So easy?
Bazz-B was a little surprised—this was too easy.
He had confidence in himself, but judging from this Hollow's earlier showing, even if he couldn't withstand the flaming blade, he should at least put up some resistance.
So that meant…
It was a trap!
As expected, when Starrk was cut in two, he showed no pain. Instead, he split cleanly: one half became Starrk, the other Lilynette.
During Resurrection, although it was said Starrk and Lilynette fused, that fusion wasn't perfect.
Lilynette returned only as a pair of pistols; once the guns were downed, Starrk couldn't use his abilities.
However, in Segunda Etapa, even if an arm had fallen off earlier, Starrk could regenerate both arm and weapons.
Rather than being cleaved by Bazz-B, Starrk had voluntarily split. Although this dropped him from Segunda Etapa, it let him avoid a fatal blow.
Starrk hadn't fought long in the Wandenreich, but he realized it swarmed with masters. Without exceptional speed, he would likely be overwhelmed by so many powerful enemies.
Fortunately, Angra hadn't wasted time.
After splitting, Starrk took Lilynette and rapidly fired Sonido in succession, reaching Angra at extreme speed.
Angra didn't hesitate and drew the black sword again.
At the same moment, he smeared open the black mud on his body.
Hollow power was highly toxic to Quincy. Only in Vollständig could Quincy barely purify it through their own power; otherwise even slight contact caused contamination.
Angra's black mud was infinitely more baleful than Hollow power!
His black mud was like congealed malice; a little was enough to blacken a person!
Of course, the stronger the reishi, the stronger the resistance. But at that moment, this was everyone's first time facing such evil power. The Quincy around them paled; none dared to test the filth of that mud with their own bodies!
It was like a tiger fell into a cesspit, smeared in filth and rampaging—no one dared to grapple it head-on!
Angra knew this would only scare the Quincy once; next time, it might not work. But…
Once was enough!
The black longsword in Angra's hand swelled rapidly and finally became a massive shadow!
The shadow enveloped Angra, and by then, Starrk and Lilynette had already entered Angra's body.
Angra's body was smeared with countless patches of black mud, and now shrouded by shadow, the darkness grew deeper!
"Quick! Stop him!"
Roughly forty voices shouted. In the next instant, a terrifying bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, hitting the shadow-wrapped mud.
Though lightning was the ultimate firm, positive force—breaking evil and illusions—wielded by Quincy here, it clearly didn't have that effect.
It was just too fast and landed first.
Then Bazz-B's flames and some Quincy light arrows followed!
But just as these attacks were about to land, the shadow compressed rapidly!
By the time they hit, the shadow had shrunk to a slit—and the next moment, it vanished!
Angra was expelled from the shadow realm in an instant, appearing in Seireitei!
He still appeared as a Shinigami. His true body was parasitizing the Shinigami and did not emerge immediately.
Instead, he waited until dawn the next day; when the Shinigami found an excuse to leave Seireitei, Angra seized the opportunity to slip out and return to Hueco Mundo.
Though a battle had broken out in the Wandenreich, Seireitei remained unaware. They couldn't know that another space existed beneath the shadows of their own world.
Chaos erupted.
…
Two Menos Grande somehow infiltrated the Empire and caused extensive damage. In the end, despite many Sternritter being deployed, they failed to stop them and watched them slip away?!!
Haschwalth calmly looked toward the place where Angra had vanished. Yhwach hadn't appeared; he was sleeping.
Night had fallen, and Yhwach needed rest. In that state, his power flowed into Haschwalth.
Haschwalth would don the "Mask of Ruler" at night, carrying out Yhwach's will.
Many Sternritter stood around him, and none dared to speak—they had failed in their duty.
However, Haschwalth didn't blame them. Instead he walked to a spot on the ground blasted by Cero.
He bent down and picked up a severed arm—Starrk's previously lost limb.
"Who were they?"
Haschwalth asked.
No one answered. They could monitor Seireitei, but they knew nothing of Hueco Mundo.
They'd seen Angra Mainyu, but not Starrk.
So no one could answer.
Haschwalth hadn't expected an answer; if he didn't know, how would the others?
