Kenpachi Zaraki was locked in a fierce battle with Grimmjow, suddenly lost his opponent. He was very disappointed, realizing that even the things he loved to do eventually come to an end.
The only hope is that Grimmjow didn't die, and we might meet again...
The thought of possibly fighting again made Kenpachi Zaraki grin. This sparring partner was making him stronger and stronger, allowing him to experience more of the joy of battle.
"Looks like the battle up there is over too! Tch, several powerful Reiatsu have disappeared..."
Zaraki from the fight, Zaraki casually put down his Zanpakuto, lay down on the ground to rest, and took the opportunity to sense the remaining Reiatsu around him.
'Kenpachi Zaraki, Kenpachi Zaraki, did you hear me?'
"Who's speaking? Show yourself!"
A call from his mind startled Zaraki. He instantly grabbed his Zanpakuto and used his spiritual sense to scan his surroundings, but he didn't detect any powerful Reiatsu.
'It's been a long time. I've been watching you, longer than anyone else. Listen carefully, my name is...'
Zaraki raised his Zanpakuto, his eyes filled with disbelief. Just then, a loud boom rang out, the ground shook, and the joy that had almost made him burst into laughter was interrupted.
Dust billowed from the nearby Soul King Palace District. Zaraki, wielding his Zanpakuto, rushed towards it, only to find that someone had already gotten there first— Kisuke Urahara and his group, whom he had identified as his own.
A massive black cross was driven into the ground, looking very heavy. Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin were standing beneath it, looking up at it. There was a person lying at their feet, whom Zaraki recognized as Isshin Shiba.
Zaraki sensed the Reiatsu emanating from the cross and asked Urahara, "Hey, has Nangong Ling been dealt with?"
"It depends on which type of solution you're asking about. If you mean killing him, that's not possible right now; we can only say that we've temporarily sealed him away."
Urahara shifted his gaze to the two Zanpakuto at his feet, namely Sōgyo no Kotowari, whose owners were now sealed within the cross.
This was Ukitake's request, because he had already become one with Mimihagi, and if left unchecked, he would eventually become the Mimihagi being.
Mimihagi will inevitably follow his instincts and try to devour the Soul King, thus beginning a new round of disaster.
"After all that, we only managed to trap this guy!"
Zaraki felt dissatisfied; his power was already at its peak, and he craved an even stronger opponent.
"You should feel fortunate. The shadow that has hung over Soul Society for a century has dissipated, and his era has finally come to an end."
Urahara breathed a sigh of relief. He had paid such a huge price to only seal him away. If the fight had continued, he probably wouldn't have been able to win even if Captain-level were wiped out.
After Zero was sealed, the Kidō that sealed the Soul King's Inner Palace shattered, Monk rushed up and knelt before the Soul King to beg for forgiveness.
The Soul King completely ignored him, gazing at the void between the two realms... In truth, the Soul King harbored a sliver of resentment towards the Monk, simply because when the monk was his Servants, he hadn't dared utter a single word when he saw the Five Great Noble Clans dismember and seal him away.
Within those eyes that seemed to see through the past, present, and future, a scene unfolded: a hand gripping Chains surged forward through the void, as if it possessed eyes, heading straight for the World of the Living...
The Soul King, dwelling in his Inner World, murmured to himself: 'Nangong Ling, is this your way of coping? That future is fraught with uncertainty.'
"Soul King, are you awake?"
In the Monk's eyes, the Soul King's gaze suddenly flickered within the seal, prompting the Monk to ask a question.
It was only because he sensed a slight movement in the Soul King's Power within him. In the past, this would have been a sign that the Soul King was giving an order, but unfortunately, this time the Soul King did not intend to answer him.
A few days later.
In the Seireitei, the Arrancar and Hollows who had followed Nel's attack have retreated. More than 70% of the hundreds of Arrancar have died, and more than 90% of the Menos Grande have died.
The Soul Reaper also suffered heavy losses, with more than fifty of the top 10th Seat officers and over a thousand members dying across all teams. As for the Captain-level who died in battle, only Jūshirō Ukitake.
However, no body was returned to the Thirteenth Division, nor was a burial held for Ukitake. The specific reasons were not revealed to the members.
Those temporarily deemed unsuitable to be Captains include Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Isshin Shiba; Captain-Commander Yamamoto lost one hand and one leg, and his internal organs were also severely damaged, so he survived only because he was strong enough.
Given current medical technology, there's no way to cure him completely, so the Monk appointed Shunsui Kyōraku as acting Captain-Commander...
As for Isshin, he simply lost his power after using a secret technique. He might be able to recover, but it would take a long time. This is the second time he has lost his power, the last time dating back hundreds of years.
