Chapter 365: He's Back

"He... has returned!"

In the First Division office, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, who had been in a deep slumber, was shocked awake. His old, drooping eyes snapped open, and a fierce, frightening gleam filled his pupils. Without realizing it, he released his spiritual pressure, causing the objects on his desk to slam against the walls with a loud bang and shatter into pieces.

Yamamoto's hands, gripping his wooden staff, showed bulging veins like twisted dragons as he clenched it tightly.

How should the current Seireitei... deal with him?

For a moment, even Yamamoto's sharp gaze appeared confused.

A hundred years ago, during that brutal period, the subsequent incidents of severely injured captains undergoing Hollowfication had nearly torn the Gotei 13 apart. Out of thirteen captains, ten were lost to war, desertion while saving others, or Hollowfication and left the Seireitei, leaving it at its weakest point.

That history was still vivid in Yamamoto's mind, as if it had happened yesterday.

Even though Yamamoto had held the line, gradually rebuilding the Gotei 13 over the century by promoting new captains, it would be no different now if they had to face him again.

A faint discomfort in his chest constantly reminded Yamamoto of his own weakness.

Up in the sky...

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Orihime Inoue, clinging to Uryū Ishida's leg, looked down and saw that they were still high up in the air. She screamed in terror instinctively. She began to feel dizzy, and her head was spinning.

The sudden halt caused a rush of blood to her head. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she tightened her grip on Uryū Ishida's legs and screamed in panic.

"Inoue! Hold on to me! ... No!!! Don't pull my pants down!!! It's slipping! It's slipping!!! My pants are going to fall!!!"

Uryū Ishida, tall and slender with thin-framed glasses and a sharp face that gave off a cold, scheming vibe, wore a slightly oversized white Quincy robe.

Initially, he wanted Orihime to hold onto his legs to stabilize herself, but when he felt her pulling down his loose pants, his face changed immediately, and he shouted in horror.

Compared to falling to his death, being humiliated by having his pants pulled down mid-air and laughed at like a clown was something Uryū absolutely couldn't tolerate.

He desperately tried to clamp his legs together to stop Orihime from pulling down his pants and yelled, "Stop! Stop!! No more pulling! Just hold onto my legs!"

Fortunately, Orihime quickly snapped out of her panic, firmly holding onto Uryū, stabilizing them in the air, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief. At least he saved both his pants and his dignity.

Otherwise, a Quincy without pants falling into the Soul Reaper's territory would probably become the most embarrassing Quincy in history, mocked until they were completely forgotten.

Once Orihime had regained her composure, Uryū calmed down enough to assess the current situation.

He quickly noticed that the collar of his Quincy robe was being tightly grasped by someone, causing discomfort around his neck.

Looking up, he found himself face-to-face with a man whose features were strong, handsome, and strikingly noble. His deep-set eyes were curiously observing Uryū.

"What are you two doing?" asked Black Ant, holding Uryū by the back of his collar with one hand. As he stepped out of the dark orb, he revealed himself wearing a white outfit that resembled a hospital gown.

Despite the plainness of the white garment, which had no adornments or patterns, H'el's tall and imposing figure exuded a sense of regal authority. Standing steadily on the spirit particles in the air, as if on solid ground, Uryū couldn't help but stare in awe.

Uryū was momentarily stunned. He had never seen anyone so extraordinary; not even Byakuya Kuchiki, whom he had previously met in Karakura Town, with his refined, calm, and dignified demeanor, was as mesmerizing as this man.

"Uh… uh? We… we… were just passing by," Uryū stammered, unable to admit that they were actually invading the Seireitei.

They hadn't even landed before being captured; what kind of invasion was that?

Besides, he couldn't tell if the person who had captured them was a friend or foe, as he wasn't wearing a standard Shinigami uniform, which made it hard for Uryū to lower his guard.

H'el glanced at the hesitant Uryū, then looked down to see Orihime Inoue, who was still holding onto Uryū's legs. She was staring up at him with wide, innocent eyes, her long lashes fluttering twice.

"Can't you stand on spirit particles?" Black Ant waved his free hand, causing the dark orb behind him to gradually dissipate into the air.

With a flick of his finger, a disk made of concentrated spirit particles appeared at his fingertips. With a light gesture, the disk expanded and flew toward Orihime's feet, lifting her up gently.

He then released Uryū, allowing him to stand on the spirit particle platform that slowly rose to meet the one Orihime was on.

The disk ascended, aligning itself with H'el.

Seeing H'el standing effortlessly on spirit particles, Uryū couldn't help but assume he was a Soul Reaper. To his knowledge, only Soul Reapers, who lacked a physical body in the human realm, could stand directly on spirit particles.

The technique of creating a platform from spirit particles and balancing on it also bore a resemblance to Quincy techniques, causing Uryū's pupils to shrink in surprise and wariness.

After a brief exchange of names...

"What is this place?" H'el's gaze swept over the Seireitei, his eyes moving over the numerous stern and ancient buildings, while the Soul Reapers below hurriedly moved around in preparation.

"You don't know where this is?" Uryū's eyes glinted with curiosity as he adjusted his glasses.

Beside him, Orihime tapped the spirit particle disk under her feet and was amazed by how solid it felt, even sturdier than concrete.

°°°

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