Hearing no reply, he walked up onto a high dais.
Two Quincy were bound and kneeling, trembling uncontrollably.
They were the director and deputy director of the Technology Research Institute.
Baelz stood among the onlookers, watching Haschwalth approach the pair and slowly draw his blade.
"For the useless and the traitors, I will, by His Majesty's will, execute them."
Baelz had originally thought only the deputy would be executed—after all, he had "erred" and tried to kill the director amidst the chaos in a fit of "impulse."
After the incident, the Quincy interrogated the deputy, but he had no idea he'd been "blackened." From his perspective, it had been a momentary lapse.
As for Haschwalth's true thinking, he had no clue.
But in any case, nothing would trace back to Baelz.
So Baelz was merely a spectator.
The deputy was a "traitor," and the director "derelict." As director of the Technology Research Institute, to do nothing when the Wandenreich's barriers were breached—that was serious negligence!
Baelz pitied the director. The damned barriers weren't his to begin with; shouldn't you find the Barrier Squad?!!
The Technology Research Institute did handle some security measures, but when someone breaks in, you can't dump all the blame on one department, right?!!
Isn't the Barrier Squad responsible? The Recon Squad? The Sternritter?
And you expected a no-name small fry to resist Kisuke Urahara's intrusion…
The bar's too high!
But who had suggested the Institute had an "internal traitor" at just this time? All hatred pointed straight at them; the director and deputy could go "to heaven" hand in hand.
Baelz wasn't worried about being implicated; after all, how could the boss's mistake drag down every subordinate?
Moreover, the Technology Research Institute wasn't like other departments; replacing staff wasn't easy.
Losing both director and deputy was already a heavy blow; they couldn't purge everyone.
If even an edge figure like Baelz were removed, the Institute might be abolished outright and be useless for a hundred years.
And…
This was also an opportunity.
With director and deputy dead, it was a chance for "promotion."
As expected, after handling the two, Haschwalth announced that whoever could design an entirely new Wandenreich security scheme could assume the post of Director of the Technology Research Institute!
This was definitely a big opportunity for Baelz!
Perhaps he could use it to draw Yhwach's attention, obtain a Schrift, and reach the peak of his life.
After the executions, the crowd dispersed.
Baelz went home.
Many colleagues wanted to seize the chance to draft a security plan—but with the Institute destroyed, they could only wait at home, or do what research they could with home equipment.
That too was an opportunity—to outfit one's home with better gear!
Back home, Baelz immediately activated Safehouse, disguising the interior to look like he was diligently researching new defenses.
In fact, he placed a hand on his chest, and a puddle of black mud leapt from his palm.
Though the distance limit had now been exceeded and Holy Trinity had expired…
That just meant he himself couldn't use the black mud; Angra's black mud wouldn't vanish into thin air!
So the Soul King fragments wrapped in the mud were still there!
Thirty-four Soul King fragments—though most were tiny, like fingernails—held spiritual force enough to make him ten times stronger, or more.
However, although Quincy could utilize the power of Soul King fragments, they couldn't swallow them whole like Hollows.
Only someone as special as Yhwach could devour others' power directly. Other Quincy would need to use "Quincy"!
Using Quincy could forcibly absorb external reishi as one's own, but Baelz didn't even have Vollständig yet, let alone that.
Using the "Quincy: Final Form" could also invoke Quincy—but one's spiritual power would vanish afterward, making it pointless.
Therefore, he had to analyze the fragments' compatibility with his soul, and at the same time find Quincy-related data to develop tools enabling him to use Quincy—or achieve similar effects!
Baelz had already read on this, and had some ideas.
This was a good chance to complete them!
With the Institute destroyed, employees would "work from home" until it was rebuilt.
But home equipment had to be self-financed.
Baelz checked his savings. He had some, but not enough to buy the top equipment he needed to complete the upcoming research plan.
The Wandenreich's common folk weren't well-off, but once you entered the "military class," your living conditions improved dramatically.
People like Baelz were "high-end talent" in the Empire; monthly pay was decent, but still far from meeting research needs.
