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The One Piece World, the Grand Line
The lingering aftershock of Uchiha Madara's mountain-splitting slash still seemed to hang in the air.
The sea that was once bursting with noise, dreams, and ambition had fallen into an eerie silence. Countless pirate ships slowed to a stop, sails lowered, as their captains stared up at the black screen in the sky, unable to speak for a long time.
"Y-you've gotta be kidding me…"
A pirate captain with a bounty of fifty million berries trembled as he tore his nautical chart to shreds."That kind of monster… something that can casually slice mountains apart. If something like that is hiding somewhere in this world…"
"Then what's the point of going out to sea at all? Just to die?"
Fear spread like a plague. Some pirate crews, their courage completely shattered, actually chose to disband on the spot, abandoning the race for the One Piece altogether.
…
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
The atmosphere in the conference room was still heavy, but the words spoken by the Chief of Staff, Tsuru, struck everyone like a bolt of lightning and snapped them awake.
"The heavens… countless worlds…"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku repeated those words slowly. The confusion in his eyes faded, replaced by a stunned clarity."You're saying that Uchiha Madara, and earlier Natsu, the Five Kage… they aren't from our world at all?"
"That is the only explanation that fits everything," Tsuru said calmly, fingers interlaced."Why our intelligence network, spread across the entire globe, couldn't find a single trace of them. Why their power systems, chakra and magic, are completely different from Haki and Devil Fruits."
"Because they come from other universes. Other dimensions."
The moment that conclusion sank in, the officers present went from shock to collective relief.
"Haa… thank goodness," Kizaru said, patting his chest with lingering fear."If they're not from our world, then we don't have to worry about that Uchiha Madara suddenly dropping a meteor on Marineford. If a monster like that were a pirate here, I'd honestly hand in my resignation."
Akainu still wore a grim expression, but the tight crease between his brows eased slightly. As long as that power did not belong to the evils of this sea, it was not his responsibility.
"But," Tsuru continued, changing tone, "this 'Multiversal Projection Platform' being able to connect different worlds is itself an enormous risk. We must stay on high alert."
…
The New World, aboard the Red Force
"Hahaha! So that's how it is!"
After listening to Beckman's analysis, Red-Haired Shanks laughed loudly and drained the bowl of sake in one gulp."Warriors from other worlds… that really gets the blood pumping. If I ever get the chance, I'd love to visit those worlds. Maybe even invite that Raikage for a drink."
"Let it go," Beckman said, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his gaze deep and cautious."A world that can casually summon meteors and forests isn't something we can mess around in, even if it's us. Still… that place called Hell doesn't sound like somewhere you want to visit."
…
Dragon Ball World, aboard a Frieza Force spaceship
Boom!
A single ki blast from Frieza obliterated the control console in front of him.
"Eighth place… and I'm still not on the list?!"
Frieza shook with rage, his purple lips quivering."That monkey called Uchiha Madara gets ninth place, and this so-called 'Shinigami' gets eighth? Why? Where am I?! I'm the emperor of the universe! Are you telling me I'm inferior to this bunch of trash?!"
"Zarbon! Dodoria!"
"Y-Yes, Lord Frieza!" The two subordinates trembled.
"Find him! Track down the creator of this video, no matter what planet he's on! Once you do, I'll personally turn that planet into cosmic dust!"
Meanwhile, in the realm of the Gods of Destruction.
Beerus lay sprawled across a tree stump, fast asleep, a snot bubble inflating and shrinking with each breath.
"Mmm… Hell… does it have tasty pudding… zzz…"
…
The Bleach World, the Human World
Kurosaki Ichigo's school.
"Hey, hey! Ichigo! Look, look!"
Asano Keigo slung an arm around Ichigo's neck, pointing excitedly at the sky."Your name's in the title! 'Kurosaki Ichigo'! Are you about to be on TV? Don't tell me you're some kind of secret superstar!"
"Shut up, Keigo," Ichigo snapped, pushing him away.
But his face was unusually pale. As he stared at the blood-red word "Hell" on the screen, a chill crawled up his spine.
"Rukia…" Ichigo turned to the Shinigami girl beside him."Hell… what kind of place is it, really?"
For the first time, true fear appeared in Kuchiki Rukia's eyes.
