The Experimental Base

"The target you are looking for is in the West Third District, at coordinates (3305, 311)."

Tōshirō's eyes lit up instantly. He couldn't understand the Soul Reaper's coordinates, but knowing West Third District was enough. Before he could even turn around, he was pinned down by Dōsan Hanyū.

Dōsan Hanyū an eyebrow, seemingly trying to see through Nemu Kurotsuchi's thoughts.

I don't remember us being this close.

Nemu's expression remained unchanged, her hand casually placed in front of her like a neighbor's wife. The surrounding Punishment Force moved without any concealment, completely surrounding Nemu.

They couldn't see her face clearly, but the murderous intent in her eyes made it seem as if Nemu Kurotsuchi was neither a comrade-in-arms nor their superior.

"What's wrong?" The solemn atmosphere on the field and Dōsan's face puzzled Tōshirō.

Nemu looked at Dōsan Hanyū pressing down on No Cause's hand, "For the Punishment Force, the moment the commander draws his sword means the execution has begun."

However, Captain Hanyū, please rest assured. You were once just a student at the Academy of Spiritual Arts, but now you are the acting captain of the Second Division. We wouldn't dare to frame you, let alone these nearly twenty Punishment Force."

Dōsan Hanyū hands, and the Punishment Force disappeared back into the shadows.

"Thank you so much for your help, Miss Nemu."

Dōsan Hanyū turned around.

Although night had not yet fallen, the street was deserted, and every house was closed.

"Next, I'm going to take you on a journey."

"Huh?" Toshiro was still in a daze when he was lifted up by Dozo Hanyu.

Immediately afterward, the surrounding houses suddenly distorted, and the wind cut his face like blades. Hitsugaya tried to speak, but his mouth was filled with wind.

After an unknown amount of time, Hitsugaya felt his face stiffen from the wind, and his white hair was blown into a broom shape.

"Arrive."

Even at Dōsan full speed, it took Dosan quite a while to reach the West Third District and throw Tōshirō to the ground.

Dōsan Hanyū breathed slightly out of breath. Lately, he had been either studying law or faking accidents, and his training had fallen behind.

Hitsugaya staggered and knelt down beside him, retching a few times.

"Are you alright, Tōshirō?"

"Ugh... It's nothing." Tōshirō leaned on his knees and looked up. "But, Dōsan, you've changed a lot in the past month."

"What's the meaning."

"You weren't this tough and rude before." The man who used to be bullied by the shop manager, the man who would feel smug for a long time after being given a piece of Dōsan Hanyū, is gone forever.

Dōsan was also stunned. In an instant, he thought of the shopkeeper, Rangiku, Isshin, Kūkaku, Soi Fon, Hikaru, Rizukihime, and so on.

They changed themselves, and they, in turn, influenced them.

Their lives became different due to the entanglement of fate.

Destiny?

No.

"It should be considered a cause and effect," Dōsan Hanyū seemed to sigh.

"What?" Tōshirō didn't hear clearly.

"It's nothing, we've arrived."

According to the coordinates provided by Nemu, this is the place.

The surrounding area was a desolate wasteland, but Dōsan Hanyū keenly sensed a Spiritual Pressure beneath the ground.

Dōsan slowly explored, sensing the Spiritual Pressure beneath the ground.

There should be an empty base beneath the ground.

"Hadō 63: Raikōhō!"

Accompanied by a deafening roar, the world was filled with lightning in Tōshirō's vision.

The Raikōhō was combined with Simulated Incantation.

The lightning struck fiercely, causing the Reishi on the ground to annihilate, revealing the true nature of what lay beneath.

"That won't do." A calm voice came from underground, "Bakudō 81: Dankū!"

A wall of Kidō appeared, struggling to block the lightning.

The wall of light, which was said to be able to withstand the Dankū of the Kidō below number eighty-nine, suddenly began to crack.

Faced with Dōsan Hanyū's Simulated Incantation, he abandoned the chanting of the Dankū, which was too forced.

"The chosen ones of heaven, the iron walls, the dragon's flight, the lion's roar, the tiger's howl, the wolf's charge—severing heaven and earth before collapse, the Bakudo #81: Dankū."

The first Dankū Severing Technique ultimately failed to stop this apocalyptic divine punishment, but the second, fully chanted Dankū Severing Technique narrowly blocked the attack.

"That was close!"

A figure darted out from the shattered underground laboratory. When Gin saw Dōsan Hanyū, he could no longer hold back and his expression turned somewhat shocked.

Looking at the silver-haired boy before him, Dōsan searched his memory. "You are, Gin Ichimaru, the vice-captain of the Shin'ō Artificial Soul Noble Guard."

"You're right, Acting Captain Hanyū. What brings you here?" Gin pressed his Zanpakuto at his waist.

"Hinamori!"

As if possessed by a recognition buff, Hitsugaya immediately noticed Momo Hinamori, who was bound hand and foot.

Dosan grabbed Hitsugaya and held Dōsan down, No Cause, "Captain Ichimaru, according to the Soul Reaper Management Regulations the Central 46 and the Shinigami, conducting unauthorized experiments in Rukongai is a serious crime."

Such charges are enough to send Gin Ichimaru to the Maggot's Nest.

Dōsan instinctively pressed his hand on the sword at his waist, fearing that Gin Ichimaru would be captured without resistance.

"Yes," Silver said, his eyes narrowing again. "So what should I do?"

"Now, surrender!"

Dōsan waved his hand, and the Punishment Force re-entered the scene, surrounding Gin Ichimaru and another group of researchers.

"Lord Yin!"

These researchers, who served the Tsunayashiro Clan, looked at Gin Ichimaru with anticipation.

But Gin Ichimaru didn't hesitate at all, raising his hands above his head, "I surrender, please don't lay a hand on me."

Yin's posture was like that of a prisoner who had lost a game of house, raising his hand and shaking his arm.

"Lieutenant Ichimaru!"

The researchers were shocked; they hadn't expected that the security personnel dispatched by Lord Tsunayashiro would be so unreliable.

Gin Ichimaru, their only remaining fighting force, was abandoned, and the others were immediately taken into custody by the Punishment Force.

As Dōsan Hanyū approached, Gin Ichimaru squinted and continued, as if to warn, "Although I don't know who told you about this place, it's Captain Tsunayashiro's important base. If you confront him, it could bring you—no, it could even bring Captain Soi Fon— a disaster you can't even imagine."

Dōsan stopped in his tracks, and when he turned his gaze toward the laboratory, he saw its true form.

And that scene, which was like Hell on earth.