Marvel: From the Void and Back Again, Part 3
Chapter 20: Hybrids
…
The sterile halls of Squad 12's barracks hummed faintly with the sound of equipment, as if the walls themselves were alive with curiosity. In the central chamber of the laboratory, countless duplicate Zanpakutō were laid out in perfectly organized rows on metallic tables. Their gleaming blades reflected the overhead lights, their sheer number stretching as far as the eye could see.
Everyone could only gawk. The kind that, could only come from the unknown.
Seated at the far end of the room, bound but eerily calm, was the duplicate who had taken on Ichigo's appearance. His mismatched red and blue eyes scanned the room with quiet intensity, his jawline set but showing no signs of hostility. Around him, the captains of the Gotei 13 had gathered in a semicircle, their faces a mix of confusion, wariness, and grim determination.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood at the forefront, his eccentric appearance more disheveled than usual as his fingers twitched with barely-contained excitement. His golden eyes darted between the Zanpakutō spread before him and the strange entity bound in his containment chair.
"Captain Kurotsuchi," Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku spoke, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "What have you discovered so far?"
Mayuri's grin was sharp and unsettling, his voice carrying a theatrical edge as he gestured dramatically toward the rows of weapons. "Oh, Captain-Commander, where to begin? You're all looking at what could very well be the most fascinating anomaly in Soul Society's history. This… being," he said, pointing a claw-like finger at the duplicate, "has managed to summon not just a few Zanpakutō, oh no. He's summoned all of them."
The room fell deathly silent. The only sound was the faint hum of machinery and the occasional shift of a foot on the polished floor.
Amagai, the current captain of Squad 3, broke the silence first. "What do you mean by all of them, Captain Kurotsuchi? Surely you're exaggerating."
Mayuri's grin widened as he let out a theatrical laugh. "Oh, Amagai, how I wish I were! But no, my dear colleagues, he has indeed summoned every single manifested Zanpakutō we have ever known. And-" he paused, his tone growing even darker, "even those we haven't catalogued yet."
A collective murmur rippled through the room, the captains exchanging uneasy glances. Rukia and Renji, standing at the back of the group, felt their stomachs sink. The implication was staggering.
Shunsui raised his hand, silencing the room. His expression was grave. "Clarify that, Mayuri. You're saying he has the power to summon Zanpakutō even from wielders who have never been officially recorded?"
"Exactly," Mayuri hissed gleefully. "Not only the Zanpakutō of those present or documented in our archives, but also those belonging to obscure Shinigami, former Squad members, and—" his eyes gleamed with an unsettling excitement, "those we've never even seen."
The weight of his words pressed down on everyone like a heavy blanket.
Byakuya Kuchiki narrowed his eyes, his voice cutting through the tension. "And how, exactly, is this possible?"
"Ah, that's the mystery, isn't it?" Mayuri replied, his voice taking on a singsong quality. "This entity has a connection to every Zanpakutō spirit in existence, as if they're… how shall I put it… extensions of himself. He doesn't merely summon them; he is them. A repository, if you will, of every blade, every ability, every manifestation."
Rukia stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "That… that's impossible. How could anyone possess such power? Even Zanpakutō spirits are unique, connected only to their Shinigami."
Mayuri tilted his head, his smile unsettlingly wide. "Oh, impossible, you say? My dear Kuchiki, isn't it far more frightening to consider that it is possible? After all…" He gestured to the duplicate, whose eyes were locked on the Zanpakutō before him, his expression unreadable. "This one isn't bound by the same rules as us mere mortals. He transcends them."
The former Zanpakutō spirits present, including Sode no Shirayuki and Zabimaru, stood in stunned silence, their forms flickering faintly as they processed the revelation. Sode no Shirayuki's normally serene expression was uncharacteristically grave.
Captain Amagai frowned, his hand gripping the hilt of his own blade tightly. "And his abilities? Does he only mimic appearances, or can he wield the powers of the Zanpakutō he summons?"
Mayuri's eyes sparkled with malicious glee. "Oh, he can wield them, Captain Amagai. Every single one of them. And with the kind of precision and control that suggests he's far more than a mere mimic."
Unohana, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, her voice calm but laced with a rare edge of concern. "If that's true, then his existence poses a significant threat to Soul Society. He could disrupt the balance entirely."
The room was tense, the weight of Mayuri's revelation pressing on everyone like a storm cloud ready to burst. The strange entity, still bound and seated in the containment chair, began to fidget nervously. His mismatched red and blue eyes darted around the room as if searching for some kind of escape, but his movements lacked malice. Instead, they resembled the mannerisms of a frightened child caught in an unfamiliar and overwhelming situation.
The silence was broken by the sound of the duplicate's thumbs tapping against one another as he twiddled them nervously, his voice shaking slightly. "I… I feel kind of wei-."
Before he could finish, the ground trembled violently. A flash of brilliant light erupted in front of him, and with an ear-splitting CRASH, a massive hammer materialized out of thin air. Its colossal handle resembled a battle-worn hilt, and its head was inscribed with swirling symbols glowing faintly. The sheer force of its appearance caused the entire room to jolt, sending papers and instruments scattering.
Startled, the entity yelped and scrambled backward in his seat, his bindings keeping him in place. "Wha, what is that?!" he stammered, his mismatched eyes widening in fear.
Before anyone could answer, a second object hurtled into existence. This time, it was a long chain with a wickedly sharp bell at the end. The bell jingled faintly as it coiled onto the ground like a living serpent. The tension in the room skyrocketed as a third object materialized, 7a weapon resembling a chainsaw, its blade made entirely of razor-sharp reishi, humming with latent energy. The last weapon clattered to the ground with an ominous finality.
The captains and Zanpakutō spirits watched in stunned silence, their eyes flicking between the weapons and the entity, who was now trembling visibly. Even Mayuri, who was rarely fazed by anything, adjusted his posture slightly, his head tilted in what could only be described as an expression of delighted curiosity.
Sode no Shirayuki stepped forward cautiously, her ethereal presence somehow grounding in the chaos. Her usually serene voice trembled slightly. "These… these are Zanpakutō. But I've never seen anything like them before."
Renji, his jaw clenched, took a step closer to Rukia, instinctively placing himself between her and the weapons. "Is he summoning more of them? How is this even happening?!"
Mayuri's face twisted into a grin so wide it was almost inhuman. He gestured flamboyantly to the weapons. "Oh, my dear Abarai, I'm afraid this phenomenon is precisely what I expected! You see…" He turned to the rest of the captains, his voice filled with theatrical glee. "He's still manifesting them."
The duplicate flinched at Mayuri's words, shrinking back into his chair as if the statement made him feel even more exposed. "I-I don't know what's happening! I'm not doing it on purpose!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking.
