After Angra finished his third-stage Resurrección, the world felt a bit dull.
The only thing left was the experiment he'd promised Starrk earlier: separating him from Lilynette completely.
Angra didn't intend to handle it personally—he handed the whole matter to Kisuke Urahara.
Since Kisuke already knew Angra had taken Starrk into the Wandenreich, getting Kisuke to do some contract work was an easy call.
…
Half a year after Angra's third-stage Resurrección, Kisuke had designed a full experimental protocol. He just needed Starrk to come to him in person.
To avoid Aizen's notice, Kisuke decided to perform the procedure in neighboring Naruki City.
Angra went to Hueco Mundo, flared his reiatsu, and soon met Starrk.
The moment Starrk appeared, he sensed Angra was different from before.
Last time they met, Angra's second-stage Resurrección hadn't been fully polished. Now he'd reached the third stage—changes were inevitable.
If anything, Angra Mainyu was the fastest-progressing of the three.
It couldn't be helped.
Hollows are like that: eat, eat, eat, and you grow. Quincy and Shinigami have far more to consider.
And when you hit the peak, you've got a super-genius like Urahara Kisuke mapping out your upgrade path.
Who else gets that treatment?
So Angra said, "I went to the Quincy nation last time—had to bring back some gains. You two ready?"
Starrk glanced at Lilynette, nodded once. "Mm."
Angra took them to Kisuke Urahara's secret base in Naruki City.
Seeing Kisuke, Starrk didn't posture. Technically they were enemies, but he seemed to trust Angra and Kisuke.
The procedure took a full day. Afterward, Starrk and Lilynette had become two fully separate beings.
"I'm curious—before, your Resurrección was via fusing with Lilynette. What now?"
As the two emerged, Angra asked.
Starrk reached into his hollow hole and drew a blade.
It wasn't Los Lobos.
Los Lobos is a blade condensed from reishi; this one had true substance—a real zanpakutō.
A hollow's lost heart becomes a mask covering their face; an Arrancar shatters that mask and it becomes a zanpakutō.
Starrk now drew a zanpakutō directly from his hollow hole—only the blade, no scabbard.
The scabbard was with Lilynette. She reached into her hollow hole and pulled out the sheath for that very blade.
A zanpakutō needs a scabbard. A sword without a scabbard is incomplete.
Like Ōetsu Nimaiya's Sayafushi.
"Did it fail?" Angra frowned.
"This was the young lady's choice," Kisuke replied. "Though they're separate individuals now, the girl's attachment to Starrk, and their mutual heart's influence, caused this odd result."
"In other words, though they split, they formed a new bond—this time in the form of a zanpakutō."
"I see." Angra nodded, then said to Starrk, "Interested in leaving Aizen and joining us? We've got decent perks. Free donuts every day."
"…"
Starrk gave Angra a speechless look, then shook his head. "There are more people who need me over there. I won't betray my friends."
"What about us? Aren't we friends?"
"…" Starrk paused, holding Lilynette's hand, then opened a Garganta. "I guess."
He and Lilynette stepped into the Garganta and vanished, leaving one last line:
"If there comes a day of decisive battle, I won't raise my hand against you."
Angra looked at Kisuke. Kisuke shrugged innocently. "I didn't plant any safeguards in him."
"And if I had, Mr. Aizen would notice, wouldn't he?"
"How long do you think until we face off?"
"That depends on how soon the Quincy Auswählen completes. I only know one thing—Aizen will make his move before the Quincy King fully regains his power."
…
With Starrk's matter settled on Angra's side, Yoshio met with Rukia.
According to Rukia, she was on the verge of Bankai. She came to Yoshio for guidance.
Yoshio sipped tea leisurely while coaching her.
Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki is an exceptionally strong zanpakutō. Not the strongest ice-type, but formidable.
In a sense, compared to the strongest ice-type Hyōrinmaru, Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki parallels the strongest flame-type Ryūjin Jakka.
Both Sode no Shirayuki and Ryūjin Jakka control temperature—one low, one high.
One Bankai diffuses low temperature; the other condenses high heat.
But here's the monstrous part: Rukia can reach absolute zero already in Shikai.
Absolute zero is terrifying. Though Rukia's reiatsu is insufficient yet, with proper use, she wouldn't fall short of Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka.
After all, Ryūjin Jakka's Bankai reaches fifteen million degrees. But absolute zero is literally the lowest temperature.
