The scene shifted.
1st Division, Captain-Commander's Office
"Captain-Commander… if I'm not mistaken, this battle's in Hueco Mundo, right?" Chōjirō Sasakibe stared at the endless white desert, sweating profusely.
What was going on?
Why was Byakuya in Hueco Mundo?
And who was this battered, raging Arrancar?
His thoughts were a tangled mess, overwhelmed by the flood of new information.
"You're right, Chōjirō, but this Hueco Mundo is completely different from what I remember!" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat solemnly at his desk.
The white desert was unmistakable, but the blue sky, white clouds, and towering white palace were alien.
Hueco Mundo was supposed to be an endless, hellish darkness.
How had it transformed into this thriving state, rivaling the Soul Society?
"What do you mean?" Chōjirō asked, confused.
As the 1st Division's lieutenant, he was as old as Yamamoto but had never left the Soul Society, ignorant of Hueco Mundo's original state.
"Hueco Mundo should be a desolate abyss," Yamamoto explained, his white brows drooping. "Yet now, it's undergone a dramatic change, as prosperous as the Soul Society. Don't you want to know why?"
His voice carried unprecedented worry.
This was bizarre—Hueco Mundo had secretly evolved under his nose.
His sharp instincts sensed danger.
"What should we do?" Chōjirō asked, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek as he noticed Yamamoto's concerned expression.
It had been years since he'd seen the Captain-Commander this troubled.
The situation was growing serious.
"Go. Contact the Technical Development Bureau and Byakuya Kuchiki immediately. We need answers!" Yamamoto ordered sternly.
Deep down, he knew these scenes—past and present—were unlikely recent events, likely glimpses of the future.
Still, he clung to a faint hope that this was just a prank, posing no real threat.
"Yes, Captain-Commander!" Chōjirō replied respectfully.
As he turned to leave, the video resumed.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
"What did you do?! Why is my ability failing?! How dare you reject my Amor?!"
Zommari's hysterical roars echoed as his forehead's purple-glowing eyes opened and closed repeatedly, desperately trying to control Byakuya's body.
But—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Despite the black curse marks' piercing power, they couldn't breach Byakuya's Dankū barrier, each impact merely causing a loud clang.
"Give up, Arrancar…"
Byakuya gripped his Zanpakutō, his white captain's haori fluttering.
He cast an arrogant glance forward, his voice cold:
"Don't you understand? A monkey reaching for the moon sees only its reflection in the water. Your futile struggle to defeat me will sink into the depths."
His voice was icy, like a frozen lake.
Before the words settled, Byakuya flashed forward, appearing at Zommari's side.
"Ugh!"
Zommari froze, looking down in horror.
His weakened eyes reflected a massive slash across his body.
The wound tore open, blood gushing like a fountain.
His body was about to be cleaved in two!
---
Inside the office, Chōjirō froze, gasping in shock at the bloody scene.
One swing, one kill.
Byakuya had instantly slain an Adjuchas-level Arrancar with a single strike!
When had his strength become this terrifying?
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed.
Even he, seasoned by countless battles, was stunned by Byakuya's decisive slash.
His display of ruthless strength eased some of Yamamoto's concerns.
"Captain-Commander, do we still need to contact Byakuya?" Chōjirō asked.
"No need," Yamamoto shook his head, his tone tinged with approval. "Though he appeared where he shouldn't, Byakuya fulfilled a captain's duty. His place on the list is well-earned."
He gave high praise, his worries slightly alleviated.
---
Karakura Town, Suburbs
Atop a low building's eaves, a black cat lazily licked its paws.
"Tch, tch, tch…"
Yoruichi Shihōin's golden eyes reflected Byakuya's stylish one-shot kill.
In her cat form, she grinned with a human-like expression.
"Who'd have thought… that brat Byakuya, who used to run around in diapers, has grown this much! Old Ginrei must be proud."
She sighed with nostalgia.
Like others, Yoruichi had seen the ranking video while wandering the suburbs.
Initially, she'd doubted Byakuya's top-15 placement, thinking his strength fell short.
But this battle erased her doubts, confirming his worth.
"Speaking of which…" Yoruichi groomed her fur, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "As Byakuya's mentor, I'm bound to claim a top-10 spot, right?"
Though indifferent to fame, the ranking video ignited her competitive spirit.
She eagerly awaited her own appearance.
---
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches
The vast hall was deathly silent.
As Zommari's body faded on the screen, time seemed to freeze.
Gulp.
Yammy swallowed hard, withdrawing his fist from the cracked wall, muttering in disbelief, "Zommari… killed by a Shinigami? Impossible!"
Fear and worry gripped him.
The scene shook him to his core.
If he'd once relied on the Arrancar's numbers to mock Shinigami, now he didn't dare question anything.
"Didn't expect an Espada to be slain…"
Ulquiorra's expression remained blank under his dark bangs, but his heart trembled.
Though Hollows lacked bonds, witnessing a comrade's death stirred him.
He fully acknowledged Byakuya's strength.