Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Kenpachi woke up with a start.

"Well done, Kenny! This time you managed to last a whole minute!" Yachiru clapped along with him.

"Just a minute, huh?" Kenpachi smiled at that, touching his chest.

He would have sworn the fight ended when that guy's sword pierced him until he could feel it cutting his spine.

"Those two are terrifying," Toshiro said, disturbed.

That samurai had practically cut Kenpachi in two, and a second later, he was acting as if nothing had happened!

That was a terrifying healing power that he was sure even Captain Unohana didn't possess!

And seriously, Kenpachi's spiritual pressure didn't increase during the fight?

"Okay, I'll take it from here," Uryu declared, trying to ignore what had just happened.

Did Ichigo really defeat that monster?

No one protested; in fact, most people preferred to ignore the implications of what had just happened.

Deep within the sands of Hueco Mundo stood a roofless castle. Its pillars lay broken, and the few remaining walls, made of stone with a marble-like surface, had grown brittle with time.

Las Noches

"Aizen already built that thing so fast?" Ichigo wondered.

"No, in fact, Las Noches existed before that Shinigami arrived," Nel corrected.

"Wait, seriously?! Then who did it?" Ichigo asked in surprise.

He had always assumed it was something Aizen did.

"We have no idea, perhaps Baraggan could, but there are those who say that Las Noches are even older than him," Harribel replied instead of Nel.

Which had some rather interesting and some disturbing implications.

The palace in the sands, visible even from the far reaches of Hueco Mundo. Its ancient and towering columns bear witness to its glory.

And in the center of this palace lay a throne of bones. Femurs, skulls, radii, everything was used in its creation, and seated upon this throne of bones was none other than Barragán, Lord of Hueco Mundo.

"So what are we going to do now, stare at this loser?" Lilynette complained.

She had thought his involvement ended once Shirou kicked his ass!

A servant, a Vasto Lorde dressed in a simple white gown, stood beside him, carrying a pitcher of drink. With some hesitation, she poured him a drink from the vase beside his throne before politely taking her place at his side. However, she seemed to want to say something to him.

“Lord Barragán,” the assistant finally said, his voice uncertain, addressing him.

"Again, where do they get all that stuff?" Ichigo scratched his head,

He had thought the white uniforms were something else from Aizen, but apparently not.

He could understand her hesitation. Recently, a Shinigami had brazenly barged his way into his court without receiving even a single greeting from his trained elite. Preposterous. Just thinking about the indifferent greeting the Shinigami had given him was infuriating. And even more so when the damned Shinigami escaped? He simply didn't understand; he had sliced ​​the Shinigami in two and then watched the two halves disintegrate into dust. He had thought he had rid himself of the nuisance, only to hear that same indifferent greeting, the kind you'd use to reprimand a child, right behind him. He slashed and killed the damned bug again, only this time, all that remained was the sound of his voice as it slowly faded into the distance.

"Baraggan has already fallen." Harribel narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

Now that he had him under his control, if Aizen wanted, he could organize a war between him and Shirou to weaken him.

This was dangerous.

Until next time.

He clenched his fists. Next time, there wouldn't be a next time.

Suffice it to say that, after such a failure on their part, the previous assistant and the elite guards were no longer in their positions.

"Tantrum-throwing," Lilynette huffed.

"What's wrong?" Barragán asked calmly. After his latest defeat, he wasn't in a hurry; he needed to reflect on what had gone wrong.

“Th-that's, my lord,” the maid cleared her throat. “We have an intruder.”

"Is Aizen back?" Nel asked nervously.

"I suspect she's not referring to him," Harribel said, intrigued.

There was another one he could be referring to.

And she didn't know if that was good or bad.

Barragán raised an eyebrow. By now, he believed all his subjects knew the law regarding trespassers on his land. The answer was, quite simply, death. "And why has nothing been done about it?" he asked, calmly drumming his fingers on the skull-shaped armrests of his throne.

"Well," said the assistant, putting the jug on the floor and quickly indicating another hole to make the intruder appear.

He was unconscious and two Adjuchas were dragging him forward, one on each side. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that he was wounded: both his arms had been amputated and he had puncture wounds scattered across his robust body.

"Brans!" Lilynette exclaimed worriedly

Why, of all places, did he have to end up there!?

"We found him like this, drowning in a pool of his own blood near the resting chambers," the assistant explained. "As for why we didn't kill him..." The assistant trailed off.

"He's an excellent hostage," Harribel concluded gloomily.

"No, it isn't," Grimmjow surprisingly declared.

"And why do you think that?" Harribel asked curiously.

"Why is that not the behavior of a king?" Grimmjow declared

Taking hostages? Attacking from behind?

That was the behavior of a coward!

And Baraggan may have been many things.

But never a coward.

Baraggan's eyes widened slightly as he recognized him. The Hollow King's Raven. He swallowed the title like a bitter pill. The Hollow King, a title he believed only he could hold, but one he had lost time and time again. Every time he seemed to have the upper hand, the infamous King would pull some new weapon from his arsenal. It was utterly frustrating, but he'd be lying if he said he hadn't gained something from it. After all, his fighting style improved along with his reaction time and adaptability. Though he supposed he enjoyed the spectacle. He'd never believed it possible that his powers could be ineffective. Therefore, his battles were decided as they always were in Hollow battles: by brute force.

"Great, now all the crazy people are getting stronger," Yoruichi complained.

First Kenpachi and now that guy?

No, first Ichigo, then Kenpachi, and lastly that guy.

"I don't know why, but I'm getting angry," Ichigo muttered, eyeing
Yoruichi suspiciously.

"Do not touch him," he ordered, noticing the hungry stares of the hollows in his court. He supposed he could not blame them. Even for an Adjuchas, devouring a powerful hollow like the King's Raven was too tempting to simply increase one's own strength. However, his word was law. No one dared touch the King's Raven.

Perhaps it could be of some use. A favor, so to speak?

"A favor? That sounds dangerous," Urahara muttered.

