Chapter 472 - 472: What’s Wrong With the Strong Ruling the Weak?

In the underground chamber beneath Urahara Shop, Soi Fon stopped in front of Kisuke and looked up at him with open hostility.

"That's why I came here."

This was the bastard who had taken Lady Yoruichi away from Soul Society.

If the situation weren't so urgent, she would have gladly hit him a few times first.

Fortunately, Soi Fon knew how to prioritize.

"I'm sorry."

Urahara shook his head.

"I haven't seen this man's power myself. All I know is that he fought the Captain-Commander without losing and can open dimensional passages at will. With only that information, I have no reliable way to restrain someone like him."

"So if you saw his abilities yourself, you could at least try?"

Urahara's expression stiffened.

Then he shook his head again.

Soi Fon glanced down at Yoruichi with a look that practically said, 'This is the man you ran away with?'

"It's still better than nothing."

Isshin spoke from the side.

He was just as shocked that such a terrifying enemy had appeared in Soul Society seemingly out of nowhere, but they had very few options.

Creating a replica of Karakura Town was still the best plan available.

It might not survive long against an opponent of that level, but doing something was better than doing nothing.

Besides, this gave Urahara and the others a chance to ease their relationship with Soul Society.

"The Captain-Commander, Squad Zero, and all of you bastards are already involved."

Soi Fon turned toward Shinji.

"If none of you can stop him, what makes you think adding your group will suddenly solve the problem?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Hirako Shinji."

"What?"

Shinji's tone immediately sharpened.

"Planning to arrest me and drag me back?"

He clearly hadn't forgotten what happened before he was forced out of Soul Society.

"That's enough."

Yoruichi transformed back into her human form and cut off the argument.

"We should prepare. Whether it works or not, the plan still needs to be attempted."

No one objected.

Urahara instead looked toward Soi Fon.

"The Captain-Commander?"

"He's remaining in Soul Society for now. If that man appears in the World of the Living, the Captain-Commander can come immediately."

Soi Fon folded her arms.

"He's mainly staying behind to prevent an attack while Soul Society is understaffed."

"Understood."

Urahara nodded.

"In that case, I'll help. But I can't guarantee how effective the result will be."

"Then start as soon as possible."

Soi Fon's expression remained severe.

"We don't know when he'll arrive, and more powerful Hollows have been appearing in the World of the Living lately."

As the others began preparing, Isshin walked over to his two daughters.

"You two stay down here for now. We'll explain everything after this is over."

Karin and Yuzu were usually mischievous, but they were both smart enough to realize this wasn't the time to argue.

Even so, they were clearly forcing themselves to stay calm.

Both girls had gone pale.

Isshin knew he couldn't comfort them properly right now.

If Soul Society was treating this threat so seriously, then the enemy was powerful on a scale they had never encountered before.

If things went badly, the entire World of the Living might be destroyed.

…

Elsewhere, Ichigo ran through Karakura Town with his thoughts in complete chaos.

Naturally, he wanted to protect everyone.

But he also understood his own limits.

In a situation this far beyond anything he knew, all he could do was start with whatever was within his reach.

…

Hueco Mundo.

"There really are huge numbers of Shinigami gathering in the World of the Living."

Starrk scratched his head as he reported.

He looked as lethargic as ever, clearly finding the entire assignment troublesome but doing it anyway.

"And the World of the Living really is only that big."

That was the other thing Cyrus had specifically asked him to confirm.

Aizen's eyes shifted.

He turned toward Cyrus, who sat on a throne of bone.

Cyrus lightly tapped one finger against the armrest and nodded.

"So what you told me was true."

Aizen's expression barely changed, but Cyrus noticed his body tense.

The subtle preparation of someone ready to move.

Cyrus opened his half-closed eyes and glanced at him.

"So?"

He smiled.

"Are you going to attack me?"

The Arrancar standing below immediately tensed.

"Or do you think controlling them with Kyōka Suigetsu gives you enough leverage against me?"

The smile remained on Cyrus's face.

The Arrancar froze.

Then one after another, they turned toward Aizen.

They understood exactly what Cyrus meant.

Aizen had indeed used the opportunity provided by their transformations to place every Arrancar under Kyōka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis.

This time, he didn't bother denying it.

"I despise the stagnant system of Soul Society, and I intend to reach a higher level of existence."

Aizen looked steadily at Cyrus.

"But if you act now, what happens to the World of the Living?"

He paused.

"What happens to this entire world?"

His voice remained measured.

"The truth matters. But if the world itself disappears, does my existence still have any meaning?"

Several Arrancar grew thoughtful at those words.

"You're right."

Cyrus nodded.

"You're probably not quite the man you become later yet."

He rose from the throne.

"As for what happens next, I honestly don't know."

"Maybe nothing."

"Maybe this entire world simply disappears."

Cyrus looked over everyone present.

"So if any of you want to stop me, feel free to try."

"Maybe you'll actually succeed."

No one moved.

Not the Arrancar.

Not even Aizen.

"Eh. I don't really care."

Starrk suddenly spoke, wearing the same tired expression as always.

It was as though Cyrus had never mentioned the possibility of him simply ceasing to exist.

Or perhaps Starrk genuinely didn't care whether he disappeared.

"Neither do I."

Ulquiorra looked up at Cyrus.

"We've always lived this way."

He was referring to the path of Hollow evolution.

Even Hollows like Nelliel and Harribel had killed countless others while evolving, let alone the more violent members of the group.

Death was ordinary in Hueco Mundo.

Only Baraggan, the ancient ruler who had existed far longer than most of them, lowered his head slightly. His expression was hidden, but the instability in his presence betrayed him.

"Maybe that won't happen at all."

Nelliel glanced cautiously at Cyrus.

"Lord Cyrus, your companions are still here too."

Several Arrancar paused.

That was true.

Cyrus might not care what happened to them, but Robin, Hancock, and Baby 5 were different.

Everyone had seen how he treated those three.

"What are you trying to say?"

Cyrus looked at Nelliel.

"Pesche and the others…"

Nelliel began quietly.

Then she raised her head as though trying to speak more firmly.

The instant her eyes met Cyrus's, however, her voice weakened again and she lowered her gaze.

"Tch."

Grimmjow stood with his arms folded and snorted.

"What's wrong with the strong ruling the weak?"

He looked around at the others with open contempt.

"Lord Cyrus is the strongest, so we follow his orders."

"And if those orders tell us to die, then we die."

"That's the rule."

That was how Hueco Mundo had always worked.

As far as Grimmjow was concerned, everyone else was thinking far too much.