Unohana was also seriously injured. Although she was lucky enough to survive, it will take her a long time to recover.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was presumed missing and did not return from the Dangai for a full three months.
Not only Soul Reaper participated in the battle, but also the private soldiers of the nobles, retired Vice-Captain- level Soul Reaper, and even those in the cages. The casualties were far greater than those of the Soul Reaper...
The Zero Division suffered a similar fate. The Divine Soldiers guards were almost entirely wiped out, and the royal family living in the Soul King Palace District was also massacred. Only three Zero Division survived: the Monk, Ōetsu Nimaiya, Kirio Hikifune.
Members of the Zero Division can be Resurrection by having their names called by Monks, provided their own Zero Division Detached Palace is not destroyed. The two detachments destroyed in the battle belonged to Senjumaru Shutara and Tenjirō Kirinji.
Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, approximately forty years before the original timeline's Soul Reaper story began.
At this time, the Gotei 13 and the Soul King Palace had finally completed their reconstruction, with only a slight change in personnel... On this day, a sudden surge of Reiatsu emanated from the World of the Living, and all the Soul Reaper Captain received an emergency assembly order.
"Captain, do you know why we're gathering today?"
"I don't know the specifics, but it's probably the same old story! Honestly, I don't know what those bastards at the Research and Development Institute are doing; they have to gather everyone together for every little bit of experimental progress."
Hirako ended his conversation with the newly appointed Vice-Captain, Momo Hinamori, with a gloomy expression. The Vice-Captains of each Squad gradually gathered at the First Division.
A bald old man with his eyes closed sat in the middle, with Chōjirō Sasakibe standing to his side and behind him.
That's right, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai has returned.
Kyōraku Captain-Commander for only three years. Afterward, Yamamoto's hands and feet were healed by Urahara using scientific methods, and he took over the banner of the Gotei 13 again.
Hirako glanced around the room: the Captain of the Second Division was still Soi Fon, and the Vice-Captain was a gloomy young man named Izuru Kira, who was exceptionally talented; he and Momo Hinamori were classmates and had only recently been promoted.
The Captain of the Third Division remains Amagai Shūsuke, and the Vice-Captain is a guy named Kanui Hanza, whose strength is only considered decent. He was trained and improved by Amagai.
The Fourth Division remains under the command of Unohana as Captain and Isane Kotetsu as Vice-Captain; since the last battle, Unohana's medical skills have improved further.
The Captain of the Sixth Division is Byakuya Kuchiki, and the Vice-Captain is Ginjiro.
The Vice-Captain of the Seventh Division remain unchanged; it's still the big dog and the bespectacled man.
The Eighth Division was different; they played it a bit more elaborately. Kyōraku appointed two Vice-Captains Captain-Commander.
The reason was that shortly after the war, Chōjirō Sasakibe was taking care of the Old Man Yama and had no intention of managing the affairs of the First Division. Even though Yamamoto was crippled at that time, he never abandoned him.
Afterwards, Kyōraku appointed Nanao Ise as the Vice-Captain of the First Division and went to the World of the Living to bring back Lisa Yadōmaru, who would temporarily lead the Eighth Division as Vice-Captain... Then Yamamoto returned, Kyōraku stepped down, and the Eighth Division had two Vice-Captain...
The Central 46 had protested against the fact that the Eighth Division had two Vice-Captains, but Yamamoto ignored it. He still needs fighting power.
The Captain of the Ninth Division Kensei Muguruma, the Vice-Captain is Mashiro Kuna, and there is also Shūhei Hisagi Shūhei, who joined the division as the Third Seat and is very strong!
After a year-long Captain, the Tenth Division welcomed back Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, the former Third Division Captain; even though the Vice-Captain Rangiku Matsumoto, was not happy about it, he had no choice but to accept the new Captain.
The 11th Division hasn't changed much, except for the absence of a Pink-haired Girl; after his frantic search upon their return, Kenpachi Zaraki seems to have accepted her absence, or perhaps he's already found her...
The Thirteenth Division was taken over as Captain by Kaien Shiba, with Shiba Miyako serving as Vice-Captain.
As for the Twelfth Division, they have been searching for a way to reach the Quincy World using the information they have obtained over the years, but unfortunately, they have not made much progress.
This gathering was initiated by them again, mainly because they discovered Reiatsu traces similar to those of Nangong Ling in the World of the Living, and needed to send people to investigate.
Even after twenty years, Nangong Ling's power remains etched in the hearts of all the Soul Reapers; although the seal is confirmed to be intact, other threatening factors must still be carefully considered.
The battle plan was quickly finalized, and the Captains and Vice-Captains of the 6th, 9th, 10th, and Thirteenth Divisions went to inspect the situation. The lineup was quite impressive, and the Captain-level who would provide support were also confirmed.