Yhwach is alive — and he has built an Invisible Empire hidden in the very shadow of Seireitei, patiently preparing for revenge.
The revelation was staggering.
Shunsui stood frozen in thought. Though Mazuru hadn't spoken at length, the weight of his words was enough to leave Shunsui's mind reeling. If what Mazuru said was true, the implications would shake the foundations of the entire Soul Society.
Shunsui had not participated in the great war thousands of years ago, but as a high-ranking noble and long-serving captain, he knew enough. That ancient battle had nearly wiped out Soul Society. It was only due to Yamamoto's overwhelming might that Yhwach, the Quincy Progenitor, had been defeated and the quincy forces annihilated. The purpose of that brutal suppression was simple: to eliminate the quincy threat forever.
Afterward, the surviving quincy were either hunted down or tightly surveilled. Soul Society ensured that no remnants would ever rise again. Even a few centuries ago, when the quincy disrupted the balance between worlds, they were eradicated once more.
And yet now — Mazuru claimed that not only had Yhwach survived, but he had also been quietly watching them all from the shadows of Seireitei. Waiting.
And now, the moment had come.
Shunsui remained silent for a long while. At last, he looked at Mazuru and asked, "How do you know this? Can you confirm it's true?"
"I have my ways." Mazuru replied calmly. "As for whether it's true or not… if you believe it, then it is. If you don't, then it isn't."
He had no obligation to convince Shunsui. They were enemies now, after all.
Shunsui's gaze dimmed slightly, thoughts turning deep. Sensing this, Mazuru added another layer of warning.
"The quincy's headquarters lies in the shadows beneath Seireitei. They've been observing you all for centuries. Every move you make, every whispered meeting — nothing escapes their eyes. If you doubt me, you could always consult someone like Urahara Kisuke."
With those final words, Mazuru turned, his white haori swaying behind him as he walked off into the vast desert of Hueco Mundo. His next target was clear: Kenpachi Azashiro and the arrancar woman, Roka.
Shunsui considered giving chase. But after a moment's hesitation, he dropped the idea.
Even if he caught up, what could he do? Fight Mazuru again, only to lose once more?
Compared to that, Mazuru's warning was far more pressing.
If Yhwach truly was alive, then the danger posed by the Invisible Empire far outweighed anything Kenpachi Azashiro might bring. Shunsui sighed deeply, his thoughts drifting again to Kenpachi Azashiro and the unsettling rumors of his abilities.
Trouble was piling up in Seireitei.
First, it was Kenpachi Azashiro — whose Zanpakutō ability fused him with the structure of Seireitei itself, making the entire city an extension of his senses. Now, it seemed there was another threat — one buried so deeply in their world that it had been watching them undetected for over a millennium.
"Seriously… can't we have a single moment of peace?" Shunsui muttered bitterly. "It's one disaster after another."
With a resigned sigh, he lay down on the scorching sand of Hueco Mundo, letting the heat soak into his body. For once, he just wanted to rest.
Elsewhere in the desert, Zaraki Kenpachi and Ashido were escorting Roka, the captured arrancar, across the white sands.
Ashido could hardly get a word in.
Zaraki was fuming — not at Ashido, but at the series of irritations he'd faced. First, he'd followed orders to venture into Hueco Mundo. Then, he'd failed to fight Mazuru. And now, he hadn't even caught sight of the mysterious Kenpachi Azashiro.
He'd wanted a proper brawl. He'd hoped this "Kenpachi" would reveal himself once Roka was captured. That was the agreement.
Even Shunsui's interference annoyed him. He'd insisted on going alone — and now who knew where the old man was or what he was doing?
As they continued moving forward, the two shinigami eventually stopped. This seemed like a good place to wait for Shunsui.
Suddenly, Ashido's expression changed. He sensed something—something powerful.
He spun toward a direction in the distance.
Zaraki Kenpachi, whose reiatsu was so vast it often distorted his own senses, hadn't noticed anything yet. But seeing Ashido's reaction, he turned his head.
A lone figure wearing a captain's haori was approaching.
Zaraki's eyes lit up.
"So he really came after all."
All his previous frustration vanished.
It turned out Shunsui's prediction had been spot on — capture Roka, and Kenpachi Azashiro would appear. And now, here he was, walking calmly toward them with unwavering steps.
Ashido, recognizing the immense pressure radiating from the figure, whispered the name as if confirming a legend.
"… Kenpachi Azashiro Soya."
Unlike most of the captains who had seen Azashiro's reflection in First Division's chamber, Ashido had never witnessed it personally. At the time, he had been the vice-captain of the 13th Division, busy with missions under Ukitake Jushiro, who was often bedridden. He'd already left on a campaign to Hueco Mundo when this new Kenpachi took the title.
Everything he knew about Kenpachi Azashiro came from Mazuru.
Still, even at first glance, Ashido had no doubt: this was the man who had killed the previous Kenpachi, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, and claimed the title as his own.
And to his surprise, the man matched the rumors — composed, deadly, and enigmatic.
Azashiro, on the other hand, laid eyes on Zaraki with calm curiosity. He spoke softly.
"What a coincidence."
He hadn't expected to see Zaraki beside Roka. It was almost too perfect — like fate had pulled the pieces together.
In the past, he had dismissed Zaraki as nothing more than a brute. A muscle-bound thug with no understanding of his Zanpakutō, unworthy of the title of Kenpachi.
But after the incidents in Karakura Town, his opinion had shifted. He'd been too focused on Aizen back then and had overlooked Zaraki — only to learn later that Zaraki had awakened his Zanpakutō during the mission to Hueco Mundo.
Now, curiosity burned in his chest.
He wanted to see what kind of warrior Zaraki Kenpachi had become.
Was he now worthy of the name?
Was he strong enough to bear the title of Kenpachi?
That answer, it seemed, would come very soon.
*****
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