Alliance

Wang Xun stepped out of the laboratory, the night wind rushed towards him, carrying the desolate atmosphere unique to Rukongai.

He walked along the mountain path toward Seireitei, his pace neither hurried nor slow.

His mind was still replaying his conversation with Aizen.

Aizen's insight chilled Wang Xun, but it also made him more clear-headed.

He walked through a grove of withered trees, moonlight filtering through the bare branches and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The night wind blew, stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground, making a rustling sound.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Not far ahead, a chilling Reiatsu emanated from the shadows.

Wang Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and placed his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.

The shadows churned, like a pool of turbulent black water.

The distortion grew more and more intense, until finally a figure emerged from the shadows.

Cang Du Oppi emerged from the darkness, his round eyes reflecting light, his tall figure casting a shadow in the moonlight.

He was dressed in a pure white uniform, his face was stern, and his gaze was calmly fixed on Wang Xun.

He wasn't holding a sword, and his posture didn't suggest he was about to fight.

Wang Xun remained vigilant, his Reiatsu slowly circulating within his body.

Quincy?

A slight smile curved at the corners of Cang Du's lips.

"It seems you know who we are, which saves you the trouble of introducing yourselves."

"But you don't need to be nervous, I'm not here to fight."

He stepped aside, making way for him.

From the shadows, another figure slowly emerged.

His armor was torn, revealing the scabbed wound underneath.

His head was lowered, and his black hair obscured his face, making his expression impossible to see.

Kaname Tōsen.

Wang Xun frowned slightly.

Most of Kaname Tōsen's wounds have healed, but the marks left behind are still shocking.

He was captured for a short time, but he clearly suffered inhuman torture.

Wang Xun's gaze fell on Kaname Tōsen.

"Tōsen?"

Wang Xun probed in a soft voice, Kaname Tōsen paused for a moment before nodding.

Cang Du glanced back at Kaname Tōsen, then turned back.

"He only suffered minor injuries; his Reiatsu was unaffected. Although we captured him, we did not abolish his powers."

Kaname Tōsen slowly raised his head.

The dark face was expressionless, but Wang Xun could sense that his senses were locked onto him.

That feeling is the same as before.

He didn't speak, he just stood there, like a silent stone statue.

Then, he bypassed Cang Du and slowly walked to Wang Xun's side without saying a word.

Those blind eyes were tightly closed, and there was no expression on his face.

Cang Du clapped his hands, took a step forward, and Wang Xun flicked his wrist, slightly drawing his Zanpakuto.

Cang Du stopped and spread his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.

"Don't be nervous, I'm here to seek peace. You can see my sincerity."

His voice was calm and steady.

"The previous attack was a misunderstanding."

"We didn't know that the experimental base was your territory, nor did we know that you were just researching space technology, and not targeting us."

He paused.

"We sincerely apologize for this misunderstanding. Therefore, with the utmost sincerity, we are returning it to you."

"Furthermore, we would like to speak with your leader about... an alliance."

Wang Xun remained silent.

His gaze lingered on Kaname Tōsen for a moment before returning to Cang Du.

To form an alliance.

Hearing this word from the Quincy's mouth set off alarm bells in his mind.

Aizen was just planning how to use the Quincy, and now Quincy 've delivered themselves right to his doorstep.

It seems both sides are playing the same game: exploiting each other and weakening the Gotei 13.

Wang Xun remained silent for a moment.

This place isn't far from the lab; if Aizen were to make a move, he would sense it.

Moreover, Kaname Tōsen was also nearby.

"Come with me."

A moment later, Wang Xun turned around and walked towards the laboratory.

Cang Du followed behind him, Kaname Tōsen at the very back.

Wang Xun stopped at the entrance of the laboratory.

"Wait here."

He spoke to Cang Du, then went inside.

He looked up when he saw Wang Xun come in.

"Why are you back?"

Wang Xun walked up to him and lowered his voice.

"The Quincy arrived. They 'Kaname Tōsen and said they want to discuss an alliance."

Aizen's fingers paused slightly.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them.

Where are they?

"Outside."

Aizen stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the door.

His steps were unhurried, and his face regained its usual gentle smile.

That feeling of having everything under control is back.

The door was pushed open.

