Fate in Bleach: Unlimited Blade Works!

Toshiro Hitsugaya had no idea that his question about Captain Shiba had put him on Ailin's radar.

After parting ways with Toshiro, Ailin returned home and sat by the pond, resuming his leisurely fishing.

Previously, he would often enter his Innate Domain, Unlimited Blade Works, to practice with the countless swords within.

But now, with Sōsuke Aizen released and the clone from his severed left arm residing within Unlimited Blade Works, he had entrusted the task of "sword-pulling" to his other self.

In recent years, Ailin's spiritual pressure had increased at a rate comparable to decades of previous training.

Moreover, his severed arm within Unlimited Blade Works was practically the "Zanpakutō spirit" of Unlimited Blade Works.

His Mod Soul, before connecting to Unlimited Blade Works, had first required his severed arm's permission. Furthermore, it was his severed arm that had set restrictions, preventing his Mod Soul from using Zanpakutō that already existed within the Bleach world.

Ailin extended his right hand. Blue reishi particles coalesced in his palm, elongating and solidifying into a fishing rod, complete with a fishing line and hook. Unlimited Blade Works allowed him to create anything related to the "sword."

However, Ailin valued another ability granted by Unlimited Blade Works even more.

"Analysis" and "Projection."

One allowed him to analyze anything.

The other allowed him to project anything.

Sadly, since many things weren't classified as "swords," the projected items were always a level lower than the originals. But besides Analysis and Projection, Unlimited Blade Works granted him another ability: "Enhancement."

Using "Enhancement" on a projected item would temporarily grant it power comparable to the original.

Ailin believed these three abilities held the potential for "creation."

He often used them to analyze the Seireitei, projecting copies and then enhancing them to match the originals.

Through this process, he focused on understanding the changes that occurred during "Enhancement."

After all, "Projection" created mere copies. Once his spiritual energy was depleted, they would dissipate.

But if he could elevate "Projection" to the level of "Creation," then he would be able to truly create things, not just project temporary copies.

If he could even project a real "world," would he ascend to the level of the Soul King, a true god?

By then, he would finally be able to fight Yhwach at his full power!

Besides Ailin, Byakuya Kuchiki, Gin Ichimaru, Toshiro Hitsugaya, and Rukia Kuchiki, under his subtle guidance, had all been training diligently.

As for Soi Fon, she had already reached her limits. Only by slowly enhancing her spiritual pressure could she increase her strength further.

A year later, as expected, Isshin Shiba hadn't returned. Acting Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya successfully passed the captain's exam, becoming the youngest captain in the Soul Society's history.

Renji Abarai, the Eighth Seat of the Eleventh Division, had transferred to the Sixth Division and replaced Ginjiro as the new vice-captain.

Izuru Kira of the Fourth Division had transferred to the Third Division, becoming the vice-captain under Gin Ichimaru. Momo Hinamori had also been promoted to lieutenant of the Fifth Division.

The Seireitei seemed to have returned to a state of peace. However, many captains had a feeling that this peace wouldn't last.

Six years passed in a flash.

…

"Hmm?"

One day, Ailin suddenly felt something. It was like someone was calling out to him. And the location was the World of the Living!

After informing Haruko, Ailin opened a Senkaimon to the human world.

"Is this... Karakura Town?"

While he hadn't visited the World of the Living in decades, Ailin didn't know where Karakura Town was.

But the moment he stepped through the portal, he instantly recognized it. This was Karakura Town, the epicenter of events in the Bleach world!

It wasn't just because he could sense the dense concentration of spiritual particles here. It was also because, upon arriving, he saw an old man being attacked by over a dozen Hollows.

The spiritual density he was sensing was several times stronger than what he had experienced when he and Haruko had lived in the World of the Living.

In other words, this was the most spiritually dense location in the current World of the Living, a "Heavy Spiritual Ground" in Soul Society terms.

In recent decades, Ailin only knew of one such place in the World of the Living: Karakura Town.

Furthermore, the old man being attacked by Hollows… his spiritual pressure seemed familiar. It was someone he knew.

With a sweep of his senses, Ailin noticed over a dozen Shinigami hidden nearby, observing the battle but making no move to intervene.

And a little further away, a five or six-year-old boy, wearing glasses, watched the old man fight with a worried expression.

Based on these clues, Ailin's memories stirred.

This was the incident where Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the captain of the Twelfth Division, had targeted Sōken Ishida, the only known Quincy in the World of the Living.

Kurotsuchi, driven by his desire to dissect and study a Quincy, had released Hollow bait in Karakura Town, luring Sōken to a secluded location.

According to the agreement between the Quincy and the Shinigami, Quincy, when encountering Hollows, couldn't use their Quincy powers to eliminate them. They could only stall for time.

While stalling, they could send a signal. Upon seeing the signal, the stationed Shinigami would arrive and purify the Hollow.

But thanks to the Twelfth Division's intervention, Sōken's signal had been blocked.

He now had two choices.

First, break the agreement and use his Quincy powers to kill the Hollows. However, this would give the Twelfth Division, hidden nearby, an excuse to arrest him for violating the agreement.

Second, don't use his Quincy powers. In that case, once his spiritual energy was depleted, he would be killed by the Hollows. Then, Kurotsuchi and his subordinates could emerge, clean up the mess, and obtain a dying Quincy for their experiments.

However, Kurotsuchi had no idea that Ailin had met Sōken over two hundred years ago.

The agreement between Quincy and Shinigami had been signed at Ailin's suggestion.

He had known that Sōken would face this tribulation and had given him a device that could contact him directly.

Clearly, upon realizing his signal had been blocked, Sōken had used it.

Initially, Sōken had planned to pass that device to his grandson, Uryu Ishida, as a life-saving trump card.

But after sensing the Shinigami's presence and their inaction as he was attacked by Hollows, he knew something was amiss. He couldn't believe this was a coincidence.

He had placed all his hopes on Ailin.

If Ailin didn't come, not only would he die, but his grandson, the last Quincy, would likely be eliminated by the Shinigami.

He didn't care about himself, but Uryu…

Ailin didn't disappoint him. Less than thirty seconds after he had activated the device, an immense spiritual pressure descended from the sky.

Boom!

Though nothing was visibly destroyed, everyone within the area felt as if a mountain had been placed on their backs.

Thump! Thump!

The Shinigami monitoring Sōken, including Kurotsuchi, collapsed, overwhelmed by the pressure.

The Hollows attacking Sōken were even worse off. They were instantly crushed by Ailin's spiritual pressure and dissolved into reishi particles.

"Damn it!"

Kurotsuchi, kneeling on the ground, gritted his teeth. His plan had been so close to success. Why had this man suddenly appeared? He vowed that once he returned, he would invent a spiritual particle specifically designed for surveillance. He would plant it on anyone who had ever opposed him.

This way, he could track his enemies' movements and prevent them from interfering with his plans.

Ailin slowly descended. The oppressive pressure vanished as he retracted his spiritual pressure. But everyone, including Kurotsuchi, Sōken, and Uryu, remained motionless, staring at him.

They felt like ants before a dragon, a single breath was capable of obliterating them.

"This is quite a lively gathering. We have Hollows, Shinigami, and even a Quincy. Are you preparing for a new war between the three worlds?"

Ailin's words broke the silence, allowing them to breathe again.

Kurotsuchi rose from the ground, leading his subordinates out of the forest.

"Captain Ailin, if I recall correctly, all lieutenants and above must have a Limiting Seal placed upon them before traveling to the World of the Living. Captain Ailin, I wonder what punishment awaits those who enter the World of the Living without authorization and without a Limiting Seal?"