Ten quiet years passed by unnoticed for Sōgo and his companions.
"Hey, Sōgo, did you hear? That kid who graduated from the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy in just a single year—he passed the Captain Proficiency Test yesterday. He's now the new captain of Squad Three."
Inside the Second Division's captain's office—though calling it a palace would be more fitting—Sōgo sat cross-legged on a cushion, casually eating a bowl of freshly washed grapes. The hall had been peaceful until Suzumebachi Shōrei suddenly appeared, breaking the calm.
"Graduated in one year? Who are you talking about?"
Sōgo set down the grapes, his tone curious but detached.
He honestly couldn't remember something so trivial.
"His name's Gin Ichimaru, I think," Shōrei replied, seeing Sōgo's puzzled face.
"Ah, whoever it is, it doesn't concern me anyway."
Sōgo waved dismissively. He couldn't care less about such things. Even if the Head Captain himself were replaced tomorrow, he wouldn't feel the slightest stir—so long as it had nothing to do with him.
"You really are indifferent to everything, Sōgo~"
"I've been buried in Second Division work lately while you sit there so carefree."
Shōrei sighed helplessly. Sōgo had never been interested in Soul Society's internal affairs. Most of the Shihōin family's social duties were dumped on his younger siblings, and even the day-to-day responsibilities of the Second Division captain were left to her.
"Hahaha… those little things? You guys can handle them just fine! I believe in you!"
Sōgo gave her a thumbs-up, absolutely confident in Shōrei's abilities.
"I wish I had as much confidence in myself as you do."
Shōrei sat beside him with a bitter smile.
"Huh? What do you mean, no confidence? My little Bee is the best! You've mastered your Bankai—if you wanted, you could easily be a captain in any division. Honestly, not recommending you for the test was selfish of me… because I realized I can't do without you." (Who else would handle all the work—Lilynette?)
Sōgo took her hand, speaking earnestly.
"W-what?! You can't just say things like that so suddenly, Sōgo…"
Shōrei's face flushed bright red.
"You have to believe in yourself, Bee. You're amazing."
Still holding her soft hand, Sōgo radiated effortless charm.
"I—I—I still have paperwork to finish!"
Her face as red as an apple, Shōrei stiffly stood up like a wind-up doll and marched out the door of the Second Division headquarters.
"Shy Bee is adorable too."
Sōgo gave a big thumbs-up as she left. Top-tier cuteness.
Meanwhile, as Sōgo was busy charming his way into securing a competent subordinate, another man was unleashing his own form of charisma elsewhere.
"Surrender to me."
Within Hueco Mundo, Captain Sōsuke Aizen of Squad Five, Captain Kaname Tōsen of Squad Nine, and the newly appointed Squad Three Captain Gin Ichimaru overwhelmed the entire realm of Hollows with sheer force.
Before Aizen stood a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow with long golden hair—the current ruler of Hueco Mundo, Ilforte Granz, born from Szayelaporro Granz's split-off soul fragment. Szayelaporro had deemed a mere Adjuchas too weak to rule, so he'd used massive resources to evolve Ilforte into a Vasto Lorde.
But even that level of power meant nothing before Aizen. The difference was far too vast.
"Heh… true, I can't defeat you. You could kill me easily. But don't be so sure of yourself—Hueco Mundo isn't as simple as you think. The strongest Hollows aren't here right now. When they return, you'll be torn apart like paper!"
Ilforte laughed darkly.
"Silence."
With a cold command from Tōsen, both he and Gin pressed their Zanpakutō to Ilforte's neck.
"I'll cut down anyone who dares insult Aizen-sama."
Tōsen raised his sword—
"Enough, Tōsen."
Aizen's calm voice stopped him.
"But Aizen-sama! This Hollow has blasphemed your name—he deserves nothing but death!"
Tōsen's voice shook with fury. To him, Aizen was light, was justice—was god.
"Kaname… I said enough. Don't make me repeat myself."
Aizen's quiet gaze froze Tōsen in place.
"…Forgive me, Aizen-sama. I overstepped."
Sweat dripped down his forehead as he withdrew.
"It's fine. I know your loyalty. But this Vasto Lorde is far too valuable to simply kill."
Aizen stepped closer to Ilforte.
"You want me to submit to you? Keep dreaming."
Ilforte's eyes burned with defiance.
