This article, Multiverse (Kenji), is the property of Kenji-Taichō, Rozeluxe, Another Poetic Spartan & Ashy. |
This article, Multiverse (Kenji), is part of Bleach: War for the King's Seal, which continues on from the opening segments of the site's former Fanon Canon project. Use of this page's contents is determined by the author of this page, unless otherwise specified. |
- "Furthermore, we also hail from an alternate world, 'cause there’s a big multiverse out there, and if you call me a fucking alien, like that chisel-toothed relic back in Naruki City, I’ll boot you in the ass!"
- —Akira's outburst to Anika Shihōin, revealing to her that he hailed from an alternate world.[src]
The multiverse (多元宇宙) was the term that applied to the various alternate worlds and divergent timelines featured in the collective works of Kenji and his writing partners. The world of the canon Bleach story, as written by Tite Kubo, is dubbed the Source (源), with all alternate worlds explored in the works of the aforementioned group referred to individually as a Shard (破片). One particular "Shard" was said to be akin to a "drop in the ocean". Differences between alternate worlds could be small or large, resulting in worlds whose individual histories and events couldn't possibly be inferred by outside parties. Notable individuals to have travelled the multiverse, either intentionally or accidentally, include Kenji Hiroshi, his twin sons, the Kudō twins, and Kaien Shiba. Said travel was usually facilitated through powerful artefacts, such as the Ōin and Shisuikyō, usually by giving access to the Wandering Spirit World. Other occurrences, such as the Tower of Night, could also facilitate travel between Shards.
Overview[]
There hasn't been a focused study of the multiverse and its history outside a few scattered instances, for normally the worlds are separated and difficult to interact with outside the use of powerful artefacts. As such, only a small percentage of individuals are even aware of the multiverse's existence. Even immortal entities, such as Vlad and Myst Kagekyo, were unaware of the multiverse and how one travelled it.[1]
Kenji Hiroshi and Kei Yume, however, were two individuals who devoted some time and effort into the study of alternate worlds, born of Kenji's at-the-time-unexplained foray to an alternate world. The pair theorized that there may have been a single world, which they dubbed "the source", from which all divergent worlds originated, which they dubbed "the shards", but it was merely a hypothesis. Their findings and observations were detailed at length in various books and notes, which ultimately came into the possession of Arisa Hiroshi sometime following The Collapse.[2]
Known universes[]
Source[]
The Source is the canon Bleach manga as written by Tite Kubo. This includes expanded universe information, namely novels.
Shards[]
Cataclysm[]
This particular Shard, referred to as Cataclysm after the series' fourth part, was the primary setting of Bleach, as written by User:Kenji Hiroshi and his various writing partners, and the main focus of their shared fictional work.
Bleach: Sun and Moon Chronicles, both parts of Bleach: War of the Worlds, and Bleach: Cataclysm, all take place in this universe. Furthermore, this Shard has directly interacted with other Shards, leading to some spillover. Additionally, the stories of Bleach: Tribulations, were interconnected with the aforementioned series, as well.
Home to Kenji Hiroshi, Van Satonaka, Kei Yume and Shiju Shūdō.[3]
3rd Phantom[]
This particular Shard, dubbed The 3rd Phantom, was the game-original events depicted in Bleach: The 3rd Phantom, and published by Sega. The story was written by Tite Kubo.
Events differed from the canon manga, especially with regard to the sequence of events surrounding Sōsuke Aizen and the Visored, as Seigen Suzunami was Captain of the 5th Division at the time Shinji Hirako would have served in said position. Additionally, events in the present day diverged greatly, for Orihime Inoue was never kidnapped and the focus of events shifted to the Soul Society.
This Shard was home to Fujimaru and Matsuri.
Tower of Night[]
This Shard, dubbed the Tower of Night, was a divergent timeline of The 3rd Phantom Shard, with minor differences. One was the survival of Kaien Shiba. Sometimes identified as "Nanashi's World".[4]
This Shard takes place in the continuity created for Bleach: The 3rd Phantom, with slight but noticeable alterations, with Bleach: Tower of Night serving as a sequel.[3]
Home to alternate versions of Kentaro Shiba and Kaien Shiba, both of whom eventually crossed over to the Cataclysm Shard.[5]
Bleach Renascence[]
This Shard, dubbed Renascence and The Fanon Canon, was the primary setting of the site's proposed Fanon Canon story-line. When the Fanon Canon project ground to a halt, Bleach Renascence was quietly ended. Its successor, Bleach: War for the King's Seal, could be considered a divergent timeline.[6]
Bleach: War for the King's Seal[]
This particular Shard, dubbed King's Seal and sometimes referred to as the KS continuity, branches off from the site's former Fanon Canon story-line, but experienced the events depicted in Renascence Beginning, making it a divergent timeline.[6] It is thus non-canon when held against the planned arcs of the Fanon Canon, but canon to the works of the author.
Alternate versions of Kenji, Van, and Kei inhabited this universe.[3] Furthermore, it was in this Shard where Averian reappeared,[7] as predicted by Akira,[8] and where the latter reformed the Ryū Order.[9]
Author's notes[]
Behind the scenes[]
- The idea of a multiverse existed in the author's work long before the creation of the actual page and its exploration in later story arcs.
- The first alternate universe depicted was referred to in-story as "The Alternate Future" and drew inspiration jointly from Dragon Ball Z and The Terminator franchises, and showcased Kenji experiencing a potential future which was brought about because of his untimely death early in the conflict with Averian. This particular story-line has been rendered non-canon, however, due to the retcon undertaken by the author beginning in 2015. As for when this idea was first explored? November 2010, according to the records of pages long deleted, and coincided with the Gravity Force's "Generation 2 Project", which was intended to introduce the various children of the author's various characters.
- The terms used by Kenji and Kei, namely "source" and "shard" are direct references to the Source and Reflections of Etheirys as described in Final Fantasy XIV.
Trivia[]
References & notes[]
- ↑ Vampiric Entry
- ↑ Kenji's library
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Drinking Time With Kenji & Van: Episode 3: The Multiverse is a Bitch
- ↑ Nanashi's World
- ↑ Calm Before the Storm
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 User blog:Kenji Hiroshi/Bleach: War for the King's Seal
- ↑ Journal entry: September, 2018
- ↑ Journal entry: January, 2019
- ↑ Ryū Order