Ichibē Hyōsube

The Soul King Palace floated at an unreachable height above Soul Society, a sacred realm shrouded in eternal stillness and a faint radiance.

The spiritual particles here were dense and pure, as though the pulse of the world's fundamental laws could be touched.

On a seemingly simple open-air platform.

The creator of Zanpakuto, Zero Division member and "Sword God" Ōetsu Nimaiya, sat on the ground without a care for appearances, fiddling with several fragments that gleamed with an unusual metallic sheen.

He had dark skin, white hair tied into a high ponytail, sunglasses, and a distinctively styled short jacket that seemed somewhat out of place amid the sacred, solemn surroundings.

"Hey, Monk." Without looking up, Ōetsu Nimaiya tapped the ground with one of the fragments, producing a crisp clink. His tone held undisguised doubt.

"Is this really okay? Sending that kid named Liu Chuan to deal with trouble like Twin Hyorinmaru?"

His words carried across the empty platform with an echo, yet strangely did not disrupt the stillness of the place.

Ichibē Hyōsube's massive body shifted slightly, like a mountain stretching its limbs.

He slowly turned around, the huge dark prayer beads around his neck making a deep, heavy sound.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his eyes, which seemed to contain the birth and death of nebulae, first regarded the shining fragments in Ōetsu's hand with interest. Then his lips split into a hearty grin quite unsuited to his imposing appearance.

"Well, well, Ōetsu. Worried about your own work already?"

Ichibē Hyōsube's voice remained grand, but his tone carried an almost leisurely ease, as though he were discussing what pastries to have with afternoon tea.

"Or are you more worried that the kid might really figure something out and make it seem as if you, the great 'Sword God,' hadn't made it perfect in the first place?"

"Huh?!" Ōetsu Nimaiya reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly jumping to his feet as he glared at Ichibē Hyōsube through his sunglasses.

"What kind of joke is that?! Every Zanpakuto I, Ōetsu Nimaiya, create is a one-of-a-kind work of art! It has nothing to do with whether they're perfect or not!"

Ichibē Hyōsube burst into booming, cheerful laughter that echoed across the platform.

"Just joking."

He waved his fan-sized hand, his tone still relaxed, though the wise light deep in his eyes shifted faintly.

After a pause, he looked down toward the Seireitei, separated from them by layers of clouds. It was as if he could see Liu Chuan walking toward the Central 46 Chambers. His tone became somewhat meaningful, but the smile on his face did not fade.

"Besides, isn't it good to let him get involved in this? First, we can test his mettle. Second..."

He blinked. The motion looked somewhat comical on his huge face, yet it carried the slyness of someone who saw through everything.

"That young man will be settling down below eventually. He ought to get familiar with the place and meet the neighbors—especially those... old neighbors with far too many rules and far too much pride."

"If he deals with them in advance, we'll see whether he can live harmoniously with the neighbors or turn their carefully tended garden upside down. Isn't that interesting too?"

"Neighbors? The Central 46 Chambers?" Ōetsu Nimaiya sneered and resumed fiddling with the fragments.

"Those old fossils will definitely play nice on the surface when Liu Chuan goes there under Zero Division's name, but what happens in the shadows is another matter."

"Exactly," Ichibē Hyōsube cut in, his tone as light as if he were discussing an entertaining play about to begin.

"Isn't that perfect? Let us see what this somewhat unusual young man, whom Lord Soul King has taken an interest in..."

"...will do when dealing with those people who treat rules and authority as their very lives. Will he handle things smoothly and beautifully? Or will he cause enough of a commotion that old fellows like us have to go down there and mediate? Either way, won't it be worth watching?"

He rubbed his smooth chin, his eyes gleaming with both pleasure and depth.

Hearing Ichibē Hyōsube's seemingly casual words, each one concealing a sharp edge, Ōetsu Nimaiya couldn't help clicking his tongue and shaking his head.

"Fine, fine. You just love watching trouble unfold." He put away the fragments and stood up.

"Anyway, I made that sword, and I am curious about what's going on. If that kid can figure it out, I'll admit he's got skill."

With that, he ignored Ichibē Hyōsube and wandered toward the Phoenix Palace, already muttering to himself as he pondered those metals again.

Ichibē Hyōsube watched his departing back. The relaxed, cheerful smile on his face slowly faded, but the gleam in his eyes—a mixture of insight and pleasure—remained.

"Then, Liu Chuan..." The silent murmur carried a trace of anticipation and amusement.

"Let us see just what is so special about the young man Lord Soul King has taken notice of."

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