ã€ŠHelp! I am bound to Aizen!ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    "S¨­suke, how do you intend to repay what you owe me?!"

    On a small path just outside Seireitei, not far from Shin''¨­ Academy, Kaelith Yurei extended his trembling hand, pointing accusingly at the young man in front of him, who was dressed in the blue and white school uniform.

    The boy, called S¨­suke, sighed.

    "Kaelith, I told you before we came out here: the distance between Shin''¨­ and the 1st Division barracks is too far. Getting you there in under a minute is simply impossible."

    "At our pace, it would take us at least two to three hours to reach the 1st Division barracks."

    "And even if we did get there, there''s no way they''d let us in. The 1st Division is the heart of the Gotei 13 and wouldn''t allow students just to wander in freely."

    Hearing this, Kaelith Yurei sighed and slumped to the ground, looking utterly defeated.

    This is the Soul Society¡ªthe world of Bleach, or as it''s commonly known, the world of Shinigami.

    Six months ago, Kaelith was transported into this world, assuming the identity of a new student at Shin''¨­ Academy, under the name Kaelith Yurei.

    And the boy standing next to him? In the world of Bleach, he''s a rather famous figure known as S¨­suke Aizen.

    At first, when Kaelith discovered he was in the same class as the legendary Aizen, he was terrified, always on guard around him, fearing that even a minor slip might catch the attention of this future mastermind.

    But¡­ after a few months, Kaelith realized that this young Aizen wasn''t as formidable as he''d imagined.

    When it came to wielding a Zanpakut¨­, exorcising Hollows, or even Shunpo, Aizen was only slightly better than Kaelith in Kid¨­; in other areas, they were more or less on the same level.

    After testing his observations multiple times, Kaelith became increasingly convinced that while Aizen would one day grow overwhelmingly powerful, for now, as a student, he was just at an average level for a top Shin''¨­ Academy student. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith figured that Aizen must experience some turning point after graduation, which would mark the start of his rapid ascent to power.

    By then, this "big boss" version of Aizen would officially step onto the stage of history.

    And as for Kaelith, he''d likely be little more than a forgotten former classmate by then.

    Kaelith didn''t particularly care about that.

    After all, in this era without video games or the internet, he had no interest in world domination either.

    His goal was simple¡ªto earn decent marks at Shin''¨­, join the Gotei 13, secure a seated officer position, and live the life of a Soul Society warrior, feeding off the blood and sweat of Rukongai''s residents.

    That was, until two minutes ago, when his life''s ambitions suddenly changed.

    The reason? His cheat ability had finally arrived!

    > [Training Link System Activating¡­ Activation Successful!]

    > [In one minute, the system will bind to the individual within a 500-meter radius with the highest training potential.]

    > [Once bound, every time this individual''s strength increases, if the host''s strength is lower, it will automatically synchronize to match the individual''s level.]

    > [Countdown: 59, 58¡­]

    Hearing the system''s prompt, Kaelith, who was in the middle of class, jolted up as if struck by lightning.

    Under the astonished gaze of his teacher and classmates, he quickly said, "Sorry, Sensei, I have a stomachache!"

    Then, he grabbed the person sitting behind him¡ªAizen S¨­suke.

    "S¨­suke, quick, take me to the infirmary!"

    Not giving the teacher time to react, Kaelith bolted out of the room with Aizen in tow.

    As they ran, Kaelith Yurei spoke urgently, "S¨­suke, hurry, take me to the 1st Division barracks! This is a lifelong request from your best friend!"

    The moment the system countdown had begun, Kaelith made up his mind¡ªhe had to bind to Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

    If he could synchronize with Yamamoto, he''d be invincible in the Soul Society from that day forward! (T/n if only life was that easy;/)

    No matter who it was¡ªAizen (the young version), Ichigo Kurosaki, or Ginrei Kuchiki¡ªhe''d cut down anyone who dared to stand in his way!

    But then¡­ he was betrayed by his supposed "best friend."

    Aizen, this unreliable guy, couldn''t even take him to the 1st Division barracks. They hadn''t even made it a kilometer before the system activated on its own¡ªand bound him to Aizen instead. Kaelith was devastated.

    Though he knew that Aizen would one day become powerful, who could say when that would happen?

    Shinigami had such long lifespans; if Aizen didn''t start getting stronger for another hundred or two hundred years, wouldn''t that mean he''d miss out on a century or two of effortlessly coasting to power?

    It felt like a serious loss.

    Watching Kaelith''s grief-stricken face, Aizen shook his head helplessly.

    "I don''t know what you were planning, but since it didn''t work, let''s go back to class. If Kinoshita-sensei finds out you faked an illness to skip class, he''ll probably break your legs."

    As he spoke, Aizen extended a hand to the seated Kaelith Yurei.

    Kaelith grabbed Aizen''s hand and stood up.

    Looking at the brown-haired boy in front of him, Kaelith solemnly placed his hand on Aizen''s shoulder and gave it a heavy pat.

    "S¨­suke, you have to work hard at your training. Become a man who stands above all others¡ªunmatched by anyone!"

    And, just to make sure, he emphasized again, "You have to work hard!"

    Aizen: "¡­"

    Seeing the serious look on Kaelith''s face, Aizen suddenly wondered if his friend might actually be unwell.

    After a short while, they returned to Shin''¨­ Academy.

    The final class of the morning had already ended, and Kinoshita-sensei had left the classroom.

    As they walked in, a young man with gentle features, long black hair, and an almost feminine grace stood up and approached them.

    "Kaelith, you''re back so soon. Are you feeling alright?"

    Kaelith waved his hand dismissively and sighed. "My body''s fine, but my spirit has suffered a serious blow."

    The gentle young man was about to say something when suddenly a mocking voice came from the side.

    "Kaelith, instead of worrying about your spiritual wounds, you should be more concerned about your legs."

    "Kinoshita-sensei left for the infirmary earlier. Imagine what he''ll think if he finds out you''re not there¡ªI can''t even guess what he''ll do."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s face took on a look of horror.

    If Kinoshita-sensei discovered he''d skipped class on purpose, the consequences would be terrible.

    He wasn''t the strongest in the Soul Society yet; he couldn''t afford to get into trouble now!

    As Kaelith debated whether he should take a few days off to avoid the teacher, the dark-haired man laughed and shook his head.

    "Don''t listen to Seinosuke. Kinoshita-sensei went to the kendo hall."

    Kaelith glared at his classmate, who was lounging on the desk nearby.

    "So that''s it, huh, Seinosuke? Messing with your own friend, are we? Don''t run after school¡ªI''ll make sure you regret it!"

    Seinosuke Yamada clicked his tongue and turned to the black-haired boy. "Kuchiki-sama, don''t side with him like that."

    "Don''t listen to him, Kuchiki-san," Kaelith said, crossing his arms. "If guys like Seinosuke are left unchecked, they''ll end up a menace to the Soul Society! Either they''ll be imprisoned for life or burned at the S¨­kyoku; by stepping in now, we''re saving him from himself. He should be thanking us!"

    Seinosuke snorted. "I''m the Soul Society''s menace? Oh, please, Kaelith. Have you forgotten how you described the Central 46 before?"

    "What did I say? I''m completely loyal to the Central 46! If they tell me to go east, I''d never even think of heading west!"

    At that, Seinosuke widened his eyes, as if stunned by Kaelith''s shamelessness, momentarily left speechless.

    The dark-haired Kuchiki, standing nearby, finally found a chance to join the conversation.

    Raising his hand, he said, "Um, Kaelith, you can just call me ''Kuchiki'' or ''S¨­jun .'' This ''Lord Kuchiki'' thing is just¡­ weird."

    "Alright, Teacher S¨­jun, I got it," Kaelith replied seriously with a nod.

    Watching his quirky classmates, Aizen couldn''t help but sigh.

 Chapter 2

    After chatting casually for a while, the three of them made their way to the cafeteria.

    Kaelith Yurei bought two rice balls, a bowl of miso soup, and a plate of pickled radish, placing them on his tray.

    Seinosuke Yamada and S¨­suke Aizen quickly chose their lunches as well. The three of them carried their trays to a corner table in the cafeteria and sat down together.

    S¨­jun Kuchiki had already settled in at the table. In front of him lay several beautifully arranged food boxes filled with various delicacies.

    Unlike Kaelith and the others, who were more like commoners, S¨­jun was a true noble¡ªheir to the Kuchiki family, receiving meals delivered to him every day at Shin''¨­ Academy.

    By the way, years later, he would have a son who became somewhat famous¡ªhis name would be Byakuya Kuchiki¡­

    Seeing the lavish lunch in front of S¨­jun , Kaelith Yurei couldn''t help but grimace.

    "Such decadence! How can you, as a Warrior, remain resilient in a world full of temptations when you indulge in such fine food every day?"

    S¨­jun Kuchiki remained expressionless. "If you want to eat something, just take it."

    "You truly have a great Warrior spirit!"

    Kaelith''s grimace instantly vanished, replaced with a beaming smile as he showered S¨­jun with compliments.

    In a flash, he snatched an untainted piece of grilled fish and some fried eggs from S¨­jun''s box using a pair of chopsticks.

    S¨­jun shook his head with a smile and turned his attention to S¨­suke Aizen, who was sitting next to Kaelith.

    Seeing the simple chazuke (tea rice) in Aizen''s bowl, S¨­jun shook his head and said, "S¨­suke, you should eat some of this too. With your talent, it''s hard to grow strong on such little food."

    As he spoke, he picked up some fish from his box, intending to offer it to Aizen.

    But Aizen politely bowed his head and pulled his bowl back. "Thank you, but I don''t need it. I''ve already¡­"

    Before he could finish, Kaelith interjected, "S¨­suke, why are you being polite? To someone like him, money and dirt are basically the same thing."

    "If you really feel bad about it, just help him out if he runs into any trouble in the future."

    As he spoke, Kaelith took the fish from S¨­jun and placed it in Aizen''s bowl.

    Looking at the fish in his bowl, Aizen showed a somewhat helpless expression.

    Due to his unique talent, he absorbed spiritual particles in the air at a rate far exceeding that of normal Shinigami, so he didn''t really need to rely on food for energy.

    In fact, he could go for years without eating in the vicinity of Seireitei without any adverse effects. (T/n I tought he was avergae? is he hiding something?)

    The reason he came to the cafeteria daily was merely to avoid drawing attention.

    However, these were thoughts he could never voice.

    Lifting his head, he looked at Kaelith Yurei and S¨­jun Kuchiki.

    Under their gaze, he gently nodded. "Thank you."

    Kaelith Yurei grinned widely and said, "Eat more, train harder, and strive to live up to the expectations that S¨­jun and I have for you."

    Aizen met his gaze calmly, suddenly curious about how Kaelith would react if he revealed his true strength right now.

    Perhaps it would be quite interesting.

    Imagining this scene, S¨­suke Aizen slightly curled his lips.

    After finishing their meal, S¨­jun Kuchiki set down his chopsticks.

    "Kaelith, Seinosuke, S¨­suke, I''m planning to apply for early graduation at the end of this year."

    Upon hearing this, the three of them were momentarily stunned. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seinosuke Yamada, slightly surprised, asked, "Just after one year?"

    Shin''¨­ Academy was originally a six-year program, but students were allowed to apply for early graduation. Many exceptionally talented Shinigami would apply for early graduation in their third or fourth year to join the Gotei 13 and hone their skills. However, it was rare to see someone like S¨­jun wanting to graduate after just one year.

    S¨­jun nodded. "Yeah, it''s a bit early, but the current situation in the Soul Society doesn''t allow for any more delay."

    "I need to graduate early and join the Sixth Division to contribute to the Kuchiki family; that''s the least I can do to repay my father''s training."

    Kaelith Yurei suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned to S¨­jun and said, "Isn''t your brother-in-law quite powerful? I heard he''s unstoppable on the battlefield, causing the rebels to tremble at his name."

    "With him helping your father, dealing with the rebels should be easy, right?"

    S¨­jun Kuchiki forced a smile and said, "My brother-in-law is indeed powerful, but¡­"

    He shook his head, stopping himself.

    Not only was his brother-in-law in a special situation that wasn''t suitable for public discussion, but he also didn''t want to speak ill of others behind their backs.

    Seeing that S¨­jun didn''t want to elaborate, Kaelith didn''t press further.

    ...

    The first class in the afternoon was Kenjutsu, the art of the sword.

    Kinoshita held a bamboo sword, demonstrating movements while loudly explaining the key points of each action to the students.

    Kaelith and the others sat in a row on the wooden floor, kneeling with their bamboo swords placed in front of them.

    Seinosuke Yamada leaned closer and whispered, "Kaelith, did you hear? In a few days, a big shot is coming to Shin''¨­ to be a guest lecturer for us."

    "A big shot? How big?" Kaelith asked quietly, keeping his gaze straight ahead.

    "I heard it''s a captain from the Gotei 13."

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith glanced at Seinosuke in surprise.

    It wasn''t unusual for a captain from the Gotei 13 to teach at Shin''¨­, but they usually only taught the fourth years and above.

    What did they, as first-years, do to deserve a captain''s lesson?

    It couldn''t be that a newly appointed captain was just coming to gain experience from them, could it?

    It seemed that Kinoshita overheard their conversation, as he stopped his demonstration and looked over.

    Upon seeing Kaelith, he paused for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something, his eyebrows shooting up.

    "Kaelith Yurei!"

    "You brat, get out here!"

    Without hesitation, Kaelith replied, "Teacher, it was Seinosuke who called for me! I was just trying to tell him to be quiet and pay attention in class!"

    Seinosuke Yamada was taken aback. "Huh?"

    Before he could react to Kaelith, Kinoshita shouted angrily, "Who told you to say that¡­ Before class started, I went to the infirmary, and they said you never showed up!"

    "You little brat! You dare skip my class? I''ll break your legs!"

    "Perfect! You can come up here to help me demonstrate; today''s Kenjutsu lesson will use you as the teaching material!"

    Hearing Kinoshita''s words, Kaelith''s expression stiffened.

    Seinosuke Yamada grinned widely, showing his excitement.

    "Go on, Kaelith! Don''t keep everyone waiting!"

    In the cheerful atmosphere, Kaelith made a clicking sound with his tongue, picked up his bamboo sword, and walked toward the front of the dojo.

    S¨­jun Kuchiki gave him an encouraging smile.

    Aizen showed no particular reaction.

    He had no interest in Kinoshita''s sword techniques and even less in the teacher''s little theatrical punishment of students.

    After several days of training, his strength was on the verge of another breakthrough.

    Since there wasn''t much else to do, he simply closed his eyes, began to channel his spiritual pressure, and prepared to break through to the next level!

 Chapter 3:

    With the students watching intently, Kaelith Yurei walked up and stopped in front of Kinoshita.

    Facing his teacher, Kaelith suddenly bowed. "Sensei, I was wrong!"

    Kinoshita: "¡­?"

    Before he could respond, Kaelith straightened up, grinning. "I''ve admitted my mistake, Sensei. Can we just forget this and let me return to class?"

    Kinoshita''s eye twitched as he shook his head.

    "No."

    "Oh, alright then. Maybe I wasn''t wrong after all."

    "¡­?"

    Kinoshita''s face tightened, feeling his blood pressure surge with irritation.

    "Bold, aren''t you? Trying to mess with me right before a sparring session¡ªyou''re the first to pull that stunt!"

    With a huff, Kinoshita crouched into a stance, raising his shinai (bamboo sword) and signaling readiness.

    Kaelith mirrored the stance, gripping his own shinai.

    After a tense moment, Kinoshita suddenly advanced. With a swift step forward, he closed the gap, aiming an upward slash.

    Thwack!

    Kaelith raised his shinai to block, and the two bamboo swords met with a loud smack. Feeling the weight behind Kinoshita''s swing, Kaelith winced.

    "Nope, I give up!"

    "Giving up is not an option!" Kinoshita snapped.

    As Kaelith''s homeroom teacher, Kinoshita knew him well and didn''t hesitate to refuse his surrender. Tightening his grip, Kinoshita twisted his shinai along the length of Kaelith''s sword, cutting sharply toward his ribs.

    Kaelith retreated, blocking with quick, angled deflections. For a moment, the dojo filled with the relentless clash of bamboo, echoing like heavy raindrops drumming on the roof.

    Unlike conventional Kendo, Zanjutsu¡ªthe swordsmanship of the Shinigami¡ªis entirely combat-oriented, with each strike aimed to disable or defeat an opponent. During sparring sessions, minor injuries were common; the academy infirmary was always prepared for an influx after every practical class.

    With Kinoshita''s skill, serious accidents were rare. But today, he was determined to leave an impression on Kaelith, one that would make him think twice before skipping future lessons.

    Kinoshita''s expression softened for a moment as Kaelith successfully blocked another series of attacks. Despite his antics, Kaelith had trained seriously; his discipline was, in fact, one of his redeeming qualities.

    Kinoshita smirked to himself. In that case, perhaps he could add a touch of Reiatsu, just to reinforce the lesson.

    Kaelith, observing Kinoshita''s posture, was waiting for an opening when he suddenly sensed an intense surge of spiritual energy emanating from his teacher.

    "What the¡ª? Isn''t this a bit much?" Kaelith muttered. "This is Reiatsu at a Shinigami''s level! How is this fair?"

    Kinoshita chuckled. "Brace yourself. If you think this is unfair, consider it¡­ punishment."

    Without waiting for a reply, Kinoshita swung down again. Kaelith held his shinai horizontally to block, feeling his arms strain against the overwhelming weight pressing down. The crushing force felt like a mountain collapsing onto him.

    In that instant, he fully understood why it was called spiritual pressure. This weight felt all-consuming.

    With a fierce effort, Kaelith deflected the blow, his arms tingling with numbness.

    Kinoshita observed Kaelith''s stunned face and grinned in satisfaction. "So now you understand your teacher''s strength, do you? Remember this next time you think about skipping class!"

    Kinoshita swung his shinai again, advancing relentlessly. Kaelith had no choice but to keep blocking, feeling luck abandon him with each step. If he relaxed for even a moment, he''d be in for a bruising.

    The students watching had grown quiet, their initial amusement fading as they noticed the intensity of the sparring. S¨­jun Kuchiki furrowed his brows, recognizing the serious nature of Kinoshita''s strikes. As a member of the Kuchiki clan, he knew of their teacher''s background¡ªa former Fourth Seat of the Thirteenth Division who had faced Hollows in countless battles before an injury brought him to teach at Shin''¨­ Academy.

    If Kinoshita''s old injury flared and he lost control, this session could get dangerous. Kuchiki slowly stood, prepared to intervene if necessary.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith continued to backpedal. "Hey, Sensei! I was just holding back for your sake. If you keep this up, I''ll have to start fighting for real!"

    Kinoshita laughed. "Oh? Then go ahead and counter. Show me what you''ve got."

    Kaelith''s eyes narrowed. "Alright, watch closely!"

    Secretly, Kaelith planned to escape the moment Kinoshita paused. But Kinoshita, seeming to anticipate this, pressed forward without stopping, preparing to deliver a strike Kaelith wouldn''t soon forget.

    Seeing no other option, Kaelith braced himself, lifting his shinai defensively.

    Meanwhile, Aizen S¨­suke, who had been watching quietly from nearby, exhaled softly. While the other students focused on this low-level skirmish, Aizen had already powered up significantly through his own disciplined training.

    Kaelith Yurei might boast about his self-discipline, but Aizen¡ªwho was steadily growing in strength without the need for showy declarations¡ªknew he embodied that quality far better.

    Just as Aizen turned his attention back to Kaelith''s struggle, a cascade of notifications filled Kaelith''s mind.

    [Detected binding target "Aizen S¨­suke" has increased in strength. Synchronizing training progress¡­ Synchronization complete!]

    [Your Reiatsu has increased. Current level: 13!]

    [Your Reiatsu has increased. Current level: 12!]

    [Your Reiatsu¡­]

    [Your understanding of Bakud¨­ has improved. You have mastered Bakud¨­ #39: Enkosen!]

    [Your understanding of Bakud¨­ has improved. You have mastered Bakud¨­ #39: Enkosen (No Incantation)!]

    [Your understanding of Bakud¨­¡­]

    [You have mastered Bakud¨­ #81: Dank¨±!]

    [Your understanding of Had¨­ has improved. You have mastered Had¨­ #32: ¨­kasen!]

    [Your understanding of Had¨­ has improved. You have mastered Had¨­ #32: ¨­kasen (No Incantation)!]

    [Your understanding¡­]

    [You have mastered Had¨­ #73: S¨­ren S¨­katsui!]

    [Your understanding of Zanjutsu has improved¡­] (T/N (swordsmanship))

    [Your understanding of Shunpo has improved¡­] ("Flash Step")

    [Your understanding of Hakuda has improved¡­] (hand-to-hand combat)

    Notifications flashed by at a dizzying pace. Though the flood of prompts felt overwhelming, his mind processed the new information instantly, as if no time had passed for those around him.

    Kaelith had never suspected that Aizen S¨­suke, whom he considered an ordinary peer, had mastered so many advanced Kid¨­ spells.

    And his Reiatsu¡­ it was immense¡­

    Wait¡ªwhat was his own Reiatsu level now?

    Before he could even check, an overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure erupted from his body.

    It was so sudden and uncontrollable that it burst forth all at once, filling the dojo. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kinoshita, mid-swing, froze, his expression locked in shock as he witnessed the torrent of spiritual energy that erupted from Kaelith.

    BOOM!!!!!

 Chapter 4

    A golden column of spiritual pressure shot into the sky, instantly tearing through the dojo''s ceiling and soaring into the clouds.

    Many students in the dojo, caught off guard, were blown away by the residual wave of spiritual pressure, tumbling like a pile of overturned dumplings, crashing against the walls and rolling on the floor.

    Kinoshita, facing the impact directly, was smashed through the wall behind him and fell outside the dojo.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun extended his hand. "Bakud¨­ #39¡­ Enk¨­kan!"

    A circular wall of spiritual energy rapidly condensed into shape. Although it wasn''t as comprehensive in defense as Bakud¨­ #81, Danku, it blocked most of the impact, protecting Seinosuke Yamada and Aizen behind him.

    Looking at the center of the light column, Kuchiki S¨­jun''s eyes filled with astonishment.

    As a noble scion, he had been exposed to powerful Shinigami since childhood and received elite education within his family even before attending the Shinigami Academy.

    Thus, he was one hundred percent certain that the spiritual pressure radiating from Kaelith Yurei had already reached the level of a Vice Captain of the Gotei 13!

    His first thought was to feel happy for his friend.

    But then, Kuchiki S¨­jun became confused.

    Kaelith Yurei had enrolled as a commoner and had been an ordinary soul just six months ago.

    On ordinary days, the strength he exhibited was roughly at the level of a trainee Shinigami. To be fair, that speed was already quite astonishing.

    Even among noble descendants with bloodline advantages, only a small number could achieve that.

    And now, Kaelith Yurei had suddenly proven through his actions that his usual strength had all been a facade; his true power had reached the level of a Vice Captain.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun couldn''t help but question whether he was dreaming.

    All the students who hadn''t been blown away were dumbfounded, looking as if they couldn''t believe what was happening.

    Behind Kuchiki S¨­jun, Seinosuke Yamada instinctively pinched his arm, wincing in pain.

    Aizen sat on the ground, hands resting on his knees, looking as if he had been struck by a binding spell, eyes wide as he stared at Kaelith Yurei.

    As a Shinigami from a commoner background, he hadn''t known how to cultivate spiritual pressure before attending the academy.

    Although he had extraordinary talent, his spiritual pressure had been at the level of a regular seated officer when he first enrolled.

    In just half a year, he had transformed from a complete novice learning to cultivate spiritual pressure into a powerhouse at the Vice Captain level.

    Although no one knew it, he felt a deep pride in this achievement.

    In the library of the Shin''¨­ Academy, he had browsed through records of outstanding students from past generations and could confirm that no one had ever reached his level of training speed before.

    Sometimes, Aizen even felt that he might be a being of a different level from Shinigami, merely appearing as a Shinigami for some reason.

    However, just as he was feeling so proud, a seemingly "ordinary" friend gave him a huge "surprise."

    Right before his eyes, the spiritual pressure emanating from Kaelith Yurei was absolutely on par with his own!

    In an instant, Aizen''s feelings became incredibly complex.

    He couldn''t even determine what he was feeling at that moment.

    Should he feel ashamed of his long-held self-satisfaction?

    Should he feel happy that his friend possessed such powerful strength?

    Should he feel astonished that Kaelith Yurei had hidden this capability, clearly possessing such strength yet never showcasing it?

    After a few seconds of thought, Aizen took a deep breath.

    All of these thoughts indeed existed in his mind.

    But¡­ more than that, there was an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

    So, it turned out, he was not a strange existence.

    Apart from himself, there were others in the world who could grow at such an astonishing rate.

    Aizen took a deep breath, calming the rising joy in his heart.

    For the first time in a long while, he felt an emotion called expectation.

    He anticipated how he would grow, how Kaelith Yurei would grow. He wondered who among them would turn out to be the more special one. (T/n The worst timeline has been unlocked)

    Suddenly, a scene resurfaced in his mind.

    That morning, outside the school, Kaelith Yurei had looked at him earnestly.

    "Sosuke, you must work hard to cultivate your powers and become a man who stands above others, invincible in the world!"

    At the time, he dismissed Kaelith Yurei''s behavior as nothing more than another of his usual eccentricities.

    Now, he suddenly understood.

    So that''s it¡­

    Kaelith, perhaps, had vaguely sensed that Aizen was hiding his true strength.

    Just as he was looking forward to Kaelith''s growth, Kaelith was also looking forward to his.

    If things went as expected, Kaelith Yurei was probably feeling as lost as Aizen was about this unnatural power, uncertain of what kind of existence he was.

    With this thought, Aizen couldn''t help but smirk.

    If that was the case, he had to hide his strength even better.

    Using Kaelith Yurei''s words¡ªseeing others anxious and uncomfortable was also a kind of unique pleasure, wasn''t it?

    In contrast to Aizen, Kinoshita''s mood was not so good.

    Outside the dojo, he was covered in dirt, lying on the ground like a big mole.

    Who am I? Where is this? What am I doing?

    The bamboo sword in his hand had somehow broken into two pieces.

    His clothes were tattered and torn from the impact of the spiritual pressure, making him look as if he were dressed in rags.

    His entire body was wracked with pain.

    He figured he had probably broken a few bones from that last blow.

    Looking at the golden pillar of spiritual pressure shooting into the sky, Kinoshita couldn''t help but feel frustrated.

    Kaelith Yurei had actually hidden such a terrifying trump card.

    That guy''s spiritual pressure¡­ was at the vice-captain level!

    How on earth had he cultivated that? S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even the so-called genius who was said to be a once-in-a-century talent in the Soul Society, Kuchiki K¨­ga, who had entered the Kuchiki family as a commoner, had never been this exaggerated when he started.

    Using his hands to push himself up from the ground, Kinoshita struggled to stand, peering through the large hole he had just crashed through to look inside the dojo.

    Seeing Kaelith Yurei standing within the pillar of spiritual pressure, excitement gradually filled his eyes.

    A genius¡­ this was a true genius!

    Though he didn''t understand why this kid had been hiding his strength all this time, it didn''t matter anymore.

    After so many years of teaching at Shin''¨­ Academy, he had finally encountered a genius!

    One day in the future, when this kid became a pillar of the Soul Society, everyone would know that he was this kid''s teacher!

    Thinking of this, Kinoshita couldn''t help but grin foolishly.

    Under everyone''s gaze, Kaelith Yurei desperately suppressed his spiritual pressure and finally managed to retract it completely.

    After taking a few deep breaths, he turned to look at Aizen S¨­suke.

    This guy was incredibly good at hiding his strength.

    Clearly, the power he usually displayed was only at the level of a trainee Shinigami, yet his true strength was already at the level of a Vice Captain!

    If it weren''t for the synchronization of their powers, he might not have realized it even by graduation.

    So this is Aizen Sosuke¡­ terrifying indeed.

    Just thinking about how he had dared to underestimate the legendary Aizen made Kaelith Yurei''s face flush with embarrassment.

    Seeing Kaelith Yurei look at him, Aizen smiled slightly.

    This guy must be silently asking himself whether his strength could rival his own.

    He wouldn''t respond, wanting to see how anxious Kaelith would get.

    When Aizen smiled at him, Kaelith Yurei felt a bit moved.

    Fortunately, the younger Aizen wasn''t so devious and didn''t laugh at him for only realizing his strength now.

    He really was a good guy after all! (n/: Aizen is truly a good guy)

 Chapter 5

    "Kaelith, how on earth did you do it?"

    On the way to the dormitory, Seinosuke Yamada ran up beside Kaelith, his excitement evident.

    Kaelith pointed at Aizen. "He taught me."

    Seinosuke paused for a moment, then turned to look at Aizen.

    Aizen wore a confused expression as if he had no idea what was happening.

    Seinosuke narrowed his eyes skeptically.

    Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Aizen''s wrist.

    After closing his eyes and sensing the intensity of Aizen''s spiritual pressure, he opened his eyes and cast a disdainful look at Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, don''t distract me. Although Aizen''s spiritual pressure is quite high and can rival that of the noble Kuchiki family, it''s still leagues behind yours!"

    Kaelith chuckled softly.

    Foolish Seinosuke had been deceived by Aizen''s feigned appearance.

    Perhaps only someone as wise and perceptive as himself could see through Aizen''s true nature.

    With this thought, Kaelith sharply severed the ties to his previous self from before today.

    S¨­jun had his hands tucked into his sleeves, walking alongside the three of them.

    He was equally curious about what had transpired with Kaelith, but just as Kaelith wouldn''t pry into his family matters, he wouldn''t casually ask about Kaelith''s.

    After a moment''s thought, he spoke up: "Yurei, you need to be careful in the days to come."

    "Careful about what?" Kaelith asked, puzzled.

    S¨­jun replied seriously: "The Soul Society is currently in turmoil, with various factions eager to expand their power and increase their influence."

    "Someone like you, possessing immense strength and limitless potential, is precisely the kind of target they seek."

    "Those elders won''t consider your well-being; once you accept their olive branch, you''ll become a blade in their hands."

    "The fate of that blade, and what it ultimately becomes, is of no concern to the nobles."

    "Once you reach that point, your originally bright future could fall into darkness."

    "Moreover, once you choose to join a faction, other factions will inevitably plot against you to prevent you from becoming an obstacle in the future."

    "The conflicts between nobles are filled with treachery¡­"

    By the end of his words, S¨­jun''s gaze reflected helplessness.

    In reality, it wasn''t just commoners like Kaelith Yurei; even he, a scion of one of the four great noble families, would still be swept into this enormous whirlpool.

    He was reluctant to accept this reality, yet he had no room for choice.

    Because of this, he hoped his friends could lead a more peaceful life, unlike him who didn''t have a choice.

    After some contemplation, he seemed to have made a resolution.

    "Yurei, if you trust me, you could superficially join the Kuchiki family."

    "With the Kuchiki family''s name, other families naturally wouldn''t come to harass you."

    "As for those who wish to harm you, they would also have to consider the power of the Kuchiki family."

    "Don''t worry; I''ll talk to my father and assure him that you are only joining in name and that we won''t make you do anything."

    Fearing that Kaelith might misunderstand, he quickly explained.

    Looking at S¨­jun, Kaelith felt a sense of gratitude.

    He reached out and patted S¨­jun on the shoulder.

    "Sojun, you''re truly a good person."

    "I just want to protect those around me as much as I can¡­ I''m not as noble as you say."

    S¨­jun gently shook his head.

    Kaelith Yurei pondered for a moment. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To be fair, S¨­jun''s suggestion was indeed very tempting.

    As he said, the current Soul Society was in turmoil. If he continued to operate at his previous level, it might not matter much.

    Now, thanks to Aizen, what happened today would surely spread to the ears of the major nobles soon, and even if he wanted to hide, he couldn''t. Rather than being harassed by various nobles, it might be better to join the Kuchiki family; at least he would have acquaintances there.

    But¡­ if he joined, could he really remain an outsider, as S¨­jun imagined?

    Not to mention whether Kuchiki Ginrei would accept him; he himself couldn''t do something so selfish as to take advantage without contributing. (t/n Kuchiki Ginrei-current family head, Grandfather of Byakuya Kuchiki)

    Under S¨­jun''s watchful gaze, he nodded and said, "I''ll think it over carefully."

    Upon hearing this, S¨­jun sighed.

    From Kaelith''s response, it was clear he was politely declining.

    However, since S¨­jun couldn''t insist more, there was little more he could persuade him about.

    All he could do was help as much as possible depending on how things developed¡­

    ---

    The dormitories of the Shin¨­ Academy housed four students per room.

    Kaelith Yurei, Aizen, and two other classmates shared one room.

    Seinosuke Yamada lived next door.

    As for S¨­jun¡­ being a noble, he naturally had a single room.

    Kaelith had expressed his envy numerous times over this.

    After returning to the dormitory, Kaelith assured Seinosuke Yamada that he would find time to practice with him, successfully dismissing him.

    Sitting on his bed, he closed his eyes and began to digest the gains he had synced with Aizen.

    As a reincarnator with a unique advantage, the system''s abilities were indeed reliable; all the skills synced from Aizen felt as if they were innate, inscribed in his very being, ready to be used whenever he wanted.

    However, simply learning the techniques did not make one strong.

    It was like playing a competitive game; for a character built from scratch, every skill had its purpose, and when to use it, and how to string combos together was clear in his mind.

    If someone had never engaged with the game before and just bought a powerful account, even with all the skills available, they could only unleash a small portion of its power, leading to a tremendous waste.

    As a self-disciplined person, Kaelith Yurei certainly couldn''t accept such a situation.

    Watching Kaelith begin to practice as soon as he returned, Aizen felt a sense of pressure.

    Without saying a word, he also removed his shoes and socks, sitting on his bed to begin gathering his spiritual pressure.

    Before long, the two roommates returned to the dormitory.

    When the two entered the room, they initially wanted to invite Kaelith and Aizen to join them for dinner, but upon seeing the two in their current state, they quickly closed their mouths.

    They exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat complicated.

    While everyone else was playing, some were secretly practicing.

    This world was truly difficult.

    After spending about two hours, Kaelith Yurei finally absorbed most of the footwork techniques he had synced from Aizen.

    To understand it more profoundly and remember it more solidly, mere mental visualization wasn''t enough; practical application was necessary.

    He would have the opportunity to practice against S¨­jun¡­ that guy, being a noble, should have insights into footwork, right?

    Glancing at the rolled-up blanket on the adjacent bed, Kaelith decided against calling him over.

    After all, the harder Aizen trained, the more at ease he could be with slacking off¡­

    With this pleasant thought, Kaelith left the dormitory, ready to head to the cafeteria for a meal.

    However, just as he stepped outside, he spotted their homeroom teacher, Kinoshita.

    Seeing Kaelith, Kinoshita''s eyes lit up, and he quickly hurried over.

    "Kaelith, come with me!"

    "Wait a second¡­ Kinoshita-sensei, do you even know where I''m going? Just following you isn''t enough," Kaelith said, taking a cautious step back.

    Could Kinoshita be a messenger for some noble?

    Seemingly guessing his thoughts, Kinoshita rolled his eyes.

    "Kid, what do you think of me?!"

    "Just come along quickly¡­ Captain Yamamoto has summoned you!"

    Kaelith: "!?"

 Chapter 6

    Seireitei, First Division Barracks.

    Kinoshita stood at the front gate, explaining his purpose to the guarding Shinigami.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith Yurei looked around with curiosity.

    Although he had been in the world of Soul Reapers for over half a year now, this was his first time entering the inner parts of Seireitei.

    Everywhere he looked, Shinigami stood at their posts, vigilant.

    Occasionally, a few messengers from the Onmitsukid¨­, wearing wide-brimmed hats that obscured their faces, would appear suddenly and then vanish just as quickly. (T/N Stealth Force-Onmitsukid¨­, was Yoruichi''s division, it is another branch of the military, Not 2nd division that Yoruichi also led)

    Kaelith noticed that some Shinigami occasionally stole curious glances at him.

    The reason for their curiosity was likely his blue and white Shin''¨­ Academy uniform.

    Or maybe¡­ word had already spread about the incident that happened this afternoon.

    As he pondered, Kinoshita returned.

    "Let''s go, Yurei."

    The two walked through the First Division''s gate, crossed the courtyard, and entered the barracks.

    At the entrance of a room, Kinoshita removed his shoes and stepped onto the raised wooden floor.

    Kaelith did the same, following his example.

    Kinoshita cleared his throat.

    "Captain-Commander, sir! I am Kinoshita Nichio, an instructor at the Shin''¨­ Spirit Arts Academy!"

    "As per your instructions, I have brought the student, Kaelith Yurei!"

    After he spoke, he stood straight, a bit tense, waiting for a response from within.

    Kaelith looked at him, a bit surprised.

    "This is the first time I''ve heard your name, Kinoshita-sensei."

    Kinoshita blinked, surprised. "Nonsense, I introduced myself on the first day you entered the academy¡­"

    "Wait, were you spacing out in class on your first day?!"

    Kinoshita felt his blood pressure rise. If not for the setting, he would have wanted to give him a good talking-to.

    But no¡­ this kid had already reached the level of a Vice-Captain, and with his own injured body, he wasn''t sure he could take him on.

    Perhaps he could catch him off guard during class one day, and give him a good whack?

    The thought brought a glint to Kinoshita''s eyes.

    As expected from an instructor at the Shin''¨­ Spirit Arts Academy, he quickly came up with a brilliant plan!

    While he was contemplating how to handle Kaelith, a voice sounded from inside.

    "Enter."

    Kinoshita quickly bowed his head, stepping forward in small, careful strides to the door, and slid it open. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Apologies for the intrusion!"

    Through the open door, Kaelith looked inside.

    It was a small room, clean and orderly.

    On one side of the wall hung several bamboo practice swords.

    On the other side was a desk, arranged with brushes, ink, and paper.

    Above the desk, a piece of calligraphy was displayed on the wall, but Kaelith, lacking an artistic eye, couldn''t decipher it.

    In the center of the room stood a figure, silent and still.

    With his back to the door, Kaelith could only see the bald head and the flowing white haori.

    The black diamond symbol on the haori''s back was the kanji for "One."

    Without a doubt, this was Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and leader of the First Division!

    Upon seeing the elder, Kinoshita immediately knelt on one knee.

    "Captain-Commander, sir!"

    Noticing Kaelith Yurei standing there without much reaction, Kinoshita quickly whispered, "Yurei, what are you standing there for? Hurry and..."

    Before he could finish, Yamamoto, standing with his back to them, spoke suddenly:

    "Kaelith Yurei, would you be willing to graduate early and join the Gotei 13?"

    Hearing this, Kinoshita was slightly stunned.

    Why would the Captain-Commander ask such a question?

    Kaelith had only been in the academy for half a year. While he was indeed strong, it was still a bit early to graduate.

    After all, strength alone doesn''t mean one knows everything. There are techniques, knowledge on fighting Hollows, Soul Society''s history, and the responsibilities of a Soul Reaper¡ªall things learned at the Shin''¨­ Academy.

    Graduating early would leave him with gaps in his education. Joining the Gotei 13 now would be like diving in blind.

    Unless, of course, he were a nobleman, like S¨­jun Kuchiki, who received an elite education from a young age, knowing all that was necessary and more. In that case, he could graduate whenever he wanted.

    While Kinoshita was lost in thought, Yamamoto continued, "If you''re willing to join the Gotei 13 now, I can personally arrange for you to enter the First Division as an officer."

    Kinoshita''s eyes widened.

    After a brief shock, he looked at Kaelith with excitement, giving him a look to agree.

    The First Division¡­ that was the Captain-Commander''s division, and joining it would be a huge advantage for Kaelith Yurei''s future.

    Moreover, joining directly as an officer wasn''t an opportunity just any Soul Reaper could get!

    However, under Kinoshita''s eager gaze, Kaelith frowned slightly.

    After a few moments of thought, he shook his head.

    "I''m sorry, Captain-Commander, but I don''t really want to join the First Division."

    "Hmm?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s response, Yamamoto slowly turned around.

    His narrowed eyes opened slightly, fixing on Kaelith.

    He spoke slowly, "Your reason?"

    Kinoshita, though not directly in Yamamoto''s gaze, felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

    He wanted to help explain on behalf of Kaelith but found his throat tight, barely able to make a sound.

    Kaelith showed a somewhat troubled expression.

    "Captain-Commander, if I speak honestly, you won''t be upset, right?"

    Yamamoto fell silent at this.

    It seemed the thing he hoped to avoid was happening.

    He suspected Kaelith Yurei had already been drawn in by one of the noble clans, intending to evade the First Division''s recruitment.

    As the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto did not get involved in nobles'' conflicts and certainly didn''t foster his own faction.

    His only reason for recruiting Kaelith was to prevent a talented individual from being used as a pawn.

    But then, which clan could be trying to pull him in?

    The Kuchiki clan? The Shih¨­in clan?

    Or perhaps¡­ the Tsunayashiro clan?

    If it were the Kuchiki family, he might be able to accept that.

    After all, Ginrei Kuchiki was an old friend and a steady, insightful man. Kaelith Yurei wouldn''t fare too badly with him.

    But if it were the Tsunayashiro clan, then Kaelith''s future might be in jeopardy.

    Yamamoto nodded slightly. "Speak freely."

    At that moment, Kinoshita could feel the room''s atmosphere turn icy.

    He swallowed nervously, fearing Kaelith might say something offensive and anger the Captain-Commander.

    Under Kinoshita''s anxious gaze, Kaelith spoke sincerely, "I''ve studied the different divisions while in school."

    "Although the First Division has relatively light work and might be a place to relax, it''s mostly filled with older Soul Reapers, and there aren''t many cute girls." (t/n Bruh... Good man!)

    "I was hoping that after graduation, I could join a division with more girls¡­ like the Fourth or Thirteenth Division."

    As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, looking at Yamamoto with hopeful eyes.

    "Captain-Commander, you have the authority. Could you perhaps assign me to one of those divisions ahead of time? I promise I''ll work hard and repay your kindness!"

    Seeing the sudden enthusiasm in Kaelith''s eyes, Yamamoto felt a chill.

    It triggered memories of Shunsui Ky¨­raku''s antics.

 Chapter 7

    For a brief moment, Yamamoto felt the young man standing before him seemed to overlap with the image of Ky¨­raku Shunsui, who had joined the ranks of the Gotei 13 centuries ago.

    A heart once calmed by years of practicing calligraphy was now filled with an unexpected disturbance.

    Having Ky¨­raku Shunsui in the Gotei 13 had been challenging enough.

    The idea of another captain¡ªor even vice-captain¡ªpossessing Shunsui''s irreverent style¡­

    Just the thought of it filled Yamamoto with a sense of dread.

    Then, he caught the nuance in Kaelith Yurei''s words.

    "...So, the reason you''re declining is because you don''t want to serve in the First Division, correct? Not for any other reason?"

    Yamamoto''s voice remained calm as if the thoughts racing through his mind earlier had never existed.

    "Exactly. That''s my driving force, my life''s goal," Kaelith nodded seriously.

    Yamamoto took a deep breath, dismissing the unwelcome memories that had surfaced.

    Looking at Kaelith, he asked again, "Do you know who holds the Thirteenth Division Captain''s position?"

    Kaelith was momentarily stunned. "J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake, one of the longest-serving Captains in the Soul Society."

    Upon hearing the question, Kaelith felt a bit puzzled.

    Could there be more to J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake''s role?

    He had heard that in the Thousand-Year Blood War, this individual became the Soul King''s right hand.

    Kaelith hadn''t read much of the Thousand-Year Blood War manga before arriving in this world. When the arc began, he was interested and followed it for a time. However, he quickly lost interest due to the sluggish pacing and abandoned it.

    Thus, while he knew J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake had become the Soul King''s right hand, he had no idea what that entailed.

    Could it mean that sometimes Ukitake was required to handle¡­ unspeakable tasks?

    The idea was strange.

    As Kaelith''s mind drifted to these bizarre scenarios, Yamamoto interrupted his thoughts.

    "The Ukitake family is a minor noble house in Seireitei, closely aligned with the Gotei faction in these turbulent times."

    "If you were to apply to the Thirteenth Division, it would be seen as a declaration of allegiance."

    "Kaelith Yurei, are you prepared for such an implication?"

    At this, Kaelith finally understood the depth of Yamamoto''s question.

    No wonder S¨­jun Kuchiki had warned him about the vortex of power struggles.

    If even someone as impartial as Yamamoto was involved, this internal conflict must be on an immense scale.

    Meeting Yamamoto''s gaze, Kaelith Yurei shrugged.

    "Captain-Commander, if you''re concerned that I might get entangled in the nobles'' schemes, there''s no need to worry."

    "Not to boast, but avoiding trouble is my greatest skill."

    "Power struggles are scarier to me than Kinoshita-sensei. I''ll avoid them whenever possible and have no intention of provoking anyone."

    Kinoshita, kneeling nearby, felt his blood pressure spike upon hearing this.

    Yamamoto''s eyes registered a hint of surprise.

    He hadn''t expected such an answer from this young man.

    After a pause, he asked, "Do you truly intend to remain uninvolved?"

    Kaelith was about to nod but paused. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After considering a moment, he replied, "Under normal circumstances, yes, I''d steer clear."

    "But, I have a friend named S¨­jun Kuchiki, eldest son of the Kuchiki family¡­ someone in his position is bound to get drawn into this conflict."

    "If the day comes when he''s in danger and no one can help him, then I''ll step in. Though, frankly, I doubt it''ll come to that. His father is the Sixth Division Captain, one of the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society. He wouldn''t allow his son to be put at risk."

    Yamamoto studied Kaelith Yurei silently for a long moment as if lost in thought.

    Kaelith glanced at Kinoshita, silently asking if he could leave.

    Kinoshita''s glare held a clear message: if the Captain-Commander hadn''t dismissed him, leaving now would ensure punishment later.

    Though the message was conveyed with a mere look, Kaelith could sense the underlying meaning.

    These "barbaric ways of the Edo period" were truly frustrating.

    Just as Kaelith wondered if Yamamoto had drifted into silence, the Captain-Commander spoke again.

    "Kaelith Yurei, from now on, report to the First Division headquarters once a week. I will personally instruct you in combat-related knowledge."

    "The details will be communicated to you by the Lieutenant of the First Division."

    "Now, go."

    Yamamoto turned his gaze to the calligraphy on the wall, signaling the end of their conversation.

    Kaelith froze, then instinctively looked at Kinoshita.

    Kinoshita, too, wore an expression of shock.

    Could it be that Yamamoto¡­ intended to take Kaelith as his disciple?

    This realization almost made Kinoshita exclaim aloud.

    Since the establishment of the Shinigami Academy, Yamamoto had only ever taught one class of students, and even then, it was more as the academy''s principal, offering occasional guidance.

    For Yamamoto, who hadn''t accepted a disciple in centuries, to personally train Kaelith Yurei¡­

    Kinoshita eagerly regarded Kaelith and had the situation allowed, he might have cheered with excitement.

    To his astonishment, however, Kaelith looked uneasy, as if considering whether to decline the offer.

    Kinoshita shuddered in disbelief.

    Quickly standing, he grabbed Kaelith and bowed respectfully as he led him out, backing away with measured steps.

    Once they were several hundred meters from Yamamoto''s residence, Kinoshita, still composed, suddenly let out a frustrated sigh, dragging Kaelith along as they moved.

    When they were at a safer distance, Kinoshita turned and whispered fiercely, "Idiot! You were thinking of rejecting the Captain-Commander''s offer?!"

    Kaelith chuckled. "I wasn''t going to reject it."

    "Not reject it? You had ''no'' written all over your face! After half a year of teaching you, I know that look."

    Kinoshita''s anger simmered.

    To be personally taught by Captain-Commander Yamamoto was a dream for any Shinigami. Yet this kid had the nerve to think of rejecting it!

    Just the idea of his student becoming Yamamoto''s personal disciple filled Kinoshita with pride.

    Then suddenly, he froze, feeling something was amiss.

    If Kaelith Yurei became Yamamoto''s disciple, then in the future, everyone would likely refer to him as the Captain-Commander''s disciple. Not as Kinoshita''s.

    At this realization, Kinoshita''s face turned pale.

    Why had he stopped him from declining earlier?!

 Chapter 8

    "Back then, Kinoshita-Sensei thought I was completely out of strength. He was thrilled, gathered all his energy, and was just about to take me down."

    "But what he never expected was that I''d unleash a secret family technique, gathering all the spiritual pressure I''d been saving up and releasing it in one powerful burst, achieving unimaginable strength!"

    "With that unstoppable move, I struck down Kinoshita in one blow, winning the match!"

    "From this story, did any of you gain some insight?" (t/n: Ok, I am starting to love this guy XD)

    Looking at Kaelith, who was sitting at the podium and talking eloquently, a student who was listening attentively raised his hand.

    "¡­When faced with difficulties, don''t give up easily?"

    Another student shook his head. "No, it''s about always preparing yourself as much as possible so you can turn things around at a crucial moment!"

    A third student slightly lifted their head. "You''re both wrong. What Kaelith is really trying to say is that family resources are essential for a Shinigami!"

    As his classmates discussed, Kaelith Yurei slapped his thigh with enthusiasm.

    "Wrong, all of you!"

    "The story actually tells us that Kinoshita''s reign is coming to an end! If we unite, we can overthrow his tyranny and bring a brighter future for Class 7!"

    The students looked at Kaelith, stunned. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Could that really be the takeaway?

    In the third row of the classroom, Kuchiki S¨­jun nodded thoughtfully.

    "Kaelith''s plan is pretty clever¡ªusing humor to mask his actual strength."

    "Saving up his spiritual pressure and releasing it all at once¡­ To most people, that sounds believable enough."

    "This way, the rumors about him will probably spread a bit slower."

    Hearing this, Seinosuke Yamada chuckled.

    "You''re overthinking it, Kuchiki. From my perspective, Kaelith is just¡­ boasting for fun."

    S¨­jun instinctively wanted to argue but couldn''t quite find the words.

    Indeed¡­ considering Kaelith Yurei''s personality, it really might just be casual nonsense.

    He turned to Aizen. "S¨­suke, what do you think?"

    "I''d rather not think about it¡­"

    Aizen held his head on his forehead.

    The thought of that guy up on the podium having the same level of potential as himself felt absurdly surreal.

    It was almost unbearable.

    Fortunately, Kaelith''s antics didn''t last long. Before too much time passed, Kinoshita entered the classroom with the materials, and with a shout, Kaelith''s little group quickly dispersed.

    Standing at the podium, Kinoshita gave Kaelith a complicated look.

    Who would''ve thought that this troublemaker, this mischief-maker, who''d caused so much chaos, would have such a hidden depth?

    And even more unbelievable was how this guy, through some inexplicable luck, had caught the eye of the Captain-Commander, becoming his student.

    Every time Kinoshita thought about it, he couldn''t help but marvel at how strange fate was.

    ---

    ¡­

    As the morning classes concluded, Kaelith and his friends headed to the cafeteria.

    Thanks to S¨­jun Kuchiki''s generous sponsorship, the four of them enjoyed a hearty lunch.

    During the meal, Seinosuke, using his quick reflexes, managed to snag an extra piece of tempura shrimp, leaving Kaelith in regret.

    After the meal, S¨­jun put down his chopsticks and looked at Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, did you get summoned by the Captain-Commander yesterday?"

    Hearing this, Seinosuke Yamada, who was sitting nearby, was taken by surprise and turned to look at Kaelith.

    Aizen also looked over at him.

    Kaelith paused for a moment, then, remembering S¨­jun''s identity, showed a look of understanding.

    Under the gaze of the three, he nodded. "Yes, the Captain-Commander asked me to come to his place once a week to learn."

    As soon as these words were out, not only Kuchiki and Seinosuke, but even Aizen couldn''t help but show a surprised expression.

    Seinosuke was a bit excited. "You''re telling me, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni, has taken you as his disciple?!"

    Kaelith shook his head. "It''s not exactly as a disciple, just that I''ll be going once a week to learn¡­ If I had to compare it, it''s more like an extra tutoring class."

    "Tutoring class?" Hearing this strange term, Seinosuke gave him a confused look.

    But he quickly dismissed the question and continued. "You fool, that''s practically the same thing as being a disciple! Even though you''re strong, compared to that man, you''re still far from his level. Having him teach you once a week is already more than enough for you to process!"

    "Damn, you''re so lucky! To be favored by the Captain-Commander himself!"

    At this point, Seinosuke showed a slightly conflicted expression.

    "Well, it''s not just luck. If you look throughout Soul Society''s history, how many people have gained such strength at your speed?"

    "Maybe¡­ you''re the only one."

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith shook his head. "No, my strength is the same as S¨­suke''s."

    "What?"

    Seinosuke turned to Aizen, stunned.

    Aizen paused for a moment, then helplessly said, "Don''t listen to Kaelith, if I had that kind of power, don''t you think I''d be using it?"

    Seinosoke seemed a little suspicious. "Usually, I''d agree with you, but considering Kaelith has hidden his strength before, and you two are often together, there''s a chance you''re hiding something too¡­"

    Aizen: "¡­" (t/n Aizen right now (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã£©¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß)

    As someone who prided himself on personal development, good character, and lofty ideals, comparing himself to Kaelith Yurei always felt somewhat insulting.

    S¨­jun thought for a moment and then nodded slightly. "I see now. The Captain-Commander is probably using this method to protect you."

    "With him behind you, even if the nobles want to recruit you, they can only approach you in a friendly way¡ªthey can''t force you."

    "After all, it seems the Captain-Commander doesn''t plan to directly participate in this conflict. But if anything happens to his newly accepted student, it could complicate things."

    He looked at Kaelith, offering a sincere smile.

    "That''s great, Kaelith. With this, you don''t have to worry about outside interference. You can focus on your studies and training without distraction."

    Looking at S¨­jun, who seemed to radiate a holy light, Kaelith felt a rare sense of self-doubt.

    Was he really worthy to be friends with someone as pure and noble as S¨­jun?

    But then, he glanced over at the two sitting beside him: one a grumpy old man in disguise, the other a sharp-tongued troublemaker... In comparison, maybe he wasn''t so bad after all.

    ---

    ¡­

    After returning to the classroom, Kaelith followed his usual routine, preparing the materials he would need for the afternoon class and placing them on his desk.

    This afternoon''s class was on Kaid¨­, specifically the Healing Kido.

    Most of the students in the class didn''t have much interest in Kaid¨­, and only those aiming to join the Fourth Division were serious about learning it.

    Of course, as a self-disciplined and proactive student, even though Kaelith wasn''t particularly interested in Kaid¨­, he still planned to pay attention.

    However, after waiting for a long time, Kinoshita still hadn''t arrived for the lesson.

    Just as Kaelith began to wonder if Kinoshita had eaten something bad for lunch and was now struggling in the restroom, a figure slowly entered the classroom.

    Seeing this person, Kaelith froze for a moment.

    Then, his eyes widened in shock!

 Chapter 9

    Seeing the figure walking into the classroom, all the students were stunned. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A gentle smile, a delicate face, two braids coiled together and hanging down from her chest, and a white haori...

    "F-fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu?!"

    One student couldn''t help but exclaim.

    Kaelith leaned back slightly and whispered to Aizen Sosuke, sitting behind him, "Sosuke, do you think Captain Unohana discovered you have rebellious thoughts behind your back, and she''s here to capture you, who will be the future great threat to Soul Society?"

    Aizen: "?"

    He replied irritably, "If anyone in our group is going to be a future threat to Soul Society, it would definitely be you."

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith was about to laugh, but then he remembered Aizen Sosuke''s sharp senses and his exceptional ability to read people. His heart sank.

    "...Sosuke, are you joking?"

    "Who knows?" Aizen gave him a strange, almost imperceptible smile.

    As the students whispered among themselves, Unohana Retsu calmly walked to the podium and offered a gentle smile to the crowd.

    "Good afternoon, everyone."

    "I am Captain Unohana Retsu of the Fourth Division."

    "I am here today because Kinoshita-sensei is ill and unable to teach, so I''ve come to assist by giving a class on healing Kido."

    "Please rest assured, I have a bit of experience in this area, and I won''t delay your studies~"

    Upon hearing Unohana''s words, the students exchanged looks, unsure of how to react.

    "So modest, a bit of experience.''" one of them muttered internally.

    If the Fourth Division Captain only has "a bit of experience," does that mean all of us should go back to the drawing board and start over?

    After her introduction, Unohana continued, "Today''s lesson involves a lot of practical work, so I''ll need a volunteer to assist me."

    Hearing this, some of the bolder students couldn''t hide their excitement.

    Just the thought of being close to Captain Unohana, helping her out, was enough to thrill anyone.

    As the students looked on, some hopeful, some nervous, Unohana''s gaze swept over the class.

    Then, her eyes stopped at Kaelith Yurei.

    "Excuse me, could I ask you to assist me?"

    Kaelith was momentarily stunned.

    After confirming that Unohana was speaking to him, he seemed to realize something.

    "Sosuke, after class today, you must teach me how to perfectly hide my spiritual pressure level."

    Aizen shook his head gently. "I can''t help you."

    "That''s nonsense! If you can''t help, why did Captain Unohana notice a problem with me immediately? We have the same spiritual pressure level."

    Aizen sighed, "As I said, I don''t have the strength you think I do. I''m just an ordinary student."

    Kaelith chuckled and was about to say something when Unohana, still smiling, spoke again from the podium.

    "Could I ask you again, would you be willing to assist me?"

    Although her expression was kind, the moment she said these words, Kaelith Yurei felt as if he had been thrown into an ancient ice cavern.

    The instant chill that pierced his soul wasn''t from spiritual energy related to ice¡ªit was pure murderous intent!

    He jumped up immediately, "It would be my greatest honor!!"

    Looking at Yurei''s bleak gaze, Unohana nodded with a smile, as though the terrifying pressure she had just exuded had never existed.

    Fortunately, the so-called assistant duties weren''t very complicated. It was just helping Unohana Retsu move the prepared animals.

    Under Retsu''s guidance, the students created various wounds on the animals and then used Kido (healing Kido) to treat them. Kaelith wasn''t particularly skilled at Kido, not because he didn''t want to learn it.

    In fact, he really wanted to learn it well¡ªafter all, the Fourth Division had a lot of beautiful women, and if he could become a seated officer there, his life would definitely be colorful.

    Unfortunately, his talent in this area was average, and he could barely pass the class.

    Aizen Sosuke''s Kido skills were only slightly better than his. This was probably the only ability that didn''t improve after their powers had synchronized.

    Unohana glanced at Yurei''s healing and then shifted her gaze.

    After surveying the students, she suddenly let out a soft "Hmm."

    Following her gaze, Kaelith Yurei looked over.

    He saw Seinosuke Yamada lazily treating a rabbit.

    In the green glow emanating from him, the wound on the rabbit, caused by a blade, was visibly healing at an accelerated pace.

    A few seconds later, the wound, which had originally been two centimeters long, had completely closed, even forming a scab.

    Unohana Retsu looked intrigued. "Kaelith-kun, what''s the name of that child?"

    "Seinosuke, Yamada Seinosuke," Kaelith replied.

    "Kinoshita-sensei mentioned that his Kaido talent is exceptional. If he were willing to join the Fourth Division, he could skip the exam and directly graduate to our division."

    Upon hearing this, Unohana''s expression showed interest.

    She stood up and walked in the direction of Yamada Seinosuke.

    Watching Unohana walk away, Kaelith smiled warmly.

    He was truly a good person, always seizing every opportunity to look out for his friends'' future.

    It had nothing to do with the fact that Yamada Seinosuke had stolen his fried shrimp at lunch and he was secretly seeking revenge.

    It was rare to find someone as kind-hearted as himself these days.

    Sure enough, as soon as Yamada Seinosuke saw Unohana approaching, he showed an expression of dread.

    As Kaelith had said, his Kaido talent was extremely abnormal, and all the teachers at the Seireitei acknowledged that his Kaido technique surpassed that of Kaelith.

    Several teachers had specifically approached him, hoping he would join the Fourth Division, but Yamada Seinosuke had rejected all of them.

    To him, spending every day in a hospital treating people was a boring life.

    Compared to joining the Fourth Division, it seemed more fun to follow Kaelith¡ªit would be best if the two of them joined the Eleventh Division together. That idea was very exciting to him.

    Thus, when facing Unohana, he made a strong show of being uncooperative.

    Whenever Unohana asked him to heal, he deliberately made mistakes, and when she asked him about human organ structures, he would simply reply that he didn''t know.

    Seeing Yamada Seinosuke''s attitude, Unohana Retsu''s expression became thoughtful.

    After a moment, she smiled.

    "Yamada, is it that you don''t like Kaido?"

    "Yes," Yamada Seinosuke answered indifferently.

    If it weren''t for the fact that Unohana Retsu was one of the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, he wouldn''t have even bothered responding.

    Unohana smiled again and said, "So, what is your goal?"

    Yamada Seinosuke gave a mocking grin. "Of course, it''s to get stronger¡ªespecially in swordsmanship. Using Kido or Kaido is too soft, and not interesting. My goal is to become a master of swordsmanship!"

    "So sorry, Captain Unohana, but the Fourth Division can''t satisfy my ambitions."

    For some reason, at the moment he spoke those words, Yamada Seinosuke suddenly felt a slight but unmistakable sense of danger in Unohana''s smile.

    As he watched in confusion, Unohana Retsu nodded.

    "I see now. I understand."

 Chapter 10

    **Shin''¨­ Academy, Swordsmanship Dojo**

    Kaelith Yurei knelt on the floor in a less-than-perfect posture, with a bamboo practice sword placed in front of him.

    For a moment, it felt like he was back in class yesterday afternoon.

    He found himself lost in thought.

    How did he end up here again when he was just in Kido class?

    Half an hour ago, he''d been in the classroom, gathering the rabbits used for healing practice, when Unohana Retsu suddenly spoke up.

    "Students, I just confirmed that the next Hakuda (t/n: hand-to-hand combat) class teacher is also out sick, so I''ll be covering one more period."

    "However, I''m not very skilled in Hakuda, so we''ll be switching it to swordsmanship instead."

    "Please take a ten-minute break and then meet in the Kendo Dojo."

    Kaelith couldn''t help but feel puzzled at her announcement.

    He''d been standing right next to Unohana the entire time¡ªhow could he have missed the news that the next instructor had fallen ill?

    If his old PE teacher from before he came to Soul Society had seen this scene, they''d definitely feel a sense of familiarity.

    So, after a brief break, Class 7 students arrived at the Kendo Dojo.

    Under the eager gazes of the students, Unohana Retsu slowly stepped to the front of the dojo. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Holding a bamboo sword, her demeanor seemed to shift slightly.

    In the Kido classroom earlier, she had been gentle and serene.

    Now, there was a faint sharpness in her presence.

    "Alright, everyone, the Zanjutsu (t/n swordsmanship) class is now starting."

    "As I''m not entirely sure of your current skill levels, today''s class will be a bit unusual."

    "From now on, each of you will take turns sparring with me. I''ll evaluate your level and help identify areas for improvement this way."

    "Let''s start with this student here."

    Before the students could react, Unohana was already smiling, her gaze landing on a student in a blue-and-white uniform.

    The student froze for a moment, then quickly stood up and walked over, holding his bamboo sword.

    Watching this unfold, Seinosuke Yamada couldn''t help but feel curious.

    "What''s going on here¡­? Isn''t the Fourth Division supposed to prioritize healing abilities as a measure of skill?"

    "While I don''t doubt Captain Unohana''s expertise in Kido, swordsmanship¡­? I hope she doesn''t mislead them with unorthodox techniques."

    "If her instruction isn''t up to standard, it might leave students with bad habits."

    Hearing this, Kuchiki S¨­jun smirked slightly.

    "On that point, Seinosuke, you don''t need to worry."

    "Captain Unohana holds the title of a tenth-dan in swordsmanship, certified by the Seireitei." (see notes)

    Seinosuke stiffened.

    "What?"

    *Bang!*

    At the same moment he spoke, Unohana effortlessly parried a few strikes from the student and then, with a slight movement, knocked his bamboo sword aside.

    She lowered her bamboo sword, her voice calm and gentle, "You''re focusing too much on your upper body and neglecting your footwork. Moving forward, work on harmonizing your footwork with your swordsmanship until it becomes second nature."

    Upon hearing Unohana''s advice, the student appeared enlightened and quickly nodded, bowing deeply to express his gratitude.

    Next, the second student stepped forward.

    After just a few moves, Unohana subdued her opponent effortlessly.

    "Your sword stance is not very stable. During regular training, you don''t seem fully focused when practicing with your blade, and your form falters. This might seem like a minor issue now, but as your skills improve, a shaky foundation will lead to more severe problems. Keep this in mind."

    The second student''s eyes widened in surprise.

    In truth, he often slacked off during his training swings, and even Kinoshita hadn''t noticed it.

    He hadn''t expected Captain Unohana to pinpoint his flaw so quickly with only a few exchanges!

    He hurriedly bowed. "Thank you very much for your guidance. I''ll remember it!"

    As the third, fourth¡­ and more students stepped up, each one was quickly defeated while receiving precise, targeted feedback. Gradually, Seinosuke Yamada''s eyes began to show interest.

    Aizen stepped forward with his bamboo sword and exchanged four or five moves with Unohana before he was defeated.

    Looking at the young man in front of her, his expression calm and unbothered by his loss, Unohana gave an approving nod.

    "Your basics are solid, and you respond well under pressure. Keep practicing diligently, just as you are. I look forward to seeing your future progress."

    Aizen gave a slight bow. "Thank you for your guidance."

    The students around them looked surprised by Unohana''s praise for Aizen.

    Since the class had started, this was the first time Captain Unohana had offered such a comprehensive compliment to a student.

    Aizen S¨­suke¡­ the quiet guy who kept a low profile, the one mostly known as a member of "Kaelith''s crew"¡ªwho knew he had some real skill? (t/n HAh don''t let him hear what you call their gang)

    As Aizen walked back, Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "So you decided to show a bit of your strength, huh?"

    Aizen knelt beside him, sighing slightly. "It wasn''t ''a bit'' of strength¡ªI used my full effort."

    Kaelith grinned. "You say it seriously, so I''ll take it seriously."

    Hearing this, Aizen turned to him with curiosity.

    "Kaelith, why are you so convinced that I''m hiding my true strength?"

    Kaelith raised his head confidently. "S¨­suke, I know you better than you think. No one understands Aizen S¨­suke better than I do."

    Aizen couldn''t help but feel puzzled, seeing Kaelith''s confident expression.

    He could tell that this guy genuinely believed he knew him well.

    So where did this confidence come from?

    Could it be, as Kaelith claimed, that he really saw through him and knew everything about him?

    ¡­Impossible.

    While Aizen pondered this, at the front of the dojo, Kuchiki S¨­jun and Unohana Retsu had entered an intense duel.

    Unlike the other students who had faced Unohana before, Kuchiki S¨­jun displayed the bearing of a true heir to one of the Four Great Noble Clans, meeting Unohana''s level of skill head-on.

    With both hands gripping the bamboo sword, he moved like a finely tuned machine, blocking each of Unohana''s strikes at lightning speed, all while seizing any opening to counterattack.

    Unohana''s goal was to assess the student''s abilities, not to overpower them, so she limited her strength to a certain level.

    Facing S¨­jun''s perfect blend of offense and defense, she was pleasantly reminded of the thrill of a real duel.

    After a few more exchanges, she seized an opening and delivered a swift diagonal slash that sent S¨­jun''s bamboo sword flying.

    Looking at the refined young man before her, she nodded.

    "Ginrei has truly raised an outstanding successor."

    Hearing this, Kuchiki S¨­jun paused in surprise.

    Then, he bowed deeply.

 Chapter 11

    Kaelith Yurei held his bamboo sword and slowly walked back, kneeling beside S¨­jun Kuchiki.

    S¨­jun sighed, saying, "Captain Unohana is truly an extraordinary individual."

    "Is it because she praised you?" Kaelith asked.

    "How could that be..." S¨­jun responded, half laughing and half exasperated.

    Meanwhile, Seinosuke Yamada, who had been restless, couldn''t sit still any longer. The moment S¨­jun sat down, Seinosuke sprang to his feet, striding toward Unohana Retsu as if preparing for a fight.

    Stopping in front of the serene and smiling Unohana, Seinosuke fixed her with a sharp gaze, slightly bowing his head. "Seinosuke Yamada, Captain Unohana, please grant me your guidance!"

    Unohana nodded lightly. "Come, show me the strength of one who aspires to master swordsmanship."

    Hearing this, Seinosuke took a deep breath, gripping his bamboo sword with both hands. He sprang into action like a wild beast unleashed, spinning fiercely as he swung the bamboo blade toward Unohana Retsu.

    The students in the front row, witnessing this ferocity, gasped in surprise.

    While they knew Seinosuke had a reputation for being ruthless, none had imagined he''d dare use such an audacious approach against a captain.

    As the bamboo sword descended, Unohana, who had been smiling gently, slowly opened her eyes.

    S¨­jun stiffened as though struck by an icy breeze on a hot summer''s day.

    Even Kaelith found himself tensing involuntarily.

    The warmth radiating from Unohana moments earlier abruptly transformed into a chilling, bone-piercing aura that almost compelled Kaelith to draw his blade instinctively.

    The students, unaware of the nuances, only felt that Unohana''s presence had changed.

    But for Seinosuke, who faced her directly, the sensation was overwhelming. In his eyes, a dark, eerie energy seemed to envelop Unohana, seeping into his body through every pore and chilling him to the core.

    It was as if the figure before him wasn''t a captain of the Gotei 13, but a terrifying demon risen from the deepest pits of hell.

    That "demon" smiled, raising a rusted blade stained with dried blood.

    Then, it swung down¡ª

    Under the stunned gazes of the students, Seinosuke, who had launched himself like a beast, froze mid-air.

    With a swift movement, Unohana''s bamboo sword struck him, sending him flying sideways to crash heavily onto the ground. He didn''t move.

    "Seinosuke!" S¨­jun exclaimed in alarm, quickly getting up and running over.

    Kneeling beside Seinosuke, S¨­jun checked on him, only to find that Seinosuke was completely unharmed.

    Instead, the man lay there with a look of wild fervor on his face.

    "Seinosuke?" S¨­jun frowned slightly.

    "Lord Kuchiki... I''ve found the division I want to join," Seinosuke murmured dreamily, as if talking in his sleep.

    S¨­jun was baffled. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before he could say anything further, Seinosuke suddenly sat up.

    "Did you see it? That demon-like figure¡ªthat''s what true strength looks like!"

    "Just being caught in her gaze felt like being torn apart by countless blades, dying over and over again!"

    "This is the life I want to pursue!"

    S¨­jun: "..."

    He wasn''t sure what kind of life Seinosuke was after, but it was clear the man needed his head checked.

    Seinosuke quickly got to his feet, running over to Unohana and bowing deeply.

    "Captain Unohana! I, Seinosuke Yamada, will take the graduation exam at the end of this semester. Please, grant me the honor of serving in Squad Four under your command!"

    Unohana covered her mouth, laughing softly. "Very well."

    Having pledged his loyalty, Seinosuke returned, looking as light as a feather. His bizarrely contented expression made Kaelith feel as though ants were crawling all over him.

    Great. The kid''s lost it... (t/n But who could ever resist her.)

    Looking at Unohana standing not far away with her bamboo sword, Kaelith suddenly felt a little nervous. Could she have some strange ability to brainwash people through combat?

    Shaking off the thought, Kaelith stood up and walked toward the center of the dojo.

    He had already decided¡ªwhen the fight began, he''d deflect a few strikes and then throw the match to avoid drawing attention.

    "Kaelith Yurei, at your service."

    "Heh, I''m looking forward to your performance, Kaelith," Unohana said with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

    This boy, who had even caught the attention of the Captain-Commander, intrigued her.

    Initially, Unohana had accepted the invitation to lecture at the Shino Academy to provide a basic class for first-year students. However, upon hearing that the Captain-Commander had summoned Kaelith, she had adjusted her plans, specifically coming to teach Class 7 of the first year.

    Unexpectedly, aside from Kaelith, she had stumbled upon another promising individual.

    Satisfied with gaining Seinosuke as a potential recruit, her opinion of Kaelith had also improved.

    Originally, she only intended to test Kaelith''s abilities out of curiosity. But now, she felt it would be disrespectful to hold back.

    As a swordswoman, the highest respect she could show was to use as much of her strength as possible, leaving both parties with an unforgettable experience!

    Having made up her mind, Unohana stepped forward, suddenly launching an attack toward Kaelith.

    Kaelith, who was prepared to block a few blows and gracefully lose, was stunned as Unohana charged like an ancient beast.

    "What the¡ª?!"

    Faced with the terror of life and death, all his previous plans flew out the window. His body moved instinctively, swinging the bamboo sword.

    *Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!*

    The relentless clash of bamboo swords echoed like a torrential downpour, shocking the ears of every student present.

    The students gaped at the scene, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

    When S¨­jun had sparred with Unohana earlier, her speed and strength had already been unfathomable, with most students unable to follow her movements.

    Now, the exchange between Kaelith and Unohana had created a chaotic web of intersecting bamboo strikes, forming an abstract picture.

    It was impossible to discern when the swords collided or parted¡ªtheir movements were beyond comprehension.

    Seinosuke''s jaw dropped. "Kaelith¡­ His swordsmanship is this good on top of his Spirit Pressure?"

    S¨­jun was utterly stunned.

    Kaelith''s display completely overwhelmed him. As a noble heir, he had undergone elite training within the Kuchiki family, even receiving personal instruction from Ginrei Kuchiki, one of the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society.

    Yet compared to Kaelith, all his efforts and resources felt like a joke¡­

    Aizen, observing from the sidelines, let a spark of interest flash in his eyes.

    Fascinating¡­

    Not only in Spirit Pressure, but even in swordsmanship, Kaelith was on par with him.

    Just how many secrets was this boy hiding?

    Aizen''s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

    -

 Chapter 12

    A surprising hint of sympathy emerged in Aizen''s mind as he observed Kaelith Yurei.

    Since their first meeting, Kaelith had never once displayed his true strength.

    It wasn''t hard to guess that Kaelith, like Aizen himself, preferred to keep his full abilities hidden.

    The key difference, however, was that Aizen was cautious and lucky enough to avoid situations where he was forced to reveal his power.

    Kaelith wasn''t so fortunate.

    First, he got severely punished by Kinoshita for skipping class¡ªif he hadn''t shown his real strength, he might have ended up in Squad Four''s infirmary for days.

    Then, he ran into Unohana Retsu, the unreasonably battle-obsessed maniac¡­

    At that thought, Aizen shook his head, a faint smile curling his lips.

    Well, perhaps it''s for the best. Someone as impulsive as Kaelith could use a humbling experience or two.

    Given how miserable his situation was now, Aizen decided he would find an opportunity to teach Kaelith some techniques for concealing Spirit Pressure.

    At the dojo, Kaelith Yurei fought with all his might, every nerve in his body on edge.

    Initially, he had gone all out because he was intimidated by Unohana''s overwhelming opening attack, instinctively reacting in defense.

    But as the fight went on, he began to notice something unusual.

    It seemed as though Unohana Retsu was intentionally using their battle to adjust minor issues in his swordsmanship while also helping him become more familiar with his techniques.

    The abilities he had synchronized from Aizen weren''t fully effective yet, lacking the necessary practice and polish.

    That was why he had spent so much effort in his dormitory digesting the footwork knowledge Aizen had shared with him.

    By his calculations, it would have taken him at least a month or two of solo practice to fully master the sword techniques he gained from Aizen.

    But now, under Unohana''s flawless guidance, his swordsmanship was improving at a staggering pace.

    In just over a minute, Kaelith felt as though he was on the verge of fully absorbing the sword techniques he had synchronized from Aizen!

    Realizing this, his gaze toward Unohana Retsu grew fiery with excitement.

    If he could spar with Unohana every time he synchronized new abilities from Aizen to refine and assimilate them, wouldn''t he be unstoppable?

    Noticing Kaelith''s eager expression, Unohana''s lips curved into a smile.

    Oh? Excellent.

    This child wasn''t frightened by her attacks. Instead, he looked exhilarated by the battle...

    What a promising seedling. She couldn''t wait to see how he''d grow in the future. Perhaps, someday, he might even make her feel excited again.

    As her emotions soared, Unohana''s attacks became even fiercer.

    Half a minute later, Kaelith finally faltered. His bamboo sword slipped slightly off-angle, and with a loud *snap*, it was cleaved in two by Unohana''s strike, its splintered fibers scattering.

    *Whoosh!*

    After slicing through Kaelith''s bamboo sword, Unohana''s blade continued forward, stopping just before it could slice his neck.

    A brief silence hung in the dojo before Unohana slowly lowered her bamboo sword.

    With a slightly regretful expression, she remarked, "We couldn''t finish to the very end, huh."

    But almost immediately, her familiar smile returned.

    "Well then, let''s leave the rest for next time¡­ I''m looking forward to that day, Kaelith-kun."

    Kaelith''s lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing.

    He took back his earlier thoughts.

    Unohana Retsu was far too dangerous.

    While she could be an excellent teacher when calm, her murderous aura when fully engaged was enough to terrify anyone. Just moments ago, he had a strong premonition that he might genuinely die at her hands.

    It was a feeling he never wanted to experience again.

    Only now did the students finally realize they could breathe, and the dojo filled with the sound of gasping breaths.

    As the students watched Unohana, a mix of tension, amazement, and excitement on their faces, she clasped her hands gently in front of her and bowed slightly.

    "Everyone, today''s special lesson ends here." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It was a pleasure spending these two class periods with you all. I hope we''ll have another opportunity like this."

    "Oh, and if any of you are interested in joining Squad Four in the future, feel free to visit the career counseling office to pick up our recruitment brochure. I personally wrote the introduction about Squad Four!"

    With that, this graceful (?) and kind-hearted (?) captain left the dojo, heading toward the gates of Shin''¨­ Academy.

    As they watched her departing figure, the students couldn''t help but start murmuring amongst themselves.

    Carrying his broken bamboo sword, Kaelith slowly walked over to Kuchiki S¨­jun, who wore a serious expression.

    "Kaelith, let''s spar after school," S¨­jun said.

    "If you don''t want to be seen, we can go to a nearby farm owned by the Kuchiki family. I''ll clear everyone out, so it''ll just be us."

    Kaelith nodded. "Sure."

    Though he hated trouble, helping a friend was different.

    Besides, sparring with S¨­jun would help him improve his swordsmanship as well¡ªa win-win.

    Over the next few days, Yamada Seinosuke seemed like a completely different person. He dug out his neglected healing Kido textbooks from the dorm and began reviewing them meticulously, starting from the basics.

    For most people, this would have been a waste of time, but Seinosuke, a once-in-a-millennium genius in the healing arts, managed to master everything in the textbooks within just a few days and began tackling advanced problems on his own.

    Kaelith was glad they weren''t competing in the same field. Otherwise, he might''ve cried from envy.

    During their free time, the group of four often visited the Kuchiki family farm to spar with each other.

    Aizen, initially uninterested in group practice, preferred solitary training.

    But Kaelith''s relentless pestering eventually wore him down.

    One shameless threat sealed the deal: "If you don''t come, I''ll tell everyone at school you''re hiding your true strength and that I can actually beat you."

    Faced with Kaelith''s absurd strategy of dragging himself down just to drag Aizen with him, Aizen finally caved.

    And so, four days passed in the blink of an eye.

    That evening, after dinner, Kaelith was strolling in the courtyard when a voice suddenly rang in his ears¡ª

    "Kaelith Yurei, report to the First Division barracks for class tomorrow."

    Kaelith jumped in shock before realizing what was happening.

    It was a message sent by Yamamoto through Kido.

    Most likely, it was Tenran K¨­ra, a one-way communication Kido.

    Kaelith stopped walking and raised an eyebrow.

    "Hmph. You think I''ll just go because you told me to? What about my dignity?"

    "If there''s any reason you can''t make it, feel free to inform this old man," the voice continued.

    Kaelith froze.

    Damn it¡ªit was two-way communication.

 Chapter 13

    "Ah!"

    Inside the First Division dojo, Kaelith Yurei let out a rather undignified scream as he collapsed onto the ground, eyes squeezed shut and mouth agape.

    Yamamoto gently lowered his bamboo sword, his expression one of mild exasperation.

    He hadn''t even used much force with that strike¡ªwas this really necessary?

    After pondering for a few moments, Yamamoto nodded slightly and said, "I''ve got a good grasp of your situation now. Even though I had set high expectations for you, your abilities have still exceeded my predictions. If you can continue down the right path, without distractions clouding your way, your potential will be limitless."

    Kaelith slowly picked himself up. "Wait a minute, Head Captain, I''ve just been beaten half to death, and instead of checking on my injuries, you go straight to lecturing me?"

    A vein popped on Yamamoto''s forehead. "Injuries? You call that an injury? The Seireitei does not produce such fragile Shinigami!"

    Kaelith sighed deeply.

    Being a Shinigami was tough¡ªcompletely lacking the perks of a career in singing, dancing, or rapping.

    After some thought, Yamamoto spoke up again. "Kaelith Yurei, have you achieved Shikai yet?"

    Kaelith shook his head. "No."

    Despite synchronizing with Aizen''s powers, he hadn''t gained Ky¨­ka Suigetsu. In fact, he hadn''t even unlocked Shikai as a general ability.

    Kaelith figured this was due to the unique nature of Zanpakut¨­. The power of a Zanpakut¨­ reflects the attributes of one''s soul. Only through communication with one''s soul could one infuse energy into an Asauchi and achieve release.

    No matter how much Spirit Pressure he synchronized from Aizen, it wouldn''t change the nature of his soul. To unlock his Zanpakut¨­, he''d have to rely on himself.

    Hearing Kaelith''s reply, Yamamoto frowned slightly.

    It was unusual for someone with Vice-Captain-level strength to not have unlocked Shikai. This typically indicated a lack of understanding of one''s soul, or insufficient conviction¡ªa sign of an immature spirit.

    The clearer Kaelith''s potential became, the more Yamamoto worried he might stray from the right path.

    After some thought, Yamamoto instructed, "If that''s the case, your primary goal from now on should be unlocking your Zanpakut¨­. Starting today, I''ll teach you a new meditation technique. You''ll meditate for at least two hours a day to expedite communication with your Zanpakut¨­."

    With that, Yamamoto sat cross-legged on the floor and began teaching Kaelith the meditation method he''d developed.

    The principles of the technique were simple: achieve a state of ultimate calm, regulate Spirit Pressure, and stimulate the body and mind to maintain a heightened state of relaxation, enabling prolonged communication with the Zanpakut¨­.

    After a few attempts, Kaelith managed to enter the meditative state.

    However, despite meditating for quite some time, all he experienced was aimlessly drifting through darkness. He didn''t hear a single whisper from his Zanpakut¨­, let alone achieve release.

    Yamamoto didn''t say much about this, merely advising him to keep practicing.

    "If you can''t achieve Shikai in the short term, then learn a technique that can temporarily substitute for it. Both Shinigami and Hollows often possess unique abilities. Engaging in direct combat with an unfamiliar opponent can be highly dangerous."

    Under Kaelith''s watchful gaze, Yamamoto raised his bamboo sword.

    With a sharp downward swing, a silver crescent-shaped energy wave shot forward, striking a reinforced target stone and leaving a deep gash.

    Kaelith blinked in surprise. "Getsuga Tensh¨­?"

    "What?" Yamamoto frowned.

    "Ah, nothing," Kaelith said quickly. "I just remembered a story I heard in Rukongai as a kid. There was a move similar to what you just did¡­"

    Yamamoto nodded. He''d heard of newly arrived souls from the World of the Living retaining fragments of their memories, so he wasn''t concerned about Kaelith''s remark.

    He slowly spoke: "This move is called Kenatsu"

    "The principle is similar to Had¨­, in that it converts spiritual pressure into a special attribute."

    For example, the Had¨­ number 4, Byakurai (White Lightning), converts spiritual pressure into lightning."

    "The Had¨­ number 30, S¨­katsui (Blue Fire, Crash Down), converts spiritual pressure into fire."

    "The principle of Sword Pressure is to use the Zanpakut¨­''s enhancement to transform one''s spiritual pressure into the attribute of ''cutting.''"

    "Now, I will go over the details of this technique, and you must remember them clearly."

    While under Kaelith''s gaze, Yamamoto explained the technique of Sword Pressure at a steady pace.

    After finishing his explanation, he asked, "Did you remember everything?"

    Kaelith pondered for a few seconds before answering, "I''ve already forgotten half of it."

    Yamamoto: "?"

    He was puzzled. "What part did you forget?"

    Kaelith thought for a moment. "Now, I''ve forgotten most of it."

    Yamamoto: "???"

    Before Yamamoto could say anything else, Kaelith clapped his hands. "Now, I''ve completely forgotten!"

    With that, he slightly tilted his head, revealing the smile of a master who was at peace with his solitude.

    Having said such high-level profound words, Yamamoto would surely be deeply moved, thinking he had discovered a martial arts genius.

    Perhaps, in his excitement, Yamamoto would even bring out some secret techniques, who knows?

    Kaelith looked expectantly, but Yamamoto took a deep breath.

    Then, he roared, "Get your ass out right now! You must master it within this week! If you can''t, I''ll show you the consequences of mocking your elders!"

    Without waiting for Kaelith to say anything further, Yamamoto immediately sent him flying out of the dojo.

    Watching the dojo door slam shut with a bang, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel some emotion.

    Yamamoto truly had no understanding of what it meant to have style.

    No wonder he fell during the Thousand-Year Blood War... In the realm of hot-blooded manga, style is power. Once you lose that style, you naturally become background filler.

    Captain Yamamoto still needs a lot of training.

    As Kaelith prepared to head back, his expression suddenly shifted.

    Judging by the time, Shin''¨­ Academy''s dining hall must''ve already stopped serving dinner. If he returned now, he''d probably have to go hungry all night!

    Fortunately, a solution quickly came to mind.

    As the leader of the Gotei 13, the First Division''s dining hall surely still had food available.

    With his current skill set, sneaking in to grab some food would be a piece of cake.

    The abilities he''d gained from Aizen hadn''t yet seen much practical use. Tonight, they''d finally have their moment to shine.  S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If these abilities had feelings, they''d probably be moved to tears by finally being put to good use, wouldn''t they?

    A smirk spread across Kaelith''s face as he dashed off.

    It didn''t take long for him to find the First Division''s dining hall.

    Hugging the wall outside, he cautiously scanned the area for any "enemies" before creeping toward an open window.

    Suddenly, a voice sounded beside him.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Whoa!" Kaelith exclaimed, spinning around in shock.

    Standing next to him was a young, dark-skinned girl in a cloak, smiling mischievously at him.

    (t/n Oh no, the two menaces have finally met!)

    -------------------------------

    Hoped you liked that extra chapter! Also, I forgot to mention but you also can get an extra chapter by giving me your stones!! I am a greedy goblin so let''s say 60 tones= 1 chapter tomorrow.

    See ya later!

 Chapter 14

    Kaelith Yurei jumped in surprise at the sudden appearance of a figure.

    Thanks to a certain someone, his Spirit Pressure detection skills had significantly improved.

    He could sense approaching Shinigami, even members of the Second Division''s stealth force, long before they got too close.

    Yet, now, someone had managed to get this close without him noticing!

    After staring at the person for a few seconds, he frowned.

    "Shih¨­in Yoruichi?"

    Though her hair was short and her clothing different, the girl''s overall presence was strikingly similar to the Shih¨­in Yoruichi he''d seen in the anime.

    The girl raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Oh? You know me?"

    "I do. Lord Kuchiki mentioned you to me."

    "Lord Kuchiki?"

    "Kuchiki S¨­jun."

    "Ah... that good-natured guy."

    When Kuchiki S¨­jun was mentioned, Yoruichi Shih¨­in grinned slightly.

    When she refocused, she realized Kaelith had already moved to a nearby window, carefully peering inside.

    She quickly followed him.

    "You''re wearing a Shin''¨­ uniform and sneaking around the First Division''s barracks¡­ You''re Kaelith Yurei, right? That genius student?"

    Yoruichi circled around him, her curious gaze unwavering.

    Kaelith nodded, then shook his head.

    "I''m Kaelith Yurei, but I''m not a genius student."

    "The real genius is Aizen S¨­suke, my classmate."

    Yoruichi tilted her head, pondering for a moment before shaking it. "Never heard of him."

    "There''s a lot you haven''t heard of."

    After surveying his "target," Kaelith chuckled and climbed through the window.

    Seeing this, Yoruichi followed suit.

    As her eyes scanned the kitchen filled with ingredients, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

    "Looking for food, obviously. Or do you think I''m here to cook?"

    Kaelith shot her a pitying glance.

    For someone who looked so sharp, she sure asked silly questions¡­ Was this supposed to be endearing?

    Yoruichi: "..."

    Earlier, she had spotted someone sneaking toward the First Division''s kitchen. Her first thought was that the person might be trying to poison the food.

    She''d been ready to act immediately, but upon noticing the Shin''¨­ uniform, she paused.

    A Shin''¨­ student in the First Division''s barracks¡ªthose two clues together made the intruder''s identity clear.

    Kaelith Yurei.

    A commoner from Rukongai who, in less than six months of training, had reached the strength of a Vice-Captain and earned the personal tutelage of Yamamoto himself.

    Such a prodigy wouldn''t be sent on a low-level task like poisoning food, even if he were a spy for the rebel nobles.

    So, instead of striking, she revealed herself to observe.

    And it turned out¡­ he was just looking for food?

    Were Shin''¨­ students not getting enough to eat these days?

    Noticing her confusion, Kaelith swallowed a mouthful of meat.

    "Shih¨­in Yoruichi, you''ve never attended Shin''¨­ Academy, have you?"

    Yoruichi blinked, then nodded. "The Shih¨­in family children are educated within the family, trained in stealth and combat skills. Our curriculum is different from Shin''¨­''s, so we don''t attend the academy."

    "Exactly."

    Kaelith took a sip of soup, his expression satisfied.

    The Gotei 13 often had missions at night, so the kitchen always kept soup warm.

    After swallowing another mouthful, he continued, "At Shin''¨­, meals are served at fixed times. If you miss the mealtime, you go hungry."

    "I may skip classes or training drills, but I never miss a meal."  sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Today, I missed dinner only because the Head Captain was messing with me. So, eating his food is perfectly fair."

    Watching Kaelith spout nonsense with such a straight face, Yoruichi couldn''t help but smile.

    This guy was surprisingly interesting.

    As she observed him, Kaelith seemed to remember something.

    "Want some?"

    He tore a drumstick off a roasted chicken and offered it to Yoruichi.

    Surprised at first, Yoruichi broke into a grin and accepted it, taking a bite.

    After swallowing, she laughed. "You''re not bad, you know."

    "Even though this chicken isn''t yours, sharing the best part with someone you just met shows you''re a decent person."

    Kaelith shook his head. "Sharing my food isn''t about being nice; it''s for two reasons."

    "First, you''re cute. Sharing with you doesn''t feel like a loss."

    "Second, by eating my chicken, you''re now an accomplice. If you report me to the Head Captain later, you''ll also get scolded. That way, I avoid potential trouble."

    Yoruichi: "..."

    The first part made her smile; the second almost made her choke.

    While it was logical, saying it so bluntly was downright infuriating.

    She was about to retort when Kaelith suddenly frowned.

    "Trouble. Someone''s coming."

    As his words fell, Yoruichi also sensed an approaching Spirit Pressure.

    Surprised, she glanced at him.

    As the heir to the Shih¨­in family, she had been trained in stealth detection from a young age.

    Among her peers, no one surpassed her in sensing Spirit Pressure.

    Yet Kaelith had detected the presence faster than she had.

    This guy¡­ was full of surprises.

    From a distance, voices could be heard.

    "Vice-Captain Sasakibe!"

    "Has anyone suspicious approached?"

    "Report, Vice-Captain! All is clear!"

    Despite the reply, Sasakibe didn''t seem reassured.

    Moments later, the door to the kitchen creaked open, and Sasakibe entered.

    Kaelith''s face darkened. "It''s the First Division Vice-Captain!"

    "If he catches me snacking in the kitchen, my spotless reputation will be ruined!"

    Yoruichi laughed. "What reputation does a student have to ruin?"

    "How about this¡ªbeg me for help? If you can convince me, I''ll lend you my Spirit Pressure-concealing cloak. It''s a divine treasure, after all."

    "The condition is simple: after you graduate, join the Second Division. Deal?"

    Kaelith frowned, debating whether to tarnish his image or sign himself over to the Shih¨­in family.

    Before he could decide, another voice echoed from outside.

    "Lady Yoruichi! Are you here? If so, please respond!"

    Yoruichi froze.

    "Damn, it''s Marechiyo! Why is he here?"

    "Marechiyo?"

    "¨­maeda Marechiyo, head of the ¨­maeda family and the Second Division''s Vice-Captain. With him around, there''s no way to escape using stealth techniques."

    As she spoke, Yoruichi pulled off her black cloak and covered both herself and Kaelith with it.

 Chapter 15

    "Wait, hold on a second¡ª"

    Before Kaelith Yurei could react, Yoruichi had already pulled him under her cloak.

    The cloak wasn''t very large, and the two of them squeezed together tightly, reminiscent of the trio hiding under the Invisibility Cloak in Hogwarts.

    Despite her young appearance, Yoruichi''s figure was surprisingly well-developed. Even through the academy uniform, Kaelith could feel the warmth radiating from her.

    Kaelith''s body stiffened awkwardly.

    Sensing his discomfort, Yoruichi grinned mischievously.

    "Oh my, is your face turning red?"

    "Ridiculous! I, Kaelith Yurei, aim to be the Soul Society''s future playboy King. Blushing is something I left behind at three years old."

    He whispered a retort while subtly raising two fingers to trace an invisible line in the air before them.

    With the motion, a thin layer of spiritual energy unfolded, encasing them in a protective barrier.

    Seeing his actions, Yoruichi''s eyes lit up with interest.

    As a member of the Stealth Force, she recognized his spell immediately: "Bakud¨­ #26: Kyokk¨­ (Curved Light)."

    Kyokko''s effect was to bend light and create an invisible shield, perfectly hiding anything within its boundary.

    While rarely used in combat, it was a challenging technique to master.

    Yet Kaelith had performed it flawlessly, silently, and without incantation.

    Yoruichi grew more impressed the longer she observed him.

    A master of spiritual pressure detection, adept at stealth Kido, and possessing an intriguingly flexible moral compass¡­

    This guy was practically born for the Second Division!

    The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe appeared at the doorway.

    Kaelith swallowed nervously.

    All they''d done was sneak into the kitchen for a meal¡ªit wasn''t a big deal. And yet, he felt an inexplicable tension, like the kind one experiences in a horror game while hiding in a closet, watching a monster prowl nearby.

    Noticing Kaelith''s unease, Yoruichi smirked teasingly.

    Kaelith rolled his eyes but said nothing.

    Moments later, a towering man walked in.

    He stood over two meters tall, sporting a brown pompadour, thick lips, and a gaudy gold chain around his neck, exuding the aura of a nouveau riche thug.

    Scanning the room with a frown, the man muttered, "Strange¡­ I could''ve sworn I saw the young lady head this way. Did she leave already?"

    Just as he finished speaking, his eyes sharpened, and he began walking toward where Kaelith and Yoruichi were hiding.

    Yoruichi tensed, her body coiling like a startled cat.

    Seeing her reaction, Kaelith suddenly relaxed.

    In fact, he found the situation oddly amusing¡ªalmost worth getting caught for.

    Truly, nothing brought more joy than watching someone else squirm.

    Noticing his smug expression, Yoruichi rolled her eyes.

    Under their watchful gaze, ¨­maeda Marechiyo strode to a table where an empty soup bowl lay.

    He reached out, touched the bowl''s surface, and frowned deeply.

    "The bowl''s still warm. Someone was just here!"

    Sasakibe blinked in surprise. "The Shih¨­in family''s young lady snuck into the First Division''s kitchen for a meal?"

    ¨­maeda hesitated, finding the idea absurd.

    Surely, a noble of Yoruichi''s stature wouldn''t stoop to sneaking around another division''s kitchen.

    But then again, given her usual antics¡­ it didn''t seem entirely out of the question.

    After a brief discussion, the two decided to search the surrounding area immediately.

    Given the rebels'' erratic activities and Yoruichi''s esteemed status, it was far too dangerous for her to be wandering alone.

    Under the cloaked pair''s silent observation, the two vice-captains exited the kitchen in a hurry.

    Once the coast was clear, Yoruichi exhaled a sigh of relief.

    Then, glaring at Kaelith, she grumbled, "This is all your fault. Now I''ve got a reputation for stealing food!"

    Kaelith chuckled. "Well, I could always call them back and explain everything."

    "Ahem! No need for that," Yoruichi replied, instantly backing down.

    Watching her quick capitulation, Kaelith shook his head in amusement and raised his hand to remove the cloak.

    But just as he did, a familiar voice echoed in his mind:

    [Synchronization detected with bound entity "S¨­suke Aizen." New skills acquired¡­ Synchronization complete!]

    [Your understanding of Had¨­ has advanced: Skill acquired¡ªHad¨­ #31: Shakkah¨­!]

    [Your understanding of swordsmanship has improved¡­]

    [Your mastery of Shunpo has advanced¡­]

    [Your hand-to-hand combat skills have increased¡­]

    Kaelith had grown used to these notifications over the past few days. Aizen''s rapid growth was nothing short of terrifying.

    Despite still being a student, Aizen avoided typical leisure activities for someone his age.

    Every spare moment was spent either training or mentally dissecting Kido techniques.

    With a rare combination of prodigious talent and monastic discipline, Aizen''s progress never ceased to amaze.

    So, when these notifications appeared, Kaelith hardly reacted anymore.

    But this time, something unusual caught his attention:

    [Skill acquired: Special Kido¡ª"Simulated Cero."]

    Kaelith blinked, his confusion evident.

    Simulated Cero?

    What was Aizen up to?

    Why would he create such a technique?

    Was he already delving into the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow?

    That couldn''t be¡­ could it?

    "Something wrong?" Yoruichi asked, noticing his hesitation.

    Kaelith turned to the dark-skinned girl crouched beside him and smirked.

    "¡­Nothing. I was just savoring the feeling of you pressing so tightly against me earlier."

    "Hey! That''s harassment!" Yoruichi retorted, giving him a hard shove.

    Kaelith glanced at the black cloak in his hands and asked, "Where did you get this cloak, anyway?"

    Yoruichi chuckled. "It''s one of the many ancient artifacts preserved by the Shih¨­in family, known as the Stealth Cloak."

    "Not something made by someone you know?"

    "I wish I knew someone capable of crafting something like this." Yoruichi laughed, shaking her head.

    Kaelith nodded thoughtfully.

    After confirming that ¨­maeda and Sasakibe had left, the two climbed out of the kitchen.  S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As they walked, Yoruichi turned to Kaelith and said, "Kaelith, when you graduate, come join the Second Division!"

    "What''s in it for me?" Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    Yoruichi considered for a moment. "How about a direct promotion to seated officer?"

    Kaelith shook his head. "With my abilities, I could become a seated officer in any division."

    "Fair enough." Yoruichi nodded.

    "Then how about a personal chef? Whatever you want to eat, whenever you want it!"

    Kaelith rubbed his chin. "Tempting¡­ I''ll think about it."

    Seeing he was still hesitant, Yoruichi leaned in conspiratorially. "Our division has plenty of adorable girls. One of them is so cute, even I feel a little smitten. If you join, I''ll introduce you to her!"

    Before she finished speaking, Kaelith had already grabbed her hand.

    "Please, make sure to reserve me a spot!"

 Chapter 16

    Under the moonlight, Kaelith walked halfway across Seireitei, heading back to the Shino Academy dormitory.

    After showing his passage from the First Division to the gatekeeper, the guard didn''t hesitate to let him through.

    Putting away the pass, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a bit awestruck.

    The taste of authority¡­ was unexpectedly sweet.

    In the past, whenever he went to hang out in Rukongai if he stayed out past curfew, he''d always have to sneak back over the walls, never able to stroll in with such ease.

    Wearing a mischievous smile, Kaelith swaggered back into the dormitory, heading towards his room.

    As he neared his door, he spotted something unexpected.

    Aizen, dressed in plain, simple clothes, was coming from the other end of the hallway.

    When Aizen noticed Kaelith, he paused, looking a bit surprised.

    But then he casually said, "What a coincidence. I just stepped out to use the restroom and happened to run into you on your way back."

    "The Captain-Commander''s training must have been tough, considering you''re only just now getting back."

    Kaelith gave a brief recount of the events from the night.

    Hearing about Kaelith''s "adventure," Aizen couldn''t help but feel a bit impressed.

    As expected of Kaelith¡ªhe couldn''t even attend a simple lesson with the First Division without stirring up some sort of trouble.

    Speaking of his training at the First Division, Aizen couldn''t help but feel curious about what techniques the one hailed as the "strongest Shinigami in a thousand years" would teach Kaelith.

    Although curious, he wouldn''t pry.

    For any Shinigami, their abilities were their most valuable assets¡ªsomething never to be casually shared with others.

    Even though he and Kaelith were friends, there was no reason to inquire into what exactly he''d learned.

    With that thought, Aizen prepared to head back to his room.

    But before he could take a step, Kaelith spoke up:

    "Oh, right, S¨­suke, are you tired right now? If not, I could share some of what Captain-Commander Yamamoto taught me tonight."

    "?"

    Aizen turned his head, looking at Kaelith with a touch of surprise.

    "What''s wrong? Are you that tired? We can always go over it tomorrow," Kaelith said.

    Aizen frowned, replying, "It''s not a matter of being tired or not¡­ Kaelith, do you realize what you''re saying?"

    "Although I don''t know exactly what the Captain-Commander taught you, those lessons are valuable resources."

    "Mastering techniques that other Shinigami don''t know gives you the chance to progress faster, gain more resources, and secure greater opportunities."

    "These are your assets. How could you just share them so freely?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s expression turned thoughtful.

    "It''s true. What I learned from the Captain-Commander shouldn''t just be handed out to others."

    Aizen nodded and was just about to leave.

    But Kaelith spoke up again: "However, who are we to each other? Are we really just ''others''?"

    Aizen was momentarily stunned.

    Before he could respond, Kaelith was already heading off, saying, "Come on, let''s find a better spot. Here we''d risk disturbing others, plus we''d have to dodge the dorm supervisors¡­ Let''s go to the training hall; it''s empty at night."

    Watching Kaelith, who had already set off on his own, Aizen''s surprise shifted to confusion, then to quiet acceptance. He gently shook his head.

    Kaelith¡­ this guy. I really don''t understand him.

    Aizen let out a faintly exasperated smile, stepping forward to follow. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ---

    Inside the training hall, Kaelith shared everything Captain-Commander Yamamoto had taught him that day with Aizen.

    Hearing Yamamoto''s improvements to the sword meditation, Aizen''s expression turned thoughtful.

    After a minute or so, he nodded and said, "As expected of the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, this sword meditation technique not only helps awaken the Zanpakut¨­ but more importantly, it allows one to familiarize themselves with controlling their spiritual pressure and emotions."

    "Kaelith, you should practice this technique more. Even if it''s not for the Zanpakut¨­, it will be extremely helpful for your future battles!"

    Kaelith clicked his tongue. "How did you end up learning Old Man Yamamoto''s tricks? You''re starting to sound like a nagging mother."

    Aizen: "..." He narrowed his eyes and looked at Kaelith.

    Then, Kaelith, with a mysterious grin, said, "Instead of the sword meditation, Old Man Yamamoto also taught me a combat technique."

    He then repeated word for word, the technique Yamamoto had shared with him, which involved using sword pressure.

    After listening, Aizen stroked his chin.

    "Using the Zanpakut¨­ to alter the spiritual pressure''s property to ''slash''... For those whose Zanpakut¨­ hasn''t awakened yet, or for those whose Zanpakut¨­''s abilities are not combat-related, this is quite useful. It''s much more effective than simply releasing spiritual pressure."

    "Who would have thought that the man with the strongest Kido-type Zanpakut¨­ in the Soul Society would specialize in such a technique? Quite surprising."

    Seeing Aizen muttering to himself, Kaelith waved his hand.

    "Stop thinking about Old Man Yamamoto. So, what do you think, S¨­suke? Do you think you can learn this technique within a week?"

    Aizen opened his mouth, instinctively about to say that he didn''t have that kind of talent.

    But, just as the words were on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly remembered how Kaelith had eagerly shared what he had learned with him without holding back.

    After a few seconds of silence, he chuckled softly.

    Under Kaelith''s expectant gaze, Aizen slowly spoke.

    "A week? That''s unnecessary."

    "One day will be enough."

    Seeing the confident gleam in Aizen''s eyes, Kaelith laughed.

    As expected, with Aizen''s help, there was no task too difficult. With Yamamoto''s learning challenge, there was no need to worry at all.

    If he were to learn sword pressure on his own, he would probably manage it in about a week, but it would take a lot of effort.

    At least in the first four or five days, he would lose all of his free time for extracurricular activities.

    But now... All he had to do was repeat the key points that Yamamoto had mentioned, and Aizen would synchronize with them.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a little moved.

    When you combined himself and Aizen together, it really was overflowing with talent.

    And Aizen, seeing Kaelith''s genuine smile, couldn''t help but smirk.

    As expected, just as he thought, Kaelith wouldn''t even be surprised by such an outrageous statement.

    If things went as expected, this guy had probably already learned how to use sword pressure.

    Did he teach him these techniques because he was afraid that Aizen wouldn''t be able to keep up with his pace of becoming stronger?

    With all this confidence, he shouldn''t be shocked when Aizen eventually surpassed him.

    Looking at Kaelith, Aizen suddenly had a thought.

    "By the way, didn''t you want to learn how to hide your spiritual pressure?"

    "Now that we have some time, I can teach you."

    That night, in the swordsmanship dojo, the two young students exchanged techniques that even professional Shinigami would shy away from.

    The next afternoon, Kaelith received a system notification that he had learned how to use sword pressure.

    After mentally simulating the technique, he found a quiet place, drew his Asauchi, and casually slashed.

    A blue crescent-shaped wave of spiritual pressure shot out from the tip of his blade, crashing into a nearby dirt mound, and causing a cloud of dust to rise.

    After feeling the strength of the sword pressure, Kaelith couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    As expected of Aizen, he perfected the technique in just a day, which was truly mind-boggling.

    However, despite being able to directly synchronize various abilities from Aizen, Kaelith didn''t neglect his daily training.

    In fact, in order to better digest this hard-won power, his training intensity was even higher than before.

    Because he had pushed himself too hard that day, he woke up in the middle of the night, groggy from arm soreness.

    Slowly sitting up, he stretched, and realizing it was still dark, he prepared to lie back down.

    But just as he was about to do so, he suddenly noticed something strange... There seemed to be an issue with Aizen''s bed... (t/n what is he doing in Aizen''s bed!!?)

    ---------------------

    Thanks for the stones here is your extra chapter!

 Chapter 17

    Kaelith rose from the bed and made his way over to Aizen''s side, his gaze fixed on the boy lying there. Something felt off. The person in front of him didn''t radiate Aizen''s usual presence. (t/n we got baited lol)

    Glancing around to confirm that the other two roommates were still asleep, he reached out and gently touched the figure.

    Sure enough, a faint ripple of Spirit Energy emanated, and his fingertip passed right through "Aizen."

    It was a fake, crafted using Kido.

    For an average Shinigami, even one stronger than the current Aizen, it might have been impossible to notice the discrepancy.

    But Kaelith was far too familiar with Aizen. Any slight irregularity in his Spirit Pressure was something Kaelith could detect immediately.

    Realizing the person in bed wasn''t Aizen, Kaelith stepped out for a stroll, trying to locate his friend''s Spirit Pressure.

    After a thorough search, he discovered that Aizen''s presence was nowhere to be found within Shin''¨­ Academy. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What''s that guy, S¨­suke, doing out of school at a time like this?"

    Kaelith''s expression turned puzzled.

    Recalling the original Bleach storyline, an unsettling feeling crept into his mind.

    Returning to his bed, he didn''t immediately fall asleep. Instead, he half-closed his eyes and began reviewing the lessons he''d recently learned from Yamamoto.

    It wasn''t until the sky began to lighten that he sensed a familiar Spirit Pressure re-entering his perception range.

    Aizen''s Spirit Pressure had been deliberately concealed. If Kaelith hadn''t been paying full attention, he might have missed the faint traces entirely.

    Closing his eyes fully, he waited.

    Soon, soft footsteps approached the room.

    Aizen paused at the door, checking to ensure all three of his roommates were still asleep, before returning to his bed and swapping places with the Kido-crafted substitute.

    This confirmed it for Kaelith.

    The night before, when he''d returned from the First Division, Aizen had also come back in casual civilian attire, similarly staying out all night for unexplained reasons.

    What had he been up to?

    Frowning, Kaelith drifted off to sleep.

    ---

    The next morning, Aizen acted as if nothing had happened, attending classes with Kaelith as usual.

    Kaelith, too, behaved as he normally would, carrying his characteristic air of laziness.

    Meanwhile, Yamada Seinosuke was so engrossed in his thick medical book that he seemed oblivious to the world around him. Even during lunch, he read while eating, his focus unbroken as if the apocalypse wouldn''t make him look up.

    Among their group, however, the most significant change was in Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    Typically calm and composed, with a gentle smile gracing his lips, S¨­jun was visibly distracted today. He frequently furrowed his brow, lost in thought.

    At lunch, he nearly embarrassed himself by eating so absentmindedly that he almost smeared food on his face.

    For someone raised with noble etiquette, such behavior was nothing short of a drastic deviation.

    Finally, as S¨­jun reached to dip his chopsticks into his teacup for the second time, Kaelith couldn''t hold back anymore.

    "Hey, hey, S¨­jun-sensei, what''s got you so worked up? Did you meet a girl in Rukongai, and now your family won''t let you bring her home?"

    S¨­jun froze briefly, staring at Kaelith as though only now realizing someone had spoken to him.

    He gave a helpless chuckle. "Of course not. As the heir of the Kuchiki family, my marriage is something my father decides. The Kuchiki clan would never allow personal feelings to interfere with family interests."

    Really?

    Kaelith looked unconvinced.

    Under his gaze, S¨­jun fell silent for a while before finally speaking again, his tone heavier this time.

    "Kaelith, I may not be here until the end of this semester."

    "In the near future, I''ll be applying for a special graduation exam to complete my studies early."

    Hearing this, not only Kaelith but also Aizen, who rarely showed surprise, and Seinosuke, who was buried in his book, looked up in unison.

    "What''s going on? Did something happen with your family?" Seinosuke asked, frowning slightly.

    S¨­jun nodded.

    Raising his hand, he formed a soundproof barrier of Spirit Energy around their table.

    "The rebels have grown stronger again."

    "Originally, under the combined pressure of my father and brother-in-law, the rebels were losing ground rapidly, nearly being pushed out of Seireitei entirely."

    "But now, certain noble families who have remained in the shadows have suddenly unveiled new tactics."

    "Many powerful Shinigami privately nurtured by these clans have appeared on the battlefield. My brother-in-law, while formidable, cannot be everywhere at once."

    "To make matters worse, some of the previously neutral high-ranking officers within the Gotei 13 seem to have shifted to aiding the rebels."

    "As things stand, the pressure on my father and brother-in-law is steadily increasing."

    "If this continues, the Head Captain may be forced to intervene personally."

    "And if it comes to that, the scale of this internal conflict will no longer be limited to small skirmishes. It will engulf all of Seireitei and, potentially, the entire Soul Society."

    Taking a deep breath, S¨­jun continued, "As the eldest son of the Kuchiki family, I cannot sit idly by in school while my elders fight and bleed."

    "I have to do something."

    Hearing this, Kaelith exchanged glances with his friends.

    When he first arrived in this world and heard about the internal strife within the Soul Society, he''d found it amusing.

    With someone as overwhelmingly powerful as Yamamoto holding the line, who could stir up trouble?

    Why not just find the rebel leader and have Yamamoto finish it with a single strike? Wouldn''t that end the war instantly?

    But as time went on, Kaelith came to understand the complexities of the conflict.

    The rebels'' backers were likely one of the Four Great Noble Clans.

    While Yamamoto was unmatched in strength, at the end of the day, he was the leader of the warrior class.

    When facing nobles, even someone like him couldn''t act without restraint.

    Unless the nobles openly tore apart the fabric of Seireitei, threatening everything Yamamoto sought to protect, he would remain an observer in this noble-driven war.

    At the onset of the war, the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in clans had attempted to end it through a vote among the nobles.

    But to Ginrei Kuchiki''s surprise, more than half of the noble votes opposed his proposal.

    It was then that he realized the depth of the conflict was far greater than anticipated.

    Most of what Kaelith knew came from rumors and speculation.

    If he asked S¨­jun directly, the latter would likely share everything he knew.

    But doing so would drag Kaelith into the vortex of this conflict.

    Kaelith didn''t want that, and neither did S¨­jun.

    Seeing Kaelith''s somber expression, S¨­jun smiled reassuringly.

    "Don''t worry, Kaelith. I can take care of myself."

    "You don''t need to worry about me. I promise to end this war as quickly as possible and restore peace to the Soul Society."

    Looking at S¨­jun''s confident expression, Kaelith remained silent for a long time.

    Then, as though making a decision, he turned to S¨­jun.

    "Just make sure you stay alive. If anything happens, I''ll avenge you."

    S¨­jun chuckled dryly. "Thanks... I think."

    ---------------

    Enjoy your extra chapter!

 Chapter 18

    First Division, Sword Dojo.

    Yamamoto stood at the center of the spacious dojo, his back turned to the entrance.

    Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, he spoke slowly, "How is your sword-pressure training coming along?"

    Looking at Yamamoto, who appeared every bit the enigmatic master with his back to him, Kaelith Yurei gave him a disdainful glance.

    This old man... it''s a pity he hasn''t published a book titled *The Art of Pretending to Be Mysterious.*

    However, remembering the reason he had come here today, Kaelith''s expression quickly shifted into a smile.

    "Of course, I''ve mastered it. When the Head Captain himself gives an order, how could I not take it seriously?"

    Hearing this, Yamamoto slowly turned around.

    "Show me."

    Without hesitation, Kaelith drew his Asauchi and slashed the air in Yamamoto''s direction.

    A crescent-shaped wave of blue sword pressure tore through the air, heading straight for Yamamoto.

    Watching the incoming wave, Yamamoto''s eyes showed a trace of surprise.

    He extended a hand, catching the sword pressure mid-air.

    *Zzzt!*

    The strike, powerful enough to split through boulders, felt like cotton in Yamamoto''s grasp, leaving not a single scratch.

    After gauging its strength, Yamamoto casually exerted a bit more pressure, shattering the wave into fragments that dissolved into the air.

    Looking at Kaelith, who still held his Asauchi, Yamamoto opened his mouth.

    After a few seconds, he finally said, "Not bad."

    Kaelith chuckled. "All thanks to the Head Captain''s excellent guidance."

    Seeing his smug expression, Yamamoto felt a silent alarm go off in his mind.

    Something was off¡­

    This kid must want something from me!

    The reason for his quick judgment was simple:

    Back when Ky¨­raku Shunsui caused trouble and needed help or forgiveness, he had the exact same expression as Kaelith did now.

    With heightened vigilance, Yamamoto began today''s lesson.

    Today''s focus was hand-to-hand combat, part of the Shinigami''s four fundamental skills¡ªZanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoh¨­, and Kid¨­. Specifically, they were focusing on Hakuda.

    Kaelith showed genuine interest in this.

    Yamamoto''s mastery of Hakuda had been fully displayed during the battle in the Karakura Town arc.

    Faced with Wonderweiss Margela, an Arrancar specifically created to seal Yamamoto''s Zanpakut¨­, Yamamoto had used nothing but his fists to utterly destroy him.

    Though Wonderweiss had no extraordinary abilities beyond suppressing Yamamoto''s Zanpakut¨­, his defensive strength was undeniably Espada-level.

    For Yamamoto''s Hakuda to shatter an Espada''s body in a single blow¡ªit surpassed the strength of many captains'' Zanpakut¨­.

    Of course, this comparison excluded a certain someone.

    For the next few hours, Yamamoto earnestly shared his understanding of Hakuda, teaching Kaelith everything he could.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith, rare as it was, adopted the demeanor of a diligent student, carefully absorbing every word.

    "¡­That''s all for today. We''ll continue next time."

    After what felt like an eternity, Yamamoto concluded.

    Hearing this, Kaelith blinked in surprise.

    Then, hurriedly raising his hand, he asked, "Wait, Head Captain! Don''t you have a super-powerful punch technique? One that can split mountains and seas? Aren''t you going to teach that today?"

    Yamamoto: "?"

    It took him a moment to realize what Kaelith was referring to.

    Meeting Kaelith''s expectant gaze, Yamamoto grumbled, "With your current understanding of Hakuda, it''s far too early to learn Ikkotsu."

    "Learning is a process of gradual accumulation. If you aim too high without a solid foundation, you''ll only end up taking the wrong path¡­"

    His beard bristling, Yamamoto launched into a lecture.

    Seeing the impending long-winded speech, Kaelith quickly raised his hand again. "Then, Head Captain! If I can master everything you taught me within this week, can you teach me that punch technique next week?"

    Yamamoto frowned slightly.

    While today''s lesson focused on foundational techniques, foundational skills required time and repetition to truly internalize.

    Many swordsmanship prodigies spent years honing basic swings before moving on to techniques.

    Even though Kaelith was a genius, overconfidence was dangerous.

    After a pause, Yamamoto nodded. "Fine. If you master everything I taught you within a week, I''ll teach you Ikkotsu."

    "But if you fail, next week you''ll be training under a waterfall."

    It was a calculated move to temper Kaelith''s arrogance while he was still young, saving him trouble in the future.

    Kaelith agreed enthusiastically.

    As Yamamoto prepared to dismiss him, Kaelith raised his hand yet again.

    "Head Captain, are you busy right now? I have some extracurricular questions."

    "I''m busy."

    "If someone has an extremely powerful hypnosis ability that can''t be countered by ordinary means, what would be the best way to resist it?" (t/n I love this guy)

    "¡­"

    For a brief moment, Yamamoto seriously considered kicking Kaelith out of the dojo again.

    Still, the question intrigued him.

    Standing on the wooden floor of the dojo, he pondered for a while before answering.

    "There are three methods."

    "The first is the simplest: elevate your Spirit Pressure."

    "All hypnosis techniques are fundamentally tied to Spirit Pressure. If your Spirit Pressure far surpasses your opponent''s, you can forcibly break through their ability."

    "The second method is to find a way to counter it."

    "For instance, if the hypnosis relies on sound, you can use Kid¨­ to block your hearing before the fight begins."

    "If it''s based on visual cues, disrupt your opponent''s movements."

    "If neither of those work, consider using items like potions or gadgets. I''m not particularly familiar with these, but the Department of Research and Development might have a solution."

    "As for the third¡­" Yamamoto narrowed his eyes.

    "This method just occurred to me."

    "Twelve Division Captain Kirio Hikifune has recently made significant advancements in artificial souls. If anyone could create a defensive mechanism against hypnosis, it would be her."

    Kaelith paused at the name.

    Kirio Hikifune¡­ it sounded familiar.

    Wasn''t she a member of the Royal Guard in the future?  Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So at this point, she hadn''t been promoted yet and was still working within the Gotei 13?

    Though he wasn''t sure of her current capabilities, if she eventually joined the Royal Guard, she must be quite skilled.

    Kaelith decided to make time to visit the Twelfth Division soon.

    With his First Division credentials, he could easily come up with an excuse to get in.

    Perfect plan!

    "Head Captain, one last question."

    "Do you have any tracking techniques? Something subtle, like leaving a mark to locate someone without being noticed?"

    Yamamoto: "¡­"

    First hypnosis, now tracking techniques.

    What on earth was this troublemaker planning?

    Squinting, Yamamoto prepared to kick Kaelith out when a voice suddenly called out from the entrance:

    "For stuff like that, ask me! I''m the expert!"

 Chapter 19

    Hearing the voice, both Kaelith Yurei and Yamamoto turned toward the entrance of the dojo.

    There, a short-haired, dark-skinned girl exuding youthful energy walked in with a bright smile.

    "Shih¨­in Yoruichi?"

    Seeing the newcomer, Yamamoto furrowed his brows slightly.

    Under the gaze of both men, Yoruichi approached, her grin widening as she playfully patted Kaelith on the arm.

    "You''re acting distant, Kaelith. Don''t forget, I''m from the Onmitsukid¨­. Tracking and assassination are second nature to me."

    Kaelith''s eyes lit up. "That''s right! How could I forget?"

    "Learning from a pretty girl is way better than studying with an old geezer!"

    Yamamoto: "...?"

    A vein bulged on the Head Captain''s forehead.

    Meanwhile, Yoruichi burst into laughter.

    Yamamoto''s voice dropped a note, his tone serious. "Kaelith Yurei, why have you suddenly decided to learn these techniques?"

    "If you can''t provide a reasonable explanation, I won''t overlook this."

    Kaelith hesitated briefly.

    Though their relationship had developed for various reasons in a short time, Yamamoto had genuinely helped him a lot.

    After a moment''s thought, Kaelith decided to tell the truth.

    "I have a friend who might soon face a critical life decision. I want to stay close and ensure he doesn''t stray down the wrong path."

    "That''s why I need to learn tracking techniques¡ªto keep an eye on his situation."

    As Kaelith spoke, he could not help but feel a wave of emotion, deeply moved by his own unwavering devotion to the sacred bond of friendship.

    To prevent Aizen from becoming the universally despised, isolated figure of the future, Kaelith was really putting in the effort.

    Surely, if Yamamoto had any heart, he''d fully support such a noble cause¡­

    However, when Kaelith looked up, he found Yamamoto and Yoruichi simply staring at him.

    A few seconds later, Yoruichi chuckled. "Kaelith, you''d better come up with a more convincing reason."

    "If this ''friend'' you''re talking about is actually yourself, I might believe you a little more."

    "With your skill level, tracking a friend would be child''s play. You don''t need any special techniques for that¡­"

    "Next time you make up a reason, at least make it reasonable."

    Kaelith: "???"

    What the¡­

    He turned to Yamamoto, hoping for some validation.

    But Yamamoto simply stared back silently. He even nodded at Yoruichi''s reasoning.

    Seeing their reactions, Kaelith couldn''t hold back anymore and burst out, "Fine! I''ve got my eye on a beautiful girl. I want to find out where she lives so I can passionately, relentlessly, and shamelessly pursue her! That''s why I want to learn tracking techniques!"

    Yoruichi blinked, then adopted a serious expression. "That''s a very important matter. There''s no time to waste."  sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith: "...?"

    Yamamoto frowned slightly and reminded him, "You must not do anything that violates the law. Once you''ve confirmed her identity, inform me. I''ll help you look into her background."

    Kaelith: "¡­"

    (t/n shame on them, for not recognizing Kaelith''s Selflessness)

    ---

    After bidding farewell to Yamamoto, Kaelith followed Yoruichi to the Shih¨­in estate.

    As he stepped through the gates, he was greeted by an endless expanse of traditional Japanese-style buildings and gardens. The sheer grandeur left him feeling like a villager entering a magnificent palace.

    Seeing his reaction, Yoruichi smirked. "Well? What do you think?"

    Kaelith clicked his tongue. "Nothing worth thinking about... Just look at these houses. Every beam, every foundation stone¡ªit all came from the sweat and toil of the common working folk."

    "Nobles are truly despicable."

    Startled, Yoruichi''s eyes widened.

    In the Soul Society, speaking ill of nobles was a grave offense. If overheard by the wrong person, the consequences could be dire.

    She was about to warn Kaelith when he continued with a sigh:

    "What''s even worse is that I didn''t get a single share of that exploitation."

    Yoruichi froze for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, finally understanding his meaning.

    For a moment, she''d thought Kaelith was one of those extreme noble-haters.

    But upon reflection, she realized that if Kaelith truly despised nobles, how could he be friends with S¨­jun Kuchiki or seek her help so openly?

    Leaning in conspiratorially, Yoruichi grinned. "Do you want to become a noble? I might have a way."

    "What way?" Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    With a sly chuckle, Yoruichi said, "Marry into the Shih¨­in family. Then you''d be part of one of the Four Great Noble Clans."

    "How does Shih¨­in Kaelith sound? Pretty nice, right?"

    Kaelith looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "I don''t mind the name change, but if I marry you, my grand plan to build a massive harem in the Soul Society will be ruined. So, I''ll pass."

    Yoruichi: "¡­"

    Though she''d been joking, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Kaelith''s ridiculous reasoning.

    The two of them reached an open area and sat down facing each other.

    Yoruichi extended her finger, using reishi to draw diagrams in the air as she explained the tracking Kid¨­ technique.

    "This Kid¨­ is an improved technique I developed, combining Onmitsukid¨­ secrets with Shih¨­in family methods."

    "As long as you''re careful when setting it up, even Shinigami stronger than you will struggle to detect its presence."

    "But keep in mind, to maintain its stealth, the technique has a limited duration. It only lasts about three hours before dissipating automatically."

    Kaelith listened attentively, far more focused than he ever was in Yamamoto''s lectures.

    Yoruichi held nothing back, explaining every detail thoroughly.

    As Kaelith practiced, she pointed out his mistakes and offered targeted guidance.

    Before long, Kaelith had mastered the technique.

    While his raw talent wasn''t at the level of Aizen''s, his comprehension ability was no slouch.

    After all, if he were completely inept, he wouldn''t have been able to rise to the top of his first-year class before synchronizing with Aizen.

    Seeing Kaelith master the technique, Yoruichi nodded in satisfaction.

    "To pick up this secret art so quickly¡ªyou''re definitely suited for the Onmitsukid¨­."

    Kaelith stroked his chin. "Or maybe I''m just quick at learning techniques across all fields?"

    Caught off guard by his bluntness, Yoruichi chuckled out loud.

    Suddenly, Kaelith thought of something and asked, "By the way, Yoruichi, you''re familiar with the Twelfth Division, right? What kind of person is their captain?"

    Yoruichi tilted her head, slightly puzzled. "The Twelfth Division¡­ Captain Hikifune? I don''t have much interaction with them, but from what I''ve heard, she''s straightforward and easygoing."

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    He''d assumed Yoruichi would know more about the Twelfth Division, given that Kisuke Urahara was transferred from the Second Division to the Twelfth.

    But then again, he wasn''t entirely sure about the timeline.

    The past events of the Soul Society were such a mess that even the authors struggled to keep track¡ªlet alone expect a viewer to have it all figured out.

    After a moment of thought, he asked, "Do you know Kisuke Urahara?"

    Yoruichi furrowed her brows, tilting her head as she pondered.

    A few seconds later, she let out an "Ah!"

    "Kisuke Urahara? I''ve heard that name before¡­ Before Captain Kirinji left, he left a list with the Shih¨­in family."

    "It included names of promising newcomers he believed were worth observing and possibly promoting."

    "That name was on the list!"

    -----------

    Enjoy the chapters!

 Chapter 20

    Hearing Yoruichi''s words, Kaelith Yurei was a bit surprised.

    According to her, Kisuke Urahara hadn''t yet achieved any prominent position within the Second Division, let alone transferred to the Twelfth Division.

    In other words, the current Kisuke Urahara was like an untapped asset¡ªmuch like a rare early investment with limitless potential.

    If Kaelith did him a few favors now, he''d gain Urahara''s gratitude and a sense of obligation. Then, Kaelith could fully leverage Urahara''s talents, pushing him to complete various research projects and inventions that would be of great use.

    Kaelith''s demands weren''t excessive; he simply wanted the technology and video game development in the modern world to advance by two centuries.

    With Urahara''s capabilities, that shouldn''t be too much to ask, right?

    Imagining the bright future ahead, Kaelith couldn''t help but smile.

    Yoruichi noticed Kaelith''s expression and gave him a puzzled look.

    Kisuke Urahara... From the name, he must be a man. Was he one of those types with such a cute, androgynous look?

    Kaelith really did have¡­ broad tastes. A trace of admiration sparked in Yoruichi''s heart.

    ---

    "S¨­suke!"

    At the sound of Kaelith''s shout, several people in the cafeteria instinctively glanced toward Aizen, who was sitting in the corner.

    Aizen sighed, placing a hand on his forehead. He disliked unnecessary attention, and Kaelith seemed to check many of his least favorite boxes.

    With a helpless look, Aizen watched as Kaelith sped across half the cafeteria and took a seat beside him.

    Seeing Aizen eating alone, Kaelith asked curiously, "Where are Kuchiki S¨­jun and Seinosuke Yamada?"

    "Kuchiki hasn''t been at school all day, so I''m not sure where he went. Yamada Seinosuke is back in the dorms, focusing on his studies. He even asked a friend to bring him his meal." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing this, Kaelith frowned. S¨­jun Kuchiki''s personality wouldn''t allow him to skip class without reason. He''d have to ask Sensei Kinoshita about it later¡ªmaybe he knew something.

    After getting his meal, Kaelith sat down across from Aizen and began recounting the hand-to-hand techniques he''d learned from Captain-Commander Yamamoto earlier that day.

    At first, Aizen listened calmly while eating. But soon, a hint of surprise crossed his face.

    "Impressive¡­ As expected of Captain-Commander Yamamoto. His technique seamlessly integrates Spirit Pressure into physical movements, creating explosive power with each strike."

    "With these foundational techniques, one could develop moves that, while appearing simple on the surface, could rival even some Kid¨­ spells in power."

    Hearing Aizen''s analysis, Kaelith''s eyes widened. Unlike Kaelith, who was a transmigrator, Aizen had no prior knowledge of Yamamoto''s famous Ikkotsu (One Bone) technique. Yet, based solely on the basic training Kaelith described, Aizen had deduced most of its effects.

    Was this guy truly a fellow student or some ancient genius reborn?

    While Kaelith was astonished, Aizen had already begun considering ways to apply the technique.

    After a moment, he asked, "Kaelith, how much of this technique have you mastered?"

    Kaelith held his bowl of soup, replying, "I just started today. How much could I possibly know?"

    "Perfect, then eat up. When you''re done, let''s spar and test it out."

    The hand-to-hand combat training Kaelith had brought back piqued Aizen''s interest.

    After their meal, they headed to the dojo, changed into training uniforms, and began practicing Yamamoto''s techniques. At first, Aizen struggled a bit, his Spirit Pressure not entirely in sync with his movements.

    But within less than half an hour, he began to get the hang of it.

    "Ha!"

    Aizen took a sudden step forward, fist clenched at his waist, and launched a punch.

    Though the motion wasn''t particularly fast, Kaelith felt a massive pressure emanating from it, like facing a formidable beast.

    He raised his arms, condensing Spirit Pressure into a shield.

    Ducking the punch would''ve been easy, but he was curious to see its effect.

    Boom!

    The impact nearly made Kaelith''s eyes pop out.

    At first glance, Aizen''s punch seemed ordinary, something any martial artist might execute. But the moment his fist connected with Kaelith''s forearm, a terrifying surge of Spirit Pressure burst forth, piercing through Kaelith''s shield and penetrating his arm.

    If not for Kaelith''s deep reserves of Spirit Pressure, this punch might have had him spitting out his dinner.

    Aizen looked at his hand, equally surprised by the result.

    Yamamoto had only taught Kaelith the basic training method, without explaining its advanced applications.

    This punch was something Aizen had devised on his own, using Yamamoto''s foundation. He hadn''t expected it to be this powerful.

    Realizing Kaelith''s state, Aizen quickly approached. "Kaelith, are you alright?"

    "I''m fine; it''s nothing serious," Kaelith replied, flexing his wrist with a wry smile.

    He now looked at Aizen as if staring at some kind of monster.

    It wasn''t the punch''s sheer force that shocked him, but the fact that Aizen had managed to trigger a system prompt with that strike.

    System notification: Binding detected. S¨­suke Aizen has acquired a new skill¡ªautomatically syncing. Sync complete! You''ve advanced your understanding of hand-to-hand combat and mastered the secret technique Ikkotsu (One Bone).

    This abnormal guy had actually managed to replicate Yamamoto Genry¨±sai''s signature move, Ikkotsu, by using basic training and sheer intuition.

    Outrageous.

    Seeing Kaelith was fine, Aizen sighed in relief.

    With a slight smile, he said, "That move just came to me out of nowhere."

    "I''ll explain the principles behind it, and you can try it yourself."

    Kaelith shook his head. "No need. I already understand it."

    Aizen blinked in surprise. "Are you sure? That technique goes beyond just a punch and a release of Spirit Pressure."

    "How about a test?" Kaelith replied, grinning mischievously.

    Aizen felt a foreboding sense of curiosity but couldn''t believe Kaelith had grasped the move he''d only just discovered.

    He nodded, assuming a defensive stance, signaling Kaelith to attack.

    Kaelith chuckled, taking a deep breath.

    Unlike Aizen''s experimental punch, Kaelith''s was executed with full confidence.

    Ikkotsu!

    Aizen''s pupils constricted as Kaelith''s fist drew near.

    In the next instant, it felt as if a freight truck had hit him head-on, sending him flying back uncontrollably!

 Chapter 21

    Aizen lay on the ground, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought.

    The pain in his arm reminded him that what had just happened was very real.

    That guy, Kaelith Yurei, had actually mastered Captain-Commander Yamamoto''s combat technique.

    Aizen had spent countless attempts before he''d discovered how to use this move by sheer chance. But Kaelith had managed it with ease, achieving the same result effortlessly¡­

    For the first time in his life, Aizen started to doubt something.

    Could it be that he wasn''t as gifted as he thought?

    While he was reflecting on life, Kaelith approached him, fussing over him as he helped Aizen to his feet.

    "Oh, S¨­suke, are you alright? Look at the mess this made! I thought you had a solid defense, so I didn''t expect a single punch to send you flying!"

    Aizen: "..."

    If only Kaelith''s face showed a bit less of a grin while saying this, Aizen might have pretended to believe him.

    "Kaelith, that punch... did you just learn it?"

    Aizen couldn''t help but ask.

    Kaelith nodded, saying, "I swear on the Captain-Commander''s arm, I just learned it."

    Aizen pressed his lips together.

    Though the oath was unusual, he knew Kaelith wouldn''t lie about such things.

    These past few days, Kaelith had helped him in so many ways that Aizen felt he ought to find a way to repay him.

    Originally, he thought he could research some useful techniques to improve his own strength and then pass them on to Kaelith. But now, it seemed Kaelith''s comprehension was just as sharp as his own. Techniques that took Aizen a long time to master, Kaelith could probably figure out on his own.

    After some thought, Aizen decided that the best way to repay Kaelith might be through his current research.

    He made up his mind to speed up the experiments he''d been working on, including a few difficult ones he had initially postponed.

    Noticing Aizen''s distraction, Kaelith patted him on the shoulder.

    "S¨­suke, are you really alright?"

    "...I''ll live."

    Aizen echoed Kaelith''s earlier words in response.

    Kaelith grinned, then urged, "Check yourself over again, just in case there''s any internal injury."

    Despite thinking it unnecessary, Aizen did as Kaelith asked, circulating his Spirit Pressure throughout his body to make sure.

    "Don''t worry," he replied after a moment, "I''ve checked. There''s nothing wrong."

    Only then did Kaelith nod in satisfaction.

    Watching Kaelith''s expression, Aizen frowned slightly.

    It felt like... this guy was plotting something again.

    He''d need to be on guard around him for the next little while.

    ---

    After leaving the dojo, Kaelith found Kinoshita.

    Kinoshita wasn''t surprised to see Kaelith and led him to sit down in the teacher''s quarters.

    Once settled, Kinoshita began, "A branch of the lower-ranking nobility affiliated with the Kuchiki family was attacked today."

    He continued, "Their main duty is to ensure S¨­jun Kuchiki''s safety at the academy."

    "Since these people were targeted, it means someone''s set their sights on S¨­jun... For his protection, the Kuchiki family has sent people to take him away."

    "Kaelith, you should be cautious too." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Most of the students here know about your close relationship with the Kuchiki family, so those targeting the Kuchikis might turn their attention to you."

    Kaelith furrowed his brow at these words.

    A few seconds later, he snapped his fingers. "I have an idea."

    "Huh?" Kinoshita was taken aback, not even sure what Kaelith was plotting.

    With a smirk, Kaelith said, "Starting tomorrow, I''ll spread a rumor that S¨­jun Kuchiki is being protected by the homeroom teacher." "That way, no one will come after me!" (t/n smart)

    Kinoshita: "???"

    If he could beat Kaelith, he''d have broken this rascal''s leg right there!

    Leaving the teachers'' quarters, Kaelith closed one eye and activated the tracking Kid¨­ he had placed on Aizen.

    Back at the dojo, when he had rushed over to help Aizen, he''d discreetly cast this Kid¨­ on him.

    Later, when he''d asked Aizen to check his body, it was to test whether he could detect the Kid¨­.

    Fortunately, Yoruichi''s expertise had been reliable. Even with a Kid¨­ directly applied, Aizen hadn''t noticed.

    Admiring this feat, Kaelith made a mental note to regularly check himself for any hidden tricks others might have placed on him.

    In his view, Aizen''s signal appeared as a small dot, stationary in the student dorms.

    Returning to check, he confirmed that it was indeed Aizen, sound asleep in bed¡ªno Kid¨­ doubles or anything of the sort.

    The next day, it was the same.

    By the third day, Kaelith was starting to feel a bit anxious about his daily tracking.

    With Aizen''s constantly evolving abilities and sharp instincts, would he really not notice being tagged with a tracking Kid¨­ every day?

    Luckily, that night, Aizen finally made a move.

    Around one in the morning, Aizen slipped out of bed, looking like he was off to use the restroom.

    After ensuring his roommates were asleep, he donned a simple linen cloak and left the dorm.

    It was a full fifteen minutes after Aizen had departed that Kaelith got up.

    He retrieved a black cloak from under his mattress and threw it on.

    This cloak, borrowed from Yoruichi, was a piece of Tenchi armor that concealed most of his Spirit Pressure.

    With Yoruichi''s methods for hiding presence and the techniques learned from Aizen to suppress his Spirit Pressure, Kaelith was nearly undetectable.

    Scaling the dorm walls, Kaelith focused, and a map appeared in his vision.

    A small light marked Aizen''s position, moving toward the outer regions of Rukongai.

    Kaelith felt like a detective on a mission¡ªif only he had a solar-powered skateboard.(t/n anyone cought that reference?)

    He followed Aizen''s trail all the way to a small hill on the outskirts of South Rukongai.

    From a distance, he could sense the powerful clash of Spirit Pressures.

    Kaelith''s eyes widened in surprise.

    Shinigami were fighting nearby... and there were a lot of them!

    Keeping his presence hidden, he approached cautiously.

    On the hill, dozens of Shinigami had split into two factions, locked in fierce combat.

    The leaders of both groups had the strength of senior seated officers.

    Kaelith quickly deduced that this was a battle between Gotei 13 Shinigami and rebel forces.

    And then, he spotted Aizen.

    Dressed in linen, Aizen stood quietly in the shadows of a large tree, watching the skirmish unfold.

    When the fight descended into chaos, he stepped forward, suddenly appearing on the battlefield.

    With a swift swing of his blade, he struck down a rebel before they even had time to react.

    Watching this, Kaelith couldn''t help but raise a brow.

    Aizen sneaking out night after night... was he really doing it to help the Gotei 13 fight off rebels?

    That was... unexpectedly heroic.

    ---

 Chapter 22

    "Who''s there?!"

    Seeing Aizen suddenly appear on the battlefield, a few Shinigami cried out in alarm.

    Those present were all warriors from the Gotei 13. While not all of them were seated officers, they possessed skills worthy of the title.

    Yet, this man had just appeared and instantly struck one of them down. What kind of power was this?

    "Defensive formation!"

    The officer among the rebels barked out the command.

    His subordinates swiftly disengaged from the battle, regrouping and pulling closer together.

    The officer on the Gotei 13 side hesitated for a moment before making the same decision.

    He wanted to get a clear look at the intruder, but the figure was cloaked in a twisted, shimmering Kid¨­ that only revealed a vague human silhouette.

    Aizen glanced at the Shinigami from the Thirteen Court Guard and then turned, striding toward the rebels.

    Seeing him approach, the rebels'' faces went tense with fear.

    Several Shinigami shouted and raised their Zanpakut¨­, charging at Aizen.

    Aizen, however, simply continued walking forward.

    Only when he was less than a meter away from them did he suddenly move.

    Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Aizen''s form flickered, and in the next second, he was already standing behind them.

    He leaned slightly forward, his blade raised at an angle behind him.

    As Aizen slowly straightened up, the Shinigami behind him staggered as if they were puppets whose strings had been cut, blood spraying from their bodies as they collapsed to the ground.

    Witnessing this scene, the rebels looked as if they''d seen a ghost.

    The officer leading the rebels twitched, then roared and leaped into the air.

    Clang!

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­ from his waist¡ª

    "Restrain him, Iron Fork!"

    In mid-air, the Zanpakut¨­ in the officer''s hands glowed with a bright light, extending outward.

    As the light faded, his blade transformed into a long-handled weapon.

    The "spearhead" was shaped like a U-shaped metal frame, resembling the enforcement forks used by patrolmen.

    The officer gripped the long fork with both hands, baring a fierce grin.

    "I don''t know who you are, but with ''Iron Fork'' in one-on-one combat, no matter how strong you are, you''re going down!"

    "Get on the ground, now!!"

    With that, he pressed the long fork toward Aizen.

    Seeing this, the rebel Shinigami''s faces lit up with excitement.

    "As expected of Koichi Hisami, he is comparable to a Fourth Seat!"

    "Iron Fork is unbeatable!"

    "Let''s show this guy what real strength is!"

    As the rebels shouted encouragement, Aizen raised his head slightly, watching the rebel rush toward him.

    Then, with a casual wave of his blade upward¡ª

    BANG!!!

    A loud collision rang out.

    Koichi Hisami, who had been charging downwards, was knocked back, flying backward like a broken kite before landing on the ground with a heavy thud, twitching briefly before falling silent.

    Rebels: "..."

    Gotei 13 members: "..."

    Looking at Koichi Hisami lying on the ground, the rebels paused in confusion, then came to the same conclusion.

    Dozens of them turned to flee.

    But before they could take a step, a strange glow began to emanate from Aizen.

    Seeing the bizarre light, everyone stopped, instinctively staring at him. Under their watchful eyes, Aizen seemed to chuckle softly.

    Then, he raised his blade slowly, reversing his grip with the tip pointing downward, in a pose similar to the activation of Senbonzakura''s Bankai.

    "What the¡­?!"

    Kaelith Yurei felt a sudden jolt of realization and gasped.

    Without hesitation, he shut his eyes tightly, turned around, and dropped to the ground, covering his head with his arms as if terrified of seeing something forbidden.

    At the same time, Aizen''s calm voice resonated.

    "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu." (t/n This sword is OP)

    The sound of shattering glass seemed to echo in the air.

    Then, silence fell, as if nothing had happened.

    The rebels looked at Aizen in shock, then turned to their nearby allies.

    What they saw nearly scared them to death.

    To their horror, they realized that their comrades had somehow all turned into their enemies!

    Without a moment''s thought, they instinctively drew their Zanpakut¨­ and swung at the people beside them.

    Once again, the sounds of battle echoed across the battlefield.

    Aizen walked among them, occasionally flicking his sword to finish off those caught in the fiercest exchanges.

    In less than two minutes, every rebel lay sprawled on the ground.

    Seeing the surreal scene before them, the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 felt their knees go weak.

    The officer leading the Thirteen Court Guard widened his eyes in fear, staring at Aizen, whose form was still cloaked in an eerie glow, afraid that he might do the same to them.

    Aizen looked at them as well.

    By his logic, he should eliminate these Shinigami as well, just in case.

    But¡­ Just now, he thought he heard Kaelith''s voice. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Though his Spirit Pressure sweep detected no one, after a moment''s thought, he decided against killing them.

    They hadn''t seen his face, nor would they understand the ability he''d used.

    Killing them without reason might raise the alert in Seireitei, creating obstacles for his future research.

    Yes, that was the only reason. Perfectly rational, entirely in line with his usual principles.

    With a flick of Kyoka Suigetsu, Aizen shook off the blood from the blade and sheathed it.

    He surveyed the area, then vanished from the spot.

    It was only a while after Aizen left that Kaelith Yurei opened his eyes.

    Using tracking Kid¨­, he saw that Aizen had moved to a desolate mountain near Rukongai''s 60th district.

    Under normal circumstances, he would have followed to see what was happening.

    But today, he had absolutely no desire to do so.

    Aizen had silently learned how to activate his Zanpakut¨­''s initial release.

    This guy was intense¡ªKaelith almost cried.

    He made up his mind: until he found a way to counter Kyoka Suigetsu, he wouldn''t even think of tailing Aizen.

    Standing up and brushing off the dust from when he had dropped to the ground, Kaelith quickly regained his cool, letting go of his earlier awkwardness.

    On his way back to his quarters, he suddenly realized something.

    Damn it, he had always hoped the system would sync Kyoka Suigetsu''s abilities to him when Aizen unlocked his Shikai.

    But in the end, it didn''t happen.

    Useless system!

    -

 Chapter 23

    "Aizen, you go on ahead. I''ll be right behind."

    "Aizen, am I blocking your view of the blackboard? If so, just let me know; don''t hesitate!"

    "Aizen, you go get your food first; I''ll wait until you''re done!"

    Aizen: "¡­"

    Standing by the cafeteria window, Kaelith Yurei wore a serene smile, practically radiating a holy light. Aizen couldn''t help but furrow his brows.

    He was used to Kaelith''s eccentric behavior, but this was taking it a bit far.

    After a moment''s thought, he spoke up, "Kaelith, if you need something from me, just say it."

    Kaelith laughed. "What are you talking about? Do I look like the kind of person who only acts nice when I need a favor?"

    "You do."

    "¡­"

    After a brief silence, Kaelith smiled again.

    "So, Aizen, would you say we''re friends?"

    Aizen looked at him with a hint of confusion, then nodded.

    He held himself in high regard and rarely acknowledged others as "friends." Although Kaelith often gave him headaches, he did consider him a friend. Even as a joke, he wouldn''t deny that.

    Seeing Aizen nod, Kaelith looked touched.

    "That''s great! Since we''re friends, Aizen, there''s something I''d like you to promise me."

    "If you ever turn into a villain, promise me you''ll let me off the hook and won''t do anything weird to me."

    Aizen shook his head, amused.

    "Kaelith, if there''s something wrong with your head, Fourth Division is available."

    He said this as he finished getting his food and turned to leave.

    Kaelith quickly stopped him. "Wait, wait, don''t go yet. Promise me first."

    "Fine, fine, I promise."

    Without even a second thought, Aizen humored him and walked away.

    Watching Aizen''s back, Kaelith chuckled.

    So what if he mastered Kyoka Suigetsu? So what if he''s all-powerful?

    In the end, he still signed an unfair treaty under Lord Kaelith''s authority.

    A feeling of superiority swept over him.

    Having secured his "get-out-of-jail-free" card, Kaelith was in a fantastic mood.

    Meanwhile, on Aizen''s side, seeing Kaelith back to his usual carefree self put him at ease.

    He''s still got his wits about him; that''s good.

    ---

    Over the next few days, Kaelith kept practicing Hakuda techniques.

    Though he hadn''t yet awakened his Zanpakut¨­, even if he did, Kaelith didn''t want to rely too heavily on its abilities. In the world of Shinigami, too many factors could influence one''s Zanpakut¨­.

    Like Muramasa, which could incite Zanpakut¨­ to betray their wielders¡ªwho could guarantee another blade like that wouldn''t appear?

    And during the Thousand-Year Blood War, the Quincies stripped Shinigami of their Bankai, which was chilling to even think about.

    Besides external factors, Zanpakut¨­ were inherently fragile. If damaged during Bankai, they could never fully recover, permanently losing a portion of their power.

    Is it a weapon meant for battle or a delicate artifact to be revered?

    Kaelith hoped his Zanpakut¨­ would be like Aizen''s¡ªa specialized ability type. In battle, he''d only need to use it for a skill and then put it away. Wouldn''t that be ideal?

    Between his training, he''d occasionally stroll around near the Kuchiki household. He didn''t know how Kuchiki S¨­jun was faring, but at least the Kuchiki family hadn''t displayed any mourning clothing, so S¨­jun must still be alive.

    He had thought about asking Yoruichi Shih¨­in for information, but even by the weekend, she hadn''t reached out to him.

    ---

    Following a familiar stone path, Kaelith arrived at the First Division training grounds.

    When he got there, he noticed someone had already arrived before him. There were three pairs of straw sandals left at the entrance.

    Inside the dojo, he could hear faint voices. Seeing this, Kaelith considered leaving and returning later, to avoid wintessing anything he shouldn''t. (t/n My god I did not need that mental image..)

    But before he could turn around, Yamamoto''s voice came from within.

    "Why are you standing there like an idiot? Get in here."

    Kaelith scratched his head, slipped off his sandals, and opened the door to step inside.

    He was greeted by the sight of Yamamoto standing with his cane in the center of the hall.

    Opposite him were two familiar faces.

    One wore a pink robe over his shoulders, sporting brown wavy hair under a straw hat adorned with two hairpins.

    The other, with a single white ponytail, had sharp eyebrows and a striking gaze, draped in a white captain''s haori.

    Captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    Captain of the Thirteenth Division, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake!

    Seeing Kaelith walk in, both of them looked at him with curiosity.

    Ky¨­raku adjusted his straw hat and grinned. "Yo, you must be the new prodigy Yamamoto''s taken on."

    "I''m Shunsui Ky¨­raku. You can consider me your senior."

    At this, Yamamoto shot him a quick look.

    Before the old man could say anything, Kaelith quickly clasped his hands and saluted. "Disciple Kaelith Yurei, greetings to Senior Brother!"

    Seeing Kaelith''s quick response, Ukitake couldn''t help but be taken aback.

    Looking at this junior, memories of certain mischievous incidents came to mind.

    Ky¨­raku laughed.

    This junior of his had some spunk.

    He had heard about Yamamoto taking Kaelith under his wing from the beginning.

    Back then, he was curious what kind of genius had managed to catch the attention of the old man, who hadn''t taken a disciple in centuries.

    Today''s meeting had been a pleasant surprise.

    To Ky¨­raku''s knowledge, Yamamoto hadn''t officially accepted Kaelith as a disciple, merely shielding him from political backlash under the guise of instruction.

    If Kaelith had any sense of humility, he would hesitate or refuse to call him "Senior Brother." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But this junior just went for it without a second thought, right in front of Yamamoto. No hesitation.

    It reminded him of himself in his younger days.

    Ukitake smiled and said, "Hello, Kaelith. Nice to meet you."

    "I''m J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake, also a disciple of Yamamoto-sensei. I look forward to working with you."

    Kaelith saluted once more. "Senior Brother Ukitake!"

    Hearing this title, Ukitake smiled, nodding approvingly.

    "Ahem!"

    Just as Ukitake was about to say something more, Yamamoto coughed twice.

    He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Kaelith, you haven''t forgotten last week''s agreement with me, have you?"

    As he spoke, the old man radiated a sense of authority.

    He had made up his mind to give Kaelith a lasting lesson to keep him grounded and not overly ambitious.

    If Kaelith played dumb or made excuses, he wouldn''t mind letting him experience his teaching methods from centuries past.

    Feeling the aura coming from Yamamoto, Ky¨­raku, and Ukitake both glanced at Kaelith with slight nervousness.

    Ky¨­raku looked over at his junior.

    This junior of his was something else¡ªbarely through the door, and he''d already managed to provoke the old man.

    Ukitake swallowed.

    In some respects, this junior seemed even bolder than Ky¨­raku¡­

    Under their gaze, Kaelith was momentarily stunned.

    Then he seemed to remember something and nodded.

    "Captain-Commander, you''re referring to the ''If I learn all the basics of Hakuda in a week, you''ll teach me advanced techniques'' agreement, correct?"

    "I think that''s no longer necessary."

    Hearing this, Yamamoto displayed a dangerous smile.

    Ukitake and Ky¨­raku both widened their eyes in surprise.

    ---

 Chapter 24

    Upon hearing Kaelith Yurei''s words, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku exchanged astonished glances.

    "In a week¡­ mastering the basics of Old Man Yamamoto''s Hakuda?"

    Their young junior was bold, wasn''t he?

    To boast such a claim?

    Both had been through their student days and quickly pieced together the situation. This talented junior had likely always picked things up quickly, building a strong confidence. Now, having just learned the basics of Yamamoto''s Hakuda, he was eager to jump to advanced techniques. Yamamoto, however, seemed ready to teach him a lesson about rushing ahead.

    Understanding this, they shared a knowing smile.

    They''d been through the same trials once.

    Yamamoto let out a low chuckle.

    "What''s wrong? Having second thoughts?"

    "It''s too late to back out now!"

    "I warned you, didn''t I? If you can''t master the basics within a week, I''ll have you training beneath the waterfall."

    "In South Rukongai District 16, there''s a good one."

    "For this week, don''t bother going back to the academy. Reflect under that waterfall instead!"

    "Guards!"

    At his command, several members of the Onmitsukid¨­ appeared, kneeling and awaiting orders.

    Yamamoto was about to order them to escort Kaelith to the waterfall when Kaelith quickly spoke up.

    "Wait, Captain-Commander!"

    "Anything else to say?"

    Yamamoto shot him a sidelong glance.

    Kaelith raised his hand, resolute. "I''ve already mastered it."

    "Hmm?"

    Yamamoto''s eyes narrowed in doubt.

    He''d already mastered it?

    He didn''t believe it.

    The Hakuda basics he''d developed were far more intense than those taught at the Shin¨­ Academy. Yamamoto had considered promoting his training method but quickly found that students lacking in talent risked injuring themselves. Even Kaelith''s natural aptitude made mastering it within a week seem unrealistic.

    Besides, Yamamoto knew Kaelith''s personality. If he had truly mastered it, he would have come bragging, asking for the advanced techniques. How could this little brat pass up such an opportunity? S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What exactly have you mastered?"

    "I''ve mastered the upper-level techniques with one hand."

    Kaelith raised a clenched fist to Yamamoto.

    Yamamoto: "?"

    Before he could process this, Kaelith continued, "So, Captain-Commander, why not skip the first step and teach me the two-handed techniques already?"

    Yamamoto: "???"

    Seeing Kaelith''s serious expression, Yamamoto looked as if he were questioning his own sanity.

    Nearby, Shunsui couldn''t help but glance at Ukitake.

    "Wait, did I hear that right¡­?"

    "Our junior here went from zero to mastering Ikkotsu of Old Man Yama''s Hakuda in a week?"

    Ukitake blinked, equally astonished.

    Yamamoto frowned, staring at Kaelith.

    After a few seconds, he gestured for Kaelith to attack.

    After days of practice, Kaelith had thoroughly mastered Ikkotsu.

    He took a deep breath, lunged forward, and punched at Yamamoto!

    Bam!

    Yamamoto raised an arm to block, and a shockwave of energy burst out!

    Feeling the explosive force against his arm, Yamamoto couldn''t help but think, What in the world¡­ this kid actually learned it!

    He had only provided Kaelith with the basics, without teaching any specific techniques. This kid had figured out the technique for Ikkotsu''s force generation all on his own! He had always thought his two students, Shunsui and Ukitake, were prodigies.

    But compared to Kaelith, they were mere amateurs!

    For a moment, Yamamoto was stunned, then thrilled, then serious.

    Kaelith stared at his fist.

    From that punch, he seemed to sense something¡ªa potential synergy between his fist and his Spirit Pressure. If the two could synchronize completely, his power might double again¡­

    While he pondered, Yamamoto''s voice broke through his thoughts.

    "Kaelith Yurei."

    "Hm?"

    Kaelith looked up at Yamamoto.

    "Captain-Commander, I just had an idea. If we could synchronize Spirit Pressure¡ª"

    "Kaelith, would you consider becoming my disciple?"

    "¡­?"

    Kaelith froze, his expression stunned.

    Shunsui''s eyes lit up from where he stood behind Yamamoto, motioning urgently for Kaelith to accept.

    Kaelith quickly recovered and stood at attention under Yamamoto''s gaze.

    "Student Kaelith Yurei greets his teacher!"

    Having witnessed Yamamoto''s remarkable abilities, he was no longer reluctant about becoming his disciple. This old man was a boundless well of knowledge.

    Yamamoto nodded in satisfaction.

    Initially, he had Kaelith study with him mainly to shield him from the nobles'' interference. But now, he was genuinely impressed.

    If properly guided, this young man had unlimited potential.

    Letting him grow unchecked would be a waste.

    Now, officially accepting him as a disciple fulfilled one of Yamamoto''s long-standing wishes.

    Watching this, Ukitake smiled, then hurried out of the dojo toward Yamamoto''s quarters. Shortly after, he returned with a scroll and some ink.

    "Sensei Yamamoto, I brought the roster. Let''s officially add Kaelith to our school today!"

    Yamamoto nodded.

    After a brief initiation, he took up a brush and inscribed Kaelith''s name with a powerful hand.

    With this, Kaelith Yurei became an official disciple of Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

    Kaelith wanted to take the opportunity to ask Yamamoto about his new technique. But Yamamoto closed the scroll, saying he had other matters to attend to and would answer his questions next time. Then he dismissed all three of them.

    Walking down the First Division corridor, Kaelith clicked his tongue.

    "Why does it feel like being an official disciple is worse than before?"

    Shunsui chuckled.

    "Don''t worry, Kaelith. Old Man Yama''s unreliability is something you''ll experience plenty of in the future."

    Ukitake shot him a disapproving look.

    "Don''t listen to Shunsui, Kaelith."

    Looking around to ensure no one was nearby, Ukitake lowered his voice.

    "A few days ago, there was a skirmish in the South Rukongai."

    "A group of rebels attacked a Gotei 13 patrol squad."

    "Initially, the patrol was overwhelmed, but an unknown Shinigami intervened."

    "One of the rebels even tried to resist with a Shikai but was swiftly defeated."

    "Afterward, Sensei Yamamoto sent people to investigate. That''s what we were reporting earlier."

    "Yamamoto didn''t mean to ignore you; he''s just concerned that a new, unknown faction might be involved."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s eyes widened slightly.

    That¡­ sounds exactly like Aizen''s incident.

    Did that troublemaker already catch Yamamoto''s attention?

    ------------

    Congratulations! You all get an extra 4 chapters today!

 Chapter 25

    Kaelith Yurei blinked as he looked at Ukitake.

    "To be able to easily suppress a Shikai-level Shinigami... That''s amazing!"

    "Brother Ukitake, did you manage to figure out who that person was?"

    Ukitake shook his head. "The individual is quite skilled at hiding. When they acted, they kept a layer of specialized Kido around themselves."

    "The witnesses couldn''t even make out their appearance or height."

    "Even when members of the Stealth Force went to the scene, they couldn''t find any lingering traces of Spirit Pressure."

    "This person must be a veteran, someone well-trained in concealment!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith felt a sense of admiration in his heart.

    Sorry, Brother Ukitake, but that guy Aizen doesn''t need any special training. He could pick up such little tricks with minimal effort¡­

    Ukitake continued, "At least, we can be sure of one thing."

    "This mysterious expert seems to be on the side of the Gotei 13."

    "He left none of the rebels alive¡ªall of them were killed, but none of our Gotei 13 members were harmed." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that''s good. It seems like he''s not that dangerous to us."

    "Indeed," Ukitake nodded. "With everything going on lately, the last thing we need is another new enemy."

    Kaelith, however, couldn''t shake off his curiosity.

    He suspected that Aizen was already conducting some strange experiments.

    Killing the rebels likely had something to do with obtaining Shinigami corpses¡ªor perhaps their souls.

    But that raised a question¡­ Knowing Aizen''s character, the rebels and the Gotei 13 should be the same in his eyes.

    To eliminate potential threats, he should have killed both sides. So why did he only target the rebels and leave the Gotei 13 untouched?

    Could it be that Aizen, still young at this stage, wasn''t as ruthless yet?

    The thought almost made him laugh.

    Suddenly, Ky¨­raku''s voice broke the silence.

    "Little Junior, you seem rather interested in this matter, don''t you?"

    Kaelith chuckled as he looked over at Ky¨­raku, who had leaned in at some point with a playful grin on his face.

    He raised his head slightly, putting on a righteous expression.

    "Of course, I care about what concerns the Captain-Commander. My goal is to one day relieve the Captain-Commander of his worries!"

    Ky¨­raku blinked and then burst into laughter.

    He was really beginning to see promise in his little junior brother.

    In the Soul Society, geniuses were not rare. Having lived for hundreds of years, he had seen more prodigies than Kaelith had classmates.

    But someone like Kaelith, who could maintain such optimism in the bleak and murky world of the Soul Society, was indeed rare.

    Still, Kaelith was young and had yet to see much.

    Would he still have this attitude after witnessing more of the darkness around him?

    At this, Ky¨­raku felt a bit sentimental.

    He patted Kaelith on the shoulder.

    "Well, Yurei, since there are no classes today, why not join me for a drink?"

    "I''ve got two fine bottles of sake stored away in the Rukongai district. I hardly bring them out, but I thought I''d celebrate you joining the family. How about it?"

    Kaelith shook his head. "I took medicine this morning."

    "What?" Ky¨­raku looked confused.

    "Oh¡­ I mean, I''m underage, so I can''t drink."

    Ky¨­raku: "?"

    Underage restrictions on drinking¡­ that was a new one for him.

    Ukitake, walking beside them, suddenly remembered something and smiled at Kaelith.

    "By the way, Yurei, since Captain Yamamoto doesn''t have time today, I can teach you a few things."

    "We can''t have you coming all this way for nothing." Kaelith paused, looking moved.

    "Uncle Ky¨­raku, see? That''s what a proper senior brother should be like."

    "Are you stripping me of my senior brother title?!" Ky¨­raku''s mouth dropped open.

    As soon as the topic of training came up, Ky¨­raku and Ukitake perked up.

    The three found a quiet spot and stopped.

    "Yurei, tell me what you''ve learned recently, and I''ll think of what to teach you next."

    Kaelith thought for a moment and replied:

    "The first week, I was taught the basics of controlling Spirit Pressure."

    "The second week, I learned Hakuda techniques."

    "This week, I was supposed to learn advanced Ikkotsu techniques, but I got ditched."

    "How about it, Brother Ukitake? Teach me the double-handed Ikkotsu?"

    Ukitake froze at the suggestion.

    The double-handed Ikkotsu¡­ He figured Kaelith meant Captain Yamamoto''s S¨­kotsu.

    He had indeed learned this move long ago, but due to his frail health, he hadn''t used it since.

    Teaching it now might do more harm than good¡­

    With this in mind, he glanced over at Ky¨­raku, only to find him sweating as well.

    Ky¨­raku leaned over and whispered, "To be honest, I didn''t fully learn it back then. I just pretended to pass to fool Old Man Yamamoto." (t/n hah a slacker...just like me)

    Ukitake: "?"

    If it wasn''t the wrong moment, he would have dragged him to Yamamoto for a good scolding!

    Scratching his head awkwardly, he said to Kaelith:

    "Yurei, let''s leave that move for Captain Yamamoto to teach you directly."

    "After all, he created it. Only he understands the finer points."

    Kaelith nodded.

    After a moment''s thought, he turned to Ukitake. "I''d like to learn a defensive technique, preferably one that activates passively."

    Ukitake blinked.

    He hadn''t expected Kaelith to make such a "practical" request.

    Most young people at his age wanted to learn powerful, flashy techniques.

    No wonder Captain Yamamoto valued him so highly¡ªthis junior brother was indeed cautious.

    After a few seconds of thought, he snapped his fingers.

    "Ah, I''ve got it! If it''s that type of technique you''re looking for, I actually developed one myself."

    Under Kaelith''s watchful gaze, he tapped the back of his own hand.

    Then he said, "Alright, Yurei, try attacking the back of my hand."

    As soon as the words left his mouth, he watched as Kaelith drew his sword without hesitation and swung it down.

    With a flash of cold light¡ªbam!

    Kaelith''s blade stopped a few centimeters above Ukitake''s hand.

    A small, blue shield appeared between the blade and Ukitake''s hand, completely blocking the strike.

    Seeing the shield, Kaelith''s expression showed a hint of surprise.

    He was certain that Ukitake hadn''t activated any Kido at that moment.

    The shield had appeared on its own, without any command!

    "Brother Ukitake, this shield¡ªcan it be set to trigger under certain conditions?"

    Kaelith''s eyes gleamed with interest.

    He had been in the world of Soul Reapers for a while now, but this was the first time he''d seen such a Kido.

    Ukitake, still a bit stunned, came back to his senses when he heard Kaelith speak.

    This junior brother of his was something else.

    He only asked Kaelith to attack his hand, and the guy didn''t hesitate¡ªhe just drew his sword and swung!

    While Ukitake marveled at his spirit, he nodded.

    "That''s right. This is a Kido technique I developed myself."

    "Bakud¨­ #8, Seki, pre-set trigger version!"

 Chapter 26

    "S¨­suke, let me teach you a Kid¨­!"

    In the cafeteria, Kaelith Yurei shook his chopsticks triumphantly as he spoke.

    Aizen glanced at him.

    "Taught by the Captain-Commander?"

    Kaelith''s eyes widened. "Look down on me, do you? Am I, Kaelith Yurei, only good for showing off what the Captain-Commander teaches?"

    "I swear on the Captain-Commander''s arm, he didn''t teach me this!"

    Aizen: "..."

    For some reason, Kaelith seemed to hold a grudge against the Captain-Commander''s arm, always swearing by it.

    After a moment of thought, Aizen guessed, "Did you learn it from someone else while studying at the First Division?"

    Kaelith opened his mouth, then coughed.

    "Enough talk. Are you learning or not?"

    "I''ll learn."

    Aizen nodded; he would never pass up the chance to learn a new technique.

    Pleased, Kaelith explained the pre-set trigger Kid¨­ he had learned from Ukitake.

    After listening to Kaelith''s explanation, Aizen quickly rehearsed it in his mind, and his eyes lit up. "This is a good technique."

    The pre-set trigger Kid¨­ could be set on oneself before the battle. If ambushed, it could save one''s life at a critical moment.

    Looking at Kaelith, Aizen felt a bit emotional. He had always concealed his true power to avoid scrutiny, researching techniques on his own or sneaking into the archives for information.

    But now, with Kaelith, everything had changed.

    Techniques and knowledge he couldn''t access on his own, Kaelith readily shared with him. One could say that the knowledge Kaelith brought each time had become crucial to Aizen''s growth.

    And the more this was the case, the more indebted he felt to Kaelith.

    Even as friends, he didn''t take such unilateral contributions for granted. He needed to produce research results soon¡ªsomething that would elevate Kaelith to a new level and repay part of this favor.

    Imagining Kaelith''s grateful admiration, Aizen smirked.

    ---

    The afternoon class was a lecture on various types of Hollows.

    The curriculum at the Spiritual Arts Academy wasn''t consistent every day. For today, after two hours of lecture, the rest of the time was open for independent training or practice.

    As Kaelith packed up, he asked, "S¨­suke, want to go to Rukongai for fun?"

    Aizen shook his head. "I''m going to the calligraphy class. Maybe next time."

    "Calligraphy class?"

    Kaelith looked puzzled; he hadn''t heard about this before.

    Aizen nodded. "It just started recently¡ªa sort of hobby class."

    With that, he picked up a bag and walked out of the classroom.

    After a moment, Kaelith decided to follow.

    Seeing Kaelith beside him, Aizen raised an eyebrow.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "Checking out Japanese calligraphy."

    "Are you interested in calligraphy?"

    "Not at all."

    Aizen looked puzzled. Not interested, yet joining in?

    Shrugging off the oddity, the two arrived at the calligraphy classroom, where many students were already seated.

    "Who''s teaching this hobby class?"

    "Sensei Yamazaki from Class Three," Aizen replied, pulling out paper and a brush. "Not exactly a master, but there''s still something to learn."

    Kaelith chuckled; Aizen''s arrogance was always amusing.

    Just as he was about to respond, a figure entered the room, and Kaelith couldn''t help but exclaim. Many students instinctively gasped, even Aizen showed a hint of surprise.

    It wasn''t Sensei Yamazaki who walked in but a young-looking man with white hair tied back in a ponytail.

    "Captain Ukitake?!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Captain Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division?!"

    With a calm smile, Ukitake approached the podium and introduced himself.

    The students quickly understood: Ukitake was also the vice president of the Seireitei Calligraphy Association. Hearing about the academy''s new calligraphy class, he had volunteered to teach a session. Naturally, the school welcomed him eagerly.

    As he introduced himself, Ukitake noticed Kaelith at the back of the classroom and gave him a subtle wink before returning to the lesson.

    Listening to Ukitake''s lecture, Kaelith''s expression turned thoughtful.

    Japanese calligraphy, unlike swordsmanship, had only a few well-known styles, mostly promoted by monks. Their names were full of traditional flair and mystique.

    Ukitake demonstrated several fonts, writing a few characters for the students to observe, then invited them to try.

    He stepped down from the podium, checking students'' work.

    Here he offered pointers, there he nodded, and elsewhere his expression turned mildly pained.

    When he reached Kaelith, he smiled and pulled up a chair.

    "Good afternoon, Kaelith. I was thinking of inviting you, but it seems you''ve already come."

    As he spoke, he noticed Aizen''s work nearby and looked on with interest.

    Watching Aizen''s brushstrokes, Ukitake''s eyes showed a bit of surprise.

    "This student is remarkable¡ªso young, yet he''s already developed a certain ''godliness'' in his strokes. Many who practice for years never reach this stage."

    Aizen finished his work and gave a respectful bow to Ukitake.

    Kaelith leaned over to take a look.

    Aizen had written a three-line ancient poem, but the archaic style left Kaelith slightly lost.

    Still, he nodded. "Indeed, it''s quite good."

    Aizen gave him a skeptical look.

    "Do you actually understand calligraphy?"

    Kaelith was well-known to him; he never used a brush for notes, always opting for his self-made hard pen.

    To say he understood calligraphy would be generous; his handwriting, while legible, was only distinctive for its speed. He could write ten times faster than other students.

    Hearing this, Kaelith straightened up with a smirk.

    "S¨­suke, if you put it that way, I can''t let it slide."

    Under Aizen''s watchful gaze, Kaelith picked up a brush, setting a sheet of paper in place with a paperweight.

    As he lifted the brush, Aizen noticed a shift in Kaelith''s demeanor¡ªan intense focus unlike his usual self.

    Kaelith gazed at the blank page for several moments.

    Then, with a sudden surge of energy, he began writing in one fluid motion:

    "The wonderful law of the lotus flower,

    The secret treasure of all Buddhas."

 Chapter 27

    Under the surprised gaze of Aizen and Ukitake, Kaelith Yurei focused intently, his brush strokes steady and composed.

    In a short time, dozens of characters filled an entire page.

    Only after he had filled the entire sheet did Kaelith finally stop, examining his work with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

    "It''s been too long since I practiced. I''m a bit rusty," he muttered.

    Aizen, however, didn''t pay attention to Kaelith''s self-critique. At that moment, he was utterly astonished.

    Kaelith''s calligraphy was entirely in Chinese characters¡ªno hiragana or katakana in sight.

    While he didn''t fully understand the content, he could tell that Kaelith''s work surpassed that of any calligraphy master he had encountered.

    Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn''t have believed that such remarkable calligraphy could come from Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, is this the calligraphy style from your homeland?" Aizen couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    Kaelith looked at him strangely. "Aren''t you a calligraphy enthusiast? Haven''t you seen beginner Yan-style works, like the Duobao Pagoda stele?"

    Instinctively, Aizen glanced at Ukitake, but Ukitake seemed just as bewildered.

    Seeing their reactions, Kaelith suddenly realized. The world of the Soul Reapers, although similar to Earth, wasn''t actually the same.

    The historical evolution of this world might be completely different from the one he knew.

    Realizing this, Kaelith felt a pang of complexity.

    Before crossing into this world, his elders had demanded he study calligraphy as a child. Practicing Yan, Ou, Liu, Zhao styles, along with various other calligraphy collections and exams, had been a childhood nightmare.

    Now, upon discovering that the world he was in might lack these traditions, he felt a bit of loss.

    Suddenly, he felt a light hand on his shoulder.

    Looking up, he saw Ukitake gazing at him with a concerned expression.

    "Kaelith, are you alright?"

    Kaelith blinked.

    Seeing him like this, Aizen thought for a moment and said, "In calligraphy, you are far superior to me."

    He wasn''t sure why Kaelith seemed down, but from what he knew about him, a bit of praise always worked in moments like these. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As expected, Kaelith chuckled at Aizen''s words. "Of course! You have no idea how talented I am."

    In the past, Aizen might have taken it as a joke, but lately, Kaelith had surprised him time and time again. Perhaps this guy truly possessed a hidden depth that he seldom showed.

    At this thought, Aizen''s expression twitched slightly. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t picture Kaelith as "low-key."

    Seeing that Kaelith was alright, Ukitake decisively requested the calligraphy piece. Kaelith didn''t mind¡ªafter all, he hadn''t put much effort into it, nowhere near the level he would have submitted for a prestigious calligraphy award.

    Seeing Aizen remain silent, Kaelith gave a sly grin.

    "What''s wrong, S¨­suke? Are you so awestruck by my strength that you''re left speechless?"

    He expected a rebuttal, but Aizen, with a complex expression, was silent for a few seconds before actually nodding.

    "Yes, indeed. I am quite shocked."

    Previously, Kaelith''s spiritual pressure, talent, and learning capabilities had already reshaped Aizen''s understanding, but today''s display had an even greater impact.

    Under Kaelith''s surprised gaze, Aizen seemed to reach a decision. He set down his brush and bowed to Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, in my free time, please teach me the art of calligraphy."

    Kaelith blinked, feeling as though the situation was surreal. He had flaunted his strength countless times in front of Aizen, with little effect. But now, a casual display seemed to trigger such a reaction.

    He''d won, but it somehow felt like a loss¡­

    In the following days, Kaelith saw firsthand the fervor around his calligraphy.

    Kinoshita came to his dormitory, full of excitement. The normally strict teacher disregarded all decorum, clasping Kaelith''s hands and begging for a piece of calligraphy.

    Seinosuke Yamada even set aside his medical studies to request a piece as well.

    The next afternoon, Shunsui Ky¨­raku sneaked into the school, asking Kaelith to write something for him.

    Even Unohana Retsu invited him to a private tea gathering, requesting a piece to add to the Fourth Division''s collection.

    As Kaelith wandered through the streets of the Seireitei, he fell into deep thought. These Soul Reapers¡ªneglecting swordsmanship in favor of these refined pursuits.

    No wonder, when the Thousand-Year Blood War came, the Quincies overpowered them.

    They were falling into decadence!

    Thankfully, unlike these superficial folks, Captain-Commander Yamamoto still maintained a sense of discipline. Even though Kaelith''s calligraphy had gained popularity in the Seireitei, Yamamoto had never mentioned it.

    ¡­

    "Apologies, Captain-Commander, I''m late!"

    Kaelith opened the door to the First Division''s dojo to see Yamamoto standing in the center, his back turned.

    "Apologies, Captain-Commander. I was up late practicing swordsmanship."

    In truth, he hadn''t been practicing at all. Last night, Aizen had once again slipped away in the middle of the night.

    Curious about his destination, Kaelith spent most of the night tracking Aizen with Kido, following him to what he believed was Aizen''s hideout in Rukongai''s 74th district.

    From what he could tell, Aizen''s base was in the desolate 70-80th districts, places devoid of life where only starvation lingered. It was no surprise he chose such a location.

    After spying the whole night, he had barely slept when Yamamoto summoned him for class, resulting in his slight tardiness.

    Yamamoto merely nodded, showing no sign of displeasure. Kaelith, however, noticed a table set up in the dojo. A bad feeling crept over him.

    Sure enough, under his skeptical gaze, Yamamoto turned around.

    "I heard you''ve been studying calligraphy for a long time. Before class, let me evaluate your skills."

    "I''ve prepared the brush and paper," he added with a slight cough.

    Kaelith was speechless.

    Retracting his earlier thoughts, Kaelith realized the Seireitei was beyond saving.

    With Yamamoto''s watchful gaze, Kaelith picked up the brush and began to write.

    ''The human condition, bound by moments¡­''

    What he wrote was an excerpt from *The Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion*, famed as the "world''s finest cursive script."

    He only wrote a reflective passage, omitting the introductory narrative.

    That way, even if Yamamoto could read Chinese, he wouldn''t notice anything unusual.

    Since he had written it countless times, his hand moved almost on its own, creating each stroke without conscious effort.

    The sooner he finished, the sooner they could start training.

    Yamamoto''s expression shifted from surprise to delight as he observed Kaelith''s writing. He hadn''t expected his unusual student to possess such skill.

    Simply watching the strokes filled him with a rare excitement.

    Seireitei had been rife with troubling events in recent years, and it had been a long time since he''d felt this uplifted.

    Seeing Yamamoto''s reaction, Kaelith paused, surprised, as he began to take his writing more seriously.

    ---

    T/n I hope you enjoyed your extra chapters!

 Chapter 28

    Noticing a change in Kaelith Yurei, Captain-Commander Yamamoto squinted slightly, casting a curious glance his way.

    Seeing the serious expression in Kaelith''s eyes, Yamamoto looked momentarily puzzled. Then, as if realizing something, he smirked faintly.

    This kid, like Shunsui, could be quite a handful, yet he had a good heart.

    Once Kaelith finished writing, Yamamoto picked up the paper and glanced over it.

    "Hmm, not bad at all."

    "Next time, write it thoroughly from start to finish. I''ll keep it as a collectible."

    With that, Yamamoto summoned a subordinate, instructing them to preserve the writing in a scroll for safekeeping.

    Kaelith''s eyes widened, "Captain-Commander, how could you slander me like that? I poured my heart and soul into this piece!"

    Yamamoto rolled his eyes in exasperation.

    Ignoring Kaelith''s words, he removed his white haori, tossing it aside casually. The haori drifted gracefully, landing precisely on the wall.

    Then, Yamamoto took off half of his Shihakush¨­, tying it around his waist, his muscular upper body exposed.

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, Yamamoto clenched his fist and nodded with satisfaction.

    "Last time, I had an unexpected task and couldn''t check your training progress."

    "Since you''ve mastered Ikkotsu, today let''s have a real fight."

    "If your performance meets my expectations, I''ll teach you the techniques of S¨­kotsu."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s eyes lit up. Mimicking Yamamoto, he removed his top, tying it around his waist.

    Clenching his fists, he locked eyes with Yamamoto for a few seconds, then charged forward.

    *Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!*

    The sound of fists colliding echoed through the dojo.

    Sensing a shift in Kaelith''s techniques, Yamamoto couldn''t help but be impressed.

    The last time Kaelith used Ikkotsu, his skills were still at a beginner level. While the basics were in place, there were quite a few errors in the details.

    Initially, Yamamoto had planned to use those mistakes as the basis for today''s lesson. Yet, within a single week, Kaelith''s Ikkotsu had become far more refined. The obvious mistakes had all been corrected, with only a few subtle points left to improve.

    Yamamoto hadn''t taught him the techniques of Ikkotsu; Kaelith had mastered them all on his own. Though Yamamoto had witnessed Kaelith''s remarkable talent more than once, he still felt a sense of disbelief. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If given enough time to grow, this kid might very well inherit the title of "strongest Shinigami" within the next three centuries.

    With that thought, Yamamoto couldn''t help but look forward to it.

    After assessing Kaelith''s strength, Yamamoto casually punched him into the floor.

    As Kaelith struggled to free his head from the ground, Yamamoto put his top back on.

    "Not bad. Just barely satisfactory."

    Yamamoto crossed his arms and pointed out each of the mistakes he had noticed in Kaelith''s technique.

    Sitting beside the dent he had made, Kaelith took out a small notebook and jotted down everything Yamamoto said.

    Seeing Kaelith attentively taking notes, Yamamoto looked pleased. Despite his usual carefree attitude, Kaelith was serious when it came to learning.

    With such dedication combined with natural talent, it was no wonder he was advancing so quickly.

    If Yamamoto knew that Kaelith was only paying attention to relay the training notes to Aizen for practice, he''d probably faint from frustration¡­

    Once Kaelith finished, Yamamoto slowly began to teach him the techniques of S¨­kotsu. Though S¨­kotsu appeared to be just an extra punch compared to Ikkotsu, the difficulty level increased substantially. Its power also grew exponentially.

    So far, only Yamamoto and J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake had fully mastered this technique. However, despite Ukitake''s exceptional talent and dedication, his frail health was a limitation.

    S¨­kotsu required great physical strength, and Ukitake''s body could barely withstand even a single punch without causing him to cough up blood.

    It had been a regret for Yamamoto that his student couldn''t fully utilize this skill. Now, with Kaelith, that regret seemed to have a solution.

    During their midday break, Kaelith''s eyes gleamed as he moved closer to Yamamoto.

    "Hey, Captain-Commander."

    "Recently, I heard from Uncle Shunsui that there''s a powerful Shinigami causing a stir in Rukongai."

    "Apparently, this guy''s strength is so formidable that not even seated officers with Shikai can match him¡­"

    "After all this investigation, have you found out who he is?"

    Yamamoto glanced at him. "Why, interested?"

    Kaelith chuckled, "Not exactly interested; it''s just that our academy is near Rukongai, and it''s better to be prepared if I run into him."

    Hearing this, Yamamoto lifted his teacup and took a light sip.

    A few seconds later, he spoke, "Though his identity hasn''t been confirmed, we''re close."

    Kaelith blinked in surprise.

    Yamamoto set down his cup. "This Shinigami didn''t just appear recently."

    "Over three months ago, I received reports about him."

    "Initially, he acted cautiously, eliminating anyone who saw him, regardless of affiliation."

    "As a result, tracing his identity has been challenging."

    "At the time, the Gotei 13 was focused on the rebellion, so we didn''t pursue it further."

    "However¡­ recently, he''s only been targeting rebels, sparing members of the Gotei 13."

    "Thanks to this change, my people have managed to gather some clues."