Aizen stood at the doorway, his gaze sweeping over Cang Du and then landing on Kaname Tōsen.

Kaname Tōsen lowered his head and remained silent.

Aizen looked at him for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"It's good that you're back."

Kaname Tōsen's body trembled slightly.

"Lord Aizen, I am incompetent..."

"It's alright."

Upon hearing Aizen's voice, Kaname Tōsen silent for a moment before slowly walking behind Aizen.

Cang Du stood still, looking at Aizen.

Their eyes met in mid-air, and neither of them spoke.

"Are you the leader here?"

Cang Du's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Sōsuke Aizen."

Aizen did not conceal his identity, nor did he bother to explain further.

Cang Du's brow twitched slightly.

"I am Cang Du Opie, a member of the Sternritter of the Wandenreich. I have come to make contact with you on the orders of Lord Haschwalth."

Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The Wandenreich?"

"Our names."

Cang Du's voice was calm.

"Nine hundred years ago, we were called the Lichtreich. Now, we are called the Wandenreich. We lurk in the shadows of Seireitei, waiting for our chance."

Aizen nodded.

What is your purpose?

Cang Du looked at him.

"Overthrow the Seireitei and conquer Soul Society."

The air fell silent.

The two looked at each other, neither of them speaking.

A subtle tension permeated the air, like two taut strings that could snap at any moment.

"I see your sincerity."

Aizen finally spoke, his voice calm.

"You sent my men back, which shows you genuinely want to talk."

Cang Du nodded.

"We don't want to be your enemies; at least for now, our goals are aligned."

Aizen smiled.

"An alliance is fine," Aizen said, "But I have one condition."

Cang Du's brow twitched slightly.

What are the conditions?

"In the future, when I take action against the Seireitei, you must come to my aid."

Cang Du remained silent for a moment.

"That's a decision for Lord Haschwalth to make; I don't have that authority."

Aizen nodded.

"Then go back and tell him I'll wait for his news."

Cang Du stood up.

"I will relay the message, but before that, we need to make sure that our secret remains unknown to others."

"Only you know of our existence. If this information leaks, the alliance will automatically break down, and we will become enemies. The Seireitei will also learn of your affairs."

Aizen also stood up.

"Yes, that's part of the alliance."

Cang Du said nothing more and turned to walk towards the door.

Shadows surged in the doorway, engulfing his figure.

After a few breaths, the shadows returned to calm.

Aizen stood there, staring at the spot where the shadow had disappeared, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Wang Xun stood behind him without saying a word.

His gaze fell on Kaname Tōsen standing to the side.

Kaname Tōsen lowered his head and put his hands at his sides.

His Reiatsu was weak, clearly indicating that he had not fully recovered.

But Wang Xun noticed that a fragment suddenly fell down next to Kaname Tōsen.

The light emanating from the fragment was exactly the same as the Quincy fragments he had previously collected.

The fragment was absorbed into Wang Xun's body, and the system notification appeared again.

[Obtained Schrift Fragment, Schrift Awakening Level increased by 1%]

[Schrift: A - The All-Consuming (Awakening Level: 2%)]

Upon seeing the system notification, Wang Xun's pupils widened slightly.

Kaname Tōsen to notice Wang Xun's gaze and turned her head slightly.

At this moment, Wang Xun had already turned his head away without showing any emotion, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

It seems this Kaname Tōsen has some interesting story behind him.

A few days later, Wang Xun arrived at the Maggot's Nest and secretly went to Kisuke Urahara's laboratory.

After being Kisuke Urahara, his steps faltered upon seeing the people inside.

Standing in front of the lab bench was someone Wang Xun never expected to see here.

At this moment, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was wearing a white lab coat, and her blue hair was sticking up in a messy manner.

His fingers moved quickly across the experimental equipment, calibrating the complex data.

"This is..."

Urahara looked up, saw Wang Xun, and his usual lazy smile appeared on his face.

"Oh right, let me introduce you, this is Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't look up, but simply snorted coldly.

How did he get here?

Urahara sighed.

"I couldn't master the technology to enter that space on my own in a short time. So, I asked him for help."

Wang Xun remained silent for a moment.

He knew Urahara was right.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's skills are among the best in the entire Soul Society.

