"Why do you say that?"
After hearing that Masaki's life was not in danger, Isshin finally relaxed slightly.
Although the situation was still terrible, merely losing her powers was far better than losing her life altogether.
For a Quincy to suddenly lose all spiritual power was already a cruel disaster.
But compared to death, it could still be called fortunate.
At the same time, Isshin could not help becoming curious about another matter.
"What exactly happens to mixed-blood Quincy?"
Gosuke answered calmly.
"Because the bloodline power within mixed-blood Quincy is too weak to resist Yhwach's soul reclamation."
"When Yhwach reclaims the fragments of his soul, their own souls are dragged out together with their Quincy powers."
"And once the soul itself is absorbed…"
"The person naturally dies."
The room instantly fell silent.
Even Kisuke's expression darkened slightly.
After explaining the fate of mixed-blood Quincy, Gosuke sighed softly.
"The Quincy are truly a race blessed by bloodline…"
"And destroyed by bloodline as well."
"In some ways, Shinigami are far more fortunate."
"So long as a soul possesses spiritual power, anyone has the possibility of becoming stronger."
"Nobility does not completely determine one's future."
"But Quincy are different."
"The purity of one's blood directly determines the upper limit of one's power."
"And to make matters worse…"
"Their progenitor is a monster who can reclaim that power whenever he desires."
Isshin subconsciously clenched his fists.
"…Thankfully, Masaki isn't a mixed-blood Quincy."
Even though Masaki's bloodline had been contaminated by Hollow reiatsu years ago, she was still fundamentally an Echt Quincy a pure-blood Quincy.
Otherwise…
Isshin did not even want to imagine the outcome.
If Masaki had truly been a mixed-blood Quincy, he might have already lost her today.
Then another thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
His expression changed slightly.
"…Wait."
"If I remember correctly…"
"Ryūken's wife is a mixed-blood Quincy."
"And their son should be one too."
Masaki had originally been chosen as the Ishida family's future heir bride.
But after she left the Ishida family to stay with Isshin, Ryūken eventually abandoned the idea of preserving strict Quincy traditions.
In the end, he married his childhood friend, Kanae Katagiri.
Kanae herself was a Gemischt Quincy.
And because of that, their son, Uryū Ishida, was also considered mixed-blood.
Over the years, despite Ryūken's cold personality, he had quietly helped Isshin and Masaki many times after they settled in Karakura Town.
Their relationship was not particularly close, but there was still mutual understanding between them.
Now, realizing what Yhwach's awakening might mean for the Ishida family
Isshin suddenly felt uneasy.
If Gosuke's explanation was correct…
Then Kanae Katagiri and Uryū might both be in danger.
Just as Isshin was considering whether he should immediately head to Naruki City to find Ryūken
A car engine suddenly sounded outside Urahara Shop.
The store was located deep in the outskirts of Karakura Town.
Very few people ever came here.
Even fewer vehicles.
Yet now, a car had stopped directly outside.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed through the entrance.
Bang!
The door to Urahara Shop burst open violently.
A tall man rushed inside carrying an unconscious woman in his arms.
The moment he saw Kisuke, desperation filled his voice.
"Urahara-san!"
"Please save Kanae!"
"Please save her!"
Isshin's eyes widened.
"…Ryūken?!"
He had only just been thinking about Ishida Ryūken.
And now the man himself had appeared.
Ryūken looked far more shaken than usual.
His normally composed demeanor had completely collapsed.
Meanwhile, the woman in his arms Kanae Katagiri looked deathly pale.
Her breathing was weak, almost imperceptible.
Earlier that day, Kanae had suddenly collapsed without warning.
Not only had her Quincy powers vanished instantly, but even her life force had begun fading rapidly afterward.
Ryūken had tried everything he could to stop it.
But nothing worked.
No matter what methods he used, Kanae's condition only continued worsening.
And eventually, only one possibility remained in his mind.
Kisuke Urahara.
Under normal circumstances, a Quincy seeking help from a Shinigami would have been unthinkable.
The hatred between the two races ran deep.
But Ryūken was different from most Quincy.
The Ishida family itself had always been unusual among the Quincy.
And because of Isshin and Masaki, Ryūken's view toward certain Shinigami had changed long ago.
More importantly
He remembered what happened years ago.
Masaki had once suffered Hollowfication severe enough to kill her.
Yet Kisuke had somehow saved her.
Even now, though her strength had declined compared to the past, she still lived normally and had even raised three children.
That alone proved Kisuke could accomplish things ordinary people considered impossible.
So Ryūken had brought Kanae here immediately.
Even though using Hirenkyaku might have been faster in theory, Kanae's condition was too unstable.
Driving had been safer.
After entering the shop, Ryūken briefly glanced at Isshin in surprise.
He clearly had not expected him to be here.
But this was not the time for conversation.
Right now, only Kanae mattered.
Kisuke's expression grew serious.
"Lay her down first."
"Then explain everything from the beginning."
Ryūken immediately placed Kanae carefully onto the bed inside the shop.
Afterward, he rapidly explained everything that had happened.
Once he finished listening, Kisuke slowly lowered his eyes.
"…I see."
"So it really happened."
Ryūken immediately looked at him.
"You know what this is?"
Kisuke gave a bitter smile.
"To be precise, I only learned the truth today."
"Gosuke explained it to us."
Then Kisuke summarized Gosuke's explanation regarding Yhwach and the Quincy bloodline.
As Ryūken listened, his expression became increasingly grim.
When Kisuke finally finished, Ryūken stood frozen in place.
"So…"
"Kanae became like this because of Yhwach?"
"And because she's a mixed-blood Quincy…"
"She can't resist the Auswählen…"
The moment he spoke that word, despair appeared clearly in his eyes.
He finally understood.
This was not illness.
Not poison.
Not an enemy attack.
This was the Quincy King himself reclaiming power from his descendants.
And mixed-blood Quincy like Kanae were the first sacrifices.
Ryūken's hands trembled slightly.
"…She's going to die?"
For a man as proud and rational as Ishida Ryūken, showing emotion so openly was almost unimaginable.
Yet now, all of that pride had collapsed.
He looked directly at Kisuke.
"Urahara-san…"
"I know you can do things others can't."
"So please…"
"Save Kanae."
By the end of his plea, tears had already begun falling uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.