Depending on how this is handled, two already dangerous forces could unite and become one.

Shirou alone was dangerous, but if he added that Hollow to his ranks...

They couldn't allow something like that.

And ironically, once again, it was their actions that led to this happening.

Was it him, or did everything he did end in tragedy?

"Send him to his chambers and let me know as soon as he wakes up." He smiled as he stood and took his glass, raising it in the air. "Let us drink to my reign and the inevitable defeat of my enemies!"

He was getting ahead of himself, but even he knew the importance of morale. After each defeat, he saw the faith waver in the eyes of his subordinates. He was their leader, the absolute authority; no one could question his methods, and yet he couldn't overcome his greatest obstacle. How would his followers see it? Of course, it would be a sign of weakness, and he had no shortage of rivals vying for his power.

"No one who has seen his battles can say he is weak." Harribel shook her head.

She had only seen it once, and yet she was still impressed.

Anyone who tried to take advantage of Baraggan's weakened state was going to be sorely disappointed.

He smiled, raised his drink to eye level, and swirled the contents. Everyone understood, however, why he was often called the God-King of Hueco Mundo. Even so, he took a sip, listening to the cheers of his court. It was not in his best interest for his elite and army to feel inferior to the Hollow King.

Given the debt he owed him for saving the Hollow King's aid, his followers' morale would naturally rise, knowing he had something at stake regarding the King. And that was all that mattered at that moment, aside from the mild curiosity he felt about who had been able to wound the King's Raven in such a way.

"Oh, so now I've caught that guy's attention too?" Urahara muttered to himself.

Karma was real.

He was finally checking it out.

However, that matter did not concern him.

Meanwhile, a small black cat slowly scurried away from the busy court, its footsteps not even stirring the sand beneath its feet.

In a candy and appliance store tucked away at the end of a secluded alley, a man sat alone, kneeling beside a low table in the accessible room behind the cash register. He didn't have to worry about customers at that moment, as the store was rarely busy, but even so, he always welcomed anyone who walked in. Whether it was candy, merchandise, or even hard- to-find items, he was confident his store could meet their needs with the right incentive.

"You know, if you put it like that, it sounds like your store is a front for illegal businesses," Ichigo pointed out.

If someone who didn't know about Shinigami heard that, they'd probably call the police, thinking Urahara was selling drugs or something.

"Honestly, how legal is what he's doing in the first place?" Rukia complained.

"They're hurting me!" Urahara grabbed his heart and screamed dramatically.

He simply did everything he could to provide his beloved customers with everything they needed!

Kisuke sipped his tea indifferently, straining to hear the tinkling of the bells that hung loosely at the entrance to his tent. After all, he was expecting a guest; a friend, if you will, whom he hadn't spoken to in years.

Ichigo had an idea that 'friend' was talking about.

He just hoped they wouldn't leave him out of this.

If they dared hide her mother's return from her, he would beat the pair until their forms were unrecognizable.

His finger drummed rhythmically on the hard surface of the table; the steady tapping helped his focus as he glanced at the clock. Six hours. Six hours had passed since he had convinced Yoruichi to investigate the origins of that particular Hollow they had encountered in Karakura Town Park, and seven hours since the true target had vanished from the spirit radar.

Actually, this is quite worrying news. Either she was kidnapped by another Hollow, murdered, or she managed to suppress her spiritual pressure enough that neither he nor Yoruichi could detect her. Of course, it was all still speculation, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that she had simply stumbled upon a naturally spiritual energy-suppressing zone, of which he only knew of a couple in Karakura.

"Worse! She was kidnapped by a perverted Quincy!” Lilynette declared, worried about Silent.

"Who are you calling a perverted Quincy!?" Ishida exclaimed furiously.

He was just looking after her, taking care of her!

"Uryu, don't you dare do anything to my mother," Ichigo growled.

"She's an Quincy! As far as I know, she's related to me!" Uryu exclaimed again in despair.

Why were they doing this to him!?

He glanced at his watch again and stopped himself from clicking his tongue. He was late, but Kisuke was always a patient man. He stood up, took a piece of chalk, ground it into powder, and sprinkled it onto an eraser, which he then carefully placed by the front door. He was a patient man, but also a petty one.

"Why are geniuses always so eccentric?" Yamamoto complained.

First, Urahara, then Mayuri, Aizen, and he didn't even want to think about Squad Zero.

He hoped Yoruichi would return soon to help him with the explanations. After all, it was her word that allowed him to act that day. Her stories spoke of the impossible, or at least of something he hadn't believed possible until then, but Aizen was proving to be just as resourceful as he was. Even so, Yoruichi should have returned an hour ago, but perhaps she was delayed. In that case, should he go and help her?

"Do you think Aizen was the one who revived her?" Ichigo asked, confused.

"Can you blame me?" Urahara asked rhetorically

Honestly, what was more likely?

That Aizen revived Ichigo's mother with one of his experiments.

Or that a completely unknown Hollow, who could create some kind of sacred sword capable of purifying a Hollow, somehow turning her into an Arrancar?

Even now, he still didn't know how the hell that was possible.

A shiver ran down his spine for a moment as he reconsidered the situation. She had her pride as a former leader of a covert operations force, and above all, he knew her capabilities. That was why he'd sent her in the first place. Though, on second thought, perhaps she was only delaying her return to avoid the conversation that was coming. It wouldn't surprise him if she let him talk to him and then returned almost at the last minute. It was exactly what he would do if he had the chance.

"Suffer," Yoruichi said with a mocking smile.

"What a mean friend I have," Urahara complained.

The ringing of the bells instantly drew his gaze toward the fountain, only for him to sigh when a rather troublesome customer walked in, covered in a layer of fine chalk that blended into her hair.

"You!" Rukia exclaimed indignantly.

"In my defense, you weren't the target." Urahara put his hands up in front of him to defend himself.

She had shoulder-length, jet-black hair, a serious face, and a narrow chin. Her light violet eyes were round, but at that moment she narrowed them in indignation. She brushed aside a strand of hair that refused to stay behind her ear and kept falling uselessly between her eyes. She gave in, realizing more than once that the effort was futile.

