Author Notes: This is going to be an extremely long chapter as it deals with Kazui obtaining his Rei-Ken. It might actually extend into more chapters.

I'm adding information from Kubo's Burn the Witch, as limited as it is due to it currently being a pilot. If anything else I write about turns out to drastically different from the actual story, I'll chalk it up to early installment weirdness and declare this an alternate continuity.

As for the other divisions, I took some general ideas and figured them into the bureaucratic, business nature of the Soul Society is, overall.

Also I'm including Hachigō Nemuri Kurotsuchi, the new Nemu little girl that replaced the 7th Nemu who died against the Quincy, who appeared in the last chapter. She seemed to be going to be apart of a power trio with Kazui, Ichika and Nemuri, maybe being a love triangle if the series got an official sequel. Anyways, she seemed to be an interesting to include her as she seems to be as odd with her lack of volume control and being slightly eerie due to being...Mayuri's daughter.

This also serves as a continuation from that long prolonged conclusion of the Kazui/Quincy ancestor fight.

Warning, extremely violent material in this chapter.

Chapter 30: My Heart is the Sword


As the class looked at Kazui, Ichika attempted to pull out the Kiokuchikan in order to do a mass memory wipe.

"You and your active imagination, Kaguya.," the teacher said with a laugh.

Most of the class laughed nervously, with unconvincing eyes.

Let's do it after class. I'm still against us having them fight in a battle that might cost them their lives., Ichika telepathically communicated to Kazui.

Right now, I want to focus on getting the sword of the Heart...it's so cool., Kazui mentally replied with stars in his gleaming eyes.

I still don't trust that geezer...he turned on the Soul Society and he's said to be the baneful originator of the Shiba clan that soured the family's reputation., Ichika said back.

I think that's propaganda...and we're gonna be silenced just for realizing the truth...and I'll be needing help during the ritual..., Kazui noted back.

Ichika kept quiet while feeling resentment with Akuzu silently approving of Kazui's actions.


End of the School Day

Kazui, Ichika and Akuzu began to walk home from school with the other classes leaving at the same time.

"Why are you following Kazui?! You're not even close enough to be setting up playdates yet!," Ichika complained.

"Lord Third will be needing extra protection for the night for his ritual. The enemy is likely to attack you at your home in the Kuchiki manor if you are not careful. It's best to stay with him...as a loyal vassal.," Akuzu replied with a suspicious look as he checked everywhere from shadows to trashcans and the bags of the passing students...which earned him a well-deserved punch from a particularly brutish student.

"What're you doing?," Ichika asked with a sigh.

"Akuma can be appear from anywhere from pocket windows from Hell, which can appear anywhere and can possess anyone. So be on guard...I might even have to destroy you if you get possessed.," Akuzu replied with a glint in his eyes.

"Let's see if you're possessed! Why not turn your neck! Let me help ya!," Ichika replied as she grabbed Akuzu's head squeezed it tightly in her arms.

Kazui gave a nervous laugh before noticing Mizuryū and Tanūki.

"Hey there. You want to declare a challenge to me?, Kazui asked before the swept back haired youth spoke with a surprising stern voice.

"You were bargaining with those beings that felt like Hollows, Soul Reapers, Quincy, and some other types of Reiatsu I couldn't gather. And you wanted to have them wait until we reached middle school to have a death match. Tell me exactly the situation that you're hiding from me! Why?!," Mizuryū asked with a furrowed brow.

"I'm just going to do something tonight and I'll tell you in the morning.," Kazui said with his eyes to the side, causign Mizuryū to give up in disgust with Tanūki following him with a timid expression.

Yōmi went to Kazui, while twiddling her fingers, with Yōenna and Kimyōna a few feet away.

"U-um, is everything alright tomorrow...," she asked while darting her eyes away.

"...It'll be ok...," Kazui said with a tone that seemed melancholy and unsure.

"I-if you say so...," Yōmi answered back before skipping back to her friends.

Yoroishishi, Shōnichi, Sensō, Greta, Heiwa, Maschera, Unmei and Chigaeshi seemed to subtly aware of what Kazui meant, but it was unclear to what extent.

The others didn't know what they saw and tried with pass it off as a daydream except for Kaguya.

