It happened precisely at the moment Mazuru had used his ability to imprison Mask's soul.
Ordinarily, that would have meant nothing—one more fallen quincy among countless enemies.
But Mask's soul wasn't his alone.
Hidden deep within it was a Schrift—the engraved letter of Yhwach—and along with it, a fragment of the Quincy King's own soul.
When Mazuru's barrier sealed that soul inside the Crimson Realm, Yhwach felt a flicker vanish from his consciousness.
For someone of Yhwach's power, the loss of one fragment was trivial.
What drew his attention was not the fragment itself—
but the fact that something could steal it from him.
That had never happened before.
From that moment, his gaze shifted toward the realm he had long ignored: Hueco Mundo.
He could not yet descend there himself. His body remained sealed within the depths of the Wandenreich, preparing for the war against the Soul Society.
But Askin and the others were already within Hueco Mundo—and within Askin's body resided another of his soul fragments.
Using that connection, Yhwach reached through the spiritual web of his own essence. Across dimensions, across reishi currents, he linked himself to that fragment.
It was only a whisper of his full might—no more than a shadow. But it was enough to appear.
Enough to speak.
Askin's body had paid the price for that communication, but to Yhwach, that loss was irrelevant.
Askin had been granted great power through his soul fragment.
Now, that power had simply returned home.
When Yhwach appeared, his presence filled the crimson haze. He looked upon Mazuru with cold curiosity.
"How did you do it?" he asked at last.
Mazuru regarded him calmly. "Sorry," he said lightly. "I don't understand what you mean."
Even now—standing before the legendary Quincy King—his expression did not waver.
He knew exactly who Yhwach was.
He knew this was the being who had once nearly destroyed the Soul Society itself.
But fear? There was none.
This Yhwach was no god—just a projection, a thread of consciousness carried within Askin's dying soul.
Mazuru could see it clearly. The King's true body was elsewhere, and this was merely a spiritual echo.
A costly one.
After all, Askin had perished the instant Yhwach made contact.
It was an impressive show of power, but also… a reckless one.
"Tell me." Yhwach said again, voice low but forceful. "How did you do it? After Mask's death, you imprisoned his soul."
The phrasing was disjointed—more thought than speech—but Mazuru understood.
He smiled faintly. "So you've come here for him?"
This time, there was genuine surprise in his tone.
If Yhwach's manifestation through Askin had startled him, this revelation intrigued him. The Quincy King had not come for vengeance or conquest. He had come because of Mask's soul.
"Mask's death drew my attention." Yhwach admitted evenly. "And then I discovered… something else. Something I did not expect."
He raised a hand, his spectral form glimmering faintly through the red mist. "Your power. It's fascinating."
He meant it. Even for someone who had seen every kind of spiritual phenomenon, Mazuru's Crimson Realm was an anomaly.
During the transfer of his consciousness into Askin's fragment, Yhwach had felt it—an unseen boundary interwoven with the fundamental laws of reishi flow.
Even a brief glimpse had been enough to unsettle him.
"Interesting," he murmured. "To bind the souls of others within your own domain… to erase the reishi signature of my mark. Truly… interesting."
Snort.
Mazuru's cold exhale echoed faintly. He didn't respond further. He had no interest in indulging Yhwach's curiosity.
But the Quincy King pressed on.
"Askin has told you much already," Yhwach continued. "Your Hueco Mundo and my Wandenreich share the same enemy: the Soul Society and the Gotei 13."
He extended a hand, as though offering peace. "Why not join forces?"
"I admit." he said smoothly, "I may have erred before. It was disrespectful to send Askin in my place. You are a ruler. To approach you through a subordinate—yes, that was ill-mannered. So I come now myself. Think carefully, King of Hueco Mundo."
His tone was gracious, even humble. But the lifelessness in his eyes betrayed the truth.
This was no offer of alliance. It was a declaration of convenience.
Yhwach's courtesy was a veil; beneath it lay the same cold calculation that had erased Askin moments ago.
He was ruthless—nothing more.
Mazuru let the silence stretch before finally replying.
"I suppose I should feel honored." he said quietly. "The great Quincy King himself, speaking so humbly to me."
His eyes hardened. "But my answer remains the same."
He paused, letting his words hang like a guillotine.
"I refuse."
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Cang Du and Quilge's faces twisted in fury.
If not for the blood bindings holding them in place, they would have charged forward in blind rage.
To refuse their Emperor—even after he had appeared in person—was unthinkable. Unforgivable.
"What a disappointing answer." Yhwach said finally, voice low. The calm in it was more terrifying than anger.
His form began to fade, dissolving into reishi mist. The fragment was returning to its origin.
It was only a fragment, after all—incapable of battle, incapable of striking back.
Better to withdraw and conserve power.
But just as the shadow began to dissipate—
Shhkk!
Crimson light erupted around him.
From Mazuru's hand, chains of blood tore through the air—Crimson Chains—piercing the void and wrapping around Yhwach's fading form.
The chains coiled tight, burning like molten iron against the spectral energy.
Even though Yhwach was only a phantom, the bindings held.
His expression hardened, the polite facade vanishing, replaced by cold, absolute fury.
"What are you doing?" His voice rumbled, deep and dangerous.
Mazuru's reply was calm, almost amused. "You've come all this way," he said softly, "and you think you can leave without leaving anything behind?"
The chains pulsed. The fragment convulsed. Then, with a single motion, Mazuru drew his hand inward.
The spectral form of Yhwach collapsed—compressed into a single sphere of glowing red light. The sphere floated gently into Mazuru's palm.
He closed his fingers. Crack.
The light vanished.
Silence fell.
The act had taken mere seconds—but it chilled every soul present.
Bazz-B, Cang Du, and Quilge could feel it in their bones. Even bound, their bodies trembled.
That wasn't arrogance. That was dominion.
…
Far away, in the shadows beneath Seireitei—
within the marble halls of the Wandenreich's hidden palace—
Yhwach's true eyes opened.
A flash of killing intent lit the air like a blade.
The temperature in the vast throne hall dropped instantly. Frost crept across the floor.
For the first time in centuries, genuine fury crossed the Quincy King's face.
"So… the King of Hueco Mundo dares."
His voice, though quiet, carried like thunder through the Invisible Empire.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
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✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]