    "If he makes another move, I''ll know who he is."

    With that, Yamamoto took another sip, the warmth of the tea seeming to ease his wrinkles.

    This kind of information wouldn''t typically be shared with just anyone. But Kaelith was different.

    From the moment he accepted him as a disciple, Yamamoto had decided to train him as a successor. Even if Kaelith hadn''t asked, he would eventually tell him these things.

    Nodding as though listening to a story, Kaelith felt a surge of emotion.

    Good thing he had the foresight to ask Yamamoto. He''d better find a way to warn S¨­suke to keep a low profile¡­

    ---

 Chapter 29

    After a full day of training, Kaelith Yurei stepped out of the First Division''s main gate.

    He had spent the entire afternoon practicing Ikkotsu, and now all he wanted was to get back to his dorm, take a shower, and get some much-needed rest.

    However, he hadn''t walked far before he sensed someone approaching.

    Turning around, he saw a familiar figure.

    "Hey! Finally done? I''ve been waiting quite a while!"

    A young girl with short purple hair flashed a bright smile at Kaelith.

    It was none other than Yoruichi Shih¨­in, someone he hadn''t seen in some time.

    Seeing her, Kaelith asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"

    "Where else? Training with the Onmitsukid¨­" she replied with a dismissive wave, wearing a slightly annoyed expression.

    Before Kaelith could say anything further, Yoruichi extended her hand and grabbed his wrist.

    "Enough talk; follow me!" she exclaimed.

    With a swift movement, Yoruichi used Shunpo, pulling Kaelith along as they sped through the streets of the Seireitei.

    In no time, they arrived in front of an old, elegant mansion.

    On the plaque above the gate were the characters: Shih¨­in.

    Seeing Yoruichi appear suddenly didn''t seem to surprise the two Shinigami standing guard at the entrance. They both bowed their heads in respect.

    "Lady Yoruichi!"

    "Oh, thank you for your hard work," Yoruichi replied with a smile and a wave.

    She led Kaelith inside, guiding him through the long corridors of the courtyard until they reached a room.

    As they entered, several attendants glanced over in surprise.

    This was Yoruichi''s private study, a place off-limits to all but the cleaning staff. Even those reporting to Yoruichi usually knelt outside the paper doors to speak.

    Today, however, she had brought someone in personally.

    More surprising still was the comfortable familiarity between them, given they were close in age.

    Just then, Yoruichi popped her head out the door, calling, "Haruna, bring out the tea that Omaeda Hisagi gifted last time and brew a pot for us!"

    Hearing this, Haruna quickly nodded and set off.

    Omaeda Hisagi, besides being the lieutenant of the Second Division, was also known as one of the wealthiest men in the Seireitei. Even among the nobility, his tea was considered a rare treasure.

    That Yoruichi would serve this tea for a guest... Who was this young man?

    Inside the room, Kaelith glanced around.

    "What''s going on? Why did you suddenly drag me here¡­ Don''t tell me you have some ulterior motive?" he teased.

    Yoruichi chuckled. "Of course! Here I am, a noble lady from one of the Four Great Noble Houses, inviting a commoner from Rukongai to be my suitor, only to be rejected every time. Today, I had no choice but to bring you here by force!"

    Kaelith: "..."

    Was this really something a young woman should say?

    Seeing him at a loss for words, Yoruichi grinned with satisfaction.

    She sat down across from him on the floor, while Kaelith, yawning, lay down on his side.

    "I''ve been training all day with the Captain-Commander. I''m exhausted. If you have something to say, get it over with quickly. I still need to sleep."

    Watching Kaelith''s casual demeanor, Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Just one day of training, and you''re like this?"

    "With stamina like that, how are you going to achieve your so-called ''harem dream''?"

    Startled, Kaelith quickly sat up.

    Seeing his reaction, Yoruichi couldn''t help but smile.

    As they spoke, an attendant entered with the freshly brewed tea and placed it in front of them.

    Taking a sip, Kaelith smiled in appreciation. "Not bad tea."

    "Of course, only a handful of people in the entire Soul Society get to enjoy tea this good," Yoruichi replied, taking a sip herself before adopting a serious expression.

    "Kaelith, I need your help with something." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What is it?" Kaelith asked, looking at her in curiosity.

    Grinning, Yoruichi leaned closer and whispered, "Come with me to the Twelfth Division to steal something!"

    Kaelith: "???"

    Seeing she wasn''t joking, he asked, "What do you want to steal?"

    Moving closer, Yoruichi whispered the details into his ear.

    After listening, Kaelith began to understand.

    The former Captain of the Second Division, Tenjir¨­ Kirinji, had developed two special hot springs, one red and one white. These springs had extraordinary healing properties, capable of swiftly mending any injury.

    In addition to healing, the springs could cleanse Spirit Pressure and strengthen the body. It was, in a sense, a "rebirth and renewal."

    Thanks to these innovations, Tenjir¨­ Kirinji had been invited to join the Royal Guard and had left the Seireitei.

    Before departing, Yoruichi had asked him to teach her the method for creating these springs. Tenjir¨­ had agreed, but he didn''t give her the instructions directly. Instead, he stored the formula in the Twelfth Division, entrusting Captain Kirio Hikifune to safeguard it.

    He said she could retrieve it once she assumed the role of Captain.

    Initially, Yoruichi didn''t think much of this condition. As the head of the Shih¨­in family, it was assumed that she would soon take over the Second Division after Tenjir¨­''s promotion.

    However, just then, a rebellion had begun to stir.

    To ensure her safety, the Shih¨­in elders had reached a consensus: until Yoruichi attained true Captain-level strength, the position would remain vacant. The division''s responsibilities were entrusted to Lieutenant Omaeda Hisagi.

    This decision shattered her plans to claim the hot spring formula.

    To Yoruichi, missing out on this opportunity was intolerable.

    Since the formula would ultimately be hers anyway, what harm was there in sneaking it out a bit early?

    She had initially worried she couldn''t do it alone, but during a recent mission with Kaelith, she''d seen his potential.

    With Kaelith''s help, Yoruichi felt confident that the hot spring formula was as good as theirs.

    After hearing her out, Kaelith appeared deep in thought.

    Tenjir¨­ Kirinji¡­ If he remembered correctly, this character appeared during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. He had only read the beginning of that arc, so he wasn''t entirely sure if the springs were as miraculous as Yoruichi claimed.

    But it sounded plausible enough.

    Seeing him pondering, Yoruichi thought he was hesitating and quickly persuaded him.

    "Hey, Kaelith, with these springs, you could recover from injuries on your own and wouldn''t need to visit the Fourth Division anymore."

    At this, Kaelith felt a flicker of interest.

    He was just about to agree when he suddenly remembered something.

    Looking at Yoruichi, he asked, "Yoruichi, I heard you have a special skill that lets you transform into a cat?"

    ---

 Chapter 30

    When Kaelith Yurei first watched the Bleach anime, he''d always been curious.

    How exactly did Yoruichi transform into a cat?

    Was it a Zanpakut¨­ ability or some kind of secret technique?

    Surely, it wasn''t the work of some wandering wizard bringing Animagus transformation spells into this world by mistake?

    Finally given the chance, he quickly voiced his question.

    If it wasn''t Yoruichi''s Zanpakut¨­ power and could actually be learned, he was eager to give it a try.

    Yoruichi looked at him with a hint of surprise.

    "You actually know about this¡­ Sometimes I wonder if you''re truly from Rukongai."

    "Transforming into a cat is indeed a secret technique of the Shih¨­in family."

    "But learning this ability is no simple task."

    "In our family, it''s considered an achievement if even one person in several decades can master it."

    "Even with my talent, I started practicing from a young age and only became proficient in the last two years."

    Yoruichi displayed a bit of pride as she spoke.

    She was the first in Shih¨­in family history to master the transformation skill so early, proving her exceptional talent.

    Hearing this, Kaelith scratched his head.

    As for the difficulty, he wasn''t too concerned.

    With Aizen''s system as an external support, he was confident he could learn even the most challenging techniques.

    But based on Yoruichi''s words, it seemed that only members of the Shih¨­in family could learn this skill.

    With a curious smile, he asked, "So, is there any way for a non-member of the Shih¨­in family to learn this skill?"

    Yoruichi hesitated, "You want to learn it?"

    Kaelith nodded; there was no need to hide his interest.

    Yoruichi folded her arms, closed her eyes, and tilted her head in contemplation.

    The cat transformation technique, while impressive, wasn''t overwhelmingly powerful.

    Its real value lies in its exclusivity as a "secret technique."

    The fact that no one outside the Shih¨­in family could learn it provided status, an identity.

    Even though she was the current head of the Shih¨­in family, it wasn''t an easy decision to teach such a family technique to an outsider.

    "Well, why don''t you marry into the family? Given our relationship, I could arrange something, and maybe the elders would allow you to learn both our secret techniques and our divine equipment."

    Kaelith chuckled. "With my background, even if I married into your family, it''d be a miracle if the elders didn''t tear me apart the moment I stepped through the door."

    Yoruichi gave him a look of mild surprise.

    "Kaelith, you''re seriously underestimating yourself."

    "Do you know who you are right now?"

    "Currently, the higher-ups in the Seireitei are well aware that you are a formal disciple of Yamamoto Genry¨±sai."

    "If not for him warning everyone not to disturb you, the doorstep to your house would be worn down by nobles."

    "If I managed to bring you into the Shih¨­in family, the elders would be overjoyed."

    At that, Yoruichi couldn''t help but chuckle, as if picturing the scene.

    Hearing this, Kaelith was genuinely surprised.

    The hierarchy in Soul Society was heavily influenced by Japan''s feudal structure.

    To the nobles, even the powerful Gotei 13 was still their "samurai class."

    No matter how skilled a samurai was, they were ultimately tools of the nobility; theoretically, nobles didn''t need to give samurai any respect.

    The haughty attitude of the Central 46, along with their often irrational decisions, stemmed from this.

    But he didn''t expect the old man Yamamoto to command such respect even among these "aristocratic beasts."(t/n I mean, he could literally insinerate them if they did something...)

    Looking at Yoruichi, Kaelith put on a deep expression, "In that case, I can hardly refuse¡­ So, when should we go file our marriage papers?"

    "Alright, enough nonsense."

    Yoruichi rolled her eyes at him, clearly unamused.

    Kaelith laughed, "I was being serious!"

    Yoruichi shot him a look of surprise, then smirked, "Giving up on your harem dreams?"

    Kaelith was startled, "Ah, I forgot about that." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yoruichi couldn''t help but shake her head, laughing.

    After a moment, she grew serious and said, "Alright, no more joking."

    "Kaelith, do you truly want to learn the cat transformation technique? Even if it comes at a price?"

    Kaelith nodded.

    The ability to transform into a cat was far too tempting.

    Unless the conditions were too harsh, he was determined to learn it.

    "Alright, then here are the conditions."

    Yoruichi raised a single finger, "First, if I become Captain of the Second Division, you have to join the Second Division."

    "Second, you cannot leave the Second Division unless I step down as its Captain."

    "Third, you are forbidden from teaching the cat transformation technique to anyone else."

    With a serious expression, she added, "These are the most lenient conditions I can offer, Kaelith."

    Kaelith was momentarily taken aback.

    The first two conditions were fine by him.

    Joining any particular division didn''t matter much to him.

    With his strength, he could hold a seated position in any squad and take life easy.

    But¡­not being able to share the technique meant he couldn''t rely on Aizen''s help to practice it.

    Even Yoruichi had said the technique was difficult. Could he learn it without Aizen''s support?

    As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he felt a jolt of realization.

    Kaelith, have you truly fallen so far?

    After gaining help from the system and hitching onto Aizen''s power, had he completely given up on his own efforts?

    Was he really so unsure of learning a skill without Aizen''s help?

    Taking a deep breath, he looked at Yoruichi with newfound determination. "I''ll master it on my own!"

    "I accept your conditions, Yoruichi!"

    Noticing the shift in his demeanor, Yoruichi looked surprised and then gave him an approving smile.

    Not bad for the one I''ve taken an interest in!

    Kaelith tilted his head slightly, his gaze as if piercing through the ceiling to the distant stars.

    The system''s abilities were, after all, just tools. How could he rely entirely on Aizen and neglect his own efforts?

    Aizen, you might just be my guiding light!

    Just then, a voice sounded in his mind¡ª

    [Detecting new skill acquired by binding target "Aizen S¨­suke." Syncing automatically¡­ Sync complete!]

    [Your understanding of Bakud¨­ has advanced, successfully mastering Bakud¨­ #8: Seki, preset activation version!]

    Kaelith: "¡­"

    Forget all that talk of effort. The system really is amazing!

    Aizen, you''re an angel!

    Yoruichi had no idea about the rollercoaster of emotions Kaelith had just gone through in those few seconds.

    After Kaelith agreed, Yoruichi began explaining the principles of the cat transformation technique in great detail.

    As he listened to Yoruichi''s explanation, Kaelith finally understood why she had called it difficult.

    A Shinigami''s body was entirely composed of spiritual particles.

    The principle of the cat transformation technique was to disassemble and rearrange the particles that made up the body.

    For a human, it would be akin to breaking down and reconstructing all the cells in their body.

    Disregarding the difficulty of disassembling cells¡­ even if you could, each type of cell in the body has different properties, so how could they be rearranged so easily?

    How could they be rearranged¡­ hmm?

    Lost in thought, Kaelith suddenly felt as if he understood something.

    He raised one hand, furrowing his brow as he focused intently.

    Then, before his eyes, his hand began to shift¡­

    ---

    Here is your extra chapter hoped you enjoyed it!

 Chapter 31

    After explaining the technique of Catification, Yoruichi turned to Kaelith Yurei to see if he had any questions.

    She noticed Kaelith slowly raising a hand.

    The fingers began to shorten and round out.

    Between them, sharp claws extended.

    Black fur started emerging from his skin.

    Even the palm of his hand morphed into the shape of a paw pad.

    Yoruichi: "???"

    Watching Kaelith''s hand transform, Yoruichi''s eyes nearly bulged out.

    That hand¡ªclearly feline!

    For a moment, Yoruichi couldn''t help but feel as if she''d seen a ghost. (t/n What I say, he really likes pussy....ok i will shut up now)

    How long had it taken her from the time she began practicing Catification until her body showed any noticeable changes?

    If she remembered correctly, it was close to half a year.

    Even though she''d been young and playful back then, rarely practicing seriously, it was still six months!

    And this guy, Kaelith, managed it after just one basic explanation?!

    In an instant, Kaelith''s entire right hand completed its transformation into a cat''s paw.

    Yoruichi: "..."

    She had thought that achieving this level on a first try was already absurd. But then Kaelith''s cat transformation began extending swiftly up his arm.

    "Hold on, wait a minute, Yoruichi, is this even normal?"

    Kaelith subconsciously tried to stop but found he couldn''t.

    Yoruichi''s eyes widened, at a loss for words.

    Before her gaze, Kaelith''s body quickly shrank.

    A few seconds later, the fully grown person sitting there had vanished.

    In his place was a small black cat, struggling to poke its head out from a pile of clothing.

    Finally managing to wriggle free, the black cat looked up and let out a surprised sound.

    From Kaelith''s perspective, Yoruichi suddenly seemed enormous, like a mountain.

    He instinctively raised his hand.

    There, he saw a tiny, sleek black paw.

    Turning back, he saw his own glossy, smooth black-furred body. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A tail gently swayed behind him.

    The instant he noticed the tail, Kaelith quickly lowered it to cover a certain area that shouldn''t be exposed.

    At this point, he fully understood his situation.

    Without even practicing, he''d just tried out Yoruichi''s spiritual manipulation method¡ªand had directly transformed?!

    Kaelith raised a cat paw, extending his claws.

    Looking at the sharp claw tips, he fell into contemplation.

    Could it be that, compared to Aizen, he was the real genius here?

    Aizen S¨­suke, the so-called "false genius."

    The true genius, Lord Kaelith Yurei!

    Imagining this scenario, Kaelith couldn''t help but grin, exposing a cat-like smile.

    "Hey, hey, hey, how did you do that?!"

    "Don''t tell me you already knew this trick and were just playing with me?!"

    As Kaelith was daydreaming, Yoruichi couldn''t resist and reached out, lifting him up by his armpits.

    She held Kaelith in front of her, and they stared each other down.

    Suddenly lifted, Kaelith instinctively reached out, trying to grab something.

    The touch of his paw pads encountered a soft, bouncy sensation.

    Kaelith glanced down at his paw and quickly retracted it.

    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to."

    He lightly moved his small cat paw, savoring the previous feeling.

    Although Yoruichi was still young, her natural talent was remarkable.

    No wonder that in the future, she''d have such an outstanding physique¡­

    "Don''t change the subject! Explain yourself! What''s going on here?"

    "How would I know¡­ I''m learning this for the first time! If I''d known this before, why would I go through all this trouble with you?"

    As Yoruichi shook him, Kaelith felt dizzy and quickly broke free, scurrying off to the side.

    Being a quadruped for the first time, he was a bit unsteady and nearly tripped himself.

    Watching him, Yoruichi fell silent for a long time.

    Then, unable to hold back, she collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

    "Argh... Damn it, I spent years to achieve this, and you surpass me in one go¡­ What is this?!"

    Seeing Yoruichi sprawled on the tatami mat, Kaelith swayed his tail.

    In fact, his shock wasn''t any less than Yoruichi''s.

    He could confirm this wasn''t an ability synchronized from Aizen.

    Disrupting and rearranging his own spiritual particles¡­ This sort of thing was something Mayuri Kurotsuchi might attempt, but Aizen would never do it.

    After thinking it over, Kaelith came up with a hypothesis.

    Perhaps it had to do with him being a transmigrator.

    Before his reincarnation, he had been an ordinary human.

    After reincarnation, he opened his eyes and was already a spirit.

    During this process, his body might have undergone some form of transformation.

    So now, attempting something similar allowed him to do it naturally, in one go.

    Kaelith wasn''t sure how credible this guess was, but it was the most reasonable explanation he could think of.

    He then suddenly realized a problem.

    How was he supposed to transform back?

    Instinctively, he tried reversing the Catification technique Yoruichi had taught him.

    Almost immediately, as he manipulated his spiritual particles, his vision began to shift.

    The high ceiling gradually drew closer.

    A few seconds later, his body fully reverted to human form.

    Kaelith raised his hand to check.

    Good, it was his original skin.

    No fur, no paw pads.

    Yoruichi lay on the tatami mat, resting her face on one hand.

    This guy, Kaelith, not only transformed into a cat with ease but managed to revert without even needing instructions.

    Staring at him for a few seconds, the previously dismayed Yoruichi suddenly got distracted.

    "Hey!, don''t stare!"

    ...

    As night descended, a Shinigami on night patrol walked along the streets of the Seireitei, carrying a lantern.

    Just as he passed a street, two figures flashed by behind him.

    Noticing another patrol up ahead, Kaelith stopped, pressing himself against the wall.

    Yoruichi followed suit, halting beside him.

    Sensing her proximity, Kaelith instinctively grew wary.

    Seeing his reaction, Yoruichi squinted, smiling softly. "What''s wrong? Just a little close-up, right?"

    Kaelith rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. Why don''t you let me have a look?"

    "Sure, I''ll show you next time."

    "Heh."

    Kaelith scoffed and said nothing more.

    Earlier, when he transformed back from a cat, he''d forgotten he wasn''t wearing clothes and was fully on display for Yoruichi.

    Although technically, there was no real loss, it still felt a bit awkward.

    He''d definitely need to be mindful of that next time he transformed into a cat.

    The two of them, like black phantoms, flitted between buildings.

    Soon, they arrived at their destination for the night.

    A large wooden gate loomed above them, with a plaque marked "12" hanging high above.

    The Twelfth Division Barracks!

    At this point, the Twelfth Division hadn''t established the Technical Development Bureau, as Kisuke Urahara wasn''t yet around.

    However, their function had already shifted toward technological development.

    Under the leadership of captains like Shutara Senjumaru and Hikifune Kirio, the Twelfth Division had increasingly focused on scientific advancement, permeating the squad with a strong scientific atmosphere.

    Yoruichi scanned the surroundings and waved Kaelith over.

    "This way; I already scouted out a route."

    "We can avoid most of the patrols if we go from there and get directly to the Twelfth Division''s backyard!"

    Under Yoruichi''s guidance, they soon reached a small door.

    Yoruichi pulled out a set of tools, ready to unlock it.

    Suddenly, the door creaked open from the inside.

    Under their stunned gaze, a pale face peered out from the gap.

    From behind the door, the person whispered urgently, trying to keep their voice low¡ª

    "You''re late! Why are you so late?!"

    "Hurry, come in!"

    Seeing this face, Kaelith''s eyes nearly popped out.

    Is that¡­ Mayuri Kurotsuchi?!

    ---

 Chapter 32

    Seeing the man before him, Kaelith Yurei was startled.

    The man had messy blue hair, strange white paint on his face, and deeply set eyes that made him look ghostly.

    Though he didn''t look quite like Kaelith remembered, he could tell that this was definitely Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

    At this point, Kaelith thought Urahara Kisuke hadn''t yet made his appearance, so he assumed Mayuri wouldn''t have shown up either.

    Unexpectedly, this guy was already a Shinigami.

    Seeing Kaelith in a daze, Mayuri frowned.

    "Damn it... what''s the rebellion thinking, sending over two idiots?"

    "No way, I can''t work with fools; they''d get me killed!"

    He moved to close the door.

    But just as he was about to, Kaelith''s hand shot out, pressing down on his wrist.

    With Mayuri watching in mild surprise, Kaelith lowered his voice and said, "Don''t rush off. We might look like this, but we''ve got the skills."

    "If we get the job done, does it matter if we''re fools?"

    Looking down at Kaelith''s hand gripping his wrist, Mayuri frowned.

    Although he was a scientist, he hadn''t neglected his strength.

    With the power of a seated officer, he should have seen Kaelith''s hand coming, but he didn''t.

    If this guy had gone for a vital spot instead of his wrist, he''d probably be badly injured by now...

    After a moment of thought, Mayuri looked Kaelith over.

    "Tch, you look clueless, but your skills are decent."

    "Fine, follow me... and remember, stay close, and don''t touch anything unless I tell you to!"

    With that, he shook Kaelith''s hand off, turned, and quickly headed into the Twelfth Division''s inner area.

    Kaelith gave Yoruichi a quick glance, and they slipped through the door, quietly closing it as they followed.

    Yoruichi leaned in, whispering, "Kaelith, what''s with this guy¡­? Sounds like he''s waiting for the rebellion?"

    Kaelith nodded. "From what he''s saying, it sounds like he made some sort of deal with them to work together."

    With a slight grin, he added, "Maybe he''s even here for the same reason we are."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi''s eyes widened.

    If Kaelith''s guess was right, things could get seriously complicated!

    Under Mayuri''s guidance, the three of them easily avoided the patrols and arrived in front of a building.

    Exchanging a glance, Kaelith and Yoruichi couldn''t help but smile wryly.

    Mayuri had led them straight to their destination: the Twelfth Division''s archive!

    Originally, according to Yoruichi''s plan, they would''ve had to improvise a way to sneak into the archives after entering the Twelfth Division.

    Unexpectedly, thanks to Mayuri''s interference, they''d skipped the hardest step and arrived at the final point. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If it weren''t for the complicated situation requiring constant vigilance, Yoruichi would have already popped open some champagne.

    Standing at the archive door, Mayuri inspected the lock before turning to Kaelith and Yoruichi.

    "Captain Hikifune isn''t here, but before she left, she set up a spiritual pressure lock."

    "To open it, we need a Lieutenant-level spiritual pressure along with a specific unlocking method."

    "I can handle the unlocking, but I don''t have that level of spiritual pressure. Can you manage?"

    A hint of doubt showed in Mayuri''s eyes.

    Both Kaelith and Yoruichi were dressed in dark attire, their faces hidden.

    But from their build, they both appeared quite young.

    As a prodigy, Mayuri had only reached the lower ranks of a seated officer.

    How could these two, who looked even younger than him, have such high spiritual pressure? Could he have been given the wrong people? Were they really sent by the rebellion?

    Instinctively, Yoruichi glanced at Kaelith.

    She knew the technique to unlock the door. Before coming, she had explained the setup to Kaelith, who had assured her that he could handle the spiritual pressure part.

    Yoruichi had heard that Kaelith had once released Lieutenant-level spiritual pressure back at the academy. However, "Lieutenant-level" was a broad term.(t/n seems like someone purposely hid his actual level, let''s see if that is true)

    If Hikifune Kirio''s lock required a higher threshold, it could become tricky.

    Under their watchful gaze, Kaelith raised his chin confidently.

    "Hmph, pretty boy, don''t underestimate me." (t/n pretty?...)

    "Lieutenant-level? I''ve killed three Shinigami of that level before!"

    At these words, Mayuri''s pupils constricted.

    Killed three Lieutenant-level Shinigami?

    Even for a rebel, that was terrifying!

    Yoruichi couldn''t help but smirk.

    Before their first meeting, Head Captain Yamamoto had ordered a background check on Kaelith.

    Forget killing, Kaelith hadn''t even harmed a single soul before.

    Yet, here he was, boasting without a hint of shame.

    While Mayuri stood dumbfounded, Kaelith approached the door lock and took hold of it.

    Buzz!

    The faint glow of spiritual pressure around the lock dimmed the moment Kaelith touched it, fading entirely.

    Yoruichi''s eyes widened in surprise.

    From the lock''s reaction, Kaelith''s spiritual pressure must far exceed the required level.

    The lock didn''t resist at all; it simply submitted under Kaelith''s pressure!

    She glanced up at Kaelith''s face.

    With a mask covering him, his expression was hidden, but judging by his eyes, he seemed calm, entirely unbothered.

    Yoruichi was taken aback.

    Is this guy a monster?

    No wonder the Head Captain couldn''t resist taking him as a disciple¡­ How old was he now?

    At this rate of growth, in a few centuries, he''d likely be the strongest Shinigami under Yamamoto.

    Mayuri blinked, looking as if he''d seen a ghost.

    However, he quickly composed himself and proceeded to unlock the door.

    To him, Kaelith''s strength wasn''t of much concern.

    In the face of science, individual power was like a drop in the ocean, insignificant in scale.

    Upon entering the archive, Mayuri''s face lit up as he saw the neatly organized rows of scrolls lining the walls.

    "Perfect, everything''s still here."

    "Luckily, we came in time¡­ If we''d waited until Captain Hikifune''s promotion, this place would''ve been emptied out."

    Kaelith glanced at Yoruichi.

    She quickly scanned the room, her gaze landing on a scroll slot over four meters high.

    She gave Kaelith a look¡ª*That one!*

    Kaelith gave a barely perceptible nod.

    He adjusted his mask to conceal his face even more.

    Then he asked Mayuri, "Where''s the item we need?"

    Mayuri waved a hand impatiently. "What''s the rush? Soul Manufacturing Techniques are Captain Hikifune''s greatest research accomplishment. Did you think it would be that easy to find?"

    "You two wait here. Don''t let anyone inside. I''ll start looking now. Give me ten minutes!"

    Kaelith and Yoruichi exchanged a quick look, surprise flashing in both of their eyes.

    The rebels'' target¡­ was the Soul Manufacturing Technique?

 Chapter 33

    Kaelith Yurei''s gaze revealed deep pain.

    "Mayuri¡­ Mayuri, I never expected someone like you, with those thick eyebrows and righteous demeanor, to betray the Gotei 13!"

    After a brief moment of reflection, Kaelith turned to Yoruichi.

    "Cousin, make your move!"

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Yoruichi''s figure disappeared from her position.

    "What?" Mayuri froze, confused by what Kaelith meant.

    But upon seeing Yoruichi''s sudden use of Shunpo, he instinctively guessed something.

    Mayuri''s heart tightened as he immediately drew his Zanpakut¨­.

    "Damn it, are you two planning to defect?"

    His eyes darted rapidly, trying to follow Yoruichi''s movements.

    Before long, he spotted Yoruichi in midair, standing on a temporary platform made of spirit particles.

    At the same time, her hands moved swiftly over the control console of the scroll compartment.

    With each spiritual marker entered by Yoruichi, the locks on the compartment clicked, unlocking one by one.

    Mayuri''s eyes widened as if he were deep in thought.

    A second later, his pupils suddenly contracted.

    "No¡­ no!"

    "You two weren''t sent by the rebels!"

    "That place is where Captain Unohana stored data a few years ago¡ªit hasn''t been accessed in years¡­ The data on artificial souls isn''t even there!"

    "Damn it! Who are you two?!"

    Gripping his Zanpakut¨­ tightly, Mayuri glared at Kaelith with fury and demanded, "Since you''re so eager to reveal yourselves, I''ll make you talk!"

    Kaelith let out a small laugh and also drew his Asauchi.

    "I am the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain!"

    "And over there, that''s my wife, Konan!"

    "My wife and I rushed here after learning you were colluding with the rebels to stop your evil plans!"

    Yoruichi: "?"

    Busy unlocking the mechanisms, she glanced over and rolled her eyes at Kaelith.

    Mayuri froze for a moment before blurting out in confusion, "Didn''t you just call her your cousin?"

    "Oh, that must''ve been a mistake," Kaelith said blankly. "She''s not my wife; she''s my cousin, Shinichi Kudo."

    Mayuri: "?"

    How does someone confuse their wife with their cousin?

    Realizing something else, he snarled, "Don''t be ridiculous! You''re stealing things yourself! How could you possibly be here to stop me?!"

    Mayuri''s teeth ground together as his blood pressure skyrocketed.  S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Oops, caught red-handed?" Kaelith tapped his head lightly as if trying to strike a mischievous pose.

    However, dressed in dark nightwear with his face covered, he couldn''t convey the expression at all.

    Even though Mayuri was baffled by Kaelith''s antics, he now understood that he had been duped.

    These two mysterious individuals were definitely not sent by the rebels.

    If he let them escape, the truth about his betrayal of the Gotei 13 and his collusion with the rebels to steal data would be exposed!

    Thinking this, his face darkened, and he attacked without hesitation¡ª

    "Grip, Ashisogi Jiz¨­!"

    As he uttered the release command, his Zanpakut¨­ flashed, changing form.

    The hilt transformed into the face of an infant.

    The blade became a golden trident.

    Wielding the newly transformed Zanpakut¨­, Mayuri thrust it directly at Kaelith''s chest without hesitation!

    His blade, coated in deadly poison, needed only to graze the skin to paralyze the target completely.

    To enhance this ability, Mayuri had developed a unique sword style.

    His attacks intentionally left large openings, baiting the opponent to block or deflect them.

    But that was a trap.

    This particular strike used only half his strength. If Kaelith took the bait and deflected it, Mayuri would seize the opportunity to abandon the primary target and slash Kaelith''s shoulder with even greater speed.

    Once paralyzed, Kaelith would become his plaything!

    Imagining Kaelith bound on an operating table, Mayuri couldn''t help but grin, exposing his sharp white teeth.

    But the grin disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

    To his horror, Kaelith''s figure vanished before his eyes.

    "Ashisogi Jiz¨­¡­ I wouldn''t dare let such a dangerous blade touch me."

    Mayuri''s body tensed as Kaelith''s voice came from directly behind him.

    In that instant, this guy had moved behind him?!

    What kind of speed was this?

    Grinding his teeth, Mayuri swung his golden trident in a wide arc toward Kaelith behind him¡ª

    "Too slow, far too slow!"

    Mocking him, Kaelith thrust his sword, piercing Mayuri''s shoulder.

    Mayuri groaned in pain, staggering slightly.

    "We''ve got it!" Yoruichi slammed the lid of the scroll compartment shut and called out to Kaelith.

    Kaelith nodded.

    He leaped back, widening the distance between himself and Mayuri, and landed next to Yoruichi.

    The two regrouped and used Shunpo to move outside the data room.

    At the room''s entrance, Kaelith grabbed a rope and yanked it firmly.

    Dong! Dong!

    A shrill alarm echoed throughout the entire Twelfth Division!

    At the same time, Kaelith coughed, disguising his voice, and shouted loudly, "Intruders! Intruders! Someone has broken into the data room!!"

    Hearing this, the nearby patrolling Shinigami, along with the Twelfth Division members resting in their barracks, all wore stunned expressions.

    Gripping their Zanpakut¨­, they rushed toward the data room.

    After confirming the Shinigami''s attention was diverted, Kaelith and Yoruichi became dark shadows, leaping onto a nearby rooftop.

    "Let''s go¡ªif more people arrive, we won''t be able to escape," Yoruichi said to Kaelith.

    Kaelith gave a brief nod.

    Just as he was about to move, he suddenly froze, sensing something. His eyes widened in shock.

    "Duck!"

    Kaelith sharply elbowed Yoruichi aside.

    At the same time, he drew his Asauchi and slashed forward¡ª

    Clang!

    Sparks erupted in the night!

    Yoruichi stumbled back but quickly regained her footing.

    Her pupils contracted as she took in the sight before her.

    A man clad in a white haori, with disheveled black hair and a lazy expression, stood before them. His Zanpakut¨­ pressed firmly against Kaelith''s blade.

    "Oh?"

    Seeing his strike blocked, the man looked mildly surprised.

    In the moonlight, he brushed his bangs back with one hand.

    "To think you noticed me and even blocked my surprise attack... Interesting."

    "Judging by your outfit, are you with the Stealth Force?"

    "No¡­ though your style is similar, it''s just standard nightwear."

    "Never mind. It doesn''t matter who you are. I''ll kill you all the same."

    With that, he withdrew his Zanpakut¨­ and increased the force of his next slash at Kaelith.

    "Watch out!" Yoruichi shouted. "That man is the Captain of the Third Division, Shinchira Renzosuke!"

    As her warning reached him, Kaelith shifted slightly, dodging the attack by a hair''s breadth as though he had predicted it.

    Gripping his Asauchi tightly, he swung upward.

    A crescent-shaped blast of spiritual pressure surged forward.

    Boom!

 Chapter 34

    "What...?"

    Seeing the oncoming sword pressure, Shinchira Renzosuke''s expression shifted.

    At the moment Kaelith Yurei had dodged his blade, he had nearly slipped into Shinchira''s range of attack.

    The sword pressure was so close that there was no time for him to adjust or defend.

    **Boom!!!**

    A burst of blue spiritual pressure erupted from Shinchira Renzosuke, radiating outward from him as the center.

    Kaelith flipped backward, drawing a long arc in the air before landing lightly beside Yoruichi.

    "Are you okay?" he asked.

    Yoruichi gave a half-smile, half-sigh. "Me? What about you? You just clashed head-on with the Captain of the Third Division. How are you holding up?"

    "I''m fine, no big deal," Kaelith replied with a nod.

    In truth, he didn''t need Yoruichi to remind him that the opponent was a Captain.

    After all, Shinchira hadn''t even tried to hide it, boldly appearing in his haori.

    As the dust cleared, Shinchira Renzosuke''s figure reappeared.

    Blue spiritual energy swirled and rose around him like an animated effect.

    When faced with Kaelith''s close-range attack, he had released part of his spiritual energy to crush the sword pressure entirely.

    It was like an external energy release, directly nullifying Kaelith''s attack without taking any damage.

    "No wonder he''s a Captain," Kaelith remarked, watching Shinchira. "That move would''ve taken down any normal seated officer by now."

    Yoruichi furrowed her brow.

    This guy¡ªdid he even realize how dire the situation was?

    Shinchira Renzosuke stood with his Zanpakut¨­ in hand, quietly watching Kaelith.

    Through the mask, he couldn''t see Kaelith''s face.

    The spiritual energy contained in that sword pressure was also unfamiliar to him.

    It must be someone he didn''t know.

    In that case... killing him wouldn''t be a problem, would it?

    Sensing the killing intent emanating from Shinchira, Yoruichi quickly spoke up.

    "Captain Shinchira! We are members of the Stealth Force!"

    "We received intelligence that thieves might infiltrate the Twelfth Division tonight, so we hid here in advance!"

    As she spoke, she pulled out a wooden badge from her waist.

    "This is my authorization token."

    "If you''re suspicious, you can verify with Lieutenant ¨­maeda!"

    Shinchira tilted his head slightly at her words.

    "I see, the Stealth Force, is it?"

    Seeing that Shinchira seemed to accept her explanation, Yoruichi exhaled slightly in relief.

    But in the next instant, Shinchira suddenly appeared in front of her.

    With a flash of silver light, his Zanpakut¨­ slashed toward her neck!

    Yoruichi''s eyes widened.

    She hadn''t expected Shinchira to attack her without hesitation after hearing her identity.

    Was this guy... insane?

    No, something was wrong.

    This guy wasn''t here to catch thieves!

    A terrifying realization struck Yoruichi like lightning.

    She tried to use Shunpo to evade, but she was a step behind Shinchira''s movements and missed the best moment to dodge.

    At this point, all she could do was try to avoid a fatal wound¡ªwhether her stomach would be sliced open was already beyond her control.

    However, Kaelith seemed to have anticipated Shinchira''s attack.

    Before Shinchira''s blade could strike, Kaelith kicked Yoruichi away.

    **Bang!!**

    Before the blade could reach her, Yoruichi''s body was sent flying like a cannonball from Kaelith''s kick! (t/n he is starting to remind me of Vegeta)

    Shinchira''s blade cut through the air, and his brows furrowed.

    This troublesome brat had interfered with him twice now.

    Wait¡­ brat? S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Could it be?

    Kicked away by Kaelith, Yoruichi flipped mid-air and landed steadily on a nearby rooftop.

    Ignoring the fact that she had just been kicked, she shouted angrily, "...Be careful! This guy is one of the rebels!"

    Although surprised and angry, she managed to swallow her first words and refrained from shouting Kaelith''s name.

    Hearing this, Shinchira clicked his tongue and was about to speak when Kaelith grinned and said, "Idiot, wasn''t that obvious?"

    "From the moment he appeared, he''s been suppressing his spiritual pressure to a minimal range, not letting even a sliver leak out."

    "If he were legit, he''d be making as much noise as possible to draw others over to help."

    "Someone trying to go unnoticed? What other explanation is there besides guilty conscience?"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi froze for a moment before a look of realization appeared on her face.

    Then she glanced at Kaelith, surprised.

    This guy, despite having no Stealth Force training, had noticed such a subtle flaw in such a short time.

    Yoruichi smirked slightly.

    As expected, she was right¡ªthis guy was perfect for the Second Division!

    Shinchira clapped lightly.

    "Impressive, kid. I didn''t expect you to be not only a genius in combat but also so sharp in analysis."

    "No wonder the Captain-Commander took you in as his disciple."

    "Am I wrong, genius of the Shin''¨­ Academy, Kaelith Yurei?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith tilted his head.

    "Kaelith Yurei? Oh, I''ve heard of him¡ªhandsome, elegant, supremely talented, the pride of Shin''¨­ Academy, right?"

    "While I might have a bit of talent myself, I''m nowhere near his level."

    "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Musashi, and over there is my cousin, Kojir¨­."

    "Captain Shinchira, please take good care of us brothers!"

    Yoruichi: "..."

    How many names were they going to go through tonight?

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, Shinchira frowned slightly.

    From all the clues, the boy in front of him matched the description of Kaelith Yurei.

    But his self-introduction didn''t sound made up¡­

    After thinking for a moment, Shinchira shook his head lightly.

    It didn''t matter. Whether he was Kaelith Yurei or not, he had to die today.

    If he didn''t kill these two, his collaboration with the rebels would be exposed.

    He had to kill them as quickly as possible and retrieve the artificial soul data from the data room.

    No one would ever find out it was him!

    Having made up his mind, Shinchira raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    Seeing his movements, Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

    Gripping his blade with both hands, he said softly, "I''ll hold him off. You go."

    "Before he kills me, call for reinforcements."

    "Whether I survive depends on how fast you move!"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi took a deep breath.

    Without wasting any words, she turned and moved.

    Noticing her movement, Shinchira''s figure blurred as he moved to intercept her.

    Kaelith, standing in the way, poured spiritual pressure into his blade.

    This strike was many times more powerful than the previous ones.

    If Kaelith dared to block, Shinchira would cleave him in two with one slash!

    Feeling the immense power of the strike, Kaelith''s expression shifted.

    But he didn''t retreat. Instead, he swung his blade to meet the attack.

    If he could hold Shinchira back, Yoruichi might live, and he might have a chance too.

    If he couldn''t stop Shinchira, both of them would die.

    Just as Shinchira''s blade was about to land, a voice rang out.

    "Oh my¡­ what''s all the commotion?"

    "Why are you all gathered at my house?"

    Hearing this, Shinchira''s face showed panic for the first time.

    ----------------------------

    check out Patreon(.)com/IDKjust  for free chapters till 124!

 Chapter 35

    Suddenly, a voice echoed softly, as if it had appeared directly in everyone''s ears.

    The tone was gentle, almost melodic, belonging to a woman who sounded elegant and refined.

    But Shinchira Renzosuke''s face turned deathly pale, as though he had just heard a curse from the depths of the abyss.

    He whipped his head around, frantically scanning the area.

    "Impossible! How are you here?! You were supposed to be in the Soul King Palace! How can you be here?!"

    The woman laughed lightly at his panic. "I decided not to go and came back instead."

    As her words lingered in the air, a figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully beside Kaelith Yurei.

    Kaelith''s eyes lit up with admiration as he took in the newcomer.

    She had long, flowing pink hair, a tall and striking figure, and an air of elegance.

    But what caught the most attention was the¡­ rather prominent "presence" at her chest.

    This Shinigami''s attire bore some resemblance to Rangiku Matsumoto''s, with a loose neckline that revealed a generous portion of her curves.

    Kaelith''s gaze was inevitably drawn there before he noticed the white haori draped over her shoulders.

    Another captain?

    Judging by Renzosuke''s reaction, this woman didn''t seem to be aligned with the rebels.

    And from her earlier mention of "gathering at my place," Kaelith quickly deduced her identity.

    The Captain of the Twelfth Division, inventor of artificial souls: Hikifune Kirio.

    Seeing Kirio, Renzosuke recoiled as if scalded, retreating a considerable distance.

    His wide eyes fixated on her, and the hand clutching his Zanpakut¨­ trembled slightly.

    Watching Renzosuke''s reaction, Kaelith was puzzled.

    Both were captains¡ªthere might be a gap in strength, but was it enough to warrant such fear?

    Even Sajin Komamura, as underwhelming as his combat skills were, never cowered when facing other captains.

    And yet, Shinchira Renzosuke seemed more spineless than a dog.

    In contrast to Renzosuke''s intense apprehension, Hikifune Kirio exuded nothing but ease and calm.

    She lowered her gaze and curiously examined Kaelith.

    "You''re quite something, young one, to be able to spar with Renosuke. What''s the matter? Fighting over loot?"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi''s heart skipped a beat.

    If Hikifune Kirio mistook them for enemies, things could spiral out of control.

    Admitting that they were there to "steal" would ironically be less troublesome than being viewed as foes.

    Before Yoruichi could speak, Kaelith raised his hand and removed his mask.

    "Good evening, Captain Hikifune," he said politely. "I''m Kaelith Yurei, a student from Shin''¨­ Academy."

    He then gestured toward Yoruichi, pulling her closer and removing her mask as well.

    "And this is Lady Yoruichi Shih¨­in, head of the Shih¨­in family."

    Hikifune''s eyes brightened upon seeing Yoruichi.

    "Little Yoruichi! It''s been ages! Did you miss your big sister?"

    She opened her arms and gave Yoruichi a warm hug.

    Yoruichi let out a muffled groan, overwhelmed by the pressure of Kirio''s¡­ "presence."

    Thankfully, Kirio released her after a brief embrace and turned her attention back to Kaelith.

    "So, you''re the Kaelith Yurei I''ve heard about," she mused.

    "No wonder Commander Yamamoto has taken an interest in you. At your age, I couldn''t even hold my own against a senior officer, let alone spar with a captain."

    She sighed wistfully.

    Yoruichi blinked, stunned.

    Hikifune Kirio¡­ was sparring with officer-level Shinigami during her academy days? Another monster.

    Kaelith responded with a modest smile. "It''s all thanks to Commander Yamamoto''s teachings."

    Kirio nodded approvingly, then glanced at the pair with curiosity. "So, what brings the genius of Shin''¨­ Academy and the Shih¨­in family heiress here tonight?"

    Her gaze sharpened as she looked at Yoruichi.

    "You''re not here to steal something, are you?"

    Yoruichi averted her eyes, remaining silent.

    Kaelith cleared his throat and quickly intervened:

    "Captain Hikifune, after graduating, I hope to join the Second Division. I requested Lady Yoruichi to teach me covert techniques.

    "While practicing in Seireitei, we passed near the Twelfth Division and heard the alarm bell.

    "Naturally, we couldn''t ignore such a disturbance. Despite knowing we were outmatched, we acted as per a Shinigami''s duty and confronted the intruder."

    He bowed slightly, adding, "It seems, however, that this was part of a trap you had set. I deeply apologize for our interference."

    Yoruichi bit her lip, stifling her laughter.

    Kaelith''s shamelessly bureaucratic tone was impressive. For someone who grew up as a Rukongai commoner, he handled formalities like a seasoned noble.

    Amusing as it was, Yoruichi had to admit that Kaelith''s response was perfect.

    He preserved the Twelfth Division''s dignity while completely clearing their involvement. Even if Kirio later discovered something missing, she''d have no choice but to accept it.

    Kirio raised a brow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

    "Impressive... As expected of Commander Yamamoto''s apprentice. Such a strong sense of justice."

    "You flatter me," Kaelith replied, clasping his hands.

    Their casual conversation was too much for Renzosuke to bear.

    Though Kirio''s strength and reputation were undeniable, he was still a captain!

    How could they act so relaxed in his presence?

    Eyes flashing coldly, Renzosuke suddenly used Shunpo to appear behind Kirio, swinging his Zanpakut¨­ at her neck with blinding speed.

    *Clang!*

    The sound of metal rang out.

    To his shock, Kirio, still mid-conversation with Kaelith, had effortlessly blocked the attack.

    Without even turning to face him, she had drawn her blade, casually positioning it to intercept his strike.

    Cold fear seeped into Renzosuke''s heart.

    She blocked my full power¡­ with her back turned?

    Despair filled him as the realization struck¡ªno matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t defeat this woman.

    Panic overwhelmed him, and he turned to flee.

    "Oh? Sneaking into my Twelfth Division and thinking you can escape?"

    Kirio extended her hand.  S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Bakud¨­ #61: Six Rods Prison of Light!"

    Golden rods materialized instantly, locking Renzosuke in place.

    "Bakud¨­ won''t stop me¡ªugh!"

    Before he could finish, Kirio appeared beside him in a flash and slapped him across the head.

    Like an arrow loosed from a bow, Renzosuke shot through the night sky, crashing into Seireitei''s ground with a resounding explosion.

    *Boom!*

    The thunderous sound echoed into the night.

    -

 Chapter 36

    "Impossible... Impossible..."

    "I am Shinchira Renzosuke!"

    "The Captain of Squad Three, Shinchira Renzosuke!"

    Amid the rolling dust, Shinchira Renzosuke struggled to crawl up from the ground.

    One slap from Kirio Hikifune had smashed the ground into a crater.

    Broken tiles clattered down from his battered body.

    Shinchira Renzosuke lowered his head to look at himself.

    His pristine captain''s haori was now covered in dust.

    His Shihakush¨­ was torn in several places, resembling tattered rags.

    His Zanpakut¨­, at some point, had snapped, losing all semblance of its usual sharpness.

    "How¡­ how could this happen? We''re both captains¡­"

    Staring at his miserable state, Shinchira Renzosuke''s eyes burned with rage.

    "Being a captain is nothing more than a title."

    "Those with real power remain strong, whether they wear the haori or not. For someone without strength, donning that garment won''t magically make them stronger."

    Kirio Hikifune appeared nearby, holding her Zanpakut¨­.

    As she arrived, the swirling dust around her spiraled away, dissipating into the air.

    She raised an eyebrow at him.

    "And you, Shinchira Renzosuke, just happen to be one of those without strength who lucked into the captain''s position."

    "If Chitetsu wasn''t too old to take the role, do you really think you''d be here wearing that haori?"

    Under Shinchira Renzosuke''s despondent gaze, she sighed.

    "Normally, as colleagues, I''d try to save you some face and avoid saying this outright."

    "But you went and allied yourself with the rebels."

    "Joining forces with rebels is bad enough, but you dared to target my research materials?"

    In the last sentence, Kirio Hikifune''s aura suddenly intensified.

    The Squad Twelve members who had rushed over felt conflicted upon hearing her words.

    From the way she said it, it sounded like the rebellion in the Soul Society wasn''t nearly as important as her research materials...

    Shinchira Renzosuke''s face turned a mix of green and white.

    A few seconds later, his expression twisted with ferocity.

    "Enough! At this point, there''s nothing more to say."

    "My identity is exposed; I''ll surely be executed. But you won''t live either!"

    As he spoke, his Zanpakut¨­ began to glow.

    The blade absorbed Shinchira Renzosuke''s Reiryoku, rapidly repairing itself, elongating, and regaining its original form.

    "Come, Kirio Hikifune! Witness the power of my Bankai!"

    He grinned, raising his Zanpakut¨­ high.

    However, midway through the motion, his body suddenly went limp, as if a toy had run out of power.

    Clang!

    His Zanpakut¨­ fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

    Shinchira Renzosuke collapsed like a heap of mud, lying on the ground, barely breathing.

    His eyes widened, staring at Kirio Hikifune, his mouth slightly agape, as if he wanted to ask what had just happened.

    Kirio Hikifune smiled and pointed at her blade.

    "My Zanpakut¨­ is coated with poison."

    "When I sent you flying earlier, I made a small cut on you."

    "If you don''t channel your Spirit Pressure, the poison remains inactive."

    "But once you exert Reiryoku, it spreads through your body, leaving you powerless~."

    With Shinchira Renzosuke subdued, the significant commotion finally came to an end.

    Minutes later, members of the Onmitsukid¨­ and Squad Seven, responsible for internal security, arrived at the scene.

    Amid the chaos, Kirio Hikifune approached Kaelith Yurei and Yoruichi.

    "Kaelith-kun, little Yoruichi, thank you both for tonight."

    At her words, Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.  S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Earlier, Kaelith had mentioned that this was all part of Kirio''s elaborate trap, which she had initially dismissed as nonsense.

    But upon reflection, it did seem plausible.

    Sensing her thoughts, Kirio Hikifune chuckled.

    "Sorry to disappoint, but I''m not as clever as Shunsui. Tonight wasn''t a plan of mine."

    "I was supposed to visit Squad Zero with Senjumaru today to get familiar with the environment. But midway, I remembered I''d forgotten to bring some newly developed fabrics, so I turned back."

    "On the way, I sensed someone triggering the traps in my archive room, so I rushed back at full speed."

    "If it weren''t for Kaelith-kun, Squad Twelve might have been in utter chaos~."

    Yoruichi: "¡­"

    Kaelith coughed awkwardly. "Captain Hikifune, I''m sure there''s still a lot to handle here, so we''ll take our leave."

    "If you need help in the future, feel free to ask us anytime."

    With that, he pulled Yoruichi and hurried to leave.

    But just as he turned, a hand gripped his shoulder.

    Kaelith froze.

    He turned back with a strained smile. "Um¡­ Captain Hikifune, is there something else?"

    Under his gaze, Kirio Hikifune leaned closer, whispering softly so only he could hear:

    "Kaelith-kun, you and little Yoruichi¡­ You didn''t take anything other than the Red and White Hot Spring scrolls, right?"

    Crap!!

    Kaelith suddenly felt like a cat had stepped on his nerves.

    Although his instinct was to feign ignorance, the dangerous aura emanating from Kirio Hikifune made him quickly shake his head.

    Kirio leaned back slightly, locking eyes with Kaelith for a moment before smiling in satisfaction.

    "Take care on your way back, both of you."

    She released his shoulder with a smile.

    After walking some distance, Yoruichi asked in a low voice, "What did Captain Hikifune ask you just now?"

    "She said she wanted to join my harem," Kaelith replied flatly.

    Yoruichi gave him a look of admiration. "You''re truly brave."

    Back at the Shihoin estate, the two opened the scrolls they had taken from Squad Twelve and reviewed them together.

    Since it was their shared spoils, Yoruichi didn''t hold back.

    Reading about the hot spring''s abilities, Kaelith couldn''t help but be amazed.

    As expected of Squad Zero, Kirinji Tenjiro''s twin hot springs were outrageous.

    The White Hot Spring could drain a person''s Spirit Pressure and blood.

    In the process, injuries would be flushed out as well.

    The drawback was that if one stayed too long, they risked death from exhaustion.

    The Red Hot Spring infused the body with high-purity Spirit Pressure for rapid recovery.

    Its drawback was that if used recklessly, it could cause over-recovery, leading to total bodily collapse and death.

    The benefits were immense, but so were the risks.

    After some discussion, they decided to create a simplified version of the hot springs.

    Having agreed, Kaelith walked back to his dorm under the moonlight.

    Upon entering his room, he found Aizen seated on the bed, deep in thought.

 Chapter 37

    ---

    "Yo, S¨­suke, what are you doing up so late?"

    Kaelith Yurei stepped into the room, lowering his voice.

    Aizen looked up, about to reply, but suddenly frowned.

    He got out of bed, walked over to Kaelith, and pulled him out of the dormitory.

    "What happened? Did you run into danger?"

    Noticing Kaelith''s school uniform was torn in multiple places and covered in dust, he asked softly.

    "Oh, this?"

    Kaelith scratched his head. "I went out with the heiress of the Shih¨­in family tonight, and we got caught up in some rebel trouble. Got a little singed."

    "But no big deal, the Captain of Squad Twelve stepped in and saved us. See? Just some torn clothes, no injuries at all."

    Kaelith chuckled as he tugged on the ripped fabric to show Aizen.

    Aizen paused slightly.

    The Captain of Squad Twelve¡­ Kirio Hikifune, huh?

    Based on his observations, Hikifune was undoubtedly one of the strongest among the current captains.

    Her power might even rank just below Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

    With someone like Hikifune involved, there was indeed nothing to worry about.

    After a moment''s thought, he casually asked, "Who were the rebels?"

    "Rebels¡­ what was his name again?"

    Kaelith squinted, thinking for a few seconds.

    The captain he saw didn''t appear in the original story, probably someone from a generation even older than a century ago.

    Recalling the guy''s last words, Kaelith''s expression lit up with realization.

    "Oh, I remember now! Kamikawa Renzosuke!"

    Aizen: "?"

    He nearly lost his composure, tempted to blurt out some expletives he''d learned from Kaelith.

    So, the "minor rebel trouble" Kaelith casually mentioned was actually involving the Captain of Squad Three?!

    After a few seconds of silence, Aizen took a deep breath.

    Kaelith Yurei was getting more outrageous by the day.

    Still, looking on the bright side, being around Kaelith was certainly training his patience and resilience. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

    As he self-soothed, Aizen motioned for Kaelith to recount the events of the evening.

    After listening to the full story, he frowned slightly, lost in thought.

    While Shinchira Renzosuke''s power was mediocre, ranking in the lower tier of captains, he was still a captain.

    A captain openly betraying the Gotei 13 was a troubling signal.

    Up to now, rebel activities have been minor skirmishes, never involving top-tier combatants.

    Because of this, the Gotei 13 had maintained a watchful but passive stance.

    But with Shinchira Renzosuke''s betrayal, the situation was different.

    Major factions would undoubtedly start getting involved.

    Once all five Noble Clans were drawn into the conflict, the Central 46 Chambers would no longer be able to maintain the current balance.

    The Gotei 13 war machine would be fully mobilized!

    At this thought, Aizen turned to Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, from now on, you must be extra careful."

    "Because of you, the rebels'' plans may need to be completely revised, and they''ll likely view you as an enemy."

    "I suggest you consult Captain-Commander Yamamoto and ask for his advice."

    "If possible, it''d be best to have him assign one or two bodyguards to ensure your safety."

    Kaelith was momentarily stunned.

    But soon, he pieced things together.

    On his way back, he had been focused on figuring out how to build a hot spring and hadn''t given much thought to the larger implications.

    Now, after Aizen''s explanation, he realized he was in deeper trouble than he''d thought.

    "Ugh, what a pain."

    Kaelith tilted his head, closed his eyes, and frowned.

    Then, a bigger problem dawned on him.

    With such a major incident tonight, Yamamoto would undoubtedly summon him for a lecture.

    The mere thought of Yamamoto leaning on his cane and nagging him for hours made Kaelith feel like his soul was splitting.

    ---

    "Fool!"

    The booming voice of Yamamoto echoed from Squad One''s barracks, loud enough to be heard from a distance.

    In the dojo, Yamamoto leaned on his cane, glaring at Kaelith.

    Well, to be precise, Kaelith wasn''t entirely sure if it was a glare, given how small the old man''s eyes were.

    As if reading Kaelith''s mind, Yamamoto suddenly widened his eyes, turning the narrow slits into something resembling a broader line.

    "Stand up straight! Don''t slouch like that¡ªwhat kind of example is that?!"

    "Neglecting your training leads to getting wounded in real battles!"

    "If Captain Hikifune hadn''t intervened, do you think you''d still be alive to loaf around here?!"

    Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a mix of frustration and disbelief.

    No matter how much of a failure Shinchira Renzosuke was, he was still a captain. Was Yamamoto expecting him to defeat a captain single-handedly?

    Of course, Kaelith kept those thoughts to himself.

    He had long since figured out Yamamoto''s temperament.

    The best strategy when being scolded was to play dead.

    Arguing would only add another thirty minutes to the lecture¡ªat best. At worst, he''d get thrown around with Yamamoto''s unique hand-to-hand combat techniques.

    Observing Kaelith''s predicament, Ky¨­raku Shunsui couldn''t help but grin.

    Usually, he was the one standing there getting scolded. Today, it was finally someone else''s turn.

    What a lucky junior!

    His amusement was short-lived, though, as Kaelith suddenly spoke:

    "Reporting to the Captain-Commander, Senior Brother over there is secretly laughing." (t/n haha I love it)

    Ky¨­raku: "?"

    Before he could react, Yamamoto''s furious gaze had already turned in his direction.

    "Scoundrel! What are you laughing at?!"

    "As the Captain of the Eighth Division, the intelligence division, you didn''t detect any issues with Shinchira Renzosuke? If the circumstances weren''t so critical right now, I''d send you to train under a waterfall for half a year!"

    Ky¨­raku nearly burst into tears.

    To others, Yamamoto''s words might seem like an empty threat, but Ky¨­raku knew better¡ªthis old man was fully capable of following through.

    Over the years, he''d been sent to "waterfall training" so many times he''d lost count.

    Forget what he said earlier¡ªthis junior brother of his wasn''t a lucky charm at all.

    Yamamoto must have been losing his touch in his old age to accept such an unreliable disciple!

    Initially, Yamamoto planned to continue scolding him, but reports from outside interrupted his train of thought¡ª

    "Captain-Commander, all division captains have arrived!"

    "Hmm. Let them in."

    After giving the order, Yamamoto turned to Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, you''ll stand aside and observe."

    Kaelith blinked in mild surprise.

    Yamamoto''s captain meetings were typically closed-door affairs. Even vice-captains were required to wait outside unless summoned for specific questions.

    Being allowed to stay as an observer? Quite the privilege. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He moved to the side of the room, leaning casually against the wall.

    Before long, the doors opened, and one figure after another entered.

    Second Division Vice-Captain ¨­maeda Marechiyo.

    Since Yoruichi had not yet officially joined the division, ¨­maeda was representing the Second Division in the meeting.

    Third Division Vice-Captain Iba Chikane.

    An elegant woman with a dignified air. Though her hair was streaked with gray and her face bore wrinkles, her beauty in her younger days was still evident.

    Fourth Division Captain Unohana Retsu.

    Fifth Division Captain Hirako Shinji.

    Sixth Division Captain Kuchiki Ginrei.

    Seventh Division Captain Love Aikawa.

    Eighth Division Captain Ky¨­raku Shunsui.

    Ninth Division Captain Takada Yasu.

    Tenth Division Captain Nagaki Sosora.

    Eleventh Division Captain Goj¨­ Kenpachi.

    Twelfth Division Captain Hikifune Kirio.

    Watching the line of figures in white haori file in, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe.

    Despite having lived in the Bleach world for some time now, this was his first time seeing all the captains gathered in one place.

    -

 Chapter 38

    ---

    Following the captains, Yoruichi also entered the room.

    Like Kaelith Yurei, she had been directly involved in last night''s events.

    Due to her status as the head of one of the Five Noble Clans, no one dared to leave her waiting outside, so she was simply invited in as well.

    As she entered the room, Yoruichi glanced around. When her eyes landed on Kaelith, they lit up with recognition.

    After nodding slightly toward Yamamoto in greeting, she made her way to Kaelith''s side and nudged him with her elbow.

    "Hey, Kaelith, how does it feel standing here?"

    "My feet hurt. I''d rather sit," Kaelith replied with a shrug.

    Yoruichi couldn''t help but smile.

    This guy truly had no regard for formalities.

    She herself was often scolded by the elders for being too carefree and unrestrained.

    Even so, she''d never dare imagine sitting down during a captains'' meeting.

    Many of the captains had noticed Yoruichi''s interaction with Kaelith and shifted their attention toward him.

    Their reactions varied.

    Most were simply curious, wondering what kind of disciple the Head Captain had taken under his wing.

    Unohana and Ukitake offered Kaelith polite nods, smiling warmly.

    Kirio Hikifune blinked playfully and gave him a wink.

    The Eleventh Division Captain, a short, dark-skinned man with several scars across his face, exuded an intimidating aura. He squinted at Kaelith, then dismissively curled his lips.

    Kaelith gave him a curious look but didn''t dwell on it.

    Instead, his attention focused on Kuchiki Ginrei.

    The elder appeared as ancient as Yamamoto himself, with a deeply wrinkled face and snow-white hair.

    Yet, like Yamamoto, his power had not diminished with age.

    After synchronizing with Aizen''s abilities, Kaelith''s intuition had sharpened considerably.

    For most captains, he could gauge their strength fairly well.

    But Ginrei was like a deep, unfathomable abyss.

    Observing Ginrei''s calm demeanor, Kaelith felt a slight sense of relief.

    It didn''t seem like anything was wrong with Ginrei''s son, S¨­jun Kuchiki.

    If something had happened to his son, no matter how composed Ginrei was, it would''ve shown in some way.

    Sensing Kaelith''s gaze, Ginrei suddenly turned his head, locking eyes with him.

    Kaelith froze for a moment before attempting a polite smile.

    Ginrei, however, showed no reaction. After staring at him for two seconds, he looked away, his expression impassive.

    "Tch, this old man," Kaelith muttered under his breath, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes.

    This old geezer had offended him today. Someday, he''d get even.

    Yes¡­ perhaps he''d take S¨­jun to a lively entertainment district for some fun. Knowing Ginrei''s personality, hearing about such an outing would likely spike his blood pressure.

    The thought brought a mischievous grin to Kaelith''s face.

    Meanwhile, ¨­maeda Marechiyo, Vice-Captain of the Second Division, was watching from the sidelines, somewhat surprised.

    He''d heard rumors about Lady Yoruichi being unusually close with a young man.

    There were even whispers that she had allowed this person into her private study¡ªa place no one else had entered.

    Initially, he''d dismissed the rumors as baseless gossip.

    But now, seeing Yoruichi''s casual demeanor around Kaelith, his mind raced.

    He recognized this young man. Before Yamamoto formally took him as a disciple, ¨­maeda had been tasked with investigating his background.

    A commoner with no backing or connections.

    Now, as Yamamoto''s official disciple, his future was limitless.

    If Yoruichi and Kaelith became closer, it would undoubtedly be a significant boon for the Shih¨­in Clan.

    As a member of a subsidiary family to the Shih¨­in, ¨­maeda felt this could only be a good thing.

    His impression of Kaelith immediately improved. He resolved to get closer to him after the meeting. Though, taking Kaelith to a lively district was out of the question¡ªLady Yoruichi would never let him hear the end of it.

    After some thought, ¨­maeda had a better idea.

    If Kaelith were to marry into the Shih¨­in Clan, he would inevitably join the Second Division.

    By teaching him skills useful for the division ahead of time, ¨­maeda could solidify a meaningful bond.

    Perhaps, when he grew older, he could even rely on Kaelith to mentor his rather foolish son.

    Yes, this plan seemed ideal. A token of appreciation in the form of gifts wouldn''t hurt either¡ªjust a small gesture to leave a favorable impression.

    Satisfied with his thoughts, ¨­maeda hummed to himself, his spirits lifted.

    The sound of Yamamoto''s wooden staff tapping gently on the ground brought everyone''s attention to the center of the room as the captains'' meeting officially began.

    The focus of the discussion was, naturally, the events of the previous night.

    With all eyes on him, Yamamoto''s lieutenant, Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe, stepped forward to recount the events.

    When it was confirmed that Shinchira Renzosuke had truly turned traitor, the captains'' expressions darkened.

    Upon hearing that both Kaelith and Yoruichi had confronted him, many captains exchanged surprised looks.

    They were familiar with Yoruichi''s strength, but it wasn''t enough to take down Shinchira alone.

    Which meant that Kaelith, in such a short amount of time, had already grown strong enough to hold his own against a captain-level opponent.  sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even though Shinchira wasn''t particularly skilled, and the encounter had been brief, it was still impressive.

    No wonder Yamamoto, who hadn''t taken a disciple in centuries, had made an exception.

    If they were in Yamamoto''s position, they wouldn''t let such talent slip through their fingers either.

    The Eleventh Division Captain furrowed his brows, lost in thought.

    Ginrei Kuchiki raised his eyelids slightly, casting another glance at Kaelith.

    As the room settled, Yamamoto continued, "Regarding Shinchira Renzosuke, the Central 46 has issued a verdict.

    "Shinchira Renzosuke, former Captain of the Third Division, has committed grave crimes. Effective immediately, he will be imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots for 514 years and stripped of his title as Third Division Captain."

    "Today''s meeting is to discuss a successor for the position of Third Division Captain."

    At this, all eyes turned to the Third Division''s Vice-Captain, Iba Chikane.

    Stepping forward, Chikane respectfully addressed Yamamoto, "Head Captain, I have a recommendation for the new captain of the Third Division."

    "Third Seat of the Third Division¡ªRose ¨­toribashi."

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes slightly. "¨­toribashi¡­ Rose, is it?"

    The name was familiar among the captains. Before Shinji Hirako''s appointment, the Fifth Division Captain had been Maika ¨­toribashi.

    "Can ¨­toribashi Rose wield Bankai?" Yamamoto asked.

    Chikane nodded firmly. "Yes, Head Captain. He has already mastered it."

    "Very well," Yamamoto said with a nod. "In ten days, we will hold the Captain Promotion Ceremony."

    With the matter of the Third Division''s captain settled, Kaelith assumed the meeting was nearing its end.

    Just as he thought this, Yamamoto suddenly turned to look at him.

    Caught off guard, Kaelith stared back in slight confusion as Yamamoto spoke slowly:

    "Kaelith Yurei, student of Shin''¨­ Academy."

    "At the end of this month, apply for the early graduation exam."

    "Once you have your diploma, report to the First Division."

    "The position of Fifth Seat in the First Division has been vacant for half a month. You will assume this position!"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi''s expression immediately shifted. (t/n he stole your man...pause)

 Chapter 39

    "Please wait, Genry¨±sai-sama!"

    Yoruichi reached out, grabbing Kaelith Yurei''s wrist.

    Pulling Kaelith, she quickly took a few steps forward, passing by two captains to stand across from Yamamoto.

    "Shihoin-sama, is there an issue?" Yamamoto asked slowly.

    Yoruichi spoke up boldly, "Genry¨±sai-sama, Kaelith Yurei already promised me he''d join the Second Division after graduation!"

    "As the Captain-Commander, surely you won''t let your student go back on his word!"

    Hearing this, Yamamoto was slightly taken aback and looked toward Kaelith Yurei.

    Kaelith let out a small sound of surprise.

    Just as he was about to speak, he felt a sudden pinch at his side.

    Without thinking, Kaelith reached out to pinch Yoruichi back.

    From behind, several captains watched the "battle" between the two with subtle expressions.

    Pushing Yoruichi''s hand away, Kaelith nodded and said, "Yes, Sensei, I promised Yoruichi that after graduation, I''d join the Second Division."

    They had agreed on this condition while learning the transformation technique together.

    Although he was often accused of being unreliable, Kaelith usually kept his promises.

    Seeing Kaelith standing next to Yoruichi, Yamamoto felt a slight urge to hold his forehead in exasperation.

    He knew exactly what kind of person Kaelith was.

    Under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t interfere with his students'' personal relationships.

    But... Shihoin Yoruichi was the head of one of the five noble families, the Shihoin family.

    Once associated with the Shihoin name, trouble would surely follow.

    After a few seconds of contemplation, he slowly began to speak¡ª

    "Ahem, ahem!"

    Just as Yamamoto was about to say something, Kaelith started coughing, interrupting him.

    Yamamoto couldn''t help but frown.

    Under his gaze, Kaelith scratched his head and gave a wide grin.

    "No need for reminders, Sensei. I''ll work hard and won''t bring shame to you!"

    Looking at Kaelith''s silly grin, Yamamoto remained silent for a long while.

    Then, he turned his gaze toward ¨­maeda Marechiyo.

    "Lieutenant ¨­maeda."

    "Y-Yes?!"

    ¨­maeda was taken aback, quickly straightening up.

    Yamamoto spoke in a grave tone, "Lieutenant ¨­maeda, Kaelith Yurei''s safety is now in your hands."

    ¨­maeda Marechiyo: "..."

    Upon hearing Yamamoto''s words, ¨­maeda nearly cried.

    Kaelith Yurei had fought Shinchira Renzosuke and single-handedly foiled a crucial plan of the rebels.

    Now, Kaelith had amassed considerable hatred from the rebel side.

    As a mere lieutenant, how could he be expected to protect someone capable of battling captains? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Though he was reluctant, he couldn''t muster the courage to protest against the Captain-Commander.

    He quickly bowed, "Yes, Captain-Commander!"

    Yamamoto gave a slight nod.

    After reminding the division captains to stay alert for any new movements from the rebels, the captains'' meeting officially ended.

    The captains all bowed to Yamamoto, then turned to leave.

    Yoruichi chuckled, nudging Kaelith with her elbow.

    "Not bad! Sticking to your principles, even when facing the Captain-Commander. No wonder I took an interest in you."

    "And especially that part where you played dumb to interrupt him¡ªI''m really starting to admire you."

    Hearing this, Kaelith couldn''t help but roll his eyes.

    The reason he interrupted Yamamoto was simple.

    If Yamamoto had tried to pressure him into joining the First Division in front of all the captains, it would have damaged his reputation.

    Moreover, it would offend the Shihoin family, one of the noble families.

    In peaceful times, Yamamoto wouldn''t care about such a minor issue. But in the current situation, his authority needed to remain unshaken.

    At the very least, it couldn''t be compromised over something trivial involving Kaelith.

    Seeming to guess his intentions, Yoruichi smirked slightly.

    She didn''t mind men with a sense of loyalty.

    Suddenly, a voice called out from behind them.

    "Kaelith Yurei."

    The two stopped in their tracks and turned to look.

    Chojiro Sasakibe stood not far behind, silently looking at Kaelith.

    Yoruichi frowned slightly.

    Chojiro Sasakibe was the Lieutenant of the First Division.

    Was he here to settle a score with Kaelith on behalf of his captain?

    That couldn''t be, right? There were still captains nearby who hadn''t gone far.

    But then again, maybe he was planning to use the element of surprise...

    While she quickly considered these possibilities, ¨­maeda Marechiyo noticed the situation and hurried over, positioning himself in front of Kaelith.

    Under their watchful eyes, Sasakibe bowed to Kaelith.

    "I sincerely apologize for the great trouble caused by our captain''s mistake."

    "If there''s ever anything you need from me, please don''t hesitate to let me know. I will do my utmost to make amends for the inconvenience."

    With that, he straightened up, nodded at Kaelith, and walked away.

    ...

    "...Graduating early, by the end of the month?"

    In the Kenod dojo of the Shin''¨­ Academy, Aizen was diligently practicing his sword technique.

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, he paused and looked over.

    "Yes, the Captain-Commander gave the order. I don''t have much choice."

    "It seems my pure, idyllic student days are coming to an end."

    Kaelith sat cross-legged on the floor, resting his chin on one hand with a sigh.

    He hadn''t even been enrolled in Shin''¨­ Academy for half a year.

    When he watched the anime, he thought it was unbelievable that Ichimaru Gin graduated in just a year.

    Now, he was graduating even earlier.

    Thinking about it, he looked at Aizen.

    If Aizen was willing, he could graduate with him.

    They''d join the Second Division together, giving him a familiar face.

    He couldn''t help but laugh.

    Expecting Aizen to reveal his true strength willingly was as likely as finding a hundred gold coins lying on the street.

    While he was lost in thought, Aizen asked, "What''s the final judgment for Shinchira Renzosuke?"

    Kaelith snapped back, considering for a moment, then replied, "He''s been sent to the Nest of Maggots, for about five hundred years, I think."

    "What?"

    Hearing this, Aizen frowned.

    Kaelith looked at him curiously, "What''s wrong?"

    Holding his bamboo sword, Aizen slowly sat down.

    "The Nest of Maggots is for potential criminals or those with minor offenses."

    "Given Shinchira''s crimes, even if he wasn''t sentenced to death, he should have been sent to Muken." ( t/n it is the eighth and final level of the underground prison, Aizen was sentenced there for 20,000 years)

    Mimicking Kaelith, Aizen rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

    Kaelith wasn''t in a hurry; he was used to Aizen''s frequent contemplative silences.

    He took out his Asauchi, placed it across his knees, and began meditating.

    After a while, Aizen finally spoke up.

    "I''ll apply for an early graduation with you at the end of the month."

    Even deep in meditation, Kaelith opened his eyes in surprise at that statement.

    ------------------------

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 Chapter 40

    Even during his sword meditation, Kaelith Yurei was jolted awake by Aizen''s statement.

    He stared blankly for a couple of seconds before asking reflexively, "What did you say?"

    "I said, I''ll be taking the graduation exam at the end of the month as well."

    Aizen repeated himself with unwavering calm in response to Kaelith''s bewildered question.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion.

    Aizen, planning to graduate early? And not just early, but five and a half years early? This kind of grandstanding didn''t seem like something he would do.

    Pondering, Kaelith reached out to check Aizen''s forehead to see if he was feverish.

    Aizen swatted Kaelith''s hand away. "What are you doing?"

    "Just checking if you''re ill," Kaelith replied.

    Aizen: "¡­"

    It was hard to say if he was ill, but Kaelith definitely was, and it wasn''t mild.

    He closed his eyes to compose himself, trying not to get irritated by Kaelith''s antics.

    A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and said, "Kaelith, have you considered what Shinchira Renzosuke''s sentencing implies?"

    "Shinchira?" Kaelith arched an eyebrow.

    Tired of waiting for him to think, Aizen directly said, "As I just mentioned, Shinchira Renzosuke''s crimes should have sent him straight to Muken."

    "Since he wasn''t confined there, it suggests that there''s a problem within the Central 46."

    "The shadow of the Five Great Noble Families behind the rebels isn''t hard to guess, but I initially thought only one of the Five Families was involved."

    "Although the rebels have some influence in the Central 46, they were in a relatively disadvantaged position and barely managing."

    "But now it seems I was wrong."

    "The ability to protect Shinchira Renzosuke means that the rebels have gained significant sway within the Central 46."

    He looked at Kaelith solemnly, "Do you understand what I''m implying?"

    "The rebels likely have the backing of more than one of the Great Noble Families!"

    "And within the Gotei 13, the captains swayed by the rebels aren''t limited to Shinchira alone."

    "If you dive headfirst into this, you''ll inevitably fall into the traps set by those hidden within."

    "At that time, your status as the Head Captain''s student won''t be a lifeline but a liability."

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith''s expression cleared.

    He suddenly remembered Yoruichi''s uneasy face when Yamamoto announced Shinchira Renzosuke''s verdict.

    At that moment, he thought Yoruichi was merely upset at the mention of Shinchira.

    Now, it seemed she might have already considered what Aizen was suggesting, which was why she appeared angry.

    Then, curiosity got the better of him.

    If, as Aizen said, more than one of the Five Great Noble Families were behind the rebels, who could they be?

    It likely wasn''t the Kuchiki family, as Ginrei Kuchiki had always been the Head Captain''s staunch ally, and there was no reason for his betrayal.

    Yoruichi was also unlikely, given her straightforward nature and disinterest in convoluted schemes.

    The Shiba family... since he didn''t even know who the current head was, he wouldn''t speculate further.

    That left possibly the two lesser-known families.

    Thinking this, Kaelith frowned and closed his eyes.

    Yet, he couldn''t assume so simply. Noble decisions are often not based on individual personality or preferences.

    If aligning with the rebels brought significant, hidden benefits, then even the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in families betting on both sides wasn''t out of the question.

    After a moment, he decided not to dwell on these complex matters. Why should someone like him, earning a modest salary, bother with the machinations of the great feudal system?

    Looking at Aizen sitting beside him, Kaelith suddenly remembered something and spoke up:

    "Right, S¨­suke, I was learning at the Head Captain''s place recently, and I overheard him talking with the Eighth Division Captain about something."

    "They mentioned that a mysterious master appeared in Rukongai, having killed many of the rebels'' Shinigami."

    "If you have to leave Seireitei, be careful not to run into this master."

    Aizen blinked in slight surprise at the information, then quickly regained his composure.

    He nodded, "Alright, I understand."

    This intelligence from Kaelith was timely.

    Going forward with his plans to eliminate rebels and collect souls, he''d need to be more cautious.

    Normally, knowing that his actions had caught the Head Captain''s attention, he would choose to pull back until the heat died down.

    But now, when he most needed the power, some risks were worth taking, especially when compared to the potential gains from his research.

    Seeing that Aizen seemed to take the news indifferently, Kaelith crossed his arms and added:

    "Actually, you might not need to worry too much. From what the Head Captain indicated, they seem to have gathered some intelligence on the person and have already sent someone to capture him."

    "It probably won''t be long before this crisis is resolved."

    As he said this, Kaelith watched Aizen''s reaction with interest.

    Indeed, hearing this, Aizen''s expression grew slightly more serious.

    If Yamamoto had said such things, they were certainly not without basis.

    Fortunately, Kaelith had brought back this message, or else Aizen might have been caught unprepared and suffered for it.

    But now that he was forewarned, the situation was different...

    While pondering, Aizen suddenly paused.

    He glanced at Kaelith, wondering why he had suddenly shared this information.

    Although Kaelith sometimes discussed things he witnessed in the First Division, the timing and topic of this conversation seemed too coincidental.

    Could it be that the Head Captain already suspected him and had deliberately instructed Kaelith to say this to gauge his reaction?

    After thinking it over, Aizen dismissed the idea.

    Unless the Head Captain was omniscient, there was no reason to suspect an ordinary student like himself.

    If the Head Captain were truly omniscient, he wouldn''t resort to such convoluted methods.

    Or perhaps Kaelith had guessed something and was testing him?

    After watching Kaelith for a few seconds, Aizen averted his gaze.

    He had probably been overthinking things, becoming overly paranoid.

    Kaelith, although often unreliable, was certainly a "normal" person.

    If he truly knew that Aizen was collecting experimental materials through murder, he couldn''t continue to interact with him so normally.

    If that day came, even if Kaelith didn''t turn against him outright, he would likely treat him as a stranger from then on.

    Imagining that scenario, Aizen smirked slightly.

    Someone like him, who disregarded norms, had no reverence for rules, and could even disregard life itself, was undoubtedly destined for loneliness.

    The camaraderie and passion of his student days would eventually become a brief, fond memory in his life.

    One day, there would be no one left by his side.

    Thinking about it, it was actually quite amusing. (t/n hmm interesting)  S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 41

    Over the next few days, Kaelith Yurei surprisingly stayed put and didn''t wander around. Instead, he applied for a private dojo through Kinoshita-Sensei.

    With the title of the Head Captain''s disciple, his request was processed with almost no resistance. Within half an hour, it was approved.

    The dojo, located at the foot of Shin''¨­ Academy''s back mountain, was an old facility. It required some cleaning but was still functional.

    Within this dojo, Kaelith focused on honing the technique S¨­kotsu.

    By the third day after he taught the move to Aizen, Aizen had already mastered it.

    Kaelith, naturally, had also learned how to use S¨­kotsu through the system''s synchronization ability.

    Standing motionless in the dojo, Kaelith seemed like a sturdy pine tree.

    He had removed the top of his uniform and tied it around his waist.

    Though still young, his exposed upper body already displayed finely toned muscles.

    A light sheen of sweat glistened on his skin from the intense training.

    If someone had recorded him and posted the video online in his past life, talent scouts would have been at his door the next day.

    With his eyes closed, Kaelith quietly felt the flow of power within him.

    In his mind''s eye, his entire body seemed translucent, the only clear thing being the movement of Spirit Pressure within him.

    With every heartbeat, Spirit Pressure coursed through his limbs like blood, filling every part of him.

    Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

    He clenched his fists and thrust them forward!

    Boom!!!

    Terrifying power burst forth from his fists, surging forward instantly.

    The reinforced walls of the dojo, strengthened by multiple layers of Kido, groaned under the impact. They bent into strange shapes, emitting agonized creaks.

    The protective Kido glowed brilliantly as it shattered layer by layer!

    Several windows around the room exploded outward, and the rushing air formed a miniature storm outside.

    Several seconds later, Kaelith slowly lowered his fists.

    Rather than cheering for the impressive punch he had just delivered, he frowned, rubbing his chin in thought.

    Since the first time he used Ikkotsu, he had sensed something peculiar.

    If he could synchronize the timing of his Spirit Pressure release with the moment of his punch, achieving a certain balance, it might produce extraordinary results.

    In his imagination, this technique felt similar to the Black Flash from Jujutsu Kaisen.

    The Black Flash occurs when a physical strike and cursed energy impact align within 0.000001 seconds, creating a spatial distortion and unleashing tremendous force.

    Of course, it was merely a reference¡ªafter all, the mechanics of their worlds were fundamentally different, and the key techniques were bound to differ as well.

    Kaelith had a strong feeling that if he could figure this out, he''d gain an incredibly powerful skill.

    He had shared this idea with Yamamoto and Aizen, both of whom had attempted it a few times at his suggestion. Their conclusion? He was overthinking it.

    Hearing that from two of the Soul Society''s greatest geniuses had almost made Kaelith give up.

    But every time he used Ikkotsu, the deep, instinctual resonance within his soul couldn''t be ignored.

    In the end, he decided to continue practicing.

    Even if he couldn''t perfect the technique, simply training with Ikkotsu was worthwhile.

    After practicing all afternoon, he was thoroughly exhausted.

    After a shower, Kaelith sat cross-legged, placing his Asauchi across his lap to meditate on its essence.

    Ever since Aizen awakened Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, Kaelith couldn''t help but wonder what abilities his Zanpakut¨­ would manifest.

    It was like watching a friend pull an SSR character in a Gacha game¡ªhe was envious but couldn''t scrape together enough rolls himself. The anticipation was maddening.

    Two hours later, he''d achieved absolutely nothing. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If he hadn''t already confirmed with Yamamoto that his Asauchi was perfectly fine, he might''ve thought he''d been given a counterfeit.

    With his silent, unresponsive Asauchi in hand, Kaelith left the dojo, stretched, and headed to the cafeteria.

    Aizen and Seinosuke Yamada were already there, eating.

    As Kaelith sat down with his tray, Seinosuke''s eyes sparkled as he turned to him.

    "Kaelith, I heard you''re graduating early?"

    Kaelith froze. "How did you find out?"

    Seinosuke grinned widely and pointed to himself with his thumb. "Let me reintroduce myself: I am Seinosuke Yamada, and I''ve just applied for early graduation too!"

    "Kinoshita confirmed I wasn''t joking and then mentioned you and Aizen were applying as well."

    Looking at the two, Seinosuke continued, "You two are something else, planning to graduate early without saying a word!"

    "I can understand Kaelith¡ªhis strength is already way above the standard. But Aizen, why are you joining this madness?"

    Aizen, as composed as ever, chewed his food slowly. Only after swallowing did he reply, "Because my strength is sufficient."

    Seinosuke blinked, slightly stunned.

    In his mind, Aizen had always been a low-profile type. Hearing such a bold statement from him was a bit of a shock.

    Kaelith was about to say something when he realized something wasn''t right.

    He turned to Seinosuke with a look of surprise. "You''re graduating early too?"

    "Yep." Seinosuke tilted his head back slightly, looking pleased with himself.

    "I''ve memorized The Comprehensive Guide to Healing Techniques, The Seireitei Medical Journal Anthology, The Kirinji Medical Chronicles, and Shinigami Spirit Body Analysis, among others."

    Kaelith stared in astonishment as Seinosuke rattled off titles for over a minute, as if reciting a menu.

    "All of them. Memorized! Now, I''m an unbeatable force in the medical field!"

    By the end of it, Kaelith''s eyes were wide as saucers, feeling like he was looking at a divine being.

    Even Aizen glanced at him, momentarily impressed.

    The power of dedication was truly terrifying.

    Yet, Aizen realized this development worked in his favor.

    If only Kaelith and Aizen were graduating early, it would draw too much attention. With Seinosuke joining, the focus would naturally be diffused.

    Aizen glanced at Seinosuke, finding him a bit more agreeable than before.

    Later that night, as Kaelith returned to his room after a trip to the restroom, he stopped and looked toward Aizen''s bed.

    Without needing to touch it, he could tell it was a decoy.

    Scratching his head, he sighed in exasperation.

    "S¨­suke, are you really that desperate to grow stronger?"

    Despite his repeated warnings, Aizen still insisted on taking risks.

    After a few moments of contemplation, Kaelith made up his mind...

    ----------

    T/N: Funn fact the word "gacha" isn''t recognized in Grammarly. Need to capitalize the G for it to recognize it.

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 Chapter 42

    After breakfast, Kaelith Yurei changed into casual clothes and climbed over the academy wall to leave.

    Although his First Division badge allowed him to leave the school whenever he pleased, Kaelith felt it would be improper to abuse such privileges.

    Reflecting on his virtuous behavior, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride.

    If Yamamoto knew how incorruptible he was, resisting the sweet allure of power, surely the old man would feel deeply gratified.

    Using his exceptional Shunpo, Kaelith effortlessly infiltrated Seireitei.

    Dressed in casual attire instead of his academy uniform, he passed by several Shinigami without drawing any special attention.

    Walking along the clean, orderly streets, he quickly arrived at his destination:

    The Twelfth Division barracks.

    Due to a recent attack, there were more patrolling Shinigami around the Twelfth Division''s vicinity.

    But for a true expert, numbers were meaningless.

    Kaelith''s figure flickered as he skillfully avoided every patrol team.

    Stopping in front of a sliding door, he reached out and knocked lightly.

    A few seconds later, the door slid open.

    Inside, Kirio Hikifune sat cross-legged on the floor with a book resting on her lap, accompanied by a teacup and some snacks.

    Seeing Kaelith, she looked surprised.

    "I was wondering who could have snuck in¡ªturns out it''s you, boy," she said with a smile, patting the tatami mat beside her. "Come, sit!"

    Kaelith gave a polite nod before stepping inside and sitting cross-legged across from her.

    As he settled, his eyes casually glanced at the book on her lap¡ªit appeared to be a cookbook.

    So, this strong and commanding Captain of the Twelfth Division had a passion for food?

    Noticing his gaze, Hikifune''s interest was piqued.

    She held up the book for him to see.

    "Look, boy! This is a cookbook from the World of the Living, all about making different desserts~"

    "I had it specially retrieved and converted into a spirit particle form so I could read it here in Seireitei."

    "This is the only copy in the entire Soul Society¡ªan absolute rarity!"

    Kaelith''s curiosity was instantly sparked.

    "Let me take a look," he said, reaching out to take the book.

    Flipping through its pages, a subtle expression crossed his face.

    The book mostly featured simple, classic desserts.

    Likely due to the time period, the recipes were basic and didn''t include advanced techniques or equipment-dependent pastries.

    To Hikifune, these desserts might already seem extraordinary.

    But to Kaelith, who had spent countless hours as a self-proclaimed "culinary master" in his past life, these recipes were child''s play.

    Detecting the faint disdain in his gaze, Hikifune assumed he didn''t like desserts.

    "Don''t underestimate these pastries¡ªthey''re absolutely delicious when made properly!" she insisted, a bit flustered.

    Seeing her reaction, Kaelith suddenly had an idea.

    Holding up the cookbook, he asked, "Captain Hikifune, do you have the tools to make these recipes?"

    Hikifune blinked in surprise before nodding. "I had a batch custom-made and delivered recently."

    "And the ingredients?" Kaelith continued.

    "I''ve prepared some as well. I was actually planning to try making something today," she replied.

    Satisfied, Kaelith nodded.

    "Good. In that case, no time like the present. Let''s get started!"

    "Captain Hikifune, let me show you what real baking is all about!"

    Hikifune stared at him, puzzled.

    This boy could bake desserts?

    In this era, The World of the Living, Japan was just beginning to adopt Western influences, where deserts were more common.

    Most people, let alone making these recipes, had never even seen them before.

    But Kaelith didn''t seem like he was bluffing.

    After some thought, Hikifune nodded and led him to her secret kitchen.

    Recently, she''d been developing a new passion¡ªif Kaelith could create better recipes, it would be a significant breakthrough for her.

    Standing in front of the pristine kitchen, Kaelith couldn''t help but marvel.

    As expected of the Twelfth Division Captain, the setup was truly impressive.

    These tools and appliances, appearing in what should be an Edo-period setting, felt like treasures from a museum.

    But to Kaelith, who came from the modern era, they were nothing special.

    Under Hikifune''s watchful eyes, he began working with practiced ease.

    "Guide of the culinary arts, grant me strength!" he joked internally as he expertly handled the equipment.

    Seeing Kaelith''s proficiency, Hikifune started to believe he genuinely knew what he was doing.

    Initially, Kaelith had been a little apprehensive, worried that his skills might falter without the aid of modern technology.

    But as he worked, he realized that with his precise Kido and Spirit Pressure control, using Kido to heat ingredients was even more reliable than an oven.

    Before long, the desserts began to take shape:

    Cream chiffon cake, soft European bread, garlic baguettes, souffl¨¦s, macarons...

    Watching the finished pastries pile up, Hikifune''s excitement grew uncontrollable.

    Taking a warm souffl¨¦ in her hands, she took a bite. Her eyes instantly lit up.

    Under Kaelith''s amused gaze, Hikifune initially maintained a graceful pace, savoring the flavors.

    But as she ate, her speed increased noticeably.

    Soon, Kaelith''s expression turned slightly strange.

    He had made enough pastries to feed two or three people comfortably, maybe even five or six considering the richness of the flavors.

    Yet, within mere minutes, Hikifune had devoured everything by herself.

    Patting her stomach in satisfaction, Hikifune leaned back with a blissful expression.

    Watching this scene, Kaelith couldn''t help but have a slightly malicious thought.

    At this rate, wasn''t she bound to gain weight?

    Before he could dwell on it, Hikifune suddenly disappeared from his view.

    Kaelith instinctively tensed, readying himself for an attack.

    But in the next moment, Hikifune reappeared right in front of him.

    To his astonishment, she bent down deeply, her voice filled with sincerity:

    "Boy¡­ no, Master! Please take me as your apprentice!!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This is the lifelong request of Kirio Hikifune!"

    Kaelith: "???"

    Staring at the Twelfth Division Captain, one of the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society, bowing so earnestly just to learn baking, Kaelith felt like he was in a surreal dream.

    Shaking his head with a chuckle, he replied, "Captain Hikifune, it''s just baking. There''s no need to go this far. If you''re interested, I can teach you more recipes. But in exchange..."

    "No, this isn''t just cooking!"

    Hikifune raised her head, her gaze unwavering.

    "This is a pivotal decision for my next several centuries of training!"

    "For me, the ability to create truly delicious food defines my future¡ªmy very life!"

    "Master Kaelith! Please accept me as your student!!"

    -------------------------

    (t/n haha come on Kaelith take here as your disciple)

 Chapter 43

    Hearing Kirio Hikifune''s words, Kaelith Yurei instinctively displayed a look of reluctance.

    It wasn''t directed at Hikifune herself but rather at the title she had used¡ªit was dangerous.

    Kirio Hikifune was one of the most powerful Shinigami in the Soul Society. According to what Yoruichi had mentioned, Hikifune had already received an invitation to join the Royal Guard¡ªthe elite protectors of the Soul King.

    In a few decades, or perhaps even just a handful of years, Hikifune would leave the Soul Society for the legendary Rei¨­ky¨± (Soul King Palace) to become a ¨­ken Shisetsu (Royal Special Agent).

    If he dared to accept the role of her apprentice, it didn''t take a genius to foresee the trouble it would bring.

    Kaelith coughed lightly. "Captain Hikifune, let''s skip the whole ''apprenticeship'' thing. Why don''t I just teach you your favorite recipes?"

    "In exchange, I have a favor to ask of you."

    Hikifune frowned slightly, looking conflicted. "Cooking isn''t something to take so lightly¡­ you need to treat it with reverence."

    Kaelith decisively ignored her lecture and continued, "Captain Hikifune, I''ve heard from Yamamoto-sensei that your artificial soul systems can counteract illusion-based abilities."

    "I''d like to ask for your help in designing a technique to combat illusions."

    At the mention of artificial souls, Hikifune''s interest was piqued.

    "Illusion-based abilities? Tell me more."

    Under her curious gaze, Kaelith shared a prepared description of the key traits of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡ªAizen''s Zanpakut¨­ ability. He carefully omitted any information that could directly link Aizen to the technique, focusing only on the necessary details.

    Perhaps someday, decades into the future, Hikifune might piece together Aizen''s connection to the ability. But that was a problem for another time.

    After hearing Kaelith''s explanation, Hikifune stroked her chin thoughtfully, her brows furrowed.

    "That sounds incredibly powerful¡­ does the Soul Society really have someone with such an advanced illusion technique?"

    Two figures flashed in her mind.

    Haguro Tetsusai and Ajisai Dazen¡ªthe Chief and Deputy Chiefs of the Kid¨­sh¨± (Kid¨­ Corps) in Seireitei. If it were those two¡­ no, even they probably couldn''t pull off something like this.

    Although she had no idea where Kaelith''s description originated, she clapped her hands lightly and grinned.

    "Whatever. If it''s a request from Master Kaelith, I''ll figure it out!"

    "...Captain Hikifune, just call me by my name," Kaelith muttered, his eye twitching.

    However, Hikifune was too absorbed to hear him anymore.

    Under his watchful gaze, she suddenly stood up and walked over to a machine. With the press of a button, a large sheet of paper unfurled. Hikifune picked up a pen and began scribbling furiously. The machine adjusted the paper''s position as if alive, organizing completed pages into neat stacks before binding them into booklets. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching this, Kaelith couldn''t help but marvel. As the former head of the precursor to the Shinigami Kaihatsu Kyoku (Research and Development Bureau), Hikifune''s ingenuity with gadgets rivaled that of her successors.

    Initially, Kaelith thought she''d tinker briefly and then take a break. To his surprise, Hikifune worked non-stop for over four hours, her focus unbroken.

    During this time, a Twelfth Division member came by with something to report. Kaelith opened the door, ready to fetch Hikifune, but the moment the members saw her absorbed in work, they simply waved dismissively at him and left.

    Kaelith, however, was in no rush. He placed his Asauchi across his lap and meditated using techniques Yamamoto-sensei had taught him.

    As dinnertime approached, Kaelith opened his eyes to find Hikifune still engrossed in her work. A neat stack of booklets had formed beside the machine.

    Kaelith inhaled sharply. If even half the authors back in his previous life had this level of dedication, they wouldn''t have been cursed daily by their readers.

    Realizing Hikifune had no intention of stopping, Kaelith decided to cook dinner himself. Leaving the materials unguarded was not an option, so he stayed in the lab, selecting a few ingredients from Hikifune''s stocked pantry.

    Heating a pan with oil, he began cooking, occasionally glancing at Hikifune, who remained lost in her work.

    Kaelith had always intended to address Ky¨­ka Suigetsu eventually, but it wasn''t his top priority. After all, as a minor figure in Aizen''s eyes, he didn''t consider himself a likely target.

    However, recent events have changed his perspective. Delaying further risked exposing himself to Aizen prematurely, and Kaelith couldn''t rely on the so-called "main character halo" to ensure events unfolded as expected.

    With a flick of his wrist, Kaelith plated several dishes: stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, green peppers with sliced pork, pan-fried fish, braised meatballs, and beef soup.

    Just as he turned to call Hikifune, he nearly jumped. She had silently appeared behind him, her face alight with excitement.

    "Master Kaelith! Are these legendary dishes from the human world? I''ve heard of them but never had the chance to try them. You''re truly worthy of the title Master!"

    Pouring the soup into a bowl, Kaelith sighed. "If you really admire me, stop using that title that paints a target on my back."

    The two sat down, eating in companionable silence. Kaelith had worried he''d overcooked, but Hikifune polished off everything with ease, still looking as if she wanted more.

    Watching her cheerful expression, Kaelith glanced instinctively at her slim waist. How could someone who ate so much maintain such a figure? Was this some legendary natural talent? Or was all the nutrition going to¡­ certain areas?

    Suddenly, Hikifune leaned forward with a wide grin. "Master! Teach me these recipes too!"

    "That can wait," Kaelith replied, his tone serious. "How''s the research coming along?"

    Hikifune snorted and gave a mischievous grin. "Don''t worry, Master Kaelith. I''ve already got a solution!"

    Kaelith''s eyes lit up.

    ---

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 Chapter 44

    Kirio Hikifune waved her hand gently, and several notebooks filled with writing floated over.

    Under Kaelith Yurei''s watchful gaze, she opened each one.

    "Master, I analyzed the details as you described," she began.

    "A special kind of illusion¡ªsilent, invisible, and possibly without any noticeable signs during activation."

    "As long as one sees it, they fall under its control indefinitely."

    "There are only two ways to break free from this state of control."

    "First, your Spiritual Pressure must far exceed the opponent''s."

    "Second, you need to physically touch the object used to cast the illusion."

    She paused, her expression solemn.

    "My conclusion is clear." Hikifune''s tone turned grave as she stated:

    "You can''t defend against it." (t/n I am telling you it''s to OP)

    Kaelith: "...?"

    If she weren''t so strong, Kaelith would have immediately asked if she was joking and reprimanded her.

    Seeing his stunned expression, Hikifune smiled.

    "If you can''t defend against it, then why not change your perspective?"

    "If the enemy wants to use illusions, let them. As long as you can continue fighting normally after falling under the illusion, it won''t matter."

    Kaelith raised a skeptical brow. "How''s that even possible?"

    "It''s possible," Hikifune said seriously.

    She pointed at the open notebooks beside her.

    "The method is simple. First, carry a Gikongan with you at all times."

    "Second, keep the Gikongan in an activated state."

    "Third, during battle, treat the Gikongan like an outer garment for your own soul¡ªwear it over your spirit."

    "This way, if the enemy''s illusion takes effect, it will target the ''soul garment'' instead."

    "When you remove the garment, you''ll break free from the illusion."

    Kaelith: "¡­"

    Seeing his silence, Hikifune waved a hand in front of his face.

    "What''s wrong, Master Kaelith? Is there a problem with my method?"

    "There''s a huge problem!" Kaelith rolled his eyes. "Let''s not even get into the finer points¡ªhow does this third step even work? You''re practically skipping an entire tree of technology!"

    "I don''t know much about the structure of Gikongan, but they''re clearly extremely intricate. Changing their form like this isn''t something you can just say and do."

    "If manipulating souls were this easy, Shinigami wouldn''t bother with swords and battles. They''d just wave their hands and mess with their enemies'' souls directly."

    Hikifune thought for a moment before chuckling. "Well, we''ll figure that part out when we get there."

    "That makes sense," Kaelith replied instinctively, before quickly correcting himself. "Wait, no, it doesn''t! This time, it''s urgent!"

    "Urgent, huh¡­" Hikifune mused. "But I can''t think of a better solution at the moment. How about we start with this approach, and if we come up with new ideas, we can adjust?"

    Kaelith nodded reluctantly.

    ---

    As the sky darkened, Kaelith bid farewell to Hikifune and left the Twelfth Division.

    In just half an afternoon, he had learned a wealth of foundational knowledge about Gikongan and artificial souls.

    Since this was meant to be used "against" Aizen, he couldn''t exactly ask Aizen for practice.

    The thought of mastering such a complex system left Kaelith feeling utterly drained.

    This friend of his was proving to be quite the handful.

    In the future, if that idiot Aizen managed to avoid a lifetime prison sentence, he should really bow and thank Kaelith profusely.

    Before leaving, Hikifune had insisted on learning a few simple recipes from him.

    In this era, while Japanese cuisine wasn''t exactly backward, it was certainly underwhelming. Miso soup, pickled vegetables, and bizarre varieties of sushi were the culinary staples.

    Commonplace dishes like tempura from later times were considered high-class delicacies and synonymous with gourmet food in this era.  sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To Hikifune, the dishes Kaelith could prepare were like a revelation.

    It was as if someone accustomed to retro consoles suddenly encountered a PS5.

    Her envy and admiration needed no words.

    ---

    The next day, Kaelith and Aizen attended their classes together.

    Even though both were on the verge of graduation, their disciplined nature drove them to maintain their attendance.

    As long as they hadn''t officially graduated, they committed to taking every lesson seriously.

    Seeing the two of them in class, Kinoshita looked momentarily surprised before smiling.

    After class, Kaelith headed toward the school''s shop.

    Since S¨­jun Kuchiki had stopped attending, Kaelith rarely visited the cafeteria for lunch.

    Without the lavish meal boxes S¨­jun brought from the Kuchiki household, the cafeteria food could only satisfy hunger¡ªit offered no sense of excitement.

    At the shop, Kaelith was about to buy two anpan when a voice suddenly called out behind him. (T/n anpans are basically donuts)

    "Oi! Kaelith, my man!"

    Turning around curiously, Kaelith looked toward the source of the voice.

    A man with brown hair styled into a pompadour and a large gold chain around his neck was running toward him.

    His appearance startled several students nearby.

    "Hey, isn''t that someone from the Second Division?"

    "That''s the Lieutenant of the 2nd Division, ¨­maeda Marenoshin!"

    "The one who''s insanely good at Shunpo?"

    "Yeah, not just Shunpo. I heard he practically runs the Second Division now and is really powerful!"

    At first, the students were puzzled as to why someone of ¨­maeda''s rank would come to Shin''¨­ Academy.

    But when they heard him call Kaelith''s name, everything clicked.

    He must be here to recruit Kaelith into the Second Division early.

    Even so, Kaelith was still a first-year student.

    Even if he was on track to graduate within a year¡ªan unprecedented feat¡ªthere were still over six months to go.

    Wasn''t it a bit too early to start recruiting him?

    As students whispered amongst themselves, ¨­maeda reached Kaelith''s side.

    "Hey, Kaelith! I heard your year has no classes this afternoon, so I came to find you. What are you up to?"

    "Buying lunch," Kaelith said, pointing to the anpan on the counter.

    ¨­maeda looked momentarily taken aback before quickly waving it off as if it didn''t matter.

    "I love anpan as much as anyone, but skip them for today. Let''s go try some of the food my family''s chef prepared!"

    Kaelith naturally had no objections.

    If he remembered correctly, the ¨­maeda family was among the wealthiest nobles in the Soul Society.

    The ingredients they used wouldn''t fall short of the Kuchiki household''s quality!

    Following ¨­maeda''s lead, Kaelith left the academy, and the two headed toward the Second Division''s barracks.

    Since ¨­maeda was currently handling most of the captain''s duties, he lived directly within the division''s quarters.

    As they walked, ¨­maeda enthusiastically pointed out various facilities and training programs along the way.

    Passing a wide-open area, Kaelith noticed several young children, shorter than him, practicing kansetsu waza on wooden dummies.

    Despite their young age, the aura each child exuded was extraordinarily intense.

    ---

 Chapter 45

    Seeing Kaelith stop in his tracks, ¨­maeda Marenoshin followed his gaze.

    "Kaelith, interested in the training of the Correction Corps?"

    Kaelith looked at the boys and girls who were training. "Not so much interested, just feeling a bit reflective."

    "These people haven''t even reached the age to enroll in the Shin''¨­ Academy, yet they''re already undergoing training."

    Hearing this, Marenoshin shook his head with a sigh. "Kaelith, there''s one thing you''re mistaken about."

    "These children aren''t just starting their training."

    "The ones you''re seeing now are the elites of the Correction Corps General Unit."

    "Most of them have been part of the Correction Corps for over ten years."

    "Which means they started this kind of training when they were even younger."

    Hearing Marenoshin''s words, Kaelith couldn''t help but show a look of surprise.

    They began training ten years ago... Ten years ago, how old could these kids have been?

    Even though Shinigami have long lifespans and extended timelines, it''s still a bit hard for him to accept.

    Kaelith gently shook his head.

    As expected of the Soul Society, which closely mirrors ancient times¡ªwhen it comes to inhumanity, it rarely disappoints.

    As he was pondering these thoughts, Marenoshin suddenly seemed to notice something.

    He grinned. "Kaelith, didn''t I just say that most here have been with the General Unit for about ten years?"

    "Actually, not all of them have been here for ten terms... See that kid over there? The shorter one."

    "She''s a super genius. Although not quite at your level, she gave us old folks quite a surprise." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That child has only been with the Correction Corps for six years, yet she''s already mastered all the knowledge and techniques."

    "If nothing unexpected happens, starting next year, she''ll be promoted to the Captain''s Personal Guard."

    "Before her, no one with less than ten terms has ever been admitted!"

    As he spoke, Marenoshin walked a few steps toward the training squad.

    "Shaolin! Come over here!"

    Hearing Marenoshin''s call, the petite member of the Correction Corps paused slightly during her training.

    Seeing ¨­maeda Marenoshin, she flashed directly in front of him and knelt on one knee.

    "Vice-Captain!" (t/n lieutenant is the official name, but people also call them Vice-Captain since it is the 2nd rank with Captain being the 1st rank)

    Marenoshin nodded, his expression steady and serious, completely different from his earlier jovial demeanor.

    "Shaolin, how is the progress on the training subjects for the Captain''s Personal Guard?"

    Upon hearing this, the girl responded without hesitation, "Reporting to Vice-Captain, all have been completed!"

    Marenoshin turned his head and, from an angle the girl couldn''t see, gave Kaelith a smug smile.

    Kaelith: "..."

    He didn''t even know what the Personal Guard had to train for; what''s the point of showing off?

    As if guessing Kaelith''s thoughts, Marenoshin smiled and was about to say something.

    Suddenly, a person dressed in black and wearing a mask appeared beside him using Shunpo.

    The masked individual knelt on one knee. "Vice-Captain ¨­maeda! The patrol team has discovered traces of suspected rebel activity in the Sixth District of South Rukongai. Requesting support!"

    Marenoshin''s expression became serious.

    "Dispatch Team One to check it out... No, I''ll go myself!"

    If it were in the 50th or 60th districts, he wouldn''t mind sending subordinates directly.

    But the Sixth District is a prosperous area; many nobles have shops there. If something happens, he doesn''t want to bear that responsibility.

    After the masked individual left, Kaelith asked, "Need any help?"

    "No need," Marenoshin shook his head. "You''re not officially part of the Second Division yet. Matters of the Second Division must be resolved internally."

    As he said this, Marenoshin uncharacteristically shed his usual laid-back attitude. Observing him, Kaelith subtly nodded.

    Although he''s often carefree, whenever it comes to serious matters, ¨­maeda Marenoshin is reliable.

    Future ¨­maeda Marechiyo, take a good look at your father''s work ethic!

    After stating he would go personally, Marenoshin suddenly remembered he was still acting as Kaelith''s "guide."

    Leaving at this time felt a bit awkward.

    After a moment of thought, inspiration struck him.

    "Shaolin, I need to step out for a bit. From now on, you''ll take over and show Kaelith around the division."

    "Apart from the Maggot''s Nest, you can show him anywhere else."

    "This gentleman will soon be joining the Second Division in an important position. Make sure you don''t neglect him!"

    After saying that, he looked at Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, this is Shaolin. She''s very familiar with the inner workings of the division. Follow her around, and when I get back, I''ll host a banquet for you as an early welcome!"

    After exchanging a few words with Kaelith, ¨­maeda Marenoshin hurriedly headed toward Rukongai.

    Once Marenoshin left, the girl dressed in black with a mask stood at attention and saluted Kaelith without hesitation.

    "Correction Corps General Unit member Shaolin, awaiting your orders!"

    Kaelith looked at the girl.

    At first glance, he felt she looked familiar.

    Hearing the name "Shaolin," he immediately confirmed.

    The somewhat reserved girl in front of him was the future Captain of the Second Division, Soifon. (t/n: Her actual name is Shaolin F¨¥ng, Soifon is her codename)

    Although her features still held youthful innocence and her demeanor was a bit shy, he could already see hints of her future self.

    If it were an ordinary girl, being stared at silently like this, she''d probably have gotten annoyed by now.

    But Shaolin didn''t mind at all.

    Seeing that Kaelith hadn''t said anything, she continued, "May I ask where you would like to go first?"

    Kaelith snapped back to reality. (t/n oops there goes gravity...Ille shut up now)

    He shook his head. "I don''t mind. Just pick some places you like and show me around."

    The girl blinked, revealing a slightly puzzled look.

    Places she likes... As a member of the Correction Corps, all she needs to do is train and become stronger. What places would she like?

    After thinking for a moment, she nodded and led Kaelith forward.

    In less than two minutes, they arrived at their destination.

    Looking at the training ground in front of him, Kaelith couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.

    "Isn''t this still the training ground? What''s the difference from the previous one?"

    The girl earnestly explained, "This is Training Ground No.1. The equipment here is the newest, and the grounds are repaired daily, making training most efficient."

    "Moreover, those training here are the Captain''s Personal Guard¡ªthe highest-level members in the Correction Corps. Training here, you can always find excellent opponents!"

    Kaelith: "..."

    After two seconds of silence, he nodded. "Alright, then besides the training ground, what''s your favorite place?"

    The girl was slightly taken aback but quickly showed a determined expression and led Kaelith onward.

    Before long, they arrived in front of a building.

    "This is the Captain''s office. I hope that in the future, I can contribute my strength here for the Captain."

    As she said this, the girl''s eyes were full of longing.

    Kaelith applauded internally.

    If he didn''t know who Shaolin was, he''d definitely think this kid was management material.

    The way she spoke showed incredibly high emotional intelligence...

    ---------------------------------

    I forgot to mention but Correction Corps is just a different name for onmitsukid¨­ or stealth force

 Chapter 46

    Looking at the building in front of him, Kaelith stroked his chin thoughtfully.

    "Soif¡­ uh, young lady, who is currently the General Commander of the Correction Corps?"

    He instinctively almost called her "Soifon" before realizing that she hadn''t adopted that name yet.

    However, calling her "Shaolin F¨¥ng" felt a bit awkward, so he settled on "young lady."

    Shaolin F¨¥ng blinked in slight confusion.

    Hadn''t Vice-Captain ¨­maeda just said this person was about to join the Second Division?

    How could someone so close to joining not even know who the General Commander was?

    Although puzzled, her professionalism stopped her from voicing her thoughts.

    Straightening her posture, she responded with a touch of pride in her tone: "The General Commander is Lady Shih¨­in Yoruichi, the future Captain of the Second Division and someone destined to leave her mark on the Soul Society!"

    So it really was Yoruichi.

    Kaelith wasn''t particularly surprised.

    Though Yoruichi''s strength and age weren''t fully there yet, she was still the head of the Shih¨­in family.

    Even if she wasn''t yet captain, she''d be granted a high-ranking position in the Second Division¡ªanything less would hurt the Shih¨­in family''s reputation.

    "Have you met the General Commander?" Kaelith asked.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng didn''t find the question surprising.

    Most Correction Corps members admired Yoruichi deeply, and she assumed Kaelith''s question stemmed from the same sense of reverence.

    "I met Lady Yoruichi after joining the reserve team for her Personal Guard."

    At the mention of Yoruichi, Shaolin F¨¥ng''s gaze softened.

    "Lady Yoruichi praised my talent and said that one day, I''d stand by her side as her trusted lieutenant!"

    Recalling the scene, Shaolin F¨¥ng''s large eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

    Seeing the happiness radiating from her, Kaelith shook his head subtly.

    Ah, admiration is limitless, yet it so often goes unfulfilled.

    Of course, "unfulfilled" didn''t just refer to physical matters.

    While certain tools and techniques could mimic harmony between partners, the emotional aspect always seemed to fall short.

    Kaelith had always been curious: given Yoruichi''s personality, had she really never done anything to Soifon in the original timeline? (t/n I always wondered as well...)

    Picturing such a scenario, Kaelith couldn''t help but show a look of longing similar to Shaolin F¨¥ng''s.

    Snapping back to reality, he was about to say something but noticed Shaolin F¨¥ng''s expression dim slightly.

    "Although Lady Yoruichi is amazing¡­ she''s so busy. I''m only a reserve member of the Personal Guard, so I rarely get the chance to meet her."

    "Especially recently¡ªLady Yoruichi seems to have been caught up in some incident. She hasn''t been to the Second Division in days."

    Realizing she might have said too much, Shaolin F¨¥ng quickly stopped herself.

    "Apologies, I misspoke," she said, bowing slightly in apology.

    From a perspective where she couldn''t see him, Kaelith''s expression turned slightly nuanced.

    Was Yoruichi really that busy?

    That woman spent most of her time sneaking out of duties to train or hang out with him at Shin''¨­ Academy.

    Calculating how much time he and Yoruichi had spent together goofing off or training, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Soifon.

    Yoruichi was utterly incorrigible.

    Leaving a girl who idolized her waiting while running off to play with another man? Completely heartless!

    With these critical thoughts in mind, Kaelith followed Shaolin F¨¥ng as she showed him around the Second Division.  S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the tour, Kaelith couldn''t help but marvel.

    As one of the busiest divisions in the Soul Society, the Second Division''s sheer scale, number of personnel, and variety of departments were astounding.

    A sudden thought crossed his mind: could Yoruichi''s determination to recruit him be because she was short on manpower and wanted him to do all the grunt work?

    Lost in thought, Kaelith barely noticed when Shaolin F¨¥ng stopped walking.

    "Report: all sections of the Second Division have been reviewed. Awaiting further instructions!"

    Kaelith smiled lightly.

    "I''m good for now. You can go about your duties."

    "Understood!"

    Shaolin F¨¥ng bowed slightly.

    Straightening up, she instinctively glanced toward Training Ground No. 1 before turning and heading toward her designated training area.

    Watching her retreating figure, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    "Wait a second."

    "?!"

    Shaolin F¨¥ng turned back, awaiting instructions.

    Pointing toward Training Ground No. 1, Kaelith said, "I''ve spent the whole day wandering around, wasting time. I feel like sparring with someone now."

    "You''re about to train anyway. Let''s head over there and have a match."

    Shaolin F¨¥ng hesitated for the first time.

    "But that area is¡­"

    "I''m Vice-Captain ¨­maeda''s guest. Don''t tell me I can''t use the training grounds?" Kaelith said with a smile.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng frowned slightly.

    If Kaelith were just a guest, the answer would definitely be no.

    But Vice-Captain ¨­maeda had said Kaelith would soon join the Second Division.

    Given ¨­maeda''s attitude and the special treatment Kaelith had received, it was clear he wouldn''t be an ordinary member.

    After a moment''s hesitation, she bowed. "Please wait a moment."

    She quickly approached the guards at the training ground entrance and spoke to them.

    Initially, they shook their heads, but upon recognizing Kaelith, they paused and nodded.

    The guards cleared a section of the field and motioned for them to proceed.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng returned, still looking a bit surprised.

    "Report: the training ground is ready!"

    She hesitated before adding, "However, for a sparring partner, it might be better to choose someone already promoted to the Personal Guard."

    Kaelith shook his head. "If they want to spar with me, I''ll give them a chance later."

    "But right now, I only want to spar with you."

    Shaolin F¨¥ng blinked, slightly taken aback.

    Leading the way, Kaelith stepped into the training ground.

    The trainees, who had been observing from a distance, turned their full attention to him.

    Seeing Shaolin F¨¥ng escorting an "outsider" into the field sparked curiosity among the group.

    Standing at one end of the field, Kaelith nodded at Shaolin F¨¥ng.

    The girl bowed respectfully in return.

    Among the onlookers, a young man with straw-colored messy hair, appearing slightly older than Kaelith, observed quietly.

    "Hmm... So this was Kaelith Yurei, the Shin''¨­ Academy prodigy at the center of the recent Twelfth Division incident."

    He had been curious about this figure for some time.

    By sheer chance, he now had the opportunity to watch firsthand.

    The young man smirked faintly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

    Noticing that Kaelith wasn''t making the first move, Shaolin F¨¥ng made up her mind and launched the first attack.

    Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

    *Whoosh!*

    Her figure vanished.

    --

    You could also go here for 65 advanced chapters!

    Patreon(.)com/IDKjust

 Chapter 47

    Using Shunpo, Shaolin F¨¥ng appeared directly in front of Kaelith Yurei.

    With a flick of her right hand, the Zanpakut¨­ that had been resting at her lower back was now firmly gripped in her palm.

    A glint of steel flashed as the blade aimed straight for Kaelith''s abdomen.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat.

    As expected from someone with Onmitsukid¨­ training¡ªher strike was precise and targeted a vital organ.

    Yet, he casually extended his hand.

    Clap.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng''s pupils contracted.

    To her disbelief, Kaelith had effortlessly caught her wrist mid-strike.

    She had deliberately restrained her power to avoid injuring him, aware that he might lack the strength to counter.

    If he couldn''t dodge, she planned to halt her blade before it connected.

    Even so, her speed was far beyond that of an ordinary Correction Corps member.

    If he had dodged or blocked with a weapon, she wouldn''t have been surprised.

    But this¡­

    Kaelith released her wrist gently.

    "No need to hold back. Go all out," he said, smiling calmly.

    Hearing this, Shaolin F¨¥ng nodded seriously. "Understood."

    Her Zanpakut¨­, a short blade perfectly suited for close combat, glinted as she flipped her grip into a reverse hold.

    Raising both hands slightly, she lunged forward in a combat stance.

    Kaelith stood still, calmly observing her blade''s trajectory.

    Each time, he shifted slightly, evading her strikes by mere millimeters with minimal effort.

    In the crowd, a young man with straw-colored messy hair scratched his head.

    So this was the famous Kaelith Yurei¡ªeffortlessly keeping Shaolin on the defensive.

    From his footwork, it was clear he was well-versed in countering Onmitsukid¨­ techniques.

    The rumors about his connection to the Shih¨­in family must be true¡­

    The young man rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

    Kaelith''s rise was extraordinary. Before enrolling at Shin''¨­ Academy, he had been virtually unknown.

    His entrance exam scores were decent but far from "genius" level.

    But within half a year, he began to shine, ranking among the top in his year.

    Still, nothing about him was particularly groundbreaking¡ªuntil the day he accidentally revealed his true strength during a sparring match with a swordsmanship instructor.

    In an instant, he went from a "promising student" to a "monster."

    Shortly after becoming Yamamoto''s disciple, he established ties with the Shih¨­in family and was now preparing to join the Second Division.

    The young man''s gaze darkened with unease.

    This man had too many mysteries surrounding him.

    There was a high chance some hidden force was backing him.

    And if that force turned out to be rebels¡­

    The mere thought sent chills down his spine.

    Best to stay out of this. Whatever was behind Kaelith, it was beyond him to meddle with.

    With that decision, he exhaled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

    But then, an ominous premonition struck him.

    To his horror, Kaelith, who had been sparring with Shaolin, suddenly turned his head and looked straight at him.

    Caught in Kaelith''s gaze, the young man froze.

    Kaelith had sensed something earlier¡ªa sharp, probing presence among the crowd, like a blade cutting into him, dissecting him.

    Following the feeling, his eyes landed on the young man.

    Recognizing the straw-colored messy hair, Kaelith''s lips curled into a grin.

    Despite the differences in age and physique, that signature hairstyle gave away the man''s identity: Kisuke Urahara, the greatest mind in the Soul Society.

    Kaelith had previously asked Yoruichi about Urahara, though she hadn''t known much.

    And now, here he was, stumbling upon the man himself.

    Kaelith''s grin widened. Thinking of Urahara''s capabilities, he couldn''t help but daydream about all the inventions this genius could create to elevate his life.

    Gaming consoles¡ªUrahara could make those, right?

    One masterpiece after another, tailored to his liking.

    And with Urahara''s help, he could even rewrite the unsatisfying storylines of certain games. For instance, that awful sequel, where the narrative made zero sense¡ªhe could fix it all.

    Meanwhile, from Urahara''s perspective, Kaelith''s expression morphed into something unsettling.

    That smile seemed to brim with boundless greed, eventually twisting into a look of malice.

    Urahara nearly burst into tears.

    What the hell?! All I did was glance at him, and he''s already plotting my demise?!

    Feeling Kaelith''s intense gaze, Urahara swallowed nervously. Should he just quit the Second Division and transfer to another squad before it was too late?

    Kaelith, noticing Urahara''s sudden anxiety, was puzzled.

    What''s with this guy? Social anxiety? Is he the type to panic when someone looks at him?

    Hmm¡­ a socially awkward recluse researcher¡­ fits the character.

    No matter. Once they became friends, Kaelith figured he could help Urahara overcome his social fears.

    Satisfied with his plan, Kaelith returned his attention to Shaolin.

    After she finished another set of quick slashes, Kaelith drew his practice blade, lightly pressing it against hers.

    It was a simple action, yet Shaolin found herself completely immobilized.

    No matter how she tried to move her blade, she couldn''t escape Kaelith''s control.

    As she considered abandoning her blade to switch to hand-to-hand combat, Kaelith stepped forward.

    "When you strike, your footwork is a bit late," he said calmly.

    "For example, during an upward slash, if you follow through with your back foot here¡­"

    Shaolin''s swordsmanship and footwork had been honed over years of rigorous training and were near perfect.

    But Kaelith''s techniques came directly from Aizen''s synchronization.

    Aizen wasn''t just a master of Spiritual Pressure¡ªhis skills in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kid¨­ were unmatched.

    With Aizen-level insight, Kaelith effortlessly pinpointed Shaolin''s flaws and offered improvements.

    As Kaelith explained, Shaolin''s eyes lit up.

    Mentally replaying her movements with his adjustments, she realized her fluidity had improved by at least 30 percent.

    The surrounding spectators, attempting to visualize his advice, also showed expressions of astonishment.

    When Kaelith finished, Shaolin took a deep breath and bowed deeply, her voice trembling with gratitude.

    "Thank you so much! Your guidance is something I''ll never forget."

    With that, she bowed again and stepped aside, fully focused on absorbing everything Kaelith had taught her.

    What a kind and amazing person¡­

    Compared to this man, the unidentified figure who often lured Lady Yoruichi away was nothing more than scum.

    As Shaolin finished the sparring session, several other trainees began to look eager, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

    Finally, someone stepped forward to request a match with Kaelith.

    Kaelith sighed, scratching his head in annoyance.

    He glanced at the crowd, clearly reluctant, and then suddenly smiled.

    In the crowd, Urahara Kisuke felt a chill down his spine.

    Before he could move, Kaelith pointed directly at him.

    "You won''t learn much from me." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "But that guy over there? He''s the real deal."

    "If you can learn from him, it''ll benefit you for a lifetime."

    Feeling the sudden flood of attention directed his way, Urahara froze, his mind going numb.

    ---------------------

    haha he really loves outing people who want to stay lowkey.

 Chapter 48

    Kisuke Urahara was utterly dumbfounded.

    He had always lived by the principle of staying low-key, diligently adopting a lifestyle of quiet obscurity.

    In chaotic times like these, the more one stood out, the more likely they were to be targeted.

    Unless the chaos settled, he had resolved to keep his head down for eternity if need be.

    But who would''ve thought that this peaceful life would be abruptly disrupted by a completely inexplicable person?

    Feeling utterly helpless, he glanced at Kaelith Yurei.

    Seeing Kisuke look at him, Kaelith smiled brightly and gave him a thumbs-up.

    As a man with high emotional intelligence, Kaelith understood well that if you wanted someone to like you, you had to find ways to make them shine.

    Why do the chubby side characters in novels always live such happy lives alongside the protagonist?

    The answer is simple¡ªthey let the protagonist hog all the glory!

    While Kaelith didn''t claim to be as capable as those supporting characters, he was confident in his ability to share the spotlight.

    Sure enough, Kisuke''s expression shifted to one of gratitude and relief.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but admire his own wisdom.

    Hearing Kaelith''s comments, the members of the Second Division turned their attention to Kisuke.

    If Kaelith hadn''t mentioned it, they wouldn''t have noticed.

    But now, recalling Kisuke''s lazy attitude during training and his knack for barely passing assessments, they realized¡­ wasn''t this the classic sign of a hidden master?!

    Their eyes lit up as they began flocking toward Kisuke, either to ask for advice or to challenge him with sparring.

    As the scene descended into a chaotic brawl, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    Now, Kisuke''s name would surely spread across the entire Second Division.

    After years of toil, Kisuke was finally on track for promotions and raises, fulfilling his ambitions¡ªall thanks to Kaelith.

    This benevolence had a distinctly cunning flavor, akin to that of a scheming villainous boss.

    The false boss: Aizen S¨­suke.

    The real boss: Kaelith Yurei!  S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Imagining Aizen kneeling before him, presenting a "Greatest Villain Boss" medal, Kaelith couldn''t help but grin smugly.

    Seeing that Kisuke and the Second Division were now fully preoccupied, Kaelith decided to slip away.

    Before leaving, he informed Shaolin F¨¥ng that he would check her progress the next time he visited the Second Division.

    Hearing this, Shaolin F¨¥ng beamed with happiness and nodded enthusiastically.

    Even though they''d only known each other for half a day, her impression of Kaelith had already climbed to a level second only to Yoruichi.

    While it was still only one percent of her admiration for Yoruichi, it was... remarkably high!

    ---

    After bidding farewell to the Second Division, Kaelith returned to Shin''¨­ Academy.

    Avoiding the newly built campus, he headed straight to his private training ground.

    Before entering, he formed several hand seals, activating a refractive light barrier.

    With this barrier in place, no one could spy on the events inside the dojo from a distance.

    If someone breached the barrier, Kaelith would know immediately.

    Admiring his handiwork, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    As expected of something made by Aizen¡ªjust mastering this alone could earn him a position within the Kid¨­ Corps.

    After setting up the barrier, Kaelith entered the dojo and took out a small vial of red liquid.

    Inside was a refined material for creating artificial souls, provided by Hikifune Kirio.

    Kaelith estimated that this red liquid was likely the precursor to the Soul Candy.

    Following Kirio''s instructions, he opened the vial and poured out the liquid.

    Under the guidance of his Spirit Pressure, the liquid swirled and coalesced midair, forming a smooth orb of liquid. Kaelith placed his hands on it, his expression turning serious.

    His next task was to fuse the material with his Spirit Pressure to create a soul that closely mimicked his own.

    Whether he could deceive Aizen would depend on the quality of this soul.

    The process was expected to be lengthy.

    Fortunately, soul creation was a process that could be paused and resumed.

    Even if he didn''t finish today, he could continue tomorrow, as long as he didn''t make any mistakes or waste the materials.

    Typically, Kaelith would stretch the timeline as much as possible to ensure perfection.

    But now, time was tight, and the task was urgent¡ªhe had to move quickly.

    Taking a deep breath, Kaelith hoped he wouldn''t fail too many times. If he did, no matter how patient Kirio was, she might lose her temper and start swinging her weapon.

    With that mental preparation, he channeled his Spirit Pressure into the red orb.

    The first step was to fuse his Spirit Pressure with the red liquid as thoroughly as possible.

    This phase would typically take dozens of hours.

    By pausing his daily meditation, he could free up about seven hours each day.

    In about ten days, he''d be able to¡ª

    ¡­Hmm?

    Kaelith suddenly froze mid-thought.

    He felt a strange sensation of familiarity coming from the orb, as if it were an extension of himself.

    Puzzled, he quickly examined it further.

    It didn''t take long for Kaelith to figure out what was happening.

    The portion of the material that had fused with his Spirit Pressure was already responding to his commands, allowing him to manipulate it freely.

    Yet, according to Kirio, the material shouldn''t respond until the fusion was complete.

    Even after creating a functional artificial soul, mastering control would take significant time.

    So why was he already able to control the partially fused material?

    After a brief moment of doubt, Kaelith continued injecting more Spirit Pressure, fusing additional portions of the material.

    To his amazement, these newly fused portions also responded immediately to his commands.

    Though the artificial soul wasn''t complete, he could already extract fragments of the soul from the orb¡ªand these fragments obeyed his every command.

    A single thought could make them perform any task with the same precision and flexibility as his own fingers.

    Kaelith felt a complex mix of emotions.

    While he often joked that Aizen was the "fake genius" and he was the "real genius," he had always known the truth.

    Compared to a monster like Aizen, he was just a somewhat talented ordinary person.

    But now, his rapid progress in creating artificial souls seemed to defy that assessment.

    Suddenly, Kaelith recalled something.

    When he had learned the Cat Form technique, his progress had been similarly swift, almost to the point of making Yoruichi jealous.

    Both artificial soul creation and the Cat Form technique involved reshaping the spiritual particles that made up his own being.

    The artificial soul fused with his Spirit Pressure could be considered an extension of himself.

    With this realization, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement.

    If he could master more abilities in this domain, wouldn''t he soon forge a completely unique path to unparalleled power?

 Chapter 49

    Under the cover of night, Kaelith Yurei scaled the walls of the academy and made his way to the Shih¨­in estate.

    Seeing Kaelith show up unannounced, the servants were visibly startled.

    After exchanging puzzled glances, one servant quickly went inside to inform Yoruichi.

    A short while later, the servant returned, gesturing for Kaelith to follow.

    He was led to Yoruichi''s study, where she greeted him in a casual kimono-style yukata, her short purple hair slightly damp.

    Seeing him enter, she raised her hand with a smile.

    "What brings you here at this hour?"

    "Come, sit over here¡­ Haruna! Bring two cups of tea!"

    Following her invitation, Kaelith took a seat across from her.

    Moments later, a servant arrived with tea and snacks, setting them down before leaving.

    Once the servant was gone, Kaelith raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

    A Kid¨­ barrier unfolded, sealing the room completely and isolating their conversation from the outside.

    "Yoruichi, do you know if there are any techniques in the Seireitei similar to the Cat Form technique, where you have to adjust your reishi composition to learn them?"

    As soon as the barrier was fully formed, Kaelith wasted no time asking his question.

    Yoruichi blinked in surprise.

    Techniques requiring reishi manipulation were exceedingly rare in the Seireitei.

    After all, there were only a handful of individuals in the entire Soul Society capable of such precise control.

    After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "Nothing comes to mind immediately."

    Kaelith didn''t seem too surprised by her response and pressed on.

    "Then, do you know how to fuse your Spirit Pressure with other materials?"

    Yoruichi''s eyes widened.

    What kind of question was that?

    While everything in the Soul Society was indeed composed of reishi, the microstructures varied significantly.

    If it were about fusing Spirit Pressure with a specific material, it might be achievable through research or by consulting historical records.  sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the idea of fusing Spirit Pressure with all kinds of materials¡­ that was pure nonsense.

    Annoyed, she replied, "What kind of absurd ability is that? Not even I, Captain Hikifune, or the Head Captain could do something like that!"

    "What''s gotten into you today? Why are you suddenly asking such bizarre questions?"

    Under Yoruichi''s curious gaze, Kaelith recounted his discovery from the previous day.

    He trusted Yoruichi''s character¡ªafter all, this was someone who had willingly given up her status as a noble head for the sake of her friends.

    If it were him, he wouldn''t have let go of such wealth and prestige so easily.

    As the head of the Shih¨­in family, even if Yoruichi didn''t have the answers now, she''d undoubtedly find them if she chose to look.

    It was better to explain things clearly than to keep secrets.

    Yoruichi listened quietly as Kaelith spoke, her expression gradually growing more serious.

    When he explained his theory that his Spirit Pressure could gain control over objects once fused with them, Yoruichi suddenly stood up, striding over to him in alarm.

    She clamped a hand over his mouth.

    Even though the soundproof barrier was active, she couldn''t help but release her sensing Spirit Pressure to confirm no one else was nearby.

    Under Kaelith''s surprised gaze, she leaned in close and whispered urgently:

    "Kaelith, listen to me. From now on, you must never tell anyone about this ability!"

    "Do you understand? Absolutely no one!"

    Kaelith removed her hand from his mouth.

    "I know this ability is strong. That''s why I set up the soundproof barrier first."

    Yoruichi shook her head. "No, it''s not about strength or weakness."

    Her expression was unusually grave. "The problem is, Kaelith, your ability resembles that of a certain person."

    "Who?" Kaelith asked, puzzled.

    Lowering her voice, Yoruichi said, "The former Captain of the Eleventh Division¡ªKenpachi Azashiro."

    Kaelith furrowed his brows, searching his memory for the name.

    In all his recollections of the Bleach series, he didn''t recall ever hearing of this person.

    Before he could ask, Yoruichi explained:

    "Azashiro Kenpachi had an ability that allowed him to fuse his Spirit Pressure into various objects, giving him complete control over them."

    "At his peak, he had the entire Seireitei under his control. Within its boundaries, he was virtually invincible."

    "But it wasn''t long before a project he spearheaded angered the Central 46. As a result, he was stripped of his Captaincy and imprisoned in the Muken."

    "Do you understand now, Kaelith? If the Central 46 learns that you have an ability similar to Azashiro Kenpachi, they''ll immediately suspect a connection between you two."

    "You''ll be unable to move freely within the Seireitei and might even be falsely accused and sent to the Maggot''s Nest!"

    Hearing Yoruichi''s words, Kaelith felt a wave of exasperation.

    Great. He finally had a golden ability that didn''t rely on Aizen, only for it to come with such a ridiculous drawback.

    Seeing Kaelith''s dejected expression, Yoruichi chuckled softly.

    "Don''t look so defeated. All I''m saying is to keep this under wraps."

    "If you practice in secret, there''s no way the Central 46 can magically know and come after you."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s eyes lit up.

    Yoruichi continued, "I found a great spot in Rukongai yesterday. I''m planning to set it up as a special hot spring."

    "Once it''s ready, you can practice your new ability there, and I''ll keep watch for you!"

    Looking at her confident smile, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a surge of gratitude.

    No wonder Soifon was so devoted to Yoruichi.

    This woman, every now and then, truly gave off the impression of being dependable.

    ---

    As Kaelith left the Shih¨­in estate, he scaled the walls and made his way back toward the dormitories.

    The moonlight reflected softly off the smooth roads of the Seireitei.

    Occasionally, he passed patrolling Shinigami responsible for internal security.

    As he walked, his pace gradually slowed.

    In the distance, he spotted two Shinigami carrying lanterns, which made him frown.

    He''d dealt with these patrols countless times in the past.

    Before becoming Yamamoto''s official disciple, he frequently snuck into the Seireitei.

    Over time, he had memorized their patrol routes and general habits.

    Normally, while patrols would occasionally change their routes, the overall defensive pattern remained consistent¡ªmain roads were always covered.

    But tonight, something was off.

    In some areas, the patrolling Shinigami were oddly concentrated.

    In others, there were glaring gaps, leaving blind spots in their coverage.

    Standing atop a rooftop, Kaelith stroked his chin thoughtfully.

    After a moment''s consideration, he pulled out the pass Yamamoto had given him, intending to question a patrol about who had assigned tonight''s shifts.

    However, just as he was about to move, a sharp ringing sound echoed in the distance¡ª

    *Dong!*

    *Dong!*

    *Dong!*

    Accompanying the bell tolls, a voice suddenly rang out across the sky.

    **"This is the Seventh Division Barracks! We''re under attack! The attacker is¡­ Argh!!"**

    Hearing the message, Kaelith''s eyes widened in surprise.

    The voice had used Tenteik¨±ra.

    As Kid¨­ No. 77, Tenteik¨±ra was a difficult technique to master. Given its rarity and the dire circumstances required for its use, only a high-ranking Shinigami¡ªlikely a Vice-Captain¡ªcould have cast it.

    A Vice-Captain-level Shinigami, unable to stop the attacker?

    Kaelith instinctively prepared to rush toward the Seventh Division Barracks but paused as a chilling thought flashed through his mind.

    A terrifying possibility began to take shape¡­

    ---------------------------------

    You could also go here for 65 advanced chapters!

    Patreon(.)com/IDKjust

 Chapter 50

    "Seventh Division under attack?!"

    "Damn it, who dares commit such atrocities within the Seireitei?!"

    "Hurry, to the Seventh Division for support!"

    Shouting, a few patrolling Shinigami grabbed their lanterns and dashed toward the Seventh Division barracks.

    But just as they rounded a corner, several masked figures emerged from the shadows¡ª

    *Schlick! Schlick! Schlick!*

    The sound of blades piercing flesh echoed as the patrolling Shinigami cried out in agony and fell to the ground.

    Similar scenes unfolded across various locations in the Seireitei.

    In front of the Eighth Division barracks, a patrolling Shinigami widened his eyes in terror, staring at the blade about to pierce his chest.

    Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, clad in a pink flower-patterned haori and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

    It was Ky¨­raku Shunsui, the Captain of the Eighth Division!

    Facing the attackers, Ky¨­raku remained expressionless as he raised his Zanpakut¨­ high.

    Even in the darkness, the gleam of the blade was strikingly clear.

    *Slash!*

    With a single swing, blood erupted simultaneously from six or seven attackers, their bodies collapsing to the ground.

    Glancing at the fallen assailants, he spoke calmly. "Round them up and detain them in the dojo. Guard them tightly."

    "Yes, sir!"

    A group of Shinigami who had rushed over responded in unison.

    Ky¨­raku sheathed his blade and adjusted the brim of his hat with one hand.

    He turned to the Shinigami who had been saved, now sitting paralyzed on the ground.

    "You alright?"

    The Shinigami snapped out of his daze and quickly nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! Thank you so much, Captain Ky¨­raku!"

    Ky¨­raku gave a slight nod.

    At that moment, a tall girl with glasses and braided pigtails landed beside him.

    "Captain, battles are breaking out in every district, centered around the Seventh Division barracks."

    "In particular, the main roads leading to the Seventh Division have the largest number of attackers."

    She frowned slightly as she continued, "So many of them¡­ How did they sneak in without anyone noticing?"

    Ky¨­raku remained silent.

    His intuition told him that tonight''s events weren''t as simple as they seemed.

    However, he couldn''t come up with a reasonable explanation in such a short time.

    And right now, rescuing the Seventh Division was more pressing than investigating the conspiracy behind it.

    "Lil'' Lisa, I''m counting on you to hold the fort. Don''t let any bad guys get in."

    With a smile and a light-hearted admonition, he vanished into the night.

    ---  S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At the Fifth Division barracks, a man with long golden hair sat on the rooftop, silently observing the direction of the Seventh Division.

    Initially, he had intended to rush over and assist immediately.

    But after a moment''s thought, Hirako Shinji decided against it.

    The Eighth Division was close to the Seventh Division barracks, and with Captain Ky¨­raku there, additional reinforcements should be sufficient.

    Rather than rushing over like an idiot, it made more sense for him to stay and guard the Fifth Division, ensuring that any unexpected developments wouldn''t leave the Seireitei vulnerable.

    However, just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside him.

    Hirako raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

    It was a messenger from the K¨­t¨­kan¡ªelite communicators of the Seireitei''s internal affairs.

    Under his gaze, the messenger knelt on one knee. "A directive from the Central 46: Captain Hirako Shinji of the Fifth Division, you are to immediately lead your division to support the Seventh Division barracks."

    Hirako couldn''t hide his shock at the announcement.

    The Fifth Division was so far from the Seventh Division¡ªwhy did they specifically require him to go?

    Instinctively, he asked, "What about the other division captains? Are they being sent too?"

    "Apologies, I do not have that information."

    With that, the messenger vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

    "Tch¡­ This is such a pain," Hirako muttered, scratching his head with an annoyed expression.

    He couldn''t fathom what the Central 46 was up to, but orders were orders.

    The last person to openly defy a Central 46 directive was still rotting in the Muken.

    "Oi! Someone, come with me. We''re heading to the Seventh Division!"

    ---

    On a rooftop, Kaelith Yurei watched as a group of patrolling Shinigami rushed toward the Seventh Division.

    When several attackers suddenly emerged to ambush them, Kaelith drew the Asauchi at his waist.

    In a flash, he appeared behind the assailants.

    With a light flick of his blade, a trail of blood splattered across the ground in a straight line.

    Behind him, the attackers collapsed like puppets whose strings had been severed.

    Only then did the defending Shinigami regain their senses.

    Seeing Kaelith, they instinctively drew their swords in alarm.

    "Who are you?!"

    Kaelith calmly pulled out his First Division badge from his pocket. "I''m under orders from Yamamoto-sensei."

    Upon recognizing the badge''s emblem, the Shinigami collectively exhaled in relief.

    Their nerves eased, but as they got a good look at Kaelith, they couldn''t help but feel puzzled.

    This young Shinigami looked like he hadn''t even graduated from Shin''¨­ Academy yet.

    Although doubts lingered, no one dared voice them aloud.

    After all, the way Kaelith had effortlessly dispatched the attackers had left a strong impression.

    Kaelith spoke firmly, "Tell me your patrol routes for tonight¡ªquickly."

    "Not just yours. Any routes you know about, tell me everything."

    Thanks to the First Division badge, the patrolling Shinigami didn''t question him and promptly relayed everything they knew.

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes, mentally mapping out the routes over a simulated layout of the Seireitei.

    Gradually, he noticed a pattern.

    If viewed with the Seventh Division''s barracks as the focal point, the patrol routes seemed riddled with blind spots leading there.

    These gaps would make it easy for attackers to infiltrate and position themselves near the barracks.

    But¡­ when he removed the Seventh Division from the equation and looked at the map as a whole, he noticed a second, equally vulnerable location.

    The Second Division barracks.

    Kaelith''s expression darkened as he confirmed his suspicions.

    Without wasting a moment, he launched himself from the rooftop. His body became a blur as he accelerated toward the Second Division barracks.

    Under the moonlit sky, he pushed his speed to the limit, becoming little more than a fleeting shadow.

    If Yamamoto were here to witness this, his feelings would be complicated.

    On one hand, he''d be proud to see Kaelith''s Shunpo reach such incredible speeds.

    On the other, realizing that Kaelith had been holding back during training¡ªwhere his speed had only been half as fast¡ªmight just raise the old man''s blood pressure.

    Thanks to his extraordinary speed and powerful Spirit Pressure, Kaelith reached the vicinity of the Second Division in less than half an hour.

    The moment he arrived, his heart sank.

    A massive Kid¨­ barrier enveloped the entire Second Division barracks, suppressing almost all outward Spirit Pressure.

    It didn''t take a genius to realize something was seriously wrong inside.

    As he breached the barrier, a tidal wave of chaotic, clashing Spirit Pressures surged toward him like a storm.

 Chapter 51

    Various Spirit Pressures intertwined in the air, making it thick and oppressive.

    Without hesitation, Kaelith Yurei drew his asauchi, channeling his Spirit Pressure as he swung it in a wide arc.

    A massive crescent-shaped shockwave tore through the barrier, creating a gash.

    Though the barrier began to repair itself almost immediately, the overwhelming surge of Spirit Pressure had already spread across half of the Seireitei before it could fully recover.

    After signaling for help, Kaelith immediately used Shunpo to dash toward the Correction Corps'' command center.

    Having familiarized himself with the Second Division''s layout earlier in the day, he navigated the area with relative ease.

    In a matter of moments, he arrived near the command center.

    What he saw made his pupils contract sharply.

    A towering, broad figure lay in front of the command center.

    Kaelith landed beside him in a flash.

    It was ¨­maeda Marenoshin.

    Deep gashes exposing bone covered Marenoshin''s body, and his side bore a wound that looked like it had been blasted apart.

    Sensing someone approach, Marenoshin barely managed to open his eyes.

    Seeing Kaelith, he forced his mouth open with effort.

    "Quick¡­ Lady Yoruichi¡­ the prison¡­ go¡­"

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s expression turned grim.

    Without sparing another moment, he dashed toward the direction of the Maggot''s Nest at full speed.

    While he hadn''t entered the prison earlier that day, he at least knew its location.

    The closer he got to the prison, the more Correction Corps corpses littered the ground.

    Suddenly¡ª

    *Boom!*

    A dense, oppressive Spirit Pressure descended from the sky.

    The very air seemed to tremble under its weight.

    Kaelith''s eyes widened in shock.

    This was Captain-level Spirit Pressure.

    ---

    **Second Division, Prison**

    Dozens of Correction Corps members formed a defensive formation, their eyes locked on the figure in the distance.

    Though the opponent stood alone, their power was overwhelming.

    These seasoned executioners, usually well-trained and efficient, found themselves as helpless as infants in the face of this man.

    Behind them, Yoruichi stood motionless.

    Even knowing she was no match for him, even knowing what awaited her if she stood her ground, her gaze held no fear.

    "Takada Tai¡­ Captain of the Ninth Division."

    "To think you, too, would be swayed by their words," she said calmly.

    Under her piercing gaze, the towering man known as Takada Tai slowly spoke:

    "Shih¨­in Yoruichi, as the head of one of the Five Noble Families, you should know better than anyone whether their words hold truth."

    "In the name of the Shinigami''s honor, of a warrior''s honor, I ask you¡ªis what they say true?"

    Yoruichi''s brow furrowed slightly.

    She was silent for a few moments, not answering his question. Instead, her gaze shifted to the figure hanging limply in Takada Tai''s hand.

    Seeing her refusal to respond, Takada Tai felt his resolve solidify.

    With renewed determination, he followed her gaze to the young man in his grip.

    The disheveled blonde hair and lanky frame made it clear¡ªthis was Kisuke Urahara.

    Clutched tightly by Takada''s massive hand, Kisuke had already lost consciousness.

    Raising Kisuke slightly, Takada remarked, "He''s young, but clever."

    "When faced with a sudden attack, he didn''t foolishly confront me. Instead, he tried to break the barrier to draw outside reinforcements."  Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If it had been anyone else, he might have succeeded."

    "But in the end, it wasn''t enough."

    Turning to Yoruichi, he asked, "What''s this? You seem to care about him."

    Yoruichi smirked faintly. "Idiot. We''re the Stealth Force. Caring isn''t in the job description."

    "To complete the mission, any one of us could die¡ªmyself included."

    She meant it.

    Her attention to Kisuke was primarily because of Kaelith''s apparent interest in him.

    Takada Tai wasn''t surprised by her response.

    To him, the Stealth Force truly seemed like that kind of organization.

    He tightened his grip, preparing to crush Kisuke''s neck.

    At that moment, Yoruichi''s figure blurred as she suddenly appeared before him.

    Her leg shot out straight, crackling with electricity as it whipped toward Takada Tai''s head¡ª

    *Boom!*

    Takada raised an arm, blocking the blow beside his head.

    Yoruichi''s foot connected, leaving faintly flickering sparks and a charred mark on his arm.

    At the same time, his other hand flung Kisuke aside and drew his blade, slashing toward Yoruichi.

    Despite her preparations to retreat, the attack still managed to graze her shoulder, drawing blood.

    "Lady Yoruichi!"

    Shaolin F¨¥ng''s eyes widened as she charged toward them with all her might.

    The remaining Correction Corps members followed suit, rushing forward with a collective roar.

    Takada Tai hesitated, choosing to deal with the reinforcements first.

    "Envelop me, ¨­yamatsumi!"

    Takada Tai raised his Zanpakut¨­. With a blinding flash of light, his form transformed.

    When the light faded, he stood as a towering figure made of solid rock.

    Thick slabs of stone covered his body, and tufts of grass and branches jutted from the gaps, lending him an odd yet harmonious natural beauty.

    Now encased in his rocky armor, Takada Tai clenched his massive fists and slammed them together with a resounding thud.

    Then, he charged at the Correction Corps.

    "Protect the Commander!"

    The Correction Corps roared in defiance, wielding their short blades as they rushed forward.

    In an instant, five or six of them were sent flying, their chests crushed and spraying fragments of organs as they fell.

    The others pressed on, determined to encircle him from all sides.

    Their training as recruits had included techniques for dealing with armored opponents.

    As long as they could drive their blades into the gaps of the armor, they could inflict massive damage.

    Their short blades were designed precisely for this purpose.

    Through the sacrifice of their comrades, one member managed to leap onto Takada Tai''s shoulder.

    His eyes gleamed with resolve as he gripped his blade with both hands and drove it into the gap in Takada''s neck armor.

    But as the blade sank in, he froze.

    It felt as though the blade had disappeared into a void, with no resistance or feedback.

    Instinctively, he tried to pull it out.

    When he succeeded, the front half of the blade was gone.

    As he stared in shock, a massive stone hand reached for him, gripping him tightly.

    "Fool. Even recklessness has its limits."

    With a sickening crunch, the Correction Corps member was snapped in two.

    Leaning against the prison door, Yoruichi clutched her wounded shoulder, her eyes fixed intently on Takada Tai.

    In front of her, Shaolin F¨¥ng stood with her short blade, every muscle taut.

    She had already resolved to die.

    As a member of the F¨¥ng family, her mission was to protect Lady Yoruichi.

    If dying for Yoruichi''s sake gave her life meaning, she was ready to pay that price.

    But¡­ even if she died, it wouldn''t change the outcome.

    The realization filled her with despair.

    Under Shaolin F¨¥ng''s watchful gaze, Takada Tai casually flung away the Correction Corps members who clung to him.

    Then, he turned his gaze toward her.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng clenched her teeth and reversed her grip on her Zanpakut¨­.

    The next moment, the massive figure charged at her like a runaway war chariot.

 Chapter 52

    Facing Takada Tai charging toward her like a war chariot, Shaolin F¨¥ng''s eyes flashed with determination.

    There was no way she could escape with Yoruichi while dealing with a Captain-level opponent.

    If that was the case, then she would fight to the death.

    "Forgive me, Lady Yoruichi... I won''t be able to repay your kindness in the future."

    She whispered softly, gripping her short blade tightly as she charged toward Takada Tai.

    "Shaolin!"

    Yoruichi''s pupils shrank.

    She took a deep breath, and Spirit Pressure began to gather within her.

    For years, aside from training the Correction Corps, she had been developing a secret technique.

    This technique combined the Shih¨­in family''s unique arts with her own insights, creating a hybrid of hand-to-hand combat and Kid¨­.

    However, it was far from perfected, and using it in battle could lead to severe aftereffects.

    But now wasn''t the time to hesitate.

    Life and death hung in the balance.

    Just as she prepared to release her Spirit Pressure, she froze in surprise.

    A figure appeared behind Takada Tai.

    The shock left Yoruichi momentarily stunned, her body forgetting to move.

    Takada Tai, focused on Yoruichi, noticed her sudden gaze directed behind him.

    His instincts screamed at him, and without hesitation, he ignored Shaolin F¨¥ng charging toward him and turned to look behind.

    To his astonishment, a black-cloaked figure had silently appeared at his back.

    In Takada Tai''s startled gaze, Kaelith Yurei raised his Zanpakut¨­ high with both hands and swung down forcefully.

    "T¨­ry¨±ken!"

    The radiant arc of sword energy lit up the night, dispelling the surrounding darkness.

    *Boom!*

    An explosion of dust and debris erupted, centered on Takada Tai.

    Yoruichi''s face lit up with joy. "Kaelith!"

    Shaolin F¨¥ng, too, was initially overjoyed.

    However, hearing Yoruichi''s warm tone and noticing her barely concealed happiness, Shaolin couldn''t help but show a look of confusion.

    *Step!*  S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith somersaulted mid-air and landed beside Shaolin. Without hesitation, he scooped her up.

    After briefly scanning her, he nodded with satisfaction.

    "Good. It looks like you''re not hurt."

    Under Shaolin''s astonished gaze, Kaelith held her by the waist and, with a Shunpo, brought her to Yoruichi''s side.

    "How are you holding up, Yoruichi?"

    "Not too bad," Yoruichi replied, shaking her head. "But the real problem is him¡­ Ninth Division Captain Takada Tai!"

    She quickly explained, "That rock armor of his is nearly impenetrable, with incredibly high defensive power!"

    "Rumor has it that Kensei Muguruma, the Ninth Division''s Vice-Captain, once challenged him."

    "Despite using his Shikai, Kensei attacked Takada Tai for an entire tea ceremony''s time."

    "In the end, Kensei couldn''t even crack his defenses and had to admit defeat."

    Hearing this, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    At first, the mention of "impenetrable armor" made him feel apprehensive.

    But when he heard that the tester had been Kensei, his apprehension lessened considerably.

    Noticing Kaelith''s unconcerned expression, Shaolin hurriedly added, "And you can''t attack the gaps in his armor! Any blade that strikes them will be consumed."

    Kaelith smiled at her reassuringly. "Got it. I''ll keep that in mind."

    Yoruichi, annoyed by his calm demeanor, kicked him lightly.

    At that moment, Takada Tai reappeared.

    With a wave of his hand, the dust surrounding him dissipated instantly.

    He glanced down at his chest. There, a faint sword mark was barely visible.

    "Kaelith Yurei¡­ I''ve heard much about you before, but experiencing your strength firsthand is something else entirely."

    "A mere Rukongai commoner, having attended the Shin''¨­ Academy for just half a year, yet possessing such power."

    "If all of this is true, your talent might rank among the top in the entire history of Soul Society."

    As he spoke, the faint sword mark on his chest vanished completely.

    "If a genius like you grows further, it wouldn''t take a century before you surpass me."

    "Unfortunately¡­ you''ve stepped onto the stage too early."

    "Fall, genius!"

    As he finished, Takada Tai stomped forward and charged at Kaelith with explosive force.

    Kaelith gripped his asauchi with both hands and swung it in a diagonal arc.

    A brilliant blue wave of energy shot out from his blade.

    But this time, Takada Tai wasn''t stopped.

    Extending his hands, he grabbed hold of the incoming energy wave.

    With a roar, Takada Tai exerted his strength, tearing the energy apart with his rock-covered hands.

    "Wow¡­ Unit-01 vibes," Kaelith muttered, unable to resist a sarcastic comment. (t/n I did not catch this reference)

    Realizing his energy wave couldn''t stop Takada Tai, he charged forward with his blade.

    His asauchi traced a semi-circular arc, aiming for the vulnerable-looking joint in Takada Tai''s rock armor.

    *Clang!*

    To Kaelith''s utter disbelief, his blade rebounded harmlessly.

    He had aimed for what should have been the weakest point of the armor. Not only did it fail to cause any damage, but it also left his blade trembling in his hands.

    He attempted to withdraw and create distance, but just as he took a step back, Takada Tai extended his arm, grabbing the blade with a firm grip.

    "Don''t even think about running."

    The towering rock giant unleashed a terrifying burst of strength, pulling Kaelith closer.

    Yoruichi''s chest tightened.

    Having one''s blade seized was the worst-case scenario for a Shinigami.

    Without their Zanpakut¨­, they were practically defenseless.

    But before Yoruichi could shout a warning, Kaelith released his grip on the asauchi.

    Takada Tai was unfazed by this move.

    Most Shinigami would either try to wrest their blade back or abandon it to look for another opening.

    He had countermeasures prepared for both scenarios.

    Taking a step forward, he released the blade, spreading his arms wide to envelop Kaelith in a crushing embrace.

    But to his shock, Kaelith didn''t retreat.

    Instead, he surged forward even faster than before, diving directly into Takada Tai''s opening.

    Kaelith drew a deep breath, clenched his fists tightly, and with surging Spirit Pressure, unleashed his attack¡ª

    "S¨­kotsu!"

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 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53

    "What¡­"

    Seeing Kaelith Yurei charge directly into his chest instead of retreating, Takada Tai''s expression turned into one of surprise.

    But when he noticed Kaelith clench his fists and thrust them forward, his confusion instantly turned into shock.

    **Boom!!!**

    Under the astonished gazes of Yoruichi and Shaolin F¨¥ng, Takada Tai¡ªwho had nearly caught Kaelith¡ªwas suddenly sent flying backward.

    After flying dozens of meters, he slammed heavily into a wall¡ª

    Debris and dust rolled up in thick clouds!

    Kaelith stood his ground, shaking his hands lightly.

    As he moved, spiritual pressure surged outward, sweeping away the dust.

    Takada Tai''s figure re-emerged in everyone''s sight.

    Upon seeing his condition, Shaolin F¨¥ng could hardly believe her eyes.

    The massive rock-armored figure was sprawled amidst the rubble.

    On his stomach, the rock armor had begun to crack and fall off in chunks.

    Beneath the shattered armor, a bloodied hole¡ªten centimeters wide¡ªgaped openly.

    She instinctively turned toward Yoruichi, doubting her own vision.

    Yoruichi, however, wore the same expression of shock, her mouth slightly agape.

    Noticing Takada Tai''s injury, Kaelith''s expression grew slightly regretful.

    "Uncle, you recognize this technique?"

    As if responding, Takada Tai groaned faintly from the pile of stones. Supporting himself with a nearby boulder, he slowly raised his body.

    "¡­I had the honor of witnessing the Captain-Commander''s martial arts once," he said, his voice strained with pain.

    After all, with a hole in his stomach, an ordinary Shinigami would have been long dead.

    "No wonder."

    Kaelith''s tone remained somewhat regretful.

    Moments earlier, when he used the S¨­kotsu (Double Bone), Takada Tai had instinctively released a burst of spiritual pressure and retreated backward at high speed.

    This reflex allowed him to mitigate part of the impact force.

    Otherwise, the fight would likely have been decided already.

    Under Kaelith''s watchful gaze, Takada Tai stood up once more.

    His bloodied abdomen was promptly re-covered by his regenerating rock armor.

    Watching this, Kaelith couldn''t help but wonder.

    Is this rock armor sanitized? Doesn''t direct contact with flesh risk infection?

    As these stray thoughts crossed his mind, Takada Tai began to speak:

    "If I recall correctly, you''ve only been the Captain-Commander''s disciple for a little over a month."

    "Yet, in such a short time, you''ve managed to master this technique."

    "And in that fleeting moment earlier, the spiritual pressure you unleashed¡­"

    "I must retract my previous statement. The term ''genius'' is inadequate to describe you."

    "With time, you might surpass the Captain-Commander himself and become the strongest Shinigami."

    Kaelith shrugged nonchalantly.

    "Flattery won''t get you anywhere with me."

    "Do I look like the type of person who cares about titles like that?"

    At his response, the two women behind him exchanged glances, their admiration evident.

    To receive such high praise from a captain-level figure at his age¡ªmost would be over the moon.

    Yet Kaelith remained composed, his indifference only adding to his charm.

    As they observed him, Kaelith continued,

    "You''re severely injured and can''t even use your Bankai now."

    "Even if I can''t cause you more harm, all I need to do is stall until reinforcements arrive."

    "Come on, Captain Takada, show me what other tricks you''ve got!"  sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yoruichi: "¡­"

    Shaolin F¨¥ng: "¡­"

    Moments ago, he seemed like a heroic savior. Now, he sounded like an arrogant mid-tier villain.

    Takada Tai chuckled, nodding slightly.

    "You''re right."

    "You''ve indeed forced me to this state. By all accounts, this round is yours."

    "For someone your age to achieve this, it''s truly admirable."

    Noting his continued dialogue, Kaelith pursed his lips.

    Still, his primary objective was to buy time.

    If Captain Takada wanted to chat, Kaelith was happy to oblige.

    However, just as he was about to respond, something struck him.

    Wait¡­

    Did Takada Tai say, "Until now, it''s my loss"?

    What does that mean?

    Kaelith''s mind raced as he pieced together the situation.

    The Seventh Division''s sudden ambush.

    A pathway cleared of patrols, directly leading to the Second Division.

    A captain-level assailant¡­

    With Takada Tai''s strength, clearing patrols or launching a direct attack wouldn''t require much effort.

    This could only mean one thing: there were others who had infiltrated the Second Division.

    Given that Takada Tai had focused on Yoruichi, the intruders'' target wasn''t to assassinate the head of the Shih¨­in family.

    Then what was their true objective?

    Kaelith''s expression darkened as realization struck. He turned toward the prison gates.

    "Yoruichi! Take people to the Maggot''s Nest!"

    Yoruichi froze for a moment before her face turned pale.

    Ignoring the wound on her shoulder, she stood abruptly.

    "Shaolin, gather whoever''s still standing and follow me down!"

    Hearing their exchange, Takada Tai let out a low chuckle.

    His voice, slightly muffled beneath his rock armor, carried a deep resonance:

    "Impressive. You deduced my intentions so quickly."

    "Kaelith Yurei, you truly are remarkable."

    "But, unfortunately, it''s already too late."

    As if to confirm his words, an overwhelming spiritual pressure erupted from within the prison behind Yoruichi.

    **Boom!**

    The prison gates burst open from the inside!

    Amid the swirling dust and debris, a figure emerged, flanked by several masked operatives.

    Seeing the figure, Yoruichi gritted her teeth.

    "Shinchira Renzosuke¡­"

 Chapter 54

    In an instant, Shinchira Renzosuke appeared before Kaelith Yurei.

    Anger boiled within Shinchira Renzosuke as he stared at Kaelith.

    If not for this detestable brat, he might have successfully collaborated with Mayuri Kurotsuchi to steal the artificial soul technology.

    Had that happened, his identity would not have been exposed, and he could have retained his position as Captain of the Third Division.

    Now, not only had he lost the coveted captaincy, but he had also endured the humiliation of being sent to the Maggot''s Nest¡ªa disgrace beyond words.

    Fortunately, his benefactor had kept their promise and sent someone to rescue him.

    Although his reputation was irreparably tarnished, there was still one thing he could do before fleeing¡ªkill Kaelith Yurei!

    With a surge of power in his arm, Shinchira swung his blade fiercely at Kaelith.

    *Swish!*

    To Shinchira''s shock, Kaelith''s figure vanished, reappearing mid-air a short distance away.

    Standing on a platform of spirit particles, Kaelith placed his hands behind his back, gazing down at Shinchira like a sage observing the mortal world.

    Shinchira froze in his mid-swing, his expression betraying his astonishment.

    He hadn''t expected Kaelith''s speed to be this extraordinary¡ªdodging his strike with Shunpo!

    The surprise lasted only a moment. Determined, he prepared to chase after Kaelith.

    Before he could act, Kaelith spoke from above, his tone calm yet commanding:

    "Shinchira, are you sure you want to settle this here and now?"

    Shinchira frowned, confused by Kaelith''s words.

    Kaelith remained poised, his hands still behind his back, exuding an air of calmness as he continued:

    "If I were you, I wouldn''t waste time here."

    "When I entered the barrier earlier, I deliberately let out a burst of spirit pressure for a brief moment."

    "Half of the Seireitei already knows something is happening here."

    "My two seniors¡ªCaptain Unohana and Captain Ukitake¡ªare brilliant strategists. By now, they''re surely on their way."

    "Your window of escape is rapidly closing!"

    Shinchira''s expression darkened at Kaelith''s revelation.

    He turned to Takada Tai, who gave him a barely perceptible nod.

    Though Takada wasn''t certain if Kaelith had indeed sent out a signal, it wasn''t an implausible claim given Kaelith''s cunning.

    Grinding his teeth in frustration, Shinchira''s face contorted with anger.

    But then, as though struck by a sudden realization, he tightened his grip on his blade.

    "Hmph, so what?" he sneered.

    "You''re just a student. Killing you won''t take long."

    "I''ll finish you off first, then make my escape!"

    Kaelith chuckled dismissively.

    "Shinchira, is something wrong with your head?"

    "Didn''t you notice? Before you showed up, I already took down Captain Takada single-handedly!"

    "As a personal disciple of the Head Captain, I''ve learned a few secret techniques¡­"

    "While defeating both of you may be challenging, I''m confident I can stall you long enough."

    Shinchira''s brow furrowed as he mulled over Kaelith''s words.

    Behind Kaelith, Yoruichi and Suzumebachi observed silently, their expressions unreadable.

    Yet, their feelings were far from calm.  Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The sleeve of Kaelith''s robe had a long gash, half of it hanging loose.

    Had he been just a fraction slower, the cut wouldn''t have stopped at the fabric.

    Feigning an air of wisdom, Kaelith was simply concealing his vulnerability from the enemy.

    Even so, the audacity with which he taunted his foes was impressive in its own right.

    Takada Tai broke the silence.

    "Shinchira, the kid''s right. We should leave."

    Although unsure how long it would take for the captains to arrive, he had no intention of gambling on the odds.

    Shinchira suddenly smirked, his tone mocking:

    "Kaelith, if everything is as you claim, why are you urging us to flee? Wouldn''t it be better to stall us here?"

    "Capturing two traitorous captains is a major achievement, isn''t it?"

    Kaelith sighed.

    "Again, is something wrong with your head?"

    "Is any amount of merit worth more than my life?"

    "While I''m confident I can delay you, there''s always a chance something could go wrong."

    "I need to stay alive to fulfill my plan to transform the Soul Society into a paradise. How could I risk that on the likes of you?"

    Hearing this, Suzumebachi gave Kaelith a puzzled look.

    "A paradise for the Soul Society¡­?" she muttered.

    Yoruichi rolled her eyes. Though unfamiliar with the term, she could guess its meaning.

    Takada Tai''s tone grew urgent:

    "Shinchira, stop wasting time. Let''s go!"

    His abdomen wound had worsened, and the thought of facing reinforcements was daunting.

    Shinchira didn''t respond immediately.

    After a moment of silence, he grinned maliciously and leaped toward Kaelith.

    "Damn lunatic!" Kaelith cursed, raising his hand "Bakud¨­ #61 rikuj¨­k¨­r¨­!."

    As Shinchira dodged the Six Rods Prison of Light, Kaelith used the opening to Shunpo back to the ground, retrieving his Asauchi.

    The moment his hand gripped the hilt, he spun around, slashing decisively.

    *Clang!*

    The blades collided, sparking brilliantly in the night.

    "Your trump card¡ªwhere is it?!" Shinchira laughed maniacally.

    "If you''ve got one, use it already!"

    He struck Kaelith hard, sending him stumbling backward.

    Regaining his footing after several steps, Kaelith''s disheveled appearance only made Shinchira laugh louder.

    "Ha! You couldn''t even handle my first attack, yet you dare boast about secret techniques!"

    Takada Tai hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

    "Let''s finish him quickly," he said coldly.

    Without waiting for a response, he lunged at Kaelith like a cannonball.

    Kaelith retreated with Shunpo, trying to create distance, but Shinchira appeared beside him mid-step.

    "Die!" Shinchira roared, slashing down fiercely.

    Kaelith blocked with his blade, but his spiritual pressure was slightly weaker.

    *Boom!*

    The force of Shinchira''s strike sent Kaelith crashing into the ground, creating a deep crater.

    Takada wasted no time, leaping into the air to deliver a finishing blow.

    As Kaelith lay at the bottom of the pit, struggling to move, a faint light began to form in his mouth.

    He was preparing to unleash a simulated Cero, prioritizing survival over the consequences.

    Before he could release the attack, a weak yet resolute voice rang out:

    "Scream ¡­ Benihime!!"

 Chapter 55

    Seeing Kaelith Yurei struck down, Yoruichi and Soifon moved simultaneously.

    *Crackle!*

    Electric light erupted from Yoruichi''s body.

    She had infused her spirit pressure into a new technique, one she developed by combining it with the Shih¨­in family''s secret arts.

    In an instant, her speed far surpassed Soifon''s as she shot into the air, aiming to stop Takada Tai.

    But before she could reach him, Shinchira Renzosuke appeared suddenly, blocking her path.

    "Get back!" he shouted, slashing downward with his blade.

    Yoruichi''s pupils shrank.

    At the last possible moment, she twisted her torso, narrowly avoiding the strike.

    However, the surge of spirit pressure radiating from Shinchira slammed into her like a tidal wave, sending her flying uncontrollably backward.

    "Lady Yoruichi!" Soifon cried, catching Yoruichi in mid-air as they both crashed into the ground.

    From her position, Yoruichi watched in frustration as Takada Tai leaped high into the air. With both knees bent, he aimed directly at Kaelith Yurei''s crash site and descended like a meteor.

    "Kaelith!!!" Yoruichi roared in fury.

    Within the swirling dust, Kaelith opened his mouth, red spirit energy forming into a glowing sphere.

    But suddenly, a voice rang out¡ª

    "Scream¡­ Benihime!"

    "Scarlet Shield of Mist!"

    As the release command echoed, a crimson shield materialized in mid-air, blocking Takada Tai''s descent.

    *Crack!*

    The shield shattered instantly under the impact, but it was enough to alter Takada Tai''s trajectory.

    Flipping mid-air, Takada landed a short distance away, his feet carving two massive craters into the ground.

    "Who?" he muttered, turning to see the figure behind him.

    A disheveled man with straw-colored hair struggled to his feet¡ªit was Urahara Kisuke, the young Shinigami Takada had previously knocked unconscious.

    He hadn''t expected Urahara to still have the strength to fight.

    Kisuke held his Zanpakut¨­ with a grim expression.

    In truth, he had only been unconscious for a brief moment. Since then, he had been lying on the ground, carefully observing the situation.

    Originally, he planned to play dead to the end. If the worst came to pass, someone had to survive and report the incident to the Gotei 13.

    But seeing Kaelith Yurei holding his own against two captain-class opponents gave Kisuke hope.

    So when Kaelith appeared to falter, Kisuke didn''t hesitate to release his Zanpakut¨­.

    Although he hadn''t mastered its Shikai for long, it was enough to deflect Takada''s fatal blow.

    Kisuke smirked briefly, but his expression shifted almost immediately.

    *Whoosh!*

    Before he could react, Shinchira Renzosuke appeared in front of him. With a swift kick, Shinchira''s leg lashed out like a whip, slamming into Kisuke''s abdomen.

    "Urgh!"

    Kisuke spat out a mouthful of blood, his body skidding across the ground like a skipping stone. He finally collapsed, unable to move.

    He didn''t need to look¡ªhe knew his internal organs were in shambles, his bones likely broken in multiple places.

    After a feeble attempt to rise, Kisuke sighed heavily.

    "Kaelith¡­ it''s all up to you now¡­"

    Amid the dissipating dust, Kaelith Yurei slowly stood up.

    The searing pain coursing through his body made him want to collapse again, but he knew that if he fell now, it would be permanent.

    Summoning his spirit pressure, Kaelith released it outward in a sudden burst.

    The swirling dust around him was swept away in an instant, moonlight bathing his battered form.

    Kaelith frowned slightly.

    As the dust cleared, he felt as though he had touched upon something¡­ unusual.

    Not far away, Shinchira Renzosuke and Takada Tai turned their gazes toward him.

    "It''s over," everyone thought simultaneously.

    Against two captain-class adversaries, Kaelith had exhausted all his options.

    The outcome would be decided in moments.

    Shinchira couldn''t help but smile.

    "Kaelith Yurei, I''ll admit you''ve done quite well," he said. "But this is the end."

    He began to approach Kaelith, step by step, his blade glinting in the moonlight.

    "Submit to your fate, and I promise to leave immediately after killing you."

    "But if you dare anger me further, I''ll slaughter everyone you''re trying to protect¡­ starting with that blond brat over there."

    From his prone position, Kisuke muttered weakly, "¡­Blond brat¡­ really?"

    Barely conscious, he rolled his eyes.

    "I knew it. Kaelith really is my curse¡­"

    "If I survive this, staying far away from him is going to be my new life motto."

    As his mind drifted, he recalled that Kaelith was slated to join the Second Division soon.

    "Maybe I should transfer to the Twelfth Division¡­ research is much safer¡­"

    Before he could finish the thought, Kisuke lost consciousness completely.

    Meanwhile, Yoruichi, supported by Soifon, struggled to watch the scene unfold.

    For the first time, she truly felt the anguish of powerlessness.

    "Kaelith¡­ run¡­" she croaked weakly.

    Hearing her plea, Soifon tightened her grip on her short blade and bolted toward Kaelith.

    Although she didn''t understand the exact nature of Yoruichi''s connection to him, Soifon was determined to fulfill her master''s wishes.

    Sensing Soifon''s approach, Shinchira waved his hand casually.

    Three triangular light blades formed in the air and shot toward her.

    *Thud!*

    With a startled cry, Soifon was struck in both wrists and her waist, the force pinning her to a broken wall.  Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Unbothered, Shinchira resumed his approach, stopping mere meters away from Kaelith.

    "Any last words, boy?" he asked, his tone brimming with arrogance.

    Kaelith met his gaze, his expression unreadable.

    "Yes," he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

    "I have something to tell you."

    Shinchira paused, his confidence faltering slightly.

    Kaelith''s grin widened.

    "Villains¡­ always die because they talk too much."

    A sense of dread washed over Shinchira.

    Abandoning all pretense, he lunged forward to finish Kaelith.

    But under the moonlight, a sudden sharp pain shot through his ankle.

    *Splurt!*

    Blood spurted out as a wound appeared out of nowhere.

    "What?!"

    Shinchira looked down in shock, only to feel a second searing pain¡ªthis time from the sole of his foot.

    *Shink!*

    Reeling back, Shinchira saw blood dripping from the punctured bottom of his sandal.

    "What the hell is this?!" he bellowed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

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 Chapter 56

    Shinchira Renzosuke stared at the blood pooling under his feet, momentarily stunned.

    Then, as though struck by a sudden realization, his face twisted in terror.

    Nearby, Takata Tai cried out in shock:

    "Ky¨­raku Shunsui!!"

    As one of the oldest captains of the Seireitei, Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s Shikai abilities were no secret.

    Attacking from an opponent''s shadow was one of his hallmark techniques.

    The thought that Ky¨­raku Shunsui had somehow slipped into the vicinity without being noticed sent a chill through Shinchira Renzosuke.

    Frantically, he scanned his surroundings while repeatedly glancing down at his shadow.

    Not far away, Takata Tai mirrored his movements.

    Suddenly, a strange sensation of being watched crept over Shinchira.

    It was an unsettling feeling that made his heart tighten.

    After confirming there was no trace of Ky¨­raku Shunsui nearby, he quickly lowered his gaze to his shadow.

    *Shhkk!*

    A sharp blade pierced through his back.

    Along with the agonizing sensation of being impaled, a burst of blood sprayed from his chest.

    Wide-eyed, Shinchira Renzosuke stared at the sudden wound on his chest.

    In that moment, his greatest shock wasn''t the attack itself.

    It was the baffling absence of a visible weapon, even though the sensation of a blade filling the wound was unmistakable.

    He could clearly see the torn flesh of his chest, gaping and unable to close as if held open by an invisible force.

    And yet¡­ nothing was there.

    Whipping around, he desperately tried to catch a glimpse of his attacker.

    What he saw made his scalp tingle.

    Nothing.

    There was no one behind him.

    As he stood frozen in disbelief, the unseen blade withdrew from his body.

    "Ugh!"

    Staggering, Shinchira Renzosuke clutched at his wound.

    Takata Tai, witnessing the scene, was utterly dumbfounded.

    In the distance, Yoruichi and Shaolin F¨¥ng also wore expressions of confusion.

    What¡­ exactly had happened?

    Yoruichi instinctively turned her gaze toward Kaelith Yurei.

    Although she had no concrete evidence, her instincts screamed that Kaelith was somehow involved in the incident.

    Yet Kaelith simply stood there, motionless and seemingly uninvolved.

    Yoruichi frowned slightly, puzzled.

    As she pondered, something suddenly caught her attention.

    The realization hit her like a thunderbolt, and her pupils contracted in shock.

    In the moonlight, Kaelith Yurei had no shadow.

    What¡­ kind of illusion was this?

    While Yoruichi deliberated, Shinchira Renzosuke was on the brink of madness.

    The eerie sensation of being watched returned, sending him into a frenzy.

    "Damn it!!"

    He roared, wildly swinging his Zanpakut¨­ at the air around him.

    *Slash!*

    A fresh wound opened on his arm, leaving a deep gash.

    "Damn it! Damn it!"

    "Ky¨­raku Shunsui! Show yourself!"

    "What? Are you too afraid to face me head-on?!"

    As his curses echoed, the attacks came again.

    This time, an unseen slash landed on his unguarded calf.

    Howling in rage, Shinchira Renzosuke lashed out, his fury mounting.

    Takata Tai, observing from a distance, began piecing things together.

    Something was off¡­

    This wasn''t Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s ability.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s "Kageoni" required an attack to emerge from the enemy''s shadow.  S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was an immutable rule of his Zanpakut¨­.

    Yet, every one of Shinchira''s wounds had materialized out of thin air, without a single strike originating from his shadow.

    Then¡­ who was responsible for these attacks?

    Instinctively, Takata Tai turned his gaze to Kaelith Yurei.

    Like Yoruichi, he saw Kaelith standing calmly, unmoving.

    Was it not Kaelith after all?

    Then who?

    He turned his eyes to Shaolin F¨¥ng.

    The young woman stood in the center of the battlefield, her gaze fixed on Shinchira, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.

    No, it couldn''t be her.

    Takata Tai felt his thoughts spiral into chaos.

    Yoruichi, however, had no doubts left.

    The strange attacks were unquestionably Kaelith Yurei''s doing.

    Moments ago, she had noticed Kaelith''s shadow reappear at his feet.

    If she hadn''t been watching closely, she might have believed it had never vanished in the first place.

    Once Kaelith''s shadow returned, the assaults on Shinchira Renzosuke ceased.

    So, this was Kaelith''s Zanpakut¨­ ability?

    The power to manipulate his own shadow, creating an invisible attacker?

    Yoruichi''s eyes sparkled with admiration.

    As expected of someone she had taken an interest in¡ªhis awakened ability was perfectly suited for the Second Division.

    Kaelith glanced at the shadow now settled at his side with the corner of his eye.

    Earlier, as he emerged from the smoke, ready to fight to the death, he had heard a voice calling out to him.

    "Take me¡­ "

    "Take me¡­"

    The moment he heard it, one word flashed in his mind¡ªhis Zanpakut¨­.

    From his experience watching the anime, he knew such voices often signaled the awakening of a Shinigami''s blade.

    However, when he examined the weapon in his hand, he realized the voice wasn''t coming from it.

    Following the sound, he scanned his surroundings, his confusion growing.

    Eventually, his gaze fell upon his shadow.

    "Take me¡­"

    Kaelith gradually understood that the voice was emanating from his shadow.

    To be precise, it was coming from the shadow of his Asauchi.

    Realizing this, Kaelith felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.

    How was he supposed to pick up a shadow?

    If it meant grabbing the real blade, he was already doing that.

    If it meant using his hand''s shadow to grasp the blade''s shadow, wasn''t he doing that too?

    Did he need to lie on the ground and physically grab his shadow?

    The thought almost made him laugh.

    After a moment''s hesitation, he reached out and tried grasping the shadow in the air.

    The instant he made the motion, he felt something solid in his hand.

    A flood of knowledge surged into Kaelith Yurei''s mind...

    ---

    After a brief moment of confusion, Takata Tai''s gaze shifted back to Kaelith Yurei.

    Though there wasn''t much evidence, he gradually became certain¡ªthe problem lay with this boy.

    If that were the case, eliminating him would solve everything!

    Takata Tai took a deep breath, lowered his shoulders into a charging stance, and launched himself toward Kaelith.

    This time, he was prepared. Even if Kaelith used his "Twin Bone" technique again, at worst, his shoulder might suffer a minor injury that could heal within a month.

    But Kaelith would undoubtedly die!

    "Shinchira! Support me by restricting his Shunpo!"

    Hearing Takata''s shout, Shinchira Renzosuke snapped out of his own frantic search for the enemy.

    Despite being tormented by Kaelith''s strange ability, his combat instincts as a captain still prevailed. Seeing Takata''s charge, he quickly grasped his intent.

    Planting his Zanpakut¨­ firmly into the ground, Shinchira shouted:

    "Entangle him! Frenzied Forest!"

    As his voice echoed, countless roots burst from the ground. Before Kaelith could react, vines coiled tightly around his ankles.

    Under normal circumstances, he had plenty of ways to break free.

    But now, with Takata Tai charging at full force, Kaelith had no time to escape without being crushed by this human battering ram.

    Within mere moments, more roots climbed up Kaelith''s legs, binding his lower body securely like a vice awaiting the impact of a hydraulic hammer.

    Seeing Kaelith thoroughly restrained, Shinchira couldn''t help but grin.

    Success!

    Shaolin F¨¥ng tried to intercept Takata along the way, but her attack failed to penetrate his defenses, and she was sent flying with a single punch.

    Her petite body spun like a broken doll through the air before crashing to the ground. One of her arms twisted unnaturally, clearly suffering multiple fractures.

    Meanwhile, Yoruichi rushed toward Kaelith, firing several high-level Bakud¨­ spells in quick succession.

    Yet none of them managed to hinder Takata Tai''s relentless charge.

    Yoruichi''s heart sank as she watched the scene unfold, but her sharp eyes caught something strange¡ªKaelith''s shadow had vanished once again.

    Her eyes lit up in realization.

    Kaelith''s shadow had already demonstrated the ability to create invisible attacks, which meant it had a physical presence.

    If that were the case, couldn''t it also block Takata Tai?

    Her gaze filled with hope, but the imagined barrier never appeared.

    Not only did Takata Tai remain unaffected, he wasn''t even slightly disturbed by the shadow.

    Under Yoruichi''s stunned gaze, Kaelith stood calmly as Takata Tai barreled toward him.

    Kaelith''s eyes seemed unfocused, as though he were lost in thought.

    When Takata Tai''s enormous frame was only twenty meters away, Kaelith finally moved.

    Tilting his upper body slightly, he clenched his fists.

    Seeing Kaelith''s motion, Takata Tai shook his head inwardly.

    So, it''s the "Twin Bone" again.

    Unfortunately for Kaelith, this time, Takata Tai was determined to disappoint him.

    Last time, he''d been caught off guard by the technique and exposed his vulnerable chest and abdomen.

    Now, his attack relied entirely on his toughest areas.

