Chapter 107: The Frozen Hueco Mundo
"Bankai: Ten Chi Dōdō, Ai Kokoni Kitaru!" (Heaven and Earth Both Mourn, Love Arrives Here!)
Fiander's voice resonated through the battlefield with the solemnity of a funeral bell, each syllable carrying weight that seemed to press against the very souls of those present. As his Zanpakutō was fully drawn from its sheath, the blade itself began an extraordinary transformation. Starting from the tip, the steel began dissolving into countless crystalline particles of ice mist that spiraled upward into the sky like ascending spirits.
The effect was immediate and devastating. The temperature throughout all of Hueco Mundo plummeted with supernatural swiftness, as if the very concept of warmth was being drained from existence itself. Even Arrancar stationed in the distant Las Noches, those who dwelt in territories far removed from the battlefield, suddenly felt an inexplicable increase in atmospheric moisture. As the temperature continued its relentless descent, something unprecedented occurred in the realm of eternal night—snowflakes began to fall from the starless sky above.
For the first time in its existence, Hueco Mundo experienced winter.
"The cold—it's unbearable!" gasped one of the observing captains, their breath forming visible clouds in air that had moments before been desert-hot.
The Shinigami captains, who had positioned themselves at the epicenter of Fiander's Bankai release, found themselves suddenly trapped in what felt like the heart of an arctic storm. The desert sand beneath their feet, which had been scorching hot enough to burn through inadequate footwear, transformed into solid sheets of ice within mere seconds. This was not the gradual freezing that might occur during a natural winter—this was instantaneous crystallization caused by the violent marriage of supernatural cold and atmospheric moisture.
A sharp cracking sound echoed across the battlefield as ice began forming around Zaraki Kenpachi's feet, the frozen surface climbing up his legs like living vines seeking to entrap him completely. The ice was not merely cold—it seemed to pulse with its own malevolent life, spreading with purpose and intelligence.
"Hadō no Gojūyon: Haien!" Kurotsuchi Mayuri's voice cut through the frigid air as he quickly chanted the incantation. Purple flames erupted from his outstretched hand, striking the ice that threatened to consume Kenpachi and causing it to hiss and steam as it melted away.
"Everyone, take to the air immediately!" Mayuri shouted urgently to his fellow captains, his analytical mind quickly grasping the tactical implications. "The ground is no longer safe for combat!"
One by one, the assembled Shinigami launched themselves skyward, using their mastery of spiritual particle manipulation to stand suspended in the increasingly frigid air. Their breaths came in sharp puffs as they adjusted to their new aerial positions, each of them acutely aware that they had just witnessed something that defied conventional understanding.
"How naive of you all," Fiander remarked with gentle mockery, observing their retreat with the patient amusement of a teacher watching children attempt to solve a puzzle beyond their comprehension.
He held up the remaining hilt of his transformed Zanpakutō, then passed two fingers along its length with deliberate slowness. Where his fingers traced, a new blade began to form—not of steel, but of crystalline ice so clear and perfect that it seemed to bend light around its edges. The weapon that materialized was both beautiful and terrifying, radiating cold that made the air around it shimmer with frozen moisture.
"This level of power..." Unohana Retsu's voice carried notes of deep concern as she studied the transformed weapon. "His Zanpakutō operates on the same fundamental scale as a Captain-class release."
Her assessment carried the weight of centuries of experience. Unlike many of her colleagues, Unohana had stood beside Yamamoto Shigekuni during the founding of Gotei 13 over a thousand years ago. She had witnessed the birth of Soul Society's military might, had seen battles that reshaped the spiritual realms themselves. Very little surprised her anymore—but Fiander's demonstration had managed to do exactly that.
"Setting aside the impossible question of how an Arrancar can achieve Bankai," she continued, her analytical mind working through the implications, "the ability itself presents a catastrophic threat on multiple levels."
The comparison that formed in her mind was deeply troubling. Yamamoto's Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka, possessed the power to evaporate all moisture in Soul Society through its incredible heat when released at full strength. The old man's reluctance to use his Bankai in populated areas stemmed from this very concern—the collateral damage would be immeasurable.
Fiander's power appeared to work in the opposite direction but with similar scope. If this supernatural winter continued to spread, if the temperature continued to plummet across all of Hueco Mundo, the entire ecosystem of the realm could collapse within hours.
Meanwhile, far from the epicenter of battle, the effects of Fiander's power were making themselves known across vast distances.
On the outskirts of the Silver Desert, Inoue Orihime looked up in wonder as a delicate snowflake landed on the tip of her nose. She had just finished using her healing abilities to restore Ichigo's injuries, and both of them were still adjusting to this impossible sight.
"Is it... actually snowing in Hueco Mundo?" she whispered, her voice filled with amazement and growing concern.
"That's impossible!" Grimmjow's response was immediate and emphatic, his usual aggressive demeanor replaced by genuine shock. His blue eyes reflected the falling snow as he stared upward, lips parted in disbelief. "I've existed in this realm for hundreds of years, and nothing like this has ever occurred!"
He gestured wildly at the transformed sky above them. "Before Aizen's arrival, Hueco Mundo knew only eternal darkness—not even the concept of daylight existed here, let alone weather patterns of any kind!"
