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Lieutenant Kyōraku roams the hall of the Research and Development Institute. He passes the many subordinates and colleagues that linger in the hall, that travel it — clearly a man on a mission. The whole time Nyūraku remains blissfully ignorant, his swirling bulging eyes ever plastered to the gruesome images before him.
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Closer now, much closer than before. Kurotsuchi mouth waters, the genius slightly salivating as he relives the moment in both memory and through the footage. To think that he would have such an opportunity, to be able to poke and prod shinigami affected by Hollowfication. How
SPLENDID!!! Not only that, the procedure had (
unfortunately) been a resounding success. Perhaps he would be granted a reward, nothing major. A mere sample or two from the Commander’s body would suffice, maybe the chance to sit in with Captain Nakamoto during one of Kagayaki’s check ups. A peek at his medical records as well shouldn’t be too much to ask for.
Finally, Nozamu journey meets its end — the Lieutenant enters the spacious space belonging to the Brainiac.
Code:
”Greetings and welcome, Lieutenant Kyōraku.”
The autonomous voice welcomes the red haired demon, simultaneously announcing his presence to the master of this space. Still, Nyūraku does nothing to turn and acknowledge his superior outside pausing the footage. Nozamu enters further into the laboratory, illuminated by only the massive holographic interface computer. As he approaches he observes the disfigured face of the Kurotsuchi, maneuvering himself towards the nearest sterile surface.
“Hollowfication as you know is the process of inserting a Hollow’s soul into a normal soul, breaking down the boundary between the two and trying to turn the original into something far more powerful. Thankfully the Aku Hachi Hakkō only caused an imperfect breakdown of the boundary, unlike Hōgyoku which is able to break down the boundary to the absolute molecular level, which is exactly why you were able to use the Vaccine originally created by Urahara Kisuke.”
Quite the lengthy opener, but enough to cause Kurotsuchi to turn and face the Lieutenant, just as he places a single document down. The space between them was significant enough, demanding Nyūraku needing to move to read the contents of the file.
He does not.
”I wasn’t able to highlight it on the way here as I was busy brainstorming, but if you look a little closer down here.”
Not deterred in the slightest, Nozamu continues on with the thoughts storming his mind. A single finger points to the page — no, a section of the page as Nyūraku’s tongue slinks from his mouth. Its tip stretches and touches his left eyeball as he twists his head clockwise.
”Quincy are able to be stabilized by using a Gigai made from a human soul that envelops any Shinigami who enters it and if either of us were to enter it we’d be between Shinigami and Human, allowing us to cancel out the Hollow that is attempting to infect the Quincy in question. As you most likely know also, this is a process that completely takes away the use of Shinigami powers and all that bad stuff, but unlike the previous vaccine we discussed, Kiskue was able to notice that there was an extremely strong reishi string binding the souls together.”
The Lieutenant takes a much needed pause, the length in which he had spoken along with his rate of speech were tell signs his thoughts were veering almost beyond his control, racing at terrible speeds. He was frantic, excited even. Clearly he believed himself on the cusp of something. His eyes glow a deep crimson, becoming rather pronounced in the dark space.
”Your inital reaction to stop the Soul Suicide in these Shinigami was indeed the first step in curing them of their inner hollows, yet there has only been one species who was known to seperate soul from body, hollows; the few I am showing you now are the only ones confirmed have actually forcibly extracted a living spirit from their own body. If we were able to recreate this exact same ability that the Hollows use, I believe that we would not only be able to modify it to be far more precise in extracting the Hollow soul from the original soul, but also put it into a body that can either be experimented upon by yourself or exterminated.”
As he finishes, Nyūraku’s tongue at this point had moved from his left eyeball and was already grazing the right eye with its tip. He pauses and finds that Nozamu doesn’t speak any further.
”Oh, done already?”
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”Could it be malnutrition? Perhaps sleep deprivation...maybe...a tumor?”
His tongue retreats into his mouth as he begins to mutter to himself. He shuffles over towards the table where Nozamu stands, standing next to his mentally afflicted colleague. Index finger and thumb pick up the document as if handling a piece of used tissue. He glances at the contents, including the highlighted portions, then turns the page looking on the back in casual inspection. He sighs before placing it back down.
