In the universe of separated realms - if the Real World and Soul Society stood as two distinct planes - then the path linking them was known as the Dangai, the Precipice World. Beyond that bridge existed only endless darkness, vast and immeasurable.
Yet darkness in this context was not void. Within it hovered another realm: Hueco Mundo.
Its barren landscape spread endlessly in every direction, as if the very earth had been razed long before. What covered the ground was not soil or rock, but fine white sand composed of countless spirit particles.
These particles were said to be the remnants of ancient Hollows that had been annihilated by the Soul King countless ages ago - not purified, but completely erased. Their residual existence formed the dead sands of Hueco Mundo, layer upon layer, creating the foundation of this desolate plane.
Spirit particles in the air were so thick that the Hollows of this realm required no sustenance. Simply breathing was enough to sustain them indefinitely.
Around them stood skeletal trees of bleached white. They bore no fruit, held no leaves - only twisted forms reflecting the fragmented state of the world itself. Water was absent entirely, and nothing edible could be found. The place was wholly inhospitable, shaped only by death.
Beneath the sands lay the Forest of Menos - the Hollow Forest - home to many Hollows. The trees on the surface were the uppermost branches of far greater, buried trunks stretching through the underground wilderness.
At the center of the desert stood Las Noches - the white palace of the Espada - massive and imposing, its scale dwarfing other structures in any realm.
Suddenly, the sky tore open with surgical precision. Through the rift walked Aizen Sosuke, his appearance pristine in white robes while his Zanpakutō rested at his side. The glint in his spectacled eyes revealed precisely laid calculations and restrained certainty.
Behind him walked Ichimaru Gin - his eyes narrowed, lips curved in that perpetual sly grin.
Upon arrival, several Arrancar waited inside the grand hall of Las Noches.
"Welcome, Aizen-sama," one of them acknowledged formally.
He gave them only the faintest nod as he passed.
They entered the central chamber where the throne - once belonging to Baraggan, the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo - now stood beneath the cold glow of higher ceilings. Baraggan himself remained among the Espada ranks, his status forcibly demoted after his loss to Aizen - now ranked as the Segunda Espada, representing the aspect of death through aging.
His once imperial figure - crowned, muscular, draped in garments styled with arrogance - now remained seated with no sign of resistance as Aizen took the throne.
Ulquiorra Cifer stepped forward and bowed slightly at the waist.
"Lord Aizen, your request has been fulfilled," he said with composure.
His slim frame stood straight, encased in his signature white uniform. The expression he wore betrayed no emotion; his pale skin and tear-stain markings under his eyes gave him the appearance of one shaped from sorrow and silence. He carried the aspect of death - nothingness - and bore it with unwavering discipline.
His words referred to the chamber holding the current experiment.
There, laid upon the table, was the motionless body of another Hollow - unstable, dormant, awaiting transformation.
At Aizen's signal, the Hogyoku was produced - its form completed at last. Even Espada who had previously seen it visibly reacted to its release, their expressions tightening with instinctive unease. It pulsed with silent power, as though reality itself bent gently around it.
Unfazed, Aizen activated it. The transformation began immediately.
Energy surged, and smoke expanded before thinning away.
When it cleared, the result stood: disheveled yellow hair, vacant eyes, pronounced Hollow hole - the creation looked almost unfinished. As if some part of what made him whole had been intentionally removed.
"Your name is... Wonderweiss," Aizen declared calmly.
"Wonder…weiss…" the Hollow echoed in low, dull repetition - void of clarity or reason in his tone or eyes.
Ulquiorra replaced his hand in his pocket, glancing at the figure. "With this, Lord Aizen, you now possess the counter to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. The Hogyoku is fully operational. The Espada are standing by - ready for direct confrontation with Soul Society at your command."
From across the room, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques crossed his arms and grinned wide.
"Hahaha! With this much power, we'll take the world itself! I wanna fight those damn Shinigami already!"
His turquoise hair bristled with energy as he paced. The feral edge in his steps echoed his aspect of death: destruction. The mask fragment across his jaw resembled fangs - fitting for one as aggressive and reckless as he was.
His shirt hung open, revealing the tattoo on his waist marked '6', and the Hollow hole near his abdomen pulsed faintly with spiritual activity.
Yet Aizen remained composed as he answered.
"No. The time to strike has not come."
Grimmjow halted abruptly and turned toward him in disbelief.
"What? Why the hell not? We've already-"
"I intend to consult someone first," Aizen interrupted without raising his tone. "Should he accept the role of our strategist... then we will be truly incomparable in power."
Grimmjow's expression froze in place. "You're... asking someone for advice?"
Even Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ichimaru Gin's expression remained unreadable as usual, though his lips curled further before he chuckled lightly.
"Y'all haven't seen that man's strength for yourselves. Even his Zanpakutō alone's enough to keep me away. Aizen's the only one I know who'd dare fight him face-to-face."
Grimmjow's grin slowly returned - wider this time, eyes brimming with anticipation.
"Sounds fun… I wanna take him on myself."
His curiosity gave way to challenge, though neither Gin nor Ulquiorra responded further.
"What's his name?" Grimmjow asked flatly.
