Chapter 199: Aftermath
"Hey, I must ask, Fiander..."
"Do you have something to say, Gin?"
At this moment, within the Dangai between Karakura Town and Hueco Mundo, Ichimaru Gin—who was holding the Kōryū seal—suddenly addressed Fiander. "Is it truly acceptable to strike that child so harshly?"
"I'm simply concerned you might have broken him completely!"
Fiander stopped walking, looked back at Ichimaru Gin, then offered a playful smile. "Are you joking, Gin?"
"That's the individual who defeated Captain Aizen. He's not nearly as fragile as you imagine. But you... don't you have anything you'd like to explain to me?"
Seeing Fiander's half-amused expression, Ichimaru Gin startled briefly, then laughed and responded: "I don't have anything particular to share. I don't understand what you're implying, Fiander."
"Really? Don't you have any plans to escape at this juncture?"
Suddenly, Fiander placed his hands behind his back. His eyes transformed, and a frigid aura enveloped Ichimaru Gin completely.
"Escape? What purpose would that serve?"
Seeing that Ichimaru Gin maintained his smile, Fiander simply extended a single finger and tapped lightly against the seal containing Aizen. "Of course there would be a purpose. For instance... the Hōgyoku."
"Or, for another example, a certain woman..." As he spoke, Fiander pointed his finger at Ichimaru Gin's forehead.
Listening to Fiander's straightforward observations, Ichimaru Gin pondered for an extended moment. He slowly opened his eyes, then smiled with bitter resignation: "Really now. Is there anything you don't know? Though I should clarify—I have no intention of departing."
Seeing Ichimaru Gin's expression, Fiander was genuinely amused. "It's acceptable, Gin! If you're planning to travel to Soul Society with the Kōryū seal, I won't interfere."
'Fiander's words might deceive children, but I'm no fool.'
"Even if I were to return to Soul Society bearing the Kōryū seal, the only thing awaiting me would be judgment from Central 46!"
Ichimaru Gin gazed at the seal in his hand, exhaled slowly, and murmured: "It suddenly feels like a dream. Though it's right here in my grasp, there's this burning sensation. I wish I could cast it aside as quickly as possible."
Fiander observed that Ichimaru Gin's expression appeared entirely genuine at this moment. He patted the other's shoulder and smiled. "Let's go. We're returning to Las Noches!"
Several minutes later, a Garganta slowly tore open within Las Noches. Fiander and Ichimaru Gin—with their hands clasped behind their backs—emerged from the Dangai one after another.
"I'm finally back. I'm exhausted!"
Observing the familiar environment, Fiander stretched his arms and complained: "It's far better to be home!"
After the Garganta closed completely, Ichimaru Gin gestured toward the Kōryū seal in his hand and addressed Fiander: "I must ask, Fiander—what do you intend to do with this object?"
"Him?" Fiander glanced at the seal casually and spoke with complete indifference: "You can retain custody for now. After all, Aizen must be terribly lonely sealed within. It would be pleasant for him to have someone to converse with!"
Seeing Fiander's careless arrangement, Ichimaru Gin didn't dare accept such responsibility. He simply waved his hand and protested: "Aren't you planning to release Captain Aizen?"
"No! Allow him to reflect in solitude. Only after experiencing such an unforgettable defeat can he truly change!"
"I'm retiring to rest. You can arrange matters as you see fit. If you encounter Ulquiorra, inform him to handle Hueco Mundo's affairs independently!"
After finishing his statement, Fiander waved toward Ichimaru Gin and departed directly from Las Noches' throne hall.
Observing Fiander's gradually receding back, Ichimaru Gin felt as though everything resembled a dream. After being captured by Fiander, he'd witnessed Aizen's defeat. Under pressure from the other party, he'd been compelled to return to Hueco Mundo. He'd already envisioned numerous possible outcomes in his heart, yet the ending where the other simply permitted him to depart freely—this conclusion Ichimaru Gin had never anticipated.
"Hah... What exactly am I contemplating?"
As though he'd released a tremendous burden from his heart, Ichimaru Gin's entire temperament underwent instantaneous sublimation. After placing the Kōryū seal containing Aizen on the ground, he too departed from the hall.