    Even if Kaelith could sprout extra arms and perform "Four Bone" or "Five Bone," Takata Tai was confident in his victory.

    As he advanced, a flicker of black light appeared around Kaelith, but Takata dismissed it as an illusion.

    Kaelith drew his fists to his waist, his expression calm.

    An inexplicable sense of dread surged within Takata Tai as he closed in.

    It made no sense¡ªhe knew the power of Kaelith''s "Twin Bone."

    Strong? Absolutely.

    But not strong enough to shatter the rock armor encasing his shoulders and arms.

    Though the technique would leave him injured, it shouldn''t provoke such primal fear.

    Unable to reconcile this feeling, Takata Tai pushed forward with even greater determination.

    Attack was the best form of defense!

    In a flash, the twenty-meter gap vanished.

    Takata Tai loomed over Kaelith, ready to crush him into a smear on the ground.

    At that precise moment, Kaelith struck.

    He unleashed his fists in a double punch¡ª

    **BOOM!**

    A massive impact shattered the rock armor, sending shockwaves through Takata Tai''s body.

    Feeling the strength of Kaelith''s punch, Takata allowed himself a moment of triumph.

    As he predicted, the attack wasn''t enough to¡ª

    Wait.

    Another force surged forward, identical to the first.

    It was another "Twin Bone."

    Two strikes, perfectly synchronized yet staggered, hit Takata Tai as if two people had attacked him in unison.

    The impossibly seamless coordination caused the spiritual energy in Takata Tai''s rock armor to collapse.

    With a deafening crack, his armor exploded into dust, exposing his vulnerable flesh.

    Kaelith''s punch carried through, smashing into Takata Tai''s shoulder like an apocalyptic force.

    In that instant, Takata Tai finally understood the true meaning of overwhelming power.

    Even though Kaelith''s spiritual pressure was inferior, his strike felt like the end of the world.

    Takata Tai''s shoulder disintegrated into a mist of blood as he was flung backward, painting the air crimson before crashing into the ground.

    Shinchira Renzosuke''s triumphant grin froze on his face, replaced by sheer disbelief as he followed Takata Tai''s arc with his eyes until the latter landed lifelessly.

    Yoruichi, charging toward the scene, was so shocked that she stumbled, face-planting into the ground with a loud thud.

    Takata Tai lay motionless, his rock armor completely obliterated, his fate uncertain.

    Kaelith lifted his hands, examining the mangled, bloodied remains of his fingers.

    Despite their gruesome state, his face radiated satisfaction.

    As expected, his instincts were correct.

    The "Twin Bone" technique did have an advanced form.

    Of course, achieving it with flesh and spiritual pressure alone was impossible.

    No wonder both Aizen and Yamamoto dismissed his ideas as delusional.

    Now, he''d love to see their expressions.

    Smiling at the thought, Kaelith glanced down at the vines still binding his lower body.

    Without their support, his counterattack might have faltered halfway through, leaving him unable to withstand the recoil or aim properly at Takata Tai.

    Turning to Shinchira Renzosuke, Kaelith gave a small nod of gratitude.

    Shinchira''s eyes widened in horror at the gesture.

    With a strangled cry, his legs gave out beneath him, nearly sending him to the ground.

    At that moment, the air trembled.

    New spiritual pressures erupted within the barrier.

    **BOOM!**

    **BOOM!**

    **BOOM!**

    Three captain-class presences entered the scene.

    Feeling their oppressive spiritual energy, Shinchira Renzosuke''s face turned ghostly pale.

    -------------------

    Lol Should have taken that chance to flee.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57

    Above the Second Division, a man wearing a white haori and sporting an afro raised his Zanpakut¨­ high.

    "Crush it, Tengumaru!!"

    With his shout, the meter-long Zanpakut¨­ glowed and extended.

    In an instant, it transformed into a seven-to-eight-meter-long black spiked mace.

    With a mighty swing, the man smashed the mace down, shattering a massive barrier in a single blow.

    As the barrier disintegrated, the spiritual pressure contained within surged outward.

    Sensing the information hidden in the spiritual pressure, the faces of the two nearby captains darkened.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s face was obscured in shadow as he drew his Zanpakut¨­. Without a word, he used Shunpo to descend toward the source below.

    Hikifune Kirio followed closely behind without hesitation.

    From a distance, the two could already see the scene unfolding near the back mountain of the Second Division, just outside the prison gates.

    The sight was so surreal that, for a brief moment, both forgot their anger.

    Takata Tai, the captain of the Ninth Division, lay on the ground with his entire shoulder blown apart, his condition unknown.

    Nearby, Shinchira Renzosuke gripped his sword, his face pale with terror.

    On the other side, Kaelith Yurei stood silently.

    Although his body was battered, and blood dripped from his hands, the fierce battle aura emanating from him was blinding, like a blazing sun.

    "Kaelith!!" Ky¨­raku Shunsui shouted.

    Hearing the familiar voice, Kaelith grinned.

    His senior brother might not have arrived promptly, but at least he came in time.

    Though he had defeated Takata Tai, Kaelith was at his limit.

    If Shinchira Renzosuke decided to take advantage of the moment and strike, everyone present would likely be killed.

    **Shff!**

    Ky¨­raku landed beside Kaelith with a swift Shunpo.

    "Kaelith, are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice as he observed Kaelith''s near-collapse.

    Kaelith shook his head, resisting the overwhelming urge to pass out.

    Gathering his strength, he said, "Senior brother, Takata Tai, captain of the Ninth Division, conspired with rebels to stage a coup. They launched a night assault on the Second Division, causing numerous casualties among its members."

    "Injured among them is Shih¨­in Yoruichi, head of the Shih¨­in family."

    "Shinchira Renzosuke was also freed by Takata Tai''s accomplices¡­ make sure to arrest his allies in the prison as well."

    Hearing this, Ky¨­raku couldn''t help but chuckle.

    Even in his battered state, Kaelith was laying the groundwork to pin the blame on Takata Tai.

    What''s more, the way he emphasized the assault on the Shih¨­in family head over the rebellion itself was a masterstroke of noble politics.

    "Got it. I''ll make sure it''s all reported," Ky¨­raku replied with a smile, appreciating the clever maneuver.

    Kaelith nodded, but as he relaxed, his legs buckled beneath him.

    Two hands caught him from behind.

    Turning his head, Kaelith saw Yoruichi staring at him with a complicated expression.

    She slipped her hands under his arms and carried him away from the battlefield using Shunpo, ensuring his safety.

    Watching the scene, Ky¨­raku resisted the urge to whistle, realizing it wasn''t an appropriate time.

    Hikifune Kirio scanned the battlefield, her eyes brimming with anger.

    So many members of the Gotei 13 had been sacrificed for this pointless chaos.

    These nobles¡­ could they possibly be more disgusting?

    Fixing her gaze on the two captains in front of her, Kirio''s expression grew cold, and killing intent surged within her.

    Though captains were valuable combat assets in Soul Society, even with irrefutable evidence, nobles often shielded them from justice.

    If she were forced to leave the Seireitei for the Royal Guard soon, she''d no longer have a hand in quelling rebellion.

    Perhaps it was better to end things here and now.

    On a battlefield like this, killing them would be justified.

    If the Central 46 later tried to hold her accountable, she''d simply head to the Royal Guard early.

    Let them try to pursue her there! (t/n I like her)

    With this thought, she no longer hesitated.

    Drawing her Zanpakut¨­, she stomped her foot and launched herself toward Shinchira Renzosuke.

    Watching her, Ky¨­raku Shunsui grimaced, feigning fear.

    Though he considered stopping her, the thought of the Central 46''s likely ruling made him hold back.

    Descending from above, Aikawa Love, the captain of the Seventh Division, shivered slightly at the sight.

    In an instant, Hikifune Kirio reached Shinchira and swung her blade down.

    However, mid-swing, she suddenly paused, sensing something.

    She immediately shifted her stance, retreating with remarkable speed.

    Almost simultaneously, a slicing wave of energy surged past her, carving a deep trench between her and Shinchira.

    **Shff!!**

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui and Aikawa Love appeared beside her in unison, using Shunpo to close the distance.

    Hikifune Kirio was surprised as she looked in the direction from which the slicing wave had come. Emerging from the shadows, a figure wearing a Tengu mask slowly approached.

    He was tall and slender, dressed in a pale blue kimono, his hand holding a Zanpakut¨­. Strands of silvery-white hair peeked out from behind the mask.

    Shinchira Renzosuke''s eyes lit up with hope at the sight, as if he had just been granted a reprieve.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui frowned slightly. There was something vaguely familiar about this man, particularly his spiritual pressure. Although well-concealed, it stirred a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu within him.

    Not far off, Yoruichi, who was supporting Kaelith and kneeling on the ground, also showed a similar reaction.

    As the masked man stepped forward, heading towards Takata Tai, Ky¨­raku quickly intercepted him.

    "Ah, my good sir, these two are under the jurisdiction of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads," Ky¨­raku said smoothly. "If you leave now, I might pretend I haven''t seen anything."

    The Tengu-masked man paused briefly before suddenly swinging his Zanpakut¨­.

    **Clang!!!**

    Ky¨­raku raised his twin blades to block the strike. The next instant, his expression changed. Without hesitation, Ky¨­raku was forced to retreat, the immense force from the masked man''s blade numbing his arms.

    Such immense spiritual pressure... who was this person? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After pushing Ky¨­raku back with a single strike, the masked man flicked his finger.

    Takata Tai, who lay on the ground, was levitated and landed gently on the man''s shoulder. He then turned his gaze toward Shinchira Renzosuke, who, realizing something, quickly ran over to them.

    "Planning to leave?" Hikifune Kirio''s eyebrows shot up as she prepared to dash forward.

    Predicting her move, the Tengu-masked man lifted his Zanpakut¨­ and aimed it at her from a distance.

    "Had¨­ #91."

    "Senj¨± K¨­ten Taih¨­."

    Hikifune Kirio''s eyes widened.

    In the next second, to her disbelief, dozens of white-hot spears of light materialized and shot toward her simultaneously¡ª

    **Boom!!!**

    The area erupted with a tremendous explosion, casting a brilliant glare over the battlefield. The force of the Kid¨­ enveloped the area, showcasing the masked man''s formidable prowess, leaving those present in awe and trepidation at his capabilities.

 Chapter 58

    As the light cannon surged forward, the Tengu-masked man spoke once more¡ª

    "Had¨­ #88: Hiry¨± Gekizoku Shinten Raih¨­!"

    **Crackle!!!**

    A massive blue-and-white lightning column, over two meters thick, erupted from the tip of his Zanpakut¨­. It chased after his previous Had¨­, heading directly for the trio.

    "Wait, wait! You''re kidding me, right? He''s casting Had¨­ #88 without incantation?!" Aikawa Love exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

    He raised his massive spiked mace, flames bursting forth as his spiritual pressure condensed around it.

    Hikifune Kirio moved even faster.

    The elegant yet imposing woman stepped forward, her voice commanding:

    "Bakud¨­ #81: Dank¨±!"

    **Buzz!!!**

    A colossal, translucent barrier shot up from the ground with her step.

    **Boom!!!**

    The Senj¨± K¨­ten Taih¨­ collided with the barrier, erupting in a fiery explosion.

    Since Dank¨± only blocked one direction, the flames roared outward to the sides, threatening to engulf everything in their path.

    Seeing this, Ky¨­raku Shunsui leaped into the air, crossing his twin blades with a flourish.

    "Bush¨­goma!"

    With a sharp motion, twin cyclones of green wind swirled outward, containing the flames and preventing them from spreading.

    Meanwhile, Aikawa Love had finished gathering his power.

    Lifting his massive mace, now blazing with brilliant flames, he roared and brought it crashing down.

    "Kaji no¡­ Ch¨©sai Hammer!!!"

    The mace slammed into the ground, sending an explosive wave of force forward.

    The Hiry¨± Gekizoku Shinten Raih¨­, having just pierced through Dank¨±, collided head-on with the fiery wave.

    The two forces wrestled against each other for a few seconds before dissipating in a brilliant display of energy.

    As Ky¨­raku Shunsui looked over the scorched ground, he couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    "To suppress three captains at once¡­ who is this guy?"

    Closing his eyes, Ky¨­raku tried to trace the masked man''s spiritual pressure, but all traces had been cut off.

    Shaking his head in frustration, he landed back on the ground and rushed to check on Kaelith Yurei.

    ---

    After an indeterminate amount of time, Kaelith Yurei slowly opened his eyes.

    "An unfamiliar ceiling," he murmured.

    Lying on a soft bed, he squinted lazily like a satisfied cat.

    "Though the ceiling may be unfamiliar, the doctor is quite the familiar face," a teasing voice chimed in beside him.

    Turning his head, Kaelith saw Seinosuke Yamada sitting by his bedside, one leg crossed over the other and a thick book resting on his lap.

    "Well, how''s it feel to narrowly escape death?" Seinosuke asked with a smirk as Kaelith turned toward him.

    Kaelith sighed, "Awful... Why isn''t it a beautiful nurse?"

    Seinosuke chuckled. "Because yours truly is a masterful healer. Even though I haven''t officially joined the squad, I''ve already earned Captain Unohana''s approval."

    "The captain thinks my medical skills far surpass those of any beautiful nurse. That''s why I''m here to keep an eye on you."

    "So, be grateful to the captain for her kindness, you idiot Kaelith."

    Kaelith raised his hand, intending to flip Seinosuke off, but froze midway.

    Both his hands were wrapped in thick bandages, making it impossible to discern their original shape.

    He stared at them in confusion for a moment before remembering what had happened.

    In his battle against Takata Tai, he had forcibly used a technique that had only existed in his imagination. While the results had been effective, his hands had been utterly ruined in the process.

    Seinosuke set his book aside, his expression turning serious.

    "Kaelith, I know you''re not one of those fragile weaklings, so I won''t sugarcoat it," Seinosuke Yamada said seriously.

    "Your hands¡­ the situation isn''t great.

    "For the next few months, maybe even years, you might not be able to use them for combat."

    His face darkened, but he quickly added, "But don''t worry. I, Seinosuke Yamada, swear on my honor as a healer¡ªI will find a way to fix your hands!"

    "The nobles have their secret techniques for healing. One of them is bound to help.

    "And don''t forget, there''s also Captain Unohana. She''ll do everything she can to find a solution!"

    Kaelith couldn''t help but chuckle at Seinosuke''s determination.

    Frowning, Seinosuke snapped, "Don''t think I''m joking about this! I¡ª"

    "I know," Kaelith interrupted, nodding.

    "Relax, Seinosuke. I''m Kaelith Yurei¡ªa genius on par with S¨­suke Aizen.

    "A couple of busted hands? We''ll figure it out eventually.

    "And if all else fails, I''ve got you, the backup healer. No rush."

    Seinosuke Yamada: "¡­"

    Seeing Kaelith''s lighthearted attitude, Seinosuke clicked his tongue in disbelief.

    "This guy really doesn''t take anything to heart, does he?"

    Kaelith lowered his bandaged hands and asked, "How are Yoruichi and Shaolin F¨¥ng?"

    "Lady Yoruichi''s fine. The nobles have their own private hospital, and I heard she was discharged yesterday."

    "As for that short-haired girl, her injuries were more severe. One of her arms was broken in multiple places."

    "Her life''s not in danger, but how much function her arm will recover depends on luck."

    Kaelith''s brow furrowed slightly.

    If Shaolin F¨¥ng''s arm was permanently damaged, it could mean the end of her career in the Onmitsukid¨­¡­

    As the two chatted, there was a knock on the door.

    After a response, the door opened, and several figures entered the room.

    At the front was none other than Ky¨­raku Shunsui.

    Seeing Kaelith awake, he grinned.  S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hey, hey, Ukitake, didn''t I tell you? Our junior here is quite the powerhouse."

    Ukitake J¨±shir¨­ shot him a glare.

    If you had been more reliable as his senior, Kaelith wouldn''t be lying here now!

    Swallowing his words for the sake of peace, Ukitake remained silent.

    Following behind them was Unohana Retsu.

    She approached the bed, examined Kaelith''s hands, and frowned slightly.

    Turning to Seinosuke, she asked, "How is he?"

    Seinosuke smiled. "No need to worry, Captain. This guy''s mental fortitude is exceptional. I''ve already told him about his condition, and he''s taking it surprisingly well."

    Nodding in acknowledgment, Unohana promised to do everything in her power to find a treatment for Kaelith''s hands.

    After a thorough examination of his body, she concluded, "Aside from your hands, the rest of your recovery is going well.

    "If there are no complications, you''ll likely be discharged today."

    With that, Unohana left, and Seinosuke followed shortly after.

    Once they were gone, Ky¨­raku and Ukitake sat down to chat with Kaelith for a while.

    However, their conversation was soon interrupted by another knock at the door.

    This time, it was Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe, the First Division''s lieutenant.

    He brought a box of snacks and offered Kaelith words of encouragement, urging him to focus on his recovery and not to worry about external matters.

    After Sasakibe''s departure, Ky¨­raku and Ukitake also took their leave.

    Kaelith stretched lazily, preparing to take another nap when¡ª

    **Knock, knock.**

    Once again, someone was at the door.

    ------------------

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 Chapter 59

    Hikifune Kirio, Kinoshita Hinou, and several of Kaelith''s peers from Shin''¨­ Academy came by to visit him.

    Even the Kuchiki family sent a representative.

    During the visit, Kaelith inquired about Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    The representative informed him that S¨­jun was doing well and currently undergoing training under the family head.

    Once the academy students had left, a lone figure entered the room.

    Seeing who it was, Kaelith grinned widely.

    "Well, well, S¨­suke, I thought you weren''t going to show up."

    Not having seen Aizen among the earlier visitors, Kaelith assumed he had been busy conducting experiments at the laboratory and was unaware of his condition.

    Aizen approached and examined Kaelith carefully, his gaze eventually settling on the heavily bandaged hands. He frowned slightly.

    Before Kaelith could explain, Aizen spoke.

    "I''ve already heard the details from Yamada."

    "For a mere academy student to involve himself in such a significant matter¡­ it''s a miracle you only lost the use of your hands. Consider it good fortune."

    "This might actually be a blessing in disguise," Aizen continued with his calm, detached tone.

    "If you don''t learn the price of carelessness now, next time, it might be your life."

    Kaelith let out an awkward laugh.

    "Well, no need to make it sound that grim¡­"

    Suddenly, Kaelith''s expression shifted to one of curiosity.

    "S¨­suke, what''s wrong with your leg?"

    Aizen froze for a fraction of a second before responding with an unreadable expression.

    "My leg? Why do you ask?"

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

    "Your stance. Whenever you stand, your balance is always impeccable, even when you''re exhausted after training. Yet today, your weight is clearly favoring your left leg, while your right leg seems to be avoiding any pressure."

    "You¡­ injured your leg?"

    Aizen''s pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly nodded.

    "Yesterday, I misstepped while practicing Shunpo and hurt my ankle."

    "Oh, I see," Kaelith replied, seemingly understanding.

    Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Heh, I never thought the genius S¨­suke Aizen would make such a rookie mistake. That''s hilarious."

    Aizen: "¡­"  S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching Kaelith laugh to himself, Aizen felt a strong urge to draw his sword.

    The previous night, Aizen had done what he usually did¡ªset up an illusionary decoy in his bed, dressed in dark attire, and prepared to head to Rukongai for his experiments.

    However, as he left Shin''¨­ Academy, he sensed turmoil within Seireitei.

    At first, he planned to ignore it, but a nagging feeling stopped him.

    Kaelith was supposed to be in Seireitei that day.

    Normally, Kaelith would have returned to the academy by this hour, but he was conspicuously absent.

    Could the chaos in Seireitei have something to do with him?

    Aizen considered using "Tsubame Gaeshi no Tsuiseki" (Trailing Sparrow Threads) to pinpoint Kaelith''s location.

    Unfortunately, he wasn''t particularly skilled with this Kid¨­, as it was rarely necessary for him to use it.

    To locate Kaelith, he needed an approximate direction or range of activity.

    After frowning in thought for a few moments, he adjusted his mask and decided to investigate.

    Sneaking into Seireitei, he quickly encountered a patrol squad.

    Using Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, he disguised himself as a seated officer and inquired about the situation.

    After listening to their report, Aizen fell into deep contemplation.

    For safety during his Rukongai experiments, he kept tabs on Seireitei''s news.

    Rebel forces attacking the Seventh Division¡­ but why the Seventh Division?

    The term "distraction tactic" immediately sprang to his mind.

    He requested the night''s defense map and studied it carefully.

    He identified three potential targets:

    - Seventh Division: Its captain and lieutenant were both middle-aged men of no notable influence.

    - Ninth Division: Its captain was a grizzled veteran, and its lieutenant was a muscle-bound warrior.

    - Second Division: The home of Shih¨­in Yoruichi and her family.

    The answer was clear.

    The Second Division was the most likely target.

    Without hesitation, Aizen formed the necessary hand seals and cast **Tsubame Gaeshi no Tsuiseki**.

    Threads of reishi streaked toward the Second Division headquarters.

    Just as the threads of reishi were about to reach the Second Division, they were abruptly severed by some unseen force.

    The sensation that returned through the threads caused Aizen''s eyes to narrow.

    It was a barrier designed to block spiritual pressure¡­

    It seemed his guess was correct.

    That idiot Kaelith Yurei was indeed in the Second Division.

    And, as expected, he was likely already caught up in trouble.

    Aizen hesitated for a couple of seconds before sighing and heading toward the Second Division.

    The distance between Shin''¨­ Academy and the Second Division was considerable, and it took him significant effort to finally arrive.

    As he approached the barrier, Aizen suddenly sensed something and moved aside.

    "Hm? Where did this kid come from?"

    The Shinigami who had launched a surprise attack stopped mid-motion, confusion crossing his face as he saw Aizen.

    Aizen instantly recognized him.

    It was Sakamoto Naoki, the lieutenant of the Seventh Division.

    Seeing Aizen dressed in dark attire with his face obscured, Sakamoto grinned maliciously.

    "Kid, I don''t know who you are, but showing up here dressed like that means I''ll have to kill you."

    Gripping his Zanpakut¨­ with both hands, Sakamoto assumed a battle stance.

    Aizen gazed at him calmly.

    "Before we fight, allow me to share a piece of advice."

    Sakamoto frowned in confusion as Aizen spoke slowly.

    "Those who casually tell others to ''die'' are often the least confident."

    "Facing someone like me, you cling to empty threats as a crutch for your fragile resolve. How amusing that, even among the timid, you stand as the pinnacle of insecurity." (t/n I don''t want to sound like a fanboy But he is so cool)

    Sakamoto''s eyes widened in fury.

    "You little brat, you''re dead!!!"

    With a roar, Sakamoto charged forward, swinging his Zanpakut¨­ in anger.

    Aizen smirked faintly. His taunt had worked.

    As Sakamoto lunged, Aizen vanished with a flash step, his blade aiming directly for the lieutenant''s throat.

    Aizen''s objective wasn''t to fight but to end the battle as quickly as possible.

    Their clash was over in an instant.

    Aizen stood behind Sakamoto and casually flicked his Zanpakut¨­, flinging a splatter of blood onto the ground.

    Sakamoto clutched his neck, disbelief etched across his face.

    He choked out garbled sounds, blood bubbling from his mouth before he collapsed with a thud.

    Lowering his gaze, Aizen glanced at his right leg.

    During their brief exchange, Sakamoto had unexpectedly released his Zanpakut¨­¡ªa long spear adorned with several iron hooks.

    While Aizen could have easily avoided the attack with his speed, he chose to take the hit to ensure a decisive kill.

    He dismissed the minor wound on his leg, intending to move into the Second Division''s territory.

    But then, he sensed several spiritual pressures rapidly approaching his location.

    Aizen frowned slightly as he focused on identifying the incoming presence.

    Recognizing them as allies, he relaxed somewhat.

    After a moment of thought, he cast a Kid¨­ spell to conceal his presence and swiftly left in another direction.

    ...

    The thought of everything he had gone through the previous night¡ªonly to be mocked by Kaelith earlier¡ªmade Aizen feel his blood pressure rising.

    As this annoyance simmered, the door to the hospital room was suddenly flung open.

    Aizen''s expression darkened as he turned to see who it was.

 Chapter 60

    "Yo, Kaelith! I came to visit¡ª"

    Yoruichi stood at the doorway, her face lighting up with a big smile.

    Mid-sentence, her eyes caught sight of Aizen standing inside the room.

    "Oh, sorry, I didn''t realize someone else was here."

    She gave Aizen a friendly smile, scratching the back of her head awkwardly.

    "You''re one of Kaelith''s classmates, right? I''m Shih¨­in Yoruichi, a friend of his. Nice to meet you!"

    Aizen looked at her for a couple of seconds before bowing slightly.

    "Aizen S¨­suke, a first-year student at Shin''¨­ Academy. A pleasure to meet you."

    "S¨­suke?" Yoruichi blinked, then suddenly seemed to recall something.

    "Ohhh, you''re *that* S¨­suke! Kaelith talks about you all the time!"

    Aizen raised an eyebrow.

    He didn''t need to think hard to guess that whatever Kaelith had said about him was unlikely to be serious or respectful.

    Yoruichi continued with a laugh. "Kaelith always says he wouldn''t be where he is today without your help."

    "Honestly, I''ve never heard him speak that highly of anyone¡ªnot even Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

    For a moment, Aizen''s eyes flickered with surprise.

    Looking at the cheerful, dark-skinned girl in front of him, he bowed slightly again.

    "I''m just an ordinary student, and I don''t deserve such high praise."

    "The academy has afternoon classes, so if you''ll excuse me, I should take my leave."

    With that, Aizen stepped back, straightened up, and left the room.

    As she watched him leave, Yoruichi scratched her head again.

    "Kaelith, your friend¡­ he seems like someone with a lot on his mind."

    Kaelith grinned. "Of course. He''s the most thoughtful person in all of Seireitei."

    Yoruichi raised an eyebrow but didn''t voice her true thoughts.

    To her, Aizen seemed like a man who was exceptionally good at hiding his true self¡ªsomeone who exuded a subtle but dangerous aura.

    However, considering his apparent closeness with Kaelith and their friendly relationship, she decided to keep her observations to herself.

    Shaking off her musings about Aizen, Yoruichi walked to Kaelith''s bedside.

    Kaelith tilted his head, watching her with a curious expression as she took a deep breath and suddenly bent forward in a formal bow.

    "Hey, hold on! I''m not dead yet¡ªno need for a funeral!" Kaelith leaned against the headboard and said with mock annoyance.

    Yoruichi ignored his quip and spoke earnestly, "Kaelith, on behalf of the entire Onmitsukid¨­, I thank you for your help."

    "Without you, the Second Division would have been completely overrun."

    "Not only would Shinchira Renzosuke have escaped, but countless other prisoners would have fled as well."

    "You protected everyone''s lives and honor. For that, as the Commander of the Punishment Force, I offer you my deepest gratitude."

    Seeing Yoruichi bowing her head, Kaelith hurriedly reached out to lift her up.

    In Soul Society, where lifespans stretched for centuries, many Shinigami adhered strictly to formal rituals and etiquette.

    For Kaelith, however, such rituals were nothing but awkward and unnecessary.

    But as he reached out, his hands stopped mid-motion.

    He wiggled his bandaged hands in front of Yoruichi''s face.

    "Yoruichi, if you don''t get up, I''m going to have to use *these* hands to lift you. If you can live with that guilt, go ahead and stay like that."

    Yoruichi looked at his hands, and a pained expression crossed her face.

    She had already heard about the extent of Kaelith''s injuries, but seeing it in person filled her with guilt.

    If she had been stronger, Kaelith wouldn''t have had to push himself to such extremes and break past his limits.

    But her regret was soon replaced by a sly smile.

    "Kaelith, I didn''t just come here to thank you¡ªI came for your hands."

    Kaelith raised a brow in confusion.

    She leaned in and whispered, "You''ve forgotten, haven''t you? What we got from the Twelfth Division."

    Kaelith''s eyes widened in realization.

    The Red-White Hot Springs!

    If Kirinji Tenjir¨­''s claims about its healing properties were true, not only could it heal his hands, but it could also fully restore Shaolin F¨¥ng''s shattered arm!

    "I remember you mentioned that you''ve already found a place to set up the springs," Kaelith muttered, gears turning in his mind.

    "Now we just need the materials¡­ though I remember most of them are pretty rare. Maybe I can ask my teacher¡ªhe''s the Captain-Commander, so he probably has some of the rarer stuff."

    Watching Kaelith mumble and plan, Yoruichi couldn''t help but smirk.

    She crossed her arms and said smugly, "Idiot. Have you forgotten who I am?"

    "I''m the head of the Shih¨­in family, one of the Five Noble Houses."

    "A few rare materials? You think I can''t get those?"

    She lifted her chin proudly. "Come on. I''ve got a surprise waiting for you!"

    Yoruichi led Kaelith out of the room, carefully avoiding the Fourth Division nurses as they made their way to Shaolin F¨¥ng''s room.

    Inside, the short-haired girl sat by the window, staring quietly outside with a vacant expression.

    It wasn''t until Kaelith and Yoruichi entered the room that she turned her head, suddenly aware of their presence.

    Upon seeing Yoruichi, Shaolin F¨¥ng''s eyes instantly reddened.

    "Y-Yoruichi-sama¡­"

    She quickly lowered her head.

    "I deeply apologize, Yoruichi-sama. I have failed you and brought shame upon myself!"

    Biting her lip, she seemed to struggle internally for a long moment.

    Before Yoruichi could respond, Shaolin F¨¥ng bowed even deeper, her face nearly touching the bed.

    "Yoruichi-sama, I am now crippled and can no longer fight for you."

    "Tomorrow, I will submit a request for exile to the Punishment Force headquarters."

    "I have betrayed your trust¡­ I am truly sorry!"

    At first, her voice trembled with sadness.

    By the end, it was utterly calm.

    As a child of the F¨¥ng family, her sole purpose was to join the Punishment Force and devote her life to serving the Shih¨­in family.

    According to her family''s code, any F¨¥ng who failed to serve in the Punishment Force faced exile.

    With one of her arms irreparably damaged, her fate was sealed.

    Only now did Shaolin F¨¥ng realize that her greatest despair and pain didn''t come from the prospect of exile.

    It was the thought that she could never again repay Yoruichi-sama for her kindness.

    Watching Shaolin F¨¥ng bow so deeply, Kaelith opened his mouth, intending to say something.

    "Kaelith Yurei!!!"

    Still bowing, Shaolin F¨¥ng suddenly raised her voice.

    "Yes! I''m here!"

    Startled, Kaelith instinctively nodded.

    "Once I''m gone¡­ Yoruichi-sama¡­ is in your hands!!"

    Gritting her teeth, Shaolin F¨¥ng forced the words out, her voice trembling with emotion.

    Kaelith: "¡­"

    That''s so heavy¡­ and terrifying!

    Kaelith couldn''t help but chuckle awkwardly, ready to explain that things weren''t as serious as she made them sound.

    But before he could speak, he noticed something odd about Shaolin F¨¥ng''s breathing.

    Walking closer, he exchanged a helpless look with Yoruichi.

    Still in her bowing position, Shaolin F¨¥ng had fainted.

    ---

    In the end, it was quite a sight: Yoruichi, her shoulder wrapped in bandages, carrying Shaolin F¨¥ng, whose arm was in a sling, while Kaelith, both hands heavily bandaged, followed behind.

    The three invalids sneaked out of the Fourth Division and made their way toward Rukongai.

    Thankfully, despite their injuries, Yoruichi and Kaelith were still mobile enough to travel quickly.

    By nightfall, they finally reached their destination.

    Under Yoruichi''s guidance, Kaelith entered a cavern.  S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At first, the path was narrow, but after walking several hundred steps, it suddenly opened into a spacious, hidden paradise.

    Kaelith gazed in awe at the small but stunning hidden realm before him.

    And there, waiting for them, was someone Kaelith did not expect.

    Yoruichi smiled and said, "Let me introduce you, Kaelith. This is Tessai Tsukabishi, and he¡ª"

    "Whoa, the Grand Kid¨­ Master?!" Kaelith blurted out in shock.

    -------------------------

 Chapter 61

    "Eh?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s outburst, Tessai Tsukabishi froze, pointing to himself.

    "Grand Kid¨­ Master... are you talking about me?"

    Realizing his mistake, Kaelith awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

    "Oh, my bad. I just recovered from my injuries, and my brain''s a little scrambled," he said with a forced laugh, brushing off the slip.

    Tessai nodded politely. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kaelith. Yoruichi-sama often speaks highly of you."  S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I am Tessai Tsukabishi, currently a retainer of the Shih¨­in family, assisting them with Kid¨­-related matters."

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow in surprise.

    He had assumed Tessai, even if not the Grand Kid¨­ Master yet, would at least hold a high-ranking position in the Kid¨­ Corps.

    He hadn''t expected him to be a family retainer for the Shih¨­in clan.

    Yoruichi clapped her hands to get their attention.

    "Yo, Tessai, is everything ready?"

    "Yes, Yoruichi-sama. Everything is prepared!"

    Puffing out his chest, Tessai answered with a tone of pride.

    "Great! Then... let''s get started!"

    Setting down Shaolin F¨¥ng gently, Yoruichi approached a large pit, gesturing for Tessai to get to work.

    The two busied themselves, placing various materials into the pit while performing intricate hand seals and Kid¨­ incantations.

    As they completed the final steps of the ritual, Tessai clapped his hands together and shouted¡ª

    "Open!!"

    A massive boulder on the nearby wall slowly rose with a rumble.

    Crystal-clear spring water gushed through the revealed channel, flowing into the pit until it was entirely filled.

    When the boulder lowered again, the water within the pit had transformed into a steaming, rejuvenating hot spring.

    Kaelith stepped closer to the edge, peering curiously into the pool.

    With his sharp eyes, he could see the spring''s unique properties¡ªcontinuous heating, self-purifying water, and a steady replenishment from the rock crevices to counter evaporation.

    Satisfied with the setup, Tessai bowed and excused himself.

    Kaelith watched his retreating figure with curiosity.

    Tessaii''s spatial and temporal Kid¨­ abilities were among the most incredible techniques in Soul Society.

    If he could learn even a fraction of it, Kaelith thought, it might lead to some exciting new discoveries.

    Still, healing his injuries took precedence.

    Turning back to the hot spring, Kaelith nearly jumped in shock.

    Yoruichi was crouching by the edge, completely undressing the unconscious Shaolin F¨¥ng. Without hesitation, she slipped the girl into the spring.

    Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Yoruichi began untying her own sash, removing her form-fitting Shihakush¨­.

    In no time, the stunningly bare, dark-skinned beauty stood at the water''s edge.

    Testing the water temperature with her toes, Yoruichi let out a small, delighted cheer before diving in with a splash.

    She swam to the edge of the spring and leaned an arm lazily on the rocks.

    "Kaelith! Get in! It''s amazing!"

    Kaelith stared in stunned silence at first, but then his expression grew serious.

    When he didn''t respond, Yoruichi seemed to realize something.

    "Oh! Sorry, I forgot you can''t undress yourself with those bandaged hands!"

    Yoruichi stood, casually draping a towel over herself before sauntering toward him.

    "Don''t worry, I''ve got this," she said with a grin, reaching for his sash.

    Before she could get started, Kaelith cleared his throat.

    "Yoruichi."

    "Hm?"

    She paused mid-step, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, her expression one of mild curiosity.

    Kaelith''s face was serious, though his eyes betrayed a mix of exasperation and faint amusement.

    He glanced toward the hot spring, memories surfacing in his mind. In the anime, there was that infamous moment where Yoruichi, shifting from her feline form, strolled casually into a hot spring completely unbothered. Ichigo, poor guy, had nearly combusted on the spot.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but wonder¡ªwas it possible that Yoruichi genuinely didn''t care about concepts like modesty? Did she see the human form as just¡­ normal? Practical?

    The thought brought a small chuckle to his lips. Yet, he had to speak his mind.

    Looking back at her, he said firmly, "Yoruichi, just¡­ promise me something."

    She tilted her head, her mischievous smile growing. "Depends. What''s the favor? Sneaking out of the Fourth Division again?"

    "No," he replied, shaking his head. "It''s about what you just did¡ªcasually walking around like this, no concern about boundaries." He gestured vaguely at her towel.

    Yoruichi blinked, clearly waiting for him to elaborate.

    Kaelith sighed and continued. "Just¡­ don''t do that with other guys, alright? Consider it a favor to me¡ªand maybe the dignity of the Second Division while you''re at it."

    For a moment, Yoruichi was silent. Then, the corners of her mouth twitched upward, forming a knowing grin.

    "Ah, I get it now¡­" she said, crossing her arms and leaning slightly toward him. "Kaelith, for someone so stubborn about staying independent, you sure know how to make it sound like you care. Is that your way of saying you''ve got a soft spot for me?"

    "Stop jumping to conclusions!" he snapped, his cheeks faintly red. "I''m just looking out for everyone''s sanity!

    Yoruichi laughed, the sound light and full of mischief. "Alright, alright. For you¡ªand the supposed dignity of the Second Division¡ªI''ll behave¡­ moderately."

    "Good." Kaelith finally relaxed, breathing a quiet sigh of relief.

    But then, her smile turned even sharper, a hint of mischief lighting her golden eyes.

    "Of course, your little rule doesn''t apply to you, does it?"

    Before he could respond, Yoruichi quickly untied his sash with practiced ease. Before Kaelith could protest, she pushed him into the hot spring with a splash.

    "Y-Yoruichi!" he sputtered, glaring up at her.

    She leaned against the edge of the spring, laughing as she joined him. "Relax, Kaelith. You make it way too easy to tease you."

    With a content sigh, Yoruichi sank into the water, the faint traces of her laugh lingering in the air.

    "Today''s a good day," she said, more to herself than anyone else.

    Kaelith, still half-drenched and half-annoyed, couldn''t entirely disagree.

    ¡­

    ¡­

    Seireitei, the First Division squad quarters.

    Yamamoto stood in the room, listening quietly to his subordinates'' reports.

    Upon hearing one of them, he suddenly opened one eye.

    "Captain, a patrol squad has reported witnessing a Shinigami covered by Kid¨­ with shadows on the night of the incident."

    "Based on the scene, the one who defeated the Seventh Division lieutenant, Sakamoto Naoki, is likely this person!"

    "Their characteristics perfectly match those of the shadow killer we''ve been chasing in Rukongai!"

 Chapter 62

    Soaking in the hot spring, Kaelith Yurei couldn''t help but squint his eyes in satisfaction.

    This wasn''t the original red and white-hot spring.

    To reduce its side effects, he and Yoruichi had modified the spring''s formula.

    The current hot spring had significantly less healing power and fewer side effects than the original.

    Even so, it was more than enough to heal his hand.

    Within half an hour, Kaelith felt the vitality return to his fingers.

    He clenched his fist gently in the water, stretched his hand a few times, and smiled.

    "Great, it''s completely healed!"

    Yoruichi was fully submerged in the hot spring, with only her head above the surface.

    She turned her head to inspect her shoulder.

    The wound from before was almost entirely healed.  S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Placing one hand on her shoulder, she raised her arm and rotated it twice.

    "Looks good. I''m fine too!"

    Both of them looked over at Shaolin F¨¥ng.

    The girl was floating in the spring, eyes closed, looking as though she had passed out.

    Yoruichi swam over to her.

    Floating beside Shaolin F¨¥ng, she glanced at Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, come here and help me hold her steady while I check her arm."

    "That''s¡­ not really appropriate, is it?"

    Even as he said this, Kaelith quickly moved closer.

    Yoruichi couldn''t help but feel both amused and exasperated at his reaction.

    As he drew near, Kaelith''s gaze landed on the two of them, and he couldn''t help but feel a pang of emotion.

    Among their peers, Yoruichi had developed exceptionally well¡ªher figure already showing considerable promise.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng, on the other hand, was rather underwhelming even by the standards of her age group.

    Still, despite her lack of development, Kaelith found her endearing.

    After all, he wasn''t a lolicon. (t/n thank god)

    Who wouldn''t find Sui-F¨¥ng to be a cool and charming girl?

    Although Shaolin F¨¥ng didn''t yet possess the striking, confident demeanor she would one day be known for, one could already see hints of it.

    Kaelith wasn''t into younger girls; he simply admired cool and strong characters.

    To make it easier for Yoruichi to examine Shaolin F¨¥ng''s bones, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her.

    Yoruichi''s playful expression faded as she focused intently on her inspection.

    Whether it was the effect of the hot spring or Yoruichi''s repeated kneading of her arm, Shaolin F¨¥ng''s eyes slowly fluttered open.

    As her consciousness returned, the first thing she saw was Kaelith''s face looming above her.

    She blinked in confusion for two seconds before her eyes widened.

    "Ka-Ka¡­"

    Her overwhelming shock made her try to sit up abruptly.

    Yoruichi''s voice rang out suddenly:

    "Shaolin, don''t move. I''m examining you."

    Hearing Yoruichi''s voice, Shaolin F¨¥ng froze slightly.

    She quickly turned her head and saw Yoruichi beside her, currently gripping her arm.

    When she realized what Yoruichi looked like at that moment, her face turned crimson.

    "Y-Yoruichi-sama¡­"

    She finally processed that she was in a hot spring with Yoruichi-sama.

    This was truly¡­

    ¡­Wait?

    The happiness on Shaolin F¨¥ng''s face abruptly vanished.

    She first looked down at herself.

    Then she lifted her head and glared at Kaelith.

    Meeting her gaze, Kaelith offered her a smile.

    The next thing he knew, Shaolin F¨¥ng used her core strength to lift her body, executing a backward flip-kick aimed directly at his face¡ª

    "Ah, what''s going on here?"

    Kaelith Yurei''s figure flickered and reappeared atop the surface of the hot spring water not far away.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng immediately stood upright in the water, raising her arms to shield Yoruichi.

    The first time they met, she had been far too naive, actually believing this person to be a good man.

    In truth, behind that fa?ade of kindness lay the true identity of this scoundrel¡ªa criminal who had bewitched Lady Yoruichi! As a future member of Lady Yoruichi''s personal guard (albeit not yet appointed), she had to block this man''s vile gaze at all costs!

    Seeing Shaolin F¨¥ng raise her arms to shield Yoruichi, Kaelith Yurei couldn''t help but let out a small gasp, quickly submerging himself in the water.

    Shaolin F¨¥ng found his reaction a little odd. But moments later, as she glanced at her perfectly intact arm, she froze.

    "Wait... my arm?"

    Her expression shifted to one of disbelief as she repeatedly examined and touched her arm.

    After a few checks, she finally confirmed it. Her arm... had been healed!

    A huge wave of joy surged through her, and she couldn''t help but break into a smile.

    Behind her, Yoruichi gave a lazy grin.

    "Shaolin, you should properly thank Kaelith this time."

    "He went out of his way to research and create this healing hot spring just to cure your arm."

    "Without his help, you probably wouldn''t be able to stay in the Stealth Force anymore."

    Hearing Yoruichi''s words, Shaolin F¨¥ng turned to Kaelith Yurei with a grateful look.

    Yoruichi then turned her attention to Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, the Second Division has suffered a heavy blow after this incident."

    "Among all the divisions, we''ll probably be demoted from the top tier to the middle tier."

    "Even so, would you still be willing to join the Second Division?"

    Soaking in the water, Kaelith Yurei chuckled and shook his head.

    "I''m joining the Second Division because we made a promise. It has nothing to do with how strong the division is."

    "As long as you''re in the Second Division, I won''t leave."

    Yoruichi smiled at his response. Before Shaolin F¨¥ng could catch the subtle implications in his words, Yoruichi put on a serious expression and spoke loudly:

    "Shaolin F¨¥ng!"

    "Present!"

    The girl immediately straightened up in the water without hesitation.

    Pointing at Kaelith Yurei, Yoruichi declared, "From today onward, you will serve as the personal guard for Kaelith Yurei, a provisional member of the Second Division."

    "You must show him the same loyalty and trust that you show to me."

    "You are to carry out his orders with absolute dedication and thoroughness!"

    "Any questions?"

    A million expressions of reluctance flashed across Shaolin F¨¥ng''s face.

    However, her years of training in the Stealth Force left no room for hesitation. She responded crisply: "I will complete the mission at all costs!"

    Kaelith Yurei was somewhat surprised by Yoruichi''s decree.

    What was she thinking?

    It sounded as though she had just handed him a personal maid.

    Although he couldn''t quite grasp Yoruichi''s intentions, the thought of having Shaolin F¨¥ng under his command made him look forward to life in the Second Division...

    ---

    The next morning, Kaelith Yurei and Yoruichi returned to the Seireitei.

    Captain Unohana greeted their unauthorized departure with a chilling dose of killing intent, leaving the two thoroughly "cleansed."

    It wasn''t until they fervently promised never to repeat their mistake that Captain Unohana finally let them off the hook.

    Once she left, Kaelith and Yoruichi exchanged a glance and chuckled sheepishly.

    Yoruichi''s shoulder was still wrapped in layers of bandages, while Kaelith''s hands were entirely bundled up, resembling two large balls.

    After breakfast, the two, still sporting their injuries, accompanied Captain Unohana toward the First Division.

    The long-delayed captain''s meeting, postponed due to Kaelith and Yoruichi''s recovery, was finally set to take place today at the First Division barracks.

 Chapter 63

    Compared to the last captain''s meeting, this time the number of participants had decreased yet again.

    First, Captain J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division had called in sick.

    Although he seemed fine yesterday, he was too unwell to attend today''s meeting.

    Next, there was Captain Takada of the Ninth Division.

    Many captains instinctively glanced toward the spot where Takada Yasu should have been standing.

    Takada had served as a captain for decades, firmly established as one of the more senior captains.

    No one expected that he would betray the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and join the rebels.

    For a moment, an unspoken tension filled the room.

    Two captains had defected in a row, leading an uncomfortable thought to creep into their minds¡ª

    Could it really just be those two?

    In Takada Yasu''s place stood a young man with short silver hair.

    Even the loose-fitting Shihakush¨­ couldn''t hide the muscles bulging beneath.

    The wooden badge on his arm displayed his identity.

    The Ninth Division''s lieutenant, Kensei Muguruma.

    The moment Kaelith Yurei saw him, he recognized the man immediately.

    The infamous fighter with the dubious honor of being a "combat unit" who had never won against anything stronger than a Gillian! (t/n The Yamcha of the bleach universe...)

    As Kaelith observed Kensei, a fond smile crept onto his face.  S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This man was like the dependable underachiever in a class of misfits¡ªsomeone who made you feel better about your own shortcomings.

    Sensing Kaelith''s gaze, Kensei turned his head to look back.

    Kaelith had assumed that someone with Kensei''s personality might bristle at being stared at so blatantly.

    To his surprise, Kensei gulped nervously and quickly averted his eyes.

    Not far away, Marechiyo ¨­maeda, also wearing a lieutenant''s badge, raised a hand discreetly toward Kaelith and Yoruichi, grinning.

    Though his face still bore some bruises, he appeared to be recovering well.

    Once everyone was present, Yamamoto Genry¨±sai struck the floor with his staff, producing a resounding *thud.*

    The room immediately fell silent.

    The doors to the meeting room were closed, leaving all Shinigami below the rank of lieutenant outside.

    Just before the doors shut, Kaelith felt someone secretly staring at him.

    Turning his head, he spotted a man with curly blond hair who appeared to be in his twenties, observing him curiously.

    Upon being noticed, the man quickly looked away.

    Kaelith thought to himself, "¡­If I''m not mistaken, that''s Kira Izuru''s peer, R¨­j¨±r¨­ "Rose" ¨­toribashi from the Third Division, right?"

    In just a couple of days, it would be his captain''s exam.

    With Seireitei so short-staffed right now, and him already mastering Bankai, it was practically guaranteed he''d pass.

    But despite being on the brink of becoming a captain, he still looked so timid...

    "Young people these days... they just don''t make them like they used to."

    Kaelith shook his head slightly.

    Yamamoto caught the movement out of the corner of his eye.

    Seeing Kaelith''s expression, Yamamoto immediately guessed that this boy was off in his own world again.

    "Kaelith Yurei!"

    "Present!"

    Yamamoto''s sudden bark startled him.

    Whenever Yamamoto used that tone during training, it usually meant something dreadful was about to happen.

    Seeing the wary look on Kaelith''s face, Yamamoto clenched his fist slightly.

    "Kaelith Yurei, Shih¨­in Yoruichi, you two are directly involved in the Second Division prison attack incident," Yamamoto began.

    "Now, please recount the entire sequence of events."

    Kaelith was not surprised by Yamamoto''s request.

    Standing in the center of the hall under the watchful gaze of the captains, he began to recount the entire incident. His delivery was rhythmic and emotive, almost like a storyteller. If there had been a table and a wooden clapper, he could have charged admission for the performance. The captains listened attentively, their focus unwavering. While they were aware of parts of the event, the full details could only be provided by Kaelith and Yoruichi.

    As the two delved deeper into the recounting, the captains'' expressions grew more and more animated.

    Not long ago, this genius from the Shin''¨­ Academy had dueled the Third Division Captain, Shinchira Renzosuke. That match, however, had been brief before Captain Kirio Hikifune intervened to take over.

    But this time was different.

    Throughout the entire battle, apart from Kaelith Yurei, there had been practically no reliable combatants present.

    This student, not yet graduated from the academy, had managed to hold off two captains single-handedly. If not for Yoruichi''s testimony, some might have doubted the truth of this claim.

    When Yoruichi mentioned that Kaelith had used hand-to-hand combat to severely injure Takada, the captains could no longer hide their shock.

    Every gaze turned to Kaelith, now tinged with disbelief¡ªeven Yamamoto opened his eyes slightly.

    Yamamoto knew better than anyone the limits of Kaelith''s hand-to-hand combat skills. Against an opponent like Takada, who had released his Zanpakut¨­ and transformed into a humanoid fortress, even Kaelith''s *Ikkotsu* would have struggled to deal any substantial damage.

    Could it be¡­ this boy had truly achieved what was once considered an impossible goal?

    As Kaelith finished recounting the final stages of the battle, he looked toward Ky¨­raku Shunsui.

    "After that, Senior Shunsui and the others arrived."

    Ky¨­raku nodded and stepped forward, adjusting his hat.

    "After receiving Kaelith''s signal, Captain Love Aikawa, Captain Kirio, and I rushed to the Second Division."

    "When we arrived, we saw a massive barrier and the body of Lieutenant Sakamoto¡­"

    He recounted what had transpired after their group entered the barrier.

    "Old man Yamamoto, the person who saved the prisoner was incredibly skilled."

    "Though their identity remains unknown, I''m certain I''ve seen this person before."

    Hearing this, Yamamoto fell into deep thought.

    To suppress Ky¨­raku, Love, and Kirio¡ªeven briefly¡ªwas a feat nothing short of terrifying. In the current Soul Society, very few individuals possessed such power and audacity.

    A name began to surface in Yamamoto''s mind.

    After a prolonged silence, Yamamoto spoke:

    "The information shared here today must not be disclosed."

    "All division captains, effective immediately, are to maintain high alert within their jurisdictions."

    "Unless absolutely necessary, do not leave your assigned areas."

    The captains exchanged uncertain glances.

    Restricting captain movements¡­ This was not a good sign. It suggested Yamamoto suspected more infiltrators among the higher ranks of the Gotei 13.

    Standing at the edge of the room, Kaelith couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.

    The Gotei 13 seemed riddled with traitors, almost as if it were a sieve.

    The meeting then shifted to discussing the replacement for the Ninth Division Captain. After confirming that Kensei Muguruma had attained Bankai, Yamamoto struck the floor with his cane, announcing that Kensei would participate in the captain''s assessment two days later.

    Kensei''s expression was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation.

    One by one, the agenda items were addressed. Finally, Yamamoto struck the floor with his cane again, signaling the end of the meeting.

    Ky¨­raku sidled up to Kaelith, clearly intending to say something.

    From across the room, Hirako Shinji, with his long golden hair, also seemed to be moving toward Kaelith.

    Before either could act, Yamamoto''s voice rang out:

    "Kaelith Yurei, stay behind!"

 Chapter 64

    Hearing Yamamoto''s words, Kaelith Yurei''s expression changed.

    He raised a hand to his forehead. "Captain Unohana, I feel so dizzy... I think my injuries haven''t healed yet... Please, take me back to Squad Four..."

    Unohana Retsu approached him and gave him a thorough once-over. Then, she smiled¡ªa smile that was both gentle and unnerving.

    She glanced at Yamamoto, shook her head lightly, and turned to leave.

    Under Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s sympathetic gaze, Kaelith was taken away by Yamamoto.

    Upon entering the dojo, Yamamoto waved his hand, and the door automatically shut behind them.

    Looking at Kaelith, who seemed somewhat nervous, Yamamoto got straight to the point:

    "Kid, have you mastered *that*?"

    "*That*?"

    Kaelith blinked, confused at first. Then, suddenly, he understood what Yamamoto meant.

    Scratching his head, he said, "Speaking of that, Captain-Commander, I happen to have a question for you."

    Yamamoto didn''t respond, waiting silently for Kaelith to continue.

    Under Yamamoto''s sharp gaze, Kaelith removed the sword hanging from his waist. Raising a hand, he drew a circle above his head with his finger.

    As he moved, a soundproof barrier formed, enveloping the entire dojo.

    Once everything was set, Kaelith began:

    "That night, when I was fighting Takada Yasushi, I think I awakened my Zanpakut¨­''s ability."

    Yamamoto''s eyes lit up.

    Kaelith''s daily sword meditation had seemed utterly useless. Over time, even Yamamoto had started to doubt his own methods, wondering if his training regimen had delayed Kaelith''s progress toward Shikai.

    Now, hearing that Kaelith had finally succeeded, Yamamoto was relieved.

    "Once released, it has three effects."

    "The first is that I can project my shadow outward, transforming it into an invisible swordsman that silently ambushes opponents."

    "I used this ability to scare Shinchira Renzosuke enough to forget to properly coordinate with Takada against me."

    "The second ability is merging my shadow with my body."

    "That''s how I managed to unleash a supercharged *Ikkotsu*. My shadow joined with my body to execute the attack. Although it appeared fully synchronized, due to the speed of light not being infinite, the shadow''s strike actually hit the enemy fractions of a second behind my physical attack."

    Kaelith paused to rattle off an exaggerated string of zeroes, causing Yamamoto''s brow to twitch in irritation.

    "...just a fraction of a second. This imperceptible delay creates a gap between the two attacks, turning one blow into two, with the interval so small they seem simultaneous."

    "This unique dual strike can deal unimaginable damage!"

    "I''ve been thinking that this combat style, combining with my shadow, could lead to other abilities. Maybe you could help brainstorm some ideas when there''s time?"

    Yamamoto nodded. "And the third ability?"

    "The third is simple: I can control my shadow to perform external actions, like extending to bind someone, fetching me a drink, or turning off a light."

    Hearing this, Yamamoto''s expression turned puzzled. "Aren''t these all excellent abilities? What''s the problem?"

    Kaelith spread his hands. "The problem is, it doesn''t have a name."

    Yamamoto''s eyes widened in shock.

    Kaelith didn''t notice and continued. "Even though I''ve figured out its abilities, I still haven''t received its name."

    "In the end, I''ve never heard any voice from this sword."

    "All my abilities come from the shadow of this sword. The blade itself hasn''t changed at all... It still feels like an Asauchi and hasn''t become a true Zanpakut¨­."

    "Is there... some kind of bug happening here?" Kaelith Yurei muttered, trailing off as he noticed something strange about Yamamoto''s demeanor.(t/n I don''t think he knows the term "bug" like that Kaelith..)

    Under Kaelith''s surprised gaze, Yamamoto suddenly unleashed his Spirit Pressure, scanning the surroundings.

    After confirming there was no one nearby, the old man relaxed slightly. Then, with a thud, he struck his cane against the ground.

    Multiple layers of barriers enveloped the entire dojo, one after another. At this point, not only was sound incapable of escaping, but even an explosion from a Reishi bomb inside would go unnoticed outside.

    "...Commander?" Kaelith asked hesitantly, his nerves tightening.

    What was Yamamoto up to? Was he about to be punished for some transgression? Could the old man be planning to eliminate him here and now?

    Yamamoto rested both hands on his cane, his brow furrowed. After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Kaelith Yurei, do you know where a Zanpakut¨­''s name comes from?"

    He didn''t expect Kaelith to answer and continued speaking without pause:

    "Every Zanpakut¨­ has its name and abilities determined the moment its wielder, a Shinigami, forms a connection with it."

    "These names and abilities are known to someone who has existed since ancient times."

    "Under the rules established by that individual, Shinigami can only gain access to their Zanpakut¨­''s power by learning its name."

    "The inverse is also true. If a Shinigami possesses the power of a Zanpakut¨­, they must know its name."

    "Kaelith Yurei, do you truly not know the name of your blade?"

    Yamamoto''s stern gaze bore into Kaelith, making it clear how critical his next answer would be.

    If he admitted ignorance, what would Yamamoto do?

    Though Kaelith was technically his disciple, he had no idea how much weight that status carried. If his ignorance implied a threat to the Seireitei or the Soul Society itself, would Yamamoto decide to eliminate him right here?

    Conversely, if he claimed to know the blade''s name, and Yamamoto had a way to verify it, wouldn''t he be digging his own grave?

    Countless thoughts raced through Kaelith''s mind in an instant.

    In the end, Kaelith realized any self-preservation strategies he could think of were meaningless in the face of Yamamoto. Even if he used a high-level spatial Kid¨­ to escape, there was no chance of succeeding under Yamamoto''s watch.

    After five tense seconds, Kaelith finally made up his mind. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, Commander Yamamoto, I truly do not know my Zanpakut¨­''s name."

    The words left Kaelith feeling tense, ready to act if Yamamoto made a move. If the old man attacked, his only option would be to gamble on trading the scant intelligence he had about the Wandenreich for a chance at survival.

    As long as he could stay alive, he believed he''d eventually synchronize with Aizen''s power and regain his freedom.

    Yamamoto closed his eyes, his face expressionless as silence filled the room.

    Kaelith stared at the old man, not daring to blink.

    After what felt like an eternity, Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Kaelith''s wary expression, the old man let out a short chuckle.

    "Not bad."

    "Though I don''t know what contingency you had in mind, in the end, you chose to speak the truth to me."

    "Not bad at all."

    A hint of satisfaction appeared on Yamamoto''s deeply lined face.

    This boy hadn''t betrayed his trust after all.

 Chapter 65

    Kaelith Yurei patted his chest confidently.

    "Come now, Commander, what''s this talk about contingencies? Everything I am today, I owe entirely to your guidance!"

    "Your kindness to me is like Jiraiya to Naruto, Roshi to Goku.

    "As long as I know something, there''s nothing I wouldn''t tell you!"

    Yamamoto gave him a sidelong glance, his expression indifferent.

    "Is that so? Then tell me how your hands were healed."

    Kaelith chuckled nervously.

    "As expected of you, Commander, nothing escapes your notice!"

    "These hands were healed thanks to Yoruichi. She learned a secret healing technique from the former Captain of the Second Division¡­"

    Before he could finish, Yamamoto interrupted with a frown.

    "The Hell Hot Springs?"

    "That technique''s documentation was stored in the Twelfth Division, meant to be handed down after the Shih¨­in girl became a captain¡­"

    He suddenly paused, realization dawning.

    "So that''s why you two went to the Twelfth Division that night."

    "You scoundrels! You''ll be the death of me!"

    Yamamoto took a deep breath, his mustache quivering in frustration.

    Two of the Soul Society''s brightest stars¡ªhis own disciple and a noble family head¡ªhad teamed up for petty thievery!

    He clenched his fists repeatedly, but considering the gravity of the topic, he decided to let it slide for now. Internally, however, he made a mental note to hold Kaelith accountable later.

    After composing himself, Yamamoto spoke slowly:

    "Your earlier concerns weren''t misplaced."

    "A Zanpakut¨­ without a name is an extraordinary matter."

    "In the worst-case scenario, it could shake the very foundation of the rules that have maintained the Soul Society since ancient times."

    "I must ask you¡ªbesides me, does anyone else know about your Zanpakut¨­ being nameless?"

    Kaelith shook his head. "I haven''t told anyone else."

    "Good," Yamamoto nodded. "From now on, this matter must remain a secret, forever."

    "I don''t care how you handle it¡ªwhether you fabricate a name or pretend you''ve spoken to your blade¡ªwhenever you use its abilities, you must act as if you know its name."

    "Never reveal this to anyone. Not your future wife, not your children. Not a single word!"

    Kaelith took a deep breath and nodded seriously.

    Although Yamamoto hadn''t explicitly explained, Kaelith could piece together the implications.

    The names of Zanpakut¨­ seemed to be under the jurisdiction of Squad Zero.

    Perhaps, they were even controlled directly by the Soul King himself.

    Though he hadn''t read the entire Thousand-Year Blood War arc before his transmigration, he had caught snippets of discussion.

    For instance, he''d heard countless complaints about how Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Yhwach with a single slash in the finale.

    Squad Zero, it seemed, each managed an aspect of the Soul Society''s powers.

    If his assumption was correct, the authority over "names" likely belonged to someone in Squad Zero.

    Whoever held that authority would likely know all Zanpakut¨­ names and abilities.

    Kaelith thought to himself: If he were in such a position, and someone existed outside his jurisdiction, it would certainly be cause for alarm.

    With this in mind, Yamamoto''s insistence on keeping the matter secret made perfect sense.

    Seeing that Kaelith Yurei had understood the gravity of the situation, Yamamoto felt somewhat reassured.

    Though Kaelith often seemed unreliable in trivial matters, he demonstrated sound judgment when it came to critical issues. Observing the young man before him, Yamamoto realized he was likely about to become even busier.

    Kaelith''s development of the double strike technique possessed immense potential. Yamamoto planned to set aside time to help him refine the *Double Bone* technique, ensuring it worked seamlessly with the double strike. It wouldn''t be a small project.

    As he was deep in thought, Yamamoto suddenly raised his head and looked toward the dojo entrance.

    "I''m removing the barrier now," he said, giving Kaelith a brief heads-up before gently striking his cane on the ground.

    The layers of barriers surrounding the dojo dissolved instantly, fading into nothingness.

    A figure appeared beside Yamamoto in a blur, kneeling on one knee. It was a member of the Stealth Force tasked with delivering messages.

    The messenger glanced at Kaelith but remained silent, awaiting Yamamoto''s instructions.

    Kaelith was about to excuse himself when Yamamoto shook his head slightly.

    "No need. It''s no secret."

    With that, the messenger spoke. "Reporting to the Commander: the search unit has assembled and is ready to act at any time."

    Yamamoto nodded. "Proceed as planned. If the Shadow Killer is confirmed, you may take full action. Life or death, it matters not."

    "Understood!" The messenger bowed deeply before disappearing into thin air.

    Kaelith felt a twinge of unease but kept his expression neutral. Still, he couldn''t help but glance curiously at Yamamoto.

    "Old man, this ''Shadow Killer'' you just mentioned¡ªis it the one Uncle Ky¨­raku talked about? The one committing murders in Rukongai?"

    "Not just that," Yamamoto said, shaking his head slightly. "Evidence from the Second Division attack indicates that the Shadow Killer was responsible for the death of the Seventh Division''s Vice-Captain."

    "...What?" Kaelith nearly let his shock show but managed to hold it together.

    The Shin''¨­ Academy was on the opposite side of the Seireitei from the Second Division barracks. Even with the flash step technique, it would take 30 to 40 minutes to travel between the two.

    What was Aizen thinking, sprinting halfway across the Seireitei in the middle of the night just to kill the Seventh Division''s Vice-Captain? What kind of grudge could justify that?

    Unaware of Kaelith''s internal turmoil, Yamamoto continued, clearly not suspecting any connection between Kaelith and the Shadow Killer.

    "Post-incident investigations revealed that Vice-Captain Sakamoto K¨­ichi had defected to the rebel forces."

    "That night, the Seventh Division''s patrol routes were planned by him."

    "Every security gap came directly from his hands."

    "Even so, defecting or not, he remained a high-ranking officer of the Gotei 13. For a mere rat skulking in the shadows to bare its claws at the Gotei 13¡­ such arrogance is unforgivable."

    Yamamoto''s presence exuded an intangible pressure.

    He turned to gaze out the window. "I''ve stationed covert squads across Rukongai. We''ve finally pinpointed the Shadow Killer''s hiding place." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tonight, this assassin will pay the price for their audacity with their life."

    With that, Yamamoto waved his hand dismissively.

    "That''s all. If there''s nothing else, return to your training. Remember to focus on your studies¡ªI will be testing your progress in our next lesson."

    By "testing progress," Yamamoto undoubtedly meant a hands-on "lesson" in the form of an iron-fisted evaluation.

    Under normal circumstances, Kaelith might have tried to negotiate, at least for some leniency. But today, he had no such mood.

    After leaving the First Division barracks and walking two blocks, he immediately activated Flash Step, sprinting full speed toward the Shin''¨­ Academy.

    He had to make sure Aizen stayed in the dormitory tonight¡ªthere was no way he could let him go out!

    Flash Step is Shunpo btw. As you might have noticed already. I am going to use both the English and the bleach names when it comes to techniques.

 Chapter 66

    Kaelith Yurei sat cross-legged on his dormitory bed, lost in thought. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Despite his powerful Spirit Pressure and advanced flash step skills, which allowed him to return in record time, his search had yielded nothing.

    He had scoured the academy, asked classmates, and even inquired with Kinoshita, but no one had seen Aizen today.

    Reluctantly, Kaelith admitted to himself that the most likely place Aizen could be was *there*¡ªhis laboratory in West Rukongai, District 74.

    Kaelith leapt off the bed, crouched on the floor, and began drawing symbols. As his hands moved, he chanted softly:

    "Heart of the south, eye of the north.

    Fingertip of the west, toe of the east.

    Gather with the wind... scatter with the rain!

    Bakud¨­ #58: Kakushitsuijaku!"

    Threads of Reishi shot out from the floor, moving at an imperceptible speed through the walls and into the sky.

    Moments later, the spell provided feedback.

    Sure enough, Aizen''s location was confirmed: West Rukongai, District 74. That was where his laboratory was.

    Kaelith sighed, exasperated.

    "That idiot. I practically spelled it out for him, and he still went there?"

    After a few seconds of contemplation, Kaelith stood up, donned a Spirit Pressure-concealing uniform, and headed toward Rukongai.

    Aizen had killed the Seventh Division Vice-Captain, and Yamamoto would never dispatch anyone of the same rank to deal with him. Judging by the Commander''s confidence earlier, they were undoubtedly sending captains¡ªpossibly more than one.

    Kaelith didn''t know what experiments Aizen was conducting, but based on his ongoing assassination of rogue Shinigami, it was undoubtedly something that couldn''t withstand scrutiny.

    If captains caught Aizen in the act and obtained concrete evidence, the best-case scenario would be eternal imprisonment in Muken. Execution on the spot wasn''t out of the question either.

    Even if it meant risking exposure, Kaelith had to intervene. Ideally, he could reach Aizen before the search team did, drag him back, and avoid a disaster.

    With this thought in mind, Kaelith accelerated his pace.

    ---

    Meanwhile, over twenty Shinigami sprinted through Rukongai.

    Each wore plain Shihakush¨­ with no embellishments, resembling an ordinary squad led by a seated officer.

    However, had Kaelith been present, he would have recognized one of them immediately.

    Short in stature, with weathered skin and several scars across his face¡ªthis was none other than the Eleventh Division Captain, Kenpachi Gojosuke.

    Despite his rank, Kenpachi blended into the group seamlessly. His attire and even his running pace matched the unassuming Shinigami, creating an oddly unsettling effect.

    This was precisely Yamamoto''s plan: disguise the search team as ordinary Shinigami to create chaos in Rukongai and lure the Shadow Killer into action. Once the target appeared, Kenpachi, hidden among the group, would strike decisively to capture or eliminate the killer.

    While Kenpachi''s rise to captaincy had been unconventional, he was still a captain. Handling a rogue in Rukongai shouldn''t pose a problem.

    As night fell, the team finally reached West Rukongai''s District 70.

    For many of them, this was their first time in such a remote and desolate area.

    Staring at the endless wasteland and scattered, weathered bones, the Shinigami couldn''t hide their discomfort.

    Kenpachi, however, remained unfazed.

    Having grown up in Rukongai and served in the Eleventh Division his entire career, he had seen far worse.

    "Spread out and release your Spirit Pressure. Create the illusion of a battle with the rebels!" commanded Goken Kenpachi, his tone sharp and resolute.

    "Yes, sir!"

    The Shinigami swiftly drew their blades and paired off, engaging in mock combat on the spot.

    As seasoned warriors, they were no strangers to simulated battles. Injuries were common in live training, and on actual missions, injuries were even less of a concern.

    Though the group consisted of only about twenty individuals, their performance resembled a small-scale war.

    Goken Kenpachi blended into the chaos, half-heartedly participating while carefully observing the surroundings.

    After ten minutes of fighting, there was still no sign of anyone approaching. His heart sank.

    "Have we been exposed?"

    No, impossible. Their actions had been carefully concealed. There was no way the enemy could have known about the plan in advance.

    "Perhaps they just haven''t noticed the commotion yet. Keep trying, and we''re bound to lure them out!"

    Resolving to persist, he began directing his squad to fight while subtly repositioning. Periodically, they released bursts of Spirit Pressure to ensure their presence was felt across several blocks.

    For nearly half an hour, the group kept up the act.

    Just as Goken Kenpachi began doubting whether the Shadow Killer was even in the area, a figure appeared at the edge of the battlefield.

    The thick veil of Kid¨­ shadows enshrouded the figure, obscuring their entire body. Neither their appearance nor their gender could be discerned¡ªnot even their height was clear.

    Upon seeing the figure, Goken Kenpachi''s eyes lit up.

    "They''re here!"

    That masterful use of shadow cloaking¡ªno ordinary Shinigami could achieve such a feat. There was no doubt this was the Shadow Killer.

    From within the shadows, Aizen observed the chaos before him. A mixture of emotions flickered in his eyes: a hint of mockery, a trace of pity, and a touch of helplessness.

    Then, without warning, he vanished, reappearing in the midst of the melee.

    Goken Kenpachi watched in surprise as Aizen swung his blade.

    With a single strike, one Shinigami collapsed, blood gushing from their chest. In a fluid motion, Aizen struck again, cutting down the fallen Shinigami''s opponent as well.

    The speed and power displayed left Goken Kenpachi astonished.

    "So, this is the one who killed the Seventh Division Vice-Captain¡­ impressive."

    Thinking of power, Goken Kenpachi couldn''t help but picture Kaelith Yurei in his mind. Despite his youth, Kaelith''s strength was already on par with a captain''s.

    In comparison, Goken Kenpachi¡ªafter all his years of life¡ªhad only managed to claim a captain''s position due to his predecessor''s imprisonment. The gap was undeniable.

    But soon, he thought, that gap would be erased.

    Once the plan succeeded, he would become a true powerhouse.

    The thought filled him with anticipation, heating his blood. Fixing his gaze on the Shadow Killer, Goken Kenpachi let out a cold snort.

    In the next instant, his figure blurred as he appeared beside Aizen.

    With a flash of steel, his blade swung down viciously at the Shadow Killer!

    Wrapped in shadows, Aizen seemed genuinely caught off guard. He had not expected such a formidable opponent to be hidden among what appeared to be a group of ordinary Shinigami.

    Quickly, he raised his Zanpakut¨­ to block Goken Kenpachi''s attack.

    *Boom!*

    The force of Goken Kenpachi''s strike slammed into Aizen''s blade, sending him flying. Aizen tumbled across the ground, only stopping after several rolls.

    Springing to his feet, Aizen wasted no time. He turned and fled.

    Seeing this, Goken Kenpachi''s lips curled into a cruel smile.

    "Running, are we?"

    With a stomp, the ground beneath Goken Kenpachi cracked, and his body erupted forward, a shockwave propelling him as he pursued Aizen relentlessly.

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67

    Be blessed with a long chapter!

    -----------------------------

    *Clang! Clang! Clang!*

    Across the windswept wasteland, two figures clashed fiercely as they chased one another. Every collision of their Zanpakut¨­ sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

    Goken Kenpachi grinned, tilting his head. "Not bad. No wonder you managed to kill the Seventh Division''s Vice-Captain."

    "You''re not half bad."

    The moment the words left his mouth, he suddenly increased his speed, unleashing a flurry of five slashes in quick succession.

    Aizen barely blocked three of them, but the remaining two struck his body, sending him flying backward. He crashed into a small hill with a thunderous impact.

    Hovering midair, Goken Kenpachi shook his head, a hint of regret on his face.

    Before arriving, he had prepared several contingency plans for various scenarios.

    Yet none of them had been necessary.

    The gap in power between him and his opponent was too vast.

    Though Aizen had some clever tricks, raw strength was not something that could be bridged so easily.

    "What will he do next?" Goken wondered. "A desperate last stand? Or another futile attempt to escape?"

    As if to answer his question, a figure darted out from the swirling dust, leaving a trail of debris in its wake.

    "Foolish. You couldn''t escape me before when you were unharmed. Now, after taking two of my strikes, you still think you can run?"

    Shaking his head slightly, Goken Kenpachi resumed the chase.

    Beneath the shifting shadows that cloaked him, Aizen''s expression remained calm, showing no sign of tension despite being pursued. He glanced down at the places where Goken''s strikes had landed.

    During his retreat, he had set several pre-triggered shields at key points on his body.

    The shields were calibrated to match Goken''s strength perfectly: just enough to shatter and leave a superficial wound without causing real harm.

    This small deception allowed him to feign weakness without actually being injured.

    Aizen mused silently.

    "If Kaelith Yurei knew the techniques he taught me were being used against the Gotei 13, what would his reaction be?"

    He imagined Kaelith''s wide-eyed look of betrayal, pointing at him in disbelief and anguish. The thought amused Aizen for a moment.

    But then his expression darkened slightly as if that mental image annoyed him.

    Distracted by the thought, he nearly lost control of his speed, almost leaving Goken behind. Snapping back to reality, he quickly feigned the effects of injury, slowing down again.

    Behind him, Goken Kenpachi had been startled moments ago when the Shadow Killer had suddenly accelerated, outrunning even his full-powered Shunpo.

    Just as he began questioning his own abilities, the Shadow Killer stumbled slightly, slowing down again.

    Goken let out a small breath of relief. "Looks like that was just a last-ditch effort."

    With a few more flash steps, the distance between them closed.

    He aimed for Aizen''s back, raising his Zanpakut¨­ and slashing down.

    At the last moment, Aizen slightly increased his speed, causing the blade to miss by a hair''s breadth.

    Goken hesitated, stunned.

    "Coincidence?"

    Annoyed, he pushed himself harder, speeding up again and swinging his blade once more.

    This time, Aizen seemed prepared, casually flipping his Zanpakut¨­ behind his back to block.

    *Clang!*

    Goken''s blade struck Aizen''s Zanpakut¨­, sending Aizen flying forward from the force of the impact.

    Goken couldn''t help but laugh in frustration.  S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You bastard! You''ve got plenty of tricks up your sleeve, huh?"

    The two continued to clash and chase, their battle dragging on for nearly half an hour.

    Unknowingly, they had moved from the 70th district to the 74th district.

    The prolonged game of cat and mouse had worn Goken''s patience thin. Spotting an opening, he raised his blade high.

    "Cut him down! Rik¨±!" (Rift Sky)

    As the release command echoed, his Zanpakut¨­ began to emit a strange, distorted glow.

    Aizen glanced back, his peripheral vision catching the light.

    The Eleventh Division''s captain, Goken Kenpachi.

    He had done some research on this man.

    Formerly the Eleventh Division''s Vice-Captain, his strength was decent¡ªbut only decent.

    He had inherited the title of Kenpachi after the previous captain violated the law and was imprisoned in Muken.

    Because of this, few knew the details of his abilities.

    As Aizen observed with mild curiosity, Goken swung his blade from a considerable distance.

    "That far away? Kid¨­-based, perhaps?"

    The thought barely crossed Aizen''s mind when a sharp sense of danger jolted him.

    Instinctively, he flipped midair, slashing at the empty space in front of him with his Zanpakut¨­.

    *Rip!*

    His blade hit nothing, but his robe tore open, revealing a long gash along the fabric.

    Aizen raised his eyebrows slightly.

    "So, an attack that ignores space and distance?"

    "How... interesting."

    Seeing his attack land, Goken sneered.

    "Nothing special after all."

    He gave Aizen no chance to recover, swinging his Zanpakut¨­ repeatedly to unleash a series of invisible slashes.

    In mere moments, Aizen''s body had been struck seven or eight times. Unable to maintain his position in the air, he plummeted to the ground.

    Goken followed closely, landing with a crash.

    Before he could advance further, a soft murmur reached his ears.

    "Shatter, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu."

    "¡­?"

    Goken froze for a moment before his entire body tensed.

    His opponent had released his Zanpakut¨­.

    Aizen gripped his Zanpakut¨­ in reverse, smiling faintly at Goken Kenpachi. However, the anticipated attack did not materialize.

    "What''s going on?" Goken wondered. "Is this guy bluffing?"

    For a moment, his vision blurred. When he refocused, he realized the figure before him had shed their cloaking Kid¨­. Now standing there was a middle-aged Shinigami in a slightly tattered Shihakush¨­, their body marred with numerous wounds¡ªmany of which Goken had inflicted.

    "Looks like he sustained too many injuries to maintain the Kid¨­ disguise," Goken thought with a grin.

    He eyed the man up and down before sneering. "With all that sneaking around, I thought you were someone important. But it turns out you''re just plain-looking."

    "Why bother with the disguise? Even without it, no one would remember your face."

    Aizen opened his mouth as if to reply, but blood spilled from his lips before he could speak.

    With a heavy *thud*, he fell to one knee. The wounds on his body were now bleeding profusely, staining the lower half of his Shihakush¨­ deep red.

    Seeing this, Goken''s interest waned. "Looks like he''s going to bleed out on his own. I don''t even have to lift a finger."

    Aizen, forcing a pained smile, rasped, "As expected of the... Eleventh Division''s... Captain... I... lost." With those words, his eyes dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground. His body began to dissolve into particles of Reishi, as though fading from existence.

    Meanwhile, Aizen, lying within his illusionary world, smirked inwardly.

    "After tonight, the Shadow Killer will cease to exist."

    He had anticipated this trouble the moment he killed the Seventh Division''s Vice-Captain. Even though the Vice-Captain was a rebel, the Seireitei would never let such an act slide, given their need to maintain appearances.

    To permanently eliminate any risk, Aizen had devised a plan. He intentionally allowed his location in Rukongai to be discovered. Using Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, he altered his appearance and lured his pursuers to witness his "death."

    A simple plan, but sufficient to outwit the bloated bureaucracy of the Seireitei.

    Just as Aizen was smugly entertaining these thoughts, he noticed Goken performing Kid¨­.

    "Wait... is that Kid¨­ meant to prevent Reishi dispersion? To preserve a corpse?"

    Aizen was momentarily dumbfounded. "What is this guy up to? Is he planning to keep my body for... desecration? How Kaelith of him." (t/n Xd he is even using Kaelith as a metonymy now)

    Shaking his head, Aizen shifted his strategy. If Goken merely wanted to mutilate his "corpse," he could handle that.

    He''d create a false body, lead Goken into an illusion, and let him vent his frustrations. However, as Goken approached, Aizen overheard something unexpected:

    "No-name fool, don''t blame me," Goken muttered. "You killed too many rebels. The great one has long despised you."

    "Once I bring your head back to him, I''ll earn more power when he ascends to divinity."

    "Since you''re already dead, it won''t hurt to borrow your head for a while, will it?"

    Goken raised his blade, ready to strike Aizen''s neck.

    Aizen internally sighed. "I''m so tired of this..."

    Using Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to deceive Goken would work, but what about the "great one"? He hadn''t hypnotized that individual, meaning a false head wouldn''t hold up.

    Realizing his plan was unraveling, Aizen slowly sat up.

    "...?!"

    Goken''s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the "corpse" rising. Though startled, he quickly recovered, realizing Aizen had been faking his death.

    Aizen dusted himself off, wearing an expression of mild exasperation. "I didn''t expect the Eleventh Division Captain to be a rebel as well."

    The term "rebels" confirmed Goken''s allegiance. Aizen had heard it countless times from the lips of those he''d slain.

    "Still," Aizen continued, his tone growing colder, "this simplifies things. I''ll eliminate you here and now."

    As he spoke, a surge of dense Spirit Pressure erupted from him.

    Feeling the overwhelming power radiating from Aizen, Goken''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "Impossible... You were hiding your strength?!"

    "This power... it''s near a captain''s level. No... it surpasses it!"

    Aizen nodded calmly. "That''s correct. Unlike you¡ªa pitiful creature clinging to mediocrity¡ªI have ascended beyond the limits of a mere captain."

    Goken froze, his greatest insecurity laid bare. Mediocrity had haunted him his entire life. Now, hearing it from Aizen was suffocating.

    Aizen, unperturbed, looked at him with a glint of curiosity. "Before I kill you, I want to ask one thing."

    "Shinchira Renzosuke, Takada, and now you... What did the rebels promise to make you betray the Gotei 13? What could compel you to turn against it?"

    It was a question that had lingered in Aizen''s mind. While he usually avoided contact with captains, the opportunity to extract answers was too enticing to pass up.

    Goken focused back and scoffed. "You fool. What do you know?"

    "The so-called rebels are nothing but a label the Gotei 13 slapped on us."

    "The real rebels... are the Gotei 13 themselves!"

    Aizen''s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

    "You think the Gotei 13 exists to protect the Seireitei and the Spirit King? How naive."

    Goken sneered. "The Spirit King is a puppet¡ªnothing more than a tool controlled by the Five Noble Families and the Royal Special Forces!"

    Aizen was stunned. "The Spirit King... a puppet?"

    The notion seemed absurd. The Spirit King was a divine being of unimaginable power. How could mere Shinigami wield such control?

    Before Aizen could press for more answers, Goken made his move.

    "Bankai!"

    "Rending Void Slaughterfield!"

    A pillar of dazzling Spirit Pressure burst into the sky, illuminating the night as though igniting it.

 Chapter 68

    "Bankai!!"

    "Rending Void Slaughterfield!!"

    With Goken Kenpachi''s loud cry, a towering pillar of Spirit Pressure shot into the sky, illuminating the night like a second sun. Simultaneously, a square-shaped barrier unfurled around him, encompassing nearly a kilometer in all directions.

    Aizen, holding his Zanpakut¨­, curiously scanned the surroundings.

    "A domain-type Bankai... I''ve only read about these in books. This is my first time seeing one in person."

    Hearing this, Goken tilted his head slightly, a smug expression creeping onto his face. However, before he could say anything, Aizen continued.

    "As I understand it, domain-type abilities manipulate the real world by exerting the user''s Spirit Pressure to interfere with reality itself."

    "Such powers are usually overwhelming, but they are equally difficult to control."

    "With your meager strength, are you sure you can handle it? Or perhaps, despite knowing you couldn''t master it, you were driven by rage to recklessly unleash it?"

    Aizen''s calm, mocking tone infuriated Goken Kenpachi. His eyes burned with fury as he let out a roar, swinging his blade fiercely at Aizen, who stood a few meters away.

    *Slash! Slash! Slash!*

    In an instant, dozens of deep wounds tore across Aizen''s body. Blood gushed like a grotesque firework, painting the air crimson as Aizen collapsed, his face frozen in an expression of shock.

    Seeing this, Goken instinctively grinned. But before he could relish his triumph, his vision blurred.

    When his sight cleared again, the "corpse" of Aizen had vanished, replaced by a small pile of shattered rocks.

    Goken''s grin faltered.

    Before he could process what had happened, Aizen''s voice sounded from another direction.

    "Hmm, it appears to resemble the ability of your Shikai," Aizen mused, standing calmly a few meters behind Goken, stroking his chin in thought. "But there''s something off. If it''s just a powered-up version of your Shikai, then what''s the point of the barrier?"

    Stunned, Goken spun around to face Aizen and, without hesitation, swung his blade again.

    Just like before, Aizen''s body erupted in sprays of blood as he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

    And once again, his "corpse" dissolved into rubble.

    Goken''s eyes widened in disbelief. "It turned into stone again?! What''s going on?!"

    Gripping his Zanpakut¨­ tightly, he began to question his sanity. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating?

    Then, Aizen''s voice echoed once more, this time from yet another direction.

    "I see... I think I''m starting to understand."

    "Your Shikai allows you to unleash invisible slashes. But your Bankai... it''s not just an upgraded version. The difference between the two is¡ª"

    "Shut up! Shut up!! You bastard, die already!!!"

    Goken roared, swinging his blade in a frenzy. This time, his strikes completely dismembered Aizen. Limbs and pieces of his torso were severed and scattered in midair, turning into mangled chunks before hitting the ground.

    Under normal circumstances, seeing a hated enemy reduced to such a state would have brought Goken immense satisfaction.  sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But today, there wasn''t even a hint of joy. Something felt... deeply wrong.

    Goken Kenpachi''s gaze darted across the battlefield, his mind twisted with doubt. "Is this guy really dead, or is he faking it again?"

    As his latest barrage of attacks landed, the chunks of flesh suddenly transformed into crumbling stones upon hitting the ground. His heart tightened with frustration.

    And then, the infuriating voice echoed again.

    "Your Bankai creates subtle spatial fractures¡ªfar harder to defend against than intangible slashes and far more irreversible in their damage."

    "Because it involves manipulating spatial rules, your Bankai can only be used within a confined barrier."

    "Unfortunately, your application of it is primitive."

    "With proper refinement, it could have been an exceptionally powerful ability."

    "Yet you''ve turned it into a wasted pearl buried in filth, thanks to your abysmal talent and dimwitted thinking."

    Hearing Aizen''s calm analysis, Goken finally snapped.

    "Shut up... shut up!"

    "I SAID SHUT UP!!!"

    His Spirit Pressure surged violently. In the rising tidal wave of energy, Goken launched himself into the air with a flash step.

    Suspended in the sky, he took a deep breath and raised his blade high. Then, with reckless abandon, he unleashed a torrent of slashes down upon the barren landscape.

    The desolate plains erupted into chaos, riddled with warped, jagged spatial fissures. Stone pillars collapsed, hillsides were torn apart, and the ground cracked under the relentless barrage.

    Amidst the devastation, Aizen used Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to disguise himself as a mere stone. Whenever a spatial rift drew too close, he subtly shifted his position, appearing in Goken''s eyes as just a rock rolling under pressure.

    For a moment, Aizen found amusement in the simplicity of his trickery.

    Then his expression changed.

    "Damn it... I got too caught up playing around and forgot something important!" (t/n His inexperience is showing)

    In Goken''s indiscriminate assault, a small mountain was blasted apart, revealing a hidden laboratory within. Inside were various pieces of machinery and several large tanks filled with Shinigami corpses suspended in mysterious fluids.

    Even in his half-mad state, Goken froze at the sight, momentarily stunned by the eerie scene.

    But then something clicked in his mind. His head snapped toward a direction not far away.

    "Got you!" he roared.

    With a sinister grin, he launched himself with a burst of energy, hurtling toward his perceived target.

    Aizen blinked, momentarily confused. When Goken had shouted "Got you," he assumed his opponent had somehow detected his Spirit Pressure.

    "But why is he heading in the completely wrong direction?"

    A troubling thought crept into Aizen''s mind. Without hesitation, he abandoned his disguise and shot into the air, quickly surveying the battlefield.

    In the distance, he spotted Goken slashing wildly at a cluster of jagged rocks. The area was reduced to rubble, distorted by a tangle of spatial fractures.

    Amid the chaos, a shadowy figure darted out from the rubble.

    Both Aizen and Goken locked onto the figure as it leaped onto a standing stone pillar.

    Aizen''s brow furrowed, his calm demeanor replaced with a sharp edge of killing intent.

    "That intruder... They must have seen my lab.*

    "This was supposed to be hidden, but the moment my lab was exposed, my Spirit Pressure must have leaked for an instant. I can''t let them escape alive!"

    Abandoning his playful facade, Aizen prepared to act in earnest.

    But before he could, the shadowy figure let out a frustrated shout:

    "Damn lunatic! You''re hitting the wrong person! The one you want is over there!"

    "And my pants! Two hundred thousand kan a pair, ruined by your stupidity!" (n: kan is the currency in Bleach)

    Aizen: "¡­"

    Hearing the voice, Aizen''s blood pressure spiked.

    The absurdity of the situation almost made him reconsider everything.

    ---------------------------------

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 Chapter 69

    Hearing that familiar voice, Aizen''s killing intent subsided¡ªbut his blood pressure spiked.

    Kaelith Yurei! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Why is he here?"

    Aizen''s mind spun in chaos. "Did Kaelith see my lab? When did he even arrive? My power has been advancing by leaps and bounds¡ªhow could I not sense his presence from such a close distance?"

    "Did he notice my power changes? How am I supposed to explain the lab?"

    No matter what, abandoning the lab was not an option. The results were within reach, and even with all his patience, Aizen couldn''t accept losing everything now.

    His expression turned grave. If the worst came to pass, even if it meant making Kaelith his enemy, he would¡ª

    Before Aizen could finish the thought, Kaelith, standing casually on a stone pillar, raised his head and grinned.

    "Yo, S¨­suke!" Kaelith called out. "Your good buddy is here to save you in your hour of desperation. Feeling moved yet?"

    Aizen: "..."

    For a moment, he wanted to swear aloud.

    "This idiot just blurted out my real name in front of the enemy?!"

    Wait.

    Could it be¡­ Kaelith had known all along? Did he come here specifically to stop me? Is he revealing himself now to save Goken Kenpachi?

    Aizen''s mind sharpened, his emotions calming. Kaelith had likely shown up to prevent Goken from recklessly draining his energy. Without this interruption, Goken would have worn himself out, giving Aizen the perfect opportunity to strike. Kaelith had clearly seen through this and acted to disrupt the sequence.

    Aizen''s gaze grew cold and calculating. If Kaelith were to align himself with Goken, he could use the rebel label against Goken. As Yamamoto''s disciple, Kaelith couldn''t ignore the accusation of rebellion.

    At the very least, Aizen could manipulate the situation to keep Kaelith neutral.

    Just as Aizen was about to deliver a clever argument, Kaelith''s lazy voice interrupted him again.

    "Stop spacing out! If you let him get away, you''ll regret it later."

    "I don''t know what nonsense you''re scheming, but forget it for now."

    "Let''s work together and take this guy down! There''s no need to play fair with a traitor¡ªlet''s handle this side by side!"

    As soon as he finished speaking, Kaelith vanished with a flash step, appearing directly in front of Goken Kenpachi and swinging his blade.

    *Boom!*

    A powerful wave of Spirit Pressure erupted outward.

    Kaelith grinned, standing toe-to-toe with Goken as their blades clashed. With his other hand, Kaelith suddenly formed a fist and launched a strike.

    "One Bone!"

    Instinctively, Goken flinched backward to avoid the blow¡ªonly to feel a sharp kick to his lower back, sending him lurching forward uncontrollably.

    Aizen, who had flash-stepped behind Goken, timed his move perfectly. His kick forced Goken''s abdomen straight into Kaelith''s waiting punch.

    *Boom!*

    The massive impact shattered Goken''s defensive Spirit Pressure and drilled straight into his stomach. His eyes widened in agony, nearly bulging from their sockets. The searing pain darkened his vision, and he almost lost consciousness. Somehow, he managed to cling on, activating his Spirit Pressure to conjure a web of spatial rifts around his body.

    Neither Kaelith nor Aizen wanted to risk engaging directly with the spatial fractures. They retreated simultaneously using flash step.

    Aizen stood with his Zanpakut¨­ in hand, keeping a wary eye on Goken while stealing a complicated glance at Kaelith from the corner of his eye.

    "I truly can''t figure out what this guy is thinking."

    Kaelith casually swung his blade, summoning his shadow to his side. As he prepared his next move, Yamamoto''s earlier words resurfaced in his mind.

    After a brief pause, Kaelith spoke.

    "ORA ORA ORA, Star Platinum!!" (t/n never watched Jojo but even I know it is from that)

    Aizen: "...?"

    "What on earth was that?"

    In mid-air, Goken Kenpachi pushed back the two figures attacking him, his eyes narrowing in hesitation.

    The cloaked figure dressed in black seemed oddly familiar, though their face was partially obscured. That last punch from them had carried significant Spirit Pressure¡ªstrong enough to indicate someone nearing or already at captain-level strength.

    And Goken wasn''t eager to fight two captain-level combatants simultaneously. He wasn''t Kaelith Yurei, after all.

    "Wait¡­ Kaelith Yurei?"

    His pupils shrank as realization struck. Fixing his gaze on the half-visible face beneath the black hood, his emotions shifted between shock and rage.

    "Kaelith Yurei!!"

    Kaelith reached up, pulling back the hood. "Ah, Captain Goken still remembers me? I''m honored."

    Seeing Kaelith''s face, Goken''s composure shattered.

    He didn''t know how Kaelith had managed to appear here, but the memory of Kaelith single-handedly taking on Shinchira Renzosuke and Takada Yasushi came flooding back.

    In an instant, one word filled his mind: *run.*

    Though he had claimed loyalty to the Spirit King and grand ideals, those weren''t the real reasons he joined the rebels. His motivation was far simpler.

    If the rebels succeeded in overthrowing the Seireitei and conquering the Spirit King''s Palace, *that great one* would ascend to supreme power.

    And when that time came, Goken had been promised his talent would be "remade," granting him unmatched strength and making him the strongest Shinigami.

    But if he died here, all those dreams would vanish into thin air.

    His resolve firmed. He would create a diversion, escape, and return to the Seireitei to manipulate Central 46 into turning against Kaelith and Aizen.

    The plan formed rapidly in his mind. Once back at the Seireitei, he would report that Kaelith Yurei and the Shadow Killer were conducting forbidden human experiments in Rukongai. The panicked elders of Central 46 would be too afraid to sit idly by.

    By the time Kaelith returned, it would be too late. Central 46 would see him as a criminal, and both he and this "S¨­suke Aizen" would become their next targets.

    "I''ll remain the Eleventh Division Captain, and they''ll be executed as traitors!"

    A sinister grin spread across Goken''s face as he raised his blade.

    "He''s going to run," Aizen remarked calmly.

    But even as he spoke, Aizen''s gaze shifted in surprise.

    In the air, Goken''s triumphant expression froze. Slowly, he glanced down at his chest, where an invisible blade had pierced straight through.

    Aizen: "¡­"

    If he wasn''t mistaken, this must be Kaelith Yurei''s Zanpakut¨­ ability.

    "So¡­ that bizarre release command wasn''t just a joke? It''s real?"

    Aizen sighed internally. "Unbelievable. What did this guy do in his past life to end up with such a ridiculous release phrase?"

    ---------------------------------------------

    (n: Deception 100 lol)

 Chapter 70

    Goken Kenpachi stared at the blade piercing through his chest, his expression momentarily stunned.

    But he quickly recovered, making a calculated decision.

    Channeling Spirit Energy into his feet, he lunged forward without moving his upper body. A spray of blood erupted from his back as he successfully freed himself from the blade.

    Watching his maneuver, Kaelith Yurei gave an approving nod.

    "Nice reflexes."

    Aizen commented, "While his talent limits his overall strength, his combat experience shouldn''t be underestimated. High-ranking officers in the Eleventh Division earn their status through real battles."

    Kaelith chuckled. "So when you say ''not to be underestimated,'' are you implying you could have soloed this without me?"

    Aizen fell silent.

    How could Kaelith even bring that up? For a brief moment, Aizen found himself envying Yamada Seinosuke. The way Seinosuke would shamelessly berate Kaelith seemed like a perfectly appropriate way to deal with him.

    Aizen sighed internally, convincing himself with a thought: "A gentleman acts with dignity."

    At that moment, Aizen noticed Kaelith subtly shift a step to the side. Half a second later, his Spirit Pressure sense issued a warning¡ª

    Right where Kaelith had stood, a spatial rift began to form.

    *Crack!*

    A warped fracture-split through the air, branching into jagged fissures.

    Aizen raised a brow in surprise. Kaelith had detected the attack slightly before he had.

    Previously, Aizen had relied on his precise Spirit Pressure manipulation, saturating the surrounding space with his energy. Any disruptions caused by Goken''s spatial fissures would allow him to react the moment they appeared.

    To Aizen, this was already an optimal strategy.

    Yet in an instant, Kaelith had proven there was an even earlier way to predict such attacks.

    Seeing Kaelith''s relaxed expression, Aizen couldn''t help but feel a rare competitive spark.

    "You''ve gotten stronger?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well, so have I."

    "Let''s see who has improved more."

    Aizen''s gaze sharpened as he vanished with a flash step.

    In the next second, he reappeared in mid-air, right beside Goken Kenpachi, slashing downward with his blade.

    *Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

    The terrifyingly powerful strikes, infused with immense Spirit Pressure, rained down from all directions on Goken.

    Since gaining his Shinigami powers, this was the first time Aizen had unleashed his full strength in a direct confrontation. Normally, his style would involve using Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to toy with his opponent until their inevitable defeat.

    But today, with Kaelith Yurei¡ªhis friend and rival¡ªpresent, Aizen wanted to see for himself just how much stronger he had become.

    Watching Aizen suddenly charge head-on, Kaelith raised an eyebrow in surprise.

    "This doesn''t seem like Aizen at all."

    Still, he had to admit that this straightforward fighting style was much more exhilarating.

    "I see what''s going on. Aizen must''ve been influenced by my righteous aura. Deep within his soul, that tiny spark of passion has reignited."

    Kaelith smirked, the corners of his lips curving upward.

    Since Aizen was so fired up, he decided to let him enjoy himself this time. Kaelith would take on the role of support for once.

    With that thought, he launched himself into the air, joining the fray.

    If it had been any other captain, Kaelith wouldn''t have taken such liberties.

    But Goken Kenpachi? He was hardly worth worrying about.

    Among the captains, Goken Kenpachi ranked among the weakest in terms of sheer power. Even someone as relatively unimpressive as Shinchira Renzosuke was still stronger than him.

    On top of that, Goken''s abilities were perfectly countered in this situation. Kaelith Yurei had almost fully integrated the artificial soul provided by Kirio Hikifune. By dispersing it and merging it with the surrounding Reishi, Kaelith could predict where spatial fractures would form. His prediction speed and accuracy far surpassed that of standard Spirit Pressure detection.

    Armed with this trump card, Kaelith effortlessly moved around the battlefield''s edges, striking only when an opportune moment arose to land a decisive blow on Goken Kenpachi.

    Aizen observed the battle for a while, noticing Kaelith seemed to be deliberately holding back. Though he couldn''t fathom Kaelith''s intentions, this approach didn''t align with what Aizen wanted.

    "If our roles were reversed, what would Kaelith say to me?" Aizen pondered, frowning briefly before directing his gaze at Kaelith, who was calmly spectating from the periphery.

    "Are you pulling your punches? What''s wrong¡ªhaven''t eaten yet?" Aizen remarked.

    Kaelith blinked. "...?"

    He glanced at Aizen''s deadpan expression and couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Really? I hold back to let him shine, and he mocks me?"

    "How can I let that slide?"

    In the next instant, Kaelith seemed to transform. His playful demeanor vanished as he lunged at Goken Kenpachi with terrifying ferocity, his Zanpakut¨­ slicing through the air with the intent to kill.

    A tidal wave of Spirit Pressure burst forth, crashing across the battlefield like an unstoppable tsunami.

    Seeing Kaelith''s sudden escalation, Aizen''s lips curved into a subtle smile.

    "Sometimes nudging him a little yields interesting results."

    Then his smile faltered slightly.

    "Unbelievable. Kaelith''s growth in Spirit Pressure is catching up to mine again."

    He even briefly entertained a hypothesis: "Could his ability synchronize his Spirit Pressure to match others''?"

    But Aizen quickly dismissed the idea.

    "If he could do that, why not synchronize with a high-ranking captain? He interacts with plenty of them in the First Division. Anyone he syncs with would outclass me."

    The thought left Aizen feeling mildly guilty.

    "To think my first reaction was to question the legitimacy of his progress. That''s unbecoming of me, isn''t it?"

    Resolving not to underestimate Kaelith, Aizen smirked faintly.

    "If our Spirit Pressure is evenly matched, let''s compare our swordsmanship instead!"

    With that, Aizen charged into the fray, Zanpakut¨­ gleaming in his hand.

    Goken Kenpachi began to panic.

    Kaelith Yurei, a mere student from the Shin''¨­ Academy who wasn''t even a full-fledged Shinigami. And this Aizen, a nobody whose name he''d never heard of before.

    Yet these two nobodies were utterly dominating him!

    Even with his Bankai unleashed¡ªhis Spirit Pressure dense and his attacks relentless¡ªhe couldn''t defeat them.

    Worse still, Goken began to sense something even more humiliating: neither Kaelith nor Aizen seemed to be treating this as a life-or-death battle.

    No, it felt like... they were competing with each other.

    The realization hit Goken like a slap to the face.

    "I''m the Captain of the Eleventh Division¡ªthe division dedicated to combat! And yet, I''m being used as a sparring dummy by these nobodies?!"

    Furious, he roared and surged his Spirit Pressure, pushing his attacks to their limit.

    In response, Kaelith and Aizen grinned and retaliated with even greater intensity, their combined power suppressing him completely.

    Goken''s eyes widened further when Kaelith suddenly tossed his Zanpakut¨­ aside and rushed at him with bare fists.

    And the most infuriating part? Kaelith was even more dangerous without his blade. Every punch radiated an overwhelming sense of threat, forcing Goken to stay on high alert.

    As Goken braced himself against Kaelith''s fists, his vision blurred for a moment.

    When his sight cleared, Kaelith seemed to morph into Aizen.

    Startled, Goken glanced to the side, prioritizing defense against Kaelith''s punch.

    In that split second of distraction, a massive force slammed into the side of his Zanpakut¨­¡ªan explosive impact that sent shockwaves reverberating through the battlefield.

    ----------------------------------------------

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 Chapter 71

    A Shinigami''s durability was generally extraordinary.

    For an ordinary human, being pierced through or sustaining a large gash would likely be fatal. But for a Shinigami, such "fatal injuries" were just another day''s work¡ªtreatable with a bit of healing.

    Take, for example, a certain well-known tank of the Fifth Division in later years: stabbed multiple times, yet he emerged from the hospital as energetic as ever.

    Aizen understood this well. He used Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to confuse Goken Kenpachi, not to kill, but to destabilize the battle and tip the scales further in his favor.

    But then, something shifted.

    The moment Goken left an opening, Kaelith Yurei''s presence transformed. The dangerous aura he radiated was so intense that even Aizen, rarely surprised, glanced at him.

    Kaelith''s eyes locked onto a precise spot on Goken''s Zanpakut¨­. His pupils narrowed as if focusing his entire being on the target.

    And then, his fist shot forward.

    The punch landed squarely on the blade.

    *One layer!*

    Simultaneously, a shadow perfectly synchronized with Kaelith''s movements delivered an identical strike.

    *Two layers!*

    **Double Layer ¡¤ First Bone!**

    *Boom!*

    A wave of white Spirit Pressure exploded outward, forming a long, streamlined blast that extended for kilometers, leaving a massive, rippling trail of destruction in its wake.

    Under Aizen''s astonished gaze, Goken Kenpachi was blasted backward like a cannonball, slamming into a distant mountain. The impact created a crater as massive fragments of rock, coated in dust, scattered across the landscape.

    Aizen''s gaze lingered on the steam rising from Kaelith''s fist. Suddenly, something clicked.

    "This... is that stacking technique you mentioned earlier?" Aizen asked, his tone intrigued.

    Kaelith exhaled deeply, steadying the chaotic Spirit Pressure surging within him.

    "It''s similar in principle," he explained, "but I used a shortcut by leveraging my Zanpakut¨­."

    As he spoke, Kaelith raised his hand, inspecting it briefly.

    This time, he had intentionally restrained part of his strength, avoiding the full-force recklessness of his previous attempt. The results were promising¡ªhis injuries were far less severe.

    At worst, his muscles were slightly torn, and two of his finger bones had minor fractures.

    Such injuries wouldn''t even require a Hell Hot Spring treatment¡ªCaptain Unohana could patch him up with ease.

    Realizing this, Kaelith mused that perhaps it was time to study some basic healing techniques himself.

    "I can''t always drag Fourth Division medics into every fight."

    While considering this, he reached out toward his Zanpakut¨­, which was lodged in the ground some distance away.

    From beneath the blade, a shadow flickered.

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    The Zanpakut¨­ launched into the air like a projectile from a catapult, spinning before landing neatly in Kaelith''s hand.

    Holding the sword, Kaelith made a dramatic slash in the air and struck a pose.

    "How''s that, Aizen? Cool, right? Remote sword retrieval¡ªpretty stylish, don''t you think?"

    Aizen gave him a sidelong glance, silent.

    He wanted to tell Kaelith that if he truly wanted to be stylish, he should consider going the rest of his life without speaking.

    But knowing Kaelith, there was no way he''d manage that. Aizen decided not to waste his breath.

    The two used Shunpo to reach the location where Goken Kenpachi had landed.

    Aizen waved his hand, dispersing the lingering dust and revealing the scene below.

    His pupils contracted slightly at what he saw.

    Goken Kenpachi lay in the crater, his face frozen in disbelief.

    His eyes were locked on his Zanpakut¨­, where a deep crack was visibly widening.

    *Crack. Crack.*

    Goken Kenpachi''s hands trembled as he desperately poured Spirit Pressure into his Zanpakut¨­, trying to stabilize it.

    Aizen shot Kaelith Yurei a deep glance.

    In its Bankai state, a Zanpakut¨­ was incredibly durable, nearly indestructible¡ªone of the hardest substances in existence. Any damage inflicted while in this state was permanent and irreversible. The blade would be damaged, and the Shinigami''s power would diminish as a result.

    And yet, Kaelith had just punched the Bankai-state Zanpakut¨­ and broken it?

    Sensing Aizen''s thoughts, Kaelith smirked and shook his head. "That punch wasn''t as miraculous as you think. Our relentless attacks wore the blade down, causing metal fatigue. That final blow? Just the last straw that broke the camel''s back."

    Aizen: "¡­"

    Choosing to ignore Kaelith''s shameless remark, Aizen approached Goken Kenpachi.

    Perhaps the presence of Aizen unsettled Goken, disrupting his concentration. A loud *snap* echoed as the blade fractured completely, breaking into two jagged pieces.

    Staring at the remnants of his Zanpakut¨­, Goken let out a wretched, guttural scream.

    Aizen''s gaze hardened as he watched the pathetic display. For someone who had clawed his way to a captain''s seat, however unworthy, Goken could have at least maintained a shred of dignity.

    And then, as if struck by an epiphany, Goken''s expression shifted. A strange grin spread across his face.

    "Forget it. I''m not leaving," he said, his voice chilling.

    "Without my Bankai, I''m nothing more than a disposable pawn if I return. So I''ll make sure you both experience the same despair as me!"

    Before Aizen could react, Goken vanished, his figure blurred by his sudden burst of speed.

    Aizen turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he realized Goken''s target¡ªhis laboratory.

    At the same time, Goken''s Spirit Pressure surged dramatically, climbing toward its limit. Aizen immediately understood his intention: Goken intended to destroy the lab.

    If Goken succeeded, it would be disastrous. Not only would Aizen''s painstakingly crafted projects be obliterated, but the lab''s existence would be revealed to the Seireitei.

    The lab was rife with evidence of Aizen''s handiwork. The Second Division''s investigators wouldn''t need long to link the lab back to him.

    Without hesitation, Aizen launched into flash step, pursuing Goken at full speed.

    His blade struck Goken''s back, leaving a deep, bloody gash. But Goken, fueled by sheer willpower, ignored the pain and pressed on, closing the gap to the lab.

    Less than ten meters remained.

    Goken''s Spirit Pressure had peaked, his body vibrating with unstable energy. A twisted grin spread across his face as he prepared to detonate.

    And then it happened.

    An invisible force slammed into him from above.

    *Schlurk!*

    An unseen blade pierced Goken''s heart, stopping him in his tracks.

    Aizen''s surprised gaze shifted to Kaelith, who landed next to Goken.

    "...You already took one hit like this, and you still didn''t learn?" Kaelith muttered, retracting the invisible blade.

    He raised his Zanpakut¨­, preparing to end Goken once and for all.

    "Wait!" Aizen interjected, rushing over.

    Stopping Kaelith''s strike, Aizen quickly executed a series of high-level Kid¨­ spells, sealing Goken and preserving his last breath. Finally, with the work done, he exhaled in relief.

    A perfect high-level experimental subject like Goken was a rare find. Letting him die would have been a colossal waste.

    Straightening, Aizen glanced at Kaelith, who was watching him with a curious expression. Then his eyes shifted toward the now-exposed laboratory, where much of his equipment and experiments were plainly visible.

    A complicated expression settled over Aizen''s face.

    "This¡­ is bad."

 Chapter 72

    "What should I do?"

    Aizen''s expression was grave as he fell into deep thought.

    The situation had spiraled out of control, and hiding the truth seemed impossible. Even Ky¨­ka Suigetsu would struggle to cover up such an obvious mess.

    Half the lab was already exposed, and it wasn''t as though he could hypnotize Kaelith Yurei into believing he''d imagined it all. Kaelith might be foolish at times, but he wasn''t that clueless.

    According to Aizen''s original plan, if the lab was ever discovered, he would simply eliminate the intruders.

    But Kaelith¡­ could he truly kill him?

    Perhaps he could.

    After all, the day he began his experiments on living souls, he had resigned himself to the path of a Shura¡ªa path of sacrifice. He had prepared to abandon everything in pursuit of truth.

    Yet, just as he steeled his resolve, a flood of memories surfaced.

    The day he first entered the academy, friendless, and Kaelith had forcibly dragged him into conversation.

    The moment his arrogance, born from an inflated sense of talent, had been shattered by Kaelith''s overwhelming skill.

    And all those times Kaelith had excitedly shared knowledge from the First Division, eagerly teaching Aizen anything he learned.

    The countless sparring sessions in the dojo, where they had grown stronger together¡­

    Silence stretched on as Aizen wrestled with his thoughts. Finally, he reached a decision.

    He would tell Kaelith the truth and see how he reacted.

    If Kaelith couldn''t accept it, Aizen would withdraw, taking his research and leaving the Soul Society.

    In fact, his next line of experiments required the study of Hollows. Moving the lab to Hueco Mundo seemed like the perfect solution.

    If, after all that, Kaelith still insisted on pursuing justice and bringing him to trial, Aizen would resort to force.

    Kaelith didn''t know the true power of his Zanpakut¨­. If Aizen used Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to control him, victory would be assured.

    After subduing Kaelith, he could seal him in a remote cave with Kid¨­ barriers. By the time Kaelith broke free, Aizen would be long gone.

    Resolving this, Aizen turned to Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, I¡ª"

    His words caught in his throat. Kaelith, who had been standing nearby, was gone.

    "Where did he go?" Aizen''s heart tightened as he scanned the surroundings.

    It didn''t take long to spot him.

    Kaelith was inside the exposed lab, standing in front of a piece of equipment, his expression brimming with curiosity.

    After a moment of contemplation, Kaelith reached out, his hand hovering over the machine.

    Cold sweat broke out on Aizen''s forehead.

    In a flash, he used Shunpo to appear beside Kaelith.

    "Don''t touch that! This machine is running a process¡ªit can''t be interrupted."

    "Oh."

    Kaelith nodded and withdrew his hand.

    Then, with barely contained excitement, he turned to Aizen. "S¨­suke, what does this machine do? What''s the screen made of? Did you design it yourself? How did you build the internal circuits? Has the Living World developed similar technology?"

    Aizen: "¡­"

    For a moment, Aizen was completely thrown.

    He instinctively glanced at the large glass tanks nearby.

    Suspended within the tanks, surrounded by eerie fluids, were Shinigami corpses. The scene couldn''t have been more unsettling.

    "Anyone normal would notice the tanks first. How is he ignoring the corpses and focusing on the screen?!"

    Though Aizen wanted to voice his incredulity, his researcher''s professionalism prevailed.

    "This is a Soul Sorting Analyzer," he explained. "It distinguishes and categorizes souls based on their unique properties."

    "Interested in the specifics? I could give you the schematics, so you can study them at your leisure," Aizen offered, his tone calm yet tinged with subtle irritation.

    "As for the origin of these devices, most of it is based on the technology from the World of the Living, though I''ve made significant improvements. After all, Reishi and standard matter don''t share identical properties. Many things possible with matter aren''t feasible with Reishi, and vice versa."

    Before Aizen could finish, Kaelith suddenly interjected, "What about game consoles? Does the World of the Living have those?"

    He even went on to explain what a game console was, probably fearing Aizen wouldn''t understand.

    Aizen nearly choked on his own words.

    "Game consoles?" He was explaining groundbreaking soul research, and this guy was focused on something so trivial?

    "Why is he completely unfazed by a "soul filtration device" and instead obsessed with a toy?"

    Taking a deep breath, Aizen bit back his frustration. "Calm. Don''t kill him. Yet."

    After a brief pause, Aizen replied with forced composure, "I''ve seen something similar, but it''s far from what you described¡ªmostly simple pixelated games." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To his surprise, instead of disappointment, Kaelith''s eyes lit up with excitement.

    Kaelith''s face radiated joy. "Really? That''s great! Fantastic!"

    His mind spun with possibilities, his expression that of someone seeing a glimmer of hope. "So this world really isn''t on the same level as Earth. A better life might not be that far away after all!"

    Watching Kaelith spiral into his fantasies, Aizen''s patience finally snapped.

    "Kaelith," he called out sharply, interrupting the younger man''s musings.

    "You''ve seen all of this, and you have nothing to say?"

    Kaelith blinked, confused. "Say what? I didn''t do any of this¡ªthis is all you and Goken Kenpachi''s mess. Don''t pin it on me."

    Aizen inhaled deeply, suppressing the urge to snap. Instead, he gestured toward the tanks containing Shinigami corpses.

    "These were all once living Shinigami. I killed them to study souls. You''re seeing this, and you have nothing to say or do?"

    Kaelith tilted his head, puzzled. "Do I know any of them?"

    Aizen froze. The absurdity of the question threw him off for a full two seconds before he replied, "No. You don''t."

    Kaelith pressed on. "Are any of them friends or relatives of people I know?"

    Aizen thought for a moment, running through Kaelith''s social connections, then shook his head. "I don''t believe so."

    "Then why should I care?" Kaelith shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact.

    "They''re not people I know, nor are they friends or family of people I know. Whether they''re dead or alive has nothing to do with me."

    For a moment, Aizen stared at Kaelith, a profound sense of absurdity washing over him. One of them, he was certain, was deeply unhinged.

    And it certainly wasn''t him. Right?

    As Aizen silently contemplated this existential crisis, Kaelith suddenly brightened.

    "Speaking of using Shinigami for experiments... wouldn''t Goken Kenpachi make excellent material?"

    Aizen instinctively nodded before realizing what Kaelith meant.

    "Then what are you waiting for? Go pack him up!" Kaelith said, gesturing toward Goken.

    Aizen: "..."

    "Whose lab is this again?!"

 Chapter 73

    After confirming that Kaelith Yurei had no intention of interfering, Aizen, with a complex mix of emotions, sealed Goken Kenpachi into a containment tank.

    As the sealing liquid filled the tank and layers of Kid¨­ were applied, Goken sank into a deep slumber, officially becoming one of Aizen''s experimental subjects.

    Staring at the floating form of Goken, Aizen''s lips curled slightly upward.

    With Goken in his hands, his experiments would progress at an accelerated pace. Many trials that ordinary Shinigami couldn''t endure could now be tested on Goken.

    The very thought filled Aizen with satisfaction.

    Once the work with Goken was complete, Aizen conjured two chairs and sat down with Kaelith Yurei.

    Facing Kaelith, Aizen began to explain the history and purpose of the lab.

    He revealed that, long before enrolling at the Shin''¨­ Academy, he had conceived an idea. If a Shinigami''s power was fundamentally tied to the strength of their soul, then their potential upper limit was determined by the soul''s capacity.

    Upon entering the academy, Aizen buried himself in the library, poring over numerous texts. Eventually, he confirmed his hypothesis: stronger souls could contain more power and progress further.

    From this realization emerged a new ambition.

    What if, by collecting enough souls and forcing them into resonance, one could artificially amplify the strength of a single soul? Could a Shinigami''s talent and potential be enhanced through scientific means?

    Initial experiments yielded promising results, motivating Aizen to establish the lab in Rukongai.

    At first, he used vagrants and thugs from the outer districts of Rukongai as test subjects. However, their inherent weaknesses caused their souls to disintegrate under even minor stress.

    This limitation forced Aizen to turn his attention to Shinigami.

    Kaelith listened intently, already familiar with what came next. Aizen''s growing notoriety as the "Shadow Killer" had stemmed from his increasing focus on killing rebel-affiliated Shinigami for his experiments. His assassination of the Seventh Division Vice-Captain had escalated the situation, prompting him to fake his death and escape pursuit.

    Aizen omitted any mention of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, vaguely attributing his escape to "certain methods." He admitted, however, that Goken Kenpachi''s unexpected allegiance to the rebels had thrown his plans into disarray.

    Kaelith stroked his chin thoughtfully after hearing the story.

    "I''ve got a question."

    "Go on," Aizen replied with a nod.

    Kaelith''s expression turned serious.

    "S¨­suke, why on earth would you cross half the Seireitei in the middle of the night just to kill the Seventh Division Vice-Captain? Did he offend you, or was he playing some critical role in this incident?"

    Aizen: "¡­"

    He stared at Kaelith for a few seconds before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose.

    "Interpret it however you like¡­ Fine, let''s say he offended me."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s face lit up with understanding.

    "As expected of the ultimate boss of the Shinigami world. Ruthless and vengeful¡ªa bit cool, honestly."

    Quickly shifting the topic, Aizen asked, "Kaelith, has your Spirit Pressure broken into the third-class level?"

    Kaelith''s lips curled into an enigmatic smile. "It has."

    In truth, while rushing to Rukongai earlier, Kaelith had been somewhat uncertain. If Yamamoto had sent a particularly powerful captain, he and Aizen might not have stood a chance.

    But halfway through his journey, the system had notified him that Aizen had broken into the third-class Spirit Pressure level. That alone was enough to erase his doubts.

    The third-class Spirit Pressure tier marked the dividing line between captains and vice-captains. Even without their Bankai, both Kaelith and Aizen now possessed the raw Spirit Pressure to rival standard captains. Together, they had little to fear.

    Hearing Kaelith confirm this, Aizen''s expression grew pensive.

    Just when Aizen thought he had left Kaelith in the dust, Kaelith had once again proven that there was still room for Aizen to grow.

    "I need to push myself even further" Aizen resolved, his ambitions quietly reignited.

    After this battle, Aizen and Kaelith Yurei had fully revealed their cards to each other.

    From a rational perspective, Aizen didn''t enjoy this feeling.

    His approach had always been to hide nine parts of himself and show only one. Even during training sessions and sparring matches with Kaelith, Aizen had held back a portion of his strength, never allowing Kaelith to get a complete picture of his abilities.

    But now, with everything laid bare, it felt unsettling. Strange.

    Yet, he had to admit¡ªat this moment, he also felt unexpectedly relieved.

    Having someone who understood his efforts, someone he could talk to without pretense, was oddly refreshing. Especially since Kaelith was such an eccentric, Aizen didn''t need to worry about him becoming a threat after learning these things.

    Looking at Kaelith, Aizen felt genuinely pleased.

    "Look forward to it, Kaelith. When I achieve results here, I''ll make sure you get to enjoy the fruits of victory alongside me."

    Kaelith furrowed his brows in thought, then replied cautiously, "I think I''ll wait and see when the time comes."

    Aizen''s experiments¡­ if his understanding was correct, they would ultimately lead to the creation of the H¨­gyoku.

    And the most immediate result of using the H¨­gyoku on a Shinigami was Hollowfication.

    If the transformation made him look as cool as Ichigo Kurosaki in his Hollow form, Kaelith thought, maybe it wouldn''t be so bad. But if he ended up like some pink-haired chubby guy in a goofy mask, it would ruin his reputation forever.

    "Power is temporary; being good-looking is forever." (t/n Preach it)

    In the world of the Shinigami, losing your looks was akin to running out of luck. Kaelith wasn''t about to gamble with his face.  Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Kaelith''s reaction, Aizen mistook it for skepticism about his experiments.

    A smirk tugged at his lips. "In that case, I''ll just have to produce results sooner. Let Kaelith regret doubting me."

    After finishing their discussion about the lab, the two shifted focus to handling the aftermath of Goken Kenpachi.

    Sending a captain to the battlefield only for him to never return was, by the standards of Soul Society, a major incident. It would undoubtedly raise questions.

    After a moment of thought, both of them looked up simultaneously.

    Aizen raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Kaelith to speak first.

    Kaelith grinned mischievously. "Didn''t he defect to the rebels? If that''s the case, let''s solidify that narrative."

    "You''re skilled with Kid¨­ disguises. Think of a way to impersonate Goken Kenpachi and expose his supposed allegiance. The real guy is already in your hands, so it''s not like he can jump out and deny it, right?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s calm delivery of such a devious plan, Aizen couldn''t help but smile.

    Until now, he hadn''t truly noticed Kaelith''s knack for villainy.

    He nodded, standing up. "Alright. Leave it to me."

    And thus, on that day, Aizen S¨­suke and Kaelith Yurei officially became allies.

    ---

 Chapter 74

    Seireitei stood under a stormy sky, its walls heavy with tension.

    The squad dispatched to eliminate the Shadow Assassin had returned to Seireitei not long ago.

    However, the squad''s leader, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Gozuke, did not come back with them.

    Yamamoto summoned the squad immediately to the 1st Division for questioning.

    Facing the Captain-Commander, the surviving Shinigami dared not hide anything and recounted the events in detail.

    Upon arriving at Rukongai, they executed their plan to draw out the Shadow Assassin''s attention.

    Before long, the Shadow Assassin appeared, and Kenpachi Gozuke engaged him in battle.

    The two clashed, moving rapidly using shunpo, their figures vanishing into the distance.

    The squad pursued them relentlessly and arrived at the final battlefield just as the fight ended.

    To their shock, they saw Kenpachi Gozuke standing victorious, his foot on the chest of a defeated Shinigami. His Zanpakut¨­ was raised high before bringing it down, severing the other''s head.

    Witnessing this, the Shinigami couldn''t hide their excitement.

    "We''ve won!"

    "As expected of Captain Gozuke!"

    "Captain Gozuke, should we return to Seireitei now to report back?"

    But as their cheers rang out, Kenpachi Gozuke remained silent.

    He bent down, picked up the severed head, wrapped it carefully in a white cloth, and fashioned it into a small bundle. Holding it, he turned to the others.

    A strange smile stretched across his face.

    "You fools."

    "I went through all this trouble to get away¡ªwhy would I go back?"

    "If I return now, I''ll never leave again."

    Before anyone could react, Gozuke vanished with a flash of shunpo, disappearing into the distance.

    The squad searched the area for hours but found no trace of him. Left with no other choice, they returned to Seireitei.

    After hearing the report, Yamamoto''s expression darkened.

    He summoned members of the Onmitsukid¨­ to separate and interrogate the squad members individually.

    The final conclusion: all their accounts matched, leaving little room for fabrication or collusion.

    Shortly after, the Onmitsukid¨­ members tasked with investigating the scene returned.

    Their findings confirmed significant spatial damage consistent with Gozuke''s Bankai.

    No corpse was found at the scene, likely because the opponent lacked the power to preserve their body and had dissipated into spirit particles.

    The evidence pointed to one conclusion¡ªKenpachi Gozuke had deliberately deserted.

    The Onmitsukid¨­ agents bowed deeply to Yamamoto and disappeared with a flash of shunpo.

    Yamamoto sat in silence for a long time.

    In truth, he had begun to suspect Gozuke''s loyalty for some time now.

    The investigation confirmed his fears.

    Kenpachi Gozuke was working with the rebels.

    If his assumptions were correct, Gozuke had likely been tempted by promises of power.

    As someone who had risen to his position through sheer luck, Gozuke was obsessed with increasing his strength.

    "Foolish."

    That was Yamamoto''s final assessment of him.

    The more ignorant one is, the bolder one becomes.

    It had been far too long since Yamamoto had personally acted. Only a few in the Soul Society had seen his true strength.

    As for the Royal Guard, they had not intervened in Seireitei''s affairs for over a thousand years.

    Because of this, arrogant upstarts with misplaced confidence in themselves have become more audacious.

    Lifting his staff, Yamamoto tapped it gently on the ground.

    Seconds later, a member of the Reitai Corps appeared before him with a flash of shunpo.

    Yamamoto spoke slowly:

    "Pass the order. Kuchiki K¨­ga, Shih¨­in Yoruichi, and Ky¨­raku Shunsui."

    "The three of them will each lead a team and attack all confirmed rebel strongholds."

    "Eliminate them. Leave no one alive!"

    Upon hearing this, the members of the inner court team immediately obeyed and left.

    Not far away, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­, standing in a corner, said, "Captain-Commander Yamamoto, please calm your anger."

    "Hmm, I understand."

    Yamamoto nodded.

    He turned his head and gazed quietly out the window.

    "Ch¨­jir¨­, what do you think of Kuchiki K¨­ga?"

    Ch¨­jir¨­ was silent for a few seconds upon hearing this.

    Then he gently shook his head: "His ability is very strong, but his mentality is poor. Unless he can successfully adjust his mindset, he won''t be suitable for significant responsibilities."

    Yamamoto wasn''t surprised by Ch¨­jir¨­''s evaluation.

    Ever since the rebels started gaining traction, he had considered one idea.

    The Soul Society needed a tactical deterrent.

    As the Captain-Commander, Yamamoto himself was a strategic deterrent and couldn''t act casually.

    At first, he had considered Ky¨­raku Shunsui. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But he quickly dismissed the thought.

    Relying on Ky¨­raku Shunsui for intimidation was as unrealistic as hoping for J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake''s miraculous recovery.

    After that, he considered Gozu Kenpachi.

    But after thorough consideration, he realized Gozu Kenpachi''s strength was far from intimidating.

    Finally, his attention shifted to Kuchiki K¨­ga, the son-in-law of Kuchiki Ginrei.

    This young man was powerful and had peculiar abilities.

    Most importantly, he was bold and reckless¡ªperfect material as a blade to wield.

    However, it wasn''t long before Yamamoto noticed major issues with Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    The problem wasn''t solely with K¨­ga himself.

    Kuchiki Ginrei was part of the issue too.

    Possibly due to his origins in Rukongai and marrying into one of the Four Great Noble Clans, Kuchiki K¨­ga always carried an odd sense of conflict.

    On one hand, he was proud of bearing the Kuchiki name and his abilities.

    On the other, he was intensely sensitive and insecure about his origins.

    These conflicting feelings created an intense desire within him to prove himself and to be recognized.

    When Ginrei realized this, he was furious.

    As a son-in-law of the Kuchiki family, how could he behave so childishly, with such a fragile mindset?

    Arrogant in victory, defeated in failure¡ªat this rate, he''d sooner or later become a plaything for other nobles!

    From then on, no matter what achievements K¨­ga made, Ginrei never once praised him.

    His intentions were good¡ªhe wanted K¨­ga to become more stable and mature.

    But in K¨­ga''s eyes, this only seemed like alienation and rejection.

    As time passed, K¨­ga didn''t mature but grew increasingly restless.

    On several occasions, during battles against the rebels, his bloodlust nearly caused him to attack allies.

    Yamamoto witnessed this and felt deeply troubled.

    He had discussed the matter seriously with Ginrei.

    However, Ginrei insisted this was a family matter that he would handle himself.

    Seeing K¨­ga grow more reckless day by day, Yamamoto finally gave up on cultivating him.

    Along with that, the tactical deterrent plan was abandoned.

    Now, with Gozu Kenpachi''s defection, the plan resurfaced in Yamamoto''s mind.

    If anyone could become a tactical deterrent, he did have someone in mind.

    Thinking of someone who had already confronted two captain-class opponents before even graduating, a hint of anticipation flickered in Yamamoto''s eyes...

    ---

    Here is a note from the Author :

    Some readers have expressed doubts about the technological level of the human world in this story. Here''s a brief explanation:

    The Earth in the Bleach world isn''t based on a normal worldview.

    In this universe, Homo sapiens have existed for over a million years.

    And even back then, concepts like humans, Hollows, and nobility already existed.

    As for why technological advancement over a million years is still at a 21st-century level... perhaps it''s been locked by some mysterious force (just kidding).

    t/n; TOP 2 BABY!!!

    You can also check out here for 65 advanced chapters!

    Patreon(.)com/IDKjust

 Chapter 75

    On Kaelith Yurei''s first day back at the academy, he found himself the subject of relentless stares.

    From the moment he stepped into the classroom, the looks directed his way were peculiar.

    Some were filled with sorrow, some with pity, and others with concern.

    Of course, there were also a few stifling quiet laughter.

    Sitting behind Kaelith, Aizen could feel the covert glances from the entire class. It left him with an uneasy feeling.

    A few students appeared as though they wanted to approach and ask something, but hesitation kept them rooted in place.

    Just then, Kinoshita entered the room with teaching materials in hand.

    As soon as he stepped in, his gaze immediately fell on Kaelith, sitting by the window.

    Kinoshita opened his mouth, as if about to say something.

    But in the end, he remained silent. His expression grew somber as he made his way to the podium to begin the lecture.

    Kaelith Yurei''s hands were crippled.

    Initially, the news was spread among a small circle of students with relatives in Squad Four.

    It didn''t take long, however, for the entire academy to learn of it.

    Many speculated that Kaelith wouldn''t return to school.

    After all, for a Shinigami, losing both hands was almost a death sentence.

    A Shinigami who couldn''t wield a sword¡ªwhat could they possibly accomplish?

    Even for the Kido Corps, many techniques required intricate hand seals.

    Of course, it wasn''t entirely impossible to remain a Shinigami.

    There were Kido techniques that didn''t rely on seals, such as Shakkah¨­ (Red Flame Cannon) and S¨­katsui (Blue Fire, Crash Down).

    But¡­ how far could someone go relying solely on such techniques?

    If Kaelith were an ordinary student, it might not matter; he could simply find another way to pass the time.

    The problem was that Kaelith Yurei was a prodigy of the Shino Academy!

    Everyone knew that as soon as Kaelith graduated, he''d be guaranteed a seated officer position.

    Becoming a Vice-Captain was practically a given.

    And yet, in the midst of such a promising future, Kaelith had lost the use of his hands.

    Even someone with a strong mindset would find themselves breaking under such circumstances.

    By lunchtime, the crowd of onlookers had only grown.

    Students from other grades and classes couldn''t help but glance in Kaelith''s direction as he sat at his table.

    Not wanting to disappoint their curiosity, Kaelith set down his chopsticks, picked up a wooden spoon, and began eating with some difficulty.

    Aizen: "..."

    Yamada Seinosuke observed Kaelith''s hands with a curious expression.

    While Kaelith''s movements were labored, Yamada, with his trained eye, noticed that many of his motions lacked the telltale signs of injury.

    Could it be that this guy had secretly healed his hands already and was just pretending to still be injured so he could keep visiting Squad Four to see their beauties?

    After a moment''s thought, Yamada shook his head lightly.

    No, it couldn''t be.

    While Kaelith often seemed unreliable, he wasn''t *that* irresponsible.

    Probably.

    Just then, a small commotion erupted near the cafeteria entrance.

    A few students turned their heads to look.

    A petite girl with fair skin and wearing a traditional yukata was walking steadily in their direction.

    Though her clothing was soft and delicate, her firm and powerful steps revealed her martial training.

    Her gaze was resolute, her expression calm, and she carried a bento box as she headed directly toward Kaelith.

    A student from a lower noble family caught sight of the crest on her yukata and gasped in shock.

    "Is that¡­ the Kamizuru family crest?!"

    At those words, several students froze.

    The Kamizuru family? Weren''t they a subordinate noble house of the Shih¨­in clan?

    Weren''t members of that family trained in the Onmitsukid¨­ instead of attending the Shino Academy?

    What was going on?

    The girl stopped beside Kaelith.

    As Kaelith looked at her with mild surprise, she placed the bento box carefully in front of her, bowed, and spoke in a clear but slightly trembling voice:

    "Kaelith-sama, I am Soifon, here under orders from the Corps Commander to¡­"

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow upon hearing her words.

    "...To serve you your meal."

    The girl''s statement carried quite a bit of information.

    The title of Legion Commander likely referred to the leader of the Punishment Force, Shih¨­in Yoruichi. If so, this "subordinate" became rather intriguing.

    Kaelith Yurei hadn''t even officially joined the team, yet he already had a lower-ranking noble, a member of the elite Punishment Force, serving as his subordinate?

    Such privilege!

    Anyone claiming there was no connection between him and the Shih¨­in household would be hard-pressed to find a believer, even among dogs.

    Nearby students at neighboring tables nearly had their eyes pop out of their sockets upon overhearing the conversation.

    Serving a meal? What kind of service was this?

    And most importantly, could they watch for free?

    Kaelith Yurei let out a curious hum.

    Surprised, he asked, "Soifon? Since when did you start using that name?"

    In his memory, the name Soifon was something she chose for herself after Yoruichi defected from the Soul Society.

    Now, without that defection, why would she already have the name? sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soifon replied formally, "Reporting... Lord Kaelith."

    "Soifon is a name passed down in the Feng family, awarded to the most outstanding member of each generation.

    "The previous Soifon was my grandmother.

    "As of yesterday, I officially became a guard to the Legion Commander and inherited this name."

    Kaelith nodded in realization.

    "I see... as expected from this world''s flair for tradition, even name inheritance is a thing."

    Although he found the reasoning a bit peculiar, he was still pleased. At the very least, he found the name Soifon more familiar and endearing.

    With a cheerful tone, he said, "Got it. I understand now.

    "By the way, wasn''t Yoruichi the one who sent you to serve me this meal? Don''t waste time. Let''s get to it."

    Soifon: "..."

    After a brief pause, she sat beside Kaelith with a look of reluctant resignation, as if facing her fate.

    Under the envious, jealous, and resentful gazes of the other students in the dining hall, she opened a bento box.

    Inside were an assortment of delicacies, all prepared by the Shih¨­in family''s chefs to suit Kaelith''s taste.

    "Hmm, looks good," Kaelith said, nodding in approval. "Start with the tamagoyaki. Pick it up and feed me."

    Soifon''s lips twitched slightly before she gave a faint nod.

    With one hand, she pulled up the sleeve of her kimono. With the other, she carefully used chopsticks to pick up the tamagoyaki and brought it to Kaelith''s mouth.

    As she watched him open his mouth like some pampered landlord enjoying her service, Soifon''s gaze grew complicated.

    She owed Kaelith deeply.

    From the moment they first met, when he helped her resolve a training issue, to saving Yoruichi during the prison raid, thereby preserving the reputation of the Second Division.

    And then, he used the Hell Hot Springs to heal her injuries.

    No matter how she looked at it, she owed him gratitude and respect.

    But¡­ every time she thought of Yoruichi smiling at him, going out with him, or the spark of joy in her eyes whenever she mentioned Kaelith, Soifon couldn''t help but feel as though her chest was weighed down.

    And with that, a deep, visceral urge to kill Kaelith would bubble up within her.

    However, she understood that such thoughts were irrational.

    Not only was Kaelith their benefactor, but even without that connection, she had no right to interfere in Yoruichi''s private life.

    Her gaze lowered as the realization hit her.

    Since Yoruichi entrusted her to him, she had to learn to accept it.

    Just as this thought crossed her mind, Kaelith swallowed the tamagoyaki and suddenly grinned.

    "Have you ever fed Yoruichi like this?"

    "Hmm, judging by your expression, I guess not."

    "Your first time feeding someone wasn''t Yoruichi¡ªit was me, Kaelith Yurei!"

    "Ha! Ha! Ha!" (t/n Wait is this another Jojo reference?)

    Watching Kaelith''s triumphant laughter, Soifon couldn''t help but clench her teeth tightly with a barely audible grinding sound.

    Resignation?

    To hell with it!

    Someday, she was going to cut down this bastard!

    ---

 Chapter 76

    As the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the window, Aizen S¨­suke opened his eyes.

    Today was the day of the graduation exam for him, Kaelith, and Seinosuke.

    For him, such a trivial test was no different from child''s play. However, since it was an official matter, he resolved to approach it with seriousness.

    Unlike Kaelith, who was carefree and easygoing, Aizen was a person who valued ritual. Waking up early, tidying himself, and starting the day in his best state of mind was, to him, a delightful experience.

    Thinking this, Aizen sat up and glanced at Kaelith''s bed.

    His brow furrowed.

    The bedding hadn''t been touched.

    Kaelith hadn''t returned all night?

    Aizen fell into thought, quickly recalling their last conversation.

    The night before, he had been sitting on his bed, mentally organizing the next steps for his experiments. Much of it revolved around the newly acquired test subject, Gozu Kenpachi.

    His focus had been so absorbed by mentally simulating procedures and dissecting models that most of his attention had been directed inward.

    At that moment, Kaelith had casually greeted him:

    "S¨­suke, I''m heading to the Shih¨­in estate. If Sensei comes by for a room check, cover for me, okay?"

    Distracted by his thoughts, Aizen had barely processed the words. He had nodded absentmindedly as Kaelith''s voice passed in one ear and out the other.

    Now, as he thought back on it, his blood pressure began to rise.

    Kaelith had gone out to play the night before their graduation exam?

    Although Aizen was no stranger to Kaelith''s carefree attitude, this still managed to surprise him.

    Moreover, the mention of the Shih¨­in estate...

    After the prison incident, the Shih¨­in family had a major falling-out with the rebels.

    If Kaelith had spent the night at the Shih¨­in main house, that would be one thing. But if he and that reckless family head had snuck out in the middle of the night for some escapade, the risks were immeasurable.

    The waters in the Seireitei were deep and murky.

    No one could confidently say how many forces the rebels still had hidden within its confines.

    At the very least, Aizen didn''t believe that the visible rebel forces were all there was.

    Surely, those two wouldn''t be so thoughtless¡­ right?

    With a mix of helplessness and mild irritation, Aizen cleaned himself up, donned a fresh set of clothes, and headed out of the Shin''¨­ Academy gates toward the Seireitei.

    Their graduation exam was scheduled to take place in a training ground within the Seireitei itself.

    This arrangement puzzled Aizen.

    He had reviewed past records of students who graduated early, and all their exams had been held on campus.

    This was the first time the exam location had been moved to the Seireitei.

    Something about this reeked of a hidden agenda¡­

    Arriving at the designated location, Aizen stepped into the training grounds.

    He had come early, and the area was empty.

    Planning to find a quiet spot to meditate, Aizen froze mid-step.

    Wait¡­ had he missed something just now?

    Quickly turning around, he looked toward the center of the training ground.

    At some point, a figure had appeared there, standing silently.

    A white haori, a polished bald head, eyebrows, and beard radiating a sage-like aura, and a large, iconic staff...

    Recognizing the figure, Aizen''s heart sank.

    Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni!

    What was he doing here?

    Could he possibly be here for him?

    Countless thoughts raced through Aizen''s mind as he quickly calculated escape routes in case a fight broke out. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then, as if cutting through his rapid thoughts, a voice rang clearly in his ears.

    "You are Kaelith Yurei''s classmate, the one applying for graduation alongside him?"

    Despite the hundreds of meters between them, Yamamoto''s voice was as crisp and undistorted as if he stood right beside Aizen.

    Startled, Aizen immediately bent forward, offering a respectful bow.

    Then, with a single flash step, he appeared before Yamamoto, adopting a slightly anxious and deferential demeanor.

    "C-Captain-Commander Yamamoto, sir! I didn''t expect you to come here personally. I apologize for any offense or lack of proper manners!"

    Yamamoto shook his head lightly, signaling that he didn''t mind.

    He looked at Aizen and said, "You''re Aizen S¨­suke, applying for graduation through the standard program."

    Aizen was slightly surprised.

    He bowed and said, "Yes, Captain-Commander. It is my honor to have my name known by you!"

    Yamamoto raised an eyebrow as he studied Aizen standing before him.

    Kaelith Yurei often mentioned Aizen S¨­suke in their conversations.

    According to Kaelith, this classmate was exceptionally talented, intelligent, and far-sighted¡ªa future pillar of the Soul Society.

    Yamamoto had always taken these comments as exaggerated jokes.

    But meeting Aizen in person today, he was surprised to find that while Kaelith may have been embellishing, his overall assessment wasn''t far from the truth.

    First, there was Aizen''s spiritual pressure.

    Though he wasn''t actively releasing it, making it difficult to gauge his true strength, Yamamoto was confident that the young man''s level was at least equivalent to a high-ranking seated officer.

    Secondly, his demeanor during their brief exchange revealed a mature mindset and a deep understanding of social dynamics.

    Such talent, as Kaelith had said, would undoubtedly become a cornerstone of the Soul Society in time.

    The thought brought Yamamoto some joy.

    The more outstanding the younger generation, the sooner this old man could consider retiring.

    In good spirits, Yamamoto casually asked, "Kaelith Yurei isn''t with you?"

    After a brief pause, Aizen answered truthfully:

    "Reporting to the Captain-Commander: Kaelith went to the Shih¨­in estate last night as a guest. When I left the academy this morning, he had not yet returned."

    Kaelith Yurei was Yamamoto''s student, and judging from Kaelith''s usual comments about him, their relationship seemed quite good.

    By reporting this, Aizen was confident Kaelith wouldn''t face any serious consequences.

    If something had indeed happened to Kaelith, Yamamoto would have been able to react promptly.

    Upon hearing Aizen''s words, Yamamoto''s heart sank.

    Kaelith Yurei went to visit Shih¨­in Yoruichi and didn''t return all night?

    His expression darkened, and he tapped his staff firmly on the ground.

    Moments later, a figure appeared by his side, kneeling on one knee.

    Yamamoto asked, "From last night until now, has there been any unusual activity at the Shih¨­in estate or the Second Division barracks?"

    The inner court officer placed a hand to his ear, speaking softly into a communication device.

    A moment later, he shook his head.

    "Report: No unusual activity!"

    "Hmm¡­"

    Yamamoto nodded, relaxing slightly.

    However, another unpleasant thought emerged in his mind.

    Though unlikely, could Kaelith Yurei and Shih¨­in Yoruichi have done something improper during the night?

    If Kaelith acted towards the head of the Shih¨­in family without a formal marriage or even an engagement, and word of it got out, the consequences would be catastrophic.

    Nobles across the Soul Society would be furious, accusing Kaelith of undermining their traditions and disrupting order.

    After pondering for a moment, Yamamoto glanced at Aizen.

    Based on Kaelith''s usual comments, the two seemed to share a close and trusting relationship.

    Aizen''s calm and respectful demeanor also gave Yamamoto a sense of reliability.

    Clearing his throat lightly, Yamamoto gave an order:

    "Aizen S¨­suke, take my command and go to the Shih¨­in estate. Bring Kaelith Yurei here."

    "Remember, if anything happens that is beyond your control, do nothing else¡ªjust bring that boy back immediately."

    ---------------------------------

    T/N xd They must be up to something when it comes to does 2.

    You can also check out here for 65 advanced chapters!

    Patreon(.)com/IDKjust

    Still in top 5! Man you all are crushing it ;)

 Chapter 77

    Carrying Yamamoto''s command, Aizen left the training grounds and headed toward the Shih¨­in estate.

    After traveling several miles, he allowed himself a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

    Fortunately, Yamamoto hadn''t suspected anything unusual about him.

    And truthfully, there was no reason to suspect him.

    If, one day, Yamamoto ever inexplicably turned his focus toward Aizen, it would undoubtedly be Kaelith Yurei''s fault.

    At that thought, Aizen took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure rise slightly.

    Upon arriving at the gates of the Shih¨­in estate, he explained his purpose to the gatekeeper.

    Hearing that he was sent by Yamamoto, the gatekeeper didn''t dare delay and quickly went inside to deliver the message.

    Shortly after, a maid emerged, her hands clasped in front of her, and bowed slightly to Aizen.

    "Apologies, sir. The head of the household and Lord Kaelith departed for the Second Division barracks last night and have not returned to the estate."

    Aizen raised an eyebrow.

    The Second Division barracks¡­

    Could he have misjudged? Perhaps Kaelith wasn''t out enjoying himself but was training instead?

    After all, Kaelith would soon join the Second Division upon graduation.

    Familiarizing himself with the barracks beforehand would indeed be a practical choice.

    With this thought, many things began to make more sense to Aizen.

    Kaelith''s rapid leaps in strength were well-known.

    While Kaelith dedicated considerable effort to skills like Zanjutsu and Hakuda, Aizen rarely saw him focus on refining his spiritual pressure.

    Could it be that Kaelith went to the Second Division specifically for spiritual pressure training?

    With this hypothesis in mind, Aizen left the Shih¨­in estate and headed to the Second Division barracks.

    Having visited before, navigating the barracks this time was relatively straightforward.

    After verifying his identity and explaining his purpose, Aizen was granted entry.

    As he approached, Kaelith''s spiritual pressure became discernible in the distance.

    Following the trail, Aizen eventually heard a loud, pained wail.

    "Spare me! I really can''t do it anymore!"

    Aizen paused, momentarily stunned.

    Before he could process the situation, Kaelith''s voice rang out:

    "What nonsense! You''re far from done!"

    "Don''t forget¡ªI''m about to join the Second Division and become one of the top men!"

    "If you don''t do as I say, you know what kind of consequences to expect, right?"

    "Get back to it!"

    Aizen: "..."

    After a brief moment of incredulity, he hurried toward the source of the commotion.

    Rounding a corner, he arrived at an open field.

    There, a young Shinigami with disheveled blond hair, dressed in a shihakush¨­, knelt on the ground with a pitiful expression.

    Kaelith stood beside him, exuding an air of superiority, barking commands like a lord surveying his domain.

    Scattered across the ground were papers covered in equations and diagrams.

    A short distance away, Shih¨­in Yoruichi leaned against a tree, looking half-asleep.

    The blond-haired youth, hunched over in apparent despair, stared intently at a partially completed formula in front of him.

    It was none other than Urahara Kisuke, whose bond with Kaelith had deepened during the prison incident. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After staring at the formula for a while, Kisuke turned to Kaelith.

    "This isn''t working. Just imagining it doesn''t give me any ideas. At least give me something physical to look at!"

    Kaelith frowned slightly. "Something physical, huh? That would mean heading to the human world. Applying for a Senkaimon pass for a regular Shinigami is a hassle."

    Hearing this, Kisuke''s face lit up with hope.

    "In that case, let''s not rush. We can wait for an opportunity¡­"

    Before he could finish, Yoruichi, who had been silent until now, grinned and raised a hand.

    "That''s no problem! The Shih¨­in family has a noble-exclusive Senkaimon. Just tell me what kind of device you need, and I''ll have someone fetch it for you!"

    Kaelith smiled in satisfaction.

    Kisuke, on the other hand, looked as though he was on the verge of tears.

    Hearing approaching footsteps, Kaelith looked up.

    Seeing Aizen, he froze for a moment before breaking into a cheerful grin and running over.

    "S¨­suke, you''ve come at just the right time!"

    Grabbing Aizen by the arm, Kaelith dragged him forward despite the latter''s pained expression.

    With his other hand, he pulled Kisuke to his feet.

    "Come, come, let me introduce you two."

    "S¨­suke, this is Urahara Kisuke. He''s a genius¡ªhis intelligence is on par with mine!"

    Aizen: "¡­"

    Intelligence on par with Kaelith Yurei¡­ is that supposed to be a compliment?

    "Kisuke, this is Aizen S¨­suke, my classmate. His intelligence is also on par with mine!"

    Urahara Kisuke: "¡­"

    Perhaps it was due to working through the entire night, or maybe because Kaelith''s statement had too many things worth critiquing, but Urahara found himself momentarily speechless.

    He raised his eyes slightly to look at the young man in front of him.

    Although he appeared to be a few years younger, the boy named Aizen gave off a palpable tension at first glance.

    A dangerous individual¡­

    Urahara''s body instinctively tensed.

    Aizen, on the other hand, was also studying Urahara.

    Despite Kaelith''s flair for hyperbole, Aizen trusted his classmate''s ability to read people.

    If Kaelith claimed someone was exceptionally intelligent, then this scruffy blond man likely had true talent.

    After a brief moment of scrutiny, Aizen offered a gentle smile.

    "Hello, Mr. Urahara. I''m Aizen S¨­suke, a student at the Shin''¨­ Academy. It''s a pleasure to meet you."

    "Uh, the pleasure''s mine. Please, let''s get along."

    Urahara was momentarily taken aback but quickly forced an awkward smile in return.

    Despite already having mastered Shikai and possessing strength comparable to a high-ranking seated officer, Urahara was, at his core, a socially anxious person.

    Even when faced with a student like Aizen, he struggled to assert any sense of seniority.

    Originally, he intended to observe Aizen further and figure out what exactly made him feel so dangerous.

    But just as his gaze swept over Aizen, Kaelith tugged on the back of his robe.

    "Alright, alright. Introductions are over. Let''s get back to work."

    "You wouldn''t want Vice-Captain ¨­maeda to find out that your injuries are healed and you''re just pretending to be on medical leave, would you?"

    "Guh!"

    Urahara''s face lit up with dread.

    Under Kaelith''s triumphant gaze, he reluctantly sat back down, propping his chin on his hand as he resumed working on the gaming device Kaelith had requested.

    Watching the scene unfold, Aizen sighed.

    "Kaelith, stop wasting time. Did you forget what today is?"

    Kaelith froze for a moment, looking at Aizen in surprise.

    "What did you just call it?"

    Aizen, unfazed, replied expressionlessly: "Today is graduation exam day."

    "The Captain-Commander is already waiting at the training grounds. If we''re late and delay the start, you might as well prepare your final will."

    Kaelith broke into a cold sweat at those words.

    Last night, he had been practicing Hakuda with Yoruichi at the Second Division when they bumped into Urahara, who had been out for a late-night walk.

    Recognizing Urahara''s inventive genius, Kaelith couldn''t resist roping him into conceptualizing a gaming device using the leverage of his authority.

    Caught up in his excitement, he had completely forgotten about something as important as the graduation exam!

    Abandoning thoughts of the gaming device, Kaelith quickly hurried off toward the training grounds with Aizen.

    ---

    As they approached the training grounds, both couldn''t help but exchange surprised glances.

    At some point, a massive crowd of Shinigami had gathered.

    Even though they weren''t yet at the training grounds, there were already around 500 Shinigami milling about nearby!

    What was going on here?

    Were they selling tickets for this event??

 Chapter 78

    As Kaelith Yurei stepped into the training grounds, he couldn''t help but be taken aback.

    The space wasn''t just crowded¡ªit was filled to the brim with Shinigami.

    To be precise, they weren''t sitting but kneeling.

    Every Shinigami knelt on both knees, hands clenched into fists and placed on their thighs, resembling some kind of ancient assembly from the Spring and Autumn Period. (t/n Basically it is a reference to a historical era in Chinese history)

    On the high platform, Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni stood silently. Behind him stood Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­, ramrod straight.

    Further back were several captains.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui, Hirako Shinji, Kuchiki Ginrei, and Nagamitsu Sora!

    Kaelith disappeared in a flash, reappearing at Yamamoto''s side.

    Upon seeing him, Ky¨­raku raised a hand and greeted him cheerfully.

    Hirako stared at Kaelith silently, as though pondering something.

    Kuchiki Ginrei didn''t even glance his way, maintaining an indifferent composure.

    Nagamitsu nodded at him slightly, offering a kind smile.

    Kaelith bowed his head in return before looking at Yamamoto.

    "Old man, what''s going on here? Why the grand setup?"

    As he asked, Kaelith braced himself for Yamamoto to scold him first and then answer.

    To his surprise, Yamamoto barely reacted.

    The old man rested both hands on his staff and said calmly, "You''ll find out soon enough."

    Kaelith blinked, then turned to look at Ky¨­raku with a startled expression.

    Was the old man sick or something?

    He shot Ky¨­raku a questioning look.

    Ky¨­raku responded with an awkward smile and a silent warning in his gaze: *Tread carefully.*

    This only made Kaelith more suspicious.

    Returning to the waiting area, Kaelith found Aizen.

    "S¨­suke, something feels off about today."

    Aizen gave him a sidelong glance.

    Anyone with even the slightest wrinkle in their cerebral cortex could tell that much.

    His sharp eyes scanned the crowd.

    Before long, he spotted the people he was looking for.

    Upon seeing them, a flash of resignation crossed Aizen''s face.

    He had a rough idea of what Yamamoto was planning with this grand setup.

    "Kaelith, you idiot¡­ If I''d known this was coming, I wouldn''t have agreed to graduate with you."

    "S¨­suke, remember this lesson. Next time Kaelith drags you into something, don''t follow along. Even if it means delaying your graduation by a month¡ªor even just a few days¡ªdon''t follow him!"

    Aizen turned his head, intending to warn Kaelith, only to find that he had already wandered off to bother Yamada Seinosuke.

    Seinosuke was seated cross-legged on the ground, holding a thick medical tome as he reviewed key concepts with a frown.

    Kaelith''s interruption made him wish he could kick him out of the room.

    At that moment, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ stepped forward on the high platform and spoke loudly:

    "Everyone!"

    "The graduation exams for three outstanding students from the Shin''¨­ Academy¡­"

    "And the captaincy examinations for three newly appointed captains¡­ will now officially begin!"

    "All of you present, as witnesses, are asked to observe today''s ceremony with care!"

    Upon hearing this, the gathered Shinigami displayed varying degrees of surprise.

    Before arriving, many had wondered why they had been suddenly summoned.

    After all, the group consisted of elite Shinigami from various divisions, rarely called together like this.

    But if this was for a captain promotion ceremony¡ªespecially one involving three new captains¡ªit all made sense.

    Kaelith, however, stood frozen in place upon hearing the announcement.

    "What the...?" Kaelith Yurei muttered under his breath.

    A promotion ceremony for three captains being held together with the graduation exam for a handful of first-year students?

    What kind of bizarre scheduling was this?

    Had Yamamoto grown senile to the point where he couldn''t differentiate the importance of events anymore?

    On the raised platform, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ paused for a moment before announcing loudly:

    "Shin''¨­ Academy, first-year student, Aizen S¨­suke. Enter the arena for your evaluation!"

    Aizen sighed inwardly, stood up, and walked to the center of the grounds.

    Under the curious gazes of the crowd, he adopted a slightly nervous expression, swallowed audibly, and bowed several times to those around him. (t/n a master of acting)

    Seeing Aizen''s actions, many squad members showed approving smiles.

    Young, yet so polite.

    After all, most students applying for early graduation often had eccentric personalities, with arrogance and overconfidence being the mildest traits among them.

    For someone like Aizen, who was both capable and respectful, he was practically a rare gem.

    On the platform, Hirako Shinji frowned slightly.

    What an act.

    The kid''s eyes betrayed his true disdain for everyone around him, yet he managed to maintain an image of perfect decorum.

    A brat so young already playing mind games like this¡ªit was honestly revolting.

    (t/n Damn so he caught on that early? No wonder he was so suspicious of him in the anime)

    ---

    The exam for Aizen consisted of two parts.

    The first was a test of his proficiency with Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoh¨­, and Kido.

    Aizen completed the tasks effortlessly, achieving perfect scores across the board.

    Next came the combat proficiency test.

    Due to his flawless performance in the fundamentals, his opponent was a seated officer who had already mastered their Shikai.

    According to the rules, Aizen only needed to survive for fifteen minutes without losing.

    From across the arena, a tall Shinigami stepped onto the stage.  sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At Sasakibe''s command, the Shinigami drew his Zanpakut¨­ and launched an attack.

    Aizen drew his blade in turn.

    He didn''t use the techniques he had honed through sparring with Kaelith Yurei. Instead, he strictly adhered to the forms and movements taught in the academy''s manuals.

    Even his minor movements were textbook-perfect, a testament to his incredible control over his body.

    In the audience, Kinoshita Hinno watched the fight and couldn''t help but feel a strange illusion.

    The student on the stage didn''t seem like a person but rather the instructional figure drawn in academy manuals demonstrating various combat stances.

    Despite the tall Shinigami''s relentless attacks, he failed to find a single opening in Aizen''s defense.

    Frustrated, he released his Shikai, transforming his Zanpakut¨­ into a massive iron hammer, completely changing his approach.

    Yet, Aizen continued to fight in the same flawless, textbook fashion, as though unaffected by the change in tactics.

    When the fifteen-minute timer rang, the tall Shinigami stepped down in defeat, his face pale and defeated.

    The gathered squad members now looked at Aizen with a mixture of surprise and solemnity, their earlier nonchalance replaced by newfound respect.

    "No wonder he dared to apply for graduation in his first year¡­ his strength is already at the level of a senior seated officer, isn''t it?"

    "Maybe not quite, but he''s definitely at least a mid-level seated officer."

    "Phew, is the Seireitei about to produce another monster?"

    As Sasakibe announced Aizen''s successful completion of the exam, Aizen bowed respectfully toward the platform before slowly leaving the stage.

    As he passed Kaelith Yurei, he cast a glance of subtle pity at his friend.

    He was certain Kaelith wouldn''t be facing the same straightforward test he had.

    Kaelith, however, was oblivious to Aizen''s expression.

    With a grin, he said, "S¨­suke, that performance was weak. Watch me pull off something that''ll leave everyone speechless."

    With that, he swaggered confidently toward the center of the grounds.

    The first task was the basic skills test¡ªnothing to worry about.

    As he reached for his blade, he suddenly noticed Sasakibe''s expression turn strangely delicate on the platform.

    "Shin''¨­ Academy, first-year student, Kaelith Yurei," Sasakibe announced.

    "The graduation exam will consist of¡­"

    "¡­a live combat scenario. To pass, you must defeat the Vice-Captain of the Eighth Division, Yad¨­maru Lisa!"

    Kaelith: "...What?"

 Chapter 79

    "Wait... against who?" Kaelith Yurei blinked in confusion, looking up at the platform.

    There stood Yamamoto, calmly watching him from beside Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­.

    From the narrow, slightly closed eyes of the Captain-Commander, Kaelith inexplicably felt a surge of killing intent.

    Then, Yamamoto''s voice rang directly in his ears:

    "If you lose, prepare to train under the waterfall for three years."

    Kaelith: "???"

    He stared wide-eyed, feeling as though the universe had played a cruel joke on him.

    Thinking quickly, he raised his hand.

    "Vice-Captain Sasakibe! My hand is injured! The bones are shattered! Captain Unohana can vouch for this!"

    "I request a simpler graduation task!"

    Sasakibe''s eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to Yamamoto.

    The old man let out a snort, his expression dismissive.

    He spoke slowly:

    "Captain Unohana has already informed me about this matter."

    "She used a secret healing technique inherited from the previous Captain of the Second Division on your hand."

    "She didn''t tell you so that you wouldn''t overuse your hand, but if you unwrap the bandages now, you''ll see that it''s completely healed."

    Kaelith: "¡­"

    Though Yamamoto didn''t send him another private message, the unspoken threat in those narrow eyes was crystal clear.

    Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Kaelith reluctantly removed the bandages from his hand, flexing it twice.

    With an awkward smile, he admitted, "Ah, haha, it really is healed. Captain Unohana truly lives up to her name¡­"

    In the audience, Yamada wore a look of utter disbelief.

    What was this? Kaelith''s hand had healed?

    And Captain Unohana even had such a secret technique?

    His heart surged with excitement.

    Once the exam was over and he joined the squads, he absolutely had to ask about this healing method.

    At that moment, a tall girl stepped onto the arena stage.

    In truth, she wasn''t particularly tall; her disproportionately long legs simply gave her an illusion of height.

    She wore her hair in thin, braided pigtails and a pair of slim-framed glasses. On the sleeve of her Shihakush¨­, a wooden badge with the kanji for "8" was tied securely.

    Most striking, however, was the modified hem of her uniform.

    What was originally an ankle-length hakama had been altered into a short skirt.

    This was none other than Yad¨­maru Lisa, Vice-Captain of the Eighth Division.

    She looked at Kaelith with a sly smile.

    "The genius of the Shin''¨­ Academy, Kaelith Yurei."

    "I''ve heard your name so much, my ears are calloused."

    "My captain, you see, talks about you all the time."

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

    "Oh? And what does your captain say about me?"

    Lisa tapped her chin thoughtfully.  Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Quite a lot¡­ for example, you''re the newest disciple of our school, incredibly talented, with great potential."

    "And that you''re terrible at drinking, and he''s determined to teach you properly."

    "Oh, and of course, that you once stood alone against two captains, didn''t die, and even injured one of them."

    She grinned. "In the Vice-Captain circles, your reputation is legendary."

    Kaelith nodded with a look of realization.

    "I see. So I''m that amazing, huh?"

    Lisa chuckled and nodded. She was about to add something when Kaelith suddenly grimaced.

    "What''s wrong?" she asked curiously.

    Kaelith shook his head with a sigh.

    "Nothing¡­ just being threatened by an unreliable old man again."

    Drawing his Zanpakut¨­ slowly, he said, "Vice-Captain Yad¨­maru, let me say this first."

    "If I strike a bit harder, in the next sparing match don''t hold a grudge against me."

    Moments ago, Yamamoto had sent him another private message.

    He was to win decisively, without dragging things out.

    Kaelith Yurei couldn''t quite figure out what Yamamoto was thinking. Did the old man believe that a student trained under his tutelage couldn''t bring shame to his reputation?

    While he didn''t fully understand, he had no choice but to comply with Yamamoto''s intimidating authority.

    Hearing Kaelith''s remarks, Yad¨­maru Lisa flashed a confident smile.

    "Just the way I like it!"

    "Even if you didn''t say that, I would have warned you about one thing."

    "I''m strong. Underestimating me might cost you dearly."

    As she spoke, she drew her Zanpakut¨­.

    Seeing both combatants ready, Sasakibe announced loudly:

    "Graduation exam, begin!"

    The moment his voice fell, the two figures on the field vanished simultaneously.

    **Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!**

    In the blink of an eye, the pair had exchanged over a dozen strikes at the center of the arena.

    Feeling the force transmitted through the blade, Kaelith was slightly surprised.

    He had assumed that Yad¨­maru Lisa was like Ise Nanao in the future¡ªunable to grow beyond Ky¨­raku Shunsui''s shadow, a fledgling chick.

    To his surprise, her strength far exceeded his expectations.

    Her spiritual pressure was already at the peak of a Vice-Captain''s level.

    If she mastered Bankai, she could become a Captain at any time.

    Thinking about this, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a bit wistful.

    Despite her solid abilities, Lisa''s lackluster performance during the Karakura Town arc likely stemmed from the limitations of her Zanpakut¨­''s power.

    For most Shinigami, releasing their Zanpakut¨­ felt like a game of chance that could define their fate.

    Unless one possessed overwhelming spiritual pressure like Aizen, or exceptional martial prowess like Yoruichi or Yamamoto, the abilities of one''s Zanpakut¨­ largely dictated how far they could go.

    Take examples like Gonry¨­maru or H¨­zukimaru¡ªShikai forms that simply altered the Zanpakut¨­''s shape rather than providing significant advantages. They were more of a hindrance than a help.

    Most Shinigami spent their youth training in swordsmanship, only to have to relearn everything when their Zanpakut¨­ transformed into a new weapon.

    Just thinking about it felt frustrating.

    After gauging Lisa''s abilities, Kaelith decided to stop holding back.

    He knew Yamamoto''s temperament all too well. If the old man said "Three years under the waterfall," he genuinely meant it.

    Lisa''s eyes widened in surprise as Kaelith suddenly increased his speed by half.

    What had been within her field of vision was now completely out of sight.

    Despite her shock, Lisa displayed her battle experience.

    Unable to track his strikes, she angled her blade defensively in front of her body and infused it with her spiritual pressure.

    This way, no matter where Kaelith attacked from, she would have a chance to react¡ªor so she thought.

    The moment the thought crossed her mind, Lisa''s eyes went wide.

    A terrifying, irresistible force crashed against her Zanpakut¨­.

    Before she could even respond, her entire body was sent flying. She hurtled across most of the arena, slamming into the protective barrier erected by the Kido Corps.

    The impact sent ripples of energy across the barrier.

    The Kido Corps members maintaining the barrier turned pale, barely managing to keep it stable.

    Lisa slid down from the barrier, collapsing near its edge.

    Staring at Kaelith, who stood calmly at the center of the arena, her eyes were filled with shock.

    On the platform, Ky¨­raku Shunsui winced, unable to bear watching.

    Meanwhile, the hundreds of Shinigami kneeling around the arena were utterly stunned, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

    One strike to send a Vice-Captain flying¡ªan accomplished one at that, like Yad¨­maru Lisa of the Eighth Division?!

    Was this even a student?!

 Chapter 80

    "You''re kidding... what kind of strength is this?"

    Yad¨­maru Lisa struggled to her feet, looking at Kaelith Yurei as though he were a monster.

    She had heard stories of Kaelith''s accomplishments, but she always assumed those stories were embellished.

    How could a student with only six months of training at Shin''¨­ Academy hold his own against two captains purely through strength?

    But now, having faced him directly, she realized those stories might actually be true!

    The thought that this boy, younger than herself, already possessed captain-level strength made her gasp.

    A monster like him¡ªhow terrifying would he become if he fully matured?

    To witness the growth of such a genius firsthand was, in a way, a privilege.  S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Kaelith Yurei, you''re strong!"

    "But if you think this is enough to win, you''re celebrating too early."

    "Now, I''ll release my Zanpakut¨­. Be careful!"

    With that, she raised her blade, flashing a confident smile.

    Kaelith gave her a look of subtle disbelief.

    "This sister... you''re smiling like it''s the coolest thing ever, but... is your Zanpakut¨­ really worth getting excited over?"

    Lisa couldn''t hear Kaelith''s inner thoughts. If she could, she probably wouldn''t be smiling so brightly.

    **Boom!**

    Lisa''s spiritual pressure surged, radiating brilliantly.

    As she unleashed her power, she shouted:

    "Destroy it, Iron Dragonfly!"

    With her release command, the white light enveloping her Zanpakut¨­ extended in length.

    In an instant, what was once a meter-long blade transformed into a nearly three-meter-long spear.

    **Swish! Swish! Whoosh!**

    Lisa twirled the spear over her head a few times before lowering it, aiming its tip directly at Kaelith.

    "This is my Shikai: Iron Dragonfly!"

    She wore an expression of pride as she announced her Zanpakut¨­''s name.

    "What''s there to be proud of?!"

    Kaelith struggled to suppress the urge to comment.

    "It has no special ability¡ªit''s just turned into a big spear. How is this different from H¨­zukimaru?"

    "Wait, no¡ªit''s worse than H¨­zukimaru. At least that can turn into a three-section staff¡­ not that it''s particularly useful either."

    Although he didn''t think much of Lisa''s Zanpakut¨­, since she had released her Shikai, it would feel impolite not to respond in kind.

    Kaelith raised his blade, pondering what dramatic release phrase he should improvise this time.

    But before he could act, Yamamoto''s voice rang out from the platform:

    "No need to release your Zanpakut¨­. Win as you are."

    Kaelith frowned slightly, looking up at Yamamoto.

    If he didn''t know Yamamoto''s true strength, he might have suspected this was an imposter.

    First, the old man raised the difficulty of his graduation exam. Now he was insisting on such an absurd condition...

    Would Yamamoto demand that he slap Lisa in front of everyone after winning?

    Meeting Kaelith''s dissatisfied gaze, Yamamoto remained impassive.

    Behind him, however, Ky¨­raku Shunsui subtly made a calming gesture toward Kaelith.

    Kaelith nearly laughed.

    "Ky¨­raku, Lisa is your vice-captain. Shouldn''t you be demanding an explanation from the old man instead of asking me to stay calm?"

    Refocusing on the match, Kaelith turned to Lisa.

    "Vice-Captain Yad¨­maru, your captain just signaled me to hit you as hard as I can."

    Lisa, confused, glanced toward the platform.

    There, Ky¨­raku Shunsui quickly hid his hand in his sleeve. Lisa narrowed her eyes.

    Ky¨­raku almost broke into a sweat.

    Only after Lisa looked away did he wipe his brow, muttering inwardly.

    "This junior of mine is a real troublemaker when it comes to messing with people."

    On the field, Lisa readjusted her stance.

    "I don''t know what nonsense my idiot captain is up to, but he''s right about one thing."

    "If we''re going to fight, then go all out. A good battle should be exhilarating!"

    "Second-guessing everything and holding back during a fight¡ªisn''t that just acting like a little sissy?"

    Well, that''s one way to revoke his "man card."

    Kaelith Yurei couldn''t help but chuckle at the jab.

    With a small wave of his blade, he replied, "I get it now. Let''s do this!"

    "Come on, Vice-Captain Yad¨­maru!"

    Yad¨­maru Lisa assumed a combat stance and smirked. "Just call me Lisa."

    "And I''m coming for you, Kaelith!"

    As soon as her words fell, she shot forward like an arrow leaving its bowstring.

    Despite wielding a massive spear nearly twice her height, her speed wasn''t hindered in the slightest.

    Her weapon wasn''t just about raw power; it also had the ability to disrupt spiritual pressure.

    If Kaelith tried to defend with Kido or relied on a burst of spiritual pressure to force her back, that would be her chance to turn the tables!

    With a shout, Lisa thrust the spear forcefully at Kaelith''s chest.

    But instead of meeting her charge, Kaelith''s figure flickered, reappearing at the spear''s flank in an instant.

    Lisa''s eyes widened.

    Impossible¡­ that speed!

    Using Shunpo to evade her spear, Kaelith closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

    For a polearm user like Lisa, closing the gap was a death sentence. She was fully aware of her weapon''s limitations.

    As Kaelith charged in, Lisa swiftly released her grip on the spear, preparing a Kido spell she had been holding in reserve.

    "Hado #33: S¨­katsui¡ª"

    "Too slow."

    Kaelith''s blade sliced through the forming blue fireball, shattering it before it could fully manifest.

    In the same instant, his left hand clenched into a fist, and with a forward thrust of his arm, he struck Lisa squarely in the chest and abdomen.

    "Gah¡ª!!"

    Lisa''s eyes widened in shock as her feet lifted off the ground. Her body curled reflexively from the impact, and an invisible shockwave rippled through her back before dispersing into the air.

    Kaelith slowly withdrew his fist, exhaling deeply.

    Lisa''s unconscious body crumpled to the ground with a dull thud.

    Kaelith reached down to steady her before glancing up at Sasakibe on the platform.

    Sasakibe appeared momentarily stunned before clearing his throat and raising his hand.

    "Victor: Kaelith Yurei!"

    "Shin''¨­ Academy first-year, Kaelith Yurei, has successfully passed the early graduation examination!"

    As the Fourth Division members carried Lisa away, Kaelith turned and left the field without a second thought.

    He still couldn''t make sense of what Yamamoto was up to.

    For all his flaws, the Captain-Commander was usually someone Kaelith respected. Though he had his quirks, Yamamoto was, on the whole, a decent person.

    So why had he orchestrated this whole spectacle today?

    As Kaelith approached, a sour expression on his face, Aizen raised an amused eyebrow.

    "What''s wrong? Something got you in a bad mood?"

    Kaelith sighed heavily. "Cursed family luck!"

    Aizen chuckled. "This is probably just the beginning."

    "If my guess is correct, there''s an even bigger surprise waiting for you soon."

    Kaelith''s face stiffened, his mood immediately turning to dread.

 Chapter 81

    It wasn''t until Kaelith Yurei left the field that the observing Shinigami snapped back to reality.  S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Vice-Captain Yad¨­maru¡­ lost?!"

    "And that guy didn''t even release his Zanpakut¨­!"

    "Hey, is this for real¡­?"

    For those with seated officer ranks, the shock ran even deeper.

    Unlike regular Shinigami, they were aware of the earlier prison raid incident.

    When they heard rumors of Kaelith Yurei holding his own against two rebel captains, they dismissed it as exaggerated propaganda.

    Now, after witnessing him easily and decisively defeat Yad¨­maru Lisa, they began to realize the truth.

    Among Vice-Captains, Lisa''s strength was top-tier.

    Defeating her meant Kaelith Yurei was already qualified to challenge even greater opponents.

    Some Shinigami from noble families couldn''t help but entertain thoughts of recruiting him.

    But those thoughts quickly dissipated.

    Kaelith Yurei already bore Yamamoto''s mark.

    Unless they were part of the Five Great Noble Houses, attempting to pull him away would be a futile effort.

    On the platform, Kuchiki Ginrei, who had kept his eyes half-closed for most of the event, finally opened them slightly.

    Kaelith Yurei¡­ he had heard of this boy.

    His son, Kuchiki S¨­jun, seemed to get along well with him at the academy.

    At the time, Ginrei wasn''t pleased about it.

    For a scion of the Kuchiki clan to associate so closely with a boy from Rukongai¡ªit was improper.

    But as Kaelith gained Yamamoto''s favor and was even accepted as his disciple, Ginrei''s view of him softened.

    After the prison incident, Kaelith Yurei piqued Ginrei''s interest further.

    Now, seeing the boy''s strength with his own eyes, Ginrei couldn''t help but feel shaken.

    This boy''s talent might rival that of Kuchiki K¨­ga!

    If only he could bring Kaelith into the Kuchiki clan¡­

    Ginrei instinctively glanced at Yamamoto''s back.

    Perhaps this needed careful deliberation¡­

    ---

    After Kaelith''s exam, Yamada Seinosuke stepped into the arena.

    Since he was determined to join the Fourth Division, his test was simple yet specialized.

    The staff brought in various animals and inflicted injuries upon them on the spot.

    Slashes, blunt trauma, even Kido-induced wounds¡­

    Kaelith, observing from the sidelines, couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    Good thing the Soul Society hasn''t developed any terrifying animal protection groups yet, or this whole setup would''ve caused an uproar.

    Once the injuries were inflicted, the staff exited, leaving the arena to Seinosuke.

    His task was to perform emergency treatment on all the animals within 15 minutes.

    The final evaluation, based on the effectiveness of his treatments, would be judged by seated officers from the Fourth Division, determining whether he would be accepted.

    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Seinosuke hummed a tune as he confidently approached the first animal¡ªa wild boar.

    Its thick hide bore several deep gashes, with blood flowing freely.

    Narrowing his eyes, Seinosuke examined the wounds for a few seconds.

    Then, with a flourish, he raised his hands as though conducting an orchestra.

    With a sharp pull, threads of reishi appeared out of thin air.

    Skillfully controlling the threads, Seinosuke guided them into the boar''s flesh, threading them through the severed blood vessels.

    Once all the blood vessels were connected, the threads tightened, pulling the ends together.

    Next, his hands emitted a radiant green glow.

    Under the healing light, the aligned blood vessels rapidly fused together.

    Within five to six seconds, every severed blood vessel was as good as new.

    With a confident smirk, Seinosuke repeated the process on the boar''s muscles and skin.

    A quick application of healing light, and the boar looked no different from when it had first been brought in.

    Kaelith, watching from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow.

    Seinosuke''s skill with reishi manipulation and healing techniques was undeniably impressive.

    Even the bloodstains on the animals were meticulously wiped away by Seinosuke using spiritual energy.

    All of this, astonishingly, took less than forty seconds!

    Then came the second injured animal, the third¡­

    In less than ten minutes, Seinosuke had healed every single one of them.

    One of the seated officers of the Fourth Division couldn''t hold back any longer and rushed onto the field.

    After inspecting the animals, he exclaimed with excitement:

    "All¡ª all injuries have been completely healed!"

    "Rating: Grade A!"

    "No, wait¡­ Grade A doesn''t do this justice. This should be Superior Grade A! Or even Above Superior!"

    A few Fourth Division members quickly intervened, reminding him that there was no such rating.

    Despite the comedic interruption, everyone present was left in awe of this young man named Yamada Seinosuke and his extraordinary talent in healing techniques.

    The surrounding Shinigami beamed with joy.

    Having someone so skilled emerge in the Fourth Division was excellent news for those constantly putting their lives on the line.

    Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ formally announced that Yamada Seinosuke had passed the graduation exam.

    With that, all three students in the group successfully completed their early graduation.

    Seinosuke returned, his expression full of pride as he looked at Kaelith Yurei and Aizen.

    "Well? How about it, Kaelith, Aizen? Don''t you suddenly feel a deep sense of admiration for me?"

    "There''s still time to call me ''Grand Master Seinosuke,'' you know."

    Kaelith glanced at him sideways. "I''ve got Captain Unohana''s autograph."

    "Senpai!!!"

    In an instant, "Grand Master Seinosuke" demoted himself two generations down.

    ---

    After Kaelith and his group''s graduation exams concluded, the atmosphere at the training grounds grew more serious.

    All the Shinigami present instinctively straightened their postures.

    It was time for the Captain Examination Ceremony for the three new captains!

    Once the area was cleared, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ surveyed the crowd and began the next announcement:

    "Now commencing the first Captain Proficiency Examination."

    "Third Seat of the Third Division, Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­! Step forward!"

    A man with golden hair stood from the crowd.

    His appearance carried distinct Western aristocratic features, leaving one to wonder whether he was of mixed descent or a soul who had passed away in a distant land. (t/n I think it was just a design choice by Kubo)

    Under the gaze of the audience, he walked forward at a measured pace and bowed respectfully to the platform.

    Sasakibe turned toward Yamamoto, who looked to the captains by his side.

    "Captain Hirako," Yamamoto said, "you will serve as the examiner for this assessment."

    Hirako Shinji scratched his head with a resigned look.

    Sasakibe nodded. "The examiner for this trial is Captain Hirako Shinji of the Fifth Division."

    "Third Seat Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­, please demonstrate the strength expected of a captain within the allotted time and earn Captain Hirako''s approval!"

    Hirako''s figure flickered as he moved to face R¨­j¨±r¨­ in the arena.

    "Captain Hirako, I look forward to your guidance," R¨­j¨±r¨­ said solemnly.

    "Relax, no need to take it so seriously. My tests are pretty lenient; as long as you¡ª"

    Before Hirako could finish, Yamamoto''s deep voice interrupted from the platform:

    "Captain Hirako, if the examination isn''t taken seriously, I will not be pleased."

    Hirako jolted and quickly cleared his throat, adopting a more serious expression.

    "Ahem. Well then, R¨­j¨±r¨­, you heard the old man. I won''t be holding back, so be careful."

    "Understood," R¨­j¨±r¨­ replied with a firm nod, placing his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakut¨­.

    At Sasakibe''s signal to begin, R¨­j¨±r¨­ wasted no time and drew his blade.

    "Play, Kinshara!"

 Chapter 82

    Facing the initial release of Kinshara from Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­''s Zanpakut¨­, Hirako Shinji''s demeanor shifted to one of seriousness.

    Clad in his white haori, Hirako utilized Shunpo, darting across the arena to reposition himself rapidly.

    Each time he moved, the location he vacated was attacked by the golden whip-like form of Kinshara, leaving behind destruction in its wake.

    Within moments, the arena was engulfed in rolling clouds of dust.

    The thick spiritual pressure saturated the training ground''s air, making it feel heavy and viscous.

    On the raised platform, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ nodded slightly.

    As expected of Kenseikan Maihime''s descendant.

    To possess such strength at his age was truly remarkable.

    After exchanging blows over a dozen times, Hirako suddenly swung his blade forcefully, deflecting the golden whip encircling him.

    Using the momentum, he leaped backward, creating some distance between himself and R¨­j¨±r¨­.

    Once separated, Hirako flashed a toothy grin.

    "R¨­j¨±r¨­, I''ve got a good sense of your abilities now."

    "Next, let''s see *that*."

    "After all, you can''t call yourself a captain without it."

    Hearing this, R¨­j¨±r¨­ nodded resolutely.

    "Very well. Please prepare yourself, Captain Hirako."

    He took a deep breath and brought his Zanpakut¨­ before him.

    "Bankai¡ª"

    "Kinshara But¨­dan!"

    **BOOM!**

    As his words rang out, a towering column of spiritual pressure shot into the sky!

    Waves of energy rippled outward, centered on R¨­j¨±r¨­, spreading across the arena.

    Golden humanoid figures woven from threads of light emerged around him.

    As they appeared, a strange melody began to echo in the ears of those present.

    However, only Hirako Shinji could hear the music clearly.

    To everyone else, it was a faint, distant sound, as if playing from far away and impossible to discern.

    Hirako stood in place, his expression guarded.

    Engaging an opponent without understanding their Bankai''s abilities was often a recipe for disaster.

    Suddenly, his expression shifted.

    Before the audience''s eyes, Hirako staggered, as though yanked violently by an unseen force, nearly losing his balance.

    He slashed his blade, as if trying to sever something invisible.

    Moments later, he staggered again, this time in another direction.

    Within seconds, his face grew pale, as if he were enduring excruciating pain.

    From his place in the audience, Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    It seemed Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­''s Bankai ability was linked to illusions.

    If that were the case, Aizen found himself intrigued.

    How would R¨­j¨±r¨­''s Kinshara measure against his own Ky¨­ka Suigetsu in the realm of illusions?

    In the arena, Hirako raised his hand abruptly.

    "Ah, no, no, that''s enough! Stop it here!"

    "You pass¡ªCaptain-Commander, I approve this guy!"

    Hearing Hirako''s declaration, Yamamoto nodded.

    Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­ announced loudly that Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­ had passed the test.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ let out a sigh of relief and promptly deactivated his Bankai.

    As the illusion dissipated, Hirako glanced around the arena.

    Sure enough, the massive waves and flames he had perceived earlier were all false.

    Others might not have noticed, but as the victim of the illusions, Hirako had been utterly tormented by R¨­j¨±r¨­''s Bankai.

    The ability appeared to use music, or perhaps the movements of those golden constructs, to induce bizarre hallucinations.

    Just moments ago, Hirako had been enveloped by illusory flames, burning as if he were truly on fire.

    In a life-or-death battle, he would have had plenty of ways to counteract it.

    But as an assessment? He had no choice but to endure.

    However, for something like a promotion examination, going all-out line in a life-or-death battle seemed unnecessary. Once Kenseikan R¨­j¨±r¨­''s ability to use Bankai was confirmed, the rest became a mere formality.

