Marvel: From the Void and Back Again, Part 3
Chapter 4: The Nature of Knull
…
In Las Noches, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez strode in, a noticeable scowl etched across his face. He hadn't been in the mood for formalities after his clash with Ichigo Kurosaki, but his curiosity about the recent commotion and "new developments" had gotten the better of him. However, as his icy blue eyes scanned the room, they landed on something that immediately made his hackles rise.
Next to him, bouncing like an oversized, absurd balloon, was the so-called "Balloonimo." The bizarre creature emitted a faint squeaky sound with every hop, its bright, cartoonish grin fixed firmly in place. Grimmjow instinctively stepped back, as if distance alone could shield him from whatever uncanny nonsense this thing radiated.
"Will someonepleaseexplain to me what the hell this thing is?" Grimmjow demanded, glaring at Yammy and Luppi, who were seated near Aizen's dais. "And why is it staring at me?"
Baloonimo turned its giant white eyes toward him, blinked several times in rapid succession, and then somehow produced a party horn from thin air, blowing it loudly in Grimmjow's direction. The sound reverberated with a strange echo, leaving Grimmjow momentarily speechless.
Luppi, who was still nursing a few bruises from his recent ordeal, winced and waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah, that's Baloonimo. It's one ofhiscreations." He jabbed a thumb toward Peter-Knull, who leaned casually against the far wall, arms crossed, watching the exchange with a faint smirk.
"And what exactly doesitdo?" Grimmjow growled, eyeing Baloonimo as the creature floated upward, flapping its balloon-like arms like wings.
"That," Yammy chimed in, "is the weirdest thing I've ever seen. It's like… a symbiote as he calls them, fused with one of those human drawings that move. Except it doesn'tfeellike either of those. It's… wrong."
Grimmjow sneered, keeping his distance as Baloonimo landed with an audible squeak and began bouncing in place again. "Wrong? It's not just wrong; it's annoying."
"Annoying?" Luppi scoffed. "Try terrifying. That thinggiggleswhen it attacks you."
Peter-Knull finally pushed himself off the wall, walking toward the center of the room where the Espada gathered. "You're all so jumpy. Baloonimo's harmless, unless I tell it not to be," he said, his tone casual, though his eyes gleamed with amusement.
Grimmjow folded his arms, refusing to look at the bouncing creature. "Harmless my ass. Why's it here?"
"Because I'm here," Peter replied simply. "And it happens to like you, Grimmjow. You should feel flattered."
Grimmjow narrowed his eyes. "I'd rather it liked someone else."
Meanwhile, Yammy and Luppi were still trying to explain the events to Aizen, though their accounts were fragmented and punctuated with their own bewildered commentary.
"…And then thisthing, Baloonimo, just starts throwing pies and pulling dynamite out of thin air!" Luppi exclaimed, his hands flailing for emphasis. "It's like it's… mocking reality itself."
Yammy nodded, his expression grim. "And it's not just the cartoon freak. That guy, Peter-Knull… he's something else entirely. He blocked Captain Yamamoto's punch. Didn't even flinch."
Luppi shuddered. "And he didn't even fight back! Just stood there like it was no big deal."
Aizen, seated calmly on his throne, rested his chin on his steepled fingers, his expression unreadable. "Fascinating," he murmured. "A being who chooses to observe rather than destroy, and yet wields power that even the strongest of us cannot rival. Tell me, Peter-Knull…"
Peter glanced at him, his expression calm. "Yeah?"
"Your… Baloonimo. Is it a weapon? Or a distraction?"
Peter-Knull's eyebrow arched slightly, and his tone carried a faint edge of dry amusement as he replied, "Like I've said before, I created asymbiotic universe.There are literally billions of these creatures spread across millions of worlds. Baloonimo? He's just one of them. Some of them are like him, cartoonish, playful, harmless unless provoked. Others are… well, very different."
He folded his arms, his gaze steady as he continued, "There are symbiotes that give life to rocks, turning them into sentient beings. There are ones that mimic angels, beings of light and purity that can burn away darkness. There's a symbiote of music that vibrates entire worlds into harmony. You name it, I've probably created it."
The room fell silent as Peter's words sank in. Even the normally stoic Ulquiorra tilted his head slightly, as though processing the enormity of what Peter had just described.
Peter shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I literally hadeternityto work with. Do you know what that's like? Eternity is not just a concept in my universe, it's an actual symbiotic entity. Eventimehas a form there, one that bends, shifts, and interacts with everything else. I created and built entire worlds from the ground up, sometimes just because I could. Baloonimo might seem like a joke to you, but he's a piece of something far bigger than you can imagine."
Aizen's eyes gleamed with intrigue as he steepled his fingers. "A symbiotic universe, you say. A place where even time itself is… alive." His calm tone betrayed a faint note of fascination. "And yet, despite such vast power, you find yourself here, in this hollowed realm."
Peter tilted his head slightly, his tone nonchalant. "Even gods get bored, Aizen. My universe is self-sustaining. It doesn't need me to run it anymore, which leaves me free to… explore. Learn. See what other realities have to offer."
Aizen leaned back in his throne, his enigmatic smile widening. "Fascinating. A creator who walks among mortals, observing rather than ruling. Your restraint is… admirable."
Peter smirked faintly, his eyes glinting. "It's not restraint. It's perspective. When you've seen as much as I have, you realize how small most problems are. And how destructive unchecked power can be."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the Espada exchanging uncertain glances. Even Grimmjow, who usually scoffed at such philosophical talk, found himself momentarily speechless.
Baloonimo, meanwhile, chose this moment to bounce into the air and emit a loud squeaky giggle, breaking the tension in its own absurd way. It waved at Aizen enthusiastically, its cartoonish grin as wide as ever.
Peter glanced at the creature and chuckled. "And then there's Baloonimo, reminding me not to take things too seriously."
Aizen's gaze lingered on Peter for a moment longer before he turned his attention to his gathered Espada. "It seems we have much to learn about our guest. Observe him closely. There may be more to his presence here than even he realizes."
It was then that Aizen signaled the next order of business to be taken care of in regards to their new guest. Signaling for Orihime to approach.
A tense silence filled the air as Orihimetook several hesitant steps forward. , her delicate frame trembling slightly. Despite his calm and composed demeanor, the room itself seemed to bow under the weight of Aizen's presence, his Espada gathered like statues in their eerie stillness. Yet it wasn't Aizen who truly froze Orihime in place.
Her eyes flickered to the corner of the room, where a strange, cartoonish creature—theBaloonimo—bounced up and down like a child's toy brought to life. It giggled with delight, completely out of place in the sterile, ominous environment of Las Noches. But then her gaze shifted.
Tohim.
Peter-Knull stood near the Baloonimo, his leather jacket resting casually on his shoulders, and his glowing, multi-layered eyes locked onto her. His posture was relaxed, but Orihime felt something incomprehensible radiating from him. It wasn't the oppressive spiritual pressure she had sensed from Aizen or the Espada. It was something else entirely—an all-encompassing void. The absence of anything and everything. It was as though she were staring into the vast, starless abyss of the cosmos.
Her breath hitched as her knees threatened to buckle. Yet, amidst the terrifying emptiness, there was something… unexpected in his expression. His eyes softened as he looked at her, almost like hepitiedher.
Aizen, noticing her hesitation, broke the silence with his smooth, authoritative voice. "Orihime. Would you kindly confirm your name for me?"
Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "I… I am Orihime Inoue."
Aizen smiled faintly, his expression unreadable. "Excellent. Now, I would like you to demonstrate your powers."
Orihime swallowed hard, her thoughts swirling in panic. "My… powers?"
Aizen nodded, his voice calm yet commanding. "Yes. Some here remain unconvinced of their true value." He gestured toward Grimmjow, who was missing an arm as he leaned against a pillar, the stump of his missing left arm visible. "For instance, the matter of Grimmjow's arm. A trivial example, perhaps, but I think it would suffice."
Grimmjow scoffed at the mention of his lost arm, his sharp eyes narrowing. Luppi, standing beside him, smirked with derision. "Ridiculous. She's not a god. Kaname Tōsen destroyed that arm completely. There's no bringing it back."
