"How... did it get dark?"
It was dismissal time.
Students walking home looked up, puzzled by the sudden gloom. They couldn't see the red moon or the gate. To them, the sky was just heavily overcast, signaling an impending storm.
But those with strong spiritual perception—those attuned to reishi, or spirits themselves—saw something else.
A seductive crimson gradually appeared within the darkness; red and black intertwined, suffusing the world with a sinister, apocalyptic aura.
It felt like the end of the world.
People grew anxious, sensing that something was terribly wrong.
Toushirō Hitsugaya, newly arrived in the Human World, gazed up, his expression grave.
Hitsugaya:
"...What is this...?"
Suì-Fēng was about to sneak off to see Yoruichi—when, beneath the red moon, the gate opened.
A gigantic hand stretched out, tearing the black gate wider.
Within the widening crack, countless eyes watched.
Crowd:
"!!!!!"
Those below saw the enormous eyes—black, red, radiating evil—and as the darkness spread, monsters began to crawl out.
Ichigo:
"What is that?!"
He swallowed, shocked.
Rukia:
"Hollows...? No, they're not Hollows at all. I can't even feel their reishi... Wait—is that...?"
She squinted at a figure in the sky, eyes widening.
It looked just like Kurosaki Ichigo.
No, in truth, Ichigo looked just like him...
Rukia:
"Shiba Kaien-sama?!"
That was right. The face resembled Ichigo, but Rukia recognized Shiba Kaien.
But why would Shiba Kaien appear? Wasn't he dead?
Beneath the crimson full moon, dozens of monsters stood at the vanguard, with countless demons behind them. They looked like Hollows, but were fundamentally different.
No Hollow holes. No masks. No reishi.
These were not creatures of the Three Realms.
Rukia remembered the monsters she'd glimpsed in the Death Tower. Though those had been slain by Lilynette, their aura had lingered. The feeling now was similar—strange, and completely alien.
These were monsters from outside the Three Realms!
…
Meanwhile, in another corner of Karakura Town, Ginjō Kūgo frowned.
Ginjō:
"Where did you bring me? Is this still Karakura Town?"
As he gazed at the sky full of demons, Ginjō questioned Chris, who stood beside him.
Ginjō:
"Whose doing is this?"
Chris's face was solemn.
Chris:
"The Primodial Moon. The most terrifying one. I didn't expect her to act so quickly."
Ginjō:
"Didn't you say there's a barrier around the Three Realms? How did these monsters get in?"
Chris:
"The Primodial Moon is the most powerful and strange among the higher beings. It's not surprising she could infiltrate before the barrier fell. Unlike us, she's going for a direct grab."
In the sky, a gigantic black dragon soared, piercing the clouds and flying in front of the red moon. Its mouth opened, red energy gathering.
A massive dragon's breath shot forth—if it hit the ground, Karakura Town would be obliterated.
As the demons attacked, the Shinigami mobilized.
Ishida Uryū, realizing he had summoned something far worse than a Hollow, recovered and fired reishi arrows at the monsters.
Hitsugaya activated Bankai, his gigantic ice dragon roaring skyward to meet the descending light.
With a boom, the ice dragon shattered, but before the beam struck Karakura Town, a blade caught it—redirecting the energy.
Ukitake's Sōgyo no Kotowari!
"Hitsugaya, stop them! Pull the fight outside Karakura Town!"
Hitsugaya:
"Understood!"
He rushed to intercept one of the sky monsters.
Among the demons, the strongest stood at the front—humanoid, phoenix, and other bizarre forms, all able to shift shapes like Arrancar.
A fierce battle broke out.
In the shadows, another Captain watched.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi:
"How spectacular."
He sneered, unconcerned if the demons destroyed Karakura Town—in fact, he was the one who brought them in.
Why? Simple.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi sought to create the perfect lifeform. He had obtained a mural from Tsunayashiro Tokinada's base—one that originated from an evil god, the Primodial Moon.
It was the Primodial Moon who had released Tokinada from Yoshio's Solitude Hell, and struck a deal with Mayuri.
Mayuri was a mad scientist—morality meant nothing to him. Besides, Yoshio had embedded an Evil Node in his soul, deepening his insanity.
He truly didn't care about Karakura Town's fate.
Back when Ichigo and friends stormed Soul Society, causing chaos, something else happened.
All prisoners in Muken vanished!
Muken, Soul Society's most important prison, held the worst criminals—those who could not be executed.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi had spirited them out and sacrificed them to the Primodial Moon!
Yoshio, through the Evil Node and hellish aura, transformed these prisoners into monsters. They needed minions for the Outer Gods.
Most were Captain-class Shinigami; after transformation, they became even more savage.
Yoshio used the same method he used on Ashido—brainwashing them to forget their pasts.
In return, Mayuri received three benefits, based on the reishi sacrificed.
The first: information.
Ishida Uryū—possesses the ability to circumvent the Almighty!
Unlike the original manga, Mayuri had noticed the Quincy long ago. After his lab exploded, a group—disguised as others—had come to investigate. Mayuri recognized them as Quincy.
From then on, he paid close attention to their existence.
As a senior Shinigami, and former collaborator with Shutara Senjumaru of the Zero Division, Mayuri knew Yamamoto Genryūsai had failed to kill Yhwach.
He had long thought it unimportant—until he discovered the Quincy possessed abilities missing from his intelligence.
Research revealed the truth: Yhwach's powers had been sealed by the Monk. Ancient Quincy legends spoke of incredible abilities, far beyond other Quincy.
In Tsunayashiro Tokinada's base, Mayuri found records related to the Soul King—learning about the Almighty, and the history of the Three Realms.
It was all fascinating! If he couldn't study the Soul King or Yhwach, he'd start with Ishida Uryū.
The Primodial Moon revealed that Ishida was a special Quincy—not only immune to Auswählen, but even the Almighty couldn't see his future!
The information from the Primodial Moon was more valuable than any power.
Now, Mayuri set his sights on Ishida Uryū. But with Aizen as the enemy, Soul Society had to cooperate with the Quincy—utterly shameful! But in chaos, Mayuri could move freely.
He appeared before Ishida Uryū.
Ishida had just unleashed a rain of reishi arrows, clearing minor demons, and was about to attack again when Mayuri appeared.
"Shinigami...? Why are you here?"
He'd already reached Karakura's outskirts. Most Shinigami were drawing monsters away, but some still appeared in town, causing destruction.
Kisuke Urahara and the Visoreds had deployed, but could only ease the situation.
Now, why wasn't this Shinigami fighting the monsters? Why appear before him?
"Ishida Uryū, interesting. You're Ishida Sōken's grandson, aren't you?"
Mayuri's eyes glinted with fanaticism.
"What a pity! I couldn't obtain his soul back then. Now, I meet his grandson. The methods I couldn't use on your grandfather... I'll just have to use on you."
Ishida's pupils contracted. Killing intent surged.
"So it was you..."
He drew his bow, reishi and fury concentrated.
"That's right. I'm going to kill Shinigami like you!"