After Ichimaru Gin's departure, a Garganta tore open within the originally silent throne hall. Ulquiorra emerged from within, observed the direction of Ichimaru Gin's departure for a brief moment, then looked toward the Kōryū seal resting on the ground. He retrieved it in his hand, walked toward the throne positioned at the hall's center, placed it atop the seat, and departed.
Time flowed onward, days passing swiftly. An entire week had elapsed since Aizen had led the Espada to invade the human world. After Fiander departed from the living realm bearing Aizen's Kōryū seal, Soul Society immediately dispatched members of the Fourth Division and Twelfth Division to rescue the wounded in the present world and complete repair operations.
Because of the spatial fracturing created by the barrier pillars' destruction, an enormous crater spanning more than twenty kilometers in diameter had appeared at Karakura Town's original location. To address this catastrophe, the Technology Development Bureau could only modify the memories of humans throughout this world, fabricating a narrative that a meteorite had fallen in this location, causing the destruction of the affected area.
Beyond the barrier pillars' range, the streets and buildings damaged by Aizen and the various captains' battles were restored to their previous appearance by members of the Twelfth Division working continuously around the clock. Squad members transferred unconscious humans back to the present world systematically, brainwashing those who awakened prematurely.
In summary, the Winter War had actually concluded with the catastrophic defeat of both Soul Society and Aizen. The only entity that truly reaped benefits was the Arrancar whose ultimate purpose remained unknown.
For this reason, Soul Society had established a specialized department to compile intelligence on the other party. Not only Fiander, but even the other surviving Espada had been registered within Soul Society's records and were regarded as the greatest threat by Gotei 13.
At this moment, within Soul Society, at Gotei 13's First Division captain's office...
"The aftermath operations in the present world were completed yesterday by the Captain of the Twelfth Division, Kurotsuchi Mayuri. Captain Kurotsuchi has suggested that each division should deploy two to three additional members to station permanently in the human world."
"Additionally, there is urgent intelligence regarding Hueco Mundo! Although the traitor Aizen Sōsuke was not successfully apprehended by our forces, Urahara Kisuke has assessed that the other party will likely not be released for an extended period. In essence, the entity we must remain vigilant against at present is Hueco Mundo itself."
"Urahara Kisuke has proposed that we establish Hueco Mundo's expeditionary force once more. We must utilize the shortest timeframe possible to increase Gotei 13's combat capabilities. Furthermore, there is—"
"Enough!"
Genshirō Okikiba, Third Seat of the First Division, stood before Gotei 13's Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai, presenting information regarding the battle's aftermath.
Suddenly, Genryūsai interrupted the other's report with a cough. "Have the captains' post-battle summaries been submitted?"
Although Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had not lost his left arm as in the original timeline, having been frozen by Fiander's ice had severely damaged his vitality. Even though he'd been rescued from the Dangai by Urahara Kisuke, the frigid cold had already invaded his body deeply. Throughout these recent days, Genryūsai frequently coughed intermittently.
Regarding this matter, the Lieutenant of the First Division, Chōjirō Sasakibe, had repeatedly advised him to request that Kurotsuchi Mayuri examine Genryūsai's physical condition. However, the stubborn Captain-Commander considered such action shameful. The owner of a Zanpakutō possessing the strongest heat-type abilities—being injured by ice—represented profound humiliation in his mind.
Hearing Genryūsai's inquiry, Genshirō Okikiba immediately retrieved a stack of envelopes from within his garments, stepped forward, and placed them upon Genryūsai's desk.
"Here are the summaries from the captains of each division. Aside from Zaraki Kenpachi, Captain of the Eleventh Division, who failed to submit his report, the summaries from all other captains are present."
"Zaraki Kenpachi? Forget it. Disregard him!"
After speaking, Genryūsai retrieved one summary and began reading. While perusing its contents, he addressed Genshirō Okikiba: "You should have reviewed these in advance on my behalf. Present me with your assessment!"
"Yes, Captain-Commander!"
Genshirō Okikiba knelt before Genryūsai and spoke with grave solemnity: "Regarding the summaries from the captains of various divisions, this subordinate discovered they all possessed astonishing consensus regarding the intelligence—specifically, concerning the Arrancar, Fiander Moros..."
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