Upon hearing those words, Angra Manyu said nothing. He simply stepped forward and looked at the gravely wounded Ichigo.
Byakuya's blade had shown no mercy: he'd pierced Ichigo's Hakusui and even his Saketsu. Injuries like these would be fatal to ordinary people—even if they healed, it was unlikely they'd ever be a Shinigami again.
And yet…
In short, Ichigo wasn't getting the proper treatment!
Ukitake's healing techniques were exceptional—he'd worked hard to heal himself, even while chronically ill. He couldn't match the level of the 4th Division captain or lieutenant, but he was estimated to be within the top five. His return techniques could be systematically learned, but required special talent. Without that talent, learning them was extremely difficult. Even people like Yamamoto and Aizen hadn't mastered them!
So, even though Ukitake had been a captain immersed in this field for centuries, right now, all he could do was save Ichigo's life. Whether Ichigo would awaken, or be able to continue fighting as a Shinigami after awakening, was uncertain.
Ichigo lay in bed. The bleeding had stopped, but he was still in a coma.
Angra Manyu narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "It seems the time is almost here."
"Time?" Ukitake was startled and couldn't help but ask, "What time?"
Angra didn't answer—because, in that instant, Ichigo suddenly stirred! No, it wasn't his body moving—something abnormal was happening!
Suddenly, a massive amount of white matter began to leak from Ichigo's body, pouring out of every pore, enveloping him, multiplying, and transforming into a thick cocoon!
All of this happened at once—fast and slow—and Ukitake was dumbfounded.
"What… is this?" he muttered, utterly lost.
"What doesn't kill him only makes him stronger," Angra changed the subject again, adding, "I heard the rumors when I arrived…"
"Kuchiki Rukia has been rescued."
"?!"
Ukitake's pupils widened. "What?! Rukia's been rescued? By whom?!"
"I don't know. Anyway, the captains of the 13th and 7th Divisions were severely injured, and Kuchiki Rukia disappeared from the Repentance Cell. So, there's no reason for us to linger in the Seireitei. Once Ichigo recovers, we'll leave."
…
Rukia's mind throbbed with pain.
Her last memory was seeing Komamura burned by flames, and then a woman resembling Captain Soi Fon approaching to take her away. Beyond that, she remembered nothing.
How did she suddenly end up here?
When Rukia regained her senses, she found herself in the middle of the Seireitei, near the 13th Division. The familiar streets frightened her for a moment—she wasn't foolish. She'd never considered escaping before, but now that she was out, she couldn't return to face death. At the very least… she wanted to know Ichigo's current condition.
After all, she'd sensed Ichigo's reiatsu before, and his once strong reiatsu had nearly vanished in an instant—he must have been in grave danger!
Rukia released her own reiatsu perception, but, unfortunately, couldn't sense his reiatsu at all.
And now, Rukia realized someone was still watching her—she had to bet everything on the 13th Division. Her zanpakutō was still there; without retrieving Sode no Shirayuki, she couldn't use her power!
Thinking back, her memory had been fuzzy again just now—she'd likely escaped from that woman. Rukia took a deep breath, hid her presence, and hurried toward the 13th Division.
Suddenly, she stopped—a shadow loomed before her again! Her pupils widened. Was this the same woman as before? Again?!
Damn, how did they find her?
Rukia immediately tried to leave, but the shadow materialized, and then three figures emerged from it.
And then…
The moment she saw these three, Rukia's pupils dilated in shock! They weren't the woman—they were Arrancar!
What was going on? Why were they here?!
Wait, were these three the same as that woman from before?
"Hey, is this the Seireitei? This is my first time here."
The one speaking was a man with a saber-toothed tiger skull, black braids, and golden eyes. The uniform he wore, though, was the same white military garb as the woman before! Was this yet another group of Arrancar?
The other two also stared at Rukia with dangerous eyes.
These three Arrancar were soldiers conscripted into the Wandenreich, former subordinates of Baraggan!
As king of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan had many subordinates, including some without numbers. Recruiting soldiers from Baraggan was the best way for the Wandenreich, and when Baelz went to Hueco Mundo, his partner was Baraggan.
After the two sides formed an alliance, the Wandenreich gave Baraggan new powers, and Baraggan sent soldiers to them.
These three—Choe Neng Poww, Ggio Vega, and Nirgge Parduoc—were the most elite of Baraggan's subordinates. After their division was destroyed, their powers grew even further, making them almost as strong as the original Espada! Gifted with Yhwach's power, this was their first mission for the Wandenreich—they'd only recently joined and had been sent to the Seireitei to carry out their task.
