Solar System, Earth, Gourmet World.
After Ichiryu and Midora protected Earth, they did not encounter the anticipated super-powerful shockwave.
The two had originally discussed whether one of them should go protect the sun, since sunlight and heat were also vital to Earth. Much food and many humans needed that environment to grow.
But Lu Li seemed to have used some method to draw Saint King away, making the two of them look rather foolish after standing guard on Earth for so long.
Aizen had not been idle. In the Gourmet World, he captured several restless mid-Seventh Order Explorers, interrogated them with Kyōka Suigetsu, then disposed of them all.
Some time later, just as Ichiryu was considering whether to restore the Gourmet World's terrain, Lu Li stepped out of a pitch-black rift and tossed a pile of Gold Saint armor fragments onto the ground.
"I took care of him. He was a real man, though. Not even a corpse left behind."
Lu Li explained.
Ichiryu had never cared much about the outcome of the pursuit. What he cared about was whether Earth was safe. Midora merely wanted the man dead, and he did not think an expert like Lu Li would deceive him. He simply nodded, considering the matter settled.
"After I return, I'll disband Gourmet Corp. Then I plan to search the Starry Sky for new ingredients."
Midora spoke up. Now that he had reconciled with Ichiryu and untied the knots in his heart, he felt that his past actions had been far too awkward and meaningless.
No matter how frantically he collected ingredients, Frohze would never come back. Why torment himself and turn against a brother he had once been so close to?
"Don't rush off yet. Call Jiro too. Let's have another meal together as a family."
Ichiryu