Bleach: After Retiring From Zero Division, Aizen Came To Study

Speaking carefully, Arima had not been in the human world for a long time.

In the past, during his time in the Gotei 13, he had often visited this realm. Back then, the human world was still in an ancient era, and Arima had enjoyed exploring it.

However, as centuries passed and he grew into his role as a Shinigami, the human world of old gradually lost its appeal. To him, it was primitive compared to the wonders of Soul Society at that time.

In fact, Soul Society had once been far more developed than the human world.

In the original texts, Soul Society might seem outdated compared to the rapid advancements of the human world in recent centuries. However, this was primarily due to the long lifespan of Shinigami, which made technological progress feel slower.

Still, the human world of this particular era was neither modern nor advanced. Its culture and development lagged behind Soul Society's.

Arima quickly located Aizen's whereabouts using the communication device.

On the roof of a house in this world, the two finally met face to face.

"Master," Aizen greeted him respectfully.

Arima replied curtly, "No need for pleasantries. Tell me what you've discovered."

Aizen adjusted his glasses with a polite smile.

After joining the Fifth Division, Aizen had cultivated a disarming demeanor, adopting the look of an intellectual youth. The glasses, though unnecessary for his vision, served to soften his sharp presence and make others lower their guard.

"Following your instructions, I began secretly observing the Quincy in this world," Aizen began, his voice calm and measured.

"I targeted some pure-blood Quincy families. After the war, these Quincy suffered heavy casualties. Logically, they should be fighting for their survival with everything they have.

"But that's not what happened."

He continued, "Many pure-blood Quincy chose to vanish instead. Despite Shinigami keeping a close watch, certain Quincy simply disappeared.

"Curious, I investigated further. After some effort, I discovered the reason behind these disappearances."

Aizen paused, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"It's the Sternritter (Knights of the Star Cross)."

Arima's eyes narrowed.

Aizen went on, "If I remember correctly, the Sternritter were Yhwach's elite guard. They followed him during his invasion of Soul Society. After Yhwach's defeat, it was said that the Knights were completely wiped out.

"And yet, now, in the wake of the Quincy's annihilation in the human world, this supposedly extinct group has resurfaced. What hidden truth lies behind their return?"

The war between Quincy and Shinigami was recorded in Soul Society's history, though most Shinigami, indifferent to scholarly pursuits, remained ignorant of such events.

But Aizen was different. Driven by his thirst for knowledge, he had delved into these records, piecing together the fragments of history.

Arima fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. He hadn't expected Aizen's discovery to concern the Knights of the Star Cross.

Finally, he spoke, his voice firm.

"Your question is not difficult to answer," Arima said.

"The Sternritter were never truly destroyed.

"Though Yhwach was defeated, some of his followers fled with his 'corpse,' their whereabouts unknown. At the time, Soul Society was too weakened to pursue them.

"By the time the Gotei 13 regained its strength, the trail had gone cold."

He looked at Aizen. "From what you've said, it seems the Sternritter have reappeared to shield the Quincy from destruction.

"This suggests they've been active all along, hiding in the shadows and perhaps even regaining their strength.

"If that's the case, then the war between Shinigami and Quincy may not truly be over."

Aizen absorbed Arima's words, intrigued by his certainty.

"Why are you so sure of this, Master?" Aizen asked, his curiosity piqued.

Instead of answering directly, Arima changed the subject.

"Do you know the whereabouts of these Quincy?"

Aizen nodded.

Arima continued, "Pure-blood Quincy are exceptional in their own right. But members of the Sternritter are even more extraordinary.

"They carry Yhwach's power within them, with holy scripts engraved upon their souls. You know who Yhwach is. If we can capture a member of the Knights, we may be able to learn more about the Soul King's bloodline."

Aizen's eyes gleamed with understanding.

Ever since Arima had revealed the truth about the world to him, Aizen had been fascinated by the mysteries of the Soul King. The Quincy, as descendants of the Soul King, represented a key to unraveling these secrets.

Pure-blood Quincy were valuable subjects for study—but the Sternritter were an even rarer and more powerful subset.

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800 words

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