All scientific research was a "bottomless pit"; without funds, nothing could proceed.
Looks like I need to find time to visit my good neighbor Liltotto again.
At that time, Liltotto entered the Sternritter hall with the other Sternritter.
This was the Ice Palace's council chamber, where the Wandenreich's top Sternritter under Haschwalth decided policies for the next thousand years.
Next to Liltotto were several female Sternritter, most of them distracted, with only their leader, Bambietta Basterbine, looking furious.
Bambietta was E; her ability was Explode—turn anything infused with her reishi into a bomb.
She was thought of as the leader of their small group, mostly because she rated herself highly, frequently took charge, and was indeed powerful.
Liltotto wasn't competitive; she liked having someone stand in front when things happened, so she had no interest in challenging Bambietta's position.
"Candice, what are you doing? Why aren't you talking?"
After venting, Bambietta turned to Candice.
Candice was the Quincy who wielded lightning; she was T (The Thunderbolt), tall, with medium-length grass-green hair.
Annoyed, she said, "What do you want me to say? That I'm useless, and let that guy escape?"
"I do think you're a bit useless. Your attack hit first, and it had no effect."
"What? If your attack was so effective, why didn't you stop them?!" Candice shot back, unwilling to yield.
"Here we go again." Meninas McAllon, P (The Power), pouted, used to this. "Bambietta always wants to vent on others when she messes up."
"Hah?! I'm not venting!"
"Enough, you brat," Liltotto said flatly. "We're in the council room. I don't want to be scolded alongside you two."
Seeing Haschwalth in the chamber, the near-bursting Bambietta immediately became docile.
Noisy and unruly before others, she was strangely well-behaved before Haschwalth.
Liltotto glanced at Haschwalth seated at the head and understood. He was still presiding over the meeting. Although the Wandenreich had been infiltrated for the first time, Yhwach felt the matter trivial—not worth disturbing his sleep.
That made things easier. Handling this wouldn't be a big hassle.
What Liltotto feared most was Yhwach presiding personally, which would mean the Wandenreich operating at high intensity to deal with the two Menos Grande.
Fortunately, it was Haschwalth.
"What happened?" A senior Sternritter in the front row said lazily. "So many of you and you still let them go? Were the enemies strong?"
"Heh, it's not for someone who's never set foot on the battlefield to evaluate," Bazz-B sneered. "Askin, you didn't sleep earlier, did you?"
"I think it's normal. It was night. Nights are for sleeping." Askin hadn't gone to the battlefield. He'd felt the fight outside, but with so many Quincy, catching a Hollow should've been easy, right?
Of course, if so many Quincy still couldn't catch them, his joining wouldn't change much.
"Silence."
Before Bazz-B could speak, Haschwalth at the head spoke.
Most Sternritter had arrived by then.
Only the quarantined Gremmy was absent—and he shouldn't attend anyway.
Haschwalth began: "The purpose of this meeting is to ascertain why those two Hollows entered the Empire."
"How would we know?" Bazz-B said to Haschwalth. "You, Captain—why didn't you act during the encirclement? If you'd captured them, everything would be out in the open, no?"
Haschwalth didn't respond to Bazz-B, but Surtur said, "They came for me."
She leaned back, relaxed, eyes fixed forward, not looking at Haschwalth.
"For you?" The Sternritter weren't familiar with Surtur. They only knew she'd been suddenly appointed as a Sternritter by His Majesty.
So they were surprised when she spoke.
Only Haschwalth remained impassive. "Reason?"
"The Hollow who could traverse the Empire's shadow realm came for me. The other Hollow was merely his companion, used to divert attention."
Surtur said coolly, "After a few exchanges with me, he withdrew as if his task were done, then left with his companion."
"His objective was obvious."
"How did they enter the Empire?" Haschwalth asked again.
Surtur turned her gaze to Haschwalth and said:
"Kisuke Urahara."
"Kisuke Urahara?"
"Only he could do it," Surtur murmured. "He's already located the Empire."
"Then kill him!" Cang Du, I (The Iron), said coldly. "He's just a banished Shinigami. If he wants to probe the Empire's strength, he deserves retaliation."
