Author Notes: While the other Sternritter Quincy including Masaki and potentially her father were easy to figure out, these four needed a lot more thought to figure out and fit into the story- given that the Vandenreich is based on the alphabet- the German one at that, so each of the special letters for both it and little bit of Latin needed to be considered.
Then I thought that these remaining four were deemed heretics to the current Quincy ideology for various reasons. Each one embodies a particular thing that the Quincy can't tolerate. One being emptying out their collection of Reishi and truly share with others with no intent to take it; another is retaining tradition and keeping the old ways, another is taking in elements that could potentially taint them, and lastly, being humble and compromise- which neither the Soul Reapers and Quincy are willing to do.
For the Ë, I thought of Joanne Dárc/Joann of Arc, who is already a famous holy person who communicated and spoke to God, which fit strongly with the Quincy theme. She probably was the one who invented the Letzt Stil, as someone who would gladly give her life for the cause- something alien to the Quincy race (even the Stammbaum is a way for immortality), and only Sōken and Ūryū ever really committed to while the other Quincy viewed as a weak, sterile technique.
For the Ï, the Quincy home base is made of Ice, so I made a Quincy that's the opposite of Bazz-B the fire guy- an icy woman, a "snow angel" to go with the whole angel theme of the Quincy overall.
For the ſ, he's the Quincy that's probably deviates the most from the traditional beliefs of the Quincy, the second being Ichigo. He's a representation of the Antichrist- a Man of Sin and Lawlessness who stands against the Anointed One, which is Jesus- or Yhwach in this universe with the Soul King lineage being God for his heretical beliefs in intentionally utilizing Hollow/other kinds of Powers in addition to Quincy as a natural part of themselves, rather than a means to an end. His appearance like reflect the description of the Anti-Christ/False Prophet to further the whole false angel motif.
For the Ω, the Omega, the End, the opposite of Alpha, the A-Almighty, the name, Mechayemit is play on a name for God meaning Mechayeh Metim – "Life Giver to the Dead"- one who gives his life to restore those who died unjustly which is opposite to Yhwach in the original manga- who was more of a Death dealer to Life by giving life with the intention to take it (I'm aware of the bad pun). Since his and Yhwach's name are both corruptions of names of God, they're definitely connected on a deeper level as you read on.
While the 1000 year war is somewhat known and the Thousand Year Blood War is very well known, the 200 year ago extermination war is completely unknown, but it's strongly hinted to not be connected with Yhwach's actions in general. It's going to be a big focus for this little mini-arc.
I'm also expanding on the Gatekeepers based on their appearance alone- basing their personalities on how they looked, also incorporating the Light novels' elements into this long flashback and adding some details of my own.
Chapter 33: ß- the Final Letter-Ë, Ï, ſ and the Ω
Kazui opened his eyes to a black void, where four figures, ones that weren't like the Quincy ancestors he knew, nor had ever known. Whoever, they were, they were clearly important enough to be in his mind.
Behind them, was a heart covered in shadowy chains, courtesy of Askin's abilities, but also other chains- regular ones of iron that encroaching his heart as well, which occasionally showed a grinning mouth.
"You want to get rid of the chains.," said a voice that sounded like it was both muffled and blurred yet still comprehensible.
Kazui nodded.
"If you believe it to be the D's chains- then you're wrong.," the voice said with dissatisfaction.
Kazui turn his head to the right in confusion.
"In the beginning, life didn't have these chains- they were free to truly embrace the heart. Then they made it so that they would feel intense guilt for even the slightest of attachments and become Preta- Hollows. Soul Reapers are conditioned not to truly embrace emotion for this reason. The Rei-Ken is born from going against that belief and achieve powers in tandem with the Jiken. It is not something to learn through thought, but experience through emotion.," the voice explained.
"Who are you?," Kazui requested as the figures began to materialize in full.
They were as follows-
A pale skinned, young man with shoulder length black hair, wore a long black fur overcoat with red markings of 6 in different languages along the trims of the coat, baggy pants with sandals and black arm bands- making him contrast with most Quincy. Most unusually, he had curved horns growing from the sides of his head and black sclera instead of white sclera with red irises around black pupils. He had a bone crafted bow with a ram skull in the center of the bow and a quiver made of serpent bones bound together with bones serving as arrows. He wore a black mouth mask with a skull pattern. He seemed to be sinister, but with an irreverent tone that didn't really seem that evil.
A teenage girl with amethyst iris eyes, blond bob-cut hair with a long, braided ponytail, wearing a medieval armored version of the Quincy uniform. She had a silver bow over her back and unusually no bows in her silver quiver. She seemed taciturn and cool headed, but with a hidden sadness in her eyes.