Rukia stepped forward, her Zanpakutō drawn and held defensively. "He's not lying," she said finally "I can sense it, this isn't something he's trying to control. It's like… it's just happening."
Byakuya's icy gaze locked on the duplicate. His voice was calm but cutting. "Then we must determine why. If this continues unchecked, it could destabilize the balance of Soul Society."
The entity shook his head frantically, his chains rattling as he pressed himself back against the chair. "I don't want to hurt anyone! I swear! I just… I don't know what I am. I don't know why this is happening!"
Unohana, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped forward. Her voice was soothing yet firm. "Enough. Panicking will get us nowhere. Captain Kurotsuchi, is there a way to stabilize him and prevent further manifestations?"
Mayuri tapped his chin thoughtfully, his smile unrelenting. "Oh, there are ways, Captain Unohana. But they may not be… gentle." He chuckled, the sound unsettling everyone in the room except the entity, who seemed too consumed by fear to notice.
Suddenly, another burst of energy filled the room, and a smaller, more ornate weapon appeared, a dagger-like blade with intricate carvings glowing faintly along its edge. It floated momentarily before clattering to the ground with a metallic ring. The room fell silent once more, the weight of the situation pressing down harder than ever.
The tension in the room reached its peak as the ornate dagger still vibrated faintly on the floor, its carvings glowing dimly like a heartbeat. All eyes shifted back to the duplicate, who sat trembling in his bindings, his hands fidgeting in his lap. Rukia stepped closer, her voice soft but insistent. "Do you remember anything? Anything at all, before you appeared in the World of the Living?"
The duplicate hesitated, his mismatched eyes darting between the captains and the Zanpakutō spirits. He looked like a cornered animal, unsure of whether to trust or retreat. Finally, his voice broke the silence, halting and unsure. "I… I woke up in a tank."
The room collectively stiffened. Yamamoto's stern gaze bore into the duplicate, but he remained silent, waiting for the entity to continue.
"In Hueco Mundo," the duplicate added hesitantly. "It was dark… cold… I don't remember how long I was in there, but I remember… someone talking."
The entity's hands gripped the edge of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Someone named… Aizen. And… there were others with him. I couldn't see them clearly, but they were talking about me. About… creating something that wasn't part of the natural order."
"Aizen," Byakuya repeated coldly, his sharp eyes narrowing. The very name sent a ripple of unease through the room.
The duplicate nodded, his breath shallow. "They said… they were making a soul. One that wasn't bound by the rules of Soul Society or Hueco Mundo. Something new. Something adaptable."
Starrk, who had been leaning casually against the far wall with Lilynette perched on his shoulder, suddenly straightened. His usually indifferent demeanor cracked as his eyes widened in recognition. "Wait… adaptable? Did they say how?"
The duplicate's gaze flickered toward Starrk, then back to the floor. "They… they said they needed blood. Blood from someone named… Ichigo. And… you." His voice trembled as he pointed weakly at Starrk.
The former Primera Espada visibly staggered, his usually calm composure shaken. "What?" he muttered, his voice almost inaudible. Lilynette leaped down from his shoulder, her small frame tense with a mixture of shock and anger. "What the hell does that mean?!" she demanded, her voice cutting through the air.
The duplicate shrank back in his seat, clearly unnerved by her intensity. "I—I don't know. They said something about… combining the two. That… that Ichigo's blood had some kind of unique property, something tied to his Hollow and Shinigami abilities. And… your blood… they said it had the potential to bring out the full power of Zanpakutō and Hollow abilities."
Starrk ran a hand through his hair, visibly struggling to process the revelation. "My blood? They used my blood for this?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.
The room remained deathly silent, the weight of the duplicate's words settling heavily on everyone present. Even Mayuri, who was usually gleeful at the prospect of new discoveries, seemed momentarily subdued as his calculating gaze fixed on the trembling duplicate.
Lilynette clenched her fists, her voice trembling with anger. "That bastard Aizen… he used us again, even after all this time."
Rukia's hand tightened on her Zanpakutō, her knuckles white. "Why would Aizen do this? What could he possibly gain from creating something like… this?" She gestured toward the duplicate, her voice thick with a mix of frustration and pity.
The room froze, every ounce of air sucked out by the duplicate's hesitant, trembling words.
"He… he told me," the duplicate stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, "to tell all of you… should I see you…"
All eyes locked onto him, the intensity of their stares enough to make him shrink further into his bindings. He swallowed hard, his mismatched eyes darting around the room as though searching for an escape. Finally, with visible effort, he continued, his voice cracking with fear.
"That… that the Spirit King… is not the only one who can create… life."
The silence that followed was deafening, a suffocating weight pressing down on everyone in the room. Even Mayuri, who usually reveled in such revelations, seemed momentarily at a loss for words. His yellow eyes narrowed, his mind clearly racing with possibilities.
Yamamoto's staff struck the floor with a resounding crack, snapping everyone's attention to him. His face was as unreadable as stone, but his voice carried the authority of centuries. "Explain," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
The duplicate's trembling voice broke the tense silence once again, his words sending yet another ripple of unease through the room. "Per his own words…" He hesitated, his mismatched eyes darting around nervously before he finished, "Because… he can."
The room seemed to freeze at the simplicity of the statement. The weight of those three words hung heavily in the air, their implications sinking deep into everyone present. The duplicate wasn't finished, though. His voice grew quieter, almost as though he wished he didn't have to say what came next.
"And… he mentioned something else. He said something about… how if the Spirit King let this happen under his watch, it means one of two things. Either… the Spirit King is all-powerful but not all-knowing, or…" He trailed off for a moment, his breath catching before continuing, "Or he's all-knowing, but not all-powerful."
The silence was deafening. For several long moments, no one spoke, no one moved. The paradox the duplicate presented hung over the room like a stormcloud, its implications more terrifying than any battle they had ever faced.
Shunsui let out a slow breath, breaking the silence. "A paradox," he murmured, his voice unusually grim. "Typical Aizen. He's not just proving his power, he's throwing it in our faces."
Mayuri's unsettling grin returned, his hands clasping together eagerly. "Oh, but it's brilliant! He's planted doubt in the one thing we've all taken as an absolute truth. The Spirit King, our supposed cornerstone, is either flawed or complicit. And the proof?" He gestured to the duplicate, who flinched. "Sitting right here before us."
Rukia's voice was tight, barely controlled. "But… he's not wrong, is he?" She looked around the room, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped her Zanpakutō. "If Aizen could create something like this, something that wasn't stopped, then what does that say about the Spirit King?"
Byakuya spoke up, his voice cold and deliberate. "It says nothing about the Spirit King. This is Aizen's doing, his manipulation, as always. He wants us to question our foundations, to destabilize Soul Society. That is his goal."
