"Where do you think they went?" Aizen asked indifferently.
Urahara covered half his face with his fan and said in a low voice: "Later, I checked the place where Miss Yoruichi and Miss Suì-Fēng fought and found traces of 'shadows'."
"I see." Although he said that, Aizen should have already noticed.
Looking at Aizen's expression, Kisuke Urahara said: "I think it's not just Suì-Fēng who disappeared, right?"
Now it was Yoshio's turn to speak. He said: "As expected of Mr. Urahara. How did you determine their locations?"
"Don't forget, the Tenshintai is a tool I developed," Kisuke Urahara replied. "So, naturally, I have ways to track the imaginary bodies' spiritual pressures transmitted through the Tenshintai."
Kisuke Urahara was right, but strictly speaking, this wasn't disappearance.
Yoshio watched as those two went to a place that Roka Paramia couldn't observe.
Wandenreich!
And the two who disappeared were Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Komamura Sajin!
In fact, at this moment, Yoshio had already guessed the dominant thoughts in the Gotei 13 captains' imaginary bodies.
Suì-Fēng's primary thought was her resentment toward Yoruichi for abandoning her, so she went to deal with Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara.
Retsu Unohana's dominant thought was her resentment from centuries ago when facing Zaraki Kenpachi, resentment toward her own incompetence, so she faced her own body.
Kuchiki Byakuya's dominant thought might be a cold apology to Rukia, or more precisely, an apology to Hisana, because he chose rules over Rukia and the rules themselves. Thus, he decided to head to Hueco Mundo to kill the Bull-Head Hollow that brought pain to Rukia.
Kyōraku Shunsui's dominant thought was regret over the Hollowfication incident involving Yadōmaru Lisa. Therefore, he wanted to see Lisa again.
Tōsen Kaname's dominant thought was naturally resentment toward the Tsunayashiro Clan; once the Tsunayashiro Clan was destroyed by Yoshio, he could dissipate peacefully.
Shiba Isshin's dominant thought was likely avenging his nephew, so on this point, he teamed up with 'Kuchiki Byakuya' and was discovered by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, becoming the current reinforcement for the Hueco Mundo captains.
Zaraki Kenpachi... Yoshio wasn't sure, because after Zaraki Kenpachi appeared, he got lost in Rukongai and still hadn't come out.
As for Mayuri Kurotsuchi, perhaps it was his obsession with scientific research that made him unhesitatingly approach his own body.
As for Jūshirō Ukitake, it might also be an obsession with the Hollow White.
So, what about the remaining Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Komamura Sajin?
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's imaginary body's dominant thought was the regret from a thousand years ago of not killing Yhwach, the Quincy King, in battle!
So, after he appeared, he had been searching for Yhwach's whereabouts.
And Komamura Sajin, whether the original or the imaginary body, strictly followed Yamamoto's orders.
Under Yoshio's surveillance, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Komamura Sajin successfully 'found' the entrance to Wandenreich.
Speaking of which, Wandenreich actually let them in on purpose!
After entering Wandenreich, Roka Paramia completely lost contact with them.
Yoshio believed that Yamamoto's imaginary body was no match for Wandenreich.
Because imaginary bodies have limits too.
Although the Tenshintai was created by Kisuke Urahara to allow humans to progress further, it can't create infinitely powerful beings.
In fact, at Retsu Unohana's level, the imaginary body created by the Tenshintai couldn't possibly be stronger than the original body.
Let alone Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander.
In other words, Yamamoto's imaginary body wasn't actually that strong.
Even if he teamed up with Komamura Sajin, entering Wandenreich was a suicide mission.
Yet Kisuke Urahara had discovered this. This guy is really...
Cheating!
"Mr. Aizen, it seems you already know everything I'm about to say."
Kisuke Urahara placed his hand on his hat, and the next moment, he disappeared.
In the end, only one sentence remained here.
"Before we go to war, it's best to clear out the remaining threats first, isn't it?"
After leaving those words, Hirako Shinji also turned away.
"Let's go, Hiyori!"
Hiyori looked at Aizen unwillingly, but she knew her strength was far inferior to Aizen's. Although the anger and reluctance in her heart made her want to tear Aizen to shreds, at this moment, she could only leave.
"You're just letting them go like that?"
Yoshio asked.
"It's not time yet," Aizen said indifferently.
He hadn't fused with the Hōgyoku yet; fighting now would be meaningless.
Why did he cause all this?
Simply to evolve to a higher dimension.
And now, even if he killed them, he couldn't complete the evolution, so there was no need.
Aizen is a person with very clear goals; for him, the purpose of this operation had been achieved.
Further dividing Soul Society and Kisuke Urahara's group!
Initially...
It was just to give Kisuke Urahara something to do.
"Tell the Espada to stop as well."
Aizen raised his hand, pushed his glasses with two fingers, and said in a low voice: "And by the way, clear out the shadows in Las Noches."
Yoshio nodded slightly.
He knew that although Aizen said nothing on the surface, he was paying attention to Wandenreich in his heart.
Although he and Kisuke Urahara might not yet know of Wandenreich's existence, after this incident, they must have realized that the Quincies from back then weren't exterminated but had gathered in the world's shadows, forming an even more terrifying group.
What couldn't be confirmed was Wandenreich's exact location!
Of course, if given time, realizing that Wandenreich is in Seireitei's shadow shouldn't be difficult.
At least they have two options: either in Karakura Town's shadow or in Seireitei's shadow.
At that moment, a thought suddenly popped into Yoshio's mind.
Aizen...
Would he shift his target to the Quincies?
After learning of Wandenreich's existence, would Aizen still declare war on Soul Society as easily as in the original story?
Would it become a three-way standoff, or would Aizen confidently continue declaring war on Soul Society, using their resistance to complete his own evolution, then wait for the Quincies' attack?
