The blade cut through him like he was nothing.
Is this how it ends?
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto—Head Captain of the Gotei 13, wielder of the oldest and most powerful Zanpakuto, veteran of a thousand years of war—felt his body split in two. The Quincy King's spirit sword tore through flesh and bone like paper.
He had been tricked. Fought the fake Yhwach with everything he had. Burned himself out. And now...
Darkness swallowed him whole.
Then, light.
Yamamoto's eyes snapped open. His vision was clear, sharp—not the hazy darkness of death. His hand shot to his chest. Whole. No wound from Yhwach's killing blow. His old scars were still there, carved into his skin from two thousand years of battle, but the fatal cut was gone.
Where am I?
He stood in a massive chamber made of polished black stone. Above him stretched an impossible height that disappeared into golden light. The air felt wrong. Too thick. He took a breath and felt something heavy enter his lungs—not air, but something denser, almost like water.
"Welcome," a voice said.
Yamamoto's head whipped around. Before him stood a creature unlike anything he'd encountered—white, rabbit-like with elongated ears, but its face was nearly featureless except for a dark slit that could open to reveal eyes. It held a long yellow staff with green orbs at each end. The creature radiated authority that felt woven into the Tower itself.
"I am Headon, the Administrator of the First Floor." The creature's voice came from nowhere and everywhere. "You have opened the door and entered. You are an Irregular."
"Irregular." Yamamoto's voice came out steady, but his mind was racing. He had died. He remembered dying with crystal clarity. And yet... I'm alive. "Explain."
"Direct. I like that." Headon's grin stretched wider. "This is the Tower. Climb it, and you may have your wishes granted. You entered from Outside—which is rare. Most people who climb are chosen by the Tower. You chose yourself."
Yamamoto's red eyes narrowed. He'd spent two thousand years dealing with liars and politicians. This creature was testing him, sizing him up.
"What test do you have for me?" He had zero patience for games, but he recognized power when he felt it. This creature's authority wasn't spiritual pressure, but something else entirely.
"Sharp." Headon gestured with his staff, and the chamber changed. Water started filling the space, rising from nowhere. Something huge moved in the depths. "Simple test. See that black ball floating over there?"
Yamamoto looked. A sphere about the size of his fist bobbed on the water's surface, maybe thirty meters away.
"Break it," Headon said. "But there's a guardian."
The water exploded upward.
The thing that came out was a serpent—fifteen meters long, easy, covered in white scales that looked like steel plating. Its mouth opened wide, showing off rows of razor teeth, and its eyes locked onto Yamamoto like it had found its next meal.
"The White Steel Eel," Headon said, way too casual. "Armored skin. Normal weapons won't scratch it. Most people try to dodge it and reach the ball. That's how you're supposed to pass."
"Most people?" Yamamoto's hand moved to his side where his Zanpakuto should be. Nothing there. The weapon was gone—but the power wasn't. It had never been about the blade. Not for centuries.
"You're different from the usual types," Headon said. "I want to see what you'll do."
The eel attacked.
Yamamoto didn't move. His eyes followed the creature's path with the ease of someone who'd fought for a thousand years. At the last second, his hand came up—empty, but not really.
"Reduce all creation to ash," he said softly. "Ryujin Jakka."
Fire exploded from his palm. No—not just fire. The weird substance filling this Tower, this Shinsu stuff Headon had mentioned. It answered his will like spiritual energy, but it moved differently, felt different. The flames he created were familiar and strange at the same time—his power translated through a new language.
The White Steel Eel screamed. Briefly.
The creature's armor meant nothing against fire that burned as hot as the sun. Its white scales turned black, cracked, and crumbled to nothing. The flesh underneath went next. The eel didn't even get to thrash around before it became ash floating across the water.
Yamamoto lowered his hand. The flames died. The black ball sat peacefully on the still water, completely ignored.
"Interesting," Headon said. He actually sounded surprised. "You didn't even try the test. You just... got rid of the problem."
"The problem was the test." Yamamoto turned to face him. "You wanted to measure my power and see what kind of person I am. Now you know. I don't dodge. I don't run. I destroy what's in my way."
