Three Methods of Advancement

A milky white mask.

Its entire surface was a single, seamless color, devoid of any excess ornamentation, as if it were crafted from some eerie, white bone.

Resembling an enlarged facial bone structure, the protruding teeth beneath the hollow eye sockets appeared especially menacing and terrifying.

However, near the temple area, two upward-curving, ribbon-like horns could be seen…

Rather than an intimidating symbol, they looked more like a type of ornamentation.

This resemblance immediately reminded the two onlookers of Seiya's clone—the long whiskers of that dragon.

It was precisely that kind of feeling.

Perhaps it was because both originated from the same source, but the similarity did not strike anyone as strange.

After all, the real focus was on the present.

The mask.

The three people present were no strangers to it.

After all, the Hollowfication incident back then had been orchestrated by them, and they had seen firsthand the fates of Shinji Hirako and the others.

For those former Captains who had 'sacrificed' themselves for research, even Kaname Tōsen, let alone Rōshi, had a deep impression of them.

However…

That impression was only as 'experimental subjects.'

Aizen gazed at the now 'unrecognizable' Seiya with great interest and murmured,

"The power of Hollows has strong assimilative properties."

"The moment it manifests, it produces various distinct characteristics on the user's body."

"These symptoms include, but are not limited to, localized Hollowfication, mental confusion, and loss of control…"

This was not speculation but a conclusion drawn from solid experimental data.

And indeed, the facts confirmed it.

During the Hollowfication incident, all affected Captains and Lieutenants had fallen into uncontrollable chaos.

However, it had not been without purpose.

As part of the research material, Rōshi had gained invaluable intelligence.

"At the same time, through Hollowfication, a Shinigami can obtain even greater power."

"Their originally stable Reiryoku undergoes a dramatic increase upon Hollowfication."

"It becomes highly aggressive while also enhancing certain instincts… leading to actions that would have previously seemed unthinkable."

From an outsider's perspective, it appeared as if they had become a completely different person.

But in essence, they remained the same individual—there was no true change.

After all…

This was merely the splitting of the soul.

Seiya fully understood Aizen's point.

He simply responded calmly,

"I understand what you mean, Aizen-sensei, but right now… my consciousness is perfectly clear."

Years of meticulous planning and research had already given Aizen a complete understanding of what had transpired that day.

The essence of Hollowfication was the transformation of a Shinigami's soul into a new Hollow-like form.

Mere words could not prove this; an example would make it far easier to understand.

So at this moment, Aizen shifted his gaze to the side.

He looked at the monitor screen, where Seiya's Yaksha clone remained in a dormant state.

"In the past, I struggled to understand what Shinji Hirako and the others meant by 'another self.'"

"From my perspective, their words made no sense."

"But now… Seiya-kun's existence has helped me grasp much more."

Aizen's expression turned intrigued.

"Back then, it wasn't that Shinji Hirako and the others couldn't control themselves—it was simply that they refused to accept another version of themselves."

A Hollow is still a soul.

However, unlike a Shinigami, a Hollow is a corrupted, malevolent soul—hence, it manifests in ways that are more twisted and instinct-driven.

A simple example illustrates this.

When Ichigo first encountered White in his inner world, his immediate reaction was, 'This guy can't be trusted.'

Even later, when Yhwach called out to Zangetsu, Ichigo's response upon seeing White was nothing short of disgust.

Why?

Because White's behavior, attitude, and image made him inherently untrustworthy.

After all, no normal person would look exactly like themselves!

Not to mention, he would randomly start shouting about kings and horses while cackling like a lunatic as he slashed at people…

Compared to that, Yhwach's older, more composed image seemed far more reliable.

Age and experience have a deceptive charm, after all.

Appearance plays a crucial role.

Even Ichigo, who was destined to transcend the three realms, fell victim to this perception bias due to his lack of traditional Shinigami conditioning.

By contrast…

"Seiya-kun has none of these flaws."

Aizen stared intently at the monitor, his face filled with admiration.

"Because for Seiya-kun, his clones, created through Bankai, directly replace his original body… undergoing full Hollowfication in his stead."