Orihime hesitated, glancing at Aizen, then at Grimmjow. She felt a strange pull within her, almost as if all her strength were being drawn out of her. Yet, despite the overwhelming pressure, she closed her eyes and softly murmured, "Sōten Kisshun."
A warm golden glow surrounded Grimmjow's stump, and to everyone's astonishment, his arm began to regenerate. Flesh and bone knit together as if time itself were rewinding. Within moments, his left arm was fully restored, every scar and imperfection erased as though it had never been damaged at all.
The room erupted into a cacophony of disbelief.
"What?!" Luppi barked, his eyes wide with shock. "How did you do that?! That's… That's not healing! That goes beyond anything I've ever seen!"
Grimmjow flexed his restored arm, his sharp grin widening with satisfaction, though even he couldn't hide his astonishment. "It's like it was never gone…"
Before anyone could speak further, Peter-Knull stepped forward examining the now restored arm. The weight of his words hit the room like a thunderclap. Grimmjow lowered his arm, his confident smirk faltering. Even Aizen's calm demeanor cracked ever so slightly as he leaned forward in his chair.
Noticing their stunned reactions, Peter-Knull raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "What? You all look like I just grew a second head. I'm just saying… I've seen powers like hers before."
"And you would know this because…?" Aizen pressed, his voice edged with curiosity.
Peter-Knull's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Because I can do something similar. MySeraphis symbiotescan manipulate time and genetics in a way not too different from her abilities. They're capable of healing genetic and physical disorders, cancer, aging to some degree, mental illnesses, you name it. Even limbs people werenever born withcan be formed in seconds. Compared to that, restoring a limb? Child's play."
The room fell silent once more. Even the ever-confident Luppi seemed at a loss for words.
Peter-Knull, unfazed, glanced around at the stunned faces before rolling his shoulders. "What? Did I say something weird?"
The Espada stood in stunned silence as Peter-Knull's words lingered in the air, his nonchalant explanation of the Seraphis symbiotes echoing with an almost surreal weight. The description of these creatures—angelic, capable of healing even genetic disorders, and now, potentially reversing death itself—hung like a storm cloud over the group.
Grimmjow, his sharp grin widening with a spark of mischievous intent, broke the silence with a chuckle. "Alright then," he said, his voice dripping with defiance. "Let's see if your little angelic pets are as good as you say."
Before anyone could react, Grimmjow suddenly lunged at Luppi, hisfistslicing through the air with brutal precision. The force of his attack left no room for defense; Luppi barely had time to register what was happening before his top half was obliterated in a spray of blood and spiritual energy. The Espada collectively froze, wide-eyed as Luppi's lifeless body crumpled to the floor, the upper portion of his torso and head mangled beyond recognition.
"Reclaiming my spot as therealSixth Espada," Grimmjow growled, flexing his fingers with satisfaction. He then turned to Peter-Knull, his sharp grin turning sly. "Prove it," he challenged. "Let's see you fix that."
The room was still. Even Aizen, ever the calm and calculated observer, raised an eyebrow at the audacity of the scene. All eyes shifted to Peter-Knull, waiting to see how he would react to such an outrageous demand.
Peter-Knull simply shrugged; his expression unbothered. "Okay."
That single, casual word sent a ripple of unease through the Espada. Before anyone could process what was happening, something began to phase out of Peter-Knull's body, a luminous, ethereal form unlike anything they had ever seen. The room was bathed in a radiant glow as the Seraphis symbiote emerged, its trinity-based form defying explanation. Three identical angelic entities moved in perfect unison, their delicate, intricate wings shimmering with celestial light as they hovered above the remains of Luppi.
The Espada watched in horrified fascination as the three figures descended toward Luppi's body. Their movements were eerily synchronized, as if a single mind controlled them. When one of the Seraphis folded its wings around Luppi's shattered remains, the other two mirrored the action exactly, their wings enveloping the corpse in a cocoon of light. The glow intensified, pulsing gently as if the symbiote was rewriting reality itself.
Seconds felt like an eternity as the Espada held their collective breath, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the Seraphis symbiote. Then, as quickly as it began, the light faded, and the three angelic figures unfurled their wings, revealing a fully intact Luppi gasping for breath. His wide, terrified eyes darted around the room as he clutched his chest, trembling from head to toe.
Grimmjow's smirk faltered, his jaw dropping as he stared at the impossible sight before him. "What the hell…" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
The rest of the Espada were similarly stunned. Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses with trembling fingers, his scientific mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. "It's… it's impossible. That level of restoration, bringing someone back from death, it defies all known principles."
Halibel's calm demeanor cracked for the first time, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied the Seraphis symbiote. "Those movements…" she murmured. "It's disturbing how perfectly they align. They're not three beings… they're one."
Nnoitra took a step back, his sneer replaced by a rare expression of unease. "What kind of freak show are you running here, Knull?" he growled, though his usual bravado sounded hollow.
Peter-Knull, unfazed by the chaos around him, gestured lazily at the now-breathing Luppi. "See? Good as new."
The Seraphis symbiote slowly phased back into Peter-Knull's body, its glow fading as it disappeared. The room remained eerily quiet as the Espada tried to comprehend what they had just seen. Aizen's smile deepened, his interest in Peter-Knull growing with each passing moment.
"Well," Peter-Knull said, breaking the silence, "are there any other experiments you'd like to try, or can we all agree that I wasn't bluffing?"
Orihime stood frozen, her wide eyes fixed on Luppi as he gasped for air, his body restored to perfection mere moments after being brutally destroyed. She clutched the edges of her skirt tightly, her mind racing to process what she had just witnessed.
Her healing power,Sōten Kisshun, was unlike anything she'd ever encountered in others. It wasn't healing in the conventional sense, it rejected events and rewrote reality to a state before harm occurred. But this… this wasn't rejection. What Peter-Knull's Seraphis symbiote had done was something else entirely. It wasn't merely reversing time or rewriting damage—it was recreating something beyond her comprehension.
Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. She found herself trembling, a mix of awe and uncertainty swelling within her. She'd always believed her powers were unique, and while she wasn't sure of their limits, she knew deep down that what she had seen today was… different.
"I..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as her gaze flickered between Peter-Knull and Luppi, who was shakily sitting upright now. She unconsciously touched her hairpins, the source of her powers, as doubt crept into her heart. Could she do something like that? Could her powers restore someone who had been destroyed so completely? She had never dared to try. The thought terrified her.
The ease with which Peter-Knull's Seraphis symbiote had acted unsettled her even more. There was no struggle, no hesitation, no apparent cost. It moved with serene confidence, as if such feats were as simple as breathing.
Orihime glanced at Peter-Knull, and for a moment, their eyes met. His calm, almost bored expression contrasted sharply with the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Yet, as she looked deeper into his eyes, she felt something strange, a flicker of… pity? He wasn't looking at her with condescension or superiority. Instead, there was a softness, an understanding that she couldn't explain. It was as if he knew the burden of wielding power beyond human comprehension and the weight it placed on someone's soul.
"I…" Orihime stammered, her voice trembling. "I don't think… I could do that. Not like that."
Grimmjow's incredulous laughter broke her trance. "What's the matter, little princess?" he sneered. "Afraid your powers aren't as special as you thought?" His tone was mocking, but Orihime barely registered it. Her thoughts were too tangled to respond.
Grimmjow's mocking laughter trailed off as a heavy, unnatural silence fell over the room. It took him a moment to notice that everyone's eyes weren't on Orihime, or even on Luppi's restored form—they were all staring athim. Or rather,behind him.
The hair on the back of Grimmjow's neck stood on end as Peter-Knull's calm, detached voice sliced through the tension like a blade.
"Talk about gratitude," Peter said, his tone casual, but carrying an edge that felt sharper than any weapon. "Or rather, theexact oppositeof gratitude. You treat everyone who does you a favor like that?"
Grimmjow stiffened. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned around, and the moment his eyes met Peter-Knull's, his bravado shattered.
