Although he had heard his grandfather's answer before, Ishida Uryū still wanted to hear Yuta's answer again at this moment.
"I don't understand… why would someone as gentle as my grandfather eventually end up tortured to death and reduced to this?" Uryū said, his voice low but sharp with resentment.
"Why is it that a Shinigami like Mayuri isn't locked in a prison, but can openly serve as a captain? The Shinigami manipulated the deaths of the Quincy in this world, and even after they died, they couldn't find peace in Soul Society. Instead, they had to endure inhumane torture and experimentation."
"Is Soul Society supposed to be a paradise for souls…? Or is it hell for the soul?"
At those words, even Hideki Yuta fell silent. The dark passage carried only the sound of their footsteps, the faint hum of reiryoku as they carved out a path through the black void. The silence between them was heavier than the oppressive atmosphere of the Garganta.
Yuta lifted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the endless darkness spreading beyond them.
Aizen Sōsuke…
Did you betray Soul Society because you saw through its true nature? Did you see all of this and resolve to create a new world?
It wasn't just the corruption of the Shinigami nobility; it was the structure of Soul Society as a whole. Shinigami in Seireitei distorted justice, turning it into power and politics, while the poor in Rukongai fought desperately for scraps of survival.
Yuta's thoughts lingered for a long while before shifting again.
Kyōraku Shunsui… Did you see all of this too? Is that why you drown yourself in wine? Doing only what you can in the moment, refusing to think too far ahead because it won't change anything… Is that your way of accepting a world you cannot change?
And Urahara Kisuke… if you join forces with others, can you create a better world where Aizen failed? Is there a path that leads forward without demanding so much death and sacrifice?
Finally, Yuta spoke in a measured voice. "I think destroying Karakura Town was not the righteous path. What Aizen sought was different." He paused before finishing with clarity. "It's not you who are wrong, Uryū… it's the world."
Uryū clenched his fists tightly, his nails cutting into his palms as his mind churned with conflict.
What will I do now, if I lose my Quincy powers? What should I strive for? What is my purpose?
…
As they continued walking, Uryū noticed the way Yuta moved. His footwork was unmistakable. It wasn't Shunpo; it was Hirenkyaku-the technique unique to the Quincy.
"Mr. Yuta… you… are you a Shinigami, a Quincy, what are you?" Uryū asked in shock, the memory of the reishi storm from days earlier flashing in his mind. Was it Yuta who caused that storm?
"Are you talking about this step technique?" Yuta replied without turning back. "Indeed, Hirenkyaku provides smoother control of reishi than Shunpo when it comes to paving a path. As for me… you could say I am simply a somewhat special human."
Uryū's eyes widened further, disbelief flooding him.
A human?
A human who uses a Zanpakutō like a Shinigami… who can open a Garganta like a Hollow… who masters a Quincy's Hirenkyaku… and who casually claims to be 'a somewhat special human'?
The contradictions overwhelmed him. Yuta's reiatsu itself was indistinct, layered with traces of Hollow, Quincy, Shinigami, and human. Perhaps only someone of Yuta's caliber, transcending the boundaries of the world, could possess the power to change it.
That thought settled, even if uneasily, into Ishida Uryū's mind.
…
Uryū eventually returned to the Human World. Yuta stepped back into Soul Society through the Garganta.
At that moment, Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions had already left the 1st Division barracks.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, gravely injured, returned to the 12th Division and immediately sent a communication to the Captain Commander.
"Mayuri… why are you so badly injured?" Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni asked.
Mayuri, his breathing strained, forced the words out. "This is what I must report. Among the humans brought by the Great Hollow priest earlier, one of them was in fact a Quincy. He demonstrated abilities beyond expectation-controlling souls, subjugating reishi puppets… However, that final technique stripped him of his Quincy powers. By now, all Quincies in the Human World are likely gone."
Yamamoto's expression remained unreadable as he replied. "I already know of this matter."
Kyoraku Shunsui, standing beside him, adjusted the brim of his straw hat. "Captain Yamamoto, there's something else. Captain Mayuri ordered the Shinigami monitoring the Quincy in the Human World to delay their rescue… so that Hollow would kill them first and he could collect their souls for experimentation. Even so, if this were brought before Central 46, it would likely pass without consequence."
Yamamoto froze momentarily, his face shadowed, but in the end he only said, "Since the Quincies are now extinct, there is no need to mention this matter again. Withdraw all Shinigami monitoring them in the Human World."
With that final word, he left.
Kyoraku's expression softened only slightly as he adjusted his hat again and turned to leave himself.
"Captain… where are you going?" asked Ise Nanao quietly.
"I want a drink," Kyoraku said without looking back.
…
In the Wandenreich's throne room, Haschwalth knelt before Yhwach and spoke. "Your Majesty, Ishida Uryū has lost his Quincy powers in the battle with Mayuri."
Yhwach's smirk was calm and unwavering. "No… that small portion of power was never significant. Uryū's true power has yet to awaken." He opened his arms as if embracing the future. "Be patient a little longer, and the day we take revenge on the Shinigami will come. The world will finally belong to us-the Quincy."
…
Back in the Human World, Yuta, Ichigo, and the others stepped out of the Garganta.
"Hey… where's Ishida?" Ichigo asked, scratching his head.
Yuta replied plainly, "Uryū has gone back."
"I see…" Ichigo frowned slightly, still worried, but he quickly steadied himself. There were more pressing matters now. He turned to Yuta with seriousness in his eyes.
"Mr. Yuta, please teach me how to train. I need power-a stronger and stronger power-to protect this world. No matter how hard the training is, no matter how dangerous the path becomes, I won't turn back. I can't afford to."
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