Kazui, Akuzu and Ichika proceeded to walk home from school.


On the way to the House

Kazui noticed some Hollows along with Ichika and Akuzu.

Kazui was prepared to use his new Zanpakuto, but the Hollows were actually leaving into a Garganta, without even trying to eat a human.

"I don't like this? It's not typical of those monsters.," Ichika shrewdly observed.

"It doesn't matter to Lord Third. We will deal with it once Lord Third gets his Rei-Ken...," Akuzu replied, walking onwards.

"But, it's the duty of a Soul Reaper to deal with any Hollow-," Ichika answered sharply.

"Not of the 5th Branch, we deal with bigger prey...," Akuzu muttered.

"What the?! What the heck-," Ichika asked in baffled confusion.

"There were 6 Divisions with the foundation of the Soul Society. The East Branch, located in Japan, home to the Soul Reapers that were once known as the Balancers- guardians of the souls who are going through the circle of transmigration; defeating Preta who take their pain of the loss of attachments on others and ensure the safe crossing of souls who have lost their way after death before they become Petra themselves- by giving them a soul burial. The Preta are known as Ghouls in the West and Hollows in the East...though they were called Onryō before the time of the Soul King's usurper..They represent the Preta...Ghost realm.," Akuzu explained with his right index finger raised.

"Thanks for the history les-," Ichika retorted sarcastically before Akuzu continued.

"The West Branch, located in London, home to the Witches and Wizards of Wing Bind, who were once known as the Herders- guardians of the supernatural creatures made from Reishi, such as Dragons most prominently, along with Fey, Cryptic Beasts and other mythological fauna that connect humans with the five other realms, though they will kill them if they prove too dangerous. They represent the Tiryag...Beast Realm.," Akuzu continued.

"Oh boy, long tangent coming. It's not like these other branches matter-.," Ichika complained before Akuzu continued again.

"The South Branch located in Egypt with other offices in Brazil and Australia, home to the Life Enders of Fate, who were once known as the Weavers- the ones who keep the dead from returning to life and making sure people die to keep the reincarnation cycle running...no, not as Hollows...," Akuzu added before stopping to correct Ichika's line of thinking, which made her grit her teeth.

"...Basically, stopping necromancers, alchemists, scientists, sorcerers, lichee, vampires, etc from bringing back the dead in mass like as zombies or even back to normal people, reversing the process that cause others to be reborn into the other realms, either for wanting to prove immortality is possible or to bring loved ones back from the dead. Lord Third's mother must be careful or else the Life Enders will target her for reversing the phenomena of death from her powers. Resurrection is only reserved for very special cases. They represent the Manuṣya...Human Realm.," Akuzu continued from his previous point, which made Kazui gulp.

"No way, that I'd let 'em get her.," Ichika mutters.

"The North Branch, located in Hollywood, CA, USA, home to the Lockers, once known as the Gatekeepers, whose duty is to prevent foreign forces from invading the World of the Living, they're the ones that keep things like stronger Hollows, Asura, titanic Beasts, demonic Akuma, evil Kami, and eldritch horrors from breaching in and reducing their presence in the World of the Living, which manifests as natural disasters or plagues. They represent the Asura Realm.," Akuzu told Kazui.

"Why Hollywood?," Kazui asked inquisitively.

"Because Lord Third, the imagery of such creatures are used as implanted ideas by the Gatekeepers to inspire fantasy and sci-fi blockbusters. They got to make a living outside of their duties you know.," Akuzu politely answered in comparison to his silent treatment to Ichika, much to her chagrin.

"That makes sense.," Kazui said with a matter of fact tone of voice.

"No, that's exploitation.," Ichika muttered under her breath.

"Then there's the Main Branch, constantly migrating from location to location in order to purify demonic Akuma and fallen Kami in order to prevent apocalypses as well as correcting negative timelines; send evil beings directly to hell if they're destined for evilness and destroy souls too wicked even for Hell. It's known as the World's Sword, who back then was known as the Protectors...the Quincy were once apart of the World's Sword when they still had proper knowledge of their original techniques. The Soul Emperor has deemed this Branch a heretical organization that went against the cycle and has since being exiled and disorganized the group, but it operates on its own terms outside of his authority. They represent the Naraka Realm...," Akuzu continued, but with a more passionate and heart-felt tone to his voice.