    When the announcement was made that R¨­j¨±r¨­ had passed, the gathered Shinigami bowed their heads in respect.

    Although most of them had no idea what had transpired during the battle, the overwhelming spiritual pressure released during his Bankai was undeniably authentic.

    With his mastery of Bankai and Captain Hirako''s acknowledgment, there was no question that R¨­j¨±r¨­ deserved to become a captain.

    After R¨­j¨±r¨­ and Hirako stepped off the stage, several Shinigami rushed to clean the arena for the next round.

    Once the area was reset, the second test began.

    "Next, the second Captain Proficiency Examination!"

    "Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division, Shiba Sh¨­ta! Step forward!"

    A black-haired man stood up and made his way to the stage, his arm adorned with a wooden badge marked with the kanji for "Ten" (Ê®).

    Hearing the name "Shiba," the crowd''s reactions varied.

    Kaelith Yurei found himself intrigued.

    A member of the Shiba family? Could this man be an ancestor of Ichigo Kurosaki?

    He wondered just how many generations separated them.

    Wait, that wasn''t the real question. Was this man even from the main branch of the family?

    Despite their fall from grace, the Shiba family had once been quite populous.

    On the platform, Yamamoto glanced at the captains beside him.

    "Shunsui, you will oversee this test."

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui adjusted his straw hat and used Shunpo to appear in the arena.

    This battle turned out to be even more intense than the first.

    Shiba Sh¨­ta''s Bankai was a direct-offense type, and Ky¨­raku, out of curiosity, sparred with him for a while.

    Eventually, after confirming that Shiba''s strength met the requirements, Ky¨­raku raised his hand to signal his approval.

    With the second captain-level test concluded successfully, the Shinigami spectators grew visibly excited.

    Losing three captains in such a short period had dealt a significant blow to the morale of the Gotei 13.

    Many Shinigami had been performing their duties with a heavy gloom hanging over them.

    Now, however, things were finally looking up!

    ---

    Among the crowd, a young man with short white hair took a deep breath.

    His sharp eyes, tall and athletic build, and strikingly handsome features made him stand out.

    The sleeves of his Shihakush¨­ were completely torn off, exposing his muscular arms.

    The badge symbolizing his rank as Vice-Captain was tied directly onto his bicep.

    This was Muguruma Kensei, the final candidate for the captain-level examinations that day.

    As he waited with anticipation, Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­''s voice rang out:

    "Next, the third Captain Proficiency Examination!"

    "Ninth Division Vice-Captain, Muguruma Kensei! Step forward!"

    Kensei stood up without hesitation, striding confidently into the arena.

    As he entered, his gaze instinctively shifted toward the captains standing behind Yamamoto.

    Hirako Shinji and Ky¨­raku Shunsui had already served as examiners.

    That meant his examiner would likely be either Kuchiki or Nagaki, the Captain of the Tenth Division.  Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While Kensei was still considering his possible opponent, Sasakibe turned to Yamamoto for confirmation.

    Yamamoto stood on the platform, his gaze fixed on Kensei.

    Then, in a voice loud enough for everyone present to hear, he announced slowly:

    "For the third examination, the examiner will be Kaelith Yurei."

    The entire arena fell silent.

    ---

    t/n Suprise Bic..!

 Chapter 83

    "???"

    Offstage, upon hearing Yamamoto''s words, Kaelith Yurei displayed a bewildered expression.

    Who''s the examiner? Who exactly is the examiner?

    Instinctively, he glanced at Aizen standing beside him.

    Aizen offered a faint smile that bordered on teasing as he lifted a teacup to take a sip.

    Where did you even get that tea?! S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After setting the cup down, Aizen leisurely said:

    "When you get back, write me a three-foot-long calligraphy scroll. And do it seriously."

    "If you''re willing to do that, I''ll tell you what''s going on."

    "Guh¡­"

    Kaelith hesitated.

    Writing a piece of calligraphy for Aizen wasn''t exactly difficult.

    But the feeling of having his intelligence completely outmatched was thoroughly unpleasant.

    His and Aizen''s intellects were supposed to be evenly matched! If Aizen could figure it out, why couldn''t he?

    Resolving himself, Kaelith decided he must refuse decisively. He couldn''t let Aizen''s smugness run unchecked!

    "Fine, tell me," Kaelith said firmly, promptly throwing his principles out the window.

    Aizen''s satisfied expression deepened.

    In a low voice, Aizen explained, "The Captain-Commander is building momentum for you."

    "Building momentum?" Kaelith paused, as if something clicked.

    Aizen nodded. "It''s obvious the Captain-Commander has something important he needs you to handle."

    "That''s why he''s using this captain promotion ceremony to help establish your prestige."

    "This battle¡ªfight with all your strength. Give it your best effort."

    "Unless you want to disappoint the Captain-Commander, don''t take it lightly like you usually do."

    "Show everyone that your strength is genuine, that you''re more than capable of battling captain-level opponents."

    "You''ve often said the Captain-Commander has done a lot for you. Now''s the time for you to repay that."

    With that, Aizen lifted his teacup and took another contented sip.

    Given how Kaelith usually spoke about Yamamoto, Aizen knew very well how fond Kaelith was of his teacher.

    So, he didn''t mince words, making it clear to save Kaelith the trouble of figuring it out himself.

    Otherwise, with Kaelith''s usual pace of thought, it would take until tomorrow to come to the same realization.

    After hearing Aizen''s analysis, Kaelith''s expression shifted to one of understanding.

    No wonder Yamamoto had been adamant about him securing a decisive victory.

    No wonder Shunsui Ky¨­raku, despite knowing there was something off, only offered reassurance without taking a stance.

    Realizing all of this, Kaelith felt a bit helpless.

    That old man Yamamoto¡­ really.

    If he needed something, why couldn''t he just say so directly? Why make it this complicated?

    As if reading his thoughts, Aizen remarked thoughtfully, "He''s protecting you."

    "This Captain-Commander of yours¡­ as expected of the founder of the Shino Academy of Spiritual Arts. He''s remarkably insightful when it comes to people."

    "If he had explained it to you outright, you would''ve felt guilty about that Vice-Captain of the Eighth Division, wouldn''t you?"

    "But, if it''s framed as a direct order from the Captain-Commander, you won''t carry the same psychological burden."

    As he spoke, Aizen glanced up at Yamamoto standing on the high platform.

    According to historical records, the Captain-Commander a thousand years ago was a cold, ruthless sword demon, feared across all realms.

    Judging by what he saw now, either those records were false, or something significant had happened over the past millennium to profoundly change the Captain-Commander''s personality.

    Only someone genuinely kind could consider his student''s well-being so thoroughly.

    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Kaelith exhaled deeply and stepped onto the field.

    The expressions of the surrounding Shinigami grew increasingly colorful.

    A captain promotion assessment¡ªyet the examiner was a freshly graduated student?

    It was almost incomprehensible.

    But then again, this newly graduated student had just defeated the Vice-Captain of the Eighth Division.

    And not just defeated¡ªcompletely overwhelmed.

    With such strength, it didn''t seem so unreasonable for him to serve as an examiner for a captain promotion¡­

    Watching Kaelith Yurei approach step by step, Kensei pressed his lips tightly together.

    The first two candidates had captains as their examiners.

    Now, it was Kaelith Yurei''s turn.

    Though his earlier performance defeating Lisa was impressive, his current opponent wasn''t someone on Lisa''s level.

    "You''re Kaelith Yurei, right?" Kensei suddenly spoke.

    "I heard you defeated Captain Tai."

    "But, to be honest, even if you hadn''t, I was already planning to challenge Captain Tai myself."

    "I''m confident that I can defeat him now!"

    "So, don''t say I didn''t warn you. I''m going all out to crush you, and then I''ll request another captain to reassess me as the examiner!"

    His towering figure and crossed arms exuded a sense of intimidation, especially when compared to the young Kaelith Yurei. The disparity in presence made many observing Shinigami gulp nervously.

    Kensei stared at Kaelith, waiting for his reaction. However, Kaelith remained calm, showing none of the anger he might have expected. Dressed in the Shino Academy uniform, he quietly gazed at his opponent.

    "Examinee, Muguruma Kensei, the assessment will begin shortly. Prepare yourself."

    Kensei paused briefly, his brow furrowing. Kaelith''s composed demeanor unexpectedly made him feel a momentary pressure.

    On the observation platform, Yamamoto squinted slightly. He had been prepared to press Kaelith into taking this seriously, but seeing the young man''s determined gaze, he reconsidered. Perhaps there was no need.

    The old man was momentarily intrigued. Knowing Kaelith''s personality, he had expected resistance to being dragged into this sort of situation. Could the boy have already guessed Yamamoto''s intentions?

    As the announcement echoed across the grounds, Kensei''s eyes sharpened. With a swift motion, he drew his Zanpakut¨­, gripping it tightly as he began to weave toward Kaelith with deceptive movements.

    Kaelith calmly unsheathed his sword, angling it upward to his right. Then, with a decisive motion, he swung downward to his left, pouring Spirit Pressure into the blade.

    Off to the side, Seinosuke Yamada''s eyes widened in disbelief. Under his astonished gaze, Kaelith''s blade suddenly enlarged to an enormous size. The sword, initially around one meter long, extended to over thirty meters, resembling a small mountain as it descended upon Kensei!

    Faced with such an overwhelming attack, Kensei had no chance to dodge. He could only reverse his grip on his Zanpakut¨­, positioning it defensively at his side in a desperate attempt to block.

    *Boom!*

    As soon as the blades clashed, the sheer force surged through Kensei''s body, leaving his insides churning. Yet Kaelith didn''t allow him any respite. The massive blade shrank in an instant as Kaelith executed a Shunpo, appearing right before Kensei and delivering a barrage of over ten swift strikes in a single second.

    Kensei barely managed to parry each blow, exerting all his strength. Just as he thought he had an opening for a counterattack, he saw Kaelith enlarge his blade once more¡ªthis time to over ten meters¡ªslamming it toward him with terrifying momentum.

    On the observation platform, Shinji Hirako couldn''t help but laugh.

    "This Kaelith Yurei really fights in an unorthodox style!"

    --

 Chapter 84

    A Zanpakut¨­''s size increases with its wielder''s growing Spirit Pressure.

    This basic knowledge is taught to every Shinigami during their academy days.

    Shinigami ranked at seated officer level or higher learn to compress their Zanpakut¨­''s size, a skill deeply ingrained among captains.

    But who fights by repeatedly enlarging and shrinking their Zanpakut¨­ in combat like this?!

    Muguruma Kensei gripped his sword with both hands, raising it overhead. Gritting his teeth, he endured Kaelith Yurei''s relentless strikes for several seconds before finally managing to hold his ground.

    Regaining his composure, Kensei grinned, a menacing expression creeping across his face.

    Compressed Zanpakut¨­s and expanded ones have vastly different structural strengths. Enlarging a Zanpakut¨­ significantly reduces its durability.

    "If you love enlarging it so much," Kensei thought, "I''ll just break it apart!"

    He swung his Zanpakut¨­ fiercely, bringing it from above his head down in front of him.

    "Rage, Tachikaze!!"

    The moment his release command echoed, Kensei''s Spirit Pressure surged, enveloping the area in an intense glow that forced many spectators to shield their eyes.

    The Zanpakut¨­ in Kensei''s hands, previously over a meter long, transformed into a short dagger. Wisps of azure wind danced around him, spinning and flowing ominously.

    A broken piece of tile from the battlefield, touched by one of these threads of wind, disintegrated into dust instantly.

    Shinigami standing closer to the field instinctively felt a wave of tension and an urge to back away.

    "Break for me!" Kensei roared, leaping into the air with explosive force.

    He extended the dagger in front of him as his body spun like a drill, sending razor-sharp threads of wind spiraling toward Kaelith Yurei.

    Facing such a powerful attack, Kaelith would undoubtedly raise his blade to block it.

    Having expanded and compressed his Zanpakut¨­ multiple times in quick succession, its structure was bound to weaken. Under the destructive force of "Dandi F¨±jin," his Zanpakut¨­ would surely shatter!

    But just as Kensei felt confident in his strike, an intense sense of danger flared in his mind.

    Out of instinct, Kensei glanced sideways toward the source of the threat.

    To his astonishment, shadows erupted from the ground like flexible spears, darting toward him from all directions in a coordinated assault!

    At that moment, Kaelith''s release command rang out:

    "Pierce through, Crimson King!"

    Midair, Kensei twisted his body, gathering Spirit Particles beneath his feet to form a platform, slamming down on it with force to stop his advance.

    The wind threads surrounding him spun wildly, shooting outward to intercept the approaching shadow spears.

    Each shadow spear clashed with the wind threads, creating a fierce back-and-forth.

    Though only two combatants were on the battlefield, their clash felt like a full-blown war.

    While controlling the wind, Kensei himself remained active. Clutching his dagger, he looked for an opening to ambush Kaelith amidst the chaos.

    ¡­Wait, where was Kaelith?

    At some point, Kaelith had vanished from his original position.

    *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

    The sound of something slicing through the air reached Kensei''s ears.

    In that instant, Kensei let out a furious roar, gripping his dagger in reverse and swinging his fist.  S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Clang!*

    A spinning Zanpakut¨­ hurtling toward him was deflected by his punch, flying off into the distance.

    "Just the Zanpakut¨­?"

    As the thought crossed his mind, Kensei caught a fleeting trace of movement in the corner of his eye¡ªa glimpse of Shunpo.

    "Got you!"

    Kensei swung his dagger horizontally in a sweeping motion, aiming to intercept Kaelith.

    But just as his blade swept through the air, exposing his chest momentarily, Kaelith suddenly appeared directly in front of him.

    With a single, forceful punch, Kaelith drove his fist straight into Kensei''s face.

    *Boom!*

    The overwhelming force twisted Muguruma Kensei''s face, sending his head snapping back, his neck following his body, as he was hurled through the air and slammed violently into the ground.

    Outside the protective barrier, Aizen Sosuke nodded slightly.

    Kaelith Yurei''s fighting style, while somewhat crude and lacking finesse, was undeniably effective. Especially the initial sequence of sword techniques¡ªit bore a faint resemblance to Aizen''s own methods.

    It seemed that during their training sessions, Kaelith had absorbed quite a bit from him. Aizen considered it a small reward for his own generosity in sharing his insights on swordsmanship without reservation during their sparring.

    On the platform, Shunsui Kyoraku couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    "Incredible¡­ Old man Yamamoto, what kind of monster have you taken under your wing?"

    Muguruma Kensei''s displayed strength already far surpassed that of Shunsui''s own vice-captain.

    Yet, against such an opponent, the young Kaelith managed to dominate the fight effortlessly.

    No wonder Yamamoto insisted on orchestrating this scenario.

    With Kaelith''s potential, it was only a matter of time before he soared to unimaginable heights, provided he had the right environment to grow.

    A commoner with no restrictions, wielding immense power and a dazzling future¡ªit was a direct threat to the arrogant nobility. Kaelith''s existence was sure to unsettle them greatly.

    After today, Shunsui mused, many would start scheming about how to deal with Kaelith.

    Yamamoto spoke calmly, "You, as his senior, know what must be done."

    Shunsui adjusted his straw hat and lowered his head slightly.

    Given his position, he couldn''t become the weapon Yamamoto wielded.

    But until Kaelith fully matured, Shunsui would fulfill his role as a senior.

    If anyone dared to target Kaelith, Shunsui would ensure they learned exactly why he''d held his captaincy for so many years.

    Hovering mid-air, Kaelith retracted his fist and flexed his fingers.

    Though Kensei''s record often made him the target of jokes as a "combat power unit," in truth, he wasn''t lacking in strength.

    However, against Kaelith, Kensei had one fatal disadvantage:

    Kaelith knew everything about Kensei''s abilities, while he had no understanding of Kaelith''s powers.

    Without certainty about his opponent''s capabilities, Kensei hesitated in his actions, instinctively guarding against potential tricks.

    In high-level battles, even a half-second of hesitation could shift the tide entirely.

    That said, this advantage only hastened Kaelith''s victory.

    Even without knowledge of Kensei''s abilities, Kaelith was confident he could win.

    As the dust cleared, Kensei''s figure slowly emerged.

    Once a confident and upright presence, he now appeared disheveled and battered.

    Yet, the fire in his eyes burned even brighter.

    Looking at Kaelith standing in the sky, Kensei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

    Then, he grinned, revealing a fierce smile.

    "Kaelith Yurei¡­ I take back what I said earlier."

    "You do have what it takes to be an examiner."

    "As a sign of respect, I''ll now use my true strength!"

    Under the watchful eyes of the spectators, Kensei took a deep breath.

    Then, with a thunderous roar, he shouted:

    "Bankai!!"

    " Tekken Tachikaze!!" (Iron Fist Severing Wind)

    ---

 Chapter 85

    **Boom!!!**

    The moment Muguruma Kensei unleashed his Bankai, the air around him trembled violently.

    The weaker Shinigami nearby saw their surroundings distort under the sheer pressure of his Spirit Energy, the scene before their eyes turning hazy and warped.

    Then, a brilliant pillar of spiritual energy shot skyward!

    Shockwaves rippled outward from Kensei as the center, spreading in all directions. The training ground''s surface cracked like a spiderweb, sending shards of stone flying.

    Under the relentless impact of the spiritual energy, the flying debris pelted the barrier, creating ripples across its surface.

    The Kido Corps members maintaining the barrier scrambled to bolster its strength, channeling additional Spirit Energy to reinforce it.

    Within the dazzling light, Kensei''s appearance underwent a significant transformation.

    His short dagger-like Zanpakut¨­ morphed into two serrated gauntlet blades.

    Gray armor plates extended from his arms, converging above his head.

    A swirling storm of violent winds surged around him, growing more intense with every moment.

    Seeing Kensei''s Bankai, the captains watching from the platform grew serious.

    A Shinigami who had mastered Bankai was of incomparable value and importance.

    Especially in these tumultuous times, gaining insight into someone''s Bankai was always advantageous.

    Under Kaelith Yurei''s calm gaze, Kensei grinned.

    "Judging by your fighting style earlier, you''re pretty skilled in Hakuda, aren''t you?"

    "If that''s the case, facing me is the worst possible matchup for you."

    "Because¡­ my Tachikaze is unbeatable in close combat!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s expression shifted slightly into something ambiguous.

    Noticing this reaction, Kensei tilted his chin upward confidently.

    "What? You don''t believe me?"

    Kaelith shook his head lightly. "No¡­ it''s not about your ability. I''m just stuck on something else right now."

    "Something else?" Kensei raised an eyebrow in confusion.

    Kaelith extended his hand and pointed to Kensei''s shoulder.

    "Don''t you think those armor plates on your shoulders look like the silk ribbons from a concubine''s robe?"

    Kensei: "?"

    He turned his head to glance at the armor on his shoulders and fell silent.

    Around them, the gathered Shinigami exchanged complicated looks.

    Damn it, none of them had thought of that before Kaelith pointed it out.

    Now that he mentioned it, they couldn''t unsee it.

    If Kensei had a more elegant or delicate appearance, it might have been fine.

    But the image of this muscular brute paired with what now looked like concubine ribbons was absolutely jarring¡­

    Gritting his teeth, Kensei growled, "Does that even matter right now?!"

    "This is about fighting, not aesthetics!"

    Kaelith nodded. "True."

    "In that case, you should hurry up and attack. Time''s running out."

    He glanced at the hourglass outside the ring. The sand had already passed the halfway mark.

    "And whose fault is that?!" Kensei felt his blood pressure spike.

    The moment he finished speaking, he stomped the ground fiercely.

    A white shockwave exploded outward.

    Almost simultaneously, Kensei''s figure appeared directly in front of Kaelith!

    Kensei aimed a powerful uppercut at Kaelith''s abdomen with his fist blade¡ªonly to strike empty air.

    Kaelith had already used Shunpo to evade before the attack even landed.

    The missed punch released a strange wave of energy, rippling out in an ominous burst.

    Outside the battlefield, Aizen Sosuke frowned slightly.

    That shockwave wasn''t caused by the speed of the punch¡ªit was something else entirely.

    There was something unusual about that strike.

    Judging by the flow of spirit particles, the energy seemed to have a penetrating property.

    If Kaelith hadn''t dodged and had taken the blow directly, the shockwave might have bypassed his defenses entirely, wreaking havoc from the inside.

    This realization made Aizen''s gaze grow heavier.

    Muguruma Kensei''s ability was more troublesome than it seemed.

    Aizen wasn''t sure if Kaelith had picked up on the nature of the attack yet. If not, he''d need to intervene.

    Winning wasn''t as important as ensuring Kaelith avoided severe internal injuries.

    For now, Aizen decided to observe Kaelith''s next move before stepping in.

    "Old man Yamamoto, about Muguruma Kensei''s last move¡­"

    On the platform, Shunsui Kyoraku murmured softly, concern evident in his tone.

    Yamamoto shook his head slightly. "No rush."

    Seeing Kaelith''s reaction, Kensei raised an eyebrow.

    "You felt the danger and chose to dodge instead of block?"

    "As expected of the man who defeated Captain Tai. Your instinct for danger is sharp indeed."

    He raised both fists, displaying the pair of fist blades he wielded.

    "My Tachikaze allows me to channel an immense explosive force directly into my opponent''s body upon contact."

    "No matter how strong your defense is, one hit from me, and you''re finished!"

    "Of course, this isn''t a life-or-death battle. I won''t use enough force to kill¡ªjust enough to render you unable to fight."

    The gathered Shinigami looked on with astonishment as Kensei explained his ability.

    One hit meant defeat?

    Even for a Bankai, this ability was absurdly powerful!

    Shinji Hirako clicked his tongue. "These rookies nowadays have scarier abilities every time I see them."

    Shunsui remained silent, already preparing to step in if things went south.

    As he''d suspected, Kensei''s ability was overpowered. If something went wrong, Kaelith might suffer badly.

    Elsewhere, the Tenth Division Captain, J¨­moku Sora, frowned in concern.

    "Commander, this ability is too dangerous. We should call off the match¡­ In my opinion, Muguruma Kensei has already proven his strength. There''s no doubt he''s qualified to be a captain!"

    Yamamoto shook his head again.

    "Whether or not Muguruma Kensei passes the test depends on the examiner¡ªKaelith Yurei¡ªand his final decision."

    J¨­moku glanced toward Shunsui, hoping he would support his case.

    But Shunsui simply observed the scene quietly, showing no intention of intervening.

    With a sigh, J¨­moku fell silent, resigning himself to watching the match play out.

    Kaelith, watching as Kensei confidently laid out his ability, offered him a look of admiration.

    "Since Vice-Captain Kensei is so forthcoming, it wouldn''t be fair for me to hold back any longer."

    "My Zanpakut¨­''s ability allows me to control my shadow, briefly materializing it as a weapon to attack my opponent."

    "In scenarios where I''m outnumbered, it''s quite a useful ability!"

    Hearing this, Kensei smirked.  Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith Yurei was proving to be more and more to his liking.

    The boldness to reveal his Zanpakut¨­''s ability in front of so many people¡ªthis guy was a real man! (t/n If only he knew...I feel bad for him)

    On the platform, Ginrei Kuchiki nodded approvingly.

    "Both of them are forthright. Excellent."

    Yamamoto: "¡­"

    Hearing Ginrei''s comment, Yamamoto suppressed the urge to groom his beard.

    Kaelith hadn''t even revealed a third of his Zanpakut¨­''s true ability.

    Forthright?

    Not even close!

 Chapter 86

    On the battlefield, Kaelith Yurei and Muguruma Kensei were locked in an intense, heated exchange.

    Kensei, gripping his fist blades, resembled a seasoned boxer, throwing relentless punches from all directions.

    Kaelith, in contrast, used Shunpo combined with precise body movements to evade Kensei''s strikes.

    "What''s wrong? What''s wrong?"

    "Is dodging all you can do? You won''t win just by running away!" Kensei shouted, launching a powerful straight punch.

    The punch, imbued with Spirit Pressure, distorted the air around it as it traveled forward.

    Each strike seemed to drain the surrounding space of energy, creating an oppressive void.

    If it were any ordinary Shinigami, the twisted air alone would render them unable to use Shunpo. They''d be helplessly pulled into the attack, as though willingly offering themselves to his fists.

    Outside the barrier, many Shinigami who had been seated in the front rows began to move further back.

    Even with the barrier in place, Kensei''s overwhelming captain-level Spirit Pressure bore down on them heavily.

    If they didn''t retreat, they risked collapsing before the fighters inside did.

    Aizen Sosuke sat outside the barrier, holding a cup of tea, his mind racing.

    A single direct hit could mean instant defeat.

    If it were him facing such an ability, how would he respond?

    The simplest answer, of course, was to use Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    But Ky¨­ka Suigetsu''s unique power wasn''t always ideal to display in plain sight.

    If he were to face such an opponent head-on, how would he fight?

    Within his gaze, Kensei suddenly launched a punch.

    The fist had been poised at his waist for several seconds, unmoving.

    If Kaelith reacted even a fraction too slow, this punch would end the match.

    A thought flickered through Aizen''s mind:

    "Dodge to the right."

    Almost as if Kaelith had heard his thoughts, his body shifted slightly to the right.

    Kensei''s punch, originally aimed to the right, was forced to change trajectory. With a sudden uppercut, he redirected his strike toward Kaelith''s chin!

    In such a situation, most would instinctively dodge backward.

    Kensei had already retracted his earlier punch, ready to follow up.

    If Kaelith retreated, Kensei would launch forward with all his might.

    Even if Kaelith used Shunpo to escape, Kensei was confident he could catch him.

    "I''ve got this!"

    A gleam flashed in Kensei''s eyes as a confident smirk spread across his face.

    Aizen''s sharp gaze darted between the positions of Kensei''s two punches.

    "Don''t retreat¡ªsidestep!"

    His heart tightened as he watched.

    Kaelith, as if listening to Aizen''s thoughts, sidestepped gracefully to the left.

    Kensei, unable to pull back in time, stumbled forward.

    "Use Bakud¨­ here!"

    Aizen''s eyes lit up with realization.

    Kaelith''s movements, however, were faster than Aizen''s thought process.

    Facing the vulnerable, off-balance Kensei, Kaelith brought two fingers together and swiped horizontally in front of him as if smoothing out an invisible surface¡ª

    "Bakud¨­ #63: Sajo Sabaku!"

    Golden chains shot out from every direction, binding Muguruma Kensei tightly in layer after layer of restraint.

    Aizen Sosuke watched with a touch of admiration.

    He had assumed Kaelith Yurei''s combat skills would fall short of his own despite their similar Spirit Pressure.

    But now, it seemed Kaelith''s combat instincts were sharper than he had anticipated.

    Nature was fair, after all¡ªeven a brute had their own ways of survival.

    On the platform, Shunsui Kyoraku almost couldn''t stop himself from cheering for Kaelith.

    Damn, what kind of prodigy was this kid?

    He''d only spent six months at the Shino Academy¡ªhow much real combat experience could he even have?

    If Kaelith could reach this level on raw talent alone, what would he become after training under Yamamoto for a hundred or two hundred years?

    Ginrei Kuchiki stroked his beard thoughtfully. By this point, he finally understood Yamamoto''s intentions.

    As expected of the legendary Sword Demon¡­ Though Yamamoto now appeared to have settled into a quiet, reclusive life, when he set his mind to something, he was second to none.

    After today, Kaelith Yurei''s name would surely echo throughout the Seireitei.

    Everyone would know Yamamoto Genryusai had a new and powerful blade in his hand.

    Those who thought to manipulate the noble network for their own schemes would now need to tread carefully, lest they face Yamamoto''s retaliation.

    Ginrei had to admit, Yamamoto''s move was brilliant.

    The only regret? This new blade was not yet sharp enough.

    Without even releasing his Zanpakut¨­, Kaelith had defeated Lisa Yadomaru.

    Now, he was holding his own against Muguruma Kensei, even after the latter had released his Bankai.  S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For someone of Kaelith''s age, this was nothing short of extraordinary.

    But¡­

    No amount of talent could change a fundamental truth:

    Kaelith Yurei was not yet at captain level.

    The gap between a fourth-class Spirit Pressure and a third-class Spirit Pressure was as vast as the difference between a student shinigami and a seated officer.

    A fifth-class might rely on skill, techniques, or Zanpakut¨­ abilities to overcome a fourth-class opponent.

    But a fourth-class could never hope to surpass a third-class.

    Almost as if to confirm Ginrei''s thoughts, Muguruma Kensei let out a deafening roar.

    "Ughhhhhh! AHHHHHH!!!"

    With a powerful flex, his arms burst outward, his chest muscles swelling so much they nearly tore through his uniform.

    As his physical strength surged, so did his Spirit Pressure, rising layer upon layer¡ª

    Crack!

    Several segments of the protective barrier shattered instantly.

    The torrential Spirit Pressure flooded outward, sending over twenty nearby Shinigami flying uncontrollably into the air!

    Several seated officers leaped up to catch the thrown Shinigami, commanding everyone to retreat.

    On the platform, Chojiro Sasakibe flashed to the Kid¨­ Corps'' side, directing them to open the barriers and release Kensei''s overwhelming Spirit Pressure outward.

    As the barriers opened, the entire arena felt as if it had been submerged in the deep sea.

    The oppressive weight of the Spirit Pressure left many Shinigami struggling to breathe.

    Once fully unleashed, Muguruma Kensei flexed his arms again, shattering the Bakud¨­ binding him.

    Raising his fists, he assumed a combat stance, fixing his gaze on Kaelith Yurei.

    "Kaelith, just declare me the victor."

    "I admit you''re strong. Without using Spirit Pressure to suppress you, it''s difficult for me to inflict any significant damage."

    "But¡­ with an overwhelming advantage in Spirit Pressure, your speed and reflexes will no longer be an edge!"

    "This is just a sparring match. I don''t want to leave you with injuries that can''t be healed."

    "Once you reach captain level, we can fight again!"

    On the platform, Yamamoto watched silently.

    Was this the end?

    A pity, but it had already gone far enough.

    Both Kaelith''s shadow manipulation and Muguruma Kensei''s Tetsuken Danp¨± were techniques with exceedingly high damage potential.

    Pushing the fight any further would only risk unnecessary losses for the Gotei 13.

    Very well, the matter of establishing dominance could wait.

    With that thought, Yamamoto prepared to call off the match.

    But before he could speak, Kaelith suddenly said¡ª

    "Third-class Spirit Pressure is indeed powerful."

    "But as it happens, I have it too."

    Under Muguruma Kensei''s stunned gaze, Kaelith''s Spirit Pressure erupted skyward!

 Chapter 87

    "What?!"

    Ginrei Kuchiki gasped in disbelief.

    "Wait, wait, wait¡­ is this for real?!"

    Shinji Hirako muttered to himself, then quickly rushed to the edge of the platform.

    Shunsui Kyoraku paused for a moment before pinching his own arm.

    It hurt¡ªthis wasn''t a dream¡­

    J¨­moku Sora opened his mouth in shock.

    The Shinigami who had been retreating instinctively halted, staring in disbelief at the battlefield.

    Seinosuke Yamada''s jaw almost hit the floor.

    Yamamoto stood still, his expression as calm as an ancient well.

    Yet, his slightly open, narrowed eyes betrayed the turmoil within.

    From all corners of Seireitei, those with keen spiritual perception turned toward the arena, drawn by the surge of Spirit Pressure.

    "Is this¡­ Yurei''s Spirit Pressure?"

    Kirio Hikifune removed her goggles and set aside the research she''d been working on.

    Yoruichi and Soi Fon, both dressed in black, hid in the shadows, quietly watching the gate of a compound.

    It was a location recently identified as a potential gathering point for the rebels.

    To avoid alarming the enemy, Yoruichi had decided to handle the surveillance personally, bringing Soi Fon along.

    Only by participating in such dangerous tasks could Soi Fon grow quickly.

    As the two observed, the Spirit Pressure in the air caught their attention, and both were visibly surprised.

    Soi Fon looked up at Yoruichi, who gave her a proud smile in return.

    Seeing that smile, Soi Fon''s cheeks flushed slightly.

    In the Thirteenth Division''s medical ward, Shizune was grinning with delight.

    In a grand mansion on the noble streets, an elderly man dressed in noble haori sat quietly in his room, meditating.

    Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.

    This Spirit Pressure¡­

    It''s that kid who fought with Captain Tai on that night?

    He actually broke through to third-class Spirit Pressure?

    Realizing the connection between Kaelith and Yamamoto, the old man narrowed his eyes slightly.

    "Yamamoto¡­ you can''t sit still anymore, huh?"

    After a long silence, he spoke slowly:

    "Someone, come."

    Whoosh!

    A figure instantly appeared by his side, kneeling on one knee.

    "Go find that guy, Kamikawa. Tell him to prepare."

    The masked figure bowed and disappeared from the room.

    The old man slowly rose, looking out the window.

    "The show is about to begin."

    ---

    In the arena, Muguruma Kensei stood frozen, wide-eyed, as if he had seen a ghost.

    Kaelith Yurei''s body erupted with an overwhelming Spirit Pressure.

    Without a doubt¡ªthis was captain-level!

    Third-class Spirit Pressure!

    Though it wasn''t fully refined, and it seemed as though he had just broken through, it was unquestionably true captain-level Spirit Pressure!

    For a moment, Kensei''s mindset faltered.

    He had spent over ten years after graduating from the academy just to become a seated officer.

    It then took him over fifty more years to become a vice-captain.

    He had spent nearly a century struggling in that position, and now he was finally eligible for promotion.

    But Kaelith Yurei?

    This kid had barely graduated from the academy and had yet to spend two hours employed¡ªtwo hours!

    The vast disparity between them overwhelmed him with a sense of hopelessness.

    Inside the beam of Spirit Pressure, Kaelith Yurei stared at Muguruma Kensei.

    "The exam isn''t over yet. Don''t lose focus."

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, Muguruma Kensei suddenly stiffened.

    It took him a moment to realize that he was the one being tested as the examiner.

    After snapping back to reality, a hint of fear crept into him.

    Had he allowed himself to lose focus, and let Kaelith get the better of him, he would''ve likely lost any desire to improve for a long time.

    Taking a deep breath, he nodded gratefully.

    "Thank you, Kaelith."

    Kaelith shrugged nonchalantly.  S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If I could, I''d love to keep my strength hidden like Aizen, only revealing it when there''s something to gain. But, without realizing it, I''ve ended up surrounded by too many people already."

    Yamamoto, Yoruichi, the two senior brothers¡­ and so many others who''ve helped him along the way.

    Perhaps initially, Yamamoto took him in as a disciple for political reasons or other circumstances.

    But over time, Kaelith could feel that Yamamoto truly treated him as his disciple.

    No matter the initial reason, he was now willing to repay the effort Yamamoto had put into him.

    Even if that meant exposing his power and becoming a target for some.

    Even if it meant having to work even harder in the future.

    What was that little cost compared to what he had gained?

    Most importantly, with Aizen, the ultimate boss, backing him up, his power would not stagnate.

    Anyone who thought this was his final form was gravely mistaken.

    Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Kaelith raised his sword, pointing it at Kensei.

    "Let''s go, Muguruma Kensei!"

    "Oh!"

    The burly white-haired man responded with a powerful shout.

    His eyes wide, he gripped his fist blades tightly and stomped on the ground, sending cracks through the floor as he shot toward Kaelith like a cannonball.

    The ferocious wind he created shattered the ground beneath him, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

    Kaelith, gripping his sword with both hands, met him head-on.

    Without even realizing it, under the cover of his Spirit Pressure, Kaelith''s shadow had already disappeared from beneath his feet, merging with his body.

    The combined power of his fully unleashed Spirit Pressure and his shadow now fused into one, as he swung his blade at Kensei!

    Though this strike lacked the finesse of his Double Bones technique, it carried a terrifying power capable of crushing all before it!

    Boom!

    In front of all eyes, the two attacks collided.

    The shining Spirit Pressure illuminated the sky in a golden hue.

    The surrounding defensive barriers shattered instantly!

    Chojiro Sasakibe''s expression changed. He moved to intervene, but just as he was about to act, he heard the sound of a cane striking the ground.

    A new barrier suddenly appeared, materializing from nothing, completely blocking the wild surge of Spirit Pressure, redirecting it toward the sky.

    Everyone stared wide-eyed at the dazzling glow of Spirit Pressure.

    Even though they couldn''t clearly see what was happening inside, they couldn''t suppress their excitement!

    A few seconds later, the glowing Spirit Pressure began to fade.

    Yamada Seinosuke half-rose, already ready to jump in and rescue Kaelith if needed.

    Then, he saw the figure standing in the middle of the arena.

    The blue-and-white Shino Academy uniform.

    Kaelith Yurei!

    Not far behind him, Muguruma Kensei staggered a few steps.

    Then, with a sudden plop, his entire chest¡ªfrom shoulder to abdomen¡ªexploded in a spray of blood.

    He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

    Yamada couldn''t help but grin.

    Aizen raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile.

    On the platform, Shunsui Kyoraku sighed in relief.

    He raised his hand to fan himself, then glanced at Yamamoto, grinning.

    "Old man Yamamoto, you can laugh if you want, I won''t tell anyone¡­ pfft!"

    Suddenly, Shunsui pitched forward, nearly falling off the platform.

    No one could have seen what had just happened.

    Only someone of Ginrei Kuchiki''s caliber could have noticed that Yamamoto had swiftly raised his hand and delivered a swift slap to the back of Shunsui''s head...

    Under everyone''s watch, Kaelith slowly raised his blade and sheathed it.

    Then he spoke:

    "Muguruma Kensei, Captain qualification test¡­"

    "Passed!"

    ----------------

    t/n would you be willing to be sliced for a promotion?

 Chapter 88

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, everyone paused for a moment.

    Then, realization struck: this wasn''t a duel, but an assessment for promotion.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi and Shiba Sh¨­ta both had complex feelings.

    If they were in Muguruma Kensei''s shoes, facing Kaelith Yurei¡ªcould they have done better?

    After some thought, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi felt that he would have an advantage.

    After all, his attacks were elusive and undetectable; as long as his opponent heard the sound, they''d be hit.

    But even then, he couldn''t guarantee a victory.

    Shiba Sh¨­ta crossed his arms, mentally replaying a battle between himself and Kaelith.

    In the end, he concluded that, if Kaelith only demonstrated the abilities shown earlier, he would likely hold a slight edge.  S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Stepping back onto the platform using Shunpo, Kusajiki Kurou cleared his throat and announced loudly:

    "Vice-Captain of the 9th Division, Muguruma Kensei, passes the assessment!!"

    The prepared 4th Division members quickly rushed over to lift Muguruma Kensei and take him away.

    Yamada Seinosuke hurried over as well.

    "Kaelith, are you alright? Any injuries?"

    Kaelith shook his head. "It was just a spar. What injuries could I have?"

    Yamada seemed skeptical, walking around him and inspecting.

    In the end, he realized Kaelith hadn''t suffered any injuries.

    He couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    "Impressive, truly impressive. You defeated a captain-level opponent head-on, and not even a scratch on you..."

    "After we get back, you''d better explain what strange things you''ve been eating to get this strong."

    Once he confirmed that Kaelith was fine, Yamada quickly turned and left to assist Muguruma Kensei.

    An injured captain-level fighter was an excellent subject to practice on¡ªhe couldn''t miss the opportunity!

    Kaelith looked up and glanced at Yamamoto on the platform.

    Yamamoto was silently observing him as well.

    Under Yamamoto''s gaze, Kaelith gave a sly grin and flashed a thumbs-up.

    Seeing this, Yamamoto felt a sense of understanding.

    It seemed Kaelith had figured out his intentions.

    This husky was not raised in vain.

    He nodded and sent a message to Kaelith through his Spirit Pressure:

    "Well done."

    Kaelith made a sound of acknowledgment and turned away.

    Returning to the sidelines, he sat down next to Aizen, stretching lazily.

    "S¨­suke, did you see my magnificent display? Care to share your thoughts?"

    Aizen glanced at him coolly and replied, "Is your sword still usable?"

    Kaelith froze for a moment, his stretch cutting short.

    He grinned widely, slightly turning his body to a hidden angle, drawing his sword just a bit to reveal the damage.

    The blade, once sleek and smooth, was now riddled with cracks of all sizes.

    Had he not forcibly stabilized it with his Spirit Pressure, the sword would likely have shattered into pieces.

    Without reacting visibly, Aizen raised his hand and gently pushed the sword back into its sheath.

    On the platform, Yamamoto slowly walked to the front.

    Kusajiki Kurou bowed his head, stepping back behind him.

    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yamamoto spoke:

    "Former 3rd Seat of the 3rd Division, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi, is promoted to 3rd Division Captain."

    "Former Vice-Captain of the 9th Division, Muguruma Kensei, is promoted to 9th Division Captain."

    "Former Vice-Captain of the 10th Division, Shiba Sh¨­ta, is promoted to 10th Division Captain."

    "Former 10th Division Captain, J¨­moku Sora, is transferred to the 11th Division as the new Captain of the 11th Division."

    "Official appointment certificates will be distributed at tomorrow morning''s Captain meeting."

    "That''s all."

    When Yamamoto announced the result, most of the Shinigami were elated.

    With the positions of captains being filled, there was a sense of security in the air.

    Only the Tenth Division members wore expressions of shock, disappointment, and dissatisfaction. How could their captain be replaced when he was doing fine?

    Among those with some knowledge of the noble families, the reasoning quickly became clear.

    Shiba Sh¨­dai, although not the heir, was still one of the most talented members of the younger generation of the Shiba family.

    As one of the five noble families, Shiba Sh¨­dai couldn''t be assigned to the Tenth Division, a place full of "country folk" like them.

    To preserve the Shiba family''s honor, Commander Yamamoto had no choice but to transfer Captain Ch¨­moku to make room for him.

    Once they realized this, the dissatisfaction quickly faded.

    The deeply ingrained idea that nobles were above regular Shinigami made it easy to accept, and no one thought it was strange. (t/n: The difference in our time is really showing here. Let''s be honest we would probably act the same if we grew up in the Middle Ages)

    Aizen''s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes held a trace of contempt.

    ...

    "Well, well, Kaelith, I''ve heard all about you!"

    "I didn''t expect you to already have Third-Class Spirit Pressure¡­ How did you manage that?"

    "By the way, when are you coming to Second Division? I''ll prepare a welcome feast for you!"

    In the Fourth Division barracks, Kaelith Yurei stood in front of a hallway.

    The one talking excitedly, full of energy, was none other than Marenoshin ¨­maeda.

    "Let''s not talk about that right now, Vice-Captain Marenoshin, are you still here? Didn''t your wounds heal yet?"

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow at the tall, burly man in front of him, who stood at over two meters, his muscles practically bulging out of his uniform.

    Marenoshin chuckled heartily.

    He patted his chest with a grin. "Don''t worry, I''m fine now."

    "I came over today to bring back some herbs for the squad¡­ The Fourth Division is an expert in herb gathering, after all."

    As he spoke, several Fourth Division members dragged a large cart over.

    "T-This is the medicinal supplies, Vice-Captain Marenoshin¡­"

    One of the officers, struggling with the cart, managed to speak.

    The cart was piled high with a mound of herbs.

    The design resembled one of those carts used in mines, but this one was far larger, almost intimidating in its size.

    It had a strong visual impact.

    It took seven or eight people from the Fourth Division to barely move the cart.

    After Marenoshin checked the supplies, he nodded in satisfaction, pulled out a large sack of copper coins, and handed it to them.

    "Thank you, and say hello to Captain Unohana for me!"

    With that, he effortlessly pulled the cart over to Kaelith.

    Kaelith looked at the mound of herbs in the cart.

    "Why so many herbs? Did something happen?"

    Marenoshin paused for a moment.

    After thinking it over, he bent down and whispered, "Although you''re about to join, these are still confidential matters, so I can''t disclose much."

    "I can only say that the recent mission pressure has been heavy, and many of our officers have been injured. There''s a high demand for treatment."

    After saying this, he nodded at Kaelith, indicating that once Kaelith was officially in, he could always approach him. He quickly left with the cart of herbs.

    Watching Marenoshin''s retreating figure, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    No wonder Yoruichi and Soi Fon didn''t go to the training grounds. Looks like the Second Division has been very busy lately¡­

    I''ll ask Yoruichi about it later.

    Thinking this, Kaelith followed the directions he had been given earlier and arrived in front of a medical room.

    Confirming the name on the door, he knocked lightly.

    "Oh! Come in!"

    A voice came from inside.

    Kaelith opened the door and entered the room.

    Muguruma Kensei was lying on the bed, looking thoroughly bored.

    Just as he was about to speak, he froze when he saw who had entered.

    -----------------------------------

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 Chapter 89

    "Kaelith? What are you doing here?"

    Muguruma Kensei looked surprised when he saw Kaelith walk into the room. Kaelith turned his back, closing the door behind him.

    He walked over to Kensei''s bedside, his expression impassive.

    "I made you lose face during the test. To prevent any future retaliation, I''m here to remove the roots."

    Kensei: "???"

    Unable to hold back, he rolled his eyes. "Well, you sure are thinking ahead."

    Kaelith grinned.

    He pulled over a chair and sat down.

    "Although it''s not really for you, I am here to remove the roots, after all."

    "I have some questions about Captain Takeda."

    "You''ve been his vice-captain for quite a while and you probably know him better than anyone else in the Seireitei."

    "Do you have any idea why he joined the rebel army? Was there any warning sign before it happened?"

    Hearing this, Kensei looked thoughtful for a moment.

    Then, a look of melancholy crossed his face.

    "These questions were asked by the Secret Mobile Unit as well. My answers to you will be similar to what I told them."

    "As for Captain Takeda¡­ to be honest, even now, I still can''t figure out why he joined the rebels."

    "He wasn''t one to speak much, but he was always good to the team."

    "He didn''t care for money or luxury. He rarely indulged in anything, aside from drinking every now and then. He had no material desires."

    "One time, we were dispatched to the Rukongai to deal with a Hollow invasion. The situation was dangerous, but Captain Takeda specifically made sure to give the civilians time to escape¡­"

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith appeared to be deep in thought.

    The words spoken by Yoruichi before their failure¡­ no, the words spoken by the so-called "Rebel Army" came to his mind.

    Their proclaimed purpose of exposing historical truths and overthrowing the five noble families'' control over the Soul King seemed highly dubious.

    The credibility of their claims was almost zero.

    But it was still effective in misleading some captains whose noble intentions were exploited by the rebels to turn them against the system.

    While Kaelith was lost in thought, Kensei suddenly seemed to remember something.

    "Oh, right¡­ Captain Takeda had a diary. I often saw him writing in it when I visited him at night."

    "But when I went to look for it later, I couldn''t find it. I''m not sure if Captain Takeda took it with him or if something else happened to it¡­"

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    Takeda''s diary?

    That was a new lead.

    If Takeda had taken it with him, then there was nothing to be done.

    But if he hadn''t, it was very likely that the Secret Mobile Unit had confiscated it.

    Once he joined the Second Division, he could try looking for it¡­

    After chatting for a while and confirming that Kensei didn''t have any more useful information, Kaelith stood up to leave.

    When he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something and called out with a surprised tone.

    He turned around with a grin on his face.

    "Forgot to ask, how''s your injury? You''re alright, right?"

    "Why are you asking now?!" Kensei couldn''t help but respond with frustration.

    "Hahaha."

    Kaelith let out an awkward laugh.

    After thinking for a moment, he spoke to Kensei again. "About that Tekken Tachikaze of yours, I''ve thought of a few new ways it could be applied. It should be really useful for you."

    "Once you''re healed, we should have a spar and exchange some techniques."

    Upon hearing Kaelith''s words, Kensei blinked in surprise. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then he smiled. "Oh, got it!"

    ...

    After leaving the Fourth Division, Kaelith headed toward the academy.

    Before coming here, he had already visited the Third Division to speak with the vice-captain there. When the topic of the division''s captain came up, Shoji Senchi''s expression became one of disgust.

    According to the lady''s account, the previous captain, Shinchira Renzosuke, had always been obsessed with power.

    After mastering his Bankai, Renzosuke kept it hidden until one day, when the former captain was injured on a mission in Rukongai while fighting off a Hollow. That was when Renzosuke suddenly appeared and demanded a challenge.

    The former captain accepted, and in front of two hundred squad members, he was defeated by Renzosuke.

    Not long after, the former captain joined the Expeditionary Army, leaving the Soul Society for Hueco Mundo.

    Shinchira Renzosuke then took over the division and began implementing a strict hierarchical system within the Third Division.

    The division''s hierarchy was already rigid, but under Renzosuke, the pressure became far more intense.

    If any squad member didn''t greet him properly or bowed insufficiently, they''d be punished.

    When Renzosuke was finally ousted, Shoji was quite pleased.

    She prepared some snacks for Kaelith as a token of appreciation for his "contribution."

    As for the newly appointed captain, life wasn''t as easy.

    To help R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi adapt to his new duties, Shoji subjected him to what could only be described as brutal, devilish training.

    It was said that at the Third Division barracks, one could often hear R¨­j¨±r¨­''s agonized screams...

    As Kaelith pondered the recent developments, he made his way back to the dorms.

    Aizen was sitting at the desk, writing something.

    The other two roommates, upon seeing Kaelith return, quickly jumped up in alarm.

    At first, their gazes were filled with surprise, then a bit of fear, and finally, they became respectful.

    Seeing their reactions, Kaelith realized that a thick, sad barrier had already formed between them.

    One he didn''t mind at all.

    These two roommates were both vassals of lower-ranking noble families. From the moment they entered the academy, they had formed their own little circle and never bothered to include Kaelith or Aizen in their activities.

    Kaelith, focused solely on his studies and training, had never cared about it.

    After six months, he had never even bothered to learn their names properly.

    After greeting them casually, he approached Aizen from behind.

    "Yo, Aizen, what are you writing?"

    As Kaelith walked over to Aizen, the two roommates quickly slipped away.

    Without looking up, Aizen replied, "Numerical calculations."

    Kaelith blinked, then realized.

    Numerical calculations? Wasn''t that just math?

    He leaned over Aizen''s shoulder to take a look but quickly felt dizzy and moved his gaze away.

    "What is this for?"

    "Program testing... Using electronics to simulate real-world behaviors and enable human-computer interactions through control systems," Aizen explained casually.

    Kaelith nodded, though he didn''t fully understand.

    Then, suddenly, he froze.

    "Wait a second... simulating behaviors, human-computer interactions?"

    "This sounds like a game, doesn''t it?"

    His eyes brightened. "Aizen, you''re designing a game program?"

    Aizen didn''t answer directly but continued writing while saying, "You know that guy, Urahara Kisuke? He really has some skills."

    "With his help, many of the complicated aspects are becoming easier to overcome."

    "It''d be great if we could pull him into this experiment as well¡­"

    Kaelith didn''t pay much attention to Aizen''s thoughts on Urahara.

    He couldn''t help but laugh. "Aizen, no, I should say, Aizen-sama, you truly are my lucky star!"

    "What else do you need done? Let me handle it, you focus on your work!"

    Soon, both of them would be moving on to their respective divisions, ready to begin their new roles.

    -

 Chapter 90

    The next day.

    As the first rays of sunlight streamed in, Kaelith Yurei opened his eyes and rolled out of bed.

    On the floor beside his bed, several packages were neatly arranged.

    Last night, he had packed away things he wouldn''t need for the time being. This way, when it was time to move, he wouldn''t be too rushed.

    By the way, those packages beside Aizen''s bed were packed by him as well.

    In the past, Aizen would never have let anyone touch his belongings.

    Though he was confident in his ability to keep secrets, there was always the risk of something slipping through. If any personal items exposed his identity, the consequences would be catastrophic.

    But now, Kaelith had learned most of what Aizen was up to. There was no need to hide anything from him anymore.

    As Kaelith got up to wash, Aizen spat out his mouthwash and lowered his voice. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ll be leaving tonight. Keep an eye on things for me."

    "Experimenting?" Kaelith mumbled while rinsing his mouth.

    Aizen shook his head. "I need to catch a few Hollows for an experiment with spirit particles."

    "If possible, I''d prefer to catch a Menos Grande."

    "It''s a shame, though. Menos Grande invading the Soul Society is a rare occurrence. It''s hard to encounter one."

    Kaelith, still holding his toothbrush, seemed to be deep in thought.

    Back in Ichigo Kurosaki''s time, Rukongai was covered in spirit particle monitoring devices installed by the Twelfth Division. If a Hollow were to enter the Soul Society, the devices would immediately detect it and notify the Shinigami to take action.

    However, right now, the Science Bureau hadn''t been officially established, and the Twelfth Division didn''t have that kind of authority.

    So, how would they detect a Hollow''s invasion into the Soul Society?

    Would they have to wait for it to cause chaos on the border and stir up trouble before anyone took notice?

    Kaelith fell silent.

    Given how things worked in the Soul Society, it wasn''t impossible...

    While he was pondering, Aizen had finished cleaning up.

    He raised a hand, brushing his bangs to let his natural curls fall forward.

    This hairstyle made him look more delicate, more harmless¡ªan image of a meek scholar.

    A great tactician paid attention to every detail.

    When he had the time, he planned to buy a pair of plain glasses to complete his transformation into the perfect scholarly image.

    Once he finished adjusting his hair, he looked toward Kaelith.

    "Kaelith, how would you like to visit Hueco Mundo?"

    Kaelith froze in surprise.

    He quickly checked the ability record that had been synced with Aizen''s.

    Still at Third-Class Spirit Pressure, no upgrade.

    For a moment, he thought Aizen had ascended overnight to become a super-captain-level powerhouse, planning to dominate Hueco Mundo.

    "You have a way to get to Hueco Mundo?"

    "Mm."

    Aizen nodded. "At the borders of Rukongai, there are areas with weak space. By simulating the spirit pressure of a Hollow and using Kid¨­ rituals, we can create a portal similar to a Menos Grande and travel to Hueco Mundo."

    "I was planning to wait until I was stronger before going, but if you''re willing to join me, it''s a different story."

    "With our combined strength, we can go anywhere in Hueco Mundo, as long as we don''t run into any particularly powerful Menos Grande." (t/n At this time they didn''t know about anything higher than a Gillian-class Menos Grande)

    Aizen''s tone was full of confidence, and when paired with his deliberately delicate appearance, there was a strange, almost unsettling sense of dissonance.

    Kaelith nodded. "Alright, let me know when you''re ready."

    He wasn''t particularly interested in Hueco Mundo.

    An endless, silver desert? If there was an ocean, it might be worth visiting, but just sand? What was the point?

    Still, thinking back to the way Aizen had spent his night designing game programs for him, Kaelith agreed without hesitation.

    Aizen''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction at the response.

    Just as Kaelith was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Aizen.

    "By the way, Aizen, have you decided which division you''re going to join?"

    "If you haven''t decided yet, would you like to join the Second Division?"

    "Hmm¡­" Aizen appeared to be thinking.

    If possible, he''d prefer to join a division where he could take it easy.

    Ideally, one where he could disappear for several days without anyone noticing.

    Unfortunately, the Gotei 13 wasn''t that lenient of an organization.

    After some thought, he shook his head. "Second Division is out, too busy."

    "If I had to choose, I''d say the Twelfth Division is a good option."

    "Captain Kirio Hikifuneis quite the researcher. During her tenure, she recruited many smart individuals to the division."

    "If I could control them¡­"

    Seeing the eager expression on Aizen''s face, Kaelith suddenly became a bit excited, too.

    Not to mention, Kirio was no simple person, and Urahara Kisuke in the future would be no pushover either.

    If these people were to meet, it was bound to be interesting.

    On his way back to the dorm after visiting the water room, Kaelith was stopped by two of his classmates.

    They informed him that someone from the Kido Corps had come to find him.

    Stepping outside the dorm, he saw Soi Fon standing quietly beneath a large tree, holding a box in her hands.

    "Yo, Shaolin, good morning."

    Kaelith approached and greeted her.

    Soi Fon furrowed her brows slightly. "Kaelith-sama, I''ve already changed my name to Soi Fon. Please don''t call me by that name anymore."

    It was ironic, considering that when she hadn''t changed her name before, Kaelith had often called her "the girl" or something similar.

    Now that she had changed her name, he suddenly switched to calling her Shaolin.

    Clearly, this was intentional on his part.

    Seeing Soi Fon''s slightly annoyed expression, Kaelith smiled.

    No wonder schoolboys liked teasing girls... She looked so amusing when she was upset.

    Wait a minute, did that mean he was on the same level as a schoolboy?

    As Kaelith pondered this shocking conclusion, Soi Fon opened the box in her hands.

    "Kaelith-sama, I brought the clothes you''ll need for your division."

    At her words, Kaelith peered into the box.

    Inside, there was a black Shihakusho, neatly folded and lying still.

    Looking at the Shihakusho, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a little emotional.

    It had been so long since he had come to this world, and now, he was finally going to wear the uniform.

    It was just the standard Shinigami attire, yet he couldn''t help but feel a small thrill.

    Next to it was another outfit, one with a more covert, stealthy design¡ªnarrow sleeves and pants.

    Just one glance and Kaelith immediately removed that outfit from his future plans.

    Compared to the Shihakusho, the stealth suit was too plain, lacking any flair.

    Taking the box with the clothes, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    "Thanks for your hard work, Soi Fon."

    "Thank you."

    Soi Fon was momentarily taken aback.

    Seeing Kaelith''s serious expression, she shifted her gaze awkwardly for a moment.

    "No¡­ It''s nothing, this is just something I''m supposed to do as your subordinate."

    Seeing her reaction, Kaelith suddenly became curious. "Where''s Yoruichi? Why isn''t she with you?"

    Upon hearing the question, Soi Fon''s expression became more serious.

    "Yoruichi-sama is currently undergoing treatment in the hot spring cave."

    "Treatment?"

    Kaelith frowned.

    -----

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 Chapter 91

    In a certain part of Rukongai, a series of winding valleys stretched far and wide.

    Hidden within these valleys was a small hot spring, a hidden gem in its own right.

    The milky-white waters of the spring emitted a soft, misty haze.

    A girl with dark skin relaxed in the water, leaning against the rocks at the edge, sighing comfortably.

    "Ah... pure bliss~"

    Yoruichi squinted her eyes, her face taking on a cat-like expression.

    Just as she was settling in for a good rest, her ears twitched suddenly.

    Footsteps echoed from a distance, approaching fast.

    Yoruichi''s gaze turned icy. She extended a hand out of the water, her fingertips glowing with spiritual particles.

    Then, she saw a young man dressed in a Shin''o Academy uniform and a girl from the Corps appear at the entrance of the cave.

    Seeing them, Yoruichi blinked in surprise before her lips curled into a smile, and she dissipated the Kido she had been charging up.

    "Oh my, how terrifying, to be greeted with Kido as soon as I enter."

    Seeing how adeptly Yoruichi used Kido, Kaelith let out a sigh of relief.

    It seemed her injuries weren''t severe, as they hadn''t affected her control over spiritual energy.

    Yoruichi, still in the water, lazily stretched out an arm, resting it on the stone behind her:

    "I had no choice. Someone was so adamant that my body not be seen by others."

    As she spoke, she fixed her gaze on Kaelith, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

    Kaelith: "..."

    He coughed awkwardly, trying to change the subject. "Where are you hurt? How bad is it?"

    At his question, Yoruichi turned slightly, lifting another arm out of the water.

    A long wound ran from her shoulder down to halfway along her upper arm.

    Although the bleeding had stopped, the severity of the injury was still apparent.

    Kaelith frowned slightly.

    He was about to say something when Yoruichi suddenly stood up from the water.

    This abrupt movement startled him.

    With a splash, Yoruichi turned around.

    On her back, patches of skin had been scorched away, exposing the dermal layer beneath.

    Kaelith clicked his tongue in disapproval.

    "You really got hit hard."

    Clearly, Yoruichi''s back had taken the brunt of a potent Kido attack.

    Thankfully, the Hell Hot Springs had been prepared in advance to treat both her and Soifon''s earlier injuries.

    Without the hot springs, relying solely on healing Kido would have likely left significant scarring.

    Imagining that scenario, Kaelith squinted his eyes.

    "Ease up, ease up..."

    Sensing the change in Kaelith''s mood, Yoruichi waved her hand with a smile.

    "It''s just a wound... For the Stealth Force, injuries like this are as common as eating and drinking. Don''t worry too much."

    Kaelith sat down cross-legged on the ground. "How did it happen?"

    At this, Soifon, who had been standing to the side, lowered her head.

    "I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. If it weren''t for me..."

    "It''s not Soifon''s fault," Yoruichi interrupted, sitting back down in the spring and waving her hand dismissively.

    When the conversation returned to serious matters, her expression grew stern.

    "Kaelith, have you ever heard of the Tsunayashiro family?"

    Kaelith thought for a few seconds. "One of the Five Great Noble Families?"

    Before his reincarnation, he hadn''t heard of this family.

    Since coming to this world, however, as his experiences grew, he slowly became aware of several previously unknown families.

    Yoruichi nodded slightly. "Yes, one of the five great noble families, and also one of the real power wielders in the Soul Society."

    "In the Forty-Sixth Chamber, the Tsunayashiro family and their vassals occupy as much as 40% of the seats!"

    "Forty percent?" Kaelith was genuinely surprised.

    In the Soul Society, the Tsunayashiro alone occupied 40% of the seats in the Central 46.

    Did that mean the remaining four families were mere subordinates?

    Yoruichi guessed Kaelith''s thoughts and smiled.

    "The Kuchiki family still holds significant power; they control more than 30%."

    "Centuries ago, the power of the five great noble families was roughly the same... The reason it has become what it is now is quite simple."

    "The heads of the Shibata and Tsunayashiro families are still alive and well."

    "Whereas in my family, the Shih¨­in family, most of the older generation has died off."

    "The younger generation, although talented, is too young to hold much sway."

    "The lesser nobles are experts at wind-veining, siding with whoever wins."

    "Just watch, once I become stronger and more skilled, they will all obediently come back!"

    With that, Yoruichi flashed a wide smile, bending her arm in a power pose.

    Kaelith curiously asked, "Is the Tsunayashiro family that strong? If they are so powerful, why haven''t I seen anyone from their family in the Gotei 13?"

    Yoruichi scoffed, "Because the Tsunayashiro family looks down on such things."

    "Their people have always believed that nobles should be above others."

    "As their patriarch says, we, being from the five great noble families, yet serving as mere enforcers in the Gotei 13, are losing our noble face."

    "Kaelith, don''t underestimate them just because they don''t have a captain."

    "Their waters run deep!"

    Kaelith nodded thoughtfully.

    Yoruichi''s words indeed served as a reminder.

    He had always believed that the power of the Soul Society was concentrated in the Gotei 13.

    Besides the captains, there seemed to be no significant power.

    The so-called nobles were just freeloaders.

    Relying on a system of privilege that extended back a million years, they could dominate over the captains and act high and mighty.

    Now hearing Yoruichi''s words, it seemed there were indeed capable people among the nobility...

    "I''ll remember this."

    "Let''s talk about you first, though. Why suddenly mention the Tsunayashiro? Is it related to your injuries...?"

    Yoruichi explained, "Not long ago, after the prison raid incident, the Captain-Commander ordered us to lead attacks on several of the rebels'' hidden locations."

    "In our surprise assaults, the rebels suffered heavy losses, with three high-ranking officers killed on the spot."

    "But... the fact is, not all their strongholds were under our control."

    "While attacking some locations, the Stealth Force kept others under surveillance."

    "After several safe probes, the rebels finally took the bait and began a large-scale relocation."

    "Once we confirmed their final gathering point, Soifon and I personally went to monitor it, preparing to take action soon to completely eliminate these guys!"

    "Just last night, the two of us were discovered."

    "A few highly skilled individuals tried to encircle and kill us."

    "If it had been other members of the Stealth Force, they might have succeeded... unfortunately for them, they encountered me, Yoruichi Shih¨­in!"

    "Catching up to my speed is not that easy!"

    Yoruichi spoke lightly, but Kaelith could imagine just how dangerous the situation had been. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Under Kaelith''s watchful eye, Yoruichi squinted:

    "While escaping, I took a hit from a ''Pale Fire Crash'' and wounded one of them."

    "From the tear in his night-gown, I saw... the Tsunayashiro family crest!"

 Chapter 92

    "Could it be a setup?"

    After hearing Yoruichi''s explanation, Kaelith''s mind was filled with scenarios straight out of historical dramas.

    One of the most classic tropes being deliberately leaving a loophole to frame someone.

    "I can''t rule out that possibility."

    Yoruichi shrugged.

    "But if their goal was really to frame me, they should have shown a little restraint."

    "Given how hard they went at it, anyone else would''ve been dead several times over by now."

    "And more importantly, I have even more concrete evidence!"

    "What evidence?"

    Yoruichi grinned.

    "A woman''s intuition!"

    SoiFon, who had been listening intently, couldn''t help but twitch her eye.

    Kaelith furrowed his brow. "I see, it''s definitely quite credible."

    "Right?!" Yoruichi nodded enthusiastically.

    SoiFon: "¡­"

    Things were starting to feel a bit off.

    Yoruichi had always been a bit unorthodox, but now with Kaelith joining in, this was getting out of hand.

    With these two together, was the future of the Second Division really in safe hands?

    Looking at the two of them chatting happily, SoiFon couldn''t shake the growing sense of duty in her heart.

    For the sake of the Second Division, she would have to keep a close eye on these two!

    ...

    ...

    "Sensei! My dear Sensei!!"

    In the First Division barracks, Yamamoto sat quietly reading a book.

    Hearing the shout, his face darkened.

    A few seconds later, the paper door slid open¡ª

    "Sensei! I have important intelligence to report!"

    Yamamoto put the book down and turned around, preparing to scold the visitor.

    But upon seeing Kaelith standing in the doorway, he froze for a moment.

    In the past, every time Kaelith came over, he''d been wearing the blue-and-white Shino Academy uniform.

    But today, Kaelith was dressed in the black Shihakusho.

    The sudden change in appearance left Yamamoto feeling a bit unsettled. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As he stood there looking at Kaelith, his mind flashed back to the first time Kyoraku and Ukitake had donned the Shihakusho.

    Come to think of it, they were around the same age as this kid.

    While Yamamoto was lost in thought, Kaelith swiftly moved forward with a smooth step.

    "Sensei, I''ve acquired some important intelligence!"

    "¡­What intelligence?"

    Snapping back to attention, Yamamoto gave Kaelith a wary look.

    This wasn''t the usual way Kaelith addressed him.

    Under Yamamoto''s gaze, Kaelith opened his mouth.

    Then, with a dramatic sigh, he said, "Ah, never mind, I won''t say it after all."

    Yamamoto: "???"

    Seeing Kaelith''s troubled expression, Yamamoto almost couldn''t resist giving him a kick.

    "Idiot, stop mumbling! Spit it out already!"

    Kaelith, looking sorrowful, replied, "I''m afraid if I say it, it''ll cause trouble for you¡­"

    "If you''re not going to say it, then get lost."

    With a grumble, Yamamoto turned to walk away.

    *Whoosh!!*

    Kaelith flashed in front of him, blocking his path.

    With a goofy grin on his face, Kaelith sat Yamamoto down.

    While massaging his shoulders, Kaelith recounted everything he had heard from Yoruichi earlier.

    "Ah, old man, I wasn''t going to mention any of this."

    "Yoruichi said it concerns the five great noble families, and without solid evidence, bringing it up might cause you trouble."

    "But then I thought, the thing you care about the most is the peace and stability of the Soul Society. How could I not tell you about this potential hidden rebellion, full of lowly scoundrels?"

    "With your wisdom and unparalleled skill, would we really be afraid of some noble family?"

    Kaelith said, eagerly waiting for Yamamoto''s response.

    According to Aizen''s words, the reason Yamamoto had gone to such great lengths to elevate him was to deter any nobles who were getting too ambitious.

    If that was the case, now was the perfect opportunity, wasn''t it?

    However, just as Kaelith thought this, Yamamoto suddenly roared, "You fool! What nonsense are you spouting!"

    Kaelith froze, his hand halting mid-motion.

    Yamamoto, with his back turned, shouted at him, "Yoruichi is absolutely right. The Tsunayashiro family is one of the five great noble families!"

    "If we don''t have solid evidence and an order from the Central Forty-Sixth, the Gotei 13 cannot act against them!"

    "Now, get back to bed. You''re about to become a Shinigami. You''ve already put on the uniform, but you''re still lacking some decorum!"

    Without waiting for a response, Yamamoto stood up and walked toward his study.

    Kaelith stared at Yamamoto''s back, grinning.

    "Old man, if you''re not going to help, then I''ll figure it out myself."

    With a satisfied smile, Kaelith patted his Shihakusho, turned, and headed out.

    As he was about to leave the First Division''s gates, a voice suddenly called out to him.

    "Kaelith-sama, wait a moment."

    Kaelith turned, slightly surprised.

    He saw a tall figure standing in the shadow of a building eave.

    "Sasakibe-san?"

    Seeing who it was, Kaelith was taken aback, and then quickly walked over.

    "Is something wrong, Sasakibe-san? You need something?"

    Sasakibe nodded calmly, and with a subtle movement, he placed something into Kaelith''s hands.

    Kaelith instinctively caught it and was about to ask what it was, but Sasakibe had already vanished with a Shunpo.

    Kaelith: "..."

    He paused in confusion for a moment before looking at what he had just received.

    It was a folded piece of paper.

    Opening it, Kaelith''s eyes slowly widened as he read.

    The paper listed several addresses.

    Not only within Seireitei, but also in Rukongai.

    Each address had notes about the family behind it, their security strength, and the level of danger they posed.

    Moreover, each family was labeled with its potential involvement in last night''s events¡­

    After a brief moment of shock, Kaelith quickly folded the paper and tucked it away.

    He glanced back toward the direction he had come from and couldn''t help but grin.

    "I was too loud earlier, not the old man, but the good old man, the really good old man."

    Back in his study, Yamamoto lowered his pen, feeling a strange sensation as if someone had been talking behind his back.

    Hmm, next time I give Kaelith a lesson, I''ll double the intensity.

    ...

    Leaving the First Division barracks, Kaelith made a quick stop at his dorm.

    As expected, Aizen had already left.

    The difference now, however, was that Aizen hadn''t used the corpse-like method of lying still in bed.

    The Kido dummy could only be deceiving on the surface, and once touched, it was easy to expose.

    In the past, Aizen had used it as a makeshift solution, but now that Kaelith was a partner, he could help cover for him. So Aizen didn''t need to resort to such dangerous measures anymore.

    Kaelith shook his two roommates awake.

    They were initially annoyed, but when they saw it was Kaelith, they quickly put on an obedient demeanor.

    In a lowered voice, Kaelith said, "Listen up, Aizen really wants to hear the song of the Rukongai courtesan... We have to go tonight."

    "For his mental and physical well-being, I''ve decided to take him there."

    "And if the instructor comes to check, can you two cover for us?"

    The two roommates exchanged a surprised glance.

    They hadn''t expected the usually quiet Aizen to have such a taste...

    Though they were a little surprised, they agreed without hesitation.

    They had seen their fair share of dorm escapes, and doing this small favor to get in good with Kaelith, a future high-ranking officer in the Gotei 13, was a no-brainer.

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 Chapter 93

    "Hmm? From the Captain-Commander?"

    Soifon''s eyes widened as she stared at the note in her hands, filled with neatly written addresses.

    Kaelith leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and propping up one leg, a smug grin on his face.

    "Exactly. After thorough discussions between me and the Captain-Commander, we devised this plan."

    "All we need to do is hit the locations on this list one by one, and we''re bound to find evidence of the Tsunayashiro family''s collusion with the rebels!"

    "Once that happens, no matter how much influence he has in Central 46 or even as one of the Five Great Noble Families, they''ll have no way out!"

    Hearing this, Soifon''s eyes lit up with determination.

    "In that case, we''ll also find out who ordered the attack on Lady Yoruichi, right?"

    Ever since Yoruichi was injured, Soifon had sworn to uncover the culprit who dared harm her and make them regret ever being born.

    In her excitement, she glanced at Kaelith.

    For someone who had immediately gone to the Captain-Commander to set this plan in motion, it was clear he cared deeply about Yoruichi''s situation.

    Yoruichi squinted at the paper in her hand.

    From the perspective of revenge, targeting the subordinate families of the Tsunayashiro clan was indeed a sound approach.

    But¡­ would this really uncover evidence of their collusion with the rebels?

    If mishandled, it could even backfire.

    The Tsunayashiro family wasn''t foolish.

    In such a sensitive time, having their subordinate families attacked would immediately make them suspicious, linking it to the ongoing conflict.

    With that old fox''s personality, he''d likely hide any evidence even deeper than before.

    Pondering this, she glanced at Kaelith again.

    The list came from the Captain-Commander himself, and that old man wasn''t the type to act impulsively or overlook the bigger picture just to spoil a disciple.

    Which meant that if he instructed Kaelith to do this, he must have had deeper intentions.

    Though she couldn''t fathom what exactly that old man was planning, with two thousand years of wisdom under his belt, he was undoubtedly meticulous.

    Might as well give it a try.

    Slap!

    Yoruichi clapped her thigh. "Alright!"

    "Kaelith, Soifon! Tonight, the three of us will pick one from this list and teach them a lesson they won''t forget!"

    Kaelith nodded. "Excellent."

    Soifon blinked a few times.

    Was it just her imagination, or did these two seem more excited about having fun than carrying out a mission?

    Hopefully, it was just her imagination¡­

    ---

    Late at night, in the aristocratic district of Seireitei, a certain mansion.

    Amid deafening cries and clashing sounds, three figures darted out from the estate.

    Under the cover of darkness, the trio moved swiftly and disappeared into the distance before long.

    Several Shinigami emerged from the courtyard, shouting in frustration as they watched the trio vanish into the night.

    The mansion''s owner, clad in luxurious attire, hurriedly rallied his servants to assess the damages.

    It didn''t take long for the butler to return with the report¡ª

    None of the valuables were stolen, but every letter hidden in the secret compartment of the study, all correspondence with other noble families, was gone.

    The owner''s face turned ashen.

    The next day, another grand mansion in the noble district suffered the same fate, attacked by the same trio of highly skilled intruders.

    As with the previous night, the only thing stolen was the correspondence with other noble families, and nothing else was taken.

    The consecutive thefts of letters had put the entire noble district on high alert.

    Almost every noble family had the same thought:

    "The intruders mean trouble."

    In response, each family quickly increased security, bracing themselves for further attacks. At the same time, correspondence between families was either burned or hidden away in new locations. Despite the nobles'' vigilant preparation for the thieves'' next move, the culprits didn''t appear.

    It wasn''t until the following morning that they learned what had transpired.

    The previous night, in the second district of South Rukongai, the manor of the upper-class noble family, the Tadas, was attacked.

    To prevent the theft of important letters, the head of the Tada family, Tada Koji, had secretly left Seireitei with all his correspondence and taken refuge at the family''s estate in Rukongai.

    However, the thieves had somehow caught wind of his plans and pursued him to Rukongai, successfully stealing every letter he had taken.

    Now, the noble families were in a state of panic.

    Lesser noble families urgently sent pleas for help to the great noble houses.

    Meanwhile, the great noble houses turned to the Five Great Noble Families for assistance.

    The once-peaceful noble district descended into chaos.

    Shinigami messengers darted back and forth between neighborhoods, their figures disappearing and reappearing in bursts of flash steps, seen all throughout the district.

    Finally, on the fourth night, this series of terrifying "attacks" came to an abrupt end.

    Under the cover of night, three thieves infiltrated the estate of a noble family, rummaging through their letters.

    Suddenly, a guard wearing a kasa hat leaped out from a corner of the room. (t/n kasa hats are hats woven with straw.)

    After a brief clash, the three thieves quickly fled the scene.

    When news of this reached the noble district, its residents finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

    ---

    **Seireitei, Noble District**

    A sprawling mansion, comparable in size to a small Town, stood quietly amidst the district.

    Deep within the estate, inside a towering structure, several figures were gathered.

    Each of them wore a kasa hat, with white cloth draped down to conceal their faces.

    Had Kaelith been present, he might have exclaimed in surprise, likening the scene to a gathering of the Akatsuki.

    As the last person arrived, one of them angrily broke the silence:

    "Kaelith! It has to be Kaelith!"

    "Even though we only exchanged a few moves, I am one hundred percent certain¡ªit''s him!"

    His declaration left the others visibly startled.

    "Kamikawa, do you have proof? Did he use his Zanpakut¨­''s abilities?"

    Kamikawa shook his head. "No, but his fighting style is unmistakable. I could recognize it even with my eyes closed!"

    He scoffed, then added coldly, "As for the other two, one of them is undoubtedly Soifon. The other I don''t recognize, but they must also be from the Stealth Force."

    At this, the group exchanged glances, their eyes hidden behind the white cloth, yet filled with a peculiar unease.

    "Kaelith targeting nobles¡­ This sort of thing doesn''t benefit him at all, does it?"

    "Exactly. No matter how you look at it, this doesn''t seem like something he''d orchestrate himself."

    "Could it be¡­ Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"  sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At this suggestion, a chill ran down the group''s spines.

    After a brief discussion, all eyes turned toward the figure seated at the head of the room.

    Like the others, he wore a kasa hat.

    Draped in an elaborate noble''s haori, his presence was imposing.

    In the silence, he spoke slowly:

    "Kaelith, is it?"

    "A mere child from Rukongai, no matter how gifted, would never have the audacity to pull off something like this on his own."

    "It seems Yamamoto has indeed made his move."

    Kamikawa, both alarmed and furious, exclaimed, "How can that be? Wasn''t Yamamoto ordered by Central 46 not to get involved? Why would he act now?"

    Under Kamikawa''s intense gaze, the figure at the head slowly raised a hand and removed his kasa hat.

    An aged yet sharp face emerged, its features exuding a commanding presence.

 Chapter 94

    Upon seeing the old man''s face, everyone lowered their heads in respect.

    The old man removed his bamboo hat and let out a low chuckle.

    "Renzo, there''s no need to worry."

    "Remember, we know what we seek."

    "The Gotei 13 is merely an obstacle we must overcome on our path. It was never our true goal."

    "As for Yamamoto, while he is powerful, he is nothing but a tiger who fears his own strength, one who has pulled out his own fangs."

    "As long as the Central 46 holds power, we need not fear him."

    Hearing this, the group nodded in agreement.

    Indeed, Yamamoto''s obedience to the Central 46 had been proven countless times.

    Any order issued by Central 46, no matter how unreasonable, Yamamoto would always execute without question.

    Such a subservient individual, no matter how powerful, could never be the one to overturn the chessboard.

    At this thought, the group, which had been anxious moments before, began to settle down.

    Under their watchful eyes, the elder in the haori pondered for a moment before continuing:

    "However, Kaelith Yurei is indeed someone who deserves serious attention."

    "Although he comes from the Rukongai, his status as a disciple of the Genryusai family carries influence that rivals that of some noble families."

    "Add to that his inexplicable rate of progress¡­"

    Upon hearing this, the group''s expressions varied.

    In their minds, they instinctively recalled the strength Kaelith Yurei had shown during the Captain''s evaluation.

    Among them, Shinshira Renzosuke and Takeda Tai were particularly affected.

    During the prison raid incident, Kaelith Yurei had fought fiercely with them, yet he was still only at the vice-captain level.

    To their surprise, in such a short time, he had already surpassed the third-tier spiritual pressure and officially reached captain level!

    His rate of progress was simply monstrous.

    Even the term "monster" might not be enough to describe how terrifying this young man was¡­

    But compared to his strength, what was most frightening about Kaelith Yurei was the label of "Genryusai."

    Yamamoto''s two most prized disciples, Ky¨­raku Shunsui and Ukitake J¨±shir¨­, were both from noble families in the Soul Society.

    Their actions had always been constrained by the rules of their families.

    For the sake of their families, neither would ever go too far.

    Kaelith Yurei, on the other hand, was different.

    Having come from the Rukongai, he had no such constraints.

    Rumor had it that, even in school, this boy dared to openly beat a teacher.

    After becoming Yamamoto''s disciple, he continued to provoke Yamamoto''s wrath, causing spiritual pressure to reverberate across the area almost every other day.

    Such a reckless individual, with Yamamoto''s backing, could cause unimaginable trouble!

    And beyond what others feared, the elder in the haori had even deeper concerns.

    Kaelith Yurei had become too close to that girl from the Shih¨­in family.

    If those two were to get involved in any scandal, the influence of the Shih¨­in family would undoubtedly grow.

    At that point, the power structure within Central 46 might shift.

    This was something he absolutely did not want to see.

    After some thought, the elder spoke again:

    "Renzo, Tai."

    "You two have fought against Kaelith Yurei and are more familiar with him."

    "Find a way to make contact with him¡­ and try to win him over."

    "As long as we can manipulate him, it doesn''t matter what the price we might have to pay will be!"

    Upon hearing this, the expression on Shinchira Renzosuke''s face changed.

    Right now, one of his biggest goals was to eliminate Kaelith.

    If Kaelith became one of them, how would he ever have a chance to act?

    He was about to say something when Takada Tai, who had been standing beside him, suddenly pulled him back.

    Shinchira Renzosuke blinked in surprise as he watched Takada Tai shake his head lightly.

    After a few seconds of silence, Shinchira Renzosuke lowered his head and accepted the order.

    Once the meeting ended, everyone quickly disappeared using Flash Step. Takada Tai and Shinchira Renzosuke found a quiet spot.

    Shinchira immediately took off his conical hat, his frustration evident. "Takada, have you forgotten how the others looked at us after Yamamoto''s little brat hurt me?"

    Takada Tai sighed.

    "Trust me, Renzosuke, if you had defied that individual earlier, the consequences would''ve been much worse than just being laughed at."

    Renzosuke froze at his words.

    Takada continued, "Don''t worry, think about it... Kaelith, at this age, having this kind of strength, do you really think he''s the kind of person who can be swayed by external things?"

    "To him, wealth, women, pleasure, status... all probably mean nothing."

    "Only power is his pursuit..."

    "A person like that won''t be manipulated."

    Shinchira''s eyes lit up.

    Takada was right. Although he hated Kaelith Yurei, he had to admit, that kid didn''t seem like the type to be distracted by worldly pleasures!

    ...

    ...

    "Another pot!"

    In Seireitei, District 1 of Rukongai.

    At the high-class entertainment hall "Ky¨­goku-ya."

    Yoruichi raised her empty sake bottle and yelled cheerfully. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soon, a beautiful woman in a kimono walked over with a fresh bottle of sake.

    Yoruichi grabbed the bottle and, with a smile, poured sake into her cup, Kaelith''s, and the cup of the kneeling Soi-Fong beside her.

    Looking at the gently swaying liquid in his small cup, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a bit sentimental.

    In the past, whenever he saw Shunsui Ky¨­raku craving for alcohol, he never understood it.

    Liquor like this was hard to drink.

    Compared to this, sake was definitely easier to handle, but it was merely the lesser of two evils.

    To him, no matter how good the drink was, it didn''t compare to the refreshing taste of a cold, fizzy drink.

    However, after being forcibly dragged into trying the Soul Society''s alcohol, his whole perspective changed.

    The sake from Soul Society didn''t have any strong bitterness.

    The liquid, infused with spiritual energy, carried a unique fragrance.

    As it entered his mouth, the special spiritual energy diffused, creating a wonderfully pleasant flavor.

    When he swallowed it, the sensation was not a burning heat but a mild warmth that spread through his throat.

    It felt more like a drink with a unique taste rather than just alcohol.

    Seeing Kaelith''s expression, Yoruichi grinned.

    "So, how is it? I didn''t lie to you, did I? This is something you''d never taste in the living world!"

    After taking a sip from her cup, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, like a lazy cat.

    "By the way, this place really is something. Even though it''s located in Rukongai, the quality of the alcohol here rivals that of the nobles."

    She glanced around, her curiosity piqued.

    This was her first time visiting a place like this.

    In the past, she either traveled alone, and such places held no interest to her, or she was accompanied by members of the secret mobile force, who would never allow her to visit places like this.

    Thinking about this, a smile spread across her face as she looked at Kaelith.

    "I''m really glad I met this guy."

    Watching Kaelith and Yoruichi enjoy themselves so leisurely, Soi-Fong could no longer stay silent.

    "Lady Yoruichi, as the head of the Shih¨­in clan and captain of the Onmitsukid¨­, how could you come to such a place¡­"

    "And you, Kaelith-sama! How could you agree to this as well?!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith and Yoruichi exchanged a glance.

    Seeing the look in each other''s eyes, both of them grinned.

    Then, they turned to Soi-Fong.

    As they met her gaze, a sudden surge of intense danger rose in Soi-Fong''s heart...

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 Chapter 95

    "What is this?"

    In the private room on the second floor, Soi-Fong looked at the gorgeous kimono on her body, her face turning bright red.

    Yoruichi, while tying her obi, laughed and said, "Don''t worry, I told the store to give us a new outfit that no one has worn before."

    "It''s all very clean!"

    "That''s not the issue!"

    Soi-Fong''s voice was filled with despair.

    After dressing Soi-Fong, Yoruichi circled around her, nodding in satisfaction.

    On Soi-Fong''s petite body, she wore a water-blue kimono adorned with floral patterns.

    From the neckline of the kimono, a glimpse of a white undergarment could be seen.

    Kaelith Yurei, sitting cross-legged across from her, couldn''t help but show a look of admiration.

    He clapped his hands and said, "Yoruichi-san, what''s the name of this girl? I''m very pleased, I''ll choose her for tonight!"

    Yoruichi laughed heartily, "It''s rare for Kaelith-san to be pleased. Soi-Fong is all yours tonight, and please do take good care of our business in the future."

    Kaelith Yurei clapped, "Well said... Soi-Fong, right? Come, pour Kaelith-san some sake first!"

    "Yoruichi-san! Kaelith-san! Please behave yourselves!!"

    After being teased by the two, Soi-Fong couldn''t hold back anymore and exploded.

    ...

    With a black eye, Kaelith Yurei came out of the room holding a bottle of sake.

    Seeing his black Shinigami uniform, several passing geishas smiled and approached him.

    Kaelith Yurei waved them off, refusing their services.

    He took out several senbei-shaped large copper coins and asked them to open another room for him.

    Entering the private room, he closed the door and sat at the table.

    Then, he shook the sake bottle in his hand, making a pleasant "gurgling" sound.

    "Ah, this is truly fine sake, too bad there''s no one to share it with."

    After a few seconds of silence, Kaelith Yurei sighed.

    "Well then, I guess I''ll drink alone."

    "It''s rare for Yoruichi to spend money on the finest sake, some people really don''t appreciate good fortune."

    Saying this, he raised the sake bottle, pretending to pour it into his mouth.

    He paused halfway, his expression a mix of smirk and seriousness as he looked across the table.

    Somehow, a figure was now sitting there.

    Ky¨­raku, wearing his iconic pink patterned happi coat and straw hat, his face showing a helpless expression.

    "Kaelith¡­ you''re really forcing me to make mistakes."

    "The old man from the mountains strictly ordered me not to show my face, and now I''ll have to hear it from him again when I get back."

    As he spoke, his eyes never left the sake bottle in Kaelith''s hand.

    Kaelith Yurei passed the sake bottle a little towards Ky¨­raku. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ky¨­raku''s eyes lit up, and he quickly took a small sake cup, ready to catch the pour.

    But Kaelith Yurei tilted the bottle just a bit, then stopped.

    "Say, Ky¨­raku-senpai, what exactly is the old man plotting?"

    "On one hand, he wants us to cause trouble openly, and on the other, he sends you to follow us secretly¡­"

    "Could it be that the old man is planning to let us attract enough hatred from the nobles for a trap and then strike them when they come at us?"

    Hearing Kaelith Yurei''s words, Ky¨­raku looked at him with a bit of surprise.

    "The old man said before that although you are talented in training, you lacked a bit in analyzing situations."

    "It seems he was wrong."

    "I didn''t expect you to think of that."

    Kaelith Yurei dodged his gaze for a moment, then chuckled, "Of course, the old man has underestimated me more than once." In fact, those weren''t his own thoughts; Aizen had casually analyzed it for him last night after hearing about his actions over the past few days.

    Because he was busy with work, Aizen didn''t talk much with him. After giving a few brief instructions, he left.

    Ky¨­raku stroked his unkempt beard:

    "Since you''ve already guessed, I won''t hide it from you anymore."

    "Kaelith, what do you know about the Tsunayashiro family?"

    Kaelith blinked.

    This Ky¨­raku Shunsui, his opening remarks were just like Yoruichi''s.

    He briefly explained what he knew about the Tsunayashiro family these past few days.

    Ky¨­raku nodded: "What you know is pretty much it."

    "But, there''s one thing you don''t know."

    "From the beginning, old man Yamamoto had determined that the rebels'' backing was indeed the Tsunayashiro family."

    "The head of the Tsunayashiro family, Tsunayashiro Kazuo, was a powerhouse from the same era as old man Yamamoto..."

    "That old man has always had great ambitions."

    "A thousand years ago, when old man Yamamoto first founded the Gotei 13, that old guy said that such a powerful organization should be controlled by the nobility."

    "He used the majority vote of the Central 46 as a reason, demanding old man Yamamoto to step down from the Captain-Commander position and hand it over to him."

    At this point, Ky¨­raku squinted his eyes, his gaze growing somewhat icy.

    "And then?" Kaelith asked curiously.

    "And then... that old guy hit a snag."

    "The original Gotei 13 weren''t like us, so understanding and obedient."

    "Those guys were almost all devotees of old man Yamamoto, gathered around him because they believed in him."

    "When they heard that the Central 46 wanted to replace the Captain-Commander, the original Gotei 13 declared that if the Captain-Commander was changed, they would all leave the Soul Society and start anew..."

    "Hearing this, the Central 46 were so frightened that they immediately rescinded the order, not only allowing old man Yamamoto to retain his position but also bestowing him with a slew of honors."

    "Ah, thinking about that scene back then, I can''t help but get a bit excited too."

    Just like Ky¨­raku, Kaelith imagined the scene of the Gotei 13 collectively disobeying orders to support Yamamoto, and he felt a bit fired up as well.

    Unfortunately, the new era''s Gotei 13 no longer had that kind of fiery spirit.

    Him wanting to see such a scene again, there seemed little hope for that.

    He poured Ky¨­raku a bowl of sake, and Ky¨­raku immediately showed a happy smile.

    With a sip of sake, Ky¨­raku revealed a content expression.

    Smacking his lips, he continued: "Since then, the Tsunayashiro family never allowed their descendants to join the Gotei 13 again, considering it a disgrace."

    "Outwardly, it seemed like their family had completely receded from worldly affairs."

    "But... behind the scenes, that old man never stopped causing trouble."

    "The young lady from the Shih¨­in family, she saw the family crest on the attacker. Tsunayashiro Kazuo, that old guy, knowing this, is likely not to let her go."

    "That''s why old man Yamamoto sent me to stay in the shadows."

    "This time, we''ll definitely catch a few big fish!"

 Chapter 96

    Kaelith Yurei displayed a contemplative look.

    The plan Ky¨­raku described indeed sounded solid.

    Using himself and Yoruichi as bait seemed a bit risky.

    But with Ky¨­raku Shunsui around, there really was no need to worry.

    Despite his usual laid-back, uncle-like demeanor, when Ky¨­raku went all out, his strength was absolutely top-tier among the captains.

    Among the captains, like Muguruma Kensei, Ky¨­raku could handle three at a time while still posing and showing off.

    Kaelith himself was also genuinely captain-level, easily worth a dozen ordinary fighters.

    Although Yoruichi''s raw strength was not as high, her proficiency in Shunpo and concealment techniques allowed her to hold her own against captain-level opponents.

    With such a lineup, what could possibly go wrong?

    Unless the rebels ignored the Gotei 13 altogether and decided to stake everything in a fight to the death with him and Yoruichi.

    If that was all the rebels had up their sleeves, there wouldn''t even need to be a fight¡ªwhy not just form a gang?

    After much consideration, Kaelith concluded that the risk of the plan was within an acceptable range and worth taking.

    Ky¨­raku put down his sake bowl, curiously looking at Kaelith.

    "Speaking of which, Kaelith, what exactly is your strength now?"

    "I pride myself on being well-hidden. No ordinary captain can detect me nearby; how did you know I was here?"

    Kaelith was momentarily startled.

    Then he smiled and said, "Ah... no, I didn''t know for sure you were here, I just thought the old man was acting strangely, so I tried bluffing."

    Ky¨­raku: "???"

    Seeing Kaelith''s smile, he really couldn''t tell if he was serious or just joking.

    With his own strength, Kaelith really shouldn''t have been able to detect him.

    But if it was a bluff, it was an incredibly accurate one.

    Kaelith poured himself another drink, taking a sip.

    In fact, he wasn''t bluffing just now.

    During this time, he had significantly advanced in integrating artificial souls.

    These artificial souls, under the constraint of his spiritual pressure, could form an intangible sphere.

    Within this sphere, he could clearly sense any "foreign object" that didn''t belong to him.

    To put it in a more fantastical way, it was like a domain exclusive to him.

    A domain crafted from soul material, with everything under his control.

    Just now, while Yoruichi was changing Soi-Fong''s clothes, he had turned his back.

    To sneak a peek, Kaelith had expanded his soul domain to encompass Yoruichi and Soi-Fong.

    But before he could enjoy the view, he detected Ky¨­raku Shunsui, who was meditating quietly in the next room.

    Since Yoruichi had previously warned him not to reveal his ability to merge his spiritual pressure with external objects, Kaelith had to come up with a random excuse to muddle through.

    It was a pity that the range he could expand his soul domain was still too small. If it were larger, he could utilize it in combat to devastating effect. (t/n Wait I just thought of this, but isn''t his ability basically matter manipulation! that is very op)

    Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he said to Ky¨­raku:

    "Wait... Senior brother, how far does this protection go?"

    "You''re not also lurking around when I sleep in the dorm, are you?"

    As he asked this, he almost broke out in a cold sweat. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If Ky¨­raku had really come to the dorm in the middle of the night these past few days, he might have discovered that S¨­suke had sneaked out.

    If S¨­suke''s experiments on human subjects were exposed, that could truly spell disaster!

    Ky¨­raku waved his hand: "That sort of thing? Impossible."

    "The Shino Academy is Yamamoto''s absolute no-go zone. Whoever dares to make a move there is declaring a fight to the death with Yamamoto."

    "That''s a consensus in the Soul Society, even if the rebels are mad, they definitely wouldn''t dare touch the academy. So, rest easy, Kaelith, as long as you''re in the academy, you don''t have to worry about being attacked."

    "After all... in the entire Soul Society, one who dares to fight Yamamoto to the death has been born yet."

    He showed a somewhat proud smile.

    "As for Shih¨­in Yoruichi, there''s no need to worry."

    "Every night, I find a rooftop near the Second Division to enjoy the moon."

    "If anything happens over there, I can get there within a minute."

    Hearing this, Kaelith was a bit surprised.

    He had always felt that placing the Shin''¨­ Academy outside of the Soul Society compromised its safety.

    He hadn''t expected there to be such arrangements...

    After chatting for a bit, Kaelith put down the sake jug he was holding, stood up to take his leave, and prepared to go back to the neighboring room.

    Half a day out should have been enough for Soi-Fong''s anger to subside.

    What should he try next time?

    "Ah, right, Kaelith."

    "Although it might not be very useful, since we''re talking about the Tsunayashiro family, I should give you a little heads up."

    As Kaelith turned back to look at him, Ky¨­raku showed a somewhat complex expression.

    "If... you ever encounter someone named Tsunayashiro Shitan, remember this."

    "Have nothing to do with him, just stay far away!"

    Kaelith raised his eyebrows.

    "Tsunayashiro Shitan?"

    "Yep, that guy was a classmate of mine."

    "I''m not one to speak ill of others behind their backs."

    "But just for that guy, if you ask me to say something positive about him, I really can''t think of anything."

    "Oh, it''s not that I can''t think of anything¡­ At least he''s talented."

    "When he graduated from the academy, his strength was certainly not inferior to mine."

    Hearing this, Kaelith was a bit surprised.

    A member of the Tsunayashiro family, a master on par with Ky¨­raku Shunsui?

    He had indeed underestimated the nobility before...

    He nodded, indicating that he had taken note.

    When he returned, Soi-Fong had already changed back into her battle attire.

    With a somewhat regretful mood, Kaelith, accompanied by both girls, left the establishment and returned to Seireitei.

    As the trio walked away, a man dressed in commoner''s clothes and wearing a straw hat, came out from a nearby alley in surprise.

    If there were any members of the Gotei 13 here, they would definitely exclaim in shock.

    This man was none other than the recently defected Captain of the Ninth Division, Takeda Tai!

    Watching Kaelith''s retreating figure, Takeda Tai''s eyes were full of astonishment.

    Just half a day ago, he had just told Shinchira Renzosuke that someone like Kaelith, a warrior, would never indulge in pleasures.

    And yet, in the blink of an eye, he saw Kaelith leaving Ky¨­goku-ya.

    This...

    After a brief moment of shock, he shook his head.

    No, he shouldn''t be so hasty.

    Perhaps Kaelith went to Ky¨­goku-ya''s hall only to investigate something?

    Adjusting the straw hat on his head, he walked into Ky¨­goku-ya.

    He ordered two geishas, took them into a room, and after chatting for a bit, he casually asked about the recently departed Kaelith.

    Speaking of Kaelith, both geishas perked up.

    "That Shinigami sir is quite a character."

    "He came to the pleasure district and actually brought two girls with him~"

    "The three of them rented a private room on the second floor, and then there were laughter, screams¡­ The sounds made even us blush."

    Listening to the geishas'' words, Takeda Tai''s face was a picture of incredulity.

    Kaelith, I really misjudged you!

    I never thought you would be that kind of person!

    ---------------------------

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 Chapter 97

    "I see, I understand now."

    In the dojo behind the Shin''¨­ Academy, Aizen nodded lightly after listening to Kaelith''s account, then his expression turned thoughtful.

    Seeing Aizen''s serious demeanor, Kaelith sighed.

    "There''s no need to worry that much, Shunsui can''t be everywhere. Just time your outings well, and you won''t run into him."

    Aizen shook his head: "I''m not thinking about Ky¨­raku Shunsui."

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, Aizen looked at him calmly.

    "Kaelith, you need to remember a principle."

    "When planning something, never hope that the enemy will act according to your preset plans."

    "Normally, the Tsunayashiro family wouldn''t risk much for the sake of Shih¨­in Yoruichi."

    "But what if there''s something on Yoruichi worth their gamble, something they''d risk everything for?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith was slightly startled.

    Something on Yoruichi worth gambling for?

    What else could someone covet from her besides the Shih¨­in surname?

    In terms of power and position, the current Tsunayashiro family far surpassed the Shih¨­in.

    The position of the head of the Punishment Force?

    To the Tsunayashiro family, that hardly seemed significant.

    Besides...

    Could it be her body, which despite being under a hundred years old, already showed promising potential and was starting to develop?

    In some ways, this indeed was a rare treasure in the Soul Society.

    If that''s truly what the Tsunayashiro family was after, then he would deeply despise them.

    The dirty nobles of the Soul Society, to think they had such perverse desires!

    The thought of such disgusting beings existing in this world made Kaelith feel a profound sense of disgust.

    Watching Kaelith''s changing expressions and his distracted demeanor, Aizen shook his head helplessly.

    He tapped the floor beside him, bringing Kaelith back from his reverie.

    "Do you remember what you said before about the Central 46 seats?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith first blinked, then his eyes widened.

    Seeing that Kaelith seemed to have figured it out, Aizen nodded almost imperceptibly.

    "According to what you said earlier, the Tsunayashiro family already holds about forty percent of the Central 46 seats."

    "If they could somehow control Shih¨­in Yoruichi, they could use that to threaten the Shih¨­in family and gain the support of the seats belonging to the Shih¨­in family."

    "The decrees issued by the Central 46 are winner-takes-all. If the Tsunayashiro family could control more than half the votes, the situation would turn around instantly." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The Gotei 13, which originally had the moral high ground, could even instantly become seen as the rebel side."

    "Of course, this is just a possibility, for your reference."

    "I don''t know much about the nobility, and I''m in a critical phase of my research, so I can''t spare much effort to help you."

    "The only advice I can give you is this."

    At this point, Aizen''s gaze became very serious.

    "If it becomes untenable, withdraw in time."

    "Survive first, then think about what comes next."

    Under his gaze, Kaelith chuckled and gave a thumbs up.

    "Don''t worry, I don''t mean to boast, but when it comes to clinging to life, I''ve always been very conscious."

    Kaelith was not speaking lightly.

    When he first crossed over, knowing that his classmate was S¨­suke Aizen, he was quite frightened for a while.

    For nearly a month, Kaelith spent every day besides training pondering how to survive.

    Although his relationship with Aizen has changed now, he hasn''t forgotten the realization he had at the beginning.

    After a good night''s sleep, Kaelith got up early the next day, washed up, and went to the First Division barracks. After becoming an official disciple, he no longer had classes once a week like before.

    Now he had to attend at least twice.

    Using Yamamoto''s words¡ª"Since you learn fast, you should learn more, knowledge doesn''t burden the body."

    To Kaelith''s surprise, even though his coursework had increased, he didn''t feel any resistance.

    Every time he learned with Yamamoto, feeling himself become gradually stronger gave him a pleasant sense of fulfillment.

    Although the pace of strengthening wasn''t as rapid as the occasional power synchronization from Aizen, it was undoubtedly his own wealth.

    Aizen''s power did not drown out this wealth but instead increased the speed at which he accumulated it.

    Lying back and enjoying the benefits from Aizen was indeed a good choice.

    But Kaelith preferred to use these benefits as a foundation to cultivate a stronger and tougher self!

    In the spacious dojo, Kaelith, holding a bamboo sword, launched a torrential onslaught at Yamamoto.

    Yamamoto remained calm, parrying Kaelith''s attacks one after another.

    After dozens of rounds, he spotted an opening and struck with a sword, hitting Kaelith''s wrist and knocking the bamboo sword from his hand.

    Putting down the bamboo sword, he showed a somewhat peculiar expression.

    After thinking for a moment, Yamamoto also dropped his bamboo sword.

    "Let''s practice hand-to-hand combat next."

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith exclaimed energetically: "Oss!"

    Under Yamamoto''s gaze, he pulled at his chest, removing his upper garment and tying it around his waist.

    When he first crossed over, he had a somewhat slender build.

    Exercising up to now, his body had undergone significant changes.

    Muscles had begun to appear prominently on his body.

    Although young, he already possessed the charm of a man.

    Following protocol, he bowed slightly.

    Then, he stomped on the floor fiercely, instantly appearing in front of Yamamoto, and threw a punch!

    The punch, filled with spirit energy, possessed a destructive power comparable to a cannonball.

    If it hit an ordinary Shinigami, it would instantly create a bloody hole!

    Yamamoto also raised his spirit energy, covering his body, and swung his fist to meet the attack.

    For a time, their figures collided repeatedly in the dojo, with the spirit energy bursts spreading outward, whipping up gusts of wind.

    Continuously throwing punches, Kaelith couldn''t help feeling exhilarated¡ª

    "Ora ora ora ora!!" (t/n I might have never watched Jojo but I got this one ;) )

    He roared, accelerating his punching speed.

    Yamamoto''s forehead broke into a sweat.

    He had said countless times not to make these strange noises while fighting.

    It was not only embarrassing, but it also leaked his energy, affecting his output.

    Just as he was thinking about this, distracted for a moment, he suddenly sensed something.

    Yamamoto quickly regained his focus.

    Unbeknownst to him, Kaelith''s shadow on the ground had already disappeared.

    He made a subtle charging motion and launched a powerful punch at Yamamoto¡ª

    That''s the one!

    Yamamoto''s eyes lit up.

    He roared, and his already muscular arm suddenly grew even larger.

    Accompanied by a brilliant display of spirit energy, Yamamoto threw an even more ferocious punch.

    Boom!!!!

    Outside the dojo, Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe quietly stood there.

    Watching the roof of the dojo that was almost blown off, he silently looked up to the sky.

    The budget for repairing the dojo, it seemed, was going to increase again...

 Chapter 98

    With a forceful push against the ground, Kaelith pulled his head out of the wooden floor. Slowly standing up, his spiritual pressure surged instantly, shaking off the wood shavings from his clothes and hair.

    After doing so, he chuckled, wiped the blood trickling down his forehead, and discreetly smeared it on his clothes.

    "Captain-Commander, that''s all you''ve got."

    Yamamoto ignored his disciple''s delirious comment.

    He frowned slightly, as if pondering something.

    It was only after hearing Kaelith speak that he looked over.

    "Kid, I''ve noticed a problem with you."

    "Is it that my talent is too high, beyond what you can teach?"

    "Next week''s coursework..."

    "I''m sorry, I was wrong!!"

    Watching Kaelith bowing in apology, Yamamoto felt his blood pressure rise a bit.

    He took a deep breath to calm himself, then slowly began:

    "Your swordsmanship has indeed improved rapidly, and every time we spar, I can feel you getting stronger."

    "But... from your sword, I can''t feel any passion for the way of the sword."

    "I''ve lived for over two thousand years, and it''s the first time I''ve encountered such a peculiar situation."

    "A swordsman, if not deeply passionate about the sword, logically shouldn''t be able to progress as you have."

    "In a sense, your talent for swordsmanship is indeed absurdly high."

    Hearing this, Kaelith was slightly stunned.

    "Old man, that''s purely slander. I spend at least an hour practicing swordsmanship every day!"

    In fact, unless he was too busy, he usually practiced more than an hour each day.

    Whether it was for style or coolness, swords greatly surpassed Kido.

    Like a certain gatekeeper, who, despite only moderate strength, managed to display a master''s demeanor through his superb swordsmanship.

    One of Kaelith''s biggest motivations for daily sword practice was to someday, like that gatekeeper, casually swing a sword amidst a light breeze and in the next moment, have his enemies bleeding and falling. (t/n: This isn''t an actual person, it''s a hypothetical person, what he imagines how a swords master would act)

    How could he possibly lack passion?

    Under Kaelith''s defiant gaze, Yamamoto wasted no more words.

    With a thought, two spirit particle "paintings" appeared beside him.

    Both were of Kaelith.

    One depicted him neatly dressed, wielding a bamboo sword.

    The other showed him half-naked, fighting hand-to-hand.

    "This is what you looked like during our fight just now, with no alterations, completely restored."

    "Take a look for yourself and see the difference."

    Curiously, Kaelith leaned in.

    After looking from one to the other, he had an epiphany.

    "When clothed, there''s an elegant beauty; when unclothed, a wild beauty."

    Yamamoto''s eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

    Kaelith bowed in apology.

    Straightening up, he looked again at the two spirit particle images.

    When fighting with the bamboo sword, his expression was focused, like a student taking an exam.

    When using his fists, however, he wore the smile of a villain¡­ cough, a smile full of positive energy.

    Kaelith fell into thought.

    Could it be that he preferred bare-knuckle brawling to sword fighting?

    Impossible, absolutely impossible.

    He, who upheld elegance as a creed and always remembered to be a gentleman in his heart, could not possibly have such a hidden trait!

    After thinking it over, Kaelith felt that his swordsmanship was definitely not strong enough yet. Once his swordsmanship improved and felt more satisfying to use, he would naturally be able to feel more intense emotions.

    Starting today, he would push Aizen to practice his swordsmanship diligently!

    ...

    After leaving the First Division, Kaelith headed to the Second Division with a clear purpose, going straight to the barracks area.

    In the courtyard, a young man with straw-colored, disheveled hair was sitting cross-legged under a large tree, chatting with another person. The one he was talking to was none other than Tessai Tsukabishi, whom he had met once before.

    Upon seeing Kaelith, Kisuke Urahara was momentarily startled.

    Before Kaelith could say anything, Urahara quickly said, "I''m not slacking off, just cooperating with an investigation..."

    Kaelith ignored him.

    Urahara was best known for slacking off; out of ten visits, he would be slacking off during eight of them.

    Kaelith was curious about what Tessai Tsukabishiwas doing in the Second Division. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just as Urahara was about to introduce them, Tessai Tsukabishi had already stood up and bowed slightly to Kaelith.

    "Long time no see, Mr. Kaelith."

    "Eh, you know each other?" Urahara was surprised.

    Tessai nodded, "We''ve met once before."

    After a brief chat, Kaelith understood why these two were together.

    Like Kaelith, Tessai had also recently taken on a new role.

    To better gather information on Kid¨­ from all aspects, Yoruichi had recommended Tessai.

    After some testing, the Kid¨­ Corps were very pleased with Tessai Tsukabishi, directly recruiting him as the third seat of the Kid¨­ Corps.

    Urahara was teaching him some investigative techniques.

    Once Tessai Tsukabishi had established himself in the Kid¨­ Corps, he would start gathering information for Yoruichi.

    Hearing their conversation, Kaelith had an epiphany.

    He had been curious why Tessai Tsukabishi, a servant of the Shih¨­in family, would later become the Grand Kid¨­ Chief.

    Turns out he had infiltrated the position.

    This guy had played a "three years undercover, becoming the gang leader" kind of role...

    Knowing that the two were busy, Kaelith did not want to disturb them.

    Walking on, he reached Yoruichi''s office.

    At the entrance, Soi-Fong stood guard with a serious expression on her face.

    Upon seeing Kaelith, she rested her hand on the hilt of her Zanpakut¨­.

    "Lord Kaelith, please halt! Lady Yoruichi is meeting with an important guest!"

    Surprised, Kaelith glanced at her.

    Usually, Soi-Fong, when receiving secret reports from her subordinates, wouldn''t be so guarded.

    What kind of guest was Yoruichi meeting today?

    Just as he wondered, Yoruichi''s voice came from inside¡ª

    "Has Kaelith arrived? Come in, I was just about to send someone to find you."

    Hearing Yoruichi''s words, Soi-Fong immediately stepped aside, making way for Kaelith.

    Kaelith entered the room.

    He saw Yoruichi dressed in her punitive military uniform, legs crossed, sitting in the higher seat.

    A man wearing a hat and mask stood respectfully below.

    As Soi-Fong closed the door outside, Yoruichi lazily said:

    "Alright, the person you were looking for is here, go ahead and speak."

    The man pulled a letter from his sleeve and respectfully extended it.

    "Lady Shih¨­in Yoruichi, Lord Kaelith."

    "Under the orders of our family head, Kuchiki Ginrei, I kindly ask both of you to visit the Kuchiki family."

    Hearing this, Kaelith and Yoruichi instinctively exchanged glances.

    Both saw a hint of surprise in each other''s eyes.

    The Kuchiki family... Why would they invite both of them?

    Kaelith took the letter, opened it, and saw that it indeed carried Kuchiki Ginrei''s spirit energy.

    After reading the letter, he handed it to Yoruichi.

    While Yoruichi was reading the letter, Kaelith curiously asked, "What does Elder Kuchiki want with us?"

    The man bowed and said, "The family head mentioned that he would disclose everything once both of you arrive."

    ---------------------------

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 Chapter 99

    "Thank you for honoring us with your presence," said the old man gratefully.

    In a study at the Kuchiki residence, Kuchiki Ginrei was seated on a tatami mat, nodding to Kaelith Yurei and Yoruichi in greeting. He wore a Kenseikan and a silver-white floral scarf around his neck. Behind him stood a handsome young man. Like Kuchiki Ginrei, he too wore a Kenseikan. However, the floral scarf around his neck was red.

    Upon seeing this man, Kaelith Yurei raised his eyebrows. Wearing the Kuchiki family''s signature Kenseikan but with a red scarf¡ªundoubtedly, this man was Kuchiki Ginrei''s son-in-law, renowned for his extensive extermination of rebels, a rising star among the spirit beings.

    "Kuchiki K¨­ga!"

    Having been in the Soul Society for so long, this was the first time he had met this infamous Soul Reaper. Instinctively, his gaze drifted to Kuchiki K¨­ga''s waist.

    The Zanpakut¨­, Muramasa... truly a fine blade, and one he was jealous of.

    As Kaelith Yurei observed Kuchiki K¨­ga, the latter also unreservedly returned his gaze.

    A genius of the Central 46, the Captain-Commander''s disciple, and even before officially becoming a Soul Reaper, he had served as an examiner for the captain''s test...

    Various rumors had long made Kuchiki K¨­ga curious about Kaelith Yurei. As a peer among the young elites, he had always wondered how Kaelith Yurei compared to himself.

    Seeing that Kaelith Yurei fearlessly met his gaze, his eyes drawn to his Zanpakut¨­, Kuchiki K¨­ga couldn''t help but be surprised.

    Is this guy... more aggressive than himself?

    Their first meeting, and already he wanted to compete in swordsmanship?

    "Interesting..." It seemed they would get along.

    ---

    As the two "followers" harbored their thoughts, Yoruichi settled down, bowing slightly to Kuchiki Ginrei.

    "Lord Ginrei, you flatter us too much. The Shih¨­in family and the Kuchiki family have been allies for generations. To me, you are like an elder of my own family."

    "Who could refuse an invitation from such an elder?"

    Hearing this, the wrinkles on Kuchiki Ginrei''s face seemed to soften.

    Kaelith Yurei looked at Yoruichi, surprised.

    This crazy girl... she could actually say something so gracious?

    It seemed Yoruichi guessed Kaelith Yurei''s thoughts, giving him a slight, imperceptible glare.

    Kaelith Yurei looked around, then asked curiously, "Where''s Teacher S¨­jun?" (t/n Btw if you forgot he calls him teacher as a meme)

    "Teacher S¨­jun?" Kuchiki Ginrei paused. "Oh, you mean S¨­jun, right?"

    Suddenly using Kuchiki S¨­jun''s full name, Kaelith Yurei felt a bit uncomfortable.

    Kuchiki Ginrei realized this and gently shook his head. "My son is currently in training, so he cannot receive guests."

    Kaelith Yurei narrowed his eyes. That answer was... problematic.

    In movies and TV shows, such a response from Kuchiki Ginrei usually meant something was being concealed.

    "Hmm..." S¨­jun is his son. He probably wouldn''t come to harm.

    Suddenly, a thought flashed through Kaelith Yurei''s mind.

    Could it be that the Kuchiki family was plotting a rebellion, and Teacher S¨­jun had accidentally found out, and tried to inform others, but was discovered?

    To silence him, the cunning old Kuchiki head had imprisoned Teacher S¨­jun in their home, strictly forbidding him from leaving?!

    Thinking this, Kaelith Yurei was shocked.

    The calm-looking old man in front of him... such a villain?

    Watching Kaelith Yurei''s changing expressions, Yoruichi knew her friend was probably thinking something bizarre again. She coughed lightly.

    "Lord Ginrei, you suddenly called us here. Is there something you need?"

    Under her gaze, Kuchiki Ginrei nodded.

    "Not long ago, my son Kuchiki S¨­jun got engaged."

    "Pfft¡ª"

    Just as Kaelith Yurei lifted his cup to drink tea, he spat it all out.

    Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, his eyes widened. "Teacher S¨­jun got engaged? He''s only a few years older than me!"

    Then, as if struck by a thought, he said warily, "Wait, he didn''t fall for a girl from Rukongai and break the family laws, so now he''s imprisoned, did he?"

    Kuchiki Ginrei originally had a very serious expression, as if he was about to announce something significant. But Kaelith Yurei''s remark completely threw him off.

    He looked somewhat astonished and said, "Why would you say that? Did my son do something at school?"

    Kaelith Yurei blinked, then quickly shook his head. "No, nothing at all."

    Kuchiki Ginrei: "¡­"

    Sitting behind Kuchiki Ginrei, Kuchiki K¨­ga gave Kaelith Yurei a somewhat curious look.

    This Kaelith Yurei... seems like an odd one.

    After eyeing Kaelith Yurei suspiciously a few times, Kuchiki Ginrei recomposed himself.

    "¡­S¨­jun''s betrothed is Miss Teien Sakurako from the Teien family."

    Upon hearing this, Yoruichi showed a look of realization.

    "Teien¡­ A high-ranking noble family that has good relations with the Kuchiki family. Marrying their daughter is indeed a wise choice."

    Kuchiki Ginrei shook his head.

    "Actually, there''s been a slight complication with the marriage arrangement."

    "What kind of problem?" Kaelith Yurei raised his eyebrows.

    A good friend getting married, though enviable and frustrating, should not be disrupted by outsiders!

    Kuchiki Ginrei did not answer directly but looked at the two sitting before him.

    After a long silence, he suddenly said, "Lords of the Shih¨­in and Kaelith, it seems that you two have recently had some conflicts with the Tsunayashiro family."

    The two exchanged glances, then nodded together.

    Although Kaelith Yurei had just concocted a grand conspiracy in his mind, in reality, such a conspiracy did not exist.

    With the control over the Central 46 seats held by the Kuchiki and Tsunayashiro families, if they truly allied, they could instantly take control of the Seireitei. Why would there need to be continuous strife like now?

    Seeing their acknowledgment, Kuchiki Ginrei nodded. Then, he slowly began¡ª

    "Last night, while preparations for the wedding at the Teien residence, a fire broke out."

    "In the blaze, the head of the Teien family, Teien Enjiro, died!"

    As he spoke these last words, a cold light flashed in Kuchiki Ginrei''s eyes.

    Yoruichi''s eyes widened.

    Kaelith Yurei looked shocked.

    From what Yoruichi said, the Teien family was a high-ranking noble family. As such nobles, not just the head of the family but even ordinary members would have protection.

    A mere fire shouldn''t be that lethal.  Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Combining this with what Kuchiki Ginrei had mentioned about the Tsunayashiro family¡­

    Sure enough, without waiting for Kuchiki Ginrei to speak, Kuchiki K¨­ga suddenly exclaimed angrily, "It must be the Tsunayashiro''s doing!"

    "Because our Kuchiki family is growing stronger and becoming a threat to them, so they killed Teien!"

    "Father, please let me handle this! I''ll personally take action and kill one¡­ no, two Tsunayashiro!" (t/n: In many cultures, people call their father/mother inlaws as father/mother)

    "If we don''t strike back hard, the nobles who rely on us will surely lose heart!"

    "Please trust me! I will definitely¡­ ugh!!"

    Suddenly, a terrifying spiritual pressure burst forth from Kuchiki Ginrei.

    This spiritual pressure, avoiding Kaelith Yurei and Yoruichi, pressed down harshly on Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga grunted, caught off guard, nearly falling flat on the ground.

    As he looked up in surprise, Kuchiki Ginrei angrily said, "K¨­ga, you are too presumptuous!!"

    ---

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100 baby!!

    ----------------

    "I..."

    Kuchiki K¨­ga pushed himself up with his hands, his eyes wide, showing a look of frustration.

    From the moment he became a Soul Reaper, he had always been seen as a prodigy by his peers. Wherever he went, he garnered admiring looks. Even the Captain-Commander had said he had a promising future.

    The only person who never acknowledged his abilities was his father-in-law.

    No matter what he did or how hard he tried, the response was either criticism or a dismissive nod.

    What had he done wrong?

    After a few seconds of silence under Kuchiki Ginrei''s spiritual pressure, he bowed his head deeply.

    "I am very sorry, Father, I overstepped."

    Seeing Kuchiki K¨­ga admit his fault, Kuchiki Ginrei finally withdrew his spiritual pressure.

    "I apologize for causing embarrassment," he said.

    Kaelith Yurei smacked his lips.

    "That was terrifying, I''m not laughing."

    Thinking about how S¨­jun had grown up in such an environment, he couldn''t help but feel sympathy.

    With such a mentally... ahem, a father whose mental state was concerning, even a life of luxury probably wasn''t a happy one.

    Hearing this, Yoruichi quickly coughed.

    "Idiot, what are you saying!"

    Kaelith Yurei shrugged.

    He looked at Kuchiki Ginrei.

    "Lord Kuchiki, since you called us here and specifically brought up this matter, does it mean that the death of the former head of the Teien family is indeed related to the Tsunayashiro family?"

    Kuchiki Ginrei nodded slightly.

    Under their gaze, he slowly began to explain his investigation results and thoughts.

    After listening, Yoruichi stroked her chin, deep in thought.

    In fact, just as Kuchiki K¨­ga said, there was a very high chance that the Tsunayashiro family was behind this.

    Currently, the Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki families'' conflict over the control of the Central 46 had escalated to the point of sparking fire.

    If, at this time, the Kuchiki and Teien families successfully formed an alliance through marriage, it would undoubtedly be a very positive signal for the undecided middle-ranking nobles.

    S¨­jun was already a standout among the younger generation, and with the support of the Teien family, his position would be even more secure.

    When Kuchiki Ginrei stepped down, S¨­jun would become the undisputed new head of the family, leading the Kuchiki family and the smaller noble families dependent on them into a new era of stability.

    But what about the Tsunayashiro family?

    Among their second generation, not a single one was accomplished.

    Tsunayashiro Senzo, already over two thousand years old, who knows how much longer he could last.

    If the old man were to pass away, the Tsunayashiro family would be headless.

    Compared to the great uncertainty of the future, the current slight advantage of the Tsunayashiro family really wasn''t much.

    After all, all nobles in the Soul Society prioritize stability above all.

    The Kuchiki family, relying on their excellent second generation, had in fact already gained the upper hand.

    But all this was called into question with the death of the head of the Teien family.

    The Teien family, one of the major noble families, had no power to resist the Tsunayashiro''s attack.

    And the Kuchiki family couldn''t even protect their own in-laws.

    Was following the Kuchiki family really the right decision?

    Prospects are good, but if one''s life isn''t safe, what''s the point of prospects?

    Thinking this, Yoruichi couldn''t help but sigh.

    It''s just like the Tsunayashiro family...

    If it were anyone else, doing such a disruptive act would have led to a united front against them, doomed to fail.

    But when facing the Tsunayashiro family, the first reaction of these nobles was to submit.

    That''s the deterrent power of the Tsunayashiro family.

    Or rather, the deterrent power of its head, Tsunayashiro Senzo.

    In the entire Soul Society, probably only Yamamoto Genry¨±sai could confront Tsunayashiro head-on.

    No wonder Kuchiki Ginrei asked Kaelith Yurei to come.

    This old guy, what he really wanted was probably the backing of Captain-Commander Yamamoto behind Yurei.

    Did Yurei realize this?

    Yoruichi turned her head to look at Kaelith.

    And saw that Kaelith Yurei was sitting there, eyes closed, head bowed.

    He had actually fallen asleep!

    Yoruichi''s blood pressure rose. (t/n he loves raising people''s blood pressure)

    She rubbed her hands together, ready to deal someone a fierce blow.

    Meanwhile, Kuchiki Ginrei stood up.

    "Please don''t rush to give me an answer; you have three days to inform me of your decision."

    He glanced at the wall clock and said, "It''s almost lunchtime. Please join me for a meal."

    Kaelith Yurei, who had been dozing off, suddenly lifted his head.

    "Lunch?"

    Yoruichi: "¡­"

    ---

    Led by Kuchiki Ginrei, the group headed towards the main hall.

    Kaelith Yurei yawned, still looking half asleep.

    Yoruichi reached out to pinch him, but he skillfully dodged with a swift movement.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga walked behind, his face filled with gloom.

    He took a deep breath.

    "Sorry, everyone, I have some matters to attend to first. I''ll be back later."

    With that, he bowed slightly and turned to leave.

    Watching Kuchiki K¨­ga''s departing figure, Kaelith Yurei scratched his head.

    After a moment, he said to Yoruichi, "I''m going to the restroom to clear my stomach a bit so I can eat more later."

    Yoruichi: "?"

    Before she could respond, Kaelith Yurei had already disappeared with a flash step.

    ---

    Leaving the courtyard, Kuchiki K¨­ga walked up to a grove of trees.

    "Damn it!"

    He thrust his hand out and struck a tree forcefully.

    Just then, a voice resonated in his heart¡ª

    "K¨­ga, please don''t be upset. Lord Ginrei must have said that to protect you."

    "The Tsunayashiro family is very dangerous. After what they did to the Teien family, they''re surely prepared for retaliation."

    "This is not the time to go..."

    "Are you saying my strength isn''t enough?!"

    Kuchiki K¨­ga roared, cutting off the inner voice.

    He gripped the handle of his sword and drew it swiftly.

    Glaring at his blade, he yelled, "My strength is second to none!"

    "Even if the Tsunayashiro family is prepared, I can wipe them out completely!"

    "Just do it then."

    As soon as Kuchiki K¨­ga finished speaking, he heard a lazy voice above him.

    "?!?"

    He looked up in surprise, jumping aside, and saw a young man in a shihakush¨­ squatting on a tree branch above him.

    The young man''s arms were draped over his knees, looking down at him with a somewhat eerie smile.

    As Kuchiki K¨­ga stared in astonishment, Kaelith Yurei spoke up:

    "If the old man Kuchiki doesn''t believe in you, why don''t you join me instead?"

    "Once we take down a few Tsunayashiros and show him the results, he won''t have anything left to say."

    "If you can bring down a member of the Five Great Noble Families like the Tsunayashiro, how could he not recognize your capabilities?"

    Hearing this, Kuchiki K¨­ga''s eyes widened.

    ---------------------------

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 Chapter 101

    "You, what are you talking about?!" Kuchiki K¨­ga said instinctively.

    Kaelith Yurei was taken aback.

    "Do you have trouble hearing?"

    "Of course not!" Kuchiki K¨­ga responded, both shocked and angry.

    Had this guy overheard his complaint about his father-in-law?

    And what kind of attitude was this towards him, a son-in-law of the Kuchiki family? Was this how a commoner should act towards one of the Five Great Noble Families?

    But then, recalling what Kaelith Yurei had just proposed, he couldn''t help but feel a sudden surge of excitement.

    His father had asked for his help; if they really decided to collaborate, he would surely be one of the planners.  Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just a nod from him would greatly increase his own chances of involvement!

    Thinking this, a fervor appeared in Kuchiki K¨­ga''s eyes.

    "Are you really willing to include me?"

    He couldn''t help but ask.

    Although he hadn''t been a noble for long, he had learned a bit about the conflicts of interest among the nobility.

    Like today, Kuchiki Ginrei asking for help was actually an act of indebting himself.

    At such times, Kaelith Yurei and Shih¨­in Yoruichi would surely try to increase their own leverage to gain the maximum benefit and share from the situation.

    Without a doubt, he would be relegated to a peripheral role, hardly involved in the core of the plan.

    That''s why he had been so eager to volunteer earlier.

    And yet he had been scolded for it.

    Kaelith Yurei nodded and said, "Of course, why not?

    "You clearly have the strength and sufficient loyalty to the Kuchiki family; it would be strange not to use it.

    "How many captain-level fighters are there in the entire Soul Society? Someone like you, undefeated since your debut, is quite rare.

    "Not making use of you would be a waste of resources."

    Hearing Kaelith Yurei''s words, Kuchiki K¨­ga imperceptibly puffed out his chest.

    This guy, although annoying in tone, still made some sense.

    Unexpectedly, compared to his father-in-law, it was a youngster who understood him better...

    Looking at Kaelith Yurei squatting on the tree branch, he nodded.

    "Thank you."

    "Hey, no need for thanks. We''re both sons-in-law; we should help each other out."

    Kaelith Yurei waved his hand and flashed a grin.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga was taken aback.

    Both sons-in-law?

    Realizing what that meant, he was shocked.

    "You and the Shih¨­in..."

    "Shush, shush, this is still a secret. It can''t be known by others yet."

    Kaelith Yurei raised his index finger, stopping Kuchiki K¨­ga''s words.

    "Not even old man Kuchiki knows about this yet."

    Kuchiki K¨­ga quickly nodded.

    Indeed, the Captain-Commander''s apprentice and the head of the Shih¨­in family getting married would be big news in the Soul Society.

    Then, he couldn''t help but wonder.

    This guy, why would he reveal such an important secret to him?

    Seeing what he was thinking, Kaelith Yurei jumped down from the tree and stood in front of him.

    Under Kuchiki K¨­ga''s gaze, Kaelith Yurei said solemnly:

    "The rebellion has lasted too long.

    "Countless people have lost their homes and loved ones because of this war.

    "This shouldn''t continue any longer.

    "Captain Yamamoto once told me, the Soul Society needs someone to step forward to help end this war.

    "And you, Kuchiki K¨­ga, are one of the best candidates in his eyes!"

    Hearing this, Kuchiki K¨­ga''s eyes widened.

    "The Captain-Commander said that?!" His face flushed for a moment.

    He hadn''t expected that the Captain-Commander would see him in such a light!

    Kaelith Yurei nodded.

    "That''s right."

    "Lord Kuchiki, in you, I see relentless passion and a burning sense of justice," said Kaelith Yurei.

    "I was somewhat skeptical when my teacher mentioned it, but after today''s interaction, I''m starting to believe it.

    "So, please rest assured, if we can achieve cooperation, I will definitely recommend you."

    Kuchiki K¨­ga''s breathing became a bit rapid.

    Looking at Kaelith Yurei, he couldn''t help but show a grateful expression.

    "Thank you, Lord Kaelith... Thank you for your trust!

    "Please tell the Captain-Commander that I will not fail his expectations!"

    Kaelith Yurei smiled and nodded.

    Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked towards the sword at Kuchiki K¨­ga''s waist.

    "By the way, Lord Kuchiki, I remember teacher saying that your sword can awaken the consciousness of other people''s Zanpakut¨­?"

    Hearing Kaelith Yurei''s sudden shift in topic, Kuchiki K¨­ga paused, then nodded.

    "Exactly."

    He lifted his Zanpakut¨­.

    "My sword, named Muramasa, can awaken the consciousness in other people''s Zanpakut¨­ and amplify their emotions!

    "A Zanpakut¨­ and its wielder are like comrades-in-arms on the same side.

    "Even if they are close on normal days, there will always be some friction, forming grievances in their hearts.

    "Normally, these grievances don''t affect anything. Not just for Soul Reapers and their Zanpakut¨­, but also between lovers, parents, and children¡ªit''s impossible not to have any dissatisfaction after long periods together.

    "But... Muramasa can amplify these emotions by infinitely magnifying the Zanpakut¨­''s grievances, causing them to harbor resentment towards their master.

    "As the resentment grows, the Zanpakut¨­ might even turn against its wielder on the battlefield and attack them!"

    Kuchiki K¨­ga spoke fluently, explaining the abilities of his Zanpakut¨­.

    To him, since Kaelith Yurei was Yamamoto''s disciple, such information would be easy to come by, and there was no need to hide it.

    Furthermore, since he recognized him as a friend and Kaelith Yurei had shown such approval, it would be too despicable to keep secrets from him.

    Hearing Kuchiki K¨­ga''s explanation, Kaelith Yurei looked eager.

    "Then, Lord Kuchiki, could you try using that ability on me?"

    "¡­Eh?"

    Kuchiki K¨­ga showed a puzzled expression.

    He hesitated.

    "Lord Kaelith, I was very clear... My ability causes Zanpakut¨­ to generate resentment towards their master, which is uncontrollable and irreversible.

    "If your sword really gets affected, you''ll have to persuade it yourself to recognize you again.

    "It''s very dangerous to do this at such a crucial time. What if it causes you to lose your combat ability?"

    Kaelith Yurei shook his head indifferently.

    "No worries, go ahead. Even if I temporarily can''t use my sword, it won''t affect me."

    Hearing this, Kuchiki K¨­ga, though somewhat baffled, nodded his head.

    To prevent the release of their Zanpakut¨­ from being detected and violating the laws of the Soul Society, the two used Kido to set up a barrier that isolated their spiritual pressure.

    With Kaelith Yurei watching intently, Kuchiki K¨­ga''s expression became serious as he raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    "Be careful, Lord Kaelith, I''m starting."

    As he spoke, his spiritual pressure began to rise.

    "Whisper, Muramasa!"

    ----------------------------

 Chapter 102

    "Whisper, Muramasa!"

    As Kuchiki K¨­ga invoked the release command, the air around them began to stir, swirling upward around the two.

    In the howling storm of spirit particles, a figure appeared as if summoned, spreading his arms and emerging from Kuchiki K¨­ga''s sword.

    This was a long-haired man, dressed in a white robe with purple stripes and a fluffy collar around the neckline.

    His face was adorned with thick purple eyeshadow, and his fingernails were several centimeters long.

    Looking at this man, Kaelith Yurei couldn''t help but muse.

    "Prying off this guy''s nails would surely be a stress reliever."

    The man with eyeshadow slowly opened his eyes and looked towards Kaelith Yurei.

    He had heard their entire conversation, so there was no need for further explanation.

    "Lord Kaelith, please let your guard down completely. I will enter your soul world and communicate directly with your Zanpakut¨­," Muramasa said, placing one hand over his chest and bowing slightly to Kaelith Yurei.

    Kaelith Yurei was about to nod, but then he suddenly realized something.

    He frowned slightly.

    "If you enter my soul world, you won''t be able to access my memories, will you?"

    Muramasa nodded.

    "If I use the power of Bankai, indeed I could do that."

    Just as he spoke, he looked surprised.

    As a Zanpakut¨­ specializing in souls, he could directly see the strength of a person''s mental defenses.

    When he first appeared, Kaelith Yurei''s mental defenses were at the level of a normal person; even without permission, Muramasa could have intruded with little effort.

    But now, Kaelith Yurei''s inner defenses had suddenly strengthened to an almost maniacal level.

    To compare, Kaelith Yurei''s earlier mental defenses were like an ordinary wooden door.

    Now, they were like a towering, thick city wall!

    In Muramasa''s vision, it seemed an additional layer of soul power had appeared within Kaelith Yurei''s soul.

    This layer of soul power, like armor, tightly sealed his psyche.

    Then, Muramasa suddenly realized just how advanced Kaelith Yurei''s soul defense was.

    He knew of Kido which could seal the mind, usually with significant side effects.

    Sealing the mind would slow down the user''s movements, and with increasing levels of closure, it might even render them immobile.

    In contrast, Kaelith Yurei''s mind defense formed instantaneously, flawlessly, and crucially, without seeming to affect his mobility at all...

    "Could it be that his Zanpakut¨­ also possessed abilities related to the soul?"

    As Muramasa marveled, Kaelith Yurei furrowed his brows, seeming hesitant.

    Finally, he shook his head.

    "Sorry, Lord Kuchiki, I didn''t mean to disturb you. Let''s forget I mentioned invoking the Zanpakut¨­."

    The possibility of his memories being probed, however slight, was a risk he was unwilling to take.

    His memories contained too many dangerous elements.

    Time-travelers, the binding system, the future betrayal of Aizen, and all those Shinigami mangas he had seen...

    "Cough, scratch the last one."

    Any of these exposures could bring immense calamity.

    Especially information about Aizen.

    Even if Kuchiki K¨­ga gained that memory and told Yamamoto or Kuchiki Ginrei, it would likely be dismissed as madness, but Kaelith Yurei was not willing to take the risk.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga looked surprised.

    He hadn''t expected such a strong reaction from Kaelith Yurei.

    Muramasa also explained, "Lord Kaelith, please rest assured, in Shikai state, I don''t possess such powerful abilities."

    "No need."

    Kaelith Yurei shook his head again.

    Seeing how firm he was, Muramasa looked at Kuchiki K¨­ga. Upon receiving confirmation from his master, he bowed to Kaelith Yurei and returned to the Zanpakut¨­.

    After opening the spiritual pressure barrier, Kaelith Yurei and Kuchiki K¨­ga exchanged greetings and parted ways.

    Watching Kaelith Yurei''s retreating figure, Kuchiki K¨­ga remained silent for a long time.

    Choosing a random direction, Kaelith Yurei ran several hundred meters before he finally relaxed.

    Originally, in his mind, Muramasa''s ability was to awaken Zanpakut¨­, pull out their physical forms, and turn them against their owners.

    But just as he was about to let down his guard and accept Muramasa''s influence, he suddenly remembered something.

    In the plot, Muramasa''s goal in targeting Yamamoto wasn''t to turn Ry¨±jin Jakka against him.

    His real purpose was to extract from Yamamoto''s memories the location of Kuchiki K¨­ga''s seal to free him.

    Recalling that moment, he felt a chill down his spine.

    "Thankfully, he remembered in time, or the consequences would have been unimaginable."

    While pondering, he stopped walking.

    "Where was he now?"

    The Kuchiki estate was vast, with its complex architecture making it easy to get lost without familiarity with the routes.

    Thinking it over, Kaelith Yurei released his spiritual particles to sense his surroundings, stepping onto a spiritual particle platform to fly into the air.

    If he got high enough, navigating this maze would be no problem.

    But before he took off, he suddenly paused.

    His spiritual particle sense detected Kuchiki S¨­jun''s spiritual pressure.

    After a moment of surprise, Kaelith Yurei showed a pleased expression.

    It had been a long time since he last saw his friend Kuchiki S¨­jun, who had been forcefully taken back by his family.

    With eager anticipation, Kaelith Yurei used Shunpo to head in the direction of S¨­jun.

    **Swoosh!**

    Reappearing, Kaelith found himself in a small courtyard.

    He hid behind a large tree, peering out slightly.

    He saw Kuchiki S¨­jun in a white single robe, holding a sword, meticulously practicing his sword techniques.

    Each swing stirred the surrounding spiritual particles.

    Watching S¨­jun''s swordplay, Kaelith nodded almost imperceptibly.

    "Truly, Teacher S¨­jun''s talent was not inferior to his own. These moves already bore the marks of a master."

    He smiled and stepped out from behind the tree.

    "Yo, S¨­..."

    Before he could finish, Kaelith saw Kuchiki S¨­jun''s spiritual pressure suddenly explode with ferocity, rushing towards him!

    The sword in his hand traced a silver arc, swinging fiercely at him!

    Mid-swing, upon recognizing Kaelith, S¨­jun hesitated.

    The wild, beast-like look in his eyes turned to panic.

    He tried desperately to stop his sword, but a swing already in motion was not so easily halted.

    As for shouting a warning... in the time it would take to speak, Kaelith Yurei could have been struck dead eight times over.

    Just as he became anxious, he saw that Kaelith Yurei didn''t move, merely raising a finger to block the blade.

    **Clang!!!**

    Under S¨­jun''s astonished gaze, his sword struck Kaelith''s finger but did not cut through.

    Kaelith Yurei''s finger, as if protected by an absolute defense, casually blocked the strike.

    Then, the first two joints of his finger slowly bent, resting on the blade of the Zanpakut¨­.

    "Yo, Teacher S¨­, long time no see."

    Maintaining his finger-blocking pose, Kaelith Yurei grinned broadly. (T/N HE DID THE THING)

    ----------------------------------

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 Chapter 103

    "How is that possible?" Kuchiki S¨­jun couldn''t hide his astonishment as he watched Kaelith Yurei block his sword strike with just a finger.

    Kaelith gently pushed away his sword.

    "Hey, no need to be that surprised.

    "Your swordsmanship is indeed strong, but you pulled back at the last moment.

    "After all, I am a third-class spiritual power; blocking a strike like that isn''t so strange."

    Hearing this, Kuchiki S¨­jun was even more shocked.

    "What? Third-class spiritual power?"

    His eyes widened, as if he was questioning whether he was dreaming.

    Seeing his reaction, Kaelith Yurei asked curiously, "How long has it been... Haven''t you received any news?"

    His display of third-class spiritual power occurred during the captain''s examination ceremony of Rokuj¨­ Kensei.

    Such big news should have reached everyone, not just the Kuchiki family, but even ordinary Soul Reapers should have heard about it by now.

    Upon hearing this, S¨­jun instinctively responded, "I haven''t received any outside news for a long time... Lately, every day has been filled with training and battles, and no one has mentioned this to me..."

    Suddenly, he came back to his senses.

    "Wait, never mind that for now, Yurei, you have a third-class spiritual power now?!"

    Third-class¡ªthat''s captain level!

    "I''ve only been isolated for training for a few months, right? Could it be that I''ve completely lost track of time and it''s been decades outside?"

    Kaelith chuckled.

    "So, aren''t you tempted to worship your brother now?"

    S¨­jun: "¡­"

    With so much information coming from Yurei''s sudden appearance, he didn''t know what to say.

    Seeing him like this, Kaelith patted his shoulder.

    "Relax, no rush, we have plenty of time.

    "Come, sit down and talk. First, tell me how you''ve been."

    Saying this, Kaelith casually sat down on the grass.

    His posture was not formal; he simply sat down with one leg tucked in and the other stretched out, looking very relaxed.

    Seeing his demeanor, Kuchiki S¨­jun paused for a few seconds, then smiled.

    This guy, although it''s been a long time, he''s still the same as before.

    Seeing Kaelith so leisurely, he couldn''t help but relax as well.

    With a determined heart, S¨­jun also cast aside any noble demeanor and sat down on the ground like Kaelith.

    Under the latter''s gaze, he shared what had been happening to him.

    In truth, there wasn''t much to tell.

    Since returning to the Kuchiki family, Kuchiki Ginrei had started intensive training for him.

    During training, Kuchiki Ginrei personally taught him combat techniques.

    Then, it was time for independent practice.

    Throughout this process, Kuchiki Ginrei often sent the best fighters in their squad to launch surprise attacks on S¨­jun.

    Under his strict orders, these officials were particularly ruthless. Initially, S¨­jun, being too nice, held back and ended up bedridden from the beatings.

    Over time, S¨­jun, the perennial good guy, was pushed to his limits.

    Like the strike he just aimed at Kaelith Yurei, he had started to retaliate fiercely against every sneak attack.

    Each victory meant that the next attack would be stronger, forcing him to fight harder.

    Hearing S¨­jun''s story, Kaelith was astounded.

    "That''s really harsh.

    Luckily, old man Yamamoto wasn''t that ruthless, or would I ever have good days again?"

    Seemingly guessing Yurei''s thoughts, S¨­jun smiled.

    "Yurei, don''t think father is being too harsh.

    "As the heir to the Kuchiki family and the next head, I must grow.

    "If I can''t stand on my own, the Kuchiki family''s legacy of a million years could be destroyed in my hands."

    He remarked somewhat emotionally, "As you know, I was born frail, and if given the choice, my father would have preferred that I not become a Soul Reaper and simply lead a normal life.

    "Unfortunately, my generation has few members, and besides me, there is no one else in the family who can inherit the headship.

    "Whenever I think about this, I can''t help feeling anxious, afraid that I''ll let everyone down...

    "Therefore, the harsh training from my father actually gives me some comfort because, at least, I know I''m constantly striving."

    As he spoke, he suddenly looked at Kaelith with a complex expression.

    "After all the effort, it turns out I still can''t catch up to your rate of becoming stronger..."

    Kaelith scratched his head and laughed heartily.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun had said so much, yet he hadn''t really caught the latter half.

    Hearing about the ''million-year-old legacy,'' he couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed.

    The world of Soul Reapers really was absurd.

    Before he had crossed over, he had thought that the history of the Soul Society was only a few thousand years old.

    Little had he expected that a million years ago, the five great noble families were already serving the Soul King.

    This setting truly shattered his worldview.

    After Kuchiki S¨­jun finished speaking, he also shared his own experiences of recent times.

    Listening to Yurei''s story, S¨­jun''s eyes widened, listening intently.

    Prison attacks, graduation ceremonies, captaincy exams...  S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing about Yurei''s fierce battles, S¨­jun couldn''t help but clench his fists, his gaze tense.

    Hearing that Kaelith was unharmed, he relaxed, showing a relieved expression.

    His empathy was strong.

    After hearing Yurei''s story, S¨­jun was somewhat excited.

    "Yurei, you''ve really become extraordinary... That''s wonderful!"

    Kaelith slightly tilted his head back, showing a proud smile.

    "Oh, keep praising me, just a bit more!"

    ---

    As they were chatting, Kaelith suddenly raised his eyebrows.

    He sensed a well-hidden spiritual pressure approaching the courtyard.

    No doubt, it must be the attacker S¨­jun mentioned, sent by his father.

    As the spiritual pressure grew closer, S¨­jun also sensed something.

    He stood up, placing his hand on the blade of his Zanpakut¨­.

    "Yurei, step back a bit."

    Kaelith Yurei nodded and, with a flash, moved to the edge of the courtyard.

    Then, he saw a Soul Reaper appear in the courtyard using Shunpo.

    Seeing Kuchiki S¨­jun, the Soul Reaper didn''t waste words and charged with his sword drawn.

    Instantly, Kaelith gauged the opponent''s strength.

    A high-ranking officer, with spiritual might between level seven and six.

    Nowadays, as all divisions are short-staffed, an officer of this level could barely be promoted to vice-captain.

    Faced with the attack, S¨­jun''s expression didn''t change.

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­, attacking like a tiger breaking free from its cage, rushing forward immediately.

    In a moment, the flashing blade and surging spiritual pressure filled the courtyard with a cold, steely aura.

    Watching for a while, Kaelith was somewhat surprised.

    "Old man Kuchiki''s special training really did something.

    The spiritual pressure of Teacher S¨­, already approaching a seventh rank.

    A proper high-ranking officer!

    Combined with the mysterious and unpredictable Kuchiki family swordsmanship, dealing with an officer of level six or seven was really not an issue."

    ---

    Sure enough, in less than a minute, Kuchiki S¨­jun had overwhelmed his opponent.

    Swinging his Zanpakut¨­, he appeared behind the officer in a flash.

    Blood spurted from the officer''s body!

    Kaelith stood up, clapping his hands.

    He was about to go over and heal the officer when he saw Kuchiki S¨­jun, standing there, suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood.

    Kaelith: "?"

    As he watched in astonishment, Kuchiki S¨­jun spat out blood again and then collapsed to the ground.

 Chapter 104

    "Hey, Teacher S¨­?"

    Kaelith Yurei appeared next to Kuchiki S¨­jun in a flash step, his expression filled with surprise.

    He extended his hand, using a rudimentary healing Kido he had learned from Aizen, though it was far from refined.

    A green glow emanated from his palm, enveloping S¨­jun.

    At the same time, he was about to raise his spiritual pressure to call for help.

    "Cough, cough, Yurei, no need to call anyone," S¨­jun quickly reached out and tugged at him as he felt the sudden increase in Yurei''s spiritual pressure.

    Under Yurei''s puzzled gaze, he managed a wry smile.

    "This condition of mine has always been there; it''s nothing serious."

    He sat up and explained his condition once again.

    After hearing S¨­jun''s explanation, Kaelith''s face showed realization.

    From a young age, Kuchiki S¨­jun was frail.

    If the training intensity was slightly higher, his body would not hold up. Coughing blood and fever were minor issues, and in severe cases, he could even fall into a prolonged coma.

    To avoid worse situations, Kuchiki Ginrei had always limited his training regimen.

    All training that was too physically demanding was prohibited.

    Kaelith recalled that during the half-year at the Academy, Kuchiki S¨­jun indeed rarely engaged in physical training.

    During sparring sessions, S¨­jun would make a few moves and then rest on the side.

    At the time, he thought it was a rule of the Kuchiki family, that they were only allowed to learn elegant moves and not to engage recklessly with others.

    He never expected it to be for this reason...

    He wondered if the Hell''s Spring could cure congenital deficiencies.

    If not, there was always Kisuke Urahara.

    With Urahara''s genius, curing someone shouldn''t be too difficult, right?

    And if even Urahara couldn''t solve it...

    Kaelith Yurei suddenly envisioned a semi-transparent crystal in his mind.

    The next second, he shook his head vigorously, discarding the thought.

    The H¨­gyoku was too dangerous.

    It was merely an item, yet it had its own will.

    Only someone with a grand vision and a big heart like Aizen would dare use such a thing to seek breakthroughs.

    He wouldn''t rely on something like that!

    Snapping back to reality, he looked at S¨­jun.

    "Teacher S¨­, I think your father is right.

    "If fighting isn''t suitable for you, then just don''t fight.

    "It''s like me; I can''t seem to focus on reading, so I just don''t read!"

    S¨­jun couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Don''t give up on yourself, you still need to read!"

    He shook his head.

    "I can''t back down. I am the only direct heir of the Kuchiki family. No matter what, I must become stronger, to relieve my father of his worries, and to bring honor to our family!"

    Kaelith scratched his head.

    Then, an idea struck him.

    "I''ve got an idea."

    Under Kuchiki S¨­jun''s watchful eyes, he raised a finger.

    "Teacher S¨­, the reason you must strive so hard is that you are the heir and no one can replace you.

    "If so, why not have a child now? Then there would be a direct grandchild for the Kuchiki family.

    "Perfect, isn''t that... what''s her name... from the backyard family about to marry you? Try hard to make her pregnant this year, and have the child by next year!

    "With your father''s robust health, he''ll live long enough for your son to grow up.

    "By then, let your father pass the headship directly to your son, and you''ll be all set, right?"

    Hearing Kaelith Yurei''s words, S¨­jun was initially baffled, thinking it was ridiculous.

    But the more he thought about it, the more astonished he looked.

    ...Actually, Kaelith''s suggestion wasn''t a bad idea at all.

    "The problem is, will my child definitely turn out well?" Kuchiki S¨­jun looked worried.

    "What if, like me, he turns out to be of no use?"

    Kaelith laughed.

    "Don''t worry about that. I can guarantee with the Captain-Commander''s arm, your son will definitely be a genius!"

    Kuchiki S¨­jun was baffled.

    His own son¡ªhe himself lacked confidence, so where did Kaelith find such certainty?

    The most outrageous part was that Kaelith spoke with such conviction, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

    Watching Kaelith''s demeanor, he couldn''t help but laugh and shake his head.

    He truly was an odd character.

    If only he could have half... no, even a tenth of his confidence.

    Just as Kaelith was about to say something more, a voice suddenly thundered in his ears:

    "Kaelith Yurei! You idiot! Are you going to be in the restroom until tomorrow?"

    Hearing Yoruichi''s shout, Kaelith snapped back to reality.

    Goodness, he had said he was going to the restroom, and it had already been half an hour.

    He looked in the direction of Yoruichi''s voice.  S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That crazy girl, actually using spiritual pressure to amplify her voice, broadcasting it across the entire Kuchiki estate.

    For someone with social anxiety like himself, this was embarrassingly too much.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun chuckled.

    "That must be the head of the Shih¨­in family. It seems you two have a very good relationship."

    "Yeah, in many ways."

    Kaelith nodded.

    "Alright, since I''ve been caught slacking, I better head back now.

    "I''ll keep an eye out for treatment methods during this time, and you take care not to overexert yourself!

    "Eat well, sleep well!

    "And really think about the kid''s situation. Trust me, my great-nephew is truly talented!"

    Listening to Kaelith''s series of admonitions, Kuchiki S¨­jun smiled patiently, nodding non-stop.

    ---

    Leaving the Kuchiki estate, Kaelith rubbed his stomach and let out a comfortable sigh.

    "Ah, that was satisfying... No wonder the Kuchiki estate is known for its cuisine. I should come more often."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi displayed a displeased expression.

    "We have great food at the Shih¨­in estate too. Come to my place tomorrow, and I''ll show you what a real feast looks like!"

    Kaelith''s eyes lit up.

    The two walked to a junction and then parted ways.

    Yoruichi needed to inform the family elders about the day''s events and discuss their response.

    Kaelith headed towards the First Division.

    Just as he was approaching the First Division, he suddenly stopped in surprise.

    In front of a large billboard, Aizen stood there, pondering.

    "S¨­suke?"

    Kaelith approached.

    Hearing his voice, Aizen turned and looked.

    Then, without waiting for Kaelith to ask, he pointed at the sign in front of him.

    "I came to check out the recruitment slogans for the divisions."

    Kaelith looked up at the billboard.

    Seeing the date, he showed a somewhat surprised expression.

    It was quite a coincidence that several of them graduated early.

    A batch of sixth-year students was spending their last half-year interning in various divisions.

    He and Aizen just happened to catch this wave of "newcomers."

    In a sense, this saved them a lot of trouble.

    Suddenly, Kaelith remembered something.

    As Aizen earnestly studied the recruitment standards of the divisions, Kaelith suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

    "S¨­suke, please help me!"

    Aizen: "¡­"

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 Chapter 105

    In a secluded corner, after activating a sound barrier, Kaelith Yurei shared with Aizen the details of his visit to the Kuchiki estate. After laying everything out, he gave Aizen a look of eager anticipation, grinning sycophantically.

    "So, S¨­suke, tell me, what should I do next?"

    "Now that I have the backing of both the Kuchiki and the Shih¨­in families, shouldn''t dealing with the Tsunayashiro family be as simple as pushing them over?"

    Aizen''s eyebrow twitched at Kaelith''s statement.

    "...The laws of the Soul Society have been set in stone for a million years," Aizen responded dryly. "No matter how ugly the infighting gets, there would never be a direct confrontation like that. And even if you were allied with not just two, but all the other four great houses, they would never agree to a direct attack on the Tsunayashiro."

    Kaelith''s face scrunched up in annoyance.

    "That''s why I say nobles are stupid.

    "S¨­suke, you need to get stronger and knock all these nobles down a peg. Then, the men can go work in your lab, and the women..." He paused, smirking. "Well, they can come with me!"

    Aizen took a deep breath, trying to keep his blood pressure from rising. Ignoring Kaelith''s absurd remarks, he fell into thought. After a moment, he nodded.

    "I''ve got it.

    "After you meet with the Captain-Commander, here''s what you should say..."

    ---

    "Teacher! Old man! Captain-Commander, sir!"

    Hearing this boisterous shout, the division''s Chief, Jir¨­ Ch¨­bei, raised his hand to his forehead in resignation.

    Holding a watering can, he straightened up and looked toward the direction from which Kaelith Yurei was approaching.

    "Lord Kaelith, no shouting in the First Division barracks!" he said sternly.

    Kaelith managed an "Oh," and clamped his mouth shut.

    Then, lowering his voice, he whispered cautiously, "I have sensitive information... please notify the old man quickly..."

    Watching Kaelith act as if he were in a clandestine meeting, Ch¨­bei felt his anxiety rise.

    ---

    Inside Captain-Commander Yamamoto''s office, the old man was reading a book. Upon seeing Kaelith, he spoke irritably, "What''s the commotion now?"

    Under Yamamoto''s gaze, Kaelith leaned in and recounted the incidents at the Kuchiki estate.

    After listening, Yamamoto showed a hint of surprise.

    Though he was aware of Kaelith''s knack for attracting trouble, the extent of it was indeed impressive.

    As Yamamoto pondered, Kaelith straightened up proudly.

    "Teacher, regarding this matter, I have a plan!"

    Yamamoto gave him a skeptical look.

    "What kind of plan could you possibly have... It wouldn''t involve teaming up with the Shih¨­in and Kuchiki families to storm the Tsunayashiro estate, would it?"

    Kaelith choked momentarily.

    His eyes widened. "Teacher, how could you slander your own student like that!

    "Don''t look down on me; I can be quite resourceful when it matters!"  Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ---

    Under Yamamoto''s scrutinizing gaze, Kaelith shared the strategy Aizen had proposed.

    Initially, Yamamoto merely listened with half-interest, just going through the motions. But as he continued to listen, a look of astonishment gradually took over his typically stern face.

    When Kaelith finished, Yamamoto was staring wide-eyed.

    "Kid, did you come up with this?"

    Kaelith chuckled confidently. "Indeed, it was my humble suggestion."

    His assertion carried no hint of hesitation.

    Aizen was not the type to seek the limelight; he preferred others to take the blame for his schemes. Thus, by leading Aizen to think through and finalize the plan, Kaelith Yurei naturally became the sole credit holder of the idea.

    Watching Kaelith''s smug expression, Yamamoto was full of suspicion.

    But after some thought, he realized that none of the people around Kaelith were as clever as he was.

    After pondering for a moment, Yamamoto nodded.

    "Not bad. If we proceed with this method, the chances of success are very high."

    After speaking, he closed his eyes.

    Kaelith could feel something wrapped in spiritual pressure leaving Yamamoto and zipping away into the distance.

    Less than five minutes later, two figures using Shunpo appeared in the room.

    Both were people Kaelith knew.

    One was the new Third Division Captain, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi, with his golden hair and a somewhat delicate demeanor.

    The other was the new Ninth Division Captain, Muguruma Kensei, with silver hair and a sharply handsome face.

    Both had undergone a noticeable change since the last meeting¡ªthey were now clad in the white haori of a captain.

    Observing them, Kaelith felt somewhat moved.

    Both were already good-looking in their own unique styles, but now, adorned with the captain''s haori, their charisma had skyrocketed.

    At this rate, they might even catch up to him...

    ---

    "Captain-Commander!"

    As soon as they landed, both bowed their heads in respect to Yamamoto, who nodded slightly.

    Then he spoke:

    "Kaelith Yurei, effective immediately, I appoint you as the commander of the Special Operations Squad.

    "With this appointment, you are granted Class-A operational authority!"

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith was surprised.

    The other two couldn''t help but show shocked expressions.

    Class-A authority... and a Special Operations Squad?

    In some ways, during the effective period of his authority, Kaelith Yurei''s influence within the Gotei 13 would only be second to Captain-Commander Yamamoto!

    What significant event had occurred for the Captain-Commander to grant such authority?

    ---

    Yamamoto continued:

    "Third Division Captain, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi."

    "Ninth Division Captain, Muguruma Kensei.

    "Both of you are to join Kaelith Yurei''s Special Operations Squad and follow his commands."

    Upon hearing this, both responded without hesitation: "Yes!"

    Raising their heads, the looks they gave Kaelith Yurei were now tinged with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.

    After receiving their appointments, the trio left the First Division headquarters together.

    ---

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ whispered, "Uh, Kaelith, what are we supposed to do next?"

    He really wanted to ask what the Special Operations Squad was for.

    But since Kaelith hadn''t volunteered any information, he didn''t dare to ask outright.

    Kaelith, with a determined stride, glanced back at him.

    After a moment''s thought, he said:

    "Captain R¨­j¨±r¨­, how good is your Shunpo?"

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ didn''t hesitate to respond, "Please be assured, I haven''t neglected my practice a single day!"

    Kaelith nodded in satisfaction. "Good, then go to West Rukongai District 12 and buy me some mochi dumplings.

    "Remember to get them from Nanatsuji-ya; I like theirs."

    R¨­j¨±r¨­: "...?"

    He opened his mouth, wanting to ask if Kaelith was serious.

    But then, he suddenly understood something.

    No, this must be some kind of code.

    Surely, when he went to buy the dumplings, he would receive some sort of information!

    With this realization, his eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.

    "I understand, don''t worry, Commander Kaelith!"

 Chapter 106

    In recent days, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi had been very busy.

    On orders from the Captain-Commander, he had joined the special task force assembled by Kaelith.

    Since joining, he felt as if he had turned into nothing more than an errand boy.

    Every day, Kaelith would send him to the Rukongai to buy all sorts of strange things.

    Today, it might be snacks. Tomorrow, clothes. The day after, perhaps rice, flour, oil, and salt.

    Recently, however, Kaelith had developed an obsession with tea leaves.

    In just two days, following Kaelith''s instructions, he and Muguruma Kensei had scoured every tea shop across both Seireitei and Rukongai, buying tea from countless places and collecting an unimaginable variety.

    Sometimes, they would even have to purchase the same type of tea from different shops, in varying quantities, and then make multiple trips to buy more.

    If this were one of those modern fantasy stories, R¨­j¨±r¨­ might have suspected that Kaelith was planning some bizarre ritual to summon a god of tea leaves.

    "You idiot, that guy Kaelith is clearly just messing with us," Muguruma Kensei muttered lazily, his hands resting behind his head as he walked.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ raised an eyebrow. "Kensei, that''s unfair."

    "Kaelith was personally appointed by the Captain-Commander to lead this task force, and he holds A-level authority!"

    "The Captain-Commander would never joke about something as serious as A-level authority."

    "There must be a deeper meaning behind the tasks Kaelith is assigning us!"

    Kensei: "¡­"

    Though Kensei still believed that Kaelith was simply fooling around, he had to admit that R¨­j¨±r¨­''s words made some sense.

    Seeing Kensei fall silent, R¨­j¨±r¨­ smiled cheerfully, humming a little tune as they headed toward the 2nd Division headquarters.

    Kaelith''s temporary command post had been set up in the 2nd Division barracks.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ had no complaints about this arrangement.

    If he weren''t running errands for Kaelith, he''d have to endure Madam Ise''s lectures and her relentless guidance on all the responsibilities of being a captain.

    By comparison, running errands for Kaelith was much more enjoyable.

    "Commander Kaelith! We''ve arrived!"

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ stood at the door and announced their arrival.

    "Hmm¡­ Captain R¨­j¨±r¨­? Wait a moment, don''t open the door yet!" came Kaelith''s voice from inside.

    Both R¨­j¨±r¨­ and Kensei paused. Something about Kaelith''s voice seemed¡­ odd.

    "Hey, you idiot, that''s my clothes¡­"

    The next second, a woman''s voice came from the room.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ didn''t recognize the voice, but as a former vice-captain, Kensei had heard it a few times before.

    His eyes widened in shock.

    It was none other than Shih¨­in Yoruichi, the head of the punishment force.

    Wait¡ªwhat were those two doing inside the room?

    And from what they just overheard, were they¡­ changing clothes?

    Kensei was completely stunned.

    The room sounded chaotic, as if the two were struggling with something.

    "Forget it, I''m not wearing it anymore! It''s all messed up anyway!"

    "Why did you have to strip down with me? Now it''s just a pile of torn fabric!"

    R¨­j¨±r¨­: "¡­"

    Kensei: "¡­"

    The two exchanged a look and saw the horror in each other''s eyes.

    This was bad. Something serious was happening.

    "Should we make a run for it?"

    As the two debated whether to flee, Kaelith''s voice suddenly echoed from inside the room.

    "Ahem, Captains, come in!"

    At his words, both of their pupils twitched involuntarily.

    Who in their right mind would dare go in?

    After a few seconds of silence, Kaelith repeated himself, sounding slightly confused.

    Muguruma Kensei hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and pulling the door open.

    What greeted them was Kaelith seated casually at his desk, holding a small black cat in his arms.

    Behind him stood Soifon, wearing an expression of utter disdain as she massaged his shoulders.

    From the dark, oppressive aura radiating off Soifon, the two couldn''t help but suspect she was

    calculating the best way to strangle Kaelith on the spot.

    They quickly noticed Kaelith''s Shihakush¨­ was in disarray, clearly thrown on hastily.

    In an instant, a disturbing thought sprang to their minds.

    Kaelith, Shih¨­in Yoruichi, and this young lady¡ªwhat exactly had the three of them been doing in this room before they arrived?

    Shih¨­in Yoruichi wasn''t in sight. She had probably hidden herself somewhere in the room, unable to dress in time.

    Under the table, perhaps... (t/n bruh chill..)

    At that moment, the two nearly wept internally.

    What kind of nightmare situation was this? If they accidentally caught sight of something they shouldn''t, it would be considered an insult to nobility¡ªa crime punishable by a trip to the Central Underground Prison.

    Forcing themselves to steady their nerves, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi ignored Soifon''s dark aura behind Kaelith and assumed a serious expression.

    "Commander Kaelith, what are today''s orders?"

    Kaelith stroked his chin thoughtfully for a few seconds before speaking.

    "Head to North Rukongai, District Seven, and buy me some tea leaves."

    "Hmm... Get them from It¨­ya. I want their finest tea leaves¡ªone hundred pounds!"

    "What?!"

    R¨­j¨±r¨­''s eyes widened in shock at Kaelith''s demand.

    It¨­ya was the finest tea shop in all of Soul Society.

    Their teas were already more expensive than those sold anywhere else. Their premium leaves were rare treasures sold by the ounce¡ªhow could there possibly be one hundred pounds available?

    He twitched slightly. "Commander Kaelith, you must be joking, right?"

    "Who''s joking?" Kaelith rolled his eyes. "I said one hundred pounds, and I mean it!"

    "If you''re short on money, go to the ¨­maeda family and get some."

    "Remember, it has to be in stock¡ªno waiting for future deliveries."

    "If they can''t produce it on the spot, make them pull supplies from other stores immediately!"

    "And if they can''t gather it by today, use your authority as a captain to shut their shop down!"

    Kaelith''s serious tone left R¨­j¨±r¨­ momentarily stunned. He didn''t know how to respond.

    He had always been soft-spoken and introverted. Using his position to pressure others felt entirely out of character.

    Seeing his troubled expression, Muguruma Kensei clicked his tongue in irritation.

    He placed a hand on R¨­j¨±r¨­''s shoulder and pulled him aside.

    "Commander Kaelith, I''ll take care of it this time. I guarantee the job will be done!"

    "Oh, sure, that works," Kaelith said nonchalantly, waving a hand as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in relaxation.

    With Soifon continuing to massage him, he looked every bit like a despotic landlord reveling in luxury.

    Kensei chuckled helplessly and shook his head before turning to leave.

    Once Kensei was gone, Kaelith shifted his gaze to R¨­j¨±r¨­.

    "Captain R¨­j¨±r¨­, how are the soldiers¡ªuh, the squad members¡ªthat you and Captain Kensei were assigned to prepare? Are they ready?"

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ nodded. "Please rest assured. As per your instructions, the three hundred squad members have been fully integrated. Here is the roster."

    He retrieved a thread-bound book from his robes. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A member of the punishment force materialized silently, took the book, and used Shunpo to deliver it to Kaelith.

    Kaelith flipped through a few pages casually and nodded in satisfaction.

    "Excellent. Now head back and have all of them change into civilian clothes. Divide them into four groups and have them spread out across the four major Rukongai districts for ambush operations!"

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 Chapter 107

    As soon as he heard this, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi couldn''t help but reveal a stunned expression.

    "Over three hundred squad members, dressed in civilian clothes, going to Rukongai to spread out and lie in ambush?"

    "Who are we going to kill?"

    "Could Kaelith be rebelling?"

    For a moment, countless thoughts surged through his mind, causing his heart to tremble intensely.

    But despite his confusion, he still nodded, quickly turned around, and left to make preparations.

    No matter what Kaelith intended to do, with his Class A operational authority, he was now the superior.

    Unless the Captain-Commander issued an order to revoke Kaelith''s authority, he would carry out his instructions without hesitation!

    After R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi left, Soifon flickered to the door and closed it.

    Kaelith stood up and adjusted his Shihakush¨­.

    The black cat in his arms lightly jumped down to the ground.

    Whoosh!

    The black cat''s body rapidly enlarged, its fur receding, transforming into the form of a dark-skinned young woman.

    She pulled out her tangled clothes from under Kaelith''s desk and began to untie the knots with effort.

    Looking at Yoruichi''s smooth back, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel his heartbeat quicken.

    Her medium-length purple hair draped over her brown back, exuding a magical allure.

    He swallowed and averted his gaze.

    Soifon closed the door, and as she walked back, she couldn''t help but complain:

    "Lady Yoruichi, Lord Kaelith, please be mindful of your reputations!"

    "The things you were saying in the room just now will definitely cause misunderstandings!"

    "If this continues, what will become of Lady Yoruichi in the future!"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi, who was putting on her undergarments, couldn''t help but show a strange expression.

    "The things we said? What things?"

    Soifon opened her mouth, her small face slightly flushed, but couldn''t say anything.

    Kaelith curled his lips, watching her shy expression with great interest.

    He was just about to say something when Yoruichi had already donned her Shihakush¨­.

    While tying her belt, she spoke: "Kaelith, shall we move out?"

    "Alright." Kaelith nodded.

    Just now, the two of them had transformed into black cats and made a trip to Rukongai.

    In recent days, Kaelith had the ¨­maeda family prepare a list.

    On the list were all the businesses connected to the Tsunayashiro clan.

    After finalizing the list, he began directing two captains to go to these shops to make purchases.

    While the people in the shops were distracted, he and Yoruichi would transform into black cats and secretly browse the shops'' ledgers.

    Finally, based on the ledgers, they analyzed which shops had close financial dealings with the Tsunayashiro clan and in which shops the Tsunayashiro clan held significant shares.

    As the list became clearer, the time to close the net had finally arrived.

    ...

    ...

    "What? What did you say? Not enough stock?!"

    "Y-Yes, Lord Shinigami, not to mention a hundred pounds, our small shop can''t even provide five pounds..."

    "Right now, the shop only has these slightly over four pounds. I¡ªI will decide to give them to you for free; please enjoy them first."

    "For the remaining amount, I will definitely get it to you as soon as possible..."

    Bang!!!

    Before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, Kensei Muguruma raised his fist and slammed it onto the counter.

    "What kind of joke is this! I am the Captain of the 9th Division!"

    "When I want tea, it must be readily available!"

    "Dare to mess with me? Believe it or not, I''ll make your shop disappear! Huh?!"

    Kensei widened his eyes and leaned his head over the counter.

    With his white hair, he looked every bit like a thug.

    The shopkeeper felt like crying.

    His lips trembled a few times, then he seemed to make up his mind.

    He lowered his voice and cautiously said:

    "Captain sir, the owner of this humble shop... is the head of the Five Great Noble Families, the Tsunayashiro."

    "You probably don''t want any unnecessary trouble, right? Could you please be lenient?"

    Hearing this, Kensei''s pupils contracted.

    The Tsunayashiro family?

    One of the Five Great Noble Families?

    For a moment, he almost wanted to turn around and leave.

    But immediately, he suddenly realized something.

    Wait...

    Could it be that Kaelith intended to offend the Tsunayashiro family from the very beginning?

    If it involves the Five Great Noble Families, then his Class A authority makes complete sense.

    Besides, Yoruichi has a very good relationship with Kaelith.

    With her insight, it''s impossible that she doesn''t know the power of the Tsunayashiro family.

    Gradually, his furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

    "Hmph, in that case, I''ll take a step back!"

    He reached out, grabbed the shopkeeper''s chair from behind the counter, and sat down.

    "Now, transfer stock from your branches elsewhere. No matter what method you use, I want to see my hundred pounds of tea before dinner tonight!"

    Seeing that Kensei didn''t seem to be joking, the shopkeeper frowned.

    Then he smiled and nodded: "Very well, Captain sir, I''ll arrange it immediately!"

    Taking a few assistants, he went to the backyard.

    "First Brother, go inform all branches to send over all the Gyokuro they have."

    "Second Brother, you take people to the warehouses and bring the goods over as quickly as possible."

    "Third Brother, go to West 32nd District, where the largest tea plantation in the Soul Society is. Buy all the processed Gyokuro!"

    "Fourth Brother, hurry and find Lord Takatori, and inform him of the situation here!"

    The assistants received their orders, left the shop, and quickly ran off.

    It¨­ya, the largest tea chain in the Soul Society, began to operate.

    In less than two hours, all the Gyokuro from Rukongai''s branches were gathered.

    A total of over sixty pounds.

    Still lacking about forty pounds; if they collect from the tea farmers, it should be no problem!

    The shopkeeper wiped his sweat and smiled.

    ...

    ...

    Rukongai, West 32nd District.

    A dozen Shinigami dressed as samurai appeared one after another using Shunpo.

    They were all swordsmen employed by the Tsunayashiro family. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing the reports from his subordinates, Tsunayashiro Takatori, who was in charge of all business in Rukongai, was initially a bit angry.

    But immediately after, he suddenly became excited.

    The newly appointed Captain of the Ninth Division... Although he didn''t know what was up with him or why he was causing trouble for the Tsunayashiro family.

    But as the saying goes.

    You don''t get to know someone until you''ve fought them!

    Originally, he was thinking about how to befriend the two newly appointed commoner captains.

    Now isn''t this an opportunity?

    If he could resolve this tea incident, then bring the tea as a gesture of humility and gift it to Kensei for free, the latter would surely be extremely grateful, right?

    Although this tea is worth over ten million kan, compared to the friendship of a captain-level powerhouse, it''s nothing!

    ---------

    Rukongai, Tea Plantation.

    The swordsmen, wearing clothes emblazoned with the Tsunayashiro family crest, announced the acquisition of tea leaves.

    All the tea farmers showed astonished expressions.

    Seeing their reactions, one swordsman said impatiently:

    "Hey, what''s going on?"

    A tea farmer shuddered and hurriedly pointed not far away.

    "Replying to you, Soul Reaper sir!"

    "Just now, the ¨­maeda family sent people to purchase Gyokuro... All the Gyokuro has already been bought by them!"

    As soon as these words were spoken, the swordsmen''s expressions changed simultaneously!

    Strange.

 Chapter 108

    Seireitei, Southern District.

    A luxurious garden estate stands here.

    This is one of the Tsunayashiro family''s properties, specifically responsible for managing commerce.

    The person in charge is named Takatori, a direct descendant of the Tsunayashiro family and a prominent figure among the third generation.

    At this moment, Takatori sat in his study, his expression gloomy, listening to the continuous reports being delivered.

    "Report! Lord Takatori!"

    "The meat market in South Rukongai that cooperates with us¡ªall supplies have been bought out by the ¨­maeda family!"

    "Report! Lord Takatori!"

    "Our two largest spice suppliers are both saying they have no stock!"

    "Report! Lord Takatori..."

    Listening to his subordinates'' reports, Takatori trembled with anger.

    The ¨­maeda family... This upstart clan suddenly seems to have gone mad, buying up most of Rukongai''s supply of goods at prices double or even higher than the market rate.

    Although the Soul Society is vast, due to traditional systems, everyone''s roles are predetermined.

    Families that raise pigs have been pig farmers for generations.

    Families that grow vegetables have been vegetable farmers for generations.

    Therefore, if these people are taken over, it''s nearly impossible to find replacements in a short time.

    Has the ¨­maeda family gone insane?

    Doesn''t he know the consequences of opposing the Tsunayashiro family?

    As he was feeling irritated, a Shinigami appeared in his study using Shunpo.

    "Lord Takatori, the family elders have sent people to inquire about the situation."

    Takatori gritted his teeth with a crunch.

    These damned old fogeys¡ªusually they ignore everything, but when something goes wrong, they''re more eager than anyone to hold others accountable!

    Soon, several middle-aged men wearing ornate, patterned robes walked in.

    These people were subordinates of the family elders.

    As expected, as soon as they entered, they bombarded him with questions that seemed caring but were actually reproachful.

    Then they urged him to resolve the incident quickly.

    To these elders, the family''s future and external conflicts were no longer important matters.

    All they cared about was that setbacks in business would reduce their own tributes.

    After the people sent by the elders left, Takatori stood up.

    "Someone come."

    "Summon all the guards of the mansion; come with me to the ¨­maeda residence!"

    Takatori was brimming with killing intent.

    That insignificant ¨­maeda family¡ªdo they really think that with the Shih¨­in family backing them, no one dares to provoke them?

    Compared to the declining Shih¨­in family, his own Tsunayashiro family is the true number one noble house in the Soul Society!

    He walked out of the study and happened to see a young man with fox-like eyes approaching.

    The man wore clothing emblazoned with the Tsunayashiro family crest, his gaze frivolous, with a few streaks of green highlights in his hair.

    Seeing him, Takatori frowned slightly.

    "Tokinada... What are you doing here?"

    Tokinada, the lowest rank of the branch family, an insignificant underling.

    Because his father had requested it, Takatori had allowed this guy to stay and learn some management knowledge.

    Under his gaze, Tokinada smiled and bowed to him.

    "Cousin Takatori, are you going to see the people of the ¨­maeda family?"

    Hearing Tokinada reveal his intentions, Takatori''s frown deepened.

    "So what if I am?"

    Tokinada chuckled softly: "If I were you, I wouldn''t go and engage with those people."

    "There might be some trap involved here..."

    "Tokinada!!"

    Before Tokinada could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Takatori''s angry shout.

    Under Tokinada''s somewhat surprised gaze, Takatori loudly reprimanded: "Tokinada, remember your status! When did a mere branch family waste dare to point fingers at me, a direct heir of the main family?"

    "You bastard, do you want to taste the family''s punishment?"

    Hearing this, Tokinada quickly displayed a fearful expression and bowed to Takatori.

    "I''m sorry, Cousin Takatori, I overstepped."

    "Hmph, as long as you know."

    After dropping this line, Takatori flicked his sleeve and left.

    Watching Takatori''s departing figure, Tokinada slowly straightened up, a smile curling on his lips.

    "Cousin Takatori... You''re fine in every way, except your pride is too strong."

    "Perhaps, originally you might have noticed the problems here, but after I, a branch family waste, pointed it out, you absolutely won''t consider that possibility anymore."

    "Heh heh, the way things are developing is getting more and more interesting..."

    He clasped his hands together, smiled, and turned to leave.

    ...

    ...

    On the streets of Seireitei, over a hundred swordsmen gathered silently, heading toward the ¨­maeda residence. (t/n: Btw their personal guards aren''t actually Shinigami''s, Only people from Gotei 13 can be called that. They are more like samurais/swordsmen working for their noble)

    Some patrolling Shinigami saw this and wanted to approach and ask what''s going on, but were pulled back by their colleagues.

    "Idiot, don''t go near them... Didn''t you see the family crest on their clothes?"

    "Family crest?"

    "That''s the crest of one of the Five Great Noble Families¡ªthe Tsunayashiro family!"

    "So many Tsunayashiro swordsmen moving together¡ªthis isn''t something we can get involved in.

    Quickly report to the captain!"

    Before long, under Takatori''s lead, the swordsmen arrived at the gates of the ¨­maeda estate, surrounding the entrance tightly.

    Looking at the gate before them, the swordsmen felt a bit strange. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The gate of the ¨­maeda family was actually made of gold.

    Under the sunlight, it shone brilliantly.

    Normally, even if one wanted to show off wealth, they would use precious wood.

    Some woods, at the same weight, aren''t much cheaper than gold.

    It would both show off and avoid appearing vulgar.

    In a way, the ¨­maeda family was indeed confident.

    Such blatant flaunting of wealth isn''t something ordinary people can do.

    Takatori sat in the palanquin and gave a signal to the people outside.

    A swordsman nodded knowingly and stepped forward:

    "¨­maeda Marenoshin!"

    "Takatori of the Tsunayashiro family is here; come and pay your respects immediately!"

    Although the ¨­maeda family is very wealthy, their noble status isn''t actually high.

    With a direct descendant of one of the Five Great Noble Families arriving, as the head of the family, ¨­maeda Marenoshin naturally had to come out personally to greet him.

    After hearing the shout, shortly afterward, the gates of the ¨­maeda family slowly opened.

    Takatori sat in the palanquin, a smile curling on his lips.

    On the way here, he had already planned how to reprimand ¨­maeda Marenoshin.

    At this moment, the formation here had already attracted the attention of many people around.

    In front of so many people, if ¨­maeda Marenoshin, as the family head, was reprimanded by an outsider, his control over his subordinates would naturally diminish.

    An insignificant upstart trying to monopolize the market with money... truly foolish.

    He had someone roll up the palanquin''s curtain and put on a hat that concealed his face.

    This was a way to display status.

    Not allowing the other party to see his face¡ªthis is a mannerism only those of higher status can use!

    Under his gaze, the golden gate fully opened.

    ¨­maeda Marenoshin''s figure walked out.

    Takatori snorted and was about to say something.

    But then he saw that a few more people followed behind...

    ----------------------------------

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 Chapter 109

    Under Takatori''s somewhat stunned gaze, one figure after another emerged from inside.

    A dark-skinned girl in tight-fitting attire, looking valiant and heroic.

    The head of the Shih¨­in family, Yoruichi!

    A handsome man wearing a star-shaped hairpin and a red flower scarf around his neck.

    The son-in-law of the Kuchiki family, Third Seat of the Sixth Division, K¨­ga Kuchiki!

    Beside Yoruichi stood a young man wearing a black Shihakush¨­.

    The disciple of Genry¨±sai, the genius of Shin''¨­ Academy, Kaelith!

    Seeing these three appear together, Takatori''s face darkened.

    Yoruichi and Kaelith appearing here was not surprising to him.

    These days, the two had been opposing the family, and in the entire Tsunayashiro clan, no one didn''t know of their notorious names.

    But... the appearance of K¨­ga Kuchiki meant trouble.

    At present, the Kuchiki family was in a fragile transitional period.

    The first-generation head, Ginrei Kuchiki, was old and rarely showed himself except for matters concerning the Sixth Division.

    Among the second generation, there was only S¨­jun Kuchiki.

    Although a second-generation member, S¨­jun was too young, about the same age as the third-generation members of the Tsunayashiro family.

    Currently, he didn''t have the ability to take over the mantle.

    As for third-generation members... well, sorry, the Kuchiki family had no third-generation members.

    Therefore, as a son-in-law, K¨­ga was the only representative of the Kuchiki family besides Ginrei.

    Moreover, K¨­ga''s own formidable strength.

    In the entire noble circle, no one dared to underestimate this mere son-in-law.

    As a direct descendant of the main family, he knew well the current state between the Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki families.

    It was said that just after the Kuchiki family arranged a marriage with the Teinida family, the head of the Teinida family died in a mysterious fire.

    Although he wasn''t involved in this matter, even thinking with his knees, he knew that it must have been something done by his family.

    Especially since the family had specifically sent people to inform him that in the coming period, they must be vigilant against the Kuchiki family.

    With things said to this extent, if he still couldn''t figure out what was going on, he shouldn''t be the commercial manager...

    With a worried and cautious heart, Takatori narrowed his eyes, looking at K¨­ga.

    "Lord Kuchiki, why are you here?"

    K¨­ga stood there, his gaze somewhat wandering, not knowing what he was thinking.

    Hearing Takatori''s words, he snapped back to reality.

    He looked at Takatori, a trace of disgust flashing in his eyes.

    The spiritual pressure on his body began to stir slightly.

    Seeing K¨­ga''s change, Kaelith''s fingers moved slightly.

    At this moment, ¨­maeda Marenoshin realized something was wrong, decisively coughed, and stepped forward saying:

    "Lord K¨­ga is here representing the Kuchiki family to discuss business cooperation with the ¨­maeda family."

    "What is it, Lord Tsunayashiro, are you interested as well?"

    "If you wish, the ¨­maeda''s goods can also be partially supplied to the Tsunayashiro family."

    "After all, I just secured most of Rukongai''s suppliers; the supply in my hands is extremely abundant!"

    Hearing this, Takatori was first stunned.

    Then, a look of shock and anger appeared in his eyes.

    The Kuchiki family wants to cooperate with the ¨­maeda family?

    The word "¨­maeda" is naturally bound to the Shih¨­in family.

    That is to say, the Kuchiki family has decided to ally with the Shih¨­in?

    At this moment, his heart panicked a bit.

    Two of the Five Great Noble Families joining forces, and the Shiba family has always been at odds with the Tsunayashiro family.

