"The Hogyoku is almost complete?"
Hasumi Ren stared at the prism in Aizen's hand.
In the shadow domain, he had seen with his own eyes what Aizen had done, and he had seen Pernida's fate.
The Left Arm of the Soul King, completely swallowed by the Hogyoku.
The fragments Ren had intercepted from Gerard and Lille Barro had pushed his Hogyoku awakening progress to forty percent.
With an entire Left Arm of the Soul King swallowed by the Hogyoku, he didn't dare to imagine to what extent the Hogyoku in Aizen's hand could evolve.
Everything Aizen had done before had the ultimate goal of obtaining the half Hogyoku in Urahara Kisuke's hands.
Only by fusing the two could it be pushed to an even higher realm.
But looking at Aizen now, it seemed he no longer needed Urahara Kisuke's Hogyoku.
Aizen held the Hogyoku in his palm. The blue brilliance flowed within the prism, refracting light onto his face.
He stared at the Hogyoku, his eyes filled with an excitement that had been suppressed for far too long.
"The complete Hogyoku will be mine soon."
He put the Hogyoku away.
"After this, we can begin the next phase: fusing with the Hogyoku, creating the Arrancar, and building an army."
Aizen's tone was incredibly steady as he stated his subsequent plans.
"According to what I found in the Great Spirit Book Gallery, by merging one hundred thousand souls in a Jureichi, I can forge the Oken and enter the Soul King Palace."
Aizen looked up toward the high heavens.
"I will go to the Soul King Palace, see this Soul King with my own eyes, and then, I will forge an ideal new world."
At this point, Aizen turned his head to look at Ren.
"Although we could continue lurking in the Soul Society and slowly build our strength, there's no need for that anymore."
The corners of Aizen's mouth turned up slightly.
"Those Quincies were quite helpful, but unfortunately, they are just a bunch of people who love stirring up trouble."
"Since Yamamoto Shigekuni knew about my affairs, if you had activated your Bankai just now, it would have temporarily bypassed the power of Kyoka Suigetsu."
"Hasumi Ren, why didn't you strike?"
Ren looked at Aizen.
Yamamoto had lost his Bankai; even with Ren's help, there was no absolute certainty of taking Aizen down.
While Ren hesitated, Aizen continued speaking on his own.
"Actually, you did want to strike just now, didn't you?"
Aizen's tone was very light.
"Fortunately, you chose not to."
He pushed up his glasses.
"Otherwise, you might have had to face a Hollowfied, mindless Yamamoto Shigekuni."
Ren looked up.
"Vice-Captain Aizen, would you really do that?"
"If it were the previous Hogyoku, I might doubt whether it could affect Spiritual Pressure of Yamamoto Shigekuni's level."
"But now that the Hogyoku has evolved, and Yamamoto Shigekuni's Bankai has been stolen, to be honest, I really do have the urge to try it out."
Aizen paused, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes.
"However, given how long Hirako Shinji was able to forcefully resist Hollowfication back then, I suspect that Yamamoto Shigekuni's Spiritual Pressure might just be able to suppress the Hollowfication with his own power."
"If that happens, it would actually be disadvantageous for me. Unless it's an absolute last resort, I won't try it lightly."
Aizen turned to look at the spot where Yhwach had disappeared earlier, sighing softly.
"The Quincies truly invented something magnificent. Medallionization, stealing Bankai. The Shinigami who rely on their Bankai have lost their most important ability just like that."
He withdrew his gaze.
"Fortunately, I don't rely on the power of a Bankai, and I have carved out a second path: Hollowfication."
Aizen looked back at Ren.
"Since Yamamoto Shigekuni knows my plan, there's no need to stay in the Soul Society."
"Right now, our greatest enemies are those Quincies instead. Yhwach is indeed troublesome."
Then, Aizen looked at Ren.
"I am going to Hueco Mundo. Hasumi Ren, are you coming with us?"
Ren looked at Aizen and sighed.
"I still prefer staying in the Soul Society. Hueco Mundo doesn't really suit me."
"Is that so," Aizen said. "What a pity."
Ren noticed that Aizen's hand rested on his Zanpakuto.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
A moment later, that hand relaxed.
"Truly terrifying. In just a few short years, you've grown to the point where even I need to be on guard against you."
He looked at Ren, his tone carrying a trace of genuine awe.
"Your performance in the Wandenreich was spectacular. If you were to use your Hollowfication ability, I honestly cannot guarantee I could take you down with absolute certainty."
Aizen retracted his hand, placing it behind his back.
"Hasumi Ren, I've thoroughly enjoyed working with you during this time. I hope you take care of yourself, and do not appear on the path of my advancement."
"If you are still alive in the end and witness my success, I would be more than happy to reserve a place for you in the new world. After all, you are very interesting."