Unohana's voice, soft yet sharp, cut through the mounting tension. "But the fact remains… he's succeeded. Whether or not it was his ultimate aim, Aizen has made us confront something we cannot ignore. The creation of life, the bending of natural laws, these are things we've always attributed to the Spirit King. And now…"
Her voice trailed off, the unspoken truth sinking in. Yamamoto finally struck the ground with his staff, his deep voice rumbling through the room. "Enough. Take him to the other room. We will deliberate."
At the Captain Commander's command, the duplicate was escorted out, his trembling form shrinking under the weight of the captains' stares. Once the door was shut, the captains gathered in a tight circle. The tension was palpable as Yamamoto looked over them with a rare flicker of unease in his eyes.
"This revelation," Yamamoto began, his voice heavy with measured control, "has implications that cannot be ignored. The Spirit King's authority, his power, and his role in the balance of the realms, all of it is now called into question."
Shunsui frowned, his usual playful demeanor nowhere to be seen. "And Aizen knows it. He's not just testing his limits, he's testing ours. He wants us to crumble under the weight of doubt."
Mayuri's grin widened as he chimed in. "And why not? It's a perfectly crafted strategy. Even if we decide to ignore it, the doubt remains. It will fester. Grow."
Byakuya, ever the pragmatist, crossed his arms. "Then we must ensure it does not. Aizen may think he has the upper hand, but his arrogance blinds him. This creature-" he gestured toward the door, "-may be his proof, but it is also a vulnerability. He revealed himself too early."
Rukia's voice was soft but firm. "But what if he's right? What if… what if the Spirit King isn't all-powerful? What if he isn't all-knowing?"
The room fell silent again, the captains exchanging glances. Even Yamamoto, who had always been the embodiment of unshakable authority, seemed to falter slightly.
"If that is the case," Yamamoto finally said, his voice quiet but serious, "then we must find a way to ensure the balance remains intact. Whether it is through the Spirit King… or through other means."
…
The atmosphere in the research lab was calm but charged with curiosity as some of the greatest minds in the multiverse gathered to analyze the enigmatic duplicate. Irene Adler and Reed Richards stood side by side, poring over data displayed on a holographic screen, while Tony Stark tinkered with a small scanning device in the corner. Quentin Quire lounged in a chair, telepathically analyzing the duplicate's thoughts from a respectful distance, and Wanda Wilson's Peter observed quietly, his sharp eyes fixed on the subject.
The duplicate sat in a comfortable chair in the center of the room, his mismatched eyes scanning his surroundings with faint curiosity. He didn't resist or show any signs of distress, his demeanor calm and docile. His head tilted slightly as Irene gently ran a scanning wand over the barcode tattoo on his neck, a faint hum filling the air.
"This tattoo," Irene began, her voice thoughtful. "It's not just for identification. There's more to it."
Reed raised an eyebrow as he manipulated the hologram. "It's coded in a way that suggests there are others like him. This barcode isn't just a marker, it's a designation."
At that, Tony glanced up, his interest piqued. "A designation? As in, he's one of a series?"
Reed nodded. "Precisely. The numbers imply a sequence. If I'm reading this right, he's marked as 'Unit 001.'"
The duplicate's expression didn't change, but his gaze dropped to the floor as if processing this information himself. He shifted slightly in his chair but remained silent.
It was Wanda Wilson's Peter who noticed something unusual. "Wait a second," he said, stepping closer. "Look at the room."
Everyone followed his line of sight. For the first time since their encounter, the wave of Zanpakutō manifestations had stopped entirely. The atmosphere was still, almost serene.
Peter pointed at the duplicate. "When he's calm… the manifestations stop. It's tied to his emotions. Like a defense mechanism."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "So, as long as he's chill, we don't get a tsunami of swords. Good to know."
Quentin smirked. "Guess that makes me the expert on keeping people calm. You're welcome."
Ignoring the quip, Irene moved back to the holographic screen, tapping a few keys to display a detailed breakdown of the duplicate's DNA. Her eyes widened as the data unfolded.
"This… this doesn't make any sense," Irene murmured.
"What is it?" Reed asked, leaning closer.
Irene gestured at the display. "His DNA. It's not static like ours. It's… self-modifying. He mimics DNA around him, within a certain radius."
Tony's hands froze mid-adjustment of his scanner. "Mimics? You mean he can copy genetic material from anyone nearby?"
"Not just copy," Irene corrected. "His DNA incorporates it seamlessly. It's like a biological sponge."
Dr. Strange, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward, his hands glowing faintly as he cast a spell to scan the duplicate on a deeper, mystical level. He frowned, his eyes narrowing. "It's more than mimicry. Every part of him functions like a mass of single-celled organisms, each one sharing a hive mind."
The room fell silent as everyone processed the gravity of Strange's revelation. Reed broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of shock and concern. "So, he's not a single organism… he's a collective."
Strange nodded. "A collective that operates as one. And it's extraordinarily stable. Based on these readings…" He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "He's never going to die. At least, not from old age."
Quentin let out a low whistle. "So, what you're saying is, this guy's immortal."
The duplicate finally looked up, his mismatched eyes filled with uncertainty. "Immortal?" he repeated softly, the word seeming foreign to him.
Rukia, who had been silently observing from the doorway, stepped into the room. "And yet, he's so… normal," she said, her voice quiet but thoughtful.
Irene nodded. "That's what's so remarkable. Despite everything we've discovered, he's essentially functioning as a normal person. He doesn't seem aware of what he is or what he's capable of."
Tony crossed his arms, his expression serious. "If he can copy DNA and mimic abilities, we need to figure out his limits. Because if there are no limits…"
The duplicate's training was set up in a controlled section of Soul Society, a sprawling arena designed to withstand powerful Zanpakutō abilities. Captains, lieutenants, and a few carefully selected Shinigami observed from the perimeter, their expressions a mix of wariness and curiosity. Haineko, leaning casually against a pillar, kept a close eye on the duplicate, her sharp gaze softening slightly every time he glanced nervously at her, his cheeks tinted red.
Rangiku Matsumoto, standing beside her, couldn't help but notice. "Well, would you look at that," she teased, nudging Haineko with a smirk. "He's got a crush on you."
Haineko blinked, her own cheeks flushing as she crossed her arms defensively. "Don't be ridiculous," she muttered, but her eyes lingered on him.
In the center of the arena, the duplicate fidgeted nervously. His mismatched eyes darted between the gathered Shinigami and the array of training dummies lined up before him. He adjusted his stance awkwardly, holding a summoned Zanpakutō in his hand—a blade identical to one already wielded by a nearby lieutenant.
