With one stroke, Yoshio directly sliced a woman out of Aizen.
The woman wore a white military uniform, had golden hair down to her waist, stood about 1.7 meters tall, and when she opened her eyes, they were brown—like Aizen's.
Unlike most newly split entities, she wasn't confused when she appeared.
Because Aizen already understood the Mind-Rending Blade's function, the split did too, and she knew what Aizen intended.
Prepared in advance, she wasn't flustered or lost—she even smiled.
"So this is Quincy power…"
She extended her hand, and reishi condensed into a reishi sword.
Hm—no bow, she stuck with a sword.
"How should I address you?" Yoshio asked the female Aizen.
"Um… what do you think?" she looked at Yoshio, puzzled.
Yoshio was surprised.
Why ask me for a name?
Others knew their names upon splitting.
He was also surprised because he'd assumed the Quincy split from Aizen would be the hearty type.
Aizen seems intellectual, so the opposite of him—if not airheaded—should at least be brash, right?
Wait…
Yoshio figured it out.
Aizen may appear intellectual but sometimes becomes a berserker—a scientist with a berserker's heart.
However, his truest nature isn't intellect or rage—it's abhorrence of control!
He rebelled against the Soul King and opposed Yhwach in the Thousand-Year Blood War because he didn't want to be controlled.
As he said:
"I often act to shatter anything that seeks to control me."
In essence, Aizen is averse to being controlled, so his opposite would be likes being controlled!
That's why Aizen was so at ease splitting off another self—he knew that other self would gladly accept his control.
At least, would gladly heed his words.
With that, Yoshio looked to Aizen. "Captain Aizen, since this is another you, you should name her."
Since she split from him, it made sense Aizen would name her. But Aizen shook his head. "Yoshio-kun, have you not realized what makes you different?"
"…What?"
"There is power in names. If you name her, you can harness the power of the name."
Yoshio knew that—but in theory, to truly govern names you'd rely on Ichibē Hyōsube.
Ichibē can do this essentially via the Soul King's power—in other words, the Soul King granted him the name "Monk Who Calls the Real Name," and thus he can see true names.
Yoshio shouldn't have that ability now.
Aizen must mean…
It's for the future?
Yoshio thought a moment and asked the woman, "In that case, can I know your ability?"
The woman turned her palm upward; a ring of reishi appeared.
Then the ring began to change.
Not only the ring, but the things around it—their attributes fundamentally reversed, actually…
Reishi turned into matter!
In a reishi world like Soul Society, matter is not permitted to exist; thus these materialized things were annihilated on the spot, vanishing without a trace.
Several instruments Aizen had purchased disappeared before their eyes, and the reishi ring kept expanding, as if to envelop Yoshio and Aizen too.
But it stopped before reaching them.
The golden-haired woman said, "That's it. My ability is to return the world to its most primitive state—the original world without souls."
At the very beginning, this world certainly had no souls—souls exist only after life appears.
The first life—or human—was born, then died, and thus the first soul came to be.
Thus began the long chaotic world.
Over a million years ago, the souls in that world grew ever more numerous, Hollows multiplied, and the world instinctively brought forth the Soul King. But even the Soul King couldn't change things; so the Five Great Clans used the Soul King's power to create today's Three Worlds.
The woman split from Aizen can turn everything around her into the most original state—transforming anything soul-related into matter!
This ability is frankly broken—a nemesis of souls—because nearly all supernatural power in this world involves reishi.
Especially in Soul Society—once something is converted to matter, it can even disappear outright!
In the human world, it's better. Even if an enemy's attack turns into matter, it still exists.
For example, if Hitsugaya creates a giant ice dragon in the living world, after her conversion, it's still a dragon of ice—just made of matter instead of reishi.
Different in nature, same effect.
Aizen's ability, Kyōka Suigetsu, makes others misperceive the world and fall into perfect hypnosis.
Hers makes people perceive the real world—the primordial world.