Ichigo, now fully recovered thanks to Inoue's healing, slowly pushed himself to his feet. His black Shinigami robes had been restored along with his spiritual power, making him appear once again ready for battle. But his attention was entirely focused on the unprecedented meteorological phenomenon surrounding them.
"What? Is this really your first time seeing snow, Grimmjow?" Ichigo asked with characteristic tactlessness, scratching his head in confusion.
"Are you completely brain-dead?!" Grimmjow snarled, his usual hostility returning in full force. "Of course it doesn't snow in Hueco Mundo! This realm operates under completely different natural laws than either the World of the Living or Soul Society!"
"Uh... sorry, I guess I never really thought about it," Ichigo admitted sheepishly, his expression taking on the embarrassed grin that his friends knew so well.
"But if it doesn't normally snow here," Inoue interjected thoughtfully, clasping her hands together as she studied the falling flakes, "then what could be causing this to happen now?"
"Who knows..." Grimmjow's voice carried an edge of anxiety that was entirely foreign to his usual demeanor. Even with Kurosaki Ichigo fully healed and ready to resume their interrupted battle, the Espada seemed to have completely forgotten about combat.
"I have seen this before..."
The small, childish voice cut through their speculation like a bell. All eyes turned toward Nelliel, who stood with one tiny hand raised in the air, her expression bright with recognition and excitement.
"Nell?" Ichigo immediately crouched down to the child's eye level, his voice gentle with concern. "Where did you see this, Nell-chan?"
"Nell has seen Fiander make lots and lots of snow!" the child announced proudly, her words carrying the simple honesty that only children possess. "That was the first time Nell ever saw snow in Hueco Mundo! It was so pretty and sparkly!"
The revelation hit the assembled group like a physical blow. The idea that such a massive, realm-spanning phenomenon could be artificially created by a single individual challenged everything they understood about the limits of spiritual power.
"Impossible!" Grimmjow's denial was immediate and vehement. "I didn't sense even the slightest trace of unusual reiatsu anywhere in Hueco Mundo. Creating an effect of this magnitude without releasing detectable spiritual pressure is beyond the capabilities of any being I've ever encountered!"
But even as he spoke the words, doubt crept into his voice. When he forced himself to think logically about the situation, to set aside his emotional reactions and analyze the facts objectively, only one conclusion remained viable. Among all the Arrancar in Las Noches, among all the Shinigami who had invaded their realm, only Fiander possessed ice-based abilities of any significant power.
"Could it really be him?" Grimmjow muttered, his features twisting into an expression of frustrated acknowledgment.
The admission cost him dearly. Grimmjow's pride had always been his defining characteristic—he challenged Aizen despite knowing the futility of such defiance, stood against Ulquiorra despite the clear gap in their power. But there was one individual who had always occupied a unique position in his mental hierarchy.
That individual was Fiander.
The memory of their encounters, the casual dismissal of his strongest attacks, the sense that he was not even considered worthy of serious attention—all of it came rushing back with crystalline clarity. And now, witnessing the scope of power that could transform an entire realm with a single technique, Grimmjow felt something he rarely experienced: genuine intimidation.
"Listen up!" he barked suddenly at Ichigo, his voice carrying its familiar aggressive edge but underlying it was unmistakable urgency. "You came here to rescue that woman, didn't you? Well, you've accomplished your mission, so get out of here immediately!"
Without waiting for a response, Grimmjow launched himself into the air with explosive force, his form rapidly shrinking as he flew toward the distant territory where Fiander's reiatsu had last been detected. "I don't have time to waste on battles with you right now. There are more important matters that require my attention!"
"Grimmjow!" Ichigo's shout echoed across the snowy landscape, but the Espada's figure had already disappeared into the swirling precipitation.
"What's gotten into that guy?" Ichigo wondered aloud, his expression reflecting genuine confusion at the sudden personality shift. One moment Grimmjow had been eager to resume their fight, the next he was abandoning the battlefield entirely to investigate some distant disturbance.
"Ichi..." Nell's small voice drew his attention downward. The child was tugging at his hakama with obvious worry, her large eyes reflecting concern that seemed far too mature for her apparent age.
"Don't worry, Nell," Ichigo said gently, reaching down to pat her head with reassuring warmth. "Whatever kind of person Grimmjow might be, he's not the type to attack someone when they're vulnerable. His pride wouldn't allow it."
The assessment was accurate, based on Ichigo's growing understanding of the Espada's character through their brief but intense interactions. Despite his aggressive nature and willingness to engage in brutal combat, Grimmjow possessed a warrior's code that prevented him from taking advantage of weakness or helplessness.
Ichigo straightened up and looked toward the distant spires of Las Noches, barely visible through the falling snow. "Inoue, I know this isn't what we planned, but I can't leave Hueco Mundo yet. Chad and Ishida came here with us, and I haven't been able to locate them. I have a feeling they're still somewhere near Las Noches."
His expression grew determined, taking on the stubborn resolve that his friends had learned to recognize and respect. "We all came to this place together, and I won't abandon them now. That means we might be here longer than expected."
Inoue's response was immediate and warm, her smile radiant despite the supernatural winter surrounding them. "I understand completely, Kurosaki-kun. Let's go find Chad-kun and Ishida-kun together!"
The snow continued to fall around them as they prepared to venture deeper into a Hueco Mundo transformed by powers beyond their comprehension, unaware that the source of this winter was locked in a battle that would determine the fate of multiple realms.
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