"What matters most now is keeping a low profile while His Majesty regains his strength," veteran Robert Accutrone reminded them. "Once His Majesty recovers, no probe or enemy can stop us. Until then, we should not act on our own."
"I hate hearing that." Bazz-B said loudly, "This isn't acting on our own. Aren't we clearing the way early for His Majesty's future?"
He looked at Haschwalth. "Captain, you're not a coward, are you? With the enemy at our gates, you wouldn't leave us idle, right?"
Haschwalth didn't even look at Bazz-B. "Exactly. By His Majesty's command, I convey this…"
"No one is allowed to leave the Empire."
"Tch!" Bazz-B clicked his tongue, displeased, but said nothing.
With Yhwach's order given, what more could he say?
"Boring."
He stood, grabbed his cloak from the chair, and left.
…
At this time, Angra had returned to Hueco Mundo.
Black mud poured from him; Starrk and Lilynette emerged.
Lilynette rubbed her face, scampered aside, and spit, as if afraid any black mud remained on her.
"Big guy, your power's disgusting."
With it all over, Lilynette waved a hand in distaste at Angra.
"Be grateful. Without it, we couldn't have escaped that hell," Angra said with a smile. "The Quincy really surprised me. You? How do you feel?"
He looked to Starrk, who seemed lost in thought. "Indeed, I didn't expect such powerful figures to be hiding under Seireitei's shadow."
"I wonder if the Shinigami know."
"What if they do?" Angra snorted. "They wouldn't believe it. So even with our escape, I'd guess the Wandenreich won't panic. After all, why would Shinigami believe a Hollow?"
Of course Starrk understood. If a Shinigami had entered, the Quincy would never have let him leave.
It sounded absurd. The Hollow were the Quincy's enemies. Why would they be more concerned with the Shinigami?
Simple…
First, Shinigami were the culprits who forced the Human World's Quincy into the shadows. Quincy hatred education was primarily directed at the Shinigami.
Second, if a Hollow said the Wandenreich was under Seireitei's shadows, no one would believe it!
But if a Shinigami said so—even if it seemed far-fetched—many Shinigami might believe.
The Quincy clearly needed to remain hidden.
Thus, they would never release any Shinigami who might expose them; if it came to it, they'd even hunt the Shinigami from the shadows.
Hollows were a different matter.
Though natural enemies, they were far from the Wandenreich. Deal with the Shinigami first; Hollows could wait.
Since he was Shinigami and Hollow, and also Quincy, Yoshio understood all three factions well.
When you know your enemy better than they know themselves, you can handle them more deftly.
That was why Suì-Fēng said letting Aizen teach at the Shin'ō Academy was foolish.
But as Aizen said, academy or no, he already saw through the Shinigami.
And Yoshio's significance was greater; he infiltrated all three sides at once!
This infiltration was a small test, intended only to provide Kisuke Urahara more intel on the Wandenreich.
But it raised a problem: it also set off the Wandenreich's alarm.
Initially, the Wandenreich hadn't known anyone had discovered them, but with Angra's intervention, they would realize the outside—more precisely, Kisuke Urahara's team—had taken notice.
They would grow more vigilant.
They were already preparing a new security scheme, weren't they?
When Aizen made another move, he might be shocked to find all his previously analyzed security measures had changed. If he were discovered then, that would be interesting.
Hm, given Aizen's current caution, it probably wouldn't come to that.
Aizen only truly cut loose after obtaining a complete Hogyoku and fusing it. As he began evolving, he even discarded his brain.
But for now, it hadn't reached that absurd stage.
"I'll send you the method for separation." At parting, Angra told Starrk, "It may take time, but I promise I'll make it happen within ten years."
Ten years sounded long, but for them, it wasn't.
For Starrk, it truly wasn't much.
For Angra, it was fairly long.
Starrk nodded, then prepared to leave with Lilynette.
"And one more thing."
Before they left, Angra spoke again:
"It was a pleasure working with you. I hope we don't meet again on the battlefield."
Starrk paused, then said without looking back, "I hope so."
He and Lilynette gradually vanished into the white reishi sand.