Aizen turned and walked away, his pace unhurried.
"I hope you don't ultimately force me to kill you."
Aizen's figure disappeared into the distance.
He was going to find Tosen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin.
Heading to Hueco Mundo, fusing with the Hogyoku—none of the necessary preparations could be skipped.
Ren stood in the empty laboratory, letting out a long exhale.
Everything that had happened recently was far too complex and chaotic.
Perhaps it was time to find an old friend and get his perspective on things.
...
A few days later, Seireitei.
Post-war reconstruction work had been underway for some time.
Squad members from the Fourth Division ran back and forth between the divisions, pushing carts loaded with bandages and medicine bottles.
The scorched craters on the stone paths were being patched up. Kurotsuchi Mayuri, looking rather unenthused, collected the corpses of the Quincies, trying to find some living specimens among them.
Ren was looking through documents in the Eleventh Division office.
Ever since Urahara Kisuke's defection, the Thirteenth Division had tightened its control over the passageway to the World of the Living by several folds. Opening a Senkaimon now required Captain-level approval.
He was a Captain now and had the clearance, but it was hard to write down a valid reason for visiting the World of the Living.
He couldn't exactly write that he was going to the World of the Living to catch up with the rogue former 3rd Seat of the Second Division.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Captain Hasumi, Captain Hikifune Kirio has officially been promoted to Squad Zero today. The First Division has notified all Captains to attend a farewell meeting in the Head Captain's meeting room this afternoon."
"Kurotsuchi Mayuri of the Twelfth Division has cracked the technology behind the Medallions that steal Bankai. Due to this contribution, he has been exceptionally promoted to Vice-Captain of the Twelfth Division. After Captain Hikifune's promotion, the Twelfth Division will be fully under Kurotsuchi Mayuri's charge."
Ren took the document and glanced at it.
"Understood."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri had cracked the Medallion.
That meant the stolen Bankai could be retrieved.
Yamamoto's Zanka no Tachi, Shiba Isshin's Engetsu.
Later, when facing Quincies who might make a comeback, the Captains wouldn't need to fight with their hands tied anymore.
At this critical juncture, it was indeed good news.
Ren stood up and headed to the Head Captain's meeting room.
Several people had already arrived in the meeting room.
Kyoraku Shunsui stood at his spot, not looking particularly healthy. After all, his injuries from the great battle hadn't fully healed yet.
Shiba Isshin leaned on a crutch, his right arm still in a sling, looking even more miserable than Kyoraku Shunsui. However, color had returned to his face, indicating a decent recovery.
Soi Fon stood at the Second Division's seat. Seeing Ren enter, her gaze involuntarily lingered on him, only darting away in a panic when Ren looked back.
Unohana stood right beside Soi Fon. She cast a slight sidelong glance at Soi Fon's reaction, then looked at Ren with a subtle expression.
The elderly Kuchiki Ginrei was resting with his eyes closed. Ukitake Jushiro coughed lightly twice and nodded at Ren.
After everyone had gathered, Yamamoto Shigekuni entered last.
"Hikifune Kirio is promoted to Squad Zero today."
Yamamoto's voice was hoarse but powerful.
"During her years in the Gotei 13, she has made irreplaceable contributions to the development of the Soul Society."
"The summons from Squad Zero is an acknowledgment of her abilities."
Hikifune Kirio stepped forward. Her expression was very calm, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Thank you, Head Captain, and thank you all."
Her gaze paused on the face of everyone seated.
"I have completely handed over the affairs of the Twelfth Division to Kurotsuchi Mayuri. He has finished compiling the solution to crack the Medallions, which will be distributed to each division in the coming days."
"Captains whose Bankai have been stolen need no longer fear the enemy using their Bankai against our own people."
"And with the reclaimed Medallions, the Bankai can be released and returned to their rightful owners."
Hearing this, Shiba Isshin, as the first Captain to have his Bankai stolen, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"There is one more thing."
Hikifune Kirio's tone grew more serious.
"I reviewed some data regarding Hollowfication in the Twelfth Division's laboratory. Those files were discovered when Urahara Kisuke was put on the wanted list."
The meeting room fell silent for a moment.
The name Urahara Kisuke had not been mentioned in a Captains' meeting for a very long time.
"Based on the data he left behind, coupled with the Medallion samples captured from the Quincies during this war, we were able to complete the cracking process so quickly."
Hikifune Kirio looked at Yamamoto.
"Head Captain, I heard earlier that there was a hidden truth behind the Captain Hollowfication incident, and does the disappearance of Fifth Division Vice-Captain Aizen Sosuke confirm this?"
Yamamoto raised his eyes and swept a glance over the Fifth Division's spot. The proxy Captain Aizen should have been there, but now it was completely empty.
Recalling what the Quincies had said at the time, he remained silent for a moment.