"Sounds like it's something you want to be proud of...maybe it can be once this is all over.," Kazui said as he placed a hand on Akuzu's shoulder, with an expression of sympathy that Akuzu didn't expect.

It made him teary eyed, which he quickly brushed off to remain calm.

His expression became more severe with the last group to be mentioned, which both Kazui and Ichika sensed.

"And lastly, the Root Branch, which is directly run by the Top Kami of a particular universe, but the leadership in this universe was passed to the usurping Soul King then to his usurping son, Soul Emperor. It's known as the High Overseer, but back then it was known as the Judges. Its position is to judge whether a soul will good or bad preemptively and decide the realm it will reincarnate into based on the karma. A soul that has gone through the six realms with constant benign karma can enter the realm of Nirvana...known as Heaven in your beliefs and be freed from the cycle of rebirth, though the way the Soul Emperor and his predecessor run things, it's rumored the no soul has entered Nirvana in spite of some qualifying for the right. Regardless, They represent the Deva Realm...," Akuzu concluded with a look to the side.

"How would you describe them?," Ichika asked with a raised brow.

Akuzu took a deep breath and then spoke,

"A bunch of monsters hiding behind the law to enact dogmatic order and draconic punishment to cover up their own sins while accusing others of the same crimes."

Akuzu froze as if recalling a terrible memory.

Ichika felt sorry for him even if she personally found him annoying.

Kazui then noticed someone in the skies, heading start down from a Senkaimon at top speed.

Kazui with a docile expression quickly stepped out of the way as the person landed into a shocked Ichika.

Akuzu peered over to see a short girl with long black hair, wearing a Soul Reaper uniform.

"Oh, Hachigō Nemuri Kurotsuchi...errr...Nemu 2.0...," Kazui said with an awkward expression.

"NEMU! Call by MY NAME!," said the girl as she shouted inappropriately as she sat up on Ichika in a riding cowboy girl pose.

"Hey Nemu...," Ichika said as Nemu put her Gigai on with the Karakura Elementary School uniform.

"You must Lord Third's friend! I am Akuzu Kigomi! I will be his second in command-," Akuzu reported before Nemu randomly began to assault him.

"YOU MUST be AN ENEMY! TAKE NEMU POWER PUNCH!," Nemu said as she began to rapid multi-punch Akuzu's face.

"Why?...," Akuzu asked as he flew through the sky and landed in a recycling bin.

Ichika sighed as she went to get him out of the container while Kazui offered his hand to shake Nemu's.

"Lord Third's female comrades are wild and crazy.," Akuzu remarked before Ichika punched him in the nose.

"It's nice to see you again. How is Captain Mayuri?," Kazui asked politely as Nemu bowed.

"I WAS ASKED TO ACCOMPANY YOU AS THE KUCHIKI GIRL IS DEEMED A IDIOT! PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME IN YOUR HOME!," Nemu asked loudly.

Ichika took it as an insult and began to pull on Nemu's right cheek while the latter pulled on the redhead's left.

As the two tussled on the ground, Kazui nervously laughed as he looked on

Himitsu walked by and saw the two girls tussling before the two noticed her.

"This annoyance is Nemu. She's from where I'm from...er...I'm sorry, I don't really pay attention to anyone other than Kazui and the new Kazui groupie...," Ichika replied with annoyance.

"Always knew you were a condescending brat who thought you were better than us.," Himitsu muttered with a sigh.

"Ok...This is-," Ichika replied as she pointed to Nemu before the girl spoke aloud.

"NEMU KUROTSUCHI! I am GOING to be IN YOUR CLASS TOMORROW!," Nemu said loudly, which caused Himitsu to widen her eyes in horror.

Oh gosh, my association with her will ruin my reputation for life! We had so many oddballs already! It's going to be a madhouse with her around!, thought the wavy haired, glass wearing girl thought gritting her teeth.

"I'm very mad. Himitsu Jōnetsu..," Nemu said with her face inches from Himitsu with a wide-eyed smile, as if reading her mind.

"Good, H...Himitsu...may you please take in this exchange student in to raise in your care...," Kazui asked as he got between them.

