Chapter 41
"Kurosaki. . . he is indeed the father of Kurosaki Ichigo. "
After a brief silence, Urahara Kisuke continued, "However, Ichigo is unaware of this and has chosen to conceal it from his family to prevent them from worrying about him."
"That implies. . . Ichigo. . . he's not entirely human, but rather a true blood? "
Tōshirō expressed a look of realization at this moment, stating, "We have always questioned how someone who has only been a Shinigami for a mere few months can possess such formidable Reiatsu in such a short period. "
"If one parent is a Shinigami, it's not surprising that the child could inherit Shinigami powers, but even if Kurosaki Ichigo is indeed true blood, according to the usual logic regarding Shinigami,"
"His abilities in certain areas surpass those of an ordinary Shinigami. "
Indeed, historically, no Shinigami has ever owned their own Zanpakutō immediately after acquiring their powers, nor has any Shinigami ever successfully trained in Bankai within a few days. It could be said that everything Kurosaki Ichigo accomplished is enough to make history in the Soul Society.
"After all, he is not just a true blood, but also a 'Spirit King candidate. '"
Urahara Kisuke, who articulated this, displayed no emotion, as if he were simply stating an undeniable fact.
-
Meanwhile, above the Night Palace, a dark void opened. Fiander's garments were torn as he led Reinhard into the throne room. The entire hall was filled with over twenty Arrancar, each exceeding the Adjuchas level.
Among them, the nine individuals positioned at the forefront represented the strongest Arrancar, known as the "Espada. "
"Welcome back, Fiander, Reinhard. "
"Share with me what you have accomplished this time. "
At the elevated location where the Arrancars stood was a throne, occupied by Aizen Sōsuke, the individual who defied the Soul Society.
"Master Aizen. "
Fiander and Reinhard remained standing, offering their salute. This privilege belonged to the Vasto Lorde level Menos Grandes. Even Reinhard, despite not being an Espada, was entitled to this honor.
Arrancar below the Vasto Lorde Menos Grande tier would have knelt before Aizen, demonstrating their submission.
"It appears that events did not unfold favorably, Fiander-kun."
Aizen remained silent, but Ichimaru Gin, standing behind him, looked at Fiander's appearance and commented playfully.
Fiander turned to Ichimaru Gin, smiled, and replied, "It was merely a game; besides, Mr. Ichimaru, you didn't truly wish for me to eliminate them all."
"Oh~ that sounds ominous, Fiander-kun."
Disregarding Ichimaru Gin's ambiguous remark, Fiander approached Ulquiorra, giving him a pat on the shoulder, stating, "You all are quite intriguing, Ulquiorra. "
"You knew what I intended to do, yet you fled like a coward; I almost couldn't make it back. "
Fiander observed Ulquiorra's unperturbed expression and continued to jest, "Could it be that you're also afraid of Urahara Kisuke? "
"I'm merely executing Aizen-sama's directives; my role is to monitor that Shinigami, not to engage Urahara Kisuke. "
"It's you; you can't even dispose of the reinforcements dispatched by the Soul Society swiftly. Are you truly fit to be an Espada? "
Ulquiorra was unimpressed with Fiander's antics and retorted sharply, leaving Fiander at a loss for words.
"Well articulated, it's indeed my fault. "
Fiander released his grip on Ulquiorra's shoulder, approached Aizen, and bowed, stating, "I apologize, Lord Aizen, the mission has failed. The reinforcements sent by the Soul Society to the human realm were not eliminated. Please impose a punishment upon me."
"That's alright, Fiander; we have gathered vital information. Now, we merely need to await the right moment. "
Aizen smiled serenely, dismissing these minor concerns entirely as he addressed the other Espada: "The plan to assault Karakura Town is about to commence. "
"Everyone, please remain in the Palace and avoid leaving during this period. "
"Especially you, Fiander; I expect you to stay quietly in Hueco Mundo, is that understood? "
Noticing Aizen's unusually cold gaze upon him, Fiander quickly smiled and responded, "Haha. . . haha, I understand. "
Thus, the initial clash between the Espada and the Soul Society concluded temporarily with the Soul Society's setback, yet the interaction made them realize the formidable strength of an Espada.
One individual can quickly overpower a captain and several vice-captains. If all Espada possess this level of combat prowess, the Soul Society must reassess Aizen's military capabilities.
Aizen's ultimate ambition lies in the Spirit King's Palace, and the entry to this palace hinges on the King's Key. Crafting the King's Key requires 100,000 souls and a spiritual territory conducive to gathering spiritual energy.
This location is Karakura Town within Aizen's scheme, which is also where Kurosaki Ichigo, Sado Yasutora, and others reside.
It's evident that once Aizen's intentions are set, he is fated to oppose the "protagonist," and thus destined to face failure.
Though Fiander had inquired with Aizen multiple times about the necessity of selecting Karakura Town, there were clearly other options available. Evading direct encounters with the Shinigami would facilitate achieving their goals.
However, Aizen remains resolute; he has unwaveringly chosen Karakura Town as the site of his ambitions. Indeed, even if the Spirit King were to arrive today, his target would remain unchanged.
This determination is why Fiander has been positioned in Karakura Town, primarily to oversee Kurosaki Ichigo's development and to discover what makes Karakura Town exceptional—otherwise, why aren't individuals with significant spiritual energy found in other cities?
In the Night Palace, within the quarters assigned to Arrancar No.1 Starrk, this scruffy individual mocked Fiander for his misstep, while he himself faced verbal chastisement from Ulquiorra upon his return.
"Crunch"
He seized a piece of fruit and took a hefty bite, causing Fiander, who was already chewing, to scowl. Noticing Starrk's unappealing face, he couldn't restrain himself any longer and punched him squarely in the face with a resounding "bang dang. "
"Quit laughing; if you're going to laugh like that, don't eat next time. "
While Hollows typically consume their own kind, the food spread before them was evidently human cuisine. Starrk, a longtime otaku from Hueco Mundo, often depended on Fiander for all sorts of treats and enjoyable items; he would consistently bring them back whenever he returned to Hueco Mundo for Starrk and Lilinette.
"Alright, alright, I was just messing around; there's no need to get upset. "
Starrk smiled while rubbing his bruised nose.
"Upset? That's not the issue; I'm just feeling unsure about Hueco Mundo's future after today's meeting. "
Fiander spoke with a serious demeanor, his previously silly attitude entirely vanished.
***
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