"…You mean, the Tree of Life has appeared in our world now?"
Inoue Sora asked in shock.
He hadn't expected things to be so complicated. Even aliens from the universe were attracted?!
"At least, the gods think so," Yoshio nodded. "To enter the Tree of Life, one needs a 'key.' But we don't need to compete with them."
"The purpose of Wings of the World is to elevate the world, not simply to become gods, which is why I designed the 'Artificial Tree of Life.' This will be the Tree of Life Array of the future."
"…So… within this, the 'seed of light plan' can be completed?"
"Something like that."
Yoshio's voice was deep.
"At that time, as the core, our reishi will need to be imprinted within it, which is why I brought you all here."
"Imprint?"
"That's right. You just need to stay in this place.
Don't worry—I'm not imprisoning you. I just ask you to come here from your usual resting places."
As the Tree of Life was perfected, it was time to place guardians on each level.
The Tree of Life had ten levels; Ashido was already guarding the third, so nine remained. The fifth would give birth to a 'Holy Guardian Angel' automatically, so only eight levels truly required guardians.
The first and tenth levels were 'Kingdom' and 'Crown.'
The Kingdom was the starting point—matter, humanity, and the synthesis of elements.
Yoshio himself would handle this.
The Crown represented the end—transcendence and divinity.
Baelz would take this, as he represented 'divinity' among Yoshio, Angra, and the others.
After excluding these two, only six remained.
Wings of the World, besides Yoshio, had seven members.
Gabriel would guard the second level, 'Foundation.'
Teresa the fourth, 'Victory.'
Hela the sixth, 'Severity.'
Kurosaki Masaki the seventh, 'Benevolence.'
Nezuko the eighth, 'Understanding'—not because she fit the main body or the Guardian Angel, but because this level, while representing God, also contained the abyss. To cross it, one had to face the demon 'Coronzon,' and Nezuko's goal was to act as that demon, obstructing those who crossed.
The ninth level, 'Wisdom,' was guarded by Azashiro—more accurately, 'knowledge.'
Azashiro's ability was perfect for collecting knowledge, especially after merging with the King's Key; he could now monitor any area with reishi in the Three Realms.
Finally, Inoue Sora would take the fifth level.
Once the Tree of Life was perfected, an Archangel would be born there, but having a guardian might accelerate the process.
Yoshio arranged a door for everyone in their own rooms on each level. To go out, simply exit through the door; to return, just think of it.
Everyone had no objections. After the arrangements, Yoshio left the Tree of Life.
He returned to Las Noches to find Aizen had already merged with the Hōgyoku.
"Kisuke Urahara's seal—broken already?"
Before placing the Hōgyoku in Rukia's soul, Urahara had set a seal.
Once forcibly removed, the Hōgyoku would enter dormancy.
In the original, Aizen kidnapped Orihime to awaken the Hōgyoku early. But Aizen was so much more powerful than Urahara, he could awaken it with his own reishi.
This time, the difference was even greater.
Aizen's reishi was even stronger than in the original.
He'd broken the seal so soon after obtaining the Hōgyoku?
"It's still a bit off, but it doesn't matter," Aizen said calmly.
"Seireitei wants to place the decisive battle in Hueco Mundo, so let's humor them.
But we can't let them prepare."
"So you want the Shinigami to think you've already merged with the Hōgyoku, and force their hand?"
Aizen was noncommittal.
"Has Beelzebub returned?"
"Yes," Yoshio replied. "Inoue Orihime awakened her ability at a critical moment and was saved."
"So… she is the key."
Aizen's voice was quiet.
"For this, let Ulquiorra choose an Espada to go with Royal Guard."
"Okay."
Yoshio was the Espada's Leader.
Ichimaru Gin, Tōsen Kaname, Hinamori Momo, and Kira Izuru became Aizen's Royal Guard, with Tōsen as Captain.
Yamiko was Espada Vice Leader.
Aizen's next actions would be carried out by the Espada and Royal Guard.
Yoshio had no interest; he preferred spending time perfecting the Tree of Life.
…
Meanwhile, in the Human World—
After Beelzebub left, Kurosaki Ichigo, having exited his Hollowfication state, searched everywhere but couldn't find him.
He punched the wall in frustration.
In that instant, he seemed to lose consciousness for a moment.
Though he'd gained great power and repelled Beelzebub, he'd lost his trail!
Wasn't this a disaster?!
With Beelzebub's ability, once he escaped, who could catch him?
It was like looking for a needle in a haystack—
No, more like a drop of water in the ocean!
Almost impossible!
He stopped. Just then, he finally sensed Rukia's reishi.