"That would be great.," he concluded with his eyes closed like a snake.

"Oh...no...," Himitsu said as Nemu dragged her away to the former's house, knowing the exact location.

"...You know she's his daughter right...?...Why-," Ichika asked nervously with a sweat bead on her brow.

"I have a girl I like and I don't want her to think I'm a two timer...," Kazui said as he looked at the passing trio of Yōmi, Yōenna and Kimyōna.

"So I'm just a friend?," Ichika asked with a sly grin.

"I mean would you have wanted my dad and your mom to...," Kazui replied before both laughed.

"So silly, I mean my mom's like hundred lifetimes' older than your dad!," Ichika said with a heckle.

"And he's into the bosom! Not the loli!," Kazui replied with a giggle, which caused Ichika to snap.

"What does that mean?," Ichika said with an angry smile with veins appearing on her head.

"Lord Third's mother has large...and I think the girls in our class will have them in the future...except you have the curse of the perpetual small-," Akuzu said before Ichika kicked him in response.

"How do you know about a lady's development huh?! You some kind of deviant?! Deviant chokehold!," Ichika shouted as she got Akuzu in a chokehold.

"Lord Third...," Akuzu said as he began to pass out.

Kazui laughed and ran ahead, confusing Ichika when he stopped.

"Where do you wanna go when this is all over?," Kazui asked.

"Well...honestly, I don't know many places other than Soul Society, this town, the town over and Hueco Mundo...and Hell...why?," Ichika asked as he turned around.

"There's so much more on this world alone...I wanna see Scotland, Ireland, USA, Australia, London, Antarctica, Brazil...it doesn't have to stop there...," Kazui said with a beaming smile.

"You're sanctioned here for life because you know this place better than anyone and it's likely you'll spend the rest of your life here.," Ichika said with a resigned tone of voice.

"Maybe it'll change.," Kazui said as he ran ahead.

"...either way it will...I become a Hollow from losing my heart or I succeed and change the world...either way, I'm heading for something big...," Kazui said with a nervous laugh to himself.

Ichika and Akuzu looked concerned...before Ichika punched him to the side.

Some bullies from high school then bumped into Kazui, looking particularly nasty.

"I like little kids...They're so easily broken...," said the head bully with dreadlocks and a zig-zag mustache, cracking his knuckles.

"A waste of time for Lord Third...," Akuzu said with a sigh before noticing Ichika's laughing expression of naughtiness.

"Helpless punks who don't know better...," Ichika said as she cracked her knuckles as she turned into a Soul Reaper.

Akuzu grabbed her, horrified with her intentions.

"Mortals are our sheep! We protect them!," Akuzu beseeched Ichika while holding her back in his Gigai form.

"Some sheep are wolves in sheep's clothing! Lemme go!," Ichika shouted back while squirming out of his grasp.

"Why though?!," Akuzu asked.

"Because hitting people who can't see me is fun...," Ichika replied with a glint in her eyes.

"...Wait,...you might want to peep in public restrooms next! I must stop you for the sake of the obscured nature of nakedness!," Akuzu shouted patriotically.

"You're crazy!," Ichika replied.

"You're friends loco.," said the other student with missing incisors, tall beanie hat and a set of headphones around his neck

"Whatever, let's kick their asses...and have fun with the sleeping beauty over there.," said a beanie hat wearing man with a tattoo of a skateboard on his right cheek.

"Dude, too far...," said the man with the headphones

"I've been having a very long day...and you're not as tough as the guys I've faced before.,"

Kazui smiled as the sun began to go down and the sun arose as he generated a Reiatsu in the form of Tsuki's feral head.

"Wait guys. He's Ichigo's son...You young fellas better quit while you're ahead...the family's scary!," said the leader of a trio of older men coming back from construction job, formerly known as the Skateboard gang that pestered Ichigo in his youth and the three bullies were inheritors of the next generation. They wore beanies to cover this heads.

"You geezers need to shut it-," said the man with dreadlocks before Yūbo came in from the sides to dropkick him.

"Wait, that's the Wild Child of the Maebare Corps, one of the biggest in Japan. Yūbō Maebare!," shouted the former head of the Skateboard gang.

"Oh...," said the dreadlocks man as he and his colleagues ran away.