"Alright," Shunsui said from the observation area, his tone calm but firm. "Let's see what you've got. Start with a basic Shikai release and work your way up. Take it slow."
The duplicate nodded, gripping the hilt of the sword tightly. He hesitated for a moment, then murmured the release phrase. "Howl, Zabimaru."
The familiar segmented blade of Zabimaru extended forward, the whip-like weapon snapping through the air with precise control. The duplicate swung it experimentally, the movements clumsy at first but gradually growing more fluid. Renji, observing from the sidelines, folded his arms with slight unease.
"His control is… not bad," Renji admitted begrudgingly. "Better than I expected."
Over the next hour, the duplicate cycled through various Zanpakutō, demonstrating their Shikai and, for most, even their Bankai. Each release was executed with a surprising degree of control, though his unfamiliarity with some of the forms led to awkward moments.
When it came time to demonstrate another weapon, the duplicate hesitated. A small, ornate dagger appeared in his hand, its intricate carvings glowing faintly.
"Uh… this one feels different," he said, his voice uncertain. "I haven't used it before."
"Proceed carefully," Yamamoto commanded, his fiery gaze fixed on the duplicate.
Nodding nervously, the duplicate focused on the blade. As he activated its ability, his surroundings seemed to warp slightly. To everyone else, only a second passed, but the duplicate suddenly appeared thirty feet ahead, standing awkwardly in front of the target dummy.
The crowd blinked in confusion, while the duplicate scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Umm," he began, glancing at the dagger in his hand. "I think this one speeds up my personal time for about a minute or so. To me, you all were frozen, so I just… walked over here and, uh… hit the target. It felt like an hour, though."
The gathered Shinigami exchanged stunned looks. Even Mayuri, usually quick with a cutting remark, was momentarily speechless. The implications of such an ability were staggering.
"Fascinating," Mayuri finally said, his voice laced with a mix of awe and manic excitement. "It's a localized time dilation! He's experiencing time at an accelerated rate while the world around him slows to a crawl. Such precision… such potential!"
Rukia frowned, her arms crossed. "And he's completely unaffected by the strain? Most abilities that manipulate time have a severe cost."
The duplicate shrugged. "I mean, I feel a little tired, but… it's not too bad."
Haineko, still leaning against the pillar, watched him intently, her lips curving into a small smile despite herself. "He's not bad," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Matsumoto caught the comment and grinned. "Told you. He's cute, isn't he?"
Haineko didn't respond, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
When the duplicate summoned the first of the captain-level Shikai, the massive single-handled hammer materialized in his grasp. The sheer size and weight of it caused his feet to sink into the arena's reinforced floor, creating small cracks beneath him. The weapon's head gleamed ominously, faint energy pulsating along its surface.
"Careful with that one," Shunsui advised, his voice tinged with concern. "We don't know what it can do."
The duplicate nodded nervously. "Yeah, I figured," he muttered, adjusting his grip on the colossal weapon. With a deep breath, he steadied himself and swung the hammer toward a reinforced target. The moment the hammer connected, a thunderous explosion shook the arena, a shockwave rippling outward and rattling the very walls. The massive target shattered into countless fragments, the force of the impact leaving a deep crater in the floor.
The hammer flew back to the duplicate's hand as though pulled by an invisible tether. He staggered slightly from the recoil, sweat forming on his face. . "Okay," he said breathlessly. "That one's… intense."
The crowd stared in stunned silence. Even Mayuri looked momentarily impressed before scribbling furiously on his notepad.
"'Intense' is an understatement," Renji muttered, his eyes wide as he surveyed the destruction.
The duplicate hesitated as he summoned the next weapon. A chainsaw-like sword appeared in his hand, its teeth already spinning with a low, mechanical growl. The handle and body seemed crude compared to most Zanpakutō, but the energy it radiated was anything but.
"Uh…" the duplicate said, holding the weapon at arm's length. "This one feels… off."
"You don't have to use it if you're uncomfortable," Unohana said gently, her calm demeanor reassuring.
He shook his head, his grip tightening on the weapon. "No, I can handle it. I think."
He activated the weapon, and the growl of the spinning blade grew louder, almost deafening. The duplicate swung it awkwardly at a target, and the moment it connected, the target was obliterated in a spray of sparks and shredded debris. The chainsword's jagged teeth chewed through the reinforced material like it was paper, leaving behind jagged, smoking edges.
The duplicate visibly flinched at the weapon's violent nature, his expression uneasy. "Yeah, uh… not a fan of this one," he admitted, deactivating the blade and letting it vanish. "Feels too… brutal."
The observers exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of awe and discomfort. Even Mayuri seemed slightly unnerved, his pen pausing mid-note.
After hours of grueling testing, the duplicate stood in the middle of the training arena, visibly drained but still cooperative. Around him were scattered fragments of destroyed targets, remnants of his bizarrely powerful and equally strange Zanpakutō manifestations. The observers had long since stopped trying to catalog every weapon; they'd settled into a rhythm of pure astonishment.
Shunsui called for a pause, tipping his hat back as he sighed. "Alright, folks. I think that's enough for one day. We've seen more than enough to know that this guy's got some… unique capabilities."
The last round of testing had taken a surreal turn. Among the strangest manifestations:
The Yo-Yo, A seemingly innocuous toy that summoned tin-men soldiers. They marched in perfect synchronization, following the duplicate's silent commands to attack targets. They were surprisingly effective, their metal bodies clanging loudly as they smashed through obstacles.
The Gauntlet-Lawnmower Hybrid, A handheld gauntlet that, when activated, produced spinning blades similar to a lawnmower. The duplicate had used it to shred a series of moving targets, though the oddity of its appearance left many of the captains baffled.
The Staff with a Rose, The final Zanpakutō of the session was a staff adorned with a delicate rose at its end. Despite its beauty, it unleashed an array of vines and thorny brambles that tore through targets with eerie precision, entangling and immobilizing them before withdrawing.
The duplicate stumbled slightly, steadying himself with the rose staff before letting it vanish in a shimmer of light. His breathing was heavy, but he managed a faint smile. "That's… all I've got for now."
Unohana stepped forward, her serene expression tinged with concern. "You've done more than enough. It's time for you to rest."
The duplicate nodded, grateful for the reprieve. He glanced nervously at the captains, who were still murmuring among themselves. Despite their clear apprehension, no one moved to harm him, and the duplicate seemed to relax slightly.
Rukia approached him, her voice soft. "You've been cooperative through all of this. Thank you."
The duplicate gave her a small, shy smile. "Sure thing, I just don't want to be a danger to anyone."
Haineko, standing off to the side, tilted her head as she watched him. "You're an odd one," she muttered under her breath, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.
