Chapter 23 – The Ruler of Hueco Mundo
Fifty years later. Hueco Mundo — Las Noches.
Tachibana Kyūjō, now the undisputed ruler of Hueco Mundo, sat calmly atop the grand throne of Las Noches. Beside him stood a tall young woman with snow-white hair cascading down her back, blood-red eyes glowing with quiet strength, and a beauty that could rival a goddess. She was Elsa—the mighty Silver Wolf of the past.
Lined below the throne were the region lords of Hueco Mundo, alongside the eight main generals Kyūjō had personally appointed.
The Four Regional Lords:
Eastern Lord: Baraggan Louisenbairn
Western Lord: Coyote Starrk
Northern Lord: Tier Harribel
Southern Lord: Ulquiorra Cifer
— — —
The Eight Main Generals (in order of power):
1. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
2. Yammy Llargo
3. Nnoitra Gilga
4. Zommari Rureaux
5. Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
6. Szayel Aporro Granz
7. Luppi Antenor
8. Aaroniero Arruruerie
All of them were Vasto Lorde-class Hollows. Except for Baraggan and Ulquiorra, each had undergone an evolution into Arrancar through a process developed directly by Kyūjō himself.
It was eleven years after Kyūjō began residing in Hueco Mundo that he managed to recover 51% of his spiritual wounds—thanks to the countless Reishi particles he'd absorbed over time.
At that point, his Reiatsu surpassed the upper limit of the first-tier scale. With his Bankai active—especially in its second form, the "Unlimited Overload Mode"—his power exceeded that of ordinary Shinigami and reached a level capable of rivaling none other than the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
After reaching such heights, Kyūjō took Elsa and headed straight to Las Noches—the spiritual heart of Hueco Mundo.
There, he challenged and defeated its former ruler, Baraggan Louisenbairn, and officially crowned himself as the King of Hueco Mundo.
Over the next two decades, while continuing to research the process of Hollowfication in Shinigami and the reverse—transforming Hollows into Shinigami—Kyūjō drained all surrounding Reishi within Las Noches until there was absolutely nothing left.
On the day his Hollowfication succeeded, his spiritual wounds had healed up to 96%, and his Reiatsu had already exceeded all classification standards—immeasurable and unquantifiable.
With his second Bankai form active, his senses could stretch across the vast, seemingly endless expanse of Hueco Mundo.
It was a power worthy of awe.
That very same year, Elsa also successfully evolved from Adjuchas into a full-fledged Vasto Lorde.
Once all Reishi within Las Noches was depleted, Kyūjō embarked on a journey with Elsa and Baraggan to explore every corner of Hueco Mundo.
During their travels, he encountered countless unique Hollows—many of them intelligent, powerful, and capable of growth. Among them were several individuals who would one day become central figures in the original timeline: Coyote Starrk, Tier Harribel, and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.
With the exception of mad, feral Hollows that couldn't be reasoned with, Kyūjō recruited them all and wove them into his growing hierarchy of power.
By ten years ago, Kyūjō had absorbed so much Reishi that his spiritual wounds had reached an astounding recovery rate of 99.999%. However, that final fraction—the last scar—remained stubbornly unhealed.
He came to realize that no matter how much Reishi he consumed, the damage would never fully vanish. The last barrier wasn't about spirit particles anymore... and so far, he hadn't discovered the true cause behind it.
— — —
Inside the grand Las Noches throne hall, Ulquiorra Cifer, the Southern Lord, knelt respectfully before Kyūjō and gave his report.
"My King, in the southeastern sector of Hueco Mundo—Zone 69—there have been suspicious movements from Shinigami. Several surrounding areas have also shown signs of chaotic Reiatsu, and even new Adjuchas have begun to appear."
Kyūjō nodded faintly, unfazed.
This wasn't anything new. He suspected Aizen's involvement.
Ever since Kyūjō's rise, Aizen had been forced to act from the shadows. He no longer had the freedom to barge into Hueco Mundo as in the original timeline. Even his Hōgyoku experiments had to be carried out in secret.
