The Fourth Tower.
As a maximum-security prison, the facility maintained strict protocols with Sternritter members rotating guard shifts.
Every Knight except Jugram had served duty there.
Recently, Askin noticed Hashirama's frequent requests for guard duty at the Fourth Tower. Recalling Liltotto's warning and observing his suspicious behavior, Askin realized she might have been right.
Hashirama Senju was plotting something — and it likely involved the Tower's prisoners.
Upon this revelation, Askin prepared to alert Jugram about the conspiracy.
Yet he hesitated, remembering the close bond between the Crown Prince and Hashirama. Though officially Grandmaster and Vice-Captain, they shared a mutual teaching relationship.
Even after Hashirama had severely injured Jugram during the Seiren (Holy/Sacred Training), the Prince harbored no ill will.
Jugram was no longer the reliable heir — he had fallen under the conspirator's influence, his judgment compromised.
Even with concrete evidence, Askin doubted he could convince Jugram. Worse, the Prince might view him as an obstacle to the empire's advancement.
After careful consideration, Askin decided to investigate independently.
Though his loyalty to Yhwach was limited, he couldn't stand by while Hashirama potentially steered toward darkness, risking catastrophic damage to the empire. If possible, he would prevent this conspiracy himself.
Lost in thought, Askin entered the prison.
He had requested Fourth Tower guard duty to conduct a thorough investigation of Hashirama's activities.
Beginning with the first cell, Askin activated his Schrift ability.
⤫ Schrift: D ⥤ Sacred Letter: The Deathdealing! ⤬
This power's complexity rivaled a scholarly thesis, with capabilities unmatched in Sternritter history.
Using Deathdealing's environmental analysis function, Askin monitored subtle variations, searching for anomalies in the prison's atmosphere.
The first prison cell appeared normal. So did the second, third, and fourth...
Other Quincy guards observed Askin's methodical inspection — the most thorough they'd seen — as he examined every wall, floor, bar, and prisoner restraint.
The first dozen cells revealed nothing unusual.
Then, in cell seventeen's corner, his careful examination uncovered an unusual Reishi fluctuation.
Since the walls were composed of inorganic Reishi, this unusual fluctuation had to come from an unknown life form. The wavelength pattern indicated a weak life force, similar to common insects found outside.
Askin furrowed his brow slightly, recorded the subtle variable's value, and chose not to investigate further.
After another cursory inspection, he moved to the next cell.
The good news: similar Reishi fluctuations appeared throughout the later cells and corridors, all with nearly identical values. The bad news: someone had secretly modified this imperial stronghold, which housed countless secrets.
Though uncertain of these tiny life forms' purpose, Askin wisely chose to keep quiet.
⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬
Quincy Research and Development Institute.
Three figures stood before a massive screen, watching Askin's movements with varying expressions.
"Who would have thought there'd be a clever one among the Quincy." Szayelaporro's lips curled into a subtly mocking smile, "To discover the hidden Rokureichū — this Askin has real skill. Mr. Uchiha, shall we proceed with our previous plan?"
Aizen glanced at the husky beside him.
"Why not?" Akira crossed his arms, his tone serious, "Since we've been discovered, there are only two possible outcomes: either Askin dies by our hands, or we turn him completely to our side!"
Askin's performance had impressed him deeply.
Brilliant, ranking among the top three in the Wandenreich, and creator of several iconic moments — like the carpet incident.
{T/N: This scene is from when he used his Schrift to transform Ichigo into a human carpet that Hannibal Lecter quite appreciated.}
His mastery of the Schrift ability demonstrated his true strength.
Deathdealing wasn't inherently strong or weak — its effectiveness depended entirely on the wielder. Poor control meant even the user could fall victim to it. One misstep would result in death by one's own power.
Before activating Schrift, Askin had to perfectly balance environmental variables to avoid Deathdealing's effects. Such an ability would be useless in a fool's hands. Only someone of his intellect could master it completely.
This resembled Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu. A lesser wielder would be reduced to ashes by Ryūjin Jakka during the hypnosis process.
No wonder they called him "Little Aizen".
Such talent shouldn't be wasted. Better to recruit him.
Most importantly, Askin wasn't blindly loyal to the Quincy cause. His loyalty to Yhwach barely matched that of a certain Vice-Captain — he'd rather follow Jugram.
The odds of turning him were favorable.
Szayelaporro nodded, "Lord Senju is right — we need a strategy to win him over."
Hearing this, Akira showed a confident expression of having everything under control.
"I've got an ace up my sleeve. Askin's cleverness is mere child's play!"
Aizen: "..."
This guy was acting up again. Sometimes it was impossible to fathom this husky's mental state.
"To prevent Askin from interfering with the plan's progression, prepare to destroy the outer protection of the Reishi disruption drug."
As the mastermind behind the brain acquisition plan, Aizen had every step and detail under precise control.
Following his words, Szayelaporro pressed the red button in front of him.
⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬
Inside the Fourth Tower.
Askin continued forward with a grave expression.
The last prison cell, the most crucial part of the prison, held a monster-like being whose danger level rivaled any Knight or even their mortal enemies, the Shinigami.
To avoid triggering any incidents, he planned to take just one look and leave quickly.