There were no two souls fighting for control.

Thus, there was no internal conflict.

Moreover, due to his Zanpakutō's unique abilities, even after transformation, the clone remained an extension of Seiya's consciousness.

They were one and the same—two bodies, one will. There was never a question of conflict.

Because he possessed two bodies, Seiya could intimately analyze the differences between them.

Thanks to this, Seiya was able to stand on the shoulders of giants—building upon Aizen's years of research to glimpse an even greater truth.

Complete mastery over Hollowfication.

The ability to manifest and suppress its power at will, purely through conscious control.

And Seiya had already achieved it.

At this point, Kaname Tōsen interjected.

"Do you feel anything unusual in your body?"

"No, I can still fully control myself."

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

Seiya flexed and uncurled his right hand, testing his grip.

"The power boost from Hollowfication is undeniable… I can clearly sense my strength increasing."

It wasn't just a rise in Reiryoku.

His strength, speed, and reflexes had all improved significantly.

Though, to Seiya, it was slightly disappointing.

After all, in the original story, Ichigo's Hollowfication granted him an overwhelming power boost—allowing him to completely dominate his normal self.

(Of course, that was also because Ichigo wasn't in the right mindset.)

However, Seiya quickly dismissed the thought.

Every individual's Hollowfication was unique.

The duration, power augmentation, and side effects varied greatly.

In his case, his boost wasn't as exaggerated—but that was acceptable.

"I see… So the increase in power depends on the individual."

Aizen jotted down more notes, contemplating aloud,

"If the Hollowfication level is adjusted, would the power increase accordingly?"

—A theory that mirrored the original story.

When Ichigo first trained with the Visoreds, he nearly lost control at the brink of unconsciousness, triggering extreme Hollowfication.

"It's unfortunate, but that method doesn't necessarily lead to greater strength."

"In fact, it's quite the opposite… Deeper Hollowfication only fuels violent tendencies, impairing judgment."

"In my opinion, finding the optimal balance and maintaining it is the best approach."

Thus, merely donning the mask was the ideal state.

This was why the Visoreds only used partial masks—it wasn't just for style, but an actual strategic power regulation.

"…"

Aizen twirled his pen, contemplating.

After a long pause, he murmured, almost to himself,

"In that case… Hollowfication is not the final destination."

Seiya remained silent.

He could only sigh inwardly.

Aizen's intelligence needed no praise—it was already at the highest level.

And once again, he had grasped the fundamental truth.

Indeed, Hollowfication was not the end.

It was merely reclaiming power that had always belonged to oneself.

The true paths forward were twofold:

Aizen's method—Fusing with the Hōgyoku to forcibly merge Hollow and Shinigami powers, skipping the division altogether.

Ichigo's method—Enduring hardships to fully accept one's other self, achieving true unity.

Of course, there was a unique case—Kaname Tōsen.

He had completely accepted his Hollow self, making him the only Shinigami capable of Resurrección.

This insight intrigued Seiya… but lacked data for further study.

Thus, the second method remained the 'orthodox' one.

But Seiya faced a unique problem—he had no 'other self' to accept.

His soul had never split. His clones were merely extensions of himself.

Even if he wanted to advance further, there was no clear path.

So…

"Does this mean I have to find my own way forward?"

A little frustrating—but it was the reality.

Still, Seiya accepted it quickly.

It was already a rare opportunity. There was no point in complaining.

With a steadying breath, he adjusted his mindset.

He reached up and lightly wiped his face.

Black lightning flickered through the air, carrying a chilling aura.

Then, along with the dissolving mask, it dissipated into fine gray smoke.

Returning to his normal state, Seiya pondered for a moment before addressing Tōsen.

"My Hollowfication lasts about ten minutes before I start losing control."

"My consciousness blurs, and my body becomes sluggish…"

"If I keep fighting at full power, the duration shortens even further."

It was a pure 'burst mode.'

This was Seiya's full understanding of the mask.

Tōsen meticulously recorded everything.

And with that… the matter of Hollowfication was temporarily concluded.

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Powerstones?

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