Harribel still looked more creature than human. Her entire body was encased in an intricate exoskeleton of light blue and white bone-like armor, giving her a regal yet deadly presence. Her right arm had fully transformed into a massive blade, and a long, tail-like appendage extended from her back, swaying slightly as if ready to strike.
The only remnants of her humanity were the upper portion of her face and head—wild, golden blonde hair spiked in sharp locks, striking sea-green eyes filled with intelligence and quiet wariness, and smooth, tan skin that stood in stark contrast to the harsh white of her Hollow form.
I held up the knight piece between us, letting the moment stretch. "So, you agree to join my peerage?"
Her sharp gaze met mine, and in that instant, I could see the weight of her decision. To trust… To accept something beyond what she has always known…
"…Yes." The answer was firm, decisive.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "Then I'm glad to have you. You'll be my first Knight."
I stepped forward and pressed the piece against her chest. The moment it made contact, the air around us trembled, thick with shifting energy. Unlike my previous recruitments, where the dream would immediately fade upon acceptance, something different happened this time.
Harribel's body began to change.
Her Hollow armor cracked, fragments falling away in shimmering light. What emerged beneath was nothing short of breathtaking—flawless, toned skin, her body now radiating both strength and femininity in equal measure. Her monstrous blade-arm was gone, replaced by an elegant sword gripped firmly in her hand.
A new feature appeared—her face was now partially obscured by a sleek, white shark-like mask, the last vestige of her former self condensed into a singular, defining trait.
Then, as suddenly as the transformation had begun, the dream world shattered, and we returned to reality.
---
[Tier Harribel has joined the peerage.]
[Bleach is now available for travel.]
[Spiritual Power has been unlocked.]
[Soul Reaper abilities have been unlocked.]
[Hollow abilities have been unlocked.]
[Soul Reaper and Hollow abilities have fused into a Vizard Form.]
[The King can now create basic Asauchi. Peerage members receive Asauchi.]
---
I felt the change deep within me—a shift in my very soul. Power surged through my being, something ancient, something primal. It was a connection to a force I had never possessed before.
At that moment, every girl in the room flinched slightly, their bodies instinctively reacting to the shift in atmosphere. Then, in flashes of light, swords materialized beside them—simple, unshaped Asauchi.
Innate knowledge flooded my mind, not of Soul Reaper kido or sword techniques, but of Hollow abilities. Sonído, Bala, Cero, Gran Rey Cero—all of it settled into my consciousness as if I had always known them.
Another path had opened before me.
A way to harness my soul that I had never previously possessed.
As for the Asauchi, they were the base forms of Zanpakutō. I could craft them freely now, and with my blessing, bestow them upon those I deemed worthy.
Harribel was already examining her new form, flexing her fingers and rolling her shoulders. She didn't feel weaker—if anything, she felt better, stronger than before. But there were subtle, unfamiliar changes within her body, and a new connection… to me.
However, her first concern wasn't herself. "I need to get back to my companions."
I nodded. "Time is stopped in your world, but we can go now." The sword in my hand vanished in a shimmer of light. "Shouldn't take long."
With that, I activated the world transfer function for myself and Harribel.
---
A moment later, we stood in the endless desert of Hueco Mundo, white sand stretching into the darkness.
Not far away, three large figures loomed—massive white creatures. A snake. A lion. A deer.
They tensed immediately at our arrival, bodies coiling in preparation for battle. But before they could react, Harribel spoke.
"Relax, it's me."
The snake lifted its head, forked tongue flicking out. "Lady Harribel?" Its voice was laced with caution. "You… smell different."
"I've evolved." She turned to me, her expression unreadable. "Can you do the same for them?"
"I can." I extended my hand. "I just need to touch them to bestow my blessing."
The lion narrowed its glowing eyes at me. "Who is he?"
"My name is Ryan," I said casually. "Nice to meet you, ladies." I gestured around us. "I made a deal with Harribel. In exchange for helping her evolve and giving you all a safe place to live, she agreed to follow me. That means no more living in this charming desert. No more hiding. No more worrying about being devoured by stronger Hollows." I lifted my foot, letting white sand pour from my sandal. "Sounds like a good deal, right?"
The deer-like Hollow hesitated. "Lady Harribel… is what he says true?"
All three of them turned to her, waiting for confirmation.
She nodded. "He speaks the truth."
There was a brief moment of silence before the snake moved first, slithering toward me. She flicked her tongue, tasting the air. "You smell nice." Her voice was intrigued, almost hungry. "Strong."
She was picking up on the scent of the Dragon's aura, the overwhelming power of the Fountain of Youth's life energy.
The lion followed, cautiously sniffing the air. "Not bad," she admitted. Like the snake, she was attuned to power—and she could recognize the strength of the Dark Devilgod Tiger that lingered in my essence.
The deer remained the most hesitant, but the lingering scent of fruit—life, growth, something pure—was inviting. And if Lady Harribel trusted me, then… perhaps I wasn't so bad.
"Ready?" I asked, looking at all three.
They nodded.
I reached out and touched them.
Their bodies flashed as silver cards and swords materialized before them, their forms shifting rapidly. Their monstrous shapes faded away, replaced by women.
Each of them was completely naked, standing before me in their new bodies.
The first, the former lion, was a dark-skinned Amazon, her body athletic with a sizeable bust and piercing golden eyes.
The second, the snake, was the most delicate-looking—pale-skinned, almost ethereal, and completely flat, her expression calm and serene.
The third, the deer, had a tomboyish appearance, toned with short, straight hair and barely a handful of curves, her posture exuding raw confidence.
Each of them bore a Vizard mask, though the moment they fully formed, the masks cracked and crumbled away.
I grinned, giving them an approving thumbs-up. "Nice."
[Votes are in Nel won with an overwhelming amount of votes, followed by Female Ulquiorra. Stark is still on the iffy side, if you want him and Lilynette to join or for Stark to be a female cast your vote.]