"I will investigate this thoroughly."
Hikifune Kirio nodded, bowed slightly, and left the meeting room.
The envoy from Squad Zero was already waiting for her outside.
After Hikifune Kirio left, Yamamoto stood up.
"All divisions will continue reconstruction work. Unohana, the Fourth Division will compile a complete casualty report and submit it. Soi Fon, the Second Division will continue to track down any traces left by the Quincies within the Seireitei."
He looked at Ren.
"Hasumi Ren, how did your investigation into Aizen go that day?"
"Aizen was not at the Fifth Division. When I went there, his office was already empty."
Ren reported the situation from that day.
"However, Aizen's disappearance in itself proves a point."
Yamamoto stared at him for a few seconds.
"Regarding what the Quincies said, their accusations about the Captain Hollowfication incident... how credible do you think they are?"
"To tell the truth, I do know the inside story of this matter, but because the power of Kyoka Suigetsu was simply too flawless, I never had the opportunity to speak up."
"The Captain Hollowfication incident was indeed Aizen's doing, and the defection of Urahara Kisuke and the others was truly an act of desperation."
Now that Aizen had skipped town to do team-building in Hueco Mundo, Ren could speak out without any reservations.
Yamamoto Shigekuni fell silent, but there was truly nothing that could be done about the matter now.
"Continue investigating. Find Aizen. Alive is best, but if he resists, execute him on the spot."
"Yes."
The meeting adjourned.
Ren walked out of the Head Captain's meeting room, and Soi Fon caught up from behind.
The two walked shoulder to shoulder down the stone path, turning into a deserted alley.
"How much do you know about Aizen's affairs?"
Soi Fon got straight to the point.
"A lot."
"How much?"
"From the start of the Captain Hollowfication incident, to Urahara Kisuke becoming a wanted man, to Captain Unohana being locked in the Maggot's Nest."
Soi Fon stopped in her tracks and stared at him.
"You've known all along."
"Yes."
"But you didn't tell me."
Soi Fon's fists clenched, then relaxed.
She took a deep breath, keeping her voice very low.
"You know that Lady Yoruichi was framed."
"I know."
"Then when can her name be cleared? When can Lady Yoruichi come back?"
"Don't worry, it'll be soon. Aizen has already left the Soul Society. Once his actions are verified, everyone's charges will be reviewed."
Soi Fon fell silent, looking up to stare into Ren's eyes.
A moment later, she withdrew her gaze and turned to walk out.
"Hold on. I'll be going to the World of the Living in a couple of days. Do you want to come along?"
"The World of the Living? What for?"
Soi Fon looked back, a trace of curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"To find Urahara Kisuke."
"What?! Does that mean... we can also find Lady Yoruichi?"
Seeing Soi Fon's widened eyes, Ren nodded.
"Alright. Don't forget to get me when you head out. I'll go arrange my work first."
Ren leaned against the alley wall, waiting until the sound of Soi Fon's footsteps completely vanished before turning toward the Eleventh Division.
Late at night, Ren sat in his Captain's office, the Senkaimon application form spread out on his desk.
The form was already filled out. Under the application reason column, it read: "Application to purge residual Hollows in the World of the Living."
A few days later, the Senkaimon technique was activated under the supervision of the Twelfth Division.
Surprisingly, Kurotsuchi Mayuri personally appeared to assist with the operation. He stared at the control console, those yellow eyes sweeping over Ren.
"Patrolling the World of the Living," Mayuri dragged out his syllables. "Captain Hasumi sure is diligent."
"You just finished fighting the Quincies, and now you're rushing non-stop to the World of the Living to chop down Hollows. Is the Captain of the Eleventh Division really this restless?"
"Or perhaps, there's some other motive at play here?"
"Cut the crap and open the gate."
Mayuri curled his lip and pressed the activation button.
The Senkaimon opened on the platform, the black Dangai passage swirling within the doorframe.
Ren and Soi Fon stepped into the passageway together, the Reishi currents whistling past their ears.
The World of the Living, within Karakura Town.
When Ren stepped out of the Senkaimon, the sky had just turned dark.
He stood on the roof of an abandoned warehouse, the city lights twinkling in the distance.
The Reishi concentration in the World of the Living was far thinner than in the Soul Society; even breathing felt a bit lighter.
He expanded his perception while simultaneously releasing his Spiritual Pressure.
A Captain-level Spiritual Pressure quickly spread across more than half the city.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, a figure silently landed before him.
Urahara Kisuke, with a black cat on his shoulder, quietly stared at Ren and Soi Fon beside him.
Urahara Kisuke was wearing a bucket hat that obscured half of his face, dressed in a green kimono. Upon seeing Ren, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yo, Hasumi, I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"I heard the Soul Society has been quite lively lately, but could you tell me in detail exactly what happened?"