"Stupid lock of hair," Rukia complained.

She had once tried using that 'wax' that Ichigo recommended, but it only ended up making her hair shiny.

And the lock of hair was still sticking out!

She wore a simple long-sleeved dress with blue trim near the hem and a wide U-shaped front with printed ruffles.

Rukia Kuchiki, of the Kuchiki family, one of the Four Great Noble Families of the Soul Society, tasked with protecting and documenting the history of the Soul Society itself. Her brother was the current head of the family and a captain of the Court Guard squads.

"So, this is where we are," Ichigo muttered, clenching his fists.

"I was only with Ichigo for about two months, so it's easier to pinpoint the date now." Rukia nodded.

"Only two months?" Orihime blinked in surprise

It felt longer.

(E.N: Yeah, because we were with the Hollows, and their sense of time is different to the Human World)

"Kuchiki," Kisuke said languidly, as a fan opened in front of his face. "What can I do for you today? Perhaps an umbrella?" He suppressed a forced smile when he noticed Rukia's lip twitch, probably about to hurl a cutting insult. It wasn't wise to add fuel to the fire.

"You know why I came," he said, crossing his arms and brushing off the chalk that was still on his body. "All your products are defective. And so is your brain."

Rukia clenched her teeth in fury without saying anything.

No, they were working perfectly as they were made.

"Defective isn't a nice way to put it," Kisuke straightened his back as he stretched slowly. "I prefer the term situational."

"And I prefer a good product." She tossed him a small candy dispenser, which he lazily caught with his right hand.

"Oh, yeah, that was definitely defective." Rukia nodded in complete agreement.

"How cruel," Urahara lamented.

It wasn't their fault that some of their modified souls were so...enthusiastic.

Kisuke raised an eyebrow as he manipulated the dispenser and discovered that it was empty of the modified souls it previously contained.

Mod-souls were artificially designed to enhance human physiology, allowing them to defend themselves against Hollows. This was crucial for a Shinigami to keep their mortal or artificial body safe from Hollow attacks. Furthermore, they could be used to expel a human soul from their own body.

"Yeah, I won't miss that part." Ichigo scratched his head.

There were still people who saw him as a sexual deviant because of what Kon did with his body!

"Normally, when a customer demands a refund, they also return the purchased product," Kisuke reasoned with a touch of humor.

Rukia wasn't amused. "Then you shouldn't have made that mistake in the first place," she said. Anyway, there was no going back.

"I wish I could," Rukia complained.

That little pervert.

"Is this the famous Kuchiki upbringing?" Kisuke snorted. "You adapt well to it."

"It's a good thing your face seems to fit my fist," Rukia said with a barely concealed smile. "Although I suppose it has its uses, would you like to try it?"

"Hmmm."

Rukia shuddered

For a second, she had forgotten that her brother was there!

"You're definitely Hisana's sister," Byakuya murmured with a slight smile.

Rukia froze.

Sister, what the hell did you do!?

"Okay," Kisuke said reassuringly, handing back the candy dispenser. "You don't have to pay for it, though you'll have to keep the container for your little Chappy."

The ticking of the wall clock echoed in the simple shop as Rukia hesitated, pretending to look at the items. She pursed her lips. What should she do?

"Hit him, hit him hard," Ichigo advised.

"It's an excellent idea," Rukia agreed.

"You're reading it backwards," Kisuke sighed before lowering his hat and smiling sadly. "What is it you really want, Kuchiki?" Somehow, he already knew the answer.

She remained silent, but finally gave in to her own anxieties.

"My powers," she began slowly, "aren't coming back."

"No, they won't," Urahara admitted quietly.

And rightly so. Kisuke opened and closed his fan while drumming a finger on the counter. This was for the best, and some lies deserved to be forgotten. "Give him time, Kuchiki. You gave a large part of your strength as a Shinigami to Kurosaki, didn't you?"

"You're really good at lying." Byakuya gave Urahara a sharp look.

"Yes, one of the many talents I've had to cultivate," Urahara admitted.

She nodded, but still found it hard to believe her powers weren't returning. Even more alarming was the suspicion that they were still dwindling. Something was definitely wrong, but the decrease in her power was still within expectations, so she couldn't put it into words yet. That's why she had sought the help of this individual, who, let's face it, seemed untrustworthy. But at least she knew Kisuke knew what he was doing thanks to his knowledge and experience.

"I guess it was my fault for seeking help in the worst possible place," Rukia admitted bitterly.

"How long would it take then?" She asked, rubbing her arms. She didn't know how long it would be before news of his crime reached the Soul Society.

The law stated that a Shinigami could not transfer their powers to a human, and she had committed precisely that act, following Ichigo Kurosaki's wishes. Regardless of her motives, she was still guilty, and as things stood, she could even be charged with treason.

"Just out of curiosity, what was your plan if everything had gone well?" Ichigo asked.

Had he planned from the beginning to let Rukia die?

"Under normal circumstances, the Soul Society would have taken much longer to learn of Kuchiki's crime. For us Shinigami, whose lifespans are measured in millennia, a decade could pass in the blink of an eye. I reckoned that by then Kuchiki would have already lost all her power, making her undetectable, and since we couldn't sense Reiatsu, we wouldn't be able to search for her either. So the only possible option would be to search the entire city. They wouldn't take long to give up the search and possibly assume that some Hollow killed her. I was even prepared to fabricate evidence of her death," Urahara explained.

Byakuya nodded.

It was a solid plan that only failed due to Aizen's direct interference.

Perhaps that would have been for the best.

Kisuke sighed before looking Rukia straight in the eyes. He truly felt sorry, but her position was too valuable to let go. "Unfortunately, I estimate it could take several months, or even years, depending on the progress and speed of your spiritual power regeneration. For now, all you can do is wait. And if you need lodging, you're more than welcome to stay in my humble tent."

