Chapter 223 The Meeting of Two Kings—Fiander and Yhwach!
Long ago, within a certain corner of the world, a baby was born. However, the newly born infant could not see, hear, speak, or even move. Even so, the baby survived tenaciously.
What differed from ordinary people was that this baby possessed the ability of "soul distribution" from the moment of birth. When others touched him, he could separate portions of his soul to fill the gaps within the toucher's spirit. Thus, the original psychological state or physical defects of the touched individual gradually healed.
However, anyone who touched the baby to be healed couldn't survive for extended duration. The soul fragments the baby had distributed previously would return to his body, subsequently healing his own deficiencies.
In this manner, the infant gradually regained vision, hearing, and other abilities.
Gradually, the baby matured. Those who'd touched him and been healed regarded him as a divine figure of faith. The baby's name was—Yhwach.
A forbidden location existed within Las Noches, positioned extraordinarily close to Fiander's chambers. It had served as Aizen's bedroom when he'd ruled Hueco Mundo. Later, after Aizen's sealing, Fiander had attempted communicating with the imprisoned soul. After receiving no response, he'd sealed Aizen's chambers. The Muken stand containing him was placed here.
However, the palace gates stood open. The guards lay decapitated. When Ichimaru Gin arrived at this location, he discovered a middle-aged man wearing a black cloak, gripping the Muken stand within his hands. The figure regarded him with a smile across his features.
"Could I trouble you to place that down? If the individual sealed within emerges, circumstances will grow extraordinarily troublesome!"
Ichimaru Gin spread his hands and addressed the other party with a distressed expression.
However, the middle-aged man simply pointed at Ichimaru Gin and spoke with absolute confidence: "The Shinigami who defected from Soul Society following Aizen?"
"The Wheel of Fortune informed me you should have perished. I'm surprised you survived!"
"Yeah! Let's say we're meeting for the first time. Isn't it inappropriate for strangers to curse one another like this?"
The man before him imposed inexplicable pressure upon Ichimaru Gin. If Fiander brought Ichimaru Gin a sensation of tranquility—to the point where he couldn't even detect Fiander's presence—then this individual before him resembled an ancient colossal beast opening its bloodied maw, prepared to devour him at any moment.
"According to the guidance fate has provided me, I should set matters right and guide you back to the proper path. However, time remains limited. I don't wish wasting excessive duration with you!"
Immediately, the middle-aged man spread his hand wide. An enormous spirit arrow materialized within his grasp instantaneously—not completely different from the Heilig Pfeil employed by Quilge Opie who'd fought Fiander previously.
If the sacred arrow thrown by Quilge Opie had been merely a polymer of spirit particles, then within this person's hands, the arrow of light that faintly radiated thunderous luminescence appeared to have locked onto Ichimaru Gin entirely. Escape proved impossible. Evasion couldn't succeed. Death was inevitable!
Ichimaru Gin's eyes widened. He'd never anticipated losing his life so inexplicably—so humbly and insignificantly.
Whoosh—
The arrow within his opponent's grasp traveled with tremendous velocity, materializing before Ichimaru Gin instantaneously. At this critical moment, Fiander finally arrived in time. He directly tore open a spatial rift before Ichimaru Gin and emerged.
Facing the powerful Heilig Pfeil, Fiander remained expressionless. He simply extended his hand indifferently and swiped through empty air. A refreshing chill instantly permeated the entire palace, directly freezing the sacred arrow his opponent had fired.
Then Fiander gently grasped the frozen projectile, released a breath, and the frozen arrow instantaneously transformed into ash, dissipating across the open ground.
At this moment, Fiander finally possessed opportunity to observe the man before him—known as the Quincy ancestor and simultaneously one of the greatest enemies lurking within darkness.
"I've heard your name for considerable duration, Yhwach. I never anticipated that after your resurrection, you wouldn't seek revenge upon Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni immediately. Instead, you've come to Hueco Mundo seeking death. This truly surprises me."
After his figure completely emerged from the spatial rift, Fiander addressed Ichimaru Gin positioned behind him: "Depart from here first, Gin!"
Ichimaru Gin glanced vigilantly at Yhwach before him, then nodded heavily and responded: "Understood!" He immediately departed from the location.
Not only was Fiander observing Yhwach, but Yhwach was simultaneously observing Fiander. Both regarded one another for nearly one minute. Finally, Yhwach spoke: "Ah, so the rumors regarding Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's defeat by a younger generation prove accurate. Have you transcended fate itself?"
"Heh—" Fiander sneered dismissively after hearing what Yhwach stated. "Rumors? If you're curious, you can attempt confirming them personally. However, the price is... you'll forfeit your life!"
"You're different. You won't perish!"
Yhwach placed down the Muken stand within his grasp, extended his hand toward Fiander, and declared: "I hope you'll join my forces. The barren wasteland of Hueco Mundo isn't suitable for survival."
"Your existence has transcended racial limitations. You're qualified becoming an existence that walks alongside me as equal!"
Yhwach's words emerged extraordinarily sincere, as though he genuinely wished recruiting Fiander under his command while simultaneously acknowledging his strength. Had Fiander only recently arrived in this world, he might have agreed without hesitation. After all, remaining beside Yhwach would prove more conducive to infiltration operations.
However, circumstances differed now. After hundreds of years waiting, he'd finally obtained his opportunity. He needn't concern himself with anyone's disposition when acting. Conversely, Fiander possessed greater objectives than Yhwach.
What the other party desired was merely a larger world transcending the boundary between life and death—integrating the Three Realms so that mortality would no longer constitute existence's shackles.
However, Fiander felt absolutely no interest in this. He represented an existence that loved order yet remained keen on destroying it. He would silently follow what benefited him while simultaneously creating more suitable order for himself.
Consequently, Fiander rejected Yhwach without any surprise. After being refused, Yhwach displayed no anger. He appeared planning to halt and depart, possessing no intention of engaging Fiander in combat.
"Strange. Didn't you come seeking Aizen? Why have you suddenly abandoned this objective?" Witnessing Yhwach—wrapped within shadows—preparing departure, Fiander possessed no intention of obstructing him. Because Yhwach alive represented an essential pawn.
"No. The time has nearly arrived." Yhwach shook his head toward Fiander with slight regret and continued: "You should perceive it—I have already witnessed it. Your power plays vital roles in transforming the world for me. We shall meet again. I hope we can converse properly during our next encounter!"
After speaking, Yhwach simply allowed the shadows beneath his feet to swallow his figure, finally vanishing before Fiander.
Fiander didn't know what the other party had witnessed within him. Yhwach had possessed murderous intent during their first meeting, yet within the blink of an eye, the other party appeared to have surrendered.
Although Fiander understood his opponent's objectives, he didn't comprehend what Yhwach's abilities truly were—whether he could genuinely perceive the future or possessed some manner of prophetic power.
The other party's arrival seemed merely to observe him specifically before departing in disappointment. Regardless, this made Fiander feel historically unprecedented unease.
At this moment, the enormous palace grew quiet. Only Fiander remained alone alongside the Muken stand where Aizen was confined.
Suddenly, Fiander inexplicably called out toward the Muken stand's direction: "Aren't you planning to emerge? Captain Aizen?"
"No—I should say... it's our first meeting, Aizen Sōsuke!"
The instant his words concluded, a sphere of spirit particle light flowed forth from the Muken stand that originally sealed Aizen. After brief duration, this sphere of luminescent spirit particles transformed into human form and seated itself upon a throne positioned within Aizen's chambers.
"Ah—this long-absent sensation feels like sleeping for hundreds of years!"
"It's been quite some time, Fiander!"