"Those 'strongest Hollows' you mentioned… you must be referring to the ones who follow Sōgo, correct?"
Aizen's words struck like a thunderclap.
"What… what did you say?"
Ilforte's eyes widened in panic—how did this Shinigami know?
"So I was right," Aizen smiled.
"Damn…" Ilforte realized too late that he'd exposed Szayelaporro's secret.
"Tell me, Ilforte—don't you wish to become like those Hollows who follow Sōgo? To gain a form closer to that of a human?"
"You're saying… you can make me an Arrancar?"
"Oh? So that's what they're called—Arrancar."
Aizen's interest deepened, now knowing the name for the humanoid forms he'd seen with Sōgo.
"Damn it…" Ilforte covered his mouth, regretting every word.
"Of course. I can grant you that power."
Aizen smiled faintly.
"You? Don't make me laugh."
Ilforte scoffed. He knew what it took for Szayelaporro to evolve—entire squads of Shinigami had been sacrificed.
"Of course. With me… and this."
Aizen held out a radiant orb that shimmered with divine brilliance.
"What is that…?"
Ilforte felt an overwhelming power radiate from it. His instincts screamed—If I have that, I can evolve. His hunger for evolution roared to life.
"This is incredible…"
He could hardly believe the purity of its energy—far beyond anything Szayelaporro had ever created.
"So… will you submit? Before absolute power?"
Aizen smiled as he closed his hand around the orb, dimming its light.
"No—please, give it to me! Grant me that power!"
"Then what will you do?"
"I, Ilforte Granz, swear allegiance to Aizen-sama!"
The golden-haired Hollow fell to his knees.
"Excellent choice, Ilforte-kun."
Aizen's smile was cold and proud—like a master looking down at his new pet.
"If you desire even greater strength, there's one more powerful Hollow above us all—Hueco Mundo's true king."
Ilforte pointed upward, to a lone figure sitting beneath the eternal moonlight.
"Oh?"
Aizen's eyes glinted with intrigue.
"Let's go meet him, then."
Ilforte led the way, though a sly grin flashed in his eyes. He intended to use this "true king" to test Aizen's strength—and perhaps claim the orb if Aizen fell.
They ascended to the top of Hueco Mundo's vast ceiling—an endless night sky.
There sat a boy-like figure, crowned in white, naked and radiant, his pale hair and crimson eyes glowing with an angelic yet dreadful aura. He rested upon a throne built entirely of skulls, gazing down at them like a god judging mortals.
"Hey, hey, Aizen-taichō… that Hollow looks way too human, doesn't he?" Gin whispered, astonished.
"I see him, Gin," Aizen replied calmly, still smiling.
The boy said nothing.
Then, without warning, Aizen's right arm withered away—skin, flesh, and bone all disintegrated into dust.
"Who gave you permission… to look upon me?"
The boy's voice finally echoed, ancient and divine.
"I see… the power to decay all things with time itself, even without touch. Fascinating."
Aizen's form flickered—he vanished, reappearing at the boy's side, unscathed.
"Hmm?"
The boy's eyes widened. Instantly, he drew a massive double-bladed axe from his bone throne.
"Perish, foolish Shinigami!"
The weapon cleaved through the air with explosive force.
"BOOM!"
Aizen was sliced clean in half, the very heavens split for miles, shockwaves tearing through the desert below. Countless Hollows were annihilated in an instant, turned to dust.
The boy stood with his massive axe in one hand—an image of absolute strength.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Impressive power," came Aizen's voice.
He was behind the boy, unharmed, applauding.
The boy froze.
"…State your name."
His voice rasped like an old man's, completely at odds with his youthful face.
"Aizen Sōsuke. And yours, may I ask?"
"I am the ruler of Hueco Mundo—the eternal myth that reigns above all Hollows! The one and only emperor of this realm… Baraggan Louisenbairn!"
Yes—this youthful, radiant figure was none other than Baraggan himself, the same skeletal emperor once defeated by Sōgo long ago.
After centuries locked in battle with a single strand of Sōgo's hair, Baraggan had transformed—reborn anew, having finally grasped the true essence of time.
How did he achieve this? Simple.
He hadn't defeated the hair—
He'd been assimilated by it.
It wasn't that Baraggan had overcome Sōgo's hair after a hundred years…
It was that Sōgo's hair, after countless evolutions beyond reason—
had finally won.