"—Is everything progressing smoothly?"
Naruki City, bathed in the refreshing morning sun of the living world. The familiar underground hideout beneath it was operating at full capacity that day, regenerating and treating wounded Arrancars.
I visit the facility managed by capable big sis Loca-emon for final confirmation, checking on the Arrancars beaten up by Chad and the others.
"...Yes. Aisslinger Wernarr-sama and Demoura Zodd-sama have newly entered the treatment rooms and are preparing to return to the front lines."
According to Loca's report, that sinecure gatekeeper duo apparently survived the underground passage collapse. Especially capable Aisslinger-kun is a secret favorite of mine, so Momo-chan's relieved he's safe.
Both of you, thank you for your hard work fulfilling the destiny ordained by the stylish master god.
"Currently three Privaron Espada—Dordoni-san, Gantenbainne-san, and Cirucci-san—are preparing to intercept the intruders. The enemy is quite formidable, so please immediately prepare three additional treatment rooms."
"...Understood."
Well, treatment rooms capable of accommodating half the Arrancar army have already been built in this hideout. About fifty rooms total.
The problem is the soul regeneration chambers. These regenerate deceased Arrancars from their soul's spiritual particles—essentially reviving them in a semi-clone form. The Hogyoku's power is indispensable for this, but...
(My Hogyoku is the Momogyoku...)
I'm extremely doubtful whether that screw-up breeding ground is truly a splendid wish-granting device like Yon-sama's Hogyoku. Anyway, I absolutely want to reconstitute the Espada no matter what, so I'm anxious unless I experiment with the Momogyoku several times first.
And now, having finally received reports that preparations are complete, I enter the top-secret facility alone for the experiment. Inside, spiritual particles from an Arrancar soul collected from battle a month ago and one modified lowest-class Menos Grande Gillian lay within a barrier.
"...Let's go, Momogyoku."
'—Time to redeem our honor!—Cast off the stigma of incompetence!—Uwoooo, escape from manure hell!—No more smelly, filthy life...'
Expecting reasonably high motivation, I direct my consciousness into my soul. If this method fails, I'll have no choice but to revive them as complete clones like Szayelaporro's novel method with Sien Grantz. Succeed no matter what! (intimidating)
While pouring in massive spiritual pressure, envisioning the desired phenomenon... now!
'!!'
Light floods the barrier with a flash, and an explosion occurs similar to Wonderweiss's time. Confirming a single spiritual pressure in the drifting smoke, I involuntarily smile.
After all, on just the fourth day of obtaining the Momogyoku (three of which were spent oversleeping), I've finally managed a Hogyoku-like usage from the early original. As expected of a Hogyoku, even if rotten—our screw-up orb apparently has its uses sometimes. I'll pull it from the manure pile with fire tongs and wash it later.
"...Legion... Commander?"
Then, after the experimental Arrancar subject looked around in a daze for a while and recognized me, I became certain of the experiment's success.
"Welcome back. How is your second life?"
—Di Roy-san.
***
Now then, though one concern is settled, there's still a mountain of things to do this morning. Specifically, one year and five months' worth of serialized events.
Leaving the living world hideout, I return to Hueco Mundo. I need to arrange Nel's meeting with Ichigo soon. Momo-chan's happy to bring her back to the main stage after so long.
"Tenpō Kūra."
On my way back to Las Noches, I send instructions to the desert guardian Runuganga, driving Nel and her group playing in Hueco Mundo's desert toward Ichigo's expected arrival point. Since she lost her position as Tercera Espada to Nnoitra's surprise attack and has been under our surveillance, guiding her is easy.
"—How is Nelliel-san doing?"
Arriving at Las Noches, I immediately check the situation in Szayelaporro's surveillance room. His visited laboratory looks unchanged externally, but apparently all internal data and research materials have been moved to the living world hideout.
"Yes, she contacted Kurosaki Ichigo earlier. She's currently in combat with Runuganga."
"Ah, already at that stage! Thank goodness..."
Good, good—events seem to be progressing as in the original. As I relax, Szayelaporro beside me rings a stylish bell.
"Runuganga's been defeated. I'll have my Fracción retrieve him."
"Please do. That ability is convenient."
Though I incited the sand giant to drive them toward Ichigo's group, they apparently managed to join the protagonist group plus mid-entry Renji and Rukia in a development similar to the original. Now we just expect Nel's heroine moves.
Oops, while doing this, Ichigo's group has already reached Las Noches.
"They're breaking through walls to advance. What intelligence below monkeys—no, boars..."
