"A Hollow?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi frowned at Kurosaki Masaki. A Hollow…saved a Quincy?
Was someone playing a joke on him? Could a mouse be a bridesmaid for a cat?
Quincy hated Hollows; Hollows longed to devour Quincy souls. They were each other's bane.
And now, a Hollow had saved a Quincy?
This reminded Mayuri of Gabriel from years ago—a Shinigami who had also saved a Quincy. Shinigami and Quincy were supposed to be mortal enemies! The Shinigami had launched two extermination campaigns against the Quincy, yet…
They had still saved Ishida Soken, defying all logic.
Now, it was as if history was repeating itself. A Shinigami saves the grandfather, and a Hollow saves the grandson?
Mayuri never fully understood Gabriel's identity, but he'd thought everything was over after Ishida Soken's death.
He never expected someone else to appear—and this time, it wasn't a Shinigami, but a Hollow.
But Kurosaki Masaki saved Ishida Uryū because she had been a Quincy, and Uryū was Ryūken's son.
Ryūken was like her older brother, so by that measure, Uryū was even her nephew.
Of course she couldn't stand by and let Uryū be taken away for experiments by this mad scientist!
And with her abilities, as long as she was in Karakura Town, no one could stop her. If she wanted to save someone, even Yamamoto or Aizen wouldn't be able to stop her!
If she ever traveled the world, she could instantly appear anywhere, and teleport others or objects to any corner of the Three Realms.
With such an ability, let alone Mayuri Kurotsuchi—even the entire Gotei 13 couldn't stop her.
"Your sin will be ended by this child," Masaki said, her face hidden behind her Hollow mask. "The next time we meet, he will take your life!"
"Oh?" Mayuri scoffed. "Forget about the kid. I'm very interested in you now, too. You two can keep each other company in my lab."
But Masaki didn't reply, nor did she linger. Mayuri was clearly a pervert, his methods mysterious and endless. If she stayed, she might fall into his trap.
So, she uttered a threat and then activated her 'Path' ability, disappearing from Mayuri's sight with Ishida!
Watching them leave so easily, Mayuri's face darkened. He had been preparing his drugs, but the opportunity was gone.
"Mayuri-sama," Nemu called from beside him.
"Hmph. Forget it. I'll catch him sooner or later. Let's go back first," Mayuri grunted.
"Then here…" Nemu looked at the sky, where the massive battle raged on.
"What does that have to do with you?" Mayuri said coldly. "Don't say anything unnecessary again!"
"…Yes." Nemu nodded, following Mayuri back to Soul Society.
…
Even ordinary people who couldn't see the spiritual world now felt a sense of oppression.
The people of Karakura Town lived daily in a world with high reishi concentration. Even those who couldn't see spirits had a vague sense of them.
Now, they looked up at the sky, as if they could see grotesque, terrifying figures in the dark clouds—demons and dragons roaring—a premonition of impending death.
It was as if…the sky was about to collapse.
Since the great earthquake seven or eight years ago, talk of 'doomsday' had been rampant. In recent years, the world had seen no other major upheavals, and people had begun to forget the initial catastrophe.
But the fear hidden in their memories was reawakened now.
People's hearts filled with fear and panic. Explosions erupted in several places in Karakura Town!
While most people panicked, a group of Doomsday Church followers stepped up, evacuating the crowds and leading people to safety.
Humans below fled for their lives; the Shinigami above were also under pressure.
Even with more than a dozen Captain-class experts, they struggled to cope!
At that moment, Rukia looked at the 'Shiba Kaien' before her and said in disbelief, "Kaien-sama? Is it really you?"
"…Oh, isn't this Kuchiki?" Shiba Kaien grinned. "You're a Lieutenant now, aren't you? Quite impressive, huh?"
Listening to that familiar tone, seeing that familiar face—Rukia was still in disbelief.
It really was…Shiba Kaien?
But…hadn't Kaien-sama died?
Back then, Shiba Kaien had fought Hollow White to avenge his wife, Shiba Miyako. Hollow White escaped into Hueco Mundo!
Later, a Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team led by Shiba Kaien had gone to subjugate Hollow White. But something went wrong, and the team lost contact with Seireitei.
Afterward, Kaien's reishi was never sensed again.
Seireitei's judgment was that Shiba Kaien had died in battle in Hueco Mundo.
But…he had appeared again now?
What was going on?