However, as he arrived outside the cell — before he could even sense his surroundings — the Reishi in the air grew restless. If the previous Reishi had been like a calm pond, now it was like a volcano about to erupt.
An unknown force severed the connections between Reishi particles, disrupting even the fundamental particles forming the Shadow Area.
Askin's expression changed abruptly. He instinctively activated his Hirenkyaku, his form flickering away from the deepest prison cell where the disturbance originated.
As he observed the disrupted Reishi environment, another shocking scene unfolded before him.
Space began to collapse. Streaks of irregular fragments disappeared, merging into the deep darkness that emerged around them.
Then the darkness began to expand frantically. In an instant, the prison cell holding Gremmy Thoumeaux was swallowed by endless darkness, and the vast room vanished from sight.
Disaster had struck!
Askin stood dumbfounded as he finally understood Akira's plot.
This wasn't just about some violent criminal — this was about a malevolent force capable of overthrowing the Wandenreich and affecting other worlds.
He knew well of Gremmy Thoumeaux's potential. Even Yhwach had been wary enough to imprison and seal him with specially made spiritual barriers, decreeing that without his direct orders, no one — not even Jugram — was to release him.
This showed just how terrifying Gremmy was.
As the prison's disturbance and darkness spread, nearby Knights and Quincy rushed to the scene. Even Jugram set aside his work and arrived immediately.
"This..."
When everyone arrived at the Fourth Tower, they saw the deep darkness resembling a black hole, with surrounding Reishi churning chaotically, attempting to devour the remaining prison cells.
While everyone stood confused about what had happened, Akira stepped forward, playing the role of savior, immediately using basic Quincy abilities to calm the turbulent Reishi in the air.
Then he proceeded to repair the Schatten Bereich.
Soon, others joined in as well. Though they didn't know what had happened, the urgent matter was to repair and stabilize the Shadow Area — otherwise, the imperial territory might collapse.
Askin watched Hashirama directing everyone from among the crowd. A chill ran through his body as he contemplated the events. An indescribable coldness rose from the depths of his heart.
Hashirama, so this is your true face?
Creating a persona of someone simple-minded yet sincere as a disguise while secretly executing an unknown scheme.
When the plan was complete, appearing at the perfect moment to maintain order — not only avoiding suspicion but also maintaining the façade.
After all these maneuvers, nearly everyone had been fooled.
Well played, Lord Hashirama!
⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬
On the outskirts of Hueco Mundo, beneath the crescent moon, stretched an endless desert.
Several figures stood silently, emanating powerful Reiatsu, as if waiting.
"It's here." Ulquiorra raised his head, looking upward.
The deep night sky shattered like a struck mirror, countless fragments scattering to reveal darkness.
Rocks and soil rained down as a square building descended from the sky, crashing onto the sandy surface and creating a massive crater.
With the impact, the prison cell shattered. The specially made spiritual barrier, now cut off from its external Reishi supply, began to collapse.
A hemispherical transparent container fell into the crater. When the Hollows saw what lay inside, their expressions turned alert.
A living brain — or rather, a unique independent entity!
As the spiritual barrier shattered, Reishi from the surroundings gathered rapidly. In a burst of faint light, a figure materialized.
Like a miracle — creation from nothing. Bones, nerves, blood, organs, flesh... In less than a breath, a youth with messy blonde hair and red eyes stood before the Hollows.
He wore a loose high-collared coat over a white uniform, his face bearing an arrogant yet confident smile.
"This isn't within imperial territory?" The youth looked around, confusion flashing in his eyes, "Well, if His Majesty has deployed me here, then my mission should be... to kill all you inferior, lower life forms. You should feel honored to die by my hand — after all, I'm probably the strongest in the Sternritter. Remember my name: I am Gremmy Thoumeaux!"
Before he could finish speaking, a wild figure charged forward, wearing a fierce and savage smile like a demon.
What's the point of all this talking? Let's hit him with a Cero first and talk later.
Grimmjow wasn't satisfied with Akira's arrangements; the youth looked so weak that there was no need for such a show of force. He alone could handle this easily.
His blade swung down with a ripping sound, heading straight for the Quincy's head.
Looking at his aggressive opponent, Gremmy maintained his smile, hands casually remaining in his pockets.
Just as Grimmjow's attack was about to land, his body suddenly turned sluggish. Before he could process what was happening, water filled his mouth.
A massive cube of water materialized in the desert, completely engulfing his athletic figure.
"Don't understand?" Gremmy smiled, "This is the world's strongest power — imagination. As you can see now, I can turn fantasy into reality..."
Before he could finish speaking, a brilliant blue torrent gathered within the water cube, condensing into a massive sphere of light. Twisted, serrated patterns scattered outward as the surrounding space emitted spine-chilling creaks.
⤫ Cero ⥤ Hollow Flash! ⤬
BOOM!!
In the violent explosion, the water cube shattered. A matchless beam of light shot forward, instantly engulfing the still-boasting Gremmy.
The sandy surface fractured as howling hurricanes rose from the ground. Spreading shockwaves annihilated everything around them like doomsday itself.
Just when everyone thought the battle was over, a completely unharmed figure walked out from the surging light.
Gremmy's expression remained unchanged as he looked at the Hollows and spoke these bone-chilling words:
"Come, the battle is just beginning. Let me see your true limits..."
⤫⤬⤫
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