A regal looking woman with unusual pale blue skin, dark blur iris eyes, white hair and wearing a white fur-coat over her Quincy uniform along with a crown made of ice. She was calm and reserved, but there was a hidden sullen look in her eyes that suggested loneliness and a need to belong.
And the last, reminded Kazui of Yhwach, but at the same time, he seemed entirely different. He had a long beard, bushy sideburns, and white, long hair with the top of his head being bald. He wore a white, modest looking monk robe with a hood with an eerily Shun Shun Rikka symbol. He had a blue monocle over his right eye and his other blue iris eye looked sullen and melancholy- Kazui was sure that this was the voice that had spoken to him.
Well, that's not what I was expecting for them to look like., Kazui thought.
"I am Joana Jeanne the Ë- Ëmpty.," said the blond woman with a resolute tone of voice.
"I am Morana Beira the Ï- the Ïcy.," spoke the blue skinned woman with a detached tone of voice.
"I'm Anomias Anathema the ſ- the ſinfulneſ...You can call it Sinfulness for clarity's sake...ſ...it's a long S.," said the pale skinned young man with a shrug.
"And I am Mechayemit the Ω- The Modest...you can call me Mech for sort...you don't need to make something fancy for myself.," said the man with the monocle with a humble tone of voice.
"We were deemed Heretics to the Quincy for various reasons. Mine's something to do with my charming good looks.," said Anomias with sarcasm.
"We are Verfaulte Zweige (Rotted Branches) of the Stammbaum, deemed to be unfit to carry the position, but were leaders during forgotten parts of the history of our race or at least, siblings of those leaders...typically a Quincy ruler doesn't have siblings usually.," explained Morana with a voice that sounded like a whispery wind.
"The reason that it was deemed important he'd resort to us is to awaken your Rei-Ken...and avenge our race.," added Joanna with a tear down her eye.
"So we're going to fight?," Kazui said before he noticed that neither his Zanpakuto or Tsuki was with him.
"You cannot use your sword of the mind here in the heart...nor do we want to indulge in fighting...," explained Morana.
"Because they're pacifists and I'm really lazy.," Anomias said with indifference, which irked Joanna.
"...Show them...no need to lie to the boy.," said Mech as he began to emit sapphire blue Reishi.
Kazui immediately felt paralyzed and then fell to his knees from the pressure.
"Vollständig-Gabriel-Gottes Wille (God's Will).," said Joanna as she was covered in blue Reishi. She emerged with a white shield with a Shun Shun Rikka like blue emblem in the center, holding an ornate scepter with the Quincy Cross at the hilt and a blue sphere adorned with wings on the top. She wore ornate, silver armor with an opening for her midriff and wore a lion head shaped helmet. She had six angelic wings covered with blue iris eyes and six sets of halos arranging vertically upwards.
"Vollständig-Israfil- Gottes Henker(God's Executioner).," said Morana, as she was covered a blue tinted sleet of snow and emerged as a four winged, blue turban wearing, elegant blue dress with an opening for her navel, a shawl over her mouth, and a blue ribbon to tie the dress. Her wings were covered with light blue iris eyes and had a reverberating blue halo. She held a long sapphire trumpet in one hand and a Saturn like sphere in the other.
"Vollständig- Lucifer- Ausstrahlung Gottes (Radiance of God).," declared Anomias as he glowed with a blinding blue light, and when it dimmed, it showed a six winged entity made of blue Reishi light that flared like blue fire, wearing dark blue robes, with the head of a horned dragon with red sclera eyes, and a long serpentine tail ending in a sun like sphere of blue light. He had a blue flame sword in a holster around his waist and a halo that resembled that of Saturn's rings.
"Vollständig- Orphiel-Heiliger Geist Gottes (Holy Spirit of God).," Mech calmly said as he illuminated in a wide explosion of blue light. He then remerged a blue Reishi entity with no other discernible features other than dark blue eyes, a beard like extension from the head, eight wings covered in light blue eyes emerging from his back, eight halos- with the halos arranged with the eighth being the smallest and placed in the center of the other halos placed within each other in a circle ripple pattern, vaguely taloned feet, and a beam sword of light blue Reishi light in one hand and a circular blue Reishi shield in the other.
They then deactivated their Vollständig with ease while Kazui remained in awe.
The other Vollständig that Kazui had faced before were nothing in comparison.
"You can kill me...," Kazui said with resolution.
Amonias then slapped Kazui, much to the others' surprise as well as Kazui's own.
