As the final strands of the illusion Kido unraveled before the cave entrance, the air shimmered briefly, revealing the hidden path within the stone walls of Sōkyoku Hill. Just as Kisuke Urahara was about to step inside, a calm but firm voice stopped him in his tracks."Hello there, Kisuke Urahara," came the voice from behind. "I believe this is our first time meeting, isn't it?"Urahara turned slowly, his trademark striped hat casting a shadow over his eyes. His expression was unreadable for a moment—then, a casual smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Well, hello there, Lieutenant Mohit," he replied in a relaxed tone. "What a pleasant surprise. May I ask what brings you here to such a secretive place?"
Mohit stepped forward, hands folded behind his back, blindfold covering his eyes as always. Despite the lack of sight, his presence was sharp, steady—like a blade held at rest.
"I could ask you the same thing," he said calmly. "But I think we both know you're not as clueless as you pretend to be. I'm sure you have a fairly good idea why I'm here. So let's not waste time playing games."
There was no aggression in his voice—only cool precision, and a quiet weight that made his words land heavily.
Urahara chuckled, scratching his cheek beneath his hat with exaggerated thoughtfulness."Ah, if I were truly as smart as you think, Lieutenant, I'd probably be wearing your rank by now," he said with a grin. "But here I am—just a lowly third-seat officer, doing errands in secret caves. Life's strange, isn't it?"
His tone was playful, almost teasing, but his eyes were already scanning Mohit carefully, measuring the intent behind his visit.
Mohit didn't react to the joke."Ranks mean nothing if you're always hiding your true abilities," he replied simply.The air hung silent for a moment.Then Urahara tilted his head slightly and smiled once again, more genuinely this time.
"Well then, Lieutenant. Since you've found your way here… I assume you're looking for something important."
Urahara gave a relaxed sigh and adjusted his hat. Just as he turned to step toward the cave, something occurred to him. He paused, glanced sideways at Mohit, and asked casually:
"But may I ask one question, Lieutenant? How did you know I was here in the first place?"
Mohit didn't answer right away. Instead, he slowly reached for his sword, which was already in its Shikai form—its dark, segmented blade reflecting faint moonlight. He tilted it forward for Urahara to see.
"Why don't you see it for yourself?" he replied calmly.
As he began to deactivate his Shikai, something remarkable happened. All around them, the soft patter of legs on stone echoed faintly in the air. One by one, hundreds of small spiders—each crafted from fine spiritual threads—began crawling back across the rocks, trees, and cliffs, converging on Mohit from all directions
They moved with eerie coordination, climbing along his arms, his robes, and finally, into the blade of his sword—vanishing into the hundreds of tiny holes that lined its surface. The sword pulsed once with faint light, then returned to its sealed form.
"Captain Yoruichi is also coming toward us," Mohit added quietly as the last spider disappeared into his sword.
Urahara's smile froze for the briefest second.
His composure didn't break—but something flickered in his eyes. Surprise? Amusement? Perhaps both.
"That's… an interesting Shikai you've got there," he said lightly, clearly choosing his words. "So I should assume those spiders linked back to you the moment I arrived?"Mohit didn't respond directly. Instead, he stepped slightly closer, tilting his head."What is that stain on your uniform?" he asked, voice neutral. "As a former member of Squad 2, I would think you'd be more careful about keeping your clothing clean."Urahara glanced down—his outer haori had a faint smudge on the left sleeve.He looked up again, this time genuinely impressed.
"So… you see through them," he murmured. "A completely external visual network… and through hundreds of separate points at once. What an amazing ability."Mohit remained silent. His face unreadable behind the blindfold, but the message was clear:He saw more than most expected.And nothing escaped his notice.
As both Urahara and Mohit stepped toward the mouth of the hidden cave, the quiet hum of reishi in the air was suddenly broken by a sharp, familiar voice echoing from behind them.
"Where do you think you're going, Urahara?
Both men turned as Yoruichi Shihōin appeared atop a high ridge, arms crossed and gaze sharp. With a graceful leap, she landed in front of the entrance, cutting off their path like a shadow.