Peter stood there, his posture relaxed but his presence suffocating. His eyes glinted with a cold, predatory light that seemed to pierce right through Grimmjow's soul. His mouth curved into a smirk—or something close to one, revealing four rows of jagged, shark-like teeth, each curve glinting like a set of finely honed blades. The sight of those teeth alone made Grimmjow's instincts flare in warning, but it was the look in Peter's eyes that truly chilled him. He wasn't attacking, wasn't raising a hand or even moving an inch, yet every fiber of Grimmjow's being screamed that he was staring into the eyes of a predator.
A predator sizing up its meal.
For once, Grimmjow's mouth was dry, and he struggled to find words. His instincts told him to back down, to apologize, todo somethingto diffuse the tension before it was too late. But his pride—the very thing that had gotten him into trouble countless times before—kept him rooted in place, even as his hands trembled ever so slightly at his sides.
Peter's sharp, multi-layered gaze didn't waver as he took a slow step forward, his presence pressing down like a physical weight. "You know," he said, almost conversationally, "where I come from, gratitude is pretty important. But I guess that's not your thing." His head tilted slightly, the motion disturbingly casual for someone radiating such unrelenting menace. "Not exactly the best survival trait."
Grimmjow swallowed hard, his sharp grin faltering as his instincts screamed at him again. Apologize. Submit. Dosomething.
"I…" he started, but his voice came out weaker than he intended. He took a shaky breath, forcing his usual cocky smirk back onto his face. "I was just messing around," he muttered, though it lacked any real conviction.
Peter didn't blink, his shark-like teeth glinting faintly as the corners of his mouth curled ever so slightly upward. The grin wasn't friendly, it was the smile of something thatknewit was at the top of the food chain. "Oh, I know you were," he said. "But here's the thing…" He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a low, almost playful murmur. "Messing around can get you on the menu."
Grimmjow's breath hitched, and for the first time in what felt like years, he felt his survival instincts override his pride. "Alright, alright," he said quickly, holding up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. "I get it. My bad, okay? Won't happen again."
Peter didn't say anything for a moment, his eyes scanning Grimmjow like a hunter deciding whether or not the prey was worth chasing. Then, as abruptly as it had appeared, the oppressive pressure faded. Peter straightened up, the rows of jagged teeth vanishing as his expression returned to its usual calm indifference.
"Good," Peter said simply, turning away as if nothing had happened.
Grimmjow exhaled a shaky breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his pride battered but his life intact. As the tension in the room began to ease, he couldn't help but glance back at Peter one last time. Whatever this guy was, Grimmjow knew one thing for sure, he wasn't someone to cross.
Aizen leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. The question had been simmering in his mind for some time now, and his curiosity finally got the better of him. "Peter-Knull," he began, his voice smooth and calculated, "you've hinted before that god-like beings exist in your reality. I must admit, I'm curious… how many such beings are there?"
The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of energy that seemed to accompany Peter-Knull's very presence. The Espada shifted slightly, some raising eyebrows, others exchanging glances. Even the ever-calm Halibel tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing in curiosity. Grimmjow leaned back, trying to look uninterested but clearly paying attention, and Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses, eager to dissect the answer.
Peter-Knull didn't immediately respond. Instead, he crossed his arms, tilting his head as if pondering the sheer scope of the question. Then, he shrugged casually, his expression unreadable.
"Well," Peter began, his tone matter-of-fact yet oddly profound, "how many pantheons exist around these parts from human history? The Greek gods, the Norse gods, the Egyptian gods… any of those ring a bell? And that's just scratching the surface."
A ripple of interest went through the room, and Peter continued without pause. "Not to mention demons, dead pantheons, and the ones that keep popping up on alien worlds. Then there are the forgotten ones, gods so old and abandoned that even their names barely linger in memory. I mean, there was that whole ordeal I went through with Bast, yeah, as in Bastet, the ancient Egyptian goddess of cats. Knocked her out cold after rattling her brain in her skull during a… let's just call it a disagreement."
Grimmjow raised an eyebrow at that, but Peter kept going, his voice calm but laced with dry humor. "And Hera from Olympus? Don't get me started on her. She spread a rumor that I called Zeus a royal bastard, which I didn't, just to frame me. That whole ordeal was a mess." He shook his head, as if reliving a particularly annoying memory. "Turns out Olympian grudges can lasteons."
Szayelaporro's eyes widened slightly, and he muttered something about "divine politics" under his breath, but Peter wasn't done yet.
"Then there's the Living Tribunal, a cosmic entity who oversees the balance of the multiverse, and the One Above All, the literal creator of everything in my reality. Oh, and Mistress Death? She's not just a concept where I come from; she's aperson. The literal Grim Reaper, and she's got breathren. Let's just say my dealings with her have been… complicated."
Aizen's smile twitched slightly as Peter added, almost offhandedly, "And that's not even counting vampires, werewolves, monsters, and aliens. Or the sheervariationsof all these beings across the alternate universes I've encountered, which range in the thousands, possibly the millions, they keep popping up all over the place."
The room was utterly silent, the weight of Peter's words settling over everyone like a storm cloud. Even Aizen, ever the picture of composure, leaned back in his chair, his smile faint but thoughtful.
"How… exhausting," Szayelaporro muttered, his voice tinged with both fascination and disbelief.
Halibel, always pragmatic, broke the silence. "And yet, you're still here. Alive. How?"
Peter-Knull tilted his head slightly, his multi-layered eyes narrowing as he considered Halibel's question. The room remained tense, the Espada leaning in, some figuratively, others literally, as they awaited his response. Finally, he spoke, his tone laced with genuine confusion.
"Because… nothing's been able to kill me yet," he said bluntly, shrugging as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I guess that's why?"
The sheer simplicity of his response left the room in stunned silence. Szayelaporro blinked several times, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to scribble notes in mid-air. Halibel's calm demeanor faltered for a brief moment, her golden eyes narrowing further as she processed what he'd just said. Even Grimmjow, who had been leaning back with an air of disinterest, sat up straighter, his expression a mix of disbelief and irritation.
"That's it?" Grimmjow blurted, his sharp grin widening slightly. "You're saying nothing's killed you because nothingcan? That's your big explanation?"
Peter gave him a slow, unimpressed look. "Pretty much, yeah."
Szayelaporro couldn't hold back any longer. Adjusting his glasses, he stepped forward. "You're telling me," He began, his voice rising slightly with excitement, "that despite encountering gods, cosmic entities, and beings capable of rewriting reality itself, not one of them has managed to terminate your existence? Not even alittle bit?"
Peter tilted his head slightly, his expression remaining calm but with the faintest hint of amusement. and even Aizen, waited for his response. Finally, Peter shrugged, his tone casual yet laden with meaning.
"Well," he began, "there was this one time I got hit with Mistress Death's scythe. She swung it straight at my neck, and it went halfway through my body." He gestured lazily to his torso as though recounting an old bar story. "But… here I am."
Szayelaporro froze mid-adjustment of his glasses, his hand trembling slightly. Halibel's calm demeanor gave way to a faint narrowing of her eyes, while Grimmjow's sharp grin vanished altogether. Even Aizen's perpetual composure flickered, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
Peter continued, his voice softening, though not losing its edge of dry humor. "The thing is… how do you kill something that's not alive? I'm not a person, not in the sense you understand. I'm just… Knull. The absence of all existence. The void."
The air seemed to grow heavier as he spoke, his words resonating with a strange gravity that made even the usually irreverent Grimmjow shift uncomfortably. "That's what I am," Peter concluded, his tone almost contemplative. "The void that is Knull. You can't kill the absence of something. You can't destroy nothingness."
Szayelaporro's fingers twitched, and he finally snapped out of his daze, muttering under his breath, "Fascinating… absolutely fascinating…"
Grimmjow, however, couldn't hold back his disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait." He pointed a finger at Peter, his voice tinged with frustration. "You're telling me Death herself tried to cut you down, and you just… what, shrugged it off?"
Peter smirked faintly, a sharp gleam in his multi-layered eyes. "Pretty much."
Grimmjow opened his mouth to retort but quickly shut it, his instincts screaming at him to back down. Something about Peter's tone, so calm, so utterly devoid of fear, sent a chill down his spine. It wasn't just arrogance or confidence. It was the absolute certainty of someone who had stared into the abyss and found nothing to fear.