Feeling threatened, Rukia didn't hesitate—she turned and ran!
She didn't have her zanpakutō, and even if she did, she had no intention of fighting three of them now. She was a wanted criminal—if she fought them, the commotion would be huge, and she'd surely be caught! She couldn't afford to be arrested again—not now!
"What?! Are all Shinigami cowards?" Ggio Vega shouted, angered as Rukia ran. "Stop!"
He chased first, and his speed was incredible—matching Rukia's. The other two were a bit slower, but still hard to shake.
Rukia tried to use her knowledge of the terrain to lose them, but no matter how she ran, they stayed on her tail—sometimes even popping up right in front of her! They seemed to know the Seireitei's layout extremely well, moving through various positions with ease.
After about thirty minutes of this, Rukia finally felt something was wrong. She could only run in the shadows, unable to see the light. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before she was found!
"Are Shinigami only good at running away?!" Ggio Vega taunted as he chased her. "Coward!"
Hearing this, Rukia suddenly stopped and raised her hand before he could react.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"
BOOM!
A thunderous blast roared toward the three Arrancar, and a burst of powerful reiatsu exploded, instantly alerting nearby Shinigami.
"There's a strong reiatsu reaction here! After them!"
As soon as she fired, Rukia quickly ran, leaping onto a wall and climbing into a building.
She'd actually been heading for her real destination this whole time—the 13th Division, her own room. After her execution, her zanpakutō had been taken to the lieutenant's quarters.
If she could get Sode no Shirayuki, things would be easier.
Rukia jumped several times, not chased by the Arrancar this time, and finally reached the 13th Division.
But just then, someone grabbed her from behind, suddenly covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows!
"?!"
Rukia's eyes widened, about to scream—when she heard a familiar voice.
"Don't be scared, Rukia—it's me."
Hearing this familiar voice, Rukia was stunned for a moment, then let out a sigh of relief. "Lieutenant… Hinamori?!"
That's right—the one who stopped her was Hinamori Momo!
Hinamori pulled Rukia into the shadows and whispered, "Don't speak too loudly—they'll hear."
Seeing how cautious she was, Rukia couldn't help but ask, "Lieutenant Hinamori… how did you…"
"Don't talk. Captain Aizen and I trust you, Kuchiki," Hinamori said quietly. "That's why I decided to help. Captain Aizen knew you'd return for Sode no Shirayuki and told me to wait here for you!"
"He… he waited for me?"
"Do you think the other captains wouldn't expect this? The 13th Division already has lieutenants and captains waiting. The moment you show up, they'll catch you again!"
Now that Rukia knew her zanpakutō was still here, it was only natural the captains would be prepared. They'd already set a net, waiting for her to come retrieve it.
Rukia shivered at the thought. Why was she so foolish—not even thinking of this?
The Gotei 13 had surely been notified of her escape; it was obvious she'd return here for Sode no Shirayuki. Would they not prepare for this? How could she be so stupid?!
Rukia felt a bit angry—at her own foolishness, a little frustrated and anxious, but also just grateful. "Thank you, Hinamori. And thank Captain Aizen for me too."
"Rukia, how did you escape from the Repentance Cell? Did someone help you during the transfer?"
"Don't worry about it—I'm not even sure what happened. Suddenly, a group came to arrest me, and just now, three people chased me."
"Arrancar?"
"Hmm… Actually, I'm not sure if 'Arrancar' is the right word. They look different from the ones I saw before. Maybe some are the same, but I can't say for sure. Anyway… besides the Arrancar, there are also Shinigami—they seem like a group in matching uniforms."
"The Shinigami are actually Arrancar…" Hinamori said, a bit perplexed. "So, if you don't know, why were you being arrested?"
"No one knows, right?" Rukia still seemed a bit shaken, but suddenly remembered Ichigo, and hurriedly asked, "By the way, Hinamori… is there any other trouble? Are there humans in the Seireitei right now?!"
"Humans? Yes, I heard from Captain Aizen—a human defeated Abarai, and Captain Kuchiki arrived and killed him."
!!
Hinamori's words made Rukia's pupils dilate. "Ichigo was killed by my brother?!"
She looked like she couldn't believe it.
"I'm not sure… that's what the division seems to be saying."
Rukia's body went soft. She never thought Ichigo would die, or that she'd die at her brother's hand. They'd only been close for two or three months, but Ichigo had really been a good person. Her head spun, as if negative thoughts were about to overwhelm her.