"Thanks...I would've left them in bodybags.," Kazui said with a smile.

Yūbo widened his eyes and smiled menacingly.

"What bodies?," the dreadlocks youth said back, which led to an eerie tension before both laughed immensely at their macabre humor.

As Ichika got back into her Gigai, she wondered,

This guy's usually not involved in anything. What's his interest in Kazui?

Yūbo then stopped and said more seriously,

"Kaguya isn't a liar. She's odd and there's a lot she'd rather keep inside, but whatever she said is gonna impact us and I'm not gonna be one of those normies who stay in the background, aware of the actual situation, but is too weak to do crap."

Keigo on the other side of town sneezed.

"What you want?," Kazui asked with a serious expression on his face.

"I want in on whatever you're doing. It's a lot more fun than normal life...I don't mind dying...," the dreadlocks youth said bluntly.

"What?! That's insane! He's insane!," Ichika remarked.

"...Ichika would like for me to say- "No, what about the people who worry about you and don't bring uninvolved parties..., but I was planning on doing it with the whole class.," Kazui replied with a mysterious tone of voice.

This shocked Yūbo, which made him laugh even more.

"I doubt they'd be willing to give up on normal life..., but I have an agenda that needs a lot of people to enlist...don't worry your Kaguya sweetie's going to be readied so she doesn't get hurt.," Kazui continued while winking at the end.

"...Tcha right...," Yūbo scoffed with an embarrassed blush, which made Kazui giggle.

"C'mon man, it's better to acknowledge it now before you get flustered and denying it all in high school and college...My dad's shy around matured women even after he's married...Ms Rukia is an exception as she's one of the boys...," Kazui said as he nudged Yūbo childishly.

"Then who's yours?," Yūbo asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not telling.," Kazui replied with his tongue sticking out mockingly.

"...Wanna be one of my top guys of the group I'm putting together...for the sports event at first...I've no intention on Akuzu or Ichika...they're too clingy...," Kazui suggested as he offered his hand to shake the dreadlocks boy.

Hesitant at first, Yūbō shook the orange haired youth's hand.

He then waved goodbye and went on his way.

"Guy's likely been forced into expectations he's never wanted. So he's doing what he wants to be free. I get the feeling.," Kazui said to himself as Ichika and Akuzu came to him.

"What's this Maebare Corps? Seems like an upper class place...why isn't he in a private?," Akuzu asked before Ichika answered.

"He's a Wild Child...except his parents expect a tame one and repress him...and likely dumped him here because he's a deadweight to the family...nobles do it all the time...times never change...," she replied with pity for the boy.

"It's too late now...they're all going to confirm with me with the same general response.," Kazui said as he reached his home.

Kazui gave the two a look that said-

This is for me alone, I can't be putting you in danger.

The two reluctantly complied as they went on their way.


Kurosaki Clinic- Later that Evening

Kazui walked into the house, but was shocked to see what was happening.

Orihime, his mother was using all of her Shun Shun Rikka on Karin whose skin was turning black as she began to emit smoke from her body.

"What's going on?!," Yuzu asked with a frightened expression on her face, seeing her sister suffering with no available cure or even knowledge of what disease she was under.

"I'm trying to reverse it, but it seems like it's some sort of thing that I'm not used to seeing. I'm not gonna let her die.," Orihime replied with a forced smile.

"What's going on?! Why's aunt Karin-," Kazui asked before Ashiyama appeared from a Yaoyoi style Senkaimon.

"You're that-," Orihime said as she noticed that it was the same man that had been with Tessai and Kazui earlier.

"I'm their ancestor and the brother of the imp that raped your sister and deliberately withheld the half-demonic breed impregnation to slowly kill her off.," he said somberly.

"Wait What?!," Yuzu asked before Ashiyama drew out a talisman and placed it on Karin's forehead, much to both's shock.

"This represses the encroachment. If she manages to resist by activating her hidden Quincy heritage, it'll ward off the demonic influence. Otherwise...destroy the body- they have a habit of possessing the deceased's body and making a mockery of it.," the man said.

"What are they?," Orihime asked sternly.

"Your son will explain it...I'm helping go past the lies that have kept the Soul Reapers in the dark for millennia...and he'll have sword to bring them back to the light.," the old man spoke cryptically as he walked upstairs.