Rukia looked at Ichigo, surprised to see him still in Bankai state.
"What happened here?"
"…"
Ichigo, unhappy, recounted what had happened.
When Rukia heard the opponent was a Hollow with transformation abilities, her eyes widened.
"What? Do you know him?" Ichigo asked.
"It's not that I know him, but… this Hollow is infamous in Seireitei," Rukia said with a bitter smile. "A few years ago, there was a shocking theft inside Seireitei!"
"Theft…?"
"Yes. The 'King's Key,' (Ōken) personally guarded by the Captain-Commander. At that time, Seireitei faced a great enemy, and the Captain-Commander was out, so someone snuck into the First Division to steal it."
"…Was it this transforming Hollow?"
"That's right. According to the investigation, only two people entered the First Division.
One was a Soul Society traitor, the other the First Division Lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe.
They weren't allied, and fought over the King's Key."
"According to Lieutenant Sasakibe, he was secretly sent by Yamamoto to perform a covert mission. That's when we learned the enemy could transform into others."
At first, they'd thought Tsunayashiro Tokinada stole the King's Key, but after reviewing the aftermath, they found he wasn't as powerful as if he'd absorbed all its power.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's data later revealed there was a second person.
But the opponent's identity was too mysterious; before this, they hadn't even known he was a Hollow.
"He's a repeat offender," Ichigo frowned. "Is he Aizen's or Yoshio's subordinate?"
"I don't know," Rukia said bitterly. "His ability is too strange… To be honest, I really don't want to face him."
"But he's already set his sights on us."
Ichigo didn't want to face Beelzebub either, but he had no choice—the enemy had come for them.
And he was still targeting Orihime.
That was something Ichigo absolutely couldn't accept!
"If the enemy really is him…" Rukia thought for a moment.
"How about this: it seems the advance team is still necessary.
I'll tell the Division, explain the situation. Seireitei should take this seriously."
"…That's all we can do," Ichigo sighed.
There was nothing else—except wait.
Suddenly, Ichigo remembered his physical body was still at school.
He hurriedly said goodbye to Rukia and rushed off.
Rukia began reporting to the Gotei 13.
The two parted ways.
…
The next day, when Ichigo entered the classroom, he was stunned.
A surge of anger rose—he saw 'Inoue Orihime' again!
This guy just wouldn't stop!
How dare she appear again?!
Ichigo stormed over, grabbed 'Inoue's' collar, and tried to pull her out.
"Huh? Kurosaki-kun?" Inoue froze.
Tatsuki, who was beside her, delivered a critical blow to Ichigo—punching him on the head.
"I told you, are you never going to stop?!"
"No…"
Ichigo couldn't explain.
He looked at Orihime, and was stunned.
This time, Inoue seemed real; that Hollow would never show such a confused and bewildered expression.
He hadn't spent much time with that Hollow, but at this moment, it should have had a mocking look, right?
Ichigo paused.
"Inoue, is that really you?"
With Ichigo's question, Inoue understood.
She gave him a look and said, "Of course, Kurosaki-kun. I actually have something to tell you."
She turned to Tatsuki,
"It's okay, Tatsuki-chan. Kurosaki-kun didn't mean it."
"Really?" Tatsuki looked skeptical. "Yesterday, you two went out, then one disappeared and the other collapsed. You scared everyone, including the teacher!"
"Don't worry, it's nothing," Inoue said, embarrassed.
She and Ichigo walked out, not to the rooftop this time, but just outside the classroom.
"I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun. Someone must have been impersonating me a few days ago, right?"
"…What's going on?" Ichigo asked.
"…I… I saw my brother again." Orihime said softly.
"?! Sora?!" Ichigo's eyes widened. "Isn't he…?"
"Yes, he should have died, but when I was in danger, he appeared again."
Inoue Orihime's face beamed with happiness.
"Even though my brother went to another world, he's always been by my side, protecting me!"
"And, he even taught me some superpowers."
"Super… powers?" Ichigo frowned.
Inoue was just a human—how could she have superpowers…?
Wait!
Ichigo suddenly recalled: before becoming a Shinigami, he too had special abilities.
Rukia said it was a soul anomaly caused by the high reishi concentration in Karakura Town.
Ishida Uryū said his family's Quincy history gave him power.
Now, Rukia's explanation made more sense. Inoue couldn't possibly be a Quincy too, right?
If he wasn't mistaken, Inoue had also awakened soul abilities thanks to Karakura's unusual reishi.
Then…
Did she really summon Sora?
Ichigo didn't quite believe Sora had always been by Orihime's side.
He was a Shinigami, and Sora had become a Hollow.
If Sora had always been with Orihime, Ichigo would have noticed!