To let her body handle such low temperatures, special kidō is needed to suppress the reishi in her body—techniques Yoshio developed for her.
Originally, Rukia only mastered Sode no Shirayuki's true ability and Bankai, and the reishi-suppression kidō, twenty years later in the Royal Palace.
But under Yoshio's tutelage, she was nearly at that realm now.
Without soaking in the Royal Palace's hot springs or feasting on the Palace's spiritual pressure banquets, she still had the White Hollow infusion, lingering reiatsu from the fusion of sisters Homura and Shizuku, plus Yoshio's teaching—so her reiatsu had grown far beyond her peers.
Maybe not at her post-Palace level, but more than most lieutenants; nearly at Captain-class Third Rank Reiatsu.
As Rukia worked to lower her temperature, her spiritual pressure suddenly shifted.
The extreme chill turned into a dark, oppressive aura.
Her outward appearance didn't change, save her pupils dimming gray a touch.
Her soul ability also shifted—from "Two of Me" to "Blade that Rends the Heart."
Dark Rukia emerged.
"Oho~" Yoshio sounded surprised. "You come out this freely now?"
"Thanks to you," Dark Rukia said. "You gave me a suitable backstory. I've met Rukia face-to-face."
"But doing that is a bit dishonest, you know," Yoshio said. "You can't keep this from Rukia forever."
"It's not so bad. Close enough," Dark Rukia yawned, listless. "And anyway, you're no better. If she learned your true face, her worldview would implode."
"That's different," Yoshio shook his head. "You and she are one."
"No different," Dark Rukia stepped up to him, eyes narrowing as she stared. "Rukia relies on you more and more. Haven't you noticed? She's starting to treat you like a second Kaien Shiba."
"You're overthinking." Yoshio waved it off. "I have no interest in being a second Kaien Shiba. I'm the first Yoshio. Also, if you don't want Rukia getting close to me, tell her—not me."
Dark Rukia was grateful to Yoshio too, but didn't want Rukia around him too much.
Because Rukia didn't know Yoshio's true nature, and Yoshio couldn't hide it forever—so one day…
Yoshio would hurt Rukia.
"Fine," Dark Rukia sighed. "I want to say if you make Rukia suffer I'll kill you—but I can't even say it."
"Why always think about killing?" Yoshio said quietly. "Even if I leave Soul Society one day, I won't hurt Rukia. You have my word."
"No—your leaving itself is a kind of hurt." Dark Rukia pressed her brow, then shook her head. "Forget it. Talking to you is pointless. Maybe before you leave, I can trick Rukia into letting me take over for a while, block her senses, and later say a big hollow took your body."
Yoshio nearly burst out laughing. "That lie's too clumsy. You think Rukia's an idiot?"
"These things are far off. Don't overthink," Yoshio said softly.
Dark Rukia didn't answer, just returned to her spot, took up the zanpakutō, and gradually reverted to her original form.
Because it was brief, and Rukia had been focused on the blade, she didn't even realize Yamiko had come out.
After Yamiko left, Yoshio raised a hand; light gathered, forming a blade glowing strangely.
"Blade that Rends the Heart."
This was Dark Rukia's soul ability. When Dark Rukia emerged, Yoshio saw her favorability toward him break 80.
That meant Yoshio could permanently acquire this ability.
So…
Should he test it?
Yoshio pondered targets.
Who to use it on?
Not Aizen. He wouldn't let Yoshio cut him. Unless he volunteered.
Not impossible—if explained in detail, maybe Aizen would allow it.
But Yoshio didn't want to expose the ability.
Among those left, anyone receiving this should at least be Captain-class.
Yamamoto? Pass.
Before Yoshio got close, the fire would get him.
Soi Fon? Gin? Unohana? Byakuya? Komamura? Kyōraku? Tōsen? Kenpachi? Mayuri? Hitsugaya?
None seemed right.
The Blade's split-off entity is independent, not under his control—so he had to be cautious.
Thinking carefully… there was someone suitable at home.
He set his sights on Halibel's Fracción?
No. On Barragan, Espada.
Barragan was arrogant. Though Yoshio's subordinate, he had no loyalty to Yoshio or Aizen.
He kept dreaming of getting stronger, then killing them both.
So… list Barragan's traits:
Hollow, male, prideful, disobedient.
The Blade should produce the opposite:, female, humble, obedient.
Beyond talent, race, gender, personality, even abilities would invert.