"Ichigo, listen carefully."
"In this world, souls with spiritual power go to the Soul Society after death. Corrupted souls become Hollows. But if someone committed unforgivable crimes while alive, sins so great that even the Soul Society cannot accept them…"
"The gates of Hell open, and they're dragged into the abyss."
"It's a land of endless torment. A forbidden zone even for Shinigami. Once you go in, you never come back."
Rukia stared at the screen, her hands clenched tight."If the future you really went there… then something truly horrific must have happened."
Soul Society, the Gotei Thirteen
"Hell… is it stirring again?"
Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the Sixth Division stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky, his brow furrowed. After Aizen's betrayal, the Soul Society had yet to recover. If Hell started acting up now, it would only make things worse.
"Soifon."
At the Second Division barracks, Soifon dropped to one knee instantly. "Here!"
"The video hasn't started yet, but since Hell is involved, the Onmitsukido must be prepared. If there is any sign of Hell Gate activity in the Human World, report it immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches
Aizen Sōsuke watched the screen, the smile on his lips growing wider.
"Hm… Hell. A place even I cannot interfere with easily."
"Kurosaki Ichigo. To think your future self grows powerful enough to meddle with Hell itself. How fascinating."
He tilted his head slightly, glancing down at the blue-haired figure below the throne.
"Grimmjow."
"Tch, what do you want, Aizen?" the Sexta Espada replied irritably.
"Go to the Human World. You won't be able to enter Hell, but you may gather some interesting data near its boundary. And while you're there… give my regards to the future Kurosaki Ichigo."
…
As forces across countless worlds stirred, the screen finally lit up.
[Video Begins]
What appeared first was a suffocating world.
The sky was neither blue nor black, but a nauseating dark red, like coagulated blood.
The ground was covered in pale white rock. On closer inspection, those rocks were massive bones. Thick miasma filled the air, so dense it was visible, making it hard to breathe just by looking at it.
This was Hell.
At the edge of a cliff, four figures stood against the wind.
Kurosaki Ichigo, wearing his Shinigami robes, Zangetsu strapped to his back.
Kuchiki Rukia, holding Sode no Shirayuki.
Abarai Renji, with Zabimaru resting on his shoulder.
And Ishida Uryū, dressed in white Quincy attire.
Beside them stood a stranger. He had white hair, black chains coiled around his body, and a mysterious smile on his face.
"So that's… us in the future?" The real-world Ishida pushed up his glasses, his hand trembling slightly." We actually went to Hell. And that spiritual pressure… even through the screen, I can feel it. The future me is way stronger than I am now."
Urahara Shop
"My, my. This is serious," Urahara Kisuke said, fanning himself, his eyes sharp beneath the smile." Ichigo-kun, Rukia-san, Uryū-kun. That lineup is basically the strongest team in the Human World. What on earth could be happening in Hell to force all of them into action?"
Back in the video.
The white-haired man, Kurodaō, pointed toward the abyss below.
"Ready? Down there is the deepest part of Hell."
Ichigo looked down. There was no fear in his eyes, only resolve.
"Yeah. Let's go."
"I don't care if it's Hell or whatever else. As long as it saves Yuzu, I'll carve this place to pieces!"
The real Ichigo's pupils shrank violently.
"Yuzu?!"
He grabbed Rukia by the shoulders and shouted,"Did future me just say Yuzu?! You're telling me she was dragged into Hell?!"
"Calm down, Ichigo!" Rukia was just as shocked."Yuzu couldn't possibly go to Hell! She's just a normal human, and she's never committed any serious crimes!"
"Then why would I be going there to save her?!"Ichigo's eyes turned red as his spiritual pressure exploded, raging through the classroom.
…
In the video.
Without a moment of hesitation, Ichigo leapt first, diving straight into the bottomless, dark red abyss.
Rukia, Renji, and Uryū followed close behind.
The wind howled.
As they fell, Hell's true form was finally revealed to all worlds.
Layer upon layer of twisted spaces unfolded. Enormous lotus-shaped structures floated in midair, while countless hollow-eyed, misshapen monsters lurked in the shadows, watching the intruders.
"Welcome to Hell."
Kurodaō adjusted his posture midair and drew the black blade at his waist.
"The real show is just getting started."
"....."