3-2 The Mystery of the Quincies

Why don't we play a little game, Ichigo Kurosaki? Let's have a duel to determine which one of us is stronger -- the Quincy or the Soul Reaper.

Alright. If a duel's what you want, then a duel's what you'll get.

Kon, you better get back.

I'm about to give Mr. Handicrafts some stitches to sew.

Uhh... I'll be over here.

So, how does your little duel work? Tell me the rules and let's get to it.

We'll use this to begin. It'll help.

Huh? What is that?

Bait, to bring in Hollows. If I crush this, Hollows will start gathering here quickly.

What the hell?!

The rules here are quite simple. Whoever kills the most Hollows in 24 hours will be the winner.

Simple, isn't it? Even you can understand how that works.

That won't work! What are you thinking? Doing that would put everyone who lives here in danger. This battle's just between us!

Why are you making such a big deal about this?

Believe me, no one is going to get hurt, because I know I will be able to wipe out every single Hollow that shows up here.

If you had more confidence in your abilities to protect people from Hollows, you wouldn't be worried and you would accept this challenge.

Change things back right now! You get those Hollows outta here.

It's too late for that.

Soon the bait will have the whole town crawling with Hollows. Sorry, but the die has already been cast.

I'd say you'd better get moving. It's a fact that Hollows have a tendency to attack those who have a high level of spirit energy first.

Damn you!

A Quincy... I haven't heard that word in a long time.

Well, who are they?

Who were they, you mean. The last of the Quincies became extinct centuries ago, but they were once a clan that specialized in killing Hollows.

And at one time, there were many of them scattered throughout the world.

So what happened?

Well I suppose I should begin at the beginning. The clan started out as a group of humans who had powers like Ichigo and sensed the presence of Hollows in the world and began to train to fight against them.

The whole mission of the Quincies was to defeat Hollows, just as it is for Soul Reapers like yourself. But there was a deep division between the two.

Soul Reapers, as you know, seek to purify Hollows with their Zanpakuto, and thereby allow them to pass over to the Soul Society. But the Quincies believed that Hollows deserved only destruction, and sought to annihilate them.

But then, it was the same belief that eventually lead to their destruction.

Huh?

Urahara? What's going on?

*Beep Beep Beep*

Ugh, dammit! A Hollow alarm at a time like this?

Excuse me, Urahara. Business.

Hm? Why did the signal disappear? Oh, I get it. Ichigo must be doing well. He's working quickly today.

*Beep Beep Beep* *Beep Beep Beep* *Beep Beep Beep*

This is strange. I've never seen so many signals coming in so fast. This can't be... Can it?

No... What destruction is about to happen here?