Opposite of Hollow is Human.
Opposite of Shinigami is Quincy.
Meaning, if he cut a Shinigami, the new identity would be a Quincy.
That's why Yoshio thought Aizen might agree—what better research subject than a Quincy version of himself?
Thinking that, Yoshio was more convinced Aizen would consent. But what about himself?
Cutting Aizen—what would he gain?
Nothing much.
Forget it. Another time.
He headed to Las Noches.
Late-night visits had become routine, so no one was surprised.
This time he wasn't looking for Starrk or Szayelaporro—he went straight to Barragan.
Unlike other Arrancar, Barragan lived in an enormous, separate palace—though Aizen ruled Las Noches, Barragan hadn't shed his King of Hueco Mundo pride.
When Yoshio arrived, Barragan still sat on his throne.
Barragan didn't see Yoshio—Yoshio had used Appearance Mimicry to take Aizen's form, plus Kyōka Suigetsu's ability.
He also wore a cloak that masked reiatsu—airtight plan.
He walked up and drove the Blade that Rends the Heart into Barragan.
In an instant, Barragan's body changed.
He himself noticed nothing. But Yoshio saw a naked woman split off from the cut portion.
Through Kyōka Suigetsu, Yoshio made Barragan perceive both Yoshio and the woman as mere dust, so Barragan noticed nothing.
Yoshio helped the woman up and brought her home.
She was weak at first, but her reiatsu rose rapidly.
The Blade is wholly idealistic—cutting off another self doesn't sap the original much; the split entity even possesses the original's full strength.
So while the woman was human, her power matched a Vasto Lorde-class Arrancar. As Barragan's opposite, she could be the strongest human.
At first, her eyes were dull—like a newborn.
As her reiatsu grew, her eyes glittered.
She retained the original's memories, but her personality was completely different.
"Yoshio."
She spoke respectfully. "Thank you for my new life."
She knew Yoshio had split her from Barragan.
"No need to be formal." Yoshio looked her over, then searched his wardrobe.
No women's clothes, but he found two loose robes. He handed her one. "Now that you're separate, want a new name?"
"…Hela," she said slowly. "That will be my name."
Though born of Barragan, she couldn't use Barragan.
Sharing a name among beings at their level risked resonance—even theft of power.
They didn't know this principle, but instinct warned them not to share names.
Hela, huh…
Fair enough.
Yoshio looked at Hela. She was human, looked sixteen or seventeen, with wavy golden hair, green eyes, skin like snow, around 170 cm, wearing an oversized robe loosely draped.
"You were created by me, but honestly, I've no special plans for you. You're human—can't stay in Seireitei or Hueco Mundo. Want to go to the World of the Living?"
Hela considered. "I can. You created me, Master; I'll follow your arrangements."
See? Barragan, learn something.
A human split from Barragan, yet quite obedient.
"Is your power still aging?" Yoshio asked.
Hela shook her head, then nodded. "I can control a degree of aging, and also plagues. That's the origin of the name Hela."
Aging and plague…
Yoshio had expected Hela wouldn't be life or youth as an opposite—those are the same axis in Bleach's framing.
In canon, Arrancar Picaro, was judged by Aizen's system also as aging, despite being composed of many children.
Child still belongs to the aging attribute—part of life's cycle.
Szayelaporro's Gabriel also cycles death back into life.
In the Hollow worldview, aging and youth are the same attribute: the cycle of life.
Hela's power seems like aging too, but with plague layered in—thus fundamentally different.
Barragan's aging is life's cycle. Hela's aging is life's end.
That's the inversion—not the surface form.
He inferred this partly from knowledge, partly from Hela's soul ability:
"Death Goddess."
"Death Goddess: Become the avatar of death, driving all nearby things toward their end."
Sounds like a domain-type skill; but it requires becoming a woman—so Yoshio wasn't interested in using it himself.
Still, it clarified Hela's attribute.
Yoshio grew thoughtful.
Looks like the Blade is even more complex than he'd assumed.
"You can develop in Karakura Town after you reach the Living World," he said. "In twenty years, it'll be the most important place across the three realms."
"Twenty years…" Hela paused. "Understood."
"This is my communicator," Yoshio gave her a button-like device. "Contact me if anything happens. Also, in Naruki City, find Kūgo Ginjō—say I sent you. He'll help."
"Yes," Hela nodded.
Yoshio opened a Garganta and sent her to the Living World.
