The Human World.
"Strange… I can't recall anything about this at all! If I'm not mistaken, Karakura Town has been completely peaceful for the past ten years. Not even a single Gillian-class Menos has appeared!"
While Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society were thrown into chaos by the emergence of the mysterious ranking video, the atmosphere in Urahara Shop was no better.
Seated in his usual spot, Urahara rubbed his chin, his expression dark as he analyzed the situation. "Judging solely by the spiritual pressure fluctuations, one of the two Arrancars in the video is at least Adjuchas-level. A Hollow of that tier invading the Human World should have been detected immediately by the Gotei 13. But in the footage, there wasn't a single Shinigami present!"
Replaying the battle scene in his mind, Urahara's brow furrowed. Any amusement he had when watching the video had long since vanished.
The more he analyzed it, the more inconsistencies he noticed.
The first and most glaring issue was the Arrancar's appearance.
As everyone knew, Karakura Town was a jūreichi—a highly spiritual location that naturally attracted supernatural beings. However, thanks to the stationed Shinigami keeping watch, the town had remained relatively incident-free over the years. At most, there had been occasional reports of lost souls (Pluses) being attacked by low-level Hollows.
But those were just minor disturbances.
Even a newly recruited Shinigami could easily perform konso (soul burial) and eliminate such threats.
As for Menos-class Hollows?
They had never appeared here.
And an Adjuchas-level Arrancar?
Unheard of.
What made things even more baffling…
The Human World was clearly under a major threat, yet not a single Shinigami was present at the battlefield.
That didn't make any sense.
Hearing Urahara's serious analysis, and seeing his rare solemn demeanor, Tessai Tsukabishi was dumbfounded. Half-doubtful, he asked, "Boss, are you sure this isn't one of your pranks?"
Urahara cast him a helpless glance. "What do you think?"
Despite his usual penchant for mischief, this was no time for jokes.
The countdown video… unnerved him.
Especially the battles depicted—events that had never happened before. The implications sent a chill down his spine.
"Oh, come on. I know you too well." Tessai waved a hand dismissively, shaking his head. "Cut the act already."
No matter how convincing Urahara's expression was, a century of being the victim of his pranks made Tessai skeptical. His gut told him this was nothing more than Urahara's latest elaborate joke.
"… …"
Urahara was speechless.
Seeing the smug expression on Tessai's face—the kind that said, I've figured you out—he truly didn't know how to explain.
But just then—
The previously dark screen suddenly flickered back to life.
The abrupt change immediately drew their attention!
"Whoa… It changed! The scene shifted again!"
Tessai stared at the glowing screen, eyes locked onto the new footage.
Reflected in his pupils was no longer the outskirts of Karakura Town—but a dense cluster of towering skyscrapers!
"This place looks… really familiar?"
Urahara narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene carefully. After a moment of silence, realization dawned upon him.
"No wonder it looks familiar! Tessai, this is the heart of Karakura Town!"
"…You're right! It's exactly the same!"
Tessai gasped, then shot Urahara a teasing glance. "Tsk tsk, Boss, your cinematography skills aren't half bad. The scene transition was perfectly timed—kept the audience on edge. I just can't wait to see what happens next!"
Urahara ignored Tessai's sarcastic remark.
His attention was locked on the lower right corner of the screen.
Then—
As the camera shifted, two more figures appeared.
"Holy—!!"
"No way… Did I just see that right?! Isn't that Isshin and Yoruichi?!"
Before Urahara could say anything, Tessai let out a loud exclamation.
His body tensed as he leaned closer to the screen, eyes widening in disbelief. It felt like a thunderclap had gone off in his head, leaving him completely stunned.
Tessai wasn't just shocked by their appearance.
It was what they were wearing.
One of them—Yoruichi—was dressed in her signature skintight combat suit.
But Isshin…
He was clad in a Shihakushō—the traditional black robes of a Shinigami.
Everyone knew that a Shinigami's most distinct feature was their Shihakushō. It wasn't just a uniform—it was directly linked to their spiritual energy. It reflected their current spiritual pressure state and completeness as a Shinigami.
In other words—
If a Shinigami loses their spiritual power, their Shihakushō will disappear as well.
That was an unshakable fact.
Yet…
Kurosaki Isshin, who had lost his powers years ago, was now standing there in a full Shihakushō.
And even more shocking—
At his waist—
A Zanpakutō.
It was unmistakable.
That was Engetsu, his long-lost blade.
"Boss!!"
Tessai finally snapped out of his daze.
His jaw clenched, and his entire body shook with emotion. He grabbed Urahara by the collar, practically spitting in his face, "Explain this—now! Why is Lady Yoruichi fighting? And when the hell did Kurosaki Isshin regain his powers?!"
Urahara almost choked.
With his collar yanked so tightly, he could barely breathe. Coughing, he quickly motioned for Tessai to calm down.
"Tessai, wait! Just take a deep breath and calm down first!"
Hearing this, Tessai hesitated before finally letting go.
But his mind was still a mess.
The sheer number of unexpected revelations had completely thrown his rationality into disarray.
"Well?! Explain!"
"If I told you I have no idea what's going on… would you believe me?"
Urahara sighed. His expression was grim—so dark it looked like a storm was brewing inside him.
Compared to Tessai, he was even more unsettled.
Isshin's Shihakushō…
It sent a chill through Urahara's entire body.
Because he knew the truth.
Years ago, when Kurosaki Isshin was still Captain of the Tenth Division, he had sacrificed his Shinigami powers to save Kurosaki Masaki.
Urahara was the one who facilitated the entire process.
He had personally witnessed Isshin lose his powers, watched him fall from a Captain to a mere human.
After that, Urahara had never stopped searching for a way to restore Isshin's Shinigami abilities. Just recently, he had even made a breakthrough—a prototype restoration drug was nearly complete.
But now—
Isshin had already regained his powers?
That was the most terrifying part.
It shouldn't have been possible.
"…So this really isn't one of your pranks?"
For the first time, Tessai hesitated.
If the earlier battle with the Arrancars could still be dismissed as special effects, there was no way to explain Isshin's restored powers.
Because even through the screen—
He could feel it.
The spiritual pressure radiating from Isshin was completely real.
"Tessai… Look at our faces on the screen."
Urahara took a deep breath, his voice tense.
He had just noticed—
His own expression, as well as Yoruichi's and Isshin's.
They were all the same.
Expressions of grim determination.
They were facing something…
An enemy unlike anything they had ever encountered before.