"Why's he going to Kazui's room? What's Kazui doing?! Come back here!," Yuzu shouted in panic as Kazui followed him.

Kazui looked at his mother with a pained expression as he went upstairs.

The inside of his room was vastly different, being a black void with a single white vat of weathered, ancient material of a begotten time, with bubbling blue colored magma in within the container. Behind the vat was Ashiyama holding a weathered hammer and a pair of pincers, which were equally as weathered.

"This is a pocket dimension created by the World's Sword, for the used of the creation of the Rei-Ken or preventing whatever mutation you experience doesn't harm those you care about...Are you prepared...you'll either be coming out of this as a true Balancer...or I'll apologize to your mother and never visit you again once I revive you...never bringing up this...altering process...," the old man explained solemnly with remorse.

Kazui nodded, but hesitated.

"Is it just pulling out my heart, putting it in the vat and making the sword with the hammer?," asked the young boy.

Ashiyama shook his head.

"The Zanpakuto...was once known before Ichibe as the Jiken (Self Sword). It embodies the psychological side of yourself- your Superego- the side of yourself that logically embodies all aspects of yourself, both good and the suppressed, bad aspects...and by acknowledging both are yourself- you become a mentally adjusted person...through meeting with another you...that's a story for another time...," Ashiyama explained as he generate Reishi that resembled a thought bubble.

"The Rei-Ken on the other hand...the Royal Guard forbade it from being used and had it forgotten over the millennia...for both self-interested conspiracies of the corrupt nobility and justified cause...it embodies the Id...it's emotion incarnate and it's deemed unprofessional for a Soul Reaper to not be a professional...and with a Rei-Ken...it's very hard to remain with emotions hidden...," he added, with gritted teeth as if both reluctantly acknowledging a harsh truth and angry at a long distant memory of the past.

"However, living on thoughts alone leads to paranoia, which destroyed my brother, Abeseimei, who is a schizophrenic tyrant who trusts no one. Acknowledging your heart is to bare your true self, to understand the cosmos around you. It can going insane from the sheer feelings you keep locked inside if not prepared...it may cause you to turn into a beast from extreme passion, a Hollow through extreme attachment..., but never trade it away... you will become something all the more worse...and the overrelease of emotions might make the idea of suppressing or giving away tempting...Do not...you will lose a vital aspect of your humanity...and there will be no turning back.," Ashiyama explained as he drew the pincers at Kazui's chest.

"That sounds terrifying...," Kazui said with a gulp.

"It's actually worse, but you must experience for yourself.," Ashiyama explained as he ripped out Kazui's heart.

Kazui initially felt nothing for a few seconds...then gushes of blood began to pour out of his eyes, nostrils, ears, the hole in his chest and mouth.

Kazui rolled around in pain as Ashiyama clenched the hand holding the hammer.

He slowly inched to put the heart back in place, but Kazui stood up.

"I...I can keep going...," Kazui said with a raspy, weak voice as blood continued to spew outwards.

Ashiyama reluctantly began to place the heart in the vat, with it surprisingly not be incinerated in the molten liquid.

He then handed Kazui the hammer, placing it in his small, jittery hands.

Kazui clenched his teeth in order to keep still as he swiftly thrusted his hands into the magma.

"This magma is solidified Reishi, it'll accept your own and help you forge your Rei-Ken. It's hot for everyone. Please bare the pain...," Ashiyama explained with a sorrowful tone in his voice.

Kazui tightened his face as he raised his Reiatsu to withstand the pain of his arms being surrounded by red-hot Reishi while his removed heart caused his body to convulse in pain. It took herculean efforts to remain awake.

Ashiyama watched from the side as he prepared for anything to go wrong.

Slowly, the heart began to change shape, transforming from an beating organ into a gradual katana shape as Kazui continued to hammer and harden his heart literally.

He then pulled out the sword as he breathed in heavily.

"Did Akuzu have to endure this too...," Kazui said as he looked at the generic looking katana.

"Now place it in your chest...having your heart for too long while you're still beginning is too risky.," Ashiyama explained as Kazui sheathed the sword into his chest.

"Now...the real test begins...," Ashiyama said with narrowed eyes.