Her initial favorability toward him was high—he didn't doubt her loyalty.
But finding more like her would be difficult…
"Whew… Still, this is a big haul."
He'd easily gained a powerful subordinate—and a covert one, not shared with Aizen.
Yoshio lay down to rest.
…
Meanwhile, in the Wandenreich, Baelz was still busy.
Baelz had summoned Sternritter Giselle—the girl squad member.
But…
Though in the girl squad, Giselle wasn't a woman.
That irked Giselle. He often wondered why he wasn't female.
This afternoon, Giselle received Baelz's invite.
Baelz asked Giselle to come over at night—he had something important to discuss.
Giselle's impression of Baelz was decent, largely because of Liltotto's introduction.
Bambietta was the nominal leader of the girls, but the real core was Liltotto.
Baelz was Lili's person, so he was accepted by the other girls.
And his manner put them at ease.
Not knowing what Baelz wanted, Giselle came anyway.
"Baelz, are you running an experiment?"
Entering Baelz's room, Giselle saw the usual mess—equipment strewn about, bits of fruit Liltotto had snacked on.
Giselle was used to it.
None of their rooms were tidy.
Baelz sighed. "Yeah. Some things just won't get made."
"But I did make one thing."
He said, "I'm thinking it might help you."
"Help me?" Giselle tilted his head cutely. "Help me how?"
"Giselle, you…" Baelz hesitated, then blurted, "Do you want to become a real woman?!"
Giselle's pupils dilated, a hint of killing intent leaking out.
It faded quickly. He stared wide-eyed. "What… did you say?!"
"I said, do you want to become a real woman?" Baelz said softly. "I know you've always seen yourself as a woman, but gender is innate, unchangeable."
"In the past, anyway."
Baelz took a pill from the bench. "This is a Transform Pill. Swallow it, and you'll become a real female."
Giselle swallowed hard, eyes full of desire, but then said, "Really?!"
"What do I get from lying?" Baelz forced a smile. "You're Lili's friend, which makes you my friend. Friends help friends—normal, right?"
"Don't assume I'm a pervert just because I run the R&D institute!"
"One question—tested it?" Giselle tapped his lip.
"No, but I'm certain," Baelz said. "Making another one won't be easy. It would take time and effort. The choice is yours—take it, or pass."
"Can I get someone else to try it first?" Giselle's eyes darted.
"Sure. But it'll be at least ten years before I can make a second."
"That long?" Giselle was shocked.
Baelz didn't say more. Giselle's favorability toward him was just over sixty; Baelz could only make one pill at that level.
A second would require Giselle at eighty—so it'd take time. Ten years was optimistic.
Giselle wavered.
Not his fault—the Wandenreich was a cold place.
The Sternritter schemed against each other; there was no love.
He had to be sure Baelz wasn't plotting.
He knew Baelz had triggered Y-brother's self-destruct without hesitation.
After a long struggle, Giselle gritted his teeth.
His desire to be female overcame caution. He held out his hand. "Fine! I'll try!"
"But not just me—I'm calling Lili and the others!"
"Now? They're asleep, aren't they?"
"Please. At this hour, asleep?"
Soon, Giselle ran to drag the girls over.
Not Bambietta, though.
Poor Bambi.
Lili was in pajamas. Though Giselle claimed they were awake, Liltotto had obviously been asleep—she came in yawning.
Meninas and Candice were lively.
Candice was blunt. "Giselle, why'd you haul us to Baelz's place? Midnight snacks?"
"Of course not." Giselle held the pill. "Just watch."
He swallowed it.
"What was that?" Liltotto eyed the candy-like pill. "Looks tasty."
"Transform Pill," Baelz explained. "Giselle will become a real girl after taking it."
?!
The girls were stunned.
No wonder Giselle dragged them here at night—he'd found a way to become a woman!
They watched closely.
After swallowing, Giselle's body became more delicate and soft, brows growing more feminine, frame a bit daintier, overall more pleasing.
Giselle felt no discomfort—only a joy surging from the soul.
One hand touched lower abdomen; the other above it—then she burst into laughter.
"I did it! I really did!"
"I'm a woman! I became a woman!"
She leapt up and hugged Baelz—lifting him clear off the floor with surprising strength.
"Thank you so much, Baelz!"
Baelz felt awkward; Lili told Giselle to put him down.
Baelz was mainly watching Giselle's soul ability. Having achieved her goal, it should shift.