If she could extend her ability over the whole world and affect everyone, she might erase the world's supernatural powers!
Yoshio thought and finally named her.
"You exist at the level of physical law—let's call you Aiwass."
The blonde had no objections. "Okay. Aiwass… sounds nice."
"Aiwass, stay here for now. I'll arrange your posting," Aizen said.
Aiwass nodded. With her fondness for being controlled, even with Aizen's memories, there was no fear she'd have Aizen's many schemes.
Yoshio saw Aiwass's soul ability: "Ring of Dominion."
"Ring of Dominion: anyone whose favorability toward you reaches 90+ will be dominated by you; at 80+, you can influence their thoughts; you can also generate a Ring of Dominion—those under it will be dominated."
It was quite strong, and Aiwass's initial favorability toward him was high—she should be able to develop this soul ability.
By now, Yoshio's desire to use Big Cousin on Yhwach wasn't as strong as before.
Since he himself was so awesome, using it on Yhwach might be beneath him.
Even without fusion, Yoshio's current power surpassed Yhwach's current state.
He'd not only broken through to Transcendent, but also had the Hollow King's left arm. Together, he was far above present Yhwach.
Yhwach had recovered for three years, but was still six years short of his closed-eyes level in the original.
Forget surpassing-limit Yoshio—even pre-limit-break Yoshio might be stronger than him.
Alright, use it on the Soul King instead!
As for entering the Soul King Palace—we'll think of a way!
He'd lost some time fusing the Hollow King's left arm.
Originally, Aiwass should've been sliced off three years ago, but because he fell into Hollowfication, he had to train in the Hell of Solitude for three years.
Since Aizen had Aiwass on standby now, Yoshio didn't mind.
Next, he had to think about getting into the Soul King Palace.
…
After leaving Aizen, Yoshio went home.
Yamiko was on his bed, reading a novel and munching snacks.
Seeing Yoshio return, she said, "You're back?"
This "you're back" clearly didn't mean he'd just stepped out—it meant the real him was back.
"Captain Aizen told you?"
"If I can't tell the person I see every day has been swapped, what does that make me—a fool?" Yamiko rolled her eyes, then said,
"You should be grateful I covered for you. Otherwise, don't be fooled by Rangiku's brashness—she has delicate thoughts sometimes."
"I know that. As expected, my Yamiko is the best!" Yoshio walked over and lifted Yamiko up.
Her face reddened; she wriggled free and coughed. "You disappeared to evolve, didn't you?"
"Yup. I've surpassed the Shinigami limit now!" Yoshio chuckled. "By the way, I didn't notice before, but now I see—although Captain Aizen hasn't undergone soul reconstitution, his reiatsu seems higher than before. That was you, wasn't it?"
Generally, a Shinigami's reiatsu hits its limit at 100—after that, growth is extremely difficult.
Not that it can't grow—over years of training, it does, but painfully slowly.
Yoshio felt that keenly—relying on the left arm's acceleration, it still took him three years to fill the last gap.
Earlier, when he saw Aizen, he noticed that while Aizen's soul hadn't reached Transcendent quality, his reiatsu had grown noticeably.
So he thought of Yamiko.
Yamiko was Aizen's creation to simulate the Soul King's child, and years ago she'd had the power to grant.
At first she granted her soul outward; during that period, the 10th Division's Shinigami progressed rapidly.
But after a while, that granting vanished.
Yoshio knew Aizen must have used a Baelz's shadow like method to route everything Yamiko granted directly into Aizen's body.
But Aizen, unlike Baelz, wasn't a not-whole one, so he couldn't cycle flow between the two.
Thus he couldn't have Yamiko grant indefinitely—doing so would drain her soul, causing its disappearance and death.
So Aizen must have used other methods to fill Yamiko's soul, perhaps collecting Shinigami souls to feed back into Yamiko.
Only after Yoshio became Transcendent did he confirm it.