Yoshio felt that from this moment on, the future plot might be a bit different.
...
Soul Society, within the shadows of Seireitei, the location of Wandenreich.
Haschwalth looked at the unconscious 'Suì-Fēng' before him.
On either side of "Suì-Fēng," there were two small, skull-like objects.
"Tenshintai..."
Haschwalth said slowly: "As per His Majesty's orders, successfully acquired."
The sleeping Quincy King took nine hundred years to regain his heartbeat, ninety years to regain reason and wisdom, and nine years to regain power.
Now, it was already the ninety years of 'regaining reason and wisdom.'
However, before these ninety years passed, Yhwach wasn't completely without reason and wisdom.
Just like the nine years of regaining power, Yhwach still possessed a certain level of authority.
It was a gradual process; from the ninety years onward, Yhwach's heartbeat had fully recovered, meaning his physical body had successfully restored.
And in the remaining ninety years, he would gradually recover reason and wisdom, not spending the entire ninety years in a state of irrationality and lack of wisdom, nor suddenly recovering all reason and wisdom after ninety years.
This time limit was indeed important, but not everything.
For example, now, although there were still ninety years until regaining "wisdom and reason," Yhwach had already recovered a certain degree of self-awareness.
Although...
His voice was still a bit weak.
He sat on his throne, eyes closed.
And his successor, the next emperor of Wandenreich, Haschwalth, stood respectfully before him.
Hearing Haschwalth's words, Yhwach didn't respond, just faintly raised a finger. The next moment, a beam of light shot out and entered 'Suì-Fēng's body.
Immediately, a suction force emanated from 'Suì-Fēng,' drawing the two skull-like objects beside her into her body.
These two objects were the Tenshintai that had fallen from Yamamoto Genryūsai and Komamura Sajin's imaginary bodies.
Luring the two into Wandenreich was also Yhwach's command.
However, even Haschwalth didn't know Yhwach's intentions.
When Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's imaginary body discovered Wandenreich, he immediately caused massive destruction there, wanting to completely eliminate Yhwach.
But Wandenreich had many experts; after a struggle, he was successfully defeated.
These two Tenshintai also fell from their bodies.
And at that moment, Yhwach used his power to fuse these two Tenshintai into 'Suì-Fēng's body.
In an instant, "Suì-Fēng's" body swelled up. Her "shinigami uniform" and captain's haori seemed unable to withstand her expanding body and finally shattered.
However, when the shinigami uniform and captain's haori disappeared, the fabric fused again, turning into a Sternritter uniform.
At this point, "Suì-Fēng's" body had fully matured, like a child turning into an adult. Although her face still showed traces of the former "Suì-Fēng," her figure was more mature and tall.
Previously, 'Suì-Fēng' was only 1.5 meters tall, but now this woman was at least 1.75 meters.
"What..." Yhwach finally spoke, asking in a deep voice: "What is your name?"
The woman slowly opened her eyes, stood up, glanced at Yhwach, then knelt on the ground.
"Surtur."
"Become my arm," Yhwach said again.
Haschwalth then presented Surtur with a small dish.
Surtur drank it with a somewhat dazed expression, immediately feeling a shock through her body.
"I grant you the 'S' Schrift 'Surtalogi'. Now, display your power before me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Surtur stood up, opened her palm, and the next moment, a flaming longsword appeared in her hand.
The sword tip resembled Suzumebachi, the blade somewhat like Tenken, and the guard shaped like Ryūjin Jakka.
The sword was surrounded by roaring flames, but the fire didn't burn; it was like static flames attached to the blade.
The next moment, a halo appeared above Surtur's head, and light wings emerged from her back!
Haschwalth looked at Surtur in some surprise; he knew this was the Quincy Vollständig.
He hadn't expected His Majesty to grant Surtur this power as well.
Surtur's predecessor was a Shinigami; it was already surprising that His Majesty granted her Quincy powers, but even more unexpected that he would grant her a Schrift and Vollständig.
What exactly was Surtur's purpose for His Majesty?
Haschwalth knew that the current Yhwach would never do something useless, meaning he had 'seen' Surtur's utility.
From what he could see now, "Surtur's" abilities seemed to fuse certain traits of "Suzumebachi," "Ryūjin Jakka," and "Tenken"?
While Haschwalth pondered deeply, Surtur's Vollständig completed.
Her body grew even larger, emanating flames all over, like a fire giant from mythology!
The flaming longsword in her hand radiated powerful divine might.
In legend, Surtur is the demon that ends Norse mythology, an important part of Götterdämmerung!
Now, it was as if the Surtur from Norse mythology had truly appeared again.
The next moment, the flames vanished, and the giant returned to her original form. Surtur canceled her Vollständig.
Yhwach made no comment on the power she had just displayed, simply sitting on his throne with eyes closed.
Haschwalth understood Yhwach's meaning and had Surtur withdraw.
Surtur was completely a newborn, her eyes somewhat vacant, but her gaze around her held a hint of curiosity and exploration.
"His Majesty has granted you a Schrift. From now on, you are a member of the Sternritter."
Haschwalth said indifferently: "I will take you to the Sternritter and hand you over to Quilge; he will teach you Quincy's combat methods."
Quilge is also a Sternritter member, holding the letter "J," and he is the Sternritter's combat instructor, someone who has trained Quincy's basic abilities to the extreme.
Currently, some members of the Sternritter are his students.
Although Surtur was directly granted considerable power by Yhwach, and her own composition is quite strong, she is essentially a Shinigami who has been granted Quincy powers, a Schrift, and a Vollständig.
So, before making her a Sternritter, she needs to train her Quincy powers first.
"...Yes."
Surtur said softly.