"Interesting." Headon's slit-like face opened slightly, revealing narrow eyes that studied him with new intensity. "You kept everything from your past life. That's rare. Most Irregulars arrive with potential. You arrived with mastery."
"I died in battle." Yamamoto's voice went flat. "I lost. Now I'm here." His eyes met Headon's. "Why?"
"That," Headon said, "is yours to figure out as you climb."
"Climb."
"The Tower has one hundred thirty-five floors. Get to the top, and maybe you'll find your answer. Or maybe you'll find something else to care about." Headon waved, and a doorway made of light appeared. "You passed. Floor two is waiting."
Yamamoto stared at the portal. A tower. Tests. Climb for answers. He'd spent centuries serving Soul Society, chained by law and duty. Now he was somewhere else entirely.
"One question," Yamamoto said. "You're not the strongest thing here."
It wasn't a question. Headon's slit-face opened in what might have been a smile. "There are Rankers. High Rankers. And at the very peak..." He left it hanging.
Yamamoto started walking toward the portal.
He was three steps from the light when a new voice rang out.
"Hold on, old man!"
Yamamoto stopped. Turned. A young woman dropped down from above, riding what looked like a floating weapon—a long black needle taller than she was. She had long black hair, sharp eyes, and moved like a trained fighter. Her dress looked expensive and formal, but it didn't slow her down at all.
Behind her floated a smaller guy—silver-haired dwarf with an annoyed look on his face.
"Princess Yuri," Headon said, and Yamamoto caught the change in his voice. Careful now. Wary. "This is unexpected."
"I was nearby and felt something weird." The woman—Yuri—hopped off her weapon like it was nothing. Her eyes landed on Yamamoto, and he watched her reaction when she felt his spiritual pressure. Her eyes went wide. "You... what the hell are you?"
"Genryusai Yamamoto," he said. "You?"
"Ha Yuri Zahard." She stepped closer, studying him with open interest. "You're an Irregular. Haven't seen one of those in years. And your power..." She sucked in a breath. "It's like standing next to a bonfire. The Shinsu around you is literally heating up."
"Princess," the dwarf said quickly, "we shouldn't get involved—"
"Evan, shut up." Yuri walked in a slow circle around Yamamoto, like someone checking out a legendary sword. "How old are you?"
"Old enough." Yamamoto didn't elaborate.
Yuri's eyes narrowed. "Fine, be mysterious. But I can feel your experience. The way you move, the way you stand—that's centuries of combat training."
"Maybe," Yamamoto said.
"That test he gave you?" Yuri gestured at Headon. "That was meant for floor twenty Regulars. He was trying to kill you before you could start climbing. Can't have dangerous Irregulars running around, right?" She shot Headon a look. "But you didn't just pass. You crushed it."
"It was in my way," Yamamoto said.
"I like this guy." Yuri grinned wide. "Straightforward. Powerful. And obviously not someone who's going to get stopped by the Tower's usual bullshit." She made up her mind right there—you could see it in her eyes. "I'm coming with you to floor two."
"Princess, that is highly irregular—" Evan started.
"So is he," Yuri shot back. "Floor two is Evankhell's Hell. They built it specifically to kill dangerous Irregulars before they can go higher. He's going to need someone who knows how things work."
"I don't need protection," Yamamoto said, but there was no anger in it. She was young but clearly experienced. A capable fighter. "But I know nothing about this Tower. Information has value."
"There you go, Evan. He gets it." Yuri walked toward the portal. "Come on, old man. Let me show you how the Tower works."
Yamamoto looked at her for a long moment, evaluating. She was direct, confident, and clearly skilled. A useful ally for navigating this strange Tower.
"Lead the way," he said. He followed her toward the light.
Behind them, Headon watched the Irregular and the Princess disappear through the portal. Evan floated next to him, looking worried.
"That one," Headon said quietly, "is going to turn this Tower upside down. Those flames could burn everything here to the ground."
"Should we warn Evankhell?" Evan asked.
"Oh, I think she'll figure it out pretty quick." Headon's grin stretched even wider. "The real question is if they'll try to kill him... or try to use him."
The portal closed.
The first floor went quiet again, waiting for the next person brave enough or stupid enough to open the door.