"Who do you think will repair them..."
I think this era's Ichigo still had remnants of that cocky early high school student brashness. Tch, I'll forgive it for the sake of such precious scenes.
Well, two years from now there'll be another Quincy attack anyway, so those holes will probably stay unfixed until the original ends. Sorry, walls.
Afterward, Ichigo's group advances smoothly, entering the hall with five diverging passages. A room I properly interfered with the design to recreate as in the original.
"Apparently they're splitting into five groups. Our vanguard is the Privaron Espada... Dordoni, how nostalgic."
"It's been ten years since the promotion/demotion battle with Nelliel-san. Were you close with him, Szayelaporro-san?"
"Hahaha."
What are you laughing at? Though personalities definitely clash.
"...Well, I still have lab cleanup remaining, so I'll excuse myself here."
"Ah, right. I'm heading to the field too. ...Keep the retaliation against lab intruders moderate, okay?"
"Yes, don't worry. I'll merely satisfy them by letting them take Urahara Kisuke's research home, kukuku."
Apparently the strategy is to hand over Urahara-san's research materials stolen by Yon-sama a century ago as a dummy, as if researched here, to Mayuri-sama who comes digging through the lab. Our pockets don't hurt at all, Mayuri-sama gleefully takes home his hated rival's ancient research without knowing, then gets thoroughly embarrassed when Urahara-san points it out later. Splendidly malicious harassment—as expected.
Parting with the wickedly grinning Szayelaporro, I busily move to Tres Cifras in Las Noches' outer palace. I need to at least pretend to work as Legion Commander or DJ and others will get angry.
Then, confirming through spiritual pressure sensing that the distant matchups of Ichigo vs. Dordoni, Ishida vs. Cirucci, and Chad vs. Gantenbainne have assembled, I breathe a sigh of relief.
Alright, first I'll secretly spectate while retrieving casualties from the opening Dordoni battle. No more screw-ups! Absolutely!
Show reader-me that infamous BLEACH scene [I'm not using Bankai!], Ichigo!
***
"...Good grief, didn't your mama teach you?"
—Don't judge people by appearances, niño?
The great corridor's ceiling. That mustachioed comic figure who lost his footing from the colonnade and fell spoke those lines while blocking the young man Kurosaki Ichigo's path.
One who once held the rank of Espada—Privaron Espada.
The Arrancar Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio, having named his rank, abandoned his initial frivolous attitude and cornered Ichigo with refined leg techniques like a different person.
"Sluggish reactions, fragile defense, can't even adapt to changes underfoot."
"—Guah!"
"It's like watching an infant fight, eh?"
The young man kicked from the passage into the great hall's wall. As he groans in pain, Dordoni sighs and tosses out a quiet provocation.
"Use your Bankai."
"!"
Ichigo's shoulders jump. But the young man had his pride.
"...No way. Privaron Espada means you're not an Espada anymore, right?"
"...That's correct, but?"
"Then all the more reason! I can't waste Bankai on guys who aren't even Espada!"
Not just pride. What Ichigo would face from here were potentially all ten Espada at worst. Before consecutive battles with powerful enemies, he had to avoid wasting spiritual power.
"...I see. Then let me say one thing as well.
Don't mock me, brat."
But that strategy, dragged down by insolent pride, was a mistake.
"Whirl!"
—Giralda—
The Arrancar's zanpakuto release—Resurrección. After a massive spiritual pressure eruption, two pale blue tornadoes appeared before Ichigo.
"Guard yourself, niño!"
"Wha—gahaa?!"
Suddenly appearing Hollow beaks. Assaulted by those protean attacks using spiritual pressure storms as propulsion, the young man was helplessly trampled.
Still stubbornly sealing his Bankai, Dordoni sighed in disappointment and fired a finishing Cero.
Then.
"Itsyugo!"
"N-Nel?!"
Suddenly interfering was the Arrancar child he'd reluctantly brought along. However, what seemed like reckless bravery throwing herself before him—she actually swallowed the enemy's attack and spat it back.
"Don't... do mean things... to Itsyugo!"
'?!'
Everyone completely unguarded, Dordoni suffered major injuries from naturally exploited carelessness. But therefore, the word "mercy" vanished from his heart.
"—'Don't judge by appearances,' hm... Infuriatingly correct, bebé."
Immediately after, the child's body was blown away with a crimson light bullet.
"Agh...!"
"Nel!"
"Your mischief seems excessive... Begone!"
The pursuing Arrancar man's follow-up attacks Nel.
White beak. Immobile child. Shikai-speed flash step won't make it.
