After coming to this realization,
although Aizen Sōsuke was inwardly shaken, he did not allow even a trace of that shock to surface on his face.
However, deep within his heart, certain plans were quietly adjusted.
Long ago, after confirming the existence of the Soul King, Aizen had begun researching him in secret.
Based on the premise that the records found in ancient forbidden texts were true, he had accepted a terrifying conclusion—
The Soul King had been dismembered,
and his remains scattered throughout the realms.
Through years of covert investigation and patient manipulation, Aizen had indeed succeeded in locating fragments of the Soul King.
He was obsessed with the abnormal properties contained within those fragments.
Perhaps, by using them as a medium, it would be possible to transcend the limits of Shinigami—
to shatter the boundary between dimensions and step into a higher state of existence.
Yet now, after learning of the Zero Division—
after understanding that such overwhelmingly powerful beings existed in direct service to the Soul King—
Aizen felt a rare sense of caution.
For the first time in a long while, he could not immediately digest the information.
At that moment, a calm but authoritative voice sounded behind him.
"Is the path ahead blocked?"
Aizen snapped back to awareness and immediately stepped aside.
A tall, dignified elderly man walked forward, holding hands with a petite yet imposing woman.
They were Kuchiki Ginrei, Captain of the Sixth Division,
and Shihōin Yoruichi, Captain of the Second Division.
The heads of two of the Four Great Noble Houses.
In recent years, as the internal pressures on the Kuchiki clan intensified, Ginrei's presence had grown increasingly severe.
Even fellow captains could feel an invisible barrier around him—
a warning that outsiders were not welcome.
As Kuchiki Ginrei passed, Kyōraku Shunsui and the others wisely refrained from greeting him.
However, when Kyōraku noticed Yoruichi following behind, he smiled faintly and spoke.
"Congratulations."
Yoruichi paused for a moment, then nodded lightly.
"Thank you."
Many captains were still unaware of who would become the next captain of the Twelfth Division.
But Kyōraku knew.
Because he had been one of the examiners involved in the decision.
Urahara Kisuke's succession ceremony as Captain of the Twelfth Division was something Gosuke Shigure was destined to miss.
Had he known, he might have chuckled inwardly and thought, "So the wind has begun to move."
In the original flow of history, a monumental incident would soon occur—
an event that could be considered the origin point of countless future disasters.
The Hollowfication incident involving captains.
And before that tragedy unfolded,
everything began on the day Urahara Kisuke became Captain of the Twelfth Division.
Royal Palace — Phoenix Hall
Several months had passed since Gosuke Shigure arrived in the Royal Palace.
This was no short stay.
Compared to Kurosaki Ichigo and the others—who remained in the Royal Palace for only a few days during wartime—
Gosuke Shigure's time here was unusually long.
But the reason was simple.
When Ichigo and his companions arrived, the Wandenreich invasion had already begun.
They came to the Royal Palace to rapidly strengthen themselves in preparation for battle against Yhwach.
Time was critical.
In contrast, Gosuke Shigure had arrived during an era of peace.
Naturally, there was no need to rush.
Even so, staying too long carried risks.
Although he had formally requested leave from Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai,
and Squad Eleven could function normally without him for a time—
Remaining absent for too long could invite suspicion,
or worse, be interpreted as abandonment of duty.
Fortunately, during this period,
his Zanpakutō had been successfully recast.
The journey had been worthwhile.
"Farewell, Senjumaru."
After calmly bidding farewell to Shutara Senjumaru,
Gosuke Shigure grasped his sword and stepped forward—
Leaping down from the Royal Palace itself.
He officially departed the Soul King's realm, beginning his return to Soul Society.
Unlike Shutara Senjumaru—who required the Tenchūren to travel between realms—
Gosuke Shigure did not use such a conveyance on his descent.
Descending from the Royal Palace required no Tenchūren at all.
Breaking into the Royal Palace from below required piercing the seventy-two layers of spatial barriers.
But leaving from within was different.
From the inside, the barriers could be temporarily parted.
All Gosuke Shigure needed to do was jump.
The special royal garments crafted by Shutara Senjumaru reduced friction and stabilized his descent,
allowing him to fall through the folded layers of space safely.
High above, within the Royal Palace,
Ōetsu Nimaiya glanced sideways at Shutara Senjumaru with mild surprise.
"I thought your farewell would be more dramatic," he said casually.
"But that was… surprisingly plain."
"There's no need for excess sentiment," Shutara replied calmly.
Nimaiya grinned.
"Speaking of which, you really didn't consider recruiting him into the Zero Division?"
"After today, it won't be easy to meet him again."
"Zero Division isn't suitable for him," Shutara answered without hesitation.
"And as for farewells—"
"Don't we still have the Senkaimon?"
Nimaiya blinked.
"…Ah. Right. The Senkaimon."
Then he scratched his head.
"So why didn't I think of using it earlier?"
Indeed, although the Tenchūren was not slow,
Gosuke Shigure's descent still took several days.
The Royal Palace existed far above Soul Society—
separated by folded spatial layers enforced by the seventy-two barriers.
Only when those barriers were destroyed—as during Aizen's later rebellion—
could one's Reiatsu directly reach the Royal Palace.
Now, however, the barriers remained intact.
After passing through the final folded layer,
Gosuke Shigure emerged high above Soul Society.
The moment he entered its atmosphere,
the dense concentration of reishi exerted pressure on his body, accelerating his fall.
He descended rapidly—
And finally crashed into a barren stretch of Rukongai.
BOOM!!
The impact shook the land, carving a massive crater into the ground.
Dust and debris surged outward in every direction.
Souls living nearby sensed the disturbance and cautiously approached.
But upon seeing a Shinigami standing calmly at the center of the crater, sword in hand—
They instinctively turned away.
Whatever had happened here was no concern of theirs.
This was a matter belonging to the Shinigami alone.