Byakuya Kuchiki frowned at Moyu's words. As a direct heir of the Kuchiki clan, he knew well of the Spirit King's Palace.
"According to the information Captain Unohana provided upon returning from Soul Society," Byakuya said, lowering his eyes as his fingers brushed the drifting white sand at his feet, "Aizen's true purpose is the creation of the Ōken. What does he intend? To replace the Soul King himself?"
Moyu gave him only a brief glance before saying nothing. He raised his reiatsu, stirring the air into a cutting breeze that swept aside layers of sand. Beneath, high-grade instruments and research devices surfaced from the buried ruins of Las Noches.
Though not a scientist, years of collaboration with Urahara Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri had made Moyu adept at operating such tools. Within moments of analysis, he had uncovered all records tied to the Spirit King's Palace and the essence of the Spirit King itself.
Byakuya's pupils contracted as the truth seared into him. His entire life he had believed the Spirit King was the supreme ruler of the Three Realms. Never had he imagined that so-called ruler was nothing more than a mutilated husk—sealed into crystalline stasis, bound and reduced to a "human stick."
How Aizen had obtained this knowledge was irrelevant. What mattered was how one could continue to view the Spirit King's existence after learning it.
"My world view…" Byakuya's voice trailed, shaken as he turned to Moyu, uncertain.
"Calm yourself." Moyu's tone was indifferent, as though reciting old truth. "The Spirit King's imprisonment was orchestrated by the ancestor of the Tsunayashiro, sanctioned by the other four noble houses. It has endured for millennia. The Three Realms have survived unchanged, without catastrophe."
Nie Yinmeng stepped forward, removing a spiritual tool from within her robes and carefully storing the recovered data. Such intelligence would be secured within the Great Spirit Book Corridor, as was her duty.
Since Mayuri's death, Nie Yinmeng had served as acting captain of the Twelfth Division. Without a Zanpakutō, she might never hold the post fully, but under Yamamoto's order she also directed the Technology Development Bureau. Information gathering and record preservation had become her only battlefield.
"Is that so…" Byakuya whispered, stealing another glance at Moyu. His younger brother had always seemed to possess hidden channels of knowledge, truths none could refute. Once again, Moyu's words aligned with reality.
"Enough," Moyu interrupted, his gaze steady. "Dwelling on this changes nothing. There are greater matters at hand."
Byakuya inclined his head, lowering his voice. "Indeed. Karakura Town still requires reinforcement."
Nie Yinmeng's calm reply came at once. "Before departure, the Captain transmitted battle coordinates. Mr. Urahara provides real-time updates, and everything spoken here has already been recorded." She touched the crystal earring at her lobe. "This cross-boundary communicator is his invention."
Almost on cue, Urahara's voice rang through the device. "Moshi moshi—can you hear? The situation here is critical, we're at a disadvantage. If you've finished in Hueco Mundo, hurry to Karakura. Delay, and you'll be collecting our bodies." His voice cut off abruptly.
Moyu exhaled softly. "Always so impatient." He turned to Nie Yinmeng. "Yinmeng, open a directional Garganta."
She nodded, drawing out another spiritual device from her robes. Moyu's eye twitched. How many things has she hidden in there? Still, she chanted Kidō and activated the mechanism. Space split apart, a yawning rift of darkness stretching wide.
"Mr. Moyu," Nie Yinmeng said quietly before he entered. "This final battle lies beyond our measure. I will remain here with the others, to secure intelligence and contain the remnants."
Byakuya gave a solemn nod. "That is correct."
"I'll handle the data collection," Nie Yinmeng added, cutting off further discussion.
"Very well." Moyu turned to Byakuya, his decision swift. "We leave."
The two stepped into the Garganta, vanishing into the void. Nie Yinmeng lingered before the closing rift, calm eyes clouded briefly with uncharacteristic worry. You must return safely… Mr. Moyu.
Inside the boundary, Moyu's brow furrowed. A monstrous bulk blocked their path, filling the passage.
"What is this?" he muttered. "Does misfortune always come in pairs?"
In all his countless traversals, he had never encountered such a thing. Now, of all moments, when urgency pressed, a Jūto appeared to obstruct them.
"What a nuisance."
Before Byakuya's astonished gaze, Moyu stepped forward. Black reiatsu surged from his frame, devouring the beast in an instant. The massive form vanished without even ash left behind.
"Come, Byakuya." Moyu's tone was flat, as if brushing away dust. He looked ahead, voice quiet, unshaken.
"The battlefield is just beyond."
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