The Royal Guard the Zero Division resides far above the Soul Society, suspended in the domain known as the Royal Realm.
Although it is said to be "above" Seireitei, that does not mean one can simply fly upward to reach it. The Royal Realm is separated from the Soul Society by seventy-two barriers, massive spiritual walls known collectively as the Shakonmaku, which divide Seireitei from the dimension where the Zero Division exists.
Thus, even though it is described as being overhead, the Zero Division is effectively located in an entirely different space.
The personal palaces of the Zero Division are collectively referred to as the Zero Division Ridō—the Royal Guard compounds. Every Shinigami promoted to the Royal Guard undergoes a ritual in which their bones are reconstructed with the Spirit King's power, forming what is called a Ōken.
The Ōken acts as a key and proof of authority, allowing them to exist within the Royal Realm and maintain long-term stability in the dimension surrounding the Spirit King's Palace. Using the power of the Ōken, each member generates their own palace—grand, floating domains known as the Five Great Palaces.
As long as these Ridō structures exist, even if a Royal Guard member is killed, the power of Ichibei Hyōsube, who governs names and existence, allows them to be restored.
Each Royal Guard member possesses their own palace. Only Ichibei Hyōsube, the first Shinigami and the oldest of the Royal Guard, holds a unique position among them. The others hold equal rank.
Currently, there are four members stationed in the Zero Division, and thus four main palaces. These colossal cities float in the heavens, while at their intersection lies the central structure—the inner sanctum of the Spirit King's Palace.
In the early ages, there had been only one palace. Over ages, more were added as more individuals joined the Royal Guard.
Their duty, unchanged across endless years, is to guard the Spirit King.
On this day, within his palace, Ichibei Hyōsube opened his eyes—eyes that were usually closed in perpetual meditation.
He sensed something:
In the Soul Society below, a new force of rules had appeared.
The power of rules, or the fundamental laws that shape the world, is mysterious—born from conscious creation, yet capable of anchoring reality itself.
Although this is the world of the Shinigami, they were not the first true rulers.
In ancient times, the world was dominated by Hollows.
They consumed everything. Had they continued, the very fabric of the world would eventually have been destroyed.
But the world did not perish.
The Spirit King was born.
His emergence halted the collapse of existence and restrained the Hollow devastation.
Afterward, several individuals of immense significance appeared: Ichibei Hyōsube, the first Shinigami; and the ancestors of the Five Great Noble Clans.
The Spirit King was once a savior—an unquestionable hero of the primordial world.
The nobles originally followed him with reverence.
But over time, his overwhelming power inspired fear.
Led by the first head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, the nobles conspired to assassinate the Spirit King.
The ancestor of the Shiba Clan opposed the plan, but ultimately could not stop the Tsunayashiro patriarch.
The Spirit King was murdered.
Then, using his remains, they turned the Spirit King into a keystone of the world, sealing him within the Royal Palace and stabilizing existence using the lingering power of his body.
To keep him from ever regaining freedom, they removed his limbs, hollowed his organs, and continuously stripped away his excess power, leaving only his core to maintain the world.
After this atrocity, the nobles sought out Ichibei Hyōsube and charged him with guarding the Spirit King.
They themselves retreated to the world below—the Soul Society—to build their legacy.
From that moment, this world became the domain of the Shinigami.
Yet the Shinigami were ultimately usurpers—those who seized the rule of the world.
And the Spirit King's blood still flowed among humanity.
Eventually, it would seek to overturn Shinigami rule.
The Quincy are descendants of the Spirit King, though they themselves do not know this.
Over eight hundred years ago, led by Yhwach, they invaded the Soul Society. Their ambition seemed unreasonable, but in truth, it was the Spirit King's dormant power stirring through them.
Though the Spirit King stabilized the world, he still harbored hatred toward those who butchered him.
His "stability" was mercy—and his rebellion flowed through the Quincy.
The Quincy were defeated in that ancient war.
Afterward, Ichibei Hyōsube dismissed them as insignificant, until many generations later he sensed another danger and ordered the Quincy's extermination.
The remaining Quincy in the world were few and scattered.
During that time, the Spirit King's throbbing reminded Ichibei that the palaces were not yet enough to fully restrain the King's power.
Thus the Zero Division invited Shutara Senjumaru—whose skills and techniques were unmatched—to join them.
Senjumaru had long been qualified but refused several invitations. She accepted this one.
Upon her ascension, another palace arose, further stabilizing the Royal Realm.
But why are these palaces required to suppress the Spirit King?
Because of the power of rules.
This world exists because of the Spirit King—and is stabilized through him.
But the Shinigami, who became the rulers, did so through constructed authority.
To maintain Shinigami rule, the power of rules had to wrap around the Spirit King's body, then spread through the world via his spiritual core—establishing Shinigami as the rightful maintainers of order.
Ichibei Hyōsube, the first Shinigami, named everything in existence.
This naming was itself a unique law-forming ability, the power of true names—one of the most absolute rule-based forces.
He declared Shinigami the rightful order of the world through written and spoken names.
Ōetsu Nimaiya then created the Zanpakutō, the weapon that gave Shinigami their power.
Kirio Hikifune developed Reiryoku conversion and spiritual food creation.
Tenshirō Kirinji mastered healing arts.
Senjumaru defined uniforms and systems.
Together, they created the foundational rules that shaped the Shinigami as a legitimate profession.
Though all of these constructs were artificial, they stabilized Shinigami rule completely, making them the recognized guardians of the world.
Today, the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, the Human World, and even Hell view the Shinigami as the ones who maintain balance—
as long as they never learn the truth.
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