Twelfth Division Barracks.
Underground Research and Development Institute.
Laboratory No. 36 for Soul Particle Analysis.
A strange figure squatted in front of a piece of flesh, holding a device resembling a magnifying glass, continuously moving it over the flesh.
Occasionally, they would cut pieces of flesh tissue from it and place them in prepared culture dishes.
Their expression remained intensely focused.
It was the Third Seat of the Twelfth Division, and current head of the Research and Development Institute, Mayuri.
Outside the laboratory, two figures draped in white Captain haori stood emotionlessly, observing the interior through the room's glass.
On the backs of the haori were the characters "Two" and "Nine".
It had been a whole day.
Mayuri showed no sign of movement.
Both Tokikaze and Soi-Fon had been observing for a day as well.
In light of Tokikaze's previous suggestion, to prevent any accidents among subordinates, Soi-Fon decided to personally observe Mayuri and conduct a risk assessment.
However, what she didn't expect was that Mayuri seemed to have just initiated some experiment and had been staying in Laboratory No. 36 for Soul Particle Analysis for several consecutive days.
Let alone any dangerous behavior, he barely moved.
"It seems like it's time to clock out, Captain Soi-Fon."
Tokikaze stretched lazily, "Just a reminder, that flesh Mayuri is observing is from Hueco Mundo, a Vasto Lorde named Szayelaporro Granz."
"That guy claims to be a scientist from the Hueco Mundo. If Mayuri want to research something from his body, it shouldn't be possible with just a couple of months."
This piece of flesh was delivered by Yamada Seinosuke. Even though everything that was hit by Sky Breaking Blade was erased, before casting that spell, Tokikaze had managed to sever some of Szayelaporro's tentacles through other means.
As part of the Vasto Lorde's body, it still held considerable research value.
According to accounts from other members of the Research and Development Institute, Mayuri had maintained this behavior for six days and seventeen hours.
While they were worried that their seated officer might suddenly die because of it, no one dared to disturb him.
Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.
Soi-Fon caught hints from snippets of conversation, immediately interrogating several researchers closest to Mayuri.
But no matter how much she threatened, she couldn't get any useful information.
It was as if they were under some kind of prohibition; mentioning anything about Mayuri would only bring forth fearful expressions.
Such actions further confirmed Soi-Fon's previous thoughts.
A dangerous character like Mayuri couldn't possibly become the Twelfth Division's Cptain.
Otherwise, it would surely bring irreversible disaster to the Soul Society.
Tokikaze, on the other hand, wasn't as stubborn as Tokikaze.
Dealing with a character like Mayuri was actually quite straightforward as long as you understood his curiosity, coupled with a bit of caution and care.
For example, the less-than-ten-kilogram chunk of Szayelaporro's flesh had kept him occupied for almost a week.
If they brought over the dead Szayelaporro, Mayuri might be able to study him for several years.
Coupled with the current mysteries of the Soul Society, fluctuations in soul wavelength, methods to stabilize the Three Worlds, the creation and replacement of Soul Kings, and the progress of various experiments by Urahara Kisuke...
Tokikaze had every reason to believe that if he revealed the way to create Hōgyoku and told that it was Urahara Kisuke's masterpiece to Mayuri, Mayuri would surely set aside everything and tirelessly research how to create something even more powerful than the Hōgyoku.
However, the creation of the Hōgyoku was too bloody, and if Mayuri got involved, he would probably face a sentence of three thousand years in the lowest level of hell.
Compared to that, it was better to try to research the connections of the Five Great Noble Families or the secrets of Hell.
Even researching the creation and replacement of Soul Kings would be great.
"Damn it!"
Soi-Fon glared at the laboratory, suppressing the urge to smash the glass in front of her, "Isn't there any other way to figure out this guy's true intentions?"
"True intentions?" Tokikaze chuckled, "Mayuri's current state is his true self."
"Pursuing the truth of the world while simultaneously detesting anything called 'perfection'."
"It's quite unexpected!"
A strange voice came from the laboratory entrance, a face covered in black and white paint revealing a sinister expression, the corners of the mouth pulled forcefully to the sides, as if smiling.
"I didn't expect Captain Tokikaze to understand me so well."
"Simple words, yet they strike right at the heart!"
Mayuri leaned against the doorway, fingers spread wide on one hand, the other pressed against his chest, as if in a song of praise.
However, his words did not receive support from Soi-Fon.
Instead, in the instant his voice fell, a large hand was suddenly pressed against Mayuri's face.
And then, it ruthlessly shoved him down!
Boom!
The ground shook, and a sturdy metal floor was instantly smashed into a large pit.
The researchers in the corridor were startled by the sound. All of them were stunned in place, afraid to make a sound.
At the center of the pit, Mayuri's body was mangled, with large chunks of flesh ruptured, exposing his pale bones grotesquely through the skin.
Even more gruesome was his heavily damaged head, like a smashed watermelon, with red and white matter splattered everywhere, nauseating to behold.
Mayuri lied limp, seemingly devoid of any signs of life.
Even Soi-Fon was stunned by Tokikaze's action, her eyes widened as she instinctively reached for the Zanpakutō at her waist.
At this moment, Tokikaze's danger level skyrocketed in her mind, surpassing even the fallen Mayuri in the pit.
Before she could speak, Tokikaze spoke in a threatening tone:
"If I remember correctly, I've already warned you last time."
"If you use such despicable methods again, I'll personally kill you!"
Arcs of lightning radiated from his palm, intense heat permeating the corridor, and a sense of danger filled the air.
"Ah, sorry, Captain Tokikaze."
Mayuri's voice came from his deformed head, "This time it really was an accident."
"Because of what you discovered last time, I modified the surveillance bacteria three times, but they are now in an unstable state and completely uncontrollable."
"Wherever I appear, there will be surveillance bacteria floating around!"
Amid Soi-Fon's astonished gaze, a large amount of green liquid replaced the mixture of blood and brain matter on the ground, and the flesh and bones continuously regenerated under the influence of the green liquid.
In just a few seconds, a completely uninjured Mayuri reappeared before everyone.
With a mixture of complex expressions, Mayuri's mouth twisted into a crazy grin, his golden teeth gleaming in the light:
"No need to be surprised, colleagues."
"This is just a simple little trick..."