Kazui's wounds healed and he was back to normal, but something felt off and unnatural.

Suddenly, Kazui collapsed on the ground as he felt immense pain that began to run through his entire body.

He contorted and convulsed as eyes began to open on Kazui's hand.

"You're awakening your heart. It's never an easy process. It's jump-starting the evolutionary process from a Soul Reaper to a true Balancer with a sound mind and body. This is what I meant when I said you must experience it for yourself. Whether you live or die is up to you.," Ashiyama said with a serious, severe tone of voice as he looked down on the boy.

"I'm not cruel. I'll have your mother revive you and you will never see me again..., but I believe you can manage it.," he added with a reluctant confidence.

Suddenly, Kazui's face began to spew a white substance that formed into his horned Tyrannosaur Hollow mask, but it began to warp into another shape. A white hannya mask with upward turned crescent eyeholes, an eerie spiked maw that resembled teeth and two horned protruded upwards.

This was on top of his hands, growing warped faces on top of them.

"This will be your own battle...please make it out as yourself.," Ashiyama said quietly.

The bald man was genuinely worried as Kazui's body gradually became more and more inhuman.


Kazui awoke in a cosmic space and turned to see a face that he did not expect to see again.

A petite young girl with chin-length blonde hair and purple iris attire was a variation of the Sternritter's typical white uniform, consisting of a skirt in place of a trench coat, gloves, patterned leggings, and a white cap with gold trimmings, which features a black peak and the Vandenreich insignia emblazoned on its front. She also wears a golden heart buckle on her waist.

"Have a nice break, little shit?," asked Liltotto Lamperd, the "Glutton".

Kazui took a moment to think if this was his "Lil" or this timeline's.

Lil then opened up a portal revealing Kazui's physical body that was gradually becoming more and more distorted, turning into a multiple eyed blob with his new Hollow mask in the center.

"I heard you got your Zanpakuto's true name...show me what you got...," Lil said nonchalantly.

This comment made him realize that this was the Quincy ancestor that resided within himself.

"It was called the Jiken blade...because you had to focus your mental energy in order to create its form and personality from aspects of your own in order to manifest it outside the inner world in its first state at all times. Most Soul Reapers lack the mental capacity to do so...so the false Soul Emperor had Otetsu Nimaiya create the Asauchi from Soul Reapers that fell in battle...," the blond girl explained.

"But, that's a lie...I'm sure he likely thinks that way.," Kazui said, recalling the demonic creature.

"It's actually an Imiter, a doppelgänger Akuma, created from one of the subordinates of the Soul Emperor's elite guard, the Big 4, in order to create a sleeping agent that will learn everything about a Soul Reaper in order to eventually murder, devour and replace them if they ever get out of line. This was true in the old timeline and its true now...," Lil replied nonchalantly.

"So are you trying to block my way to getting a Rei-Ken?," Kazui asked as he readied for battle.

"It's like I'm an obstacle...," Lil replied as she transformed immediately into her older and gorgeous looking form, wearing a black frilly gown with golden lining, white gloves and a matching large black sun hat decorated with a large yellow made her seem like a high class woman, aside from her gown having an opening that revealed her navel. Her eyes were closed and her blond hair now reached her waist. Long angelic wings sprouted from her back. Her Nahrung Für Gott umbrella had grown larger, it was like a held patio umbrella being held in her left hand behind her head.

Kazui then realized he didn't have a Zanpakuto, but then took Lil's advice.

This is a mental space, so I can imagine what I need., he thought as he manifested his true Zanpakuto.

He saw the mental image of Tsuki, the kitsune Zanpakuto, approving of his choice to use it.

"The Moon gazes from the heavens, causing madness and flow- Illuminate Kūmen Kagami Ken no Tsuki (Nine Sided Mirror Sword of the Moon).," Kazui said as blue Reishi manifested and formed into Kazui's new sword's form.

It was a large arrow shaped blade emerging from a round dark blue guard that was reflecting the nine phases of the moon within it, attached to a blue clothed handle with a golden moon attached to the pommel.

"Let's test it out. Round Two.," Kazui said aloud as he looked at his opponent.


Next Chapter: ß- the Final Letter-G4-F-E-D1