But the truth was, Hueco Mundo was now entirely under Kyūjō's control—his grasp even firmer than Aizen's ever was.
So no matter how careful Aizen became, Kyūjō could still trace his footsteps.
— — —
"I wonder... could a perfected Hōgyoku help me cross that final threshold?"
The thought lingered quietly in Kyūjō's mind. His expression remained calm and unreadable.
— — —
Meanwhile, in Soul Society—Seireitei.
At the 5th Division Headquarters, Aizen stood silently before a large window. Thanks to Kyūjō's interference over the decades, he had lost considerable time and opportunity. He was still merely a lieutenant.
"Tōsen," he spoke, hands folded behind his back, "do you know? Tachibana Kyūjō is now the King of Hueco Mundo. I can't wait any longer. The final experiment will commence tomorrow night. Let's hope we succeed, Tōsen."
Though blind, Tōsen Kaname—Third Seat of the 9th Division—faced Aizen without hesitation. His tone was resolute.
"Lord Aizen, your plans will never fail. If Kyūjō can rule Hueco Mundo… then you are destined to become the true ruler of all three worlds."
A soft chuckle escaped Aizen's lips.
He didn't deny it.
— — —
Late the next night, the 9th Division—out on patrol in the outer districts of Rukongai—was suddenly ambushed by a group of unknown individuals.
Captain Kensei Muguruma and his lieutenant, Mashiro Kuna, were both struck by a strange phenomenon simultaneously. In the blink of an eye, the two of them mutated into monstrous Hollow-like creatures.
Soon after, a second group arrived to support them—Shinji Hirako, Hiyori Sarugaki, Lisa Yadōmaru, Hachigen Ushōda, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi. But they too fell victim to the same affliction.
Their bodies were forcefully implanted with Hollow power, and one by one, they transformed into massive Hollows themselves.
Fortunately, the third group to arrive—Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi, the head of the Kidō Corps—came just in time.
To stabilize the victims' rampaging Hollowfication, Urahara had no choice but to activate his incomplete Hōgyoku prototype.
By channeling its power, Urahara was able to temporarily halt the mutations.
But that was when the true culprit revealed himself—Sōsuke Aizen, accompanied by his subordinate, Kaname Tōsen.
Facing the perfect hypnosis of Aizen's Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, the infected Shinigami stood no chance. Just like in the original timeline, they were overwhelmed without being able to resist.
It was only thanks to the Hōgyoku's power that they were able to escape alive.
Unfortunately, because Aizen had already infiltrated the upper ranks, Central 46 issued an official decree: Urahara and all his associates were to be arrested.
Realizing the trap had been fully sprung—and that the Hōgyoku must never fall into Aizen's hands—Urahara hid it in a place even Aizen could not reach.
Then he fled to the World of the Living, bringing with him the victims of the Hollowfication experiment: Shinji, Hiyori, Lisa, Hachigen, Kensei, Love, Mashiro, and Rōjūrō.
Tessai Tsukabishi followed them into exile, as did Yoruichi Shihōin, the former Captain of Division 2.
Together, they began a long life of hiding in the human world—living in secrecy, always on the run.
Even though Aizen had failed to obtain the Hōgyoku, as he watched them flee, his lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
Was it really just the Hōgyoku he was after?
Of course, capturing it would've been ideal.
But even without it, he had already accounted for every possible outcome.
— — —
The fallout from this incident caused a massive shake-up in the Gotei 13's chain of command.
Naturally, no one was angrier than the Captain Commander himself—Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Thankfully, the Gotei 13 still had no shortage of talent. Almost every vacant captain seat was quickly filled... except one: Division 3 remained leaderless.
Division 2's Captain, Yoruichi Shihōin, fled. Her position was filled by Soi Fon.
Division 3's Captain, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, fled. His seat remained empty.
Division 5's Captain, Shinji Hirako, fled. His lieutenant, Sōsuke Aizen, took command.
Division 7's Captain, Love Aikawa, fled. Third Seat Sajin Komamura was promoted in his place.