Halibel's gaze lingered on Peter, her voice cutting through the charged silence. "And yet, you're still here," she said, her tone steady but curious. "Interacting with beings far less powerful than you. Why?"
Peter-Knull tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with an almost childlike curiosity, yet there was something disquieting about the way he spoke, as if the weight of his words was only an afterthought to him.
"Like I said," he began, his tone casual, "those celestial robot things that serve the Living Tribunal? You know, the ones who keep the multiverse in check? Well, when they made the Big Bang in my reality… they woke me up."
The room fell utterly silent, the weight of his words sinking in like a stone dropped into an abyss. Even Szayelaporro, who always seemed to have a sharp retort or curious observation, froze in place, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. Grimmjow's sharp grin faltered, and his hand twitched involuntarily, clenching at his side.
Peter continued as though he hadn't noticed the growing tension. "I guess, after creating my symbiote universe, I got… bored."
The word hung in the air like a thunderclap.Bored.
For a brief, horrifying moment, the word seemed to echo in their minds, reverberating endlessly.Bored.The sheer scale of it was incomprehensible. This was a being who casually admitted to creating an entire universe because he had nothing better to do. A being so far removed from the concept of mortality, power, or even reality itself that his motivation for existence boiled down topassing the time.
Halibel's steady composure cracked ever so slightly, her golden eyes narrowing as she processed what she had just heard. Szayelaporro staggered back a step, his face pale as he muttered, "Bored… he wasbored…"
Grimmjow's usual bravado evaporated, replaced with a mix of disbelief and something far closer to fear. "You're telling me," He growled, his voice lacking its usual bite, "that you made a whole damn universe because you werebored?"
Peter glanced at him with a faint smirk, utterly unbothered. "What else was I supposed to do? Twiddle my thumbs for eternity?"
Peter-Knull's grin widened ever so slightly, the sharp rows of his shark-like teeth glinting faintly in the dim light of the chamber. "That's probably why people keep calling me the God of the Void," he said, his tone light, almost amused. "Or rather, the God of the Symbiotes… among other titles. It's not a title I gave myself, but I guess it stuck." His eyes, those endless multi-layered abysses, scanned the room as if gauging their reactions.
Szayelaporro's fingers twitched nervously, his scientific mind working overtime to process what he was hearing, but even he was silent for once, completely at a loss for words. Grimmjow's usual cocky demeanor was nowhere to be found as he visibly took another step back, his instincts screaming that this was far beyond his pay grade.
Peter-Knull raised a hand and tapped his chin thoughtfully, adding almost offhandedly, "Even if someone were to kill me… they wouldn't really kill me. It would just… put me to sleep for a little while, and that's all. I'd wake up eventually. It's like a paradox, no matter what anyone does, I'm always there, somewhere."
The silence that followed was oppressive. Even Aizen, who prided himself on being unflappable, was unnervingly still. His sharp intellect and meticulous planning had prepared him for many contingencies, but this? This was something that even he had not anticipated. For once, the subtle smirk that almost perpetually graced his lips was absent, replaced by a faintly furrowed brow as he analyzed Peter-Knull's words.
Peter, noticing Aizen's stillness, turned his gaze directly to him. "Anyhow," Peter said casually, breaking the tension like an ice pick through glass, "I'll let you all digest that." He turned toward the rest of the room, his tone as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather. "I mean, it's a lot, I get it. So maybe I should leave you all to think about it?"
The Espada exchanged glances, clearly unsettled. Halibel's composure had mostly returned, but her gaze was colder, more calculating, as though trying to gauge the extent of this being's unpredictability. Grimmjow simply glared at the ground, his hands clenched into fists, while Szayelaporro stood rigid, muttering faint calculations under his breath as if desperately searching for some logical explanation to ground himself.
Aizen finally stirred, his sharp gaze locking onto Peter. "You are a most fascinating being," he said softly, his voice steady but carrying an unspoken undercurrent of unease. "I will admit, this is more than I anticipated. However…" He paused, his smirk creeping back, though it lacked its usual confidence. "Perhaps you're right. Some things do require time to fully digest."
Peter-Knull chuckled lightly, the sound both disarming and deeply unsettling. "Good to know I'm not the only one who appreciates taking their time," he said with a grin before turning toward the exit. "I'll leave you all to it, then. Let me know if you have more… questions." He gave a mockingly polite wave over his shoulder, his grin lingering as he walked away, his presence still heavy in the room long after he was gone.
The silence lingered, thick and stifling. Aizen's gaze didn't waver from the spot where Peter-Knull had stood, his mind clearly racing even as his expression remained impassive. The Espada, too, were left in stunned silence, each grappling with the sheer scope of what they had just heard.
Halibel was the first to break the quiet, her voice low and steady. "We may have underestimated the scale of what we're dealing with."
Grimmjow scowled, the fire of his usual bravado slowly reigniting as he forced himself to speak. "Underestimated? That thing's not just some guy playing along with Aizen's plans. He's something else entirely."
Szayelaporro finally found his voice, though it was quieter than usual. "A paradox, he said," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "An entity that cannot die, that exists outside of the rules we understand… How does one plan for such a being?"
Aizen's face remained composed, his usual enigmatic smile creeping back onto his lips. His tone was as smooth and confident as ever, but there was something in the way he spoke—an edge so subtle that it sent a chill through everyone present.
"This has been a most enlightening discussion," Aizen said, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to press down on the room. "However, I require some time to reflect on what I've learned. You are all dismissed."
The words, though calm and polite, sent an unmistakable wave of unease through the gathered Espada. Luppi shifted uncomfortably, his usual arrogance momentarily subdued. Even Yammy, who was rarely perceptive of subtlety, glanced toward Halibel and Grimmjow as if seeking reassurance. Szayelaporro adjusted his glasses nervously, his usually sharp, calculating demeanor dulled by the enormity of what they had just witnessed.
"Leave me," Aizen said, his voice firmer now but still unnervingly controlled. His gaze swept over the room, lingering on Orihime for a fraction of a second. "That includes you, Orihime."
Orihime hesitated, clutching her hands together as if unsure whether to obey. But the weight of Aizen's gaze was too much, and she nodded quietly before stepping back toward the exit. The rest of the Espada followed suit, though none of them spoke a word. Even Grimmjow, who normally thrived on challenging authority, kept his thoughts to himself. The air was too thick with tension, and the subtle shift in Aizen's tone had put them all on edge.
As the heavy doors closed behind the last of them, sealing Aizen in solitude, his expression shifted. The faint smirk vanished, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, his brow furrowed. His calm, composed exterior fractured ever so slightly as he turned toward the window, staring out at the endless sands of Hueco Mundo.
What have I brought into my domain?
The thought was sharp and intrusive, cutting through the carefully constructed web of confidence and control he had cultivated for centuries. Aizen placed a hand on the hilt of Kyōka Suigetsu, as though the familiar weight of his Zanpakutō could anchor him in this spiraling sea of doubt.
Peter-Knull... a being who defies understanding. A paradox in every sense of the word. I've spent my life defying the Spirit King, unearthing truths that would shatter lesser minds. Yet now, I find myself in the presence of something… greater. Something that exists outside the rules I've devoted myself to mastering.
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade. A spark of frustration flared within him, frustration at the unfamiliar sensation creeping through his chest. Was this fear? No. It couldn't be. Aizen Sousuke did not fear.
And yet…
The thought lingered, unbidden. Aizen's mind replayed Peter-Knull's words over and over, dissecting each one for meaning."Even if someone were to kill me… they wouldn't really kill me."The phrase echoed like a death knell, grating against the foundations of everything Aizen believed.
I am the architect of my destiny. The one who will stand above all creation, beyond the Spirit King, beyond the gods.But now, the cracks in that belief were widening, and Aizen couldn't stop them.
He exhaled slowly, his hand leaving the hilt of his blade as he turned away from the window. His footsteps echoed softly in the vast emptiness of the throne room as he began pacing, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts.
He's not lying.The realization was like a blade to the gut. Aizen prided himself on his ability to read people, to manipulate and dismantle them as he saw fit. But Peter-Knull… his words carried no deception, no ego. Just a calm, unyielding certainty that unsettled Aizen to his core.