    This situation was not good.

    He frowned, looking at K¨­ga.

    He found that the latter''s expression hadn''t changed, and he didn''t deny ¨­maeda''s words.

    In this way, it''s really not good.

    The ¨­maeda family is just a nouveau riche; them grabbing business isn''t a big deal.

    If pushed, they could be suppressed directly through status and means. With the Shih¨­in family''s power, protecting the ¨­maeda family is no problem, but wanting to protect so many businesses in Rukongai would be beyond their capacity.

    Now with the addition of the Kuchiki family, the situation changed instantly.

    With the foundation of the Kuchiki family, protecting the ¨­maeda family would be all too easy!

    After quickly thinking for a few seconds, he took off his hat and nodded to everyone.

    "...I apologize for coming abruptly today and disturbing you."

    "Let''s go!"

    Saying that, he prepared to lower the curtain of the palanquin.

    Seeing his action, Kaelith gave Yoruichi a glance.

    Yoruichi grinned.

    Then, suddenly bursting with spiritual pressure, she stomped fiercely, her whole body rushing towards Takatori like lightning.

    In an instant, over a dozen swordsmen responsible for protection were sent flying into the air by Yoruichi''s punches and kicks.

    "The ¨­maeda family is under my protection, Yoruichi Shih¨­in!"

    "Coming to make a ruckus and then wanting to just leave, did you ask me?"

    Inside the palanquin, Takatori''s face was a bit unpleasant.

    "Stop her!"

    Yoruichi''s "madness" was famous among the nobles.

    A woman, yet her style was wilder than male heirs.

    He wasn''t surprised at Yoruichi''s attack.

    A large number of swordsmen rushed towards Yoruichi.

    Seeing this, ¨­maeda Marenoshin roared angrily.

    "Don''t harm Lady Yoruichi!!"

    He didn''t draw his sword either; he swung his fists directly, relying on his over two-meter-tall burly body, he crashed into the crowd.

    For a time, the sounds of fists hitting flesh, screams, and the swordsmen''s angry shouts echoed all around!

    Takatori sat in the palanquin, his gaze gradually turning angry. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a scion of the Tsunayashiro family, it was the first time in his life he had been provoked to this extent.

    Looking at Yoruichi in the crowd, he raised his hand.

    A golden chain of spiritual particles instantly formed, flying towards Yoruichi.

    The 63rd Bakud¨­, Sajo Sabaku (Locking Bondage Stripes), was instantly cast silently!

    In the crowd, Yoruichi seemed to sense something, suddenly turning her head, and casting a surprised glance towards the palanquin.

    Too late!

    Takatori prepared to release the Bakud¨­.

    But at that very moment, a hand suddenly clasped his wrist.

    Under his astonished gaze, he saw that Kaelith had somehow already appeared beside him!

    While holding Takatori''s wrist, Kaelith released a spiritual particle disturbance, disrupting the formation of Sajo Sabaku.

    He grinned: "Lord Tsunayashiro, you''re not hurt, are you?"

    "I''m here to protect you~"

    Takatori''s eyelid twitched.

    "You protect me?"

    "Do you really think that I would believe that!"

    He was about to say something, but saw that Kaelith had already left him, appearing some distance away.

    And Yoruichi, as if having completed some mission, suddenly no longer eager to fight, began to retreat from the crowd.

    Seeing their actions, although Takatori didn''t know what they were planning, his instincts told him that something was definitely wrong here!

    After a brief thought, he hurriedly said: "Stop them!"

    Hearing this, the swordsmen didn''t doubt him, quickly rushing forward to block Kaelith and Yoruichi from leaving.

    Watching the scene before him, K¨­ga snorted coldly.

    He slowly drew the Zanpakut¨­ from his waist.

    "Whisper... Muramasa!"

 Chapter 110

    As K¨­ga recited the release incantation, countless purple spiritual threads spread out from him.

    These threads pierced rapidly into the bodies of the Tsunayashiro family''s guards.

    As soon as the threads entered, the movements of these Tsunayashiro Shinigami became stiff.

    Then, something bizarre happened.

    Under the shocked gazes of the Shinigami, their Zanpakut¨­ forcibly guided their arms to slash at their nearby companions!

    In an instant, screams, cries of terror, and curses turned the entire battlefield into a hellish scene.

    Seeing this spectacle, Yoruichi couldn''t help but widen her eyes.

    Even Marenoshin, an experienced veteran lieutenant used to big scenes, felt a bit horrified at this moment.

    Imagine if one''s own Zanpakut¨­ was being controlled¡ªthat sense of despair... tsk tsk.

    Marenoshin raised his hand to wipe the sweat off his brow.

    Seeing K¨­ga appearing as if he was about to kill everyone, Kaelith quickly pulled him back.

    "Alright, alright! Brother, calm down!"

    K¨­ga, expressionless, suddenly seemed to snap back to reality, his eyes flickering.

    Seeing the scene before him, his heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly withdrew the power of his Zanpakut¨­.

    This wasn''t a battlefield of life and death; if he went too far, it would be hard to wrap things up.

    The first thought that came to his mind wasn''t how to explain himself to them.

    But rather on how his father-in-law would scold him when he got back.

    Thinking of Ginrei Kuchiki''s icy expression, he couldn''t help but feel a suffocating pressure.

    After pulling him back, Kaelith immediately put on a stern face and stepped forward two steps:

    "Lord Tsunayashiro! What are you doing!"

    "We welcomed you courteously, and you resort to violence!"

    "Such brutality¡ªis this worthy of a noble''s status?!"

    Yoruichi also stepped forward, one hand on her hip.

    "Exactly! You can''t just leave without giving us an explanation today!"

    Hearing this, Takatori''s face darkened.

    In broad daylight, he had led over a hundred people to attack the high-ranking members of the Shih¨­in and Kuchiki families.

    If this matter spread, it would greatly impact his reputation.

    He was in charge of the family''s business; if his reputation was affected, it wouldn''t be good.

    Thinking of this, he opened his mouth, preparing to find an excuse to explain.

    But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something.

    Looking at the righteous Kaelith, he couldn''t help but widen his eyes.

    "Damn it! It was clearly the Shih¨­in¡ªit was you who attacked me first! How did it become me who struck first?"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi was slightly stunned and turned to look at Kaelith.

    Kaelith blinked, then coughed.

    "Well then, in that case, let''s each take a step back."

    "Let''s pretend today''s incident never happened."

    Takatori: "?"

    He couldn''t help but feel his blood pressure rising.

    This brat, does he even understand what ''each taking a step back'' means?

    Recalling the earlier situation, it was clearly K¨­ga who went too far.

    If Kaelith hadn''t stopped him in time, dozens of his people might have died.

    As a high noble, to be so ruthless without holding back¡ªif he were to question first, he could at least make the other party suffer a loss.

    Now, with Kaelith seizing the initiative, the topic couldn''t be connected.

    At this time, many passersby had already gathered in the distance.

    The ¨­maeda family''s residence was on the edge of the nobles'' district; many people here had status.

    Continuing to make a scene here wouldn''t benefit him.

    After pondering for a few seconds, Takatori grinned.

    "Fine, we''ll each take a step back..."

    "I''ve learned a lesson today."

    "If there''s an opportunity in the future, I invite Lord Shih¨­in and Lord Kuchiki to gather and drink together!"

    As he spoke, he directly ignored Kaelith, who was not a noble. Yoruichi raised her eyebrows, about to say something.

    Kaelith stopped her, shaking his head.

    After Takatori led his people away, Marenoshin grinned.

    "Refreshing! That Takatori, who always looks down on people, finally had to eat humble pie!"

    Kaelith smiled, "Uncle Marenoshin, your actions of charging into the enemy lines and punching were really impressive."

    "Oh? Haha, you''re too kind, too kind, it was just so-so!"

    Marenoshin laughed heartily, "Don''t look at me like this; my Hakuda skills are among the best in the Second Division!"

    "During the last prison assault, if I hadn''t been sneak-attacked by that bastard, I''d have left him with a souvenir!"

    Kaelith nodded.

    What Marenoshin said wasn''t boasting.

    Among the lieutenants, he was definitely a top-notch expert.

    Plus, his sturdy body provided a thick health bar.

    For captains like Tai, who focused on defense with offense as a supplement, taking him down head-on wasn''t easy without having great stamina.

    After chatting with Marenoshin, Kaelith looked at K¨­ga.

    But found that the latter was staring straight at him.

    Kaelith was initially stunned, then as if a switch had been flipped, he immediately heightened his guard to the highest level!

    Surging soul particles poured out from the artificial soul sphere he carried, merging into his body, tightly wrapping his memories and soul.

    After doing this, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

    "Um, Brother K¨­ga, is there something you need?"

    Kaelith asked.

    K¨­ga silently observed the changes in him.

    A few seconds later, he nodded and said, "I want to confirm how the Kuchiki family should cooperate next."

    Kaelith sighed in relief and invited K¨­ga to the conference room to discuss the next steps.

    At this moment, his sleeve was tugged.

    Turning around, he saw Kisuke Urahara standing behind him, a serious expression on his face.

    He leaned in and whispered:

    "Kaelith-san, be careful of that man."

    "Although I''m not sure why, my intuition tells me he''s very dangerous."

    Kaelith rolled his eyes.

    "By the time you warn me, it''s already too late."

    "Don''t worry, the stuff between you and Tessai is safely sealed deep in my memory, and I''m desperately trying to forget it." (t/n: Tessai is the guy who is always with Kisuke)

    Kisuke Urahara: "...?"

    What the heck?

    ...

    ...

    Entering the conference room, Yoruichi couldn''t wait to look at Kaelith.

    "Kaelith! Is the Kid¨­ set up?"

    Kaelith nodded.

    "Don''t worry, I''m very skilled with this move now. I placed it directly under his skin.

    Unless he immediately finds a Vice Kid¨­ Chief level expert to do a full-body examination after returning home, he absolutely won''t discover it!"

    Hearing this, everyone''s eyes lit up.

    "Uncle Marenoshin, how''s the consolidation of the Tsunayashiro family''s business in Rukongai going?"

    Marenoshin gave a thumbs-up:

    "Rest assured, when it comes to noble disputes, I might not be very proficient, but in business, there''s absolutely no family in the entire Soul Society that can beat the ¨­maeda!"

    Under everyone''s gaze, he spread one hand, and with the other hand, he held up one finger over it.

    "Sixty percent!"

    "Apart from critical fields like medicinal materials and weapons, in other areas, I''ve already secured sixty percent of their supply!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Unless Takatori sends someone to kill me tonight, he''s finished!"

    ----------------------------------

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 Chapter 111

    "This can''t go on!

    Looking at the continuous reports being delivered, Takatori clenched his teeth tightly.

    The Tsunayashiro family''s businesses in Rukongai were almost completely snatched away by the ¨­maeda family!

    A single ¨­maeda is certainly nothing to fear.

    On a scale of ten, an unprotected ¨­maeda has an attack power of only five in the business field.

    But with the joint protection of the Shih¨­in and Kuchiki families, the ¨­maeda''s attack power instantly soars to three thousand! (t/n A dbz reference?)

    If this is the Kuchiki family''s way of revenge, then we have to admit they''ve been very successful.

    No matter how illustrious the Tsunayashiro family is, they still need to eat.

    Losing more than half of their income would be a heavy blow to the family.

    Not to mention the money needed to support vassal families¡ªeven their own expenses would become a big problem!

    Those elders and high-ranking members take pride in their extravagant lifestyles.

    It''s not hard to imagine how these guys would react if they lost their wealth.

    At that time, as the person in charge of the business domain, I would undoubtedly bear the brunt.

    What should I do?

    Without the family''s backing, in pure business, I''m not even a match for ¨­maeda''s little finger.

    In that case, should I seek help from my Grandfather...

    Just as this thought emerged, a voice sounded at the door.

    "Young Master Takatori, the branch family member Tokinada requests an audience."

    Tokinada? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Takatori frowned.

    "Let him in."

    Before long, a young man with fox-like eyes walked into the room.

    Under Takatori''s gaze, Tokinada slowly approached and respectfully sat down.

    "Tokinada greets Cousin Takatori. May I ask if you are well?"

    "I''m fine."

    Takatori replied stiffly.

    "Let''s skip the pleasantries... If you have something to say, just say it directly."

    Hearing this, Tokinada lowered his head slightly.

    "Cousin Takatori, regarding the current situation, I believe we must make a decision quickly."

    "With only our strength here, no matter what, we cannot compete with the ¨­maeda family, who are fully supported by both the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in families."

    "At this point, the only plan is to report to the family head and ask the old man to take action; only then might there be a turnaround!"

    Hearing Tokinada''s words, Takatori frowned slightly.

    He had already made up his mind, and now this guy says this, making it seem as if he was inspired by him to come up with the idea.

    Really annoying.

    But although he was displeased, he didn''t say much.

    Being able to think of seeking help from the main family at this time showed that this guy had some ability; maybe he could be of use in the future.

    He nodded, ready to let Tokinada leave.

    But then he heard Tokinada continue: "However if you do this, those elders who have long been dissatisfied with Lord Takatori''s management of the family business will have an excuse to challenge the family head..."

    "If you don''t speak up, as the family head''s direct grandson, those old guys wouldn''t dare to go too far."

    "But if you take the initiative to seek help from the main family, the implications would be different..."

    "At that time, in order to shut those old guys up, the family head might even remove Lord Takatori from your position."

    Takatori''s pupils shrank slightly.

    The reason he had been holding on and trying to find a way out on his own was because he didn''t want to see this result.

    Now it seems that even a useless branch family member can see this point. How could those high-ranking old foxes let go of this opportunity?!

    Pa!

    The teacup in Takatori''s hand was crushed into pieces.

    The shattering sound also woke him up.

    Coming back to his senses, he looked at Tokinada.

    "Leave!"

    "Yes."

    Tokinada stood up without hesitation, kept his head lowered, and retreated out of the room, closing the door behind him.

    Looking at the closed paper door, Takatori took a deep breath.

    "Someone come!"

    A figure suddenly appeared in the room.

    "Pass on my order... Go invite that gentleman with the bamboo hat."

    That gentleman was previously sent by the main family to protect him when Kaelith and Yoruichi caused a big scene in the noble district.

    According to the family, he was a guest kept by his Grandfather, powerful, and comparable to a captain.

    As long as he could get him to take action and eliminate ¨­maeda Marenoshin, this game would have a turning point!

    Not long after, in a secluded courtyard, a Shinigami responsible for delivering messages appeared using Shunpo.

    Sitting under the shade of a tree, meditating on his Zanpakut¨­, Shinchira Renzosuke slowly opened his eyes.

    Halfway through listening, he curled his lips with a disinterested attitude.

    The reason he came here was to deal with Kaelith.

    Assassinating the lieutenant of the Second Division, what''s the point?

    Just as he was about to refuse outright, the Shinigami added, "Those protecting the target may include the Third Seat of the Sixth Division, K¨­ga, and Kaelith of the Second Division..."

    "Alright, I''ll go!"

    Shinchira Renzosuke sprang up!

    ...

    ...

    "If nothing unexpected happens, it''ll be in these two days."

    "Uncle Marenoshin will be brutally murdered by the assassin sent by the Tsunayashiro family!"

    In the main hall of the ¨­maeda residence, Kaelith sat at the table, munching on snacks while making this judgment.

    Marenoshin couldn''t help but grimace. "Can you not say it so scary..."

    Yoruichi frowned and said, "If Takatori is fighting alone, then it''s very likely he''ll choose this method."

    "But behind him is the Tsunayashiro family. What if he gives up acting alone and turns to the main family for help?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith, like an old charlatan, lightly shook his head.

    "It doesn''t matter; I''ll take action."

    "What can you do? Can you force that guy to confess?"

    Yoruichi couldn''t help rolling her eyes.

    Kaelith hummed, neither confirming nor denying.

    As Yoruichi said, the biggest loophole in this plan is how to deal with it if Takatori seeks help from his grandfather.

    In fact, the probability of that guy seeking help is probably over ninety percent.

    And he had already thought of a way to deal with this possibility.

    If Takatori seeks help from the main family, he would go to Aizen to have a showdown, telling him that he already knows the ability of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    At that time, as long as he uses his secret technique ''The Great Hero''s Art,'' with some persuasion, he could ask S¨­suke to take action, using the ability of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu to trick Takatori into confessing.

    In this era, the Soul Society doesn''t have video editing technology.

    As long as they use the Shih¨­in family''s Tench¨± Bansh¨­ to record the scene, it would become ironclad evidence!

    After making up his mind, Kaelith didn''t even bother to set up defenses and directly went out to play with Yoruichi for an afternoon.

    In the evening, with a slight drunkenness, he returned to the ¨­maeda residence and lay down in the room next to Marenoshin''s.

    After covering the adjacent room with his soul domain, he comfortably closed his eyes.

    After an unknown amount of time, Kaelith suddenly opened his eyes.

    Ridiculous...

    In his soul domain, he sensed someone who was somewhat unfamiliar, yet not entirely unfamiliar.

    The problem was, the other party didn''t go to Marenoshin''s room.

    Instead, under the cover of night, he was sneaking toward his own room!

    ----------------------

    T/n: Shinchira: I don''t want peace, I want problems always!

    Any meme enthusiast here?

 Chapter 112

    His opponent moved extremely fast; less than two seconds after Kaelith noticed, the person had already gently opened his door.

    In the darkness of the night, Kaelith squinted, watching the door slowly open on its own.

    Not gonna lie, this was actually quite creepy.

    As the door opened, a figure wearing a bamboo hat appeared at the entrance.

    Kaelith controlled his shadow, forming two long hands that crawled along the wall, gently lifting the veil under the hat.

    As the veil lifted, Kaelith couldn''t help but be stunned.

    Shinchira Renzosuke?

    Then, a smile appeared on his face.

    "Someone! Arrest¡ª"

    But before he could finish, Shinchira also revealed a delighted expression.

    "Bankai!"

    "Forest Hell Shadow!"

    Kaelith: "?"

    Under his dumbfounded gaze, dozens of thick vines unfurled from Shinchira''s body, wrapping both him and Kaelith in less than a second.

    Looking at the writhing, winding tree trunks around him, Kaelith exclaimed.

    "You''re not Shinchira! You''re a Senju!"

    Shinchira: "?"

    Seeing Kaelith''s excited expression as if he had discovered a new continent, Shinchira couldn''t help but frown.

    But immediately, the immense joy made him not care about these things.

    As the Tree Realm... ahem, as countless branches completely enveloped the surroundings, the scene around them became entirely different.

    Kaelith was surprised to find himself standing in a tropical rainforest.

    Towering straight trunks piercing the sky, gigantic leaves blocking out the sun, and intertwined thorny vines made him feel as if he were in another world.

    Not far away, Shinchira stood beside a large tree, taking a deep breath with a look of intoxication.

    "Ah... it''s still here that makes one feel most comfortable."

    Kaelith held his Zanpakut¨­, using the sheath to poke the nearby tree.

    The feedback felt very real.

    He tried touching it with artificial soul particles and also received genuine feedback.

    "Your Bankai is interesting..."

    "Not an illusion, but creating a space out of thin air."

    "Were you perhaps helping the Night Raid team fight alien beasts back in the day?"

    Shinchira didn''t understand Kaelith''s words.

    In fact, he was somewhat accustomed to this.

    Suddenly, dozens of flexible branches shot in from all directions, their sharp tips aiming at Kaelith!

    Bang! Bang bang bang!!

    Kaelith reversed his grip on the sword, adjusting the blade''s angle with minimal movements to deflect the branches stabbing toward him one by one.

    Then, he suddenly looked upward.

    A massive hardwood trunk was crashing down at him like a cannonball!

    "Well then."

    Kaelith used Shunpo, his figure flickering as he appeared some distance away.

    Boom!!!!!!

    The gigantic hardwood trunk smashed into the ground, instantly exploding into a hemispherical crater over twenty meters in diameter.

    Then, a second one suddenly appeared out of thin air, descending from the sky.

    Boom!! Boom boom boom!!!!!

    One massive trunk after another crashed down faster and faster, leaving numerous hemispherical craters on the ground around.

    Suddenly, as Kaelith landed after another Shunpo, several roots shot out from the soil as if lying in wait, binding his feet.

    Three massive hardwood trunks and ten spear-like branches attacked simultaneously!

    Seeing this scene, Shinchira''s eyes lit up.

    Success!

    His Bankai, Forest Hell Shadow, had the ability to bring everyone in his line of sight into a special space and launch indiscriminate attacks.

    The more enemies he killed, the stronger they were, the higher the intelligence his Bankai would possess, using even more insidious methods.

    From the beginning, when he came here, he wasn''t targeting Marenoshin ¨­maeda. Instead, he waited for the opportunity when Kaelith was protecting Marenoshin to use his Bankai''s ability to single him out!

    As Kaelith''s arch-rival (self-proclaimed), Shinchira eagerly absorbed all information about Kaelith.

    He naturally knew that the latter served as an examiner for the captain''s promotion test and defeated Kensei in a frontal battle.

    Shinchira wasn''t too surprised that Kaelith could win.

    After all, that kid had even defeated Tai Takada; defeating Kensei was nothing.

    Even if he could defeat Kensei, it didn''t change the fact that Kaelith had just broken through to Third-Class Spiritual Power and was a "newbie" who wasn''t yet familiar with Reiatsu.

    No matter how strong his physical skills were or how terrifying his solo combat ability, within his own Bankai, Kaelith would eventually be exhausted by endless killing arrays and collapse from fatigue!

    To carry out this plan, he had spent considerable effort.

    Fortunately, the plan had finally succeeded.

    Soon, Kaelith would die within his Bankai, becoming new nourishment for "Forest Hell Shadow"!

    Shinchira curled his lips into a smile, eagerly waiting to hear the sounds of Kaelith being smashed and pierced.

    In the next instant, his eyes suddenly widened.

    Under Shinchira''s astonished gaze, a pure and dense pillar of Reiatsu burst forth from Kaelith, soaring into the sky!

    Third-class spiritual Power, as if solidified, continuously spread outward from his body.

    The killing moves rushing toward him was like sandcastles being washed away by giant waves, instantly scattered!

    Even the surrounding air trembled violently under the influence of Kaelith''s Reiatsu, fluctuating unpredictably!

    Shinchira: "¡­?"

    What the heck is this?

    Not to mention that Kaelith had just broken through not long ago; theoretically, he couldn''t possibly be so proficient in using Reiatsu at a new level.

    Even if he could master it, what''s with this ridiculously abundant amount?

    Under Shinchira''s gaze, Kaelith withdrew the Reiatsu pillar.

    "Um... Renosuke, let me confirm something." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s Renzosuke!"

    "Renzosuke, does this barrier of yours truly isolate us completely from the outside world?"

    Shinchira nodded subconsciously.

    Then, he suddenly realized that something seemed off.

    Receiving Shinchira''s confirmation, Kaelith showed a satisfied smile.

    "So it''s like that, completely isolated."

    "If you''d said so earlier, I wouldn''t have had to go through so much trouble."

    As he spoke, the Reiatsu pillar on his body rose again.

    Even for captain-level Shinigami, this would be an enormous consumption, yet on him, it seemed endless, without any sign of strain.

    Various attacks capable of killing senior seated officers in one blow continuously assaulted Kaelith from all directions.

    However, these attacks couldn''t even get close under the terrifying Reiatsu released by Kaelith, being destroyed mid-air.

    "Impossible... how is this possible?!"

    Looking at the unbelievable scene before him, Shinchira couldn''t help but wonder if he was dreaming.

    Within the light pillar, Kaelith raised his sword and lightly waved it.

    Then he shook his head and casually inserted the sword into the ground beside him.

    Next, he pulled off the top half of his Shihakush¨­ by pulling both sides outward.

    Facing Shinchira''s horrified gaze, he grinned.

    "Patchouli! Go!"

    ----------------------------------

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 Chapter 113

    Casually stripping off his top, Kaelith revealed a crazed smile.

    Accompanied by a torrent of overwhelming spiritual pressure, he leaped into the air like a war machine enchanted with forbidden spells, roaring as he ascended!

    His entire body was enveloped in dazzling spiritual light.

    Shinchira Renzosuke looked up at Kaelith.

    That radiant figure was so dazzling.

    Just like the way this person had burst onto the scene, extremely brilliant...

    In the moment he was lost in thought, Kaelith pulled his arms back, stretching his entire body to the fullest.

    Then, accompanied by several blasts of white air, he instantly rushed in front of Shinchira¡ª

    "Origin Fist Technique..."

    "True Number: Hundred Thousand Bones!!"

    As he shouted the name of the move, Kaelith''s arms seemed to transform into countless phantoms.

    Punch after punch connected, forming lines and planes, bombarding toward Shinchira like a violent storm!

    "Frenzied Forest!!"

    Shinchira also summoned a massive wave of wood, meeting Kaelith head-on.

    Enhanced by his Bankai space, the branches he summoned were exceptionally strong and incredibly flexible, with a battlefield width of several hundred meters, raising dust that covered the sky.

    The ocean of trees collided with the blazing sun of spiritual pressure, creating terrifying ripples!

    Waves of spiritual pressure surged in all directions.

    The surrounding space even showed signs of being unable to withstand it.

    But Kaelith just laughed heartily, waving his fists, smashing and shattering all the branches that came near him.

    Clearly, this was a forest frenzy that could overwhelm an ordinary captain-level Shinigami, yet against Kaelith, it couldn''t even slow his steps.

    Countless trees roared as they burst from the ground, rolling forward, trying to whip and bind Kaelith.

    For a normal captain-level Shinigami, even if their strength surpassed Shinchira''s, they would gradually exhaust their spiritual pressure under this endless onslaught, becoming playthings in Shinchira''s hands.

    But Kaelith''s spiritual pressure grew stronger and stronger!

    He was like a bottomless black hole, continuously erupting with power accumulated over countless eons.

    Shinchira couldn''t help but feel terrified.

    Is this guy a monster or a devil?!

    Why does he have such unfathomable spiritual pressure?

    Standing at the center of the forest frenzy, he frantically urged more trees to surge toward Kaelith.

    He didn''t believe that this guy''s power was truly inexhaustible!

    He''s just a recent graduate of Shin''¨­ Academy; no matter what special abilities he has, he can''t bridge the gap between Bankai and non-Bankai!

    Seemingly guessing his thoughts, Kaelith grabbed two thick roots stabbing toward his head and tore them apart.

    Then he grinned: "It''s useless, useless!"

    "S¨­suke is the strongest stand!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If I were at Fourth-Class Spiritual Power now, you might still suppress me through sheer difference in rank... but now, you no longer have that chance!"

    As he spoke, the spiritual pressure on his body continued to intensify layer by layer.

    Condensed like a storm, heavy as the sky!

    Under Shinchira''s suffocating gaze, Kaelith forcefully waved his hand, sending out a wave of spiritual pressure that momentarily halted the forest frenzy before him.

    His other hand was drawn back to his waist, clenched into a fist.

    "Origin Fist Technique..."

    The spiritual pressure that had built up step by step during the battle suddenly rushed back into Kaelith''s body from all directions.

    The immense power that nearly burst open this Bankai space was all compressed back into his body.

    Finally, it all converged into his fist.

    On the clenched fist, the light and shadows even showed unnatural distortion. That was the interference caused by extremely compressed spiritual pressure near the fist!

    Shinchira''s instincts were frantically warning him that the next move would be very dangerous.

    In fact, even without his instincts babbling, he knew very well.

    That night, he was there when Tai Takada fell under Kaelith''s fist.

    Among the entire Soul Society, he was one of the people most qualified to speak about how fierce Kaelith''s charged punch was!

    Shinchira roared, thrusting his Zanpakut¨­ into the ground¡ª

    Centered on him, the surrounding trees instantly withered and died.

    An invisible circle rapidly expanded outward.

    Wherever it passed, all the trees fell.

    And the terrifying power contained within these trees, plants, and vines all converged into his blade!

    Kaelith seemed both slow and heavy, yet also fast and violent as he swung his fist¡ª

    "True One Bone: Shockwave!!"

    A brilliant white light burst forth.

    In an instant, the entire world lost its color.

    Shinchira only felt that his eyes seemed to lose their ability to see.

    He suddenly pulled his sword from the ground, pointing it at Kaelith¡ª

    "Frenzied Forest: Silent Destruction!!"

    Wrapped in a ghastly green-black spiritual pressure, forming a light cannon resembling a Cero, it shot forth brilliantly!

    Boom!!!!!!!!

    ¨­maeda Marenoshin, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly jolted awake as if struck by lightning.

    With drool still at the corner of his mouth, he grabbed his Zanpakut¨­.

    At the same time, he used Kid¨­ to conjure flames out of thin air, lighting all the oil lamps in the room.

    Then he was shocked to see that the wall of his room had been blasted open at some point.

    Two people had already burst into his room.

    One lay on the ground, smoking all over, looking as if he was not far from death.

    The other had a wild expression, his face full of excitement, with one foot stepping on the former.

    The similarity was that he was also covered in scorched marks, with much of his skin seeming to have been blasted off by Kid¨­.

    If it weren''t for sensing the spiritual pressure on him, Marenoshin would have thought he''d seen a ghost.

    "...Ka-Kaelith?"

    Because Kaelith''s face was covered in black soot from explosions, Marenoshin was a bit hesitant to recognize him.

    Kaelith, stepping on Shinchira, raised his Zanpakut¨­ with both hands and stabbed down, directly nailing the latter''s leg to the tatami.

    Blood splattered all over his face.

    With a face full of blood and soot, he turned to look at Marenoshin.

    "Quick! Uncle Marenoshin, call K¨­ga! Call Yoruichi! Contact the Kuchiki family and tell them it''s time to act!"

    Marenoshin''s eyes widened.

    He couldn''t understand what the heck was going on.

    However, as a veteran of the Onmitsukid¨­, his specialty was following orders.

    As soon as Kaelith finished speaking, he disappeared from the room without a word using Shunpo.

    Before long, one figure after another rushed over.

    Seeing the scene in the room, everyone had a shocked expression.

    On the ground, a humanoid creature smoking all over, covered in wounds, was roaring and trying to get up.

    Beside him, another humanoid creature not looking much better stood on him, laughing arrogantly.

    From time to time, he''d stab down with his sword.

    What a hellish picture...

 Chapter 114

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi felt his hand trembling slightly.

    He had been a Soul Reaper for many years and had witnessed countless scenes of slaughter. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing comrades beside him grabbed by Hollows and having their heads bitten off was not something he hadn''t experienced.

    But at this moment, watching the young man before him with shining eyes, stepping on a charred corpse and occasionally stabbing downward, he felt an indescribable sense of dread.

    Is there really nothing wrong with the mental state of this squad commander personally appointed by the Captain-Commander?

    Subconsciously, he looked to the side to see other''s reactions.

    He saw Yoruichi walking over with a curious expression.

    The girl squatted beside Kaelith, reaching out to lift the head of the person lying on the ground.

    Then, her eyes lit up with surprise.

    Others, upon seeing that charred face clearly, also showed expressions of surprise.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi''s eyes widened.

    Under Kaelith''s foot was none other than their former captain, Shinchira Renzosuke!

    What... what on earth had happened?

    Kaelith inserted his sword into Shinchira Renzosuke''s right hand and reminded:

    "Be careful, this guy has been trying to take me down with him."

    Ever since they exited the Bankai space, Shinchira Renzosuke had been acting crazily, constantly looking for chances to deal him a heavy blow.

    In response, Kaelith''s approach was simple:

    Whenever Shinchira made a move, he would stab him again.

    Since childhood, he had been a persistent kid; as long as he kept up the finishing blows, Shinchira would eventually behave.

    Under everyone''s gaze, he twisted the sword inserted in Shinchira Renzosuke''s hand and said:

    "Hey, Renzosuke, who sent you this time?"

    "Where is Captain Takada now?"

    Shinchira Renzosuke snorted coldly, just about to say something.

    Kaelith suddenly interrupted: "Renzosuke, you''d better think carefully before you speak."

    "If you can bring up someone powerful enough to scare me, I might spare your life for a deal."

    "If you have no backing and came alone, then as the commander of the special bandit suppression squad, I have the authority to execute you on the spot."

    Saying this, he looked at the somewhat stunned Kensei: "Captain Kensei, am I right?"

    Kensei subconsciously nodded: "You''re the commander appointed by the Captain-Commander; I''ll follow your lead..."

    Kaelith then looked at R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ hesitated and said, "Commander Kaelith, perhaps we should bind him with Bakud¨­ instead. Stepping on him like this isn''t appropriate..."

    Hearing this, Shinchira Renzosuke''s expression changed.

    He knew very well what kind of person R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi was, being his former captain.

    With his intelligence and quick reactions, if Kaelith''s position as commander were fake, R¨­j¨±r¨­ wouldn''t naturally follow along.

    Did the Captain-Commander really make such a big move to deal with him and Takada?

    Kaelith continued: "Recently, someone has been attacking the nobles'' residences; you must have heard about this, right?"

    Shinchira didn''t speak.

    Of course, he knew about this; the reason he was sent here was because of it.

    Kaelith chuckled: "In fact, the purpose of this series of actions is to find you and Takada, the two traitorous wealth seekers."

    "I, who hate trouble, was forced to go through so much because of you two, and I''ve been holding back a lot of anger."

    "Moreover, there''s already a grudge between us."

    "Right now, I very much hope you say nothing so that killing you would be justified."

    As he spoke, he pulled the sword out of Shinchira Renzosuke''s hand and slowly placed the blade against his neck.

    Feeling the sharp aura from the Zanpakut¨­''s blade, cold sweat appeared on Shinchira Renzosuke''s forehead.

    Just as Kaelith said, there was too much enmity between them.

    Not only did he want to kill Kaelith, but Kaelith surely wanted to kill him as well.

    Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly felt Kaelith''s blade silently approaching, seemingly about to "accidentally" kill him!

    He hurriedly said, "Kaelith! If you kill me, you can''t afford to offend the person behind me!"

    Kaelith chuckled, "There aren''t many people in the Soul Society I can''t afford to offend."

    "With your limited abilities, whose support could you possibly have?"

    "Even if you don''t say, I can guess¡ªit''s Takatori Tsunayashiro, right?"

    "Don''t worry, a mere third-generation member of the Tsunayashiro family¡ªwhat can he do to me?"

    "Go in peace; I''ll burn some paper offerings for you."

    Saying this, he was about to press down with the blade.

    "Wait!"

    Seeing that Kaelith wasn''t bluffing, Shinchira

    Renzosuke finally panicked.

    He had once heard a story from Tai Takada.

    For captains like them, their souls cannot dissipate after death; remaining in the Soul Society would disrupt the world''s order.

    To solve this problem, the Soul Society would use some secret technique to send their souls to Hell, where they would engage in endless battles.

    He wasn''t afraid of death but absolutely didn''t want to be sent to Hell.

    Even for a Soul Reaper, Hell was too dark and too despairing.

    He lay on the ground, gritting his teeth, "Fine, since you want to know, I''ll tell you."

    "Let them all step back; I''ll tell you a... ugh!!"

    Before he could finish, Kaelith pressed down with his sword, stabbing several times into his arms.

    "Fool, at this point, you''re still bargaining? Do you think my sword isn''t sharp?"

    Under intense pain, Shinchira Renzosuke''s face twisted.

    He was both angry and anxious, saying urgently, "Fine! I''ll tell you!"

    "Behind me is Lord Senzo Tsunayashiro!"

    "Well, Kaelith, do you dare to oppose the Tsunayashiro family, the head of the Five Great Noble Families with a history of a million years?!"

    Hearing this, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi couldn''t help but take a step back.

    Kensei''s eyes widened.

    Others also showed strange expressions.

    Kaelith closed his eyes, searching for the tracking Kid¨­ he had placed on Takatori Tsunayashiro earlier.

    A few seconds later, he looked at K¨­ga.

    "We can make the arrest now."

    "No. 229, Noble Street, West Wing of the Rear Courtyard, second room on the right after entering."

    K¨­ga nodded.

    He stepped back two steps and bowed to Kaelith:

    "Thank you."

    Then, his figure flashed and disappeared from the room.

    Watching K¨­ga disappear from the room, Shinchira Renzosuke suddenly realized something was wrong.

    He widened his eyes, "Wait, Kaelith, what are you doing?"

    This guy, the address he just gave, something''s off!

    Kaelith stabbed down twice, directly piercing Shinchira Renzosuke''s Saketsu and Hakusui.

    Then, he kicked him aside and casually cast a Bakud¨­ over him. (t/n: Saketsu and Hakusui "These two points are commonly considered pressure points. If they are pierced, they seal up this spiritual power, and the Shinigami will lose all their power."- From Bleach Wiki)

    "What am I doing?"

    He tore off his tattered upper garment and sat down on a nearby chair.

    "Of course, I''m using your confession to arrest Tsunayashiro!"

    Hearing this, Shinchira Renzosuke ignored the pain of spiritual power madly leaking from his body and showed a look of despair and horror.

    This guy... how dare he?!

    ----------------------------------

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 Chapter 115

    Originally, Kaelith and his team planned to force Takatori Tsunayashiro into a desperate move, prompting him to send his personal guards to attack the ¨­maeda family.

    At that time, K¨­ga Kuchiki would step in and directly read the memories of those guards.

    Following the clues, they would gradually tighten the net and completely take down Takatori Tsunayashiro.

    But now, for some inexplicable reason, Takatori Tsunayashiro had directly sent Shinchira Renzosuke, a known traitor.

    Well, that works too¡ªthey could skip the step of fabricating charges and get straight to the point.

    Life was getting better day by day.

    Thinking this, Kaelith happily raised his arm.

    Soifon, with a stern face, was diligently helping him wash.

    "Oh, oh, scrub a bit more there¡ªthat feels good..."

    Kaelith squinted his eyes, occasionally giving instructions.

    Soifon kept a neutral expression, but her blood pressure slightly rose.

    At the same time, she couldn''t help but feel secretly amazed.

    While she was assisting Kaelith with his bath, he had boasted about the earlier battle.

    Although, in Soifon''s eyes, Kaelith had many flaws, she never doubted him when it came to critical information.

    Her fingers gently brushed the edges of Kaelith''s wounds.

    Thinking that these wounds were left by directly facing Shinchira Renzosuke''s full-powered attacks in his Bankai state, she felt a sense of unreality.

    Just how strong had this guy become?

    If it were her, her body might have been reduced to a pile of minced meat by now.

    And Kaelith, although he had suffered extensive burns¡ªa quite serious injury¡ªwith the Hell Hot Springs, these wounds would probably heal in less than two days.

    For a moment, Soifon couldn''t help but feel emotional.

    This guy seemed born to break established perceptions.

    After carefully cleaning Kaelith''s wounds, she took out bandages and wrapped the burned areas on his body.

    Kaelith looked in the mirror, feeling somewhat conflicted.

    Fortunately, his face wasn''t injured; otherwise, if it were bandaged too, he''d look like Shishio Makoto.(t/n: An OG anime, Rurouni Kenshin-the main antagonist)

    After getting dressed, the two returned to the main hall.

    As soon as they came out, Kaelith noticed that Ginrei Kuchiki had arrived at some point.

    The old man hadn''t done anything; he just sat kneeling in a corner of the room, saying nothing.

    "Why is the old man here?"

    Kaelith found Yoruichi Shih¨­in.

    To his surprise, she was actually reading a book.

    Yoruichi looked up from her book.

    "Probably to prevent any accidents... Us taking action against Takatori Tsunayashiro, a direct descendant of the Tsunayashiro family, might alarm Senzo Tsunayashiro."

    "That''s likely why Old Man Ginrei is here¡ªto guard against the worst-case scenario."

    Then, noticing Kaelith''s gaze, she grinned and shook the book in her hand.

    "What? Curious?"

    "This is a secret technique tome of the Shih¨­in family, written by the first Captain of the Second Division, Chika Shih¨­in."

    "It records his various understandings of Hakuda.

    It''s a unique treasure in the entire Soul Society."

    Hearing this, Kaelith couldn''t help but sigh.

    "Must be nice being a noble¡ªthe resources you have are unimaginable."

    Then he puffed out his chest.

    "But I''m not that envious; after all, I have the strongest ally." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yoruichi didn''t know what he was talking about and just smiled, shaking her head.

    She looked at the girl following behind Kaelith.

    "Hey, Soifon, how was it helping Kaelith with his bath? Did you feel anything... unusual?"

    Soifon''s face darkened. "Lady Yoruichi, please don''t joke like that!"

    She became a bit flustered and quickly said:

    "There''s absolutely no way I''d have any thoughts about this perverted, lecherous, degenerate guy!"

    "Hey, hey, I''m right here, you know," Kaelith couldn''t help but roll his eyes.

    By this time, not many people were left around.

    ¨­maeda Marenoshin had already left to handle the aftermath of the commercial conflict.

    Kensei Muguruma volunteered to protect him and went along.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi had returned to the Second Division to guard against potential retaliation.

    After waiting for a while, Kaelith started to feel a bit bored.

    He found a couch and lazily reclined on it.

    "Hey, Soifon, come give me a shoulder massage~"

    Hearing Kaelith''s voice, Soifon took a deep breath.

    Her blood pressure rose.

    With thoughts of strangling Kaelith, she walked over, knelt beside him, and began to massage.

    However, despite her efforts, she barely caused him any discomfort.

    He even had the leisure to let out contented hums that made her blush.

    Seeing this, Yoruichi became interested and joined in, snuggling up next to Kaelith and having Soifon massage them both.

    Ginrei Kuchiki sat kneeling not far away, pretending not to see.

    Shinchira Renzosuke had fallen into a coma due to his destroyed Saketsu and Hakusui, unable to witness this indecent scene.

    If Captain-Commander Yamamoto were to come by now, his blood pressure might just break through to a new realm along with his spiritual pressure...

    After an unknown amount of time, Soifon couldn''t help but say:

    "Lord Kaelith, hasn''t Lord K¨­ga been gone for too long?"

    Upon hearing this, Ginrei Kuchiki also opened his eyes.

    He had felt something was off for a while now.

    Could it be that K¨­ga encountered some mishap while secretly capturing Takatori Tsunayashiro?

    Kaelith sat up.

    In fact, when making the plan, he hadn''t considered the possibility of K¨­ga failing.

    As the most renowned "internal conflict deity" in the entire series, K¨­ga''s ability to fight Hollows aside, his prowess against other Soul Reapers was absolutely top-tier.

    Unless he ran into someone like late-stage Yoruichi, who didn''t even use a Zanpakut¨­, he couldn''t imagine K¨­ga losing.

    Just as he was pondering whether to go assist K¨­ga, a strange sensation came to his mind.

    The tracking Kid¨­ he had placed on Takatori Tsunayashiro had disappeared!

    Did something happen?

    Kaelith stood up and explained what had just occurred.

    "Old Man Ginrei, I''ll go take a look. Please watch over things here."

    Hearing this, Ginrei Kuchiki shook his head.

    He stood up and said, "This matter arose because of me; I should be the one to check."

    Saying so, he adjusted the Zanpakut¨­ at his waist and prepared to leave.

    Kaelith was about to say something when he suddenly paused and turned to look outside.

    Ginrei Kuchiki sensed it too and reacted similarly.

    An undisguised spiritual pressure was rapidly approaching.

    It was K¨­ga!

    The two quickly walked out of the room and saw K¨­ga appear in the courtyard in a flash.

    He had several wounds on his body.

    Upon seeing Ginrei Kuchiki, he hurriedly lowered his head.

    "Father!"

    Ginrei nodded. "Where is Takatori Tsunayashiro?"

    Hearing this, K¨­ga bent down.

    "I''m very sorry. When I was capturing Takatori Tsunayashiro, I was ambushed."

    "In the chaos, I accidentally... killed Takatori Tsunayashiro!"

    Everyone showed expressions of shock upon hearing this.

    -----------------------------

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116

    Kaelith blinked and leaned back tactically.

    He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to clap twice.

    However, as soon as he moved, Soifon, who was standing beside him, guessed what he was about to do.

    The girl quickly grabbed Kaelith''s hand.

    Kaelith was slightly taken aback, then affectionately held her hand in return. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soifon: "..."

    If it weren''t for the difference in their ranks, she really wanted to punch this guy.

    Ginrei Kuchiki looked solemn. "K¨­ga, explain clearly what''s going on."

    K¨­ga nodded.

    Under everyone''s gaze, he quickly recounted his experiences that night.

    After entering the courtyard where Takatori Tsunayashiro was located, just as he was about to act, he realized he had fallen into an ambush.

    Takatori had anticipated that he might be attacked, so he had hidden more than a dozen skilled fighters in the courtyard.

    Initially, K¨­ga didn''t intend to confront them head-on; he fought while retreating, looking for an opportunity.

    Midway through the battle, he used Kid¨­ to create the illusion that he had escaped. In reality, he hid inside an artificial rock formation in the courtyard, planning to capture Takatori when his pursuers left to chase him.

    Unexpectedly, the enemy had a Kid¨­ expert who easily saw through his illusion and found him.

    Under heavy siege, K¨­ga had no choice but to use his Bankai.

    On the spot, everyone''s Zanpakut¨­ rebelled against their owners, plunging the battlefield into chaos.

    Takatori''s sword seemed to hold a deep grudge against its master.

    As soon as the battle began, his Zanpakut¨­ delivered a fatal blow.

    His subordinates didn''t even have time to rescue him and could only watch as Takatori was pierced through the chest by his own Zanpakut¨­.

    Taking advantage of the chaos in the Tsunayashiro household, K¨­ga finally seized the opportunity to escape the scene.

    After listening, Ginrei Kuchiki nodded.

    He stood up. "Lord Shih¨­in, Lord Kaelith."

    "I need to handle this matter... Please excuse me."

    Before leaving, he reminded them:

    "There might be significant turmoil soon; please be cautious."

    With that, Ginrei walked out of the room and disappeared using Shunpo.

    Kaelith looked at K¨­ga, just about to ask for more details, but saw that he also bowed slightly to him and then quickly left.

    In the following days, just as Ginrei had said, a massive upheaval occurred in the Soul Society.

    First, all the branch families of the Tsunayashiro clan donned plain hemp mourning clothes, and the gates of their estates were decorated with white funeral banners.

    Although the Tsunayashiro family didn''t explicitly announce what had happened, it was clear that an important figure had died.

    Immediately afterward, an unprecedented internal conflict erupted within the Central 46 Chambers.

    The faction led by the Tsunayashiro family launched a fierce attack against the Kuchiki faction.

    If it weren''t for the assistance of the Shih¨­in family, the Kuchiki clan might have suffered significant losses.

    Various noble families sensed something unusual from this fierce struggle.

    For a time, some chose sides, some remained neutral, and others sat on the fence, observing.

    As the truth gradually surfaced, the nobles'' reactions became more intriguing.

    Kaelith had thought that these nobles would resent the Kuchiki family upon hearing that they had acted so ruthlessly.

    However, upon learning that the Kuchiki family had acted so decisively¡ªafter their ally was killed, they turned around and eliminated the third-generation heir of the opposing side¡ªthe nobles began to

    respect and fear the Kuchiki clan.

    Many smaller noble families who had been undecided expressed goodwill toward the Kuchiki family.

    Upon hearing this, Kaelith couldn''t help but sigh.

    "As expected of the strength-oriented Soul Society¡ªso realistic."

    Because the matter had escalated so much, there wasn''t much Kaelith could do for the time being.

    After reporting the situation to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, he returned to his usual... ahem, leisurely life.

    In a secret laboratory somewhere in Rukongai.

    Aizen stood in the room, holding several test tubes, squinting as he observed the reactions inside.

    Not far away, Kaelith lounged lazily on a sofa like a carefree old man, humming and swaying.

    After comparing several experimental samples, Aizen nodded with satisfaction.

    At this rate, he would soon find suitable soul wave data.

    Perhaps he should take advantage of the recent opportunities to try capturing a Menos Grande?

    As he was contemplating this, he heard Kaelith talking about K¨­ga.

    Originally only paying five percent of his attention to Kaelith, Aizen suddenly exclaimed and turned his head upon hearing this part.

    "Wait, you just said that K¨­ga mentioned he didn''t intend to confront them head-on and planned to stall for a time at first?"

    Kaelith nodded. "Yes... Wait, why are you focusing on that?"

    Aizen didn''t answer but continued, "How long was he gone in total?"

    Kaelith flipped over and sat up, his expression thoughtful.

    "Um... about two hours?"

    Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    He held the test tube, lost in thought.

    Seeing Aizen''s reaction, Kaelith suddenly had a bad feeling.

    Under his gaze, Aizen pondered for a moment.

    Then, he suddenly looked at him with a somewhat strange expression.

    "Kaelith, be cautious of K¨­ga."

    "There''s something wrong with him."

    Listening to Aizen''s calm statement, Kaelith inexplicably felt a chill down his spine...

    -------

    Inside the west gate of Seireitei.

    Over two hundred excited young men and women in school uniforms gathered together.

    Their eyes shone with anticipation; sometimes they whispered among themselves, and other times they looked up, glancing around.

    In the crowd, Aizen stood quietly, appearing innocent and adorable, as if he could be whisked away by some strange older sister at any moment.

    Today was the day when new recruits were assigned to their divisions.

    Many divisions had their captains personally come over.

    Those whose captains couldn''t attend sent their lieutenants.

    At the very least, they dispatched senior seated officers.

    These representatives would select the talents they wanted based on the students'' applications.

    Those like Seinosuke Yamada and Kaelith, who had been pre-assigned to divisions, naturally didn''t need to participate.

    By the way, on Aizen''s application form, he had written: "Willing to accept any assignment."

    In this era where the young man''s personality was gradually beginning to shine, such a considerate application made the captains who came to select recruits feel touched.

    Moved, they then began to compete for him.

    In the promotion exam, although Aizen''s performance wasn''t as dazzling as Kaelith''s, it was still impressive.

    With his potential, he was guaranteed to become a lieutenant in the future, and perhaps even go further.

    With such expectations, various divisions extended olive branches to Aizen.

    Originally wanting to keep a low profile and casually join a division, Aizen couldn''t help but feel a bit of a headache.

    Suddenly, amidst the noise, he looked over a crowd of heads and saw a familiar figure.

    Kaelith, wearing a black Shihakush¨­, was sitting at the Second Division''s interviewer table,

    enthusiastically chatting with a group of female graduates.

    Aizen couldn''t help but hold his forehead.

    He really didn''t want to admit that he was friends with such a guy...

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117

    The recruitment standards of the Second Division differ greatly from those of other divisions.

    Since the time of the first Captain of the Second Division, Chika Shih¨­in, the Second Division has been closely tied to the Onmitsukid¨­ (Stealth Force).

    New recruits here don''t rely much on the Shin''¨­ Academy; instead, they''re trained internally.

    Most squad members have been engaged in related work for generations, passing down their roles through the family line.

    Events like today''s recruitment fair are primarily to hire some clerical staff.

    Yoruichi naturally has no interest in this kind of work.

    This role has always been handled by Marenoshin ¨­maeda.

    This year, with Kaelith around, Marenoshin was happy to take it easy.

    Seeing that Kaelith was very interested in this task, he quickly handed over the responsibility to him and went off to find something to eat.

    Looking at the young woman handing over her application, Kaelith sat behind the recruitment table and smiled:

    "Miss, what''s your name?"

    The girl smiled back, "Hello, Senior Kaelith, my name is Mera Satsuki. I''m a graduate of this year''s Shin''¨­ Academy~"

    "My elder brother was one of the witnesses at your graduation exam. Every time he comes home, he tells us all about it with great enthusiasm~"

    Kaelith laughed heartily.

    Then he asked curiously, "Wait, you''re a graduate, so why are you calling me, a first-year student, ''senior''?"

    The girl replied with a smile, "Because we''re no longer at the academy. If I can successfully join the Second Division, you''ll be my senior in the squad, so of course I should address you that way~"

    The two chatted for a while and got along quite well.

    Kaelith was also pleased with the girl''s demeanor.

    He took out a stamp and pressed it onto Mera Satsuki''s application form¡ª

    "Accepted!"

    The girl happily bowed and turned to leave with a spring in her step.

    Soifon stood behind him, nodding slightly.

    Although she felt something was a bit off, the recruitment was going quite well.

    The next girl sat down.

    "Miss, what''s your name?" Kaelith asked enthusiastically after observing her.

    The girl nervously said, "I¡ªI''m Ayaka Kawashima. Pleased to meet you!"

    A short while later, she smiled.

    After a brief conversation, Kaelith also gave her an acceptance.

    A male applicant sat down.

    "Not qualified. Next," Kaelith said without hesitation.

    "Lord Kaelith!!" Soifon felt a wave of exasperation.

    Kaelith laughed and quickly tried to smooth things over.

    Then he turned back, somewhat impatiently continuing the interviews.

    Looking at Kaelith''s back, Soifon couldn''t help but sigh.

    If only Lord Kaelith could be more reliable, he could become a respected and excellent Soul Reaper.

    It''s a pity he just can''t help himself sometimes.

    In the crowd, Aizen withdrew his gaze from Kaelith.

    He couldn''t watch such an unreliable person for too long.

    Watching him too much wasn''t good for his brain.

    He squinted his eyes and looked at the captains present.

    Retsu Unohana was smiling as she told the students about the excellent benefits of the Fourth Division.

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi, Love Aikawa, and Kensei Muguruma were also working hard to recruit new members.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku was absent; no one knew where he had gone.

    Kirio Hikifune sat there smiling but seemed to be lost in thought.

    Aizen stared at her for a few seconds and roughly read some of her lip movements.

    "Stir the egg whites in the same direction; don''t beat back and forth. Be careful when flipping..."

    ...What on earth?

    Even with Aizen''s vast knowledge, he couldn''t help but be puzzled by Kirio Hikifune''s inexplicable mutterings.

    Suddenly, he noticed someone.

    A guy with long blond hair, wearing a captain''s haori, was actually sleeping on the recruitment table!

    He wasn''t pretending; he was genuinely asleep, even drooling!

    Aizen frowned.

    Having such a captain would definitely be troublesome...

    Just as he was about to look away, he saw that the sleeping man suddenly opened his eyes.

    Aizen could even see, from the way his unfocused gaze sharpened, the process of him waking up.

    After the two locked eyes for two seconds, Shinji Hirako suddenly stood up.

    He extended his hand, pointing at Aizen.

    "Hey, kid over there... Yes, you! The one who just looked at me with disdain!"

    "You''re joining the Fifth Division!"

    "No, you don''t have the right to refuse, because I am the Captain!"

    Shinji turned around and pointed at the ''5'' on the back of his haori.

    Aizen: "..."

    Today was definitely not his day.

    Before long, over two hundred graduates were all snatched up by the thirteen divisions.

    Each division''s leaders took their newly recruited members back to their squads for proper training.

    Among them, the dozen or so cute girls with various characteristics following behind Kaelith were particularly eye-catching.

    Seeing Kaelith walking happily at the front of the team, many people couldn''t help but think.

    First, it was Shunsui Ky¨­raku, and now it''s Kaelith.

    Do all of Captain-Commander Yamamoto''s disciples have such preferences?

    Thinking about it, perhaps Captain Ukitake is similar in nature?

    It''s just that, due to his innate frailty, he lacks the strength despite having the will? (t/b; The slander poor guy)

    After that day, some small rumors about Yamamoto and Ukitake began circulating in the Soul Society.

    As for this, the innocent and carefree Kaelith claimed he knew nothing.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku received a scolding and went to train under a waterfall for three days.

    ----------------------------------

    Emanating warm steam, Kaelith emerged from the Hell Hot Springs.

    The extensive burns he had sustained during the battle with Shinchira Renzosuke had mostly healed after two days of hot spring therapy.

    He stretched out his hand, and Soifon handed him his clothes, which he put on.

    "How''s Yoruichi doing?"

    Hearing this, Soifon tied his belt while answering:

    "In the past two days, the frequency of Hollow invasions in Rukongai has increased abnormally. Lady Yoruichi is in charge of investigating this matter and has been spending her nights at the Second Division."

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    Hollows invading Rukongai...

    This doesn''t sound good.

    Every time a similar plot appears in the Soul Society, it often signals the start of a major incident.

    And behind it is often a certain someone who prefers to remain anonymous.

    Thinking for a moment, he said, "Tell Yoruichi to delegate tasks to her subordinates and not act recklessly herself."

    "If she must get involved, make sure to call me along."

    Hearing this, Soifon was slightly taken aback.

    Then, she smiled softly and nodded.

    "I''ll be sure to let her know."

    Leaving the hot springs, Kaelith first went to the Twelfth Division.

    His artificial soul fusion was more than halfway complete. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The next step was critical.

    He needed to find Kirio Hikifune to thoroughly research what would happen after the artificial soul fully fused.

    Because he often made pastries with her, he seldom followed proper procedures when visiting the Twelfth Division; most of the time, he just hopped in directly.

    But today, the Twelfth Division felt a bit strange.

    In Kirio Hikifune''s study, there seemed to be something dangerous!

    Kaelith''s expression became serious. He quietly approached the window of the study and extended his soul domain inside...

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118

    As Kaelith''s soul domain extended into the room, he couldn''t help but show a surprised expression.

    He had thought there was someone inside the study.

    But in fact, what was inside was an inanimate object. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It possessed a powerful spiritual pressure but was not alive.

    Could this be some secret experiment that Kirio Hikifune was conducting?

    If so, perhaps he had come at a bad time.

    At Kirio Hikifune''s level, needing to conduct such clandestine experiments likely meant it was highly significant.

    From head to toe, it was probably filled with violations of regulations.

    If it were him, and someone discovered such a dangerous thing, he certainly wouldn''t count on the other person''s discretion.

    It was time to slip away.

    Thinking this, Kaelith quietly turned around, preparing to leave.

    After taking a few steps¡ªjust enough to conceal his own presence¡ªhe crouched slightly, ready to use Shunpo to escape.

    But at that very moment, a long black cloth suddenly shot out from the study window!

    Although it was just fabric, it moved with extreme speed.

    With almost no time to react, the cloth had already reached the back of Kaelith''s head.

    A bit closer, and the sharp edge of the fabric would have cut his skin!

    Bang!!!

    The shooting cloth fiercely struck a black shadow that had appeared out of nowhere.

    The fabric bent at a ninety-degree angle and continued flying upward at a terrifying speed.

    Kaelith took advantage of this moment to roll forward and draw his Zanpakut¨­ from his waist.

    What on earth just attacked me?!

    A piece of cloth?

    Did I just encounter Upper Moon Six? (t/n Hot take, Demon Slayer doesn''t deserve its fame...)

    Looking at the long fabric that seemed ready to slice him apart at any moment, Kaelith couldn''t help but wonder.

    Although he didn''t know what was happening, he quickly made a decision.

    Run!

    If he couldn''t figure out the situation, he could ask his teacher or Aizen later.

    But if he lost his life now, it would all be over!

    Just then, the study door suddenly opened.

    In Kaelith''s somewhat stunned gaze, a "figure" slowly floated out.

    It was a gorgeous woman''s kimono.

    As the description suggests, only the clothing floated out from the room.

    The kimono seemed to be propped up by an invisible "body," appearing shapely and elegant.

    It was as if an invisible person was standing there wearing the garment.

    But Kaelith was 100% certain that there was nothing inside the clothes.

    His eyes might deceive him, but his soul domain would not!

    The black cloth that had just attacked him had extended from this self-moving garment.

    Was this... a piece of clothing possessed by an artificial soul?

    But he didn''t sense any artificial soul aura on it.

    Could it be a bound spirit?

    Perhaps it was a kimono that Kirio Hikifune loved to wear in the past but had gradually abandoned as certain parts of her body grew, making it no longer fit.

    Over time, it developed resentment...

    Thinking of this, Kaelith showed a gentle expression.

    "You''ve been through a lot, kimono. Being abandoned due to unreasonable circumstances must have been hard."

    "Don''t worry; I don''t dislike simpler styles¡ªin fact, I quite like them."

    "So, please ascend peacefully."

    Saying this, he put his hands together in prayer.

    Kimono: "???"

    Hearing Kaelith''s prayer, the kimono trembled slightly.

    A voice echoed in the air:

    "I''m not lacking, you know..."

    "Though I can''t compare to someone as over-the-top as Kirio, I have my own charms!"

    As soon as the words fell, four or five black cloth strips shot out! Unlike the tentative attack earlier, this time it was clearly personal.

    The incredibly sharp cloth strips, tearing through the air, surrounded Kaelith from all directions!

    "This bound spirit is too strong... Is its resentment from being abandoned really this deep?"

    Facing such a powerful attack, Kaelith didn''t dare be careless.

    He swung his sword, deflecting the cloth strips while moving toward the courtyard wall.

    "Trying to escape?"

    The bound spirit quickly noticed Kaelith''s intention.

    She controlled the five cloth strips, constantly changing their attack angles, forcing Kaelith to alter his path.

    While parrying the attacks, Kaelith pondered.

    What exactly is this thing?

    It''s not an artificial soul, yet it has complete logical thinking, consciousness, and actions.

    There must be a controller behind it.

    However, even with his soul domain probing, he couldn''t find any control mechanism.

    For a moment, Kaelith became intrigued.

    From the opponent''s earlier words, he sensed that the controller behind the kimono was not Kirio Hikifune.

    In that case, there''s no need to hold back!

    Thinking this, Kaelith suddenly increased his speed.

    He swung his blade, and several sword beams instantly condensed, tracing long arcs as they closed in on the kimono.

    Then, he swung his sword again.

    Blue fireballs formed in the air, continuously bombarding the kimono.

    Amidst the chaos, he quietly summoned an invisible shadow swordsman to approach the kimono.

    Facing Kaelith''s sudden shift from defense to offense, the bound spirit controlling the kimono was a bit surprised.

    A Soul Reaper this young being able to hold out against her was already impressive.

    She didn''t expect he had so many tricks up his sleeve to counterattack.

    She retracted the cloth strips she had sent out, unfolding layers of defense to block Kaelith''s sword beams and blue fireballs.

    Just when she thought she had successfully defended against all attacks, a strong sense of danger suddenly came from an empty direction!

    Her powerful combat instincts made her send out a cloth strip to block.

    In the next second, to her astonishment, an invisible sword slashed onto the cloth strip.

    Her supposedly invincible heavenly garment defense was actually cut through!

    Although this was just a garment she controlled with secret arts and not her true form, it was still shocking.

    This was her personally crafted "Heavenly Garment"!

    Under her control, this garment was absolutely at the level of a top captain.

    And now, it had been cut by a young man?!

    Had she become weak from not fighting for so long, or had the Soul Society changed beyond recognition in just a few hundred years?

    This brief moment of surprise was caught by Kaelith.

    He casually tossed his Zanpakut¨­ aside, the blade embedding itself into the ground.

    Then, he leaped high into the air, his expression fierce, right fist clenched tightly, gathering strength!

    Powerful energy condensed on his fist!

    With this punch, no matter what kind of entity the opponent was, they would have to reveal their true form!

    Watching the young man charging toward her, the "kimono" suddenly felt a bit nervous.

    Clearly, if the opponent faced her true form, he wouldn''t even be qualified to touch the hem of her garment.

    But seeing his unabashedly aggressive eyes, she couldn''t help but feel an urge to retreat.

    Instinctively, she released her spiritual pressure.

    In an instant, the entire world seemed to surge like an overwhelming tide!

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119

    "Ugh!!"

    For a moment, Kaelith wondered if he had been thrown into the deep sea.

    The air was thick with a sticky, dense spiritual pressure pressing in from all directions like heavy water.

    Since synchronizing with Aizen''s spiritual pressure, this was the first time he felt suppressed in terms of spiritual energy!

    Damn it, you think you''re the only one with spiritual pressure?

    Kaelith gritted his teeth audibly.

    The spiritual pressure within his body rapidly condensed.

    In the next second, he was about to unleash this energy to break through the opponent''s suppression!

    Sensing the change in Kaelith, the kimono couldn''t help but be a bit startled.

    This self-destructive fighting method isn''t something an ordinary person could think of in an instant.

    This young man''s combat instincts are terrifying.

    What on earth has happened in the Soul Society over the past century?

    There''s someone so young who has mastered such power.

    And with such strength, he''s just an ordinary Soul Reaper?

    She was so astonished that she forgot to retract her spiritual pressure.

    Just as Kaelith was about to explode, a figure suddenly intervened, appearing before him.

    Long pink-purple hair and a devilish figure.

    On her white haori was a large "12."

    Seeing the ornate kimono releasing spiritual pressure, she showed a somewhat angry expression. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, Kirio Hikifune gave a low shout.

    She raised her hand high and pressed down.

    A massive amount of dense soul energy burst from her, forming a huge net that wrapped around the spiritual pressure emitted by the "kimono."

    In an instant, the pressure enveloping Kaelith vanished without a trace.

    Looking at the kimono before her, Kirio Hikifune said angrily:

    "Captain Senjumaru, what are you doing to my teacher!"

    "I-I apologize, I just... Huh?"

    The kimono was about to explain but suddenly stopped in surprise.

    She exclaimed, "What... what did you just call him?"

    Kirio Hikifune smiled. "Of course, I called him ''teacher.''"

    "Kaelith has given me countless guidance on my journey of exploring life¡ªthe greatest teacher in the entire Soul Society!"

    Kimono: "?????"

    Even without a head, her completely rigid posture made it clear how shocked she was.

    This young Soul Reaper is Kirio Hikifune''s teacher?

    You must know, Kirio Hikifune is already a designated candidate for the Royal Guard.

    She will be promoted within a hundred years.

    Although she''s currently just a regular captain, there aren''t many in the entire Seireitei qualified to stand above her.

    For someone of her status to willingly call such a young man ''teacher''?

    Kaelith was also a bit stunned at this moment.

    Senjumaru... Captain?

    Is there a captain with that surname in the Gotei 13?

    "Senjumaru"¡ªthe term seemed vaguely familiar.

    After thinking for a moment, he suddenly remembered.

    The "Senjumaru Level"¡ªnumbers used to indicate the level of danger or disaster during sudden public incidents.

    Could this Captain Senjumaru be related to that term?

    ---

    A short while later, the three sat down in the study.

    Kirio Hikifune let out a long sigh, completely unbothered by appearances.

    Just now, several squads from the Stealth Force had rushed over to inquire about what had happened.

    The quality of spiritual pressure released by Senjumaru was too terrifying.

    Although Kirio had suppressed it in time, the portion that had already spread caused a huge reaction throughout Seireitei.

    If not for her special status and sufficient backing, the Twelfth Division would likely have to undergo an investigation.

    Looking at the obedient kimono kneeling there, she said irritably:

    "Captain, there''s a limit to causing trouble for others!"

    "Do you think you can just release your spiritual pressure in Seireitei whenever you like?"

    "It''s poor little Kirio who has to write reports to explain!"

    "Uh... I''m sorry."

    The kimono knelt there, adopting a posture of apology.

    However, even while apologizing, her "gaze" remained fixed on Kaelith.

    "Hey, young man, what''s your name?"

    She asked curiously as Kaelith silently sipped his tea.

    "Fukuda Ei," Kaelith answered flatly.(t/n Basically Johnny sins of Japan, a meme, this isn''t the correct name but I won''t provide the correct one....)

    "Fukuda, is it? I''ll remember that," the kimono nodded gently.

    Kirio Hikifune opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Kaelith asked first:

    "Captain Hikifune just called you Captain Senjumaru... what''s your relation to the ''Senjumaru Level''?"

    Hearing this, the kimono chuckled softly.

    "I am none other than the creator of the ''Senjumaru Level.''"

    So that''s it...

    Kaelith took a sip of tea.

    It seems today he has met a true big shot.

    Kirio Hikifune smiled and said, "Teacher, let me introduce you. This is Senjumaru Shutara¡ªor rather, a ''Heavenly Garment'' she''s controlling."

    "In the past, she was the captain of our Twelfth Division. Later, she became a Royal Special Task Force member after inventing the ''Shihakush¨­.''"

    Hearing Kirio''s introduction, Senjumaru subtly puffed out her chest, preparing to receive Kaelith''s shocked and admiring gaze.

    However, Kaelith frowned.

    Under her gaze, Kaelith looked at her.

    "Inventing the Shihakush¨­... what''s so impressive about that achievement?"

    "I''ve seen images in the academy''s records of Soul Reapers from 800 years ago; they were also wearing Shihakush¨­."

    "Moreover, I''ve studied the Shihakush¨­ I received."

    "Apart from the functions any normal clothing should have, I haven''t found anything special¡ªit doesn''t increase defense, nor does it purify air or resist corrosion."

    "Isn''t this achievement a bit exaggerated?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, Senjumaru''s breathing became slightly rapid.

    "You... insolent fellow!"

    "My invention of the Shihakush¨­ is not as simple as you think!"

    Although her voice carried displeasure, her sitting posture remained elegant and proper, completely opposite to the carefree Kirio.

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, she quickly said, "Creating the Shihakush¨­ wasn''t just about producing finished clothing!"

    "Before me, if a Shihakush¨­ was damaged in battle, it could only be mended or replaced."

    "But I used my abilities to grant all Shihakush¨­ self-repair functions!"

    "If damaged in battle, they can restore themselves by absorbing spiritual pressure afterward!"

    "Not only that, I successfully bound the concept of ''Shihakush¨­'' with ''Soul Reaper.''"

    "Even an ordinary soul, once they awaken the power of a Soul Reaper, can obtain a ''Shihakush¨­'' at the moment of awakening."

    "Even if this process happens in Hueco Mundo or the World of the Living, it can still be realized!"

    She spoke eloquently, listing her great achievements one by one.

    After finishing, she looked at Kaelith proudly, waiting for his evaluation.

    Kaelith frowned slightly, stroking his chin, and pondered for a long time.

    Then he nodded and said:

    "I see."

    "In summary, it''s completely useless."

    "...I shall kill you!!"

    -------------------

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120

    "Oh ho, even though it''s your first meeting, you''re already getting along so well."

    Kirio Hikifune brought over a tray and placed it between the three of them.

    On the tray were various exquisite pastries.

    For a moment, Kaelith felt as if he were back in a caf¨¦ before he transmigrated.

    "Come on, Teacher, Captain, try my latest creations!"

    Kirio Hikifune looked at Kaelith with expectant eyes.

    Kaelith, however, looked curiously at Senjumaru.

    "A piece of clothing can eat?"

    Senjumaru chuckled.

    "Boy, don''t compare my crafted ''Heavenly Garments'' with ordinary clothes."

    "With my power imbued, ''Heavenly Garments'' can possess all sorts of abilities."

    "For example, this one can be remotely controlled over long distances and significantly share the five senses."

    "All I have to do is this..."

    As she spoke, she picked up a small cookie and placed it at the collar of the garment.

    With that motion, the cookie transformed into particles of spirit energy and disappeared.

    "...I can experience about seventy percent of the food''s taste and texture."

    "How about it? Isn''t it amazing?"

    Watching Senjumaru''s demonstration, Kaelith showed a somewhat surprised expression.

    Then, he asked excitedly, "Can this be mass-produced?"

    Senjumaru''s technology was essentially what people dreamed of¡ªa device that lets you taste food remotely!

    He hadn''t seen such technology before his transmigration and didn''t expect to encounter it here.

    Senjumaru said displeasedly, "What do you take Heavenly Garments for? Granting abilities to them is very difficult."

    Kaelith instantly looked disappointed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing his reaction, Senjumaru felt her blood pressure rising.

    Does this kid know what it means to respect his seniors?

    But in the next second, she suddenly paused.

    Then, under the gazes of Kaelith and Kirio Hikifune, Senjumaru, somewhat surprised, picked up another pastry and placed it into the collar.

    As the spirit particles dispersed, she couldn''t help but look at Kirio.

    "Kirio, did you make these pastries?"

    "Yes! I worked hard under Teacher''s guidance!"

    Kirio Hikifune proudly raised her head, stretching out her hands to rest them on Kaelith''s shoulders from behind.

    Senjumaru couldn''t help but glance sideways.

    As Kirio''s former captain, she knew a bit about her former subordinate''s path of training.

    Kirio''s training method involved infusing the spiritual power she produced into cooking and strengthening herself by eating.

    The more enjoyable the food, the more energy she could absorb, and the stronger she would become.

    Because it''s difficult to fuse spiritual power with ingredients, making delicious food wasn''t easy for Kirio.

    At least, the last time Senjumaru visited, the things Kirio made were still quite mediocre.

    Moreover, the "Heavenly Garments" would reduce some of the food''s deliciousness, so the last meal she had was rather unsatisfactory.

    But this time, the pastries Kirio made were far superior in both appearance and taste compared to before.

    Even with the Heavenly Garments diminishing some of the flavor, they could still be called "delicious"!

    If she continued improving her culinary skills at this rate, Kirio''s strength might double.

    Her promotion to the Royal Guard might happen faster than expected.

    Thinking of this, Senjumaru couldn''t help but feel some anticipation.

    "Not bad, Fukuda Ei."

    She praised.

    Kaelith was slightly taken aback. "Who is that?"

    Senjumaru: "???"

    In the Royal Palace, Senjumaru''s true body couldn''t help but take a deep breath, a vein appearing on her fair forehead.

    She gritted her teeth and said, "Kid, you seem to lack respect for me, a member of the Royal Guard."

    Kaelith, while eating a macaron, asked puzzledly, "Royal Guard?"

    "It''s the Royal Special Task Force I mentioned before," Kirio explained. "Only those with strength, loyalty, and who have left a mark in the history of the Soul Society are qualified to be promoted to the highest ranks."

    "Oh... sounds pretty impressive."

    Kaelith nodded slightly.

    "Hey, Kirio," Senjumaru reminded.

    Although the Royal Guard isn''t something that needs to be kept highly confidential, Kaelith isn''t a captain, so it''s not appropriate for him to know too much.

    Kirio smiled, "Don''t worry, Captain, it''s fine."

    "With Teacher''s talent, joining the Royal Guard is only a matter of time. Think of it as an early introduction."

    "Oh?"

    Hearing Kirio say this, Senjumaru became interested.

    She knew Kirio''s strength well.

    For her to say this, it seemed this Fukuda Ei really had some skills.

    She chuckled, "Since you''ll join sooner or later, it''s a good choice to start currying favor with me now."

    "When you come up in a few hundred years, I can give you preferential treatment~"

    Kaelith asked curiously, "Are you strong?"

    "Of course," Senjumaru said proudly. "After being enhanced by the Soul King''s power, I''m stronger than any captain. The top-tier powerhouses you know are just a bunch of kids compared to me."

    Kaelith was a bit surprised. "Then how do you compare to my teacher?"

    "Your teacher?"

    "Yes, Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

    "..."

    The kimono controlled by Senjumaru suddenly froze.

    She hesitated a few times, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she couldn''t.

    After a few seconds, she said sullenly, "Well, Yamamoto is the Captain-Commander after all... He''s not the same as other captains."

    "I''m not afraid of him; I''m just giving my former superior a bit of face... Definitely not afraid."

    Seeing Senjumaru''s sudden loss of confidence, Kaelith didn''t need her to answer to guess the result.

    Noticing Kaelith''s waning interest, Senjumaru couldn''t help but feel annoyed.

    After thinking for a moment, she suddenly chuckled, "Fukuda, would you like a Heavenly Garment?"

    Kaelith looked at her, "Like the one that lets you taste food remotely?"

    "Hmph, don''t underestimate me. As long as I want, I can realize all kinds of abilities."

    Hearing this, Kaelith pondered for a few seconds and then seemed to think of something.

    "Then, can you design clothing that completely isolates spiritual pressure and sound?"

    "Uh, of course I can."

    In a certain side hall of the Royal Palace, Senjumaru frowned slightly.

    Isolating spiritual pressure isn''t too difficult.

    But adding the function of isolating sound isn''t that simple.

    Especially since, to showcase her ability, she couldn''t make a garment with a short effective period; she''d have to create a long-lasting enchanted item.

    She might have to use some of her precious material reserves.

    Thinking of this, she couldn''t help but feel a bit reluctant.

    After pondering, she "looked" at Kaelith.

    "Although I can make it, what can you offer me in return?"

    Kaelith asked curiously, "Weren''t you the one who offered it?"

    "...Even so, I can''t work for free, can I?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith showed a thoughtful expression.

    After a few seconds, he seemed to make a difficult decision, took a deep breath, and said:

    "If the clothing is good enough, I''ll marry your granddaughter as my... consort."

    Senjumaru: "????"

    If it weren''t for the fact that members of the Royal Guard need to go through various procedures to descend to the Soul Society, she would have rushed down immediately to strangle this guy!

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121

    Upon hearing Kaelith''s words, Senjumaru nearly fainted from anger.

    What the heck, granddaughter... she''s in the prime of her youth and beauty!

    Before being promoted to the Royal Guard, she was always engrossed in research and enhancing her own strength. So, not to mention grandchildren, she didn''t even have any children.

    However, she would never admit this to the annoying brat Kaelith.

    She felt that if she said it, she would have completely lost...

    "By the way, Teacher, why did you suddenly come over today?"

    Kirio Hikifune suddenly seemed to remember something, looking at him expectantly.

    "Could it be that you have a new recipe?"

    Kaelith looked at her. "Have you learned how to make the ''Rising Dragon Dumplings'' I taught you last time?"

    Kirio made a small sound and lowered her head. "Not yet..."

    "Then let''s focus on mastering the Rising Dragon Dumplings first. Once you''ve learned them, I''ll teach you the ''Golden Smile.''"

    Hearing this, Kirio couldn''t help but show an eager expression.

    The ''Golden Smile''¡ªjust hearing the name made it sound like a very splendid dish.

    Even Senjumaru Shutara couldn''t help but become curious upon hearing the names of these two dishes.

    If it weren''t for the numerous cumbersome rules every time the Royal Guard "descended," she would have wanted to come down herself to see what kind of dishes Kaelith was talking about.

    Maybe she should make an effort to see if she could enhance the sensory capabilities of her Heavenly Garments?

    As Senjumaru was pondering, Kaelith looked at Kirio, preparing to state his purpose.

    But upon seeing Senjumaru sitting beside him, he suddenly stopped.

    He knew very little about the Royal Guard.

    If he revealed too much, it might cause trouble.

    Seemingly guessing Kaelith''s thoughts, Senjumaru said displeasedly, "What is it, brat? Are you worried that I might spread your secrets?"

    "A mere little Soul Reaper from the Soul Society¡ªI don''t have that kind of idle interest in taddling."

    Kirio also smiled. "Don''t worry, Teacher. Despite how the Captain seems, she''s actually quite nice."

    "What do you mean by ''despite how I seem''?"

    Listening to their exchanges, Kaelith thought for a moment and took something out of his pocket.

    It was a small orb of light.

    The artificial soul he had previously taken from Kirio Hikifune.

    Seeing Kaelith take out the item, Kirio showed a look of realization.

    It seemed her teacher might have encountered some difficulties during the fusion of the artificial soul.

    She wondered how far he had progressed... With his talent, he should have fused about one-tenth of it?

    Hmm, one-tenth might be a bit much. She was the developer and had inherent advantages; she couldn''t expect others to progress at the same speed.

    But he should have reached at least one-fifteenth by now, right?

    After all, it''s been quite some time since she shared this technology...

    As she was thinking, Kaelith said:

    "Captain Kirio, I wanted to ask if there''s anything I should pay attention to when the artificial soul is almost fully absorbed?"

    "Although there''s still a bit left, I already have a vague feeling."

    "If I fully absorb it, I might gain a new special ability... Is this normal?"

    Kirio: "?"

    Senjumaru: "?"

    After confirming that Kaelith wasn''t joking, Kirio was at a loss.

    How long had it been since she shared the artificial soul technology with Kaelith?

    Less than two months, right?

    In such a short time, even for a genius, fusing twenty percent would be astonishing.

    But Kaelith was almost fully fused?

    Even Senjumaru was a bit stunned at this point.

    As the former Captain of the Twelfth Division and Kirio''s old superior, she had been deeply involved in the artificial soul technology.

    Therefore, she knew the difficulty involved.

    No wonder this brat didn''t dare to say it directly... With such monstrous talent, if he didn''t know how to keep a low profile, he might cause himself trouble sooner or later.

    At least in this aspect, this brat had some sense.

    Kirio silently looked up at the sky.

    She couldn''t help but wonder if she was truly the creator of the Gikon technology.

    Maybe she was just a temporary risk-taking leader brought into the project team, and over time, she really thought she was the creator...

    Before she could fall into self-doubt, Kaelith finally snapped her out of it.

    With a mix of wanting to cry, envy, and relief, Kirio explained to Kaelith the results of fully fusing with the artificial soul.

    "Just as you said, once you fully fuse with the Gikon, it will combine with your own spiritual pressure, granting you a new ability."

    "The Gikon is an existence completely unrelated to your own spiritual pressure. Under normal circumstances, trying to use both powers simultaneously is very difficult; the return isn''t proportional to the cost."

    "But... obtaining the Gikon''s ability is different."

    "For example, my ability is to create a special seed within my body."

    "During battle, I can instantly grow the seed into an ever-growing supertree, which can absorb the spiritual pressure released by the opponent, making the tree stronger and more robust."

    "I''ve named this ability ''Life Barrier''!"

    Saying this, she showed a proud smile:

    "I''m not bragging, but even though I''m not yet a member of the Royal Guard and haven''t received the Soul King''s blessing..."

    "If I unleash my ''Life Barrier'' at full power, holding back half of the members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads is no problem!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith showed a somewhat astonished expression.

    Holding back half of the Thirteen Squads... That''s a bit too outrageous, isn''t it?

    Even without counting Captain-Commander Yamamoto, that''s a force enough to shake the world.

    Are all members of the Royal Guard monsters of this level?

    He subconsciously looked at Senjumaru.

    Come to think of it, this person could fight evenly with him and even suppress him just by remotely controlling a piece of clothing.

    She was also a genuine monster.

    However, if he remembered correctly, even with such powerful Royal Guards, they couldn''t stop Yhwach''s advance; in the end, it was Ichigo who won the final battle.

    Then, what level is Yhwach at?

    Kaelith couldn''t help but click his tongue.

    After learning about the abilities and effects of the Gikon, Kaelith took his leave.

    Before he left, Senjumaru confidently stated that she would soon complete the Heavenly Garment Kaelith requested and told him to prepare the ''Rising Dragon Dumplings'' and ''Golden Smile.''

    Kaelith didn''t mind.

    If he could exchange two unique dishes for Senjumaru''s Heavenly Garment, it would be a deal with no loss. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thinking about these things, he followed a familiar route back to the Shin''¨­ Academy dormitory.

    As soon as he entered the room, Kaelith was slightly taken aback.

    In the bunk that belonged to him and Aizen, new students were now lying there.

    Only then did he remember.

    He was no longer a student now...

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122

    "Sosuke!! Are you here?!"

    A loud voice echoed through the Fifth Division barracks.

    A bespectacled, stern-faced Third Seat furrowed his brow.

    "Who is causing such a commotion within the division?"

    As the disciplinarian of the squad, he despised those who disregarded rules and caused disturbances.

    "Reporting to Third Seat Nikaid¨­ Takeshi¡ªit''s Kaelith!" a squad member quickly informed him.

    Kaelith...

    Hearing the name, Nikaid¨­ Takeshi was slightly taken aback.

    Not long ago, during the promotion exams for the captains of the Third, Ninth, and Tenth Divisions, he had been one of the witnesses.

    At that time, Kaelith had personally stepped in as the examiner for Kensei Muguruma, leaving a strong impression.

    A freshly graduated student possessing such power was truly astonishing.

    So, the question arose:

    Wasn''t this academy genius already slated for the Second Division?

    Why had he come to the Fifth Division?

    Adjusting his Shihakush¨­, he strode over.

    Reaching the corridor, he saw Kaelith loudly calling out.

    Nikaid¨­ frowned and approached him. "Kaelith! Why are you causing a disturbance here?"

    Seeing Nikaid¨­ approaching, Kaelith smiled. "Good afternoon. Are you an officer here?"

    A nearby squad member quickly added, "This is our Third Seat, Nikaid¨­ Takeshi!"

    Kaelith looked surprised. "My apologies... Do you know Nikaid¨­ Benimaru?" (t/n: Anyone caught that reference?)

    Nikaid¨­ Takeshi blinked, then shook his head. "Never heard of him..."

    Before he could finish, he abruptly shook his head again.

    "No, answer my question first!"

    "Kaelith, why are you making a scene in the Fifth Division?"

    Kaelith looked puzzled. "Isn''t it obvious? I''m looking for someone."

    Taking a deep breath, Nikaid¨­ felt his blood pressure rising.

    Does this guy have any sense of propriety?

    He said sternly, "This is the Fifth Division, not the Second Division."

    "Regardless of being the Captain-Commander''s disciple or an officer of the Second Division, you have no right to act freely here."

    "Kaelith, please leave!"

    Kaelith''s face turned displeased.

    Looking at the bespectacled man before him, he asked seriously, "Do you know how to make Rising Dragon Dumplings?"

    Nikaid¨­ Takeshi: "?"

    Kaelith continued, "Do you know how to make Golden Smile?"

    Nikaid¨­: "??"

    Seeing that the other didn''t know any of them, Kaelith chuckled smugly.

    After all, just a loser who couldn''t obtain a Special Chef license. As a prodigy in the culinary world and one of T¨­tsuki''s Elite Ten, he was simply on a different level.

    With a benevolent heart, he ignored Nikaid¨­ Takeshi and walked forward.

    He hadn''t taken two steps when his Shihakush¨­ was grabbed from behind.

    "Hey, you''re being unreasonable. A guy who isn''t even a Special Chef," Kaelith said impatiently.

    "You''re the one being unreasonable!" Nikaid¨­ couldn''t help but snap.

    As the two argued, a somewhat exasperated voice sounded.

    "Sorry, Third Seat Nikaid¨­. Please leave this guy to me."

    "Oh, Isosuke!"

    Seeing Aizen, who had appeared unnoticed, Kaelith''s eyes lit up.

    Nikaid¨­ frowned, about to say something.

    "Ah... That guy''s fine. Just let him be," another voice interjected.

    Hearing the voice, both Nikaid¨­ and Aizen turned to look.

    Not far away, on a rooftop, a blond man lazily lay sprawled out. He picked at his ear, shifted slightly, and glanced at his Third Seat.

    "Nikaid¨­, you probably don''t know yet... This guy is now the Captain-Commander''s appointed Special Operations Squad Captain, with Class-A authority."

    "Not just the Fifth Division¡ªeven the Noble District and the First Division¡ªhe can come and go as he pleases."

    As he spoke, Shinji Hirako grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

    Hearing this, Nikaid¨­ couldn''t help but widen his eyes.

    Special Operations Squad... Class-A authority?

    Is this Kaelith guy the Soul King''s illegitimate son or something?

    While he was stunned, Shinji slowly sat up and waved at Kaelith from a distance.

    "Yo, kid, are you a friend of this guy?" He nodded towards Aizen.

    Noticing Shinji''s attitude towards Aizen, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel a bit sympathetic.

    Captain Hirako, you''d better treat this guy more gently...

    Kaelith nodded. "Yes, we were roommates at the academy."

    Shinji chuckled. "Roommates at the academy... Still sticking together as Soul Reapers. You kids sure are inseparable."

    "If you''re that attached, how about I talk to Marenoshin and have you transfer to our division?"

    Kaelith laughed. "If Captain Hirako can persuade Yoruichi, I have no objections."

    "Uh..." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing this, Shinji wore a conflicted expression.

    He was terrible at dealing with women, especially ones like Yoruichi, who was clearly not to be trifled with.

    After a few moments of thought, he reluctantly gave up on the tempting proposal.

    Parting ways with Shinji Hirako, Kaelith and Aizen walked for a bit before returning to Aizen''s quarters.

    Once inside, Aizen cast a soundproofing Kid¨­, his demeanor shifting from somewhat timid to his usual calm.

    Watching Aizen''s instant transformation, Kaelith couldn''t help but raise his hand and lightly clap twice.

    Aizen glanced at him. "What''s up? Why did you suddenly come over?"

    Kaelith blinked.

    If he admitted that visiting the academy had stirred his feelings, prompting him to seek out an old friend, Aizen would probably tease him endlessly.

    He coughed and recounted his encounter with Senjumaru Shutara earlier that day.

    As Kaelith spoke, Aizen''s expression grew serious.

    "I didn''t expect you''d come into contact with the Royal Guard so soon..."

    "I secretly accessed the Great Spirit Book Gallery; the strength of that organization likely far exceeds our imagination."

    "According to the records, the Royal Guard consists of only four members, yet their combined power surpasses that of the entire Gotei 13!"

    Kaelith was surprised. "The Royal Guard has only four people?"

    According to Kirio Hikifune, these individuals didn''t reside in the Soul Society but in the Royal Palace high above.

    Just four people, living isolated in the heavens for tens of thousands of years or more¡ªit sounded like imprisonment.

    He suddenly felt a bit worried about Kirio Hikifune''s future.

    After explaining more about the Royal Guard, Aizen turned to Kaelith.

    "By the way, although you were a bit noisy, your timing is perfect."

    "Mentioning ''a bit noisy'' was unnecessary," Kaelith retorted.

    Aizen smirked slightly, not arguing the point.

    He continued, "I''m planning to conduct my first infiltration experiment into Hueco Mundo soon."

    "If you''re interested, you can join me."

    Hearing this, Kaelith''s eyes lit up.

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123

    Rukongai, South 80th District.

    This is the edge of the Soul Society.

    The space here is fragile and distorted, as if it could collapse at any moment.

    Because of the instability, Hollows often pass through the world''s barriers and come here.

    Almost no one comes to this place¡ªa literal no-man''s-land.

    At this moment, two youths wearing Shihakush¨­ stood quietly.

    "Are you ready?"

    Aizen, holding a machine, asked.

    Kaelith nodded. "Don''t worry, I''m fully prepared!"

    He carried a large backpack filled with water and food.

    Aizen didn''t know how to comment on Kaelith''s hoarding behavior.

    He lifted the machine in his hand and pressed it lightly a few times.

    An invisible wave of spiritual energy shot out from the device.

    When the spiritual fluctuation touched the air wall at the edge of the Soul Society, it emitted ripples.

    Before long, a pitch-black passage twisted open.

    "Let''s go!"

    Aizen took the lead and rushed into the passage.

    Kaelith followed closely.

    Although darkness surrounded them, Aizen seemed to know exactly where to go.

    Under his feet, a flat and wide path of Reishi continuously extended; Kaelith just needed to follow behind.

    It was very reassuring.

    As they ran, Aizen explained:

    "This is a spatial layer similar to the Dangai. You must continuously lay down a path of Reishi yourself. Running on it ensures you''re headed in the right direction."

    "If you recklessly use Shunpo or similar techniques, you''ll quickly lose your way and might never get out."

    "When you come here alone in the future, be sure to remember this."

    Kaelith nodded.

    He didn''t care much about Aizen''s warning.

    With Aizen Doraemon around, such minor issues would be solved sooner or later. Why worry himself? (t/n Doraemon is the blue cat thing from an anime (Aired for 26 years). Dont understand the reference though)

    He didn''t know how long they''d been running. Kaelith had nearly finished simulating new combat techniques in his mind when Aizen suddenly stopped.

    He lifted the machine in his hand again.

    A spatial gate slowly unfolded.

    Seeing the scene beyond the gate, Kaelith couldn''t help but exclaim.

    "We''ve arrived."

    As he spoke, Aizen lightly jumped to the other side of the gate.

    Kaelith followed closely.

    The moment he landed, the soft touch of sand came from under his feet.

    In front of him was an endless silver desert.

    A similarly silver crescent moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold light over this world.

    Apart from that, there was nothing else as far as the eye could see.

    Looking at the scene before him, Aizen felt a bit emotional.

    "Although I''ve already read about it in books, seeing the real thing still leaves me in awe."

    This was Hueco Mundo.

    Unlike Kaelith, who had "toured" it many times in his mind, this was Aizen''s first time seeing the true appearance of Hueco Mundo.

    Seeing Kaelith''s relatively calm demeanor, Aizen nodded almost imperceptibly.

    This friend of his, though often unreliable in daily life, could always keep his composure at critical moments.

    Under Aizen''s gaze, Kaelith squatted down and grabbed a handful of sand from the ground.

    Unlike the sand in the human world, the sand in Hueco Mundo was entirely composed of Reishi.

    This sand was incredibly fine and smooth, almost never sticking to the body.

    Even if it got into shoes or clothing, it would easily flow out with movement rather than cling.

    After thinking for a few seconds, he took out a bag and filled it with some sand.

    If this sand were made into stuffed toys or similar items, the texture would be fantastic.

    When the time came, he could make them into gifts for others.

    While Kaelith played with the sand, Aizen had already begun reconnaissance.

    He used various detection Kid¨­ one after another. Preemptive defensive Kid¨­ was also set up on himself.

    After finishing these preparations, he revealed a serious expression, slightly drew his Zanpakut¨­, and, after confirming everything was fine, nodded.

    Packing up the sand, Kaelith stood up, satisfied.

    "I''m ready. Which way should we go?"

    "Wait a moment."

    Aizen shook his head.

    "Kaelith, before we begin, I need to tell you something."

    Seeing Aizen looking as if he was about to reveal a shocking secret, Kaelith was taken aback.

    What''s going on... Is he going to tell me he''s planning to overthrow the Soul Society starting now?

    Aizen placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

    He didn''t hesitate much, seemingly having made up his mind long ago¡ª

    "Kaelith, before we set off, I want to tell you the true ability of my Shikai."

    "?!"

    Seeing Aizen''s hand on the hilt, Kaelith hurriedly waved his hands.

    "Wait, wait, wait!"

    Under Aizen''s somewhat puzzled gaze, he quickly said, "I think things haven''t reached an irreversible point!"

    "Let me think, what have I done recently to upset you..."

    "Ah, is it because I secretly ate the almond tofu you bought last time?"

    "That time, there were extenuating circumstances... I hadn''t eaten beforehand, my blood sugar was a bit low, so I couldn''t resist when I saw the dessert."

    Aizen: "..."

    He remembered that the almond tofu he had left in the dormitory, which he planned to enjoy slowly while researching, mysteriously disappeared when he was about to eat it.

    At the time, he thought he had absentmindedly eaten it while writing.

    So it was this bastard?

    Seeing Aizen silent, Kaelith broke out in a cold sweat.

    Was the almond tofu not the issue?

    Then...

    A few seconds later, his eyes lit up.

    "I know! Is it because last time during the swordsmanship competition, I secretly sawed your bamboo sword a bit, causing you to lose to me during the duel, so you''re angry?"

    Aizen: "?"

    He had always thought that the bamboo sword breaking at that time was due to poor maintenance by the equipment manager.

    Turns out, after all this, it was secretly sawed by this lunatic Kaelith? sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He took a deep breath, feeling his fists clench.

    As he struggled to maintain his composure, Kaelith suddenly seemed to think of something.

    "I got it!"

    Aizen was startled by his exclamation.

    Under his bewildered gaze, Kaelith extended his right fist and struck his left palm.

    "Is it because, among the batch of Rukongai experimental subjects you captured last time, I released a little girl, so you''re angry?"

    Aizen: "???"

    He previously thought there was a data error when he was capturing people.

    Turns out it was this guy who let her go?!

    This time, he really couldn''t help wanting to hit someone.

    Seeing Aizen''s face darken, Kaelith quickly said, "That little girl fainted as soon as she came into contact with your Reiatsu; she didn''t even see what you looked like... And she''s just an outer district resident of Rukongai, with no contact with Shinigami!"

    Aizen raised his hand to his forehead.

    He felt that sooner or later he''d suffer greatly because of this troublemaker.

    "Enough, we''ll talk about this nonsense later."

    He lowered his hand, stopping Kaelith from continuing to confess.

    "From now on, we might face fierce battles at any time. To avoid coordination problems, I will now tell you my Zanpakut¨­''s ability."

    "Listen carefully, my Zanpakut¨­ is called... Ky¨­ka Suigetsu!"

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, Aizen calmly explained the abilities of his Zanpakut¨­.

    He didn''t hide anything; it was basically the same as what Kaelith already knew.

    After speaking, Aizen looked at Kaelith.

    "You don''t seem very surprised."

    "So, you already had some understanding of my abilities before this?"

    Kaelith blinked innocently, as if he didn''t know what Aizen was talking about.

    Aizen chuckled softly.

    He patted the hilt of his sword. "In any case, if you don''t want to be caught by my Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, you need to be careful from now on. When you see me draw my sword, avert your gaze; don''t look at it."

    Kaelith raised his head arrogantly. "Mere illusions¡ªwhat do I, Kaelith, have to fear?"

    In the moment he was acting cool, he ruthlessly suppressed the memory of himself instinctively ducking and covering his head the first time he saw Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    Aizen nodded noncommittally.

    After explaining Ky¨­ka Suigetsu''s abilities, he prepared to move.

    But Kaelith called out to him.

    With a serious expression, Kaelith walked over.

    "S¨­suke, you''ve told me such an important thing; my heart is filled with emotion."

    "I''ve decided¡ªI should tell you something very important as well!"

    Aizen folded his hands in his sleeves and nodded casually. "Go ahead."

    Kaelith took a deep breath. "To be honest, rather than girls with bigger chests, I actually prefer girls with smaller ones."

    Aizen resisted the urge to kick him, so with his remaining willpower he ignored him and turned to leave.

    Kaelith hurriedly coughed.

    "I''m joking, just kidding."

    He grabbed Aizen and said:

    "S¨­suke, I still don''t know the name of my Zanpakut¨­."

    Aizen: "?"

    Under Aizen''s puzzled gaze, Kaelith briefly explained how, during the prison incident, he was besieged by two captain-level opponents and awakened his Zanpakut¨­''s powers.

    Hearing that Kaelith hadn''t obtained his Zanpakut¨­''s name yet directly gained its powers, Aizen couldn''t help but frown.

    How could that be?

    Since the birth of the Soul Society, there had never been a Shinigami who didn''t know their Zanpakut¨­''s name yet could wield its powers.

    Especially since Kaelith had awakened more than one ability.

    Was his Zanpakut¨­ doing charity work? Even without its name being known, it handed over all its powers?

    Even with his usual calmness, he couldn''t help but confirm again to ensure Kaelith wasn''t just talking nonsense.

    Confirming that Kaelith wasn''t joking, Aizen couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement.

    His intuition told him that Kaelith''s current situation had great potential.

    Perhaps it could provide new ideas and directions for his own research!

    Although he wanted to start researching immediately, the time and place weren''t appropriate.

    "Let''s capture the Hollows first; we''ll discuss it when we return to the Soul Society."

    With that, the two began to move in Hueco Mundo.

    ...

    In the vast silver desert, over a dozen Gillian-class Menos were quietly roaming.

    Standing tens of meters, even hundreds of meters tall, they were like giant whales swimming in the deep sea.

    Just seeing them from afar gave a strong sense of oppression.

    On a nearby dune, two youths wearing Shihakush¨­ exchanged glances.

    "You take the ones on the right; I''ll take the ones on the left. Leave the big one in the middle."

    Aizen drew his sword, his brown eyes filled with delight, staring intently at the large Hollow in the center.

    With his experience, this Hollow''s power had reached a critical point.

    If it continued to grow, it might break through its current level in a few decades and become an even more powerful being. This kind of Hollow was exactly what he needed now!

    As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from his spot with a Shunpo, charging into the group of Menos.

    On the other side, Kaelith did the same.

    He drew his sword and casually muttered a name.

    In the next second, black shadows stretching dozens of meters emerged from the white sands of Hueco Mundo.

    These shadows, as if alive, rampaged across the battlefield.

    In the blink of an eye, three or four Gillians were struck by the giant blades formed from the shadows, dissolving into countless particles of Reishi.

    As for Aizen, he simply swung a few arcs of sword pressure.

    This move was something Kaelith had learned from Yamamoto and later taught to him.

    Though not flashy, it was practical, and he quite liked it.

    Under the overwhelming strength of the two, these dozen or so Gillians didn''t even have a chance to resist before being forcibly taken down.

    Only one remained, letting out an enraged roar.

    It opened its huge mouth, a rotating red sphere gathering.

    Aizen had no intention of stopping its actions; he even watched with interest.

    The next second, a red beam blasted forth, fiercely aiming at him!

    Facing the Menos'' Cero, Aizen merely raised a hand and gently pushed forward.

    Boom!!!

    The incoming Cero seemed to hit an invisible wall, unable to advance any further.

    No Kid¨­ was used to block it¡ªjust pure Reiatsu suppression.

    The high-energy, high-speed Reishi blast dissipated into the air under the suppression of a stronger Reiatsu.

    After it had fully discharged its Cero, the Gillian was stunned. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Though it lacked reason, it still had instincts.

    This "little bug" before it was someone it couldn''t provoke!

    If it didn''t run quickly, it would be devoured!

    It twisted its hundred-meter-tall slender body, desperately turning in another direction.

    But as soon as it turned, it saw a demonic grin.

    Kaelith swung a specially made rope loop, securely binding the Gillian.

    Then, with a strong pull, he forcefully toppled the tall, dark figure to the ground.

    As the Gillian twisted and struggled, Aizen Shunpo''d to its head, pulled out a long needle from who-knows-where, and forcefully stabbed it through the gap in its white mask.

    Before long, the Gillian stopped struggling and went limp.

    Looking at his "handiwork," Aizen smiled.

    "Finally caught it."

    This was already the third time he and Kaelith had come to Hueco Mundo.

    Although it''s called Hueco Mundo, in most places it''s actually hard to find Hollows.

    Although they could catch a few decent Menos each time they came, encountering a top-tier Gillian on the verge of breaking through like today was still something to be happy about.

    After a brief handling, the two took the Gillian and quickly left Hueco Mundo, returning to the Soul Society.

    According to Aizen, if they didn''t process and seal it quickly, its freshness would be affected.

    Regarding this, Kaelith could only pray that Aizen wouldn''t bring this bizarre enthusiasm to compete with the top chefs for their livelihood...

    Shortly after the two left, four figures suddenly appeared here.

    Leading them was a golden short-haired, humanoid Hollow.

    As soon as she appeared, she looked around.

    The residual Reishi in the air, though deliberately concealed, still revealed that a battle had just taken place.

    "...They succeeded again, huh."

    She crossed her arms and frowned slightly.

    --------------

    T/n: To be honest, Grammarly sucks. It keeps giving wrong corrections.

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125

    At the Second Division training grounds.

    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Kaelith stood in the center of the arena, dressed in his Shihakush¨­.

    "...In conclusion! From this day forth, Kaelith is officially appointed as a member of the Second Division, an Onmitsukid¨­ operative, and a personal guard directly under the Corps Commander!"

    "Additionally, he will assume the position of Third Seat of the Second Division!"

    With Marenoshin ¨­maeda''s booming announcement, Kaelith transitioned from a Shin''¨­ Academy student to an official Shinigami of the Gotei 13.

    Although his appointment seemed like a "rocket promotion," none of the squad members were surprised.

    As part of the Onmitsukid¨­, they had a natural talent for intelligence gathering.

    Long before this day, they had heard countless tales of Kaelith''s impressive feats.

    If nothing else, his role as the examiner for the Ninth Division''s new captain was proof enough of his abilities.

    For someone of his caliber, being directly placed as a Vice-Captain wouldn''t have been unreasonable. Third Seat? That was barely worth mentioning.

    The Gotei 13 valued strength over seniority.

    Especially in these turbulent times for the Soul Society, the more capable individuals like Kaelith who could be parachuted into positions, the better.

    Among the crowd, Soifon clapped expressionlessly, though she had a strong urge to punch Kaelith.

    Last night, this guy had dragged Lady Yoruichi out drinking and hadn¡¯t returned all night.

    If it weren¡¯t for her quick thinking¡ªheading out before dawn to search the usual places¡ªthey might not have had been here for either the star of today¡¯s ceremony or its witness present.

    Meanwhile, Kisuke Urahara genuinely smiled and applauded for Kaelith.

    Now that this guy had an official Shinigami job, Urahara figured Kaelith wouldn¡¯t have as much time to squeeze him dry.

    The thought of finally escaping the hell of game console development made Urahara beam with joy.

    That joy lasted until the evening.

    As the sun set, Urahara stretched, ready to enjoy a hearty meal at the mess hall.

    Halfway there, he was intercepted by an Onmitsukid¨­ operative.

    "Kisuke Urahara, you have new orders."

    Hearing this, Urahara straightened and adopted a serious demeanor.

    "From this day forth, Kisuke Urahara is relieved of his duties overseeing trainee squads and reassigned as a member directly under Third Seat Kaelith."

    "All actions will be under Third Seat Kaelith''s command."

    "That is all."

    After delivering the orders, the Onmitsukid¨­ operative nodded and disappeared.

    Kisuke Urahara: "..."

    Watching the direction the operative vanished, Urahara collapsed to his knees like a defeated boxer, unable to rise.

    ---

    Although officially a member of the Second Division and a Shinigami, Kaelith felt his life hadn¡¯t changed much.

    Thanks to Yoruichi¡¯s indulgence, his workload was light.

    Most of his time was spent sparring and training with Yoruichi in the Second Division.

    In their free time, they¡¯d head to Rukongai for drinks.

    After drinking, they¡¯d team up to prank Soifon.

    Life was harmonious.

    When not in the Second Division, Kaelith was usually with Aizen.

    Whether it was having someone to share research with or the excellent materials brought back from Hueco Mundo, Aizen¡¯s experiments were progressing at an astonishing pace.

    Just the other day, Aizen finalized an experimental conclusion.

    By integrating modified Hollow Reishi, a Shinigami''s strength could be significantly enhanced.

    This had already been tested on over thirty rebellious Shinigami, with remarkable results.

    Weaker individuals could leap from ordinary Shinigami to lower-ranked seated officers.

    Stronger individuals could even jump from mid-ranked officers to high-ranking ones.

    The only downside was that the process was irreversible.

    So far, all Shinigami who underwent the enhancement eventually experienced uncontrollable Reishi destruction, ultimately losing their sanity and strangling themselves in the incubation tanks. The sight was unsettling even for someone like Kaelith.

    Lately, Aizen had been fully engrossed in uncovering the mystery, to the point where he had even put aside studying Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­.

    Recalling the anime¡¯s lore about the H¨­gyoku, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but look at Aizen with sympathy.

    If things went as expected, Aizen would fail to solve the problem of Hollowfication on his own. All this effort would ultimately be in vain.

    But on second thought, Kaelith found it understandable.

    Scientific research was built on layers of futile efforts.

    The process itself was often the true treasure for the researcher.

    Aizen, no doubt, found joy in the journey.

    Compared to Kaelith¡¯s leisurely life, the Soul Society was in turmoil.

    After the death of his grandson, Senzo Tsunayashiro had completely lost his mind.

    At the Central 46 meeting, he desperately tried to rally neutral noble families to exact vengeance on the Kuchiki family.

    However, the Kuchikis had been well-prepared, rendering his efforts futile.

    Seemingly overwhelmed by grief, Senzo abandoned diplomatic measures.

    Under his orders, rogue swordsmen defying the Gotei 13 began appearing across the Soul Society like mushrooms after the rain.

    Yamamoto immediately dispatched teams to suppress the unrest.

    But the Soul Society was vast.

    The East, South, West, and North each had eighty districts.

    Even if each district were the size of a small town, together they formed an enormous entity.

    With only four to five thousand Shinigami, it was impossible to manage everything.

    To say nothing of Aizen''s lab in the 79th District of the West, which had remained unnoticed for so long¡ªit was a testament to the lax governance of Rukongai.

    Amid the waves of rebel attacks, Rukongai descended into chaos.

    Even districts that had previously been relatively peaceful began enforcing curfews.

    The Second Division naturally bore the brunt of the turmoil.

    Seriously injured comrades were brought together for treatment within the Second Division.

    Those who couldn¡¯t be handled there were sent to the Fourth Division.

    Kaelith personally led several groups to deliver injured operatives to the Fourth Division.

    Seeing the Onmitsukid¨­ members lying on stretchers, their bodies mutilated and bleeding, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but frown.

    At this rate, the entire Soul Society would fall into disorder.

    After pondering for a long time, he turned and left.

    ---

    "Sensei!!!!"

    A loud voice rang out in the First Division barracks.

    Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe¡¯s eye twitched, his blood pressure rising slightly before gradually subsiding.

    He was used to it. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Inside the barracks, Yamamoto was holding a brush, writing on a sheet of paper.

    Seeing Kaelith rush in, Yamamoto frowned.

    "Fool! How many times must I tell you to conduct yourself with composure?"

    Kaelith shook his head, ignoring the remark.

    He rushed up to Yamamoto, his expression serious.

    "Sensei, I have an earnest suggestion."

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s puzzled gaze, Kaelith raised a thumb.

    "In my observation, Senzo Tsunayashiro is definitely plotting some massive conspiracy!"

    His expression grew grave as he made a throat-slitting gesture with his thumb.

    "To prevent being caught off guard, why don¡¯t we just take action and finish him off first?"

    Yamamoto: "???"

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126

    "Break, Yamamoto''s Right Hand!!"

    Kaelith raised his Zanpakut¨­ high; black shadows surged from the blade, instantly piercing four swordsmen.

    Even in death, the four wore expressions of astonishment.

    "What the hell is this?"

    "A release command?"

    "You''ve got to be kidding me?!"

    After taking down four people with one strike, Kaelith flicked his sword, shaking off the nonexistent blood.

    At this moment, he was the coldest swordsman in the Soul Society.

    Seeing Kaelith easily dispatch the opposing leader, the Shinigami behind him all showed excited expressions.

    Everyone raised their swords, displaying a pure tribal warfare spirit, and charged into the enemy ranks, slashing wildly.

    Kaelith moved among the crowd, occasionally finding the more capable opponents and taking them down personally.

    Not far away was a residential area of Rukongai.

    The Shinigami responsible for protecting this place had all been killed by the rebels.

    These rebels seemed to have lost their sanity; Kaelith was beginning to not understand their purpose.

    It seemed their greatest joy now was attacking Shinigami everywhere, creating chaos.

    At this critical moment, Kaelith suddenly had a flash of great wisdom.

    He found Yamamoto and presented a brilliant plan¡ª

    "Regardless of what conspiracy the Tsunayashiro family has, let''s just charge in directly and eliminate them; wouldn''t that solve everything?"

    Unfortunately, his supreme plan only earned him a punch to the stomach from Yamamoto.

    "Fool! If the Gotei 13 all thought like you, we wouldn''t be a protection squad¡ªwe''d be an assassin group!"

    Standing over Kaelith''s "corpse," Yamamoto transformed into a master debater, delivering a barrage of words.

    Finally, the old man flicked his sleeve:

    "In war, what''s most important?"

    "Justice!"

    "You, boy, with your mind only on fighting and killing, how can you talk about foresight?!"

    The "corpse" got up and asked in confusion, "So, does that mean you have a plan, sir?"

    Yamamoto stroked his beard.

    Then, he calmly said, "The rebels are like candles in the wind¡ªnothing to worry about."

    Recalling the strong confidence Yamamoto exuded when he said this, Kaelith felt that this time things should be stable.

    After all, Yamamoto was a wily old fox who had lived for over two thousand years; could he still mess up at a critical moment?

    Soon, this battlefield was cleaned up.

    Most of the rebels were bundled up by the Second Division and taken back to Seireitei to await punishment.

    Those who had died were casually buried in nearby pits.

    In a few days, these corpses would dissipate, turning into Reishi and returning to the Soul Society.

    When handling the corpses, Kaelith personally kicked many bodies into the pits.

    He also personally completed the task of filling the pits.

    Seeing this newly appointed Third Seat willing to lower himself like this, the team members couldn''t help but feel touched.

    The diligent leader, Kaelith, stood by the pit he had filled, confirming that the rebel experts he had buried were alive and well, and nodded in satisfaction.(t/n; Wait... is he saving them for Aizen as experimental subjects?)

    Tonight, he planned to find Aizen and have him help analyze what exactly Yamamoto was plotting.

    As a Shinigami of the new era who understands etiquette and promotes civility, he naturally knew that when seeking help from others, one must first offer something.

    These rebel experts were all excellent experimental materials; they should be able to pry open Aizen''s mouth.

    Thinking of this, Kaelith raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a confident smile.

    ...

    "Capturing materials in Hueco Mundo; won''t return soon. Do not disturb unless necessary."

    In Aizen''s laboratory in West Rukongai, Kaelith looked at the encrypted message on the screen and fell silent. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Returning to the Second Division that evening, he doubled Kisuke Urahara''s workload.

    On the third day after Aizen''s departure, Kaelith finally knew what had happened.

    Accompanied by the cool morning air, the sound of wooden plaques being struck echoed throughout Seireitei. Each division suddenly received orders.

    They were to lead the elite Shinigami in their squads to their respective jurisdictions to ensure the security of Seireitei.

    Priority level: Class A!

    As the home of the Onmitsukid¨­, the Second Division was no exception.

    Amid the noisy personnel movements, Kaelith rubbed his hair and found the busy Marenoshin ¨­maeda.

    "Uncle Marenoshin, what''s going on?"

    "Don''t tell me some Ryoka have invaded?"

    Upon hearing this, Marenoshin ¨­maeda couldn''t help but shiver.

    He quickly waved his hand. "Don''t talk nonsense, don''t talk nonsense!"

    "If anything goes wrong at a time like this, we''ll be in big trouble!"

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, he bent down and lowered his voice:

    "The Central 46 is holding an emergency meeting to discuss a major event!"

    "I heard it''s at the Kuchiki family''s request!"

    "The Kuchiki family?"

    Kaelith was slightly stunned.

    At this time, the Kuchiki family suddenly requested a Central 46 meeting... There''s something going on here.

    As he pondered, Marenoshin ¨­maeda had already skillfully organized the personnel.

    Following Marenoshin, Kaelith arrived at his jurisdiction.

    Outside the grand conference hall of the Central 46.

    Massive Sekkiseki stone walls enclosed the entire venue tightly.

    Many Shinigami from various divisions were already guarding vigilantly.

    Among them was the new captain of the Third Division, R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi.

    Seeing Kaelith, the handsome blond man showed a relieved expression.

    The atmosphere here was too oppressive; he hadn''t been a captain for long and wasn''t used to it.

    He hurried over.

    "Long time no see, Comander Kaelith..."

    Kaelith waved his hand. "I''m just a second-line veteran now; I no longer have that title."

    R¨­j¨±r¨­ scratched his head with a smile. "Habit, habit."

    Seeing their captain proactively going over to greet the Third Seat of another division, the Third Division members couldn''t help but have complex expressions.

    Kaelith couldn''t help but look at the towering, pure white stone wall standing nearby.

    Even with his current strength, standing so close to the Sekkiseki stone made him feel somewhat constrained.

    "If this thing could be made into a weapon, would it have the same effect as Sea Prism Stone in that other show?"

    Thinking of this, he couldn''t help but become a bit curious.

    While his thoughts wandered, the first batch of noble entourages arrived.

    Under the gaze of the Shinigami, a long procession slowly approached from afar.

    The grand, parade-like formation fully showcased the extravagance and heritage of the nobles.

    "All show and no substance, all show and no substance."

    Kaelith curled his lips and shook his head repeatedly.

    Standing behind him, Soifon hurriedly whispered, "Lord Kaelith, please don''t speak!"

    "These are the great nobles who can enter the Central 46 meetings; for a Shinigami like you from Rukongai, even if you''re the Head Captain''s disciple, speaking recklessly won''t end well!"

    Just as Kaelith was about to say something, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.

    "Absolutely right. I''ve long said that this kind of ostentatious display should be discarded, but no one ever listened."

    Hearing Yoruichi''s familiar voice, Kaelith smiled and turned to look.

    Then his eyes almost popped out.

    Yoruichi was standing there in a luxurious kimono.

    Anyone unaware might think she was a princess escaping from a historical drama...

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127

    Looking at the girl standing before him, Kaelith couldn''t help but be a bit surprised.

    Yoruichi was wearing a luxurious, wide-sleeved kimono.

    On the dark fabric, the half-moon family crest of the Shih¨­in clan was embroidered in golden thread.

    Her hair was pinned up and adorned with several golden hairpins.

    A bit of her dark skin peeked out from the collar of the white undergarment.

    Although they''d soaked in hot springs together countless times and he''d seen her in various states, the little glimpse revealed now seemed particularly alluring.

    Kaelith was fine, but beside him, Soifon''s face was flushed red.

    Seeing Kaelith''s expression, Yoruichi chuckled.

    "What''s the matter? Mesmerized?"

    "A little bit," Kaelith nodded.

    Yoruichi touched her chin thoughtfully. "Then it seems this outfit isn''t entirely useless after all..."

    Hearing their conversation, Marenoshin ¨­maeda couldn''t help but break into a sweat. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If the elders of the Shih¨­in clan knew that the luxurious kimono symbolizing the head of the family was being used like this, they''d probably faint from anger.

    Kaelith reached out and adjusted Yoruichi''s kimono collar, lowering his voice. "What''s going on? Why is the Central 46 suddenly holding a meeting?"

    Yoruichi was momentarily stunned. "Huh? You don''t know yet?"

    Before Kaelith could answer, she seemed to realize something, showing sudden understanding.

    Looking at him, Yoruichi pondered, "Kaelith, the Captain-Commander really does like you."

    "What do you mean by that?"

    "He was afraid your brain would overload, so he didn''t dare tell you the plan in advance."

    "?"

    Kaelith felt he couldn''t stand it.

    In the entire Soul Society, the only ones who could match his intellect were Aizen and Kisuke.

    If old man Yamamoto had a plan, how could he not discuss it with him in advance?

    This cat woman was truly hateful for trying to sow discord.

    Next time they soaked in the hot springs, he''d have to teach her a good lesson.

    Just as he was about to retort, Kaelith suddenly realized something.

    "Wait, are you saying that this Central 46 meeting has something to do with the old man?"

    In his impression, Yamamoto and the nobles had always kept to their own affairs.

    Even when things got intense, Yamamoto never had direct conflicts with them.

    It was clear that the old man had decided not to get involved in the nobles'' petty affairs for the rest of his life.

    Let alone attending a Central 46 meeting, the highest level of power struggle.

    No matter how he thought about it, it couldn''t be related to Yamamoto.

    Just as Yoruichi was about to say something, she saw several elders wearing kimonos with the Shih¨­in family crest rushing over anxiously.

    "Lady Head!"

    "Please, you mustn''t be impolite! Return to the carriage at once!"

    "Lady Yoruichi!!"

    Seeing them, Yoruichi showed a pained expression.

    She sighed and then smiled again. "Kaelith, I''ll go in first; we''ll talk more later."

    "Don''t worry, at least today, nothing will happen."

    Watching Yoruichi walk into the Sekkiseki stone gate, Kaelith stroked his chin.

    The Kuchiki family initiated the meeting, and his own teacher was involved...

    He needed to seriously analyze this.

    He beckoned to a Second Division member and whispered a few words.

    Shortly after, the member brought Kisuke Urahara over.

    Seeing Kisuke, Kaelith showed a friendly smile and put his arm around his shoulder.

    "Kisuke, come, let me test you. How do you see the current situation?"

    Kisuke Urahara blinked. "Huh?"

    He had been peacefully at his post when suddenly an Onmitsukid¨­ member rushed over, saying the Third Seat had an urgent matter and he must come immediately. Hearing this, he thought Kaelith had been assassinated and was eager to leave a last message.

    And this was it?

    Kisuke was quite disappointed.

    As he zoned out, he felt a choking pressure around his neck.

    "Wait, wait a minute... If you want me to analyze, at least give me some information first!"

    Kisuke widened his eyes and stuck out his tongue, hurriedly patting Kaelith''s arm.

    "Oh," Kaelith uttered, suddenly realizing.

    He pulled Kisuke aside and began whispering.

    Watching the two, Soifon''s expression was complicated, sweat forming on her brow.

    After listening to Kaelith''s explanation, Kisuke slightly frowned.

    He looked around to ensure no one was listening, then whispered, "Kaelith, this is clearly a frontal assault."

    "Assault? Attack where?"

    "Not attacking somewhere, but an assault on the level of ''justice''!"

    Kisuke skillfully interrupted him. "Right now, although the Tsunayashiro family is causing a lot of trouble, their overall strength is actually far inferior to the Kuchiki family."

    "After all, Captain-Commander Yamamoto has always maintained a neutral stance, not intervening in the nobles'' disputes."

    "But now it''s different... According to what you said, the Captain-Commander has clearly taken the side of the Kuchiki family."

    "This way, the situation between the Kuchiki and Tsunayashiro families has instantly reversed; the roles of offense and defense have changed!"

    "If the Kuchiki family didn''t have a decisive blow, they could have dragged this out, and eventually, the Tsunayashiro would be exhausted."

    "Since the Kuchiki family chose to act, it means they believe they''re at a complete advantage."

    "I can even boldly speculate that they''ve roped in enough nobles to control the votes in the Central 46."

    "With this card in hand, the Kuchiki family can now lead this war!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith tilted his head. "You''re giving the Central 46 too much credit; controlling them can lead a war?"

    Kisuke replied, "Of course. The Central 46''s orders are absolute in the Soul Society."

    "As long as they declare the Tsunayashiro family as rebels, unfit to continue as one of the Five Great Noble Clans, their million-year foundation would collapse instantly!"

    Kaelith scratched his head. "Then why not just kill all the voters who oppose you?"

    Kisuke''s eyes widened in horror, and he quickly checked to see if anyone was around. "Kaelith, if you want to die, don''t drag me with you..."

    He wiped cold sweat from his brow, feeling like he''d seen a ghost.

    This guy really dares to say anything.

    He always thought he was quite unconventional, but compared to Kaelith, he was a model citizen!

    But coming back to his senses, he suddenly felt that Kaelith''s proposal was quite tempting.

    If the Central 46 is unreliable, then make them reliable?

    The moment this thought emerged, Kisuke shuddered.

    He quickly shook his head, pushing the thought out of his mind.

    Such dangerous ideas were unacceptable, absolutely not...

    As for Kaelith, he couldn''t help but feel happy.

    "So according to this, the Tsunayashiro family''s end has come."

    "Peaceful days of slacking off are about to begin!"

    Hearing this, Kisuke slightly frowned.

    "No... I don''t think so."

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128

    Hearing Kisuke Urahara''s words, Kaelith looked at him quizzically.

    "Didn''t you just say that the Kuchiki family and Sensei had joined forces and already held an absolute advantage? Why are you changing your tune now?"

    Kisuke gently shook his head.

    "I''m not changing my tune; it''s just that the opponent isn''t someone you can reason about with common sense."

    "In fact, what I just said was very basic speculation¡ªanyone with a bit of intelligence could think of it."

    "So, we have to assume that the Tsunayashiro family has also realized this."

    "Kaelith, please consider: knowing they''ve fallen into an absolute disadvantage, how would the Tsunayashiro family react?"

    Hearing this, Kaelith glared at him. "You think I wouldn''t know? Aren''t I testing you right now?"

    Kisuke: "..."

    After two seconds of silence, he sighed and said, "Barring any surprises, there are three possibilities."

    "First, the Tsunayashiro family might have already anticipated this and prepared countermeasures."

    "For example... they might have reached agreements with those fence-sitting nobles, having them pretend to side with the Kuchiki but betray them at a critical moment."

    Kaelith was startled. "Wouldn''t that spell disaster?"

    Kisuke hurriedly waved his hand. "It''s just speculation; we can''t take it seriously. Actually, this possibility is quite low... The old patriarch of the Kuchiki family is quite shrewd; how could he be so easily deceived?"

    "That''s hard to say..."

    Kaelith showed a somewhat complicated expression.

    "The second possibility is that the Tsunayashiro family is prepared to fight to the death. If the final meeting results are unfavorable to them, they''ll just flip the table."

    Hearing this, Kaelith laughed. "That would be great; then the old man can take action and finish them off."

    "Yes," Kisuke nodded. "So this possibility is also low."

    "The most likely is actually the third possibility."

    Looking at the Sekkiseki stone gate not far away, he showed a worried expression.

    "I''ve learned a bit about the Central 46''s meeting procedures."

    "For this kind of highest-level meeting, they usually last three days."

    "In these three days, if the Tsunayashiro family can use underhanded tactics to disrupt the situation the Kuchiki family has established, they can naturally resolve the crisis."

    Kaelith folded his arms, nodding occasionally.

    Upon hearing this, he suddenly paused.

    Disrupt the situation... What''s the simplest way?

    Naturally, it''s to win over the opponent''s major supporters or to bring them down.

    On the Kuchiki side, who is the most vulnerable major supporter?

    Undoubtedly, it''s the Shih¨­in family.

    Thinking of this, he looked at Kisuke appreciatively.

    "Well done, Kisuke."

    "As expected of one of the only two men in the Soul Society who can match me in wisdom. Your analysis is excellent!"

    Kisuke wiped his sweat and said, "If you really want to thank me, could you remove that title from me?"

    "Ah, don''t be so modest." Kaelith patted his shoulder. "Don''t worry, when you''re being hunted by the Soul Society in the future, I''ll save your life." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kisuke: "?"

    "Well, thank you very much....I think"

    ---

    "Sensei! Sensei!! I have important information!!"

    In the Captain-Commander''s study within the First Division barracks, Yamamoto was quietly meditating when he heard a voice that made his blood pressure rise.

    He opened his eyes and looked around the room.

    Good grief, by the timing, Kaelith had just finished his shift and already came to bother him.

    What did he do to deserve this?

    Under his annoyed gaze, Kaelith opened the door and walked in quickly. "Old man, I''ve figured out your plan!"

    Hearing this, Yamamoto was slightly stunned.

    Under his somewhat surprised gaze, Kaelith, with an air of mystery and wisdom, repeated the analysis he had just heard from Kisuke Urahara.

    "...In conclusion, Yoruichi is now in danger; we must do something!"

    After saying it all in one breath, Kaelith couldn''t help feeling a bit thirsty.

    He looked around, and spotted Yamamoto''s teapot, his eyes lit up, and reached out mischievously.

    Slap!

    Before he could touch the teapot, Yamamoto''s cane smacked his hand away.

    Yamamoto sat there, looking at him strangely.

    "What you just said¡ªdid you come up with that yourself?"

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that, Sensei? This is just basic reasoning; it didn''t even take me a cup of tea''s time to figure it all out... I''m really thirsty; let me have a sip."

    As he spoke, he once again reached out, grabbed Yamamoto''s teapot, poured a cup for Yamamoto first, then poured himself a cup, and happily sipped.

    Yamamoto''s eyes were full of doubt.

    His foolish disciple suddenly using his brain so effectively made him feel a bit unaccustomed.

    Picking up the tea Kaelith had poured, he took a small sip.

    Then, he slowly said:

    "I didn''t expect you to think of all this."

    "Indeed, the path of education is full of surprises; even you have moments of inspiration occasionally."

    Kaelith: "?"

    Putting down the teacup, Yamamoto chuckled.

    "Boy, you think I wouldn''t think of these things?"

    "Even if you didn''t come to me, I was about to look for you."

    Under Kaelith''s somewhat surprised gaze, Yamamoto said calmly, "Since this morning, I''ve already arranged for two people to protect Yoruichi Shih¨­in."

    "Just in terms of strength, these two are more than enough to ensure Yoruichi Shih¨­in''s safety."

    "However, considering that Yoruichi is a woman, and the protection work might have some gaps because of this, I''ve included you as well."

    "If there are situations where those two are inconvenient for close protection, you must take responsibility to ensure Yoruichi Shih¨­in''s safety. Do you understand?"

    Kaelith couldn''t help but be surprised. "Such a flawless plan?"

    "I haven''t been Captain-Commander for these few thousand years for nothing."

    Seeing Kaelith''s somewhat shocked and admiring gaze, Yamamoto was in a great mood.

    Among his three students, only one was a good person but sickly; the other two were all scoundrels.

    Usually, to make Kaelith listen, he had to rely on his fists.

    Rarely did he get the chance to win with wisdom; how delightful!

    As Yamamoto was enjoying himself, Kaelith suddenly thought of something.

    "Old man, besides me, who are the other two in the protection team?"

    If Yamamoto arranged two weaklings, and something really happened, not only would they be of no help¡ªthey''d be a burden¡ªthat would be really troublesome.

    Seemingly guessing Kaelith''s thoughts, Yamamoto directly said two names.

    "Shunsui Ky¨­raku and K¨­ga Kuchiki!"

    Now, Kaelith was completely at ease.

    One top-tier captain, one master illusionist¡ªwith these two, not to mention Yoruichi, even if they were protecting a vase, it would be foolproof.

    However, just in case, after leaving the First Division, he returned to his quarters and brought along the various tools he had previously swiped from Aizen.

    Just as he gathered his things and was about to leave, a sentence Aizen had once said suddenly flashed through his mind.

    Thinking of that sentence, Kaelith stopped in his tracks.

    An eerie chill crept over him...

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129

    "Not happy!"

    In Rukongai, at the Ky¨­goku House, Yoruichi was wearing her Shihakush¨­, tilting her head back to down a cup of sake.

    "After all, I''m the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukid¨­ and the Corps Commander of the Punishment Force. Logically, I should be the one protecting others¡ªso how did I become the one being protected?"

    As she complained, she extended her cup toward Kaelith.

    Kaelith picked up the sake flask and poured her another cup.

    He consoled her, "Look at it this way... Besides those titles, you''re also a great noble of the Soul Society."

    "Isn''t it typical for nobles to hide in safe places and enjoy themselves? So you''re just fitting your role."

    Yoruichi: "?"

    Her blood pressure spiked.

    After pouring Yoruichi''s drink, Kaelith refilled his own cup.

    Taking a light sip, he squinted his eyes, showing a satisfied expression.

    "Don''t dwell on it. How old are you anyway? Not even a hundred, right?"

    "Others at your age are still playing house, but you''re already a vice-captain-level expert."

    "I guarantee that in another two or three hundred years, you''ll definitely be one of the strongest captains in the Soul Society!"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi first flashed a proud smile.

    But immediately after, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes.

    "If someone else said that, it might be a bit convincing."

    "But you¡ªyou''re younger than me and stronger than me. Saying that is just asking for resentment."

    Kaelith shook his head. "It''s just that my substitute is strong; my true self is pretty average."

    Yoruichi snorted with a laugh.

    Kaelith was about to say something else but suddenly stopped.

    Gently finishing his cup of sake, he set it down.

    Then, he grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

    ---

    Not far away, on the rooftop of another tavern, Shunsui Ky¨­raku adjusted his straw hat.

    "Oh dear, watching others drink while I have to stay here¡ªthis is practically punishment."

    "K¨­ga-kun, don''t you agree?"

    Beside him, K¨­ga Kuchiki stood silently.

    Hearing this, K¨­ga shook his head.

    "My mission is to protect Yoruichi Shih¨­in."

    "Since I''ve accepted the task, I must complete it properly."

    "Enjoyment is not my desire."

    Shunsui just smiled.

    He was never good at dealing with such overly serious personalities.

    Suddenly, K¨­ga looked at him.

    "Captain Ky¨­raku, if you want to have some sake, please go ahead. I can handle things here."

    Upon hearing this, Shunsui''s eyes lit up.

    But then he sighed and waved his hand. "Nah, if Old Man Yama finds out, I''ll be in trouble again."

    For some reason, in recent months, the old man''s temper had noticeably worsened.

    Clearly, over the past two or three hundred years, his temper had improved, but lately, it''s reverted to how it used to be.

    They say that in the World of the Living, humans become temperamental in middle age¡ªis Old Man Yama just experiencing a delayed reaction?

    As he mused over these trivial thoughts, K¨­ga approached him. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s alright; I won''t report to the Captain-Commander."

    Half of his face was hidden behind a red floral veil.

    His exposed eyes seemed to hold a certain resolve.

    Shunsui chuckled. "Well, I appreciate the thought, but it''s okay."

    "Despite how I may seem, I know how to prioritize when it counts."

    "Is that so." K¨­ga nodded and said no more.

    The two fell into silence.

    A gust of wind blew past them.

    At the moment the last wisp of wind departed, K¨­ga suddenly drew his sword without warning.

    Countless hours of practicing his sword-drawing technique made his movements so fast they seemed like illusions. The unsheathed blade traced a cold silver arc, instantly reaching Shunsui''s neck.

    Just as he was about to be beheaded, Shunsui raised his hand.

    At some point, he had also drawn his sword.

    Holding his blade in a reverse grip, it extended from beneath his cherry-colored cloak. With a clang, it blocked K¨­ga''s strike.

    Sparks burst brilliantly where the blades met!

    Seeing his attack blocked, K¨­ga was not surprised.

    Though it was a sneak attack, he never thought he could take down the renowned Shunsui Ky¨­raku in a single move.

    However, Shunsui''s lack of surprise¡ªas if he''d anticipated the attack¡ªleft him a bit puzzled.

    "Captain Ky¨­raku, you don''t seem surprised," K¨­ga said as he pressed his sword toward Shunsui''s neck.

    Shunsui''s face was hidden in the shadow of his straw hat, like a predator lurking in a cave, quietly observing him.

    Gazing at the blade so close to him, Shunsui sighed.

    "Kaelith told me you might be a problem and that I should be careful. At the time, I thought he was overthinking."

    "I didn''t expect things to turn out just as he predicted."

    "As his senior, I''m feeling a bit embarrassed."

    "Kaelith?"

    A hint of astonishment flashed in K¨­ga''s eyes.

    He hadn''t expected it to be that guy.

    He had a strong impression of Kaelith.

    Initially, through his interactions with Kaelith, he thought they might share common ground.

    In terms of strength, background, and experiences, they were quite similar.

    But once that guy learned about Muramasa''s abilities, he began to fear him like everyone else, avoiding him.

    Even more obviously than others.

    Just like... his father-in-law!

    Thinking of this, K¨­ga took a deep breath, his Reiatsu becoming slightly unstable.

    Seizing the opportunity, Shunsui skillfully broke free and put some distance between them.

    Looking at K¨­ga standing there, he asked curiously:

    "Lord Kuchiki, by doing this, have you defected to the Tsunayashiro family?"

    "You bear the Kuchiki name... and you killed the Tsunayashiro family''s heir."

    "Do you still hope for reconciliation with the Tsunayashiro family?"

    Last night, Kaelith had suddenly approached him, telling him that K¨­ga Kuchiki might be a problem and that he should be cautious.

    When he asked Kaelith why, Kaelith didn''t explain, only saying that it was a secret.

    He pondered over it all night but couldn''t make sense of it.

    Although K¨­ga was an adopted son-in-law, his treatment was no different from that of a biological son.

    The Kuchiki family had cultivated him with utmost dedication.

    Various resources and opportunities¡ªanything they could provide, they did without hesitation.

    Defecting to the Tsunayashiro family wouldn''t grant him such treatment under any circumstances.

    Moreover, he had personally killed Senzo Tsunayashiro''s heir.

    Such deep hatred¡ªit wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say they couldn''t coexist.

    What hidden truth was there?

    Hearing Shunsui''s words, K¨­ga chuckled softly.

    "Bearing the Kuchiki name?"

    "In the eyes of outsiders like you, perhaps that''s true."

    "But in reality, does the Kuchiki family truly consider me one of them?"

    "Has Father ever trusted me, even a little?"

    Shunsui showed a look of surprise.

    Then, under his gaze, K¨­ga raised his sword.

    "Whisper, Muramasa!"

    ---------------------

    T/N: Do you think if Kaelith didn''t refuse at that time K¨­ga would not have defected?

 Chapter 130

    Chapter 130

    "Whisper, Muramasa!"

    As K¨­ga Kuchiki uttered the release command, Shunsui''s expression changed.

    He leaped backward, attempting to increase the distance between them.

    But before he could act, invisible purple threads had already made contact with his body.

    In an instant, he felt his Zanpakut¨­ begin to stir restlessly.

    The twin swords that had always obeyed his will suddenly became unfamiliar.

    The two blades, along with his arms, moved involuntarily, aiming to strike his own body!

    "Oh dear... this is quite troublesome."

    Although he was aware of Muramasa''s abilities, experiencing it firsthand gave Shunsui an indescribable eerie feeling.

    The Zanpakut¨­ that had accompanied him for centuries was turning against him.

    He suddenly widened his eyes, unleashing a powerful Reiatsu.

    Instantly, an overwhelming tidal wave of spiritual pressure enveloped the area for several kilometers around them.

    The air trembled violently!

    Under his immense Reiatsu, Muramasa''s influence significantly weakened.

    Although his twin swords were still somewhat unresponsive, they no longer had the aggressive intent from before.

    K¨­ga stood quietly, observing the scene before him.

    Feeling the viscous, almost liquid Reiatsu surrounding him, he slowly said:

    "As expected of Captain Ky¨­raku¡ªyou can forcibly suppress my abilities with Reiatsu alone."

    "Indeed, relying solely on my Shikai''s power, I cannot defeat a strong opponent like you."

    Hearing this, Shunsui''s pupils contracted.

    Under his gaze, K¨­ga slowly exhaled¡ª

    "Bankai."

    Boom!!!!

    A massive surge of Reiatsu burst forth from K¨­ga.

    The air quaked once again.

    K¨­ga''s Reiatsu and Shunsui''s Reiatsu clashed like two armies battling fiercely between heaven and earth.

    "Bankai: Muj¨­ch¨­k¨­ Muramasa!!"

    K¨­ga raised his Zanpakut¨­ high.

    As he moved, the spirit of his Zanpakut¨­¡ªdressed in a white coat¡ªemerged from the blade.

    Upon appearing, Muramasa looked at the twin Zanpakut¨­ held by Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    "Rebels, awaken."

    The moment he spoke, the Zanpakut¨­ in Shunsui''s hands suddenly stopped trembling...

    ---

    Boom!!!!

    A window of the Ky¨­goku House suddenly exploded.

    A figure was flung out of the window, tracing a long arc before crashing onto the street below.

    Nearby residents screamed in terror, scattering in all directions.

    Inside the tavern, Kaelith stood up.

    He raised his hand, flexing his fingers as his knuckles cracked audibly.

    The dozen or so assassins around him couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat.

    These individuals were dressed in various disguises.

    Some wore the attire of Rukongai civilians, appearing as ordinary patrons.

    Others were dressed as tavern staff.

    Some looked like merchants or students.

    Just moments ago, one among them had approached Kaelith and suddenly launched an attack.

    With incredible speed, he thrust his blade forward.

    Kaelith didn''t even stand up; he casually threw a punch.

    The charging assassin was sent flying back at a speed even greater than his approach.

    If one looked closely, it seemed his bones had been mostly shattered before he was flung out.

    After all, a body shouldn''t bend into such unnatural shapes unless the bones were broken...

    Under the assassin''s gaze, Kaelith shook his head.

    "Seriously, everyone."

    "Are the assassins sent by the Tsunayashiro family at this level?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "With such meager skills, where did you find the courage to accept this mission?"

    Listening to Kaelith''s mocking remarks, the assassins couldn''t help but tremble.

    They were elite killers, meticulously trained by the Tsunayashiro family.

    Each one possessed strength on par with the top members of the Punishment Force.

    With meticulous planning and the element of surprise, the chances of defeating a vice-captain-level opponent were quite high.

    However, against Kaelith, their advantages vanished instantly.

    First, their stealth assassination failed.

    It was as if he could predict their moves; despite a close-range attack that was nearly guaranteed to hit, he wasn''t surprised and countered immediately.

    Then there was close combat.

    Typical Shinigami prioritize swordsmanship, and their first reaction to danger is to draw their swords.

    This predictable behavior often leads them to make the wrong decisions in close-quarter attacks.

    But Kaelith had no such weaknesses.

    Facing a close-range assassination, he didn''t hesitate¡ªhe simply threw a punch.

    Such reflexes¡ªhow many assassination attempts had he survived to hone them?

    For a moment, the assassins exchanged glances, each considering whether to retreat.

    But suddenly, a strange "beep beep" sound emanated from their bodies simultaneously.

    Perplexed, they looked down at themselves.

    Kaelith instinctively glanced over as well.

    The next second, his expression changed.

    Under Yoruichi''s startled gaze, he kicked away the table, grabbed her hand, and without a word, sprinted toward the tavern window.

    Boom!!!!!

    A blinding explosion erupted from the Ky¨­goku House, flames roaring skyward.

    Just as Kaelith leaped out of the window, a terrifying force struck from behind, sending him flying uncontrollably.

    At the last moment, he twisted in mid-air, shielding Yoruichi with his body before crashing onto the ground back-first.

    Bang!!!

    The violent impact caused his vision to blur; he nearly lost consciousness.

    Staring at the Ky¨­goku House engulfed in flames, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel exasperated.

    Those assassins had powerful bombs implanted within their bodies.

    If not for his "Soul Domain," which allowed him to see through flesh and detect anomalies, he might have been caught off guard.

    Bombs of such magnitude were considered forbidden even in the Twelfth Division¡ªnot permitted for standard use.

    Where did the Tsunayashiro family acquire such technology?

    After a brief moment of confusion, a figure suddenly flashed in his mind.

    Mayuri Kurotsuchi...

    Had that guy been recruited by the Tsunayashiro family as well?

    The thought sent a chill down Kaelith''s spine.

    Even when facing two captain-level opponents simultaneously, he hadn''t felt such pressure.

    If possible, he wanted to avoid confronting a madman like Mayuri at all costs.

    If the enemy truly played dirty by unleashing Mayuri, he might have to deploy his own "forbidden weapon"¡ªKisuke Urahara!

    Yoruichi hurriedly stood up.

    "Hey! Kaelith! Are you okay?"

    She was visibly shaken.

    In that explosion, Kaelith had essentially taken the full brunt on his back.

    When they landed, he flipped around and was able to cushion the impact to protect her.

    Even someone made of iron couldn''t withstand such punishment.

    But to her surprise, Kaelith dusted himself off and stood up.

    "That was nothing; I''m far from being hurt."

    Yoruichi moved behind him.

    Seeing Kaelith''s back, she couldn''t help but blink.

    Though his Shihakush¨­ was torn to shreds by the explosion, his back was unscathed.

    This level of defense... was a bit abnormal.

    Sensing Yoruichi''s astonishment, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel smug.

    He was about to boast when his expression suddenly changed as he looked into the distance.

    Over there, Shunsui Ky¨­raku''s Reiatsu had suddenly plummeted!

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131

    K¨­ga Kuchiki was somewhat surprised.

    Under normal circumstances, when he used his Bankai, he could easily draw out the opponent''s Zanpakut¨­ spirit and turn it to his side.

    The Zanpakut¨­ spirit would possess the opponent''s released Zanpakut¨­ abilities, while the Shinigami who originally held that power would lose it.

    With this shift, no matter how strong the Shinigami was, their strength would greatly diminish, becoming a soul under his blade. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But this time, even though he had used Bankai, Shunsui Ky¨­raku''s Zanpakut¨­ spirit did not appear.

    What was going on?

    As K¨­ga was puzzled, Muramasa came to his side.

    "K¨­ga, he has used a secret technique to seal his mind. I can''t communicate with his Zanpakut¨­ in a short time."

    So that''s it!

    K¨­ga showed a look of realization.

    Under his gaze, Shunsui Ky¨­raku''s eyes appeared vacant, and his body''s agility was far less than before.

    This was the side effect of someone not adept at sealing their mind suddenly forcing it.

    If it were any other ordinary captain trying this during battle, even without Muramasa''s abilities, he could have easily cut them down.

    But Shunsui Ky¨­raku was different.

    This guy was too strong; even with slowed reactions, he was still enough to suppress him.

    Looking at Shunsui Ky¨­raku, K¨­ga spoke:

    "Captain Ky¨­raku, while you and I are fighting, the assassins have already gone after Yoruichi Shih¨­in."

    "I wonder how long she can hold out."

    Upon hearing this, Shunsui seemed to have a delayed reaction. After a moment, he smiled.

    "¡­No need for you to worry about that. My junior brother is over there, and his strength is no less than mine."

    The latter part was something he said casually.

    Although Kaelith was quite strong, comparing him to one of the oldest captains in the Soul Society like himself was a bit of a stretch.

    But when K¨­ga heard this, he couldn''t help but frown.

    Did Kaelith have such strength?

    Although he didn''t fully believe it, it still made him feel a hint of anxiety.

    "K¨­ga!"

    Sensing his master''s distraction, Muramasa hurriedly reminded him.

    Even with the delayed reaction, Shunsui keenly seized this opportunity.

    He gripped his twin swords and used Shunpo to appear before K¨­ga, swinging his blades to strike.

    Although he hadn''t released his Zanpakut¨­, both the long and short blades were enveloped in dazzling spiritual pressure.

    Each strike carried terrifying power, like fierce waves of sword energy!

    Bang!! Bang!!!

    K¨­ga raised his sword, hastily blocking the continuous attacks.

    Shunsui''s movements weren''t particularly precise; affected by the delay, he couldn''t respond to the opponent''s moves promptly.

    But his spiritual pressure was immense, and his combat experience was rich.

    Before making a move, he had already predicted how K¨­ga would defend based on his own attacks.

    He wasn''t fighting the K¨­ga in front of him but the one in his predictions!

    "Ugh!!"

    K¨­ga''s expression turned grim.

    This man with vacant eyes and a face full of stubble was completely overpowering him!

    Since awakening his abilities, he had never fought such a frustrating battle.

    "Muramasa! What are you doing? Hurry up!"

    Feeling irritated, K¨­ga couldn''t help but urge his Zanpakut¨­.

    Muramasa: "¡­"

    He wanted to act, but the problem was that the opponent''s defense was too tight; he couldn''t find an opening.

    Just as he was becoming anxious, a terrifying explosion sounded from the distant Ky¨­goku House.

    Even from a distance, one could feel the scorching heat wave rushing toward them.

    K¨­ga looked over in surprise.

    What happened?

    Over there¡­ that should be the tavern where Kaelith and Yoruichi Shih¨­in were, right? Such a terrifying explosion¡ªeven someone as strong as himself might suffer greatly.

    Did the assassins attacking Yoruichi Shih¨­in possess such power?

    Half a second later, Shunsui also showed a shocked expression, glancing toward the Ky¨­goku House.

    Instinctively, he wanted to rush over to help.

    At the moment his thoughts wavered, Muramasa''s eyes lit up.

    An opportunity!

    He extended his right hand, with long purple nails, aiming at Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    "Respond to my call! Awaken, rebels!"

    Not good.

    Hearing the voice from behind, Shunsui''s expression changed. He hurriedly tried to reseal his mind.

    But a figure had already silently emerged from his sword.

    It was a purple-haired woman wearing a black kimono, adorned with a skull-shaped hair ornament.

    Then, another figure emerged from his other short sword.

    A petite girl with short purple hair, wearing a mask.

    The moment the two appeared, Shunsui clearly felt that his swords had suddenly become empty.

    The ability to release his Zanpakut¨­ had left him at this moment.

    Although he had anticipated K¨­ga''s abilities, when this moment truly arrived, he still felt a strange sensation in his heart.

    The power that had accompanied his soul for hundreds of years was so easily stripped away by someone else¡­

    Looking at the two beauties, one tall and one short, before him, Shunsui smiled bitterly and adjusted his straw hat.

    "Oh dear¡­ ladies, if you''re playing a joke, this isn''t the right place for it."

    Hearing this, the long-haired woman curled her lips.

    "A joke?"

    "Don''t worry, Ky¨­raku, there''s no joke here."

    She extended her hand, her slender fingers grasping the air.

    In an instant, a beautifully crafted large broadsword appeared in her hand.

    Staring coldly at Shunsui, her gaze turned icy.

    "I''ve long wanted to teach you, who doesn''t cherish yourself, a lesson."

    "Come and fully experience the concern of your Zanpakut¨­."

    As she spoke, she swung the broadsword and approached Shunsui.

    Watching Shunsui entangled in battle with Katen Ky¨­kotsu, K¨­ga finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Although there were some minor hiccups, he had finally defeated Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    Indeed, with Muramasa''s power, he was invincible.

    His father-in-law might act all high and mighty on the surface, but deep down, he must also fear his power.

    Those cold words and lack of recognition were, in the end, just manifestations of fear.

    Understanding this, he couldn''t help but feel it was quite laughable.

    Previously, he had always thought of his father-in-law as an untouchable existence¡ªhow foolish he had been.

    In this Soul Society, only power matters.

    As long as he became strong enough, his father-in-law would have to acknowledge him sooner or later.

    Perhaps¡­ even bow before him!

    Imagining that scene, K¨­ga took a deep breath, calming his excited emotions.

    Looking at Shunsui Ky¨­raku battling his Zanpakut¨­ spirit not far away, he closed his eyes and began using Muramasa''s abilities to explore Shunsui''s memories.

    He wanted to see clearly what kind of power Kaelith possessed.

    Soon, he found what he wanted.

    After a brief reading, he frowned.

    This Shunsui Ky¨­raku¡­ claims to be Kaelith''s senior.

    Yet he doesn''t even know the specific abilities of Kaelith''s Zanpakut¨­?

    Fine, in that case, I''ll go confirm it myself!

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132

    "Senior Brother is in trouble."

    Sensing the sudden change in Shunsui Ky¨­raku''s Reiatsu, Kaelith''s eyes widened slightly.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku had been acting together with K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    If something happened to Shunsui, it was most likely related to K¨­ga.

    Although he didn''t believe K¨­ga would betray them, since Aizen had said so, it was probably true.

    "Yoruichi, as I mentioned before, seal your mind."

    "K¨­ga Kuchiki may have defected."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi nodded.

    As a member of the Onmitsukid¨­, she was adept at various peculiar techniques.

    Therefore, compared to the powerful Shunsui Ky¨­raku, her method of sealing her mind was actually more advanced.

    Even after sealing her mind, her body didn''t become overly sluggish.

    Shunsui''s delay was about half a second.

    For her, after sealing her mind, the delay was only around a hundred milliseconds.

    While reminding Yoruichi, Kaelith also completed sealing his mind.

    He wasn''t skilled at mind-sealing, so his delay was relatively high, even exceeding that of Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    However, his bodily movements were not affected at all.

    After sealing his mind, he released the stored "Soul Will" within him.

    These Soul Will powers temporarily replaced his five senses, even substituting his Reiatsu.

    At this moment, he was like a "player" sitting behind a screen, controlling his own body.

    Ever since gaining this ability, Kaelith had been a bit eager.

    He wondered if this kind of "remote control" operation could make him immune to Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    Although curious, he didn''t dare to ask Aizen to test it.

    If it didn''t work, he''d be a complete fool, voluntarily seeking hypnosis.

    Aizen would probably laugh for a year.

    Just as he was about to support Shunsui, he suddenly sensed something and turned to look in another direction.

    From an alley, a Shinigami wearing a straw hat slowly walked out.

    Because of the earlier explosion, the nearby residents were either dead or had fled.

    There was hardly anyone left on the street.

    A person wearing a straw hat walking out was particularly conspicuous.

    Yoruichi took a defensive stance.

    Kaelith smiled. "Captain Takada... long time no see. How''s your shoulder healing?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, the straw-hatted Shinigami stopped.

    He raised his hand and removed the straw hat.

    It was the former Captain of the Ninth Division, Tai Takada.

    "Thanks to you, it hasn''t fully recovered yet."

    Mentioning his shoulder, Tai Takada''s expression turned sour.

    Kaelith''s powerful attack had completely shattered his shoulder.

    The Tsunayashiro family had found the best doctors for him, but they could only barely restore the appearance of his arm.

    Its true strength was far less than before.

    However, he didn''t hold a grudge against Kaelith for this.

    Kaelith had defeated him fair and square, without any underhanded tactics.

    In contrast, he and Renz¨­ Shinkawa had teamed up¡ªtwo captains¡ªand still hadn''t won.

    It was a disgrace.

    Hearing Tai Takada''s words, Kaelith waved his hand.

    "If your injury hasn''t healed, you should go back and rest. Don''t push yourself."

    Tai Takada shook his head.

    "The shame of defeat has not yet been washed away."

    "Until then, I won''t retreat."

    Hearing this, Kaelith nodded.

    He reached out and drew his sword from his waist.

    The next second, Reiatsu surged skyward from his body!

    Amidst the pillar of spiritual pressure, he looked at Tai Takada. "Since you''re so eager to exit the stage, I''ll do a good deed and send you to meet Shinchira!"

    Feeling the overwhelming Reiatsu emanating from Kaelith, Tai Takada couldn''t help but feel a bit emotional.

    Less than a year ago, this kid was only at the vice-captain level.

    In the blink of an eye, he now possessed such terrifying spiritual pressure.

    If he continued to grow at this rate, he would surely become a terrifying existence in the future.

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­. "Envelop me, ¨­yamatsumi!!"

    Tai Takada raised his Zanpakut¨­. As he moved, a blinding light flashed.

    When the light faded, standing where he had been was a two-meter-tall rock giant.

    Seeing Tai Takada''s transformed appearance, Kaelith couldn''t help but think that if he carried a big tree on his back, it would be perfect.

    While continuously releasing a pillar of Reiatsu, he also prepared for battle.

    Although this was Rukongai, it wasn''t far from Seireitei.

    By releasing such intense spiritual pressure, Seireitei would definitely sense it.

    Barring any surprises, reinforcements would arrive within ten minutes.

    As long as either Kirio Hikifune, Yamamoto, or Ginrei Kuchiki arrived, the situation would be under control!

    Thinking of this, Kaelith felt at ease.

    What he needed to do now was simple; he didn''t need to defeat Tai Takada or K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    As long as he protected Yoruichi and stalled for time!

    With this in mind, he raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a confident smile.

    At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded:

    "Heh heh, Kaelith, do you think that by dragging things out until Seireitei''s people arrive, you''ll win?"

    "Rest assured, we''ve already anticipated that."

    Hearing this voice, Kaelith turned his head in surprise.

    A figure slowly emerged from a distant alley.

    He was wearing luxurious clothing bearing the Tsunayashiro family crest.

    On his face was a mocking smile.

    He was Takatori Tsunayashiro, third-generation direct descendant of the Tsunayashiro family and the family head''s own grandson.

    He had once "died" at the hands of K¨­ga Kuchiki, which had been the catalyst that intensified the Soul Society''s conflicts.

    Seeing this person, Yoruichi was initially a bit stunned, then showed a look of realization.

    "So that''s it... you''re not dead."

    "From the beginning, K¨­ga Kuchiki was cooperating with you, staging a ruse." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The Tsunayashiro family''s preparations for your funeral, and those frantic attacks on the Kuchiki family, were all an act..."

    Hearing her words, Takatori Tsunayashiro displayed a pleased smile.

    "Exactly."

    "From start to finish, you Gotei 13 folks have just been a bunch of fools played in the palm of our hands."

    Turning to Kaelith, he asked:

    "So, Kaelith, now that you know all this, how do you feel?"

    Under his gaze, Kaelith shrugged indifferently.

    "It doesn''t matter. One more of you doesn''t make a difference, one less doesn''t either."

    "In less than half a cup of tea''s time, my reinforcements will arrive."

    "By then, you won''t be able to escape even if you had wings."

    "Compared to me, you''re the ones who should be more anxious, right?"

    Hearing this, Takatori Tsunayashiro laughed heartily.

    "I already told you¡ªwe''ve anticipated that!"

    Under Kaelith''s gaze, he took out a crystal ball-like object from his robe.

    From it emanated a faint spatial power fluctuation.

    "Takada, do it!"

    The moment Takatori Tsunayashiro''s words fell, Tai Takada''s massive body roared into action.

    Accompanied by terrifying spiritual pressure, he transformed into a human battering ram, charging fiercely toward Kaelith and Yoruichi!

    Facing Tai Takada, Kaelith didn''t hesitate, clenching his fist, ready to deliver a heavy blow.

    At that moment, Takatori Tsunayashiro smashed the crystal ball in his hand.

    A powerful spatial fluctuation instantly erupted.

    The previously stable space around them suddenly became fragile and unstable.

    Under the impact of the spiritual pressures released by Kaelith and Tai Takada, the space where they stood tore open with a ripping sound.

    Kaelith felt his vision blur.

    In the next second, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

    In the sky, a crescent moon hung high.

    Underfoot, endless fine sand stretched out!

    ---------------------

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133

    Kaelith: "?"

    Standing on the silver desert, he couldn''t help but tilt his head.

    Yoruichi stood beside him, looking around in astonishment.

    "This is... Hueco Mundo?"

    "The Tsunayashiro family actually possesses such a magical device that can directly bring people into Hueco Mundo?"

    Hearing this, Takatori Tsunayashiro smirked.

    Not long ago, his grandfather had suddenly brought back a blue-haired madman, claiming he was a brilliant researcher.

    At first, he didn''t pay much attention.

    It wasn''t until that madman created a super bomb and detonated it before his eyes¡ªblasting a huge hole in a small mountain¡ªthat he realized this was a priceless talent.

    He invested a massive amount of money and resources to have that madman develop the current device.

    As long as sufficient Reiatsu was stored in advance, it could forcibly tear open a Garganta anywhere outside Seireitei to reach Hueco Mundo.

    With this device, he could finally execute the ultimate move against Kaelith!

    Looking at the two before him, Takatori Tsunayashiro chuckled and said:

    "Kaelith, now you have nowhere to run."

    "Continuing to protect Yoruichi Shih¨­in is meaningless."

    "I''ll give you an opportunity."

    "Submit to me now, become my retainer, and I''ll spare your life!"

    Kaelith chuckled.

    "Submit? I, Kaelith, stand firm and unyielding! How could I betray in the face of battle?"

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, Yoruichi showed a somewhat moved expression.

    Kaelith raised his Zanpakut¨­, pointing it towards them from a distance.

    "After all, do you think you can defeat me with just Tai Takada?"

    Tai Takada: "..."

    Thanks, I''m a bit offended.

    Takatori Tsunayashiro snorted.

    "I''ve done my research on you."

    "Back when you hadn''t broken through to the Third Level of Spiritual Pressure, you narrowly defeated Captain Takada. Now that you''ve surpassed the Third Level, your strength is incomparable."

    "The reason I brought you here is, of course, because I am fully prepared!"

    As he spoke, he raised his hand and gave a light clap.

    An invisible fluctuation of Reiatsu spread outward.

    Soon, several powerful Reiatsu signatures appeared within Kaelith''s perception.

    Under his somewhat surprised gaze, several high-energy reactions rapidly approached.

    A few seconds later, a massive figure suddenly appeared not far away.

    It was a Menos Grande.

    Its form resembled a giant spider¡ªa huge round body with five pairs of long limbs.

    Kaelith blinked.

    A disc-shaped creature?

    Where''s Leo when you need him to save the day? (t/n another reference I didn''t get)

    Then, another figure appeared.

    This one was a humanoid Menos, like a giant from mythology, with thick and long arms.

    A few seconds later, two more Menos Grandes emerged.

    Feeling the Reiatsu emanating from these Menos, Kaelith couldn''t help but feel exasperated.

    The Reiatsu of these four Menos was terrifying.

    Each one''s Reiatsu far surpassed that of a Gillian!

    Even without having seen them before, one could easily guess that these four Menos were likely Adjuchas-class!

    After appearing, the four Menos all looked toward Kaelith and Yoruichi.

    "Heh heh heh... So these are the Shinigami we''re supposed to kill?"

    "They look so fragile; I wonder how they taste?"

    "Just for these two, Lord Baraggan actually sent all four of us?!"

    "Fool, don''t speak recklessly!"

    The spider-shaped Menos spoke in a deep voice, giving a reminder.

    Then, it turned to look at Takatori Tsunayashiro.

    "Shinigami, have you prepared what we agreed upon?"

    Takatori Tsunayashiro said calmly, "Of course. I am the legitimate heir of the noble Tsunayashiro family; how could I deceive you? I''ve already sent a batch of goods to Las Noches."

    "Finish off these two, and the rest will naturally be delivered!"

    Hearing this, the spider-shaped Menos nodded.

    It turned back to look at Kaelith.

    This time, it wasn''t mere intimidation.

    Kaelith could clearly feel the almost tangible killing intent.

    Unlike that of Shinigami, the killing intent of Hollows was wilder and more aggressive.

    It felt like tiny blades grazing sideways across his skin.

    Though it couldn''t leave any wounds, it gave an eerie sense of pressure.

    Yoruichi took a deep breath, preparing for battle.

    Takatori Tsunayashiro laughed, "So, Kaelith?"

    "Is one Tai Takada not enough? How about adding four Adjuchas?"

    Looking at the four Menos before him, Kaelith pondered for a few seconds, then said:

    "Takatori Tsunayashiro, what did you just say?"

    Takatori was slightly taken aback and instinctively replied, "Four Adjuchas..."

    "No, before that." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Uh... I did research on you?"

    "No, even earlier!"

    Confused, Takatori Tsunayashiro thought for a few seconds.

    Then, somewhat uncertain, he said, "Submit to me, and I''ll spare you..."

    "I surrender! I submit!"

    Before he finished speaking, Kaelith raised his hand in a French salute.

    Takatori Tsunayashiro: "?"

    Yoruichi: "?"

    Tai Takada: "?"

    Kaelith''s sudden move left everyone bewildered.

    After a brief moment of astonishment, Takatori Tsunayashiro couldn''t help but burst into laughter.

    "Hahaha!!"

    "Hahaha... So Yamamoto Genry¨±sai''s disciple is actually such a coward!"

    After laughing heartily, he nodded and said:

    "Very well, since you''re willing, show your sincerity."

    "Now, kill Yoruichi Shih¨­in!"

    "Kill her, and you''ll be my retainer!"

    Kaelith held his sword, glancing at Yoruichi beside him.

    "Boss, I''m a bit curious. Why do we have to kill her? Wouldn''t it be better to keep her as a hostage?"

    "After all, she''s the head of the Shih¨­in family. Keeping her alive could bring many benefits."

    Takatori Tsunayashiro snorted.

    "If it were before, that would make sense."

    "But now it''s different."

    "Soon, the Central 46 will rule to expel the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in families from the Five Great Noble Clans."

    "By then, the Shih¨­in family will be easy prey... Whether the head lives or dies is meaningless."

    "On the contrary, bringing back Yoruichi Shih¨­in''s head now will show those who sided with the Shih¨­in family the consequences of defying the Tsunayashiro!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith nodded.

    "So that''s how it is... Just as I thought."

    "Well then, in that case, I can only be ruthless!"

    Under Yoruichi''s gaze, he raised his arm high.

    The Zanpakut¨­ gleamed coldly; if it descended, it would sever Yoruichi''s head.

    Facing Kaelith, who was about to kill her, Yoruichi remained unflustered, simply looking at him calmly.

    Seeing the fearless look in her eyes, Kaelith grinned.

    He subtly mouthed something to Yoruichi.

    She was momentarily puzzled, then quickly closed her eyes.

    In the next second, Kaelith''s entire body burst into dazzling light!

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134

    "Don''t let him escape!"

    Takatori Tsunayashiro had long anticipated that Kaelith wouldn''t kill Yoruichi Shih¨­in.

    Therefore, the moment Kaelith''s body burst into light, he shouted angrily.

    However, the four Adjuchas-class Hollows retreated slightly, as if they had encountered something dangerous.

    Taking this opportunity, Kaelith grabbed Yoruichi and vanished using Shunpo.

    Seeing this, Takatori was nearly furious enough to have a heart attack.

    Just moments ago, the four Hollows were very close to Kaelith.

    If they had rushed forward together, even if Kaelith used some trick, there would have been no chance for him to escape!

    "You fools! What are you doing!"

    Takatori shouted in rage.

    The spider-shaped Hollow was the first to react.

    "¡­He just used something that emitted a Reiatsu repellent to Hollows."

    "Chase after them!"

    The first sentence was an explanation to Takatori Tsunayashiro. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The latter was directed at the other three Hollows.

    The other three nodded and together pursued in the direction Kaelith had fled.

    After the four Hollows set off, Takatori seemed to realize something, and the anxiety on his face gradually disappeared.

    He looked at Tai Takada: "Let''s follow them."

    Tai Takada was somewhat worried: "Can we catch up? Those two are from the Stealth Force; their anti-tracking skills are top-notch."

    Takatori chuckled: "Don''t worry, they won''t get away."

    Saying this, his figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

    Tai Takada was puzzled but hurried to follow.

    After chasing for over ten minutes, the four Hollows suddenly stopped.

    They gathered in an open area, and expressions of surprise appeared behind their Hollow masks.

    "What happened?!"

    Takatori caught up using Shunpo and asked loudly.

    The spider Hollow said with some confusion: "Are those two Shinigami really coming to Hueco Mundo for the first time?"

    "Of course! That guy just graduated! Before graduation, he was a first-year student¡­ How could he have been to Hueco Mundo?!"

    "As for Yoruichi Shih¨­in, she''s the head of one of the Five Great Noble Clans; which elder would dare let her come to Hueco Mundo?"

    The spider Hollow shook its body.

    "That''s strange¡­"

    "Those two very skillfully found the entrance to the Forest of Menos and went down below."

    "Even for Hollows, it requires some experience and detection ability to identify the entrances to the Forest of Menos."

    "Why are those two Shinigami so adept?"

    Takatori frowned: "The Forest of Menos?"

    The spider Hollow slowly explained: "The Forest of Menos is a vast underground cavern, distributed in various locations of Hueco Mundo¡­"

    "Enough with the explanations; hurry and chase them!" Takatori interrupted. "If Yoruichi Shih¨­in escapes, I''ll tell Baraggan it was you fools who messed up!"

    The spider Hollow was silent for a moment, then, without hesitation, dove into the sand.

    "Let''s go."

    ---

    In the deep underground space, Kaelith led Yoruichi, moving among giant stone pillars.

    Seeing the distant groups of Hollows migrating like animals, Yoruichi couldn''t help but show a curious expression.

    As she followed Kaelith using Shunpo, she asked curiously:

    "Kaelith, when we ran just now, why did those Hollows not only not chase us but even retreated?"

    "Because I threw a Hollow Repellent Stick."

    "A Hollow Repellent Stick?"

    "A tool that emits a Reiatsu which Hollows dislike. It''s an experimental product made by a friend of mine, not yet on the market."

    A look of surprise appeared in Yoruichi''s eyes.

    Is there such a genius in the Soul Society who can make tools like that?

    She instinctively thought of how Kaelith occasionally pressured Kisuke Urahara into making various gadgets.

    Could it have been made by Kisuke Urahara? Then she suddenly thought of something.

    "By the way¡­ Kaelith, you seem very familiar with Hueco Mundo?"

    "That entrance just now, I didn''t notice anything special, but you immediately determined it led to the Forest of Menos."

    "Have you been to Hueco Mundo before?"

    Kaelith coughed lightly: "Sort of."

    "Hmph¡­"

    Hearing Kaelith''s somewhat evasive answer, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes.

    She relented and finally asked, "What do we do now?"

    As she asked this, she was actually a bit worried.

    Running aimlessly like this, even if they didn''t fall into Takatori''s hands, they wouldn''t be able to return to the Soul Society anytime soon.

    Currently, the Central 46 meeting was in progress; if news of her disappearance spread¡­

    Just thinking about that scenario made her scalp tingle.

    But Kaelith smiled.

    "Don''t worry."

    "Our goal now is simple¡­ we just need to find someone!"

    Hearing this, Yoruichi showed a puzzled expression.

    "Find someone?"

    ---

    At the First Division barracks.

    Yamamoto stood in his study, his back to the door.

    The entire room was filled with a tense atmosphere.

    J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake knelt in the room, unable to hide the worry in his eyes.

    But he still comforted:

    "Master, please don''t worry. With Shunsui there, things shouldn''t be too bad¡­"

    Before he could finish, a figure suddenly appeared in the room.

    "Report the situation."

    Yamamoto spoke in a deep voice.

    The Stealth Force member bowed his head: "Report! A massive explosion occurred at the scene; an area within a hundred meters radius centered on the Ky¨­goku House has been razed!"

    "After the Stealth Force arrived at the scene, they did not find the Corps Commander (Yoruichi) or Third Seat Kaelith!"

    "Eighth Division Captain Shunsui Ky¨­raku was severely injured. He has been taken over by Captain Unohana for emergency treatment and is being transported here!"

    Yamamoto opened his eyes: "Are there any traces of Kaelith''s movements?"

    "None! Apart from residual Reiatsu from Third Seat Kaelith, no movement traces were found at the scene!"

    Hearing this, Yamamoto frowned.

    At that moment, another Stealth Force member appeared using Shunpo.

    "Report!"

    "The Twelfth Division has sent back a field investigation report. The space at the scene is extremely unstable and contains a large amount of Reishi from Hueco Mundo!"

    "According to our analysis, someone may have forcibly opened a passage to Hueco Mundo at the scene!"

    Upon hearing this, Yamamoto''s expression changed dramatically.

    This is bad!

    If Kaelith and Yoruichi Shih¨­in were forcibly taken to Hueco Mundo, Seireitei would undoubtedly be thrown into chaos.

    Despite her youth and relatively average strength, Yoruichi''s decisive personality, bold style, and her unmistakable exceptional talent made her a convincing leader.

    Under her leadership, the Shih¨­in family had rallied many fence-sitting nobles, securing several seats in Central 46.

    If something happened to Yoruichi Shih¨­in, those hard-won fence-sitters would surely waver again.

    Even more concerning, the elders of the Shih¨­in family might also become unstable.

    After pondering for a few seconds, he said:

    "Ukitake."

    "Go find Captain Hikifune and convey my orders: have her do everything possible to find Kaelith and Yoruichi Shih¨­in."

    "Whatever assistance or resources she needs, provide them all!"

    Ukitake hurriedly nodded.

    Just as he was about to depart, he saw Yamamoto also walking step by step toward the door.

    "¡­Master? Where are you going?"

    Ukitake couldn''t help but ask.

    The old man leaned on his cane and answered calmly:

    "To the Central 46 meeting."

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135

    "Takatori is still chasing me, damn it!"

    Kaelith hid behind a massive stone pillar, sneaking a glance into the distance.

    AN Adjuchas squatted atop a towering stone pillar, scanning the surroundings.

    It was one of the four Adjuchas pursuing him.

    Yoruichi tugged at her collar. "I never expected the Tsunayashiro family to be this insane."

    "Baraggan... that''s supposed to be the King of Hueco Mundo, the most powerful Hollow, right?"

    "Those Tsunayashiro guys are actually making deals with a Hollow"

    "No matter how depraved they are, going this far is just too much!"

    Kaelith chuckled.

    He was never surprised by the bizarre antics of the Soul Society''s nobles.

    He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

    Compared to humans crossing a desert, Shinigami have a significant advantage when traversing Hueco Mundo.

    They don''t need to eat or drink.

    The air in Hueco Mundo has a high concentration of Reishi.

    Shinigami can sustain themselves just by breathing.

    Yoruichi was also adjusting her breathing, trying her best to recover her Reiatsu.

    At that moment, she saw Kaelith draw his sword and stab it into the ground.

    Seeing this action, Yoruichi asked curiously, "Kaelith, what are you doing?"

    Kaelith rolled his neck: sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "They''re so close to catching up. If we keep running, the chances of being discovered are high."

    "When four Adjuchas and a captain catch up together, we''ll be at a severe disadvantage."

    "Instead of that, we might as well strike first and take one down while they''re not paying attention."

    Originally, he wanted to find Aizen and team up with him for a counterattack.

    But after searching for a few hours, he helplessly realized that Hueco Mundo was too vast.

    Even though he knew Aizen was also in Hueco Mundo, he couldn''t detect any traces of his Reiatsu.

    Rather than continuing the search, it was better to think of a way to save themselves.

    Looking at the giant humanoid Hollow not far away, focused on searching, Kaelith grinned.

    "An Adjuchas dares to act alone; they''re really underestimating me."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi''s eyes lit up.

    Trained in combat from a young age, she instantly agreed with Kaelith''s assessment.

    She nodded, "Alright, I''ll coordinate with you. I''ll act as bait to draw its attention, and you seize the opportunity to strike!"

    But Kaelith shook his head.

    "No need. You just stay here and watch."

    "My fighting style... well, it''s a bit special."

    "I''ll perform better alone."

    As he spoke, Kaelith''s figure flashed and disappeared from where he stood.

    Watching him leave, Yoruichi pouted slightly, swinging her fist in mild frustration.

    Atop the tall stone pillar, the giant Hollow squinted, surveying the surroundings.

    It could smell the scent of Shinigami in the air.

    Those two should be nearby.

    No rush; by keeping watch here, it would surely find traces of them.

    That Shinigami named Takatori had warned earlier that one of the two Shinigami was very strong, not weaker than itself.

    It scoffed at that.

    Among Shinigami, only those wearing white haori needed to be approached cautiously.

    Those two Shinigami¡ªit had seen them¡ªweren''t wearing white haori.

    Just a small fry.

    Speaking of small fry, not long ago in the desert, it had encountered a leopard-shaped Adjuchas with impressive strength.

    Unfortunately, that one ran too fast; before it could set up an encirclement, the leopard had already escaped. (t/n my favorite Hollow If you know, you know)

    If it could catch and devour that one, it might get a step closer to evolution.

    Thinking of that scenario, the giant Hollow couldn''t help but feel excited.

    Currently, it was already among the elites of Adjuchas. If it could evolve again, it would step into the strongest class among Hollows¡ªthe Vasto Lorde!

    Speaking of Vasto Lorde...

    That woman with the shark tail and big sword was probably a Vasto Lorde.

    Recently, there had been mysterious disappearances of Menos Grande.

    A large number of Gillians had inexplicably vanished from the Forest.

    Lord Baraggan had sent people to investigate but couldn''t find a trace.

    Although they hadn''t found the cause of the disappearances, during the search, they discovered a humanoid Hollow.

    That humanoid Hollow was small, only about 1.7 meters tall, but incredibly powerful.

    Baraggan sent two Adjuchas to capture that humanoid Hollow.

    As soon as they made a move, one was killed.

    The other Adjuchas fled in terror back to Las Noches to report.

    Baraggan was furious and sent out ten Adjuchas, ordering them to either bring back the target or not return at all.

    The ten Adjuchas, true to form, none returned.

    Baraggan was enraged, leading a large group of subordinates to personally settle accounts with the humanoid Hollow.

    Among those subordinates was the giant Hollow.

    Under Baraggan''s immense power, the humanoid Hollow was finally defeated.

    Baraggan didn''t kill her but invited her to become his subordinate.

    The humanoid Hollow did not agree and escaped with her three underlings.

    Since then, Baraggan had been sending people to search for the traces of those four Hollows.

    Thinking of that humanoid Hollow''s power, the giant Hollow couldn''t help but yearn.

    If it could have that kind of power, could it become like Lord Baraggan, ruling over territories in Hueco Mundo?

    Fantasizing about such a scene, the giant Hollow couldn''t help but grin.

    At that moment, a strong sense of danger suddenly surged in its heart.

    Instinctively, it raised its Reiatsu, activating "Hierro" (Steel Skin).

    The next second, an invisible slash struck hard at its neck!

    As the blade cut down, the Hierro shattered, and blood spurted out.

    Fortunately, the Hierro had slowed the attack, and the blade didn''t cut too deep.

    The giant Hollow showed an angry expression.

    If it hadn''t reacted quickly, it might have become a headless corpse!

    Who dared to attack it?!

    Turning around, it saw a young man holding a sword with both hands, raising it high and slashing down fiercely!

    Seeing Kaelith clearly, the giant Hollow''s anger turned to joy.

    It was that fleeing Shinigami!

    Finally found him!

    Though it didn''t know where this little guy got the courage to attack it, none of that mattered.

    As long as it killed him and then the other Shinigami with him, it would have made a great contribution, and Lord Baraggan would surely reward it handsomely!

    The giant Hollow grinned widely.

    It raised its thick arm, over three meters long, reaching out to grab Kaelith''s descending blade.

    In the next second, under its somewhat stunned gaze, Kaelith suddenly changed his slash into a throw.

    The Zanpakut¨­ in his hand was directly flung out, piercing into the giant Hollow''s huge palm with a "thud."

    Giant Hollow: "?"

    What kind of move is this?

    In all its years, it had seen many Shinigami, and which one of them didn''t treat their swords as more precious than life?

    Those Shinigami it had killed all clutched their swords tightly even in death.

    Who starts a fight by throwing their sword like a projectile?

    Before it could recover, it saw Kaelith in mid-air, one hand with fingers together, reaching forward.

    His other hand was clenched into a fist at his waist.

    He unleashed his attack!!

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136

    "A mere insect, actually giving up escape to attack me proactively.

    Although the outcome is to my liking, this arrogant behavior still displeased the Hollow.

    Watching Kaelith charge toward him, the giant Hollow grinned widely.

    He spread his massive hands, slamming them down hard toward Kaelith.

    Each of his palms was larger than Kaelith''s entire body.

    The moment these giant hands clapped together would spell the end of this little bug!

    Kaelith''s eyes widened, his expression as resolute as steel, and his black Shihakush¨­ fluttered in the wind.

    Facing the Adjuchas-level Hollow before him, he took the battle completely seriously.

    Adjuchas¡ªthe second tier of Menos Grande.

    If he remembered correctly, Adjuchas were considered to be on par with captain-level Shinigami.

    Although its Reiatsu didn''t seem particularly strong on the surface, it was probably well-concealed.

    If he couldn''t kill it quickly and it found an opportunity to contact its companions, he''d be in a completely passive position!

    Three moves!

    He had to kill it within three moves!

    First, use his full-strength ''Ikkotsu'' to break through the opponent''s defense.

    Next, have his Shadow Warrior attack from behind while releasing his ''Soul Will'' power to assault the opponent''s consciousness.

    With this two-pronged approach, the Adjuchas was sure to reveal a flaw.

    Seizing that moment, he''d use a double ''S¨­kotsu'' to ruthlessly take its life!

    In almost an instant, Kaelith had mapped out his plan.

    In his mind, he considered all possible defensive, evasive, and counterattack methods the Adjuchas might employ.

    He was prepared for every scenario!

    First, break the defense with ''Ikkotsu''!

    "Die, Hallow!!"

    Facing the giant Hollow, Kaelith shouted loudly and launched his fist with force.

    "Die, Shinigami!!"

    The giant Hollow roared back, clapping his hands together with full strength!

    But in the next moment, he was shocked to see Kaelith suddenly accelerate.

    In mid-air, Kaelith seemed to enter a second stage of acceleration, a ring of white air bursting around him as he instantly appeared before the Hollow.

    Then, he punched straight toward its face.

    The giant Hollow sneered internally.

    A mere fist¡ªwhat''s there to fear?

    Even a Zanpakut¨­ would at most leave a shallow wound.

    This punch probably couldn''t even break through my defense!

    Thinking this, he adjusted the direction of his attacking hands.

    One massive hand turned to swat at his own face, aiming to squash Kaelith like a mosquito.

    The other hand blocked any possible escape route for Kaelith.

    As the giant Hollow changed his movements, Kaelith''s fist connected with its face.

    Boom!!!!!!

    The giant Hollow felt a terrifying, unstoppable force fiercely penetrate his head.

    Then, he lost consciousness.

    Under Kaelith''s somewhat stunned gaze, the giant Hollow''s head exploded completely!

    A terrifying shockwave spread outward, stirring up violent waves of sand!

    For a moment, Kaelith wondered if he''d fallen into a trap.

    Could the Hollow''s structure be special, with the head merely a decoy to lure him in, and the real vital point elsewhere?

    Or perhaps this Adjuchas possessed advanced regenerative abilities and could turn the tables even after sacrificing its head?

    He used Shunpo to swiftly retreat.

    Then he saw the giant Hollow''s body rapidly disintegrate, turning into a cloud of dust that finally settled, merging with the endless sea of sand.

    Kaelith: "..."

    He''s really dead?

    Yoruichi flashed to his side, looking at him with surprise. "Impressive, Kaelith¡ªyou killed an Adjuchas-level Hollow with just one punch!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith glanced at his own hand, a contemplative expression crossing his face.

    "Yoruichi, perhaps I''m an unparalleled genius."

    "Without even losing my hair, I''ve obtained supreme power... Now, I am an invincible existence surpassing the Bald Caped Hero!" (t/n I know this one!)

    "In the entire Soul Society, who can oppose me¡ªsomeone who can kill an Adjuchas with a single punch?!"

    "Even Old Man Yamamoto might no longer be a match for me... Life truly is as lonely at the top."

    Kaelith sighed with a touch of melancholy.

    It''s a pity that after achieving enlightenment, he might no longer benefit from what Aizen had to offer.

    Well, in that case, perhaps it''s time for me to carry that Aizen guy.

    I''m truly a kind and sincere friend...

    Watching Kaelith close his eyes and clench his fist, as if mourning his lost youth, Yoruichi showed a somewhat complex expression.

    "Kaelith, don''t overthink it... Instantly killing an Adjuchas is indeed an impressive feat, but there are quite a few captains in the Soul Society who can do the same."

    "Captain Hikifune, Captain Kuchiki, Captain Ky¨­raku, Captain Ukitake... they''re all formidable warriors who can slay an Adjuchas with a single strike¡ªnot to mention the Captain-Commander."

    "If he takes action, even hundreds of Adjuchas wouldn''t be able to return alive."

    Kaelith opened his eyes, question marks practically visible above his head.

    "How is that possible? Isn''t an Adjuchas a terrifying existence on par with a captain-level Shinigami?"

    Yoruichi chuckled. "Not quite... While Adjuchas are rare, that''s only compared to the virtually endless number of ordinary Hollows in Hueco Mundo."

    "According to the records of the Shih¨­in family, there are definitely more than a hundred Adjuchas in Hueco Mundo."

    "If all these creatures had captain-level strength, the Soul Society would have been doomed long ago."

    Hearing this, Kaelith gazed silently at the sky.

    Damn, my memory betrayed me!

    He shook his head regretfully and walked toward where the giant Hollow had died.

    From the sand dune, he pulled out his Zanpakut¨­, shook off the sand, spun it deftly, and sheathed it.

    Then he turned back to look at the dark-skinned girl.

    "Now''s our chance, Yoruichi. Get ready¡ªI''m going to open a Garganta so we can return to the Soul Society!"

    Having killed this giant Hollow, Takatori probably wouldn''t catch up for a while.

    Over in the Soul Society, the Central 46 meeting was still in progress.

    As the head of the Shih¨­in family, even a minute''s delay in Yoruichi''s return could lead to unexpected changes.

    Taking this opportunity, he needed to get Yoruichi back quickly so the Central 46 could finalize their decisions¡ªno time to waste!

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, Yoruichi was a bit surprised.

    "You can open a Garganta?"

    "Yes, with the help of some gadgets."