"You're the heir and if you died before we managed to awaken your Quincy leadership, all of this was for nothing.," he explained with annoyance as he walked away.
"So you're going to show me the past?," Kazui asked as the four then released a calmer Reiatsu from their body.
"Yup...," Amonias replied as he and the others were blinded by the light.
Soul Society...
Kazui awoke in a place he had personally been in a while seeing a very familiar face.
It was a white gate against a Feudal Japanese village, which behind both was an elaborate Feudal Japanese city with a white tower in the center.
An extremely large, muscular man with a prominent lower lip as well as a large lower jaw, who easily towered above most Soul Reapers His black hair was tied into a pony-tail, which extended down his waist. He had long sideburns, which continued down onto his neck and long enough to be tied up in small pony-tail like tufts. He wore armor on his left shoulder and upper arm, plus a red hat with tassels. The left side of his chest was left exposed by his uniform.
He seemed slightly smaller and youthful than the one he knew.
"It's been 100 years since I was a Gatekeeper. I'm gonna to continue to do my best.," he said with optimism.
Suddenly three other screens appeared in the sky, showing similarly sized giants with distinct looks.
"Hello, Kaiwan of Blue Stream Gate, Higonyūdō of the Red Hollow Gate, and Danzōmaru of the Black Ridge Gate. How are you guys doing?," asked the gorilla like man.
"Hiya, Jidanbō Ikkanzaka of the White Road Gate, you still crying over spilt milk. Rahahha!.," said Kaiwan, a the large, curved nosed, wild looking giant with long, unkempt black hair and black facial hair styled in to two bushy stripes on both cheeks to form a semi-mustache, but was otherwise clean shaven. He wore black hakama with a white obi sash, but was topless. He grinned in a way that constantly showed his upper and lower teeth. He seemed to be a belligerent, aggressive brute with a sick sense of humor.
"Silence Kaiwan. Your brother, Jirōbō the Kamaitachi is an irritation to the 7th Squad. Please teach him dignity for god' sake. I'm tired of the Captain's complaints of always mentioning his disruptions, especially when he's a relationship of a Gatekeeper.," said Danzōmaru, a large dark skinned giant with light bushy eyebrows and his head is shaven bar a patch in the centre where his hair is dyed in an alternating pattern of light and dark pattern like intersecting arrows. He seemed to be the no-nonsense, unofficial leader of the bunch.
"Calm down, calm down. Everything is fine. With occasional exceptions, it's been a relatively Ryoka free period for the past five millennia...," Higonyūdō, a large, monk like giant who wore standard Shinigami uniform with the addition of a white robe over his right shoulder which was tucked into his obi sash at both the front and back, which included a hat attachment that had two hanging extensions.
"Our ancestors faced a powerful Adjuchas in centuries long past and before that, an even greater Hollow that couldn't be even described into the three Menos categories. And the Quincy could attack us at any time...we need to be vigilant.," the dark skinned giant spoke severely.
"Uh...What's the difference between a regularly Hollow and an Adjustment Hollow?," Jidanbō asked, unsure of the contents of the conversation.
"Regular and Adjuchas...," Danzōmaru corrected his colleague with an exasperated sigh of irritation.
"Say...the Royal Guard and the Captains are going to meet up with the rest of the world...so we need to keep our guard up even more...so don't fuck up.," said Higonyūdō with a closed eyed expression and an eerie smile that made the others quiet.
"Also they're coming through your gate.," Higonyūdō added to Jidanbō, who quickly did as he asked as he tapped the gate to rise up.
Out came the the 13 Court Guard Captains of that particular generation, the Zero Squad of that Generation and a special wagon behind them carrying what very likely to the Soul King in order to protect him.
They were as followed-
An old man with red iris eyes that he usually kept closed, a very long white beard tied with black rope, and long eyebrows. There were many scars on his torso and head, the two most prominent being a pair of long, perpendicular scars above his right eye,. He wore the standard Shinigami uniform, but its size was greatly exaggerated. He draped his haori over his back instead of actually wearing it. Despite his old and frail appearance, he had hints of a very muscular body. He was the former 1st Squad Captain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
He was accompanied by a young man with golden iris eyes, short silver-gray hair and lightly tanned skin. He wore a white jinbaori over a standard Shinigami uniform with long white arm guards. He wore a white turtle-neck under his uniform and had his lieutenant armband on his left arm. He was the newly appointed Lieutenant of Squad 1, Chōjirō Sasakibe.