Yamiko nodded.
"Captain Aizen likely wants you to evolve again, but evolving to gain the taking power isn't easy."
Yoshio said, "But I have an idea."
"Oh?" Yamiko was surprised. "What idea could you have?"
"Underestimating me, aren't you?" Yoshio raised a brow. "All we need is the Soul King's acknowledgment."
"The Soul King's acknowledgment?"
"The Soul King can bestow names—in other words, traits. Given your current evolution, if the Soul King gave you the identity of daughter, then naturally you could be like Yhwach."
A vein popped on Yamiko's forehead. "You're really tired. It's late and you're babbling. Why would the Soul King acknowledge me as his daughter?"
"Not necessarily. You haven't seen the Soul King—how do you know?"
"I couldn't see him even if I wanted to."
"Which is why we need a way to get an audience. Talk to Captain Aizen when you can."
Yoshio coaxed Yamiko: "Look, I have a plan."
He did indeed.
To see the Soul King, there are two hurdles.
First: how to enter the Soul King Palace.
Second: how to get past the Royal Guard to see the Soul King.
Entering the Palace isn't a big problem for him and Aizen.
The Royal Key Pillars can be analyzed and perhaps replicated.
The Shiba clan's Kakaku Taihō secret technique can be mastered.
But how to get past the Royal Guard?
They're strong—especially the Monk.
Under normal circumstances, the Monk is almost invincible in the Three Worlds.
So Yoshio had an idea.
If getting past the Monk is hard…
Make the Royal Guard come down instead!
How?
Not hard—just put the Seireitei on the brink of annihilation.
When the Seireitei is about to be destroyed, the Royal Guard won't sit still.
When they descend, he and Aizen can go up.
This came to him on the way home.
"Then the question is, how do we bring the Seireitei to the brink?" Yamiko was speechless. "Unless you defect now, I can't think of anything that could threaten the Seireitei."
"Well… I have my ways. You and Captain Aizen just be ready."
Yoshio had basically figured out what to do.
Next, have Aizen whip up a rocket.
Yamiko didn't get it but listened, then left.
If Aiwass were exposed, with her ability she alone could pose an existential threat to the Seireitei and even the Three Worlds.
But Aizen wouldn't let her be exposed so soon, so Yoshio had another idea.
He wasn't ready to leave the Seireitei—but Angra could.
Angra is a Hollow. A Hollow assaulting Soul Society is perfectly reasonable, no?
Even if he's aligned with Urahara, no problem—just a little trick.
For example, inject the Hollow King's left arm into Angra and make it seem he's controlled by the Hollow King's will?
Yoshio chuckled darkly, then took out the Disturber of Souls node.
In three years, the Disturber of Souls had been fully purified.
Three years ago he'd deployed Defrauder.
Three years later, in his hand were purified nodes: Raven of Death, Quarreler, Burner, and Disturber of Souls.
He could only keep Raven of Death—he couldn't implant it into Yhwach yet.
He'd already had Baelz secretly implant Quarreler into Berenice Gabrielli.
But Burner and Disturber of Souls weren't implanted yet.
He'd been stuck in the Hell of Solitude—without the Yoshio identity, it was hard to plant evil nodes.
Now he was back; time to begin.
Since he'd returned to Soul Society first, he'd put Mayuri to use.
So Yoshio didn't sleep and slipped out at night.
With the Hollow King's left arm, Yoshio was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he reached the Technology Development Bureau.
Even at midnight, the Bureau was brightly lit and bustling.
Shinigami are easy to implant.
He turned into Aizen, then swaggered in with Kyōka Suigetsu.
Just like that, he entered the Bureau and came before Mayuri.
Mayuri's room had dozens of computers. One of them displayed some information about Gabriel.
There were many novel gadgets in the lab, some designed specifically against Gabriel. The guy really had a grudge.
Yoshio took out Disturber of Souls and planted it in Mayuri's body.