Matsumoto smirked, leaning closer to her. "Admit it. You think he's cute."
Haineko's cheeks flushed as she turned away. "Shut up, Matsumoto."
Byakuya's sharp voice cut through the chatter. "We've seen enough for today. His abilities, while unconventional, are undeniable. We will reconvene tomorrow to discuss the next steps."
…
The next day dawned over the Seireitei, and preparations for an operation in the World of the Living were underway. Captain Kyoraku had assigned Nanao, Matsumoto, and two Zanpakutō spirits, Sode no Shirayuki and Senbonzakura, to oversee the calibration of sensors near shrines. These sensors were designed to detect multiversal gates, similar to the ones found in the Savage Lands, and to monitor any hybrid or experimental beings that could emerge.
Nanao adjusted her glasses, the glowing screen of her handheld device reflecting in her lenses as she reviewed the sensor readouts. Beside her, Rangiku Matsumoto yawned dramatically, stretching her arms above her head.
"Why do these shrines always have to be in the creepiest places?" Rangiku complained, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Nanao sighed, shaking her head. "Because they're strategically significant. These locations are designed to pick up anomalies, including multiversal gates or other dimensional disturbances. If we don't maintain them, we won't know if something comes through until it's too late."
Accompanying them were Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki, their ethereal forms present as they lent their heightened senses to the operation. Both Zanpakutō spirits moved with quiet grace, their alert gazes scanning the area.
"Everything seems stable so far," Sode no Shirayuki said, her cool voice cutting through the silence. "The sensors are operational."
Senbonzakura, his imposing mask gleaming in the faint sunlight, remained silent as he moved to inspect the perimeter.
As the group moved to finalize the installation, Senbonzakura suddenly stopped. His presence stiffened, the air around him shifting as though he had become a conduit for something ancient and unrelenting.
"What is it?" Nanao asked, her fingers tightening on her handheld device.
Senbonzakura's voice was low, deliberate. "Something… feels wrong. There is an anomaly nearby."
Rangiku's casual demeanor evaporated as her hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her Zanpakutō. "Where? Do you see anything?"
The group turned to their surroundings, scanning the area for any sign of danger. The shrines around them were silent, save for the rustle of leaves in the wind. But the unease hung heavy in the air.
Then, the sensors chimed. Nanao's eyes widened as she read the data. "It's close. Within a few feet of us!"
Everyone froze, their senses flaring as they searched for the source of the disturbance. Sode no Shirayuki's eyes narrowed as her gaze landed on one of the statues, a large Buddha-like figure with its hands pressed together in prayer. It was intricately detailed, its surface worn by time and weather.
"That statue," Sode no Shirayuki said, her voice a whisper. "It doesn't belong here."
Rangiku squinted at the figure. "It's definitely out of place. Did someone move it here?"
Before anyone could answer, the statue's head tilted to the side with an audible crack, its stone features grinding against one another. The praying hands parted, revealing long, blade-like arms that gleamed like mantis scythes. The legs unfolded, and the statue's thorax split open to reveal a chitinous, organic interior.
Two multifaceted eyes opened on the sides of its face, reflecting the startled group like an insect observing prey. The mouth, a jagged stone maw, moved like mandibles as it emitted a low, chittering noise.
"What the hell is that?!" Rangiku shouted, unsheathing her Zanpakutō.
The creature lunged at her with terrifying speed, its scythe-like arms slashing through the air. Rangiku ducked just in time, the blade grazing the tips of her hair.
Tesra, who had been patrolling nearby, appeared in a blur of motion, his Zanpakutō flashing as he drove it straight into the creature's gaping mouth. The blade pierced through its organic interior, but when Tesra tried to twist the blade to sever the creature's head, it stopped abruptly.
"The exterior is stone, but the inside is… flesh," Tesra said through gritted teeth, struggling against the creature's immense strength. With a final, forceful twist, he wrenched his blade free, and the creature staggered before collapsing to the ground, twitching as it let out one last chittering noise.
Everyone backed away, their weapons drawn and their breaths heavy as they stared at the fallen creature.
Rangiku's wide eyes darted between her comrades, her grip on her Zanpakutō tightening. "That thing," she muttered, her voice laced with unease, "it felt wrong. Almost… manufactured."
Senbonzakura stood, brushing off the dirt from his gloves, and pointed to the faint numbers carved into the creature's chest. "Unit-003," he said quietly, his voice sharp and deliberate. "This is no ordinary creature."
Nanao's eyes widened as her gaze flickered between the fallen creature and her device. "Unit-003," she repeated, her fingers racing over the sensor's interface. "That number... it's a classification. And if it's tied to a numbering system... there must be others."
Rangiku glanced at Nanao. "Wait, are you saying there are more of these things just wandering around?"
Before Nanao could answer, the realization dawned on her. Her eyes widened as she looked to the team. "The duplicate," she whispered. "The Ichigo mimic… he has a barcode too."
Tesra's jaw clenched. "That means this isn't a one-off. This is… a project."
Sode no Shirayuki's serene voice cut through the rising tension. "Aizen's and Knull's project. If this creature is one of their creations, then this town is a minefield."
The words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation sinking in. The group had unwittingly stumbled into a hunting ground, where anything could be a disguised hybrid waiting to strike.
Nanao's device let out a high-pitched chime, drawing everyone's attention. She frowned as she reviewed the data. "The sensors are live now," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm picking up three more signatures in this town."
"Three?!" Rangiku exclaimed, her grip tightening on her blade. "Where?"
Nanao's fingers flew across the device, isolating the signatures. "One's at the bus station," she began, her voice steady despite the growing tension. "The second is in a dojo... and the third…" She trailed off, her face paling.
"The third is where?" Tesra demanded, stepping closer.
Nanao's voice was barely a whisper as she finished. "It's above us."
The group collectively shot their heads upward, their senses flaring. High above them, suspended in midair, was a grotesque, floating mass resembling a jellyfish. Its translucent body pulsed with eerie, glowing veins, and beneath its bell-like structure, a snapping beak clicked hungrily. Long, undulating tentacles hung down, swaying like underwater plants in the breeze.
The creature's presence was almost hypnotic until one of its tentacles shot forward with lightning speed, narrowly missing Rangiku as she leaped back with a startled cry. "What the hell is that thing?!"
Tesra was the first to act, his Zanpakutō flashing as he slashed at the approaching tentacle. The severed limb hit the ground with a wet thud, writhing like a snake. But instead of weakening, the jellyfish-like hybrid let out a low, rumbling noise, and two more tentacles lashed out in retaliation.
"It regenerates," Sode no Shirayuki observed, her voice calm despite the chaos. "Be careful."