”Computer, be a dear and open up the library.”
Hundreds, upon thousands upon millions of billions of trillions of small tiny glowing spheres slowly bleed into the lab before coalescing into a single massive sphere that hovers over the ground, slowly spinning.
With a wave of his hand what’s perceived as a single file is dragged from the massive glowing globe. It splits into two — one image taking the shape of a human body, the other...a hollow.
”As we know from the annals of history, former Captain of the Twelfth Division and President of the Research and Development Institute developed the Hōgyoku is known to be able to help break the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami allowing the fusion. It is this method which he used to save the lives of his former subordinate and colleagues.”
He steps away from Nozamu, approaching the two hovering images. Stares dreamily as he becomes enamored in thought. It lasts only for a moment.
”Sosuke Aizen had used a rather crude method that involved sacrificing the souls of countless shinigami souls. The Aku Hachi Hakkō...this...festering Pot, is not unlike that strange creature conjured up by Sosuke. Its corruption ensures the reiatsu inside acts much like a poison, infecting the soul of those affected...inflicting them with Hollowfication.”
He turns to face his would be superior. He cocks his head from one side to the other.
”The reason Quincy could never become part Hollow, is because Hollows are inherently the antithesis to Quincy. It is genetically and spiritually impossible for the two to coexist. The reason the Vaccine worked was because the Souls had not completely devolved into a Hollow, and Soul Suicide had not occured. This Vaccine, created by yours truly by the way...shifted the internal battle. The Shinigami’s soul resisted the Hollow as the Hollow sought to devour and overtake the Shinigami’s soul. Much like how white blood cells help in fighting infection and disease, the Quincy Vaccine was injected into our three specimens to combat its natural enemy...the hollow, weakening it enough to allow the Shinigami souls to suppress its will, smothering it until the Hollowfication process was ultimately forced to halt. Preventing them from completely turning into Hollows.”
As he speaks the two images attempt to merge, reenacting his words a third glowing image appearing in the form of an arrow, piercing the human shape and passing through to the Hollow’s causing its form to diminish in color and size.
”The stabilization used by Kisuke Urahara was made to save a Quincy, a being who under normal circumstances would ultimately die once being infected by a Hollow. As I said, it is genetically impossible for them to coexist with one unlike Shinigami. Kisuke’s process was a band aid, a temporary fix. It was made to exponentially slow the process, it didn’t halt it completely. If you attempt to reenact the method, placing the shinigami into those Gigai will indeed turn them into a cross between human and shinigami but have you forgotten…”
His gaze for a moment intensifies.
”Kurosaki Ichigo was also at one point...a cross between Human and Shinigami. Though he is an exceptional case we can at least deduce somewhat that...the human body will NOT combat the Hollow or Hollowfication. If hollows can infect humans who are their natural prey, and give birth to what we know as Fullbringers...and if they can infect Shinigami causing them to become Vizards...then making a Shinigami a cross between two species who have historically been affected by Hollows will hardly be of any assistance in mitigating or diminishing the specimen’s ailments!”
”Furthermore eliminating the powers of the shinigami in such a state, is the same as weakening them, placing them into further risk of having their souls deteriorated! Hollows are able to extract souls indeed, and while the ability may be studied and potentially replicated there comes several risks. The hollow within them will not simply stand by and allow itself to be removed. As time goes on its soul will mix and blend with the soul of its host and subsequently..their zanpakuto. We run the risk of causing harm to the original soul or even the spirit born of the soul of its Master. Damage and harm which could potentially be irreparable!”
Kurotsuchi pauses, his eyes widen, then roll away from one another.
”Hmm, what would happen? How much harm can a soul endure before it loses memory of its shape, its form? By interfering we would undoubtedly be interfering with the connection between shinigami and zanpakuto...if the soul is substantially damaged will the zanpakuto cease to recognize this damaged soul as its master? Will it have any harmful effects on the spirit itself? If the spirit is born from the soul then by harming the source of its birth does that harm reflect somehow physically upon the spirit as well?”
He goes off on his tangent, rambling on as he completely forgets that he was just speaking with Nozamu, becoming lost in thought, theories and conjectures. His tongue begins to snake out, inching its way toward his right eyeball again..
