"Why is it so hard to accept? " Baraggan approached Fiander and revealed his garments, only to uncover that the lower part of his body hidden beneath the coat was void, leaving behind only decayed scars.
"This. . . " Fiander was taken aback and momentarily at a loss for words. Baraggan pressed on:
"My essence is merely two-thirds of its original form, which has resulted in my body and power being incapable of sustaining Crito, forcing me to regress to Vasto Lorde. "
"There were three Scritto-tier Menos Grande in Hueco Mundo, and this scar is a remnant of my battle with one of them, a wound that cannot be healed. "
"Is this the so-called primordial hollow? Does such a thing truly exist? "
Fiander instinctively relayed the information he had previously gathered.
"Primordial. . . That's a term I haven't encountered in ages. The Scritto-level Menos Grande that existed before my time have always been part of the lore in Hueco Mundo, what you refer to as Primordial Hollows. "
"Due to inherent limitations, he reached a standstill in his desire to consume everything. After facing me in combat, he devoured a third of my soul essence and then set his course toward the Soul Society. "
"At that time, the Gotei 13 did not yet exist, but he managed to overcome someone whose name you should be familiar with."
"That individual is Yamamoto. He is currently the captain of the Gotei 13, leading the first division. "
Fiander felt as if he had been struck by a truck, left utterly speechless.
"Following that encounter, very few are still aware of those events. I only learned that Taikoo attempted to assault the Spirit King Palace to consume the Spirit King, aiming to usurp him, but there has been no further updates since. "
To be able to triumph over the elderly Yamamoto, even if he was a thousand years younger, is remarkable. A millennium ago, Yamamoto led his own execution squad against Yuhabach's Quincy faction; those two are indeed formidable beings.
Fiander, who had once been quite proud of his current abilities, suddenly felt doused with ice-cold water, a chill settling in his heart.
With so many powerful entities, how could he hope to survive? Considering the unfolding narrative, it seems risky to merely follow Aizen, so perhaps this would be the perfect chance to slip away and find refuge.
Noticing the weight of his words turning Fiander, who had previously engaged with him so casually, into silence, Baraggan continued, "I share this with you in hopes that you can take that next step. While my future appears bleak, I see potential in you, which is why I disclosed these truths. "
"Otherwise, not even at the brink of my death would I reveal such secrets to another. Steady yourself, kid! The current location is where the remnants of another Scrito lay. It was vanquished by the Spirit King himself and landed here."
Gazing at the dark earth, Fiander felt an indescribable sensation within him. He rose slowly and glanced at the full moon overhead, letting out a laugh.
"Old man, you truly hold me in high regard. So what if you share these insights? Am I any greater than you were, also subdued by the so-called Spirit King? "
"Spirit King? The present Spirit King is merely a marionette. "
Fiander faintly recalled the human pig encased in the massive crystal, lacking limbs beyond its head and torso.
At that moment, Fiander questioned whether such a being was actually the spirit king who forged the Three Realms and pondered why the spirit king was reduced to a pig.
There was an overwhelming amount of information, and Fiander struggled to make sense of it all.
"I am aware that a significant event occurred in the Soul Society that upended the entire world. Since then, the Spirit King has not manifested in the Three Realms. "
"Do you expect me to venture to the Soul Society to uncover the reason? " Fiander inquired of Baraggan.
"No! If I were to consider the cause, Aizen Sōsuke has already discerned it. I want you to infiltrate the Soul King Palace and investigate what transpired there if necessary! "
After saying this, Baraggan gestured towards the depths of the dark gravel and remarked.
"This marks the resting place of the Scritto-level Menos Grande known as Amber Wilhelm. Perhaps you'll uncover the answers you seek here. "
"The current power of Hueco Mundo is significantly lesser than that of the Soul Society. You'll need to strategize on how to approach this. "
Once he finished speaking, Baraggan let out a disdainful sneer, his demeanor reverting to its earlier insolent form. He raised his hand to rip open a dark void and departed from the scene.
After Baraggan's exit, silence enveloped, save for the wind howling across the sands. The information received that evening had completely altered his prior understanding of the Bleach universe.
He had consistently believed that the "Moonless" family represented the apex of combat prowess, and the so-called omniscience and omnipotence of Yuhabach was merely another form of cheat.
Traveling to the future and eliminating you to impact the past? There's no method to combat that.
Wouldn't it be simpler to return to the past and then eliminate them, ensuring their future selves vanish? Such questions defy the laws of space and time.
Sigh—The Bleach universe is overly intricate, and he deeply longs for the world he once knew. He has exerted considerable effort.
Whenever Fiander reflects on the people and experiences there that he will never encounter again, turned to ash and lost in the vast universe, he feels an overwhelming sense of heartache.
"Disregard that; I commenced this existence as a Menos Grande at the Vasto Lorde tier. In comparison to my former life, I have certainly experienced improved fortune. "
"I feel ensnared in an impasse. I once believed I had a grasp on the storyline and could plan accordingly, anticipating events before they unfolded. However, upon realizing that circumstances had shifted, I lacked that kind of insight, so why do I feel as if I'm trapped? "
"Pitiful Ha ha--" After a derisive laugh, he refrained from entering Amber Wilhem's resting place. Instead, he casually opened a dark void door and walked right through it.
In the realm of humans, within an apartment, he materialized in a room while lying on the bed, blankly gazing at the ceiling. Since Aizen had previously provided him with the coordinates for this world.
Fiander frequently visited this world alone, seeking leisure, even though in this existence, he is no longer human. He had lived as a human in two separate lifetimes.
The contemporary amenities here allow him, residing in this universe of Bleach, to catch glimpses of his past.
"knock knock—
"Is Mr. Natsume present? "
While Fiander was lost in thought, a knock resonated from the door, calling his name – Natsume Koji.
"I'm on my way, please hold on! " After reshaping his form into an ordinary human appearance with an illusion, he stood and opened the door.