Chapter 130 - Masaki Kurosaki is a Substitute Shinigami!?

Chapter 130 - Masaki Kurosaki is a Substitute Shinigami!? 

Masaki was not originally from the world where Gilgamesh resided.

According to the timeline, Masaki from Gilgamesh's world had not yet been born.

Over the past year, Urahara and Mayuri have tried multiple times to open pathways to parallel worlds, during which many events have occurred.

One of these events involved Masaki's soul crossing into Gilgamesh's world through one of these parallel world portals.

According to Masaki, she had been attacked and killed by a White Hollow while returning home from school one night.

When she awoke, she found herself in soul form, already in Gilgamesh's world.

Upon learning of this, Gilgamesh sought out Masaki to understand her situation better.

After their conversation, Gilgamesh confirmed that Masaki came from an entirely different parallel main world.

In her world, Masaki was actually a Substitute Shinigami.

The most surprising detail was that in her world, Urahara was a woman.

According to Masaki, the Urahara from her world was not only an incredibly charming and lazy beauty but also a national celebrity and a goddess revered by the public.

Upon hearing this, Urahara of Gilgamesh's world was left in shock and disbelief.

Gilgamesh, however, didn't pay much attention to Urahara's reaction.

Ever since learning about the existence of parallel worlds, Gilgamesh had accepted the possibility that all sorts of situations could exist.

It wouldn't surprise him if Urahara turned out to be a cat in another world.

After speaking with Masaki, Gilgamesh allowed her to remain in his world temporarily. The plan was that when they reopened the portal to her parallel world, she would return and perhaps reunite with her original world.

Upon learning that Masaki was destined to be his future wife, Isshin became very curious about her. He often approached her for conversations.

However, both Isshin and Masaki were careful to restrain themselves.

To them, this Masaki wasn't Isshin's real future wife, and Isshin wasn't her real husband.

Masaki knew she would eventually return to her world and meet her true Isshin.

Likewise, Isshin knew he would one day meet the Masaki of his own world.

As a result, a certain invisible barrier always existed between them during their interactions.

Gilgamesh was very aware of this dynamic.

For Gilgamesh, fate was not set in stone. If two people truly loved each other, what difference did it make if they were from separate worlds?

As the future Uruk Multiversal Empire grew stronger and conquered more worlds, Gilgamesh suspected it wouldn't be long before people fell in love with versions of themselves from other worlds.

However, he chose not to intervene. In his mind, if Isshin and Masaki truly loved each other, they would eventually recognize their feelings.

In the present, Gin and Tōsen from the future also recognized Isshin and Masaki.

But in their memories, Isshin had disappeared, and Masaki had passed away.

So, how could these young versions of Isshin and Masaki be standing here?

And why was there another Aizen?

Gin and Tōsen's minds raced, overwhelmed by one unanswered question after another, leaving them utterly confused.

At this moment, future Aizen, gazing at Isshin and Masaki, seemed to grasp something and spoke with a slight tremor in his voice: "You… could you be from the past?"

The past Aizen, unfazed by the fact that his future self had guessed part of the truth, calmly replied, "Yes, we come from the past, but not from this world's past."

This exchange between past and future left Gin and Tōsen in complete shock, disbelief written all over their faces.

The idea that people from the past could appear in the future was beyond comprehension, something out of a fantastical story that shouldn't be possible.

Not far away, the severely injured Ichigo heard these words and was similarly stunned.

Though it was hard for him to believe something so absurd, deep down, he desperately wanted it to be true.

He longed for his mother with such intensity, filled with guilt over her death.

Even if it was a version of her from the past, he had so many things he wanted to say to her.

At this moment, Rukia turned to the other Rukia standing nearby, shocked. "Are you also from the past?"

The other Rukia wiped the blood from her lips and nodded. "Yes, I come from the past."

Rukia, still in disbelief, couldn't help but ask, "But how can you be stronger than me?"

The other Rukia glanced at her and, with a serious expression, answered, "Because I have the King's help, and you don't."

"The King?" Rukia repeated, her mind racing as she tried to recall any memory of such a person, but nothing came to her. All she could do was look at the other Rukia, hoping for an explanation.

Though still young, this Rukia had developed a mature outlook due to the experiences she had gone through while by Gilgamesh's side.

She made no effort to hide the truth and spoke frankly, "I'm not from this world's past, and this world has no King."

Rukia was taken aback, wanting to ask more questions. However, she was suddenly snapped back to reality by the appearance of Aizen from the future before her.

Her thoughts grounded, Rukia realized she was still at the mercy of someone as powerful and terrifying as Aizen.

She didn't know why Aizen's target was her, but she knew that no matter how powerful Ichigo's Bankai was, it couldn't stand against Aizen. He had been easily defeated with just a single strike.

Future Aizen reached out, grabbing Rukia by the collar and lifting her off the ground. Then, with a gloved hand, he slowly plunged it into her body.

