Chapter 41: The Start of Conquest

The night was still within the walls of the Soul Society, the quiet ambiance broken only by the sound of distant, muffled conversations and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Aizen's quarters were dimly lit, casting long, stretching shadows that flickered over the shelves of ancient books and scrolls.

But tonight, he was not alone. Sitting across from him, Kageyama Seijirou listened intently, his sharp eyes fixed on his friend's thoughtful gaze.

Aizen leaned forward, folding his hands beneath his chin as he began to recount his journey to Hueco Mundo, weaving the tale of his encounter with the Arrancar with careful precision.

His tone was calm and deliberate, allowing each detail to sink in, yet his eyes gleamed with a rare spark of excitement.

It was a rare sight for Seijirou to see such animation in Aizen, and it intrigued him just as much as the tale itself.

"The creature was unlike anything I've encountered before," Aizen said, his voice soft yet filled with an undeniable edge. "I've seen Menos Grande, Adjuchas, and even Vasto Lorde in my studies, but this was something… beyond that. An Arrancar—one who had shed its Hollow mask and gained a humanoid form, along with shinigami-like powers. This fusion of Hollow and shinigami is no myth, Seijirou."

Seijirou nodded, absorbing every word. His own ambitions and desire for power echoed Aizen's, their shared goal of revolution uniting them in a bond forged through secrecy and trust.

The Soul Society had always felt restricting to him—a place bound by tradition and rules that limited the potential of its inhabitants.

To replace the Soul King and reshape the world was a vision they both held, but one that required careful planning. And now, this new discovery was a potential keystone to achieving that goal.

"A Hollow… with shinigami abilities." Seijirou's voice was calm, yet it held a trace of intrigue. "So, they are capable of achieving a state beyond mere existence as a Hollow or a shinigami. This aligns with the notion of a transcendent being—one that embodies both sides of the spiritual spectrum."

Aizen nodded, his gaze sharp. "Precisely. If Hollows can evolve into Arrancar, then there must be a way to control and even enhance this evolution. Imagine an army of Arrancar, loyal to us, forged to transcend both Soul Society and Hueco Mundo alike. The groundwork is already laid—Hueco Mundo itself is a realm brimming with Hollows, raw material waiting to be refined."

Seijirou allowed himself a faint smile, leaning back as he considered Aizen's words. Conquering Hueco Mundo would be no small task, yet the potential was undeniable.

He could already envision it—an army of powerful Arrancar under their control, breaking the stagnant chains that the Soul King had bound them with.

And if the Arrancar were to evolve into even greater beings, it would shift the balance of power in a way that the Soul Society had never prepared for.

"An Arrancar army…" Seijirou repeated, testing the idea aloud. "If we were to conquer Hueco Mundo and control its Hollows, we could amass forces unlike anything seen before. But we would need to ensure absolute loyalty among them. Hollows are beings of chaos—most would resist any form of control."

Aizen's smile widened, a glint of cunning in his eyes. "That is precisely why we must take this slow, carefully. Hueco Mundo may be chaotic, but it has a hierarchy. The Menos Grande, Adjuchas, and Vasto Lorde all operate within a loose structure, where the strongest exert dominance over the weaker. We could exploit that."

Seijirou's expression shifted, intrigued. "You're suggesting that we manipulate the existing hierarchy and use it to our advantage?"

"Exactly," Aizen replied, his voice filled with a quiet conviction. "We can offer them something that no other being in Hueco Mundo can—power, a purpose. By perfecting the process of becoming Arrancar, we can give even the weakest Hollows the chance to evolve. In return, they would serve us, driven by the promise of becoming something greater. Those that refuse… would simply be removed."

Aizen's calm tone belied the ruthlessness in his words. He was envisioning a new order, one where only the strong would survive, bound together by a shared goal under his and Seijirou's guidance.

The weaker Hollows would be discarded or used as raw material for experiments, while those who demonstrated loyalty and potential would rise to serve them.