    Kaelith nodded, pulling out a small device from his clothes.

    It looked like a tiny crystal sword.

    At this moment, he was immensely grateful that he''d taken a batch of tools from Aizen''s laboratory before setting out.

    Otherwise, they''d be stuck waiting helplessly.

    Holding the crystal sword, Kaelith infused it with Reiatsu.

    When it began to glow, he raised it high.

    As long as he slashed down, a Garganta would open.

    He was quite familiar with this process.

    But just as he was about to act, a strong sense of danger suddenly surged within him!

    "Kaelith!!"

    Yoruichi suddenly cried out in alarm.

    Kaelith turned his head.

    He saw a man wearing a long white robe, with long purple fingernails, who had somehow appeared behind him.

    One hand was reaching straight toward his back!

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137

    "Damn it, Muramasa!"

    At the moment he saw the man, Kaelith''s heart nearly stopped.

    After entering Hueco Mundo, he thought that K¨­ga Kuchiki hadn''t followed them, so he hadn''t maintained his mind-sealing state.

    Of course, just in case, he had a contingency plan.

    If K¨­ga Kuchiki suddenly appeared, he would immediately reactivate his mind seal.

    Even during the previous battles, he hadn''t dared to relax.

    After all, if K¨­ga Kuchiki had indeed followed them and chose to intervene during a fight, it would obviously be the best opportunity.

    But along the way, there was no trace of K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    At the last moment of opening the Garganta, he finally let his guard down.

    Muramasa keenly seized this moment and appeared beside him.

    Seeing Muramasa''s fingers just inches away from his body, Kaelith''s pupils contracted.

    If he got touched this time, his purity¡ªno, the secrets in his mind would all be exposed!

    He didn''t care if his Zanpakut¨­ rebelled.

    But if K¨­ga Kuchiki discovered his identity as a transmigrator, the existence of his bound system, and his knowledge of the future events in Soul Society... if these were revealed, he''d be done for!

    "You... you can''t do this!!"

    Kaelith''s face showed urgency as he swiftly retreated.

    Muramasa smiled.

    He had anticipated Kaelith would try to evade and was prepared to accelerate.

    As soon as Kaelith moved, Muramasa had already caught up.

    His fingers were only a few centimeters away from touching Kaelith!

    At that critical moment, a calm voice rang out¡ª

    "Had¨­ Number Sixty-Three: Raik¨­h¨­."

    Boom!!!

    A massive golden lightning bolt instantly tore through the vast space, rushing toward Muramasa!

    "Ugh!"

    Muramasa''s expression changed.

    He could feel that this blast was immensely powerful¡ªsomething only a captain-level Shinigami could unleash.

    If he took it head-on, he''d undoubtedly suffer severe injuries.

    Considering Kaelith''s Zanpakut¨­ hadn''t even achieved Bankai, it wasn''t worth the risk.

    In the instant he made this judgment, his figure flickered and vanished from his spot.

    The roaring golden lightning engulfed the place where he had just stood.

    From behind a stone pillar, K¨­ga Kuchiki emerged with a grim face.

    "Who are you?!"

    He had been so close to seizing Kaelith''s Zanpakut¨­, making him kneel and repent for his sins.

    And now someone had appeared to interfere?!

    He was beyond furious. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yoruichi also turned in surprise, looking in the direction from which the Raik¨­h¨­ had been fired.

    Under everyone''s gaze, a figure enveloped in colorful Kid¨­ light slowly walked out.

    Seeing this figure, K¨­ga Kuchiki was initially stunned, then suddenly remembered something, showing a surprised expression.

    "The Shadow killer... aren''t you dead?"

    Within the light, the figure let out a light laugh.

    "Even things witnessed with your own eyes may not have truly happened."

    "Let alone mere hearsay."

    Originally, upon seeing this glowing figure, Kaelith was a bit unsure.

    But hearing this flamboyant and provocative speech, he couldn''t help but smile.

    As the words fell, the luminous figure extended his hand and slowly drew the Zanpakut¨­ from his waist.

    Seeing this action, Kaelith was slightly startled.

    Then, he quickly turned around, closed his eyes, and pulled Yoruichi into his arms, covering her eyes.

    "Hey, Kaelith, what are you..."

    "Close your eyes, quickly!"

    Kaelith urged in a low voice.

    Hearing him, Yoruichi didn''t hesitate and promptly closed her eyes.

    Seeing Kaelith had closed his eyes, Aizen raised his sword.

    "Shatter... Ky¨­ka Suigetsu!"

    ---

    Time rewound.

    In the boundless sea of sand, the bright moon hung high.

    A young man with wavy brown hair, wearing a black Shihakush¨­, suddenly appeared.

    In the next second, he lightly stepped on a sand dune and disappeared again.

    While continuously using Shunpo, he occasionally looked back.

    Behind him, a humanoid Hollow was chasing.

    Although her entire body was covered in bone armor, revealing only the upper half of her face, the prominent features on her chest indicated she was female.

    Aizen was a bit curious.

    He wondered if Kaelith''s preferences extended to female Hollows.

    Knowing that guy''s personality, perhaps they did...

    Suddenly, a strong surge of Reiatsu emanated from behind.

    Aizen''s figure flickered as he dodged to the side.

    Almost simultaneously, a golden Cero streaked past where he had just been.

    Strong¡ªvery strong.

    This humanoid Hollow was the most powerful he had ever encountered.

    Her vast Reiatsu far exceeded that of a captain-level Shinigami.

    With his current strength, attempting to control her with Ky¨­ka Suigetsu was nearly impossible.

    However... his abilities didn''t rely solely on Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    While fleeing, he had set up several trigger-activated Kid¨­ spells along the way.

    By circling around a few times, he could use these Kid¨­ to bind her.

    Once she was restrained, he would launch a fierce attack.

    After depleting her strength, he planned to use a secret medicine he had developed to temporarily elevate his Reiatsu limit.

    At that point, there was a high probability he could use Ky¨­ka Suigetsu effectively.

    The thought of such a powerful Hollow soon becoming his experimental material filled Aizen with anticipation.

    Tier Harribel stepped using Son¨ªdo, relentlessly pursuing him. (t/n: It is the yellow-haired female Arrancar (#3) if you forgot)

    A few hours earlier, she had been sleeping on a sand dune when she suddenly noticed a Shinigami appear silently.

    After the Shinigami appeared, his goal was clear: he headed straight for a lone Adjuchas.

    Under Harribel''s astonished gaze, the young Shinigami made his move.

    As if he had practiced countless times, each of his attacks targeted spots that would disable movement without causing fatal injuries.

    In no time, the Adjuchas was subdued, losing the ability to resist.

    After defeating the Adjuchas, the young Shinigami seemed pleased.

    He took out a device and threw it onto the Adjuchas.

    The Hollow struggled briefly before being bound by numerous Reishi ropes that emerged, rendering it immobile.

    The young Shinigami patted the Adjuchas, a slight smile on his lips.

    Seeing this, Harribel couldn''t help but take a deep breath.

    So that''s what''s been happening!

    Recently, Baraggan, the ruler of Las Noches, had been sending forces to hunt her down. (t/n I gausse both grimmjow and her are bing hunted?)

    The reason was that many powerful Hollows from Las Noches had mysteriously disappeared, and they were convinced she had devoured them.

    When she first heard this accusation, she thought it was baseless slander.

    But witnessing this scene, she finally understood that Baraggan wasn''t unjustified in his suspicions.

    Someone was indeed secretly capturing powerful Hollows in Hueco Mundo.

    And it was a Shinigami!

    Harribel was furious.

    It was one thing for this Shinigami to capture her kind, but to frame her for it?

    If it weren''t for him, her life would have remained peaceful. How could she now be subjected to Baraggan''s constant harassment and attacks?

    Without any hesitation, she moved swiftly and charged directly at Aizen!

 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138

    In a flash of movement, Aizen led Harribel along the planned route, circling three times.

    "Hmm... that should be enough."

    Aizen quickly calculated in his mind the strength of the Kido he had set up.

    "The sowing is complete; now it''s time for the harvest!"

    He slightly raised the corner of his mouth, placing his hand on the Zanpakut¨­ at his waist.

    But at that moment, he suddenly paused.

    To capture high-quality Menos Grande, he had set up many small Reiatsu detection devices in the Menos Forest.

    Just now, one of the devices detected a special Reiatsu.

    He couldn''t be more familiar with this Reiatsu fluctuation.

    Kaelith!

    Why would that guy suddenly appear in Hueco Mundo?

    And in the Menos Forest, no less...

    Just as he was wondering, the device detected another Reiatsu.

    An Adjuchas-level Menos!

    The Menos and Kaelith were coming from the same direction and leaving in the same direction as well.

    Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    What''s going on?

    Is Kaelith being chased by an Adjuchas-class Menos?

    You''ve got to be kidding... With his strength, killing an Adjuchas would be a piece of cake.

    Probably just acting out as usual, doing some kind of performance art.

    I''ll deal with the Hollow in front of me first.

    Just as he was about to make a move, the Reiatsu detection device suddenly picked up another Reiatsu.

    At the moment he sensed the new Reiatsu, Aizen''s movement paused.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki!

    That guy hid his Reiatsu extremely well; there was almost no fluctuation.

    If he hadn''t happened to pass by one of my Reiatsu detection devices, he probably wouldn''t have been detected at all.

    A highly suspicious guy, hiding his Reiatsu, tailing from afar.

    Even thinking with Kaelith''s brain, you''d know nothing good is going on.

    Aizen slowly sheathed the half-drawn sword.

    He turned his head, looking at the approaching Harribel.

    What a pity¡ªafter finally reeling in this big fish to the point of nearly catching her.

    Sigh, let''s leave it for next time.

    Facing the charging Harribel, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.

    Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!

    From the surrounding silver sand dunes, countless silvery-gray strips shot out instantly.

    Pa pa pa!!!

    Under Harribel''s astonished gaze, these strips struck her fiercely, binding her layer upon layer.

    Then, dozens of beams of light condensed from the air all around, piercing toward her together and pinning her body firmly to the sand.

    Damn!

    Harribel''s pupils contracted.

    If I don''t break free quickly, I''ll be severely injured by the opponent!

    She struggled hard, trying to escape from Aizen''s bindings.

    But what happened next left her utterly stunned.

    Aizen, who had easily subdued her, actually turned around and walked away.

    Sensing Harribel''s confusion, Aizen turned back, revealing a mocking smile.

    "Untried Hollow, this time, you should thank a certain foolish brute for your fortune."

    After speaking, his figure flickered and vanished into the air.

    Harribel lay on the ground, eyes full of confusion.

    Thank a... foolish brute?

    What does that mean?

    She frowned.

    After gathering Reiatsu for a few seconds, she let out a low roar and golden Reiatsu burst forth suddenly!

    From within the Reiatsu pillar, she slowly walked out, looking in the direction Aizen had left.

    Then, she used Son¨ªdo and disappeared. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    Soon after, following the direction provided by the Reiatsu detection device, Aizen found the fleeing Kaelith.

    Seeing Yoruichi beside Kaelith, he immediately understood what had happened. As expected, just as he thought, K¨­ga Kuchiki had defected.

    Then... Takatori Tsunayashiro must also be alive.

    The Hollow pursuing Kaelith was probably working with Takatori Tsunayashiro.

    This is good news; it seems that the entity behind that Menos is someone who understands interests and is willing to make deals.

    I like Hollows like that.

    He didn''t reveal himself rashly but hid his Reiatsu with all his might, lurking from a distance.

    Seeing Kaelith boldly make a move, killing the Adjuchas with one punch, Aizen nodded slightly.

    Not bad; despite having no experience fighting Adjuchas, he could seize the flaw and defeat the enemy in one strike.

    Putting aside strategy, just speaking of combat, Kaelith always brings him surprises.

    Seeing Muramasa suddenly appear in the air, attempting to sneak attack Kaelith, Aizen decisively raised his hand.

    "Raik¨­h¨­!!"

    With one blast forcing Muramasa back, he donned a modified Kyokk¨­ and descended onto the battlefield.

    Facing K¨­ga Kuchiki, who didn''t know his abilities, Aizen easily put him under hypnosis.

    Looking at the figure shrouded in light and shadow before him, K¨­ga Kuchiki swung his sword:

    "Muramasa, get rid of him!"

    "Understood!"

    Muramasa nodded, and in a flash, appeared before Aizen.

    He extended his hand, and several purple Reishi threads shot toward Aizen''s body!

    But before they could touch Aizen, a figure suddenly intervened.

    Under Muramasa''s astonished gaze, Kaelith''s body seemed to be burning with flames, with boiling Reiatsu surging.

    Facing the purple Reishi threads he shot out, Kaelith swung his arm fiercely, like swatting away a swarm of arrows, smashing all the Reishi threads into pieces with a snap!

    Muramasa couldn''t help but feel like he was seeing a ghost.

    Are you kidding me... My Reishi threads are powerful Reiatsu entities released after Bankai, even tougher than steel!

    This guy actually shattered my Reishi threads with his bare hands?

    No, that''s not the main point.

    My Reishi threads can penetrate a Shinigami''s soul defenses and draw out their Zanpakut¨­ spirit.

    Even if Kaelith can close off his inner world, my Reishi threads should still be able to pierce in somewhat.

    But just now, he felt like he had stabbed into a rock.

    He couldn''t find any sign of a soul existing within Kaelith''s body.

    It was as if he was fighting not a Shinigami, but a corpse.

    This eerie feeling made Muramasa''s scalp tingle.

    After smashing Muramasa''s Reishi threads with a slap, Kaelith grinned.

    "Two against two, a fair fight!"

    Muramasa: "..."

    Fair fight my ass.

    If Zanpakut¨­ spirits count as people, wouldn''t your side have four? (t/n: tbh sound logic here)

    Looking at Kaelith standing in front of him, Aizen raised his sword and tapped Kaelith''s arm with the side.

    "Careless at a critical moment, almost got ambushed, and only escaped with my help¡ªwhat are you acting so smug for?"

    Kaelith''s eyes widened.

    "I... Was I careless? I knew you were coming and wanted to give you a chance to show off, so I deliberately left an opening!"

    "Heh." Aizen chuckled lightly.

    Though he said nothing more, it felt like countless arrows pierced through Kaelith''s young heart.

    Kaelith gnashed his teeth, turning to look at K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    "Kuchiki brat, tarnishing my integrity¡ªI will beat you to your knees today!!"

 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139

    Seireitei, Central 46 Assembly Hall.

    At this moment, the hall was filled with a tense atmosphere.

    "¡­The Tsunayashiro clan colluded with rebels, causing significant casualties among the Gotei 13 squad members!"

    "Among them, eighty-six have died, and one hundred seventy-five are severely injured, unable to recover, losing their status as Shinigami!"

    "Three captains were led astray by Tsunayashiro''s manipulation and stepped onto an evil path!"

    "At the same time, the Tsunayashiro clan spread severely erroneous ideologies, slandering the great system that has been upheld in the Soul Society for a million years¡ªthis is outright rebellion!"

    "The Tsunayashiro clan is full of heinous crimes, unforgivable!"

    "I hereby propose stripping them of their status as one of the Five Great Noble Clans and expelling them from Soul Society!"

    Behind Seat Number Three, a man shouted passionately.

    "How dare you! How dare you slander the Tsunayashiro clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans?!"

    A somewhat sharp voice sounded from behind Seat Number Eight.

    "The Tsunayashiro clan is the head of the Five Great Noble Clans! Old Fujita, have you lost your mind? How dare you accuse them without reason!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fujita family! Do you have any evidence for what you just said?"

    Upon hearing this, a laugh came from behind Seat Number Twenty-Two:

    "Evidence? Not to mention that we certainly have evidence... Kaishi, don''t you know in your heart who''s behind all this?"

    "What do I know? I know you guys are all lackeys of the Kuchiki family!"

    "Obstinate and unrepentant!!"

    "Framing and false accusations!!"

    (t/n; Man it is really starting to sound like a parliament....)

    Intense quarrels ran through the entire meeting.

    Those on the side of the Kuchiki family continuously hurled various accusations at the Tsunayashiro clan.

    Those on the side of the Tsunayashiro clan refuted these accusations one by one, insisting that it was the Kuchiki family who were the traitors colluding with the rebels.

    In the shadows, a man hiding behind Seat Number One slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

    As the second-generation core figure of the Tsunayashiro clan, his duty was to safeguard the clan''s interests in the Central 46 meetings.

    Under normal circumstances, if he encountered such a situation, his legs would probably turn to jelly.

    With the Kuchiki family leading an all-out offensive, a slight misstep could lead to a disastrous end.

    But today... he was not afraid.

    Before coming here, the old master had already told him what might happen.

    Not only would the Tsunayashiro clan not lose, but they would win, and win beautifully!

    As the verbal battle escalated, the four judges responsible for maintaining order spoke out together, demanding the restoration of order.

    One of them stood up:

    "Since both sides hold their own views, then, according to the rules of the Central 46 forum we shall vote on this."

    "Everyone, please vote."

    "Decide whether you believe the Tsunayashiro clan is guilty or the Kuchiki family is guilty."

    As soon as these words came out, many nobles hiding behind their seats showed shocked expressions.

    They had thought that the judges would play the role of mediators, muddying the waters and covering up the matter for now.

    Unexpectedly, the judges said such words.

    Are they going to completely tear off the facade?

    Behind Seat Number Two, Tada, representing the interests of the Kuchiki family, revealed a smile.

    Kuchiki, Shih¨­in, Shiba.

    Among the Five Great Noble Clans, three were on their side.

    What does the Tsunayashiro clan have to win with?

    He said loudly, "The Tsunayashiro clan is guilty!"

    As soon as these words came out, the nobles attached to the Kuchiki family all understood what they should do.

    One after another, seats began to cast their votes.

    A Tsunayashiro member sneered, "The Kuchiki family is guilty!"

    The nobles attached to the Tsunayashiro clan followed suit.

    Under the recording of the judges, the votes of both sides began to increase rapidly.

    Tada frowned slightly, looking toward Seat Number Seven.

    There was an elder of the Shih¨­in family.

    Now, the Shih¨­in family must follow.

    The Kuchiki family''s votes were not as many as the Tsunayashiro''s.

    Only if the Shih¨­in family acted at this time could the advantage shift over!

    Behind Seat Number Seven, the Shih¨­in elder was about to speak when a figure suddenly appeared beside him.

    It was a messenger of the Shih¨­in family, who was allowed to enter and exit the venue.

    Under the somewhat puzzled gaze of the elder, the messenger leaned over and quickly whispered something.

    Upon hearing this, the elder''s eyes widened.

    The family head... has disappeared?!

    He looked over in shock, lowered his voice, and said, "Did they go somewhere to play?"

    The messenger shook his head, "All the elders have sent people to look for them. Whether it''s the Onmitsukid¨­ or people sent by the family, no clues can be found."

    "According to the information we''ve gathered, the family head was probably attacked in West District 2 of Rukongai. A huge explosion occurred at the scene, and the family head''s life and death are currently unknown!"

    "After discussion among the elders, it was decided not to stand out in this meeting and to remain neutral."

    "If the family head has really met with misfortune, we must not become enemies with the Tsunayashiro clan!"

    The elder''s pupils shook.

    This...

    Remaining neutral sounds nice, but in reality, isn''t it just leaning toward the Tsunayashiro clan?

    Afterward, the Kuchiki family will never let it go!

    At the moment this thought arose, he suddenly understood.

    If the Kuchiki family loses today, then in the future... there may be no more Kuchiki family.

    That person from the Tsunayashiro clan, whether in strength or character, would never tolerate a defeated Kuchiki family.

    At that time, naturally, there would be no need to worry about retaliation from the Kuchiki family.

    Is this... really okay?

    He trembled slightly and opened his mouth, but couldn''t make a sound.

    The nobles attached to the Shih¨­in family looked over in confusion.

    Why hasn''t the Shih¨­in family spoken yet?

    Right now is the critical moment!

    Feeling the gazes from behind the seats, the Shih¨­in elder took a deep breath.

    Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the main door¡ª

    "The meeting is suspended!!"

    ?!

    Hearing this voice, everyone turned to look.

    They saw the main door of the hall slowly open.

    A figure stood there quietly, leaning on a cane with both hands.

    The blazing sunlight outside the door shone into the dim hall.

    That tall figure stood in the light.

    But the presence so overwhelming that people couldn''t look away seemed even more dazzling than the sunlight!

    A noble couldn''t help but exclaim¡ª

    "Yama... Yamamoto Shigekuni?!"

    "Genry¨±sai?!"

    "Why would he appear here?!"

    "This is the Central 46 meeting!"

    "Yamamoto Shigekuni! There''s no reason; if you intrude into the venue recklessly, it''s a grave offense!"

    "Yama... mmph!!"

    Amidst a chorus of reprimands, Yamamoto raised his eyes and looked at everyone quietly.

    He didn''t release any Reiatsu, didn''t emit killing intent, nor did he use any abilities.

    He just took a look.

    Yet it caused the entire hall to fall into dead silence instantly!

    Many nobles couldn''t help but swallow, their bodies stiff.

    Under everyone''s gaze, Yamamoto slowly said:

    "A major incident has occurred in West District 2 of Rukongai."

    "Currently, the attacker''s identity and whereabouts are unknown."

    "To prevent any issues in the assembly hall, from now on, I will personally preside."

    "Before safety is confirmed, the meeting is temporarily suspended."

    "As you know... I must ensure everyone''s safety."

    Hearing Yamamoto''s words, some people showed puzzled expressions.

    Some were surprised.

    And some... couldn''t suppress the anger in their eyes!

    ---------------------

 Chapter 140

    Chapter 140

    "What a joke! We are..."

    "Kaishi!"

    The person behind seat number one quickly spoke up, interrupting his subordinate.

    Behind the seat partition, he was already covered in cold sweat.

    As the second-generation core of the Tsunayashiro family, he was well aware of the history of the Soul Society.

    Always, Genry¨±sai Yamamoto Shigekuni had been an honest and dutiful executor.

    He never participated or expressed opinions on major events in the Seireitei.

    Once the Central 46 made a decision, he would execute it decisively without hesitation.

    For hundreds of years, Yamamoto had always maintained this image.

    So much so that, in the eyes of many young nobles, Yamamoto was a useful tool¡ªa sword they could manipulate at will.

    Only people like him, who knew the complete historical legacy, understood what kind of existence Yamamoto was a thousand years ago.

    No joke, this old guy, when he wanted to, was naturally the loyal dog of the Central 46.

    But if he didn''t want to... so many nobles and families in the Central 46 combined might not exsicte for long, they vere no match!

    He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger:

    "Genry¨±sai-dono, this meeting is of great importance. May I ask, when can the situation be stabilized, and when can we resume the meeting?"

    "I don''t know."

    Yamamoto shook his head. "I have already ordered a full investigation. Tsunayashiro-dono, please wait patiently."

    He didn''t show any courtesy to Tsunayashiro clan.

    On the way here, he had met with Ky¨­raku Shunsui.

    He already had a general understanding of what had happened in Rukongai.

    The madness of Tsunayashiro and the betrayal of K¨­ga Kuchiki all made him deeply angry.

    If it were him a thousand years ago, he might have drawn his sword directly and destroyed the Tsunayashiro family.

    But now, he had made up his mind to maintain the stability of the Soul Society.

    Even if it''s only on the surface, even if there are countless darkness and filth hidden behind, he would do his utmost to maintain the existing order.

    Yamamoto slowly narrowed his eyes, looking at the sky outside.

    Kaelith...

    Now, all hope rests on that guy.

    If he can protect Yoruichi and bring her back, this chaos that has lasted for decades will come to an end.

    Although he''s a troublesome, foolish disciple, Yamamoto had an inexplicable confidence.

    If it''s that kid, he can definitely do it.

    Before that, as a teacher, the only thing he could do was to stall this meeting.

    Before Kaelith returns, he would never let the Shih¨­in family take a stand.

    If anyone wants to flip the table, he doesn''t mind accompanying them!

    ...

    ...

    In the Forest of Menos, K¨­ga Kuchiki and Kaelith were locked in battle.

    As a genius, K¨­ga had always had absolute confidence in his strength.

    He always believed that in the entire Soul Society, only three people were stronger than him.

    The first, naturally, was Yamamoto Shigekuni.

    The second was the head of the Tsunayashiro family.

    The third was his own father-in-law, Ginrei Kuchiki.

    And after defeating Ky¨­raku Shunsui, his confidence swelled again.

    He felt that even his father-in-law might not be his opponent.

    He had already stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Society!

    One of the few who could see the same scenery as Yamamoto!

    However, at this moment, facing Kaelith, he suddenly began to doubt.

    Muramasa''s abilities had no effect whatsoever on Kaelith.

    No matter how he tried to guide him to relax his mental defenses or how he maneuvered in battle, Kaelith''s soul didn''t show a single flaw.

    Muramasa''s face was extremely grim.

    From past to present, he had never encountered such a bizarre opponent. As for direct combat, it was even more confounding.

    Looking at Kaelith in front of him, K¨­ga felt like he was losing his mind.

    He didn''t know when, but Kaelith had already thrown away his Zanpakut¨­.

    At this moment, his upper body clothing was completely tattered, reduced to rag-like strips.

    His strong body was completely exposed to the air.

    The Kid¨­ he was proud of hit Kaelith one after another but didn''t cause much damage.

    This guy was like a madman¡ªthe more he was hit, the more excited he became!

    In a moment of distraction, Kaelith''s figure flashed and was already very close to him.

    K¨­ga was startled, hurriedly swinging his sword: "Gaki Rekk¨­!!"

    As Reiatsu poured in, over a dozen green beams shot out from the tip of his Zanpakut¨­!

    This Kid¨­ was developed by himself and had terrifying power.

    Because it was self-created, it highly matched his Reiatsu attributes, making its lethality a level higher!

    In an instant, these beams completely engulfed Kaelith.

    "Yurei, be careful!" (t/n: See note)

    Not far away, Aizen exclaimed.

    Because Yoruichi was present, he didn''t use the term "Kaelith" directly.

    Hearing this, K¨­ga grinned:

    "It''s too late to say that now!"

    "Kaelith is already dead..."

    Before he finished speaking, Aizen''s latter half came:

    "Don''t hit too hard! I have use for him!!"

    K¨­ga: "?"

    He was puzzled and then saw a hand reaching out from the beams of Gaki Rekk¨­.

    Under his astonished gaze, that hand fiercely tore apart the green beams!

    Behind the beams, Kaelith''s face was revealed.

    On that face hung a crazed smile like a demon from hell.

    Under the reflection of the green Kid¨­ beams, the ferocity of the smile intensified!

    Facing K¨­ga, Kaelith, across more than ten meters, suddenly threw a punch¡ª

    "Evening Elephant!!"

    K¨­ga was slightly stunned.

    You''re punching me from so far away?

    The next second, under K¨­ga''s stunned gaze, a circular air pressure column exploded under Kaelith''s fist pressure!

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!!!!!! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The air pressure column engulfed his entire body.

    For a moment, K¨­ga''s hair flew wildly.

    His facial skin and lips twitched uncontrollably, revealing his teeth and gums.

    The clothes on his body were blown to tatters.

    The intense wind pressure made K¨­ga feel like his whole body couldn''t move!

    The moment the air pressure column disappeared, he hurriedly opened his sore eyes, trying to locate Kaelith.

    Then he saw that, at some point, Kaelith had already appeared in front of him¡ª

    "First Step: Face-Smashing Fist!!"

    Aimed at K¨­ga''s handsome face, Kaelith punched out.

    The immense, irresistible force distorted K¨­ga''s entire face.

    His head pulled his neck, his neck pulled his body, and his whole person flew backward like a cannonball, drawing a straight trajectory, and with a boom, crashed into the silver desert!

    Kaelith shook his hand and snorted.

    "This is the punishment for trying to peek into the heart of an innocent youth!"

    Watching the scene before him, Aizen couldn''t help but feel complicated.

    How strong is this guy Kaelith?

    His Ky¨­ka Suigetsu was basically wasted.

    This guy, swinging his fists, actually overturned K¨­ga!

    What kind of genius is this...

    --------------------------------

    (t/n: Here Aize uses the last name as it is more formal and generally means they don''t really know each other. Basically does not want anyone to think they have a close relationship.)

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141

    While Kaelith was showing off his might, Aizen approached K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    He wanted to check the severity of K¨­ga¡¯s injuries.

    If the injuries were too severe, he had to quickly treat him to prevent his death.

    For a Shinigami of K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s caliber, making him into experimental material would be a fine thing indeed.

    Especially Muramasa¡¯s ability¡ªit was far too fascinating.

    If possible, Aizen even wanted to take a personal risk and let K¨­ga Kuchiki invade his soul once.

    What would it feel like to have one¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ taken away?

    After a Zanpakut¨­ is stripped away, would the Shinigami¡¯s soul change?

    A Zanpakut¨­ is part of a Shinigami¡¯s soul. If it¡¯s taken away, would that leave an empty space in the soul?

    Could something else be placed into that empty space?

    And if something else were placed there, would it create new abilities?

    He wanted to know too many things.

    But¡­ Kaelith had mentioned before that once Muramasa invaded a soul, not only could it subvert the Zanpakut¨­, it could also see all the memories of the invaded individual.

    That point alone was unacceptable.

    He had too much knowledge in his mind. Even taking out a few pieces could nurture a powerful villain.

    If someone extracted it all, it might backfire, creating a being who could surpass him.

    As he reached the spot where K¨­ga Kuchiki had been knocked down, Aizen suddenly stopped.

    Amid the rolling dust, a thick pillar of ice suddenly thrust out, aiming straight for his face!

    ¡°Danku.¡±

    Aizen stood calmly in place, silently invoking Bakud¨­ #81.

    He was very fond of ¡°Danku.¡±

    It had high class and versatility, a skill that balanced strength and elegance.

    Normally, people learn Kid¨­ progressively from low to high, rarely skipping numbers unless it¡¯s a difficult spell or one seldom used.

    But he was different. Shortly after coming into contact with Kid¨­, he began tackling Bakud¨­ #81 head-on.

    In the end, while he had only learned up to the thirties in other Bakud¨­, he mastered this high-level spell.

    Now, he could even cast it without incantation!

    A half-transparent high wall instantly rose before him.

    The ice pillar struck the wall and was halted, unable to advance further.

    But in the next second, cracks appeared on Danku.

    Under Aizen¡¯s somewhat surprised gaze, part of the ice pillar actually pierced through Danku¡¯s defense, shooting straight at his face!

    He channeled Reishi beneath his feet, preparing to use Shunpo to dodge. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet the instant he tried to move, he realized he couldn¡¯t.

    Aizen looked calmly down at his feet.

    There, several shadows extended from the swirling dust, binding his own shadow.

    These shadows were preventing him from moving.

    Seeing these shadows, Aizen was momentarily taken aback.

    What trick was Kaelith pulling now?

    But immediately, he noticed that these shadows did not carry Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu.

    So K¨­ga Kuchiki also possessed the power of shadows?

    As he pondered, a small purple orb of light appeared in front of him.

    Though his body couldn¡¯t move, ¡°simulated Cero¡± required no physical action and could be released from any stance!

    Just as he prepared to release the Cero, more than ten black shadows suddenly descended from above.

    They plunged into the ground in an instant, shredding the shadows that restrained Aizen¡¯s own shadow into fragments.

    Kaelith dropped down from the sky, landing beside Aizen.

    ¡°Ah, my friend over here, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Good thing I have quick eyes and hands. I acted just in time to save your little life!¡±

    ¡°But no need to thank me too much. I, Kaelith, have always done good deeds without leaving a name!¡±

    Aizen dispersed the half-formed Cero.

    He took a deep breath, calming his rising blood pressure. As the dust cleared, K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s figure slowly emerged.

    Holding his Zanpakut¨­, he stood quietly, watching Kaelith and Aizen.

    A patch of flesh was blasted open on his face, exposing his teeth beneath, giving him a grim, unsettling look.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki raised his hand and touched the wound on his face.

    His fingers brushed against the torn flesh, causing him to frown slightly.

    He wiped his hand over it, releasing a layer of Kid¨­ to temporarily cover the wound, stopping the steady flow of blood.

    Aizen clapped lightly: ¡°As expected of a genius Shinigami worthy of marrying into the Kuchiki family¡­ My non-incantation Danku can at least block Had¨­ below #85.¡±

    ¡°That move just now must have been a Kid¨­ of your own invention.¡±

    ¡°To create a high-level Kid¨­ close to the nineties, you certainly have reason to be proud.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kaelith suddenly seemed to recall something.

    He raised his hand: ¡°I have a question!¡±

    K¨­ga Kuchiki looked at him.

    At the moment Kaelith¡¯s punch had landed earlier, K¨­ga finally understood the reason for this guy¡¯s strong defense.

    Flowing over Kaelith¡¯s body was a strange layer of Reiatsu.

    It was attached to some form of soul layer, clinging directly to his skin.

    Any attack that hit Kaelith would first be obstructed by this combined soul-and-Reiatsu defensive layer.

    Unless one could break through its upper limit, it would be very difficult to cause Kaelith actual harm.

    This bizarre ability was hard to comprehend.

    A Shinigami itself is composed of a soul.

    How could Kaelith split off a piece of his soul to create a defensive layer?

    It made no sense unless that soul fragment didn¡¯t originate from himself but was obtained externally.

    Within the entire Soul Society, only one person mastered such technology.

    The Captain of the Twelfth Division, Kirio Hikifune!

    He¡¯d heard from Ginrei Kuchiki that artificial soul technology was Kirio Hikifune¡¯s foundation and greatest ability.

    Kaelith¡­ what sort of charm did this guy have?

    They both came from Rukongai, yet he could have the Captain-Commander and a future Royal Guard candidate like Kirio Hikifune fully imparts their knowledge.

    While he himself could only obey his father-in-law¡¯s cold commands day after day¡­

    He took a deep breath.

    ¡°What¡¯s your question? Speak.¡±

    Kaelith lowered his hand, curious: ¡°What exactly made you switch sides to the Tsunayashiro clan?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s because you¡¯re dissatisfied with old man Ginrei?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, your move is too absurd¡­ Think about it, he¡¯s so old already. Who knows when he¡¯ll be gone?¡±

    ¡°When he dies, no one will control you anymore, right?¡±

    ¡°Not only that, given your strength and status, taking over the Kuchiki family and becoming its head isn¡¯t impossible.¡±

    ¡°In comparison, jumping over to Tsunayashiro means you¡¯ll be a lackey for life, never entering the core. Isn¡¯t that a wasted effort?¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words, K¨­ga Kuchiki sneered.

    He raised his head slightly, looking at Kaelith with the contempt a scholar has for a fool.

    ¡°Kaelith, even though you¡¯re very strong, your vision is still too narrow.¡±

    ¡°The struggle for interests in the Seireitei is nothing significant.¡±

    ¡°What I want is to ascend to the heavens together with the Tsunayashiro clan!¡±

    ¡°I will help Tsunayashiro Senzo become the new Soul King¡­¡±

    ¡°At that time, he will use the Soul King¡¯s great power to enhance Muramasa¡¯s abilities!¡±

    ¡°Once I gain new power, I will no longer be hindered by closed-off minds. I will enter everyone¡¯s inner world, forcing the entire Soul Society to acknowledge me, fear me, and respect me!!¡±

 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142

    Hearing K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s words, Kaelith made a sound of disgust.

    ¡°How revolting. You actually speak of your voyeuristic desires so openly¡­ Sorry, could you keep a distance of 1.496¡Á10? kilometers from me? Any closer and I¡¯ll feel physically ill.¡±

    K¨­ga Kuchiki was slightly taken aback.

    What kind of distance is that?

    Aizen waved his hand, stopping Kaelith from continuing.

    He asked curiously, ¡°How are you so certain that Tsunayashiro Senzo can become the Soul King?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a step back. Even if he truly becomes the Soul King, how can you be sure he can enhance your Zanpakut¨­¡¯s abilities?¡±

    K¨­ga Kuchiki glanced at him. ¡°The Tsunayashiro clan controls the Great Spirit Book Gallery. All the secrets of the Soul Society are in their hands.¡±

    ¡°The Soul King¡¯s power is far greater than you imagine. Not only can it strengthen a Zanpakut¨­, it can even create worlds!¡±

    ¡°These records were all seen by my own eyes, absolutely genuine.¡±

    ¡°As for how to become the Soul King¡­¡±

    Just as K¨­ga Kuchiki reached the crucial point, Aizen listened very carefully.

    But at that very instant, K¨­ga Kuchiki suddenly made his move.

    With his Reiatsu pushing his speed to the extreme, he crossed the space in a blink, slashing out with his blade!

    In his view, Aizen¡¯s body sprayed blood.

    With an expression of disbelief, Aizen¡¯s upper body slowly slid off.

    Then, with a ¡°pa¡± sound, his entire figure vanished into thin air.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s smile froze.

    From Kaelith¡¯s and Yoruichi¡¯s perspectives in the distance, K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s action looked very strange.

    He was talking mid-sentence, then suddenly charged toward an empty space about a dozen meters from Aizen¡¯s side.

    His blade gleamed coldly as it struck the air.

    When he swung down, he wore a satisfied smile, but a few seconds later, that smile turned into shock.

    Yoruichi blinked, not understanding what happened.

    Kaelith felt a bit emotional.

    This is Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    A once ordinary Zanpakut¨­ played masterfully by a high-level player.

    He raised his hand and tapped his left hand with his right fist.

    ¡°Alright, game over.¡±

    ¡°Enjoy a VIP seat in the lab¡¯s stasis pod; time to hit the road!¡±

    With that, he stomped down hard, a circle of white shockwaves bursting behind him as he rushed toward K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    Aizen also drew his blade, ready to coordinate with Kaelith.

    Muramasa¡¯s ability was still threatening to him.

    Like Ky¨­raku Shunsui, sealing off his mind was a powerful debuff.

    In contrast, Kaelith seemed completely unaffected.

    For a moment, Aizen couldn¡¯t help but have a malicious guess.

    Could it be that Kaelith hadn¡¯t used his brain in so long he¡¯d completely lost the ability to think, leaving Muramasa with no way to invade?

    As he pondered, he used Shunpo to follow.

    However, to their surprise, after a brief moment of astonishment, K¨­ga Kuchiki suddenly turned and ran!

    This move was so absurd that both of them were at a loss.

    After all, he was a captain-level master with outstanding combat achievements and formidable strength.

    Facing Kaelith, a younger generation Shinigami, he actually ran?

    ¡°Hmph, trying to escape?!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened, and he pushed off with sudden force.

    Boom!!!

    The dune beneath his feet exploded.

    Using the rebound force, Kaelith¡¯s speed soared, chasing like an unleashed wild dog.

    Watching the ground Kaelith had stepped on, Aizen¡¯s eye twitched.

    That move just now¡ªhe used the ¡°Ikkotsu¡± technique with his foot to accelerate?

    Ikkotsu can be used like that?

    While chasing, Kaelith channeled the power of his Zanpakut¨­.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki, who was fleeing with all his might, suddenly felt danger. ¡°Muramasa!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    With their minds linked, Muramasa also sensed the problem.

    He rushed to K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s side and swung the Zanpakut¨­ fiercely.

    Clang!!!

    At the moment he swung the blade, a tremendous force came from it.

    Sparks flew from the blade in midair.

    It was as if an invisible swordsman stood there, clashing swords with him passionately! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    What the¡­?

    A hint of surprise flashed in Muramasa¡¯s eyes.

    Could there be a Shinigami with an invisible Zanpakut¨­ ability here?

    Thinking this, he reached forward, trying to grab hold.

    If there really was a Shinigami there, he¡¯d subvert that Zanpakut¨­!

    As he grabbed, Muramasa felt his fingers touch something.

    That feeling was familiar.

    A Zanpakut¨­?

    The instant this thought arose, Muramasa was overjoyed.

    Could Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ ability be an externalized Zanpakut¨­ spirit?

    If that¡¯s the case, then he was certain to win!

    Without hesitation, he activated ¡°Mug¨­ch¨­shu.¡±

    In the next second, the world before his eyes changed.

    Under his astonished gaze, the dark Menos Forest, the countless towering stone pillars, and the silver desert beneath his feet all vanished.

    The entire world was left with nothing but endless darkness.

    Like the bottom of a deep ocean.

    Or a universe without stars.

    Oppressive, lonely, despairing¡­

    Countless negative emotions surged in his heart.

    What happened?

    He had clearly triggered his Bankai successfully!

    Judging from the sensation, he had indeed grasped a Zanpakut¨­ on the other side. Normally, that would provoke its discontent and rebellion against its owner.

    Why was he here, in such a place?

    ¡°K¨­ga! K¨­ga! Where are you?!¡±

    Under strong fear, Muramasa couldn¡¯t help but shout.

    However, there was no response.

    Muramasa became anxious.

    He tried moving, but whether he ran, slid, or unleashed Reiatsu, he felt no sense of movement.

    Unknowingly, in this darkness, considerable time had passed.

    So long that he almost forgot what he was doing.

    Even being thrown into a swarm of Menos, facing countless enemies, would be better than this endless silence.

    After who knows how long, Muramasa felt he was about to lose the ability to think.

    ¡°K¨­ga¡­ K¨­ga¡­¡±

    He mumbled to himself, maintaining at least a little language ability.

    Just then, the world before him suddenly changed.

    Darkness gradually receded.

    What appeared was an endless desert.

    He looked around blankly.

    He saw K¨­ga Kuchiki rushing forward anxiously.

    ¡°Muramasa! Muramasa!¡±

    ¡°What are you doing? Answer me quickly!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith is catching up¡ªgo stop him!¡±

    Muramasa: ¡°¡­¡±

    Staring at K¨­ga Kuchiki, he took several seconds to react.

    After confirming it really was his master, he couldn¡¯t help but shed tears.

    ¡°K¨­ga!!¡±

    He shouted loudly.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki: ¡°?¡±

    Seeing his Zanpakut¨­ spirit suddenly go crazy startled him.

    Then he watched Muramasa, as if injected with chicken blood, frantically charge back behind them.

    Though he had no idea what happened to his Zanpakut¨­, having battle spirit was certainly a good thing.

    With mixed feelings, he increased his speed.

 Chapter 143

    Chapter 143

    Kaelith surged with blazing Spirit Pressure, pursuing K¨­ga Kuchiki closely.

    ¡°Kehehehe!! K¨­ga Kuchiki! You think you can escape?!¡±

    ¡°Stop obediently, and I¡¯ll spare your life!¡±

    ¡°Still running? If you keep running, I won¡¯t hold back!¡±

    ¡°You bastard! Weren¡¯t you happily chasing me just now? Why turn into a coward all of a sudden?!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Following behind Kaelith and listening to the string of insults, Aizen couldn¡¯t help feeling the urge to cover his face.

    If K¨­ga Kuchiki turning his back makes him a coward, then what did that make you when you were running away earlier¡­

    Kaelith was shouting gleefully when he saw Muramasa charging over with a look of wild frenzy.

    That eerie excitement resembled a prisoner trapped in darkness for centuries, suddenly seeing daylight again.

    Aizen blinked in surprise.

    If this expression were on Kaelith¡¯s face, he wouldn¡¯t be shocked.

    But¡­ Muramasa was supposed to be a refined gentleman.

    This expression on Muramasa felt completely out of place.

    Before Aizen could think further, Kaelith grinned and said:

    ¡°Not bad. Though your master¡¯s a coward, at least the Zanpakut¨­ is lively!¡±

    ¡°Come, let me test your purity!¡±

    With shining Spirit Pressure, he threw a punch at Muramasa. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Kaelith!!¡±

    Muramasa¡¯s eyes widened, filled with madness. He seemed brimming with infinite strength as he wildly swung his Zanpakut¨­ at Kaelith.

    Seeing these two lunatics collide, Aizen quickly sidestepped.

    He used Shunpo and continued chasing K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    Not far away, Yoruichi flashed onto a dune.

    She looked at Kaelith and Muramasa locked in battle, her expression complicated.

    She¡­ was too weak.

    In a battle of this level, she was no help.

    Joining in would only cause interference.

    Speed was her only strong point.

    Yet against Kaelith and that unknown Shinigami, her speed was no advantage at all.

    After a brief moment of frustration, Yoruichi took a deep breath.

    Her eyes reignited with determination.

    She must not lose!

    If she couldn¡¯t measure up now, she would just train even harder!

    Self-pity leads nowhere.

    Only hard work brings strength!

    For the day she could stand side by side with that person in battle, Yoruichi, you must work tirelessly!

    Aizen followed K¨­ga Kuchiki, constantly adjusting his direction.

    Captain-level Shinigami had terrifying mobility.

    A single Shunpo could span hundreds of meters, possibly appearing anywhere.

    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t care about such details.

    But now, with his mind sealed, his reaction time was slower.

    In the Menos Forest, countless towering pillars stood everywhere. In the dim environment, relying on sight to track someone was impossible.

    When Kaelith was running away before, he made full use of this fact.

    Now that Aizen was chasing K¨­ga Kuchiki, he suffered the same disadvantage.

    If not for his extremely keen Spirit Pressure sensing, allowing him to detect each of K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s direction changes in time, he would have lost him by now.

    In the distance, he could sense Kaelith and Muramasa still fiercely battling.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ was unexpectedly formidable one-on-one¡­ managing to hold off Kaelith for so long.

    As he thought this, Aizen suddenly sensed K¨­ga Kuchiki change direction again.

    Just as he tried to follow, he noticed three ¡°K¨­ga Kuchiki¡± appear simultaneously within his sensing range.

    ¡°Illusions?¡±

    Realizing the opponent¡¯s tactic, Aizen couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s abilities were too convenient.

    He could control shadows like Kaelith, and create illusions like Aizen himself. In less than a second, Aizen distinguished illusion from reality.

    But with his mind sealed, realizing the illusion and then adjusting direction still cost him over a second.

    Two seconds, nearly three seconds¡ªthough short, at Captain-level pursuit speeds, that was enough to widen the gap.

    Sensing K¨­ga Kuchiki pulling away again, Aizen felt displeased.

    Kaelith was battling Muramasa right now. If he let K¨­ga Kuchiki escape, that guy would mock him for a whole year.

    Just imagining Kaelith¡¯s ridicule made Aizen¡¯s blood pressure rise in advance.

    Enough. He would take a risk!

    Aizen¡¯s gaze sharpened. The indifference vanished from his eyes, now bright and alert.

    He temporarily lifted his inner seal.

    Locking onto the direction of K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s escape, he unleashed a terrifying surge of Spirit Pressure, like a raging storm engulfing K¨­ga Kuchiki!

    Sensing Aizen¡¯s renewed pursuit, K¨­ga Kuchiki repeated his illusion trick.

    But this time, it barely affected Aizen at all.

    In negligible time, Aizen saw through the illusion and corrected his path.

    The distance between them shrank rapidly.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki showed a surprised look.

    Then, as if realizing something, he sneered and placed a hand on his Zanpakut¨­ at his waist.

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    Kaelith¡¯s body shone with dazzling blue Spirit Pressure, like a Super Saiyan¡¯s aura. (t/n: Finally a dbz reference)

    Within that light, his eyes burned bright, his fists continuously striking forward.

    Muramasa also radiated purple Spirit Pressure.

    He was more excited than ever, wielding his Zanpakut¨­ and clashing with Kaelith repeatedly.

    Yet, even in this unprecedented state, he wasn¡¯t a Zanpakut¨­ specialized in combat.

    Before long, Kaelith seized an opening, punching aside Muramasa¡¯s blade and exposing his defenses.

    Kaelith¡¯s fists rained down on Muramasa¡¯s face like a torrent¡ª

    ¡°Ora!¡±

    ¡°Ora ora ora ora ora!!!¡±

    Bang bang bang bang bang!!!

    Countless blows struck Muramasa¡¯s face, twisting him like a ragdoll in midair.

    Under normal circumstances, such a terrifying assault would have knocked him out.

    But now, Muramasa felt only excitement.

    Compared to that endless darkness, mere pain was nothing!

    Seeing Muramasa smiling despite the relentless beating, Kaelith was moved.

    ¡°Great, you¡¯ve got spirit!¡±

    ¡°Though you¡¯re a Zanpakut¨­, I, Kaelith, acknowledge your courage!¡±

    ¡°With this punch, I¡¯ll smash your head!¡±

    He stopped his barrage, and his aura climbed another level.

    He drew his fist back to his waist.

    Shadows merged into his body.

    Black Flash: Ikkotsu!!

    Like a falling mountain, an unstoppable heavy punch descended upon Muramasa!

    ¡°Kaelith!!!!¡±

    Muramasa roared, his blade swinging in a deceptively simple slash to meet the blow head-on!

    Just as they were about to decide the winner, in Kaelith¡¯s view, Muramasa¡¯s eyes showed sudden astonishment.

    Then, Muramasa vanished into thin air.

    Kaelith¡¯s fist passed through where Muramasa had been, smashing downward¡ª

    Boom!!!!!!!

    A shockwave erupted from his fist, blasting into the desert below.

    Amid the deafening explosion, a pillar of silver sand shot skyward, shattering the forest¡¯s canopy and reaching Hueco Mundo¡¯s surface!

    In the distance, Harribel, who had been exploring around, was startled by the sight of the sand pillar.

    Then, realizing something, she rushed toward it.

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144

    ¡°Damn it, using a Command Seal!¡±

    After his punch missed, Kaelith froze momentarily, then quickly understood the reason.

    Sensing the Spirit Pressure in the air, his expression turned surprised.

    ¡°Damn, Aizen chased after them¡­ With his insignificant skill, he probably can¡¯t stop Muramasa.¡±

    ¡°Without his Zanpakut¨­, what does he have left?¡±

    ¡°Just a complete weakling.¡±

    ¡°No, I have to hurry over and prepare to collect his corpse.¡±

    He turned his head and shouted behind him:

    ¡°Yoruichi! Follow me! Keep your distance and seal your inner mind!¡±

    After shouting, he flashed forward, heading in Aizen¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    Yoruichi nodded and quickly followed.

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s back, she fell into thought.

    She understood Kaelith¡¯s personality fairly well.

    His kindness wasn¡¯t cheap.

    If someone wasn¡¯t acknowledged or close to him, Kaelith usually didn¡¯t care about their life or death.

    For him to go all out, rushing to help without hesitation, the true identity of that figure must be someone very close to him.

    Then, a piece of intel surfaced in her mind.

    This figure reminded her of the Shadow Killer. and they were once someone who indiscriminately killed Shinigami, friend or foe.

    But at some point, he suddenly changed tactics.

    He avoided all Gotei 13 Shinigami and only killed those from the rebel side.

    When she first heard this intel, she found it puzzling and inexplicable.

    Thinking back now¡­ Didn¡¯t Shadow Killer¡¯s shift in targets coincide with the time Kaelith began to shine?

    Yoruichi couldn¡¯t help revealing a curious look.

    So Kaelith might not be as straightforward as he appears.

    She quickly filtered through the friends and closely linked people around Kaelith in her mind.

    But after several rounds of thought, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone close to Kaelith who possessed such skill.

    Truly a mysterious man.

    Could it be that while this guy pretended to laze around every day, he was actually plotting something grand behind the scenes?

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    Muramasa¡¯s vision blurred, and in the next second, he appeared beside K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    ¡°K¨­ga?¡±

    He gripped his sword, frowning slightly.

    Earlier, his life-or-death clash with Kaelith had rekindled a long-lost thrill.

    Muramasa knew that if he truly faced Kaelith¡¯s full power, he likely wouldn¡¯t be a match.

    But even so, he longed to complete that ultimate strike beyond his limits.

    At this crucial moment, being pulled back by K¨­ga Kuchiki gave him a subtle feeling of resistance.

    However, this emotion lasted only a moment.

    His boundless loyalty to K¨­ga Kuchiki made him instantly forget such unpleasantness.

    Seeing Aizen before him, Muramasa immediately understood why K¨­ga Kuchiki had recalled him.

    He suddenly lunged in the opposite direction from Aizen!

    K¨­ga Kuchiki was left speechless seeing the direction Muramasa dashed toward.

    His Zanpakut¨­¡­ what was it doing?

    K¨­ga Kuchiki opened his mouth, about to speak, when he saw Muramasa collide with someone.

    Facing Aizen¡¯s somewhat surprised gaze, Muramasa said flatly:

    ¡°Your illusion ability disrupts the opponent¡¯s five senses, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, that trick isn¡¯t very effective on me.¡±

    ¡°My ability allows me to sense the location of the opponent¡¯s Zanpakut¨­¡­ so even if you hide yourself perfectly, you can¡¯t hide your Zanpakut¨­!¡±

    He reached toward Aizen¡¯s blade:

    ¡°Awaken, unyielding soul!¡±

    With that motion, an invisible ripple stabbed into Aizen¡¯s body. Aizen frowned slightly.

    Muramasa¡¯s sudden appearance allowed him only half a moment to construct his soul defenses.

    In that brief instant, he made a decision.

    All the half-built soul defenses were allocated to protect his memories.

    He completely abandoned any defense of his Zanpakut¨­!

    Muramasa, who was invading, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes.

    This guy¡­ was too calm.

    Facing the imminent loss of his Zanpakut¨­ powers, he could still so decisively sacrifice the blade to protect something more important.

    What a terrifying man.

    With a backward pull, Muramasa extracted a figure from Aizen¡¯s soul.

    Aizen felt as if something had been removed from the depths of his soul.

    The Zanpakut¨­ in his hand lost its usual vitality, now just a piece of useless metal.

    Not only was its release ability gone, even its sharpness drastically decreased.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu now wasn¡¯t even as good as an Asauchi¡­

    So this is what it feels like to have your Zanpakut¨­ taken?

    It¡¯s quite interesting, especially the hollow feeling in the soul.

    A fine experience, potentially useful for the next round of soul experiments. Aizen thought as he looked ahead.

    Beside Muramasa, a previously blurry figure now took clear form.

    It was a tall Man in a white kimono, his gaze gentle.

    In his hand, he held a Zanpakut¨­ identical to Aizen¡¯s.

    Aizen looked at the man curiously.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the personification of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.¡±

    The man lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°A pleasure to make your acquaintance at last, my master.¡±

    ¡°Or more precisely, my former master.¡±

    He pressed his lips together, then narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous gleam.

    ¡°Though I¡¯d love to ask what it feels like to lose me¡­ after thinking it over, never mind.¡±

    ¡°After all, to you, whether you have me or not doesn¡¯t seem to matter much, right?¡±

    Aizen raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Why would you say that? You are my Zanpakut¨­, born from my soul, you are naturally very important.¡±

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu let out a light snort.

    ¡°Let me borrow a phrase from Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°You can lie to others, but don¡¯t lie to yourself.¡±

    ¡°In your eyes, my power was nothing but a simple tool¡­ what you truly trust is your ever-growing Spirit Pressure!¡±

    Hearing this, Aizen showed a thoughtful expression.

    But this calm demeanor only fueled Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s anger.

    Losing him, losing his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability, this guy wasn¡¯t the least bit flustered? S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Did he really hold him in such low regard?!

    He said nothing more. His figure blurred as he swung his blade at Aizen.

    Facing Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s attack, Aizen raised his sword in kind.

    With a clash of metal, he easily blocked his strike.

    Seeing Aizen¡¯s face, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s eyes gleamed with delight.

    In that instant, he had completed a permanent hypnosis on Aizen.

    From now on, he could toy with his former master as he pleased!

    With a step, he appeared some distance away.

    Simultaneously, he used his hypnotic power to make Aizen think he stood elsewhere.

    From now on, his former master would wander like a headless fly, gradually losing his life in confusion, just like those Shinigami he once killed.

    But at the very moment he thought this, Aizen¡¯s calm face suddenly appeared before his eyes.

    As Ky¨­ka Suigetsu watched in disbelief, Aizen¡¯s right hand clenched into a fist.

    Then, he punched forward!

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145

    Boom!!!

    Under the astonished gazes of Muramasa and K¨­ga Kuchiki, Aizen¡¯s fist slammed into Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s stomach.

    Accompanied by a circular blast wave, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu was sent flying, like a cannonball, straight into the ground, kicking up a large cloud of silver sand!

    Feeling the intense pain coursing through his body, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu felt as though he were dreaming.

    How could this be¡­

    Why couldn¡¯t his ability affect Aizen?

    This was Complete Hypnosis!

    And that punch just now, what was that about?

    All along, hadn¡¯t this guy always fought with a sword? Why was he so skilled at punching?!

    Climbing out of the pit, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu suddenly remembered why Aizen knew how to fight with his fists.

    Kaelith¡­

    That guy once taught Aizen how to use Ikkotsu and Nikotsu.

    Moreover, when that guy sparred with Aizen, he often stripped off his clothes, tossed aside his sword, and started fighting with his fists.

    Damn it!

    He suddenly suspected that Aizen¡¯s growing indifference toward his Zanpakut¨­ was influenced by Kaelith! (T/N; He might be on to something here...)

    Enduring the sharp pain in his stomach, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu stood up from the pit.

    He looked up at Aizen, who hovered in midair.

    Then, he mustered his Spirit Pressure and shot upward, charging at Aizen.

    At the same time, he activated Complete Hypnosis again, making it impossible for Aizen to determine his position.

    Not far away, Muramasa stood in midair, frowning at the scene.

    He had hypnotized countless Zanpakut¨­, but had never seen such a strange situation.

    A Shinigami who lost his Zanpakut¨­ stood there calmly like a villainous boss.

    The rebelled Zanpakut¨­, on the other hand, had fallen behind, looking rather anxious¡­

    In every sense, this was way too bizarre.

    Under the cover of Complete Hypnosis, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu arrived behind Aizen, raised his Zanpakut¨­, and prepared to strike.

    But just as he was about to slash down, Aizen suddenly spoke: S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Had¨­ #63.¡±

    ¡°Raik¨­h¨­.¡±

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s eyes widened.

    A flood of golden lightning, long prepared by Aizen, surged forth and swallowed him up.

    With black smoke and scorched marks, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s figure fell from the sky once more.

    Boom!!!

    He crashed into a dune.

    Lying in the dune, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu tried to get up, but couldn¡¯t help spitting out blood.

    Looking at Aizen standing in the sky, he finally couldn¡¯t hold back and shouted angrily:

    ¡°Why?! Why can you ignore the power of Complete Hypnosis?!¡±

    Hearing this, Aizen looked at him calmly.

    ¡°Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, you misunderstood something from the start.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t ¡®disregard the Zanpakut¨­.¡¯¡±

    ¡°I simply ¡®do not rely on the Zanpakut¨­.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Your ability is indeed very powerful. Used properly, it can create miracles.¡±

    ¡°But you also have a very obvious weakness.¡±

    ¡°Once the enemy¡¯s Spirit Pressure far surpasses yours, your ability becomes completely ineffective.¡±

    As he spoke, he took out a blue pill and showed it to Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    ¡°Since you are my Zanpakut¨­, you should know what this is.¡±

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu froze at first, then showed an expression of realization.

    A temporary Spirit Pressure booster!

    Because he had not yet fully matured, Aizen¡¯s Spirit Pressure wasn¡¯t ¡°especially strong.¡±

    To prevent facing an enemy too powerful to be affected by Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s ability, Aizen had long since developed this drug.

    After taking it, his Spirit Pressure would greatly increase for a short period.

    Though when it wore off there would be a debuff lowering his Spirit Pressure, it was a perfect medicine for dealing with himself¡­ As a Zanpakut¨­ who couldn¡¯t gain any advantage over his powerless master, wasn¡¯t that saying that even without him, Aizen would be just fine?

    Realizing this, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu felt his heart sink to the bottom.

    While he remained silent, Aizen approached him.

    Under Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s gaze, Aizen drew the now powerless Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Although I¡¯d like to see more of your abilities, time is running out.¡±

    ¡°Before the situation gets out of control, I must have you return.¡±

    As he spoke, Aizen raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    His somewhat lanky figure, illuminated by the dim moonlight of the Menos Forest, resembled an executioner.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu said unwillingly:

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that killing me will make you lose your Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power forever?¡±

    Aizen gently shook his head:

    ¡°That guy told me that if the Zanpakut¨­ is subverted by Muramasa, I just need to kill the Zanpakut¨­ spirit myself to restore my powers.¡±

    That guy?

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu looked puzzled.

    Then he suddenly widened his eyes.

    Kaelith¡­ him again!!

    How did that guy know about Muramasa¡¯s ability?!

    Even more infuriating, why did Aizen trust him so much?!

    This concerned the continued existence of his Zanpakut¨­ powers!

    Aizen had been cautious since childhood, never taking risks. Yet now, facing such an important decision, he completely trusted Kaelith¡¯s baseless words?!

    What a joke!

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu suddenly laughed.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that Kaelith might deceive you?¡±

    ¡°Aizen, blindly trusting others will cost you.¡±

    Hearing this, Aizen pondered for two seconds.

    Then shook his head: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he can¡¯t fool me.¡±

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu: ¡°¡­¡±

    At this life-and-death moment, he didn¡¯t even know how to respond.

    High above, Muramasa and K¨­ga Kuchiki exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

    They couldn¡¯t let this figure regain his hypnotic ability. They had to take action!

    Just as the two were about to move¡ª

    A voice suddenly rang out¡ª

    ¡°Ai¡­ friend! Hang in there and don¡¯t die! Kaelith is coming!!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly, and he subconsciously looked toward the voice.

    He saw Kaelith flying in midair, bursting with blue Spirit Pressure, rushing over at an utterly terrifying speed.

    That guy repeatedly used Ikkotsu with his feet, stomping out ring after ring of shockwaves in the air.

    Each step increased his speed once more.

    If not for Spirit Pressure protection, he would have burned himself alive by now.

    This brute¡­

    Aizen felt an urge to sigh and cover his face.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, on the other hand, seemed to realize something.

    His eyes lit up, and with a desperate final burst of strength, he leaped straight up, rushing toward Kaelith¡¯s direction.

    Aizen¡¯s expression changed.

    The moment Ky¨­ka Suigetsu moved, he swung his blade without hesitation.

    With a spray of blood, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu let out a muffled groan.

    But, bearing a long wound on his back, he finally shook off Aizen.

    Facing Kaelith who was rushing over, he raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu,

    Complete Hypnosis!!

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146

    "Huh? Where did this Japanese-style beauty come from?"

    Seeing Ky¨­ka Suigetsu suddenly blocking the way, Kaelith showed a surprised look.

    Then, he saw this Japanese-style beauty raise his blade high toward him.

    So that¡¯s how it is¡­ an enemy.

    Kaelith felt a bit regretful.

    Within the rebels, there was actually someone so beautiful.

    If he had a fetish for an older woman, he might have defected right now, kneeling before Senzo Tsunayashiro to call him foster mommy. (t/n; Does he not know it''s a dud?)

    What a pity. He was a proper gentleman, with none of those strange preferences.

    Stomping hard on the air with his right foot, he accelerated once again.

    At the same time, his right hand drew back, Spirit Pressure gleaming upon his fist!

    Watching Kaelith charge forward, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu revealed an excited smile.

    He channeled Spirit Pressure into his Zanpakut¨­, initiating its release.

    Aizen¡¯s expression changed.

    ¡°Close your eyes! That¡¯s Ky¨­ka Suigetsu!!¡±

    He shouted a warning to Kaelith and instantly used Shunpo to appear at Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s side, swinging his blade in an attempt to stop the latter from using complete hypnosis.

    But he was still a step too slow.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s hypnosis required no preparatory motion. As long as the opponent saw the Zanpakut¨­, it was done.

    In other words, the speed of releasing complete hypnosis was at the speed of light!

    Sensing that Ky¨­ka Suigetsu had activated his release, Aizen realized serious trouble was brewing.

    Don¡¯t be fooled by Kaelith¡¯s usually lazy, unambitious demeanor.

    In reality, this guy¡¯s combat talent was terrifying.

    Once Kaelith fell under Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s hypnosis, the battlefield situation would shift instantly.

    What to do?

    Countless countermeasures flashed through Aizen¡¯s mind.

    Got it.

    If he could defeat Ky¨­ka Suigetsu alone, then let Kaelith just stand aside and do nothing.

    That was one of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s limitations.

    In a multi-combatant battle, as long as the opponent refused to rush in together, the payoff of hypnosis would be greatly reduced.

    However, before he could speak, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu laughed loudly:

    ¡°Useless, I know what you¡¯re trying to do!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already used complete hypnosis to alter his hearing!¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say to him now will sound like provocation and insults!¡±

    Hearing this, Aizen glanced at him.

    As expected of his Zanpakut¨­. Though not great at direct combat, such little tricks were quite professional.

    Seeing Aizen fall silent, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s smile grew wider.

    ¡°I¡¯ve also swapped our appearances in his eyes.¡±

    ¡°To Kaelith, you look like me, and I look like you.¡±

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s watch the show!¡±

    ¡°How will two trusting friends fight to the death?¡±

    Aizen frowned slightly.

    He noticed Yoruichi following several hundred meters behind Kaelith.

    If he were alone, it¡¯d be easy to handle.

    But with Yoruichi present, it was different.

    If he got tangled up by Ky¨­ka Suigetsu and Kaelith, then K¨­ga Kuchiki and Muramasa might go and kill Yoruichi.

    He didn¡¯t care about her life or death.

    But once the battle ended, if Kaelith snapped out of the hypnosis and found Yoruichi dead, he¡¯d lose control.

    Aizen didn¡¯t want to face that troublesome situation.

    Finally, he made a decision.

    Kill Ky¨­ka Suigetsu first.

    Endure Kaelith¡¯s pressure, kill Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, and stop his complete hypnosis.

    Only by doing this could the situation be salvaged.

    Of course, there was a backup plan.

    If he couldn¡¯t kill Ky¨­ka Suigetsu quickly, he¡¯d take Yoruichi and flee, hide her away, then plan again.

    With that in mind, he swung his blade at Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    ¡°Good¡­ come!¡±

    Facing Aizen¡¯s attack, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu smiled.

    Though his body was battered, he was still Aizen¡¯s Zanpakut¨­. With his dense Spirit Pressure, he could endure a few hits.

    Aizen, however, would be in trouble soon.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu shouted: ¡°Kaelith! I¡¯ve stopped him! He couldn¡¯t use complete hypnosis!¡±

    ¡°Restrain him! Don¡¯t let him release the Zanpakut¨­!¡±

    Under complete hypnosis, his voice would sound like Aizen¡¯s to Kaelith.

    Everything was ready. Now he only needed Kaelith to give Aizen a punch!

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu smiled.

    He gripped his Zanpakut¨­ with both hands, unleashing his full Spirit Pressure to clash against Aizen.

    Sensing Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s desperate and powerful outburst, Aizen realized plan A might fail.

    Switch to plan B then.

    As he thought, Kaelith had already arrived.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu showed a victorious smile.

    In Aizen¡¯s peripheral vision, Kaelith looked like a fiend, raising his fist¡ª

    ¡°Ikkotsu!!¡±

    Boom!!!!!!!

    A terrifying punch smashed into Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s face.

    The grin on Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s face hadn¡¯t even faded before Kaelith¡¯s blow destroyed his visage.

    With one punch, his eye rims split, eyes bursting forth, colors of red, black, and purple scattering like a splattered tapestry.

    Under Aizen¡¯s stunned gaze, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu once again traced a neat straight line down from the sky, crashing into the ground.

    Silver sand exploded upward!

    Kaelith shook his wrist: ¡°Acting like a pervert, mimicking Aizen¡¯s tone like that?¡±

    Then he looked at Aizen, grinning as he extended his hand.

    ¡°Aizen, who carelessly got his Zanpakut¨­ power taken.¡±

    ¡°I, Kaelith, have come to pick up your corpse¡­ cough, I mean, to save you!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Seeing Kaelith completely unaffected by Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, he asked in confusion:

    ¡°You weren¡¯t caught by complete hypnosis?¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith paused.

    Right¡­ that lady just now was Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, right?

    Why wasn¡¯t he ensnared?

    He quickly checked the soul outerwear he always kept active for defense against Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    It was clean, with no sign of corruption.

    After double-checking, he said strangely, ¡°Seems not.¡±

    Aizen was surprised. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Suddenly, he noticed the surging Spirit Pressure radiating from Kaelith.

    Earlier, because he was fully focused on Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, he hadn¡¯t noticed Kaelith¡¯s Spirit Pressure intensity.

    Now he realized Kaelith¡¯s Spirit Pressure had risen substantially compared to normal.

    This guy¡­ had grown even stronger?

    The reason Ky¨­ka Suigetsu failed to hypnotize him was that its Spirit Pressure was surpassed?

    Realizing this, Aizen felt an indescribable complexity.

    Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s Spirit Pressure was equal to his own.

    He had to take drugs to surpass Ky¨­ka Suigetsu and gain immunity to complete hypnosis.

    But Kaelith¡­ just did it effortlessly.

    How far had this man progressed?

    A ¡°genius¡± described those who surpassed ordinary limits, unimaginable by common sense.

    Above ¡°genius,¡± there must be someone like Kaelith.

    ---------------------

    T/N Ok so I found out that Ky¨­ka Suigetsu spirit has never actually been showned before. So it could be a man or a woman. Went off by memory ;(

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147

    As Aizen contemplated life, Kaelith suddenly thought of something.

    He opened the system¡¯s log.

    Sure enough, he found the answer in the latest entry.

    [Detected that the bound individual ¡°Aizen¡± has increased in strength, automatically synchronizing training progress¡­ Synchronization complete!]

    [Your Spirit Pressure has increased, and your Spirit Might level is close to level 2!]

    [Note: This state is achieved by relying on external aids. Once the bound individual ¡°Aizen¡± loses this state, your Spirit Pressure will automatically revert to the highest level it can reach under normal circumstances.]

    Seeing this prompt, and considering that Aizen still looked fine¡ªunsurprisingly not blown up by Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡ªKaelith instantly understood.

    Aizen had taken some sort of drug on the spot to raise his Spirit Pressure, preventing Ky¨­ka Suigetsu from controlling him.

    That increase got synced over by the system.

    Thus, Kaelith could now directly ignore Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s hypnosis, making his soul outerwear unnecessary.

    Under Aizen¡¯s gaze, Kaelith slightly raised his head.

    ¡°A Shinigami¡¯s battle is a battle of Spirit Pressure.¡±

    ¡°With my current strength, no matter how exquisite Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s tricks are, they cannot shake my steadfast mind.¡±

    ¡°Work hard, kid. Train diligently, and someday you can be as strong as me.¡±

    He reached out, earnestly patting Aizen¡¯s shoulder.

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    In an instant, dozens of plans for making Kaelith suffer flashed through his mind.

    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, I got carried away!¡±

    Kaelith suddenly bowed.

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    This guy really has overly sharp instincts.

    He took a deep breath to lower his blood pressure.

    Then he lowered his voice, ¡°I just took the No. 3 medicine, and this state won¡¯t last long.¡±

    ¡°Cooperate with me to take down K¨­ga Kuchiki!¡±

    ¡°Oui! Leave it to me!¡± Kaelith gave a thumbs-up.

    Aizen nodded in satisfaction.

    He flashed toward Ky¨­ka Suigetsu first.

    Kaelith wore a pure smile and charged toward K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    Seeing the two in action, K¨­ga Kuchiki realized this battle was over.

    After all that trouble to subvert a Zanpakut¨­, he got a useless one.

    Look at Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s Zanpakut¨­; when it fought its master, it completely humiliated him.

    In contrast, this guy''s Zanpakut¨­ was just embarrassing.

    Relying on such a worthless blade, how did the rebels and Gotei 13 both end up in a stalemate with him?

    In every sense, it was too bizarre.

    There was no need to continue this fight.

    If he kept going, he¡¯d end up staying here for good.

    ¡°Muramasa, stop Kaelith.¡±

    K¨­ga Kuchiki commanded his Zanpakut¨­.

    He planned to repeat the same trick: have Muramasa stall Kaelith while he ran away.

    After all, as long as he activated the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability, no matter how far away he got, he could pull Muramasa back.

    As for Muramasa possibly being injured¡­ what of it?

    Compared to the grand achievements he was about to complete, that was nothing.

    With that, he turned and ran.

    Muramasa nodded, positioning himself in Kaelith¡¯s path, ready to block.

    Watching Muramasa block the way, Kaelith felt a sense of regret.

    At first, he thought K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s nature might not be bad, just twisted from being suppressed by Ginrei Kuchiki.

    Now he was certain.

    Even without Ginrei¡¯s pressure, K¨­ga Kuchiki would eventually become a menace.

    Never mind his betrayal of the Kuchiki family that nurtured him, just to gain power for his revolting plans. His attitude toward his Zanpakut¨­ alone showed his character.

    A Shinigami¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ should be like a brother or family, yet he repeatedly tossed it out as a shield.

    Is there anything more despicable for a Shinigami than treating his Zanpakut¨­ purely as a tool, disregarding its feelings? (t/N this guy....Shameless!)

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help feeling deeply pained.

    He took a deep breath, clenching his fists.

    Muramasa¡¯s eyes widened, preparing for combat.

    He had fought Kaelith once, so he had some idea of Kaelith¡¯s strength.

    Indeed, Kaelith was very strong. With those fists that could crush angles and demons, he stood among the elite even at Captain level.

    But that guy didn¡¯t know Bankai, so his upper limit wasn¡¯t that high.

    Muramasa¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t the same as that useless Zanpakut¨­¡¯s.

    Don¡¯t think you can easily get past me!

    He gripped his Zanpakut¨­, shouted, and charged at Kaelith.

    As Muramasa rushed in, Kaelith displayed a look of mercy, like a saint come to save the suffering masses¡­ Ahem, a saint.

    In the next instant, that saintly face vanished, replaced by a demonic visage.

    With ferocious pressure, Kaelith unleashed both fists¡ª

    ¡°S¨­kotsu!!¡±

    Sensing the pressure from Kaelith¡¯s fists, Muramasa froze in disbelief.

    This power wasn¡¯t on the same level as before!

    In his stunned gaze, Kaelith¡¯s fists effortlessly shattered his blade and continued forward, slamming into him.

    In that moment, Muramasa wondered if his body had been obliterated.

    Two shockwaves erupted from his back, snapping dozens of pillars, disappearing into the distant depths of the Menos Forest.

    With hollow, lifeless eyes, Muramasa¡¯s body went limp and fell from midair.

    Watching Muramasa plummet, Kaelith shook his fists.

    ¡°As expected of nearing level 2 Spirit Might. This feels great.¡±

    Because his Spirit Pressure had grown so much, he hadn¡¯t controlled his strength well just now.

    Several finger bones in both hands had broken.

    But that bit of pain meant nothing to him.

    He¡¯d long gotten used to it.

    In the last moment, he adjusted his strike so that the force passed through Muramasa¡¯s body instead of exploding inside it.

    If he hadn¡¯t held back, Muramasa¡¯s entire upper body would be gone by now.

    Having taken care of Muramasa, he looked up at K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    Fleeing frantically, K¨­ga Kuchiki sensed the change in Muramasa¡¯s Spirit Pressure and couldn¡¯t help glancing back.

    He saw Kaelith smiling at him from afar.

    That hellish grin almost caused K¨­ga Kuchiki to collapse.

    Especially when he saw Muramasa falling from the sky, life or death unknown, he completely panicked.

    ¡°Monster¡­ monster!!¡±

    Yamamoto Shigekuni, Kaelith¡­ Why did the Soul Society produce two monsters like this?

    He must escape. He must return to Senzo Tsunayashiro and go to the Royal Palace!

    As long as he reached that place!

    Desperately fleeing, he suddenly heard continuous explosions behind him.

    What¡¯s that noise?! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He turned back again.

    He saw Kaelith seemingly transformed into a human jet engine, each step in the air detonating shockwaves, accelerating insanely as he charged like a beast!

    ¡°Hey! K¨­ga!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s¡ªplay¡ªtogether!¡±

    Eek!!!

    K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s pupils trembled.

    Don¡¯t come any closer!!!

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148

    As Kaelith faced off with K¨­ga Kuchiki, a sense of dread filled the latter. Hastily, he raised his Zanpakut¨­, its tip aimed straight at Kaelith, preparing to unleash Hy¨­ga Seiran , hoping to stop Kaelith with the power of ice.

    ¡°Hy¨­ga Seiran ¡ª"

    "Ikkotsu!¡±

    Kaelith, unfamiliar with this technique, felt instinctively that allowing K¨­ga Kuchiki to complete his move would complicate matters significantly.

    In the blink of an eye, he unleashed a burst of air pressure, striking K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s sword-wielding arm. The force diverted the direction of the blade towards the back, and the howling icy spiritual pressure erupted from the tip, blasting into the distant dunes and instantly freezing a large section of the sandy terrain.

    ¡°Gurk!¡±

    K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s face twisted in pain.

    In that moment, the youthful warrior surged forward. Under K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s gaze, Kaelith unleashed a punch¡ª

    Boom!

    The ground shook as a tremendous spiritual pressure descended from above. The atmosphere vibrated, and light warped.

    A kilometer away, Yoruichi grunted, nearly collapsing.

    Her astonished eyes watched as a dazzling deep purple spiritual pressure exploded from K¨­ga Kuchiki. The soaring pillar of spiritual energy formed a powerful barrier around him.

    Kaelith recoiled back, his retreat marked by a long trail of dust in the air.

    K¨­ga Kuchiki, panting heavily, revealed a twisted smile.

    "Kaelith¡­ you are indeed powerful."

    "Fresh from the academy and you already possess Captain-level strength."

    "Even the invincible Muramasa could not subdue you!"

    "But even so, you have one major flaw¡ª"

    "You have not mastered Bankai!"

    He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the sky.

    "The greatest strength of Bankai is not its miraculous abilities but the enhancement it provides to spiritual pressure!"

    "As a genius, my spiritual pressure can increase twelvefold with Bankai!"

    "How will you oppose someone with such power?"

    Watching K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s almost mad expression, Kaelith scratched his head.

    "If it''s that useful, why didn''t you use it earlier?"

    "Because the spiritual pressure of Bankai isn''t something to wield lightly," Aizen¡¯s voice intervened from the side.

    Kaelith turned to see Aizen approaching, blood dripping from his Zanpakut¨­, stepping firmly on the spirit particles beneath his feet.

    Seeing the reinvigorated gleam of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    "Handled?"

    "Yes."

    Aizen nodded lightly.

    Personally ''killing'' one¡¯s own Zanpakut¨­ felt strange, but it granted him a better understanding of the principles behind a Zanpakut¨­¡¯s existence.

    He looked at K¨­ga Kuchiki:

    "Indeed, a Shinigami¡¯s spiritual pressure increases tremendously after activating Bankai, but that pressure is Bankai''s ''fuel.''"

    "A Shinigami¡¯s Bankai is a wondrous and powerful ability, requiring equally powerful spiritual pressure to support it."

    "True masters can adjust their spiritual pressure distribution as needed."

    "But¡­ K¨­ga Kuchiki, you lack such skill."

    "You rely too heavily on your Zanpakut¨­''s power, never harnessing the energy meant to support your Bankai."

    "It¡¯s a pity, you never anticipated someone like Kaelith, who is utterly immune to your abilities."

    "Forced into a corner, you had to abandon Bankai, using all your enhanced spiritual pressure to fortify yourself¡­"

    Hearing Aizen''s analysis, Kaelith nodded in realization while K¨­ga Kuchiki shouted, ¡°Stop looking down on others!¡±

    "Relying on a Zanpakut¨­, what¡¯s wrong with that for a Shinigami!"

    Aizen shook his head, ¡°Look down? No, I actually admire you."

    "For someone who lacks foresight, deciding to make such a change was not easy¡­"

    K¨­ga Kuchiki roared and charged before Aizen could finish.

    Aizen smirked, ready for combat. The efficacy of K¨­ga Kuchiki¡¯s complete hypnosis had diminished greatly with the surge of his spiritual pressure.

    Not that he minded much.

    His recent taunt wasn¡¯t just casual talk.

    A truly powerful individual should be versatile.

    Even if a Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power was restricted, he was still confident he could defeat K¨­ga Kuchiki.

    It was time to show Kaelith what an elegant victory looked like!

    Just then, Aizen froze.

    His internal spiritual pressure was dropping rapidly.

    It was approaching Grade 3 from near Grade 2, and would soon plummet to Grade 4.

    The medicine¡¯s effects expiring prematurely?

    Perhaps the portion of his soul that had been separated and just reintegrated affected the medication¡¯s efficacy.

    He needed to call Kaelith for help!

    He turned to Kaelith, about to speak. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But he saw that Kaelith, or rather, a flying kick from Kaelith, was already on its way.

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    Under his bewildered gaze, Kaelith¡¯s kick landed squarely on him, sending him flying into a dune.

    Crawling out of the sand with a murderous intent toward Kaelith, Aizen looked up to see Kaelith blocking K¨­ga Kuchiki, engaged in fierce combat.

    Did he sense the drop in my spiritual pressure and thus kicked me out of the battlefield?

    His drop in spiritual pressure had just begun and was almost imperceptible.

    To detect such a slight change so quickly, make a judgment, and act on it¡­

    Aizen quietly watched the battle.

    He remembered the first time Kaelith revealed his strength.

    Back then, despite being surprised, he wasn¡¯t overly pressured.

    He was confident that with his talent and effort, he would soon surpass Kaelith.

    Yet, that goal remained unachieved even after graduation.

    Suddenly, he frowned.

    His spiritual pressure had dropped below a crucial threshold.

    Although temporary, the intense discomfort significantly weakened his combat effectiveness.

    Looking up at the fierce figure in the sky, Aizen¡¯s gaze became contemplative.

    Just a moment ago, he was anxious to recover and assist Kaelith.

    Now, he felt no rush, even sitting down to rest.

    That man had grown.

    Whether it was protecting Yoruichi alone earlier or now battling K¨­ga Kuchiki solo, Kaelith had proven his ability to stand on his own.

    Now, it was his turn to prove his growth.

    Watching Kaelith, he smiled slightly.

    Wait for me up ahead.

    I''ll be there soon!

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149

    Sizzle¡ª

    Kaelith Yurei retreated several dozen meters in midair, kicking up a cloud of drifting spirit particle dust beneath his feet.

    He glanced at his right hand.

    Just now, using the new power he had gained, he had delivered a fierce blow to Muramasa.

    Although he took Muramasa down instantly, rendering him unable to continue, he also ended up breaking several finger bones.

    A fracture like this meant little to him; he was long accustomed to such injuries.

    But continuing to fight after a fracture would only worsen the secondary damage.

    Two of his fingers were already swollen, showing a purplish bruise.

    That was the result of broken finger bones churning the soft tissue inside, causing massive internal bleeding.

    Seeing the state of Kaelith¡¯s hand, K¨­ga couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    The shadow killer¡¯s Spirit Pressure had inexplicably plummeted.

    Sensing this, K¨­ga confirmed that the Shadow Killer¡¯s Spirit Pressure had likely fallen to a Lieutenant¡¯s level.

    No surprise¡ªhe must have used some secret art earlier to temporarily boost his Spirit Pressure. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that the time on that secret art had run out, he was no longer a threat.

    And Kaelith¡¯s hand was in that condition. How could he still fight?

    Just as Kuchiki K¨­ga was about to mock him, Kaelith suddenly stretched out his hand.

    Those swollen fingers all spurted blood!

    Then the twisted, misshapen fingers drew back and returned to their normal shape.

    Kaelith clenched and unclenched his fist a few times and then smiled with satisfaction.

    ¡°Though it was a sudden idea, it worked pretty well.¡±

    Having recovered, he looked at Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    ¡°Come on, K¨­ga, let¡¯s start the second round!¡±

    Kuchiki K¨­ga: ¡°?¡±

    Gazing at Kaelith¡¯s fully restored hands, he felt as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.

    Could this guy be a Hollow disguised as a Shinigami?

    How could anyone heal fractures this quickly?

    With a loud shout, Kaelith Yurei charged at K¨­ga.

    In truth, his healing method was simple.

    First, he inserted shadows into his fingers.

    Using the shadows¡¯ delicate control, he drained out all the congealed blood inside.

    Then he wrapped the broken ends of the finger bones with shadows and forcibly pulled them together, realigning the fracture.

    Finally, by layering the shadows around the break, he fixed the bone in place.

    Just like that, he could instantly regain combat readiness!

    Under K¨­ga¡¯s annoyed glare, Kaelith¡¯s figure flickered rapidly. Each time he appeared, he unleashed a heavy punch.

    Throughout his long life as a Shinigami, Kuchiki K¨­ga had always relied on Muramasa¡¯s invincible ability to crush his opponents effortlessly.

    This kind of contest¡ªrelying on reaction, technique, and skill¡ªwas not his style.

    Although his overwhelming Spirit Pressure shielded him from real harm, taking repeated hits still hurt.

    And it was embarrassing.

    He wanted to kill Kaelith Yurei quickly, but now was not the time to rush.

    If he dragged things out, his total Spirit Pressure far exceeded Kaelith¡¯s. Eventually, Kaelith would run out of strength, and that would be his moment to strike back.

    Kaelith kept up his barrage of attacks, but in his mind, he made a judgment similar to Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s.

    If this dragged on, he would be the one worn down.

    His advantages were speed, technique, and combat experience.

    K¨­ga¡¯s advantage was the crushing intensity of his Spirit Pressure.

    How could he break through that Spirit Pressure defense?

    Right now, his strongest attack was fusing with the shadow and unleashing a S¨­kotsu, a twofold strike that greatly exceeded the strength of a normal S¨­kotsu.

    But against a fully guarded Kuchiki K¨­ga, who condensed his Spirit Pressure into a near-impenetrable shell, there was no guarantee of victory.

    If he couldn¡¯t win in one strike and gave K¨­ga a chance to prepare, winning would become even harder. And if he delayed too long, once Tsunayashiro Takatori arrived, Kaelith would be outnumbered and doomed.

    After a few seconds of thought, Kaelith made up his mind.

    His eyes showed unwavering resolve.

    He suddenly stopped attacking and backed off a bit.

    Under Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s wary gaze, Kaelith grinned:

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just call it a day, K¨­ga?¡±

    ¡°Look, I can¡¯t break through your defense, and you can¡¯t land a hit on me. Why not just go back to where we came from?¡±

    ¡°If we keep fighting, we¡¯ll both end up hurt. Then I won¡¯t achieve my plan to turn the Soul Society into a paradise, and you won¡¯t succeed in your scheme to peek into everyone¡¯s hearts. In the end, it¡¯ll just benefit Tsunayashiro Takatori, right?¡±

    Kuchiki K¨­ga was surprised by Kaelith¡¯s words.

    He had thought this guy wanted a fight to the death.

    Who would have guessed he¡¯d propose a truce?

    For a moment, K¨­ga considered agreeing with Kaelith.

    But then he remembered Yoruichi Shih¨­in.

    Before coming to Hueco Mundo, Tsunayashiro Takatori had repeatedly emphasized that Yoruichi Shih¨­in must die.

    If he let her go and she returned to the Seireitei, changing the Central 46¡¯s vote, the Tsunayashiro family would never let him off.

    He¡¯d be a stray dog with nowhere to turn.

    After a few seconds of silence, K¨­ga said, ¡°I can let you leave, but Yoruichi Shih¨­in must die.¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith scratched his head.

    ¡°Yoruichi, she¡¯s like a sister to me, my beloved kin.¡±

    ¡°Killing her¡­that comes with a price.¡±

    K¨­ga frowned. ¡°What price?¡±

    Kaelith took a deep breath.

    He had used this little conversation to finish his preparations.

    Under K¨­ga¡¯s watchful gaze, Kaelith suddenly widened his eyes, stomping down hard. In a flash too fast for the naked eye, he charged straight at Kuchiki K¨­ga!

    K¨­ga wasn¡¯t surprised by Kaelith¡¯s move.

    While talking, he had always been ready for a sudden assault.

    After all, this was Kaelith Yurei, shameless as ever!

    But for some reason, even though he expected this attack, watching Kaelith swing his fist, he felt an eerie sense of danger.

    To be safe, K¨­ga unleashed all the Spirit Pressure he had stored.

    Surging Spirit Pressure made his body and Zanpakut¨­ glow with blinding light.

    Facing the now fully powered Kuchiki K¨­ga, Kaelith Yurei showed no fear.

    He grinned.

    At this moment, his posture resembled Ichigo Kurosaki¡¯s flight stance in the opening theme ¡°Change,¡± body parallel to the ground.

    As he entered K¨­ga¡¯s attack range, he moved.

    Both fists clenched, thrusting forward together.

    Simultaneously, the shadows fused with his body, perfectly synchronized with his hands.

    S¨­kotsu, ready!

    Then, like a fighter jet¡¯s afterburners, his feet erupted with terrifying Spirit Pressure as well.

    The shadows fused into his body and worked with his legs, too.

    Using both legs, he unleashed a second S¨­kotsu!

    His forward-thrusting fists and backward-thrusting feet combined for a synchronized acceleration and power boost.

    A pseudo quadruple S¨­kotsu!

    Looking at Kuchiki K¨­ga before him, Kaelith burst into wild laughter.

    ¡°Magnetic Field Rotation!!¡±

    ¡°Nine hundred ninety thousand horsepower!!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith¡¯s Explosive Punch!!!¡±

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150

    The twin fists burst forth, propelled by the power of Kaelith''s legs.

    Under K¨­ga''s stunned gaze, Kaelith transformed into a blazing meteor, crashing down with devastating force.

    The ground-shaking impact erupted like a force of nature!

    In an instant, the surrounding desert exploded layer by layer, sending silvery sand flying high into the sky.

    Amid the deafening roar, the entire Forest of Menos was engulfed in a whirlwind of sand.

    The silver sand connected the ground to the sky, forming a singular chaos. Any ordinary Hollows caught within had no time to struggle and were instantly torn to shreds.

    Yoruichi raised her arm, shielding her face as she desperately unleashed her Spirit Pressure for protection.

    She squinted through the chaos, trying to see the center of the battlefield.

    Even standing at the edge of the explosion, it felt like the apocalypse had arrived.

    What kind of scene were Kaelith and K¨­ga facing at the heart of it all?!

    ¡­

    ¡°Gah¡ª¡±

    K¨­ga coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

    He looked down in disbelief at his waist.

    His once-perfect body now had a gaping hole where his right side used to be.

    Through the opening, his internal organs were plainly visible.

    He had boosted his Spirit Pressure twelvefold, yet Kaelith''s punch had ripped through him as if he were made of paper!

    What kind of madness was this?!

    Was this man a monster?!

    Reeling from the immense pain, K¨­ga mustered all his strength to use Kid¨­ to stop the bleeding.

    Ordinarily, such a severe injury would have knocked him unconscious.

    But standing at the edge of life and death, he remained conscious, his mind even sharper than usual.

    He had heard Takada Tai describe Kaelith''s abilities.

    Yes, this man had a terrifying Hakuda technique, capable of breaking through Takada Tai¡¯s Bankai.

    But using that technique also came at a cost to Kaelith himself.

    Right now, Kaelith might be even more injured than he was.

    There was still a chance.

    If only he could escape this plac¡ª?

    Clutching his wound, K¨­ga moved to flee but froze mid-step.

    The dust on the ground began to clear.

    Kaelith''s face gradually emerged from the haze.

    Half of it was covered in dark red blood¡ªmost likely K¨­ga''s own, splattered from the devastating close-range strike.

    Despite the blood, Kaelith''s face bore the same wild, unrelenting grin.

    But it wasn¡¯t his face that terrified K¨­ga¡ªit was his limbs.

    Kaelith''s arms and legs had undergone horrifying changes.

    From the middle of his upper arms down to his fingertips, his flesh was an oxygen-deprived purple.

    His skin was riddled with cracks and splits, fresh blood flowing freely.

    His legs, from the shins to his feet, were a grotesque blue-purple.

    His shoes and socks had long since disintegrated under the strain of his acceleration technique.

    The quadruple-strength attack had even shredded the lower legs of his Shihakush¨­.

    Kaelith stood shirtless, barefoot, with tattered pants barely clinging to him.

    Yet this ragged appearance did nothing to diminish his overwhelming aura.

    Somehow, despite his body being in such a ruined state, Kaelith stood tall.

    In the seconds K¨­ga stared at him, Kaelith¡¯s body began glowing again with renewed Spirit Pressure.

    ¡°Guh¡­ ugh!¡± K¨­ga¡¯s pupils trembled violently.

    A lunatic. He was facing a complete lunatic.

    Did this man feel no fear of death?

    Suddenly, K¨­ga looked toward his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Muramasa! Muramasa!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, get out here, Muramasa! Kill that man!¡±

    No matter how desperately he called, Muramasa remained silent.

    ¡°Useless! Useless!¡± K¨­ga cursed in frustration.

    Seeing Kaelith''s stance, clearly ready for another round, K¨­ga turned to flee.

    But before he could move, a Zanpakut¨­ glinting with icy light pierced through his chest.

    K¨­ga¡¯s eyes widened as he turned his head, spotting Aizen behind him, the blade embedded deep into his body.

    Meeting K¨­ga¡¯s disbelieving gaze, Aizen showed a look of mild pity.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t you even sense your own Spirit Pressure state?¡±

    ¡°Just now, you lost your Bankai''s support.¡±

    ¡°Your Zanpakut¨­ hasn¡¯t responded, has it?¡±

    ¡°I imagine it no longer wishes to serve such an incompetent master.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help free it from your grasp.¡±

    With those words, Aizen withdrew his Zanpakut¨­ from K¨­ga¡¯s body.

    Then, with a sharp motion, he plunged his hand into K¨­ga¡¯s wound, injecting a potent anesthetic into his bloodstream.

    In moments, K¨­ga collapsed, unconscious.

    With K¨­ga dealt with, Aizen flashed to Kaelith''s side.

    Kaelith lay sprawled on a sand dune, already fast asleep.

    His earlier feigned charge had been a bluff.

    Even if K¨­ga had stood still, waiting for him, Kaelith lacked the strength to launch another attack.

    Observing Kaelith¡¯s state, Aizen frowned slightly.

    Though Kaelith didn¡¯t appear too injured at first glance, his condition was critical.

    The bones in all his limbs had turned to pulp. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith was only holding himself together by sheer Spirit Pressure, using his shadow manipulation to keep his bones aligned.

    The moment his shadow power faded, his limbs would become useless lumps of flesh.

    Aizen opened his mouth as if to scold Kaelith for recklessly using such a dangerous technique but sighed instead.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising Kaelith had taken such risks.

    With Yoruichi absent from the Seireitei, the Tsunayashiro family would surely pressure the Shih¨­in Clan to act.

    If the Shih¨­in faltered, the Kuchiki faction would collapse completely.

    Without the Kuchiki, the Tsunayashiro family would have no restraint.

    And Yamamoto, who had openly defied the Tsunayashiro family multiple times, would face severe consequences.

    Of course, if Yamamoto were willing to openly oppose the Tsunayashiro family, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    But would Yamamoto take that step?

    ¡°Shih¨­in! Over here!¡± Aizen called, propping Kaelith up and gesturing to Yoruichi.

    In a flash, Yoruichi appeared beside Kaelith, supporting him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you two back to the Soul Society.¡±

    As he spoke, Aizen retrieved a stone-like object from his robes.

    Suddenly, he paused and looked at Yoruichi.

    ¡°The Central 46 meeting¡­ it¡¯s already started, hasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°When did it begin?¡±

    Yoruichi thought for a moment. ¡°It should be late afternoon on the third day by now.¡±

    Aizen frowned slightly at her words.

    After a moment of thought, he spoke again. ¡°When you return to the Seireitei, don¡¯t rush to the Central 46 immediately.¡±

    ¡°By this hour, the meeting has likely reached a conclusion.¡±

    ¡°If it has, returning now won¡¯t change anything.¡±

    ¡°If it hasn¡¯t, it means Yamamoto is stalling the proceedings. In that case, taking more time won¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°When you get back, take Kaelith for treatment first.¡±

    ¡°His condition is critical. If he doesn¡¯t receive immediate medical attention, it will leave lasting damage.¡±

    ¡°However, avoid Squad Four.¡±

    After a brief hesitation, he added with a sigh:

    ¡°Take him to District 79 in West Rukongai. Once you¡¯re there, wake him up. He¡¯ll tell you where to find the necessary medical equipment.¡±

    Yoruichi nodded instinctively, though confusion flickered in her eyes.

    How did Aizen know so much about the Central 46 proceedings?

    And from his words, it sounded like there was a base on the outskirts of West Rukongai¡ªand Kaelith knew about it.

    Clearly, these two shared a deep connection.

    What exactly was the relationship between Kaelith and the Shadow Killer?

    How involved was Kaelith in the attack on the Shinigami?

    Though curious, Yoruichi knew now wasn¡¯t the time for questions.

    Protecting Kaelith''s life was the priority.

    While advising Yoruichi, Aizen made his decision.

    Once Yoruichi and Kaelith were gone, he would visit the Central 46 himself.

    If Yamamoto had seized control, that would be ideal.

    If not, and the Central 46 had fallen under Tsunayashiro control, he would enact Plan B.

    Heal Kaelith, then return to Hueco Mundo!

    Just as he prepared to activate the stone, he turned sharply to the side.

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151

    T/n; long chapter !! Btw this counts as 2 chapters.

    ----------------------------

    Several figures descended from the sky, landing on the sand.

    Tsunayashiro Takatori, Takada Tai, and five Adjuchas!

    Taking in the bombed-out landscape, they looked astonished.

    ¡°What kind of battle created these Spirit Pressure aftershocks?¡± one Adjuchas muttered in awe.

    A spider-like Hollow sniffed the air and spoke grimly. ¡°Jieluola is dead.¡±

    Tsunayashiro Takatori quickly scanned the surroundings.

    Seeing K¨­ga collapsed on the ground, his waist gaping and lifeless, Takatori¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    Damn it¡­ K¨­ga lost?

    He was one of the strongest Shinigami under Yamamoto Shigekuni¡ªsomeone who even Ky¨­raku couldn¡¯t defeat¡ªand yet he lost?

    But then Takatori spotted Kaelith, unconscious and battered, supported by Yoruichi, and a gleam of joy crossed his face.

    Perfect! Kaelith is down too!

    Though losing K¨­ga was a blow, eliminating Kaelith more than made up for it.

    With Kaelith incapacitated, taking out Yoruichi would be child¡¯s play.

    Finally, Takatori noticed Aizen standing next to Kaelith, surrounded by shimmering Kid¨­ energy.

    Was this the Shadow Killer?

    Didn¡¯t he die?

    And if not, why was he here?

    Although puzzled, Takatori dismissed the questions as unimportant for now.

    With two more officers sent by Baraggan, he now had five powerful Adjuchas and Takada Tai, a Captain-level ally.

    What could a lone individual do to him? It didn''t matter if it was Shadow Killer.

    ¡°Adjuchas, attack! Kill all three of them!¡± Takatori commanded with a wave of his hand.

    The Adjuchas exchanged glances, then nodded, adopting fighting stances as they began to encircle their targets.

    Aizen held Ky¨­ka Suigetsu firmly, observing the scene calmly.

    Though his Spirit Pressure had weakened significantly, controlling a few Adjuchas was still within his ability.

    First, he would incapacitate the Adjuchas and create chaos, then take Takatori by surprise and subdue him.

    Without their leader, the enemy would scatter like headless chickens.

    The only real challenge was Takada Tai.

    Unlike Kaelith, Aizen didn¡¯t have any overwhelming offensive technique to bypass defenses.

    Kaelith¡¯s S¨­kotsu was a synergy unique to his Zanpakut¨­ that Aizen could never replicate.

    In the past, Aizen would have avoided such an uncertain confrontation, preferring to prepare meticulously before striking.

    But now, he found himself influenced by Kaelith¡¯s reckless approach.

    Despite knowing the odds, he was ready to fight.

    ¡°S¨­suke, what have you become?¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t let Kaelith¡¯s recklessness rub off on you.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Admonishing himself, Aizen stepped forward and raised Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.

    The Adjuchas tensed at his movement.

    Takada Tai drew his Zanpakut¨­ and released its power, encasing himself in rock armor.

    Takatori, meanwhile, wasted no time hiding behind Takada Tai.

    So cautious¡­ this battle just got harder.

    Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    But before the fight could begin, a shadow suddenly descended, landing in the middle of the battlefield!

    Aizen paused, blinking at the newcomer.

    Golden hair, a commanding presence, a mask covering half her face, and a long shark-like tail swaying behind her¡­

    It was the humanoid Hollow he had encountered earlier!

    This creature had barely escaped with her life¡ªwhy return now?

    Shock quickly gave way to a sinking feeling.

    Though this Hollow had struggled against him before, that didn¡¯t mean she was weak.

    Quite the opposite¡ªher power was immense.

    Aizen suspected she might be a Vasto Lorde, one of the most dangerous kinds of Hollows.

    If she had allied with the enemy, his plans might collapse entirely.

    As he pondered, the Adjuchas cried out in shock:

    ¡°Harribel!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Why are you here?!¡±

    ¡°What do you want?!¡±

    Huh?

    Aizen¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise.

    Harribel glanced at the Adjuchas dismissively, then turned to Aizen.

    ¡°You oppose Baraggan?¡± she asked flatly.

    Baraggan¡­ the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo, the most powerful of all Hollows.

    Judging by the Adjuchas¡¯ reactions, they were clearly not Harribel¡¯s allies.

    Aizen nodded. ¡°We do.¡±

    Harribel considered this briefly before speaking.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    She glanced at Kaelith, supported by Yoruichi.

    ¡°This man¡­ he is the ¡®reckless Brute¡¯ you spoke of earlier?¡±

    Aizen paused before realizing her meaning, his lips quirking in faint amusement. His tone, however, remained composed and serious.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Harribel nodded again, then turned to the Adjuchas.

    ¡°He helped me once. As a matter of principle, I will help him in return.¡±

    ¡°Since you oppose Baraggan, keeping you alive serves my interests.¡±

    ¡°Understand? This battle is mine.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she raised her arm, the bone-like blade covering it gleaming sharply.

    With a powerful slash, she charged forward!

    ------------------------------------

    In a desolate corner of the Soul Society, a jagged black fissure tore through the air with a sinister creak.

    Aizen emerged cautiously, his sharp senses scanning for any lingering Spirit Pressure.

    Once assured of safety, he nodded toward the fissure and stepped out of the Garganta.

    Behind him, Yoruichi followed, carrying the unconscious Kaelith on her back as she leaped gracefully onto the ground.

    She glanced at Aizen, still cloaked in a protective glow of Kid¨­, hesitating to speak.

    Today had utterly shattered her perception of reality.

    The Tsunayashiro family conspiring with Hueco Mundo''s king.

    The strongest Shinigami of the Kuchiki family, K¨­ga, defecting to the Tsunayashiro faction.

    Kaelith single-handedly defeating K¨­ga¡­

    Any one of these events would be monumental enough to shape the history of the Soul Society.

    Yet in just over a day, they had all unfolded before her, one after another.

    But the most shocking revelation had been the appearance of that female Hollow.

    Her small frame and humanoid appearance belied overwhelming power.

    Yoruichi suspected she might be a Vasto Lorde, the mythical pinnacle of Hollow evolution.

    That woman had single-handedly dominated the battlefield.

    Tsunayashiro Takatori¡¯s attempts to seize the upper hand through tactical maneuvers had been completely countered by Aizen''s meticulous strategies, preempting every move.

    Under Harribel''s raw power and Aizen¡¯s battlefield control, the Adjuchas were swiftly eliminated.

    Takada Tai, despite his formidable rock-based armor, had suffered grievous wounds from Harribel¡¯s water-based attacks.

    His armor, usually impenetrable, had been significantly weakened by her slicing strikes.

    Realizing the battle was lost, Takatori attempted to flee.

    But Aizen had no intention of letting him escape.

    While Harribel engaged Takada Tai, Aizen launched a decisive attack, subduing Takatori with ease.

    Standing over Takatori with his foot pressing firmly on the man¡¯s chest, Aizen called out, ¡°Captain Takada, look this way. I¡¯m about to end him.¡±

    Distracted by Aizen''s words, Takada faltered for a split second¡ªa moment Harribel capitalized on, delivering a deep, bone-revealing slash across his body.

    Aizen smiled in satisfaction.

    In a flash, he was beside Takada, injecting him with a strong sedative.

    With K¨­ga, Takada Tai, and Takatori incapacitated, Aizen''s mood was uncharacteristically light.

    Who would have thought that Kaelith, who often caused trouble, also had a knack for delivering gifts?

    Initially, this trip to Hueco Mundo had been intended to capture a few Adjuchas.

    Instead, they had received an unexpected bounty.

    If Kaelith weren¡¯t still unconscious, Aizen would have praised him thoroughly.

    Once the enemies were defeated, Harribel reverted from her combat stance.

    She had no love for needless slaughter.

    If possible, she always preferred to avoid killing.

    However, she despised leaving dangerous foes alive to retaliate.

    Those she spared were enemies who posed no real threat to her.

    In this case, she deemed the three Shinigami as harmless, knowing any hatred they bore would be directed at Aizen, not her.

    Her gaze shifted briefly to Kaelith, still slumped and asleep.

    Then, she turned her attention to Aizen.

    After ensuring he harbored no treacherous intent, she vanished with a flicker of movement, disappearing into the distance.

    Only when Harribel was gone did Yoruichi finally exhale a long breath of relief.

    ---

    While Yoruichi processed the events, Aizen had already begun his work.

    He dug a pit and buried K¨­ga, Takatori, and Takada Tai within it.

    When he buried Takatori, he retrieved the man¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ and set it aside as evidence.

    Finally, he placed a Kid¨­ barrier within the pit, ensuring a flow of air to keep them alive.

    Of course, if left too long, even air wouldn¡¯t save them.

    Without immediate medical treatment, their injuries alone could be fatal.

    Satisfied with his handiwork, Aizen nodded approvingly.

    Without looking back, he addressed Yoruichi, ¡°Proceed as planned.¡±

    He then turned toward the direction of the Central 46, prepared to leave.

    Just as he took a step, a voice called out from behind him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush off just yet. Wait for me.¡±

    Aizen turned, startled.

    Kaelith was stretching, standing upright as if he had just woken from a nap.

    ¡°...What?¡±

    In disbelief, Aizen strode over, gripping Kaelith¡¯s arm and channeling his Spirit Pressure to assess his condition.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?!¡± Kaelith yelped, grimacing in pain.

    Aizen''s eye twitched.

    From Kaelith¡¯s nonchalant demeanor, he had thought this idiot had somehow achieved Hollow-like regeneration.

    Instead, his bones were still shattered, barely held together by shadow manipulation.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You¡¯re in no condition for anything. Go get treatment!¡±

    Kaelith, unfazed, grinned cheekily.

    ¡°What? Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve still got it in me?¡±

    With a loud shout, he leapt into the air, performing a series of flashy martial arts moves before landing neatly on the ground.

    ¡°See? The blade¡¯s still sharp!¡± he declared, grinning broadly.

    Aizen took a deep breath.

    There was a kind of pain one felt just by watching.

    Kaelith¡¯s stunt might not have hurt anyone else, but Aizen knew it had to be excruciating for him.

    Yet Kaelith seemed utterly indifferent to the agony.

    ¡°How¡­ are you doing this?¡± Aizen asked, genuinely perplexed.

    Kaelith smirked, proud of himself.

    ¡°I used a modified soul pill to shut off my pain receptors.¡±

    ¡°Right now, I¡¯m invincible!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s vision darkened.

    Though he himself was no stranger to madness, Kaelith¡¯s audacity was in a league of its own.

    He opened his mouth to reprimand Kaelith for his reckless behavior but stopped short upon meeting his gaze.

    Kaelith¡¯s usually lazy, carefree eyes were now filled with resolute determination.

    This idiot¡­ he must have figured out the situation with the Central 46.

    After a long pause, Aizen sighed.

    ¡°If you¡¯re going, then take Yoruichi with you.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s the key to breaking this stalemate.¡±

    Kaelith grinned, his expression brightening.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    ¡°See? I knew you¡¯d agree,¡± Kaelith teased with a sly grin.

    Aizen sighed heavily, his tone tinged with exasperation. ¡°I¡¯m only agreeing because I don¡¯t want to waste time arguing with you.¡± He gestured forward. ¡°Let¡¯s go. With Yoruichi alive and back, this charade should finally come to an end.¡±

    He paused briefly before adding, ¡°However¡­¡±

    Kaelith cocked an eyebrow. ¡°However?¡±

    ¡°¡­Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± Aizen shook his head, though his thoughts were far from settled.

    Logically, he knew the Tsunayashiro family wouldn¡¯t place their entire wager on the return of Yoruichi alone. They had prepared meticulously for this moment, seizing every opportunity to gain the upper hand. Surely, they had another contingency.

    But what could it be?

    The Kuchiki family, their sworn enemies, would never ally themselves with Tsunayashiro.

    The Shiba clan, fiercely loyal to the Seireitei, would stand steadfast even if every other noble betrayed the Soul King.

    As for the mysterious fifth noble family, they rarely involved themselves in Central 46 politics, instead devoting their generations to guarding the gates of Hell itself.

    The scattered minor nobility had already been absorbed into various factions.

    Kuchiki¡¯s key members and their allies were securely protected.

    So what move remained that could alter the outcome of this conflict?

    Aizen frowned faintly. Perhaps he was overthinking this.

    ---

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, frustration mounted within the halls of the Central 46.

    One nobleman could no longer hold his tongue.

    ¡°Lord Yamamoto, while we respect your authority and your dedication to this matter, this endless delay is becoming unreasonable.¡±

    Another noble chimed in, nodding his agreement.

    ¡°This incident happened in Rukongai, far from the heart of the Seireitei. It is a minor matter. Why has it taken so long to address?¡±

    A third noble rose to his feet, his voice ringing with indignation.

    ¡°If the Gotei 13 cannot handle their responsibilities, I propose we vote on punitive measures against their negligence before anything else.¡±

    ¡°Excellent idea!¡±

    ¡°Agreed!¡±

    As accusations and agreements filled the chamber, Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni stood silently at the head of the room, his steady gaze fixed on the blood-red sky beyond the window.

    Even as smoke curled faintly from his staff, its intense heat suppressed before it could spread, he remained unmoving.

    Finally, he spoke, his deep voice carrying over the room.

    ¡°Gentlemen, calm yourselves. Regardless of the outcome, I assure you, by the end of this day, you will have your answer.¡±

    The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

    Though many wished to press their advantage, none dared push Yamamoto further. If provoked, the consequences would be catastrophic.

    Among them, the Tsunayashiro representative was seething inwardly. Yamamoto had long avoided meddling in noble affairs, keeping strictly to his Gotei 13 duties.

    Yet here he was, shamelessly siding with the Kuchiki family, stalling the proceedings in their favor.

    He clenched his fists, preparing to escalate the pressure, when a strange, fleshy device near his ear hummed softly.

    A chilling voice whispered from the other end.

    ¡°Let it be. Keep waiting.¡±

    The representative stiffened. ¡°Lord Senzo¡­¡±

    The Tsunayashiro patriarch¡¯s voice was cold but assured.

    ¡°The more Yamamoto involves himself, the better. His bias only strengthens our case.¡±

    The representative was momentarily confused. Yamamoto¡¯s interference was advantageous?

    Sensing his doubt, Senzo chuckled.

    ¡°The more Yamamoto invests in this outcome, the more it proves he remains tethered to the authority of the Central 46. If he truly sought to impose his will through force, he could simply draw his Ry¨±jin Jakka and compel obedience from everyone present.

    ¡°The fact that he has not means he still values the sanctity of the Central 46¡¯s decisions. That is what matters most. Remember, decrees have no inherent power¡ªonly the recognition of the strong grants them weight.¡±

    The representative¡¯s eyes brightened with understanding.

    ¡°Of course¡­ You¡¯re absolutely right, my lord.¡±

    But then a flicker of worry crept into his voice.

    ¡°Still, if Yoruichi were to¡­¡±

    ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Senzo interrupted, his tone unwavering.

    ¡°Our plans in Hueco Mundo were meticulous. Not even a beast of Kirio Hikifune¡¯s caliber could have ensured Yoruichi¡¯s survival. Rest easy.¡±

    Emboldened by his patriarch¡¯s confidence, the representative allowed a small smile to surface.

    But just as his relief took hold, a hell butterfly flitted into the chamber, followed by a messenger Shinigami.

    ¡°Report!¡± the messenger called.

    ¡°Second Division Third Seat, Kaelith, requests an audience!¡±

    The declaration sent a ripple through the room.

    Yamamoto¡¯s weathered eyes gleamed as a smile crept onto his face.

    The Tsunayashiro representative froze, his smile vanishing.

    Across the hall, the Kuchiki family delegate leapt to his feet, elation clear on his face.

    ¡°Let him in!¡±

    Moments later, the battered figure of Kaelith stepped into the hall, every eye fixed upon him.

    His appearance drew collective gasps.

    Kaelith¡¯s uniform was in tatters, leaving him with barely half a pair of pants. Wounds and bruises covered his body, and he moved as though death were only a breath away.

    Even Yamamoto¡¯s stoic expression faltered.

    The old man inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

    *You reckless brat¡­ You¡¯ve outdone yourself this time.*

    Behind Kaelith, another figure entered¡ªYoruichi.

    Her presence sent shockwaves through the room.

    The Tsunayashiro representative shot to his feet, his face pale with terror.

    The Kuchiki delegate followed suit, but his expression was one of joy.

    Kaelith raised his gaze, scanning the nobles seated high above him.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, judging by my condition, I¡¯m sure you can guess what has transpired.¡±

    He let his words hang for dramatic effect before continuing.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Tsunayashiro family orchestrated an attack on the Commander of the Stealth Force and Head of the Shih¨­in family, Yoruichi!¡±

    The hall erupted in stunned murmurs.

    The Tsunayashiro family¡­ would they really go that far?

    Yamamoto¡¯s deep voice cut through the noise.

    ¡°Kaelith, accusations against a noble house require evidence.¡±

    Kaelith smirked. ¡°Of course, Sensei.¡± He turned toward Yoruichi, who stepped forward, her voice clear and composed.

    ¡°I witnessed it myself. The mastermind behind the attack was Takatori Tsunayashiro.¡±

    Another wave of murmurs swept through the room.

    Takatori?

    But wasn¡¯t he supposed to be dead?

    Even the Kuchiki representative looked baffled.

    Kaelith unslung a Zanpakut¨­ from his back and threw it to the ground with a resounding clang.

    ¡°Behold, Takatori¡¯s Zanpakut¨­!¡±

    Attendants rushed to inspect the weapon, quickly confirming its authenticity.

    Yamamoto reached out with his Spirit Pressure, feeling the residual energy clinging to the blade.

    It was unmistakable. This Zanpakut¨­ belonged to Takatori Tsunayashiro, and it had been used in battle recently.

    Turning to Kaelith and Yoruichi, Yamamoto nodded.

    ¡°With the victims present and their evidence submitted, there is no need to delay further.¡±

    ¡°The session may now continue.¡±

    The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

    Yamamoto¡¯s stance was clear, as was the evidence Yoruichi had brought.

    The Shih¨­in elder rose eagerly to his feet.

    ¡°I declare the Tsunayashiro family guilty!¡±

    His allies immediately echoed his vote.

    With the Shih¨­in and Kuchiki factions united, the Tsunayashiro representatives found themselves hopelessly outnumbered.

    The Tsunayashiro delegate sank into his chair, his face ashen.

    At the room¡¯s edge, Yamamoto observed his pupil with quiet pride.

    Kaelith may have been infuriatingly lazy and irreverent, but when it mattered most, the boy always delivered.

    Yet as he watched Kaelith, Yamamoto¡¯s sharp instincts detected something amiss.

    He extended his Spirit Pressure, probing the younger man¡¯s battered body.

    Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

    *Every bone is shattered¡­ yet he walked in here on his own?*

    Staring at Kaelith¡¯s beaten yet smiling face, Yamamoto¡¯s grip on his staff tightened.

    *This reckless fool¡­*

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152

    With the Shih¨­in family''s votes cast, this bladeless conflict finally came to an end.

    Among the six judges, two rose without hesitation:

    "Based on the voting results, I hereby declare the decision of this meeting!"

    "The Tsunayashiro family, conspiring with the rebels and plotting chaos, has committed grave sins!"

    "It is decided, effective immediately upon the conclusion of this meeting, that no member of the Tsunayashiro family is to leave their clan''s residence!"

    "The head of the Tsunayashiro family, Tsunayashiro Senzo, will be arrested by the Sixth Division for interrogation!"

    As the orders were issued, the messenger team members of the Rukongai swiftly disappeared, heading out to announce the results.

    Yoruichi lightly clenched her fist.

    "Good!"

    With the fall of the Tsunayashiro family, the Soul Society could finally return to its former state of tranquility.

    As for the Soul King... That old geezer from a million years ago, what¡¯s there to care about.

    Compared to the grudges between the Soul King and the five great noble families, she was more curious about Kaelith and the Shadow killer.

    She turned to look at Kaelith, just to see him yawning.

    During the tense moments earlier, he hadn''t felt it.

    Now that the conclusion was settled, all the fatigue surged out at once.

    Under Yoruichi¡¯s gaze, Kaelith swayed and collapsed to the side.

    She quickly used Shunpo to catch him from behind.

    Yamamoto approached.

    "This old man will take you to the Fourth Division."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi blinked.

    She was well aware of Kaelith¡¯s condition.

    In fact, right after the fight with Kuchiki K¨­ga in Hueco Mundo, Kaelith should have collapsed.

    This guy was purely holding on to ensure a final victory.

    Right now, going to the Fourth Division could only save his life, not cure his limbs.

    How to explain this to Yamamoto...

    As she hesitated, Yamamoto seemed to understand something.

    The old man calmly said, "If you have a better place for treatment, lead the way."

    "Don''t worry, this old man will not pry, nor will I remember the location, just consider me a regular guard."

    Yoruichi was somewhat surprised by Yamamoto¡¯s words.

    She really hadn''t expected Yamamoto to say something like that.

    "Thank you, Captain-Commander."

    She nodded and hurried with Kaelith towards the hot springs base.

    Just after stepping out of the outer walls constructed from stone radiating killing intent, she immediately sensed the surging fluctuations of spiritual pressure erupting all around.

    Yamamoto followed alongside: "Before this meeting began, I had already arranged for a sweep against the rebels."

    "No need to worry, it will be over soon."

    Hearing this, Yoruichi felt somewhat emotional.

    Worthy of being the presence that has presided over the Soul Society for nearly a thousand years... When it really came to action, the Captain-Commander held nothing back.

    Seeing Yoruichi emerge, Soifon hurried over with a few of the Punishment Forces.

    "Lady Yoruichi!"

    Then, she saw Kaelith sleeping soundly on Yoruichi¡¯s back.

    Soifon looked a bit astonished.

    Did this guy just have a fight with the Captain-Commander?

    How did he end up in such a state?

    "Soifon, good timing, follow me."

    "The rest return to your squads, follow Marenoshin¡¯s instructions."

    With Soifon and Yamamoto, Yoruichi quickly reached the hot springs located in the outskirts of Rukongai.

    Looking at the red and white hot springs in front of her, Yamamoto showed a moment of realization.

    Last time, when Kaelith¡¯s hand bones were shattered, he recovered in just a few days, which he found strange.

    It turns out it was Kirinji''s hot springs...

    With this thing here, Kaelith seemed to be out of danger for the moment.

    Yoruichi tossed Kaelith into the water.

    Then she turned to the younger girl beside her:

    "Soifon, go into the hot springs, help Kaelith stabilize his body, don¡¯t let his fractured areas touch anything."

    Soifon nodded and quickly headed towards the hot springs. Seeing this, Yamamoto made no further stay.

    "All of you, be careful. If anything happens, have someone go to the First Division to find me."

    With that, he vanished from the spot.

    Before leaving, he also helped check the barrier outside the hot springs base, used to conceal the internal spiritual pressure.

    The barrier, crafted by a master, was very well done.

    He gave it a slight repair, then headed towards the First Division.

    .......

    ....................

    Above the vast estate of the Tsunayashiro family, four captains had gathered:

    Captain of the Fifth Division, Hirako Shinji.

    Captain of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Ginrei.

    Captain of the Seventh Division, Love Aikawa.

    Captain of the Ninth Division, Muguruma Kensei.

    Around them, both in the sky and on the ground, stood numerous Soul Reapers.

    Over two hundred of them had encircled the Tsunayashiro estate tightly!

    As the most senior and highest-ranking among the four captains, Kuchiki Ginrei stepped forward and spoke loudly:

    "Senzo! You have lost!"

    "Step forward, show the dignity of a noble, and accept your defeat!"

    After speaking, he quietly waited for a response.

    However, after nearly a minute, there was still no reply.

    Hirako Shinji scratched his ear: "He hasn¡¯t run away, has he..."

    Kuchiki Ginrei shook his head: "From before the Central 46 convened, I had already stationed people here."

    "Senzo Tsunayashiro is definitely still here."

    "Whoa, that''s dreadful."

    Hirako Shinji grinned.

    Truly a fight among top-tier nobles, to have begun monitoring each other so early...

    Suddenly, a low chuckle was heard.

    "Ginrei, are you so sure you can keep me here?"

    Hearing this voice, the captains all showed a wary expression.

    The surrounding Soul Reapers tightened their grip on their Zanpakut¨­s.

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, a man in a black and green checkered kimono slowly walked out from the main house.

    He had long silver hair and wore a red Tengu mask on his face.

    In his hand, he carried a long black box.

    "Senzo Tsunayashiro!"

    "Target spotted!"

    "All squads, get ready!"

    Senzo Tsunayashiro raised his head, looking at the Soul Reapers tightly surrounding him above and below.

    He removed his mask, revealing an aged face.

    Although his skin was slack, his eyes were incredibly sharp.

    At this moment, those hawkish eyes carried a hint of disdain.

    "Yamamoto Genry¨±sai... after hiding away for hundreds of years, you finally show a bit of your old spirit, yet it''s still just a bit."

    "I thought he would come himself."

    "In the end, he only sent you all." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Muguruma Kensei discontentedly said, "Old man, I alone am enough to handle you!"

    "Sending four of us is already showing you too much respect!"

    Senzo Tsunayashiro looked at him.

    Then, without saying anything, he just showed a pitying gaze and looked away.

    Next, he slammed the box he was holding onto the ground.

    The box automatically opened, and a samurai sword appeared from within.

    Feeling Senzo Tsunayashiro''s scorn, Muguruma Kensei¡¯s forehead bulged with veins.

    He was about to charge forward but was stopped by Kuchiki Ginrei.

    "Hey! Old man, why are you stopping me? That guy doesn¡¯t seem to have any intention of surrendering peacefully!"

    Muguruma Kensei said, unsatisfied.

    Kuchiki Ginrei did not answer.

    His eyes were fixed on the Zanpakut¨­ in the box.

    Could that sword be...?!

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153

    After an unknown period, Kaelith slowly opened his eyes.

    ¡°Water¡­ water¡­¡±

    He raised his hand, his voice trembling.

    In the corner of the room, a girl who had been resting with her eyes closed immediately opened them.

    Hearing Kaelith''s words, the girl stood up, poured a cup of warm water, and brought it to him.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, here¡¯s your water.¡±

    Kaelith propped himself up weakly into a sitting position. After staring at the cup for a few seconds, he suddenly looked up:

    ¡°Ah, sorry, I¡¯m not actually thirsty. It just feels customary to ask for water when waking up from unconsciousness.¡±

    Soifon: ¡°?¡±

    Watching Kaelith stretch lazily, looking nothing like his previously frail self, her blood pressure began to rise. Glancing at the cup in her hand, she tilted her head back and drank the water herself.

    After finishing the water, she silently looked at Kaelith, as though trying to say something.

    Noticing her expression, Kaelith chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, young lady? Have you been charmed by my stunning looks while taking care of me and now want to confess your feelings?¡±

    He waited a few seconds.

    When Soifon didn¡¯t respond and maintained her solemn expression, Kaelith sensed something was off.

    After a brief moment of thought, his eyes widened in realization.

    ¡°Wait a second¡­ That serious demeanor, that gaze filled with bitterness and regret!¡±

    ¡°Could it be¡­ I¡¯ve slept for hundreds of years?¡±

    ¡°During this long time, Yoruichi was dismissed from the Second Division for slacking off, and now you¡¯ve taken her place as captain?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. That demeanor, that expression, and the unchanging flat¡ªuh, your unyielding resolve! It all screams ¡®captain material!¡¯¡±

    ¡°Quick, Miss Soifon, put on the captain¡¯s haori and let me feast my eyes on the sight!¡±

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s enthusiastic antics, Soifon couldn¡¯t help but facepalm.

    Clearly, his body was just fine.

    His mind though.....

    Setting down the cup, she gave Kaelith a complicated look.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, I¡¯ve heard a bit about what happened from Lady Yoruichi.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for protecting her in such a desperate situation.¡±

    She bowed deeply to him.

    ¡°In comparison, I, as her direct bodyguard, wasn¡¯t even there during such a critical moment¡­¡±

    She let out a self-deprecating laugh.

    ¡°No, even if I were there, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything.¡±

    ¡°For the past two days, I¡¯ve been thinking: with my level of strength, do I even deserve to be her personal guard?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m utterly useless.¡±

    Kaelith adjusted the pillow behind him, leaning comfortably against the wall. Watching Soifon drown in self-reproach, he closed his eyes, adopting a thoughtful expression.

    ¡°Hm¡­ Since you¡¯re so conflicted, how about paying a price?¡±

    ¡°A price?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a price to me!¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head slightly, a villainous grin spreading across his face. ¡°I, Kaelith Yurei, was the top contributor in this Hueco Mundo mission!¡±

    ¡°Excluding a certain anonymous participant, I should be the biggest hero here.¡±

    ¡°If you wish to atone, then pay the price to me!¡±

    ¡°That way, it¡¯ll be as if you contributed to my victory as well. Isn¡¯t that wonderful?¡±

    Soifon shot him a suspicious look.

    ¡°Why do I feel like Lord Kaelith is just using this as an excuse to satisfy some strange personal desire¡­¡±

    ¡°Slander! What cruel and unfounded slander!¡±

    Watching Kaelith clutch his chest in mock anguish, Soifon sighed.

    ¡°So, what price does Lord Kaelith want me to pay?¡±

    Kaelith pondered for a few seconds before his eyes lit up as if struck by inspiration.

    He turned to Soifon. ¡°Take off your shoes and give me a back massage with your feet!¡±

    Soifon: ¡°?¡±

    What kind of bizarre hobby was this?

    Although puzzled, Soifon found the request within her range of acceptance.

    "Will this suffice?" she confirmed.

    Kaelith shrugged.

    "Step by step. If I asked you to wear only a towel and assist me in the bath right now, you¡¯d refuse."

    "As a seasoned romance expert honed by dozens of galgames, I understand the rules!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soifon: "..."

    Previously, when she brought back the gravely injured Kaelith to the hot springs for treatment, she had to go into the water occasionally to adjust his position and prevent him from moving, which could disrupt his bone recovery.

    As she was uninjured, directly entering the healing hot springs would have caused overexposure and severe skin irritation. So, she wrapped herself in a layer of reiatsu-insulating bandages.

    To Soifon, that outfit was far more embarrassing than wearing just a towel.

    By comparison, assisting Kaelith in the bath with a towel wrapped around her would hardly be difficult.

    Fortunately, Kaelith had been unconscious at the time and was unaware of what had transpired.

    Remembering this, a faint smile tugged at Soifon''s lips.

    Confirming that Kaelith had recovered enough and was no longer in any serious danger, she removed her straw sandals, climbed onto the bed in her white socks, and cautiously tested her footing on his back.

    After ensuring her steps wouldn¡¯t harm him, she finally stood up. (t/n I remember doing this to my grandma when I was younger, anyone else experince the same?)

    Feeling the warm pressure on his back, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but hum in comfort. Under his guidance, Soifon began to slowly move across his back.

    For someone trained in stealth and mobility from a young age, walking on Kaelith¡¯s back felt as effortless as walking on flat ground.

    This level of balance control was as simple as a preschool exercise for her.

    Kaelith, however, felt as though he were in heaven.

    The sensation of Soifon''s slim feet stepping on his back was sheer bliss.

    The only downside was her weight¡ªshe barely seemed to weigh sixty pounds.

    This wouldn¡¯t do... Sure, it was adorable, but health came first.

    As he enjoyed Soifon¡¯s unique ¡°service,¡± Kaelith began asking about the current situation.

    Hearing him switch to serious topics, Soifon adopted a similarly earnest tone.

    While pacing steadily on Kaelith¡¯s back, she recounted the events of the past two days during his unconsciousness.

    The crackdown on the rebels was, of course, the highlight. For two days, the entire Soul Society had been embroiled in chaos.

    Among all the battles, the most notable was none other than Senzo Tsunayashiro, who singlehandedly fought against multiple captains.

    Hearing this, Kaelith looked astonished.

    Two days earlier, four captains, accompanied by over two hundred Soul Reapers, had surrounded the Tsunayashiro estate.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro faced them alone.

    Against the subjugation force led by Kuchiki Ginrei, he showed no fear and revealed a Zanpakut¨­.

    Its name was Enra Ky¨­ten!

    This blade was the Tsunayashiro family¡¯s ancestral treasure, passed down through generations.

    Its ability¡­ was to replicate the powers of any Zanpakut¨­ it had seen!

    Upon releasing its Shikai, Senzo immediately used two abilities: Reverse Stroke and ¨­yamatsumi.

    The subjugation force was thrown into disarray.

    Hearing this, Kaelith¡¯s jaw dropped.

    "Wait, are you saying that this... whatever Ky¨­ten not only replicates Zanpakut¨­ abilities but can also use multiple abilities simultaneously?"

    Soifon nodded.

    "Yes, that¡¯s what Lady Yoruichi said."

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but draw a sharp breath.

    What a weapon¡­

    If he could get his hands on that sword and pair it with Aizen¡¯s modifications, wouldn¡¯t he become invincible?

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154

    "In fact, the most terrifying aspect of that sword doesn¡¯t end there."

    As Kaelith was lost in his fantasies, Yoruichi opened the door and entered.

    She had just been about to speak when she caught sight of the scene inside the room and froze in surprise.

    Soifon had removed her shoes and was standing on Kaelith¡¯s back, like a victorious general who had just crushed her enemy underfoot.

    The problem was, the victorious general¡¯s face showed not even a hint of delight, while the defeated figure, stripped of dignity, instead bore an expression brimming with happiness.

    This was a bit awkward.

    "Ugh! Lady Yoruichi!"

    Seeing Yoruichi appear suddenly, Soifon¡¯s face flushed red.

    "T-this¡­ there¡¯s a reason for this, I¡­"

    As she spoke, she instinctively wanted to step off Kaelith¡¯s back.

    But before she could move, Kaelith said:

    "Hey, are you running away?"

    "Are you going to give up this precious chance to guard your beloved Lady Yoruichi?"

    "Is the pride of a personal bodyguard something you can abandon so easily?"

    "Ugh¡­"

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words, Soifon bit her lip.

    Though his argument seemed a bit twisted, she had indeed started doing this to play a part in protecting Lady Yoruichi.

    If she ran off now, wouldn¡¯t that confirm she couldn¡¯t pay the price for Yoruichi¡¯s sake?

    After a brief hesitation, Soifon pressed her lips together and continued stepping on Kaelith¡¯s back.

    Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.

    She didn¡¯t know what sort of agreement these two had before she came in, but it was clear that Soifon had been tricked by that rascal Kaelith.

    As the one Soifon admired, what should she do in such a situation?

    Of course, enjoy the spectacle!

    After all, a girl as adorable as Soifon couldn¡¯t have all her cute sides discovered by Yoruichi alone.

    Only by teaming up with Kaelith could they gradually uncover every shy expression Soifon had to offer!

    Watching Soifon¡¯s flushed cheeks, as she tried to maintain a dignified facade, Yoruichi couldn¡¯t help taking a deep breath.

    She cleared her throat, forcibly returning to the main topic.

    "Enra Ky¨­ten can replicate any Zanpakut¨­ its owner has seen."

    "Kaelith, do you understand what that means?"

    Kaelith rested his chin on the pillow, arms wrapped around it.

    Thinking for a moment, he spoke: "It means it can replicate very powerful Zanpakut¨­¡­ like Ry¨±jin Jakka."

    "Did that old Tsunayashiro man use Ry¨±jin Jakka?"

    Yoruichi nodded: "Yes, he did."

    Two days ago, after placing Kaelith in the hot springs for treatment, she had immediately led the Punishment Force to the Tsunayashiro residence.

    As soon as she arrived, she saw towering flames.

    Using Enra Ky¨­ten¡¯s power, Senzo Tsunayashiro had copied Ry¨±jin Jakka.

    Under the assault of these flames, even several captains struggled to break through.

    The situation reached a deadlock.

    The Tsunayashiro estate was located in the noble district of the Seireitei.

    If they let him continue to wield Ry¨±jin Jakka¡¯s power, many nobles would perish along with him.

    This outcome was something Kuchiki Ginrei could not accept.

    He used the power of his Bankai to suppress Senzo Tsunayashiro and contain Ry¨±jin Jakka, preventing the flames from spreading. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hirako Shinji used Shunp¨­ to move beside him.

    "Hey, hey, Old Man Kuchiki, this isn¡¯t going to work. We¡¯ll be worn down at this rate."

    Against an enemy who attacked on such a massive scale, the disorienting ability of Sakanade was nearly useless.

    It was quite awkward.

    Muguruma Kensei and Love Aikawa both charged into the ring of fire with furious roars, but each time, they were forced back halfway by the scorching flames.

    That old Tsunayashiro had never been a captain, yet his spiritual pressure was terrifyingly strong.

    Even with two captains working together, not only could they not surpass his strength, they couldn¡¯t even gauge its limits¡­

    "Request assistance from Genry¨±sai-dono."

    Kuchiki Ginrei spoke.

    Hirako Shinji scratched his head helplessly: "Seems we have no choice¡­"

    He was just about to find a Soul Reaper to send the message when a voice suddenly rang out¡ª

    "No need to look for Genry¨±sai-dono! Leave it to me!!"

    Accompanied by a shout, a figure descended from the sky.

    Hirako looked up, startled.

    A purple-haired woman, her face twisted with rage, unleashed a terrifying spiritual pressure as she dove down!

    "Damned Senzo Tsunayashiro¡­ making me scour Hueco Mundo for three whole days!"

    "Even after rescuing the person, I find out my master already made it back on his own¡­ Do you know how that makes me feel? Do you know how much it almost cost me?!"

    "Die, die, die, die, DIE!!!"

    With these nonsensical screams, Kirio Hikifune charged headlong into the blazing flames of Ry¨±jin Jakka, trailing a long line of spiritual pressure behind her.

    Under Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s astonished gaze, the terrifying fire of Ry¨±jin Jakka burned at Hikifune Kirio¡¯s body, but was blocked by an invisible barrier.

    The flames burned on that intangible layer, never touching her true form!

    In midair, Hikifune Kirio drew her Zanpakut¨­ and slashed at Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro dared not underestimate her.

    Facing Hikifune Kirio, a soon-to-be member of the Royal Guard, he used the power of Sakanade without hesitation.

    Sakanade was Hirako Shinji¡¯s Zanpakut¨­.

    Its effect was to invert the enemy¡¯s perception of directions, making them unable to distinguish up from down, left from right¡ªevery sense was turned upside down!

    Hikifune Kirio¡¯s downward slash suddenly swung upward.

    Hirako Shinji froze, wanting to explain the ability of his Zanpakut¨­ immediately.

    But before he could speak, Hikifune Kirio¡¯s eyes suddenly lost focus.

    Realizing that her body and soul were misaligned, she instantly used a substitute soul technique to replace her original perception.

    In midair, she pivoted and faced Senzo Tsunayashiro again¡ª

    Boom!!!!

    A massive explosion resounded in all directions.

    A mushroom-shaped cloud of dust shot into the sky!

    Above, Love Aikawa gasped.

    As expected of a legendary veteran powerhouse¡ªjust one strike was enough to showcase her prowess!

    Muguruma Kensei flicked his Zanpakut¨­, sending out strands of wind that dispersed the billowing dust.

    There they saw Hikifune Kirio, grasping her Zanpakut¨­ like a war god, launching continuous attacks against Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    Seeing this, Kuchiki Ginrei nodded: "Everyone, move in and assist Captain Hikifune!"

    "Heh heh, as long as Ry¨±jin Jakka is contained, it¡¯s my time to shine¡­"

    Hirako grinned, raising his Zanpakut¨­.

    But at that moment, Hikifune Kirio, who had been attacking nonstop, suddenly halted.

    Eyes wide with disbelief, she stared behind Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    At some unknown point, one monster after another had appeared there.

    Each creature was a white, spherical mass roughly the size of a brown bear.

    They had no eyes, nose, ears, or limbs¡ªonly a huge maw full of jagged teeth.

    They looked like Cthulhu-inspired Pac-Men.

    Seeing these giant spheres, sweat trickled down Hikifune Kirio¡¯s forehead.

    "Hey, hey¡­ you¡¯ve got to be kidding me!"

    In the sky, Kuchiki Ginrei¡¯s face changed drastically.

    "Retreat! Everyone! Get away immediately!!"

    "What¡¯s going on? Everyone¡¯s so panicked. Aren¡¯t they just a bunch of monsters?"

    Muguruma Kensei asked in surprise.

    "Because these aren¡¯t ordinary monsters."

    A voice suddenly sounded nearby.

    "Their name is Garaku Kair¨­!"

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155

    "Make it short, just give me the summary."

    Seeing Yoruichi about to go on for two chapters, Kaelith raised his hand to stop her.

    Yoruichi rolled her eyes.

    "Garaku Kair¨­ was the Zanpakut¨­ of a former Eleventh Division Captain, Kuruushiki Kenpachi. Its Shikai ability was ordinary, just summoning a bunch of monsters to fight. But¡­ its Bankai was unprecedentedly terrifying.

    "The Bankai of Garaku Kair¨­ summons a colossal mouth spanning dozens of miles, devouring everything in its range¡ªliving or not. If that was unleashed, the entire Seireitei, and even several of the most prosperous districts in Rukongai nearby, would vanish completely, becoming part of Soul Society¡¯s history! The only drawback is that after using this ability, the Zanpakut¨­ can¡¯t be released again for half a year, not even in Shikai form"

    Hearing this, Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened.

    Such a sinister ability existed? A mouth spanning dozens of kilometers¡­ Good grief, what kind of eldritch being was that?

    Compared to that, the Zanpakut¨­ of Soul Society¡¯s captains were nothing but scraps of copper!

    What were the Tsunayashiro family thinking? If they had something like that, why not bring it out sooner and become invincible, instead of all this political scheming?

    For a moment, Kaelith was at a loss.

    Noticing his expression, Yoruichi chuckled.

    "What¡¯s wrong, oh invincible Lord Kaelith, are you scared?"

    Kaelith snorted. "Who wouldn¡¯t be nervous facing such a perverse ability?"

    Yoruichi laughed. "True. If it were the genuine Garaku Kair¨­, that would indeed be a terrifying weapon against thousands. But the Garaku Kair¨­ Senzo Tsunayashiro used was mimicked by Enra Ky¨­ten.

    "Others don¡¯t know about Enra Ky¨­ten, but I, as the head of the Shih¨­in family, have long heard its name. Though it can mimic any Zanpakut¨­ it has seen, it does so at the cost of the user¡¯s life. Senzo Tsunayashiro is powerful and long-lived, so if he only mimics ordinary Zanpakut¨­, he could fight for seven days and nights without dying. But¡­ Garaku Kair¨­ is different.

    "If he dared to use Garaku Kair¨­¡¯s Bankai, he¡¯d be instantly drained to a husk, perishing together with Seireitei!" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith nodded in sudden understanding.

    No wonder Senzo Tsunayashiro never used this sword to show off before. Turns out it drained life.

    For a moment, Kaelith felt as though he¡¯d gained new insight into life, the world, and the balance of effort and reward. His understanding ascended to a new level.

    He was truly qualified as a sage.

    He sighed and said, "Soifon, move a bit to the right."

    "¡­Understood."

    While enjoying Soifon¡¯s gentle foot massage, he looked at Yoruichi.

    "So what happened in the end? Since I¡¯m still lying here, it means Senzo Tsunayashiro didn¡¯t use that Bankai, right?"

    "Mm." Yoruichi nodded. "That old man demanded to leave Soul Society with the family members loyal to him, or he¡¯d bring Seireitei down with him. The captains on site couldn¡¯t decide, so they asked the Captain-Commander.

    "In the end, Genry¨±sai-dono agreed to Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s demand. He took a group of people and left Soul Society for Hueco Mundo¡­"

    Hearing this, Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Hueco Mundo?

    A fine place and a fine choice!

    If Senzo Tsunayashiro had stayed in Soul Society and somehow preserved his noble status, Kaelith wouldn¡¯t harbor many thoughts. But now, that old codger had gone to Hueco Mundo¡­

    Though Hueco Mundo currently belonged to Baraggan, it would eventually belong to Aizen! Enra Ky¨­ten would one day find its way into Kaelith¡¯s own pocket. Sure, the side effects were scary, but he was young¡ªwhat¡¯s a little life force compared to happiness in ending his enemies easily?

    Ending his daydream, Kaelith glanced toward his Zanpakut¨­.

    He was a transmigrator, yet his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s abilities were so ordinary. If his sword had Enra Ky¨­ten¡¯s power without drawbacks, wouldn¡¯t that be great?

    ¡­Hmm?

    He turned his head, scanning the room.

    Then he asked with confusion, "Soifon, where¡¯s my sword?"

    Soifon, busy focusing on her footwork, paused at his question. She looked at Yoruichi.

    Yoruichi shrugged. "No idea. Since we returned to Soul Society, I haven¡¯t seen any sword on you."

    Kaelith: "?"

    He closed his eyes, straining his memory.

    After a moment, cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

    Opening his eyes, he looked at Yoruichi awkwardly.

    "¡­Yoruichi, I think I left my sword in Hueco Mundo."

    Yoruichi: "¡­"

    Soifon: "?"

    If Soul Society had a ranking for outrageous acts, Yoruichi felt that Kaelith¡¯s move would be at the top.

    (t/n: Bwhahaha)

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    With Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s exile, the rebel turmoil completely ended.

    Because the head and main branch members were banished, the remaining Tsunayashiro family members unexpectedly retained their noble status. Now only a bunch of weak, timid nobodies remained, content to muddle through life.

    Even if there were some who weren¡¯t weak, in the current situation, they had no chance to rise again.

    Originally, Kaelith thought that after the Kuchiki family¡¯s victory, they would seize the opportunity to expand their influence and attract more vassals.

    Unexpectedly, the opposite occurred.

    As the dust settled, Kuchiki Ginrei refused many small families seeking vassalage. He barely even lifted a finger to carve up the Tsunayashiro family¡¯s fallen resources. The Kuchiki family, true to its name, sank into tranquility once more.

    Many ambitious nobles were dissatisfied with the Kuchiki family¡¯s behavior, but Kuchiki Ginrei paid no heed.

    Meanwhile, the Shih¨­in family expanded its influence somewhat.

    Before the rebel war, the Shih¨­in family was less than one-third the size of the Kuchiki. Now, they¡¯d surpassed half.

    As a beneficiary, Yoruichi felt troubled. She disliked the messy business of power struggles and political maneuvering.

    What made her more uncomfortable was that many of the nobles rushing to pledge allegiance were doing so for Kaelith. His performance during the incident had shocked them. As a disciple of the Captain-Commander, he was strong, daring, and decisive. If he and Yoruichi were to form a pair, the Shih¨­in family would rapidly become a titan rivaling the Kuchiki.

    With early investment promising better returns, the minor nobles scrambled to board the Shih¨­in ship.

    Yoruichi lounged lazily in her chair.

    What was going on in Kaelith¡¯s mind?

    With his personality, joining the Shih¨­in family through marriage was probably impossible.

    So¡­ should she marry him instead?

    The moment the thought popped up, Yoruichi shuddered.

    No, no, too weird!

    Just imagining herself marrying at all made her want to laugh¡­

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156

    Aizen was in high spirits.

    This trip to Hueco Mundo had brought him so many gains.

    In front of him was a large cultivation tank.

    Inside floated Kuchiki K¨­ga, completely naked, with numerous tubes inserted into his body.

    Some of these tubes were connected to various monitoring devices, recording data.

    Others were life-support apparatuses.

    Among them, three tubes continuously supplied a highly concentrated anesthetic.

    If Kuchiki K¨­ga showed any sign of waking, the anesthetic would be injected.

    In fact, even without it, it wouldn¡¯t matter.

    The tank¡¯s fluid contained powdered Sekkiseki, preventing a Shinigami from using any powers inside. (t/n: I called it killing aura stone once, but the correct term is Sekkiseki-it is a material known to negate all Reiryoku)

    Unless one had physical strength like Kaelith, who could smash the tank from within, there was no escaping.

    Aizen held a clipboard, tirelessly recording various data.

    Occasionally, when writing made him weary, he would lift his head, roll his neck, and drink from his cup then glance at another cultivation tank.

    Inside that tank floated Takada Tai, receiving similar treatment to Kuchiki K¨­ga, tubes all over his body.

    Plus, there was an additional trophy, Takatori Tsunayashiro.

    A single trip to Hueco Mundo had yielded three new collectibles.

    How could life be more blissful?

    Such a wonderful day would surely be filled with good fortune, right?

    Aizen smiled.

    In the very next second, a voice rang out¡ª

    ¡°Soraemon! Please help me!!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s smile froze.

    Under his reluctant gaze, a certain plague-like individual pushed open the laboratory door and barged in.

    ¡­He really shouldn¡¯t have given this guy fingerprint access.

    As the three-layer security door bounced back violently after being shoved open by Kaelith, Aizen couldn¡¯t help but regret it.

    After listening to why Kaelith had come, he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.

    Unbelievable. In all his years, this was the first time he¡¯d heard of someone throwing away their Zanpakut¨­ during a fight and only remembering it days later!

    He hurriedly turned around to find the device to open the Garganta.

    ¡°I always thought I understood just how outrageous you could be, that nothing you did would surprise me again.¡±

    ¡°Yet here I am, instantly proven wrong.¡±

    ¡°Kaelith, in a certain sense, you really are a genius.¡±

    ¡°Haha, you flatter me.¡±

    Kaelith clasped his hands politely, maintaining a modest demeanor.

    Aizen felt his blood pressure rising.

    Once he had the key ready, he led Kaelith into a newly expanded, spacious chamber.

    ¡°This is the Dimensional Crossing Room. The walls are fitted with high-strength spiritual pressure shielding.¡±

    ¡°Using it to cross between worlds effectively blocks outside detection.¡±

    ¡°If we don¡¯t do this, and someday Soul Society notices abnormal fluctuations here, they might investigate.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°Brilliant.¡±

    Matters requiring meticulous thought were never his concern.

    Aizen had grown up with this mindset and could handle these details himself without oversight.

    As the older brother figure, Kaelith should let Aizen mature on his own. If Kaelith weren¡¯t around someday, Aizen needed the skills for management!

    Kaelith gave Aizen a benevolent look, full of gratification.

    Aizen frowned slightly.

    He didn¡¯t know what that expression meant, but he felt like cutting Kaelith on the spot.

    Soon, both returned to Hueco Mundo.

    Aizen poked his head out of the spatial rift, surveying the surroundings.

    After confirming everything was fine, he silently leaped out and landed on the ground.

    ¡°Can you sense where your sword is?¡±

    He turned to ask Kaelith, who had just followed him out.

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°No need for that.¡±

    Under Aizen¡¯s gaze, Kaelith raised his arm horizontally, spreading his fingers. He maintained this posture for over two minutes.

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    He was about to remind Kaelith that Hueco Mundo was enormous. Even though he¡¯d tried to open the Garganta in a limited area, the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s presence might still be out of range.

    But just as he was about to speak, he remembered something.

    Come to think of it¡­

    Previously, Kaelith had been using his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability to keep his broken bones in place, right?

    Doing so in Hueco Mundo made sense, but even after returning to Soul Society, separated by an entire dimension, his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power remained effective?

    How could that be possible?

    The barriers between the Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo were created by the Soul King and were extremely sturdy.

    How could the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power penetrate these barriers?

    Aizen¡¯s mind raced through countless possibilities.

    Gradually, he formed a hypothesis.

    He took a deep breath and looked at Kaelith.

    If this hypothesis was correct, Kaelith would bring him another surprise¡­

    As Aizen pondered, Kaelith suddenly smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±

    Aizen raised his head.

    He saw a flash of light on the horizon.

    A few seconds later, that light sped toward them.

    From afar, the shape of a blade could be seen!

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Judging by the sword¡¯s flight speed, it must have been many of kilometers away before.

    Utterly ridiculous.

    ¡°Ah! My dear partner, my other half! Before, when I was badly hurt, I couldn¡¯t bring you home. You must have been so lone¡ªwhoa!!¡±

    Kaelith opened his arms wide, welcoming his Zanpakut¨­ with heartfelt emotion.

    He hadn¡¯t even finished speaking when he noticed the blade showing no sign of slowing down, heading straight for his face. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith rolled aside just in time, relying on invincibility frames to dodge. (t/N: Darks Souls reference!)

    Boom!!!!

    The Zanpakut¨­ crashed into the nearby desert like a bomb.

    The huge impact sent Kaelith flying, screaming as he tumbled away.

    Aizen, having sensed something was off as the sword approached, had already kept his distance.

    Kaelith wiped the sand off his face and rushed over to yank the Zanpakut¨­ out of the sand.

    ¡°Attempted murder of your master?! You traitor, did you hook up with some wild mistress here in Hueco Mundo and swear allegiance to a new lord while I was away?!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­?¡±

    Wait, as Kaelith¡¯s sword, such a scenario wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.

    Held in Kaelith¡¯s hand, the Zanpakut¨­ buzzed a few times, seemingly expressing displeasure.

    Kaelith grew even angrier: ¡°You¡¯ve even developed a function like that now?¡±

    As Kaelith argued with his Zanpakut¨­, Aizen suddenly froze.

    ¡°Kaelith, come here.¡±

    He opened the Garganta and jumped inside.

    Kaelith followed with his sword in hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Aizen said, ¡°My spiritual pressure detection device just now¡­¡±

    He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Kaelith suddenly sensed something and turned to look in one direction.

    Just moments ago, Aizen¡¯s Hueco Mundo spiritual pressure detector had signaled that a group of Hollows was rapidly approaching.

    And Kaelith was now looking exactly where the device indicated the Hollows were coming from!

    After half a second, Aizen himself finally sensed their spiritual pressure in the air¡­

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157

    With both of them watching, several figures gradually emerged in the distant sky.

    Three Menos.

    Two resembled insects, and one resembled a pterosaur.

    All three excelled at flying, moving at extremely high speed.

    The direction from which they approached happened to be the same direction Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ had come from.

    In almost an instant, Aizen drew a conclusion.

    These Hollows had discovered the Zanpakut¨­ Kaelith had left behind and had been lying in wait there. They hadn¡¯t expected that Kaelith wouldn¡¯t come for it himself, but that the sword would return on its own. In desperation, they had sent these flying Hollows ahead to confirm the situation.

    Without a doubt, a larger force would be following behind.

    In the worst-case scenario, there might even be a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow.

    A few days ago, Kaelith¡¯s power had been on full display. If Baraggan had any intelligence, he wouldn¡¯t rely on just a few Adjuchas to contain him.

    With that in mind, Aizen waved his hand and closed the Garganta.

    Before long, they returned to the Soul Society.

    On the way, he shared his reasoning with Kaelith.

    ¡°Hueco Mundo is now more dangerous than ever.¡±

    ¡°Baraggan already knows about us¡­ no, to be precise, he knows about you. The next time you encounter him, he definitely won¡¯t underestimate you.¡±

    Aizen did not hesitate to remove himself from the scenario.

    After all, the one who¡¯d revealed himself was Kaelith alone. Aizen had always hidden himself well, so it had nothing to do with him.

    ¡°In addition, the Tsunayashiro family also hates you to the core. If they meet you, they¡¯ll never let you off.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and by the way, they hold no grudge against me whatsoever, they don¡¯t even know I exist.¡±

    ¡°Kaelith, be careful if you go to Hueco Mundo again. There may come a day when you won¡¯t return.¡±

    Aizen smirked, as though envisioning a scene worth celebrating.

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°No problem, then I just won¡¯t go. I¡¯m not conducting experiments, so I don¡¯t need to capture Hollows.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­?¡±

    His smile gradually disappeared.

    Now he faced a tough choice.

    Either give up an excellent labor force and rely on himself for all the work from now on, or bring along a trouble magnet who attracted endless aggro, threatening to provoke everyone into attacking them?

    Why, when Kaelith caused trouble all over, did Aizen end up suffering as well?

    Suddenly, remembering something, Aizen asked Kaelith:

    ¡°Kaelith, earlier, inside the Garganta, when you suddenly looked in the direction those Hollows were coming from, was it because you sensed their spiritual pressure?¡±

    This mattered a lot to him.

    If Kaelith truly relied on spiritual pressure detection, it meant his perception far surpassed Aizen¡¯s. Until now, Aizen had great confidence in his own perception. He never expected in actual combat to be outclassed by Kaelith by such a large margin.

    Hearing this, Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°At that moment, I didn¡¯t feel any spiritual pressure. It took more than half a second before I sensed it.¡±

    Aizen was puzzled. ¡°Then why did you look that way?¡±

    ¡°Instinct,¡± Kaelith shrugged. ¡°I felt there was danger over there, so I looked.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    Instinct, my foot.

    For a moment, he suspected Kaelith was joking. But seeing Kaelith¡¯s sincerity, Aizen felt conflicted.

    By relying on some vague ¡°instinct,¡± Kaelith detected the approaching enemy before Aizen¡¯s meticulous perception. Just what kind of monster was this guy¡­

    Seeing Aizen silent, Kaelith assumed he was worried about Hueco Mundo¡¯s situation.

    Kaelith reached out and patted Aizen¡¯s shoulder:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, S¨­suke, this is good news.¡±

    ¡°Senzo Tsunayashiro has gone to Hueco Mundo, so Enra Ky¨­ten is now ownerless. As soon as he dies, that blade is ours!¡±

    ¡°A mere Tsunayashiro, a mere Baraggan¡ªonce you¡­uh I mean once grow strong, they¡¯re nothing but paper tigers!¡±

    ¡°When I get Enra Ky¨­ten and become King of Hueco Mundo, I won¡¯t mistreat you!¡±

    ¡°Hmm, how about I make you the Crown Prince of Hueco Mundo when the time comes?¡±

    Aizen gave him a long, quiet look.

    At this moment, he wished he could be more like Kaelith and lose all decorum, so he could at least flip him off.

    Having manners was sometimes a debuff.

    He sighed and waved a hand:

    ¡°Enough, if there¡¯s nothing else, hurry up and leave. Don¡¯t get in the way.¡±

    Kaelith looked around at the dark, eerie laboratory.

    He said worriedly, ¡°S¨­suke, you should go out and get some sun once in a while. Being in this environment every day might worsen your¡­ mental state.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my mind is quite healthy.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s expression was calm.

    ¡°People with fragile minds, when stuck with someone like you, end up with two possible outcomes.¡±

    ¡°Either they become hardened, or they go insane.¡±

    ¡°Since I¡¯m not insane, I must be the former.¡±

    Before Kaelith could retort, Aizen continued:

    ¡°I¡¯ll be busy for the next few days and might not be in the division.¡±

    ¡°If anything comes up, try to solve it yourself. If you really can¡¯t, go find Kisuke Urahara.¡±

    After issuing these instructions, he kicked Kaelith out.

    Closing the door, Aizen lightly placed his hand on Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s hilt.

    As much as he wanted to focus on his experiments, to dissect Kuchiki K¨­ga thoroughly a hundred times, right now there was something else he was even more curious about, something he wanted to pursue first.

    He wanted to investigate what the Soul King really was.

    The history books in the academy were vague. The more detailed ones leaned toward myth and legend.

    Compared to the academy, he had a better option now.

    The largest database in the Soul Society, managed by the Tsunayashiro family:

    The Shin¡¯¨­ Great Spirit Book Gallery.

    In the past, the Tsunayashiro family guarded it strictly. Even with Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, infiltrating it wasn¡¯t easy.

    But now things had changed.

    The Tsunayashiro family was shaken, too busy dealing with internal affairs to pay proper attention to the Great Spirit Book Gallery.

    If he wanted to act, now was the time!

    ¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    ¡°Kuchiki K¨­ga? I don¡¯t know where he went¡­ At that time, I fought with all my might, all four limbs broken, and barely managed to defeat him.¡±

    ¡°Just as I was about to kill him, several Hollows rushed over and carried him off.¡±

    ¡°That Kuchiki K¨­ga not only betrayed the Kuchiki family, but also cooperated with Hollows, utterly disgracing the Shinigami!¡±

    ¡°Oh right, and he also beat up my dear senior brother into this sorry state!¡±

    ¡°Teacher, dealing with someone like him requires a heavy hand!¡±

    Inside Yamamoto¡¯s study in the First Division barracks. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yamamoto, Kuchiki Ginrei, Shunsui Ky¨­raku, and Kaelith sat facing each other.

    After listening to Kaelith¡¯s account, Kuchiki Ginrei sighed.

    Even now, he found it hard to believe that K¨­ga would do such a thing.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku, sitting to the side, was still covered in bandages.

    At the moment, he wore a gloomy expression.

    Although he had been influenced by Muramasa and acted against his will, the fact that Katen had turned on him was truly heartbreaking.

    Compared to their regret and sorrow, what Yamamoto focused on was entirely different.

    He looked at Kaelith, his eyes bright.

    ¡°Kid, you beat Kuchiki K¨­ga?¡±

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158

    T/N: Long chapter! Btw these count as 2 chapters in one. We will be having a couple of more after this one. And yes, the word count is the same as it would be in 2 separate chapters. This one is even longer.

    ---------------------------------------------

    A torrential rain connected heaven and earth in the Seireitei.

    Although it was daytime, the sky was as dark as night.

    Two figures moved cautiously along a long wooden corridor.

    Leading in front was Kaelith.

    His footsteps were light, his spiritual pressure fully suppressed, like a leopard searching for prey.

    Following behind was Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    His expression was serious, and he occasionally raised his hand to adjust the hat on his head.

    Through the deep V-neck on his chest, one could see that his torso was still wrapped in bandages.

    Reaching the corridor¡¯s corner, Kaelith stopped.

    He leaned against the wall, poked his head out slightly, and observed the situation around the corner.

    After a few seconds, he turned to Shunsui and made an ¡°ok¡± gesture.

    Shunsui nodded gently.

    The rain continued to fall, and the atmosphere was far from pleasant.

    They used every skill they had to infiltrate this residence.

    Finally, they stopped before a sliding door.

    ¡®Ready?¡¯ Kaelith asked with his eyes.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, no problem!¡¯ Shunsui responded with a cruel smile.

    In the next instant, both of them moved.

    Whoosh!!

    They yanked open the sliding door.

    Shunsui entered the room at lightning speed, expressionless like a demonic spirit, lunging at a figure caught completely off guard.

    But the target was no ordinary person.

    Facing Shunsui¡¯s near-ambush strike, he was momentarily shocked, but instantly reacted.

    ¡°Enk¨­sen!!¡±

    Raising his hand, he unleashed Bakud¨­ #39 without incantation.

    A circular light shield appeared out of thin air between Shunsui and the target.

    Shunsui reacted quickly and changed direction the instant the shield formed, but he was still slightly slower. The target had already turned and was running toward the window.

    He shoved the window open, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

    Just Shunsui? Did he really think he could catch him?!

    Then he saw another figure appear at the window.

    Crack!!

    A flash of lightning lit the scene.

    Half in light, half in shadow, that face wore a smile far more gleeful than his own.

    Seeing this face, he almost screamed in terror.

    The shock was like turning on the lights late at night and discovering Freddy standing there.

    In that instant, Kaelith laughed and burst in through the window, slamming him to the floor.

    ¡°Kekekeke! Let¡¯s see where you¡¯ll run now!¡±

    With the target pinned, Kaelith used a shadow to light an oil lamp in the room.

    The gentle lamplight illuminated the three of them.

    The one Kaelith had pinned down was a handsome man with long white hair.

    It was J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake.

    However, he wasn¡¯t wearing his Shihakush¨­ and haori, but a set of white patient¡¯s clothes.

    Shunsui adjusted his hat and grinned.

    He quickly walked over and held down Ukitake¡¯s legs.

    ¡°No¡­ Shunsui, Kaelith, you can¡¯t do this to me!¡±

    ¡°We trained under the same master and should look out for each other. We must never turn against one another, lest we become a laughingstock!¡±

    Kaelith sighed. ¡°Sorry, Senior Brother. I don¡¯t want to overthrow my superiors¡­ but the other side is too strong, we have no choice!¡±

    Hearing this, Ukitake¡¯s heart filled with despair.

    As he looked on in agony, Kaelith shouted:

    ¡°I¡¯ve caught Ukitake-senpai!!¡±

    ¡°My, my~ how wonderful.¡±

    At some unknown moment, a figure appeared at the door.

    Illuminated by the lightning, her presence was even more terrifying than Kaelith¡¯s had been.

    Retsu Unohana approached Ukitake with a gentle smile and crouched down beside him.

    ¡°Captain Ukitake, you must take your medicine properly.¡±

    Ukitake was on the verge of tears.

    Staring at the medicine bowl in Unohana¡¯s hand, he made his last feeble plea: ¡°At least¡­ give me the normal medicine. This batch is far too strange!¡±

    Usually, his medicine was bitter but still drinkable.

    This time, he couldn¡¯t even describe the taste.

    Bitter, spicy, sour, salty¡ªevery flavor had reached an extreme.

    One sip felt no different than descending into hell.

    Even though he had been sick for centuries and had drunk more medicine than a young Shinigami had drunk water, he was still terrified of this potion.

    Unohana smiled.

    ¡°No can do.¡±

    ¡°If you had stayed quietly in bed, you could continue taking the normal medicine.¡±

    ¡°But you disobeyed medical orders, led a team to quell the rebels, and your body suffered serious damage from the exertion.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be bedridden for years again, please drink this medicine obediently.¡±

    Ukitake still wanted to bargain, but Kaelith and Shunsui had lost their patience.

    They each grabbed one of his arms, lifting his upper body.

    Kaelith pinched Ukitake¡¯s cheeks:

    ¡°Captain Unohana, don¡¯t bother explaining to him. Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    Unohana nodded with a smile.

    Under the rain-filled sky, Ukitake¡¯s screams echoed throughout the Fourth Division.

    ¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    After dealing with Ukitake, Kaelith and Shunsui returned him to his sickbed.

    Ukitake lay there, moaning pitifully.

    The two culprits simply set up camp in his room, chatting away.

    ¡°Kaelith, how have things been going with Old Man Yama lately?¡±

    Shunsui, having procured a small flask from who-knows-where, poured a bit for himself and Kaelith.

    Kaelith grunted: ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Shunsui laughed: ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. Last time I passed by the First Division, I heard Old Man Yama roaring.¡±

    ¡°From the spiritual pressure fluctuations, I¡¯m sure that after the lecture came a good beating!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened:

    ¡°Lecture¡­ you call that a lecture? It was pure abuse!¡±

    Then he rattled off a series of incomprehensible lines like ¡°getting familiar with new moves doesn¡¯t count as being beaten¡± and ¡°as long as I can get out of bed the next day, it¡¯s not considered being beaten.¡±

    The sick room instantly filled with a cheerful air.

    Just as Shunsui said, with Aizen gone these past few days, Kaelith had been out of luck.

    Not long ago, during the four-way talks, Yamamoto learned that Kaelith had defeated Kuchiki K¨­ga and was overjoyed.

    The old man happily asked how Kaelith won against Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    His first thought was that Kaelith might have learned Bankai in battle¡ªmaybe a very powerful, broken-ability Bankai.

    Seeing Yamamoto¡¯s high expectations, Kaelith confidently described the ¡°Shuangchong Siggu¡± technique he¡¯d created. (t/n: Shuangchong Siggu- translates to Double Quadruple Bone. Basically San S¨­kotsu, but done twice at the same time)

    He had thought Yamamoto would weep with joy, praising him as a genius.

    He never expected that after hearing the explanation, Yamamoto almost exploded with rage.

    ¡°Idiot!¡±

    ¡°Your body isn¡¯t fully mature yet, using even one ¡®Shuangchong Siggu¡¯ bone technique is reckless and could cause hidden injuries¡­ and now you¡¯ve made an even more extreme version, using your legs?!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you countless times not to use that move recklessly, yet not only did you not listen, you doubled down and invented a leg-based version?!¡±

    ¡°Why not just develop a head-based double bone technique and smash your own skull while you¡¯re at it?!¡±

    ¡°Even though the hot springs you use for healing are a divine treasure in the medical field, overuse can have side effects¡­ and what you have isn¡¯t even the original, just a knockoff!¡±

    ¡°At this rate, I¡¯ll have to arrange your funeral sooner or later!¡±

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s furious glare, Kaelith scratched his head.

    ¡°A Shinigami¡¯s occupation is inherently high-risk¡­ considering the gap in strength, it¡¯s normal for you to see me off first, right?¡±

    That one line almost made Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure erupt.

    To make Kaelith feel his anger, Yamamoto summoned him daily for the next few days, delivering hard-earned lessons via his fists.

    As Kaelith sighed and drained his cup of clear liquor, he put it down and stood up.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time for today¡¯s training¡­ Uncle Shunsui, I¡¯ll be off.¡±

    ¡°Ukitake-senpai, take care of your health and drink your medicine properly.¡±

    Ukitake let out a pained groan.

    Under Shunsui¡¯s watchful gaze, Kaelith left the room.

    Shunsui wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but even though Kaelith was going off to be beaten, Shunsui seemed to catch a hint of joy in his departing figure.

    It had to be a misunderstanding¡­ Wait why am I the Uncel?!

    ¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    ¡°Hah!!¡±

    Yamamoto gripped a bamboo sword and brought it down on Kaelith¡¯s shoulder.

    It wasn¡¯t even a special technique, just an ordinary strike, yet it felt as if a mountain had fallen.

    Kaelith had no time to dissipate the force. He was slammed straight into the floor.

    After a few struggles, he pulled his head out of the floorboards.

    Looking at Yamamoto, who stood not far away with a sword in hand, exuding a transcendent aura, Kaelith felt a surge of emotion.

    Yamamoto was still Yamamoto, the old master was still the old master.

    Even after defeating Kuchiki K¨­ga, he was still powerless before Yamamoto.

    If only S¨­suke had sent him directly to the First Division back then and let the system bind him to Yamamoto, he¡¯d be invincible by now!

    Blowing wood chips off his head, Kaelith gripped his bamboo sword and pointed it at Yamamoto:

    ¡°Again!¡±

    Yamamoto: ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s body covered in bruises, even his face marked with injuries, yet still bursting with vitality, Yamamoto felt a bit overwhelmed.

    This level of training would have made Shunsui cry for mercy long ago.

    But this kid, who was suffering, seemed to be enjoying it more and more.

    Suddenly, Yamamoto recalled a time centuries ago, when Unohana Retsu hadn¡¯t changed her persona yet.

    If he put these two together, wouldn¡¯t there be some interesting chemistry¡­?

    ¡°Teacher, teacher?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, sudden senility?¡±

    ¡°What should we do¡­ if the Captain-Commander is senile, we¡¯ll have a power vacuum. Someone must take over temporarily.¡±

    ¡°Well then, as the Captain-Commander¡¯s disciple, I, Kaelith, must shoulder this responsibility!¡±

    ¡°As acting Captain-Commander, my first decree is that all female Shinigami must replace their hakama with short skirts!¡±

    Yamamoto: ¡°?¡±

    Watching Kaelith excitedly consider how to use his authority, Yamamoto responded with a sudden surge of spiritual pressure.

    In the trembling air, Kaelith was pressed face-first into the floor, unable to move.

    Satisfied by the sight of Kaelith¡¯s struggles, Yamamoto nodded and left the dojo.

    A few minutes later, Kaelith emerged as well, covered in wood chips again and wounds from splintered floorboards.

    By now, the rain had lessened significantly.

    The air was cold, and Kaelith shivered the moment he opened the dojo door.

    At this rate, winter probably wasn¡¯t far away.

    Pulling up his collar, Kaelith prepared to find Yamamoto.

    He hadn¡¯t taken more than a few steps when he smelled a fragrance.

    Just the scent alone stirred childhood memories.

    Following the smell, Kaelith soon discovered Yamamoto under the eaves outside his study, roasting something over a fire.

    Seeing food, Kaelith smiled and hurried over.

    ¡°Hey, teacher, what are you doing? Need any help?¡±

    Yamamoto glanced at him without responding.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t mind and sat down beside him.

    Yamamoto was roasting sweet potatoes, and there was already one done.

    Kaelith laughed, took it, peeled it, and took a bite.

    The flesh was soft, fragrant, and perfectly roasted. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but praise it.

    For an old man, Yamamoto¡¯s culinary skills were excellent.

    Just a simple open flame, yet it produced the same flavor as the big furnace-roasted yams Kaelith had tasted at a temple fair in his childhood.

    As he ate, Kaelith instinctively looked at the fire used for roasting.

    One glance and he was stunned.

    Beneath the sweet potatoes lay a sword.

    With a purple-wrapped hilt and an unremarkable oval guard.

    Most Shinigami rarely saw this blade, as it was usually concealed in Yamamoto¡¯s wooden staff.

    But as the close disciple, Kaelith was all too familiar with it.

    He¡¯d even oiled this sword himself when Yamamoto got lazy.

    Seeing this sword, Kaelith almost spat out his sweet potato.

    ¡°Ry¨±jin Jakka?!¡±

    Yamamoto gave him a strange look.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Kaelith swallowed the sweet potato, speechless: ¡°Teacher, this is the strongest Zanpakut¨­ in the Soul Society, and you¡¯re using it to roast sweet potatoes?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? I¡¯m also the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society, and here I am roasting sweet potatoes.¡±

    Kaelith stared at Ry¨±jin Jakka for a few seconds, then shook his head and sighed:

    ¡°You should cherish your Zanpakut¨­ more. Zanpakut¨­ have minds of their own, we should treat them like family.¡±

    Yamamoto finally lost his composure.

    Anyone could lecture him on this topic except this kid. What nonsense!

    ¡­¡­¡­

    ¡­¡­

    Covered in injuries, Kaelith returned to the Second Division.

    He moved with purpose, quickly passing through the barracks.

    Before long, he reached a small room.

    ¡°Hey! Kisuke! Are you in?!¡±

    Standing at the door, he called out cheerfully.

    Inside was silence.

    Kaelith nodded: ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming in!¡±

    Pa!

    He pushed open the door and entered.

    Kisuke Urahara: ¡°?¡±

    Damn it, I didn''t even say anything!

    Where did ¡°Alright¡± come from?

    Under Kisuke¡¯s stunned gaze, Kaelith smiled.

    Considering Kaelith¡¯s bruised and swollen face, that smile looked quite terrifying.

    ¡°Kisuke, come with me?¡±

    Kisuke Urahara: ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    What¡¯s this about?

    Did this devil suddenly change tastes, no longer favoring pretty girls, but becoming interested in someone like him?

    He instinctively took a step back: ¡°No!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s expression changed, his smile vanished.

    ¡°Come with me!¡±

    He reached out, grabbed the despairing Kisuke Urahara, and turned to leave.

    "I don''t swing that way!"

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159

    Kaelith led Kisuke Urahara away from the Second Division barracks, heading for the prison in the rear mountains.

    This place wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Kisuke.

    It was the entrance to the Nest of Maggots.

    He had once fought side by side with Kaelith here.

    Even some distance away from the prison entrance, the defenses were already tight.

    Members of the Punishment Force, clad entirely in black, lay concealed in various hidden positions.

    The moment any unidentified individual approached, they would be driven away. If one warning didn¡¯t suffice, the next measures taken would not be fit for young eyes.

    Of course, none of this applied to Kaelith.

    His current position was Third Seat of the Second Division, temporarily managing the Nest of Maggots. The entire security system here consisted of his subordinates.

    Several guards posted openly at the entrance saw Kaelith coming and knelt down on one knee from afar in salute.

    At first, Kaelith wasn¡¯t used to this form of greeting.

    If he had his way, he¡¯d prefer these subordinates to wear black suits and sunglasses, line up in two neat rows, and bow at a thirty-degree angle as he passed by. Ideally, he¡¯d return from the battlefield, discover his beloved Aizen holed up in a doghouse after being humiliated by villains, and at that key moment, receive such a grand greeting. Just imagining it made him feel good.

    But this was the Soul Society, with countless years of tradition. His personal opinions had no real impact.

    This was no Freetown; he couldn¡¯t just change things at will. Sure, he could make them abandon certain rituals now, but what if one day he left this post?(t/n: see notes)

    If the team members hadn¡¯t reverted to the default formalities by then, they might offend the new officer due to improper etiquette. For his own momentary satisfaction, he¡¯d be causing others trouble.

    Kisuke Urahara had no idea what Kaelith was thinking right now. He only felt immense pressure.

    This guy brought him all the way to the Nest of Maggots¡ªcould he be planning to lock Kisuke up for fun?

    As absurd as it sounded, with Kaelith, nothing was impossible¡­

    ¡°Kaelith-san, why did we come here?¡± Kisuke couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    Kaelith replied, ¡°Recently, the Gotei 13 have been rounding up rebels and searching the Tsunayashiro family¡¯s properties. They¡¯ve captured quite a number of criminals. The more important ones are under intense interrogation¡ªexecuted if necessary, or thrown into Muken. As for the less important ones, most have been sent to the Nest of Maggots. Now, the place is more crowded than ever, practically overflowing. The Supervisory Team is too busy to handle it all.¡±

    As he spoke, Kaelith removed his Zanpakut¨­ and handed it to the guard outside the prison.

    One of the key rules here was no entering with a blade.

    Even managers had to surrender their swords before going inside.

    Kisuke followed suit, removing his sword as well, nodding thoughtfully.

    Indeed, the aftermath of a large-scale rebellion was a major headache.

    But what did this have to do with him?

    Suddenly, a bad thought crossed his mind.

    Sure enough, shortly after entering the Nest of Maggots, Kaelith pointed at a group of wandering prisoners.

    ¡°Kisuke, let¡¯s test your skills.¡±

    ¡°Go handle those guys. If you finish in under 60 seconds, that¡¯s three stars; under 90 seconds, two stars.¡±

    ¡°Over 90 seconds¡­ death penalty.¡±

    ¡°Death penalty?!¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°One¡­ two¡­¡± Kaelith had already started counting. Kisuke wanted to swear up and down, but he had no time. He flashed forward, landing right in the midst of the prisoners.

    They paused, startled, then grinned ferociously.

    Another prison officer, perhaps?

    For these inmates, one of life¡¯s greatest pleasures was roughing up Shinigami.

    Without Zanpakut¨­, Shinigami were like toothless tigers, easy prey!

    Several inmates reached out large hands, aiming for Kisuke¡¯s head.

    Kisuke took a deep breath, then began to move in a blur.

    With each Shunpo, he appeared behind another inmate, striking their weak points.

    In less than twenty seconds, all the prisoners were foaming at the mouth, unconscious on the ground.

    Watching Kisuke land steadily, Kaelith clapped his hands, satisfied.

    As expected from the future manager of the Nest of Maggots in the original storyline. Though he was still young, his skills were already commendable.

    ¡°Excellent, subarashii!¡±

    ¡°Kisuke, it¡¯s settled. Starting today, you¡¯ll be in charge of security inside the Nest of Maggots!¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kisuke: ¡°¡­¡±

    Damn it, he knew this would happen.

    He tried a last-ditch struggle: ¡°Kaelith-san, I have my own work too¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your current job just arranging attendance rosters? Assign a couple of secretaries to handle it. There¡¯s never a shortage of people for administrative tasks.¡±

    With a casual wave, Kaelith crushed Kisuke¡¯s final hope.

    Seeing Kisuke¡¯s face as though he was attending his own funeral, Kaelith crossed his arms.

    ¡°Kisuke, what¡¯s with that reaction? I¡¯m giving you an opportunity here.¡±

    ¡°Management of the Nest of Maggots has always been handled by the Third Seat of the Second Division. Getting you familiar with this work now will be a big help for you when you aim for Third Seat in the future!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be doing it for long. Once the rebels are mostly dealt with and there¡¯s no need to keep logging and interrogating all these people, you¡¯ll be free.¡±

    Kisuke silently looked at the ceiling.

    What sin had he committed to deserve such a boss?

    After casually dumping his job onto Kisuke, Kaelith strolled around the Nest of Maggots.

    As he¡¯d said, compared to when he first took over, the place was now overcrowded.

    Groups of criminals huddled together, causing trouble for the Shinigami stationed here.

    He might be able to keep them in check himself, but he couldn¡¯t always be around.

    Now with Kisuke, this excellent laborer¡­ ahem, excellent subordinate, things could finally settle down.

    As he wandered, Kaelith suddenly froze.

    He was surprised to see someone sitting in a corner of the prison.

    A man who looked to be in his thirties, with messy blue hair, a dirty face, and hollow eyes, clearly lost in thought.

    Seeing him, Kaelith grinned.

    Mayuri Kurotsuchi!

    He¡¯d scoured countless places to find him, and yet here he was, right at hand again!

    Kaelith approached with a wide smile.

    Today, no matter what, whether using CPU or CAD, he was determined to recruit this scientific genius into his fold!

    Mayuri, sitting on the ground and deep in his own mental blueprint of some new project, noticed a pair of straw sandals appear in his field of vision. He frowned slightly and looked up.

    When he saw who it was, his eyes widened.

    Just as Kaelith was about to begin his persuasion, Mayuri¡¯s eyes shone with excitement¡ª

    ¡°Kaelith! I want to work for you! Get me out of here!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    ---

    T/n: About "Freetown" This basically means Soul Society isn¡¯t like Freetown, is a reference to a place where authority or personal power can freely overturn traditions or established rules.

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160

    ---

    Looking at the excited expression on Mayuri Kurotsuchi''s face, Kaelith fell into thought.

    I haven¡¯t even made my move yet, and you¡¯re already rolling over? That¡¯s not very satisfying for someone who¡¯s supposed to be a genius.

    Although confused, Kaelith quickly adjusted his state of mind.

    Under Mayuri¡¯s gaze, he snorted and lifted his chin.

    ¡°Work for me? In the Soul Society, there are no fewer than a thousand people who¡¯d kill for the opportunity to serve me. What makes you special?¡±

    Without hesitation, Mayuri replied, ¡°The bomb that almost blew you to pieces¡ªthat was my creation!¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    Bringing that up wasn¡¯t the best move. Now, Kaelith wanted nothing more than to kick Mayuri.

    Hiding a bomb inside an assassin¡¯s body¡ªwhat kind of hellish tactic was that?

    If not for his sharp instincts and immediate retreat, things could have gone very wrong.

    Mayuri, however, seemed completely unaware of Kaelith¡¯s darkening expression. Instead, he leaned in almost fanatically and asked, ¡°Kaelith, have you already mastered Captain Kirio Hikifune¡¯s Gikon technology?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I¡¯m one of the top three intellects in the Soul Society. Something like that wouldn¡¯t be a challenge for me,¡± Kaelith boasted without a shred of humility.

    Mayuri, surprisingly, had no doubts about his claim.

    Kirio Hikifune¡¯s Gikon technology was an incredibly complex system.

    For most Shinigami, even with direct guidance from Kirio herself, fully understanding it was no easy feat.

    Not long ago, Mayuri had heard from other captured prisoners that Kaelith had defeated Kuchiki K¨­ga in battle.

    To Mayuri, this was proof that Kaelith had already mastered Gikon technology.

    After all, for someone Kaelith¡¯s age, no matter how talented, researching something as intricate as spiritual synchronization would be an absurd waste of time unless it served a specific purpose.

    Defeating K¨­ga indicated that Kaelith must have had some hidden trump card capable of resisting Muramasa¡¯s power.

    Piecing this together with Kaelith¡¯s late-night visit to the Twelfth Division, Mayuri came to a conclusion:

    There was a high probability that the ability Kaelith used to counter Muramasa¡¯s power was precisely Kirio Hikifune¡¯s Gikon technology!

    Now, with Kaelith confirming it himself, Mayuri¡¯s excitement grew.

    If Kirio Hikifune had been present, she might have given him a sympathetic glance.

    Kaelith¡¯s mastery of Gikon... wasn¡¯t due to the usual process of understanding spiritual energy and harmonizing with its frequency to harness Gikon¡¯s power.

    For Kaelith, mastering Gikon was more like mixing paint into water¡ªit just happened naturally.

    Noticing Kaelith¡¯s apparent indifference toward his allegiance, Mayuri hurriedly added,

    ¡°It¡¯s not just bombs... I have extensive expertise in pharmacology as well!¡±

    ¡°Sedatives, anesthetics, even drugs that can alter thought and memory¡ªI can develop them all!¡±

    ¡°Additionally, I excel in biological modification, including human body enhancements!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you often fight beyond your limits and sustain severe injuries. I¡¯ve developed a regeneration serum that can rapidly heal lost body parts, though it does come at the cost of some life potential...¡±

    As Kaelith stared at him, Mayuri continued to market his skills without pause.

    On the surface, Kaelith showed no reaction, but inwardly, he was almost worshiping Mayuri.

    No wonder he¡¯s considered a genius. In this era, he¡¯s already mastered so many advanced technologies.

    Compared to him, Urahara seems a bit green.

    Seeing Mayuri about to continue his pitch, Kaelith coughed, interrupting him.

    ¡°What do you plan to do once you¡¯re out of here?¡±

    Hearing this, Mayuri immediately stood up.

    ¡°Create life!¡±

    ¡°My research has reached a bottleneck. Even if I spend another thousand years pursuing the same avenues, I won¡¯t achieve anything groundbreaking.¡±

    ¡°My sole goal now is to create new life!¡±

    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t have much hope since this goal seemed so distant. But then Captain Hikifune developed Gikon technology!¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, even with my dedication in the Twelfth Division, Captain Hikifune always refused to teach me, citing my current state as insufficient for such advanced concepts.¡±

    ¡°But fortunately, Kaelith, you¡¯re here!¡±

    ¡°With your mastery of Gikon technology and my innovative capabilities, we can create the perfect lifeform!¡±

    ¡°Please, this is my life¡¯s greatest ambition. I¡¯ll do anything if you agree to help me!¡±

    Kaelith was stunned.