I dedicated my existence to unraveling the falsehoods of this reality. To challenging the illusions that bind us. Yet, here stands a being who embodies the ultimate truth, something that cannot be controlled, cannot be destroyed. Something that exists outside the very fabric of existence I seek to transcend.
His pacing slowed as a grim realization settled over him.If what Peter-Knull said is true, then my struggle against the Spirit King…He clenched his fists, his composure slipping further.…is meaningless.
For the first time in centuries, Aizen felt something foreign bloom within him—an emptiness, a despair he couldn't rationalize away. The foundation of his beliefs, his ambitions, trembled under the weight of Peter-Knull's existence.
No. I cannot let this consume me.Aizen straightened, forcing the cracks in his composure to seal.If this being is truly beyond my understanding, then I must learn. I must adapt. Even the void has weaknesses… I will find them.
But even as he tried to convince himself, a small, nagging thought remained, whispering in the darkest recesses of his mind.
What if he's right? What if I am nothing more than a speck in an infinite, unfeeling void?
The question lingered, unanswered, as Aizen stood alone in the silence, his mind teetering on the edge of a spiral he couldn't fully control.
…
The Captains of the Gotei 13 sat in the grand hall of the First Division barracks, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern. The atmosphere was heavy, the weight of recent events pressing down on them like a physical force. Captain Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander, stood silently at the head of the room, his staff planted firmly on the ground as his sharp gaze swept across the assembled group.
Captain Hitsugaya sat stiffly, his usual composure strained as he recounted the events in the World of the Living. "What we encountered wasn't just unconventional—it defied logic. There was a being... a creature... that behaved like something out of a child's imagination." His voice was steady, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his unease.
Captain Soi Fon raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Are you seriously telling us that you fought a... living cartoon character?"
Hitsugaya nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yes. And as absurd as it sounds, it wasn't a joke. This 'Baloonimo,' as it was called, had abilities unlike anything I've ever seen. It ignored the laws of reality itself, manipulating its surroundings with impossible physics. At one point, it turned my Bankai into... flowers and singing butterflies."
The room fell into stunned silence, a few captains exchanging wary glances. Captain Kyoraku leaned back with a wry smile, tipping his hat slightly. "Sounds like you had a real adventure, Toshiro. Though I've gotta say, I'm not sure what's more unbelievable—the singing butterflies or the fact that something like this could exist at all."
"I assure you," Hitsugaya said sharply, his gaze flicking to Kyoraku, "it was very real. And what's more concerning is that the creature wasn't the primary threat."
Retsu Unohana, seated with her usual calm demeanor, tilted her head slightly. "The human you described, Peter-Knull... he's the true anomaly, isn't he?"
Hitsugaya nodded grimly. "Yes. That man—if he even is a man—is unlike anything I've ever encountered. When the Captain-Commander confronted him, Peter-Knull didn't even attempt to strike back. Yet, he withstood an attack that should have obliterated him without so much as flinching. He claimed to be something called the 'God of the Void,' and... I believe him."
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi leaned forward, his painted face twisting into an intrigued grin. "A god, you say? How delightfully fascinating. And you mentioned that he summoned this Baloonimo creature? A symbiote, you called it?"
Hitsugaya nodded. "Yes. He referred to it as one of many symbiotes from a 'symbiotic universe' that he created. He claimed there were billions more like it."
Soi Fon crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "Are you suggesting he can summon an army of these things?"
"Potentially," Hitsugaya admitted. "And from what I observed, he wasn't trying to harm us. He only engaged when provoked, and even then, he seemed to be holding back."
The room grew heavier as the implications sank in. Sajin Komamura broke the silence, his voice gruff. "If what you're saying is true, this Peter-Knull is a bigger threat than Aizen himself."
"I'm not so sure," Unohana said softly, her eyes narrowing. "From what Captain Hitsugaya described, Peter-Knull's actions were not malicious. He showed restraint, even when faced with hostility. That doesn't sound like the behavior of someone aligned with Aizen's goals."
Yamamoto finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "Regardless of his intentions, Peter-Knull represents an unknown variable. His power is undeniable, and his presence alongside Aizen cannot be ignored. We must prepare for the possibility that he may become an enemy."
The captains murmured their agreement, though the unease in the room lingered. Hitsugaya leaned forward, his gaze resolute. "And we must also consider the fact that he may not be an enemy at all. He claimed to be stranded in our reality, searching for a way back to his own. If that's true... he could be a potential ally."
"Or a dangerous one," Kyoraku said with a faint smirk. "After all, anyone who can summon a living cartoon character to fight for them is bound to shake things up."
The captains sat in a heavy silence, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air like a storm about to break. Captain Yamamoto's piercing gaze swept over the room as the tension grew thick. However, it was Captain Kensei Muguruma who first noticed something unusual.
"Hey, uh, Hitsugaya…" Kensei muttered, pointing toward the younger captain's left sleeve. "Is that… ink?"
Hitsugaya frowned, confused, and glanced down at his robe. Sure enough, a small, rainbow-colored droplet was sliding down the fabric of his sleeve. Before he could react, the liquid plopped onto the ground with an audible splat, shimmering unnaturally in the dim light of the hall… and it was growing, fast.
The captains all froze, their eyes locked on the vibrant puddle. For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then, as if defying the laws of nature itself, the liquid began to bubble and shift. It expanded outward, taking form, until a small, duck-like figure rose up from the floor. About a foot and a half tall in height.
It quacked.
"I… Quack-Eel, at your service!" the creature announced cheerfully, its voice cartoonishly high-pitched as its googly eyes swiveled to take in the room.
Hitsugaya's jaw tightened as he instinctively stepped back, his hand reaching for his sword. The other captains stared in stunned silence as Quack-Eel finished forming. Its liquid-like body shimmered with the same rainbow hues as the droplet, yet somehow retained a distinctly duck-like appearance, complete with comically oversized feet and a wiggly, eel-like tail that wagged behind it.
It waddled forward, flapping its tiny wings, before spinning in a small circle like a playful child. "So many serious faces! C'mon, lighten up! I promise I'm harmless…
The captains did not respond as their wide-eyes were on this…. Bizarre creature that suddenly grew before their eyes.
Quack-Eel paused mid-spin, its googly eyes swiveling between the captains, who were still frozen in a mix of disbelief and unease. Sensing the tension in the room, the little duck-like symbiote fluffed up its liquid-like feathers, making a wet, cartoonish squelch as it did so. Then, with a dramatic quack, it waddled closer to Hitsugaya and tilted its head, clearly aiming to diffuse the atmosphere.
"Quack! Alright, alright, I can feel the tension in here is thicker than jelly donuts!" Quack-Eel said, its voice playful yet oddly soothing. It flapped its tiny wings, splattering a faint rainbow mist around as if to emphasize its point. "Let me explain something real simple-like, Quack! So nobody here gets the wrong idea, okay?"
The captains exchanged wary glances, and Yamamoto's piercing gaze remained fixed on the peculiar creature as it continued speaking.
"You see, Peter-Knull's symbiotes are… uh, what's the fancy word? Autonomous? Yeah, that's it! Quack! We're kinda like pieces of him, but here's the twist, if a bit of us gets separated from the original symbiote, we become our own individuals after a little while. Ta-da!" It quacked triumphantly, as though it had just revealed the secrets of the universe.
Hitsugaya frowned, his sword still in hand. "So, you're saying… you're independent now? You're not directly controlled by Peter-Knull?"
Quack-Eel nodded enthusiastically, its wiggly tail slapping against the floor with a wet thwap. "Exactly, Captain Snowflake! I've got my own thoughts, my own personality, and my own…" It paused, pecking at its liquid feathers with its bill in an almost absent-minded way. "...uh, I guess you'd call it 'existence.' Quack! Pretty neat, huh?"
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi leaned forward, his painted face alight with fascination. "Fascinating," he muttered, his voice a mix of curiosity and sinister glee. "A truly autonomous, self-replicating entity. Tell me, what governs your autonomy? Is it chemical, biological, or something entirely beyond comprehension?"