Sosuke Aizen glanced at Grimmjow, as if he could see through the Espada's thoughts. "You're not his match. Stay in your own palace and stop stirring up trouble."
In Hueco Mundo, the Espada each possessed their own palace within Las Noches, along with subordinate officers-mirroring the structure of the Gotei 13.
Grimmjow didn't respond. It was unclear if he had even heard the words.
"And besides," Aizen continued, "there is someone I want you to keep your eye on-Ulquiorra."
Ulquiorra placed one hand in his pocket and responded flatly, "Who?"
His tone was light and vacant, devoid of emotion-as if it were nothing but the void itself speaking. Yet in that void there was the faintest hint of curiosity. Who else, other than the so-called "strategist," could be worth Sosuke Aizen's attention?
"He's a living human. Kurosaki Ichigo, located in Karakura Town. You'll understand once you look into him."
"His current strength may not be much, but his potential is undeniable."
"If it becomes clear that he might pose any threat to me-erase him."
Ulquiorra placed his right palm to his chest and bowed his head. "As you command."
…
Soul Society - Underground
Deep beneath the surface, the remaining great noble families of Soul Society held council.
Since the creation of the Soul Society itself, its laws and order had been dictated by the five noble families. Though Central 46 governed public matters, the true authority lay among the nobles. When they met in council, they shaped the fate of the three worlds.
Though originally five in number, the noble council now had only four seats-after the Shiba family was cast out generations ago.
After working through common formalities and routines, the elder of the Tsunayashiro family finally spoke. "I received a report from the secret guard-concerning news that troubled me."
"Oh? What could trouble you?" came the reply from the Shihoin family elder.
Only one dim lamp lit the vast chamber. The nobles' bodies were hidden deep in the surrounding darkness-only their withered hands visible in the glow.
"Yesterday, outside the Eleventh Division barracks," the Tsunayashiro elder began, "Kenpachi Zaraki fought the Kido Corps Captain."
At that, the Kuchiki family elder responded with surprise: "What? The Kido Corps Captain position's been vacant for years, hasn't it?"
"A new captain was appointed yesterday."
"Why weren't we informed? When did Central 46 start bypassing our authority? Have they forgotten the rules?"
"Perhaps Central 46 had their reasons."
"Hmph… If they truly acted on their own, we'll remove and replace them," another elder said coldly.
"Or perhaps they simply forgot to inform us."
"In any case," the Tsunayashiro elder said, "I'll visit Central 46 personally to determine what's really happening."
"Back on topic," he continued, "I witnessed that new captain wielding the Zanpakutō of the 10th Division's Vice Captain."
"What? That ability should belong exclusively to your Tsunayashiro Zanpakutō," the Shihoin elder remarked.
Yuan, the Tsunayashiro patriarch, gave a thin smile. "Who knows what abilities this new captain's Zanpakutō truly possesses? Word is he graduated only days after enrolling. If someone with that level of genius ever turns against us…"
"He hasn't even achieved Bankai, has he? Are we really concerned about someone in that state?"
"I'll check the Great Spirit Book Corridor," said Yuan. "Whatever his Bankai is, if it has potential to threaten us-I'll ensure he's removed."
No one objected. The meeting adjourned without further disagreement.
…
At that moment, Sosuke Aizen returned to Soul Society.
After checking the Kido Corps barracks, he found Yuta missing.
In the distance, on the nearby hillside, there was now a villa that hadn't existed before-not far from where the Kido Corps gathered.
"It looks to be built by the captain using kidō," Aoki Toshiaki explained, clearly impressed. "He created it from nothing."
Acknowledging this, Aizen moved toward the villa without delay. As he approached, he passed through layers of kidō enchantments-an unspoken sign that Yuta had sensed him long before arrival.
Inside, the villa was finely decorated as if owned by the wealthy elite from the Human World. On the balcony, Yuta sat making tea in silence, the evening breeze drifting past him.
"Soyosuke," he said calmly without turning, "you've come. Join me for some tea."
Without showing emotion, Aizen sat down across from him.
Matsumoto Rangiku, wearing her death tyrant costume, appeared shortly after and poured steaming water into the tea set.
After Yuta had returned to his old rented room, he'd taken everything from the space into his inner world. He'd then brought Rangiku with him to the hillside, constructed the villa using spiritual particles, and decorated it simply but tastefully.
"Soyosuke and I have matters to discuss," Yuta said. "You should rest."
Rangiku nodded, placed the kettle down, and stepped away.
She had been shocked from the beginning-first by Yuta becoming the Kido Corps Captain, and then by his ability to wield her own Zanpakutō.
Later, she had seen him make objects appear and disappear at will-followed by the creation of this entire villa from condensed spirit particles.
There were too many things she couldn't find the words to ask.
Once she was out of earshot, Yuta snapped his fingers. A silent barrier formed around them, isolating their voices completely from the outside.
"If you've come this late, Soyosuke, it's probably not just for tea," Yuta said with calm amusement, slowly preparing the beverages.
Though Aizen's expression remained composed, his words cut through the silence.
"Correct. I've come to ask-what do you think my chances are," he said plainly, "if I begin my rebellion against Soul Society today?"
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