With his help, cracking the Wandenreich's space technology will be much faster.

Urahara seemed to sense his concerns and whispered something to him.

"Don't worry, he won't tell anyone. Besides, all he knows is that we're researching space technology; he doesn't know about Aizen or anything else."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi finally raised her head and looked at Wang Xun.

There was a strange scrutiny in those eyes.

Wang Xun ignored them and walked to the experimental table, looking at the densely packed data and technique nodes.

How's it going?

Urahara walked over to him and pointed to several nodes on the drawing.

"We've found the node where space is anchored to the Soul Society's spatial barrier."

"These nodes are the weak points connecting the two spaces. If we can start from these nodes, we can create a breach."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi snorted coldly.

"That's easy to say. If you try to tear those nodes apart, the other side will notice as soon as they exert force."

Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.

"We can't go in quietly?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi glanced at him.

"Yes, but it will take time. Isn't time exactly what you lack most right now?"

Wang Xun fell silent.

He knew Mayuri Kurotsuchi was right.

Time was their greatest enemy before.

Aizen is investigating, the Wandenreich is investigating, and they are caught in the middle, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge.

There's something I need to tell you.

Wang Xun called over Kisuke Urahara, his voice very low.

"The Quincy have come looking for Aizen. They've returned Kaname Tōsen and demanded an alliance."

Urahara's hand paused slightly.

"An alliance?"

Urahara's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

"Right."

Wang Xun briefly recounted what had happened: Cang Du returned Kaname Tōsen and proposed an alliance, Aizen agreed to consider.

Both parties agreed to keep it confidential, otherwise the alliance would break down.

Urahara's expression turned serious after hearing this.

Things are starting to take a turn for the worse.

He finally spoke, his voice low, "If Aizen and the Quincy really join forces, Soul Society will be in danger."

Urahara lowered his head and pondered quietly.

At this moment, Wang Xun spoke again.

"But there's some good news too. Actually, the Kaname Tōsen who was sent back was a fake."

Upon hearing this, Urahara's eyes widened slightly.

"Fake?"

"Right."

Wang Xun nodded.

"Although his disguise was flawless, I had a way of telling that it wasn't Kaname Tōsen himself, but a spy sent by the Quincy."

"They want to plant a pawn next to Aizen to monitor him and even steal his information."

Wang Xun looked at Urahara.

"So, I have an idea."

Urahara's brow twitched slightly.

What are your thoughts?

Wang Xun's voice was very soft.

"If we can enter that space, rescue the real Kaname Tōsen, and hold him in our hands."

"We 'Kaname Tōsen when Aizen and the Quincy truly begin to cooperate."

"At that time, Aizen will discover that Kaname Tōsen a fake, the Quincy's conspiracy will be exposed, and Aizen will inevitably break with them."

Urahara's eyes lit up.

"You mean, a switcheroo?"

"Right."

Wang Xun nodded.

"The Quincy sent us a fake one, so we'll return a fake one to them, bring out the real one, and leave the fake one inside. When the time is right, we'll let the truth surface."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stopped what she was doing and looked at Wang Xun.

For the first time, a serious look appeared in those eyes.

"This plan is quite interesting."

"But we need to enter that space called the Wandenreich, find the real Kaname Tōsen, and we also need to switch people out without being discovered."

"Extremely difficult."

"The most important thing is actually finding Kaname Tōsen's location. Once we find his location, everything else will be much easier."

Wang Xun looked at him.

"This is where I need your help. Aren't you researching ways to enter that space?"

"The plans have changed now, and time is no longer something we need to worry about."

"At that time, I can travel to that world and find the location of Kaname Tōsen."

Urahara frowned in thought.

"It's too dangerous for you to go."

"If we're discovered, in enemy territory, we might not be able to get back."

Wang Xun nodded.

"I know, but don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Wang Xun's voice was calm.

Urahara looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he sighed.

"Don't rush to conclusions. There are many ways to expose the fake Tōsen; we don't necessarily have to take that path."

Urahara turned around, walked back to the lab bench, picked up the data, and began to recalculate.

"Let's put this matter aside for now. Give me a few more days, and we'll find a way to enter that space."

"We can discuss it later."

Wang Xun nodded.

"Okay, I'll wait for your news."