Quack-Eel blinked, its googly eyes spinning slightly. "Quack! Uh… all of the above? I dunno! Ask Peter-Knull, he's the smart one! I just flap around and do my thing, y'know? Quack!"
As the duck-like symbiote waddled a few steps toward Unohana, who watched it with serene curiosity, it added, "But here's the deal, folks, Peter-Knull gave me the go-ahead to answer your questions, Quack! So if there's anything you're dying to know about me, him, or the whole symbiote shebang, just ask! I promise I don't bite… unless you're a loaf of bread." It quacked loudly at its own joke, wagging its tail as if it had delivered the punchline of the century.
Captain Soi Fon's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she crossed her arms. "And why, exactly, would Peter-Knull let you… answer questions?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Quack-Eel's googly eyes swiveled toward her. "Quack! Oh, that's easy! Peter-Knull's all about sharing knowledge, well, kinda. He knows you folks are nervous about him, so he figured, why not let someone like me explain things? I'm cute, harmless, and full of information! Quack!" It flapped its wings and spun in place again, leaving another faint rainbow streak on the floor that quickly reformed back into him.
"Harmless is… debatable," Hitsugaya muttered, his grip tightening slightly on his sword.
"Quack! Hey now, Captain Snowflake, let's not be hasty!" Quack-Eel said, puffing up indignantly. "I'm just here to help. Besides, Peter-Knull wouldn't want me messing things up for him. He's got enough on his plate already, y'know, multiverses to explore, cosmic voids to… voidify, or whatever he does when he's bored."
The room fell silent again as the captains processed Quack-Eel's words. Even Yamamoto, ever the stoic figure of authority, seemed momentarily unsure of how to respond to the surreal creature before him. Quack-Eel, however, took the silence in stride, waddling over to Kyoraku and pecking lightly at the hem of his robe.
"Quack! So, any questions? I promise I'll keep the answers short and snappy, just like me!" It grinned, somehow, inexplicably, its googly eyes bouncing slightly as it waited for a response.
Kyoraku tipped his hat slightly, a wry smile on his face. "Well, this has certainly been… enlightening. I think I'll let someone else take the first question."
Quack-Eel's googly eyes bounced as it quacked a few more times, waddling around in a small circle before addressing the captains. It paused dramatically, clearly relishing the attention, before speaking in its high-pitched, cartoonish voice.
"Why'd Peter-Knull go back to Hueco Mundo, you ask? Quack! Good question!" It stopped and tilted its head, feigning deep thought, before continuing. "Here's the thing, folks, Peter-Knull doesn't trust Aizen as far as he can throw him. And trust me, he could throw him pretty far, Quack!"
The captains exchanged skeptical glances, but Quack-Eel waddled forward, undeterred. "He smells something bad on Aizen. And no, I don't mean literally, though, who knows? Quack! It's more like… an aura, y'know? A vibe. Something rotten." The little symbiote waved its wing-like appendage dismissively. "But at the same time, Peter-Knull isn't just sitting around glaring at walls. He's been befriending some of the Arrancar! You know, those soul-eating Hollow folks you're all so nervous about? Quack!"
Captain Soi Fon narrowed her eyes. "Befriending them? Why would he do that? And what do you mean by 'smells something bad on Aizen?'"
Quack-Eel flapped its wings, clearly excited to explain. "Quack! Well, Peter-Knull's got this thing about fixing broken things. It's like, his favorite hobby or something. He's even been curing some of the Arrancar so they don'thaveto eat souls anymore. That's the thing about food from our symbiotic universe, it heals them! Like, really heals them. Not just their bodies, but their… Quack… let's call it their essence, yeah? Peter's food restores them in ways you can't even imagine."
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he leaned forward. "Heals them, you say? Restores their essence? Fascinating… I'd very much like to examine this so-called symbiotic food."
But Quack-Eel ignored him, instead hopping slightly into the air and somehow pulling a cluster of glowing, translucent berries from seemingly nowhere. They shimmered faintly with an otherworldly light, the cores inside each berry appearing like miniature galaxies spinning in vibrant colors. It waddled over to Captain Hitsugaya and placed the berries on the ground before quacking triumphantly.
"Speaking of which," Quack-Eel quipped, "I've got an idea on how to help some Hollows if you're up to it, Quack! Feed these to a Hollow, and watch as they regain their humanity. I mean, not entirely, it's not like magic, but they'll be a lot closer to being whole again. Quack!"
Hitsugaya stared at the berries, his expression a mixture of caution and intrigue. "And why would Peter-Knull do this? What's his endgame?" he asked, his voice sharp but not unkind.
Quack-Eel waggled its tail, quacking again before answering. "Why, because he's not like other Knulls, Quack! Y'see, most Knulls, at least the ones from his universe, are all about destruction. Chaos. Ending things. But Peter? He's a healer by nature. He values life, Quack! That's why he's been holding back. He doesn'twantto hurt anyone unless he absolutely has to."
The captains remained silent, processing this information. Even Yamamoto's piercing gaze softened slightly, though his composure remained as firm as ever.
Quack-Eel, sensing the lingering tension, decided to drop the proverbial bombshell. "Oh, and here's the real kicker, Quack! Aizen doesn't know this, but us symbiotes? We share a hive mind! So Peter-Knull's mind and my mind? Linked! He knows everything I know, and I know everything he knows! Quack!"
The room went still, the implications of that revelation settling over the captains like a heavy shroud. Soi Fon clenched her fists, her sharp eyes narrowing at the strange little creature. "You mean to tell me Aizen is being watched without even realizing it?"
"Quack! Exactly! Pretty neat, huh?" Quack-Eel quipped, spinning around in a playful circle. "So, while Peter's hanging out in Hueco Mundo, he's not just twiddling his thumbs, he's learning. Observing. And, y'know, helping some folks along the way. Like I said, he's a healer, not a destroyer."
The captains exchanged wary glances, the bizarre creature's explanation leaving them with more questions than answers. But one thing was clear, this Peter-Knull wasn't just a random anomaly. He was a force far beyond anything they had ever encountered, and his presence was bound to tip the scales in ways they couldn't yet comprehend.
Quack-Eel quacked again, its liquid-like feathers rippling as it waddled back into the center of the room. Its googly eyes seemed to bounce as it took a moment to survey the stunned captains, all of whom were processing its bizarre revelations. Then, as if it had just remembered something, Quack-Eel straightened up, flapping its tiny wings.
"Oh, and before I forget, Quack! There's something you all should know," it chirped, its tone turning slightly more serious, though its cartoonish demeanor remained. "Aizen's planning on having some of you go to Hueco Mundo. Quack! Sounds like a fun field trip, right? Wrong! He's doing it just so he can trap you all there while he sets something big in motion here. Quack!"
The captains exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Quack-Eel's warning settling over them. Captain Yamamoto's eyes narrowed, his staff tapping the floor once in a sign of his growing concern. But Quack-Eel wasn't finished.
"And get this, he's got a contingency plan for the head captain himself, Quack!" it added, waddling closer to Yamamoto. "Based on Aizen's thoughts, which, by the way, some of the symbiotes in Peter-Knull can hear echoes of, he's engineered an Arrancar named Wonderweiss. Quack! That guy's whole purpose is to trap your flames inside his body."
Several captains visibly tensed at this revelation, their hands instinctively going to their Zanpakutō. Soi Fon's sharp eyes glinted dangerously, while Hitsugaya clenched his fists, the frost in the air around him growing denser.
"Think about it," Quack-Eel continued, pacing in its wobbly, exaggerated way. "Aizen knows your power is dangerous, Captain-Commander. He wants you to use your full strength against Wonderweiss, just so that Arrancar can unleash the flames all at once. Boom! Quack! It's a trap, plain and simple."
Yamamoto's grip on his staff tightened ever so slightly, though his expression remained impassive. Unohana's calm demeanor faltered for the briefest moment as her brows furrowed in thought. Even Mayuri's usually confident smirk was gone, replaced with a contemplative scowl.