"Of course, that was before I saw how comfortable you were with Ichigo, so I decided to make arrangements with Isshin for a more permanent stay at his home," Urahara added humorously.

"Who's comfortable with this idiot?!"

"Who's comfortable with this dwarf?!"

Ichigo and Rukia exclaimed in unison.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes.

He wouldn't allow it, not him.

“I understand,” Rukia said after a moment, giving a slight bow. “Thank you for your time and your kind offer, but I’ve already found a nice sliding closet to live in,” she added quickly, realizing her mistake. Normally, she wouldn’t mind if others knew about her extremely convenient residence in Ichigo’s sliding closet, but something warned her that it would only give Kisuke more reason to criticize her. Turning her back on him, she headed for the door.

"A sliding wardrobe?" Byakuya asked, sounding indignant. "You didn't even have the decency to give her a room of her own?" He looked at Ichigo critically.

"Hey! This little brat moved into my closet all by herself! I had nothing to do with it!" Ichigo defended herself.

"In your room? Besides everything else, you had her sharing a room with you? Did you do something to her?" Byakuya, on the other hand, only became more enraged when he found out where said closet was.

"Brother! Ichigo and I didn't do anything like that, I moved in because it was convenient and I had the idiot nearby in case anything happened, that's all!" Rukia rushed to explain while blushing.

What did her brother think Ichigo and she were doing!?

"They're funny," Lilynette scoffed.

She didn't understand the problem; she and Starrk spent all their time together.

Humans and Shinigami were truly complicated.

"Kuchiki,"

Rukia froze before turning around again to catch a small glove with the image of a flaming blue skull in the center.

"Teach him well," Kisuke said.

Rukia sighed before a wistful smile peeked out from behind her black hair. "Yeah, well, he is my substitute after all. Although he can be a bit of an idiot sometimes," she said as she walked out the door.

"That last part was unnecessary," Ichigo complained.

Rukia, meanwhile, refused to look at him directly.

Ichigo and her weren't like that!

The shop fell silent again, allowing Kisuke to relax while savoring his tea.

"Very similar to another idiot I know," said a voice just moments after Rukia left.

"Yoruichi," Kisuke said gently. "You didn't abandon me."

"Shut up, Kisuke." The black cat sat on his lap. "Perhaps I would have done it if I hadn't considered this information I obtained important."

"So what's the good news?" Urahara asked, not exactly expecting good news.

"And what is that?" Kisuke asked, running a hand down Yoruichi's back, which made her purr.

"An army of hollows," Yoruichi said. "All concentrated around a single main figure."

"You infiltrated Hueco Mundo?" Ichigo asked, shocked.

"Of course, otherwise that tracker would have been useless," Yoruichi replied as if it were obvious.

"A ruler?" Kisuke assumed.

Yoruichi nodded. "More than that, Kisuke, the ruler is a Vasto Lorde whose power seems to be feared by his subjects."

"Feared? Shirou isn't feared, he's respected!" Lilynette complained.

"I don't think she's talking about Shirou," Harribel remarked.

They couldn't forget.

Where Brans ended up.

"An organized force of hollows." Kisuke hummed thoughtfully.

So it wasn't Aizen who sent the Hollow? No, he still couldn't rule out the possibility with that man involved. "Have you discovered anything else?"

"No, this time I wasn't in any sense," Aizen scoffed.

Which only made the whole thing more hilarious!

Yoruichi frowned and moistened her dry lips before speaking. "This is just what I overheard from the crowd, but they were talking about a Shinigami approaching the Lord's court."

"He's almost certainly talking about Baraggan at this point; Shirou doesn't have anything resembling a court," Urahara said, worried.

If they started focusing on Baraggan, they might overlook a threat ten times worse.

A Shinigami? That's interesting. Why didn't she mention it before?

“Was any description provided?”

Yoruichi shook her head. "A more thorough investigation is necessary, that's why I didn't inform you. We can't jump to conclusions without any basis. That would only lead to future failure."

(E.N:....You sure about that?)

"At this point, failure may be inevitable." Yoruichi clicked her tongue in frustration.

Had it rusted?

The two remained silent; Kisuke was processing the information he had been given, and Yoruichi awaited Kisuke's opinion. However, at that moment, Yoruichi's ears pricked up.

She stood up, stretched her back lazily, and gestured to Kisuke with his eyes to look toward the door. Kisuke understood instantly, straightened his back, and prepared to receive the day's guest.

"He finally arrived." Urahara couldn't help but grimace at the thought.

This wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

To the sound of the doorbells, a man with spiky black hair entered, with a slight grimace on his face.

He was tall, with a square face that resembled that of a goat, and a sparse beard just below his chin and around his cheeks. He wore a long-sleeved white t-shirt and jeans.

He took off his shoes as he entered the living room, where he knew Kisuke was waiting for him. After all, he had been there countless times.

"What are you and my dad talking about so much?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.

"Or you know, the usual," Urahara replied evasively.

Isshin Kurosaki, father of three and former captain of the Court Guard squadrons, who was presumed dead in combat.

"So you've come. Better late than never," Kisuke said.

"It's a good example that the plan would have worked," Toshiro admitted, annoyed.

Isshin scratched his beard. "I had two options," he said seriously. "Take my two little angels to school or meet a suspicious old man in a striped fisherman's hat and clogs right on time."

"Of course it would be for me, right?" Kisuke said, fanning himself. "Aren't we best friends?"

"When you stop trying to kill me with your stupid inventions, then yes. I guess we can be friends," Isshin said before quickly greeting Yoruichi. He'd always gotten along better with her. At least she was much more reasonable.

"So I'm not the first!" Ichigo exclaimed furiously.

"Oh, come on, it's a noble task for both father and son," Urahara replied to the light work.

"Noble my ass!"

Even so, "What's going on this time, Urahara? It's been a long time since you last called me," he said, getting straight to the point.

"Well," Kisuke mimicked Isshin, scratching his head. "Yoruichi can..."

Yoruichi brandished her claws, her gaze fixed on Kisuke, causing him to cough uncomfortably into her hand.

