No matter how many times one comes to Hueco Mundo, the scenery is always the same, giving people the same feeling.
Cold, desolate, and lonely.
Suzuki Makoto was trekking across this wasteland. Since the range given by that Adjuchas was extremely vague, he could only rely on his own Reiatsu radar to conduct a wide-range search in this area.
However, he had a clever method. Since ordinary Hollows could not exist around Starrk and the others, he simply had to search in the direction where there were no Hollows.
In Hueco Mundo, there weren't too many places like that.
Suddenly, Suzuki Makoto's expression shifted. His figure, moving at high speed, came to an abrupt halt as he looked down.
And that Hollow also raised its head, looking at Suzuki Makoto.
"Can... fly?"
On the originally intact mask, countless fine cracks appeared around the mouth area, emitting a blurred voice.
Suzuki Makoto landed on the ground. He looked at the Hollow before him, who was in the process of self-Arrancarization, and compared it with the few Hollows in his memory.
"Who are you? Why... different?"
"Because you are a Hollow, and I am a Shinigami. We are not the same creature."
A slender figure, exaggerated black wings—Suzuki Makoto remembered who this guy was. The Great Black-Winged Demon.
"Do you have a name?"
"Name... Hollow, isn't that my name?"
"Of course not. You should have a name. After all, before everyone has a name, they call themselves Hollow. You should have realized by now that you are different from other Hollows, right? Naturally, you should have a name of your own."
It seemed this question was a bit difficult for him, so this Hollow once again fell into a state similar to a system crash. However, judging from his active Reiatsu, he was indeed thinking about his name.
"Ulquiorra... Ulquiorra Cifer. My... name."
"That's a really nice name."
It really was him.
"Is there some purpose you wish to achieve by walking on this land?"
"Achieve? Purpose?"
Ulquiorra was still somewhat bewildered. His understanding of himself, and even of the entire Hueco Mundo, was just beginning.
"When you saw me, did you want to fight? Did you want to devour me? Or did you just find it strange?"
"I don't want to fight, nor do I want to devour. I just... I want to keep walking. I feel... very empty."
Suzuki Makoto looked at this Great Black-Winged Demon with some surprise, and suddenly realized something.
In the original work, Ulquiorra could be said to be the most unadorned Hollow. He possessed no special abilities; he only had the Cero, Sonído, and High-Speed Regeneration that Hollows are born with. Yet, relying solely on honing these three most basic abilities to the extreme, he secured the position of the 4th Espada. The three above him were all existences with special powers.
In other words, Ulquiorra should be the most "pure" Hollow.
Then, as the purest Hollow, the emptiness of losing one's heart as a Hollow should also be the purest.
"Do you want to fill this emptiness?"
"I do."
Only this word was spoken decisively, without any confusion.
"Then why don't you follow me first? Perhaps I can bring you something different, something that will allow you to fill this emptiness in your heart?"
"Okay."
Ulquiorra agreed very crisply. During their chat, the mask on his face continued to crack and fall off constantly.
Suzuki Makoto did not continue his search. Starrk and Lilynette were not the type of people who liked to cause trouble. The reason they split into two parts was that they were too lonely and wanted to find a companion who wouldn't die just by being near them, so there was no rush to find them.
On the contrary, his interest in Ulquiorra was slightly greater. Compared to those Hollows with all sorts of messy abilities, such clean and efficient power was the kind of opponent he wanted to cross hands with.
"Ulquiorra, are you willing to fight me now?"
"Why fight?"
"What if fighting can fill your emptiness? After all, you have to try everything, don't you?"
"I fought those guys. It didn't work."
"That's because they were too weak. You haven't fought someone like me yet, have you?"
Suzuki Makoto's words aroused a trace of curiosity in Ulquiorra's heart, a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. The other party was right; he had indeed only fought Hollows and had never fought this person who called himself a Shinigami.
"Okay."
After a brief agreement, Ulquiorra instantly released all his Reiatsu. Pitch-black rain instantly swept across the entire desert—but this wasn't rain; it was his heavy Reiatsu, which had become liquid.
In such an environment, an ordinary Shinigami might be crushed to death before they could even put up a fight. Even Suzuki Makoto could feel a hint of oppression.
What a great opponent!
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He used Shunpo to appear in front of Ulquiorra and slashed down with his sword!
Ulquiorra didn't bother to guard at all; he simply chopped forward with his palm. In his understanding, no attack could breach his Hierro.
However, his entire arm flew up lightly.
But the arm that was just lost grew back instantly. The two retreated simultaneously.
Suzuki Makoto was amazed that this guy's High-Speed Regeneration was truly exaggerated enough, and Ulquiorra was also quite surprised. After all, it was really his first time encountering a guy who could cut off his arm so easily.
The pause between the two lasted only an instant, and then they clashed together once again.
Whether Ulquiorra enjoyed the battle was unknown, but Suzuki Makoto definitely did. Without using the effect of his Lines of Death, the battle with Ulquiorra was simply a perfect sparring session. The opponent didn't have any flashy powers; aside from the Black Cero, it was just the purest hand-to-hand combat.
After a long while, estimating that the time was about right, Suzuki Makoto voluntarily stopped.
People have to go to work tomorrow, after all.
"How was it?"
"Somewhat pleasant, but not enough."
Ulquiorra spoke the truth.
"Well then, can you believe my words now? Why not follow me for now?"
"Okay."
He led Ulquiorra all the way back to Las Noches, which was currently under construction.
"Ah, Mr. Suzuki, you're back? Did you find an opponent to your liking?"
It was still that fox-like face, wearing a snake-like cold smile.
However, Suzuki Makoto felt no repulsion toward Gin Ichimaru, only a bit of sympathy.
A Pure Love Warrior or the like was indeed rarely seen these days.
"I found one. But perhaps he will be very helpful to Captain Aizen's plan, so I brought him back."
"This is... a Hollow in the process of self-Arrancarization?"
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