There was a dark skinned handsome man with golden iris eyes, with purple hair tied in a ponytail, he wore a sleeveless and backless white Onmitsukidō uniform, with long black wrist guards, and a long-sleeved captain's haori with orange inner color. He unusually had prominent black cat ears and a long cat tail, which he found annoying personally.
He was accompanied by a large man, who in comparison to his much more homely family of the Ōmaeda clan, he looked relatively normal with a black buzzcut hair cut and wore his 2nd Squad badge on his right arm.
He then with a nonchalant expression, tossed his energetic, identical daughter with slightly longer hair back into the Seireitei.
"This isn't over!," she shouted as she flew through the sky to Kazui's shock.
"Girl needs to learn duty.," he said with an annoyed sigh as he scratched his head.
"Yes, captain, so does my son. I fear the family will be tarnished through his succession.," complained the larger man.
"More like doing it without them really knowing your getting away with it.," he muttered with a sly wink with a smile.
"Squad 2 Captain, Yamichi Shihōin, Lieutenant Mareō Ōmaeda. Focus.," said the Squad 1 Captain with a firm annoyance, causing both to focus.
"Oh man...," Yamichi said with a sigh of annoyance.
Behind them was a sullen looking man with dark reddish brown shoulder length hair, large sullen eyes with unusual golden iris eyes with pupils shaped like a target screen. He was accompanied by a woman with gray iris eyes, thin eyebrows and dark hair, wearing the third Squad's badge on her left arm. She seemed personally annoyed by his behavior.
"This is all destined for failure, Chikane Iba-," he muttered before the woman began to kick him.
"Captain Hametsu Michi...so annoying. My hubbie's much more sterner than you.," she complained.
Michi...I wonder if Unmei is related..., Kazui thought.
Then there was a slender and very youthful woman with blue iris eyes and black hair that she wore styled in front of her as a loose ponytail; she wore a typical captain uniform apart from using an obi instead of the normal sash. She was accompanied by a mild mannered man with short, light blue hair, square glasses and silver iris eyes.
"Ishakyōki Kurotsuchi. The others seem to be having fun..," she said with a demure laugh.
"Oh...yes...Retsu Unohana...," he said with an absent tone of voice that seemed to be focused on something else.
Behind them was a man with brown hair that reached his back, wore a captain's haori, and had cruel, gray iris eyes. In comparison, the long black haired woman had gentle brown iris eyes, she held thei hand of theriadolescent son- a mild looking brown haired bespectacled boy with brown iris eyes. And following them was a young man with blond hair tied in a ponytail, brown iris eyes and had a constant expression that revealed his upper teeth. Behind the two of them, was the actual lieutenant, a sickly looking, pale man with long silver hair, round eyes that obscured his eyes and his lieutenant's badge around his neck like a choker.
" Enmā Nārākū. Are you following my back?," asked the brown haired man.
"Captain Genzo Aizen...I'd be more worried about the Soul Emperor...," replied the man in a very creepy manner.
"Stop it, you're scaring your kid.," said the blond man, noting the very nervous boy.
"Shinji...I'd be more careful with your words...," Genzo replied menacingly.
"Stop it dear.," said the woman with a stern tone of voice.
"Y...Yes, Kikue...," the long haired man stuttered.
She's the real power behind the family..., thought Shinji.
There was a man with long graying black hair, slate gray eyes, a graying mustache, the standard captain uniform along with a white scarf, a short-sleeved captain's haori and fingerless black tekkō that covered the back of his hand and looped up to attach at the base of his fingers. He was accompanied by a man with round glasses and slicked back graying hair and a small mustache, who wore his lieutenant badge on his right arm.
"They're very noisy. Iwao.," the elderly man muttered.
"Yes, Captain Ginrei.," the bespectacled man agreed.
There was a large man who wore a large silver closed helm helmet over his head, silver armored gauntlets, silver shoulder weights over his haori and large, plated boots instead of sandals. Accompanying him was a his hair was in a classic, rounded afro style with long sideburns, he wore a standard Soul Reaper uniform with a pair of dark-lensed sunglasses and his lieutenant badge around his right arm. Behind them was a man with frameless red sunglasses, black hair tied up in a ponytail, bushy black eyebrows and a black goatee. A scar ran along the left side of his face, from his forehead, through his eye to his cheek.
"Captain Njian.," said the man with the scar.
"Yes, Jin'emon.," replied the giant with a nod as if a long conversation had just happened.
"What're you talking about?," muttered the afro haired man.