"Suffer, don't involve me," Yoruichi snorted.

"Oh come on, I thought we were partners for life," Urahara complained.

"I'm sorry," Kisuke apologised, giving Yoruchi a betrayed look. "I'm allergic to uncooperative colleagues."

"Not cooperativeing with you? I can see why." Isshin crossed his arms as he took a seat at the low table. "I'll ask you one more time, Kisuke, what's going on?"

"The explanation is much stranger than you think," Ichigo snorted.

"Yes, you're absolutely right," Urahara nodded.

Not in a million years would he come up with such a method to revive Masaki.

He wasn't even sure exactly what the method was in the first place.

Kisuke frowned as he closed his fan and tucked it into the sleeve of his green yukata. "Do you remember that day several years ago, in the rain, with the rising river bed?"

How could he forget it? That day would forever be remembered as the worst mistake of his life. One he still regretted, because he wasn't the only one affected. Yuzu, Karin, Ichigo, his children's lives had changed that gray, rainy afternoon completely.

Ichigo clenched his fists.

He would never forget it.

Never.

Isshin nodded in response to Kisuke's question.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," he said solemnly. "But why are you bringing this up now?"

Isshin sensed the sudden shift in mood in the room, though truthfully, he himself was largely responsible. The ticking of the wall clock echoed again, as the tension mounted, everyone awaiting a response. Kisuke found it difficult to speak calmly. After all, there was no way to soften what he was about to say.

Surprise! Do you remember that person you thought was dead years ago? Well, they're alive!

"He'll hit you, and then I'll join him in kicking you on the ground," Ichigo threatened.

"This isn't easy for me either, you know," Urahara lamented.

Why did it have to be him?

In any case, wasn't Yoruichi the first to meet Masaki?

Shouldn't she be the one to explain the situation?

Kisuke could imagine the consequences of such an inconsiderate way of expressing his thoughts. Yoruichi wasn't any better at these things. In fact, both of them struggled to deliver bad news. They were much more accustomed to being direct and honest, but they both knew this was a delicate matter for Isshin.

However, that's when Kisuke thought of it. It was the only way two men could communicate clearly without resorting to violence. He had recently seen this method in an episode of a hit TV series that aired at six o'clock.

"You really do have a lot of free time," Toshiro huffed in annoyance.

"You're not going to get into a fistfight with my dad by the river, are you?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.

"What? No, what kind of things do you think I am?" Urahara replied indignantly.

Kisuke got up and began rummaging through his pantry before returning with a bottle of sake in one hand and two small, plate-shaped glasses in the other.

He spread them out on the low table as Yoruichi settled into a corner of the room. Isshin, watching her movements, observed her pouring two cups of sake.

"I don't drink, Urahara. At least not anymore," Isshin said as he pushed away the sake cup Kisuke offered him.

"Trust me, you'll need it," Ichigo snorted.

Damn, he'd never drunk before and already felt like he needed a drink.

"Even so," Kisuke said, bringing the sake cup closer again, "I insist. You might not like what you're about to hear."

Isshin raised an eyebrow.

Border security was never a priority for the inhabitants of the valleys within the Vasto of White’s domain.

"Are you serious!?" Ichigo exclaimed furiously.

Why now!?

Even if a couple of uncontrolled hollows were to appear, they would not be able to escape the King’s notice. Moreover, in recent centuries, and even more so in recent decades, the number of Vasto Lords within the territory had increased considerably.

"And who knows how many more will emerge before we realize it," Byakuya said gravely.

"We've become too complacent if we allow these kinds of things to happen," Yamamoto lamented.

It was thanks to the effect of the Reishi swords that each Hollow could consume more than once a day. Hollows could consume as many as their bodies could handle; some consumed an average of thirty swords daily, others forty. The power of each sword was already considerable for most Hollows, but consuming so many was precisely the reason why most, if not all, of the Hollows in the territory were Adjuchas or of higher rank.

"We cannot allow Aizen to take over that army, we absolutely cannot allow it," Yamamoto said grimly.

If it was already a threat with its original forces, how dangerous would it become if those of the Vasto of White were added?

There was even a possibility that the soul society might not survive such a catastrophe.

And he couldn't allow that.

(E.N: I have some very bad news for you.)

For Grimmjow, this startling observation only made his blood boil with excitement. How could he not understand how those hollows had become so strong if he himself had participated in the same procedure? Although he didn't understand how those swords had come about, it didn't really matter. A natural phenomenon, then?

"Do you seriously think that's a natural phenomenon?" Nel asked, perplexed.

"Well, what else could it be?!" Grimmjow grunted in annoyance.

How could he have guessed that another Hollow did it?

Nothing like this has ever happened before!

Strictly speaking, it was plausible, but improbable.

He was tall and powerfully built, his body covered in hollow bone armor that opened at the chest, and a helmet that kept his long blue hair from falling over his green-shaded eyes. Fangs protruded from his teeth, and large claws extended from his fingers and elbows.

Grimmjow, now without the darkness of the cave covering him, could be seen better.

Although he wouldn't admit it because of his own pride, he was surprised when he saw himself as a Vasto Lorde.

No matter how hard he tried, he had remained trapped as an Adjuchas before Aizen turned him into an Arrancar.

And now here he was, seeing a version of myself that had managed to break through that barrier.

He couldn't help but wonder, how strong was he now in comparison? How powerful would he become once he finally became an Arrancar?

"You look the same as you did in your resurrection," Ichigo remarked, confused.

"All Vasto Lorde, when we use resurrection, gain an appearance identical to when we were not yet Arrancar. In the case of the Adjuchas, I imagine they gain an appearance of how they would look if they had managed to become one," Harribel explained.

"Shawlong," he said, nodding his head to the approaching Vast Lorde. "Take the others and go in that direction; I'll deal with these."

Shawlong nodded without complaint before disappearing at full speed along with the rest of the pack. He, too, like Grimmjow, wished to test his power, but he knew it was best not to interfere when Grimmjow gave his orders.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?!" Apacci growled, trying to chase after her quickly, but Sung-Sun grabbed her shoulder.