"Kuchiki?" Hinamori's voice pulled her back to reality. Rukia suddenly broke into a cold sweat, almost losing consciousness. She couldn't afford to blank out here!
"…I'm fine," she tried to say, but just then, she felt something about to burst from her soul!
The sensation was so powerful, she almost lost control instantly!
"Roar!"
In an instant, Rukia screamed—a powerful reiatsu burst from her, turning black, the color of utter despair!
BOOM!
A tornado of reiatsu erupted; Rukia's hair turned gray, a scythe appeared in her hand, and she slashed Hinamori's body in a flash!
Hinamori's pupils widened—she hadn't anticipated this at all, and collapsed to the ground.
"ROAR!!"
Rukia, in her blackened state, screamed again. The powerful reiatsu immediately drew the attention of nearby captains—suddenly, Soi Fon from Division 2 and Tōsen from Division 9 appeared nearby. Several lieutenants were there too: Kira from Division 3, Isane from Division 4, and Tetsuzaemon from Division 7.
"As expected, she's shown herself!" Soi Fon said coldly. "Capture her!"
At Soi Fon's command, the lieutenants rushed Rukia—but at that moment, Rukia's body suddenly decayed and vanished on the spot. She reappeared right beside Soi Fon and immediately slashed with her blade.
Soi Fon, being a captain, already knew Rukia had a similar teleportation ability, so there was no way she'd be killed in one hit. She released her zanpakutō and blocked the massive white scythe with Suzumebachi. But there was still a gap in strength—Soi Fon was blown away by the impact, while Rukia continued to teleport and attack.
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"
By this point, Tōsen had already used a binding spell. They all had data on Dark Rukia, mainly from her battle with Byakuya, so they knew what to expect.
Shinigami battles are a contest of reiatsu, spirit, and intelligence. Every Shinigami's ability is a top priority—most captains try to keep their bankai hidden. For example, Urahara Kisuke never let anyone see his bankai, so it could play a decisive role against Askin Nakk Le Vaar. Kyōraku Shunsui also desperately hid his bankai, using it to try to take out Lille Barro. Gin Ichimaru also hid his true bankai's power, defeating Aizen in one blow. Aizen hid the true power of Kyōka Suigetsu for a hundred years, manipulating the Gotei 13.
Of course, there are some who explain their abilities too eagerly, like Riruka Dokugamine, who got her ear cut off after explaining too much. So intelligence is vital in combat!
Dark Rukia's ability is the same—if you prepare in advance, its effect plummets. If you don't, she can stab a captain with her scythe, but if you're ready, it won't be so easy.
For example, as soon as she appeared, Tōsen had six light prisons ready beside Soi Fon and trapped her all at once!
Soi Fon retaliated instantly, stabbing Rukia in the chest with her blade, leaving a strange, bewitching bee mark directly on her chest!
Her ability is a two-hit kill—each attack leaves a bee mark on the opponent's body. If she strikes the same spot again, the target is finished! This is a powerful ability because the mark stays permanently unless Soi Fon herself removes it. In battle, after being marked once, the opponent will inevitably guard that spot, becoming anxious and timid the next time.
And, of course, it's even more effective if the opponent doesn't know about the two-hit kill—letting them take a second blow and die.
However, this applies only to battles of roughly equal level—if there's a huge power gap, the two-hit kill is pointless.
But clearly, Dark Rukia isn't vastly stronger than Soi Fon. However, she does have a counter.
When Soi Fon tried to land the second strike, Rukia slashed three of the six light prisons with her scythe and vanished again. She reappeared beside Soi Fon. Obviously, Soi Fon was the only real threat—if Rukia wanted to escape, she had to neutralize her!
"Fool!" Soi Fon sneered coldly, watching Dark Rukia raise her scythe again. "The moment you broke out of prison, you were already sentenced to death. Even if I kill you right now, it's only natural."
Rukia had already been sentenced to death, and breaking out only made things worse. Even if the captain killed her outright, no one would object.
So, as soon as Rukia's scythe flashed, Soi Fon appeared in front of her and stabbed the bee-marked spot again with another blade—two strikes, certain kill. Hitting the same spot twice meant Rukia was surely dead. Soi Fon's face was indifferent—it was over.
But as she tried to withdraw her blade, suddenly, she was grabbed by the hand.
?!
Soi Fon's pupils widened in disbelief as Dark Rukia stared at her—there was no way she could still be alive after taking a second bee strike!
"Two-hit kill, huh? Interesting ability." Dark Rukia could now communicate; her lips curled in a mocking smile. "But in front of me, you'll never get a second true strike."
