Muken.
There was no wind here, nor any light.
The endless darkness swallowed every sound, leaving only the scrape of chains dragging across the ground to echo slowly through the depths.
Sōsuke Aizen sat in the darkness, his body secured to a chair by layer upon layer of Bakudō.
He could not raise his hands. White bands of light wrapped around his chest and limbs, and even his Reiatsu had been suppressed to an extremely low level.
Yet he still sat perfectly upright.
His face even bore the same gentle smile as always.
"At last."
Aizen opened his eyes and looked into the pitch-black space before him.
"I thought you would keep hiding in the shadows."
The darkness offered no reply.
The next moment, a tall figure stepped out of nothingness.
Long black hair fell behind his shoulders, a thick beard covered most of his face, and a loose black cloak draped his body.
Yhwach stopped before Aizen.
There was no shadow beneath his feet, yet the surrounding darkness seemed drawn by some force, gathering behind him.
Aizen glanced at him, his gaze settling on the star-cross insignia.
"The emperor of the Wandenreich, coming to Muken in person."
"It seems the battle in the Soul Society isn't going well."
Yhwach ignored his probing.
"Ichigo Kurosaki has already gone to Hueco Mundo."
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni remains in the Soul Society."
The smile on Aizen's face did not change, but his eyes shifted slightly.
"You know his name."
"I know everyone worth noting."
Yhwach's voice was low, carrying unquestionable authority.
"You included."
Aizen chuckled softly.
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
"I came to offer you an opportunity."
Yhwach raised his hand.
The darkness around them retreated to either side, revealing a road with no end in sight.
At the end of