Before his companion's life-or-death crisis, Ichigo's body moved instinctively.
"...If you want to see it that badly, I'll show you."
—Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu—
Come to think of it, what foolish stubbornness he'd clung to. With a child beside him who threw herself to protect him, holding back and endangering those he should protect.
Releasing his power as the enemy desired, Ichigo faces Dordoni with fury.
"—There's still more, isn't there?"
Yet still, the man wasn't satisfied.
The Privaron Espada, having been permitted to view previous battle records, desired Ichigo's strongest form—Hollowfication. It was the same pride the young man had held. Following his most precious honor, the Arrancar man mercilessly tried to wound Ichigo's pride.
"Have you... no shame?!"
"I have plenty! My shame is being unable to fight niño at full power!"
Unleashed countless tornadoes. Their target: the companion Ichigo must protect—Nel.
Ichigo and Dordoni, their mutual shame equally singular. The Arrancar's cry that all other shame was meaningless—the young man gazed intently at it.
And then.
"...I see."
Kurosaki Ichigo hid that raw instinct behind a mask and, with his own single pride like Dordoni's, shattered the enemy's resolve.
***
One flash.
Power filled his body, victorious will filled his heart. Yet the battle of men's stubbornness and pride closed its curtain anticlimactically with that single strike.
Complete defeat. Though an unignorable strong opponent, the child who'd somewhat unscrupulously targeted his life healed his wounds, watched over by the enemy youth—Dordoni was refreshingly made to submit to them.
"You're strong, niño."
"...That's not true."
The young man's humility strikes his chest. Ah, yes—is this "their" battlefield?
"...I wanted to return to the Espada."
A loser's complaints, has even his spirit submitted? His long-cherished dream spills from his lips.
The Espada, main force of the Arrancar army fulfilling Lord Aizen's ambitions. Yet they—no, we—just how much value do we truly hold for that conqueror?
The god looking down from heaven is absolute. Loyalty to Aizen Sosuke is unshakeable.
But.
"Niño. When you first saw us Hollows, what did you think?"
Dordoni asks. Of this gentle, chocolate-sweet human youth.
"We must have been eerie. Our forms frightening, our spiritual pressure ominous, our hearts frozen in emptiness."
"..."
"Fallen evil spirits eternally seeking what was lost. Enemies of humans, of Shinigami. Naturally evoking negative thoughts."
The young man frowns and stays silent. That must be his answer—unavoidable.
Therefore...
"—That person was different."
Having gained reason and tasted charitable sweetness, perhaps somewhere in Dordoni's heart he'd set apart the master deserving true loyalty.
"I still remember. When Hollow-me was granted audience... those shining amber eyes."
"...!"
"Though a Shinigami, greeting Hollow-me with 'Nice to meet you'... 'Please take care of me'... welcoming me as a subordinate with such friendly warmth, as if before another person... that emotion."
At Dordoni's account, the young man's eyes widen. Even for compassionate him, that state apparently remains an unbelievable "special" thing.
"You saw it, didn't you? This dead earth of Hueco Mundo. The nihilistic hell where mineral dead trees sparsely grow. That person made... plum blossoms bloom there."
"...!"
"Every year at year's end, a cup of amber-colored fine liquor is served to everyone. The same color as that person's eyes... sweet, sweet, finest liqueur."
Not just that. Bringing rich soil from the Shinigami homeland, planting seeds, sprouting vegetation, cultivating farms, reproducing outside world delicacies and wines, splendid clothing from spirit particles, giving them all to us Arrancars. While smiling with an adorable face, saying "This is the happiness you who became human Arrancars from beast Hollows should know."
The place closest to such a "special" person—the Espada.
"That place was unbearably comfortable..."
Honest feelings spilling with a sigh. Surprisingly sorrowful even to himself.
"I thought if I defeated niño at full power, I could see that person's face again... receive that heavenly smile... So I urged you to Hollowfy."
—And that vain longing remains unchanged.
"You bastard...!"
"Hahahaha! If you heal an enemy's wounds, be prepared for counterattack!"
Using his dying strength, the man stands.
"Stop! You haven't recovered enough to move!"
"Wounds are borne by one's spirit, niño! Once fighting will recovers, bodily wounds are trivial!"
The gentle youth desperately tries to stop him.
"That's what I call chocolate-like—
niño!"
Thus the man's struggle pointed that loyal blade's tip at the compassionate intruder's chest.
"—A magnificent battle. Thank you for your hard work, Dordoni-san."
Ah, our beloved...
Generala...