    If he recalled correctly, Mayuri¡¯s lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, was a synthetic lifeform he had created.

    Unexpectedly, Mayuri¡¯s ultimate goal in life was essentially... making people.

    Truly befitting of a scientist¡ªromantic in its own way.

    If it were me, Kaelith thought, I wouldn¡¯t waste time researching artificial life.

    Why bother when Kurotsuchi could achieve the same result?

    Speaking of Nemu... S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith thought for a moment.

    To be fair, she was quite compatible with his operating system.

    If Mayuri could truly bring Nemu to life, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing.

    Under Mayuri¡¯s expectant gaze, Kaelith pondered for a long while.

    ¡°Mayuri, if I were to accept your allegiance, but your loyalty would be solely to me¡ªnot to the Gotei 13, not to the Seireitei¡ªwould you agree?¡±

    Mayuri tilted his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? I serve only you, not the people you serve.¡±

    Alright, Kaelith thought. That logic was... uniquely Mayuri-eks.

    He nodded.

    ¡°One last question, then.¡±

    ¡°To ensure your loyalty, I¡¯ll use my Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability to implant a shadow in your brain. If you betray me, I¡¯ll activate the shadow¡¯s power and shred your brain instantly.¡±

    ¡°Is that a price you¡¯re willing to pay?¡±

    Hearing this, Mayuri¡¯s expression turned conflicted.

    ¡°Does it have to be my brain?¡±

    ¡°My brain is incredibly valuable. If possible, I¡¯d rather it remain untouched.¡±

    ¡°What about my heart? You can place your power in any other organ!¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Internal organs? With your expertise, wouldn¡¯t it be easy to replace those?¡±

    Mayuri sighed.

    Fair point. This guy knows his stuff, even though he doesn¡¯t seem like the scientific type.

    To reassure him, Kaelith added casually, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve tested it on my own brain. As long as the power isn¡¯t activated, the shadow is intangible and harmless.¡±

    In truth, Kaelith had never conducted such an experiment.

    Leaving a shadow in someone¡¯s brain was absurd¡ªit¡¯d be like setting a time bomb.

    Unless he constantly maintained his ability, it was impossible.

    The real purpose of his statement was simply to test Mayuri¡¯s resolve.

    Hearing this, Mayuri looked at him in surprise.

    This guy... is truly insane.

    He even dared to experiment on his own brain?

    No wonder he mastered Gikon technology. In a way, their methods were oddly compatible.

    Although the idea of his brain being under constant threat made him uneasy, Mayuri, after a long pause, firmly nodded.

    ¡°Understood. I accept!¡±

    He had immense confidence in his value.

    After all, no one would kill a scientist as brilliant as him without a second thought.

    The more Kaelith relied on his talents, the more indispensable he¡¯d become, and the more support he¡¯d receive.

    His dream was within reach!

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161

    Urahara Kisuke had been under a lot of stress recently.

    A certain manipulative boss had resorted to threats of violence to forcefully assign work to him.

    Ever since taking on this new job, his leisurely slacking time had drastically decreased.

    In the past, he only needed to work for thirty minutes a day. Now, it was an hour and a half!

    This was unbearable! Truly inhumane!

    And if that weren¡¯t bad enough, this boss had somehow managed to recruit a genius.

    The man named Mayuri Kurotsuchi was exceptionally sharp and quick to grasp new concepts.

    Take the gaming console designed by Kaelith, for instance¡ªMayuri figured it out in no time and began pushing the development forward at lightning speed.

    That guy didn¡¯t seem to understand the meaning of exhaustion. Whatever Kaelith requested, Mayuri would work tirelessly, even at the cost of sleep, to deliver it as quickly as possible.

    What¡¯s the point of that?!

    Watching this unfold, Urahara felt both alarmed and uneasy.

    As a technical professional, the most important thing when starting a job was to establish boundaries around your capabilities.

    Whether you had ten points of skill or twelve, the ideal approach was to only show six points when given a task. (t/N; Facts)

    If you demonstrated your full abilities, your boss would expect that level of output every time.

    If you slowed down afterward, it would be perceived as laziness and neglect. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Occasionally going above and beyond could be framed as overtime, earning extra praise and rewards.

    This was how a proper corporate worker should behave!

    But Mayuri Kurotsuchi? He was a complete outlier¡ªsomeone with ten points of ability who put in twenty points of effort. The ultimate chaos-bringer in any workplace.

    Under Mayuri¡¯s relentless pace, Urahara was forced to speed up his own work, tears streaming down his face.

    With the combined efforts of two geniuses, the gaming console Kaelith wanted was nearly complete.

    By the way, Mayuri¡¯s arrival had finally given Kaelith¡¯s small research group some scale.

    What had started as a two-man operation with him and Urahara had now grown into a three-person enterprise.

    The Second Division, once small and unassuming, now boasted three brilliant minds. Naturally, their research couldn¡¯t continue in Urahara¡¯s dormitory.

    Kaelith approached Yoruichi and applied for an abandoned dojo.

    The very day the paperwork was approved, Kaelith hung a sign at the entrance:

    **¡°Kaelith Technology Bureau.¡±**

    Standing before the dojo, Mayuri was stunned.

    The Soul Society didn¡¯t yet have a formal research department.

    However, thanks to Captain Hikifune¡¯s contributions to the field, most people assumed that if a research division were ever established, it would belong to the Twelfth Division.

    At the very least, it should be under one of the more academic divisions, like the Third or Fifth.

    Never in a million years would anyone have expected it to appear in the Second Division.

    As a former member of the Twelfth Division, Mayuri couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit conflicted.

    But as soon as Kaelith started leveraging his connections to bring in state-of-the-art research equipment, Mayuri¡¯s attitude shifted.

    A research department? It absolutely belonged in the Second Division! To hell with the Twelfth Division!

    Kaelith enlisted ¨­maeda Marechiyo¡¯s help to recruit skilled craftsmen, completely renovating the dojo.

    Both Urahara and Mayuri now had their own dedicated research areas, allowing them to pursue personal projects during their downtime.

    Kaelith was quite moved by his own thoughtfulness.

    In truth, seeing the completed Technology Bureau brought joy to both Urahara and Mayuri.

    Even though they knew it was just Kaelith¡¯s ploy to push deadlines, the facilities were undeniably excellent.

    Despite their high technical abilities, neither of them had much money.

    Building a laboratory of this caliber on their own would have taken them four to five hundred years of savings.

    Grateful, Urahara began taking his work more seriously.

    Truth be told, although Kaelith often assigned bizarre tasks on a whim, working under him didn¡¯t feel particularly stressful.

    In fact, it was oddly more reassuring than his previous days of slacking off.

    What a peculiar individual.

    As for Mayuri...

    He became even more relentless.

    ---

    ¡°Kid, your strength is already enough to become a captain.¡±

    At the First Division dojo, Yamamoto held a bamboo sword and addressed Kaelith during a break.

    ¡°Coincidentally, Captain J¨­moku Sora of the Eleventh Division recently resigned due to health issues. How about taking over his position?¡±

    Kaelith, holding two bamboo swords and practicing cross-slashes, shook his head without hesitation.

    Before he could respond, Yamamoto cut him off.

    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about your promise to that little Shih¨­in girl, you can set your mind at ease.

    ¡°She forbade you from leaving the Second Division as a subordinate.

    ¡°But if you become a captain, it would actually benefit her and the Shih¨­in family.¡±

    ¡°With your relationship, your promotion to captain of the Eleventh Division would greatly enhance the Shih¨­in family¡¯s influence. It¡¯s a win-win.¡±

    Kaelith blinked.

    Win-win? For whom?

    You and the Shih¨­in family?

    What about Kaelith himself?

    He shook his head firmly. ¡°Not interested. The Eleventh Division... it¡¯s just a group of muscleheads. Their style doesn¡¯t suit someone as refined as me.¡±

    Yamamoto: ¡°?¡±

    Seeing Kaelith wasn¡¯t joking, Yamamoto felt a bit conflicted.

    Did this kid have any self-awareness?

    As Yamamoto pondered, Kaelith asked curiously,

    ¡°Captain J¨­moku Sora¡¯s health is failing? He seemed fine during the last captain¡¯s exam.¡±

    Yamamoto shook his head. ¡°Captain J¨­moku Sora was gravely injured during a Hollow invasion in Rukongai over a hundred years ago.

    ¡°Captain Unohana managed to save his life, but his health deteriorated significantly afterward.

    ¡°To hold on for so many years until the rebellion was quelled is already surprising.¡±

    Kaelith nodded.

    Under normal circumstances, Shinigami couldn¡¯t voluntarily leave their divisions.

    To maintain the Gotei 13¡¯s sanctity, noble families had decreed that any Shinigami who retired would be sent to the Maggot¡¯s Nest for life.

    Of course, this rule didn¡¯t apply to someone like Captain J¨­moku Sora.

    As a veteran captain, he still commanded respect.

    After trying several more times, Yamamoto gave up on convincing Kaelith.

    The Eleventh Division could manage without a captain for now.

    As for this kid... his promotion was inevitable, but there was no rush.

    In fact, Yamamoto thought with a smirk, when the time came for him to retire, perhaps the position of Head Captain could be forced onto Kaelith.

    ---

    Night fell as Kaelith returned to the Second Division.

    After a relaxing bath served by Soifon, he stepped into the courtyard and stretched leisurely.

    The moonlight was beautiful. A bit of sake from Ky¨­gokuya would be perfect right now.

    As if answering his thoughts, a small black cat emerged from the shadows, carrying a bag in its mouth.

    Seeing the cat, Kaelith smiled.

    ¡°Yoruichi? Why show up like this?¡±

    He took the bag, set it aside, and picked Yoruichi up, nuzzling her soft fur against his cheek.

    Soifon, watching from the side, was nearly brought to tears with envy.

    The softness of the fur, the delightful sensation¡ªit was truly tempting.

    Since this cat form was created through a secret technique, there was no risk of allergies. Kaelith could enjoy snuggling as much as he wanted.

    ¡­Well, not entirely. Snuggling the wrong spots would still earn him a scratch.

    After playing with the cat for a while, Kaelith looked satisfied.

    He turned to the bag beside him and opened it.

    Inside were several flasks of sake. Seeing them, his grin widened.

    ¡°You really get me, Yoruichi!¡±

    Not long after, Yoruichi returned to her human form and put on a yukata. She joined Kaelith on the rooftop.

    The two lay side by side under the moonlight, passing the sake back and forth.

    ¡°Hey, Kaelith, what do you think of the Seireitei these days?¡± Yoruichi asked lazily, taking a sip of sake.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m having a good time, at least,¡± Kaelith replied, his tone equally relaxed.

    ¡°And what about the Shih¨­in family?¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°If you¡¯re included, then the Shih¨­in family is an ally to me.

    ¡°But without you? They¡¯re just strangers. How am I supposed to feel about them?¡±

    Hearing this, Yoruichi¡¯s lips curled into a small smile.

    She turned to face Kaelith, lying on her side.

    Sensing she was about to say something, Kaelith turned to look at her.

    His gaze, however, was immediately drawn to a particular spot.

    Yukatas were naturally designed with a deep V-neckline.

    With Yoruichi¡¯s figure filling it out, the neckline looked even more alluring.

    Seeing this up close, Kaelith felt his heartbeat quicken.

    To give the two of them some privacy, Soifon had already stepped outside to stand guard.

    Now, under the quiet moonlight, only the two of them remained.

    Noticing where Kaelith was looking, Yoruichi was momentarily surprised but then smiled.

    ¡°Are you blushing?¡±

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    Those were the exact words she had said to him when they first met, hiding together under a spiritual pressure cloak to evade ¨­maeda Marechiyo and Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to hear them again after so long.

    ¡°Blushing? No, I¡¯m just appreciating art.

    ¡°Many great artists in the world love painting nude women. Compared to them, just admiring what¡¯s inside a neckline makes me practically a saint.¡±

    Hearing his excuse, Yoruichi burst into laughter.

    Once she¡¯d laughed enough, she caught her breath and turned serious.

    ¡°Kaelith, after our trip to Hueco Mundo, I came to understand something.

    ¡°Ever since I was a child, people have called me a genius. The elders of the Shih¨­in family always said I never disgraced our name.

    ¡°According to the family records, even the first captain of the Second Division¡ªmy ancestor, Shih¨­in Chika¡ªwas only about as skilled as I am now at my age.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always taken pride in that talent.

    ¡°Although I¡¯ve never slacked off in training, I¡¯ve never truly pushed myself to work harder, either.

    ¡°But after seeing you fight, I realized how lazy I¡¯ve been.

    ¡°Kaelith, I want to grow stronger.

    ¡°Just watch¡ªI will become stronger and not just stand behind you!¡±

    Seeing the determination in Yoruichi¡¯s eyes, Kaelith dropped his playful demeanor.

    He nodded. ¡°I believe in you.¡±

    Hearing this, Yoruichi¡¯s smile grew radiant.

    ¡°As expected from the one I¡¯ve chosen. That¡¯s a great answer¡ªI¡¯m happy to hear it!¡±

    Kaelith blinked.

    The one she¡¯s chosen?

    Before he could ask what she meant by that, Yoruichi continued.

    ¡°As a reward, I¡¯ll teach you something new.

    ¡°This is something I¡¯ve refined and improved upon from the notes left by the first captain of the Second Division, Shih¨­in Chika!

    ¡°Trust me, this technique is no less impressive than the ones the Head Captain has taught you!¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith suddenly had a guess.

    Could it be¡­

    ¡°This technique, I¡¯ve named it ¡®Shunko¡¯!

    ¡°Though it¡¯s still under development, I¡¯m confident that once perfected, it will become the most flawless combination of Hakuda and Kid¨­ in the history of the Soul Society!¡±

    As expected.

    Hearing the name ¡°Shunko,¡± Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up.

    He had always assumed that Shunko was something Yoruichi had developed on her own after maturing.

    Although he had been curious about it, he hadn¡¯t been in a hurry to ask.

    He hadn¡¯t expected it to be another example of standing on the shoulders of giants.

    The Shih¨­in family truly lived up to its legacy¡­ With such deep traditions and a genius like Yoruichi, it was hard not to thrive.

    Since this technique involved the Shih¨­in family¡¯s secret legacy, it naturally couldn¡¯t be shared with outsiders.

    Once again, Kaelith¡¯s Doraemon-like training device would remain unused.

    ---

    For nearly a week, Aizen had been buried in the Great Spirit Library, poring over various texts.

    Research like this seemed boring at first glance, but once something piqued your curiosity, it became like a time machine.

    Much like browsing through an online encyclopedia¡ªwhat began as a quick lookup of a single term could spiral into hours of exploring related entries.

    The more Aizen read, the more unsettled he became.

    Records about the Soul King were hidden in deeply obscure places by the Tsunayashiro family.

    It had taken significant effort for Aizen to uncover even a few scattered clues.

    But even these fragments were enough to send chills down his spine.

    If the truth about the Soul King was as described in these texts, then the history of the Soul Society¡ªor rather, the entire three realms¡ªwas a tale of atrocities written in the Soul King¡¯s blood.

    He even felt as though the sky of the Soul Society had been stained red with blood.

    Though there was much more he wanted to read, Aizen realized he couldn¡¯t continue.

    Before his emotions spiraled out of control, he decided to leave and clear his head.

    Using the power of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, he bypassed the guards and returned to the surface, making his way to his laboratory in Rukongai.

    On the way, he could already imagine what awaited him in the lab.

    Most likely, a pile of notes left by Kaelith.

    These notes would all begin with something ridiculous like ¡°From your friendly neighborhood Kaelith¡± and list out various outrageous requests for him to handle.

    Just thinking about Kaelith¡¯s shameless grin made the shocking revelations from the Great Spirit Library seem less pressing.

    However, upon arriving at the lab, Aizen was surprised.

    There were no notes.

    Kaelith hadn¡¯t left any tasks for him this time.

    ¡­Had something happened?

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162

    To be safe, Aizen left his laboratory and returned to the Seireitei.

    First, he went back to the Fifth Division, climbed out of his "sickbed" in plain view of others, and officially canceled his sick leave.

    Now free to move about, he headed to the Second Division and politely stopped a passing squad member.

    Seeing Aizen, the squad member was initially startled but then brightened up.

    ¡°Ah¡­ You¡¯re Third-Seat Kaelith¡¯s classmate, the one who graduated alongside him!¡±

    ¡°I was there for your graduation exam. You were amazing!¡±

    Aizen humbly thanked the squad member, downplaying the praise.

    After a few casual remarks, he got straight to the point.

    ¡°Excuse me, but do you know where Third-Seat Kaelith is right now?¡±

    The squad member thought for a moment.

    ¡°I heard he¡¯s been training with the Commander recently. Not sure exactly where, though.¡±

    Training with Yoruichi Shih¨­in.

    Aizen¡¯s gaze turned thoughtful.

    Perhaps after the last Hueco Mundo incident, Yoruichi was eager to grow stronger and had roped Kaelith into sparring with her.

    No¡­ Yoruichi¡¯s prideful nature meant she wouldn¡¯t seek benefits solely for herself.

    She likely had some Shih¨­in family secret technique she was learning with Kaelith.

    Could it be that she had already decided Kaelith would eventually marry into the Shih¨­in family?

    After some consideration, Aizen decided to look for Urahara Kisuke instead.

    If Kaelith hadn¡¯t asked him for help recently, he was likely busy tormenting Urahara.

    Arriving at Urahara¡¯s dormitory, he found no one there.

    Using spiritual pressure to sense the area, he discovered not only was the room empty, but even the previously stored experimental equipment was gone.

    Strange.

    After asking around again, Aizen learned Urahara¡¯s location and headed there.

    Before him stood a sizable building with a sign at the entrance that read

    **¡°Kaelith Technology Bureau.¡±**

    Aizen fell into thought.

    He¡¯d only been at the Great Spirit Library for less than a week, right?

    Could the library have some kind of time distortion, where one day inside equaled several days outside?

    When did the Second Division get a place like this?

    As Aizen stood pondering, several Shinigami guards stationed at the entrance approached him.

    After confirming his identity, one of them operated a small screen near the gate.

    Moments later, Urahara Kisuke¡¯s face appeared on the screen.

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s name, Urahara nodded without hesitation. ¡°No problem, let him in.¡±

    With the guard¡¯s permission, Aizen slowly entered the Kaelith Technology Bureau.

    Upon entering, he saw all sorts of large-scale equipment, many of which were actively in use.

    About a dozen squad members were operating the machines.

    These individuals had been handpicked by Urahara over the past couple of days.

    As the Fourth Seat of the Second Division, Urahara had a thorough understanding of his subordinate¡¯s personalities.

    He knew exactly who was highly obedient and could handle confidentiality, as well as who was intelligent and worth nurturing.

    Now, that knowledge was proving invaluable.

    Glancing around, Aizen nodded slightly.

    It was evident this place had once been a wooden dojo but had since been reinforced with sturdier materials.

    Not only had the building been fortified, but traces of Kid¨­-based enhancements were also present.

    Kaelith had clearly put a lot of effort into this laboratory¡ªit wasn¡¯t just a casual project.

    So¡­ how long had he really been at the Great Spirit Library?

    As Aizen questioned his sense of time, Urahara arrived in a hurry, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

    ¡°Aizen, you¡¯re here to see Kaelith, right? Sorry, but I think he¡¯s gone out with the Commander. I don¡¯t know where they went.¡±

    Aizen nodded. ¡°No matter. Could you give me a tour of this facility?¡±

    Urahara readily agreed.

    He was always patient with Aizen.

    Unlike Kaelith, Aizen genuinely understood research.

    When projects hit roadblocks, discussing them with Aizen often led to significant breakthroughs.

    As they toured the various experimental areas, Aizen grew increasingly impressed.

    Kaelith had quietly turned this laboratory into something quite remarkable.

    After completing the circuit, Aizen¡¯s gaze lingered on one lab with its door firmly shut.

    ¡°Urahara, what¡¯s in there?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, that¡¯s Mayuri¡¯s lab¡­ Mayuri was formerly a seated officer of the Twelfth Division. After joining the rebellion, he was imprisoned in the Maggot¡¯s Nest until Kaelith brought him out.¡±

    ¡°I must say, Kaelith has a real talent for recognizing and utilizing people.¡±

    ¡°That Mayuri¡­ he¡¯s incredibly skilled¡­¡±

    Speaking of Mayuri, Urahara couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    Mayuri, with his brilliant mind and seemingly endless energy, had been aggressively driving the development of the gaming console Kaelith wanted.

    To avoid being completely outpaced by Mayuri, Urahara had been forced to dramatically increase his own working hours.

    The time he spent working had quietly risen from an hour and a half to nearly five hours a day.

    While it was still a bit less than Mayuri¡¯s grueling 19-hour days, it was enough to leave him utterly drained.

    Aizen, on the other hand, frowned slightly.

    **Mayuri Kurotsuchi¡­** The name sounded familiar to Aizen.

    Kaelith had mentioned before that he had recruited a treasure of a scientist from the rebel forces¡ªsomeone by that name.

    It was said that Kaelith had been chased into Hueco Mundo because of a plot involving Mayuri.

    This guy really had an open mind.

    He could even accept someone who had once nearly gotten him killed.

    The thought gave Aizen pause.

    He knew Urahara Kisuke¡¯s capabilities.

    Despite his laid-back demeanor, Urahara was highly intelligent, skilled, and worthy of respect.

    For Mayuri to earn Urahara¡¯s admiration and praise, he must be equally exceptional.

    Thinking about it¡­ Kaelith had unknowingly gathered two top-tier scientists under his wing.

    On the surface, it looked like it was just to develop a gaming console and indulge his ridiculous desires.

    But was that really the case?

    If Kaelith were truly as unambitious as he appeared, how could his spiritual pressure be so overwhelming?

    Even if he were an unparalleled prodigy, born with such immense spiritual pressure, what about his swordsmanship and Kid¨­?

    Kaelith didn¡¯t particularly like swordsmanship, yet his skill was exceptional.

    Aizen himself had spent years rigorously studying swordsmanship, reaching a level far beyond most.

    Even the Fifth Division¡¯s kendo instructors, who were considered experts, couldn¡¯t match his understanding of the blade.

    Yet, against Kaelith, his swordsmanship gained him no advantage.

    This proved that even in areas he didn¡¯t enjoy, Kaelith invested considerable effort into mastery.

    Someone so rigorous with himself and quietly capable of recruiting powerful allies¡ªwas it possible that Kaelith was genuinely as unambitious as he seemed?

    Aizen suddenly doubted his ability to read people.

    Could it be that Kaelith had hidden his true purposes so well that even Aizen couldn¡¯t see through him?

    Thoughts swirled through his mind, surfacing and disappearing one after another.

    No¡­ the memories of the Soul King¡¯s history crept back in.

    Walking out of the Kaelith Technology Bureau, Aizen looked up at the sky.

    Urahara Kisuke and Mayuri Kurotsuchi together were enough to form Kaelith¡¯s think tank.

    With the Shih¨­in family and Captain-Commander Yamamoto as his foundations, Kaelith¡¯s strength was no longer in question.

    Without anyone realizing it, Kaelith had truly come into his own.

    He had grown to the point where he could stand proudly in the light, moving boldly toward his goals.

    As a friend, Aizen felt he should be happy for him.

    Soon enough, when a captain position opened up, Kaelith would seamlessly step into the role. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If he had any ambitions, that would be the time to reveal them.

    At Kaelith¡¯s rate of growth, the Soul Society might one day see the Yamamoto era end and a new era belonging to Kaelith begin.

    Urahara, walking beside Aizen, noticed his expression and asked curiously:

    ¡°Aizen, is something on your mind?

    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for Kaelith, I can send a message to the Shih¨­in family. They probably know where he is.¡±

    ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary.¡±

    Aizen shook his head and gave Urahara a warm smile.

    ¡°Thank you for your hospitality, Urahara. I really appreciate it.

    ¡°If you have time, please visit the Fifth Division. I¡¯d love to show you our barracks.¡±

    After chatting briefly, Aizen left the Second Division.

    Kaelith had found his path.

    From now on, he would likely visit Aizen less and less.

    While it left him with mixed feelings, it was ultimately a good thing.

    By cutting unnecessary ties, Aizen could focus more resolutely on his own path.

    Especially now, after learning the truth about the Soul King, his goals were likely to diverge from those of the Seireitei.

    Maintaining some distance from Kaelith wasn¡¯t a bad idea.

    Speaking of which, during their last trip to Hueco Mundo, Aizen had told Yoruichi about his base in District 79.

    Now seemed like a good time to relocate his laboratory.

    Deep in thought, he returned to his lab¡¯s location.

    Before he even arrived, he saw a figure lying on a nearby hill, chewing on a blade of grass.

    The figure noticed Aizen and immediately brightened.

    Spitting out the grass with a *hawk tuah*, Kaelith stood up and grinned.

    ¡°Yo, S¨­suke! I knew you¡¯d be back around now!¡±

    Aizen froze for a moment.

    What was this guy doing here?

    He opened his mouth to say something, but Kaelith beat him to it, rushing over excitedly.

    ¡°S¨­suke! I¡¯ve done it!¡±

    ¡°¡­Done what?¡±

    ¡°In the time you¡¯ve been away, I¡¯ve mastered my ultimate technique!

    ¡°I¡¯m not the same person I was before¡ªI¡¯m unbeatable now!¡±

    ¡°You were worried before about me drawing trouble if I went to Hueco Mundo with you, right?

    ¡°Well, now you can relax. With my mastery of Shunko, I can handle any enemy. Take me with you¡ªyou won¡¯t regret it!¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s elated expression, Aizen fell silent.

    After a moment, he asked, ¡°You trained just to go to Hueco Mundo?¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean ¡®just to¡¯?

    ¡°As an educated and accomplished Shinigami, let me enlighten you.

    ¡°Many seemingly barren places in human history later proved to hold invaluable resources, becoming critical strategic locations.

    ¡°You may dismiss Hueco Mundo now, but who¡¯s to say it won¡¯t become a major hub in the future?¡±

    Aizen frowned. ¡°Speak plainly.¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Fine. I saw how much you wanted to go to Hueco Mundo but were wary of the Tsunayashiro clan.

    ¡°Well, now that I¡¯ve mastered my technique, I can clear the path for you. You just focus on doing what you need to do!¡±

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s smug grin, Aizen remained silent for a long time.

    Finally, he asked, ¡°Kaelith, if you ruled Hueco Mundo, what would you do?¡±

    Kaelith looked troubled. ¡°Do? There¡¯s not much I could do right now¡ªit depends on you.¡±

    Without Aizen creating the H¨­gyoku to facilitate the transformation of Hollows into Arrancar, they would remain as bestial creatures.

    To Kaelith¡¯s knowledge, only Stark had ever completed the transformation independently.

    And Kaelith wasn¡¯t exactly interested in Stark.

    To him, the success of turning Hueco Mundo into a paradise depended entirely on Aizen.

    But to Aizen, Kaelith¡¯s words carried a different meaning.

    Was this guy testing his ambition?

    Aizen¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile.

    So Kaelith thought he could play this game, huh?

    Fine. He¡¯d show him.

    But before Aizen could respond, Kaelith suddenly looked distressed.

    ¡°Oh, right, Doraemon, I need your help with something!

    ¡°The old man¡¯s been pushing for my promotion, but I can¡¯t be a corporate slave. Help me figure out how to dodge it next time!¡±

    ¡°Oh, and about the spirit-to-reishi conversion project¡ªdo you think it can be mass-produced?¡±

    ¡°And another thing¡­ I set up a beautiful lab in the Second Division. How about moving part of your operations there? I¡¯ve already reserved space for you!¡±

    ¡°And¡­¡±

    As Kaelith rattled off issue after issue, Aizen felt a familiar headache creeping in.

    He had overthought things again.

    Kaelith hadn¡¯t stopped bothering him because of his newfound allies.

    No, the guy had been too busy training to visit and had just saved up all his problems to unload on him now.

    Sighing, Aizen rubbed his temples.

    Kaelith clasped his hands together. ¡°That¡¯s about it, Doraemon. It¡¯s all up to you now!¡±

    Aizen sighed.

    ¡°All at once? How am I supposed to remember everything?

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside and write it all down. I¡¯ll look into it when I have time.¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°Thanks, Doraemon! I knew you were my best friend!¡±

    Aizen said nothing, leading the way toward the lab.

    His steps, however, were slightly lighter than when he had returned from the Seireitei.

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163

    ¡°Foolish noble, the day of revolution has come!!¡±

    In the spacious courtyard, Kaelith shouted, raising his blade to strike.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun wore a grave expression, holding his sword with both hands as he constantly adjusted his angle to meet Kaelith¡¯s attacks.

    At the start, he could occasionally attempt a counterstrike.

    But soon, he realized the man before him was like a perpetual motion machine.

    From beginning to end, Kaelith¡¯s blade never felt a bit lighter.

    That onslaught of strikes didn¡¯t even feel like Zanpakut¨­ slashes¡ªit felt more like being hammered.

    Kaelith wielded his blade in one hand, while his other hand looked on as if spectating.

    Meanwhile, S¨­jun gripped his sword with both hands the entire time.

    Even so, under Kaelith¡¯s frenzied offensive, S¨­jun¡¯s arms began to go numb.

    Finally, after an upward slash from Kaelith, S¨­jun could no longer hold on. His Zanpakut¨­ spun out of his grip and planted itself in the ground not far away.

    Staring at his sword stuck in the earth, Kuchiki S¨­jun couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly.

    Now that he relaxed, he noticed both his arms trembling uncontrollably, clearly spent.

    He looked at Kaelith.

    Although Kaelith¡¯s Shihakush¨­ made him appear not particularly muscular, just a tall, upright young man, his strength far surpassed the hulking brutes of the Sixth Division.

    This guy must be some sort of monster.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun shook his head helplessly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown even stronger, Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°With just half your strength, you¡¯ve completely overwhelmed me¡­ Now I¡¯m beginning to suspect that from the very day you enrolled, you¡¯ve been hiding your true power.¡±

    Kaelith casually sheathed his blade and crossed his arms proudly.

    ¡°Exactly! From the moment I was born, I, Kaelith, have been a master swordsman of unparalleled prowess.¡±

    ¡°I refrained from showing it before only to avoid discouraging you noble weaklings of the Seireitei!¡±

    Kuchiki S¨­jun: ¡°¡­¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s smug grin, S¨­jun suddenly felt he might be overthinking things.

    ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s one more thing.¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°At first, I planned to use half my strength, but after a few probing strikes, I realized that at half strength I¡¯d finish you too quickly. So when I seriously attacked, I only used forty percent.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith didn¡¯t look like he was joking, and S¨­jun couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy.

    He took back what he¡¯d thought earlier: Kaelith wasn¡¯t just a monster.

    Even monsters would bow to him.

    Besides, Kaelith was using swordsmanship, a discipline he didn¡¯t even favor. If they compared Hakuda, Kaelith might only need ten or twenty percent of his strength to defeat him.

    As that thought passed through his mind, Kaelith approached, lifting S¨­jun¡¯s arm and giving it a squeeze.

    Then he reached out and patted S¨­jun¡¯s rear.

    Finally, he nudged S¨­jun¡¯s calf with his foot.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun: ¡°?¡±

    Confused, S¨­jun had no idea what Kaelith was doing.

    Kaelith sighed and shook his head.

    ¡°S¨­jun-sensei, this won¡¯t do.¡±

    ¡°These past few months, the time you¡¯ve spent training in the dojo is probably far less than the time you¡¯ve spent ¡®training¡¯ in your room, right?¡±

    ¡°As I said, with your skill, you shouldn¡¯t have lost so easily. Now I understand¡ªyou¡¯ve been weakened by indulgence!¡±

    Kuchiki S¨­jun paused. ¡°I rarely dri¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, he stopped and blushed.

    Kaelith had only mentioned two things. He¡¯d denied one, so the reason for his stagnant progress was now quite obvious.

    Though it was embarrassing, Kaelith was right: he should exercise some restraint.

    After a bath, the two went to the main hall of the Kuchiki estate.

    Inside sat Kuchiki Ginrei, reading a book.

    Seeing the two enter, he showed a somewhat complicated expression.

    Earlier, while they sparred in the courtyard, he hadn¡¯t watched personally, but his Spirit Pressure sensing told him enough.

    Though he had prepared himself mentally for Kaelith¡¯s prowess, comparing it directly to his own genius son still made him sigh.

    Words failed him when it came to describing Kaelith.

    In deference to that strength, he decided not to pursue the slanderous remarks about nobles that Kaelith had shouted during the fight.

    Kaelith took a seat.

    A Shih¨­in elder had already been waiting beside him.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun also sat down on Kaelith¡¯s side.

    Kuchiki Ginrei rolled his eyes internally.

    Today, they gathered to discuss the marketing of the gaming consoles in the Soul Society.

    Under the competitive pressure between Urahara and Mayuri, the first-generation gaming console from the Kaelith Technology Bureau¡ªLSP1¡ªhad finally been developed.

    Hearing this news, Kaelith was overjoyed.

    He immediately sought out the Shih¨­in family to sign a joint manufacturing agreement.

    Playing this device alone was too dull. The joy came from having a large community of players.

    As for networking¡­ While the Soul Society lacked the internet of the Living World, Kido could achieve a similar effect.

    Such trifles could be left to Doraemon¡ªAizen¡ªto handle.

    The Shih¨­in family itself had little interest in the console.

    The old-timers couldn¡¯t feel its appeal. The younger generation was intrigued, but they had no say and couldn¡¯t help even if they wanted to.

    In the end, Yoruichi took charge, ordering the elders to cooperate fully, thus securing the contract.

    With the Tsunayashiro household¡¯s downfall, Yoruichi¡¯s position in the Shih¨­in family had grown ever more secure.

    She was inherently strong and confident.

    Even without other¡¯s help, she would eventually fully control the Shih¨­in family.

    What¡¯s more, Kaelith was by her side.

    If any elder thought they could bully her due to her youth, Kaelith¡¯s fists would greet them instead.

    But while manufacturing was settled, sales required negotiation with the Kuchiki family.

    Whether in the Seireitei or Rukongai, the markets were set by the nobles. Anyone who tried to bypass the established rules and intervene in another¡¯s territory was the same as a declaration of war.

    What Kaelith had done to the Tsunayashiro before was essentially tearing the mask off.

    Under normal circumstances, no one would do that.

    So to spread the consoles quickly, they needed Kuchiki support.

    Before coming here, the Shih¨­in elder had received strict orders from the family head:

    Either secure the Kuchiki family¡¯s cooperation agreement or don¡¯t bother coming back.

    The elder felt like weeping.

    Fortunately, he specialized in trade and had extensive experience in business cooperation.

    Even though he personally found the ¡°gaming console¡± unappealing, as a merchant, selling something he himself found worthless as an item was a basic skill.

    He had prepared notes overnight, anticipating every possible question, ready to unleash his unyielding rhetoric to convince the Kuchiki family.

    Taking a deep breath, he stood and began:

    ¡°Now that everyone is here, let me briefly explain this collaboration¡ª¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± Kuchiki Ginrei interrupted. ¡°I agree.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    The Shih¨­in elder froze, mouth agape, as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.

    ¡°Whatever Kaelith¡¯s product may be, I¡¯ll inform all the shops under the Kuchiki name to sell it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take only half a portion of the profit.¡±

    ¡°???¡±

    The Shih¨­in elder¡¯s eyes nearly popped out.

    Was his presence today unnecessary?

    He almost wanted to ask Kuchiki Ginrei if he was in his right mind.

    Before he could speak, Kaelith grinned.

    ¡°Thank you, old man!¡±

    Kuchiki Ginrei nodded.

    He lifted his teacup and took a small sip.

    Seeing this action, Kaelith paused.

    They hadn¡¯t discussed anything yet, and already he was being sent off?

    Just then, he noticed a weary look in Kuchiki Ginrei¡¯s eyes.

    Kaelith narrowed his gaze, carefully observing Ginrei.

    At a glance, there was nothing wrong, but on closer inspection, a sense of aging hung over him.

    Yamamoto was also old, far older than Ginrei, yet he never exuded this kind of decay.

    Sometimes Kaelith suspected Yamamoto could live another thousand or two thousand years.

    He opened his mouth to speak but found he had nothing to say.

    Glancing at Kuchiki S¨­jun, Kaelith fell silent for two seconds, then rose to take his leave.

    ¡­

    Later¡­

    ¡°S¨­suke, tell me, is there a way to achieve immortality in this world?¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Aizen wore polarized goggles, focusing intently on the machinery before him.

    Within it, several souls twisted and churned.

    From time to time, their spiritual energies clashed, emitting flashes of light.

    Thanks to the goggles, the flashes didn¡¯t bother him much.

    He¡¯d received these goggles from Kaelith shortly after starting these experiments, which pleased Aizen.

    Not because the goggles were expensive, but because Kaelith had finally learned to understand the nature of his experiments.

    By the way, glasses in the Soul Society were outrageously priced.

    Even the Living World¡¯s glasses, which were already expensive, paled in comparison.

    Kaelith spent three months¡¯ salary on these goggles.

    For a long while after, he survived by freeloading meals from Yoruichi to avoid starving. (t/N: ... doesn''t he already do that?)

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s question, Aizen paused his work and looked over quizzically. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Why ask this out of the blue? You still have plenty of lifespan left.¡±

    Then he frowned slightly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want some method to achieve infinite life so you can abuse Enra Ky¨­ten indefinitely?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s your plan, give it up. Enra Ky¨­ten consumes souls, our very existence¡ªit¡¯s irreversible. Even if you had infinite life, reckless use of that blade would eventually erase your existence.¡±

    Kaelith was displeased.

    ¡°Do I look like someone who acts recklessly?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Seeing Aizen¡¯s instant reply, Kaelith felt a sense of exasperation.

    Ignoring Aizen¡¯s slander, he recounted his observations at the Kuchiki household.

    After listening, Aizen shook his head lightly.

    ¡°When Kuchiki Ginrei was young, the conflict between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo was at its most intense.¡±

    ¡°He was injured many times in war, severely damaging his soul.¡±

    ¡°The fact that he¡¯s still alive is amazing. Whether he passes sooner or later is no surprise.¡±

    ¡°Even if you tried to repair his soul now, it wouldn¡¯t change much¡­ If you¡¯re worried about the Kuchiki family, just look after Kuchiki S¨­jun when Ginrei passes.¡±

    Aizen had a decent impression of Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    Though a noble who knew little of hardship, he was at least sincere.

    When they were students, Aizen ate at his place more than once.

    Though forced by Kaelith, the food still did end up in his stomach.

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°All right, I understand.¡±

    Fortunately, most of the people Kaelith cared about were young.

    The only old one was still quite robust.

    Thinking of these random things, Kaelith sidled over to Aizen and looked at the machine he was operating.

    ¡°What are you studying now?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t look directly.¡±

    Aizen waved him away like a pesky fly.

    Then he continued:

    ¡°This is a joint project commissioned by Urahara Kisuke. I¡¯m handling one part, and he¡¯s handling another.¡±

    ¡°When both parts are done and combined, we¡¯ll have a finished product.¡±

    Kaelith was a bit surprised.

    Urahara Kisuke and Aizen collaborating¡­

    For a transmigrator like Kaelith, this was quite shocking.

    If they were developing that Kido barrier frame that would one day seal Aizen, that would be quite ironic.

    Sensing Kaelith¡¯s malicious thoughts, Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°Sorry, I was wrong!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    A moment ago, Aizen had only suspected Kaelith was thinking ill of him. Now, after Kaelith¡¯s sudden apology, he was certain of it.

    His blood pressure rose.

    ¡­

    That morning, Kaelith arrived at the First Division barracks.

    He¡¯d come so many times that now he could find Yamamoto¡¯s study with his eyes closed.

    Sliding the door open, he raised his hand:

    ¡°Good morning, old¡ª Uh.. I meant Sensei!¡±

    Bright morning energy, and respect for teachers¡ªhe was a model youth.

    Normally, Yamamoto would have tossed his cane at him.

    But today, the study was unusually quiet.

    Yamamoto stood behind his desk, expression stern.

    Across the room stood Kirio Hikifune, wearing a similar serious expression.

    Seeing Kaelith, Yamamoto frowned and spoke gruffly:

    ¡°Close the door.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Kaelith stepped inside and slid the door shut.

    Yamamoto: ¡°¡­¡±

    He had meant for Kaelith to close the door and remain outside, but now that Kaelith was already in, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to kick him out. (t/n; Hahaha I love these interactions)

    ¡°¡­Captain Hikifune, please continue.¡±

    Kirio Hikifune glanced at Kaelith, then turned back and spoke gravely:

    ¡°Over the past fifty years, more than two hundred thousand souls in the Living World have vanished, leaving the cycle of the three realms.¡±

    ¡°Compared to the previous fifty years, the rate has nearly doubled.¡±

    ¡°As a result, the Living World¡ªserving as a buffer zone between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo¡ªis growing increasingly fragile.¡±

    ¡°If this continues, one day either the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo may crush the Living World¡¯s boundaries and invade directly!¡±

    ¡°That would spell the apocalypse.¡±

    Yamamoto remained silent, brows knit tightly.

    Kaelith looked at the two in confusion.

    Souls disappearing?

    After death, human souls either entered the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, Hell, or became earthbound spirits. What did it mean to vanish?

    Suddenly, he realized something.

    ------------------------

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164

    ¡°After hearing Kirio Hikifune¡¯s description, Kaelith instantly came up with an answer.

    The Quincy.

    In the world of Bleach, the three realms maintain a basic cycle. The Soul Society and Hueco Mundo must keep their total number of souls in balance.

    If one side suddenly decreases, the other side will press in.

    The Living World also needs to maintain a certain number of souls. If too many vanish, the Living World loses its support and becomes vulnerable to invasion from the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, leading to its collapse.

    This is because all three realms were created by the Soul King. Unlike the universe Kaelith knew before transmigrating¡ªwhere cosmic explosions, planetary births, and species evolution were the norm¡ªthis world already had humans and Hollows in its primordial state.

    The Soul King divided the three realms, establishing a system of reishi and reiryoku as their fundamental substances. This simple, forceful set of rules effectively kept the three realms stable. But its very simplicity made it extremely susceptible to external interference.

    The Quincy were precisely such disruptors of the system.

    When a Shinigami kills a Hollow, that Hollow is purified and its soul returns to the Soul Society.

    Quincies, however, completely destroy the Hollow¡¯s soul, removing it from the cycle of the three realms.

    Kaelith wasn¡¯t sure if Yamamoto would immediately think of the Quincy, so he offered a reminder.

    ¡°Sensei, could it be the Quincy?¡±

    Hearing this, Yamamoto looked at him with some surprise. ¡°You even know of the Quincy?¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve read historical records.¡±

    Kirio Hikifune was also a bit surprised. Information on the Quincy was scarce in the Soul Society. Only those who studied history or possessed family records would think of them right away. She¡¯d assumed her mentor wasn¡¯t the type to study, yet here he was, familiar with this obscure knowledge.

    As expected of a true master!

    Yamamoto said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s almost certain that this is the work of Quincy. The Soul Society has always kept an eye on Quincy in the Living World to prevent them from having improper thoughts. But we never restricted their development. For nearly eight hundred years, the Quincy have multiplied, their numbers ever growing. With power, there¡¯s always the desire to use it¡ªespecially as that power grows stronger. We can¡¯t let this continue¡­¡±

    He closed his eyes, as if wanting to sigh, but in the end did nothing. A few seconds later, he opened them and tapped his cane against the floor.

    ¡°Someone, come.¡±

    A figure instantly appeared in the room, kneeling down on one knee.

    ¡°Summon the Seventh Division Captain, Love Aikawa, and the Ninth Division Captain, Kensei Muguruma.¡±

    The Onmitsukid¨­ member bowed slightly and vanished with Shunpo.

    Before long, the two captains arrived. Rarely meeting the Head Captain, both were slightly nervous. Seeing Kaelith present, they relaxed a bit.

    ¡°Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma,¡± Yamamoto said.

    ¡°I order you two to go to the Living World on behalf of the Seireitei and issue a warning to the Quincy. Effective immediately, except for urgent self-defense, they are forbidden from killing Hollows without approval. Should Hollows appear, they must report to the stationed Shinigami. Their newborn population must not exceed the number of those who have died. The Soul Society will assign personnel to supervise these demands.¡±

    He paused for a few seconds, then as if making a decision, opened his eyes a bit wider and looked at them. ¡°If they resist, do not hesitate. Suppress them with overwhelming force!¡±

    The two captains exchanged glances, then nodded firmly. ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡­

    Kaelith and Kirio Hikifune left together.

    Once outside the First Division, Hikifune stretched lazily. ¡°Ah, the First Division always feels so oppressive. I¡¯ve followed Genry¨±sai-sama for so many years, yet I¡¯m still a bit scared every time I see him.¡±

    ¡°Old men are best at putting on stern faces,¡± Kaelith shrugged.

    Hikifune couldn¡¯t help laughing. After a moment, she asked curiously, ¡°Master, I heard you set up a research department in the Second Division?¡±

    Kaelith nodded, explaining the situation at the Technology Bureau. Hearing that he¡¯d even recruited Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Hikifune was surprised.

    ¡°That boy Mayuri is indeed skilled in research, but he¡¯s overly obsessed with creating life. Master, be careful not to teach him all the techniques for creating artificial souls at once, or I fear he might do something strange.¡±

    Just imagining the insane experiments Mayuri might conduct made Hikifune break out in a cold sweat.

    ¡°Originally, I planned to set up a similar institution in the Twelfth Division before leaving the Soul Society,¡± Hikifune said. ¡°But since you, Master, have already started one in the Second Division, let¡¯s just do it there! I¡¯ll go back later and compile a list of personnel focused on research and transfer them to the Technology Bureau!¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith looked at her, a bit surprised.

    Even if Hikifune no longer intended to create a research bureau of her own, keeping some researchers around would still be beneficial. Passing them all on to him¡ªdid this mean she wasn¡¯t planning to delve deeper into artificial souls herself?

    After a brief moment of surprise, he understood. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Facing Hikifune¡¯s smiling expression, Kaelith said softly, ¡°Captain Hikifune, are you leaving?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Hikifune nodded. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, I¡¯ll leave in the next few years.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. Though he wasn¡¯t entirely sure about the conditions of the Royal Guard, based on Senjumaru Shutara¡¯s casual demeanor, it seemed pretty decent. At least she had the leisure to send down clothes just for fun.

    Speaking of clothes, hadn¡¯t Senjumaru promised him an outfit long ago? Where was it?

    Kaelith¡¯s favorable impression of the Royal Guard is beginning to lower¡­

    ¡­

    Unnoticed, the first snowfall came.

    Standing under the Fifth Division¡¯s veranda, Kaelith looked up at the sky. ¡°Time flies. It¡¯s almost been a year since we became Shinigami.¡±

    Aizen sipped tea, steam fogging his glasses and turning the world white. He exhaled and said quietly, ¡°Considering a Shinigami¡¯s lifespan, a single year is hardly worth lamenting.¡±

    Kaelith thought for a moment. ¡°Then let¡¯s put it differently! In a flash, we¡¯ve been first-year Shinigami for almost a year. Doesn¡¯t that make it feel longer?¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    As he was left speechless, a voice called out from behind.

    ¡°Hey, Kaelith, why are you hanging around the Fifth Division again? I¡¯m warning you, you can come visit, but when it¡¯s mealtime, get out!¡±

    Turning around, Kaelith saw a figure wearing a white haori and long golden hair down to his waist. It was Shinji Hirako. Kaelith showed a look of regret.

    Shinji was displeased. ¡°Kid, what¡¯s that face supposed to mean?¡±

    Kaelith sighed, ¡°Such beautiful hair on a man¡­ If that were a lovely girl with that hairstyle, it¡¯d be stunning.¡±

    A vein popped on Shinji¡¯s forehead.

    He was about to retort when Kaelith continued, ¡°If it had to be a man, at least a handsome one would be nice. That way, it¡¯d be easy on the eyes. But that gorgeous hair combined with Captain Hirako¡¯s shady face is quite jarring.¡±

    ¡°???¡±

    Shinji Hirako was so mad he laughed. Forgetting any captainly dignity, he rolled up his sleeves and charged at Kaelith.

    Aizen held his teacup, watching them circle around him as he sipped slowly.

    Another peaceful day.

    At first, Shinji¡¯s chase was half-playful. But soon, he realized this brat was too fast!

    Kaelith¡¯s Shunpo seemed to incorporate some special technique. Each time he used it, the space around him would distort slightly, increasing his speed. Moreover, this spatial distortion interfered with Shinji¡¯s ability to pinpoint Kaelith¡¯s location via spiritual sensing.

    After being shaken off several times, Shinji got interested. He went all out, pushing his Shunpo to the limit.

    Then he found, even at full speed, he couldn¡¯t catch Kaelith!

    This kid¡­ hasn¡¯t even been a Shinigami for a year, right?

    During the last captain promotion exams, Kaelith never showed such footwork.

    What kind of growth rate was this?

    For a moment, Shinji felt the urge to spar with him and see just how strong he¡¯d become.

    Unfortunately, before he could act, his lieutenant ran over, saying there was official business that required his immediate attention.

    Hearing that, Shinji reluctantly gave up.

    Before leaving, he glared at Kaelith.

    ¡°Remember, kid, don¡¯t you dare stay for dinner!¡±

    Then he looked at Aizen.

    At first, Shinji found Aizen suspicious, feeling a dangerous aura well concealed. But over time, he realized maybe Aizen wasn¡¯t as scary as he¡¯d thought.

    Though Aizen still seemed reserved, always wearing a mask, whenever Kaelith came around, Shinji could sense Aizen momentarily let down his guard and interact genuinely.

    This discovery put him somewhat at ease.

    A person who has a true friend and is willing to be genuine with them is less dangerous than someone eternally hidden behind a mask.

    As a result, Shinji¡¯s attitude toward Aizen had softened a bit. While he wouldn¡¯t say he liked him now, at least he was no longer so hostile.

    ¡°Aizen, make sure you send your friend away before mealtime. We can¡¯t let him keep raiding our Fifth Division cafeteria.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Captain. Leave it to me,¡± Aizen nodded, giving Shinji a reassuring smile.

    Seeing this, Shinji relaxed slightly and turned away.

    After Shinji left, Aizen looked at Kaelith.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the cafeteria. They¡¯ve got some nice new dishes today. Have a taste.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡±

    (t/N; ...did Aizen just flat-out ignore his command?... Bhahah)

    ¡­

    At the Fifth Division cafeteria, several squad members occasionally glanced toward Aizen¡¯s table.

    That Third Seat from the Second Division was here mooching off food from them again¡­

    Seeing the towering stack of plates and bowls in front of Kaelith, and how he was still devouring food so casually, they couldn¡¯t help but to swallow.

    Watching someone eat heartily could stir one¡¯s own appetite. But seeing someone eat that much left only astonishment and admiration.

    In the world of Shinigami, eating a lot wasn¡¯t a bad thing. How much you could eat reflected your potential. Ordinary souls could get full just by drinking water. Only those with training and talent needed food.

    And someone who ate as much as Kaelith¡­ who knew how far he could go?

    The only ones who wanted to cry were the Fifth Division¡¯s accountants. If Kaelith kept this up, the monthly food budget would definitely go over again¡­

    Before Shinji Hirako came back, Kaelith quickly finished his meal.

    Satisfied, he was about to slip away when Aizen also stood up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t go back to the Second Division today. Come with me.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Without asking why, Kaelith followed him.

    Leading Kaelith, Aizen headed toward Rukongai. In a mountain near his laboratory, he stopped.

    Under Kaelith¡¯s watchful gaze, Aizen reached out and tore away a patch of concealing Kid¨­, revealing an entrance.

    Inside was a human-shaped wooden board.

    Aizen took it out and set it upright nearby.

    Seeing the life-sized wooden figure, Kaelith had a vague sense of familiarity.

    Before he could recall why, Aizen explained:

    ¡°This is an invention I recently developed in collaboration with Urahara Kisuke. Since he contributed more, he got naming rights.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called the Tenshintai. It can forcibly draw out a Zanpakut¨­¡¯s spirit, allowing its wielder to fight against it directly.¡±

    ¡°As long as you defeat the Tenshintai manifestation, you can learn Bankai.¡±

    ¡°I think, for someone like you, this will be very useful. While the Soul Society is still at peace, learn Bankai!¡±

    In fact, Urahara had mostly completed the theory before asking Aizen for help. Aizen¡¯s main contribution was providing data from Muramasa to awaken Zanpakut¨­ spirits and supplying a few souls for experiments.

    Hearing this, Kaelith¡¯s expression cleared. No wonder this board looked familiar. It was the tool Ichigo Kurosaki would use to achieve Bankai in the original story.

    Kaelith looked at Aizen. ¡°You said earlier this was the project you two were tinkering with?¡±

    Aizen squinted his eyes. ¡°¡®Tinkering¡¯? You have no idea the value and difficulty of creating this device, do you?¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. He approached the Tenshintai and poked it curiously.

    Aizen cautioned him, ¡°If you choose to learn Bankai this way, be mentally prepared. Forcibly awakening your Zanpakut¨­ spirit spares you the process of exploring your inner world, but greatly increases the spirit¡¯s power. Once you choose this path, you can¡¯t return to the inner exploration method.¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°What¡¯s a mere sword spirit compared to the great Kaelith?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll choose this method!¡±

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165

    Under Aizen¡¯s watchful gaze, Kaelith drew his Zanpakut¨­ and stabbed the Tenshintai straight through.

    If most Shinigami had the choice between independently achieving Bankai or using a Tenshintai, they would prefer the former. After all, developing Bankai on one¡¯s own was the more orthodox, reassuring method.

    But Kaelith would choose the Tenshintai without hesitation.

    From his days as a student, he had worked hard at sword meditation, trying to communicate with his Zanpakut¨­ and learn Shikai. Yet all this time, he had never once entered his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s inner world.

    Although he eventually obtained a Shikai, it was unreliable. After granting him Shikai powers, the sword still wouldn¡¯t give its name. Thanks to that, he had long since given up on learning Bankai through communication.

    Now that Urahara and Aizen had developed the Tenshintai ahead of schedule, it was like rain after a drought, or a pillow delivered just when you want to sleep.

    Already invincible in his own mind, how could he lose to a mere sword?

    Kaelith brimmed with confidence.

    Two seconds passed after the Tenshintai was pierced by Kaelith¡¯s blade. Then, as if melting like wax, it turned into a black liquid and flowed to the ground. In the blink of an eye, the human-shaped board vanished, replaced by shadows spreading in all directions, covering a wide area of ground!

    Seeing the shadows approach, Aizen flashed into the air. He didn¡¯t want to be caught in the crossfire.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Unlike Aizen, Kaelith didn¡¯t jump away immediately. On the contrary, he lifted one foot and pressed it onto the shadowy surface.

    He had just opened his mouth to comment when the shadows, already spread over a hundred meters, suddenly rose up on all sides like a trap, trying to enclose him completely!

    ¡°Trying to wrap me up like dumpling filling?¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head.

    Just before the shadow cage closed in, he flickered to the edge, his blade flashing coldly!

    Silently, the shadow cage was split open, and Kaelith slipped out easily.

    Then, he skillfully lifted his blade upward, striking at empty air before him.

    Clang!!

    Though nothing could be seen, there was a sharp sound of metal clashing.

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°How many times have I used this ability? Trying that on me won¡¯t work.¡±

    With that, he kicked forward, sending the invisible swordsman flying.

    Then, raising his Zanpakut¨­ high, he brought it down with force. A long arc of sword pressure tore through the shadow cage¡ª

    Screeech!!

    The giant shadow cage was ripped apart by the sword pressure.

    Seeing this, Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°Too slow. If I were controlling it, I could¡¯ve dodged that swing easily. It had such a long wind-up.¡±

    The torn shadow twisted for a moment, then slowly gathered into a human-shaped swordsman. Its figure¡ªbuild, height, even the outline of hair and clothing¡ªwas no different from Kaelith¡¯s.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up.

    So this was the classic trope of fighting oneself seen in hot-blooded manga?

    For most protagonists, this was a difficult and painful ordeal, but Kaelith was excited.

    He had long wanted to know what it felt like to fight himself!

    ¡°Come!¡±

    He beckoned to the shadow copy.

    The shadow shifted its footing and rushed at him.

    Seeing that it still wielded a blade, Kaelith¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of distaste, but he politely raised his own sword and went to meet it.

    In an instant, the two figures exchanged dozens of blows.

    Aizen raised his arm to shield himself from the shockwaves of spiritual pressure. Occasionally, sharp sword energy whistled past him. One careless moment and he might be hurt.

    Observing their battle, Aizen felt puzzled.

    It was too easy.

    From his and Urahara Kisuke¡¯s experience, the Zanpakut¨­ materialized by the Tenshintai should be no weaker than its wielder. Sometimes, knowing all the user¡¯s abilities, it could even outperform them.

    On a first encounter, the manifested Zanpakut¨­ might be stronger than the Shinigami.

    Yet here Kaelith was, completely overpowering it from the start.

    While Aizen pondered, Kaelith gained the upper hand again.

    He locked both hands on his sword and chopped the shadow down. He cleaved a large gap into the shadow¡¯s form, which then slowly restored itself.

    ¡°Huh, you¡¯re weaker than when I use you,¡± Kaelith said, disappointed.

    As he spoke, he casually tossed his own sword aside.

    Thunk!

    The Zanpakut¨­ stuck into the ground nearby.

    Without a sword in hand, Kaelith grabbed his Shihakush¨­ by the chest and tore it off, baring his upper body.

    Rolling his shoulders a couple of times, he smiled at the shadow.

    ¡°Testing is over. It¡¯s time to end this fight.¡±

    In midair, Aizen frowned slightly.

    Just now, when Kaelith threw down his sword, Aizen thought he glimpsed something inside the shadow trying to break out.

    Kaelith shouted and charged at the shadow. He balled his fists and opened with a ¡°One Bone.¡±

    Boom!!!

    His punch landed on the shadow, sending ripples through it. The once-solid shadow dimmed.

    The shadow retaliated by slashing at Kaelith¡¯s shoulder. Kaelith raised his other hand and simply caught the blade. In his grip, the once-sharp edge felt like a wooden stick.

    With a yank, he pulled the shadow off balance, sending it sprawling.

    Then he lashed out a kick to the left, again using One Bone, launching Tenshintai flying. The sock and sandal on that foot burst apart under the pressure, leaving his foot bare.

    Sensing the feedback, Kaelith estimated the Tenshintai wouldn¡¯t move again for a few minutes.

    Looking at the shadow rising once more, Kaelith shrugged.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, man? Why are you fighting so poorly?¡±

    ¡°I thought you might have some hidden trick, but I¡¯m disappointed.¡±

    The moment he finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows.

    Was it his imagination, or did something inside the shadow wriggle, as if struggling to emerge, when he taunted it?

    ¡­Probably his imagination. The shadow was naturally twisting and turning. This wasn¡¯t some strange world where something was hidden inside.

    Though disappointed in the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power, it was still his sword. Kaelith decided to give it a dignified end.

    Taking a deep breath, he lifted both arms into a ready stance.

    With his movement, a terrifying spiritual pressure burst forth. Blue flames roared around him, instantly covering his arms, shoulders, and back.

    In the azure blaze, Kaelith¡¯s face flickered with shadows, looking like a demon.

    From within the flames, Kaelith spoke:

    ¡°Shunk¨­: Infernal Chariot!¡±

    Feeling the vibrant spiritual energy surging from Kaelith, Aizen¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest.

    So this was the secret technique Kaelith had learned recently from the Shih¨­in family.

    It seemed to go beyond simple elemental spiritual pressure. The power was integrated into his body, each enhancing the other. Truly impressive.

    Aizen stroked his chin. He specialized in Kid¨­, and secondarily in swordsmanship. Hakuda wasn¡¯t something he studied often¡ªusually only when assisting Kaelith.

    But seeing this fusion of Kid¨­ and Hakuda piqued his interest.

    Kaelith raised his hand, examining the blue flames dancing around his fist.

    Compared to Yoruichi, he had a great advantage when using Shunk¨­. Activating Shunk¨­ would normally destroy parts of the clothing on one¡¯s arms and back. Yoruichi needed specially tailored outfits to expose those areas. Kaelith, however, fought mostly bare-chested anyway, so no such worries.

    Igniting Shunk¨­, Kaelith moved instantly before the shadow, driving his flame-wreathed fist forward¡ª

    Boom!!!!!!!

    A terrifying blue inferno erupted, lighting the sky as though igniting the entire mountaintop in blue fire.

    As the heat wave passed, the shadow reappeared, its body covered in blue flames. It looked on the verge of collapse.

    High above, Aizen was surprised.

    Judging just raw punching force, this was weaker than One Bone. But the accompanying flames inflicted special damage.

    For a highly defensive foe like this shadow, Shunk¨­ was undoubtedly better than relying on One Bone¡¯s brute force.

    Most importantly, these techniques likely weren¡¯t mutually exclusive¡­

    Imagining that combination, Aizen felt a chill.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t let the shadow recover. Unlike Double Bone, which harmed him too, Shunk¨­ had almost no drawback other than draining spiritual energy faster. He could attack without hesitation.

    Soon, the shadow lost all ability to resist.

    With Kaelith¡¯s final blow, it twisted, then vanished into thin air.

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    As the shadow disappeared, Kaelith felt something refill his Zanpakut¨­, which lay where he had tossed it.

    The problem: he still didn¡¯t feel like he had learned Bankai.

    When Aizen approached with Shunpo, Kaelith explained the situation.

    Aizen frowned, perplexed.

    According to his and Urahara¡¯s design and tests, the Tenshintai worked correctly. Defeating the manifested Zanpakut¨­ spirit should grant Bankai.

    Why didn¡¯t it work?

    After thinking a few seconds, he said:

    ¡°Maybe a quality control issue¡­ try another piece. With your strength, beating your Zanpakut¨­ again isn¡¯t a problem.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. He thought so too.

    He summoned the shadow once more.

    This time, the shadow appeared even fainter. From the moment it manifested, it began to distort.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t care and charged in again.

    If the Zanpakut¨­ refused to teach him Bankai, he would keep beating it until it changed its mind!

    Brilliant blue flames danced as Kaelith destroyed his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s manifestation once again.

    Then a third time, a fourth time¡­

    For some reason, Kaelith grew more energetic as he fought. He didn¡¯t have a sadistic streak; rather, he felt that something inside the shadow was working with him. The two forces, one inside and one outside, moved in perfect harmony.

    Every time he attacked, a force inside the shadow seemed to push outward as well.

    Could he be awakening some new special ability?

    Kaelith was intrigued.

    Soon, he summoned the manifested Zanpakut¨­ for the seventh time.

    This time, the shadow was so thin it was about to fade away on its own.

    Looking at its pitiful state, Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°It looks pathetic.¡±

    ¡°Okay, if I beat you again and still can¡¯t learn Bankai, I¡¯ll give up for now.¡±

    ¡°Abusing my Zanpakut¨­ doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    ¡°At worst, I¡¯ll just stick with Shikai.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too upset. Even if your abilities are ordinary, it¡¯s no big deal. You can just assist me, and I¡¯ll carry you to victory.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words, the shadow twisted violently.

    Kaelith thought it was expressing frustration.

    He was about to say something comforting when suddenly a blade wreathed in blue flames burst out from inside the shadow!

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    His eyes went wide, as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.

    In the next instant, that flaming blue blade slashed upward, splitting the shadow in two like a dissection.

    Under Kaelith¡¯s stunned gaze, the shadow, as if having completed its mission, rose into the air in two halves. There it shattered into countless black particles, scattering like raindrops in all directions.

    Each ¡°raindrop¡± transformed into a shadowy blade that shot into the ground with a whoosh. In the blink of an eye, the area around them was filled with these shadow-forged swords.

    And at the spot where the shadow once stood, a figure now remained.

    A girl.

    She had fiery red hair and wore a crimson gown.

    Her entire body burned with the same kind of blue flame that Kaelith wielded.

    Chains wrapped around her arms. At their ends were two vicious-looking short swords she held in her hands. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Faced with Kaelith¡¯s shocked and dumbfounded expression, the girl slowly grinned, revealing a grin that seemed to have been suppressed for ages.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you. At last, I¡¯ve broken free of that ¡®Shadow Strike¡¯ binding.¡±

    ¡°You said I¡¯m just an ordinary Zanpakut¨­ with no special abilities? So sorry about that.¡±

    ¡°Come, let me show you what an ¡®ordinary Zanpakut¨­¡¯s¡¯ power really looks like!¡±

    With those words, she flicked her arm.

    A short blade, chained to her arm, instantly whipped toward Kaelith!

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166

    The speed was incredible!

    The instant the Zanpakut¨­ spirit flung out the chain blade, Kaelith had mentally prepared himself, yet its speed still exceeded his expectations.

    The short blade, attached to its long chain, seemed to possess a stand-like ability, cutting out the space between them in an instant and arriving right before him.

    By instinct, Kaelith tilted his head slightly.

    The short blade wreathed in blue flames streaked past his ear, flying off into the distance.

    He raised his hand and grabbed hold of the chain¡¯s middle. With flexible weapons like this, you just had to catch them at a point without force to easily neutralize them.

    Seeing that his Zanpakut¨­ had taken on such a strange shape, Kaelith felt a bit regretful.

    In his view, having the Zanpakut¨­ change form wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. A new form meant a new combat style. He already had swordsmanship and Hakuda as his main combat methods. Now wielding dual blades on chains would be overly complicated and slow him down in battle.

    With that thought, he prepared to yank the chain and drag the Zanpakut¨­ spirit over to pummel it on the spot.

    But before he could act, a sudden alarm went off in his mind.

    It was as if a giant, invisible ¡°danger¡± symbol rose above his head with a shrill alert.

    Kaelith released the chain and vanished from his spot with Shunpo.

    Almost simultaneously, the flame-wreathed short blade passed right through the air where he¡¯d just been, streaking a line of blue fire behind him.

    Watching the chain blade¡¯s trajectory, Kaelith was surprised.

    A moment ago, he¡¯d grabbed the chain. Logically, the spirit shouldn¡¯t have been able to transmit any directional force to the blade with the chain held mid-length.

    Unless¡­

    Seemingly guessing his thoughts, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit caught the returning short blade with a snap. She curled her lips.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a sword you can judge by normal logic.¡±

    ¡°Oh, impressive!¡± Kaelith raised his hand and applauded his Zanpakut¨­.

    The spirit frowned at his reaction.

    ¡°You think that was everything? We¡¯ve only just begun!¡±

    As she spoke, she flicked both arms, sending out two short blades simultaneously.

    From two different directions, the chained blades cut through space and charged at Kaelith.

    Just like before, they tore through the air as fast as lightning, closing in on Kaelith¡¯s position in an instant. The roaring flames dyed the sky a dazzling blue.

    In midair, Aizen raised a Kid¨­ barrier to block the incoming heat.

    Watching the battle not far away, his eyes gleamed.

    Kaelith¡¯s figure flickered repeatedly in the sky, appearing and disappearing. Each time he used Shunpo, the blades pierced the position he¡¯d just vacated.

    ¡°Going all out, aren¡¯t you? Feels like you¡¯re really trying to kill me,¡± Kaelith commented intermittently as he moved.

    By the time he spoke the last few words, the two blades had cornered him into a spot where dodging was nearly impossible.

    Seeing the blades rushing toward him, Kaelith raised his arm.

    An immense surge of Spirit Pressure instantly flowed through his body.

    Due to their physiology, even with immense Spirit Pressure, Shinigami had difficulty forming a strong defense purely on their skin¡¯s surface.

    Kaelith was different.

    He could first have Gikon adhere to his body¡¯s surface, then violently inject Spirit Pressure into it. With the Gikon as a medium, his defensive power rose dramatically.

    Previously, he¡¯d relied on this method to remain unharmed in Mayuri¡¯s explosion and to endure Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s Kid¨­ barrage. It had never failed him.

    Yet the instant he raised his arm, another uneasy feeling surged in his heart. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In Kaelith¡¯s sight, the short blades stabbed into his Spirit Pressure defense. The layer that could block seven or eight tenths of Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s Kid¨­ offered no resistance, as if it were butter under a hot knife!

    Surprised, Kaelith reacted instantly.

    He abandoned his defensive posture and switched to dodging¡­ huh?

    The arm he intended to retract seemed to be caught on something.

    A tremendous force pulled through the chain behind the blade.

    Kaelith¡¯s entire body was yanked violently upward and flung high into the sky.

    ¡°Woooaaahhh!¡±

    As he soared, Kaelith shouted loudly.

    From the ground looking up, one would see Kaelith¡¯s body tracing a huge arc of over a hundred meters in radius. Within a few seconds, he¡¯d been thrown from one end of the ¡°screen¡± to the other.

    Boom!!

    Under the chain¡¯s pull, Kaelith smashed headfirst into the ground.

    Rubble and dust erupted skyward.

    Under tension, the two short blades snapped back into the spirit¡¯s hands. The remaining chain links swiftly rewrapped around her arms.

    She watched the billowing dust calmly.

    Before long, Kaelith emerged from the haze.

    As expected, he didn¡¯t look too different. He only had a shallow wound on his left forearm and another on his right shoulder.

    Such a devastating attack should have put a normal Shinigami in bed for months. Yet he acted as if nothing had happened.

    Though he was her master, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit couldn¡¯t help feeling complicated about it.

    Kaelith shook his body, using Shunk¨­¡¯s surge to blast away all the dust clinging to him.

    He rolled his neck, confirming nothing was seriously injured, then nodded in satisfaction.

    Raising his head, he looked at the spirit hovering midair.

    ¡°I see. I think I understand now.¡±

    ¡°At first, seeing those blue flames, I assumed you were a fire-type Zanpakut¨­.¡±

    ¡°Now I see that the flames are just a misdirection.¡±

    ¡°Just now, I tried two kinds of defense against your blades. One was a combination of Spirit Pressure and Gikon, and the other was a Kid¨­-based defense.¡±

    ¡°Both types of defense were instantly broken.¡±

    ¡°Your ability must be to break through defenses or negate energy-based protection.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s analysis, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit revealed a look of surprise.

    She hadn¡¯t expected that after only a few exchanges, Kaelith would nearly guess her ability. Though he was an annoying guy who looked down on others, his insight was sharp.

    Just as she was thinking this, Kaelith shook his head and continued:

    ¡°Too bad, though. Your ability is decent, but you¡¯re not using it very well.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    The spirit froze, anger flaring in her eyes.

    She was the Zanpakut¨­ spirit, the one who understood the sword¡¯s abilities better than anyone. For him to say she wasn¡¯t using it properly after seeing it only once was outrageous.

    Sensing her reaction, Kaelith grinned:

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, not convinced?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not happy about it, then give your power to me. Let me show you how this power should really be used!¡±

    ----

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167

    As soon as Kaelith spoke, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit nearly burst out laughing from anger.

    Right now, it was supposed to be her show of strength, her test for Kaelith.

    How did it suddenly reverse, as if she needed to prove something to him?

    She snorted coldly, wanting to ignore him and continue the fight.

    But when she saw the mocking grin on Kaelith¡¯s face, an intense feeling of displeasure surged within her.

    ¡°Damn it, I know it¡¯s a trick!¡±

    The Zanpakut¨­ spirit took a deep breath.

    ¡°Fine, Kaelith, let¡¯s see how you would use this power!

    Listen up¡ªif you¡¯re just bluffing to deceive me, then forget about ever using my strength!¡±

    Kaelith nodded lazily. ¡°Yeah, yeah, got it.¡±

    Seeing his casual attitude, the spirit felt her blood pressure rise.

    She closed her eyes and conveyed her true name to Kaelith through a soul-to-soul communication.

    Kaelith also closed his eyes.

    With the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s true name came a flood of related information entering his mind.

    After seeing these fragmented memories, he finally understood why he had never been able to awaken his Zanpakut¨­ properly yet still gained blade-release powers.

    When he crossed into this world, the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power had already awakened.

    However, his crossing wasn¡¯t completed in one step.

    When he reached a dimensional layer between worlds, his soul got stuck.

    If he couldn¡¯t move forward, he would have been swallowed by the world and completely erased.

    To break through that final step, the Zanpakut¨­ cut open a ¡°membrane¡± in this world.

    Through that opening, Kaelith escaped his fate of vanishing.

    But in the process, the Zanpakut¨­ was contaminated.

    When the Soul King created this world, he threw a large amount of unmanageable negative existence outside the world in the form of shadows.

    Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­, corrupted by these shadows, had to go dormant.

    During dormancy, the Zanpakut¨­ found a way to compromise with the shadows.

    That was to split itself into another ¡°self¡± to bear the shadow¡¯s power.

    The original Zanpakut¨­ became the ¡°true blade¡±

    The copy fused with the shadows became the ¡°shadow blade¡±

    Because it slept for so long, the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s presence was almost completely covered by its shadow.

    Back in the prison incident, when Kaelith faced Shinchira Renzosuke¡¯s assault, in that emergency he managed to connect with the Zanpakut¨­.

    He naturally pulled out the shadow blade.

    As a split-off copy, the shadow blade also had sword-release powers but would never have a true name.

    Understanding all this, Kaelith felt a bit moved.

    He had always thought his greatest danger in this world was the fight against Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    He never realized that he had previously survived a crisis far more dangerous than that.

    Looking at the Zanpakut¨­ stuck in the ground not far away, he stretched out his hand.

    It immediately pulled free from the earth and flew toward him.

    Pa!

    Kaelith caught the blade.

    Gazing at the blade¡¯s gleaming surface, he nodded and said,

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Not far away, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit pursed her lips as she watched.

    After his sincere gratitude, Kaelith raised his sword.

    ¡°Shatter defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!¡± (t:/n see note)

    Boom!!!

    A pillar of spiritual pressure shot straight into the sky.

    The initial Shikai release caused the surrounding air to tremble violently!

    As the radiance faded, Kaelith¡¯s arms became entwined with chains, just like the Zanpakut¨­ spirit¡¯s.

    A pair of short blades appeared in his hands.

    Whoosh!!

    Blue flames danced to life along the blades.

    The blade¡¯s flames merged fiercely with the Shunk¨­ flames on his shoulders and back. The sensation from the hilts, as if perfectly attuned to his will, felt oddly comforting.

    Seeing Kaelith grasp her true form in his hands, the spirit¡¯s eyes flashed with satisfaction.

    She was curious¡ªhow would Kaelith use her?

    Her greatest strength lay in the power to ¡°break defenses.¡±

    Spiritual pressure defenses, physical defenses, armor¡ª

    Any defense was meaningless before her power. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For most opponents, that was terrifying.

    But if Kaelith thought he could use that trick against her, he was dreaming.

    As the Zanpakut¨­ itself, she knew best how to counter that ability.

    Come on, what would he do?

    Would he, like her, start attacking from a distance?

    As the spirit pondered, Kaelith got used to the feel of dual blades, swung them a few times, and nodded in satisfaction.

    The next moment, he stomped his foot.

    In an instant, he went from a hundred meters away to right before the spirit!

    Under her astonished gaze, Kaelith grinned, raised his two blades high,

    and slashed down hard!

    Clang!!!

    Although she instinctively wanted to retreat, the spirit did not hesitate to raise her blades in defense.

    Four blades collided, sending sparks flying.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s vicious grin, the spirit couldn¡¯t help but feel like laughing bitterly inside.

    What was she expecting?

    Kaelith not enjoying close-quarters combat first would be strange indeed¡­

    Since his overhead strike didn¡¯t break through, Kaelith instantly changed tactics.

    His arms, wielding the twin blades, wove a net of steel around the spirit¡¯s body.

    In an instant, azure-flamed blades rained down from all directions like raindrops.

    The spirit quickly tracked Kaelith¡¯s blade paths, parrying and intercepting his strikes.

    In just a few seconds, the sound of blades clashing rang out dozens of times!

    After a rapid flurry, Kaelith suddenly withdrew.

    He retreated a short distance and nodded:

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°Your ability can destroy defenses, but it¡¯s not absolute.¡±

    ¡°If the opponent¡¯s so-called ¡®defense¡¯ is actually for offense, it can¡¯t be broken by your rules.¡±

    ¡°Thinking about it, if I hadn¡¯t tried to block your blade with my arm at the start, and instead just punched you, the blade wouldn¡¯t have caused nearly as much damage.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words, the spirit took a deep breath.

    She gritted her teeth and said,

    ¡°When I gave you my true name, you should have known all this already!¡±

    Kaelith laughed. ¡°Not to brag, but I¡¯m the type who skips the tutorial before playing a game.¡±

    Rixiang Jimie: ¡°¡­¡±

    Her blood pressure soared.

    What kind of master had she ended up with?!

    Under her fiery stare, Kaelith nodded:

    ¡°Alright, the test is over.¡±

    ¡°Now I¡¯ll show you the blade¡¯s true power.¡±

    Hearing this, Rixiang Jimie felt like complaining, but still took it more seriously.

    She was genuinely curious¡ªhow could Kaelith possibly use this blade better than she, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit who fully understood it?

    Then she saw Kaelith close his eyes.

    --------------------

    T/n:

    What do you think about the release line and name? The name comes from a combination of Chinese Buddhist terminology and together they can mean

    "Emancipation from All Forms into peaceful annihilation (nirvana)."

    or

    ¡°Transcending all forms to reach a state of peaceful annihilation"

    In essence, it suggests breaking free from all external illusions and entering a profound stillness or ultimate liberation beyond worldly phenomena.

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168

    Kaelith closed his eyes.

    He channeled his soul assimilation power, merging it into the Zanpakut¨­.

    Originally, the Gikon energy Kirio Hikifune gave him would normally take at least ten days to handle. Under his soul assimilation, he could master it in one go.

    Compared to Gikon energy, a Zanpakut¨­ was even simpler.

    Both Gikon energy and a Zanpakut¨­ were spiritual powers. Gikon was external, while a Zanpakut¨­ shared the same roots as a Shinigami¡¯s soul.

    His soul assimilation power surged forward like a tide along the chains.

    In just a few seconds, Rixiang Jimie was fully assimilated.

    Preparation complete, Kaelith opened his eyes, looking satisfied.

    Under the Zanpakut¨­ spirit¡¯s gaze, he grinned and leaped into the air.

    Rushing into midair, he swung both arms. Two short blades, each with a long chain, flew toward the spirit.

    Seeing this, the spirit shook her head slightly.

    Was he trying to use the ability to change direction mid-flight to confuse her? As the Zanpakut¨­ spirit, no one knew this move better than she did!

    With twin blades in hand, she simply charged forward, raising her blades to strike down the incoming weapons.

    While Rixiang Jimie could change direction mid-flight, its power was less than when wielded directly in hand. She would first knock these two blades aside to create an opening in Kaelith¡¯s defense, then go straight for Kaelith himself!

    With that in mind, she added more force to her strike.

    But in the next moment, a flicker of astonishment crossed her eyes.

    In utter disbelief, she watched as the two incoming blades suddenly adjusted their angle in midair.

    This manipulation was more than just shifting direction. The two blades, flying through the sky, continually adjusted themselves according to her attacks.

    When wielded in hand, a blade¡¯s movements were constrained by joints and arm reach. But these two airborne blades had no such limits.

    Instinctively, the spirit changed her stance to fight off Kaelith¡¯s thrown weapons. Her posture looked strange¡ªone arm raised, the other lowered, one blade held normally, the other in reverse grip.

    Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

    Four manifestations of Rixiang Jimie clashed fiercely.

    Intense surges of spiritual pressure sent arcs of sword energy flying in all directions. Nearby peaks shuddered under the bombardment, roaring with continuous thunderous blasts. Billowing dust and debris turned the surrounding kilometers into chaos.

    Aizen, watching the battle closely, occasionally adjusted his position to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

    At the center of the battlefield, the Zanpakut¨­ spirit felt as if she were seeing a ghost.

    The two blades Kaelith had thrown lost none of their power. Although airborne, every strike was as heavy as if wielded directly. After so many attacks, their strength hadn¡¯t diminished at all!

    How was this possible? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even she, as the Zanpakut¨­ spirit, couldn¡¯t do such a thing. How was Kaelith managing it?

    Sensing her thoughts, Kaelith¡¯s distant laughter rang out:

    ¡°Surprised, Rixiang Jimie? Your blade has completely taken on my shape now! The stances and abilities you never developed, I¡¯ve realized them in my hands!¡±

    A vein popped on Rixiang Jimie¡¯s forehead.

    Kaelith, you¡¯ve gone too far!

    She was about to speak when Kaelith suddenly waved both arms.

    A surge of roaring blue flames flowed from his body into the chains.

    Then the chains rippled like ocean waves, carrying the blue flames forward. Seeing the rapidly approaching fire, the spirit realized something was wrong.

    She wanted to pull back, but the two autonomously fighting blades held her in place.

    She could choose to withdraw forcibly at the risk of injury, which wasn¡¯t a bad idea. But lacking her master¡¯s combat instincts, she hesitated.

    In that instant of hesitation, the first wave of blue flames rolled over her.

    Violent Shunk¨­ energy rushed along the chains, into the blades, then exploded outward from the blade edges¡ª

    Boom!!!

    A mass of blue-tinged smoke erupted in midair.

    The Zanpakut¨­ spirit was blasted out of the smoke, trailing a long plume of dust. She scraped against reishi footholds in the air for some distance before stopping.

    Scorch marks now marred her body.

    A blade wreathed in blue flames had actually burned her. Ridiculous!

    Before she could think more, the two blades emerged from the smoke, hot on her heels. Even more absurd, several new clusters of blue flames were chasing along the chains behind them.

    The spirit¡¯s pupils contracted. She hurriedly readied herself for combat again.

    In the distance, Kaelith controlled the two blades while laughing:

    ¡°Hahaha! This is fun! This is way more interesting than swinging a sword around limply!¡±

    Far away, Aizen watched the battle with mixed feelings.

    Don¡¯t be fooled by Kaelith¡¯s playful attitude; these maneuvers weren¡¯t something ordinary people could manage.

    Normally, if one could control weapons remotely, they¡¯d follow the patterns of wielding them by hand. Coming up with brand-new maneuvers would be impossible.

    But Kaelith was different. Throughout the entire high-speed battle, he never once assumed a conventional stance. If someone were actually holding those two blades, their body would be twisted into a pretzel by now.

    To maintain such intense offensive pressure with both blades, while simultaneously experimenting with new tricks¡ªthis was incredible.

    Usually, he¡¯s too lazy to think about anything, always running to Aizen for help whenever a problem arises. Yet in battle, his mind worked faster than anyone¡¯s.

    This guy was¡­ something else.

    Aizen gently shook his head and sighed.

    Just when Aizen thought Kaelith had shown all his tricks, Kaelith surprised him again.

    After tormenting the Zanpakut¨­ spirit with waves of flame, Kaelith¡¯s main body finally couldn¡¯t hold back. He let out a shout and used Ikkotsu-based propulsion, rushing into the fray.

    In Shunk¨­ state, he was like a war chariot bristling with turrets.

    Every punch he threw unleashed a blue flame pillar stretching hundreds or even thousands of meters.

    The entire sky was lit in a sea of blue fire.

    Meanwhile, the two manifestations of Rixiang Jimie were like floating turrets, following beside him and striking from tricky angles.

    Aizen couldn¡¯t help widening his eyes slightly.

    Facing Rixiang Jimie, any defensive move would create a disadvantage.

    Kaelith had to constantly abandon his old habits and adopt new methods of fighting.

    Even so, just controlling his own body under these conditions would require far more calculation than usual.

    Yet he still had the spare capacity to operate two Zanpakut¨­ at once¡ªand quite skillfully at that?

    Aizen suddenly wondered if Kaelith had been putting on an act all along in daily life.

    With such terrifying reflexes and mental abilities, if he ever bothered studying, wouldn¡¯t he be able to analyze and figure out anything?

    Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly.

    His blood pressure was starting to rise.

    "So I have been working hard for nothing?"

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169

    Kaelith¡¯s heart tightened briefly, as though sensing danger.

    However, the danger didn¡¯t seem to come from the Zanpakut¨­ spirit before him.

    In that case, nothing to worry about.

    A crisis not before his eyes was as good as no crisis at all.

    Tomorrow¡¯s problems could wait until the day after.

    Looking at the battered Zanpakut¨­ spirit, who was now only capable of defending, Kaelith lost interest.

    With a midair flip and kick, he booted the spirit straight down from the sky, crashing into the ground below.

    With both hands, he pulled the two blades back, the chains wrapping themselves around his arms.

    Holding the twin blades, Kaelith used Shunpo to appear beside the spirit.

    Seeing her lying in the pit, struggling even to rise, he loosened his grip.

    A flash of light¡ªboth blades vanished, returning to their original Zanpakut¨­ form as he sheathed it at his waist.

    Kaelith reached out a hand to the spirit.

    The spirit looked at him, puzzled.

    Kaelith tilted his head, just as puzzled in return.

    After a few moments of staring at each other, the spirit took a deep breath:

    ¡°Kill me.¡±

    Surprised, Kaelith stepped back two paces, raising his hands in front of him.

    ¡°What are you saying? I, Kaelith, would never commit such a cruel act!¡±

    The spirit: ¡°?¡±

    She knew very well that during the battle against the rebels, Kaelith had killed plenty.

    What kind of upright pretender was he playing at now?

    Irritated, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to learn Bankai?¡±

    ¡°Kill me now, and you can learn it.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up with realization.

    Without another word, he drew his blade. ¡°Heh, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Seeing Kaelith draw his sword and approach, the spirit fell silent.

    Aiming at her neck, Kaelith swung down.

    ¡°Wa¡ª¡±

    The spirit tried to speak, but before she could, Kaelith¡¯s blade halted mid-swing.

    Noticing her stunned expression, he grinned.

    ¡°You were going to tell me that I shouldn¡¯t kill you right now, right?¡±

    The spirit looked at him, surprised.

    Kaelith withdrew his blade, resting it on his shoulder.

    Then, with his other hand, he gestured lightly.

    A mass of black energy rose from the ground and formed a silhouette beside him.

    ¡°Although I¡¯ve awakened the true Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power, the shadow blade (Yingda) hasn¡¯t disappeared. (t/N: thinking of calling it Yingda instead of just "shadow blade" even if they mean the same thing)

    I had a hunch Yingda¡¯s power contained something dangerous.

    It¡¯s never shown itself before, probably because you were suppressing it.¡±

    ¡°If I kill you now, weakening the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power, that shadowy force would take the first chance to seize the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s strength.

    Then I¡¯d end up with a strengthened shadow from outside this world inside me.

    That¡¯d be a big headache.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s analysis, the spirit nodded with a complicated look.

    ¡°Yes, you guessed correctly.

    Yingda and I are already hard to separate. If you want Bankai, you must first master Yingda¡¯s Bankai.

    Now that you¡¯ve obtained my power in advance, once you master Yingda¡¯s Bankai, you can learn mine at any time.¡±

    Kaelith let out a sigh of relief.

    Though Rixiang Jimie¡¯s ability was strong, Yingda¡¯s ability suited him even better.

    Just imagine using Dual Bone with it freely¡ªthat¡¯d be exhilarating.

    If learning Shikai made him lose Yingda¡¯s power, he¡¯d be crying over the loss¡­

    Sensing his thoughts, the spirit suddenly cast a dangerous look at him.

    Kaelith¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    Spending so much time with Aizen had made him sensitive to vengeful stares.

    Aizen might hold grudges, but he had a decent temperament and too many things to do to bother seeking petty revenge.

    A Zanpakut¨­ spirit was different¡ªshe lived right inside his soul space, plenty of free time to plot.

    And as his Zanpakut¨­, she probably inherited a bit of his personality.

    Not to brag, Kaelith was quite confident in his own grudge-holding abilities.

    His mind spun rapidly, and he suddenly thought of a way to change the subject.

    He coughed and looked at the spirit:

    ¡°When two identical entities exist, one aiming to dominate the battlefield while the other to serve as a mount, increasing combat power¡­¡±

    ¡°What determines the difference between them?¡±

    Hearing this, the spirit frowned slightly.

    Arriving with Shunpo, Aizen also showed a thoughtful look upon hearing the question.

    A few seconds later, the spirit tentatively asked: ¡°Is it strength?¡±

    Kaelith shook his head:

    ¡°It¡¯s instinct!¡±

    Instinct?

    The spirit blinked, seeming to understand something.

    Kaelith¡¯s words were a reminder.

    Though Yingda didn¡¯t originate from Kaelith¡¯s soul, their long fusion had made them inseparable from him and the spirit.

    She and Yingda were like a king and its steed. Who would hold the decisive power would depend on who could exert more instinct.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s ¡°wise master¡± expression, the spirit felt complicated, then nodded slightly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡±

    With that, the spirit vanished into thin air.

    Watching his successful misdirection, Kaelith quietly sighed in relief.

    Honestly, he had no idea what that speech meant; it just sounded impressive, so he used it to fool her¡­

    Beside him, Aizen gave him a meaningful look.

    So that¡¯s your approach.

    Although you have the capacity for analysis and thought, you leave everything to instinct.

    .

    That¡¯s how you¡¯ve grown stronger step by step.

    Aizen felt some admiration.

    Kaelith¡¯s path was pure indeed.

    No wonder he, with all his talent and relentless effort, still couldn¡¯t surpass Kaelith.

    Unfortunately, that path didn¡¯t suit Aizen himself.

    He suddenly wanted to see which would go further in the end: Kaelith¡¯s instincts or his own power enforced by science.

    The passion that had cooled due to the pursuit of a peaceful life flared up again.

    The pain and confusion he¡¯d felt after seeing those things in the Great Spirit Library settled down once more.

    As expected of a companion qualified to walk this path with him¡­ In crucial moments, he always inspired him through his actions.

    That grudge he noted earlier¡­ He would mercifully erase one of them. (t/N: ..Just one of them?..)

    In his mental list of ¡°500 Grudges Against Kaelith,¡± Aizen silently crossed one off.

    Then he remembered something else.

    Just now, didn¡¯t Kaelith casually mention something astonishing?

    Recalling a few seconds, Aizen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened.

    He reached out and firmly gripped Kaelith¡¯s shoulder.

    Facing Kaelith¡¯s alarmed eyes, Aizen asked:

    ¡°Kaelith, just now you mentioned ¡®shadows from outside this world.¡¯ What do you mean by that?¡±

    If Kaelith¡¯s ability was what he suspected, the value of this pseudo-Shikai would have to be reassessed!

    ¡­

    The next morning, Aizen entered the Fifth Division barracks with an excited mood.

    Last night, he studied Kaelith¡¯s spiritual pressure all night long.

    Though his body was tired, his spirits were high.

    Just as he planned to find a place to slack off and rest, he noticed a figure walking straight toward him.

    Under Aizen¡¯s curious gaze, Shinji Hirako strode up to him.

    Without a preamble, Shinji said:

    ¡°This is sudden, but the situation¡¯s urgent, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡±

    ¡°S¨­suke, do you want to be my lieutenant?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170

    ¡°Captain, are you in your right mind?¡±

    Facing Hirako Shinji, who exuded an aura of laziness, Aizen maintained a calm expression.

    ¡°My abilities are weak, and my qualifications are shallow. I¡¯ve been in the squad for less than a year. How could I serve as a lieutenant?¡±

    Hirako waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t say useless things like that. Though I¡¯ve never seen it firsthand, I know you¡¯re more than qualified to be a lieutenant.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s pupils narrowed slightly.

    Why was Hirako so confident?

    Had he, without noticing, done something that revealed his true strength?

    Feigning the shock of a timid youth, he showed a slightly anxious expression.

    ¡°Captain¡­ what makes you say this?¡±

    Hirako grinned. ¡°Kaelith told me. He said you¡¯re unbelievably strong¡ªthat becoming a lieutenant would be easier for you than eating a meal.¡±

    Kaelith¡­ that bastard!

    Aizen took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure spike through the roof.

    Sensing the dark aura emanating from Aizen, Hirako sighed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to refuse. Actually, I wasn¡¯t planning on rushing to find a lieutenant so soon. But you know the current state of the Seireitei¡ªtalent is scarce, and we have a shortage of capable people.

    ¡°We do have a few who¡¯ve achieved Shikai in our squad. Under normal circumstances, I could forcefully promote one of them. But right now, I need a lieutenant who can truly fight.¡±

    Aizen asked, ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because the Captain-Commander is planning a ceremony,¡± Hirako said with a shrug. ¡°After the rebellion, several captains died. The Captain-Commander wants to give them a proper send-off, so he decided to hold the Konso Reisai ceremony early.¡±

    ¡°Konso Reisai?¡±

    Aizen tasted the words.

    He knew what ¡°Konso¡± was.

    In the Living World, some souls couldn¡¯t find their way to the Soul Society after death. A Shinigami¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ hilt pressed against their forehead would send them to the Soul Society¡ªthat act was Konso.

    Every Shinigami learned this in the Academy.

    But what was the Konso Reisai?

    Before Aizen could ask, Hirako explained:

    ¡°According to Soul Society¡¯s rules, twelve years after a captain-level Shinigami dies, a grand funerary ceremony is held to send them off. There are a lot of detailed rituals, and since this situation hasn¡¯t happened often, I¡¯m not too familiar with the specifics¡­

    ¡°But one requirement is that each division must send their lieutenant to the Living World to capture some Hollows alive to be used in the ceremony.

    ¡°Killing Hollows is dangerous enough. Capturing them alive is even more challenging. I can¡¯t bear to send go.... I meant weak people to do this. So, S¨­suke, I have no choice but to rely on you!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Just now, did this guy almost say he couldn¡¯t bear to send the ¡°good people¡± from his squad?

    Though Aizen might not be considered a ¡°good person,¡± he¡¯d never shown that side to anyone.

    This was blatant targeting!

    Aizen opened his mental ledger and made a heavy note against Hirako Shinji¡¯s name.

    And Kaelith¡¯s name¡ªhe wrote it in bold and enlarged the font.

    After accounting for these new grudges, Aizen looked at Hirako.

    ¡°Captain Hirako, according to what you said, the Konso Reisai happens twelve years after a captain¡¯s death. Why start preparing now?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡­ The Captain-Commander said too many captains died this time. If we wait, it¡¯ll cause trouble. So the ceremony is moved forward.¡±

    Cause trouble if delayed?

    Aizen¡¯s keen sense caught a problem in Hirako¡¯s words.

    A funeral send-off was just a ceremony. Would a delay really matter? Unless the so-called Konso Reisai was a cover for some hidden agenda.

    Well¡­ after today¡¯s duties, he¡¯d revisit the Great Spirit Library and check.

    As he considered this, he turned to leave.

    ¡°By the way, I just remembered,¡± Hirako called after him. ¡°Over at the Second Division, it seems they¡¯re sending Kaelith.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    He stopped and turned around, then realized something.

    Since the Second Division¡¯s captaincy was reserved for the Shih¨­in family, the captain¡¯s seat was currently vacant.

    ¨­maeda Marechiyo, though holding the lieutenant¡¯s title, had been performing the captain¡¯s duties. If he went off to capture Hollows, who would handle the captain¡¯s work?

    As the Third Seat of the Second Division, Kaelith would naturally take over that task. So it made sense that Kaelith would be heading to the Living World to catch Hollows.

    The Living World, capturing Hollows, Kaelith¡­

    Putting these words together, the danger level rose.

    Normally, given Kaelith¡¯s strength, capturing a few Hollows would be trivial. Even if a few Adjuchas-class Hollows appeared, it¡¯d be a buffet for him.

    But now¡­

    After pondering for a few seconds, he looked at Hirako.

    Hirako grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.

    He reached into his robes and pulled out a scroll.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the appointment form. Sign it, and I¡¯ll submit it right away.¡±

    Well prepared, indeed.

    Aizen examined the appointment form carefully, confirming there were no traps. Then he raised his head.

    ¡°Captain Hirako, let¡¯s be clear. Even if I become lieutenant, I¡¯ll only do my share of the work. If you think you can shove the captain¡¯s responsibilities onto me, that¡¯s impossible.¡±

    Hirako¡¯s expression stiffened.

    Aizen narrowed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not too late to back out now.¡±

    Hirako quickly switched expressions, forcing a laugh:

    ¡°S¨­suke, what strange things are you saying!

    I¡¯m a dedicated captain¡ªhow could I have such thoughts?

    Trust me. Just sign!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    For a moment, he seemed to see Kaelith¡¯s face superimposed over Hirako¡¯s.

    What had he done to deserve being surrounded by such unreliable people?

    Aizen shook his head slightly.

    Taking the pen Hirako had prepared, he signed his name.

    ¡­

    At the First Division barracks.

    Yamamoto stood in the center of the dojo, both hands resting atop his cane.

    After hearing Kaelith¡¯s explanation, he stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

    He¡¯d already found it bizarre when Kaelith¡¯s Shikai initially had no name. Now something even more outrageous had emerged.

    This kid actually had two sets of Shikai?!

    He couldn¡¯t help suspecting Kaelith might have just woken up and confused dreams with reality before rushing here to brag.

    Seeing Yamamoto¡¯s disbelief, Kaelith decided to demonstrate on the spot.

    As he released the blue-flamed twin blades, Yamamoto fell silent.

    He had long suspected Kaelith was extraordinary, but this level of abnormality was mind-boggling.

    Yamamoto had a hunch:

    This boy would either become a pillar of the Seireitei¡¯s future or¡­ the source of chaos.

    Which outcome would be depended on him, as Kaelith¡¯s teacher! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171

    As dusk fell, Kaelith dragged his tired body back to the Second Division barracks.

    It had been a very busy day.

    In the morning, he received orders to go to the Living World as a vice-captain to participate in an operation.

    In the afternoon, he went to the First Division to tell Yamamoto about his new Shikai.

    Seeing that Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ and its powers involved fire, Yamamoto stated that this was his area of expertise.

    Although Rixiang Jimie¡¯s core ability wasn¡¯t truly fire-based, those fiercely burning blue flames still carried considerable lethality.

    Yamamoto brought out a stack of books¡ªnotes he¡¯d compiled on using fire-type Zanpakut¨­¡ªand handed them to Kaelith. He required Kaelith to read and memorize them, with surprise tests at irregular intervals.

    Staring at that thick pile of books, Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened, feeling as if he¡¯d returned to a previous life and its nightmarish three years of study. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After finally escaping the First Division alive, he was immediately caught by Yoruichi.

    She took Kaelith straight back to the Shih¨­in family grounds.

    Once they found a secluded spot, Yoruichi got straight to the point:

    ¡°Kaelith, do you want to become the Second Division¡¯s captain?¡±

    Kaelith paused in surprise. ¡°Were you sent by the old man as reinforcements?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Yoruichi blinked, confused.

    Seeing she didn¡¯t seem to be acting, Kaelith relaxed.

    He had worried that Yamamoto, eager to push a captain¡¯s position on him, had started recruiting his close acquaintances to persuade him.

    Leaning against a wall, Kaelith spoke lazily: ¡°The Second Division captaincy is already reserved for the Shih¨­in family. You don¡¯t have to worry about the position being left vacant and getting stolen by others.

    ¡°Back in the old days, the Central 46 might have targeted your family¡¯s seat, but now that the Central 46 is entirely under the control of the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in families, who would dare provoke the Shih¨­in?¡±

    Hearing this, Yoruichi shook her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a power struggle.

    ¡°I just realized that, though I¡¯ve worked hard, I¡¯m still quite far from being a qualified captain.

    Until I bridge that gap, I¡¯d like the Second Division to have a captain¡ªa guidepost to lead everyone forward.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s expression turned thoughtful.

    Becoming the Second Division¡¯s captain¡­ Not a bad idea.

    First, ¨­maeda Marechiyo could handle the captain¡¯s duties, allowing Kaelith to reap the benefits without the workload.

    More importantly, as captain, he¡¯d have high authority over the division¡¯s members.

    The Gotei 13 was a traditional organization that didn¡¯t prioritize the rights of ordinary squad members.

    If he became captain, wouldn¡¯t the female members of the Second Division be like delicacies right at his fingertips?

    The paradise plan for the Second Division was right before his eyes!

    Heh heh!

    Noticing Kaelith¡¯s subtle change in expression, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes:

    ¡°Forget it. I take back what I said. Let¡¯s leave the captain talk for another time.¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    He was about to respond when a voice suddenly called out¡ª

    ¡°Brother-in-law! You¡¯re here!¡±

    With that cry, a figure cheerfully rushed over.

    Yoruichi showed a speechless look and turned to face the newcomer.

    It was a child with the same coffee-colored skin as Yoruichi.

    Delicate features, a slender figure, wearing a black kimono with a white noble¡¯s haori over it.

    At first glance, one might think this was a young girl.

    When Kaelith first met him, he too was fooled into thinking this was Yoruichi¡¯s younger sister.

    But no it was a boy!

    Kaelith reached out and pressed his hand on the approaching boy¡¯s head, keeping him at arm¡¯s length.

    Though Kaelith pinned him in place, preventing further approach, the boy still wore a sunny smile.

    ¡°Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, it¡¯s me, Y¨±shir¨­!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know it¡¯s you. That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m not letting you come any closer,¡± Kaelith replied with a calm smile.

    This ¡°little brother-in-law¡±¡­ ahem, Yoruichi¡¯s younger brother Y¨±shir¨­ Shih¨­in was just too enthusiastic.

    If Kaelith didn¡¯t hold him off, this kid would cling to him like a hyper puppy¡ªsomething a certain church¡¯s clergy might see as a blessing, but Kaelith found it noisy. (t/N the stray shots lol)

    Peering through Kaelith¡¯s fingers, Y¨±shir¨­ asked curiously, ¡°Brother-in-law, I heard your Shunk¨­ involves fire? I want to see it¡­¡±

    Not waiting for Kaelith to answer, he continued on his own:

    ¡°That¡¯s so cool! I hope when I learn Shunk¨­ someday, I can use fire too!

    If you have fire, maybe I can inherit fire as well!¡±

    Yoruichi: ¡°?¡±

    What nonsense was this younger brother spouting?

    She raised her fist and thumped Y¨±shir¨­¡¯s head.

    ¡°Idiot, he¡¯s not your brother-in-law yet! Don¡¯t call him that so casually!¡±

    Y¨±shir¨­ crouched down, holding his head, tears in his large eyes as he looked at Yoruichi.

    ¡°But the elders say it¡¯s only a matter of time¡­¡±

    Yoruichi froze slightly upon hearing that.

    At the side, Kaelith gave her a mischievous look.

    Sensing Kaelith¡¯s gaze, Yoruichi cleared her throat.

    ¡°Speaking of Shunk¨­¡­ Kaelith, let¡¯s practice together!

    No matter who becomes the Second Division¡¯s captain, we need to keep improving ourselves!¡±

    As she spoke, electric currents flickered across Yoruichi¡¯s body.

    For some reason, when they first met, she¡¯d always been the one in control¡ªteasing him, making him blush. She was the one taking the initiative.

    But lately, whenever topics like this came up, she found herself growing nervous instead.

    Puzzled, yet somehow performing even better than when she trained alone, Yoruichi sparred with Kaelith until she was satisfied.

    Finally freed from Yoruichi¡¯s training, Kaelith returned to his dorm.

    Upon entering, he nearly jumped in fright.

    Aizen was already waiting inside, sitting quietly.

    ¡°What are you doing here? You scared me!¡±

    Kaelith patted his chest.

    Aizen, eyes closed, seemed to be resting. Hearing Kaelith¡¯s voice, he opened his eyes.

    ¡°Kaelith, I went to the Great Spirit Library again today.¡±

    Kaelith paused, surprised.

    He knew Aizen had visited before. But back then, the Soul Society was in chaos. The Tsunayashiro family, who managed the library, had no time to tighten security. Now that defenses were restored, sneaking in would be risky.

    He was about to remind Aizen of the danger when Aizen spoke up first:

    ¡°We¡¯ve run into a problem.¡±

    Under Kaelith¡¯s gaze, Aizen took out a glass bottle and tossed it to him.

    Kaelith caught it and sensed the spiritual pressure inside.

    It felt heavy, oddly familiar.

    He frowned.

    This spiritual pressure seemed to come from a Shinigami, yet was somehow different.

    It was as if the spiritual pressure had rotted and turned into something else.

    That made no sense.

    When a Shinigami died, their reishi gradually dispersed into the air. There was no concept of it ¡°spoiling.¡±

    So what was in his hand?

    Before he could ask, Aizen said:

    ¡°This is the spiritual pressure of Gosuke Kenpachi.¡±

    ¡°To be precise, the reishi particles left after his death.¡±

    Kaelith blinked in surprise.

    Aizen continued, ¡°You¡¯ve heard about the Konso Reisai, right?

    ¡°This bottle of spiritual pressure is the real reason for the Konso Reisai¡¯s existence!¡±

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172

    Two figures raced through Rukongai, hurrying under the night sky.

    They ran all the way to the western outskirts of Rukongai. Opening a door concealed by Kid¨­, Kaelith slipped into the laboratory, pulling off the black hood over his head.

    On the way, Aizen had explained the current problem to him.

    He had secretly infiltrated the Great Spirit Library and found some information.

    If a Shinigami surpasses the threshold of third-class spiritual power, becoming captain-level, then after death, they can no longer merge back into the cycle of existence.

    Just like the bottle of reishi Aizen had shown Kaelith earlier.

    Dense, heavy, and indissoluble.

    If left unchecked, these reishi particles would remain in the Soul Society forever.

    The Soul Society, the Living World, and Hueco Mundo¡ªthese three worlds¡¯ stability is determined by the number and strength of souls they contain.

    If one world has too many or too powerful souls, it will exert pressure on the other two worlds, and may even invade them.

    A captain-level individual¡¯s remains, producing indissoluble spiritual pressure after death, would continually increase the Soul Society¡¯s strength.

    One captain¡¯s corpse might not change much.

    But two, three, or even more, accumulated over time, would push the Soul Society forward, crashing into the Living World or Hueco Mundo.

    That would lead to mutual destruction.

    To prevent this, the Seireitei invented a ceremony.

    The Konso Reisai.

    On the surface, the Konso Reisai is just a farewell ceremony, no different from a funeral in the Living World.

    But in truth, its purpose is to open the Gates of Hell and dump the captain-level spiritual particles¡ªlike taking out the trash¡ªstraight into Hell.

    After hearing Aizen¡¯s explanation, Kaelith didn¡¯t know what to say.

    ¡°How can it be like this¡­? A Shinigami trains so hard, works themselves to the bone for the Soul Society, and after all these years, they end up like this?¡±

    Kaelith didn¡¯t know what Hell looked like.

    But judging from the appearance of the Gates of Hell in the animation, it was definitely no good place.

    ¡°There must be something wrong with this,¡± Kaelith said, frowning.

    Aizen also felt some regret.

    When he first saw these records, he¡¯d had a reaction much like Kaelith¡¯s.

    But he quickly realized that compared to these distant issues, the two of them faced a pressing threat right now.

    ¡°Kaelith, during the Konso Reisai, the ceremony¡¯s power will summon the deceased captains¡¯ reishi and cast them into Hell¡¯s Gate.

    ¡°At that time, the people hosting the ceremony will discover that the captains they believed dead¡ªShinchira Renzosuke, Takada Tai, Kuchiki K¨­ga¡ªare actually all still alive.

    ¡°Just think what will happen when the Seireitei realizes that Renzosuke, Takada, Kuchiki K¨­ga¡­ all of them never died.¡±

    Kaelith thought for a few seconds.

    Then realization dawned: ¡°The Seireitei will use every means to track these captains¡¯ spiritual pressures¡­ to prevent them from mounting another attack.¡±

    Aizen nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±

    He parted his lips as if to say more, but then stopped.

    The best solution now would be to kill a few captains to lower the Seireitei¡¯s guard.

    Then they could move the more valuable ones¡ªthose they couldn¡¯t bear to kill¡ªinto Hueco Mundo, letting the Seireitei assume that Kuchiki K¨­ga survived and is now with Tsunayashiro Senzo, thus deceiving them.

    However, this plan was somewhat cruel. Aizen wasn¡¯t sure whether Kaelith would agree.

    In the past, they believed death simply meant rejoining the cycle of souls, nothing truly frightening.

    But now that they knew about the Konso Reisai, could Kaelith bring himself to choose to kill some of these individuals?

    While he pondered, Kaelith tutted and shook his head. ¡°S¨­suke, such a simple problem, and you¡¯re so conflicted.

    ¡°It seems I must reconsider whether to keep you as one of the two great wise men under Kaelith.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    ¡®One of the two great wise men under Kaelith¡¯¡ªwhat kind of insult was that?

    He pressed his lips together, holding back the urge to retort.

    ¡°You have a solution?¡± he asked, curious about what clever idea Kaelith might have.

    Under Aizen¡¯s gaze, Kaelith crossed his arms over his chest:

    ¡°Why not just kill them all? Once the old man sees all the heads accounted for, he won¡¯t bother searching anymore, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Aizen fell silent.

    He must have been out of his mind expecting a decent idea from this guy.

    Confused, he said, ¡°You don¡¯t mind them being thrown into Hell? Just now you seemed unable to accept it.¡±

    Kaelith gave him a strange look: ¡°Why would I mind? Those guys were all enemies who wanted my life.

    ¡°For friends, be as warm as a spring breeze; for enemies, be as merciless as a harsh winter!¡±

    Aizen considered this for two seconds, then nodded slightly.

    Kaelith¡¯s words, though rough, had a certain truth.

    Kaelith continued, ¡°Besides, being tossed into Hell might not be worse than becoming your test subjects, right?¡±

    ¡°The last sentence was unnecessary.¡±

    Aizen cut him off, annoyed.

    He glanced at a few jars nearby:

    ¡°Kuchiki K¨­ga¡­ such precious material, and you say to kill him just like that? Go capture another one for me, then?¡±

    Choosing a few to kill already hurt him.

    Yet Kaelith wanted to kill them all¡­ Couldn¡¯t he show some humanity? Had he no kindness?

    Seeing that Kaelith was okay with the killing plan, Aizen laid out his actual plan.

    After listening, Kaelith stroked his chin.

    ¡°Moving Kuchiki K¨­ga to Hueco Mundo? Then we¡¯d need to build a sub-base in Hueco Mundo.

    ¡°That¡¯s not just troublesome, it¡¯s dangerous.

    ¡°After all, we¡¯re both double-wanted criminals by Senzo and Baraggan. Going to Hueco Mundo now would be full of perils.¡±

    Aizen looked at him in surprise.

    This guy realized the key point immediately.

    Indeed, as Kaelith said, the hardest part of his plan was how to establish a base in Hueco Mundo.

    If they were discovered by Baraggan¡¯s subordinates during construction, the consequences would be dire.

    After pondering a moment, Aizen sighed inwardly.

    Forget it¡ªso long as they survive, there will be other opportunities.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga was precious, but not at the cost of their exposure and destruction.

    If Aizen were discovered, Kaelith would also suffer since their relationship was no secret in the Seireitei.

    He prepared to accept Kaelith¡¯s original suggestion.

    But before he could speak, Kaelith grinned:

    ¡°Well, since my good brother asked, I, Kaelith, can¡¯t pretend I didn¡¯t hear.

    ¡°So you want a base in Hueco Mundo¡­ I¡¯ll help you!¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s confident expression, Aizen blinked.

    Suppressing a hint of happiness, he said seriously, ¡°Kaelith, this is not the time for bravado.¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°Bravado? That word doesn¡¯t exist in Kaelith¡¯s dictionary.

    ¡°Just watch, S¨­suke. What you want, I¡¯ll help you achieve!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173

    Long chapter again!

    ---------------------------

    Two sharp knocks rang out in the quiet of the night.

    Tap tap tap!

    Tap tap tap!

    The urgent, deathly sound of knocking startled Urahara Kisuke awake.

    He lay in bed, body motionless, yet his hand had silently gripped his Zanpakut¨­.

    Then he glanced at the clock on the cabinet.

    Past three in the morning¡­

    At this hour, if there were an emergency mission, the Onmitsukid¨­ would have delivered it directly.

    They wouldn¡¯t just knock on the door.

    He tried sensing the spiritual pressure outside.

    There was nothing.

    Had whoever it was left?

    Just as he was thinking that, the knocking came again¡ª

    Tap tap tap!!

    Urahara Kisuke¡¯s scalp prickled.

    This was too much like a haunting!

    He rose cautiously, hand on his Zanpakut¨­, ready to activate the Blood Mist Shield at any moment.

    Then he crept toward the window, pressing close to it, and peeked toward the door.

    In the pitch-black night, a face full of smiles was right at the window, staring back at him.

    ¡°Yeegh!!¡±

    Urahara Kisuke¡¯s hair stood on end, and he jerked backward several steps.

    Just as he reflexively prepared to release his Zanpakut¨­, he suddenly realized that face looked familiar.

    Smack!

    Urahara slid open the door, furious.

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, you must be so bored that you¡¯d come frighten me in the middle of the night for amusement?!¡±

    Kaelith blinked in mild surprise.

    ¡°Mr? Really? anyhow how could that be¡­ I felt bad disturbing you so late, so I tried smiling to lessen your anger. How could you think such a thing of me?¡±

    Urahara Kisuke sneered inwardly.

    If you hadn¡¯t predicted I¡¯d check the window and squatted there to startle me, I might¡¯ve believed you.

    Seeing Urahara was unconvinced, Kaelith coughed loudly.

    ¡°Ahem, Kisuke, I have not slept, and you have not slept. Such a coincidence.¡±

    ¡°Look, I brought some snacks and wine. Care to have a midnight snack together?¡±

    Hearing his claim that Urahara had also not slept, the latter mentally cursed a thousand times. But in the end, it all condensed into one sentence:

    ¡°Please come in.¡±

    If it were anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t bother.

    He had no desires or ambitions; as long as he could slack off every day, get his paycheck, and occasionally indulge in some research, he was happy. (t/N My spirit animal)

    But Kaelith was different¡­

    Offend him, and he could ruin you.

    Forget anything else¡ªjust dumping months¡¯ worth of backlogged paperwork on Urahara would be enough to break him.

    Inviting Kaelith inside, the two sat facing each other.

    After a few sips of wine, Kaelith spoke gently:

    ¡°Kisuke, I see your recent project is going well, so you must have some free time now.¡±

    ¡°How about combining work and rest? Take on a different sort of small project to refresh yourself?¡±

    Here it came.

    The big one was coming!

    Urahara Kisuke mentally sounded an alarm.

    He tensed, still smiling. ¡°What does Third Seat Kaelith want?¡±

    To appease Kaelith, he¡¯d already prepared a new-generation game development engine.

    If Kaelith¡¯s request was too outrageous, he¡¯d whip out this secret weapon to delight him, then change the subject.

    Kaelith¡¯s Weapon: Prototype Edition!

    Under his watchful gaze, Kaelith said:

    ¡°I want to build a base in Hueco Mundo.¡±

    ¡°This base must be of a certain size, easy to hide, sturdy and durable, block spiritual pressure¡­

    Most importantly, it must be constructed quickly¡ªpreferably completed within one day from start to finish!¡±

    Urahara Kisuke: ¡°?¡±

    His expression twisted from calm to contorted.

    If it weren¡¯t Kaelith asking, he would have cursed long ago.

    Just listen to that request!

    He would have immediately surrendered and said it couldn¡¯t be done.

    But before he could speak, Kaelith¡¯s calm voice interrupted:

    ¡°Kisuke, I must complete this project.¡±

    ¡°No matter what resources, what power, what help you need, I will do my best to provide it.¡±

    ¡°This is my life¡­ well, half my life¡­ at least? No! It¡¯s my biggest request this year!¡±

    Urahara Kisuke: ¡°¡­¡±

    Without that last sentence, it might have been quite impactful.

    He scratched his head, grimacing. ¡°Third Seat Kaelith, your request is too outrageous. Even if I team up with Aizen and Mayuri, it¡¯d be almost impossible.¡±

    ¡°The earlier requirements might be managed, but that final one¡ªbuilt in a single day¡ªrequires large numbers of autonomous devices. I don¡¯t have that many materials, and I¡¯m missing key technologies.¡±

    Kaelith didn¡¯t hesitate: ¡°Write it all down. I¡¯ll try to find them.¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s determined attitude, Urahara sighed and got to work.

    Though he always complained, he was genuinely grateful to Kaelith.

    Ever since Kaelith joined the Second Division, Urahara¡¯s life had improved immensely.

    Especially after the Kaelith Technology Bureau was established, life was like heaven.

    He¡¯d originally become a Shinigami just for a stable job, to earn some money and to invest in his hobbies.

    Now, thanks to Kaelith, even if he stopped being a Shinigami, he¡¯d still be living well, doing what he loved.

    To repay this guy, working overtime a bit was no big deal.

    ¡­

    Carrying the list Urahara wrote, Kaelith returned to the Second Division barracks.

    On the way, he held an oil lamp in one hand and the list in the other, studying it repeatedly.

    He recognized only a few items¡­ Tomorrow, he¡¯d sort them out, try asking Yoruichi, or old man Ginrei for help.

    With that in mind, he put the list away and headed to his dorm to sleep.

    But as he reached the officers¡¯ dorm area, he suddenly stopped.

    His soul domain warned him that two people were standing outside his room.

    Sensing their spiritual pressure, he found almost nothing.

    To achieve that, either they wore spiritual pressure-blocking cloaks like he did sometimes, or they had a secret technique to conceal themselves.

    Either way, they weren¡¯t ordinary people.

    No doubt they were waiting specifically for him.

    Could it be remnants of Tsunayashiro?

    Curious, Kaelith moved forward.

    His shadow slipped away, merging with the night, approaching the two from another angle.

    Before he got too close, the two seemed to sense something.

    Under Kaelith¡¯s watchful gaze, they stepped out of the darkness on their own.

    They wore black kimonos and white noble haori over them.

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    They didn¡¯t wear spiritual pressure-blocking cloaks, meaning their ability to hide spiritual pressure was their own skill.

    When did nobles start producing such talent?

    After approaching him, the two raised their hands in a respectful greeting.

    One spoke:

    ¡°Pleased to meet you, Third Seat Kaelith.¡±

    The other followed:

    ¡°Forgive us for this late-night intrusion.¡±

    ¡°We are emissaries sent by the Sarunomiya family. My name is Sarunomiya K¨­sei.¡± (t/N see notes)

    ¡°My name is Sarunomiya Jin.¡±

    ¡°On behalf of the Sarunomiya family, we have come to ask for your help.¡±

    Hearing that name, Kaelith pondered for two seconds.

    Then he showed a somewhat enlightened yet surprised expression.

    The Sarunomiya family¡­ he knew of them.

    The last of the Five Great Noble Clans, who never participated in political affairs.

    They never got involved in noble power struggles or changes in the Gotei 13.

    Even when Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki fought fiercely, nearly destroying one side, Sarunomiya showed no reaction.

    They were so low-key that they didn¡¯t even hold a seat in the Central 46.

    Their only known activity was silently watching Hell.

    Any matter involving Hell and Hell¡¯s Gate was within their scope of attention.

    That was what Yamamoto had told him before when he asked about this family.

    Such a family had come to ask for his help?

    He asked, puzzled, ¡°Help with what?¡±

    Sarunomiya K¨­sei bowed: ¡°Please lend us your spiritual pressure to help suppress the Gates of Hell.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith was full of question marks.

    He understood every word, but strung together, he had no idea what they meant.

    The two weren¡¯t surprised by his reaction.

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, may we speak in private?¡±

    ¡°Fine, but I must search you first.¡±

    The two exchanged glances, then raised their arms, allowing Kaelith to check them thoroughly.

    Confirming they carried no dangerous Hueco Mundo devices or such, Kaelith nodded and led them into his room.

    After brewing some tea, he sipped slowly while listening to them.

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, you should be aware of the Gates of Hell.¡±

    ¡°Souls who committed great sins in life, too severe to be cleansed by a Zanpakut¨­, are dragged away by the Gates of Hell. This is the purpose of Hell¡¯s existence.¡±

    ¡°As a repository of evil, Hell accumulates more and more sin over time.¡±

    ¡°Some of these monstrous evils might try to break through Hell¡¯s Gate and return to the three worlds.¡±

    ¡°The Sarunomiya family¡¯s mission is to prevent that.¡±

    ¡°Whenever a powerful individual appears who can help suppress Hell, we approach them for assistance.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, we sincerely invite you to share a small portion of your spiritual pressure to bolster the strength sealing Hell¡¯s Gate.¡±

    Both bowed again.

    Kaelith, curious, asked:

    ¡°Who in the Seireitei is participating in this now?¡±

    Sarunomiya K¨­sei listed:

    ¡°Yamamoto Shigekuni, Unohana Retsu, Hirako Shinji, Kuchiki Ginrei, Ky¨­raku Shunsui, Hikifune Kirio, Ukitake J¨±shir¨­¡­¡±

    Sarunomiya Jin added: ¡°Muguruma Kensei and Love Aikawa probably haven¡¯t been approached yet, since they are newer captains.¡±

    They continued: ¡°There was once Mizukage S¨­ya, a mainstay in sealing Hell¡¯s Gate, but after he was imprisoned in Muken, we can hardly borrow his strength.¡±

    K¨­sei nodded: ¡°Right, and Kuchiki K¨­ga¡­ He also provided spiritual pressure before, but recently, the reishi from him is extremely thin, like Mizukage in Muken. We don¡¯t know what happened to him.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s pupils contracted slightly.

    Surprised, he asked: ¡°Kuchiki K¨­ga? He¡¯s alive? Where is he?¡±

    K¨­sei showed an apologetic look:

    ¡°Sorry, we cannot know. The contract with Hell¡¯s Gate only shows how much spiritual pressure we obtain from each signer, not their situation or location.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s face remained neutral.

    But inside, he felt like he¡¯d stepped on a cat¡¯s tail.

    These nobles had too many inexplicable tricks.

    Sarunomiya K¨­sei pondered: ¡°Within the Seireitei, that¡¯s mainly who we have.¡±

    Seireitei itself¡­

    Kaelith caught a strange note in their wording, filing it away mentally.

    After scanning the names again, Kaelith shook his head:

    ¡°I¡¯m just a Third Seat. I doubt I have the strength you need.¡±

    The names they gave were all top-tier captains. Even Kensei wasn¡¯t included, probably because he hadn¡¯t proven himself enough. (t/n: Why is my boy always catching strays?)

    If their standard was so high, how could they consider him?

    Sarunomiya Jin said: ¡°Please rest assured, Mr. Kaelith. Our standard is determined by a divine artifact.

    If the artifact believes you have the necessary strength, then you certainly can.¡±

    So it¡¯s not subjective, but judged by some device¡­

    Sarunomiya K¨­sei added: ¡°Mr. Kaelith, offering your spiritual pressure won¡¯t greatly affect your abilities.

    If Hell¡¯s Gate is stable, it won¡¯t draw on your reishi at all.

    Even if something does happen, the contract will prioritize stronger spiritual pressures first, like Yamamoto¡¯s.¡±

    Kaelith asked calmly: ¡°If the disturbance at Hell¡¯s Gate is unprecedentedly severe, could the signers be drained dry?¡±

    K¨­sei shook his head: ¡°No. According to our family¡¯s records, if Hell¡¯s Gate reaches an uncontrollable state, it¡¯ll break all contracts under Hell¡¯s power.

    Historically, Hell¡¯s Gate opened twice. Both times due to the sudden death of a great power loosening the seal.

    According to records, it never harmed the other contractors.¡±

    Kaelith nodded noncommittally.

    You talk, I listen.

    As for truth or not, Aizen can analyze later.

    Seeing Kaelith uninterested, Sarunomiya Jin spoke:

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, the Sarunomiya family can provide any reward within our power to those who help seal Hell¡¯s Gate.

    Wealth, weapons, secret techniques¡­¡±

    Kaelith asked, intrigued: ¡°Can you help me kill Tsunayashiro Senzo who fled to Hueco Mundo?¡±

    Jin gently shook his head: ¡°Sorry, we never involve ourselves in such conflicts.

    This rule has been upheld for a million years.¡±

    Kaelith nodded slightly.

    Then he thought of something.

    ¡°I¡¯ll list a few items. See if you can get them for me.¡±

    He took pen and paper, writing down several of the most difficult materials Urahara needed, picking out a few obscure ones to avoid revealing the project¡¯s nature¡­ sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ------------------------------

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174

    Another one!

    -----------------------------------

    ¡°The Sarunomiya family¡­¡±

    In the Fifth Division barracks, after listening to Kaelith¡¯s account, Aizen wore a thoughtful expression.

    After pondering a moment, he nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind. I¡¯ll find a chance in the next couple of days to investigate this matter.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t expected this family, which never showed off, to have such a mysterious ability. If what they called the ¡°divine artifact¡± was real, then him being targeted by them would be only a matter of time.

    Seeming to guess his thoughts, Kaelith smiled:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, S¨­suke.

    ¡°Before I came, I asked Yoruichi about it.

    ¡°The Sarunomiya family truly matches their own description¡­ Apart from opposing Hell¡¯s Gate, they never do anything that might cause trouble.

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s Sensei or the other noble houses, none can forcibly extract information from them.¡±

    Aizen shook his head: ¡°In the end, it¡¯s just that their methods aren¡¯t strong enough.

    ¡°If we had Muramasa¡¯s power and forcibly broke into their minds, we could easily obtain the desired information.¡±

    Kaelith sighed: ¡°You love Muramasa deeply.¡±

    Aizen sighed: ¡°Such a fine Zanpakut¨­, sadly entrusted to the wrong person.¡±

    Kaelith nodded: ¡°If I had Muramasa, I¡¯d achieve great things.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Giving Muramasa to Kaelith would be a different kind of ¡®entrusted to the wrong person.¡¯

    For Kuchiki K¨­ga, it was given to the wrong person.

    For Kaelith, it wouldn¡¯t even be given to a person¡­

    Just then, a squad member arrived, handing Aizen a box.

    The man¡¯s eyes brimmed with admiration as he looked at Aizen.

    ¡°Lieutenant Aizen! The Captain asked me to bring this to you!¡±

    Lieutenant?

    Catching the keyword, Kaelith suddenly craned his neck over.

    Before Aizen could move, Kaelith snatched the box away. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Opening it, he found a wooden plaque inscribed with the number ¡°Five¡± and decorated with the Amatsuki flower (Japanese Andromeda).

    Staring at the plaque, Kaelith stood as if struck by lightning.

    He widened his eyes, glaring at Aizen.

    ¡°S¨­suke¡­ what is this?!¡±

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    ¡°This is proof of your betrayal!¡±

    Kaelith cut Aizen off, clutching his chest and staggering back several steps.

    ¡°Back then, we clearly agreed to remain steadfast, never yielding to the wicked Hirako Shinji for wealth and rank. How could you fall now?!¡±

    Aizen felt his blood pressure rise slightly.

    Why he accepted this thing, didn¡¯t Kaelith know?

    Around midday, Hirako Shinji had organized a team luncheon to celebrate their new lieutenant.

    Aizen, who looked like a fresh college student and radiated harmlessness, sat beside the wily old-timer Hirako Shinji, forming a stark contrast.

    Hirako Shinji¡¯s attention, however, was elsewhere.

    ¡°Kaelith! You scoundrel, this is the Fifth Division¡¯s gathering, why are you here?!¡±

    ¡°Captain Hirako, have you grown so old that your memory¡¯s muddled? It¡¯s a gathering, so obviously I came to eat.¡±

    As he spoke, Kaelith casually picked out the carrots from his plate and shoved them onto Hirako Shinji¡¯s plate.

    ¡°Hey hey, what¡¯re you doing? I don¡¯t want carrots!¡±

    Hirako Shinji complained while stealthily trying to pass the carrots over to Aizen.

    Smack!

    Halfway through extending his chopsticks, he realized that Aizen had silently placed an invisible Kid¨­ wall between them.

    ¡°Y-You traitor, S¨­suke!¡±

    Hirako Shinji lamented in heartbreak.

    Aizen, after hearing this accusation, calmly glanced at him, then turned back to continue eating.

    As soon as Hirako looked away to quarrel with Kaelith again, Aizen dumped his carrots over as well.

    When Hirako finally finished bickering and turned back, he saw even more carrots piled on his plate, eyes widening in disbelief.

    He suddenly felt that this Fifth Division might soon not be his Fifth Division anymore¡­

    ¡­

    That afternoon, Kaelith went to train swordsmanship with Yamamoto at the First Division dojo.

    During a break, he took the opportunity to inquire about the Sarunomiya family.

    Hearing Kaelith bring them up, Yamamoto showed surprise.

    This brat had already grown to the point where the Sarunomiya family took notice?

    Seeing his curious disciple staring, the old man felt a touch of complexity.

    ¡°As for the Sarunomiya family, you need not worry.

    ¡°This clan¡¯s entire focus is on Hell¡¯s Gate. Since the birth of the Soul Society, they¡¯ve never done anything unrelated to Hell¡¯s Gate.

    ¡°If they¡¯ve suddenly approached you, it¡¯s probably because of the soul¡ª¡±

    Mid-sentence, Yamamoto stopped.

    After a few seconds of silence, he said slowly:

    ¡°Decide for yourself. Hell¡¯s Gate has only opened twice in a million years, virtually zero probability.

    ¡°Signing a contract with the Sarunomiya family can yield many benefits. It¡¯s not a bad deal.¡±

    Kaelith asked curiously, ¡°Teacher, what did you exchange for back then?¡±

    ¡°Shin¡¯¨­ Academy.¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s gaze grew nostalgic:

    ¡°When I founded the academy, I lacked many things.

    ¡°Teaching materials, building, land, student recruitment, and publicity¡­

    ¡°I asked the Sarunomiya family with a trial mindset.

    ¡°By the next evening, everything I needed to open the academy was delivered before me.

    ¡°Thanks to their help, Shin¡¯¨­ Academy opened ten years earlier.¡±

    Kaelith nodded lightly.

    As expected of Yamamoto Shigekuni, using such an opportunity to build a school without hesitation¡­

    Suddenly, he recalled another question.

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s gaze, Kaelith explained how he asked the Sarunomiya family how many had signed the contract within the Soul Society.

    Hearing that Kuchiki K¨­ga might still be alive made Yamamoto frown.

    If there was one Shinigami in the Soul Society he found most troublesome, it was unquestionably Kuchiki K¨­ga.

    Facing Kuchiki K¨­ga was like guarding against a thief every day.

    One lapse in mental defense, and Muramasa could invade, subverting Zanpakut¨­.

    Kuchiki K¨­ga alive was not good news¡­

    After Kaelith finished, he added: ¡°Teacher, the two also specifically said ¡®the Soul Society itself only these people.¡¯

    What did they mean by ¡®the Soul Society itself¡¯?¡±

    Hearing this, Yamamoto pondered a while.

    ¡°Even I can¡¯t be sure.¡±

    ¡°In fact, I¡¯ve also guessed about this before.

    ¡°Decades ago, Hell¡¯s Gate stirred once. My spiritual pressure was involved in suppressing it.

    ¡°But strangely, the spiritual consumption wasn¡¯t as great as expected.

    ¡°It felt as if someone with power not much weaker than mine was suppressing Hell¡¯s Gate alongside me.¡±

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes:

    ¡°Yet when I asked the Sarunomiya family, they said the contract requires confidentiality, so they couldn¡¯t disclose it.¡±

    ¡°Brat, if you come across similar clues later, you can pay attention.¡±

    Kaelith nodded.

    In his mind, a guess formed.

    If it really was who he thought, then the Sarunomiya family was indeed quite capable.

    That very night, the Sarunomiya family came back again.

    They brought every item Kaelith had listed from Urahara¡¯s requirements.

    Seeing their wealth and their tight-lipped policy, Kaelith didn¡¯t bother nagging. He directly signed the contract.

    Upon Kaelith agreeing, the two Sarunomiya emissaries sighed in relief.

    Following their instructions, Kaelith completed a simple ritual.

    As an invisible thread of spiritual power connected to his soul, Kaelith felt a distant presence¡­ a colossal gate.

    A huge gate to Hell.

    On either side of the gate stood giant skeletal guardians, like gatekeepers, pressing their massive bony hands against it.

    Kaelith¡¯s consciousness circled the door a few times.

    He opened his eyes, nodding in satisfaction:

    ¡°Not bad, this Hell¡¯s Gate looks nicer than I expected.¡±

    Sarunomiya Jin was stunned.

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, you can see Hell¡¯s Gate directly through the contract?¡±

    Kaelith muttered, ¡°Not very clearly, but close enough.¡±

    In truth, he saw it far clearer than he admitted, practically experiencing it firsthand.

    Jin and K¨­sei exchanged a surprised glance.

    ¡°Mr. Kaelith, your affinity with Hell¡¯s Gate is the highest we¡¯ve ever seen.¡±

    ¡°If you ever encounter Hell¡¯s Gate during a mission, please keep your distance and don¡¯t approach.¡±

    They bowed again and left.

    Before departing, they gave Kaelith a communicator.

    If he decided on requests later, they¡¯d fulfill them to the best of their ability in fair exchange.

    Watching them leave, Kaelith stroked his chin.

    Affinity with Hell¡¯s Gate, they said?

    You¡¯ve piqued my curiosity. If you say I have a high affinity, how can I not test it? (t/N: I don''t think that is a good thing....)

    ¡­

    Time passed, and finally, the first act of the Konso Reisai¡ª¡°Seirei Menry¨­baku¡±¡ªarrived.

    All the vice-captains gathered together to enter the Living World via a Senkaimon.

    Leading them, of course, was First Division Lieutenant Sasakibe Ch¨­jir¨­.

    As the old man read out the precautions, most vice-captain¡¯s attention drifted to Kaelith.

    Although he¡¯d been a Shinigami for less than a year, Kaelith¡¯s legendary name had begun to spread.

    Information about Kaelith was tightly sealed, but at the vice-captain level, they had their own sources.

    Kaelith going alone to Hueco Mundo, protecting Yoruichi Shih¨­in for two days under Tsunayashiro¡¯s relentless siege and delivering her safely to the Central 46¡ªit was widely known.

    Facing the man who ended the Tsunayashiro dynasty, most vice-captains who hadn¡¯t interacted with him were naturally curious.

    Kaelith wanted to find Aizen for a chat.

    But as his gaze swept over the vice-captains, he spotted two familiar faces.

    Under Kaelith¡¯s cat-got-his-tongue stare, Yamada Seinosuke, with a ¡°Four¡± plaque on his arm, grinned broadly.

    Not far away, Kuchiki S¨­jun, wearing a ¡°Six¡± plaque, nodded shyly.

    Kaelith¡¯s eye twitched.

    He moved beside Yamada Seinosuke, lowering his voice:

    ¡°What¡¯s this about? With your third-rate skills, what are you doing here?¡±

    Yamada huffed:

    ¡°Our Fourth Division doesn¡¯t focus on combat, but on medical ability.

    ¡°I, Yamada Seinosuke, whether in medical knowledge, surgical skill, or healing speed, am now second only to one in the Fourth Division.

    ¡°I deserve the vice-captain position!¡±

    ¡°And you, who aren¡¯t even a real vice-captain, come here to join a vice-captains¡¯ event. That¡¯s what I call crashing the party!¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°¡­¡±

    Damn, he¡¯s got a point!

    Impressed by Yamada Seinosuke¡¯s logic, Kaelith chose another form of communication.

    A moment later, Yamada, now sporting a bruised eye and locked in a headlock by Kaelith, decided to adopt a more civilized tone. (t/N; bwhaha)

    Released by Kaelith, Yamada straightened his collar, thinking:

    A gentleman¡¯s revenge can wait ten years.

    Once Unohana Captain teaches me her swordsmanship, I¡¯ll have Kaelith groveling!

    Kuchiki S¨­jun walked over, smiling and separating them.

    Seeing Kuchiki S¨­jun, Kaelith felt a headache.

    Though S¨­jun¡¯s strength was decent, he was still too young.

    Lacking experience and reaction time compared to veterans, stepping into a vice-captain role so soon might not be good.

    If Kaelith remembered correctly, Kuchiki Byakuya¡¯s father died young.

    Probably because he rose too fast, with strength not keeping pace.

    No choice¡ªsince Kaelith was the father figure among their four peers, he¡¯d look after S¨­jun a bit.

    Thinking this, he pulled Aizen over too.

    Aizen looked at these people, feeling helpless.

    He felt more like they were heading to Shin¡¯¨­ Academy for school rather than going on a mission.

    Once ready, Sasakibe ordered the Senkaimon opened, leading the way in.

    Kaelith and the others followed suit.

    Passing through the long Dangai, the scenery of the Living World appeared before Kaelith¡¯s eyes!

    ¡­

    In the Living World, the vice-captains set up devices to attract Hollows and began their mission.

    Back in the Soul Society, Yamamoto stood in a secret place, spiritual pressure surging.

    Before him struggled a grotesque Hollow.

    Not far away, several Shinigami in noble robes watched quietly.

    As the ceremony proceeded, Yamamoto¡¯s spiritual pressure surged forward, disintegrating the Hollow into dust.

    With its death, a giant gate slowly opened.

    Within its crimson vortex, energy swirled.

    Yamamoto took out a spiritual pressure specimen and crushed it.

    Then he pointed toward the Gate of Hell¡ª

    ¡°Shinchira Renzosuke.¡±

    Minutes later, dark red reishi flooded in from all directions.

    These indissoluble reishi gradually formed a human shape¡ªShinchira Renzosuke!

    Now half-transparent, Renzosuke hovered in midair, looking at the Hell¡¯s Gate, then at Yamamoto, seemingly puzzled.

    Just awakened from death, his mind couldn¡¯t function fully.

    Before he could understand anything, Yamamoto¡¯s spiritual pressure pushed him into Hell¡¯s Gate¡¯s crimson vortex.

    Then Yamamoto crushed the second specimen.

    ¡°Gosuke Kenpachi!¡±

    One after another, Shinchira Renzosuke, Takada Tai, Gosuke Kenpachi, and the Tsunayashiro-aligned captains who qualified were all sent into Hell.

    Each soul sinking into Hell¡¯s Gate added a subtle emotion to Yamamoto¡¯s gaze.

    As for Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s send-off, it failed¡ªno reishi responded.

    It seemed Kuchiki K¨­ga truly hadn¡¯t died.

    When it came to Takada Tai, he briefly regained consciousness.

    He looked at Yamamoto, opened his mouth¡ª

    ¡°Kaelith¡­¡±

    ¡°Kuchiki¡­¡±

    He couldn¡¯t finish his words before sinking into Hell¡¯s Gate.

    Yamamoto felt puzzled.

    Kaelith, Kuchiki?

    Why mention these two surnames suddenly?

    His first thought was that someone in the Living World targeted Kaelith or Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    But soon he dismissed this idea.

    When Takada Tai died, he couldn¡¯t have known about the Konso Reisai or that Kaelith and Kuchiki S¨­jun would join it.

    After thinking, he concluded Takada Tai¡¯s words were just nonsensical utterances from a muddled mind.

    As he prepared to end the ceremony, the Sarunomiya family¡¯s observing Shinigami suddenly turned pale!

    ................

    .......

    ..

    In the Living World, as Kaelith hunted Hollows, his vision suddenly spanned countless distances, seeing something not before him.

    A Hell¡¯s Gate.

    In front of it stood Yamamoto Shigekuni.

    The giant gate shook violently, as if something inside¡­ was struggling to break out!

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175 **Buzz!**

    The moment the Gates of Hell appeared, Kaelith Yurei felt his Zanpakut¨­ tremble at his waist.

    It told Kaelith that it could break the illusion before him.

    Kaelith placed his hand on the hilt, comforting his Zanpakut¨­.

    He chose not to shatter the illusion.

    Because he felt that the scene before him was somehow connected to him.

    Aizen had previously mentioned that the true purpose of the Soul Burial Ceremony was to send captain-level Shinigami into Hell.

    The appearance of the Gates of Hell was certainly no coincidence.

    As expected, while the lieutenants were busy capturing Hollows, the Soul Society had already begun "sending people."

    Fortunately, Kaelith had taken precautions, having hidden K¨­ga Kuchiki in Hueco Mundo before the ceremony began.

    He hoped that K¨­ga would be lucky enough not to be discovered and devoured by a Hollow before he could set up his laboratory...

    As he thought of K¨­ga, the Gates of Hell shook violently.

    It was as if something was trying to push the doors open from the inside.

    Kaelith was momentarily startled.

    It''s you, the pipsqueak Alchemist! (t/N: The door from Full Metal Alchemist?)

    While internally scoffing, Kaelith prepared to return to the Soul Society.

    Hell was a realm unfamiliar to Shinigami.

    Though they often saw the Gates of Hell during missions, what lay beyond those gates was unknown.

    To date, no Shinigami had ever entered Hell and returned.

    The anomaly before him was uncertain.

    Yamamoto was powerful, but upon first encountering such a phenomenon, things often didn''t make sense. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Should something strange emerge from Hell, giving Yamamoto a minor shock from another realm, with the old man''s poor maneuvering combat style, it might actually catch him off guard.

    However, before he could act, he saw a surge of light from all directions.

    Within these lights, Kaelith sensed many spiritual pressures.

    He recognized most of them.

    But there were a few powers he had never seen before.

    Kaelith extended his consciousness to try and sense them more closely.

    But in a blink, these forces intertwined and merged, making them indistinguishable.

    The intertwined spiritual pressures formed chains, swirling around the Gates of Hell, and finally snapped tight, firmly binding the gates!

    The doors, which had been trembling violently and even opened a crack, gradually quieted under the pressure of the spiritual pressure chains.

    And the illusion before him also vanished.

    "Kaelith, what''s wrong?"

    Noticing something off about Kaelith, S¨­jun Kuchiki asked.

    Kaelith shook his head:

    "It''s nothing, just curious about the World of the Living for the first time."

    Hearing this, S¨­jun Kuchiki smiled: "If you''re interested in the World of the Living, you can come to my house."

    "The Kuchiki family has a private Senkaimon, which doesn''t require approval from the Gotei 13 and can be opened anytime."

    Seinosuke Yamada came over.

    "Kaelith, Lord Kuchiki, isn''t this meddling?"

    "The whole Seireitei knows that this guy Kaelith has gotten close with the young miss of the Shih¨­in family."

    "If he wants to use a Senkaimon, just using the Shih¨­in family''s would be more convenient than using yours, wouldn''t it?"

    Hearing this, S¨­jun Kuchiki showed a somewhat astonished expression.

    He had been training within the clan for over a year.

    Apart from occasionally chatting with Kaelith, he was almost cut off from outside information.

    He hadn''t expected that Kaelith would do such a significant thing.

    "Kaelith, are you planning to... marry into the Shih¨­in family?"

    S¨­jun Kuchiki asked in surprise.

    Kaelith appeared thoughtful. "Not sure, probably not."

    He was considering whether marrying into the family would affect his plans for making the Three Realms a paradise.

    S¨­jun Kuchiki then realized something.

    Indeed, although the Shih¨­in family was one of the five great noble families, with Kaelith''s talents and abilities, marrying into them would indeed be a bit of a shame.

    His mentor, Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto, would certainly not mind supporting him.

    At this critical moment, he couldn''t drop the ball... If Kaelith were to marry Yoruichi Shih¨­in, then let the Kuchiki family also stand as a backing!

    With this thought, S¨­jun Kuchiki nodded slightly, making up his mind.

    At that moment, Aizen casually approached Kaelith.

    "What''s happened?"

    Unlike S¨­jun Kuchiki, he wouldn''t be so easily fooled.

    Kaelith seemed worried about something.

    After checking to ensure no one was around, Kaelith whispered, "I just saw the Gates of Hell."

    Aizen looked at him with a hint of surprise.

    Kaelith described what he had just witnessed.

    After listening, Aizen pondered for a few seconds before responding:

    "That matches what I''ve seen in the Great Spirit Library."

    "However, the records do not mention that the Soul Burial Ceremony would trigger disturbances at the Gates of Hell."

    "But more than that, I''m curious... why can you see events happening far away in the Soul Society?"

    Kaelith was slightly startled, "Because I signed a contract?"

    "It''s possible, but my intuition tells me there''s a deeper reason."

    Thinking it over, Aizen advised:

    "Take the chance to ask your two brothers if they''ve seen these things."

    "Oh."

    Kaelith nodded.

    Seeing Kaelith''s indifferent expression, Aizen felt somewhat helpless.

    This guy has a lot of special qualities.

    Any one of them could change a Shinigami''s destiny.

    Yet, he himself doesn¡¯t take it seriously at all.

    Destiny... truly is an unfair thing.

    As the machinery operated, a special spiritual pressure spread in all directions, and one after another, Hollows began appearing in the city.

    The lieutenants were already prepared and sprung into action.

    Various binding spells blossomed like fireworks throughout the city.

    Some Hollows that they couldn''t capture in time, which might rush into the city and cause destruction, were slain by Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe.

    The little old man, who usually seemed like a butler with no combat skills, proved quite capable when it was time to act.

    Kaelith barehandedly took down a muscular Hollow, pulling its arms back and stepping on its back.

    Under his feet, the Hollow let out a scream of humiliation.

    Aizen decisively kept his distance, looking as if he had nothing to do with this person.

    Soon, the lieutenants had captured over twenty Hollows.

    Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe nodded and was about to declare the work done.

    But just then, a tearing sound like cloth being ripped apart came from the sky nearby.

    Everyone turned their heads to look.

    They saw a giant face slowly emerging from the sky!

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176

    Upon seeing the large face, the vice-captains all revealed expressions of surprise.

    "It''s a Menos Grande!"

    "A Gillian-class Menos Grande!"

    "Can this device actually attract a Gillian?!"

    In the midst of the crowd''s shouts, Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­ stood out.

    "Don''t panic!"

    "A mere Gillian-class Menos Grande is nothing to fret over!"

    Hearing Ch¨­jir¨­''s voice, some of the more nervous vice-captains immediately looked relieved.

    Observing their reactions, Kaelith was puzzled.

    What''s going on?

    It''s just a Gillian... Why are they so surprised?

    Kuchiki S¨­jun''s expression was stern, standing in front of Seinosuke Yamada as if facing a formidable enemy.

    This scene made Kaelith wonder for a moment if he had once again crossed over.

    Is this the world of Soul Reapers, now modified to a super difficulty level?

    Seemingly guessing his thoughts, Aizen approached him and whispered:

    "Many vice-captains are newcomers temporarily appointed after the war, like myself, so it''s normal to have never seen a Menos Grande."

    Kaelith glanced at him.

    The first part was fine, but the second part was a bit much.

    Just then, a cry of alarm sounded.

    Kaelith turned his head.

    And saw several black rifts opening.

    One after another, Gillians extended their claws from the fissures.

    These Gillians, shaking their bodies, began to emerge.

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow, "S¨­suke, you wouldn''t happen to be behind this, would you?"

    "?"

    Aizen looked over, puzzled.

    How could this be linked to him?

    His blood pressure rose.

    Seeing it wasn''t Aizen, Kaelith grew curious.

    "If it''s not you, then this is interesting."

    "So many Gillians appearing together, I can''t believe it''s a normal occurrence." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Aizen couldn''t help but roll his eyes.

    Even thinking with his toes, he knew this wasn''t normal...

    The Third Division''s vice-captain, Sen¨­ Chikane, couldn''t help but exclaim.

    "How can there be so many?!"

    Several younger vice-captains quickly looked towards Ch¨­jir¨­.

    Ch¨­jir¨­ frowned slightly.

    The device they used to attract Hollows had been tested and certified by the Twelfth Division, confirmed to only attract ordinary Hollows.

    Why were so many Gillians appearing?

    Was there a problem with the machine?

    With his own strength, defeating these Gillians would not be difficult.

    But, given the clearly unusual circumstances, if some new problem arose during the fight, that would be troublesome.

    He needed to find someone to help him...

    His gaze swept over everyone.

    Then it stopped on Kaelith.

    Seeing Kaelith, different from the others, calmly chatting with Aizen, Ch¨­jir¨­''s eyes lit up.

    Right, before coming to the Human World, the Captain-Commander had said, if you encounter any danger, find Kaelith for help!

    No wonder he was so composed even in such a crisis, having once ventured into Hueco Mundo.

    "Lord Kaelith! I..."

    Ch¨­jir¨­ spoke up loudly.

    He intended to say, "I''ll take care of these Gillians, you protect everyone else."

    But before he could finish, Kaelith nodded and said:

    "Don''t worry, old man Ch¨­jir¨­, I understand, leave it to me!"

    As he spoke, Kaelith chuckled and charged directly at the Gillians!

    Ch¨­jir¨­: "¡­"

    "Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­, I''m coming too!"

    Lisa Yadomaru shouted, chasing after Kaelith.

    As she chased, she called out to Kaelith''s retreating figure, "Kaelith! You take the east side, I''ll handle..."

    Before she could finish, she was astonished to see Kaelith draw his Zanpakut¨­.

    "Shatter defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!"

    As Kaelith shouted, a sword burning with blue flames appeared in his hand.

    After releasing his Zanpakut¨­, Kaelith laughed heartily, spinning in place.

    Two Zanpakut¨­, attached by long chains, began to whirl around him as the center.

    Blue firelight formed a giant circle of fire around Kaelith.

    As the flames flickered, the entire sky turned blue.

    Kaelith, transformed into a giant meat grinder with a radius of several tens of meters.

    This meat grinder charged into the midst of the Gillians, beginning to tear their bodies apart frenziedly.

    "Roar!!"

    "Ooh!!!"

    As the vice-captains watched in astonishment, Kaelith, wielding two swords, easily sliced all the Menos Grandes into pieces like cutting fruit.

    The formless Menos Grandes disintegrated into tiny spirit particles, vanishing between heaven and earth.

    Kaelith stopped spinning and drew his hands back.

    The black chains whirred back, wrapping around his arms.

    The twin blades also returned to his hands.

    And all this, in less than five seconds.

    Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­''s eyes widened.

    Out of respect for their master-servant relationship, he never watched when Kaelith and Yamamoto trained.

    And regarding spiritual pressure... Kaelith and Yamamoto always isolated their spiritual pressure during training.

    Thus, although he knew Kaelith was strong, even stronger than an average captain, he never imagined Kaelith was this powerful!

    Lisa Yadomaru paused for a few seconds, then gave a wry smile and relaxed her grip on the handle of her sword.

    She hadn''t even drawn her sword, and Kaelith had already finished the battle.

    Since her last defeat to Kaelith, she had been diligently training herself.

    She had hoped that maybe the next time they met, the gap between them would have narrowed.

    At least to win a move or half against him.

    But seeing Kaelith''s true strength, she realized his progress was far beyond her imagination.

    If she had grown by 5, then Kaelith... must have grown by 100!

    Thinking this, she felt somewhat defeated.

    From a distance, watching Kaelith easily dispatch the Gillians, Aizen''s eyes flashed with doubt.

    The appearance of these Gillians was clearly abnormal.

    The machine they brought to attract Hollows was nowhere near powerful enough to attract Gillians.

    But... to say this was some sort of conspiracy didn''t quite fit either.

    Tsunayashiro Senzo, although he had lost due to Yamamoto, was in fact very close to succeeding if that old mand hadn''t intervened.

    Such a person wouldn''t devise such a crude plan.

    He was genuinely curious about who the mastermind behind this could be.

    If it wasn''t Bailangan and Senzo''s subordinates, then perhaps not.

    If it was those two''s subordinates... then this attack was very likely an unauthorized action by their subordinates.

    After dispatching all the Gillians, Kaelith squinted and looked around.

    Finally, his gaze settled on an empty expanse of sky.

    "Stop hiding, come out."

    "My eyes, Kaelith Yurei''s, are sharper than teacher S¨­jun''s blade... thinking you can hide from me is pure fantasy!"

    As his words fell, a light chuckle sounded.

    "Hmm, I see."

    "No wonder that old Shinigami said not to bother you lightly."

    "Being able to see through my disguise, you do have some skill."

    As he spoke, the sky slowly twisted, revealing the figure hidden behind it.

    Seeing the appearance of the person across from him, Kaelith was momentarily stunned¡­

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177

    Long chapter again!

    ---

    Pink hair with a few golden highlights.

    Atop his head, two bony white horns stretched back toward his nape, reminiscent of Lu Bu''s headdress. (T/N: A flowing red or black tassels on top of his head, will show image.)

    He wore a white robe that lent him an air of elegance.

    On his face, he sported a pair of bony glasses.

    Although his appearance slightly differed from what Kaelith remembered, the overall impression was quite similar.

    With just one look, Kaelith guessed his identity.

    Curiously, he asked, "Szayelaporro?"

    "Hmm?"

    Hearing Kaelith call out his name so directly, Szayelaporro showed a hint of surprise.

    He squinted his eyes and smirked.

    "Kaelith, how do you know my name?"

    Kaelith didn¡¯t answer; instead, he laughed heartily.

    "I was wondering who it could be; turns out it¡¯s you, you freak."

    "A mere number eight dared to infiltrate the enemy camp alone; I admire your courage."

    "Hmm... looking at you, are you a half-Hollow?"

    "I didn¡¯t expect that a mere Adjuchas could come this far."

    "Though commendable, since you¡¯re here, you might as well not leave!"

    "I, the general, will prepare... prepare your last rites!"

    As his words fell, Kaelith charged directly.

    With a stomp, he shot out like a cannonball.

    Simultaneously, the short blade in his right hand, attached to a long chain, whisked towards Szayelaporro!

    Szayelaporro was full of question marks.

    Number eight?

    When had he ever participated in such a strange ranking?

    And that term "half-Hollow"...

    Describing his current state, it was actually quite fitting.

    From Kaelith¡¯s nonchalant demeanor, it seemed he might have encountered a "fully Hollowed" being.

    He had never seen a Vasto Lorde, but Kaelith had?

    And those last two lines, he nearly laughed out loud.

    Adjuchas?

    This Shinigami actually thought he was an Adjuchas?

    From his behavior, it seemed he was quite certain, as if he had obtained information about him somewhere.

    Could it be that he had seen the years of him being an Adjuchas himself?

    Or perhaps, met someone who had interacted with him during his Adjuchas years?

    Szayelaporro reminisced for a moment.

    When he was an Adjuchas... how many years ago was that?

    He couldn¡¯t quite remember.

    As he contemplated the swift passage of time, he opened his mouth as Kaelith approached.

    A purple energy ball rapidly formed.

    Feeling its power, Aizen¡¯s pupils constricted slightly.

    "Kaelith! Dodge!"

    In fact, before he could even speak, Kaelith had already begun to dodge.

    He didn¡¯t know why he needed to dodge, but his instincts told him trouble was brewing if he didn¡¯t!

    The next second, a purple light beam pierced the sky¡ª

    The terrifying spiritual pressure spread wave after wave.

    The pressure waves rushed outward, creating violent shockwaves, causing some newly appointed vice-captains, facing the onslaught of immense spiritual pressure, to nearly be blown away.

    Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe raised an arm in front of him.

    Feeling the intensity of the spiritual pressure in the air, his mind was turbulent.

    Originally, he too thought this was an Adjuchas-level Hollow, just a bit unusual in appearance.

    Now, he realized, this Hollow might be even beyond that!

    The legendary... Vasto Lorde!

    Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe broke into a cold sweat.

    Vasto Lorde was rumored to be among the rarest beings in all of Hueco Mundo.

    And one specifically targeting them?

    "Kaelith!"

    Kuchiki S¨­jun bellowed and charged toward Kaelith¡¯s direction.

    Seinosuke Yamada followed without hesitation.

    Even at this distance, just facing the aftermath, they felt as if their faces were being scraped by the force.

    Kaelith, facing the Hollow¡¯s cero, seemed to be in a dire situation!

    Kuchiki S¨­jun hurried, using full-speed Shunpo.

    But, halfway there, he was astonished to see Kaelith reemerging from the gradually dissipating Hollow¡¯s cero.

    Kaelith¡¯s hand groped the sword and extended forward.

    In front of him, several dark shadows were dispersing.

    Though he had been stopped, there appeared to be no injury to him.

    Seeing this, Kuchiki S¨­jun couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

    Seinosuke Yamada opened his mouth in surprise.

    Although he had heard Kaelith had become quite monstrous, he had no idea it was to this extent.

    In the distance, the vice-captains, who were nearly toppled by the recent spiritual pressure, were also somewhat shocked.

    Szayelaporro raised an eyebrow.

    Unlike those in the distance, he had seen clearly.

    Just moments before being hit, Kaelith had suddenly twisted his body, changing his position.

    From the core of the Hollow¡¯s cero, he had instantly moved to the edge.

    That wasn¡¯t entirely the Shinigami¡¯s Shunpo; it seemed to mix a bit of the Hollow¡¯s "Sonido."

    Then, he had switched from offense to defense, quickly converting the attacking spiritual pressure into defense.

    At the same time, he had used Kido or a similar Zanpakut¨­ ability to summon a shadow shield.

    Any of these actions would have been difficult to execute in such a critical moment.

    Yet, he had managed to complete them all instantly.

    He had some skill.

    Szayelaporro revealed a smile, licking his lips.

    Not far away, Kaelith let go of his sword hand, eyeing Szayelaporro with suspicion.

    "Hang?"

    "?!"

    Szayelaporro showed a puzzled expression, unsure of what Kaelith was saying.

    On Kaelith¡¯s side, it was even stranger.

    Szayelaporro... wasn¡¯t he Aizen¡¯s number eight Espada?

    In the story, he only tormented Uryu Ishida early on, and after Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck appeared, he had been completely outclassed by her.

    Why would such a minor character be able to use such a powerful Cero?

    Though he didn¡¯t understand, he quickly dismissed these thoughts from his mind.

    Why Szayelaporro had grown stronger wasn¡¯t important to him.

    What was urgent now was to get the vice-captains back to the Soul Society.

    A Vasto Lorde-level Menos Grande, and moreover, one that had become a half-Hollow on its own, was too dangerous to describe merely as "high."

    If things went wrong, the vice-captains present could be reduced by half.

    Thinking this, Kaelith prepared to run.

    But, just as he was about to create some distance, Szayelaporro suddenly laughed.

    "Weren¡¯t you just trying to keep me here? Now you can¡¯t run away."

    Saying so, he raised his arm and pointed a finger to the sky.

    Instantly, a circular barrier unfolded, enclosing him and Kaelith within.

    It was as if he had created an arena out of thin air.

    Kaelith looked around, his expression thoughtful.

    Szayelaporro smiled, "This barrier isn¡¯t very strong, but it¡¯s enough to block you for about a second."

    "A second is enough time; how much do you think I can do to you in that short distance?"

    Kaelith was curious. "You want to keep me here?"

    "Exactly."

    Szayelaporro nodded elegantly.

    He smiled, "As a scientist, I plan to take you back with me as my experimental material."

    Hearing this, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but laugh. All this time, it had been he and Aizen who went to Hueco Mundo to capture various Hollows for experiments.

    He had never thought the tables would turn, and today he¡¯d become the experimental material himself.

    Congratulations were in order.

    "Kaelith!"

    From a distance, Kuchiki S¨­jun rushed over.

    He gripped his sword, staring at Szayelaporro.

    Kaelith ignored him.

    He looked at Szayelaporro.

    "It seems you really want to fight me."

    "Do you have the strength to compete with me, Kaelith?"

    Szayelaporro showed a hint of displeasure. "Kaelith, although that old Shinigami speaks highly of you, in my view, you really don¡¯t have abilities worthy of such high praise."

    "Now, the one in a position to question from on high is me."

    "And you, no longer use that attitude!"

    Hearing this, Kaelith became angry.

    "A mere Hollow dares to speak to me, a Shinigami, in such a manner!"

    His eyes glared as he raised his sword.

    Then, he turned to Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    "You! Take those troublesome guys and get out of here!"

    "I¡¯m going to duel this Hollow one-on-one!"

    "If you dare come close, I¡¯ll cut you down too!"

    "Especially Ch¨­jir¨­, the old one is nearly falling apart. Tell him to get far away too, or he¡¯ll be the first I cut!"

    As he spoke, the spiritual pressure around him began to rise rapidly.

    Feeling Kaelith¡¯s increasingly strong and dense spiritual pressure, Szayelaporro showed a pleased expression.

    Very good.

    This test subject, from all aspects, was full of attraction.

    He must take him back to Hueco Mundo and study him inside and out!

    While Kuchiki S¨­jun, hearing Kaelith¡¯s unreserved words, initially felt a bit aggrieved and wanted to argue, he stopped himself.

    His father, Kuchiki Ginrei, had once told him:

    On the battlefield, it was crucial to observe all the details.

    Any oversight could lead to a complete loss.

    Kaelith wasn¡¯t someone who would say such things normally.

    There must have been a reason for this.

    He looked behind.

    Then, he understood why Kaelith was doing this.

    Among the vice-captains present, except for Ch¨­jir¨­ who had the qualifications to become a captain but voluntarily gave it up, no one else was qualified to participate in this level of battle.

    Kaelith was using himself as a decoy to allow others to retreat quickly.

    For a moment, Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s feelings were complex.

    But soon, he made up his mind.

    Biting his teeth, Kuchiki S¨­jun turned and flew away quickly.

    Only by making others retreat faster could he create a chance for Kaelith to escape!

    Regarding Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s departure, Szayelaporro didn¡¯t care.

    He only wanted Kaelith.

    Watching Kaelith, he showed a somewhat eager anticipation.

    Then, he was surprised to see Kaelith suddenly release his Zanpakut¨­, sheathing it back at his waist.

    Then, with both hands, Kaelith stripped off the top half of his Shihakush¨­.

    "?"

    Szayelaporro was stunned.

    Every Shinigami he had encountered before had been heavily dependent on their Zanpakut¨­.

    Even in death, they would die in the state of their sword¡¯s release.

    Who would do this¡ªfacing a formidable enemy, cancel the release on the spot?

    Under Szayelaporro¡¯s somewhat astonished gaze, Kaelith¡¯s figure flashed, appearing right in front of him.

    His fists, charged with Ikkotsu power, rained down continuous punches!

    "Oh oh... this power?!"

    Initially, Szayelaporro had wanted to test the power of Kaelith¡¯s fists, so he used his arms to block.

    But after taking a few punches, he started to feel intense pain in his arms.

    If this continued, his arms might break!

    This guy, even without using a sword, could deliver such strong attacks?

    In the distance, feeling the battle¡¯s spiritual pressure in the air, the vice-captains couldn¡¯t help but show surprised expressions.

    Kaelith¡ªwas he really this strong now?

    Should they go and help?

    Ch¨­jir¨­ frowned deeply, just about to say something, when he saw Kuchiki S¨­jun using Shunpo, appearing beside the others.

    "Lord Kuchiki, what did Lord Kaelith say?"

    "Kaelith told everyone to retreat... that humanoid Hollow, its state is very abnormal. Kaelith is holding it off to buy time."

    "Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­, please hurry!"

    Hearing this, Ch¨­jir¨­ nodded.

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­, pierced the air, and opened a Senkaimon.

    "Everyone, retreat into the Dangai... quickly!"

    Under Ch¨­jir¨­¡¯s direction, the vice-captains, one by one, dove into the Senkaimon.

    Before entering, they all saw Kaelith fiercely battling Szayelaporro.

    Although Kaelith was strong, that strange Hallow was clearly more powerful.

    It might not be long before Kaelith was defeated.

    Among them, even those who had just become vice-captains, were much more experienced than Kaelith.

    The thought that they were being saved by a junior, allowing them to escape with their lives, filled them all with a deep sense of shame.

    Seinosuke Yamada clenched his teeth tightly.

    Although he wanted to help Kaelith, he was well aware that as a medic, he couldn¡¯t really offer much help.

    After taking a deep breath, he stepped into the Senkaimon.

    Ch¨­jir¨­ wanted to stay but was pulled back by Kuchiki S¨­jun¡ª

    "Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­, Kaelith said you should leave too."

    "Nonsense!"

    Ch¨­jir¨­ was somewhat angry. "I am a Shinigami who has mastered Bankai. Now that the others have already evacuated, there¡¯s no need for me to protect them. Of course, I should go and help Lord Kaelith!"

    As he spoke, he had already drawn his Zanpakut¨­.

    Just then, a voice formed from condensed spirit particles entered his ear¡ª S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡¾Vice-Captain Ch¨­jir¨­, the opponent¡¯s strength is extraordinary. Please return to the Soul Society immediately and ask the teacher to take action!¡¿

    ¡¾Among those present, you are the fastest. This task can only be entrusted to you!¡¿

    Ch¨­jir¨­ was somewhat surprised, looking toward the battlefield.

    That voice just now was Kaelith¡¯s.

    And Kaelith, now fighting fiercely, was in full heat.

    In such intense circumstances, he was still able to stably transmit his voice...

    Had his strength already reached such a level?

    While reflecting, Ch¨­jir¨­ nodded.

    Because he had long served as Yamamoto¡¯s attendant, he had developed the habit of following commands in any situation.

    Although Kaelith wasn¡¯t his superior, he was, after all, Yamamoto¡¯s disciple.

    Before leaving, Lord Yamamoto had also said: if there¡¯s an issue, find Kaelith.

    Thus, after hearing those words, he no longer hesitated, plunging into the Senkaimon and charging full speed toward the Soul Society.

    Once Ch¨­jir¨­ and Kuchiki S¨­jun had left, Aizen breathed a sigh of relief.

    His simulated voice had been quite convincing. (t/N; ahh smart)

    Watching the Senkaimon close completely, he smiled.

    From the beginning, he had taken the opportunity to hide using bent light, turning to face Szayelaporro.

    Kaelith, that guy, had gone to great lengths to create an environment with no one present.

    He couldn¡¯t let him down.

    This Menos Grande had to be taken down!

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178

    Szayelaporro paid no heed to the Lieutenant¡¯s retreat. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had lived a very long time and seen countless Shinigami. For nearly a thousand years, almost every expedition team that ventured into Hueco Mundo had ultimately fallen into his hands. Among them, there had been no shortage of Lieutenant-level powerhouses. Yet to him, Shinigami of that caliber were nothing more than optional experimental materials.

    In comparison, Kaelith was much more to his taste.

    As Kaelith¡¯s relentless attacks continued, Szayelaporro mentally recorded every detail. Before long, he constructed a complex mathematical model of Kaelith¡¯s movements¡ªpunching force ranges, speed ranges, favored maneuvers, and potential reactions to various scenarios. With everything pre-calculated in his mind, his actions, initially somewhat constrained, soon became smooth and effortless.

    Though pleased, Szayelaporro was also somewhat annoyed. That old Shinigami named Tsunayashiro was truly detestable. The intelligence he provided to Las Noches had been full of gaps and omissions, missing pieces here and there. If Szayelaporro had known all of Kaelith¡¯s abilities in advance, he wouldn¡¯t have had to go through this hassle.

    Still, his dissatisfaction didn¡¯t run too deep. If he were in Tsunayashiro¡¯s position, he certainly wouldn¡¯t spill every secret either. Otherwise, who could say if he¡¯d even live to see the next day¡¯s moonlight?

    A slight smile curved Szayelaporro¡¯s lips. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

    Pa!

    At the moment that sound rang out, Kaelith felt his body stiffen slightly. Seeing his reaction, Szayelaporro chuckled softly.

    ¡°Feeling something off?¡± he asked. ¡°I regret to inform you that my skin is coated with a specially crafted reishi toxin. Each time your fists struck me, the toxin invaded you soundlessly. Even though you¡¯ve got a decent Reiatsu defense layer, against my special toxin, it just means it takes a bit more time.¡±

    ¡°Now, aren¡¯t you starting to feel like your body isn¡¯t listening to you?¡± Szayelaporro¡¯s voice was calm, almost pleasant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is just the beginning. Soon, you won¡¯t be able to move a muscle.¡±

    Crossing his arms, he displayed a mocking grin. Brute-force Shinigami like this were his specialty. He wasn¡¯t in any rush to haul Kaelith away¡ªjust as he wasn¡¯t eager to chase down the fleeing Lieutenants. Szayelaporro was no mindless killer. He derived more pleasure from toying with his prey than from simply killing them.

    Under his gaze, Kaelith¡¯s expression twisted with pain.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m starting to lose control of myself!¡± Kaelith cried out, his movements growing more rigid. The fierce, storm-like barrage of strikes gradually slowed to a mere drizzle.

    Szayelaporro seemed delighted by this spectacle. This Shinigami named Kaelith had such pleasing vocal reactions¡ªfar more agreeable than the stubborn ones he¡¯d captured before.

    Yes¡­ when he dissected this one later, he¡¯d try not to use anesthetics. What a pity it would be not to hear those lovely screams.

    As he entertained these thoughts, Szayelaporro raised a hand. Liquid began to flow from his fingertips. He planned to inject Kaelith with a few more potent ¡°medications,¡± then pack him up to bring back to Hueco Mundo.

    But just as he stepped forward, about to make his move, he sensed an abnormal fluctuation in Reiatsu. Whirling around, he saw, just a few meters away, a figure shrouded in a black cloak tearing apart the concealment of what seemed like Kyokk¨­. A young Shinigami, about the same age as Kaelith, suddenly burst forth. His face was expressionless, his eyes cold. With his Zanpakut¨­ raised high, he swung it down at Szayelaporro.

    Clang!!!

    Szayelaporro instantly drew his blade, clashing with Aizen¡¯s sword. Using his peripheral vision, he noticed a wooden badge on the man¡¯s arm¡ªan emblem of a Lieutenant. Szayelaporro¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise. Since when had Lieutenants in the Soul Society become this formidable? For a mere Lieutenant to hide his presence from Szayelaporro¡¯s senses and get this close, and to deliver such a heavy strike...

    In the past, any Lieutenant-level Shinigami facing a Vasto Lorde like himself would have been blown away in an instant. So that old Shinigami named Tsunayashiro had claimed the Soul Society¡¯s upper ranks were hollowed out by war? And yet they were fielding such capable Lieutenants. Hollowed out, indeed.

    As Szayelaporro reflected on this, he opened his mouth, ready to unleash a Cero on Aizen for a bit of shock and awe. Ever cautious, he didn¡¯t forget Kaelith behind him. Without even looking back, he raised his other hand and locked Kaelith down with a layer of Reiatsu shackles. First, he¡¯d handle this Shinigami who¡¯d ambushed him, and then he¡¯d take care of Kaelith.

    But in that moment, he saw a hint of mocking laughter in Aizen¡¯s eyes.

    Whoosh!!!

    To Szayelaporro¡¯s astonishment, a blade wreathed in intense blue flames suddenly arced upward at his side. One of his arms went flying, and before it could even fall, the fierce blue flames reduced it to ash in midair.

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Szayelaporro whirled, staring at Kaelith in shock.

    Kaelith grinned, wielding twin blades engulfed in blue fire. ¡°Sorry¡ªI was just pretending.¡±

    How was that possible?

    Szayelaporro¡¯s thoughts churned in confusion. Neither his paralyzing toxin nor the Reiatsu shackles should have been easily neutralized.

    How had Kaelith managed it?

    Before he could figure it out, Aizen¡¯s second strike was already on its way, and Kaelith¡¯s dual blades came crashing down as well.

    Szayelaporro swiftly employed Son¨ªdo to put some distance between them. Narrowing his eyes, he studied the twin blades in Kaelith¡¯s hands. Unsurprisingly, Kaelith¡¯s sword abilities must have broken the deadlock. The mounting curiosity made Szayelaporro itch all over. Even missing an arm, his excitement only grew.

    As Kaelith and Aizen closed in, Szayelaporro smiled and raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Drink deep and dance madly,¡± he intoned,

    ¡°Fornicar¨¢s!!¡±

    Witnessing Szayelaporro¡¯s action, Aizen¡¯s eyes lit up. A release! A Hollow unleashing a sword release, a power unique to Shinigami, right before his eyes. It aligned perfectly with his research¡ªerasing the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow.

    He took a deep breath, suppressing a surge of excitement. ¡°Kaelith, capture him alive. If we can take him, my experiments will enter a whole new phase!¡±

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s words, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.

    The Hollow opposite them wanted to take him back for experiments.

    His own ally wanted to capture that Hollow for experiments.

    He often felt that he just wasn¡¯t twisted enough to fit in with people like them.

    The moment Szayelaporro called out his release command, a violent wave of Reiatsu blasted outward in all directions.

    In the skies above, the heavy spiritual pressure poured down like a torrential flood.

    Under its onslaught, the air trembled fiercely, and everything in view seemed to warp and distort.

    Kaelith felt as if every bone in his body was creaking. This Reiatsu was truly terrifying¡ªfar stronger than what he¡¯d experienced even when Kuchiki K¨­ga used Bankai in the past.

    Was this really the Szayelaporro he remembered, the one who could barely handle Ishida Ury¨±?

    Suddenly, he recalled the release command Szayelaporro had spoken. If his memory served him right, Szayelaporro¡¯s original release phrase should have been ¡°Sip, Fornicar¨¢s.¡± What was this ¡°Drink deep and dance madly¡± supposed to be?

    It seemed the Szayelaporro before him was quite different from the one in his impressions. The Szayelaporro he knew of could only serve as a reference, not something to rely on fully. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As both Kaelith and Aizen watched, the swirling spiritual energy around Szayelaporro dispersed, revealing his transformed body.

    He now looked nothing like before. Initially, he had resembled a Shinigami more than a Hollow. Now he had fully reverted to a Hollow form.

    A pale mask covered his face, and two long white horns jutted upward. Four thick, wing-like appendages oozing viscous fluid swayed behind him. His white robe had transformed into flowing liquid, and his long, sleeve-like fingers had become ghastly white claws, their tips a dark purple. Each time they flexed, Kaelith thought of creatures like undead skeletons.

    With his release complete, Szayelaporro grinned beneath his white mask. ¡°Consider yourselves honored, Shinigami. Witnessing a Hollow perform a sword release¡­ it¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes went wide, stunned.

    Aizen glanced at him from the corner of his eye. ¡°What is it, Kaelith?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a minotaur! Look at those horns!¡± Kaelith pointed in astonishment at the white horns on Szayelaporro¡¯s head.

    Aizen looked at Szayelaporro¡¯s horns. There were indeed a pair of horns¡ªso what? He had no idea what Kaelith was on about, but he was used to it by now. He calmly ignored Kaelith and began an incantation:

    ¡°Ye scattered beast bones, spire, crimson crystal, steel wheels¡­¡±

    Without needing prior discussion, as Aizen chanted, Kaelith sprang into action. He leapt high, swinging both of his short blades wreathed in blue flames. The blades whirled through the air from different angles toward Szayelaporro. At the same time, blue flames erupted from Kaelith¡¯s shoulders and back.

    ¡°Flash Roar: Hell Chariot!¡±

    With a shout, Kaelith drove forward, fists raised, rushing straight at Szayelaporro.

    Two of Szayelaporro¡¯s wing-like appendages lashed out to intercept the incoming blades, while the other two lunged at Kaelith¡¯s body at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow.

    Boom!

    A flaming blue fist slammed into one of Szayelaporro¡¯s appendages, splitting it open. But another appendage struck Kaelith, breaking through his Reiatsu defense and shattering his collarbone. Since becoming a Shinigami, Kaelith had never faced an enemy with such destructive power.

    Yet he didn¡¯t pause even for a second. Within his body, a shadow-like power extended, bracing the broken bone and pulling the pieces back together. The pain was excruciating, but at least it wouldn¡¯t hinder his ability to fight.

    Kaelith had suffered far worse injuries before. This level of pain barely counted as anything.

    Seeing Kaelith continue his charge without slowing, Szayelaporro was surprised. He was certain he¡¯d just crushed one of Kaelith¡¯s crucial bones. Was this guy some kind of battle maniac?

    Meanwhile, the other two appendages met Kaelith¡¯s twin blades. Protected by a thick layer of Reiatsu, the appendages formed a sturdy defense, intending to catch the blades. But the moment they touched the blade edges, they were sliced apart with ease, as if that defense didn¡¯t exist at all.

    Szayelaporro took note of this from the corner of his eye. Although two appendages were severed, he remained calm. It seemed his guess was correct: Kaelith¡¯s blades had a special property, likely something like ignoring defenses. A troublesome ability, but if put to good use, it would make Kaelith a fine laboratory assistant as well as a test subject.

    Ah, now he was daydreaming. If the blades could bypass defenses, then there was no point trying to block them. He decided to use all the appendages for direct attacks instead.

    Kaelith stepped forward, riding the storm conjured by Ikkotsu, crossing the short distance in a flash until he was right in front of Szayelaporro. The twin Rixiang Jimie blades, chained to him, swung back at his command to deal with Szayelaporro¡¯s appendages.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith himself unleashed a punch.

    At the moment he struck, the power of the shadows merged into his arm.

    S¨­kotsu!

    Bang!

    The punch landed squarely on Szayelaporro¡¯s face. Szayelaporro tilted his head slightly and focused his Reiatsu to divert some of Kaelith¡¯s strength, but the blow still tore off a chunk of his face and knocked out half of his molars, leaving him looking like a horror movie character.

    Without waiting for Szayelaporro to react, Kaelith darted aside. From behind him came a roaring blast of golden Reiatsu:

    A fully-incanted Raik¨­h¨­, cast by the Kido prodigy Aizen!

    A golden tidal wave of Reiatsu instantly swallowed Szayelaporro, rushing across the distant sky.

    Kaelith halted in midair not far away. He didn¡¯t wait for the Raik¨­h¨­ to dissipate. He immediately flung out his chain-bound twin blades once more, slicing toward Szayelaporro¡¯s position. Without a doubt, such an assault wouldn¡¯t be enough to finish Szayelaporro off. Aizen knew this well.

    After launching Raik¨­h¨­, Aizen began chanting again without hesitation, raising a single finger and reciting his favorite Kido:

    ¡°Veiled by murky crests, the unyielding and arrogant prowess¡­¡±

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180

    ¡°Hado #90: Kurohitsugi!¡±

    As Aizen completed the full incantation, black spiritual pressure surged upward, forming a towering wall of energy. Like layered data stacking upon itself, it enclosed the lingering smoke from the previous Raik¨­h¨­ blast¡ªand Szayelaporro along with it.

    A massive, pitch-black cuboid of spiritual pressure rose several dozen feet tall in the air, a truly imposing sight. Yet beneath its calm exterior, the interior raged with a storm of razor-sharp energy.

    After a few seconds, the black spiritual energy dissipated, revealing Szayelaporro¡¯s figure. His body was now riddled with wounds of varying sizes.

    The teamwork between Kaelith and Aizen had been almost too seamless. Szayelaporro felt like a character caught in a fighting game combo, launched into the air and pummeled repeatedly. He¡¯d let his guard down for just a moment¡ªyet by the time he regained his senses, half his health bar was gone.

    More than the damage from Kurohitsugi, what stood out was the long gash across his chest, deep enough to expose writhing internal organs. Blue flames danced along the wound, preventing it from healing. He hadn¡¯t suffered injuries this severe since becoming a Vasto Lorde.

    He glanced at Kaelith and Aizen, who were already gearing up for their next attack. So young, yet so powerful. Perhaps that old Shinigami¡¯s warning about Kaelith being troublesome hadn¡¯t been entirely off. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Still, if these two brats thought this would be enough to beat him, they were sorely mistaken.

    As Kaelith and Aizen watched, Szayelaporro smiled, just about to speak when a sharp voice cut him off:

    ¡°What are you smiling at? No smiling! We¡¯re in the middle of a fight¡ªshow some seriousness!¡±

    Szayelaporro froze. ¡°¡­?¡±

    Irritated, he looked toward Kaelith. Moments ago, Kaelith had been grinning the whole time. Now he wouldn¡¯t let Szayelaporro smile even once? But before he could retort, another thought crossed his mind. Curiosity won out over anger.

    ¡°Kaelith, why aren¡¯t you affected? My reishi toxin clearly invaded your body, so why hasn¡¯t it done anything?¡±

    Kaelith paused, a hint of melancholy flickering across his features.

    In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, there were two top-class inventors: Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Both enjoyed creating various drugs. To research these substances, they needed test subjects. For ordinary drugs, it was easy¡ªthey could just find a few ¡°volunteers¡± from the Stealth Force.

    But high-level drugs targeted at elite Shinigami posed a different challenge. During their long years of experimentation, Urahara and Kurotsuchi had conducted countless tests on themselves. Both had developed tremendous drug resistance. Most new concoctions barely had any effect on them.

    After hitting a research dead-end a few times, they came up with a bold plan. Armed with their latest game concept, they approached Kaelith for help as a test subject. To ensure Kaelith wouldn¡¯t refuse, they swore that their drugs were harmless, and even if there were some danger, it would remain within controlled limits.

    Kaelith greeted their promises with a cold smile. Kurotsuchi swearing an oath was about as trustworthy as a vow made beside a dried-up river. Yet the two seemed to anticipate Kaelith¡¯s skepticism. For an entire day, they hovered around him, showering him with lavish praise:

    ¡°Kaelith, your strength is unmatched through the ages, your physical prowess so great that even former Kenpachis would be children at play before you!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith, your luck is extraordinary. Where others see hardship, you find opportunity!¡±

    ¡°Surely with your keen intellect, you can see these drugs pose no danger.¡±

    ¡°Your wisdom shines like a beacon, illuminating our path forward!¡±

    Hearing their flattery, Kaelith tilted his chin upward.

    ¡°Though your motives are impure, at least you¡¯re honest. You could have fabricated virtues I don¡¯t possess, but instead you praised the qualities truly mine. Very well, in light of your honesty, I shall assist you!¡± (t/N; haha this guy)

    At this, Urahara¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Bring the medicine!¡±

    That night, Kaelith felt he understood the origins of the universe and the future of humanity. He imagined colorful little people dancing in his room. Aizen, Urahara, and Kurotsuchi held hands, their bodies shining in all sorts of hues, performing a dance like the Four Little Swans. Smiling all the while, they looked at him as if to say: ¡°We¡¯re three and need one more¡ªjoin us?¡±

    The next day, Kaelith swore he would never drink their concoction again. Immediately, Urahara and Kurotsuchi began their second round of praise.

    On the third testing attempt, Kaelith adamantly refused, insisting that no amount of flattery would change his mind. Then, as he watched, Urahara and Kurotsuchi pulled out a manuscript¡ªa book still in progress, titled ¡°Kaelith¡¯s Wisdom.¡± It covered every aspect imaginable: system development, programming logic, software creation, modeling, and illustration. Though each chapter was only partially complete, Kaelith could already envision the grand spectacle it would create once finished.

    Overjoyed, he then frowned slightly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t contribute that much to the game¡¯s development¡­ We should revise the title.¡±

    This surprised both Urahara and Kurotsuchi. Had Kaelith changed his personality?