"Apacci!" She hissed in warning. "Pay attention," she said, pointing apprehensively at Grimmjow's outstretched claws.

"Why hasn't he knocked it down yet?" Lilynette wondered.

That guy was obviously hostile!

"It's because of them," Harribel said to her faction.

She had seen the power of Shirou's arrows and knew that to take down a Vasto Lorde, he would need something that would possibly also end up harming his subordinates.

Given that, the only option left was to take charge personally.

Of course, that was if she didn't arrive first.

Apacci hesitated before grunting in confirmation. I'm not as stupid as Mila Rose. "Thanks," she said instead, as the tension of the situation reached her.

The Vasto Lorde before him was no ordinary man. Judging by the force he exuded, his power approached that of Vasto Lordes like the King, or even Lady Harribel.

"Oh?" Grimmjow couldn't help but marvel.

He knew that in a direct fight he couldn't win against that shark bitch, or at least not without possibly dying in the process.

And to think that in that world she had finally reached it.

It was frustrating, now that I think about it.

Sung-Sun shuddered. They weren't even supposed to be on the border patrol, but after an argument with Mila Rose, Lady Harribel had thought it prudent to separate them for a while.

Anguish gripped her. Why hadn't the enemies been brought down yet? It was impossible for them to have concealed their murderous intent, so why? Even now she remembered how easily the King could have brought down the approaching enemies and how quickly he eliminated them.

"It's because of you, idiot," Grimmjow smiled mockingly.

Thanks for being an excellent meat shield!

Harribel narrowed her eyes.

She definitely wouldn't let this insult go unanswered.

On second thought, the answer became increasingly clear. Sung-Sun clicked his tongue, concealing the action behind his hands. The approaching enemy were Vasto Lordes, Hollows at the peak of their evolution. Therefore, she wouldn't be surprised if a much more powerful attack was needed to finish them off. The radius of such an explosion would be...!

She frowned with a gloomy expression.

Given the King's personality and character, he would never dare shoot him with her and Apacci there. Besides, they couldn't escape. Given Vasto's position in front of her, he was ready to attack at any moment.

"Go ahead, I like a chase." Grimmjow's smile widened.

"Keep laughing when Shirou arrives!" Lilynette exclaimed angrily.

Grimmjow's smile faded.

True, he couldn't forget that that guy was probably already on his way.

And if the shark dog or the bum joined him...

Was this bad?

As a result, she and Apacci adopted a defensive stance.

"Aren't you going to make the first move?" Grimmjow smiled as he moved around her, looking for an opportunity.

"Against you?" Apacci laughed with mock bravado. "You're not even worth..." She trailed off, noticing that Grimmjow was constantly directing all his spiritual pressure toward her.

"Don't provoke him," Harribel warned.

Where was she?

It usually didn't stray far from its fraction.

Shit. She couldn't move.

Upon noticing Apacci's plight, Sung-Sun quickly dissipated half of Grimmjow's spiritual pressure upon herself, and her legs gave way under the strain.

"Fools," Grimmjow said, much of his earlier enthusiasm waning. He had assumed Apacci and Sung-Sun would be strong enough to test his abilities, but the fact that his mere spiritual pressure was enough to unsettle them greatly diminished his enthusiasm. "They're both useless. "

"Says the guy who had to depend on Shirou to evolve." Lilynette stuck her tongue out at Grimmjow.

Grimmjow clenched his teeth in annoyance.

The worst part is that he couldn't deny that.

Despite the pressure weighing on her shoulders, Apacci tensed. If only Mila Rose were there, they would show her the power of their most potent ability. Even without complete control, their creation was an unstoppable force. It was to be expected, given the fusion of the powers of three Vasto Lordes.

"That thing," Rangiku clutched her side in phantom pain at the memory.

Feeling a new liver growing in your body at the hands of Captain Unohana was not a pleasant sensation.

However, although she couldn't respond to Grimmjow due to the pressure in her body that made it difficult for her to speak, she still managed to flip him the bird. Fuck you.

The method was rudimentary, but the message was not difficult to decipher.

"They're really looking for death, aren't they?" Grimmjow muttered, a mark appearing on his forehead.

And the worst part is that if he accidentally killed one of them.

He would not survive much beyond them.

Grimmjow didn't utter a word; instead, with a grin from ear to ear, he suddenly disappeared with a loud crash.

One second, then two. "Apacci!" Sung-Sun shouted in warning, but received only silence in response.

"You weren't expecting this now, were you?" Grimmjow chuckled as he held Apacci by the head, digging his fingers into his scalp. "Trying to make fun of me," he snarled, mercilessly striking Apacci's exposed body as he struggled to break free. "What a loser."

"Let her go." Harribel hissed

"Believe me, I'd love to," Grimmjow complained.

It wasn't worth dying to kill that trio of useless idiots.

Grimmjow paused for a moment as Apacci's hands moved away from his and pointed toward his face. Hmm? It seemed he still had the strength to fight.

A bright red cero formed, growing larger every second in Apacci's hands.

Good, good!

Grimmjow pushed Apacci away just as the explosion almost hit his head, before quickly dodging a body blow from Sung-Sun.

"They don't stand a chance," Nel realized quickly.

Their only chance of survival was if Grimmjow decided to toy with them long enough for Harribel or Shirou to arrive.

Saliva splattered as he elbowed Sung-Sun in the stomach. Gagging, she was helpless as he spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick to her face, sending her flying.

However, before he could give chase, the sky darkened. The moon's brightness was obscured by a twisting, spiraling object flying through the air.

"It's finally here!" Lilynette exclaimed excitedly.

Ha! That idiot's time had come!

Grimmjow's eyes followed its trajectory and widened as his voice screamed in warning: "Shawlong!"

Despite the distance, Shawlong had heard his call, but it was already too late to even move away from the approaching projectile.

"Tsk," Grimmjow clicked his tongue when he saw the impact.

Shawlong had been loyal and strong.