There was a a tall, light-skinned man with high cheekbones, grey iris eyes and long wavy brown hair. His hair was tied in a long ponytail and has long bangs that framed the left side of his face. He also had a noticeable amount of body hair on his chest, feet, and arms. He wore a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink, flowered lady's kimono, which he draped across his shoulders and over his captain's uniform. Although his haori and obi sash were cheap, his pin-wheel hairpins were very expensive. He did not wear tabi with his sandals. He had thin facial hair around his upper mouth and cheeks. He was accompanied by a woman with turquoise iris eyes, red oval glasses and long black hair tied like a ponytail; she wore her captain's badge around her right arm.
"Riza...Lisa's gonna grow up soon.," said the man with the straw hat.
"Like I'd let that happen. Captain Kyoraku.," replied the woman.
There was a green iris eyed, slightly overweight man with dark green hair styled like a traditional samurai wearing the Captain's haori in the traditional manner, he also had a thick mustache. He was accompanied by a tall, muscular man with sharp features, short light-gray/silver hair and brown iris eyes, a sleeveless shihakushō that was open on the front, exposing his chest and a tattoo of the number "69" on his chest, and a pair of fingerless black gloves that covered most of his forearms.
"Enmā being a lieutenant of all things, how disgraceful to the Five Noble Houses. My son, Tokinada will eventually lead the family in my passing. He'll take the leadership in my passing. Isn't that right Kensei?," muttered the man with disdain, while fanning himself.
"Yeah, in a pig's eye, Captain Tokimū.," muttered Kensei Mururugama.
There was a tall brown iris eyed man with unkempt black hair with hints of orange highlights at the ends, a medium length beard, eye-marks, and was heavily scarred. Accompanying him was a young man with spiky black hair with noticeable sideburns and brown iris eyes; he wore his lieutenant badge on his left hair.
"Hey...Isshin...what're you worried about...You're gonna be meeting the big S.E.," he said in a very playful and teasing matter.
"Lay off dad.," said Isshin with embarrassment.
"How's Ichiyon doing?," asked the black haired youth.
"He's inherited the curse of our clan...I was the Ichisan before him and gradually when I die, it'll fully belong to him.," the father said more seriously.
There was a young man with dark, unkempt hair, a standard Soul Reaper uniform under a sleeveless haori.
Accompaying him was a man from the Kuruyashiki district wearing the standard Soul Reaper uniform, with peach skin, thin red-brownish eyebrows, red-brownish spiky hair and dark-black irises. He wore the lieutenant badge on his left arm.
"Shiba Taiju is really enthusiastic, Ashido.," Kuruyashiki, the man remarked.
Ashido decided not to indulge.
There was a tall, lean man with light skin, back length pale blond hair, and gray iris eyes; he wore the standard captain uniform, he was accompanied by a slender, and well-endowed woman with long purple hair, and having swirl-shaped markings on her cheeks as well black lipstick.
Behind them was a golden iris eyed man that was largely self-painted white except for the black paint which was arranged around his eyes like a large domino mask. He had gold cones covering his ears and blue hair combed back on the top of his head. He had somehow become invisible through some special camouflage. The man in front knew he was being followed by the invisible man, but chose to ignore it.
"I'll get a souvenir for Kisuke. He'll need something from the Soul Emperor's pad, Kirio.," said the blond man with a laugh.
"Yes...Captain Misuke.," replied the busty lieutenant.
There was a man with long white hair parted to the left side with one long piece that tended to fall over his right eye, tied into a long ponytail, black eyebrows, with somewhat emaciated physique, green iris eyes, wore the typical Soul Reaper uniform with a long sleeved captain's haori, and a crimson lining. He wore a narrow white obi, in which he secured his Zanpakuto.
Accompanying him was a man with spiky, orange hair with black highlights had a red bandana over his head, a sleeveless Soul Reaper uniform and his lieutenant badge over his right arm.
"Jushiro...you ok?," said the scowling young man.
"Ichiyon...You shouldn't be so formal...the Head Captain will scold you for that...I'm fine.," the white haired man replied with a sigh.
That man looks like and acts like dad..., Kazui thought to himself, looking confused and baffled.
They then noticed a tall, muscular man with light blue spiky hair and light blue eyes-
Grimmjow-, thought Kazui until he noticed something very different.
He didn't have a Hollow mask nor hole, let alone his green marks around his eyes. He didn't wear his usual attire- in fact...
He dressed more like a traditional Quincy of all things.
As many of the Captains were either shocked or readied for battle, this blue haired Quincy prostrated before them and begged,
"Let us join your council and find a way to find coexistence!"
Whhaaaa?!, Kazui thought.
...212 Years Ago
Next Chapter: The Wheel of Fate Mocks You