Senbonzakura's petals swirled into the air, forming a protective barrier around the group. "Then we'll have to destroy it completely," he said, his voice as cold as ever.
The jellyfish hybrid let out a sharp, clicking sound as it began descending, its mass casting an ominous shadow over the team. Nanao gritted her teeth, focusing on her device. "We need to lure it down where it's less mobile. If we let it stay in the air, it'll pick us off one by one."
Rangiku smirked, a hint of her usual confidence returning. "Then let's bring it down." She darted forward, her blade flashing as she slashed at another tentacle, drawing the creature's attention.
Sode no Shirayuki moved gracefully, her icy aura spreading across the ground. "Let us end this quickly," she said, her blade glowing with frosty energy.
As the team worked together to contain and eventually destroy the hybrid, the realization burned in their minds: these creatures were part of a larger plan, and they were only scratching the surface of what Aizen and Knull had created.
…
A while later…
The team returned to Soul Society, their expressions heavy with the weight of their findings. The remains of the jellyfish-like creature were carefully contained in a reinforced, transparent vessel, its gelatinous body pulsing faintly even in death. The room inside Squad 12's research division was quiet, save for the occasional chime of monitoring equipment.
Nanao winced as Unohana tended to the shallow cut on her shoulder, the faint teeth marks from the creature still visible. "It tried to bite me," she muttered, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "It felt more like an animal than a Hollow. And the way it moved... it was like it was thinking."
Matsumoto, sitting nearby with her arms crossed, shook her head. "That thing wasn't just thinking. It was hunting. And it wasn't alone."
Sode no Shirayuki stood in a corner, her elegant form flickering faintly as she observed the remains. "The numbers on its body—Unit-005—suggest intent, an order. These aren't random creatures."
Senbonzakura's voice cut through the room, as sharp as his blade. "Nor are they mere experiments. This level of coordination and design implies a strategy, one far beyond what we've faced before."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, grinning with unsettling enthusiasm, leaned over the containment vessel. His golden eyes gleamed as he studied the creature's pulsing organ suspended in the jelly-like mass. "Fascinating," he murmured, his fingers twitching eagerly as he began taking notes. "The structure… the regeneration… this is no mere Hollow."
"What is it, then?" Tesra asked, his arms crossed as he stood near the doorway.
Mayuri straightened, his smile widening as he turned to address the room. "It's an animal," he declared with a hint of theatricality. "The gelatinous tissue shows clear evidence of immortal jellyfish DNA—Turritopsis dohrnii, if you must know—and its beak-like mouth is eerily reminiscent of a squid."
The room fell silent, the gravity of Mayuri's words sinking in.
Nanao frowned, her brows knitting together. "You're saying these creatures aren't Hollows? They're… made from animals?"
"Precisely!" Mayuri exclaimed, his voice tinged with glee. "Our jellyfish friend here is a blend of marine biology and something far more sinister. And that mantis-like statue you encountered? Praying mantis DNA. The physical design, the behavior, it all points to genetic manipulation."
Matsumoto's eyes widened. "Aizen's completely lost it. He's making monsters out of animals now?"
"'Lost it' would imply he ever had it," Senbonzakura said coldly, his petals swirling faintly around him. "This is calculated madness. These are weapons."
Unohana's calm voice broke through the murmurs of the room. "If these creatures are not Hollows, then they cannot be cleansed or purified in the traditional sense, they're still living creatures."
Sode no Shirayuki turned to Mayuri, her serene face betraying a trace of unease. "What else did your analysis reveal? Was there anything… unnatural about their composition?"
Mayuri tapped his chin, his grin widening. "Oh, everything about them is unnatural. Their regenerative capabilities, their hybrid physiology, it's almost as if they were designed to be unkillable. The only reason you managed to stop them was because you targeted their key vulnerabilities. But imagine what would happen if Aizen perfected them."
Nanao's hand instinctively went to her wound. "So these things could become… unstoppable?"
"Potentially," Mayuri said, his voice laced with morbid excitement. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. What's important is that we now have samples to study. With the data we gather, we might just be able to figure out how to counter them."
Matsumoto shook her head, a chill running down her spine. "Aizen's not just creating monsters. He's waging a new kind of war."
As the team processed the revelation, a Hell Butterfly flitted into the room, landing on Nanao's shoulder. Her eyes widened as she listened to the message. "The other teams have located the remaining two creatures," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "One is at the bus station, and the other at the dojo. They're engaging now."
Mayuri clapped his hands together, a gleeful expression on his face. "Wonderful! More specimens!"
Unohana's voice remained calm as she spoke. "This is no time for amusement, Captain Kurotsuchi. If these creatures are part of Aizen's and Knull's experiments, then we must act swiftly. This is not just a battle for Soul Society, it's a battle for the balance of nature itself.
Nanao was still processing the magnitude of their findings when another Hell Butterfly flitted into the room, landing delicately on her finger. Her breath hitched as she absorbed the message, her complexion paling with each passing word. The room grew quiet, all eyes turning to her as they noticed her reaction.
"What is it?" Matsumoto asked, her voice cautious but urgent.
Nanao's voice was steady, though it trembled at the edges. "The teams engaging the other hybrids… they've made contact."
Mayuri perked up immediately, his grin widening with anticipation. "And? What have they found?"
Nanao hesitated, her gaze darting to Unohana and then to the others. "The hybrids… they're part Shinigami."
The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the monitors.
Matsumoto blinked, her voice rising in disbelief. "Part… Shinigami? What do you mean?"
Nanao swallowed hard and continued. "One of them… the team reports that she resembles Rukia. But her appearance… it's been altered. They described her as resembling a winged succubus—bat-like wings, an alluring outfit, and even a forked tail. She almost attacked them with hellfire before one of the captains—Captain Komamura—tried talking to her."
The tension in the room thickened as everyone absorbed her words. Sode no Shirayuki, who had been standing silently nearby, suddenly stiffened, her ethereal form flickering faintly. "Rukia…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"There's more," Nanao said, her voice heavier now. "The second hybrid… they say she looks identical to the first, but… but her head opened up."
"Opened up?" Mayuri interrupted, his tone filled with perverse curiosity. "Fascinating! Like a flower, perhaps?"
Nanao nodded grimly. "Exactly like that. Her head split open, revealing a maw filled with sharp teeth. And then she unleashed some kind of sonic scream. It incapacitated several of the Shinigami nearby, but… but she also stopped when the captains tried to talk to her."
The revelation echoed like a storm cloud, the room's occupants exchanging uneasy glances.
Nanao's fingers tightened around the Hell Butterfly as she continued. "The numbers stamped on their shoulders are Unit-003 and Unit-004. They're apparently… twins."