It's a shame that it was never able to reach its full potential.

Shit!

Grimmjow used an arm as a shield against the whipping wind before clicking his tongue. What the hell was that? Even the ground was shaking.

"An E-rank weapon, it seems," Ichigo muttered, still thinking about that.

Thinking about it, how would you describe the sword you used to heal your mother?

He would think that's at least an A-rank or something like that.

(E.N: Honestly? Probably a C to B- rank, the sword is never expanded on, but it isn’t Avalon.)

A mushroom-shaped cloud rose in the distance, smoke and debris dispersing and forming small craters in the ground.

He clicked his tongue. He shouldn't worry about what had happened to Shawlong and the others; they would take care of it. For now, he had his own business to attend to.

"It's funny that you think they're still alive after that," Lilynette scoffed.

"They're tough," Grimmjow replied irritably.

However, he wasn't sure if they were that tough.

"That's what..." Apacci coughed up a little blood as he struggled to his feet. "...bastards deserve."

Had she managed such an attack? From his tone and confident way of speaking, it seemed so. Grimmjow was momentarily stunned. Had he launched that projectile just as he looked away to focus on the other Vasto Lorde? With such power, why had he kept it hidden?

"Idiot," Lilynette mocked again.

"How would I know there was a Hollow out there capable of attacking from so far away!?" Grimmjow exclaimed, a vein throbbing in his forehead.

The only reason he hadn't ripped that brat's head off was because of that lazy bum!

She smiled; perhaps she could force him to say it. "I didn't think you were capable of it!" he growled euphorically.

Apacci stood up unsteadily, confusion etched on his face. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"This is funny," Nel couldn't help but laugh a little.

"What's so funny?!" Grimmjow complained.

"Idiot, he thinks she did that," Sung-Sun said as she pointed weakly in the direction of one of the King's throwing weapons.

"So she didn't?" Grimmjow asked, his claws striking against his hollow armor of bone plates.

"Or maybe I did!" shouted Apacci, fed up with Grimmjow looking down on them.

"No, definitely not," Harribel sighed.

Where was she in all of this?

Sung-Sun's eyes widened at the sight of Apacci. Didn't that idiot know what she was doing? She was becoming an easy target for such a powerful Hollow.

"So, that's how it is," Grimmjow said from beside Apacci. She opened her eyes in surprise, but she couldn't do anything; her face froze in shock. "Then I'll have to force the truth out of you."

"Come on, she deserves it!" Grimmjow exclaimed when Harribel began glaring at him.

Blood splattered the arena as Grimmjow brutally ripped Apacci's arm from his body, and the movement caused blood to spurt from his mouth.

"I'm going to kill you," Harribel declared.

"You already killed one of mine, how is this worse?" Grimmjow growled angrily.

"Well, you came to attack us first," Nel pointed out.

I'm sorry, "...Lady Harribel." Those were the last words Apacci uttered before falling motionless to the ground.

"Is she dead?" Orihime asked worriedly

"No, he's still breathing," Chad replied, watching as Apacci's chest still moved slightly.

Sung-Sun suppressed the hatred and loathing that overwhelmed her. Apacci was still alive; she could see it in the movement of her chest. She just needed to buy time for her wound to heal.

"In the end, it was all a lie," Grimmjow said disdainfully, wiping the blood from his arm in one swift motion. "Now, what should I do with you?"

"And you don't ask yourself then, where did the attack come from?" Nel questioned.

After all, that should be their priority, shouldn't it?

Grimmjow didn't say anything because...

Honestly, he was right. Why on earth was he sticking with those weaklings when there was a more powerful enemy out there somewhere?

Sung-Sun stepped back. He knew he couldn't beat him. The difference in their powers was too great. "What do you want?" he finally asked. He just needed to shift his attention away from Apacci.

"What do I want?" Grimmjow paused. "Isn't it simple? Destruction, death ... A worthy fight!" he exclaimed.

"You seem more savage," Ichigo couldn't help but notice.

Sure, he'd always been like that, but somehow now he was acting even more unhinged.

"That's thanks to the Hogyoku," Aizen surprisingly replied. "One of its advantages is that it suppresses some of the Hollows' savage nature, making them more rational. What you're seeing is a Grimmjow completely unleashed in his bestial nature."

"Really?" Grimmjow asked without much interest.

He supposed it made some sense.

When he activated his resurrection, he also noticed that he felt freer.

Wilder.

So that was it, huh?

The air trembled at his proclamation as a chill ran down Sung-Sun's spine. This Hollow was insane. Just for the sake of fighting, he and his group of Vasto Lords would attack the Vasto of the White’s lands? It was madness. They weren't even fighting to increase their own strength, but simply to test it.

She swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Even if he managed to grab Apacci and run to safety, it would be impossible against the enemy's speed. In an instant, he appeared right beside Apacci. Which meant...

"Aren't you fed up with this?" Grimmjow asked, putting an arm around her shoulders. She remained motionless, her face deathly pale. "You know you can't escape me." He placed a finger on her chest before a cero slowly began to form. "Goodbye."

"No!" Harribel exclaimed, genuinely worried.

With wide eyes, Sung-Sun focused all the energy she possessed, but even so, it wasn't enough. Her body was flung out, her armor scorched and burned, and blood gushed from a wound on her forehead from when she crashed to the ground right next to Apacci.

"She's still alive," Nel noted with relief.

Luckily, she managed to protect himself enough to avoid a fatal blow.

"Weaklings!" Grimmjow exclaimed, stamping his foot in the sand, completely indifferent to Apacci and Sung-Sun. Even so, he couldn't help but notice the steady movements of their chests. He figured that since he was already there, he should finish the job.

One step, then two.

The shark swims in the sands of the dunes of Hueco Mundo.

Predator, prey.

Predator,

AND PREY.

Grimmjow moved aside with a swift motion to avoid an almost instantaneous attack.

"Finally," Harribel said angrily.

Where had she been?