Urahara, ever the picture of calm mischief, offered a half-hearted grin as he adjusted his hat."I was about to leave you a note, I swear," he said in his usual carefree tone.
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed."And why is Lieutenant Mohit here? Don't tell me you told him about this place."Urahara raised both hands in mock surrender, stepping slightly to the side."No, no. Our Lieutenant here is a bit more… talented than people think. He saw it—with his Shikai."Her gaze shifted to Mohit, curious now. Her tone cooled, but a smirk tugged at the edge of her lips."Fine. So tell me, Lieutenant…"She took a step closer, looking him up and down."What do you seek in this cave? Answer carefully—because depending on your answer, you may or may not be allowed in."Mohit stood firm, unfazed by her piercing stare. His voice came low and calm, yet firm enough to carry across the cave entrance."The main reason… is not the cave itself."He paused, then continued."The main reason is my Zanpakutō. I want to train with it. I want to achieve Bankai. And I believe this place—you—can provide me with the fastest and most direct way to reach that goal."
Yoruichi stared at him for a long second, then smiled—not mockingly, but in quiet approval.There was no arrogance in his answer. Just purpose."Hmph. At least you're honest," she said, stepping aside."Then prove it. Let's see if your Zanpakutō agrees."Urahara chuckled softly, brushing his coat aside as he followed Mohit in."Well then, Lieutenant… welcome to Hell."And with that, the three disappeared into the shadows of the cave—where true strength was forged.
As the three of them descended deeper into the cavern, the stone walls began to hum faintly with reishi, echoing with a pressure that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.Yoruichi stopped first, folding her arms."Kisuke. Bring out the Tenshintai."
Urahara gave a subtle nod and pulled a cloth-wrapped object from the folds of his coat. Unwrapping it revealed the Tenshintai—a strange, life-sized, human-shaped doll, sealed with thick spiritual bindings.
"Now pay attention, Lieutenant," Urahara said, setting the doll upright in the middle of the cavern.
"This is the Tenshintai—Heavenly Sent Body. If you stab your Zanpakutō into this doll, it will forcibly draw your Zanpakutō spirit out of your inner world and into the material world. You'll have three days to defeat or subjugate it."He gave a meaningful pause.
"If you fail… your soul will begin to unravel. There's a very real chance you won't walk out of this cave alive."
A long silence followed.:Mohit didn't hesitate.He stepped forward, holding his Zanpakutō in a reverse grip. With a quiet exhale, he muttered something inaudible under his breath—then drove the blade deep into the doll's chest.Instantly, the air snapped.The temperature dropped like a stone. The cavern walls groaned under sudden pressure, and the reishi around them pulsed erratically. A thick fog spread from the Tenshintai as a massive spiritual presence poured into the space.
Then—something emerged.A giant figure slowly rose from the shadows, 12 feet tall, its body humanoid but wrapped in shadowy silk-like armor. It had three faces—one looking forward, two turned left and right like guardians of different paths. All three eyes glowed a deep, burning crimson.
The being stood fully upright, towering over Mohit, its presence swallowing the air around it.
"Long time no see… Supaidāgoddo."Mohit's voice was calm, almost respectful, yet tense.
The spirit's central face lowered to meet his.Its voice was thunderous, but not angry—disappointed.
"I told you… to keep me close to your heart."A pause."And you answer that trust… by drawing me into a fight. You seek to master me?"
A moment of silence passed between them. The weight of the moment pressed down like a stormcloud.From the sidelines, Urahara gave a low whistle."My, my… what a beast of a Zanpakutō spirit. Looks like it could eat most zanpakto forms for breakfast."
Yoruichi didn't speak.Her golden eyes were locked on the spirit, eyebrows drawn in tight.
Mohit clenched his hand on the hilt of his blade."I didn't come to control you… I came to understand you. If that means fighting you, so be it. But I will find your truth."The spirit gave no answer.It merely raised its massive arm—and with a single motion, summoned a swarm of ghostly spiders from the shadows behind it.The battle had begun.