Could Kaien-sama have survived? If so, why hadn't he appeared until now?
Rukia was shocked. She had never expected to see Shiba Kaien again!
His reishi, and that Zanpakutō—it was exactly like Shiba Kaien's!
"I'm sorry, but I truly had reasons I couldn't return," Kaien said with a wry smile. "After entering Hueco Mundo, I was searching for the Bull-Head Hollow.
"I got separated from the others, lost in the endless desert of Hueco Mundo. But as I wandered, I discovered a place."
"What place?" Rukia couldn't help but ask, even as the battle raged around them.
Kaien looked around. "Let's talk somewhere else—it's not convenient here."
"This…" Rukia hesitated, but said, "We have to deal with these monsters first."
"Don't worry, they won't cause widespread destruction. Their orders are to obtain the 'Key to Life Fragment,' but I just checked—the person with it has already disappeared."
"Huh?" Rukia was puzzled, but decided to follow Kaien. Maybe he could provide valuable information.
The two descended to a park below, where they were alone.
"Kaien-sama, what exactly is going on?" Rukia asked quickly.
Kaien sighed. "It's a long story. Continuing from before—
"I was in Hueco Mundo, almost in despair. Hollows everywhere, nothing but endless sand. Only the belief of avenging Miyako and killing the Bull-Head Hollow kept me going.
"Finally, after who knows how long, I reached the end of Hueco Mundo. There, I discovered a place never recorded in Soul Society."
"…" Rukia waited, breathless.
"It was a massive city. Hard to imagine—in the desolate desert of Hueco Mundo, a huge city."
"…Actually, I can imagine it," Rukia said, thinking of Las Noches and Aizen's betrayal.
"…But can you imagine a god existing within that city?"
"A god?!" Rukia's eyes widened.
"You'd be even more surprised to know—the reason Hollows are so depraved isn't just because they've lost their hearts. It's because of the existence of that god!"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure. I only know that god possesses the authority of depravity. The reason Hollows are so evil is because of it."
!
Rukia was stunned. The reason for the Hollows' depravity…was a god?
"After I entered that city, I realized it was a huge threat to Soul Society, so I joined them. I went deep inside to gather information and discovered the evil god is called 'Primodial Moon,' or sometimes 'Mother God.'
"Most people in the city are the souls of Hollows after death."
"Souls of Hollows?" Rukia was surprised. "If a Hollow is killed, its soul is purified and reincarnated. Or, if it's a sinner, it's taken to Hell. How can there be a place that summons Hollow souls? Wait…could it be Hell?!"
Kaien nodded. "I also think it might be linked to Hell. But besides monsters from the Three Realms, there are visitors from outside."
"…Outside the Three Realms?"
"Yes. I suspect they're subordinates of the Mother God. Under normal circumstances, the city only allows entry, not exit. That's why I haven't returned in so many years—it's simply impossible to leave.
"Until recently, the barrier weakened. Among those outsiders, a dragon-shaped monster ordered us to launch an operation.
"After passing through the city gate, we actually arrived in the Human World—and I could see you all again!"
Kaien looked excited.
Rukia was also thrilled—and deeply shocked. She had never imagined such a place existed.
"By the way, Kaien-sama, what is the Key to Life Fragment?"
"I'm not sure. I only know the Primodial Moon seeks it. When the fragments are united, they form a key. But what that key is for…I don't know."
"…Key to Life Fragment…" Rukia suddenly remembered something Aizen and Yoshio had said when leaving Seireitei. But in this urgent moment, she couldn't recall the details.
"Kaien-sama, it's so good you're back! Seireitei needs every fighter right now!" She was genuinely happy—finally, some good news.
"This…I actually don't know if I can stay," Kaien said awkwardly. "I've been transformed by the Primodial Moon's power. I still have my own consciousness, but…
"I can feel the Three Realms rejecting me. Although it's faint, I think…I still can't exist here for long."
"This…" Rukia was startled. "Does that mean you have to go back?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Kaien sighed. "But if I stay there, I can continue to gather information."
"But…that's too dangerous!" Rukia stepped forward, wanting to keep him from leaving.
But as she did, her pupils shrank in shock!
"Ugh…"
Blood dripped from Rukia's mouth.
She looked down to see Kaien's long spear piercing her chest.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sorry, Kuchiki," Kaien said, smiling. "You've improved—always so wary—but still too careless. Still as easy to trick as before~."