Seijirou's eyes narrowed as he considered this plan, his mind racing with the implications. "And this process of evolution… If you could refine it, control it, then we would have Hollows loyal not through fear but through ambition. Each would see us as the source of their strength, their transformation."

"Precisely," Aizen said with a nod. "But we would need a foundation—test subjects, loyal to us from the very beginning. Once we solidify our influence in Hueco Mundo, we could create a structured process for turning Hollows into Arrancar, selectively shaping them to fit our needs."

Seijirou nodded, his thoughts aligning with Aizen's vision. "This will take time, of course. But if we start with a core group, our influence will spread, and as we offer the process to more Hollows, we'll build loyalty through power and purpose. They'll serve us willingly, believing that we're offering them salvation."

Aizen regarded Seijirou with a pleased expression. "Exactly. The current system in Soul Society treats Hollows as nothing more than creatures to be exterminated, and they in turn view us as enemies. But what if we offered them something beyond survival? A new purpose, a chance to transcend their hollowed existence and gain true power? They'd be loyal to us, to our vision."

Seijirou's expression sharpened, the same excitement flickering in his eyes. "The perfect soldiers, stronger than any conventional shinigami. And with that, we could begin enacting our plans—restructuring not just Hueco Mundo but Soul Society itself."

He paused, his mind already working through the logistics. There would be much to prepare.

They'd need resources, a means to transport and control the Hollows, and ways to mask their activities from the other shinigami.

And, as he knew, even the smallest mistake could draw suspicion from other captains and those watching their actions closely.

"I assume you're already thinking of ways to mask our work in Hueco Mundo?" Seijirou asked.

Aizen nodded, a faint smile crossing his face. "Indeed. I've been refining Kyouka Suigetsu's illusions, creating layers of deception that will ensure that no one even realizes I'm absent. I will be able to move freely between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, while the others believe I am dutifully attending to my responsibilities."

Seijirou couldn't help but be impressed by the elegance of the plan. "Perfect. Then, with Kyouka Suigetsu's illusion in place, you can manage operations there while maintaining the appearance of a loyal officer here."

"Exactly," Aizen replied, his voice calm and confident. "And once our core group of Arrancar is established, I'll begin experimenting to refine the evolution process. If my theories are correct, there may be a way to stabilize and amplify their powers, allowing us to mold them as we see fit."

Seijirou's expression grew thoughtful, his mind shifting to practical concerns. "We'll need to consider carefully which Hollows we choose to evolve first. Ones with some natural strength and intelligence will be more useful, at least initially. And they'll need to be loyal—any sign of resistance, and they'll have to be eliminated."

"Agreed," Aizen replied, his eyes reflecting a cold resolve. "In the beginning, only the most promising Hollows will be chosen. Once we refine the process, we can move to a larger scale, establishing dominance over all of Hueco Mundo."

Seijirou allowed himself a slight smile, the weight of Aizen's words settling over him. The vision of an empire, of their own army of Arrancar, was a tantalizing one.

It was the beginning of a new era, one where they would have the power to rewrite the rules of their world.

"How long do you estimate before we have a viable core group?" Seijirou asked.

"With my current knowledge, a few months at the earliest," Aizen replied. "But I'll need to conduct experiments, refine the process, and confirm that each step aligns with our goals. After that, scaling our efforts will be simple. We'll continue to recruit, selecting only the strongest and most loyal, ensuring that our forces are unified in their devotion to us."

Seijirou nodded, the excitement building within him tempered by a calm, methodical resolve. "Then we'll begin preparations immediately. We'll gather resources, scout for potential recruits among the Hollows, and establish our first base in Hueco Mundo."

Aizen inclined his head, his voice filled with quiet assurance. "Precisely. And once we've established our foothold there, we can begin expanding our influence across both worlds."

The two of them shared a silent understanding, a mutual acknowledgment of the road that lay ahead.

The foundation of their empire had been laid, their plans crystallized in shared ambition and vision.

They knew that this would be a journey fraught with danger, deception, and sacrifice, but neither held any illusions about the path they'd chosen.

They were prepared to walk it, together, for their ambition.