Matsumoto's jaw tightened as she exchanged a glance with Sode no Shirayuki. "Twins?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "They don't even resemble each other's abilities. How is that even possible?"
Mayuri chuckled darkly, his golden eyes gleaming. "Oh, my dear Matsumoto, with the right genetic material, anything is possible. Especially if Aizen and his new… friends… are involved. Twins are a trivial feat for such experimentation."
Unohana's calm voice cut through the tension. "And these hybrids, did the captains manage to make contact beyond the initial confrontation?"
Nanao nodded, her voice still uncertain. "The hybrids didn't continue attacking after they heard the captains out. They seemed… confused, unsure of their intentions but they heard what they had to say. They're being contained and brought back to Soul Society for evaluation."
Sode no Shirayuki stepped forward, her voice cold and steady despite the visible turmoil in her eyes. "If they resemble Rukia, then they may have her memories or fragments of her essence. It would explain their hesitation."
Byakuya, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice low and sharp. "If these hybrids truly bear resemblance to my sister, then we must determine the extent of Aizen's experimentation. The fact that they hesitated suggests they may not yet be fully under his control."
Mayuri's grin widened further as he leaned toward the containment vessel holding the remains of the jellyfish hybrid. "Oh, this is getting more delightful by the moment. Aizen isn't just creating mindless creatures; he's playing with the very fabric of identity. Shinigami, animals, hybrids… perhaps even echoes of memories."
Unohana's gaze remained steady on Nanao. "Inform the teams to proceed with caution. If these hybrids are anything like the creatures encountered earlier, we cannot underestimate them."
Nanao nodded and turned to the Hell Butterfly, relaying the orders. But as she did, a single, unspoken thought lingered in her mind, "What is Aizen thinking making all these clones!?"
…
The sun hung high in the sky, casting sharp shadows over the Seireitei as a strange hush settled over the bustling streets. Midday was rarely a quiet time, yet today an uneasy anticipation rippled through the air as two new arrivals were escorted into the heart of Soul Society.
First was the one who had been dubbed Infernal-Rukia by the captains. She looked strikingly similar to the real Rukia, save for the bat-like wings folded against her back, the sharp, curved horns adorning her head, and the forked tail that flicked behind her in agitation. Her outfit clung to her form, accentuating curves that made several Shinigami, particularly the younger ones, gawk before hurriedly averting their eyes, faces burning with embarrassment.
Her steps were confident, almost predatory, as her sharp violet eyes scanned her surroundings. Despite her demonic appearance, there was no hostility in her gaze, only quiet curiosity. She moved with the grace of someone who was testing their environment, taking in every detail.
Walking beside her was the second twin, a stark contrast to the succubus-like hybrid. This version of Rukia, simply dubbed Parasitic-Rukia, wore a plain civilian outfit that was simple and unassuming. However, her demeanor was far more unsettling. Her head turned in strange, jerking motions, her eyes moving independently of each other as though searching for threats on multiple fronts. She paused suddenly, and her right hand twisted unnaturally, sprouting a small, toothy mouth. Two crude eyes formed on her fingers, and the hand spoke in a soft, feminine voice.
"Do you think they'll like us?" it asked, as though conversing with the rest of her body.
Rukia's doppelgänger glanced down at the hand with a faint smile, speaking to herself, or rather, to her fragmented parts. "We'll find out soon enough."
The display sent chills through the escorting Shinigami, who edged away nervously. Even the most hardened among them couldn't suppress the unease that crawled up their spines at the sight of her twisted physiology.
From a distance, the real Rukia stood watching as the two hybrids approached. Her face was pale, her usually calm composure faltering as she took in the sight of these bizarre copies of herself. Her hand instinctively tightened on the hilt of her Zanpakutō, and she felt Sode no Shirayuki stir faintly within her mind.
"They… they look like me," Rukia murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "But they're not me. What are they?"
Byakuya, standing at her side, placed a hand on her shoulder. "They are hybrids crafted by Aizen," he said evenly, though his tone carried an edge of anger for how aizen violated his sister's genetic code. "Nothing more."
Rukia's gaze remained fixed on the twins as they drew closer, her mind racing with questions. Could these beings truly hold fragments of her essence? And if so, how much of herself had Aizen stolen to create them?
Infernal Rukia's wings fluttered slightly as Yamamoto's sharp demand echoed through the chamber. She glanced at Parasitic Rukia, who was fidgeting nervously, her limbs occasionally twitching in ways that made the observing captains visibly uneasy.
It was Parasitic Rukia's right arm that broke the silence. As it twisted and contorted unnaturally, a mouth and two crude eyes formed on her forearm, the small face speaking in a soft but strained voice. "Aizen… didn't give us any real instructions."
The room remained deathly still as the captains processed the bizarre sight. Infernal Rukia straightened her posture and added, "He had his Eighth Espada, Szayelaporro Granz, create us and the others. But it wasn't as straightforward as you might think."
Parasitic Rukia nodded, her left arm now muttering in a low, almost apologetic tone, "We managed to escape. Aizen… he wanted to dissect one of us to learn more about how we function. He's having trouble with the hybrids that are more human or Shinigami. So he locks us up."
Infernal Rukia's forked tail swished behind her as her tone turned bitter. "We would have been next. If it weren't for me being able to open gateways to the World of the Living and other dimensions, we'd still be there. We waited for the right moment and ran. There were five of us, us two, Unit-001, and two others."
"Unit-001?" Byakuya interjected, his tone calm but filled with realization at who they were talking about since their first hybrid they encountered.
Parasitic Rukia's main body shivered, but it was her right arm that answered again, its mouth twisting as it spoke. "Unit-001… can mimic things around him. Anything. People, Zanpakutō, even abilities. He's like a mirror that can turn into anything it reflects."
That revelation sent a ripple of unease through the captains. Hitsugaya exchanged a glance with Matsumoto, and Yamamoto's already eyes widened. It was clear to everyone present that Unit-001 they were talking about was the Ichigo copy they had given refuge to.
"And the others?" Yamamoto pressed, his voice carrying the weight of command.
Infernal Rukia's wings drooped slightly as she hesitated. Her gaze drifted toward Byakuya, and her voice softened. "Unit-006-A. He looks… a little like him." She nodded toward Byakuya, whose calm mask didn't falter but whose eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Infernal Rukia continued, her voice trembling. "He's… our older brother. But he's mixed with an electric eel. He has lightning powers that are… off the charts. He's strong. Too strong."
Parasitic Rukia's other arm, the one that had remained silent until now, whispered, "He was hit with a dart when we escaped Las Noches. He… he bought us time to get away."