"But," Quack-Eel quacked, holding up a tiny wing, "there's a way to deal with Wonderweiss without playing into Aizen's hands. Quack! Should you encounter him, I'd advise either keeping your distance… or…" It paused for dramatic effect before pulling out another cluster of glowing symbiotic berries from seemingly nowhere. "…feeding him some of these! Quack! These berries should help bring back his personality, y'know, the one Aizen took from him. Quack!"
The captains stared at the berries, their vibrant glow casting soft, otherworldly light across the room. The implications were staggering, if these berries could truly restore a Hollow's lost humanity, then the potential ramifications for Soul Society's centuries-long war with Hollows were impossible to ignore.
Quack-Eel flapped its wings again, its voice chirpy as it added, "So? Any more questions? Or is everyone still stuck on the whole 'living cartoon duck' thing? Quack!" Its googly eyes bounced comically as it tilted its head, waiting for their response.
The captains, for all their composure and experience, found themselves momentarily at a loss for words, the sheer absurdity and gravity of the situation blending into something entirely beyond their comprehension.
The silence in the room was deafening as Captain Yamamoto, the venerable leader of the Gotei 13, stood perfectly still, his staff gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes, sharp and ancient, bore the weight of countless battles and centuries of leadership. Yet now, faced with the ludicrous yet deeply unsettling warnings from the peculiar Quack-Eel, even he seemed lost in thought.
Quack-Eel tilted its cartoonish head, its googly eyes spinning slightly as it watched Yamamoto's deep contemplation. The little creature's demeanor softened, its usual playful energy tempered by an unusual sincerity.
"Quack… Head-Captain," Quack-Eel chirped, waddling a step closer but keeping its tone gentle. "I can see this is a lot to take in. Quack! If it makes you feel better, you can discuss it with your allies before making any decisions. Quack!" It flapped its stubby wings lightly, the glow of its liquid-like feathers catching the light. "If you'll allow it, I'll step out and give you some privacy to talk this over. Quack?"
Yamamoto's piercing gaze lifted to the tiny symbiotic creature, his expression unreadable as he regarded it for a long moment. The other captains, still processing the surreal events of the day, exchanged glances but said nothing, waiting for their commander's response.
Finally, Yamamoto's voice broke the silence, deep and steady as ever. "Very well," he said, his words deliberate. "You may leave us. We will discuss this matter."
Quack-Eel gave an exaggerated bow, its liquid-like body wobbling comically. "Quack! Very good, Head-Captain. I'll be right outside if you need me. Quack!" With that, it waddled toward the door, its eel-like tail wagging as it left the room with a cheerful spring in its step. Just before the door closed behind it, Quack-Eel turned back and gave one last enthusiastic, "Quack!"
The door shut with a soft thud, leaving the room cloaked in a heavy silence once more. All eyes turned to Yamamoto, who still had not moved from his place at the head of the room. He closed his eyes, his fingers tightening on his staff as his thoughts churned.
"Your thoughts," Yamamoto finally said, his voice commanding but calm. "Speak freely."
Captain Soi Fon was the first to break the silence, her sharp tone cutting through the tension. "Head-Captain, this… creature, and Peter-Knull, are anomalies beyond anything we've encountered. If what it says is true, then Aizen's plans are more insidious than we ever imagined. But we must question the reliability of this… Quack-Eel. Can we trust something so... absurd?"
Unohana's soft, measured voice followed. "Absurdity does not necessarily imply falsehood. The creature's knowledge aligns with much of what we've observed about Aizen's behavior. The warning about Wonderweiss, for instance, is particularly concerning. It matches the unnatural nature of that Arrancar."
Hitsugaya frowned, his icy presence was there. "I've seen Peter-Knull's power firsthand, and I've seen his symbiotes. They're not like anything we've ever dealt with. But… Quack-Eel's suggestion about the berries restoring Hollows? If that's true, it could change everything. We'd need to test it, of course, but…"
"Even so," Komomaru interjected, his gruff voice tinged with skepticism, "we can't just take this at face value. Aizen's manipulation knows no bounds. For all we know, this is some elaborate ploy to make us lower our guard."
Mayuri chuckled darkly, his painted face twisted into a grin. "Elaborate, yes. But clever? I doubt even Aizen could conjure up something as... nonsensical as that creature on his own. Still, the implications are fascinating. I'd very much like to dissect one of these symbiotes to study it further."
Shunsui Kyoraku tipped his hat slightly, his tone unusually serious despite his usual laid-back demeanor. "We need to tread carefully here. Quack-Eel's warning about Aizen trapping us in Hueco Mundo... If it's true, we'll need a plan to counter it. But if it's false, we risk wasting time on a distraction while Aizen carries out his true goals."
Yamamoto opened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered captains. "All of you raise valid points," he said, his voice heavy with authority. "But one thing is clear, this Peter-Knull is not to be underestimated. Nor are his symbiotes. We will deliberate further before making any decisions regarding their warnings or their offerings."
The captains nodded in unison, the weight of their commander's words settling over them. Outside the room, Quack-Eel waited patiently, occasionally quacking softly to itself as it cleaned its liquid-like feathers. For all its whimsical appearance, the little creature seemed to understand the gravity of the moment better than anyone expected.
…
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory was as unnervingly sterile as ever, filled with strange devices and half-finished experiments that hissed and clicked with ominous regularity. At the center of it all, a restrained Hollow thrashed against its bonds, growling and screeching as Mayuri loomed over it. The Hollow's jagged mask glinted under the dim, flickering light, and its eyes burned with primal rage.
With a disturbingly casual air, Mayuri adjusted his gloves and plucked one of the glowing, symbiotic berries from a container nearby. The shimmering fruit pulsed faintly, its translucent core catching the light like a tiny star. Mayuri held it up with an almost theatrical flourish, his painted lips curling into a grin.
"Let's see if that ridiculous little duck was telling the truth," he muttered, his voice oozing with both skepticism and fascination.
Without hesitation, Mayuri propped open the Hollow's mouth with a mechanical contraption that clicked into place, forcing its jaws apart. The creature thrashed harder, its guttural growls echoing through the lab, but the restraints held firm. With deliberate precision, Mayuri dropped the berry into the Hollow's gaping maw.
The reaction was immediate.
The Hollow froze mid-thrash, its glowing eyes widening in shock. A faint hum filled the air as the berry dissolved into its body, the glowing liquid spreading like veins of light through the creature's dark form. For a moment, nothing else happened, and Mayuri leaned in, his golden eyes narrowing with predatory curiosity.
Then the change began.
The Hollow's growls faded into soft, almost confused whimpers. Its wild thrashing ceased entirely, replaced by a calm stillness that seemed to radiate from within. Over the course of five minutes, the grotesque, monstrous form began to shrink, its massive limbs retracting and its jagged features smoothing out. The black void in its chest, a mark of its Hollow nature, started to close, the edges knitting together as if mended by some unseen force.
Mayuri's assistants watched in stunned silence, their usual chatter completely absent as they observed the transformation.
As the Hollow continued to shrink, its form became less and less monstrous, the once fearsome creature now barely larger than a human child. The mask, the defining feature of all Hollows, began to crack. Fine lines spider-webbed across its surface, and with one final shudder, the mask crumbled into dust, scattering to the floor in a soft, almost poetic cascade.
What remained was a little boy, no older than seven or eight. His wide, tear-filled eyes blinked up at Mayuri in confusion, his small hands clutching at his trembling form. He looked entirely human, his spiritual form that of an innocent soul, no longer tainted by the corruption of the Hollow.
The boy whimpered, his voice trembling as he spoke. "W-where am I? What's... happening?"
Mayuri straightened, his expression unreadable as he studied the boy with a detached curiosity. He tapped a finger against his chin, muttering to himself. "Fascinating… The berry not only purges the Hollow nature but restores the soul to a pre-Hollow state. Complete reintegration of humanity… even the mask dissolved into nothingness."
The boy's gaze darted around the room, his small frame trembling with fear. "Am… am I dead?"
Mayuri knelt, his painted grin returning as he peered into the boy's wide eyes. "You were… something else entirely. But now, you're something new. Welcome back to humanity, little one."
The boy flinched at Mayuri's unnerving tone, but one of the assistants stepped forward, her expression softer and far more reassuring. "It's okay," she said gently, kneeling beside him. "You're safe now."
