— — — — — —
In the reishi-forged shadow realm of Seireitei, Schatten Bereich—
A thousand years ago, after losing their war against the Shinigami, the Quincy deliberately hid here inside Soul Society's own shadow.
They created a pocket space of reishi where no one would think to look, slipping past the Shinigami's pursuit like prey hiding beneath a lamp.
A thousand years later, the place remained. Now it was the empire of the Quincy, ruled by their progenitor Yhwach, and named Wandenreich.
...
On the throne—
A man reclined motionless, as if asleep.
He was the Father of Quincy, Emperor of the Wandenreich: Yhwach.
"The future has changed…"
With a low, unwilling murmur, Yhwach opened his reddish-brown eyes.
His pupils were nothing like a normal man's. Several pupils overlapped in each eye, layered like concentric circles.
"Your Majesty, you are awake?"
A tall Quincy youth entered wearing a crisp white uniform. He had blond hair, blue eyes, a handsome face with an oddly cold expression.
Jugram Haschwalth.
Yhwach's most trusted subordinate, the Sternritter Grandmaster.
He was also Yhwach's other half. During Yhwach's slumber, the two would even switch abilities, allowing Haschwalth to maintain the balance of his master's soul.
And now, the cycle had switched again, ending with Yhwach's awakening.
"Yes."
Yhwach's deep voice rumbled as he said, "Yamamoto has joined hands with Aizen."
"Indeed."
Haschwalth answered calmly. "I too saw that future."
Yhwach let out a dry laugh. "My Almighty lets me observe the future, and change it."
"From the moment I awakened, I viewed twenty-three thousand four hundred and twenty-three possible futures. All paths of war between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo."
"In every one, I emerged victorious."
"But now, the future has shifted again."
His voice grew darker. "Originally, Aizen was to attack Soul Society in ten days. Now it has become three. And instead of Yamamoto and Aizen slaughtering one another, the future has shifted to their cooperation… standing together against my Wandenreich."
An edge of anger crept into his tone. "All the preparations we've made these past days have been wasted."
Haschwalth hesitated a moment before speaking. "Your Majesty…"
Before he could continue, Yhwach lifted a hand, cutting him off.
"No need to say more. I know what must be done."
He narrowed his eyes and leaned back against the throne.
"Aizen Sosuke is indeed a dangerous man. Every single day, he shifts the future I observe. That man is far too dangerous."
"Your Majesty, I believe we need to focus on why Aizen and Yamamoto have joined forces," Haschwalth said coolly.
"You mean this so-called Little Garden? The 'world of gods' Aizen mentioned?"
Yhwach snorted. "A mere excuse for their alliance."
"A world where gods roam freely? Laughable."
"Even that Yagami who supposedly descended from Little Garden, the one Aizen calls impossibly strong, has not defeated me even once in all the futures I've observed."
"He is strong, yes, but compared to my Almighty, he is still lacking." He smirked inwardly.
"...But every time he appears, the future shifts. Like now, when Aizen moved his plans ahead—" Haschwalth began, but Yhwach cut him off again, coldly.
"I dislike discussions about the future. This ends here, Haschwalth."
"…Understood." Haschwalth bowed his head.
Yhwach's eyes narrowed. "You may go. Bring in the monk outside."
Haschwalth bowed slightly and turned to open the grand doors. He spoke to the seemingly empty hallway. "Come out, Ichibe Hyosube."
A huge figure emerged from the shadows.
His head was bald, his beard so thick it almost reached his chest. His nose was broad, his brows dense, and a massive crimson prayer bead necklace hung around his neck.
The leader of the Zero Division, the Royal Guard's Leader, Ichibe Hyosube.
Once revealed, Ichibe let out a long, almost mocking grin.
"Almighty really is a disgusting ability. Makes hiding completely useless."
Haschwalth stepped aside, speaking quietly. "His Majesty is waiting."
Ichibe chuckled, stomping forward in his wooden sandals that clacked loudly through the hall.
---
In Las Noches, inside a laboratory—
Ryo looked up at the night sky through the window and frowned.
"That idiot finally stopped observing the future."
"Yhwach?" Aizen asked beside him, adjusting his glasses again. "So his Almighty really is a future-observing ability?"
"Yes. One that can force changes to the future too."
Ryo turned to look at the artificial soul on the test table and sighed. "But you know, having a fly buzzing around your ear constantly is really unpleasant."
"Understandable," Aizen replied with a mild smile.
Ryo shot him a sideways look. "You're not even curious why I'm not worried about that kind of future-scrying ability?"
Aizen blinked in mild surprise. "You must have a rather high-level Gift. Are you dying to show it off?"
"Talking to you is so unrewarding." Ryo shrugged helplessly.
He had actually planned to brag about obtaining the Sun Authority, but now he wasn't in the mood.
Aizen pushed his glasses again. The glare hid his eyes. "So even gifts that interfere with the future exist in Little Garden?"
"Four-digit beings can distort the future with their Authorities. Three-digit ones can even observe the observer." Ryo explained casually, then smiled. "And mine is even more... fun."
His voice gained a playful edge.
"My Gift lets the observer see the future they want to see. A future that feels very reasonable."
A special passive of the Sun Authority: {Fictional Future}
Anyone who tried to observe the bearer's future would see a future of their own expectations. And if the bearer wished, they could see that same fabricated future as well.
Just now, Ryo had watched alongside Yhwach as the Quincy ruler dreamed of crushing all three realms.
It was boring.
Playing with artificial soul experiments with Aizen was more engaging.
At least that made money. Watching an overgrown child fantasize did not.
Aizen chuckled softly. "Then Yhwach should sleep peacefully tonight."
Ryo shrugged again and looked at the Zanpakutō forming slowly on the table. "Aizen, focus here, man. Did it work?"
"Merely a prototype," Aizen replied calmly.
"So we can test it?" Ryo's tone brightened with excitement.
Aizen glanced at him with a small smile. "There are no Shinigami test subjects here."
Ryo understood immediately, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Oh, I'm sure we'll find volunteers."
He paused, then added with an evil little smile. "For example… the Captain of the 2nd Division, Soi-Fon. She'd be very willing to contribute a tiny bit of data."
"That would be ideal," Aizen said, smiling as well.
.
.
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