Chapter 212: The Wandenreich Emerges—Ichigo's Life Turning Point
"Your Majesty, is something wrong?"
Within the Wandenreich, inside the Ice Palace, Jugram Haschwalth—who waited beneath the throne—noticed a subtle change in Yhwach's aura.
"Haschwalth..."
Yhwach, who'd opened his eyes prematurely, spoke with a considerably slow cadence. "Our companion, Äs Nödt, to whom I bestowed the holy letter [F]—her life has been extinguished."
"Please forgive my oversight, Your Majesty!"
Jugram Haschwalth knelt upon one knee. This elegant man with long blond hair, blue eyes, and refined appearance placed his hand across his chest, apologizing to Yhwach:
"As early as half an hour ago, Äs Nödt transmitted critical intelligence!"
"Oh? It seems the intelligence content proves quite significant!" Yhwach struggled to articulate his words. Long intervals stretched between every word and sentence.
Failing to recover Äs Nödt's power equated to the permanent disappearance of a fragment of Yhwach's soul—a devastating loss for one whose recovery abilities remained dormant.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"The intelligence from Äs Nödt informed us that Kurosaki Ichigo—the subject of our surveillance—and Kurosaki Karin—our experimental subject—disappeared and reappeared at approximately eight o'clock this morning. Most critically, our informant stationed in the human world has also vanished. Although Äs Nödt activated the emergency measures implanted within the operative's body preemptively, I believe her identity has been compromised!"
Yhwach supported his head with both hands, feeling considerable strain. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. "Who accomplished this? Is it Soul Society? Or... Hueco Mundo?"
"As expected—Hueco Mundo!"
"According to our current intelligence, Soul Society has dispatched no one to contact Kurosaki Ichigo. Currently, within Gotei 13, we've confirmed all captain positions, and no signs indicate any have departed from Soul Society. Therefore, I judge—aside from Hueco Mundo, no other force could eliminate a Sternritter in such brief duration!"
"Hueco Mundo?"
The term jolted the drowsy Yhwach to somewhat greater alertness.
"Hah..."
After exhaling heavily, Yhwach seemed to regain considerably more confidence in his speech. "The Wheel of Fortune has been displaced. Hueco Mundo's future appears as a cloud of fog—I can no longer perceive it clearly."
"Less than two months remain before Your Majesty regains full power. This shouldn't pose significant problems for you!"
Jugram Haschwalth's tone emerged extraordinarily sincere, as though in his perception, Yhwach—having recovered his complete power—would become an incomparable existence. Even the Soul King...
"No, Haschwalth! The Wheel of Fortune cannot err. Whether Hueco Mundo or Soul Society, we must eradicate them both! I've heard that Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was defeated by a subordinate—and the opponent was an Arrancar?"
"We lack concrete information regarding who defeated Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni or through what means. However, what remains certain is that on that day, Yamamoto Genryūsai violated Soul Society's regulations and utilized his Bankai within the human world! According to our investigation, following that battle, serious water shortages appeared throughout numerous regions!"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Yhwach's fingers drummed rhythmically against the throne's armrest. Each strike proved powerful and maintained perfect cadence!
"Yamamoto Genryūsai was forced to employ Bankai? How pitiful!"
"It seems Soul Society has truly decayed. By the way, Haschwalth—have you discovered Aizen's whereabouts?"
This question from Yhwach clearly imposed considerable pressure upon Haschwalth. After all, this matter represented a task assigned to the Sternritter long ago. Despite the extended timeframe, his side possessed no leads whatsoever.
This couldn't help but make Yhwach question whether the Sternritter under his command still warranted continued existence.
"My apologies, Your Majesty!"
Haschwalth offered himself no explanation whatsoever—simply lowering his head. As emperor, Yhwach despised quarrels and sophistry from his subordinates above all else. Such behavior represented the most meaningless conduct imaginable.
"Then continue searching. The Wheel of Fortune has been disrupted. Our plan must accelerate, Haschwalth!"
After speaking, Yhwach closed his eyes and fell into deep slumber once more.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After stating this, Jugram Haschwalth slowly rose to his feet, then gradually exited the Ice Palace and emerged outside. At this moment, the sun shone brilliantly, yet Haschwalth felt only profound chill across his back.
"Casualties before the war has even commenced?" Haschwalth gazed into the distance and murmured softly.
Within Hueco Mundo, at the Palace of Silence, after Grimmjow and Shawlong Koufang returned to Hueco Mundo, the former excused himself on grounds of exhaustion, asking Shawlong Koufang to report on his behalf.
At this moment, after listening to Shawlong Koufang's account regarding this journey to the human world, Fiander—who reclined upon a sofa with hands behind his head while watching television—addressed Kurosaki Ichigo positioned beside him:
"Boy, what are your thoughts regarding this matter?"