Infernal Rukia's hands clenched into fists as her wings trembled, betraying her emotions. "We haven't seen him since," she admitted, her voice breaking slightly. "We don't know if he's alive or if Aizen has already… dissected him."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Even Mayuri, who usually delighted in the grotesque, seemed momentarily subdued. Unohana's gentle gaze rested on the trembling hybrid, and she finally spoke, her voice soothing. "This brother of yours… you care deeply for him, don't you?"
Infernal Rukia nodded stiffly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "He protected us. If it weren't for him, none of us would have made it out."
Rukia, who had been silent, stepped forward. Her voice was quiet, almost unsure. "You… you're saying Aizen created someone with Byakuya's likeness?"
Infernal Rukia turned her sharp violet eyes toward Rukia, studying her for a moment before nodding. "Not just his likeness. His essence. His strength. But twisted with something… wild, still though, he had a big heart."
Byakuya's grip on his Zanpakutō tightened slightly, his expression unreadable. "If what you're saying is true, then this Unit-006-A is not only a victim of what's happening but a victim of Aizen's experiments. We must recover him, alive."
Yamamoto's staff struck the ground, commanding attention once more. "These revelations are troubling, but they are valuable. We now know more about Aizen's methods and his creations. Infernal Rukia, Parasitic Rukia… you will provide us with every detail you know."
Infernal Rukia met the captains gaze head-on. "I'll tell you everything I can. But if there's even a chance he's still alive… I want justice to be done.
seated in a semi-circle around the long wooden table. At the far end stood Captain-Commander Yamamoto, his sharp gaze sweeping across the assembled figures. The two hybrids, Infernal Rukia and Parasitic Rukia, had been escorted to a separate chamber under watchful eyes, giving the captains the space to deliberate on what they had just learned.
Captain Amagai, who had been part of the retrieval team, was the first to speak. "Despite their appearances and origins, they chose to trust us. They had every opportunity to flee, to disappear into the World of the Living or return to Hueco Mundo. But they didn't."
Komamura nodded. "They heard us out, even when they could have fought. That speaks volumes about their intent."
Byakuya remained silent, his expression unreadable. However, the weight of what had been said was not lost on him. The revelation that Aizen had used his likeness to create another being, one fused with the traits of an electric eel, gnawed at him. The possibility of this so-called Unit-006-A still being alive was troubling.
"So the question is…" Hitsugaya folded his arms, his sharp gaze flicking to Yamamoto. "What do we do with them?"
Before anyone else could speak, another voice interjected. "Before you make any definitive decisions," Reed Richards said from his position at the back of the room, "you might want to consider what I just uncovered."
The room turned toward the scientist, who had been quietly working in the background, scanning data from the twins. His analytical mind had been busy dissecting every detail of their genetic composition.
"What did you find?" Unohana asked, her voice calm but curious.
Reed adjusted the display on his portable device, revealing several lines of data. "Let's start with the first twin, Infernal-Rukia." He gestured to the screen, where fluctuating red energy patterns flickered. "Her DNA isn't just Shinigami and Hollow-based. It carries traces of Infernal matter."
Silence fell over the room.
"…Infernal matter?" Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
Reed nodded, his expression grave. "Yes. That means she isn't just a product of Aizen's experimentation; she's been fused with something from an entirely different plane of existence. She has actual Infernal DNA, meaning she was mixed with a creature from an actual infernal realm, or if you prefer, Hell."
"That's impossible," Hitsugaya said, his frown deepening. "The Soul Society and Hueco Mundo have always been separate from those realms."
Mayuri, however, chuckled. "Oh, please. You're thinking too narrowly. The barrier between realms has been weakening for decades. With the right tools and knowledge, anything can be made to cross over. And then we have to consider that it may have come from the neighboring multiverse and not our hell?" He tapped his chin with unsettling excitement. "An Infernal fusion? Oh, I'd love to get a closer look at her structure."
Unohana ignored Mayuri's enthusiasm and turned back to Reed. "And the other twin?"
Reed hesitated, running his fingers over the console. "This is where it gets… complicated."
He brought up a second display, this one showing a web of tangled genetic strands. Unlike the first, this one shifted, moving in real-time like an organism that was alive.
"The second twin, Parasitic Rukia, isn't a single entity," Reed explained. "She's six. Her torso, arms, legs, and head are each individual, parasitic organisms that function together to form what appears to be a body."
Matsumoto leaned forward in her seat, clearly disturbed. "You mean… each part of her is its own being?"
"Exactly." Reed nodded. "Her entire physiology is based on symbiosis. These six organisms work together to maintain her humanoid form, sharing the same consciousness."
Byakuya exhaled sharply. "And yet, despite their grotesque nature, they seem to function… normally."
Mayuri let out a delighted laugh. "Oh, this is getting better by the second! A perfect fusion of entities working in unison… what a fascinatingly grotesque design!"
Unohana, however, looked troubled. "That level of complexity… should not be possible. Even among parasitic lifeforms, maintaining that level of individuality while functioning as a cohesive unit is unprecedented."
Komamura's gaze darkened. "And Aizen, along with Knull, did this."
"They did." Reed adjusted his notes, his voice unwavering. "And what's worse… there's nothing unnatural about the hybrids' emotional intelligence. They think, feel, and react as if they've always been this way. They're people, not just constructs. Aizen and Knull didn't just create monsters. They created something worse."
The room fell into another silence, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them all.
After a long pause, Yamamoto finally spoke. His voice was low, yet carried the weight of his centuries of leadership. "Whatever their origins, they are here now. And we must decide what is to be done with them."
Unohana folded her arms, her calm gaze unwavering. "They require observation and study, but that does not mean we should treat them as prisoners. They have shown no hostility beyond their initial confusion. Given what they have endured, they deserve an opportunity to find a place among us."
Byakuya inclined his head slightly. "I agree. If we treat them as enemies, they will become enemies. But if we guide them… they may prove to be valuable allies."
Hitsugaya sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. Just what we needed, more Rukias running around."
Matsumoto smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Don't worry, Captain. I'm sure one of them will be just as bossy as the real one."
Rukia, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke. Her voice was quiet, almost uncertain. "And what if… what if they are me? A part of me that was stolen? If they really are fragments of me, shouldn't I try to understand them?"
Yamamoto closed his eyes for a long moment, then finally exhaled. "Very well. They shall be given housing within Soul Society, under watchful supervision. We will not treat them as prisoners… but neither shall we ignore the threat they could pose if their origins are not properly understood."
Infernal Rukia's words from earlier suddenly echoed in Byakuya's mind:
"If you meet my brother… don't touch his tail."
That alone spoke volumes about the complexity of these hybrids. They weren't just test subjects. They were family, to each other.
And if their so-called brother, Unit-006-A, was still alive somewhere in Hueco Mundo…
Then they needed to find him before Aizen and Knulls could break him completely