Aizen was consumed with many questions, but his primary concern was the sudden shift in events that might jeopardize his plans.

For him, obtaining the Hōgyoku hidden within Rukia's soul was the most critical task.

The past Aizen, standing nearby, did nothing to stop him.

Neither did Rukia, Isshin, or Masaki—they simply watched.

This made future Aizen uneasy, and he quickened his movements, pulling the Hōgyoku from within Rukia's body.

When Rukia saw the Hōgyoku extracted from within her, disbelief spread across her face. She could never have imagined that such an object had been inside her all this time.

Meanwhile, because of the angle, Ichigo thought that Aizen had pierced through Rukia's body. Ignoring his own severe injuries, he tried to move to save her.

Before he could act, Masaki suddenly appeared beside him, gently pressing a hand to his shoulder. "Don't worry, Rukia is fine. Having the Hōgyoku removed will actually help her."

"The Hōgyoku?" Ichigo asked, confused. This was the first time he had heard of it, so he looked to Masaki for clarification.

At that moment, he finally noticed something strange and his expression shifted dramatically. "Shihakushō… Zanpakutō… and this spiritual pressure—"

"Mom, you're a Shinigami!?"

Masaki, although she knew Ichigo was technically her son, felt awkward hearing someone nearly her own age call her "mom."

After taking a moment to settle her emotions, Masaki calmly replied, "Yes, I'm a Shinigami, and just like you, I'm a Substitute Shinigami."

Ichigo was baffled. "Huh? You're a Substitute Shinigami? Then why didn't Dad ever tell me this?"

As he spoke, Ichigo turned to look at Isshin.

Now, Ichigo also noticed that Isshin was wearing a Shihakushō and wielding a Zanpakutō. He couldn't help but ask, "Wait a minute—are you also a Shinigami, Dad?"

Isshin approached, gazing at his future son with a look of fondness and nostalgia. "Yes, that's right. I'm also a Shinigami."

By this point, future Aizen had already taken the Hōgyoku from Rukia's body.

Hearing the conversation between Ichigo and his family, he turned his gaze towards them.

Gin and Tōsen also looked their way.

In their memories, Masaki had been a Quincy, not a Shinigami. How could she be a Shinigami now?

Aizen's mind flashed back to the words of his past self.

Another world.

Suddenly intrigued, future Aizen decided he would take Masaki as a research subject.

His past self, sensing his intentions, warned, "I advise you to give up. You won't be able to take her."

Future Aizen smirked. "I won't know unless I try."

With that, he soared into the sky.

Past Aizen knew a battle with his future self was inevitable, so without hesitation, he followed.

As both versions of Aizen disappeared into the sky, everyone on the ground breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Both past and future Aizen had exuded an overwhelming pressure.

Gin and Tōsen, aware of Aizen's strength, knew that even the Aizen from a century ago could easily wipe them out.

Without hesitation, they both shunpoed toward Masaki Kurosaki.

Ichigo, fully aware of Gin and Tōsen's captain-level strength, panicked and shouted, "Mom, be careful!"

Pushing through his injuries, Ichigo prepared to use his Bankai once more.

Moved by her son's concern, Masaki patted his shoulder gently. "Don't worry, Ichigo. Your dad and I can handle this."

Isshin grinned and added, "I forgot to tell you, I was once the captain of the 10th Division in the Gotei 13."

"And thanks to the King's training, while I'm still no match for Aizen, I can definitely take on these two."

With that, Isshin unleashed a terrifying spiritual pressure and launched himself at Gin and Tōsen.

Masaki smiled at Ichigo. "And I forgot to tell you, too—I'm also a captain-level Substitute Shinigami."

"Relax and rest, Ichigo. I can't let your dad steal all the glory."

She then drew her Zanpakutō, spiritual energy surging around her as she called out, "Bankai—Holy Quincy's Arrow!"

Watching in stunned silence, Rukia could hardly believe what she was seeing.

She had once stayed at Ichigo's home, so she recognized his father as a simple, clumsy man.

Yet, here was Isshin, a formidable fighter.

And Masaki… she had been led to believe that Ichigo's mother had been a simple woman, a victim of a Hollow.

How could someone so powerful have died at the hands of a Hollow?

Meanwhile, Gin and Tōsen were utterly shocked by Isshin and Masaki's strength.

They had expected an easy fight, but they were being completely overwhelmed.

Especially Masaki's Bankai—just like Quincy's abilities, it could absorb and manipulate the reishi in the atmosphere, even converting the spiritual pressure of their attacks into her own power.

High above, future Aizen barely dodged a powerful attack from his past self, his expression darkening.

Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined being bested by a past version of himself.

Even though they weren't from the same world, it was still the past! How could this be?

But now was not the time to dwell on such questions.

The Hōgyoku was in his possession. As long as he had time to harness its power, no one—not even his past self—would be able to stand in his way.

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