At his current full-power level, simulating Kyōka Suigetsu via the Lookalike technique might be stronger than real Aizen's hypnosis!
So implanting Mayuri was easy.
Which is why Yoshio swaggered in.
The entire Seireitei was basically his back garden.
After implantation, Yoshio went to Las Noches.
There, it was even easier.
He went straight to Yammy.
That big lug had always been dissatisfied with Yoshio giving him the number 9, so he didn't respect Yoshio much.
Seeing Yoshio, he said reluctantly, "Hey, what do you want with me?"
Yoshio didn't mind—Hollows are like that.
He smiled, and a massive reiatsu burst from his body!
Boom!
The pressure slammed down on Yammy. His pupils dilated; he felt a mountain land on his back!
His knees buckled and he dropped to the ground!
He pressed his hands to the floor with all his strength to keep from being flattened!
D-damn…!
Such humiliation!
Yammy was furious—and fury is his source of power. The angrier he gets, the stronger his reiatsu!
But frighteningly, no matter how angry he got, he couldn't shake Yoshio's pressure!
The stronger he got, the heavier the pressure. If it had been one mountain, now it was two, three!
Now it felt like hundreds of billions of tons weighing on him, making his breathing ragged and heavy!
"I didn't like your tone earlier, Yammy."
Yoshio sat in the Espada Captain's seat, legs crossed, chin propped on his right hand, utterly at ease.
"I called you here for a good thing, but given your attitude, I'm tempted to pick someone else."
"…"
Yammy wanted to speak, but under the pressure he couldn't even open his mouth!
He was holding his breath—if he spoke, he'd relax and be flattened!
The ground beneath him cracked; his massive body seemed to sink into the floor.
Damn it!
He roared inside!
He couldn't even Resurrección because he couldn't open his mouth!
They struggled for over two minutes before Yammy finally couldn't hold on!
Boom!
A thunderous crash shook Las Noches. Yammy's body collapsed to the floor, and the ground beneath him dented, forming a five-to-six-meter-deep pit!
"Damn it! What do you want!" he cried. "I'll do it!"
Yoshio said nothing—he didn't retract his reiatsu.
Seeing that, Yammy added, "I was wrong, Yoshio-sama! What are your orders?!"
He wasn't afraid of death, but the pressure cleared his head—and he couldn't accept such a humiliating death!
Being crushed to his knees and flattened like a dead dog—humiliated to death!
Unacceptable!
When Yammy had said as much, Yoshio finally withdrew his reiatsu.
Relieved, Yammy stayed prone, gasping.
"Huff… huff…"
His heavy breathing echoed in the hall. After a long while he climbed out of the pit. Looking at Yoshio on the throne, rage and hatred flashed in his eyes, but he said, "Yoshio-sama, what are your orders?"
The reluctance was obvious, but Yoshio rather liked it.
Clearly unwilling, yet forced to be respectful—he could understand why Aizen kept Barragan around.
Is this the pleasure of the strong?
Yoshio produced the Burner node and flicked it onto Yammy's face.
It bounced off and Yammy caught it.
"What's this?" Yammy eyed the darkly gleaming spherical crystal.
"Eat it and see," Yoshio said mildly. "I designed it to boost your power. That way, you'll truly be worthy of the number 9."
"Hm?"
Yammy tilted his head at the Burner node.
He was slow, not stupid.
Was Yoshio really this nice?
Well, maybe—he and Aizen had brought them great power.
Yammy figured if he didn't eat it, he might not walk out of here. So he swallowed it.
"Doesn't feel like anything."
He frowned—
Then jolted—he felt a surge of powerful energy well up inside!
"Ohh~!"
The reiatsu felt almost tangible—flames of power licked his body!
Like oil to a blaze, red fire flared. He truly became a Burner!
As expected, Hollows excel at devouring things.
No one else gets this effect right after consuming an evil node—Yammy did.