Ten minutes previously, Kurosaki Ichigo—who'd been meeting with Inoue Orihime—was suddenly summoned by Fiander, who claimed his presence was mandatory for a certain matter.
After bidding farewell to Inoue, Kurosaki Ichigo had arrived at Fiander's chambers. To Ichigo's astonishment, the bedroom of Hueco Mundo's king before him resembled buildings within the human world remarkably. Entertainment devices such as televisions, computers, and gaming consoles were all present.
Beneath his shocked gaze, Fiander had skillfully changed into nightwear, activated the television, and begun lounging—holding the remote control in one hand while pouring iced cola into his mouth with the other.
Only when Shawlong Koufang arrived had Fiander placed the cola upon the coffee table and listened to the newly promoted Espada's report.
At this moment, Ichigo felt profoundly confused. Although he'd learned certain information from Fiander previously, no means existed to verify these claims. He wouldn't easily believe what the other party stated.
However, when truth presented itself directly before him, he found himself speechless. When he heard Fiander requesting his opinion, Ichigo frowned tightly, not daring to speak for considerable duration.
"Thank you, Shawlong!"
"You may withdraw now!"
At this moment, Fiander suddenly spoke, dismissing Shawlong Koufang. Clearly, he wished to create private space for both to converse.
The perceptive Shawlong naturally understood. After bowing respectfully, he turned and departed from the Palace of Silence.
"What are you running from, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
The instant Shawlong Koufang departed, Fiander's voice suddenly resonated.
"Running?"
Kurosaki Ichigo felt genuinely puzzled. He didn't comprehend why the other party posed such a question. He prepared to explain himself but was interrupted by Fiander once more:
"You wish to claim you've never fled—that you've always chosen to fight? Please. Without Urahara Kisuke and the others watching over you, you wouldn't even know where you'd have perished!"
Fiander suddenly turned and glanced at Kurosaki Ichigo directly. "Consider everything you've experienced since becoming a Shinigami. I don't deny that you've defended others and fought desperately. But have you ever faced genuine danger? You're like the pawn of two chess players—you've been advancing according to their predetermined moves. I'm not suggesting this is inherently wrong. At minimum, you'll live quite safely!"
Fiander's words made Ichigo's face flush crimson with shame instantaneously.
Fiander, noticing this reaction, spoke lightly once more: "There's no need for embarrassment. They're monsters who've lived for hundreds of years. The entire Soul Society produced only these two anomalies throughout ten thousand years. You needn't feel ashamed regarding this. Now I ask you—do you wish to fight for yourself? To discover a new path forward? Don't rely upon Urahara Kisuke. Don't depend upon Soul Society. Don't even lean upon me!"
"Do you believe I haven't noticed your thoughts? You're actually desperate to regain your strength, yet you don't wish to request assistance from Soul Society or Urahara Kisuke. Naturally... you won't ask me either. Actually, this mindset isn't sufficient! You—who believe you've defeated Aizen—may possess somewhat misplaced self-esteem. In reality, if you simply asked Urahara Kisuke, wouldn't he possess methods to help restore your Shinigami power? Of course he does! Although he might not assist even if you requested it—because they all fear you!"
A series of casual words from Fiander—each sentence resembling a sharp blade carving into Ichigo's heart—spoke to his innermost feelings. Even his final shred of dignity had been stripped bare by the other party.
"Heh! What's your point in stating all this? I've lost my Shinigami power. What does Soul Society have to fear?"
Kurosaki Ichigo sneered, seemingly unimpressed by Fiander's final statement.
"Fool!"
Unexpectedly, Fiander simply scolded Kurosaki Ichigo lightly. "Where did you originally obtain your Shinigami power?"
"Naturally, it was Rukia who infused me with her own Reiatsu and granted me Shinigami power. Everyone knows that!"
Ichigo stood upright, patted his chest, and gestured emphatically.
"Oh? In other words, you lost power that was merely lent to you by Rukia Kuchiki, correct?"
Observing Fiander's disdainful gaze, Ichigo swayed suddenly and nearly lost his footing. At this moment, Fiander continued: "Since it represents borrowed strength, losing it may constitute the optimal outcome. True power cannot be borrowed—don't concern yourself with that loss! Let me tell you something—perhaps these seventeen months you've spent powerless represent the most precious years of cultivation you'll ever experience. Training also encompasses mental cultivation. You remain extraordinarily young, boy! Don't forget who your father is!"
If Fiander's previous words had been laying groundwork, then that final sentence truly awakened Kurosaki Ichigo.
Yes—his father was a Shinigami. Naturally, he would inherit Shinigami power. He'd simply obtained his own abilities prematurely through Rukia's Reiatsu assistance. In other words...
Considering this, Kurosaki Ichigo hurriedly rushed toward Fiander and spoke with visible excitement: "Could it be that I can regain Shinigami power through my own training?!"