now, I had only two ideas:
One, to simply watch you fuse with the Hōgyoku.
And the other— to seize it, despite the unknown risk—"
He didn't finish.
A terrifying aura exploded through the tavern, shaking every corner.
Aizen froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Thor was smiling at him.
The kind of smile that meant: one wrong move, and you die.
Yoruichi practically vibrated with excitement, eyes shining with 'please fight'.
"Relax," Aizen said mildly.
"I only thought about it. I won't act."
He lifted his glass and took a sip, inwardly grateful.
If he had tried anything…
he wouldn't have left this tavern alive.
The scariest person here wasn't the blonde girl—
but the woman with half-closed eyes, the Holy Master and his son, and those dysfunctional sisters.
"We can negotiate," Aizen said, looking toward the bar.
"I want to buy that Hōgyoku. Name any price."
"You can't afford it," Ron shook his head.
He opened his hand.
The Hōgyoku didn't fall.
Gravity simply ignored it — it floated.
Then Aizen's heart shattered.
The sphere drifted toward Ron's chest, passed through his shirt—
and vanished inside him.
"It… recognized him?"
"The Hōgyoku acknowledged him?" Aizen's expression twisted.
Then it smoothed out again.
In truth, he felt relieved.
He hadn't planned on this Hōgyoku.
Being able to observe a complete fusion process was pure profit.
Besides — in reality, there was another incomplete Hōgyoku.
Finding Urahara Kisuke would take time…
but Shinigami had plenty of time.
Curled atop the bar, Yoruichi sensed Ron's swelling reiatsu.
Her eyes widened.
"Protect the tavern. Now."
"He's like a bomb. If his reiatsu detonates, this place will be erased in an instant."
Thor and Lucoa exchanged a glance and quickly placed barriers around Ron, sealing the leaking pressure.
Then it happened.
The moment the Hōgyoku merged with Ron's chest, a new force surged through him.
Reiatsu.
An overwhelming torrent rushed out, expanding like a geyser.
Vrrrmmmm—
Thor and Lucoa's double-layer barrier shook violently.
Even the reiatsu that escaped made Yoruichi and Aizen tremble.
This sensation…
Like gazing up at a higher dimension of existence.
For the first time, these captain-level beings felt small.
And it only deepened Aizen's desire.
This was the power he sought —
to evolve infinitely, transcend the boundary of Shinigami and human,
to overthrow the Soul King, stand at the peak, and reshape the world.
Minute by minute, the fusion stabilized.
The Hōgyoku became one with Ron.
"Is it over?" Aizen stared, unblinking.
Reiatsu pulsed visibly around Ron's body, like breathing light.
As its creator, Aizen could see it clearly.
The Hōgyoku was already deepening the fusion, beginning a new evolution.
"So this is its power…"
Ron exhaled.
His strength had skyrocketed.
Not only reiatsu — his power, stamina, speed, vitality — all leapt to a new level.
And this was merely the first stage.
He knew the Hōgyoku would soon evolve again.
Combined with its protective nature, his Sacred Body, and dragon physiology…
killing him was now nearly impossible.
That same cozy assurance washed over him —
like tucking a thermal shirt into warm pants, and the pants into thick socks.
"Comfort."
"Blue dye…" Yoruichi's mature voice carried awe.
"This is the power you wanted from Urahara Kisuke?"
Still in cat form, she hopped gracefully into Ron's arms and licked—
…lower.
Traditional cat skills.
"Yes," Aizen said, pushing up his glasses.
"This is the realm I admire and pursue."
"Urahara Kisuke is the only person in Soul Society I acknowledge."
"But it's a pity…"
"His talent and ideals don't match. A waste."
"He stepped outside the rotten system—
yet still obeys it.
Why cling to those shackles?!"
His gentle voice carried a thin edge of contempt.
Contempt for Kisuke — a man with a brain who refused to use it.
"You won't succeed," Yoruichi frowned.
"We'll see."
Aizen finished his drink, placed a thick stack of money on the counter, and slowly walked to the exit.
Just as he reached the door, Ron's lazy voice drifted behind him:
"Actually."
"You don't need to hunt for Urahara's Hōgyoku."
"I have a guest here who might be able to craft a complete one."
Aizen stopped.
"!!!"
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