Angra stood on the strand, finally opened a Garganta, and returned to the Human World.
He appeared in front of the Black Cat Library.
Yes, the library that Kisuke Urahara had opened.
Angra didn't know whether to call Urahara incorrigible or praise his composure.
He'd previously run a "Urahara Shop"; now he ran a "Black Cat Library."
He had no concept of "staying behind the scenes!"
He wasn't low-profile in the slightest—almost as if afraid Seireitei wouldn't notice him?
However, Seireitei's Shinigami were all talented, yet still couldn't find him.
One could only say Kisuke Urahara truly had the Shinigami figured out.
He pushed open the door and found the black cat, Yoruichi.
Yoruichi sprawled across the counter. Seeing Angra, she squinted again, half-asleep.
Angra arched a brow, walked straight up to the black cat, lifted her in both hands, then set her down.
"Wake up, then sleep later!"
Black lines filled the cat's head; how could she sleep now?
She looked at Angra and couldn't help asking, "What are you doing?"
"I was fighting for my life in the Wandenreich while you were comfy napping here; I can't stand it," Angra said. "Seeing you so relaxed makes me want to give you something to do."
"You Hollows are so boring." Yoruichi hopped onto a distant bookshelf, away from Angra.
"Not just boring—downright evil."
Interrupting someone's sleep was unforgivable! Like a serious illness!
"Of course, I'll take that as a compliment," Angra said cheerfully. He was a Hollow; call him evil and what else could it be but praise?
"Where's Urahara?"
"He had business," Yoruichi said coolly. "But he should be back soon."
"I'm back, you know."
Almost as if on cue, Kisuke Urahara pushed the door open.
He looked at Angra, fan covering half his face, smiling playfully. "Looks like Mr. Devolution is back too. Surprised?"
Judging by an Espada's "form of death," Angra's would be "regression," which was also his inherent attribute.
So sometimes Kisuke called him "Mr. Devolution."
Mr. Devolution conjured a black vortex in his hand, and a cracked, small black sword appeared.
He tossed it to Kisuke. "This thing's nearly broken. Fix it. It should have the data you want."
Kisuke took the small black sword.
"You went to the Quincy's realm?" Only then did Yoruichi realize what had happened.
"Yes, and there's a very special Quincy in there." Angra grew serious and described his encounter with Surtur.
Yoruichi frowned. "Suì-Fēng? Right, the missing imaginary body was taken by the Quincy. Why would they do that?"
"From your description, the Quincy aren't short on captain-class fighters, are they?"
"May I see the mark Miss Surtur left?"
Angra nodded and shifted that portion onto his hand, where a mark appeared.
It looked like a flame—but as if something was burning within the flame.
"Because of the name Surtur, I'll tentatively call it the 'Götterdämmerung Mark.'"
Seeing Kisuke's curiosity, Angra sliced off that patch of black mud and tossed it to him.
Kisuke caught it.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Devolution," Kisuke said. "Leave the rest to me."
The small black sword he'd given Angra—the Wandenreich key—also collected data.
It didn't take pictures; it collected parameters of objects Angra encountered inside the Wandenreich.
After all, the item was that small; it was hard to pack in too many functions.
Angra nodded; he was considering asking Kisuke to develop something interesting based on that data.
He also wanted to know what the "Götterdämmerung Mark" meant. Was it also a Nigeki Kessatsu?
Speaking of which, giving Nigeki Kessatsu to a Quincy did make more sense—many Quincy had "unreasonable" abilities.
"Tell me about the Quincy," Yoruichi said, leaping onto Angra's shoulder.
Weren't you going to sleep?
"With you shaking me like that, who can sleep?" Yoruichi said irritably.
"Many Quincy who shouldn't have moved did move; even so, at least a dozen captain-class acted." Angra began describing the Wandenreich to Yoruichi…
...…..
"Souls…"
Baelz was preparing a defensive scheme for the Wandenreich, Angra was grinding Yoruichi's favorability, and Yoshio was in his lab.
Not the one in Seireitei—the one in Las Noches.
