Seeing Kaname Tōsen appear before him completely unharmed, Shimo was genuinely surprised.
Aizen's research had already reached the point of resurrecting a Shinigami?
With technology like that, why bother breaking the limits of the Shinigami at all? Wouldn't simply surpassing limits through science be enough?
The Tōsen standing before him looked very different from the one Shimo remembered. His signature goggles were gone, and his pitch-black pupils now emitted an eerie aura.
"To be honest, I'm a bit surprised," Shimo said calmly. "But using a clone to talk to me—don't you think that's rather arrogant?"
Tōsen froze for a moment, then burst into laughter that soon turned into violent coughing. His entire demeanor carried a hint of madness.
"Hahah—cough, cough! As expected, Shimo-kun is still Shimo-kun!"
Tōsen's personality seemed completely twisted.
"You recognized my current state at a glance. But that doesn't mean I'm being arrogant."
His expression suddenly turned serious.
"It's precisely because I understand your strength that I chose to leave a clone here."
"Facing the man who once killed me with a single strike would be foolish and ignorant."
He pressed his hand to his face, raising his chin as a strange chuckle escaped his lips.
"I have no intention of being killed again on the first day of my rebirth."
"So, Shimo-kun… we will meet again."
Before Shimo could respond, Tōsen's body began to dissipate.
Shimo made no attempt to stop him.
Through the ability of the Resonant Soul Barrier, he had already seen through Tōsen's true nature—nothing more than a spiritual-pressure construct. Calling it a clone was generous; several Kidō techniques could achieve the same effect.
Judging by the traces in the chamber, the real Tōsen hadn't left long ago—and he had done so carefully, leaving no trail.
"In that case… can he still be called Kaname Tōsen?" Shimo murmured to himself.
He found no sign of Aizen within Las Noches.
At that very moment, reinforcements from Soul Society arrived.
—
"Oh my, oh my!"
As the leader of the rescue force, Shunsui Kyōraku naturally took the lead. He stared in astonishment at the ruins of Las Noches.
"Did that kid Shimo really cause all of this?"
He lifted his straw hat and shaded his eyes, muttering:
"I can't sense his spiritual pressure… Did something happen to him?"
Before he could finish, a bone-chilling cold spread beside him.
Even Shunsui felt it.
"Captain Kyōraku, please choose your words carefully."
Unohana spoke calmly, though the cold gleam in her eyes betrayed her emotions. Her spiritual pressure wavered faintly.
Shunsui's heart sank. No matter what, Shimo was family to him.
Trying to lighten the mood clearly hadn't worked.
With uneasy hearts, the group entered Las Noches.
Before they could split up to search, a figure walked steadily out from the depths of the palace.
Joy immediately spread through the rescue team.
"Captain Shimo!"
"Shimo-san!"
"Shimo-kun!"
The man stepping forward was indeed Shimo.
Seeing familiar faces who had come to help him stirred a faint warmth in his chest.
Besides Shunsui and Unohana, there were Izuru Kira, Ikkaku Madarame, and even Ichigo Kurosaki.
As a Substitute Shinigami, Ichigo had clearly received Soul Society's message and rushed here to help. Judging from his unchanged expression, Isshin still hadn't revealed the truth to him.
Shimo smiled naturally.
"Sorry for making everyone worry. The Hueco Mundo expedition… is over."
Everyone froze in shock.
"What?!"
"Did Captain Shimo defeat the traitors already?"
"Or did they escape?"
Shunsui stared wide-eyed.
"Shimo… don't tell me you already—"
Shimo shook his head.
"No. Aizen and the others had likely already left Las Noches before I arrived."
"How is the Human World?"
Remembering Aizen's plan centered around Karakura Town, he asked immediately.
Unohana shook her head.
"After receiving our report, the Head Captain began making preparations. The exact situation is still unknown."
Shimo fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"I met someone familiar deep inside Las Noches."
Shunsui frowned.
"Besides Aizen and Gin, are there other Shinigami in Hueco Mundo?"
Shimo exhaled slowly, his expression turning grave.
"Kaname Tōsen."
The name froze the rescue team in place. Shock filled their eyes as their hands instinctively gripped their Zanpakutō.
Shunsui asked quietly, "Are you certain?"
Shimo nodded.
"Based on spiritual pressure… Kaname Tōsen has been revived."
"He has returned from hell—consumed by hatred."
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