The eighth floor of the Central Underground Grand Prison, "Abyss."
The criminals sealed here are the most dangerous kind, potentially even threatening the safety of Soul Society.
Because their spiritual pressure is too strong, even the "Double-edged Executioner" couldn't destroy them.
Thus, they can only be imprisoned here, enduring eternal torment.
Within the endless space, a pair of small, monolid eyes slowly opened, and Jizō City Sōya, the man who once forced the Zero Division of the Soul King Palace to take action, was filled with confusion and astonishment.
He muttered to himself, addressing the void:
"It wasn't domination, absorption, or destruction. My spiritual pressure was directly expelled, without leaving any information. I don't even know the attacker's specific location.
How is this possible?
Rain of Dew, do you know what's going on?"
As his voice faded, a stunning woman materialized before Jizō City Sōya.
The woman wore ancient clothing, a long gown with wide sleeves, her eyes concealed by black eye-bands.
This was Jizō City Sōya's Zanpakuto manifestation—Rain of Dew.
During his time in the Eleventh Division, people often saw him talking to himself. In reality, Jizō City Sōya was communicating with the omnipresent Rain of Dew.
However, Rain of Dew's attitude towards Jizō City Sōya wasn't friendly. Instead, she spoke in a mocking tone:
"Of course, it's because they're a clever person.
Look at this mysterious figure, look at Aizen, and then look at you.
As Shinigami, your differences are simply too great.
Back then, when you discovered my ability to modify the souls of Rukongai, what did you do?"
"I reported to the Central 46, proposing a soldier modification plan. They agreed."
"And then what did they do?"
"They were uneasy about my absolute control over the modified soldiers. They accused me of unauthorized soul modification. Ultimately, the Zero Division descended, and I had no choice but to surrender and come to the "Abyss."
"Yes, that's the Shinigami! That's the nobility!" Rain of Dew sneered, "So Aizen and that mysterious figure chose to hide. To this day, you remain oblivious?
Give up!"
Bound firmly by numerous seals, Jizō City Sōya shook his head.
"I am a Shinigami, and I shall eradicate all Hollows in this world. That is my duty.
That fellow is in the First Division. I will find him.
Such a person who hides their strength, like Aizen, needs to be closely watched."
…
In his room, Uehara Byakuya laid down on the bed, feeling a sense of peace.
It wasn't that he was being overly cautious.
It was because he held too many secrets that couldn't be revealed.
Although Soul Society appeared calm on the surface, there was the ambitious Aizen, the big boss, lurking within, and the Wandenreich, a hidden threat, watching from the shadows.
One wrong step, and danger could arise.
Moreover, these Shinigami were truly masters of internal strife, but cowards when facing external threats.
Take Jizō City Sōya's ability, for instance. He was practically the father of Soul Society.
As long as Soul Society existed, he couldn't die. Even the Captain Commander's Ryujin Jakka wouldn't work on him.
You couldn't just burn both him and Soul Society to ashes, could you?
But against a Quincy who could manipulate spiritual energy, Jizō City Sōya was helpless.
Then there was the "Dragon King's Son-in-law" of the Kuchiki clan, Kuchiki Ryuuha, with his "Licking Dog Zanpakuto." His Bankai ability was to turn others' Zanpakuto to his side.
He didn't even bother acting, directly writing the words "targeting" on his face.
Not to mention the countless blood feuds and underhanded dealings between nobles and Shinigami, and even Shinigami against Shinigami.
Even the lofty Zero Division seemed to be wary of the Gotei 13.
They hoarded anything good for themselves.
As soon as Soul Society produced someone powerful, they would immediately promote them to the Zero Division, firmly keeping core technology in their grasp.
To this day, Zanpakuto forging techniques remain in the hands of the Zero Division.
No one in the entire Soul Society knows more about Asauchi than Nimaiya Ouetsu.
The Zero Division Captain, Hyōsube Ichibē, is even the one who coined the terms "Zanpakuto," "Shikai," and "Bankai." He even knows the names of Asauchi the moment they are given to Shinigami.
His Shikai, moreover, grants control over the darkness of the world, causing immense harm to black objects.
And the Shinigami's Shinigami robes are all black.
You think, you really think about it!
Deep into the night, Uehara Byakuya, wearing his disguise glasses, moved towards the Sokyoku platform in a Hollowfied state.
On the outskirts of the First Division's quarters, Uehara Byakuya saw a familiar figure, but all the patrolling Shinigami seemed to be oblivious to him.
This person was naturally the new Fifth Division Captain, Aizen Sousuke, who had activated his Kyoka Suigetsu.
Judging by the direction Aizen was heading, it seemed to be the Central Underground Assembly Hall, the place where the Central 46 conducted their affairs.
However, at present, the forty sages and six judges were all resting in the "Seireitei Rinju."
Aizen's target could only be the Great Spirit Book Repository located directly beneath the Underground Assembly Hall.
This extraordinary structure automatically recorded everything in Soul Society.
It housed all the important data from Soul Society's existence, including various forbidden techniques, making it akin to "Soul Society's Magic Index."
This place, like the "Seireitei Rinju," was an absolute forbidden area. Even the Captain Commander couldn't enter easily.
In the entire Bleach series, only Aizen managed to successfully steal information from it.
Uehara Byakuya knew that Aizen learned from the Great Spirit Book Repository that Urahara Kisuke had also created a Hōgyoku.
Aizen concluded that the two Hōgyoku combined would create a complete Hōgyoku.
From this point forward, Aizen embarked on a path of fleeceing the "Urahara Doraemon" and would never return.
The hidden spiritual pressure cloak, Hōgyoku extraction technology, and other inventions developed by Urahara Kisuke all fell into Aizen's hands.
Uehara Byakuya withdrew his gaze, muttering to himself, "Aizen, you should rely on yourself. Why only think about freeloading?
Urahara-san isn't easy. You've almost completely fleece him…"
Then, using Shunpo and spatial displacement, Uehara Byakuya swiftly arrived at the Sokyoku platform.
The entire Sokyoku platform was forged from thick and heavy Sokyoku stone, the place used to execute Shinigami with the "Sokyoku" weapon.
The "Sokyoku," with its strength said to surpass a million Zanpakuto combined, was the one that Ichigo Kurosaki destroyed with a single swing of his sword!
In his Hollowfied state, he quickly sank underground.
The Sokyoku stone, which perfectly blocked spiritual pressure and spiritual particles, couldn't hinder Uehara Byakuya in his Hollowfied state.
After passing through layers of thick Sokyoku stone, Uehara Byakuya's vision suddenly opened up.
A secret base, bathed in light, appeared before him.
Free-loading from Urahara Kisuke's secret base, what a joy!
The surrounding area was filled with Sokyoku stone, and the only entrance was blocked by a Sokyoku stone door.
Furthermore, there were strong Kido barriers that isolated sound and smell.
So, regardless of how much noise was made here, no one would ever know.
Moreover, Uehara Byakuya also saw a hidden secret lab.
"Urahara Doraemon" certainly took advantage of the Technical Development Bureau.
But now, it was all his, Uehara Byakuya's.
Passing through a Kido barrier, Uehara Byakuya saw a misty hot spring in front of him.
He remembered that this hot spring was the Blood Pool of Hell, a youth version of the Zero Division. It had an excellent therapeutic effect.
With the Yume no Uzu, Uehara Byakuya wasn't concerned about the therapeutic effect.
But soaking in a hot spring after training was truly a wonderful thing.
As he was thinking, he heard the sound of "gushing water."
From the steaming hot spring, a black-skinned beauty with purple short hair and a toned physique stretched her body through the mist and let out a sigh of satisfaction.