Unexpected Discovery

In the dimension that connected Soul Society, Human World, and Hueco Mundo...

"This place..." Muyang was standing on a foothold comprised by Reishi, looking around in the dark void: "So this is the dimensional gap between worlds."

However, the place Muyang was in right now resembled Garganta leading to the Hueco Mundo than the Dangai that connected Soul Society and Human World. Dangai had Kōryū on each side of the wall after all, but this place was just a pitch-black void.

Although he had used this spatial technique before, this was the first time Muyang used it to travel between two different worlds like this. Muyang had no guarantee that he could reach Human World without a hitch. However, he was ready for one or two unexpected events.

With that in mind, Muyang made sure not to be rash. He was no longer in danger anyway now, so all he had to do now was find the way to the Human World. He sheathed his Zanpakuto and began exploring.

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Meanwhile, Yoruichi got away with Kusu in tow thanks to Muyang for being such a competent bait. She knew the ins and outs of Seireitei, and with the detection ability from Kusu Zanpakuto's, they easily left Seireitei without alarming anyone.

"Yoruichi-san, what are we going to do next?"

Shortly after leaving Seireitei, Kusu and Yoruichi stopped before looking back at Seireitei for one last time. Kusu clearly seemed reluctant, but she asked Yoruichi anyway.

"Well, we can't go back to Gotei 13 anymore after what happened." Yoruichi responded when she noticed the hesitant look on Kusu's face, but she frowned shortly after, "When you're in Sōkyoku Hill earlier, how did you find Aizen, Kusu? Only you noticed that he was hiding there, and I believe he must've used Kyōka Suigetsu at that time."

"Yeah." Kusu cast aside all the thoughts in her heart at the moment and stroked her Zanpakuto. "My Kamisen no Kumo's ability is more than just ordinary perception. It can even look into others' hearts as long as they are in its range."

"What!?" Yoruichi was genuinely shocked when she heard Kusu's explanation. "Mind-reading!?"

"That's one way you can put it," Kusu then smiled and said: "Of course, at my current level, perceiving others' emotions is the most I can do, and I have to be very close to my target in order to do so. I can catch a fraction of people's thought, though, but it may take a hundred years or even more to learn mind-reading."

No matter how powerful Zanpakuto's ability was, it depended on its owner themselves whether they could learn or further develop its ability. There were only a few people who had completely awakened their Zanpakuto, like Captain-Commander Yamamoto..

"Okay, let's go to Kūkaku's place first." Yoruichi cast her thoughts aside and immediately stood up.

"Shiba Kūkaku?"

"Well, we have to find her before we can go to the Human World and rendezvous with Kisuke."

"Captain, he's..."

Kusu was looking back toward the direction of Seireitei. It was clear that she was worried about Muyang. After all, Muyang stayed behind to ensure their escape, and there were other Captains beside Yamamoto there.

Yoruichi couldn't blame Kusu for her behavior. She has accompanied Muyang for more than 100 years, and everyone knew how she felt about Muyang. In fact, it would be weird if she wasn't worried about him.

They both could feel massive Reiatsu colliding with each other, but Yoruichi decided to brush it off with a smile to put Kusu at ease.

"Don't worry, it's Kimura we're talking about. Have faith in him. Even if he can't win, he should have no problem escaping."

"Besides, don't underestimate a Captain."

Yoruichi's words reminded Kusu of the strength of her Captain that she had served for years, putting her at ease as she finally smiled for the first time.

Bang!!!

A sudden spike of Reiatsu occurred on Sōkyoku Hill, surprising Yoruichi and Kusu even though they were quite far away from there, which made them worry once again.

"This is... Captain-Commander's Reiatsu, but why is it so rough? Even from our distance, his anger was so apparent as if it's directed to us."

Bang!!

Following the sudden spike of Reiatsu, a burst of flame towered high into the sky, dyeing the whole sky red.

"Yoruichi-san!"

Even if she had learned Bankai, the moment Yamamoto's Reiatsu burst forth to the sky, Kusu couldn't hide her anxiety.

"Although I don't know what pisses Captain-Commander so much, we gotta leave as soon as possible. Besides, I can't feel Kimura's Reiatsu anymore. I think he's escaped already."

Kusu immediately closed her eyes and then sighed in relief: "you're right. Captain indeed has left."

"Then we should get going too. We will hide at Kūkaku's place for a while. When the time is right, we'll go to the Human World and rendezvous with Kisuke."

"Understood."

They then headed toward the direction of Rukongai.

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"This place really is..."

As Muyang stood in the void and looked around, as hard it was for him to admit, he knew deep down that he was lost. Then again, this was his first time, so it couldn't be helped.

Muyang decided to just walk forward. Even though he didn't know which way led to the Human World, at least he wouldn't end up in Seireitei if he kept pressing forward.

The foothold comprised of Reishi followed Muyang's walking pace as he pressed onward, and Muyang eventually sensed a Reiatsu from a certain direction, so Muyang followed it. However, the closer he got to that Reiatsu, the clearer the frown on his face because judging from the Reiatsu, Muyang knew for sure that this way didn't lead to the Human World.

Muyang sensed an existence beyond his knowledge, and the subtle bad vibe he got was clearly coming from that spatial distortion. However, at the same time, the Reiatsu was somehow familiar, like that of Hikifune Kirio's, but different from the Kirio in his knowledge.

Muyang then reached out, trying to check what lied beyond the spatial distortion ahead of him.

Bzztt~

Muyang was zapped by unknown energy as soon as he reached out his hand, and even though it wasn't particularly strong, Muyang backpedaled with horror in his eyes.

"Th...this is..."

Right when Muyang was zapped by the unknown energy, everything around him went bright, and suddenly he could see the world hidden behind the spatial distortion.

There were huge circular pillars as far as Muyang could see, and there were 5 floating discs, while suspended higher still was a large cylindrical structure that had a conical top and bottom

What is this place? I've never seen it in the anime in my previous life. However, the Reiatsu is oddly familiar. What is going on here?

Muyang was at a loss. He had never seen this place when he watched the anime or read the manga. Was this still Seireitei?