"Sasakibe, explain the situation that just occurred." Yamamoto spoke.
Thus, Chōjirō explained in detail how the Quincy had stolen his Bankai.
"What? They can absorb Bankai?!" Tōshirō exclaimed in shock.
Yoruichi confirmed, "Just as Lieutenant Sasakibe said, the enemy is capable of absorbing a Shinigami's Bankai through some means."
"Furthermore, they declared that they will invade Soul Society in five days."
Everyone fell into deep thought. Losing their Bankai was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the Shinigami.
Shin looked at Mayuri. "Captain Kurotsuchi, can you determine their hiding place? I suspect they are hiding right inside Soul Society."
"Oh? Why do you say that, Nohara-san?"
Shin explained, "The fact that they could swiftly kill hundreds of Shinigami while avoiding the Captains suggests they have a deep understanding of Seireitei's internal structure."
"Moreover, before this incident, I had a faint feeling of being watched. Who knows how long these people have been secretly observing Seireitei?"
Hearing Shin's words, the Captains were somewhat surprised, as none of them had felt anything similar, but they did not doubt the truth of his statement.
Shunsui said, "If that's truly the case, then the situation is extremely unfavorable for us."
"The enemy can absorb Bankai, and they know our situation intimately..."
Although Shunsui didn't finish his sentence, everyone understood his implication.
The situation was dire!
Mayuri shook his head. "It is currently very difficult to pinpoint their location. We have too little information."
Thud!
Yamamoto struck his cane and issued an order, "Effective immediately, all personnel are to prepare for battle."
"Furthermore, Captain Kurotsuchi, contact Urahara to begin research concerning the Bankai theft and the enemy's headquarters."
"Dismissed."
"Captain Kurotsuchi, stay behind."
The others left one after another, while Mayuri followed Yamamoto to the dilapidated Captain Commander's office.
"You know why I asked you to stay, don't you?"
"You wish to question me about the Rukongai incident, I presume."
It turned out that in order to solve the problem of mass Hollow disappearances in the Human World, which was leading to a soul imbalance, Mayuri had unilaterally exterminated twenty-eight thousand residents of Rukongai to fill the void.
"Why didn't you obtain permission first?"
Mayuri dismissed the concern. "The enemy is eliminating vast numbers of Hollows in the Human World with the intention of disrupting the balance between the Human World and Soul Society. If sacrificing a few Rukongai residents can solve this problem, then the loss is minimized."
"If I had delayed the timing by waiting for permission, the situation might have become uncontrollable."
Yamamoto retorted, "If the reports and responses from your SRDI had been swift enough, perhaps the situation could have been prevented entirely."
"That is where you are mistaken. I already presented my proposal to you over a year ago, but you chose not to adopt it."
Just as Mayuri stated, when Uryū invaded Soul Society as a Ryoka, he had offered advice regarding a potential Quincy invasion, but Yamamoto had dismissed it as needless worry.
"Isn't the root cause of all this because you, Captain Commander, failed to completely kill that man a thousand years ago?"
Yamamoto's expression darkened, and he said nothing more.
—
Just as the Wandenreich declared war on Soul Society.
Hueco Mundo.
A gigantic Garganta opened above Las Noches.
A middle-aged man with red eyes, a black beard and long hair, a fierce countenance, and draped in a deep red cloak stepped out of it.
Some Las Noches guards attempted to stop the man, but they immediately received a transmission from above ordering them not to engage him.
Thus, the man arrived at the main hall unimpeded.
"Aizen."
The man's eyes were fixed solely on Aizen, he paid no attention to the other Shinigami or Arrancar present.
"Yhwach?"
Aizen recognized the King of the Quincy, who had been defeated by Yamamoto a thousand years ago.
"The air is saturated with your unpleasant Reiatsu. What brings you here?"
Yhwach was unconcerned. "Aizen, one of the Special War Potentials, join my ranks."
"Oh? Special War Potential?" Aizen was highly displeased with Yhwach's condescending attitude.
"The mighty King of the Quincy is inviting me to join his empire?"
Yhwach said, "At the very least, our paths align when it comes to the goal of destroying Soul Society."
Aizen smiled. "Not long ago, I spared Yamamoto."
Yhwach said, "While I don't know the purpose of your action, I believe you have not given up on destroying Soul Society."
Aizen narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Is that so?"
"I refuse."
"What?"
Aizen stated, "I regret to inform you, I have no interest in destroying Soul Society."
"Is that right? Is that your final answer?"
"In that case, I have said what I came to say."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yhwach turned and prepared to leave Las Noches.
Aizen asked, "Leaving already? Are you not going to attack me?"
Yhwach stopped and slowly said, "Killing you, who has completely fused with the Hōgyoku, would be too time-consuming."
"However... if you obstruct my path, I will not hold back."
Aizen's face was unreadable. "What an arrogant statement. Truly befitting the legendary King of the Quincy."
"Finally, I must ask. Where exactly have you people been hiding for the past thousand years?"
Yhwach seemed not to have heard Aizen's final question, and his figure quickly vanished from Las Noches.
After Yhwach left, the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the main hall immediately eased.
"Aizen-sama, that man was..."
Kaname couldn't help but ask.
Yhwach's terrifying Reiatsu had nearly suffocated him moments ago.
"Yhwach, the King of the Quincy from a thousand years ago. He led the Quincy in a decisive battle against Yamamoto's Gotei 13 and suffered a crushing defeat."
"Now, he has popped out again from some unknown, dark corner."
"It looks like we're in for another troublesome fight." Starrk said.
Grimmjow, however, was excited. "What's wrong with that? Staying in Hueco Mundo for so long, my body is starting to rust."
Harribel shook her head. Like Starrk, she disliked fighting.
Ulquiorra, more concerned with the overall situation, asked, "Aizen-sama, should we also prepare for battle now?"
Aizen commanded, "Yes, effective immediately, inform your Fracción to prepare for battle. And the opponents are the Quincy."
"As for the lower-ranking Arrancar, they need not participate."
Arrancar below the rank of Fracción were merely cannon fodder.
(End of Chapter)
Read 40 Chapters ahead on
patreon.com/astralicity