He hadn't thought Yoshio was serious.
He'd really granted him such power—just so Yammy could deserve the number 9?
Nine is the last of the Espada numbers, but in Yoshio's view, that last digit is variable—weakest as 9 but can grow, eventually looping to 0.
Yammy's essence is 0–9, but even at his cap he'd only match the top four Espada.
Starrk is too strong—Yammy can't reach 0.
So Yoshio, for symmetry, actually gave him 0-level power?
That's… generous.
Yammy didn't understand these Shinigami—so casually granting others immense power.
Whatever, not his problem.
He just wanted to sleep and digest the new reiatsu.
Yoshio didn't stop him. After devouring an evil node, you gain reiatsu growth and a brand-new ability.
But given Yammy's sluggishness, he probably hadn't noticed.
Yoshio wasn't in a hurry. After Yammy left, he surveyed the Espada.
They were far stronger than in the original, while the 13 Court Guards hadn't changed much. When war came, the Guards might not hold.
Oh, right—Hitsugaya was much stronger than in the original. Yoshio even suspected he'd grasp completed Bankai before the Thousand-Year Blood War.
Perhaps stronger than that.
After all, Yoshio had implanted a Light Seed in him.
Yoshio shook his head and returned to Soul Society the next day.
He went to the 10th Division. Seeing Rangiku, she was surprised.
"You…"
She circled Yoshio with suspicion, even sniffed him.
A vein popped on Yoshio's forehead. Seeing Rangiku acting like a perv, he said fearfully, "Rangiku, what are you doing?!"
"Captain…" Rangiku said, "Something about you is different."
"Mm? What's different?"
She rubbed her chin.
"More handsome?"
"Uh, no, I've always been this handsome." Yoshio flicked his bangs. "Don't tell me you're into me? That would be gross."
Rangiku gaped, then snapped, "As if I'd be into you!"
"Good."
Yoshio sighed.
"You two old geezers," Yamiko walked by, expressionless.
Yoshio and Rangiku started; Yamiko had already walked off.
"She's not calling me an old geezer," Yoshio clicked his tongue.
"Then it's me?" Rangiku crossed her arms, then quickly ran after Yamiko.
"No way, I have to ask her!"
Watching Rangiku leave, Yoshio noted the fluctuation of her soul ability and smiled.
He'd implanted a Light Seed in her too. It looked like her soul ability was about to change.
Had her soul's defect been repaired?
What would her next soul ability be?
Yoshio entered the office.
"Time is moving faster and faster."
He spoke softly.
Less than six years until Yhwach fully recovers; less than four until the original plot begins.
But who knows how things will unfold this time.
Thinking about it—Rukia probably already has captain-class combat strength. Would Aizen still send her to Karakura?
If she goes, would she still wipe against a Hollow?
At least the original's Hollow wouldn't cut it—maybe send an Espada.
Of course, Aizen would still target Rukia.
After all, she carries the Hogyoku.
"Looks like Angra is almost there."
At this moment, Angra Mainyu's soul reconstitution was short only the last one percent.
Once that last percent was done, he'd be the second being to surpass Vasto Lorde as a Hollow—becoming a Transcendent.
Yoshio had planned to observe in secret and be ready to act, but after work that day, he found Hinamori Momo waiting at his door.
Yoshio's eyes flickered—clearly Aizen's arrangement.
Or rather, something he and Aizen had arranged together.
"It's Momo. What brings you here?"
Seeing Yoshio, Hinamori said, "Captain Yoshio, where's Yamiko? Didn't she come back with you?"
"She got dragged off by Rangiku, who wants to educate her about Soul Society's age issues," Yoshio said casually. "You came here… something happened? You look unhappy. On your mind?"
"…A bit," Hinamori whispered. "Captain Yoshio, can I talk to you about something?"
"Of course."
Yoshio opened the door and brought her inside.