Mayuri waved her off dismissively, standing and turning his attention back to his notes. "Document everything. We'll need to run further tests, of course. But if this is reproducible… well, we may have stumbled upon something revolutionary."
He glanced at the shattered remains of the Hollow mask on the floor and then at the glowing container of berries. His grin widened, his mind already racing with the possibilities.
"Very revolutionary indeed."
…
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory was alive with activity as the head of the 12th Division continued his experiments with the mysterious berries provided by Quack-Eel. The air buzzed with an unsettling mixture of scientific curiosity and tense anticipation as assistants darted around the room, recording data and adjusting instruments. Mayuri himself loomed over his latest test subject, a restrained Hollow, his painted face twisted in a mix of fascination and frustration.
As with the previous tests, Mayuri carefully administered one of the glowing, translucent berries into the Hollow's forced-open mouth. The familiar transformation began almost immediately. The monstrous features softened, the thrashing ceased, and the gaping void in the creature's chest began to heal, closing entirely within moments. Over the next five minutes, the grotesque form shrank down, and once again, the Hollow's mask cracked, fell to the floor as dust, and revealed the human soul beneath.
An elderly man blinked up at Mayuri, his face etched with confusion. "Where… where am I?" he murmured, his voice weak.
Mayuri didn't even respond this time, merely gesturing for his assistants to escort the man out of the room. His focus was on the data. Every test had produced the same result: the Hollow reverted back to its pre-Hollow state, its humanity restored with no trace of corruption left in its soul. It was a level of purification that defied even the most advanced kido techniques.
On his desk, glowing berries sat inside a containment field, pulsing faintly as if alive. Mayuri leaned over them, his sharp eyes narrowing behind his glasses as he began another analysis.
"Symbiotic matter," he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with frustration. "That's what it must be. It's embedded within these berries… but how? And why does it purify Hollows with such efficiency?"
He activated a series of machines, each one whirring and humming as beams of light scanned the berry down to the molecular level. The readings filled his monitors with complex data streams, but the results were maddeningly consistent despite being made of matter that was far smaller than simple atoms or molicules in question: the berries contained an unknown form of symbiotic matter. It actively sought out and bonded with the Hollow's corrupted spiritual energy, purging the taint and restoring balance. Somehow, the matter not only purified but healed, reconstructing the soul to its original state.
Mayuri leaned back, his fingers tapping irritably against the desk. "This... this is beyond absurd," he hissed, his frustration boiling over. "The matter behaves as if it's alive, yet it's not biological in the conventional sense. It's not reishi, either, it doesn't match any known spiritual particle composition. It's… it's something entirely new."
Quack-Eel waddled into the lab, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, and hopped onto a nearby counter. "Quack! Another success, huh? Told ya it works every time!"
Mayuri's head snapped toward the cartoonish creature, his eyes narrowing. "You," he hissed. "Where do these berries come from? How are they created?"
Quack-Eel tilted his head, his googly eyes spinning comically. "Oh, these? Quack! They're just a little gift from Peter-Knull's symbiotic universe. The symbiotic matter inside them is programmed to heal and purify. It's what it does! Simple, right?"
"Simple?" Mayuri barked, slamming his hand on the desk. "There's nothing simple about this! This matter doesn't follow any known laws of biology, chemistry, or spiritual mechanics. It purifies corrupted souls, heals physical and spiritual injuries, and even restructures the very essence of a being. Do you have any idea how impossible that is?"
Quack-Eel blinked innocently. "Quack! Maybe for you, but it's normal for us. Symbiotic matter is just… how do I put it? Adaptive, responsive, and kinda alive in its own way. It's like a good friend that knows exactly what you need!"
Mayuri gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting as he glared at the cheerful duck-like creature. "And you're saying this... matter was created by Peter-Knull? That it's part of his universe?"
"Yup! Quack!" Quack-Eel replied, preening his liquid-like feathers. "Peter-Knull's got a knack for making stuff like this. Healing, purifying, adapting, it's all in a day's work for his symbiotes. Neat, huh?"
Mayuri stared at the berries, his mind racing. For once, he couldn't find an explanation, no matter how hard he tried to dissect the data. The symbiotic matter defied logic, existing outside the boundaries of any scientific principle he had ever encountered. It wasn't just advanced; it was something entirely beyond comprehension.
For the first time in his life, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was stumped.
He sank into his chair, steepling his fingers as he stared at the glowing berries. "This... symbiotic matter," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "It doesn't just heal. It rewrites reality itself on a fundamental level. And yet, it's so... controlled. So precise."
Quack-Eel quacked happily, oblivious to Mayuri's inner turmoil. "Yup! That's the beauty of symbiotes! They're here to help. And hey, if you need more berries, just let me know! Quack!"
Quack-Eel waddled to the edge of Mayuri's desk, preening his liquid-like feathers with his comically oversized bill. He paused, his googly eyes spinning briefly as if a thought had just occurred to him. Then, with a playful quack, he turned back to Mayuri, his tone suddenly carrying an odd mix of cheerfulness and gravity.
"Oh, and one more thing, Quack!" Quack-Eel announced, his voice high-pitched and chipper, as if he hadn't just upended the scientific understanding of an entire realm. "You might wanna know about the Seraphis symbiotes, Quack!"
Mayuri's sharp eyes snapped to the creature, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "The what?" he asked, his voice a low hiss, equal parts intrigued and irritated.
"The Seraphis symbiotes! Quack!" Quack-Eel quacked again, puffing out his chest proudly. "They're trinity-based angelic beings made of cosmic heavenly matter! Quack! Real celestial stuff, y'know. They can heal neurological, genetic, and physical disorders and diseases, Quack! Things like cancer, diabetes, blindness, or even stuff like missing limbs or mental trauma, they fix it all, just like that." He clapped his little wing-like hands together for emphasis, producing a comical squeak.
Mayuri's fingers twitched, his mind instantly trying to dissect the implications of such a being. "And you're telling me these… entities," he said slowly, his voice laced with disbelief, "are purely benevolent? Healing without any ulterior motive?"
"Yup! Quack!" Quack-Eel nodded enthusiastically, his eel-like tail wagging. "They don't even know how to harm other creatures, Quack! It's just not in their nature. Hurting someone? Lying to someone? They literally can't do it. Quack!" He mimed a halo appearing above his head, complete with a cartoonish ding sound, though there was no apparent source for it.
Mayuri narrowed his eyes, his painted face twisting into a skeptical frown. "You expect me to believe there exist beings so pure, so altruistic, that they can't even comprehend deceit or violence?"
"Believe it or not, Quack!" Quack-Eel said with a carefree shrug, twirling in place and hopping off the desk. "The Seraphis symbiotes operate on a hierarchy kind of like your human stories about heavens. They're built to help, to guide, to heal, Quack! That's all they know. And lemme tell ya, they're really good at it! Quack!"
Mayuri leaned back in his chair, his painted fingers steepling once more as he stared down the cheerful cartoon creature. "You seem awfully forthcoming with this information," he muttered, his tone sharp. "Why?"
Quack-Eel tilted his head, his googly eyes spinning again. "Peter-Knull said to help out if anyone asked questions, Quack! And, well, I like helping too! Quack!" He flapped his wings and began waddling toward the exit, leaving faint splashes of rainbow-colored liquid in his wake.
Before disappearing through the lab door, Quack-Eel stopped and turned back one last time. "Oh, and if you ever wanna meet the Seraphis symbiotes, Quack! Just let me know. I'm sure Peter-Knull wouldn't mind showing you what they can do! Quack! See ya!"
With that, the liquid duck vanished around the corner, leaving Mayuri alone in his lab. He sat motionless for a long moment, staring at the door. Then his gaze returned to the glowing berries on his desk.
"Celestial beings," he muttered, his voice low. "Pure cosmic entities that can only heal… Hmph." He leaned forward, his painted face reflecting in the glow of the containment field as his mind raced. "This Peter-Knull… what kind of universe has he brought with him? And what's his endgame?"
For once, Mayuri Kurotsuchi had no immediate answers, only questions, and the unsettling realization that he might never fully understand the scope of what he was dealing with.