Suzumebachi's two-hit kill is simple: two hits to the same spot equals death. But if you never land the second hit, what then? In addition to teleportation, Dark Rukia also has a cutting ability!
When she vanished earlier, she severed the bee-mark's effect with her scythe! The bee pattern represented "one hit"—but with each cut, it was halved (0.5 hits, then 0.25 hits, and so on). So even if Soi Fon landed another hit, it'd be a second, third, or even fifth strike, never reaching the two-hit kill!
And…
There was no more chance for Soi Fon to attack again.
As Soi Fon reeled in shock, Rukia seized her hand with one and swung her giant scythe with the other.
FWOOM!
Soi Fon's body was slashed in an instant! The scythe's power was overwhelming, and Soi Fon was knocked back, her resistance halved!
!!!
Neither captains nor lieutenants could believe their eyes.
Unohana reacted first, quickly catching the bisected Soi Fon and healing her. But Dark Rukia paid them no mind. With the fastest enemy neutralized, the rest were no longer threats. She immediately vanished and continued running toward the 13th Division.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki?"
Suddenly, she appeared beside a Shinigami from the 13th Division. They were excited to see her—even though she was to be executed, they didn't want it. Something seemed odd about Dark Rukia, but they were still glad she was alive.
But Dark Rukia ignored them, ran straight toward the lieutenant's quarters, grabbed her zanpakutō, vanished again, and disappeared into the lieutenant's room.
"Things are really lively, aren't they?"
…
In Hueco Mundo, Yoshio was enjoying life, munching on a skewered apple. In front of him, images of the Seireitei flashed, showing everyone's reactions.
He had to admit—the Gotei 13 was getting worse and worse. Their responses were too slow. Rukia had walked around for ages, played cat and mouse with Arrancar, and yet the Shinigami only noticed when she used Raikōhō. Embarrassing, really.
But Yoshio didn't criticize the Shinigami too harshly. After all, it was inevitable. It wasn't that they were too stupid…well, they weren't geniuses, but it wasn't usually this bad.
This was all due to "Ragnarok"!
Thanks to Surtr's ability, she'd set the Seireitei's fate as "Ragnarok," with the end set two years in the future. The closer it got to that time, the more the Seireitei growing weaker in strength and wisdom. This weakness crept in slowly, but over time became terrifying.
The longer Ragnarok dragged on, the more the Shinigami weakened. If Ragnarok was broken, the weakening would accelerate. But their weakness wasn't the most important thing—what mattered was that Ragnarok determined the Shinigami's fate. No matter how they resisted, on that day, they'd bring about their own destruction!
When the Thousand-Year Blood War broke out, the Shinigami were destined to be defeated by the Quincy.
This ability affected Aizen and Yoshio too, but not much—they weren't "Shinigami faction," and once they left the Seireitei, the weakening vanished. Plus, Yoshio was a transcendent and highly resistant.
But he was interested in this ability—not because he wanted to return to the Seireitei, but because he wanted to try out the power of "Past Reaper."
He hadn't obtained it permanently, but was given temporary use. He wanted to test how to use it.
Now, which era of history should he choose? There were only a few interesting historical moments in Soul Society: The first Hollow invasion, Yhwach's invasion a thousand years ago, the Visored incident a hundred years ago.
Wait—why stick to Shinigami history? Yoshio suddenly thought, "I'm the Soul King's cousin. Why not visit the Quincy?"
Returning a million years was impossible—the history was too ancient, and the power's side effects grew stronger the further back you went. Right now, he wasn't certain of the level, but he knew a million years ago would be overwhelming.
"Let's try one from over 1,200 years ago," Yoshio decided, closing his eyes. The next moment, he activated "Past Reaper" and chose—the era of Yhwach's birth!
The birth of a figure like Yhwach was a major event—surely enough to trigger "Past Reaper."
…
In an instant, Yoshio arrived in a desolate ancient world.
"So… this is a world of history?" He realized this was not a real place, but a special space akin to the "Records of Time" or "Akashic Record." His actions would all be recorded in history—but he couldn't change it.
No, not impossible—if he really wanted to change history, powerful corrective forces—or, well, history itself—would immediately intervene!
If he changed history and let the Quincy win a thousand years ago, history would produce men as fierce as Yamamoto to lead a Shinigami counterattack. This was corrective power.
Or, if history spun out of control, everything he'd accomplished would vanish!
So it was best to interact without changing history. Otherwise, the consequences would be dire!
…