She used to come often, so she knew the place, though not in recent years.
He led her in. "Kira's been in better shape lately, and you two seem close. So… you two…"
Hinamori blushed, flustered.
"Captain Yoshio, what are you thinking! Kira and I aren't like that!"
"Really…"
"Of course! But what I want to say does have something to do with Kira." She hesitated, then said, "Captain Yoshio, have you… killed Quincy?"
Yoshio's pupils shrank; he grew serious. "Momo, who told you that?"
"So Captain Yoshio, you really did…" she murmured. "Why? The Quincy already follow Shinigami orders, don't they?"
"We already slaughtered them a thousand and two hundred years ago—why still go after them?"
"…"
Yoshio was silent, then shut the window. He said gravely, "I don't care where you heard that. But don't say it to anyone but me—not even Hitsugaya."
After that, he sighed. "We had no choice. It's Central 46's order. As Shinigami—and as a captain—I can't defy them."
"Why…" Momo spoke treason: "Why… why must we obey Central 46?"
Yoshio looked more shocked.
"Momo, why would you think that?"
"Aren't you the same? In your novels, you're always criticizing Celestial Dragons. But in reality…"
"Novels are novels; reality is reality. You can't confuse them." Yoshio sighed. "Novels hold people's fantasies, but the order of reality is iron law."
"People can only seek rebellion in fantasy—even captains."
"No, we can."
Hinamori looked at him and knew she'd come to the right person—Captain Yoshio also resented Central 46.
"Captain Yoshio, if we join hands—if multiple captains join—then we can stand against Central 46!"
"That's impossible." Yoshio smirked. "Even the Commander Captain can't defy Central 46, let alone captains."
"I know. That's why I said stand against Central 46," Momo said, eyes serious. "We must stage a coup—even… a rebellion!"
Yoshio's smile vanished. He grew solemn. "Momo, I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
"Will Captain Yoshio arrest me and hand me to Central 46? Let those rotten husks judge me? Execute me?" she gave a bitter smile.
"Captain Yoshio, wake up. Central 46 isn't worthy of loyalty!"
"If we're to pledge loyalty, we pledge it to the Soul King. Central 46 merely borrows his name."
"In truth, Central 46… the nobles of Soul Society are the true rebels! We who rebel against them are the loyal ones!"
"…"
Yoshio closed his eyes. After a while, he opened them and asked, "Who else did you tell?"
"Don't worry, Captain Yoshio. I've only told you."
"What about Captain Aizen? Does he know?"
"Mm." She nodded.
"Not just Captain Aizen—Kira knows too. We've discovered the truth of this world, and we believe you'll support us."
"Why?"
"The answer is here," Hinamori said, handing him a book.
"Captain Yoshio, read it and you'll understand." She added softly, "If you want to report us, then Captain Aizen and I misjudged you."
"If you want to join us, then after reading and thinking it through, let us know."
"We won't force you to choose—so… after you read this, decide for yourself."
She bowed. "Captain Yoshio, thank you for your care. I'll take my leave."
After she left, Yoshio looked at the book, smiled, and tossed it aside.
His acting was getting better and better.
But bullying kids always carried a sense of guilt.
Cheating adults would be easier.
Yoshio appeared again in Hueco Mundo, hiding his presence.
…
At that moment, far from Las Noches, Angra Mainyu, Yoruichi Shihōin, Kisuke Urahara, and Tessai Tsukabishi were there.
Angra sat cross-legged, raising his mind, energy, and spirit to the peak.
He entered his third-stage Resurrección again, for the final reconstitution of his soul!
Just this last step and he'd become a Transcendent!
The end of the road beyond Vasto Lorde was at hand!
"Evolving in Hueco Mundo may alert the first Hollow King who evolved, so we must be ready to fight," Urahara said quietly. "Also, beware patrols of Arrancar and Quincy—don't get bogged down."
"No one knows what will happen when Angra evolved…"