A massive, shark-fin-shaped blade fell from the sky, carving a line across the ground and separating Grimmjow, Apacci, and Sung-Sun. Even on the sand, footsteps echoed in the sudden silence with the arrival of an increasingly agitated spiritual pressure.

"Not one step further." The voice that spoke was firm, leaving no room for complaints.

"That's it! Now pick on someone your own size!" Lilynette exclaimed angrily.

"Well, this will be an excellent test." Grimmjow couldn't help but smile.

He knew he was weaker than her.

But what about now?

"Oh, really?" Grimmjow straightened his back, tensing his muscles before easing his stiff neck. "And you would be...?"

Harribel didn't answer; her eyes rested on the fallen bodies of Apacci and Sung-Sun. She clenched her fists, her agitation growing with each wound she saw. She was the one who had sent them there. It was her fault, but also her sacrifice.

"There was no way you could have known someone so crazy would be there," Nel tried to comfort Harribel.

"No, but it's my responsibility to correct it," Harribel said, barely containing her fury.

Grimmjow's smile widened.

Okay, now he was starting to like this!

He closed his eyes before approaching his sword, without taking his eyes off Grimmjow.

"Friends of yours?" he asked. "They weren't much to write home about."

"Neither were yours," Lilynette retorted.

"Ha! Look who's talking!" Grimmjow retorted.

"Why you!"

"You should watch your words," Harribel said, raising her sword and unleashing a violent gust of wind across the area. "I won't warn you a second time."

This was it, this feeling!

Grimmjow bared his fangs, his heart pounding and blood throbbing in his arteries and veins. He growled, unleashing his power in waves that shook the ground beneath his feet.

"Definitely much stronger than when I first encountered him," Aizen murmured to himself.

Now, how strong would it be when it finally became an Arrancar?

This would be interesting, to say the least.

Harribel frowned before quickly and carefully picking up Appaci and Sung-Sun and placing them a safe distance away. Watching her leave, Grimmjow observed her closely before restraining himself and not attacking when she quickly returned.

"You won't attack me from behind, will you?" Harribel questioned.

"What would be fun about that?" Grimmjow replied, baring his fangs.

Attacking her from behind would be like declaring that he was incapable of defeating her in direct combat.

It was proclaiming to the world that he was weak!

And he was not weak.

The atmosphere became tense as the two waged a battle of spiritual pressure, but neither yielded to the other's weight.

"I am Grimmjow," Grimmjow said hurriedly. "At last, someone worth fighting for."

Harribel made it as if to speak, but stopped when her gaze suddenly wavered. "You've made a grave mistake," she said coldly, without a trace of remorse. "First of all, allow me to ask you a question."

"No, the answer is no," Lilynette said mockingly.

"She hasn't even asked anything," Nel pointed out.

"It's not necessary," Lilynette replied with the same mocking attitude.

Grimmjow grunted without saying anything

"Hmm?" Grimmjow raised an eyebrow.

"Do you even know what territory you're in?"

"As if I care," Grimmjow said impatiently.

"See!" Lilynette exclaimed proudly.

"As if that's going to change anything," Grimmjow spat.

Even if he had known.

He would have fought.

Since leaving the cave filled with swords, he and his group had simply wandered in the direction of the greatest source of spiritual energy. As it happened, it was there, in a land filled with the same swords that had come from the cave.

"That makes me wonder, why were there so many so far away?" Ichigo scratched his head, confused.

"The Hollow that lived there probably collected them little by little from the edges of Shirou's territory hoping to gain a sudden power boost, or at least that was the case before Grimmjow arrived," Harribel replied.

Fool, all that power was useless if he couldn't use it to the end.

"The only thing that matters is finding someone to test my strength against," Grimmjow reasoned. "Those two didn't prove strong enough despite being at the peak of our Hollow evolution. You, clearly, are different."

Harribel couldn't help but dwell on that.

It was true, their faction was clearly stronger now that they had evolved through Shirou's swords.

But despite everything, they were still below Grimmjow, who should have consumed even less.

What was the difference between them?

Harribel's eyes narrowed, and a rising fury surged within them. Grimmjow was different from both Barragán and Shirou. He didn't fight for authority, nor for his convictions. Analyzing his words more closely, she quickly realized that he wasn't fighting to become stronger at that moment either. He had no purpose in attacking. He was simply a berserker seeking a challenge, foreshadowing destruction.

"You," her voice was icy, resonating from beneath her mask and distorting with the release of her golden-colored spiritual pressure.

However, he looked back at the horizon before shaking his head. He wouldn't give up this fight, but at least he would acknowledge the magnitude of the error in Grimmjow's methods.

"So, he’s finally here," Harribel murmured.

What a shame.

She hoped to teach him a lesson herself.

He suppressed his spiritual pressure and condensed it within his body, an act that surprised Grimmjow. However, he understood. By withdrawing his spiritual pressure, he gave the impression of surrendering, but this was not the case. Not without consequences.

"So it will be, huh?" Grimmjow knew that it was very likely he would die here

But hey, he could think of worse ways to fall.

At least he'd enjoy this fight until the very end!

"What's going on?" Grimmjow laughed as he got down on all fours, baring his fangs and ready to pounce, his spirit pressure flickering erratically.

Harribel sneered in response before sheathing her sword and crossing her arms.

Grimmjow couldn't help it; he frowned. Why on earth had he withdrawn his sword?

"Obviously, because I don't need it anymore," Harribel replied, crossing her arms.

That's when he felt it.

The stillness in the air and the sudden silence it brought.

When the imposing moon that loomed over him seemed to stop right above him, immobilizing his joints.

Yes, that was exactly the feeling.

An overwhelming spiritual pressure and an oppressive presence.

"Good, come to me!" Grimmjow smiled even more widely

It was time to test his power against the swordsmith!

"You just have to look behind you," Harribel replied.

"What? Is that all?" Grimmjow asked, annoyed.

"Yes, that's where the chapter ends," Uryu replied, ignoring the gust of wind that passed by him and the subsequent clash of swords.

That guy couldn't wait a second, could he?