Because that morning, Dark Rukia, spurred for a year, had finally emerged from Rukia's body again.
Yoshio then took her to Hueco Mundo to help Szayelaporro complete the first Parasite Hollow.
In other words…
Starrk was about to get "pregnant"!
That scene was a bit much, so Yoshio didn't watch, and returned to his lab to ponder the creation of a Hogyoku.
It was a graduation project assigned by his teacher, Aizen. After reading reference materials, Yoshio believed creating a Hogyoku required a large number of souls.
He didn't know how Kisuke's Hogyoku was made and completed, but Aizen's Hogyoku, after creation, was nourished by the souls of hundreds of Shinigami with spiritual potential and Rukongai residents.
If Yoshio wanted to create a Hogyoku, he would also need souls.
He needed Quincy souls!
But where could he get them?
Most Quincy in the Three Realms were currently in the Wandenreich; he couldn't just go in and kill people, right?
There were still some Quincy in the Human World, but they were endangered; their numbers were very small.
"Looks like I'll have to go to the Research and Development Institute."
Yoshio thought of Mayuri Kurotsuchi; according to Mayuri, the Institute had many Quincy corpses.
At least at this time, Mayuri was still studying the Quincy.
He should stop only after completing his research on Ishida Sōken—because he would consider Quincy research complete.
Ishida Sōken wasn't dead yet.
Roughly two hundred years ago, the Shinigami launched another war against the Quincy; many Quincy died then.
Most of those were in the Research and Development Institute.
If he could start from the Institute, he might obtain many Quincy souls.
Time to move on Mayuri Kurotsuchi…
Yoshio tapped his desk, sinking into thought.
Trying to take something from the Institute was like snatching food from a tiger's mouth. Even as an insider, he wasn't very familiar with its layout.
Except for Twelfth Division personnel, other squads weren't welcome there.
As for a forced assault…
Forget it. Attacking their base would be like an old man tired of life swallowing arsenic.
One could only say it was Mayuri's fault; if the Institute were like some M78 Nebula space garrison getting robbed daily, that would be nice.
The Research and Development Institute…
Thinking of it, Angra suddenly remembered something.
In the movie versions, wasn't there an incident where the Institute was destroyed?
"I see!"
A grin spread across Angra's face. This world had no movies, so he would manufacture one!
First up, "The Name Calling You"!
With that, Yoshio called Dark Rukia.
She was helping Szayelaporro with separation.
Szayelaporro first parasitized Starrk's soul; then Dark Rukia cut it away so Szayelaporro wouldn't absorb Starrk's nutrients but grow on his own reishi.
All told, he now possessed Starrk's soul traits and would grow along with them.
Originally, after finishing, Dark Rukia was supposed to return—she couldn't appear too long, and Rukia couldn't stay in Hueco Mundo indefinitely.
Stopped by Yoshio, she couldn't help asking, "Did something happen?"
"Indeed." Yoshio smiled mysteriously. "I have a plan to let you appear legitimately."
"Hm?" Dark Rukia was moved.
In truth, she herself wanted to see Rukia. Like Kurosaki Ichigo's Hollow White, she hurled barbs at her host, but still wanted to protect her.
However, her existence was a scar to Rukia—she evolved from the first-generation Hollow White, which had caused Shiba Kaien's death.
Yoshio continued, "What you're worried about is only how Rukia views your past. So, fabricate a new origin to replace the real one—wouldn't that suffice?"
"Tell me your plan?" Dark Rukia was curious.
"Do you know Shizuku and Homura? Or have any impression of them?"
"Shizuku and Homura?" Dark Rukia frowned, then shook her head. "Never heard of them. No impression."
Yoshio concluded this wasn't a movie-verse; in this world, Rukia didn't know Shizuku and Homura. Still, it didn't matter, so he tried relaying the movie plot to Dark Rukia.
"Here's the idea: back in Rukongai, you adopted two residents. But you were attacked by Shinigami, and in the end only you survived…"
"But those two residents didn't die, because they merged with the Parasite Hollow within the Shinigami and entered Hueco Mundo."
"Now, both have appeared in the Soul Society, wanting to be with you again…"