Under his gaze, Giselle's soul ability rippled—but didn't change yet.
He wasn't discouraged. A ripple meant it was close—soon…
Giselle would awaken a new soul ability. Would it tie to her existing power?
Baelz was very curious about Giselle's power—practically raising the dead.
If he could revive those dead for decades or centuries—or like Edo Tensei—he could be a dream-granter.
But since no new soul ability appeared yet, and Giselle's favorability was skyrocketing, Baelz nevertheless gained her soul ability: "Transformation Pill."
Pity—it wasn't useful to him.
He didn't want to become a woman; no one else wanted to transition either.
After transforming, elated Giselle refused to sleep—and wouldn't let others sleep—dragging them into an impromptu party at Baelz's.
Baelz didn't refuse. They partied till dawn.
Only then did they think of sleep.
Baelz finally had quiet.
It didn't last. Just as he lay down to catch up on rest, Haschwalth summoned him.
He sprang up, straightened himself to look alert, and rushed to the Silbern.
He saw Haschwalth again—this time with a strange look in the man's eyes.
Rare—Haschwalth was almost expressionless, unless it involved Yhwach.
"You needed me, Grandmaster?" Baelz asked.
"Not me. His Majesty will see you," Haschwalth said.
Baelz blinked. "His Majesty wants to see me?"
Even as a Sternritter now, he'd only met Yhwach twice.
What for?
Perplexed, Baelz followed Haschwalth to audience.
"Your Majesty, Baelz is here," Haschwalth announced.
Yhwach slowly opened his eyes—red pupils fixing on Baelz, making Baelz nervous and uneasy.
At least, that's what he showed.
After a moment, Yhwach said, "Baelz…"
"Your servant is here," Baelz replied.
Yhwach's next words shocked him.
"I now appoint you the fourth member of my Schutzstaffel."
?!
Baelz's pupils widened. He stared at Yhwach, speechless.
The Royal Guard? He'd just become one?
What had he done?
The Schutzstaffel was the Wandenreich's most mysterious unit.
They were Sternritter, yet above them—status nearly equal to Haschwalth himself.
Each member was unimaginably powerful.
Ordinary Sternritter rarely saw them, but knew they were nigh invincible.
Baelz knew more.
Three members so far: Yhwach's greatest creation; the Soul King's heart; the Soul King's left hand.
Their identities alone showed their strength.
What had Baelz done to be chosen as the fourth?
"Well? Thank His Majesty," Haschwalth prompted when Baelz froze.
Baelz snapped to, feigning elation. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Don't rejoice yet," Yhwach said coolly. "For now, you're a reserve member. Only if you complete my next task will you truly join the Schutzstaffel."
"Please command me!" Baelz said, excited.
"I want you to model my Auswählen and create a tool that can steal Shinigami Bankai." Yhwach raised a hand; a strange force swept out, forming countless black motes.
They formed a massive altar.
Baelz's pupils widened as he studied it.
So this was Yhwach's Auswählen.
Yhwach wanted him to develop the Bankai-stealing medallion? As head of R&D, who else?
Good news!
Studying the medallion wasn't too hard—more importantly, he could study Auswählen.
That power was too overbearing. The medallion would be a lesser product modeled after Auswählen.
With this, no Shinigami could win against Yhwach.
Without Bankai, they'd lose an arm.
And Auswählen could strip Shinigami power entirely.
Against pure Shinigami, it was overwhelming.
If he could decipher Auswählen's principles and replicate them…
Baelz replied at once, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I'll develop a Bankai-stealing device as soon as possible. I'll begin immediately!"
He knew Yhwach hated mention of future-telling.
So he'd only say: I'm starting now.
He held little hope of raising favorability with Yhwach, but at least wouldn't incur disgust.
Still, Baelz had questions.
If it were just that, was it enough to make him Schutzstaffel?
Maybe he'd absorbed too many Soul King fragments, and Yhwach suspected he might be a Soul King fragment?
Not impossible.
Regardless, he recorded Auswählen with instruments, then returned to research.
This was a rare chance—close study of Auswählen—to be seized.
And if he joined the Schutzstaffel, Yhwach might use the Antithesis to break his soul limit.
Then…
Baelz could surpass his soul's limits—become a transcendent?
Mm… too late if he waited for the Antithesis… Uryū Ishida was not born yet.
Better rely on himself.
Besides…
Yhwach had given him a path to breakthrough:
Start with Auswählen.