Division 9's Captain, Kensei Muguruma, fled. Third Seat Kaname Tōsen was appointed as his successor.
Division 12's Captain, Kisuke Urahara, fled. The Research Institute's Deputy Head, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, took over.
As a result of this chain of events, even Retsu Unohana—former Captain of Division 4, who had been imprisoned for two hundred years—was quietly released and permitted to act freely again within Soul Society.
— — —
Amidst the chaos of the Gotei 13's restructuring, for the first time in fifty years, Tachibana Kyūjō left Hueco Mundo.
Harnessing the Hollowfication energy within him, Kyūjō opened a Garganta with a single punch—tearing through dimensions—and stepped into the human world with the crimson-eyed girl beside him.
Elsa.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived in Karakura Town.
With Infinity Perception active, Kyūjō swept across the city in an instant, sensing every hidden presence, uncovering every secret buried beneath the surface.
— — —
"Manager Urahara... and Yoruichi. It's been a while."
As the calm voice rang out behind them, Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi—still in her black cat form—whipped around in surprise.
"Tachibana! You're finally here!!" they exclaimed in perfect unison.
Seeing Kyūjō again, Urahara's tense expression immediately softened.
And in that moment, the black cat transformed—shimmering with light—as Yoruichi returned to her human form.
A radiant, dark-skinned beauty.
Naked. Completely.
"Ehhhhh?! Yoruichi! What are you doing?! Sure, we're close... but isn't this a bit sudden?!" Kyūjō exclaimed, lifting one hand and casually snapping his fingers.
In the next moment, a sleek, jet-black jacket made from condensed Reishi materialized in midair and wrapped snugly around Yoruichi, perfectly hugging her curves.
Yoruichi examined the jacket, stretched her arms and legs a little, then turned toward Kyūjō in awe.
"Tachibana, how did you do that? Seriously, this outfit is amazing! I love it! It feels so good to wear. Way better than anything Kisuke ever made! His stuff is... ugh, let's not even talk about it."
With a laugh, she added, "Ever since I started living as a cat, I just stopped caring about clothes. But this—this is an exception!"
Urahara pushed his hat up and studied the material with intrigue.
"This is Reishi-woven fabric, formed with high-density compression. No wonder it feels like that. I'd wager... unless someone has Reiatsu of at least third-level classification, even their Zanpakutō wouldn't be able to cut it."
"Actually," he continued, "even with that level of power, I doubt it would—"
Kyūjō cut him off with a soft smile, turning to the girl beside him.
"This is my partner—Elsa Kaslana, from Hueco Mundo."
Then, gesturing toward Urahara and Yoruichi, he added, "Elsa, this is Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin. Old friends of mine from Soul Society."
But today... something felt off about Elsa.
She didn't speak.
Didn't greet them.
She simply glared at Yoruichi, red eyes burning with restrained rage, jaw tight with tension.
Kyūjō was confused.
He had no idea what was happening.
The straight-laced loner had never been good at reading women.
Meanwhile, Yoruichi giggled behind her hand and threw a flirtatious glance in Elsa's direction.
— — —
A second later, a massive wave of spiritual pressure erupted from Elsa, flooding all of Karakura Town in an instant.
"Stop! Elsa—what's wrong with you?!" Kyūjō grabbed her wrist, halting her hand just as her sword began to slide out of its sheath.
Elsa lowered her gaze, voice trembling.
"I'm sorry... Kyūjō."
"I don't know why... but when I saw that woman standing in front of you... completely naked... I got angry."
"And another thing! You've never made me clothes like that!!"
Her voice rose into a furious yell.
Kyūjō froze.
Even the densest man alive would've picked up on the signs by now.
He gently reached up and patted Elsa's silver hair.
A gentle light shimmered around her, forming into a radiant, elegant dress that wrapped her body like a royal gown.
— — —
But deep down, Kyūjō could only murmur to himself:
Sorry, Elsa...
A man and a wolf were never meant to be together.
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