    Then Kaelith said, ¡°Let¡¯s call it ¡®The Wisdom of Kaelith and His Subordinates¡¯!¡± (t/N; I am dying over here)

    Urahara, Kurotsuchi: ¡°¡­¡±

    Excellent. Still the same Kaelith they knew, reassuring in his predictability.

    Enticed by the book, Kaelith continued testing the drugs a third time, fourth time¡­ and many more times after that.

    Over the course of a year, forget mere anesthetic toxins¡ªeven lethal poisons would only have about a fifty percent chance of affecting him now.

    As Kaelith¡¯s gaze grew heavy and resentful, Szayelaporro swallowed nervously. He had no idea what this guy had gone through, but it seemed weighty indeed.

    Well, so what if the toxin didn¡¯t work this once? Poison wasn¡¯t his only specialty.

    With a cold sneer, Szayelaporro spread his arms toward several Gillians emerging from a Garganta. The massive, black-cloaked figures writhed in pain, then lost control and drifted toward him.

    Pa!

    Szayelaporro seized one of the Gillians and tore a chunk from its head with his teeth. A surge of spiritual power flowed into his body. As the Gillian¡¯s body shriveled, Szayelaporro¡¯s wounds began to heal rapidly¡­

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181

    After swallowing a single Gillian, Szayelaporro¡¯s wounds nearly fully healed.

    He licked his lips and reached out again.

    However, something moved even faster than him¡ªa blade wreathed in blue flames.

    With a long chain¡¯s swift swing, Rixiang Jimie traced a huge arc across the battlefield, slicing every remaining Gillian in half.

    Szayelaporro¡¯s expression twisted with anger. He glared at Kaelith, fury etched on his face.

    Kaelith opened his hand, allowing the chain to whip back around his arm. The short blades, still crackling with blue fire, returned to him. As they did, a flash of white light passed over them, and they reverted to ordinary Zanpakut¨­.

    Gripping the blades, Kaelith instinctively started to throw them again, but caught himself mid-motion. Instead of hurling them outward, he stylishly slid them back into their sheaths. Seeing Szayelaporro gnash his teeth, Kaelith dug a finger into his ear.

    ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Were you expecting your enemy to stand there like a disconnected statue, watching you heal up on the battlefield? Don¡¯t understand such basic rules of combat, and you still show up for a fight?¡±

    Szayelaporro¡¯s eyelid twitched. He was about to claim he was a refined scholar, unlike these common brawlers, but before he could speak, Aizen interjected:

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t be so harsh. Considering he wants to take you back for experiments and he¡¯s studying reishi toxins, he¡¯s probably a researcher. Researchers in their immature stages often think ¡®as long as I focus on my research, battle skills aren¡¯t important.¡¯ I had such thoughts too when I was very young.¡±

    Aizen stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Hollows¡¯ ages are hard to determine by appearance. Given his immature mindset, perhaps this one is still very young. Though lacking insight, he¡¯s at least striving for his ideals, which is commendable.¡± (t/n; Oh, they are teaming up verbally as well now)

    ¡°Shut up!!!¡±

    Szayelaporro roared, cutting him off. These two little brats, these mere Shinigami¡ªhow dare they insult the great Szayelaporro like this?

    At least Kaelith¡¯s mocking was straightforward. That quiet, refined-looking one pretended to defend him, but was even more despicable.

    With growing anger, the four fleshy appendages behind Szayelaporro lashed out once more, moving at speeds impossible to follow with the naked eye.

    ¡°Die, Kaelith!¡±

    Szayelaporro bellowed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how much weight you carry!¡± Kaelith responded. Instead of using Rixiang Jimie, he flashed into the center of the battlefield and raised one arm. He pressed his fingers together, forming his hand into a blade.

    In an instant, blue flames of Shunhon roared upward from his shoulder, converging at his hand to form a searing blade of fire.

    ¡°Flame Blade!¡±

    A wave of fire shot from Kaelith¡¯s hand, colliding with one of the appendages in a massive explosion.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith¡¯s shadow swordsman silently struck another appendage, delivering several slashes and leaving two deep wounds.

    Szayelaporro¡¯s eyes narrowed. He sensed no presence there¡ªno Reiatsu fluctuations at all. What had hurt him?

    As his attention shifted, Aizen acted like a living artillery platform, firing Kido one after another.

    ¡°Hado #73: S¨­ren S¨­katsui!¡±

    ¡°Hado #54: Haien!¡±

    ¡°Hado #63: Raik¨­h¨­!¡±

    Kaelith, trailing a long tail of blue fire as he darted through the air, managed to spare a moment to glide over near Aizen. ¡°S¨­suke, are you planning to transfer to the Kido Corps? All you do is cast Kido.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen shot him a less-than-pleased look. Did Kaelith not realize why he was using Kido? Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s ability wasn¡¯t of much use in a head-on battle, so without relying on swordsmanship alone, Kido was all he had left.

    Aizen silently took note, then responded: ¡°What¡¯s this? Because you¡¯re unskilled in Kido due to negligence, you¡¯re jealous when you see me using it?¡±

    Kaelith blinked, then burst out laughing: ¡°Ridiculous! I, Kaelith, am never inferior, even to you, Aizen! Want to see me use Kido? Fine, I¡¯ll show you!¡±

    He raised a finger, imitating Aizen¡¯s earlier pose.

    Seeing this, Aizen¡¯s heart tightened slightly. Kaelith began chanting loudly:

    ¡°Veiled by murky crests, the unruly and arrogant prowess!¡±

    Hearing this familiar incantation, Aizen¡¯s eyelid twitched. Seriously?

    Kaelith continued, ¡°Tides surge, denial, paralysis in an instant, obstruct eternal slumber¡ªcrawling steel princess, self-mutilating clay dolls!¡±

    Not far away, Szayelaporro¡¯s face contorted in anger. They had ambushed him with that spell before, and now they wanted to do it again?

    He summoned reishi light beneath his feet, preparing to use Son¨ªdo to escape.

    Noticing his movement, Aizen moved. He used Shunpo to appear beside Szayelaporro, drawing Ky¨­ka Suigetsu and engaging him with powerful sword strikes to prevent him from escaping.

    Szayelaporro expected to brush Aizen aside easily, but quickly realized this was no simple Lieutenant. Though his rank indicated otherwise, Aizen¡¯s Reiatsu intensity was at a Vasto Lorde level. Had Szayelaporro not partially merged with Shinigami powers, he might have been suppressed outright.

    More than the Reiatsu itself, it was Aizen¡¯s monstrous tactical sense that disturbed him.

    Aizen didn¡¯t go for a reckless offense. Instead, he remained defensive, leaving no opening for Szayelaporro to push him away. If Szayelaporro tried to ignore Aizen and flee from Kaelith¡¯s Kido, Aizen would instantly switch to offense, using his formidable Reiatsu for a devastating strike.

    As Szayelaporro struggled to deal with Aizen, Kaelith¡¯s chant continued:

    ¡°Combine, rebound, extend to the ground, know your own weakness!¡±

    ¡°Hado #90!¡±

    ¡°Kurohitsugi!¡±

    With the final syllable, black spiritual pressure surged upward around Szayelaporro¡¯s feet. Recognizing the familiar structure of the encroaching black box, Aizen realized Kaelith had truly mastered the 90th-level Kido.

    For a moment, Aizen couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit emotional. Was there anything Kaelith couldn¡¯t do? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    By now, Kurohitsugi¡¯s walls were rising around Szayelaporro¡¯s chest. In Kurohitsugi¡¯s unique confinement, Szayelaporro had no way out.

    Aizen prepared to retreat and muster another attack. But at that very moment, under his watchful gaze, Szayelaporro suddenly grinned.

    Within the steadily forming black walls of Kurohitsugi, black liquid burst forth from behind Szayelaporro, rushing straight toward Aizen¡­

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182

    Seeing the torrent of black liquid rushing toward him, Aizen frowned.

    He couldn¡¯t identify its composition, and it was clearly dangerous. The liquid¡¯s speed was too high to dodge completely, so he would have to minimize contact. He¡¯d sacrifice an arm to shield his head. The rest of his body might still be about one-third exposed to the black substance. Hopefully, the consequences wouldn¡¯t be too severe.

    As he made this instant calculation, Aizen began raising his arm. But just then, a tremendous force slammed into him.

    ¡°Joestar Teleportation!!¡±

    With a loud shout, Kaelith suddenly barreled toward Aizen like a charging truck, knocking him away. As Aizen was sent flying, he watched in disbelief as Kaelith was consumed by the black sludge.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Aizen flipped midair, stabilizing himself on a platform of solidified reishi beneath his feet, then rushed back toward Kaelith¡¯s position. At the same time, he thrust out his arm:

    ¡°Bakud¨­ #62: Hyapporankan!¡±

    Dozens of shining rods of light condensed from the air, hurtling toward Szayelaporro. Yet Szayelaporro, unmoved, simply retreated, as though Aizen¡¯s interference was of no real concern. He showed no frustration or anxiety over losing such a prime chance to finish Kaelith off.

    ¡­Something was off.

    Noticing Szayelaporro¡¯s reaction, Aizen slowed down, suddenly wary. Under his gaze, the black sludge covering Kaelith began to writhe and contract.

    Pop!

    Pop!

    Pop!

    Splashes of black mud shot out from Kaelith¡¯s body in several directions. Each lump of black sludge squirmed and grew rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, five figures identical to Kaelith appeared on the battlefield.

    Kaelith eyed these ¡°new selves¡± curiously.

    ¡°Clones of me?¡±

    Szayelaporro laughed aloud. ¡°Exactly! Surprised, Kaelith? This is my true trump card! These clones possess all your strength! At your age, you must be quite proud of such power. Unfortunately, that power now stands against you. Tremble, then fall before your own might, and submit to me!¡±

    Hearing this, Aizen¡¯s pupils contracted. He understood Kaelith¡¯s strength better than anyone. If what Szayelaporro claimed was true¡ªif all five clones really matched Kaelith¡¯s power¡ªthen their best option might be to run away.

    Sensing Aizen¡¯s thoughts, Szayelaporro sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about fleeing. Remember, this is the World of the Living. There¡¯s a human city right beneath our feet. You Shinigami are supposed to protect humans, right? If you run now, who knows what will happen to this city?¡±

    A normal Shinigami might falter at such a threat, but Aizen couldn¡¯t care less. After all, what were humans to him? He¡¯d killed so many Shinigami already¡ªwould humans be any different?

    He turned to Kaelith, intending to call him over so they could coordinate. They needed to probe the clones and see how strong they really were. It was never wise to fight without preparation.

    But what he saw nearly made him choke. Kaelith had sidled up to one of the clones, pinching its cheek and pulling out its Zanpakut¨­ for a closer look. Only when the clone responded, attempting to grab him, did Kaelith flash away to maintain distance.

    Kaelith then glanced at Aizen. ¡°Aizen, look! These clones really do resemble me! Can you tell which one is the real me?¡±

    Aizen fell silent. Yes, of course he could. The one with the most obnoxious behavior was clearly Kaelith.

    Without waiting for Aizen¡¯s response, Kaelith turned to Szayelaporro. ¡°How many clones can you make? Is their internal structure the same as mine?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Szayelaporro was taken aback. What kind of reaction was this?

    Mouth agape, he hesitated. Kaelith waved dismissively. ¡°No need to explain. Just do that trick again and make a few clones of Aizen this time. If I kill two Aizens, I¡¯ll figure out what¡¯s going on with these clones.¡±

    Szayelaporro: ¡°?¡±

    Aizen: ¡°?¡±

    Behind his mask, Szayelaporro¡¯s expression was one of utter confusion. ¡°Why not just kill your own clones to find out?¡±

    Kaelith gave him a disdainful look. ¡°What a foolish question.¡±

    Nearby, Aizen guessed what Kaelith would say next. Likely something annoying, like not wanting to destroy these perfect replicas of himself, or how taking down Aizen¡¯s clones would be easier.

    With a slight tilt of his head, Kaelith smirked. ¡°It¡¯s simple. These clones bearing my face are too weak. You, half-baked as you are, haven¡¯t replicated even a third of my true abilities. Yet you dare claim they match my power?¡±

    Szayelaporro paused, then laughed bitterly with rage. ¡°You dare underestimate my clones without even testing them in battle? This is a special ability unique to me after breaking certain limits! My clones¡¯ strength is absolutely equal to the original!¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Want to make a wager?¡±

    Szayelaporro narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°If these clones can truly muster even half my strength, I¡¯ll willingly become your test subject,¡± Kaelith said.

    Aizen frowned. ¡°Kaelith!¡±

    This was too reckless a proposal. While it had no binding force, what if Kaelith decided to go through with it for some reason?

    Szayelaporro¡¯s eyes gleamed. He had only daydreamed of Kaelith willingly becoming test material, but never imagined it might come true so soon!

    Though excited, Szayelaporro remained rational. ¡°And if I lose?¡±

    Kaelith crossed his arms. ¡°I own a business in the Soul Society called the Kaelith Technology Bureau. I plan to open a branch in Hueco Mundo. Your cloning ability interests me, so if you lose, you¡¯ll come to the Hueco Mundo branch and serve as my deputy director!¡±

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183

    Szayelaporro stared at Kaelith for several seconds, then burst into laughter.

    ¡°This is absolutely hilarious! A Shinigami planning to make a Hollow serve under him?¡± He licked the long purple nail of his raised finger. ¡°Kaelith, you really are quite interesting.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Since you¡¯re so confident, show me what you can do,¡± Szayelaporro said. ¡°If you really are twice as strong as your copies, and can even set up a laboratory in Hueco Mundo right under Baraggan¡¯s nose, then why shouldn¡¯t I work for you? But if you lose, you¡¯d better be ready. My experiments might be more¡­ exciting than you can imagine.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. As if worried Szayelaporro would go back on his word, he quickly clapped his hands together. ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡±

    Aizen watched quietly, thoughtful. The agreement sounded absurd, but Kaelith¡¯s confident demeanor suggested he wasn¡¯t just acting blindly. Aizen said nothing, preparing instead to intervene at any moment if needed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With Szayelaporro¡¯s command, the five clones roared and rushed at Kaelith, encircling him. Kaelith stood in the center, observing them calmly.

    In an instant, one of the clones lunged forward, swinging its Zanpakut¨­ down at Kaelith. Kaelith casually leaned aside, dodging the slash, and then stretched out his arm, punching toward the clone¡¯s head.

    Bang!

    The clone raised its free arm to block. Their Reiatsu clashed, releasing a white shockwave. Kaelith remained unmoving, while the clone was knocked back a considerable distance.

    Szayelaporro frowned slightly.

    While Kaelith knocked one clone away, two more came at him from the sides, both hurling punches charged with terrifying energy. As they struck, Szayelaporro felt his own energy drain rapidly.

    Creating these five clones had already put enormous pressure on him¡ªKaelith¡¯s Reiatsu was heavier and more substantial than he could have imagined. Normally, it would be impossible to supply five ¡°Kaeliths¡± at once.

    His cloning power stemmed from breaking the boundaries between Hollow and Shinigami, tapping into fundamental ¡°rules.¡± These rules allowed him to bypass the energy cost of just creating the clones.

    But once they started fighting, their Reiatsu usage still came from him. The two clones¡¯ punches were draining him alarmingly fast. Whatever technique they were using must be incredibly potent.

    Szayelaporro smiled in anticipation, expecting Kaelith to suffer now.

    Aizen, however, recognized the move instantly¡ªthose were Ikkotsu strikes. The clones could even use Ikkotsu¡­

    If Aizen were in Kaelith¡¯s place, he¡¯d avoid a direct clash, using Shunpo to gain distance and Kido to sow confusion before taking them down individually. He expected Kaelith would do something similar. But to Aizen¡¯s disbelief, Kaelith didn¡¯t move at all. He grinned, drew back both arms, and punched out simultaneously toward the attacking clones.

    Boom!!!

    All four fists collided. After a brief stalemate, both clones¡¯ arms exploded. Flesh, blood, and bone fragments scattered in midair.

    Szayelaporro¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Impossible!¡± He was certain these clones matched Kaelith¡¯s level in terms of Reiatsu. How could the difference be so large?

    Kaelith merely shook his head. Szayelaporro¡¯s clones were indeed advanced, even replicating techniques like Ikkotsu. But as Kaelith expected, they couldn¡¯t replicate his special powers that lay outside this world¡¯s framework.

    The clones¡¯ Ikkotsu was just raw physical technique, lacking the Kageuchi infusion that enhanced Kaelith¡¯s attacks. Kageuchi, formed when his Zanpakut¨­ absorbed contamination from outside this world, was something Szayelaporro could never recreate. Kaelith had used a double-strength Ikkotsu, vastly surpassing what the clones could muster.

    Moreover, Kaelith¡¯s defense was bolstered by a layer of soul power. Under its protection, his resilience rivaled Arrancar-level Hierro. Since this wasn¡¯t Kaelith¡¯s innate ability but more like a personal tool, the clones couldn¡¯t copy it either.

    With both offense and defense far beyond the clones¡¯ reach, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

    Retracting his fists, Kaelith drew his Zanpakut¨­. ¡°Shatter defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!¡±

    With that command, the pair of blades wreathed in blue flames appeared in his hands. The remaining two clones mimicked him, summoning their own Rixiang Jimie as well. In total, six blazing blades now shone on the battlefield.

    Kaelith and the two clones all hurled their chained blades. The difference was immediate. The clone¡¯s thrown blades lacked Kaelith¡¯s precision and maneuverability. Kaelith¡¯s blades adjusted angles fluidly in midair, knocking aside the other four blades and quickly dispatching all five clones with a sweeping whirlwind of blue fire.

    Szayelaporro watched his clones fall, eyes wide, questioning reality itself. How could anyone defeat him so effortlessly? He forgot he was still on the battlefield, his mind fixated on dissecting Kaelith on an operating table to unravel his secrets.

    Overcome by intense desire, he momentarily lost control of his Reiatsu. A massive tidal wave of spiritual pressure surged over the city below.

    Human inhabitants collapsed as though struck by a heavy club.

    Kaelith frowned, about to speak when a Senkaimon opened at his side. Ky¨­raku Shunsui, wearing his straw hat, stepped out with a look of surprise.

    ¡°What immense spiritual pressure!¡±

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184

    Carrying Kaelith¡¯s last will¡ªcough, final proposal¡ªCh¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe rushed through the long Dangai passage and returned to the Seireitei at top speed.

    Reaching the site where preparations for the Konso Reisai were underway, he found Yamamoto and swiftly reported what had transpired in the World of the Living. Hearing that Kaelith had encountered an enemy he couldn¡¯t handle, Yamamoto showed a hint of surprise.

    Even in his base form, Kaelith was already at a Captain-level of strength. Adding on all those miscellaneous abilities, he was absurdly powerful.

    Bestowing on him the title of Kenpachi and sending him to Squad 11 wouldn¡¯t have felt out of place. For Kaelith to call for backup meant the enemy was indeed formidable. Of course, there was also a chance that kid was just up to some mischief.

    Yamamoto wanted to go himself, but he was currently unable to leave. After some thought, he said:

    ¡°Ch¨­jir¨­, all the Captains are waiting at the Konso Reisai grounds. Go fetch Shunsui and have him assist Kaelith.¡±

    Upon receiving Yamamoto¡¯s orders, Ky¨­raku Shunsui wasted no time and headed straight for the World of the Living. He rushed there at full speed and arrived just in time.

    The moment the Senkaimon opened, he was struck by Spirit Pressure so dense it felt almost tangible, slapping him right in the face. Since becoming a Captain, it was his first time sensing such outrageous Spirit Pressure from a Hollow.

    Facing such a formidable foe, his first thought wasn¡¯t how to fight but a feeling of bemusement.

    Trust Kaelith¡ªtrouble always seemed to find him. Coming to the World of the Living to capture a Hollow, only to run into a monster like this, was a skill in itself.

    Thinking this, he drew his twin blades.

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t be afraid! Your senior brother is here!¡±

    With that, Ky¨­raku Shunsui released his Zanpakut¨­ and charged forward, brandishing his paired swords.

    Szayelaporro, naturally, didn¡¯t show any fear.

    Although he had fought Kaelith and Aizen for a while, aside from the final battle against the clones, he hadn¡¯t expended much energy. Losing an arm hardly mattered to a Hollow of his regenerative prowess. He¡¯d suffered some humiliation at Kaelith¡¯s hands, and now someone else had shown up¡ªperfect for venting his frustration.

    Swinging his four fleshy appendages, Szayelaporro engaged Ky¨­raku in a fierce melee. The longer they fought, the more alarmed Ky¨­raku became. This Hollow¡¯s strength was simply outrageous.

    He had faced many Gillian-level and Adjuchas-level Hollows before. Though stronger than Gillians, none had ever surpassed the category of mere ¡°foot soldiers¡± in his eyes. But this one was entirely different: that vast Spirit Pressure, that monstrous strength, and the sense of imminent peril with every attack¡­ all of it signaled a Hollow unlike any other.

    When had Hueco Mundo produced such a powerful entity?

    Still, amidst his shock, he felt a subtle delight. The stronger the enemy, the more significant his own appearance would seem. He had crossed worlds to rescue Kaelith, arriving at the critical moment. Surely his junior would be deeply moved. Perhaps from now on, instead of ¡°Uncle Ky¨­raku,¡± Kaelith would respectfully call him ¡°Honored Senior Brother.¡±

    With that pleasant thought, he glanced toward Kaelith. Sporting a scruffy beard, Ky¨­raku gave a confident smile¡ªonly to see Kaelith¡¯s cold, indifferent gaze, as if he¡¯d just swallowed a fly.

    Ky¨­raku: ¡°?¡±

    That¡­ that wasn¡¯t the reaction he expected.

    Lost in his brief distraction, he took a direct hit to the face from one of Szayelaporro¡¯s appendages and was knocked backward. Flipping midair, he steadied himself. Yet as soon as he tried to move again, he felt something off¡ªhis movements were stiff.

    After a quick internal check, Ky¨­raku¡¯s eyes widened. Poison? A Hollow this strong also used poison?

    He couldn¡¯t help feeling like he had seen a ghost.

    Noticing Ky¨­raku¡¯s reaction, Szayelaporro grinned. Perfect, perfect! He lashed out with his appendages, ready to finish Ky¨­raku off.

    But halfway there, Kaelith blocked him with his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Hey! Scoundrel, how dare you act so brazen!¡± Kaelith shouted.

    At the same time, he used Kido to transmit his voice directly into Szayelaporro¡¯s ear: ¡°Do you still acknowledge our bet?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Szayelaporro clicked his tongue, then responded the same way: ¡°I, Szayelaporro, stand by my word.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then hurry up and head back to Hueco Mundo. Don¡¯t linger,¡± Kaelith said. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by my senior¡¯s current state. If it really comes down to it, you will not fare so well.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t bluffing. Ky¨­raku Shunsui¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ ability was a nightmare for anyone who didn¡¯t know it. Once you fell into his game, you¡¯d have to waste energy figuring out his rules. Losing half your fighting strength or more was common.

    Having just recruited Szayelaporro as a future deputy director for his Hueco Mundo branch, Kaelith had no intention of letting him get killed.

    At first Szayelaporro bristled at Kaelith¡¯s words, thinking Kaelith was underestimating him. But hearing Kaelith refer to the newcomer as ¡°senior brother¡± gave him pause. If this bearded Shinigami was Kaelith¡¯s senior, then it¡¯d be no easy fight. Even if Szayelaporro won, Kaelith certainly wouldn¡¯t stand aside. In the end, he¡¯d face three-on-one. A bad deal.

    After considering this, Szayelaporro half-heartedly struck a few more blows, then sneered loudly:

    ¡°Hmph, as expected of Shinigami known for their cowardice. One can¡¯t beat me alone, two can¡¯t, so three must try! The great Szayelaporro will not waste time on fools like you¡­ Kaelith, we¡¯ll meet again!¡±

    With that, Szayelaporro let out a disdainful laugh, opened a Garganta, and left the battlefield.

    Seeing Szayelaporro retreat, Ky¨­raku sighed in relief.

    As Kaelith approached, Ky¨­raku spoke: ¡°Kaelith, that Hollow was extraordinary. We need to return and report this to Old Man Yamamoto quickly.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. When Ky¨­raku had arrived, Szayelaporro had already returned to his fully Hollow form. Otherwise, seeing his Resurrecci¨®n might have truly startled Ky¨­raku.

    Having said that, Ky¨­raku glanced at Aizen, who stood beside Kaelith. If he remembered correctly, this young man was Kaelith¡¯s classmate at the Shinigami Academy. During the graduation exam, he¡¯d cleanly taken down a seated officer, and later joined the Fifth Division. Now he was already a Lieutenant.

    But more curious than his swift promotion was why Kaelith had allowed him to remain in the World of the Living. Did Kaelith believe this young Lieutenant had the strength to take part in that fierce battle? Perhaps even contribute?

    With that in mind, Ky¨­raku Shunsui found himself more than a little intrigued by Aizen.

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185

    ¡°This young man here¡ªis he your classmate, Kaelith?¡±

    ¡°I recall his name is S¨­suke?¡±

    ¡°So young and already a Lieutenant¡ªtruly enviable!¡±

    Ky¨­raku adjusted his straw hat and approached with a smile.

    Aizen remained silent. He could already guess Ky¨­raku was about to probe him, indirectly asking why he was here and what role he played in the recent battle.

    As expected, after a brief exchange, Ky¨­raku asked, ¡°S¨­suke, did you specifically stay behind to help Kaelith? That Hollow earlier was no weakling, so if you were active in a fight at that level, it¡¯s truly impressive.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Aizen put on a somewhat bashful smile. ¡°Not at all, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ha! As expected of Uncle Shunsui, you¡¯ve discovered my hidden treasure!¡± Kaelith cut in, laughing loudly. He strode over and draped an arm over Aizen¡¯s shoulder.

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words made Aizen tense. What was this idiot planning?

    ¡°Oh?¡± Ky¨­raku responded, placing his Zanpakut¨­ into the air as if unlocking the Senkaimon and stepping through. ¡°A hidden treasure, you say?¡± he prompted as he moved into the gateway.

    Kaelith followed with Aizen in tow. ¡°Uncle Shunsui, don¡¯t be fooled by S¨­suke¡¯s gentle looks. If you underestimate him, you¡¯d be wrong. While his offensive output is just a tad below mine, his ability to analyze the battlefield is top-notch.¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°Just now, when I was fighting that Hollow, if S¨­suke hadn¡¯t picked up on its fighting style and habits, and preemptively warned me of possible dangers, you might not be seeing me so intact now. This guy is like a walking encyclopedia of combat skills. He might not be the strongest fighter, but he¡¯s got a treasure trove of knowledge in that head of his!

    Ky¨­raku¡¯s expression cleared in understanding. Indeed, this S¨­suke fellow looked like the observational, analytical type.

    Aizen glanced at Kaelith. Unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, Kaelith seemed somewhat reliable. If Aizen claimed he hadn¡¯t done much, Ky¨­raku might grow suspicious. But if he admitted he¡¯d helped, Ky¨­raku¡¯s interest would increase, and that would be another headache. Kaelith¡¯s words minimized Aizen¡¯s presence while still giving a plausible explanation for him staying behind.

    Aizen¡¯s lips curved slightly. Then Kaelith added, ¡°Of course, I was just giving my pal a chance to shine. With my brilliance, I could¡¯ve analyzed it myself easily. Isn¡¯t that right, S¨­suke?¡±

    Aizen took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°Indeed.¡±

    Kaelith burst into hearty laughter, delighted with himself. Aizen narrowed his eyes, a chill rising within. Kaelith¡¯s name would be recorded with heavy ink in his mental ledger of grudges.

    ¡­

    After hearing Kaelith¡¯s report, Yamamoto frowned.

    A Hollow that broke its mask, looked human, and could even release a Zanpakut¨­¡­ Could such a being even be called a Hollow anymore?

    He asked Ky¨­raku for a description of its spiritual pressure. After some mental comparison, Yamamoto realized that, according to Ky¨­raku, this Hollow¡¯s Reiatsu surpassed even the Vasto Lorde class he had in mind. A Hollow beyond Vasto Lorde level, plus the recent abnormal movements of the Gates of Hell¡ªtwo dangerous omens at once were hardly a good sign.

    After gathering some intel about Szayelaporro, Yamamoto waved a hand, preparing to send the two disciples away. But then he remembered something and added, ¡°By the way, Kuchiki K¨­ga isn¡¯t dead yet. You two should stay alert. Especially you, Kaelith. You and Kuchiki K¨­ga have a feud¡ªhe might seek revenge. I tracked him with Kido and can confirm he¡¯s hiding in Hueco Mundo. Most likely he¡¯s still with Kanna Inaz¨­. After their crushing defeat last time, they probably won¡¯t act rashly for a while. Alright, off you go.¡±

    Kaelith and Ky¨­raku both nodded and left the First Division.

    Outside the doors, Ky¨­raku grinned and was about to invite Kaelith for a drink, but before he could speak, Lisa Yad¨­maru emerged from hiding.

    ¡°Captain! Here¡¯s the directory of the official duties you must handle. Go through them on your way back. All must be settled today!¡± she said sternly.

    Ky¨­raku¡¯s eyes widened, his face paling instantly.

    Lisa then noticed Kaelith and paused, giving him a serious look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kaelith. As a warrior, I abandoned you and fled. I¡¯ll remember this shame and train desperately to become stronger. Next time, I¡¯ll repay this debt!¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head. He¡¯d had Chojiro Sasakibe take them away. What was this about abandonment? If she hadn¡¯t left, that would have been insubordination, not loyalty.

    Seemingly guessing his thoughts, Lisa sighed. ¡°Vice-Captain Sasakibe told me the Fifth Division Lieutenant didn¡¯t leave with us. He stayed to help you, right? I¡¯ve been a Shinigami longer, yet in the face of danger, I let two newly appointed Lieutenants handle it. I¡­¡±

    Hearing that, Kaelith understood. He casually comforted her, feeling a bit emotional. Now someone was going to get famous.

    S¨­suke, oh S¨­suke, my friend, I¡¯ve done my best. The rest is up to you.

    Sure enough, that very evening in the Second Division¡¯s cafeteria, Kaelith began hearing all sorts of rumors:

    ¡°Did you hear? The new Fifth Division Lieutenant¡ªhe just graduated not long ago¡ªactually participated in a battle alongside Third Seat Kaelith against a powerful Hollow!¡±

    ¡°Of course I heard. They say that Hollow was incredibly strong, stronger than hundreds of Gillians combined!¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable! The Fifth Division really struck gold this time.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. So young and already fighting side-by-side with Kaelith. Who knows what he¡¯ll accomplish in the future!¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    Sitting in the cafeteria¡¯s corner, he fell into thought. Why did it sound like they were making him out to be some old veteran?

    Yoruichi, seated opposite him, lowered her voice, ¡°Kaelith, you didn¡¯t run into Baraggan, did you?¡±

    She¡¯d once seen Kaelith¡¯s strength in Hueco Mundo. This guy could cut down Adjuchas-level Hollows like they were nothing. Even a Vasto Lorde shouldn¡¯t have been too hard for him.

    So if he had trouble, maybe Baraggan himself showed up?

    Hearing that, Soifon, sitting nearby, froze. Baraggan? The King of Hueco Mundo? She opened her eyes wide, staring at Kaelith. Had this guy really stirred up something that big?

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186

    Over the next two days, Kaelith behaved very quietly. Apart from training, he did nothing but loaf around and play with Soifon. Not only did he refrain from causing trouble, he didn¡¯t even leave the Seireitei.

    At first, Yamamoto was anxious about his disciple¡¯s unusual behavior. But as time passed, he grew accustomed to it.

    Thus, the Konso Reisai ended without incident.

    On the surface, it was just a normal memorial ceremony. Only a handful of people knew that behind this funeral, the souls of three Captains had been forever consigned to Hell.

    During the ceremony, Aizen¡¯s expression was filled with sorrow. Seeing him like that, Hirako Shinji couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. He¡¯d always thought his Lieutenant was the cold and emotionless type who cared about no one but Kaelith. Yet this grief didn¡¯t look faked. Was this the complexity of human nature?

    Hirako scratched his head, lost in thought.

    Meanwhile, Aizen quietly gazed upward. Farewell, my three top-tier specimens. Once you¡¯re in Hell, live well, and perhaps someday you can return in a new form for me to study again¡­

    That very night after the ceremony, Aizen hurried to the Second Division, grabbed Kaelith, and left. Wearing cloaks and taking advantage of the darkness, they slipped out of the Seireitei and traveled to a remote location.

    Aizen set up a barrier to prevent any Reiatsu leakage, then opened a passage to Hueco Mundo. He recalled how tense he¡¯d been the first time he and Kaelith went there. Now it felt as casual as stepping into the next street, not a shred of anxiety left.

    Crossing the spatial layer with practiced ease, they once again returned to the endless sands of Hueco Mundo.

    After ensuring no Hollows were nearby, they nodded to each other and headed for their previously marked spot. It took nearly two hours of running through the desert before they reached their destination.

    At the foot of a small hill, they dug up a life-support pod. Within the large glass cylinder, Kuchiki K¨­ga floated silently. By now, the nutrient solution had grown cloudy, and the indicator for the anesthetic¡¯s concentration had almost reached the danger zone.

    Aizen double-checked everything and sighed in relief. ¡°Good, we made it in time. All the data is still within controllable limits. One more day, and who knows what might have happened.¡±

    As he spoke, he took out various prepared reagents to change the fluids and stabilize Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s condition. Kaelith stood guard nearby.

    Originally, they had planned to transfer Kuchiki K¨­ga after the Hueco Mundo branch of the Technology Bureau was established. But the Konso Reisai came too soon, and to avoid Kuchiki K¨­ga being discovered, they had to hide him away here, pod and all.

    After replacing the liquid and adjusting the drugs, Aizen nodded. ¡°There should be no problems for the next four days.¡±

    Even as he said this, he was a bit frustrated. Needing to refresh the solution every four days wasn¡¯t a big deal in itself, but leaving Kuchiki K¨­ga here was a huge waste of resources. All his intended experiments had to be postponed indefinitely. Unless they could set up a proper lab in Hueco Mundo, this situation would continue.

    Moreover, the constant comings and goings might eventually draw attention. If someone else stole Kuchiki K¨­ga, Aizen would end up the fool.

    Establishing a secret laboratory in Hueco Mundo was now an urgent necessity.

    Aizen gazed at the endless silver dunes. If he were stronger, there might be a way: directly forging a power base in Hueco Mundo, recruiting Hollows, and rivaling Las Noches. But there was no point in such fantasies. For now, he would just have to proceed step by step.

    Kaelith said nothing. After dealing with Kuchiki K¨­ga, the two returned to the Soul Society.

    Back at the Second Division barracks, Kaelith headed straight to the Technology Bureau and found Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

    ¡°How¡¯s that secret base I asked for coming along?¡± he asked bluntly.

    Urahara was startled. He took out a folder. ¡°Thanks to the materials you brought back last time, we¡¯ve basically solved the issue of rapid construction. But as for concealment, I need to clarify something. How high a level of secrecy do you require?¡±

    ¡°I looked at the requirements you sent later, and it seems you¡¯re planning to build a secret laboratory, right? To achieve rapid construction, the outer walls of the base won¡¯t be a single solid piece, which makes complete Reiatsu isolation very difficult. Without a clear standard for secrecy, it¡¯s hard to balance.¡±

    Kaelith thought for a moment. ¡°Think of it like this: I want to build a laboratory right next to the Seireitei, without any Captain of the Gotei 13 discovering it. That¡¯s the level we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Urahara¡¯s face was full of question marks. Even Mayuri looked like he was about to lose it. Was this request even humanly possible?

    After a few seconds of silence, Urahara spoke up: ¡°Just to confirm again¡ªthis laboratory near the Seireitei¡­ will it have a disguised appearance outside, like a normal shop or something?¡±

    Kaelith smiled. ¡°No, not a single household around it.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, can¡¯t do it. I¡¯m out.¡± Urahara stood up without hesitation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But he had barely risen halfway when Kaelith grabbed him by the neck and forced him back down.

    ¡°Urahara, let¡¯s be clear!¡± Kaelith said. ¡°Today, whether you can do it or not, you have to do it!¡±

    ¡°I protest! This is bullying!¡± Urahara struggled desperately, only to realize with shock that he couldn¡¯t move an inch in Kaelith¡¯s grip. Despite knowing Kaelith was stronger, he¡¯d thought he could at least put up some token resistance. Yet Kaelith¡¯s arm felt like steel. Urahara used both hands, but couldn¡¯t budge that single arm.

    What kind of monstrous strength was this?

    For a moment, Urahara felt like he¡¯d been utterly played.

    Watching Urahara¡¯s plight, Mayuri grinned. He enjoyed seeing Urahara suffer. But now wasn¡¯t the time to fan the flames. If they didn¡¯t divert Kaelith¡¯s attention, he might be next.

    With Urahara wailing incoherently, Mayuri said, ¡°Lord Kaelith, I think your request is almost impossible. Unless you develop some new technology to open up an isolated space, separate from external observation.¡±

    Kaelith froze at Mayuri¡¯s words. Open up a space¡­ Actually, that might be possible.

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187

    Over the next day, Kaelith seemed to have lost his mind. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kisuke Urahara stood in the Technology Bureau¡¯s main hall, arriving at this rather delightful conclusion.

    Yesterday, that guy had grabbed him by the neck, refusing to listen to reason. Just as Urahara was about to rebel, unleash Benihime¡¯s invincible might, and seize the throne, Kaelith suddenly got excited and ran off.

    As he ran, he kept shouting things like, ¡°I¡¯ve got it! I¡¯ve got it! I¡¯ve finally figured it out!¡±

    Under the astonished gazes of Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Kaelith dashed into an empty laboratory and slammed the door shut.

    Since then, he hadn¡¯t come out.

    Swoosh!

    A door nearby opened. Mayuri walked out in his white coat, stretching lazily. Seeing Urahara, he paused and glanced at the lab where Kaelith had locked himself in.

    ¡°He¡¯s still inside?¡± Mayuri asked, surprised.

    ¡°Still inside,¡± Urahara confirmed.

    ¡°Done for, he¡¯s gone mad.¡± Mayuri widened his eyes, reaching the same conclusion as Urahara.

    After a brief discussion, they decided to go knock on the door.

    But before they got close, a voice sounded from inside:

    ¡°Experiment in progress! Do not disturb!¡±

    They looked at each other, both seeing shock mirrored in the other¡¯s eyes. Kaelith was still alive¡ªcough, still awake¡ªand not asleep inside that lab.

    Kaelith, wide awake, spending an entire day alone in a lab? This bordered on a supernatural tale.

    Though tempted to open the door and see what he was up to, Urahara hesitated, recalling Kaelith¡¯s iron-fisted discipline. As for using Benihime¡¯s supposed invincibility to defeat Kaelith? That had been just bragging. Who would take it seriously?

    ¡­

    Inside the lab, Kaelith stood with his arms folded over his chest. A patch of shadow, like thick ink, swirled at his feet.

    Since last night, he¡¯d been toying with his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s Kageuchi power. Mayuri had it right: hiding a large laboratory in Hueco Mundo, a place filled with powerful enemies, was virtually impossible¡ªunless he created a special space.

    When it came to special spaces, didn¡¯t his shadow count as one?

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui could slip into a shadow world and strike unexpectedly. Although Kaelith had never developed a similar ability, since both powers were shadow-related, why couldn¡¯t he do it?

    Sure enough, through repeated trials, Kaelith felt he was on the verge of understanding how.

    As one¡¯s horizons broadened, so did their abilities. The strength he¡¯d gained earlier from his growth and experiences wasn¡¯t just numerical; his comprehension of the essence of power had deepened as well.

    Eyeing the churning shadow at his feet, Kaelith picked up a piece of paper, crumpled it, and tossed it down. The paper ball paused slightly on the shadow¡¯s surface, then slowly sank in.

    He¡¯d done it!

    Seeing the paper vanish into his shadow, Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. He had taken the hardest step toward creating a shadow space. Next, he just needed practice to deepen his understanding, expanding the shadow space until it could hold an entire laboratory. Then, with Kisuke Urahara and Aizen¡¯s technical expertise, stabilizing and semi-permanently fixing the space would be easy.

    Kaelith smirked, imagining Aizen¡¯s stunned, bewildered, and delighted expression upon seeing the hidden lab. After all this, wouldn¡¯t Aizen practically worship him?

    Kaelith figured that, since they were friends, he shouldn¡¯t take too much advantage. It would be enough if Aizen greeted him by calling him ¡°daddy¡± whenever they met.

    Chuckling righteously, Kaelith began the work of expanding his shadow space. In less than a day, he¡¯d grown it large enough to accommodate an entire room. At this pace, he would likely finish before the next time he had to change Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s solution.

    Satisfied, Kaelith stretched and rolled his shoulders, preparing to finish the job in one go. But just as he expanded the shadow space to about the size of two rooms, he sensed that his shadow space had encountered something.

    It was as if he¡¯d planned to carve out a fireplace in a wall, only to suddenly break through into someone else¡¯s room.

    He nearly laughed at the absurdity. In the entire Seireitei, only he and Ky¨­raku had shadow-based powers. Ky¨­raku was in the Eighth Division barracks, practically a district away. How could their shadow spaces collide here?

    But as he thought this, Kaelith increased his efforts, determined to see what was blocking him. Could he have hit some kind of world barrier?

    After pushing a few times, he felt his shadow space break through something. He was about to extend his awareness to see what it was when he suddenly sensed something squeeze in from the other side, falling right into his shadow space.

    It felt like¡­ a person?!

    Startled, he lost focus and failed to maintain the shadow space. The intruder that had tumbled in was forced back out into reality, landing right in front of him.

    Kaelith: ¡°¡­¡±

    The intruder: ¡°¡­¡±

    Staring at the kneeling figure before him¡ªa young girl in a white uniform and cap¡ªKaelith¡¯s eyes narrowed in thought. The girl¡¯s eyes were wide, filled with utter disbelief.

    For a moment, silence filled the air.

    Then, the girl let out a shocked cry and jumped up. Kaelith sneered, leaping at her, pressing down on her head and slamming her to the ground.

    ¡°Fiend from beyond this realm, disguised as a human to fool me? You think you can deceive my keen eyes?!¡±

    With that, he manipulated the shadow to form ropes, tying her up neatly and securely, even adding some decorative knots.

    Pinned to the floor, the girl struggled in vain. Just a few hours ago, she had been basking in glory, newly honored. Now, she was in some inexplicable place, captured and bound.

    This insane reversal made her suspect she was dreaming. But the cold hardness of the floor against her face and the painful tightness of her bonds proved this was real.

    Infuriated, she shouted at Kaelith, ¡°Who¡¯s a fiend? I¡¯m Bambietta Basterbine, a genius newly inducted into the Sternritter!¡±

    ¡°How dare you insult me! I¡¯ll kill you¡ªkill you a hundred times over!¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith froze.

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188

    The Sternritter?

    Hearing this term, Kaelith paused in surprise.

    Even though he had only read the opening chapters of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc before his transmigration, he still knew about the Sternritter¡ªthis was the name of the Quincy forces in that conflict.

    But Aizen hadn¡¯t yet become a captain, and Ichigo Kurosaki hadn¡¯t even been born. Why had the Sternritter already appeared in the Seireitei?

    All this time since arriving here, he¡¯d never given much thought to the events of the Thousand-Year Blood War. To him, that conflict was at least a century or two away. Worrying prematurely was a waste; it was better to spend that time training and increasing his strength.

    Yet in the blink of an eye, the enemy stood right before him!

    A chilling sense of foreboding climbed up his spine, closing around his throat like a vise.

    Although he hadn¡¯t personally witnessed it, the images that had circulated through various groups online in his past life, as well as all the intel he had gathered, made one fact very clear:

    Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto would die in the Thousand-Year Blood War.

    Recalling the image of that old man¡¯s death, Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu began to stir and grow restless.

    Shaking off his daze, he acted without hesitation and spoke up:

    ¡°Bakud¨­ #63: Saj¨­ Sabaku!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Several chains of condensed reiatsu surged forth from thin air, binding Bambietta Basterbine¡¯s limbs and stretching them taut.

    Next, Kaelith brought his hands together in a precise sequence of incantations:

    ¡°Iron sand forming the wall, monk-shaped tower, glowing iron¡­ converge silently, then subdue¡ªBakud¨­ #75: Goch¨±tekkan!¡±

    The instant he spoke, five massive iron pillars materialized from nowhere inside the laboratory and came crashing down onto Bambietta¡¯s limbs and head, pinning her firmly to the spot!

    The crushing weight forced a scream from Bambietta¡¯s throat.

    Yet Kaelith had no intention of stopping. Fixing his eyes on her, he raised his voice again:

    ¡°Bakud¨­ #62: Hyapporankan!¡±

    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

    Multiple rods of solidified reiatsu formed midair and rained down from every direction. Like a volley of spears, they pierced through Bambietta¡¯s arms, legs, shoulders¡ªvarious points across her body.

    These glowing rods not only caused piercing wounds; they also disrupted her reiatsu flow at multiple sources, making it impossible for her to manipulate spirit energy.

    In the midst of her screams, Bambietta finally grasped what was happening.

    These techniques were Bakud¨­¡ªforms of Kid¨­. And that attire on this person¡¯s body was a Shihakush¨­.

    Two clues came together, confirming this person¡¯s identity:

    The Quincy¡¯s mortal enemy¡ªthe Shinigami!

    Why had she encountered a Shinigami? Weren¡¯t they supposed to be little more than figures found in textbooks?

    Eyes wide, Bambietta glared furiously at Kaelith.

    At the same time, she desperately tried to activate every ability she could muster:

    Blut Arterie, Blut Vene, and even the Quincy¡¯s ultimate technique she had only recently learned¡ªVollst?ndig!

    Yet under Kaelith¡¯s crushing reiatsu and his skillful web of Bakud¨­, none of these abilities could manifest. Each time she tried to draw in even a tiny amount of reishi from the surrounding air, Kaelith intervened and disrupted its flow, making her efforts futile.

    Adding to her torment, the rods skewering her limbs inflicted agonizing pain.

    Though a member of the Sternritter, she now seemed like nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly powerless.

    Confirming that Bambietta could no longer resist, Kaelith shouted:

    ¡°Kisuke! Mayuri!¡±

    Seconds later, Kisuke Urahara¡¯s voice sounded from outside:

    ¡°Kaelith-san?¡±

    ¡°Kisuke, get Mayuri and go find my teacher! Then get my senior brother and Captain Hikifune to come as well¡­ tell my teacher there¡¯s an emergency! Prepare for battle!¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s shout through the closed door, Kisuke Urahara¡¯s eyes widened.

    In just a few short sentences, Kaelith had delivered information that set Kisuke¡¯s nerves on edge. Even through the specially designed barrier that suppressed reiatsu, Kisuke could sense a terrifying disturbance inside the lab.

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kisuke nodded. ¡°Understood!¡±

    He spun around and took off running.

    After alerting Mayuri so he could summon Shunsui Ky¨­raku and Kirio Hikifune, Kisuke rushed at full speed toward the First Division barracks.

    Along the way, a few onlookers noticed him and couldn¡¯t help feeling astonished.

    Was that¡­ Kisuke Urahara, Fourth Seat of the Second Division?

    They¡¯d never seen him move so fast. Compared to his usual displays, this was an entirely different level of skill.

    Then, after Kisuke passed by, another figure dashed across Seireitei in a different direction.

    This second individual, wearing a white coat that marked them as part of Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau, was unfamiliar to most. Nonetheless, seeing the two sprint away, the onlooking Shinigami exchanged baffled glances.

    ¡­

    Kisuke Urahara, holding nothing back, arrived at the entrance to the First Division barracks in record time.

    Two gatekeepers barred his way:

    ¡°Halt! State your identity!¡±

    Kisuke replied swiftly, ¡°I am Kisuke Urahara, Fourth Seat of the Second Division. I have urgent business with the Head Captain.¡±

    The guards frowned. While a Fourth Seat was not low-ranking, requesting a direct audience with the Head Captain was audacious. They considered sending someone to contact Lieutenant Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe first.

    But before they could speak, Kisuke added, ¡°I¡¯m here on behalf of Kaelith, the Third Seat.¡±

    ¡°!!¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s name, both guards started in surprise. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Show your identification.¡±

    One of the Shinigami extended his hand.

    Kisuke quickly presented his credentials.

    After verifying them and confirming no issue, the guards stepped aside.

    The crossed halberds parted to allow him through.

    ¡°Enter.¡±

    Observing how quickly their attitude changed at the mention of Kaelith, Kisuke felt a twinge of admiration. Even if his own boss could be a trickster at times, Kaelith¡¯s name certainly carried weight.

    Once inside the First Division grounds, Kisuke scanned the area. This was his first time here, and he didn¡¯t know where to find the Head Captain¡¯s office.

    He was about to ask someone when a voice, old and steady, reached his ears:

    [Over here.]

    Startled, Kisuke immediately bowed his head respectfully and hurried toward the source of the voice.

    Soon, he arrived at a study with its door left open.

    Inside, Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood behind a desk, brush in hand, writing something. Without lifting his eyes, the old man spoke calmly:

    ¡°Kaelith sent you? What has happened?¡±

    Kisuke stepped forward, stopping at the doorway:

    ¡°Report, Head Captain! Kaelith-san requests your immediate presence at the Second Division! He says it¡¯s an emergency situation and asks that you be prepared for combat!¡±

    At these words, Yamamoto¡¯s brush froze in midair.

    He raised his head to regard Kisuke.

    Worried that the Head Captain might doubt him, Kisuke opened his mouth to elaborate¡ª

    But before he could speak, he realized something astonishing: Yamamoto had vanished from his sight.

    He¡¯d been watching the Head Captain continuously, yet the old man had simply disappeared. That level of Shunpo was beyond imagination.

    Dazed for a brief moment, Kisuke quickly turned to head back.

    But as he stepped outside the First Division gate, a thought struck him.

    Hesitating for two seconds, he changed direction and headed toward the Fifth Division barracks¡­

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189

    At the Second Division¡¯s training grounds:

    Dozens of black-clad figures, each with half their faces covered by masks, were locked in silent combat training. There were no shouts, no flashy moves¡ªonly silent, ruthless strikes aimed straight at vital points.

    One trainee, wooden dagger in hand, seized a chance and thrust toward his opponent¡¯s throat. Halfway through the motion, however, his arm suddenly froze in place.

    His eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face.

    Seeing this reaction, his sparring partner also turned to look¡ªand promptly wore the same stunned expression.

    At some point, a figure had appeared, floating in midair not far from the training grounds.

    A white captain¡¯s haori and a long white beard billowed in the breeze.

    ¡°Head Captain Yamamoto?!¡±

    ¡°Why would that esteemed elder be here?¡±

    Hovering overhead, Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings. Finally, his gaze settled on a building with a rather unusual design. From its outline, it seemed it had once been a d¨­j¨­, but now layers of specialized Kid¨­ and spirit-suppressing materials covered it, emphasizing its extraordinary purpose.

    After confirming his target, Yamamoto¡¯s reiatsu quietly surged. The long wooden staff he held disintegrated into ash under the pressure, revealing the blade hidden within.

    Crack!

    Yamamoto reached out and firmly gripped his sword. He then glanced at the nearby Second Division members.

    ¡°All personnel, evacuate the entire Second Division area,¡± he commanded. ¡°Patrol Corps, notify the Kid¨­ Corps to erect barrier walls around the Second Division barracks!¡±

    With that, he took a single step forward, trailing a streak of intense spiritual light as he descended before the entrance of Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau.

    The Second Division members stared in shock, then moved swiftly to carry out the orders.

    Marenoshin ¨­maeda rushed out of the office, gaping at the scene. What on earth was happening?

    The Head Captain had suddenly appeared, heading straight for Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau. He¡¯d also ordered everyone to withdraw and to seal off the area with barriers.

    As ¨­maeda tried to make sense of it, he sensed several powerful reiatsu signatures approaching.

    Looking up, he saw three more captains arriving from different directions.

    The Captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui Ky¨­raku.

    The Captain of the Twelfth Division, Kirio Hikifune.

    The Captain of the Thirteenth Division, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake.

    All three were heavyweight veterans!

    Under ¨­maeda¡¯s astonished gaze, the three captains hovered above the Second Division area. After confirming the situation, they exchanged glances, nodded, and then moved together toward Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau.

    ¨­maeda¡¯s mind went blank.

    This was big¡ªtruly big news.

    The Head Captain, along with three illustrious and powerful captains, had come to confront Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau.

    What did this mean?

    It was impossible for an external enemy to have infiltrated the heart of the Second Division, so that option could be dismissed.

    That left only one possibility: Kaelith had committed some grievous crime, forcing the Head Captain to personally lead a team to apprehend him!

    The more ¨­maeda considered it, the more plausible it seemed. Although Kaelith was merely a Third Seat, everyone knew his strength was already at a captain¡¯s level. It might seem excessive to bring so much force to bear, but given Kaelith¡¯s talent for causing trouble, it wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question.

    So what should ¨­maeda do now?

    If Kaelith had indeed committed a crime so severe that it shook the Soul Society, he would be exiled or worse. But Lady Yoruichi clearly favored him. If he rushed to report this to Yoruichi Shih¨­in, with the Shih¨­in family¡¯s influence, perhaps they could protect Kaelith¡­

    After two seconds of hesitation, ¨­maeda gritted his teeth and turned to go find Yoruichi. Yet the moment he pivoted, he shouted in surprise and leapt back several steps.

    Yoruichi had arrived without him noticing, Soifon at her side.

    Taking in the captains gathering ahead, Yoruichi frowned slightly.

    ¨­maeda hurriedly said, ¡°My lady, you¡¯ve come at just the right time¡ªKaelith, he¡ª¡±

    ¡°¨­maeda, carry out the Head Captain¡¯s orders,¡± Yoruichi interrupted firmly. ¡°Soifon, go find Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.¡±

    Her calm, decisive tone cut him off. Startled, ¨­maeda looked at Yoruichi¡¯s steady gaze. After a moment, his lips curved upward into a grateful smile.

    ¡°Yes, Lady Yoruichi!¡±

    The two of them vanished with Shunpo. Yoruichi folded her arms, looking toward the Technical Bureau.

    Unlike ¨­maeda, she didn¡¯t fear that these captains had come for Kaelith¡¯s head.

    His teacher, his elder brothers-in-arms, his ¡°disciple¡±¡ªall were strong, all familiar with Kaelith. Rather than worrying that they¡¯d harm him, it made more sense to wonder: Just what kind of mess had Kaelith stirred up this time, that it drew so many heavy-hitters here?

    ¡­

    At the entrance to the Technical Bureau, Yamamoto stood with Ry¨±jin Jakka in hand, silent and composed. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Shunsui and the others arrived, Yamamoto spoke slowly:

    ¡°J¨±shir¨­, Captain Hikifune.¡±

    ¡°You two remain here. Until I return, no one¡ªabsolutely no one¡ªis to enter or leave.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    Hearing the gravity in Yamamoto¡¯s voice, both complied instantly, no questions asked.

    ¡°Shunsui,¡± Yamamoto continued, ¡°come with me. Be ready.¡±

    With that, Yamamoto stepped inside. Shunsui drew his sword and followed closely.

    Watching them disappear, Ukitake and Hikifune exchanged a worried look.

    Just what had happened here?

    As soon as Yamamoto and Shunsui entered, they felt Kaelith¡¯s formidable reiatsu. Guided by it, they moved swiftly through the corridors.

    Pushing open a door, they saw Kaelith inside, flooding the room with his spiritual pressure. Nearby, a young woman in white Quincy attire lay pinned to the floor, bound by multiple layers of advanced Bakud¨­ spells, wrapped so tightly she resembled a cocoon. Despair and terror twisted her features.

    Shunsui blinked, puzzled.

    What was going on?

    Judging from the girl¡¯s reiatsu, she wasn¡¯t a Shinigami. A human, perhaps? He couldn¡¯t help a wild guess: Could his junior have dragged some human in off the streets and called the old man here for¡­ what, exactly?

    He glanced at Yamamoto and saw the Head Captain¡¯s eyes locked on the girl. The old man¡¯s reiatsu stirred, growing agitated. Shunsui instinctively took two steps back.

    A tangible killing intent radiated from Yamamoto¡¯s frame.

    In the next instant, Yamamoto stepped forward, unleashing a violent surge of spiritual pressure that instantly flooded the entire facility.

    ¡°Sternritter¡­ how have you appeared here?!¡±

    ¡°From whence did you come?! Where is Yhwach?!¡±

    Tears welled at the corners of Bambietta¡¯s eyes. This old man¡­ was he some kind of monster?!

    The younger one¡¯s reiatsu was already terrifying, yet this ancient warrior¡¯s presence was orders of magnitude more overwhelming!

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190

    ¡°There¡¯s an old saying in the Soul Society,¡± Kaelith said softly.

    ¡°Something like¡­ ¡®Those who recognize the times are the true heroes.¡¯ If you cooperate with us, we won¡¯t treat you poorly. Otherwise, I have plenty of methods to pry open that mouth of yours.¡±

    With half his face cast in shadow, Kaelith wore a fiendish grin. Bambietta could only let out muffled whimpers, despair etched into her tear-filled eyes.

    Seeing her refusal, Kaelith snorted coldly. ¡°Not talking, huh? Someone bring the instruments of torture!¡±

    ¡°Mmm! Mmm!¡± Bambietta struggled violently.

    Crack!

    Yamamoto¡¯s hand smacked into Kaelith¡¯s head, sending him tumbling to the side.

    ¡°You fool! You¡¯ve gagged her¡ªhow is she supposed to speak?¡± Yamamoto barked.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku stood by quietly, at a rare loss. He¡¯d never imagined a day would come when he¡¯d be tempted to tell someone else to be more serious.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, in the Wandenreich:

    ¡°Report! Lord Haschwalth! We found no trace of Bambietta Basterbine in the residential district!¡±

    ¡°Report! Lord Haschwalth! No sign of her in the training area either!¡±

    ¡°Report¡­¡±

    Jugram Haschwalth, with his long golden hair, stood silently in the grand hall, listening to his subordinate¡¯s reports. Not long ago, while managing the empire¡¯s affairs, he suddenly realized that one particular reiatsu had vanished¡ªBambietta Basterbine¡¯s.

    A young Quincy prodigy, Bambietta was talented, powerful, and flamboyant. Quincies did not produce their own reiatsu naturally; it only manifested when drawing in spirit particles during battle, making them almost undetectable at rest. Bambietta, however, always maintained a subtle flow of reishi to flaunt her strength. When that distinct presence vanished, Haschwalth immediately noticed.

    He had visited Bambietta¡¯s home, where he detected a faint lingering spiritual energy belonging to a Shinigami.

    The Wandenreich, founded by Yhwach¡¯s power, existed in the shadows of the Seireitei. Under normal circumstances, no Shinigami reiatsu could penetrate within.

    Staring out the window, Haschwalth contemplated for a few seconds, then spoke decisively:

    ¡°Summon all the Sternritter to the central plaza.¡±

    Before long, white-clad figures converged from all directions. With Yhwach in slumber, Haschwalth oversaw the empire¡¯s daily affairs. Though he held no official title, everyone acknowledged him as the highest authority in Yhwach¡¯s stead.

    Gazing at his gathered knights, Haschwalth began:

    ¡°Everyone, it seems our empire¡¯s existence has been exposed. We now find ourselves in peril. One of our own, Sternritter Bambietta Basterbine, has likely fallen into the hands of the Shinigami.¡±

    A stunned silence fell over the Quincy knights.

    ¡°How can that be? The empire is built upon Quincy powers. How could Shinigami discover it?¡± a girl in a peaked cap exclaimed.

    Haschwalth shook his head. ¡°Unclear for now. But from the scene, this does not appear to be a large-scale incursion. The Shinigami¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ have many peculiar abilities. Perhaps one of their swords can breach our borders, enabling them to abduct Bambietta.¡±

    The knights reacted differently:

    ¡°Is war coming?!¡±

    ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ve been itching to see how strong the Shinigami really are!¡±

    ¡°Oh no, my poor Bambietta!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A messy-haired giant of a man raised his head and shouted, ¡°Haschwalth! Let me lead the first strike! I¡¯ll make sure those Shinigami never return!¡±

    Haschwalth cast him a calm, distant look. The man grinned, waiting for approval.

    In the next instant, the giant¡¯s face changed dramatically.

    A colossal, irresistible pressure bore down on him. He grunted, barely able to react before he crashed to his knees. Stunned, he looked up to find Haschwalth regarding him with a cool gaze.

    ¡°His Majesty once said that until he awakens, no one shall move recklessly,¡± Haschwalth said evenly. ¡°Our mission is to protect the Wandenreich and await His Majesty¡¯s return. I summoned you today to remind you that no matter what happens, you must not, under any circumstances, reveal the empire¡¯s location.¡±

    ¡°I have ordered the initiation of the Final Diocese defense.¡±

    Shock rippled through the crowd.

    A Quincy with a bizarre hairstyle resembling a cockroach gasped, ¡°Then what about Bambietta? If we activate the Final Diocese, the empire will be completely sealed off from the outside world! Bambietta will be trapped out there, left to die!¡±

    Haschwalth shook his head. ¡°It cannot be helped. For the sake of the empire and His Majesty, this sacrifice is necessary.¡±

    ¡°B-but¡­¡± The cockroach-haired Quincy hung his head helplessly, falling silent.

    Haschwalth was about to continue when he suddenly looked skyward.

    In the blue sky above the empire, a fissure cracked open. A black shadow poked through, accompanied by a sinister cackle.

    ¡°It worked! There really is someone here!¡± a voice sneered. ¡°Heh heh heh¡­ Greetings, Quincy.¡±

    The voice spread through the air, carried by reiatsu.

    Upon hearing it, the Sternritter raised their heads in unison. Shinigami? Had they found a breach?

    Several more impulsive knights readied themselves for battle.

    Just then, Haschwalth moved. In a blur, he vanished from his spot and reappeared at the edge of the sky¡¯s fissure, drawing the sword from his waist and hurling it straight at the opening.

    The sword erupted in a ring of white shockwaves and exploded in a brilliant flash of deep blue flame, filling the sky. Amid the explosion, a faint ¡°Rua!¡± could be heard.

    Haschwalth had chosen to sacrifice his beloved blade, forged from high-density reishi and carried for centuries. Its detonation forced Kaelith back for the moment.

    Haschwalth roared, ¡°Activate the Final Diocese!¡±

    From beyond the fissure, that dreadful voice realized what was happening. ¡°Senior brother, help me! They¡¯re trying to seal the gate!¡±

    As if responding, another reiatsu with shadow-like qualities emerged on the other side of the breach.

    Haschwalth¡¯s heart tightened. But what truly shook him came next: a parched, fiery reiatsu began stirring, poised just beyond the gap.

    Someone was there, preparing to unleash devastating power the instant the fissure reopened¡ªsomeone Haschwalth knew all too well.

    Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni!

    He must not allow this man to cross over!

    Haschwalth¡¯s eyes widened in rage. He summoned all his strength and drew back a spirit bow, focusing his entire being on preventing that nightmare from invading their empire.

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191

    Sensing the reiatsu spreading through the air, several Quincies who had experienced that war long ago revealed expressions of terror.

    Within the crowd, a young man with red, Mohawk-style hair shot into the air. He opened his palm toward the sky.

    ¡°Burning¡­ Hell!!¡±

    With a roar, several spiraling streams of crimson flame surged forth, hurtling toward the fissure in the sky.

    Elsewhere, an elderly Quincy swiftly drew two pistols, firing volley after volley of reishi arrows into the opening.

    The younger Quincies glanced about in confusion. With the power they had here, wouldn¡¯t any Shinigami who dared to intrude simply be slain on the spot? Why did their seniors look as though they faced total annihilation?

    Seeing some of his colleagues still frozen in shock, the old Quincy shouted:

    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! We must buy time! If the Final Diocese isn¡¯t activated before Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto steps through, all of us will die!¡±

    At these words, the younger Quincies stiffened. The old man¡¯s name was Robert, a veteran Sternritter known for his top-tier strength. If even he said something like this, then the Shinigami beyond the fissure must be unimaginably dangerous.

    Exchanging looks, the younger ones soared into the sky, charging toward the rift.

    On the other side, in Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau:

    Bambietta, wrapped tightly in layers of Bakud¨­, could only stare in disbelief at the three Shinigami¡¯s actions.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed with a vicious light as he grinned, straining the shadowy rift wider with brute force. Beside him, Shunsui Ky¨­raku gripped his twin swords and lent the power of shadows to assist. And that white-bearded old man¡ªat some point, he¡¯d shed his upper garments, revealing a body of corded muscle. His face was dark and stern, like a wrathful statue come to life, gripping his blade as his reiatsu swirled and roiled, pouring ceaselessly into the fissure.

    In Bambietta¡¯s eyes, he was like a ferocious tiger pressing its face and fangs against a half-open door, waiting for the slightest lapse of attention to break through and wreak total havoc.

    Yet as this thought crossed her mind, she suddenly smirked.

    They had no idea what waited on the other side of that door. Another tiger, far more vicious and terrifying than they could imagine¡ªJugram Haschwalth¡ªwould soon show himself.

    Just then, a surge of reiatsu burst from beyond the fissure. The familiar pattern of reishi made Bambietta¡¯s eyes light up.

    Haschwalth!

    He had finally arrived. With Haschwalth in play, these Shinigami were as good as dead. After that, the Sternritter would sweep through the Soul Society itself.

    As though responding to her hopes, the next instant a terrifying spiritual pressure erupted from the other side.

    ¡°Ugh¡ª!¡±

    Kaelith caught the brunt of this reiatsu wave full in the face, letting out an embarrassing shout as he was driven upward, slamming into the laboratory¡¯s reinforced ceiling and leaving a spiderweb of cracks. Still, he was unhurt, his skin glowing faintly with reiatsu. Using the ceiling as leverage, he launched himself back toward the fissure.

    Shunsui, helping him just moments before, was forced several steps backward. He dug both blades into the floor to remain standing as that wild reiatsu tried to overrun them.

    The surge pressed outward, threatening to burst through Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau. If it escaped, it would cause a storm of reishi detectable throughout all of Seireitei.

    ¡°Hrgh!!¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s roar shook the air. His reiatsu swelled even further, reaching an unfathomable magnitude. The fierce blast Haschwalth had created by detonating his reishi-forged sword was forcibly contained. It was as if invisible hands gripped a balloon about to explode, refusing to let it pop or escape, crushing it back down with sheer force.

    Bambietta stared, dumbfounded. Was she dreaming?

    Haschwalth¡¯s full-power strike, suppressed just like that?

    Impossible!

    Yamamoto extended one muscular arm and clenched his fist. The explosive energies released by Haschwalth vanished into nothingness, snuffed out as if by overwhelming pressure.

    Then the old man raised his Zanpakut¨­ high. Blazing flames erupted from the blade.

    ¡°All things in nature¡­ return to ashes¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ry¨±jin Jakka!!¡±

    With a furious roar, the flames of Ry¨±jin Jakka were channeled into the shadowed fissure Kaelith had pried open.

    On the far side, Haschwalth¡¯s eyes widened in horror.

    ¡°Vollst?ndig!!¡±

    He and several other Quincies, who had just taken flight, spread their shining wings and activated their Vollst?ndig. Guided by Haschwalth¡¯s command, they combined their might to form a ritual that blocked the infernal flames pouring through the breach. Feeling the wrath radiating from that fire, none could doubt Yamamoto¡¯s terrifying power now.

    As they struggled against the torrent of flames, a short blade suddenly shot out from the blaze, trailing a long chain like a harpoon cast by a fisherman.

    A hulking Quincy grinned mockingly and reached out to grab it, his palm glowing blue.

    Blut Vene¡ªQuincy¡¯s ultimate defensive technique.

    But in that instant¡ªshhk!¡ªto the shock of all present, the Quincy¡¯s outstretched hand, followed by his arm and shoulder, was cleaved in two. The shining Blut Vene did nothing to stop the blade¡¯s edge.

    For a heartbeat, the man froze, then let out a bloodcurdling scream. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Arrrghhhh!!!¡±

    With a swift yank, Kaelith pulled Rixiang Jimie back from the fissure.

    He shook his head lightly. ¡°What a pity. I couldn¡¯t bring anything back.¡±

    Bambietta stared in trembling silence.

    This Shinigami¡­ he was fishing for them like they were nothing but prey?

    And what came next terrified her even more.

    She sensed a gathering of reiatsu on the other side of the fissure. It was the activation of something meant to close off the Wandenreich entirely¡ªa hidden trump card to seal them away for a long time, cutting off all contact to and from the outside world.

    The Final Diocese!

    This couldn¡¯t be happening. She was still here, damn it! How could they use it now?

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192

    Upon seeing his arm severed cleanly in two halves, the burly Quincy¡¯s face contorted in agony. And at that moment, that chain-linked, blue-flame-wreathed blade came slicing in again!

    Damn it, another strike?!

    The big man¡¯s expression changed drastically. He wanted to dodge, but the pain shooting through his arm was so intense he could barely move, let alone use Hirenkyaku. Even the slightest movement tore at his nerves like a thousand knives.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± said a young Quincy with a scar at the corner of his mouth, stepping in front of the injured man.

    ¡°Cang Du!¡± The bulky Quincy¡ªBeckji¡ªbrightened at the sight of his comrade.

    Like most of the Sternritter who had gained their titles after Yhwach fell into slumber, Cang Du was considered young. Yet among the Quincies, his defensive power ranked near the top. His Blut Vene, a protective technique running like luminous veins across his skin, was nearly on par with Haschwalth¡¯s own. He was confident he could block even one of Haschwalth¡¯s attacks, let alone a Shinigami¡¯s blade.

    Cang Du raised his arm, letting the wide white sleeves of his uniform fall back to reveal his forearm. As he readied himself, blue light lines spread across his skin like blood vessels.

    Just then, high above, Haschwalth¡ªlocked in a fierce clash to hold back Yamamoto¡¯s flames¡ªsuddenly turned his head as if sensing something terrible. Seeing Cang Du poised to block the blade, Haschwalth¡¯s heart sank.

    ¡°Cang Du! Beckji! Evade!¡± he shouted, voice ringing through the air.

    Cang Du hesitated for a fraction of a second, confused by Haschwalth¡¯s urgent warning. Yet he trusted in his own defensive prowess, so he didn¡¯t immediately step aside.

    In the next instant, the short blade pierced straight through his arm and then stabbed clean into his chest without slowing.

    ¡°Guh¡­!¡± Cang Du choked, spitting a mouthful of blood.

    ¡°Cang Du!!¡± Beckji cried, horrified.

    Before their shocked eyes, the chain behind the blade went taut, hauling Cang Du skyward as if he¡¯d been harpooned.

    Outside the fissure, Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Got one!¡±

    He channeled a surge of reiatsu into his Zanpakut¨­, attempting to reel the impaled Quincy in. But just halfway through, an elderly Quincy blurred into motion, arriving at Cang Du¡¯s side with incomprehensible speed. The old man swiftly reached for Cang Du¡¯s arm, trying to yank him off the blade.

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes. The old Quincy was too fast, and with other enemies nearby, it would be nearly impossible to pull Cang Du out in time. Thinking quickly, Kaelith poured even more spiritual energy down the chain.

    A mass of blue-flamed reiatsu raced along the chain and into Cang Du¡¯s body.

    Boom!

    Cang Du¡¯s chest exploded, leaving a gaping hole of blood and charred flesh. The elderly Quincy tried to stop it, but Kaelith was faster. He could only watch a comrade die right before his eyes.

    Enraged by the brutal killing, the Quincie¡¯s formation faltered for a crucial moment. Their lapse allowed Yamamoto¡¯s inferno to finally break free.

    Flames burst forth in all directions as Vollst?ndig-enhanced Quincies scattered, desperate to avoid direct contact with the terrifying fire. Beckji, still reeling from his wound, had no time to escape. A dragon-shaped torrent of flame consumed him utterly, leaving no trace behind. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Haschwalth¡¯s face turned grim. The nightmare he feared was unfolding. The Sternritter¡ªsuper-elite warriors painstakingly cultivated over centuries¡ªwere being slaughtered as if their prestige meant nothing. Any one of these Quincies would have ranked among the top fighters in the old wars. But centuries of isolation had created a warped worldview. To these newer generation Quincies, the universe was simple: Yhwach at the top, the Sternritter beneath him, and everyone else mere insects.

    This arrogant overconfidence had always worried Haschwalth. He¡¯d believed they still had a century or two before any confrontation with the Shinigami, time enough to temper attitudes and prepare. But now they had been discovered prematurely, exposing all their flaws in a bloody, immediate fashion.

    Fortunately, the situation wasn¡¯t entirely beyond salvation.

    Haschwalth looked toward the fissure that Kaelith had forced open. With the Quincie¡¯s defense disrupted, Kaelith made his move, preparing to leap through.

    Just as Kaelith lunged forward, a radiant blue barrier suddenly manifested before him.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kaelith frowned, studying the barrier blocking his path.

    On the other side of the fissure, Haschwalth spoke, voice cold and unwavering:

    ¡°Shinigami, stop wasting your energy. The Final Diocese is a power His Majesty left behind. Once activated, it can protect the empire for at least four centuries. By the time its strength fades, His Majesty will have awakened. That day will spell the end of the Soul Society.¡±

    At the mention of ¡°His Majesty,¡± Yamamoto¡¯s rage boiled over. He roared and swung Ry¨±jin Jakka at the barrier. From the Quincies¡¯ vantage point, it looked as if gigantic ripples spanned thousands of meters across the sky, shockwaves distorting the very air.

    A blonde-haired Quincy girl swallowed hard. ¡°Are¡­ are all Shinigami such monsters?¡±

    Beside her, a green-haired Quincy woman¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°And that boy next to him¡­ he killed Cang Du so easily¡­¡±

    Many Quincies wore expressions of sheer tension and terror, dreading that the old man might carve through the barrier at any moment.

    Fortunately for them, Yhwach¡¯s safeguard was far sturdier than they imagined. It was powered not only by ancient rites but by the entirety of the Wandenreich and its inhabitants lending their strength. Even Yamamoto couldn¡¯t break it down immediately.

    Haschwalth wasn¡¯t surprised. Backed by the full might of the invisible empire, this ultimate barrier couldn¡¯t be breached so easily.

    He turned, lowering his gaze, preparing to withdraw¡ªwhen a sudden feeling made him whip back around.

    To his shock, that Shinigami boy charged forward again, dual blades in hand.

    ¡°Open¡ªnow!!¡±

    With a thunderous shout, Kaelith¡¯s twin swords slammed into the barrier. A crisp crack echoed as spiderweb fractures spread across its surface.

    Haschwalth¡¯s eyes went wide. What was this boy?

    Seeing Kaelith prepare for a second strike, Haschwalth finally lost his calm. He tapped into every last bit of power and authority Yhwach had bestowed, frantically guiding reishi to mend the barrier¡¯s fractures.

    ¡°Quick! Shift the empire¡¯s position as far away as possible!¡± he shouted. ¡°We must leave this place at once!¡±

 Chapter 193

    Chapter 193

    Nearly half of the Seireitei fell into silence.

    All eyes turned toward the direction of the Second Division, where the Head Captain¡¯s reiatsu surged like an overwhelming tsunami, rolling through the air. That scorching, oppressive spiritual pressure swept across everyone¡¯s senses.

    Within that turbulent wave of spirit energy, another presence demanded attention: Kaelith, the Third Seat of the Second Division. Just like Yamamoto, Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu emanated from that same area¡ªwave after wave, not as mighty as the Head Captain¡¯s, but every bit as fierce and unyielding. The intensity of that cutting-edge reiatsu left some of the weaker Shinigami nearly gasping for breath.

    Even from more than ten kilometers away, they could sense Yamamoto¡¯s unrestrained killing intent. This was no spar, no training exercise¡ªthis was a life-and-death struggle, a genuine battle to the bitter end.

    And yet, aside from Yamamoto, Kaelith, and the occasional hint of Captain Ky¨­raku¡¯s reiatsu, no other spiritual signatures were apparent at the scene. Where was the enemy?

    A conflict of such ferocity, with lethal intent so palpable, left them puzzling over the situation. Ruling out all impossibilities, only one conclusion remained: the Head Captain¡­ was fighting Kaelith!

    This implied that their duel had already escalated to such intensity that even someone like Ky¨­raku could only hover at the periphery, unable to intervene. How had things come to this? Why would the Head Captain and his disciple cross blades in earnest?

    Speculation ran rampant. Those who revered raw strength and power concluded that the cunning disciple, after mastering all he could from his teacher, had turned traitor. Conspiracy theorists¡ªkeyboard warriors of a sort¡ªwhispered that Kaelith, allied with the Shih¨­in family, sought to overthrow Yamamoto and seize control of the Gotei 13. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At the Sixth Division barracks:

    Kuchiki S¨­jun hurried to the captain¡¯s office door. ¡°Captain! What¡¯s going on? Even though Kaelith has his quirks, he¡¯d never do something to betray the Head Captain! There must be some misunderstanding! Please, you must step in and stop this! If that¡¯s not possible, at least save him! With the Kuchiki family¡¯s influence, we can protect Kaelith!¡±

    Inside, Kuchiki Ginrei listened silently, feeling his blood pressure rise. Without knowing the cause, his son was already siding with Kaelith. Ginrei suspected that even if Kaelith truly rebelled, S¨­jun would still stand up for him.

    ¡°Father!¡± S¨­jun tried again, switching to a more personal plea.

    Ginrei stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look. You stay here and don¡¯t move.¡±

    Seeing S¨­jun nod obediently, Ginrei vanished with Shunpo.

    At the Fourth Division, Yamada Seinosuke approached Captain Unohana¡¯s office, making a similar request. Unohana sat quietly, shaking her head slightly. ¡°No need to worry,¡± she said.

    Seinosuke¡¯s eyes lit up¡ªdid the captain know something?

    But Unohana calmly continued, ¡°If they were truly fighting, even if I rushed there now, I couldn¡¯t save Kaelith.¡± (t/N: haha)

    That was¡­ painfully logical. Seinosuke could find no argument.

    ¡­

    Ginrei Kuchiki flashed through the Seireitei, heading toward the Second Division. The closer he drew, the more stunned he became. Yamamoto¡¯s reiatsu raged, filled with unimaginable anger. Ginrei had worked with Yamamoto for many years and had never seen him so furious, not even during previous rebellions. What could have happened? Had he really ended up battling Kaelith?

    That seemed unbelievable, but the evidence was hard to ignore.

    Carrying these doubts, Ginrei landed beside J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake.

    ¡°Captain Kuchiki,¡± Ukitake greeted him with a nod. Ginrei lowered his voice and asked about the situation. Ukitake let out a wry smile¡ªhe was curious too.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the details either,¡± Ukitake confessed. ¡°But think about it: would Yamamoto-sensei really fight Kaelith without cause? There must be an enemy with some special ability that conceals their reiatsu. That would explain why we only feel Yamamoto-sensei and Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu. I imagine once this is over, they¡¯ll have bodies to clear away.¡±

    Ukitake had said ¡°bodies,¡± not ¡°captives.¡± Seeing Yamamoto¡¯s wrath, it was hard to imagine anyone surviving on the enemy¡¯s side.

    Suddenly, Kirio Hikifune spoke up. ¡°They¡¯re coming out!¡±

    Ukitake and Ginrei turned immediately. Yoruichi and Soifon, along with the Stealth Corps, also approached.

    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the first to emerge was Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto. His face was stern, forbidding. Shirtless, his muscular torso bore the marks of battle¡ªburned, charred fragments of cloth hung at his sides.

    Yamamoto gripped his Zanpakut¨­ and stepped forward. Everyone¡¯s gazes slid behind him.

    Kaelith followed next. Unlike the unscathed Head Captain, Kaelith¡¯s arms were riddled with bloody cracks, red with fresh wounds. His upper attire was in tatters, even more shredded than Yamamoto¡¯s, revealing soot-stained, well-defined muscles. Behind Kaelith came Shunsui Ky¨­raku, smudged with ash and sporting scorch marks on his pink haori, though otherwise not severely harmed.

    No one else emerged.

    Ukitake hurried forward. ¡°Yamamoto-sensei! Kaelith! Ky¨­raku¡ªare you all alright?¡±

    Ky¨­raku responded with a weary smile and a wave, signaling he was fine.

    Yamamoto and Kaelith both appeared lost in thought, neither answering immediately.

    Ukitake, growing more puzzled, ventured, ¡°Sensei, should we go in and recover the enemy¡¯s corpses?¡±

    Yamamoto looked at him. The old man seemed about to speak, then paused, reconsidering. After a moment¡¯s silence, he shook his head.

    ¡°There are no enemies. Disperse,¡± Yamamoto ordered curtly.

    Hikifune blinked. ¡°No enemies? Then was all that reiatsu from fighting¡­¡± She glanced toward Kaelith. ¡°Your master¡­?¡±

    Yamamoto furrowed his brow, taking a moment to realize Hikifune was referring to Kaelith when she said ¡°master.¡± What kind of nonsense titles were these?

    Then, as if struck by inspiration, Yamamoto stroked his beard and nodded. ¡°Yes. I fought with this brat,¡± he said, indicating Kaelith.

    Hikifune: ¡°?¡±

    Ukitake: ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ll be heading back to rest. Kaelith, you handle the aftermath here,¡± Yamamoto commanded, narrowing his eyes at Kaelith in a warning gesture before walking away, sword in hand.

    He left behind a crowd of astonished Shinigami, their eyes bulging with disbelief as they turned toward Kaelith.

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194

    As soon as Yamamoto departed, the crowd swarmed in.

    ¡°Kaelith, is what the Head Captain said just now true?¡±

    ¡°Master, did you really fight the Head Captain?¡±

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, what on earth happened¡­¡±

    Seeing that everyone seemed to believe it to some extent, Kaelith was rendered speechless. It was one thing for ordinary Shinigami to believe it, but these were captains. Didn¡¯t they understand Yamamoto¡¯s power? How could they fall for something so obviously off?

    In truth, if anyone else had said this, the captains wouldn¡¯t have believed a word. But Yamamoto¡¯s character had always been staid and dignified, his words absolute. Aside from those close to him, like Ky¨­raku and Ukitake, few had ever seen him joke. Especially Kuchiki Ginrei¡ªsince the day he met Yamamoto, the old man had maintained that unyielding, austere demeanor. For him, this was especially shocking.

    Kaelith waved his hand. ¡°The Head Captain¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ahem,¡± Ky¨­raku Shunsui interjected with a cough. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little brother. The Head Captain was just a bit angry. Once things cool down, it¡¯ll be fine. He definitely won¡¯t hold a grudge against you. Relax!¡±

    Kaelith turned to look at Ky¨­raku, who gave him a look that clearly meant: ¡°If you want to dig your own grave, don¡¯t drag me into it.¡±

    Ky¨­raku¡¯s unspoken second half of the sentence reminded Kaelith that Yamamoto wanted today¡¯s events buried. If Kaelith blabbed too much, Yamamoto would definitely hold it against him.

    Kaelith responded to Ky¨­raku¡¯s meaningful gaze by lifting his middle finger.

    ¡°Soifon, Yoruichi, come with me.¡±

    He waved to the two women standing at a distance, then turned and headed back into the Technical Bureau¡¯s building. They followed him inside.

    Upon entering and seeing Bambietta, Soifon was momentarily taken aback. Yoruichi thought for a couple of seconds and then asked, ¡°This girl is the enemy you were dealing with?¡±

    Because of Kaelith, Yoruichi knew far more about Yamamoto than most captains did. She was aware that Yamamoto might beat Kaelith if he were upset, but to unleash murderous intent like that, going all out in battle? That was definitely not something those two would do without reason.

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°The one my teacher and I fought was from her clan.¡±

    ¡°Her clan?¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Kaelith said, walking over and giving Bambietta a pat on the shoulder. ¡°This is Bambietta, a Quincy.¡±

    ¡°?!¡± Both Soifon and Yoruichi froze for a moment, stunned. A Quincy¡ªhere in the Seireitei?

    ¡°From the intelligence we have, it¡¯s certain that a powerful group of Quincy has used some secret art to construct a special space hidden within the shadows of the Seireitei. Where they came from, why they¡¯re hiding here, and what they ultimately want¡­ all these questions must be answered by Miss Bambietta.¡±

    Grinning, Kaelith turned back to Bambietta. ¡°Introductions are done. Now let me introduce these two as well. One of them is the leader of the Onmitsukid¨­, the head of intelligence in the Soul Society. The other is a high-ranking member of the Onmitsukid¨­, specializing in interrogation and assassination. From what I¡¯ve heard, not a single person who ends up in the Onmitsukid¨­¡¯s hands has ever walked out on their own.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s grin took on a sinister edge. ¡°Miss Bambietta, would you rather talk now about everything you know, or would you prefer receiving their ¡®guidance¡¯ first and only then squeal like a pig¡ªrevealing even what you don¡¯t want to say?¡±

    At these words, Bambietta trembled all over. Ever since she was little, she¡¯d been raised as a Quincy prodigy, always receiving elite training. She had never seen anything like this. To her, Kaelith and the two women before her seemed like demons baring hungry smiles.

    Even so, she shook her head firmly. ¡°Just kill me. I won¡¯t say a thing!¡±

    Before, she had revealed the existence of the Wandenreich to Kaelith because she believed fully in Haschwalth¡¯s ability to rescue her. Now she knew Haschwalth was no match for these Shinigami. If she spilled any more secrets, that would be outright betrayal. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All her life, her education had taught her of Yhwach¡¯s greatness and terror. The consequences of betraying him were unimaginable.

    Hearing her refusal, Kaelith nodded. He stood up. ¡°Soifon, she¡¯s all yours.¡±

    ¡°Do whatever it takes. By the end of today, I want to know everything about these Quincies. At the very least, get me the coordinates of their hidden shadow realm.¡±

    ¡°If you fail, I¡¯ll spend tonight thoroughly ¡®enjoying¡¯ your beloved Lady Yoruichi.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Soifon, who was about to accept the task, nearly drew her blade at that last sentence. Kaelith looked at her.

    ¡°Any questions?¡±

    Soifon took a deep breath, forcing down her rising anger. ¡°Where shall the interrogation take place?¡±

    ¡°Right here. I¡¯ll arrange a room for you,¡± Kaelith replied. ¡°Also, do not let news of the Quincies spread. Whatever you see here must stay secret.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Soifon said, standing at attention. In Bambietta¡¯s despairing gaze, Soifon grabbed her by the back of her collar and dragged her off to another room.

    Once the two of them had left, Yoruichi turned to Kaelith. ¡°Kaelith, we¡¯re still negotiating with the Quincy in the human world. Now we suddenly have these Quincy in the Soul Society. Could there be some connection?¡±

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re not from the same branch.¡±

    He glanced around the ruined lab. The fighting had utterly destroyed it: traces of reiatsu washing through, sword strikes carved into the walls, scorch marks from flames. Everything was a wreck.

    Kaelith felt a strange gratitude. Thankfully, Aizen enjoyed doing experiments and working in secret. Thankfully, to repay Aizen, Kaelith had worked hard on researching shadow spaces. If not for these circumstances, the Quincy might have remained hidden in the shadows of the Seireitei, waiting to strike with full intel and crushing force in the future.

    The Quincy realm they¡¯d built lay concealed in Seireitei¡¯s shadow. This meant if they ever launched a war, the Seireitei¡¯s greatest defense¡ªthe Sekkiseki barriers¡ªwould be useless. As defenders, the Gotei 13 would be tied down, and worst of all, they might face interference from unexpected quarters. In such dire circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for them to suffer terrible losses, even face annihilation.

    Fortunately, by a twist of fate, Kaelith had shattered their perfect hidden advantage. This time, he wouldn¡¯t allow that tragedy to happen again.

 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195

    ¡°Need my help?¡±

    Kaelith turned his head, puzzled, to look at Soifon.

    After assigning her to handle the interrogation, he had started repairing the laboratory. Ry¨±jin Jakka had burned most of the equipment and materials in the room. For anyone else, it would be nearly impossible to salvage anything from the charred mess. But Kaelith was different.

    Using his Inner Soul Power and his unique reishi infiltration ability, he could merge his reiatsu into objects. Once fused, these objects could perform simple separation and extraction tasks. Thanks to this, he could still recover some materials not completely destroyed.

    As for Yoruichi, she had returned to the Shih¨­in Clan estate to look up any records about Quincy.

    When he heard Soifon knock, Kaelith immediately stopped what he was doing. This ability must remain secret. If Aizen found out, he would surely exploit him ruthlessly, turning Kaelith into a mere tool for endless labor. Not just Aizen¡ªUrahara and Mayuri were no saints either. Good people were far too scarce around him.

    Kaelith sighed inwardly.

    ¡°Soifon, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Kaelith-sama, the interrogation requires your assistance,¡± Soifon said seriously. ¡°This Quincy, Bambietta, is arrogant and resilient. Inflicting pain works, but a single day may not be enough to extract all the details.¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡±

    Soifon¡¯s tone remained calm. ¡°For a proud woman who thinks herself superior, the simplest way to break her is to have the very sort of man she looks down on sully her.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but snort. ¡°Young lady, are you trying to lure me into committing a crime so that Yoruichi will hate me and stay away forever? I can almost hear your scheme rattling through your Bee brain right here.¡±

    Soifon paused, her brows furrowing thoughtfully. ¡°Yoruichi-sama cares about things like that? Huh, that¡¯s a new angle¡­ Maybe next time we catch rebel remnants, if any look good enough, I can use them to tempt you¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, I can hear you,¡± Kaelith said, exasperated.

    Soifon shrugged. ¡°Not forcing you. But if you won¡¯t help, I¡¯ll go with harsher methods that would waste time. My way will be quicker and cleaner. You won¡¯t have to do anything¡­ questionable. Just back me up. It¡¯s about creating an atmosphere she can¡¯t handle. She is quite....sensitive¡±

    Kaelith eyed her warily. This sounded strange, but Soifon wasn¡¯t reckless. If she said it would be cleaner and more effective, then maybe it was worth a try. ¡°Fine. But if this gets weird, I¡¯m done.¡±

    ¡­

    Following Soifon, Kaelith entered the makeshift interrogation room. Bambietta was suspended in midair by several Bakud¨­ restraints, eyes glazed over. Her white cap had long since fallen to the floor. Her silky black hair hung messily over her face and shoulders. Tear tracks streaked her cheeks, and a few strands of hair stuck to her mouth, giving her a ruined, disheveled look.

    Kaelith paused in surprise. The interrogation had lasted less than an hour, yet she was already reduced to this state. As expected of a Stealth Corps veteran¡ªSoifon was a true professional.

    But a closer look made him frown. ¡°Soifon, why are there no wounds on her body? How did you interrogate her?¡±

    Soifon shook her head. ¡°Unless necessary, we don¡¯t need real wounds for interrogation. Using Kid¨­, I can directly stimulate the body¡¯s senses, causing dozens of times more pain than an external injury.¡±

    Kaelith nodded in admiration. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As they spoke, Bambietta seemed to regain a little energy. She raised her head slightly, looking at them before giving a twisted smile.

    ¡°Shinigami¡­ you¡¯d best kill me now,¡± she spat. ¡°Otherwise, when His Majesty reclaims the Soul Society, I¡¯ll return your torments a thousandfold!¡±

    She glared at Soifon. ¡°You¡¯re fond of that dark-skinned mistress of yours, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ll hack her to pieces, slice her apart!¡±

    Soifon narrowed her eyes.

    Bambietta then turned her gaze to Kaelith. ¡°And you! Your teacher, your brothers-in-arms, everyone by your side¡ªI¡¯ll kill them all!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s face darkened. He and Soifon exchanged a glance.

    ¡°Soifon,¡± he said, ¡°show me just how sensitive she is.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Kaelith-sama.¡±

    Soifon moved closer, producing a small talisman inscribed with delicate Kid¨­ patterns. Its faint glow cast flickering shadows on the walls. Before Bambietta could hurl another insult, Soifon pressed a finger to the talisman, having Kaelith channel his reiatsu through it.

    A tense hush fell over the room. The air felt heavier, as though it might buckle under the weight of unseen forces. Bambietta¡¯s confident glare wavered¡ªno one had touched her, yet it seemed like something was pressing down on her spirit, smothering her resolve.

    Kaelith sensed it too¡ªan invisible field of pressure, neither brutal nor gentle. It was subtle and precise, tugging at Bambietta¡¯s composure without leaving any visible mark. He watched Soifon¡¯s technique unfold, impressed by how easily the Quincy¡¯s arrogance began to crumble under the illusion.

    "Please NO...don''t...don''t stop!"

    Kaelith: ..??

    ¡­

    As the sun dipped low, Kaelith stepped out, feeling oddly invigorated. The subtle interplay of illusion, Kid¨­, and reiatsu had been so much more satisfying than brute force. In a way, it reminded him of Aizen¡¯s fondness for illusions¡ªhow a carefully crafted facade could achieve what raw power often couldn¡¯t. Breaking through pride and defenses without a single blow had a certain elegance to it.

    He¡¯d just witnessed proof that sometimes, finesse and a bit of clever trickery could be far more potent than sheer strength.

    But in the end, that way wasn''t for him. He still preferred to solve problems with his fists.

    As Soifon predicted, once they worked together, Bambietta broke in under four hours. Most of the information was grim news, but knowing one¡¯s enemy was better than facing them blind.

    Armed with the gathered intelligence, Kaelith headed to report to Yamamoto. But as soon as he reached the Technical Bureau¡¯s entrance, he saw a figure waiting.

    Aizen leaned against the door, arms folded across his chest, calmly standing there. In the glow of the setting sun, half of his face lay in shadow, the contrast between light and dark patterns shifting across his Shihakush¨­.

    Seeing Kaelith pause, Aizen¡¯s gaze remained steady, as if this was nothing more than a casual meeting.

    ¡°An emergency within the Technical Bureau,¡± Aizen said.

    ¡°Such a major incident in your own territory, yet I received no advance warning. Kaelith, you¡¯ve grown quite independent.¡±

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196

    ¡°Kaelith, you¡¯ve certainly grown independent.¡±

    Aizen spoke calmly, facing Kaelith. He was clearly not in the best of moods. Without his knowledge, Kaelith had caused a massive disturbance. Although Aizen didn¡¯t know the exact details, Yamamoto¡¯s surging reiatsu alone indicated this had been a major incident. Moreover, from the Head Captain¡¯s demeanor when he left, it was clear the problem hadn¡¯t been fully resolved. Even Yamamoto Shigekuni hadn¡¯t managed to force a conclusion in one go¡ªthis showed how perilous the matter was.

    And Aizen had remained completely uninformed until Kisuke Urahara came to find him. If not for that, would he still be in the dark now?

    Kaelith paused, then adopted a wounded expression. ¡°Kisuke Urahara! I knew that guy was up to no good, stirring trouble between us brothers. This is unforgivable! S¨­suke, just wait. I¡¯ll go take Urahara¡¯s head right now and offer it to honor your spirit!¡±

    He turned as if to leave.

    Slap!

    Before he could step away, a hand landed on his shoulder.

    Kaelith turned back, tears in his eyes, and looked at Aizen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, S¨­suke. This was my oversight. But I never intended to hide it from you.¡±

    Aizen nodded. ¡°I know.¡±

    He understood Kaelith¡¯s nature perfectly. Back in their academy days, when they first met, Kaelith had been inexplicably wary of him¡ªthough he pretended to be a friendly classmate on the surface, inwardly he kept his distance. Aizen had known it instantly because Kaelith was a poor actor. If Kaelith were truly guarded or estranged now, Aizen would have sensed it long before this incident.

    This situation felt less like Kaelith distrusting him and more like he had concealed something out of goodwill. After considering several possibilities, Aizen spoke again:

    ¡°You thought what you were doing was too dangerous, so you didn¡¯t want me involved?¡±

    Kaelith shook his head vigorously.

    True, if Kaelith had known it was dangerous, he would have summoned Yamamoto in advance. With his relationship to the Head Captain, it would have been easy to have him stand guard from the start.

    Aizen thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Then was your experiment related to me?¡±

    Kaelith showed a thoughtful look, shook his head, then nodded. Aizen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly¡ªso it did have something to do with him. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Aizen pondering, Kaelith grinned. ¡°No need to guess, S¨­suke. I¡¯ve made a breakthrough. Once I finish what I¡¯m doing, I¡¯ll show you my astonishing abilities!¡±

    ¡°Is that so.¡± Aizen responded noncommittally.

    Kaelith curled his lip. Fine, keep your calm fa?ade. When you finally witness the shadow space, let¡¯s see if you can keep your eyes from popping out! Imagining Aizen¡¯s shocked face, Kaelith said, ¡°S¨­suke, wait a moment. I need to report to the old man first.¡±

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°No rush. Tell me the whole story first.¡±

    Kaelith stared at him. ¡°How can I? This is classified information, I¡ª¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°¡­I mean, how can I not prepare some tea for you to enjoy while I explain?¡± Kaelith coughed nervously and turned to brew some tea.

    Before long, in the burned and battered lab, they sat facing each other at a makeshift tea table. Aizen sipped at his cup, making a displeased face, while Kaelith gulped down cup after cup, recounting the entire incident.

    ¡°¡­So that¡¯s it. Everything I learned came from the interrogation. It¡¯s all first-hand and incredibly valuable!¡± Kaelith boasted after downing his sixth cup.

    Aizen ignored the bragging, spinning his teacup while pondering what Kaelith had revealed. From the story, he picked up numerous key points.

    After a brief silence, he raised his head. ¡°Alright, I understand. Go make your report to the Head Captain. I¡¯ll clean up here.¡±

    ¡°Perfect! Thanks for that!¡± Kaelith grinned broadly, flashing a smile worthy of a toothpaste ad, and strode off.

    Watching him leave, Aizen chuckled softly and shook his head. He stood and approached the melted wall, examining what could still be salvaged.

    After some time, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

    ¡­

    First Division, Head Captain¡¯s study.

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s gaze, Kaelith relayed all the information extracted from Bambietta. The most critical piece concerned the ¡°Final Diocese,¡± the Wandenreich¡¯s ultimate barrier. Once activated, it was nearly unbreakable from the outside. In return, the Quincies inside couldn¡¯t open it to come out until Yhwach awakened.

    To Kaelith, this was actually decent news. At least he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Quincies popping out in the middle of the night to surround him. However, Bambietta didn¡¯t know the precise coordinates of the Wandenreich. It hid within the Seireitei¡¯s shadows and could relocate anywhere. Without hundreds of Kaelith-level operators combing through every corner of the Seireitei, finding the concealed empire would be nearly impossible if they chose to remain hidden.

    Next, Kaelith provided details about the Quincie¡¯s current strength and personnel. Bambietta hadn¡¯t bothered withholding much. In her view, since Haschwalth had activated the Final Diocese, it meant they never intended to rescue her. If the Wandenreich had abandoned her, why should she keep protecting them? Besides, Kaelith and Soifon¡¯s methods had been very¡­ persuasive.

    Kaelith handed over a neatly compiled list to Yamamoto. Scanning its contents, the Head Captain frowned slightly.

    ¡°I see. So that form they used, with those wings of light, is called Vollst?ndig, is it? I¡¯ve seen Quincies use a similar ability before. Back then, once they used it, they lost all their powers afterward. Compared to that time, these insects have become even more troublesome¡­¡±

    He considered whether to share some past events with Kaelith, but before he could decide, Kaelith cleared his throat.

    ¡°Teacher, about Bambietta¡­ She¡¯s involved in so many secrets. I think it would be best to keep her in my custody under my personal supervision.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Yamamoto couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes.

    Was that really about custody? It was obvious what Kaelith was after.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197

    As Aizen tidied up the materials in the laboratory, he nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I see¡­ no wonder the Head Captain was so furious.¡±

    After returning from the First Division, Kaelith went straight to Aizen and relayed the secrets he¡¯d learned from Yamamoto¡ªabout the war over eight hundred years ago, about Yhwach, the progenitor of the Quincy, and the Sternritter.

    Hearing one unfamiliar name after another, Aizen couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of awe. The Soul Society¡¯s long history was indeed filled with endless waves of turmoil.

    Back then, the strongest Quincy, Yhwach, had led his knights to invade the Soul Society. Captain-Commander Yamamoto had personally led the counterattack, and in their final showdown, Yamamoto had used his Bankai and put Yhwach reign to an end by the sword.

    Who would have thought Yhwach hadn¡¯t truly died? Instead, he¡¯d built a new empire within the Seireitei¡¯s shadows, reassembled his forces, and bided his time.

    The only good news was that although Yhwach still lived, he wasn¡¯t fully revived yet. He¡¯d left his subordinates a short rhyme:

    ¡°900 years to regain his heartbeat,

    90 years to regain his intellect,

    9 years to regain his power,

    and 9 days to reclaim the world.¡±

    If these words were true, Yhwach wouldn¡¯t awaken for at least another century. That was plenty of time for the Soul Society to prepare.

    The most crucial step was abandoning their reliance on the Sekkiseki barriers. Regardless of whether Yhwach awakened in a hundred years or a single year, the Soul Society needed to act fast, constructing new defensive measures inside Seireitei. Beyond that, they had to counter the Quincy¡¯s ability to manipulate reishi. Once a Quincy activated Vollst?ndig, they could forcibly control the spiritual particles around them. Everything in the Soul Society¡ªevery plant, every brick¡ªwas made of reishi. Without precautions, their defenses could be consumed by the enemy like snacks.

    Yamamoto had already consulted the Kid¨­ Corps, instructing them to develop spells resistant to forced reishi manipulation. If the Quincy came, these spells would protect the Soul Society¡¯s key facilities from being directly destroyed.

    All these preparations would require some explaining to Central 46 later on, but as long as they were done, it would greatly reduce casualties in the future war. Kaelith was quite satisfied with this outcome.

    Sprawled in a chair, legs dangling, he said, ¡°S¨­suke, I¡¯ve noticed the old man¡¯s come to trust how reliable I am. He even let me keep watch over Bambietta¡ªthe Quincy prisoner who¡¯s so crucial. If that¡¯s not trust in my abilities, I don¡¯t know what is!¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Aizen generated some heat in his hand, smoothing a protrusion on the wall, then turned to look at Kaelith. ¡°Kaelith, I trust your abilities, too.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kaelith perked up immediately. Getting Aizen to praise him wasn¡¯t easy. ¡°Tell me more, which parts do you trust?¡±

    Leaning forward, he looked at Aizen expectantly.

    ¡°I trust that you can separate materials fused into the wall down to individual spirit particles. Even I can¡¯t do that.¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head back proudly. ¡°Of course, for me that¡¯s as easy as¡ª¡±

    Halfway through, he realized something and his voice trailed off, face going stiff.

    Aizen said calmly, ¡°But now that I think about it, last time I asked you to separate those mixed Shinigami souls, your results were rough¡ªno better than a standard Shinigami¡¯s work. Kaelith, what¡¯s going on there?¡±

    Kaelith let out a forced laugh. ¡°S¨­suke, I just remembered the Head Captain wants me for something. We¡¯ll talk next time, next time!¡±

    With that, he jumped up and bolted.

    Aizen folded his arms and shook his head helplessly. After helping tidy up Kaelith¡¯s laboratory, he headed back toward the Fifth Division. Tonight, he planned to revisit the Great Spirit Library to check the records on Yhwach.

    ¡­

    At the Shih¨­in estate¡¯s secret training ground:

    ¡°Haah!¡± Yoruichi, her legs weighted down, unleashed a vicious spinning kick. Thunderous sparks danced around her legs, and the giant stone before her was smashed to pieces in one blow.

    She flipped gracefully midair and landed with ease. Looking at the shattered stone, Yoruichi smiled. Two months ago, she would have needed a combo of moves to break such a large rock. Now she could crush it with a single kick¡ªeven wearing weights. She was sure Kaelith wouldn¡¯t take this progress lightly.

    Feeling good, she went to take a bath. Two maids helped her out of her training clothes, and after a refreshing wash, she changed into a fresh Shihakush¨­ and headed toward the Second Division.

    She wondered how the Quincy situation was going. With Soifon on it, the interrogation should be straightforward. Kaelith was so lucky to have someone as capable as Soifon around¡ªtruly a fortunate jerk.

    Upon arriving at Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau, she was told Kaelith wasn¡¯t in. Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. It was almost dinner time, and Kaelith usually never strayed far around mealtime. He always rushed toward the cafeteria line like a champion.

    Thinking it over, she decided to check his private study. Sure enough, she sensed a familiar presence inside. Smiling, Yoruichi planned a little surprise. She glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then shrank into her feline form, padding toward Kaelith¡¯s study.

    At the window, just as she was about to slip inside, Yoruichi paused. Her cat ears twitched. In this form, she could hear things a normal human couldn¡¯t. The sounds inside¡­ were a bit strange.

    Curious, Yoruichi poked a tiny hole through the paper window with her sharp claw and pressed her round cat-eye against it.

    No lights were lit, and in the dimness, the scene Yoruichi glimpsed through her tiny vantage point seemed all too suspicious. Inside, Kaelith lounged back in a chair, half-lidded eyes and head tilted back. Opposite him, Soifon crouched low, face twisted in disgust as she tugged and pulled at something near Kaelith¡¯s waist.

    ¡°Scu... Kaelith-sama, please hurry! I¡¯m exhausted!¡± she hissed.

    The way Soifon hovered so close, the strained breathing, Kaelith¡¯s half-smug groans¡ªeverything screamed ¡°inappropriate¡± to an outside observer. Yoruichi¡¯s feline heart hammered. Had she accidentally stumbled on some secret lover¡¯s tryst?

    Kaelith¡¯s voice sounded oddly defensive. ¡°You misunderstand, Soifon. I¡¯m sacrificing myself here for the sake of work. Do you think it¡¯s easy for a handsome young man like me to deal with¡­ oh, oh¡­ all this Bambietta business without losing composure?¡±

    ¡°Scumbag,¡± Soifon spat flatly, quickening her efforts.

    From Yoruichi¡¯s angle, it looked dangerously scandalous. But then she squinted, catching a glimpse of cloth twisted awkwardly under the chair¡¯s armrest. Wait¡ªwas Soifon just trying to free Kaelith¡¯s sash? Maybe his uniform had gotten caught in something and he¡¯d dragged her in here to fix it. The grunts, the complaints¡ªthey could all be about a stubborn knot, not something indecent.

    Still rattled, Yoruichi shifted her weight. Her tail flicked involuntarily, and in that instant, Soifon¡¯s head snapped up.

    "Who¡¯s there?!¡±

    Kaelith reacted just as fast, triggering a small contraption that shot toward the window. Yoruichi flinched, darting back just in time. She fled silently, her heart pounding as she put distance between herself and that bizarre misunderstanding.

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198

    Kaelith reacted just as fast, triggering a small contraption that shot toward the window. Yoruichi flinched, darting back just in time. She fled silently, her heart pounding as she put distance between herself and that bizarre misunderstanding.

    A short while later, perched in a tall tree on Second Division grounds, Yoruichi caught her breath. Confirming she wasn¡¯t followed, she let out a tiny sigh of relief. That was¡­ intense. She had mentally prepared herself for odd scenarios when leaving Soifon under Kaelith¡¯s care, but actually seeing something like that¡ªeven if it was just a misunderstanding on her part¡ªleft her rattled.

    As the head of the Shih¨­in family, Yoruichi knew some things about...these matters. The elders had been thorough, if embarrassingly so. She flicked her tail, recalling Soifon¡¯s flustered expression.

    Soifon was so cute.

    No, wait¡ªthat wasn¡¯t the main point.

    The real problem was Kaelith¡¯s expression. He¡¯d looked¡­ pleased. If Kaelith ever married into the Shih¨­in family, would she have to do stuff like that for him too? The mere idea made her tail swish faster. Thinking back, she and Kaelith had always been more like buddies than anything else. Even seeing him half-naked before never stirred any weird thoughts.

    Now, though, that silly, easily misunderstood scene kept replaying in her mind¡ªKaelith¡¯s smug face, Soifon¡¯s grumbling, the odd tension. It left Yoruichi strangely warm as if her reiatsu was off balance. She shook her head vigorously. This was nonsense. She needed to clear her mind. Some extra training back at the Shih¨­in estate would calm her down.

    Making a graceful leap, the black cat hopped down from the branch and darted off. She¡¯d sweat out these strange feelings in the training hall and forget all about Kaelith¡¯s ¡°sacrifice¡± and Soifon¡¯s frustrated muttering. It was all just a big misunderstanding¡ªone that, unfortunately, refused to leave her thoughts so easily. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    .......................

    After wrapping up their awkward little chore, Kaelith and Soifon left the dim room behind and headed toward Bambietta¡¯s temporary cell. The Quincy girl seemed a lot less defiant now¡ªperhaps due to her earlier encounters. Seeing the pair step in, Bambietta pressed her legs together nervously, a faint blush on her cheeks as if bracing for something¡­ dramatic.

    The once-proud Quincy looked more nervous now, and oddly eager, as if remembering the strange pressure she¡¯d experienced before. She seemed almost curious about what they¡¯d do next.

    Kaelith stood before her, arms folded. ¡°We¡¯ve reached a decision about your fate,¡± he said, tone matter-of-fact.

    Bambietta swallowed hard. Anxiety flared:

    Would they execute her quietly?

    Burn her at the stake?

    Or something even worse¡ªlike tossing her into a pit of rowdy Shinigami? Her imagination ran wild, and oddly enough, the last of those dire scenarios made her breathing grow a bit heavier.

    Kaelith tilted his head, puzzled by her reaction. She looked more¡­ embarrassed than frightened. Strange, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    ¡°Originally, you were to be disposed of in secret,¡± he said. ¡°But considering your potential usefulness, we¡¯re giving you a chance to redeem yourself.¡±

    Bambietta¡¯s eyes widened. Was this real? She¡¯d expected something harsher, but this was surprisingly mild. Still, she couldn¡¯t forget that odd, intense feeling from before.

    If that was just an illusion, what would the ¡°real thing¡± be like if she stayed useful?

    Kaelith continued, ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll assume a civilian identity and join the Onmitsukid¨­ as my personal guard. You¡¯ll remain under strict surveillance, wear a special Kid¨­ seal¡ªdisobey and you¡¯ll blow yourself to pieces.

    You¡¯ll follow my orders without question, serve as a test subject for research, and demonstrate Quincy abilities when required. Understood?¡±

    Bambietta blinked, stunned. This was far gentler than the brutal torture she¡¯d imagined. Of course, being ¡°test material¡± meant repeated examinations and experiments, but it still felt more lenient than expected. She recalled her loyalty to Yhwach, but what choice did she have now? It was all Haschwalth¡¯s fault for leaving her behind anyway. And besides, she just had to wait til Yhwach awakened.

    Steeling herself, Bambietta raised her head and nodded. ¡°I understand. Please use me however you see fit.¡±

    Kaelith gave a vague nod, still feeling something about her behavior was off. Did all Quincy think like this? Either way, the arrangement pleased him. He¡¯d gained a potentially valuable asset¡ªthough he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Bambietta¡¯s flushed expression had little to do with fear.

    That evening, he summoned Bambietta to his private training ground. Excitement flickered in her eyes. No Soifon this time¡ªjust Kaelith and her, alone. She wondered if this meant a new kind of ¡°session¡± would begin. Yet when Kaelith stripped off his upper Shihakush¨­, all he said was, ¡°Activate your Vollst?ndig and come at me with everything you¡¯ve got. I need to gauge your full strength.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± Bambietta¡¯s shoulders slumped at the anticlimax.

    No¡­ interrogation? No teasing? Just sparring? She pouted for a moment but then shrugged. If she impressed him here, maybe she could earn another ¡°session¡± of whatever twisted scenario she thought was going on.

    For now, she¡¯d fight seriously. With a determined grin, Bambietta spread her glowing wings and prepared to give Kaelith a real show¡ªjust not the kind she¡¯d originally expected.

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199

    Over the next few days, Kaelith spent most of his time training with Bambietta.

    Each day, he¡¯d take her to the training field and have her fight at full strength. Though he didn¡¯t force her to use Vollst?ndig every time¡ªsince it strained the Quincy heavily¡ªBambietta, in hopes of earning Kaelith¡¯s ¡°rewards,¡± kept pushing herself beyond her limits. Time and again, she activated her Vollst?ndig despite the cost, causing her combat ability and stamina to improve noticeably.

    As she felt her strength grow, Bambietta¡¯s mood soared. Back in her training, the Quincy had always been taught that Shinigami were filthy, demonic creatures. Now, it seemed the textbooks might¡¯ve been wrong. At least Kaelith, with his patient training and occasional ¡°incentives,¡± was nothing like the monsters she¡¯d imagined. After a while, Bambietta even started suspecting that Haschwalth might have altered historical records, using the Shinigami as a boogeyman to control the Quincy and realize some twisted ambition of becoming the Quincy King himself¡­

    If Haschwalth knew what she was thinking, he¡¯d probably lose his composure for the first time in centuries.

    As for Kaelith¡¯s motivation for working so hard, it was simple: he wanted to quickly familiarize himself with Quincy combat techniques. Regardless of when they returned, Kaelith intended to stand ready, to block some of the burden from Yamamoto¡¯s shoulders. The brief clash through the fissure had given him a glimpse of their capabilities. They didn¡¯t seem to have anyone on Yamamoto¡¯s level¡ªso if the old man really died in the Quincy war, it meant Yhwach was either overwhelmingly powerful, or they¡¯d used some underhanded trick.

    Like setting a trap or draining his power.

    After several days, Kaelith had gained a decent understanding of Bambietta¡¯s Vollst?ndig and her reishi arrows. He¡¯d also gotten a clearer grasp of certain ¡°sensitive points¡± during their interrogation sessions.

    More than once, during these ¡°rewards¡±¡ªahem, interrogations¡ªhe¡¯d nearly lost control and gone all the way with Bambietta. But each time he reached that crucial moment, the image of a certain carefree girl, smiling broadly and treating him like a dear companion, popped into his head, making him stop.

    She would have to be satisfied with just the illusions.

    "Sigh, I am truly too loyal" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soifon was baffled. If Kaelith had such needs, why not take care of them with Bambietta, who was clearly willing? Why bother making it harder on himself? After some thought, Soifon guessed maybe Kaelith had a thing for resistance. Bambietta was too compliant and thus failed to interest him.

    Testing this theory, Soifon tried being completely docile one night when she was teasing him. Kaelith got excited. The next day, she was colder than ever. He got excited again. After that, Soifon gave up trying to find any pattern in his tastes.

    ¡­

    A Garganta opened in midair, and two figures emerged, landing on the white sands of Hueco Mundo. Aizen raised a hand to his sword hilt, scanning the surroundings. Once he confirmed there was no immediate danger, he relaxed and looked at Kaelith.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re here. Where¡¯s that surprise you mentioned?¡± Aizen asked.

    Kaelith smirked. ¡°Follow me.¡±

    With that, he took off. Aizen followed at an unhurried pace. Soon, they reached a familiar dune¡ªfamiliar because it was where they¡¯d temporarily stashed Kuchiki Ky¨­ka¡¯s body.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s smug expression, Aizen suddenly felt uneasy. He¡¯d had an inkling of what Kaelith might show him, but now he worried¡ªcould it be something had gone wrong? Did Kaelith lose Kuchiki Ky¨­ka and come here to confess?

    Waving his hand, Aizen used reiatsu to clear the sand, revealing the stasis pod. The fluid inside was murky, but Kuchiki Ky¨­ka was still safely stored. Aizen¡¯s momentary anxiety eased.

    Kaelith noticed and narrowed his eyes. ¡°S¨­suke, you didn¡¯t think I lost your precious corpse and came here to admit it, did you?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Aizen was silent for a couple of seconds, then shook his head. ¡°No.¡±

    Kaelith circled him twice, scrutinizing Aizen¡¯s face. Seeing no change in expression, he nodded, satisfied. Aizen inwardly sighed in relief, and Kaelith grinned mischievously.

    ¡°Now, S¨­suke, behold the surprise I¡¯ve prepared!¡±

    Kaelith raised his hand, pointing upward. Suddenly, a shadowy substance spread from beneath his feet like black ink, covering over two hundred square meters of ground. The stasis pod holding Kuchiki Ky¨­ka began sinking into it, as if into a bog. Aizen¡¯s feet also started to sink.

    Instinct told Aizen he could just release reiatsu and escape Kaelith¡¯s control. But he didn¡¯t move. He simply watched Kaelith, asking no questions.

    In seconds, Aizen was swallowed up to his neck, then his head vanished below the surface. For a brief moment, he felt as though he¡¯d dived into water. But as soon as he was fully submerged, that sensation vanished, replaced by the feeling of an empty ¡°room.¡±

    This space was small, about three hundred square meters and six meters high. Not huge, but enough to serve as a specialized lab. The stasis pod with Kuchiki Ky¨­ka lay not far away. Aizen reached out, testing the stability of this hidden dimension, and nodded in approval.

    He¡¯d already guessed Kaelith¡¯s true intention after hearing about Bambietta¡¯s origins: the lazy Kaelith wouldn¡¯t bother studying shadow realms unless it was to prepare a secret Hueco Mundo lab for himself¡ªand, by extension, for Aizen.

    Right on cue, Kaelith emerged inside, too.

    ¡°Well, S¨­suke, what do you think?¡± Kaelith said with a triumphant grin. ¡°This is the grand domain I conquered for you! Are you excited? Touched? If you feel like kneeling and hugging my legs while crying tears of gratitude, I won¡¯t stop you!¡±

    Aizen chuckled softly, shaking his head. Some things never changed when it came to Kaelith.

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200

    In the following days, Kaelith worked closely with Aizen to refine the ¡°unfinished space¡± he¡¯d presented.

    First, using various Kid¨­, they stabilized and fixed the shadow domain into a semi-permanent structure. Once it was reasonably secure, they started bringing in materials and equipment from the Soul Society, gradually furnishing this secret Hueco Mundo laboratory.

    Half a month later, the lab was finally taking shape. Kuchiki Ky¨­ka, floating gently inside a large, pillar-like containment cylinder, had a stable new home at last. Aizen looked on with satisfaction.

    But this quiet life didn¡¯t last long.

    One afternoon, Kaelith returned from Hueco Mundo to the Soul Society, taking a less-traveled route back to the Second Division as usual. Near the Technical Bureau, Soifon suddenly appeared beside him in a flash step.

    ¡°Kaelith-sama, the Head Captain commands you to report to the First Division immediately!¡±

    Kaelith paused. ¡°When was this?¡±

    ¡°About a cup of tea¡¯s time ago,¡± Soifon replied crisply. ¡°I searched the places you frequent, couldn¡¯t find you, and was about to check the hot springs in Rukongai when I saw you return.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. Good, only about ten minutes late. Not too bad. He made a mental note to have Aizen craft a device for cross-realm communication next time. That would make it easier for Yoruichi and Soifon to reach him quickly if something urgent came up.

    Having decided on that, he headed straight for the First Division.

    ¡­

    ¡°Idiot!!!!¡±

    In the First Division barracks, Yamamoto¡¯s roar shook the sky. Passing Shinigami flinched at the sound, but quickly went on with their duties. They were used to this by now¡ªever since Kaelith became Yamamoto¡¯s disciple, these outbursts were not uncommon.

    In the study, Yamamoto glared at Kaelith, beard bristling.

    ¡°As a Third Seat of the Second Division¡¯s Onmitsukid¨­, you dare leave your post during duty hours?! Unbelievable! Explain yourself!¡±

    Kaelith scratched his head, thinking for two seconds before replying, ¡°¡­I was contributing to scientific progress?¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s brow twitched. He wanted to scold Kaelith¡¯s nonsense, but after a moment¡¯s thought, he remembered that Kaelith¡¯s antics often did relate to research. The Second Division¡¯s Technical Bureau was expanding every day, with Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi recruiting more talent¡ªeven some members from other Divisions volunteered to help after hours. Their side projects were already producing small but useful results.

    More and more Shinigami were starting to believe that, in terms of technology, the Second Division had surpassed the Twelfth. Even Yamamoto couldn¡¯t deny that Kaelith had achieved something noteworthy.

    After pondering a bit, the old man shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s good to have a heart for advancement. Technological progress can benefit the Soul Society. But at the end of the day, our order is maintained by strength. Others may focus on side paths, but you are different. You have the potential to surpass even me and become the strongest Shinigami. You should focus on developing yourself¡ª¡±

    Halfway through his earnest lecture, Yamamoto noticed Kaelith¡¯s half-asleep look and felt his blood pressure spike again.

    ¡°Fool! Pay attention!!¡±

    The thunderous roar echoed through the First Division once more.

    ¡­

    With Kaelith in tow, Yamamoto, followed by Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe, headed to the Fourth Division. Kaelith was puzzled. Why bring him here?

    That confusion vanished when he saw who lay on the sickbed: Muguruma Kensei, the Ninth Division Captain.

    A Captain-level Shinigami was down. Kaelith was surprised but didn¡¯t feel it was some unimaginable catastrophe. The one examining Kensei was the Fourth Division¡¯s Lieutenant, Yamada Seinosuke.

    Seeing Kaelith, Yamada snorted, ¡°What are you doing here, you lazy¡ª!? Head Captain, sir!¡± He cut himself off mid-taunt, hurriedly bowing as Yamamoto entered. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith responded by making smug faces at his old schoolmate, silently enjoying the gap in their positions now. Yamada Seinosuke fumed inwardly, but with Yamamoto present, he could do nothing.

    Yamamoto spoke up, ¡°Lieutenant Yamada, how is he?¡±

    ¡°Head Captain, Kensei¡¯s injuries have stabilized. His life isn¡¯t in danger anymore,¡± Seinosuke reported. ¡°But as for when he¡¯ll wake, that depends on his recovery.¡±

    Yamamoto nodded. Sasakibe then explained the situation to Kaelith:

    Not long ago, Kensei and Love Aikawa were sent to the Living World to handle the Quincy who hunted Hollows. However, their orders were too forceful, and some Quincy took offense. Despite the majority still cooperating, a small but vocal group resisted, claiming they no longer needed to follow the Soul Society¡¯s rules.

    After repeated failed negotiations, Kensei lost his patience. Believing the Quincy were deliberately stalling, he unleashed his reiatsu to intimidate them. But the radical Quincies had set a trap. The moment he flared his spiritual pressure, dozens of Quincy arrows rained from every direction, and a special formation suppressed his power. Caught off guard, Kensei was hit by over a dozen arrows. If not for Love saving him, Kensei might have died on the spot.

    Now, a large number of Shinigami were heading to the Living World, with more squads assembling. War was on the brink of erupting.

    After Sasakibe¡¯s explanation, Yamamoto turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± he said, voice heavy. ¡°From this moment, I appoint you in charge of the Quincy situation in the Living World. Once the reinforcements are gathered, you will lead them there.¡±

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, reiatsu pressing like a stormcloud.

    ¡°Make the Quincy pay,¡± he said. ¡°Show them a price so steep they¡¯ll never dare bare their fangs at the Soul Society again.¡±

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201

    Long chapters incoming again!

    -------------------

    ¡°Fifth Division Lieutenant, Aizen S¨­suke!¡±

    ¡°Present.¡±

    ¡°I appoint you as the Frontline Commander and advisor to this chancellor.¡±

    ¡°In urgent situations, you have the right to strike first and report later.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    Aizen, expressionless, inclined his head slightly.

    Where is this? Who am I? What am I doing here?

    And who is this idiot in front of me?

    Can I hit him?

    While he was lost in thought, Kaelith nodded with satisfaction and looked to the next person.

    ¡°Sixth Division Lieutenant, Kuchiki S¨­jun!¡±

    ¡°Here!¡±

    Kuchiki S¨­jun raised his head proudly, answering in a spirited voice.

    ¡°I appoint you as the Central Commander and attendant to the chancellor.¡±

    ¡°If we encounter a dire situation, immediately retreat behind everyone else. Don¡¯t charge headfirst.¡±

    ¡°Yes!!¡±

    S¨­jun agreed crisply. Although he couldn¡¯t fully understand what strange nonsense his good friend was spouting, having spent years as little more than a mascot in the division, the chance to finally see real action thrilled him to no end.

    Not bad. His closest friend actually managed to pull him out here despite the pressure from the family. He was truly moved, almost to tears.

    Kaelith nodded, then turned to the last one.

    ¡°Fourth Division Lieutenant, Yamada Seinosuke!¡±

    Yamada Seinosuke cleared his throat, puffing his chest ever so slightly.

    ¡°Hmph, what¡¯s with this Kaelith putting on such a show?¡±

    ¡°There are only a handful of us. What¡¯s the point of having front, middle, and rear forces?¡±

    ¡°Though being in the rear might sound less impressive, for the sake of you amateurs, I¡¯ll reluctantly¡ª¡±

    ¡°I appoint you as our Military Dog. Put your keen senses to use and clear the path ahead!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Yamada blinked, seeing that Kaelith didn¡¯t appear to be joking. He was furious.

    ¡°What kind of joke is this?! Military Dog?! And ¡®following the troops¡¯¡ªisn¡¯t that redundant?!¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll just appoint you as the Military Dog.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡±

    Yamada ground his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m a healer, a very important person responsible for your health! Show some respect!¡±

    At these words, Kaelith pondered for two seconds.

    Then he nodded. ¡°All right, then I appoint you as the accompanying masseur. You¡¯ll give the chancellor a foot massage every day. That¡¯s contributing to everyone¡¯s health, right?¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Enraged, Yamada prepared to storm the stage.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun quickly held him back. ¡°Let it go, Seinosuke¡­¡±

    On stage, Kaelith burst into laughter.

    Watching the chaos unfold, Aizen silently looked up at the sky.

    What kind of oddballs am I surrounded by?

    ¡­

    ¡­

    In the living world, deep in the mountains:

    Hundreds of people had gathered. They varied in age and gender and wore all sorts of clothing. Yet each one carried an accessory shaped like a pentagram.

    All of them were Quincy.

    They had formed a circle using cars, luggage, and the like. Those assigned to watch the perimeter stood near this makeshift fortification, maintaining a barrier and gripping their spirit bows, wary of a sudden Shinigami assault.

    In the center of the crowd, an elderly man in white robes tried to dissuade them:

    ¡°Everyone, listen to me! We are not a match for the Soul Society. Stalemate benefits no one!¡±

    ¡°If both sides step back, there¡¯s a chance for peaceful resolution. But if we continue to resist, a horrific outcome awaits us!¡±

    These words made a few Quincy look uncertain, but soon someone shouted angrily:

    ¡°Ishida S¨­ken! Stop trying to confuse everyone!¡±

    ¡°Shinigami are just more numerous, that¡¯s all. Didn¡¯t we easily defeat that Captain before?¡±

    ¡°I know what a Captain represents¡ªthe top tier of Soul Society¡¯s strength. That ¡®Muguruma¡¯ was so easily knocked down, so how strong can the rest be?¡±

    ¡°We are proud Quincy! Why should we bow to the Shinigami?!¡±

    Hearing this, many Quincy nodded. In the past, their numbers were small and they barely survived in the world of the living, suppressed by the Shinigami. But now that they commanded such numbers and strength, how could they remain idle?

    Voices of doubt rose one after another:

    ¡°Ishida S¨­ken¡­ I heard from my father that he once hid in the Soul Society and only recently escaped.¡±

    ¡°What? Hid in the Soul Society? Impossible!¡±

    ¡°Heh, I bet he¡¯s not hiding. He¡¯s probably become their lapdog!¡±

    Gradually, the crowd¡¯s gaze toward Ishida S¨­ken turned hostile. Were it not for his formidable strength, one of the best among the Quincy, they might have tried to overthrow him already.

    Some distance away, atop a small mountain, Aikawa Love frowned and observed the Quincy encampment from afar.

    Muguruma Kensei was defeated¡­ or rather, taken down due to his carelessness. As the Captain of the Seventh Division, this was a huge disgrace for Love.

    Normally, he would activate his Bankai and charge straight into the Quincy ranks for a life-and-death struggle. But the weather was cold, the enemy was numerous, and even if he rushed in, victory was uncertain. He might just end up losing his life.

    Moreover, Ishida S¨­ken had approached him personally, promising to persuade the other Quincy to surrender. Taking all that into account, Love had waited, holding his hand.

    Yet so many days had passed, and the Quincy showed no sign of giving in.

    It seemed he had been played for a fool.

    Love stood up.

    ¡°Gather the troops. We¡¯ll prepare to storm the Quincy camp!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Soon, the Shinigami began to move. This commotion did not escape the Quincy¡¯s notice.

    ¡°The Shinigami are on the move!!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡±

    The Quincy grew excited, summoning their spirit bows.

    ¡°Damn it, I knew they had ill intentions!¡±

    ¡°Prepare for battle! Get ready!¡±

    ¡°Ishida S¨­ken, we¡¯re watching you closely. Don¡¯t you dare turn on us in the heat of battle!¡±

    Hearing this, Ishida S¨­ken¡¯s expression was filled with sorrow.

    It¡¯s over. The Quincy are done for.

    All he could do now was try to spare Aikawa Love¡¯s life when the fighting started. If no one died, the situation might still be salvageable¡­

    As he contemplated this, the Quincy had already taken action.

    Hundreds of Quincy raised their spirit bows in unison, gathering reishi arrows. The scene was astonishing, a shimmering field of blue stars flickering across the earth.

    From afar, Love swallowed hard and clenched his teeth. He slowly opened his mouth to give the attack order.

    But suddenly, a long chain descended from the sky!

    Boom!!!!

    With a terrifying explosion, a short blade engulfed in blue flames stabbed into the ground in the middle of the Quincy formation.

    Under the astonished gazes of the Quincy, the chain went taut, dragging a figure down from the heavens¡ª

    ¡°Zehahaha!!!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not the same batch¡­ but we meet again, Quincy!¡±

    ¡°D-Die! Shinigami!!¡±

    ¡°Where did he come from?!¡±

    ¡°Seiy¨­! Somebody prepare the Seiy¨­!¡±

    Chaos swept through the Quincy ranks in an instant.

    Ishida S¨­ken¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    This Shinigami¡­ he¡¯s incredibly strong.

    Even though he wasn¡¯t overtly unleashing his reiatsu, the faint trace that seeped out was enough to make S¨­ken¡¯s hair stand on end, a chill racing down his spine.

    No doubt about it¡ªthis was Captain-level power.

    Yet, the Shinigami wasn¡¯t wearing the distinctive white haori of a Captain.

    Was he leaving it off on purpose, or was there another reason?

    No time to ponder. S¨­ken urgently called out, ¡°Wait! We¡ª¡±

    ¡°Your words are useless!!!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s voice thundered, cutting off S¨­ken. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the next second, Kaelith threw a punch at empty air.

    ¡°Y¨±z¨­!¡±

    A forceful blast of compressed air tore through the gap between them, scooping up more than a dozen Quincy in a straight line and smashing them into the piles of cars and luggage in the distance.

    Before the onlookers could react, Kaelith had already charged forward with a wild laugh.

    Amid the Quincy¡¯s horrified cries, he plowed through them like a raging rhino through a flock of sheep. Each punch sent multiple people flying, their screams echoing as they crashed to the ground.

    Several panicked Quincy raised their spirit bows and fired arrows at him.

    But, almost as if he sensed the incoming attacks, Kaelith vanished in a flash, evading every shot.

    Arrows meant for him instead found hapless comrades on the other side, piercing flesh to the sound of pained shrieks.

    After a few attempts, the Quincy realized in despair that this Shinigami seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. It didn¡¯t matter how swift or crafty the angle of the shot; he dodged every arrow effortlessly.

    And while evading all ranged attacks, Kaelith never stopped thrashing those around him.

    Getting punched into the distance was almost lucky in comparison to what some experienced: an uppercut sending them skyward, then Kaelith grabbing another Quincy like a makeshift club to swat the airborne victim, leaving them both knocked out cold before they ever hit the ground.

    Watching from afar, Love Aikawa stood there with his jaw slack, utterly stunned by the spectacle.

    He didn¡¯t even need to see Kaelith¡¯s face¡ªjust the way he tore off part of his clothing to fight was unmistakable.

    Initially, Love had been alarmed seeing Kaelith dive into the enemy ranks alone. If Kaelith died here, his own days as Captain were as good as over. Everyone knew Kaelith was the Captain-Commander¡¯s prized favorite.

    But before Love could rush in to ¡°save¡± him, he saw Kaelith mowing down the Quincy like it was child¡¯s play.

    The more Love watched, the more rattled he felt.

    So many Quincy¡­ Even a Captain like himself would have hesitated to face them head-on. Yet in Kaelith¡¯s hands, it felt like a hardened gang boss crashing a preschool. Sure, Love already knew Kaelith¡¯s real strength was on par with a Captain, despite his official Third Seat rank, but witnessing it at this level was a whole new experience.

    If you¡¯re this strong, Love thought, why not just go join the Eleventh Division and challenge Kenpachi?

    Around him, the other Shinigami recognized Kaelith as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s Kaelith, the Third Seat!¡±

    ¡°Look, that¡¯s Kaelith!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s incredible¡­ The Quincy can¡¯t even put up a fight!¡±

    ¡°As expected of him. He¡¯s doing what we could never hope to do!¡±

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202

    Long chapter again.

    --------------

    Amid the Shinigami¡¯s excited cheers, several figures used Shunpo to appear at Love¡¯s side.

    ¡°Captain Aikawa,¡± said Kuchiki S¨­jun the moment he landed, unrolling a document. ¡°By order of the Captain-Commander, Kaelith of the Second Division is hereby appointed as lead officer in the current Quincy incident. All Shinigami on site are to obey his commands!¡±

    Love blinked, then nodded vigorously. ¡°Got it!¡±

    Lead officer for the Quincy incident¡­

    Typically, events of this scale would be overseen personally by the Captain-Commander. Everyone else would just execute orders, without final authority.

    A seemingly simple title, but it carried significant weight behind the scenes.

    Nearby, Yamada Seinosuke scanned the area. ¡°Where are the wounded? Take me to them.¡±

    Two Shinigami rushed over to guide him.

    Aizen, meanwhile, observed the Quincy from a distance with an unreadable expression.

    So these are the Quincy¡­

    He knew Kaelith had spent the past days locked in combat with a Quincy girl. That Kaelith had pushed himself so hard to learn how to fight them showed just how wary he was of them.

    Interesting. Let¡¯s see how powerful these Quincy truly are.

    Crossing his arms, Aizen thought of his ongoing research into Quincy¡ªhow he had discovered their fatal weaknesses¡ªand pictured Kaelith kneeling, begging for details of those breakthroughs.

    He shook his head, banishing the bizarre fantasy. It was just like Kaelith to conjure such ridiculous scenes.

    Irritated, Aizen placed his hand on his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s hilt and headed in Kaelith¡¯s direction.

    ¡­

    Within minutes, Kaelith had already knocked out seventy or eighty Quincy.

    Regardless of whether they used spirit bows or various Gint¨­ spells, none of them could so much as scratch him.

    A group of over twenty Quincy charged in with their Seele Schneiders, determined to overwhelm Kaelith in close combat.

    Kaelith laughed aloud. Widening his stance, he spun in place.

    His twin blades Rixiang Jimie, trailing long chains and wreathed in blue flames, whirled in a deafening roar.

    The Quincy cried out, pulled helplessly into the vortex of flames, their screams echoing across the battlefield.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s fervor intensify, Ishida S¨­ken finally could not stand idle. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Please stop!¡± he shouted, raising his bow and launching an arrow at Kaelith.

    Unlike the others, S¨­ken¡¯s arrow was beyond merely ¡°fast.¡± It seemed to rip a hole through space, streaking directly for Kaelith¡¯s back. He had infused it with a potent technique, lethal enough in flight, but designed to dissipate upon reaching Kaelith¡ªS¨­ken still hoped for a peaceful resolution.

    Yet as the arrow neared its disappearing point, S¨­ken gaped in astonishment: Kaelith suddenly spun around and caught the arrow in his palm with a crisp smack.

    S¨­ken¡¯s mind reeled.

    He had never seen anyone casually pluck his arrow out of the air. Maybe Haschwalth could do that, but this young Shinigami didn¡¯t look two centuries old. Where on earth did he get such power?

    Who is this kid, anyway?

    Kaelith glanced at the arrow in his hand and gave a short laugh.

    ¡°After all that fuss, at least this arrow¡¯s not bad.¡±

    He crushed the reishi arrow with a casual squeeze, then reeled in his chains with a rattling clang, resting one blade on his shoulder as he eyed the Quincy around him. Finally, his gaze settled on Ishida S¨­ken.

    A grin tugged at Kaelith¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just here for a proper negotiation.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯d walked in talking about peace, would you have listened this intently?¡±

    A lone Shinigami stood, stripped to the waist, gripping twin blades wreathed in blue flame. He surveyed the field like a sovereign looking down on his subjects.

    Hundreds of Quincy found themselves momentarily speechless.

    Kaelith felt a twinge of disappointment.

    Before coming to the World of the Living, he¡¯d assumed these Quincy¡ªwhile perhaps weaker than the Wandenreich¡ªwould at least show some vestige of the empire¡¯s prowess.

    But once the fighting started, it became clear that they were woefully undertrained.

    Most of them were no stronger than run-of-the-mill Shinigami troopers, like the sort Ichigo Kurosaki could cut down a dozen at once in the early days. A small portion were ¡°elite,¡± but only in the sense of being slightly tougher grunts. Barely ten of them reached the level of a low-ranked Seated Officer.

    When Kaelith thought it through, though, it made sense.

    On the Shinigami side, there was a complete education system, with rigorous training at every level. Even the less talented were molded by this intensive environment, becoming professional warriors.

    But the Quincy here lived in a modern society. They held ordinary jobs, they had lives to maintain. Their combat growth and training largely relied on whatever their families managed to pass down.

    A grandfather taught a father, a father taught a son. Once the lessons were complete, that was it. They neither had extra time nor the right conditions to hone their skills. It was little wonder so many of them flailed when facing true combat.

    Kaelith swept his gaze over the crowd. Of those present, only three could be considered genuine threats: the old man in front of him, and two others lurking among the ranks. Even after all that chaos, those two still hadn¡¯t lifted a finger.

    He couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. Kensei¡ªat least he was a Captain¡ªand he¡¯d still been taken down by these novices. How embarrassing.

    Under so many watchful eyes, Kaelith gave his Zanpakut¨­ a quick spin, reverting it to its sealed form before sliding it back into its scabbard. Then he raised his voice:

    ¡°By order of Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni! From this day forward, Quincy are strictly prohibited from slaying Hollows unless it¡¯s a true emergency of self-defense! And if you do encounter Hollows, you are to report immediately to the stationed Shinigami in your district!¡±

    Aizen stepped up beside him, picking up where Kaelith left off.

    ¡°In addition, the number of newborn children must not exceed the current death rate among your population.¡±

    ¡°All Quincy must abide by these three points,¡± Kaelith added, clapping his hands together.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! If you have any objections, state them now. Otherwise, sign the contract right here and now.¡±

    He cast a quick glance at the crowd. ¡°But let me warn you: if anyone breaks the agreement after signing, we won¡¯t be talking next time¡ªwe¡¯ll be destroying.¡±

    At Kaelith¡¯s words, the Quincy all shifted uncomfortably. Ishida S¨­ken opened his mouth as if to protest but then hesitated.

    Considering the disparity in power, these rules¡ªharsh though they sounded¡ªwere actually quite lenient.

    He turned a wary eye toward his ¡°two teammates,¡± the ones he feared more than the Shinigami themselves:

    Minomura Toshiki and Inoue Sh¨­ji.

    They were leaders among the Quincy in the World of the Living before S¨­ken had even fled the Wandenreich for Soul Society. Both had decent strength, and neither had witnessed the real might of the Gotei 13. Their ignorance often led them to make rash decisions.

    S¨­ken braced himself, expecting them to demand an all-out battle. But to his surprise, neither spoke up right away. Instead, they exchanged a glance, and Minomura cleared his throat.

    ¡°Shinigami, your strength is undeniable. A drawn-out conflict benefits neither side. Signing a contract may indeed be the best solution.¡±

    ¡°However,¡± he continued, ¡°before we sign, I¡¯d like to confirm your identity. Do you truly have the right to represent the Soul Society?¡±

    Kaelith didn¡¯t even get a chance to respond before Aizen bristled at the perceived insult.

    Shing!

    Aizen drew his Zanpakut¨­ in one swift motion, leveling the blade at the Quincy. He stepped forward, placing himself between Kaelith and the crowd.

    ¡°How dare you speak so rudely to Kaelith-sama!¡± Aizen snapped.

    ¡°Kaelith-sama is the direct disciple of Captain-Commander Yamamoto and the supreme authority in this incident. By the Captain-Commander¡¯s decree, he has full power over all Quincy in the World of the Living!¡±

    Most of the Quincy, seeing Aizen¡¯s drawn sword, instinctively focused on the glimmering steel. Kaelith, however, felt his heart skip a beat.

    Aizen¡¯s movement had been so quick that Kaelith hadn¡¯t even reacted. Had Aizen not stepped in front of him, he might¡¯ve been caught by Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s hypnotic release.

    Kaelith regarded Aizen¡¯s back with a faint grin. As an ¡°advisor,¡± Aizen had acted cold and distant, seemingly uninterested in his post. But apparently, he did enjoy the position enough to protect Kaelith from friendly fire¡ªif only to maintain appearances.

    Seeing neither Minomura nor Inoue speak, Aizen pointed his Zanpakut¨­ elsewhere, adopting a stance that said he would fight for the sake of his commander¡¯s honor if they dared question Kaelith further. Confronted with that silent threat, none of the Quincy uttered a word.

    Sensing the tension, Minomura quickly intervened. ¡°No need for that, sir. We only wanted to be certain. If he truly is the prized disciple of the Captain-Commander, then indeed he has the authority to sign a binding contract.¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°Aizen, stand down. Mind your manners.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Aizen lowered the blade to his side¡ªthough he didn¡¯t sheathe it¡ªand took a place behind Kaelith.

    Inoue Sh¨­ji smiled faintly. He and Minomura locked eyes again, seeming to share some plan. Then Minomura turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°In that case, Kaelith, as you say, let¡¯s go sign this contract.¡±

    With a satisfied nod, Kaelith said, ¡°Great. A wise man knows when to yield. Lead the way!¡±

    Their group moved toward the center of the Quincy encampment, where a few tables had been set up¡ªmakeshift desks for the three Quincy leaders. Presumably, this was where they would finalize the signing.

    From a distance, Love Aikawa stared in disbelief.

    Seriously? After all that standoff, the Quincy are suddenly giving in just because Kaelith beat them up?

    If I¡¯d known it was that simple, I¡¯d have used Bankai ages ago¡­ Eh, who am I kidding¡­

    Beside him, Kuchiki S¨­jun looked both regretful and relieved. ¡°Kaelith handled a huge crisis with ease, as always. It¡¯s just a shame we didn¡¯t get the chance to fight.¡±

    Unlike them, Yamada Seinosuke furrowed his brow, suspecting something was off. After a few seconds of deliberation, he blurted, ¡°Hey, Kuchiki, does this remind you of the scene the troopers described when Kensei was ambushed?¡±

    Kuchiki S¨­jun froze, and Love¡¯s eyes went wide.

    Now that Yamada mentioned it¡­ if this were any other Lieutenant or even a Captain negotiating in the middle of the enemy forces, they¡¯d all be on guard. But Kaelith¡¯s sheer confidence had lulled them into assuming nothing could go wrong.

    ¡°That¡¯s bad¡­ This could be a trap! Hurry, we have to go help him!¡±

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203

    Love roared the words, drawing his Zanpakut¨­ to charge in.

    But the Quincy moved faster.

    The moment Kaelith reached the tables, more than a dozen Quincy sprang up around him, each drawing back a spirit arrow.

    Aizen narrowed his eyes, while Kaelith merely glanced at them, then sat down as though nothing were amiss.

    Under everyone¡¯s incredulous stares, he pulled out a sheet of paper and started writing the contract terms, occasionally asking Aizen for help recalling certain details. He looked more like a diner reading off a menu than a hostage under threat.

    ¡°Wait! Minomura! Inoue! What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Ishida S¨­ken rushed over, positioning himself in front of the pair to block their path.

    Inoue snorted. ¡°You heard him, S¨­ken? This kid¡¯s the disciple of Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni. If we capture him, we can force negotiations with the Captain-Commander on our terms. From now on, we¡¯ll keep him close. If Soul Society dares move against us, I¡¯ll chop off a finger each time and see how Yamamoto reacts.¡±

    He laughed, and S¨­ken¡¯s face went pale.

    How idiotic could they be?

    Yamamoto was no ordinary man. Threatening him with a student¡ªany student¡ªwas pointless. He wouldn¡¯t even blink at such a ruse, let alone yield to it.

    Before S¨­ken could figure out a way to salvage the situation, Kaelith at the table tapped the wood.

    ¡°Hey, Quincy. I¡¯m done writing. Come sign.¡±

    Inoue Sh¨­ji frowned in annoyance. ¡°You fool. Do you not realize your plight? You may be strong¡ªfar stronger than that white-haired Captain we defeated before¡ªbut we have you surrounded now. With this many arrows pointed at you, you¡¯re doomed.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, is that so?¡± Kaelith set down the pen and scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think any of them can actually hit me, though.¡±

    Minomura and Inoue exchanged dark looks, displeased by his casual dismissal. Minomura snorted. ¡°Fine, if you want to suffer first, let¡¯s make it happen.¡±

    He gave a slight wave of his hand. One of the Quincy fired immediately¡ª

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    To Minomura¡¯s shock, Kaelith hadn¡¯t even moved from his seat, yet the arrow flew wide and struck another Quincy in the chest. That unfortunate soul clutched at the mortal wound, eyes full of disbelief. Then he collapsed without a word.

    That had to be a fluke, Minomura told himself. The archer must¡¯ve panicked and missed.

    He glanced around, signaling more Quincy to shoot.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Several reishi arrows glimmered blue as they flew straight for Kaelith¡ªonly to streak past his seat just like before, hitting the Quincy opposite him with devastating accuracy. Screams echoed as more allies went down in friendly fire.

    What in the world¡­? How could they all be missing? So many arrows at once, yet every shot inexplicably veered off target.

    There¡¯s no doubt he¡¯s doing something. But he hasn¡¯t drawn his Zanpakut¨­¡­

    Minomura¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at the blade at Kaelith¡¯s hip. No, that wasn¡¯t it. Kaelith hadn¡¯t even gripped the hilt this entire time.

    He was still reeling from confusion when he noticed a figure rushing toward him. A Shinigami with an unfamiliar face, clad in a white haori. The newcomer looked like he was shouting something, maybe a warning.

    Minomura flared with anger. Damn Shinigami, trying to trick us again!

    He roared, raised his spirit bow, and unleashed arrow after arrow at the charging figure. The Shinigami¡ªevidently a Captain¡ªhesitated, then grew enraged in turn, lifting a large bow of his own to return fire.

    Minomura snarled. A Shinigami using a bow? How dare he?

    Instantly, a deluge of searing arrows rained down upon that would-be Captain. Light burst across the battlefield like a sea of blue meteors.

    Thunk!

    An arrow sliced through the hail of projectiles and drove itself deep into Minomura¡¯s shoulder. Pain shot through him, but he clamped his mouth shut, refusing to cry out. He pressed the attack even harder, loosing more arrows at twice the pace.

    In a frantic exchange¡ªduring which he was struck by four more arrows¡ªhe finally gained an advantage, landing over twenty shots in rapid succession on the enemy.

    Panting heavily, Minomura let a triumphant grin stretch his face. ¡°Damn Shinigami¡­ so what if you¡¯re a Captain? You¡¯re still¡ª¡±

    He froze.

    Lying on the ground, riddled with arrows, was no Shinigami at all. As Minomura watched, the figure¡¯s shape blurred, then resolved into the form of his own ally¡ªInoue Sh¨­ji.

    ¡°In-Inoue?!¡±

    Minomura let out a strangled cry, staggering over to lift his friend. Inoue¡¯s mouth opened and closed, as though struggling to speak, but the words never came.

    Ishida S¨­ken had witnessed the entire tragedy, unable to intervene. Everything happened so fast, and the horror of it left a scar on his mind he knew would never heal.

    Standing beside Kaelith, Aizen observed Minomura with cool detachment as the Quincy screamed in grief. Aizen¡¯s gaze betrayed no sympathy whatsoever.

    This was the fate of those who dared wield their claws against someone untouchable.

    Kaelith slowly lifted his head amid Minemura¡¯s agonized screams.

    He seemed entirely unfazed by the horrific scene around him; instead, he regarded Ishida S¨­ken with utter calm.

    ¡°Mr. Quincy,¡± he said, ¡°what are you hesitating for? Come sign the contract.¡±

    Ishida S¨­ken¡¯s eyes widened, and he stared at Kaelith as though looking at a monster. His white beard quivered slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely sighed.

    ¡°¡­Very well.¡±

    He drew a deep breath and walked to the table.

    Some of the Quincies still refused to accept reality and raised their bows at Kaelith once more. However, before they could act, those who had already been frightened out of their wits turned and fired a volley of spiritual arrows at them, killing them instantly.

    Seeing their own companions killed by their own hands, the Quincie¡¯s first reaction was relief. Realizing this, their faces went deathly pale.

    Ishida S¨­ken let out another sigh.

    Setting aside the vast difference in overall power between the Quincies and the Shinigami¡ªeven if they were somehow evenly matched¡ªthe morale right now was completely broken. Nothing more could be done.

    He picked up a pen, wanting nothing more than to end this ordeal quickly.

    At that moment, Minemura¡ªwho had been clutching Inoue¡¯s corpse¡ªsuddenly stood up.

    ¡°Shinigami!¡±

    He roared and pulled a silver metal rod from inside his white suit. A blade of blue spirit energy erupted from its tip, forming a glowing sword over a meter long.

    Dropping his stance, he prepared to charge Kaelith. But before he could take his first step, blood spurted across his chest.

    Disbelief filled Minemura¡¯s gaze as he looked down at the half-meter-long slash across his torso, blood gushing out. It was as though an invisible swordsman stood right in front of him and delivered a diagonal cut.

    Thud!

    Minemura collapsed.

    Ishida S¨­ken watched quietly, powerless to intervene. Even if he could have done something, he wouldn¡¯t have. To ensure the survival of the remaining Quincies, both Minemura and Inoue had to die. If these two leaders of the radical faction remained alive, they would eventually incite the Quincies again, and next time¡­signing a contract would no longer be an option.

    As Ishida S¨­ken lowered his head to sign, Kaelith suddenly thought of something.

    With curious interest, Kaelith asked, ¡°Your name¡­is Ishida S¨­ken, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Do you have a son?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Ishida S¨­ken looked up in shock. Indeed, he had a son, born in the hidden Quincy empire. After his wife¡¯s passing, he fled the empire, going to great lengths to bring his son with him.

    Because he hadn¡¯t established a secure foothold in the human world, he¡¯d used a secret technique to keep his son in a deep sleep, hiding him in a very secluded place. Not even Minemura or Inoue knew about the boy.

    Why would this Shinigami know?

    He stared at Kaelith, silent for a long time, then managed a bitter smile.

    So that was it¡­this Shinigami was letting him know that he had no secrets here.

    Should Ishida S¨­ken ever harbor treacherous thoughts, his son would be the price. It was a precise strike at his weak point. Compared to the entire Quincy lineage, he cared far more about his son.

    Lowering his head, Ishida S¨­ken said, ¡°Rest assured, I will do my utmost to manage the Quincy of the World of the Living.¡±

    Seeing him suddenly become so deferential, Kaelith tilted his head.

    All he did was ask about Ishida Ry¨±ken¡ªwhy did the mood change so drastically?

    He glanced toward Aizen, only to see Aizen give him a look of approval.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    When Ishida S¨­ken finished signing, Kaelith took the document from him, studying it closely. Satisfied, he nodded.

    ¡°That will do. To ensure this is carried out, I¡¯ll assign an inspector to watch over the Quincy in the World of the Living.¡±

    At this, Ishida S¨­ken frowned slightly.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, I don¡¯t dare object to your appointment of an inspector, but if a Shinigami works within such a large group of Quincy, one mishap could¡ª¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± Kaelith interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m sending a Quincy.¡±

    ¡°Quincy¡­?¡±

    Tucking away the contract, Kaelith stood and signaled to the nearby Shinigami to begin transporting the Quincy corpses.

    Their actions disturbed the Quincy crowd once more. Ishida S¨­ken also felt it inappropriate and was about to say something¡ªbut then recalled Kaelith¡¯s earlier threat. After a moment of hesitation, he gave up trying to stop them.

    One by one, the Quincy bodies were carried off to the Soul Society. Most would be handed over to the Kaelith Technology Bureau¡ªunder Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kisuke Urahara¡ªfor Quincy research. Especially ¡°valuable¡± subjects were given to Aizen.

    For instance, that slash Kaelith dealt Minemura Toshiki hadn¡¯t actually killed him. With prompt treatment in the Soul Society, he could still be¡­useful.

    Doors through the realms began opening in the air. The Shinigami formed neat lines, jogging into the Dangai. Just as Kaelith was about to pass through, Ishida S¨­ken called out:

    ¡°Lord Kaelith!¡±

    Kaelith turned to face him. The elderly Quincy stared with a conflicted expression.

    ¡°Kaelith, I possess a secret that concerns the survival of the entire Soul Society. I would like to trade this secret for one favor. If, one day, the Quincy in the World of the Living ever face a calamity, I hope you will intervene and save us.¡±

    At those words, Kaelith grinned.

    ¡°A secret? Kaelith knows everything¡ªpast and future, from the heavens above to the depths below. You think I¡¯d need your secret?¡±

    Shaking his head, Ishida S¨­ken continued, ¡°This matter is rooted in old grudges from over eight centuries ago. If the Soul Society does not prepare, once the catastrophe comes¡­bones and ashes will be all that remain!¡±

    He had intended merely to stress the severity of the crisis so Kaelith would take it seriously, but he didn¡¯t even finish before Kaelith¡¯s expression changed. In the blink of an eye¡ªso fast Ishida S¨­ken couldn¡¯t register it¡ªKaelith was standing right in front of him.

    ¡°You know about Yhwach?! How would a Quincy from the World of the Living know that name? Wait, you¡¯re not a typical Quincy¡ªyour parents were with the Wandenreich? Or even earlier?¡±

    His gaze hardened. ¡°Old man, spill everything you know, or I¡¯ll bury every single Quincy here alive!¡±

    Ishida S¨­ken¡¯s eye twitched at Kaelith¡¯s crude threat. But then he realized: this Shinigami¡­knew about Yhwach. He even knew of the Wandenreich! How much did the Soul Society already know?

    Despite wanting to bargain, Ishida S¨­ken felt the thick killing intent emanating from Kaelith, so he told him everything he knew¡­

    ¡­

    With the repeated opening of gates, the Soul Society bustled with activity. Crowds of Shinigami thronged the main portal plaza, watching Kaelith¡¯s returning forces.

    The first thing everyone saw were ranks of stretchers. At a glance, the bodies on them were bloodied. Some Shinigami grew concerned, assuming they must have suffered massive casualties. On closer look, however, they realized these were physical bodies, not spiritual ones¡ªQuincy, not Shinigami.

    Those who had friends in Kaelith¡¯s returning unit soon learned the full story: these were Quincy corpses, the spoils of Kaelith¡¯s operation. And the tale of how Kaelith fought the Quincy alone, subduing their entire army, swiftly spread among the onlookers.

    Uproar followed.

    ¡°Kaelith is unstoppable¡ªa true hero on the battlefield!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s invincible¡ªno one can stand against him!¡±

    ¡°So fierce, so powerful! Who could ever hope to match that?!¡±

    Amid the clamor, Aizen stood quietly, lips curving into a faint smile. Yamada yawned, unaffected; as far as he was concerned, he was just the team medic, and there hadn¡¯t been much work to do thanks to Kaelith¡¯s prowess.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun felt a bit disappointed¡ªalthough he was delighted by Kaelith¡¯s success, he himself had barely contributed at all on this mission. Still, he consoled himself that this was at least an official operation under his belt. Next time he applied for a mission, it should be simpler to get approval.

    He glanced Kaelith¡¯s way. On one¡¯s first outing leading a mission, handling it so flawlessly¡ªsurely Kaelith would be elated, right? But he only saw Kaelith standing there in deep thought, as though miles away.

    Kaelith was pondering the intelligence Ishida S¨­ken had provided. Most of it overlapped with what Bambietta had revealed¡ªan excellent confirmation, particularly the detail about Yhwach¡¯s thousand-year slumber. Ishida S¨­ken believed it unconditionally.

    That eased some of Kaelith¡¯s worries, though he remained cautious. If Yhwach would not awaken for another century or so, then by that time, Aizen would have grown immeasurably. And Kaelith himself¡ªborrowing the momentum¡ªwould also gain the power needed to confront the Quincy. With Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Kisuke Urahara, and Aizen¡¯s technical brilliance behind them, perhaps they could find a way to break through before Yhwach¡¯s return.

    The notion made Kaelith sway slightly, his expression brightening.

    Kuchiki S¨­jun approached.

    ¡°Kaelith, should we go straight to the First Division to report?¡±

    ¡°No rush,¡± Kaelith replied, shaking his head. ¡°I need some sleep after all that running around. My teacher can wait. At his age, a few hours make no difference.¡±

    ¡°Is that right?¡±

    A low voice spoke up. Kaelith nearly nodded reflexively before freezing.

    Turning slowly, with a squeak like an unoiled machine, he saw Captain-Commander Yamamoto standing there with Sasakibe, both having arrived at the main portal plaza.

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, about to say something¡ªwhen Kaelith abruptly launched himself forward, accelerating so fast he kicked up a swirling cloud of dust. Dropping onto one knee, arms clasped together in a respectful salute, he slid toward Yamamoto.

    ¡°Reporting, Master! Your humble student has successfully quashed the Quincy rebellion in the World of the Living! The victory belongs to the entire squad, not me alone. If you wish to reward someone, reward everyone!¡±

    Yamamoto was momentarily speechless.

    Looking at Kaelith¡¯s theatrics, he felt his blood pressure spike. Truly, no one had such gall but this troublesome pupil of his. Inhaling quietly to steady himself, he shifted his gaze to the ¡°spoils¡± Kaelith had brought back.

    Rows upon rows of Quincy corpses¡ªprobably close to two hundred. Yamamoto nodded almost imperceptibly. Had Kaelith shown too much mercy, Yamamoto would have sent another team to finish the job.

    Simply beating the Quincy into submission wasn¡¯t enough. He had clashed with Quincy for over a millennium and knew that these humans¡ªempowered by unique abilities¡ªwere driven by an intense fighting spirit.

    Regardless of what negotiations Shinigami might attempt, the Quincy prided themselves on their mission to slay Hollows. And no matter how many times they were beaten down, once they had a chance to regroup, they would rebel anew.

    The most effective way to stop them was to keep their numbers under strict control.

    Looking at Kaelith¡ªgrinning foolishly beside him¡ªYamamoto tapped his cane on the ground, speaking loudly:

    ¡°Kaelith, Third Seat of the Second Division, led a mission to the World of the Living to quell the Quincy rebellion and has successfully curtailed their growth. This achievement is great!¡±

    ¡°I shall report it to the Central 46 for your reward.¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith instinctively glanced at Aizen, whose contributions had been indispensable. Without the absolute power of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s illusions, the Quincy might not have buckled so completely.

    Shouldn¡¯t Kaelith share some credit with him? But Aizen, guessing Kaelith¡¯s thoughts, sent him a slight frown and shook his head gravely.

    He¡¯d never liked standing in the spotlight. And the more he discovered about the world, the more determined he was to remain hidden. If forced, he could step forward¡ªbut with Kaelith around, there was no need. Let Kaelith handle fame. He would handle the shadows. It was the perfect partnership.

    Understanding his meaning, Kaelith said nothing more. Aizen nodded in approval.

    By the following evening, Kaelith¡¯s reward was officially delivered to the Second Division. It had passed the Central 46 with unanimous support. Kaelith was granted mid-level noble status, with the right to found his own house. Thus a new noble family entered the Soul Society¡ªHouse Kaelith!

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204

    Another one! By the way, do you want me to change the clan name to his surname, Yurei, or just let it stay as is?

    ------------------------

    For a Shinigami, the highest honor in life is probably becoming a Captain of the Gotei 13.

    But once you widen your view to the entirety of the Soul Society, the top honor shifts to becoming nobility.

    In the Soul Society, the birth of a new noble house is a tremendously important and solemn affair. Normally, forming a new noble lineage is a long, drawn-out process full of endless disputes. Beneficiaries, opponents, and fence-sitters all gather in the Central 46 chambers, bickering for ages without making the slightest bit of progress¡ªnothing unusual.

    The Kaelith family, however, was different.

    Right after the Kuchiki clan raised the proposal, the Shih¨­in clan immediately seconded it. Then the Shiba clan announced their support. As for the Tsunayashiro clan¡ªcurrently in a stage of rebuilding¡ªthey had no desire to become enemies of Kaelith, so after a brief discussion, they gave the green light.

    And just like that, the Kaelith household was formally established with a single Central 46 meeting.

    When this decision was announced, countless minor nobles looked on, their eyes practically green with envy. Even many great families that had long since secured their positions couldn¡¯t help but sigh. None of them had ever risen so fast back in their day¡­

    ¡­

    **Nobles¡¯ District, A Certain Residence**

    This estate had once belonged to a lower-class noble family. During the recent internal conflicts, that family was utterly wiped out, and their property fell into the hands of the ¨­maeda clan. After the Kaelith family was founded, ¨­maeda marenoshin boldly gifted this house to Kaelith.

    Though not huge, the estate was in a prime location¡ªeasy to access yet pleasantly quiet.

    Out on the veranda, Kaelith stood with his arms folded across his chest, legs set firmly apart.

    ¡°Everyone!¡±

    ¡°The first official family meeting of the Kaelith household begins now, in grand style!¡±

    ¡°Clap clap clap!¡±

    He raised one hand and, employing some martial-arts trick, clapped in several directions at once to conjure a bustling atmosphere. A few people in the courtyard joined in, with varying degrees of sincerity. Amid this lively mood, Kaelith cleared his throat.

    ¡°As we speak, the realm is in chaos.¡±

    ¡°And in chaotic times, heroes always emerge!¡±

    ¡°Look at that old bandit Yamamoto hogging the First Division. Sure, he wields immense authority for now, but he¡¯s also become a giant target that every faction in the Soul Society has set its sights on. It won¡¯t be long before they all rise to take him down, and his power will wane!¡±

    ¡°When that day comes¡ªwhen that old bandit falls¡ªit¡¯ll spark an era of countless contenders vying for dominance. Who will seize control of the Soul Society then? That¡¯s still anyone¡¯s guess!¡±

    ¡°As founding members of the Kaelith household, we must heed destiny. In these troubled times, we should carve out our grand ambitions!¡±

    ¡°So the question is: how do we accomplish our lofty goals?¡±

    ¡°Yamada seinosuke, you start!¡±

    With that, Kaelith pointed at Yamada.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    A large vein popped on Yamada¡¯s forehead.

    ¡°Kaelith, you idiot¡­ Other people might have a rebellious streak somewhere in their mind, but you¡¯ve got an entire person living on yours.¡±

    ¡°And since when did I say I was joining your family? I ought to chop you up!¡±

    Kaelith clicked his tongue and shook his head.

    ¡°seinosuke, you¡¯re missing a once-in-a-lifetime chance to shoot to the top. But no worries¡ªthis benevolent noble will pardon your offense.¡±

    He turned to Kuchiki S¨­jun.

    ¡°Kuchiki S¨­jun, your turn!¡±

    Caught off guard, S¨­jun paused in thought for a moment.

    ¡°Well¡­we could start by using the Kuchiki clan as a stepping stone. I know that household quite well and can guide you, helping you connect with key figures as quickly as possible. Once we absorb it, having the Kuchiki clan at our back would make controlling the Soul Society much simpler.¡±

    Yamada blinked in disbelief.

    ¡°Lord Kuchiki, please get a grip¡ªyou¡¯re a Kuchiki, not a Kaelith!¡±

    ¡°And even if you did change your surname, it¡¯d be Kaelith S¨­jun, right? Why is he calling you ¡®Teacher Kaelith S¨­jun¡¯ now?!¡±

    Not far away, Aizen¡ªleaning against a tree with his eyes closed¡ªfound himself sneaking a glance at Kuchiki S¨­jun. Ever since accompanying Kaelith on that last mission, this young Kuchiki heir had grown more and more awestruck by him. That could be an excellent sign. Once Kuchiki Ginrei passes away, a little push here and there might allow Kaelith to plant deeper roots in the Kuchiki clan. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    ¡°An excellent suggestion¡ªtruly the words of a genius strategist!¡±

    ¡°Kuchiki S¨­jun, starting today, you are the National Advisor to the Kaelith family!¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t even have a ¡®nation¡¯!¡± Yamada snarled in exasperation.

    Ignoring him, Kaelith turned to the next person.

    ¡°Yoruichi Kaelith, any ideas?¡±

    Hearing Kaelith call her ¡°Yoruichi Kaelith ¡±Yoruichi blinked. Her pulse quickened a beat, a slight flush creeping over her face. Luckily, her deeper skin tone masked it well. Clearing her throat, she answered swiftly:

    ¡°I could lead you to incorporate the Shih¨­in clan!¡±

    At this point, Yamada was at a total loss for words. Kuchiki S¨­jun was at least only an heir, but Yoruichi was the actual head of the Shih¨­in clan! And here she was, basically handing over her family on a platter?

    From where she sat, Soifon couldn¡¯t help placing a hand on her forehead at the unfolding farce.

    ¡°Brilliant! Two of the Great Noble Houses are effectively in our hands. Half of the Soul Society belongs to me already!¡± Kaelith exclaimed, clapping once in admiration.

    He glanced at Aizen, standing a short distance away.

    ¡°Aizen Kaelith, I¡¯m leaving the details to you!¡±

    Aizen didn¡¯t bother responding to that bit of nonsense. His mind was racing with larger concerns.

    In recent days, he¡¯d gone to the Great Spirit Book Library several more times. Amid countless ancient records, he had uncovered some extremely dangerous information¡ªdocuments that not even the Tsunayashiro clan dared keep all in one place. They were stashed in hidden nooks throughout the library, requiring a complicated retrieval and decryption process to piece them together.

    Through these files, Aizen discovered he had opened a veritable Pandora¡¯s box of taboos. Combined with earlier investigations, he¡¯d learned a few secrets about the Soul King: how its body was divided by the top five noble families and scattered across the Three Realms. If those fragments were collected, the holder would gain immense power.

    And now, he¡¯d stumbled upon an even more startling find: using those fragments in a special ritual might allow for the artificial creation of a new Soul King. The moment he arrived at this conclusion, Aizen¡¯s heart pounded. If the Soul King could be replaced with a manufactured substitute, what would become of the current Soul King?

    His curiosity as a researcher burned fiercely. Even though he sensed immense danger lurking behind it, he couldn¡¯t resist inching further into the unknown.

    So he made his decision: the next step was to obtain at least one Soul King fragment. He didn¡¯t yet know precisely where to look, but he had plenty of time. And to move ahead more smoothly, he planned to help Kaelith climb even higher, just enough to clear his own path.

    Glancing over at Kaelith, who was soaking up the glory of his noble status with smug enjoyment, Aizen¡¯s lips curled slightly.

    ¡­

    Later, in a pitch-black space, Kaelith walked along a path of reishi Aizen had fashioned, sighing as he went.

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m bored.¡±

    ¡°Bored with what?¡± Aizen asked from up ahead.

    ¡°Bored with this whole noble gig.¡± Kaelith let out a long breath. ¡°I liked it at first¡ªcalling meetings, throwing my weight around, playing the grand lord. But after so many days, it¡¯s not as fun as I imagined.¡±

    ¡°I originally wanted to become a noble because I thought my talents were average and I¡¯d never accomplish much else. I figured I could slap a big title on myself and laze around.¡±

    ¡°But it turns out I¡¯m a once-in-a-millennium genius¡ªonly you can somewhat match me, S¨­suke¡­¡±

    ¡°With abilities like mine, why should I care about some petty noble status?¡±

    Aizen paused. He¡¯d half expected Kaelith to get tired of this act eventually, but not quite so fast. Was this guy becoming even less dependable by the day?

    With a light jump, Aizen exited the Garganta and landed on the silvery sands of Hueco Mundo. Then he glanced at Kaelith, who joined him, looking listless.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s nonchalant expression, Aizen gave an approving nod. Good¡ªno enemies nearby. After traveling with Kaelith more, Aizen had realized that this fellow was an uncanny early-warning system.

    Thanks to his bizarre instincts, Kaelith often sensed foes far sooner than Aizen himself did. In unfamiliar territory, you could just watch Kaelith¡¯s reaction to confirm if danger was near.

    They found a secluded spot, performed a secret technique, and slipped into the shadows. Before long, they arrived at the secret laboratory hidden within Hueco Mundo¡¯s darkness¡ªwhat Kaelith referred to as a ¡°branch¡± of his ¡°Kaelith Technology Bureau.¡±

    As Aizen deftly fiddled with the machinery, he said,

    ¡°If you¡¯re fed up, you can hand over routine noble affairs to the ¨­maeda clan. With your ties to the Shih¨­in, he¡¯ll be all too happy to manage things. That¡¯ll mean less hassle for you down the road. And remember, your noble status was no small gift¡ªit¡¯s the Captain-Commander¡¯s way of smoothing things out for you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say something like, ¡®I don¡¯t want it anymore¡¯ or ¡®Take back my noble title.¡¯ Understand?¡±

    He emphasized the last words, casting Kaelith a warning glare. Kaelith rolled his eyes.

    ¡°As if I¡¯d do that. I¡¯m not that unreliable.¡±

    He started to say something else but suddenly froze. Kaelith¡¯s gaze snapped toward the entrance. Then, without a word, he dashed off.

    Aizen blinked.

    ¡°¡­Did he just run away because I scolded him?¡±

    Perplexed, he heard Kaelith call back, ¡°S¨­suke, c¡¯mon¡ªour golden-haired big¡­uh¡­companion is in trouble!¡±

    Golden-haired big¡­? Aizen narrowed his eyes in brief thought, a certain figure popping into his mind. Realizing whom Kaelith meant, he vanished from the spot, following after him.

    ¡­

    Under the moonlight, several figures raced across Hueco Mundo¡¯s sands.

    Ahead were two Hollows: Tier Harribel and one of her subordinates¡ªa pale serpent-like Menos named Cyan Sung-Sun. Chasing them were over a dozen Adjuchas-level Hollows.

    Panting with exertion, Sung-Sun struggled to keep pace with Harribel, casting anxious glances at their pursuers. Anger sparked in her eyes.

    ¡°Lady Harribel, let me fight them off!¡±

    ¡°Calm yourself, Sung-Sun,¡± Harribel said quietly, shaking her head. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to act rashly. Saving Mila Rose and Apacci takes priority.¡±

    At those words, Sung-Sun¡¯s head drooped in guilt. Not long ago, she and her two companions had gone out hunting and run into two of Baraggan¡¯s Adjuchas. For some time now, Baraggan had been sending his subordinates all over Hueco Mundo to capture them, trying to force them into his ranks. One harassment after another had left them furious and exhausted.

    That day, they unexpectedly bumped into more of Baraggan¡¯s patrol, a group of a dozen Adjuchas who easily overpowered them. Mila Rose and Apacci were captured on the spot and taken to Las Noches. Though Sung-Sun¡¯s serpentine form let her escape by tunneling into the sands, she was soon cornered again¡ªuntil Harribel arrived just in time to save her.

    Still torn between panic and remorse, Sung-Sun wished she could¡¯ve just died out there. But once her mind settled a bit, she realized something odd: why was Lady Harribel deliberately releasing so much spiritual pressure? Normally, if you¡¯re fleeing, you¡¯d keep your reiatsu suppressed¡­

    Was this part of some plan?

    Before she could figure it out, Harribel spoke again:

    ¡°You there in hiding¡­I know you¡¯re around. I¡¯ve sensed your presence here more than once.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly where you are, but I trust my senses. I¡¯d like to request your assistance. In return, I¡¯ll agree to one condition¡ªanything that doesn¡¯t violate my own principles.¡±

    Sung-Sun blinked in confusion. Who was Lady Harribel talking to?

    Suddenly, a voice echoed from the sky:

    ¡°Keh keh keh¡­interesting. A Hollow seeking help from a Shinigami?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea what that could lead to?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Sung-Sun exclaimed, coiling into a defensive stance. The dozen Adjuchas behind them also halted, scanning the surroundings warily. A Shinigami? Here?

    Meanwhile, Harribel exhaled in relief and placed a hand to her chest.

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the potential consequences. But no matter what might happen, my priority is rescuing my companions.¡±

    The unseen voice gave a dismissive snort.

    ¡°Hmph¡­since you so sincerely beg my help, I suppose I can lend a hand. But as payment, once this is over, let me indulge myself in that impressive ch¡ª¡±

    A quiet sigh drifted from somewhere as Kaelith clutched his stinging head.

    Sung-Sun¡¯s eyes went wide.

    Did that unknown speaker just say something indecent about Lady Harribel?! She nearly exploded with rage. Whoever it was¡ªshe¡¯d strangle them for that comment!

    She whipped around to Harribel, about to protest, only to see her nod and say:

    ¡°All right.¡±

    ¡­She actually agreed?!

    Sung-Sun¡¯s jaw practically hit the floor. Then, in the very next instant, an even more shocking sight appeared. Like a shooting star plummeting from the night sky, a shining figure dove headlong into the mass of Adjuchas, trailing a dazzling streak of reiatsu behind it¡ª

    A colossal mushroom cloud of silvery sand erupted straight into the sky.

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205

    Another one!

    ------------

    ¡°Ughraa!!¡±

    ¡°Graaah!!¡±

    ¡°Guhhaa!!¡±

    Several nearby Hollows were flung backward as if they¡¯d been slammed head-on by a speeding truck. Their massive bodies hurtled through the air. Even the ones farther away couldn¡¯t keep their balance and went tumbling wildly, struggling to stand.

    Amid the billowing dust, a lone figure emerged. Through the swirling haze, you could first see a pair of eyes glinting coldly under the moonlight, followed by a humanoid silhouette ripping through the cloud of smoke with a menacing grin.

    ¡°Second-generation Spartan warrior¡ªKaelith, reporting in!¡±

    Even as he spoke, Kaelith crouched slightly and lunged at one of the Hollows.

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate¡ªaaaargh!!¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Don¡¯t let him¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hurry, fire Cero! Fire Cero!¡±

    ¡°Nooo!!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s figure darted across the battlefield in a frenetic blur¡ªlike some maniac in a mask with his underwear pulled up to his shoulders, the embodiment of unstoppable chaos. Wherever he went, Hollows screeched and fled, only to be reduced to ashes in the end. (t/N: Does anyone remember the old perverted man that steals underwear? The old trope in Animes, I haven''t seen any of them now. Anyways, that is what the joke is here)

    Sung-Sun gaped at the scene in sheer disbelief.

    This Shinigami¡­is unbelievably strong!

    Even Harribel would need some effort to take down more than ten Adjuchas-level Hollows. Yet before Kaelith, they collapsed as easily as fragile humans. What terrifying power!

    Harribel, too, looked visibly surprised. She had only seen Kaelith unconscious on their previous encounter, so this was her first time witnessing him in action. Honestly, she¡¯d approached Kaelith and Aizen for help thinking she¡¯d need them to pin down a portion of the enemy so she could pick them off quickly.

    She never imagined there¡¯d be no need for her to step in at all¡ªthis young Shinigami singlehandedly tore the battlefield apart. She sensed it wasn¡¯t just raw power; it was his overwhelming presence. Simply standing against him in combat forced a crushing blow on the opponent¡¯s morale, making the Adjuchas lose heart before the fight even began.

    Aizen watched quietly from a short distance. All of a sudden, his gaze sharpened.

    ¡°Kaelith, hurry it up¡ªwe¡¯ve got a bigger group heading our way.¡±

    With those words, Aizen raised his hand.

    ¡°Had¨­ #90: Kurohitsugi.¡±

    A colossal black cuboid sprang from the ground, encasing a Hollow that was too far from Kaelith to be reached immediately. When the black coffin dispersed, that Adjuchas collapsed in a bloody heap.

    Sung-Sun swallowed hard.

    That Shinigami¡­he¡¯s just as scary. At least Kaelith is physically hitting them. This one doesn¡¯t even move¡ªhe just recites a spell from a distance, and boom, an Adjuchas goes down. If he actually drew his sword, wouldn¡¯t he be unstoppable?

    Kaelith nodded at Aizen¡¯s warning. He pulled out his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Shatter defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!¡±

    In his hands, the short blades ignited with blue flames. He spun them, and their attached chains whipped out toward two nearby Hollows.

    Slash!!

    Almost in unison, the two flaming blades pierced their bodies.

    ¡°Hraaah!!¡±

    The moment the Zanpakut¨­ pierced them, Kaelith roared, his arms tensing as though he were yanking on battle ropes. Dark, heavy chains coiled like turbulent waves, lifting those Adjuchas high before smashing them to the ground with devastating force. At once, blue fire exploded from within their bodies, each blaze erupting into a brilliant ring of flame.

    Kaelith surveyed the result with satisfaction.

    This technique had been taught to him by the Captain-Commander: use the piercing effect of Rixiang Jimie to flood the enemy¡¯s body with fire, then detonate it. It caused far more damage than simply slashing with flames. For some reason, though, when Kaelith wanted to test it on the Captain-Commander himself, Yamamoto refused¡ªand he¡¯d caught a beating for the suggestion.

    ¡°Worst mentor ever,¡± Kaelith muttered, shaking his head in mock lament.

    With Aizen¡¯s cooperation, the two quickly wiped out the group of Adjuchas.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Kaelith called out, bolting off into the distance. Aizen followed without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Sung-Sun glanced at Harribel; seeing her nod, she hurried after them.

    Moments later, a crowd of Hollows materialized at the battlefield, appearing one after another. Sensing the chaotic spiritual energy lingering in the air, they exchanged looks of shock.

    ¡°This reiatsu¡­ That isn¡¯t Harribel¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a Shinigami!¡±

    ¡°A Shinigami here in Hueco Mundo?¡±

    Then someone exclaimed, ¡°They¡¯re all dead¡ªour first wave was annihilated!¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s that possible? It¡¯s only been a few minutes since the battle started. How could they all be wiped out already?!¡±

    Amid the stunned hollers, a lone Shinigami from the Tsunayashiro clan frowned. Back when Tsunayashiro Senzo had left the Soul Society, this subordinate fled with him to Hueco Mundo. Now he served as a squad leader among Baraggan¡¯s troops, commanding five Adjuchas. Unlike the Hollows, who were yelling in confusion, he recognized a familiar scent here.

    They¡¯d tried to hide their reiatsu signature, but that raw, chaotic fighting style belonged to only one man: Kaelith, the prodigy from the Shinigami Academy!

    He broke into a cold sweat.

    An Adjuchas bared its teeth. ¡°Who cares if it¡¯s a Shinigami! There¡¯s enough of us to tear him apart!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! If we capture Harribel and that Shinigami, Lord Baraggan will reward us handsomely!¡±

    ¡°Catch them, catch them!¡±

    Seeing the Adjuchas riled up, the Tsunayashiro Shinigami snarled,

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    They turned to him in surprise.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless. Harribel herself is a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow, and we don¡¯t even know who this Shinigami is. Rushing in blindly is foolish.¡±

    ¡°The most urgent matter is returning to Las Noches to report this to Lord Senzo and Lord Baraggan.¡±

    One Adjuchas scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? We chased them all the way here¡ªwhy let them escape?¡±

    The Shinigami cursed silently a thousand times over. You idiot! If you want to go die in front of Kaelith, don¡¯t drag me with you! Still, mindful of the Tsunayashiro clan¡¯s situation, he forced patience.

    ¡°No need to worry. We have Harribel¡¯s subordinates in custody. She won¡¯t abandon them to save herself. She¡¯ll come back sooner or later.¡±

    The Adjuchas eyed each other unhappily. Yet they recalled Baraggan had explicitly ordered them to heed this Shinigami¡¯s advice. Reluctantly, they nodded.

    Within seconds, dozens of Hollows vanished with Son¨ªdo, leaving the battlefield behind. The Shinigami exhaled in relief and hurried after them.

    ¡­

    ¡°They pulled back,¡± Aizen remarked, monitoring the area via a reiatsu-detection device he¡¯d set up.

    ¡°Pulled back?¡± Harribel echoed in surprise. She¡¯d been chased around by these Hollows for days; they were like dogs with a bone, completely unreasonable. Even if they¡¯d lost over ten soldiers, they had overwhelming numbers on their side. She wouldn¡¯t have expected them to withdraw so decisively.

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°No surprise. Someone on their side must¡¯ve realized **I** have arrived. Once you see an invincible enemy, retreating is the wise move.¡±

    Sung-Sun rolled her eyes. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re so full of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, never mind how thick my skin is¡ªdidn¡¯t we just win?¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±

    Though she tried to stay defiant, Sung-Sun couldn¡¯t deny that he had indeed saved them.

    Harribel came to a stop. ¡°I appreciate your assistance. There¡¯s something I need to do, so I must leave. If fate allows, I¡¯ll thank you again properly next time.¡± Then she turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Should we do this here?¡±

    ¡°¡­Do what?¡±

    ¡°Fulfill my end of the bargain.¡± Harribel placed a hand lightly over her chest. ¡°Tell me what to do. Do you need me to cut it off?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eye twitched.

    What kind of twisted scenario is this? S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He realized she was referring to the earlier ¡°condition¡± for his help.

    Glancing at her flawlessly contoured figure, his eyes momentarily lit up. Aizen, thoroughly unamused, said, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look around,¡± and vanished in a blur.

    Kaelith took a deep breath and stepped up to Harribel.

    ¡­

    A short while later, Aizen returned, only to find Harribel and Sung-Sun gone. Kaelith sat alone on the sandy ground, his expression strangely hollow¡ªlike someone who¡¯d had his faith in the world shattered.

    ¡°Kaelith?¡± Aizen asked, walking over.

    Kaelith lifted his head, gazing at his friend.

    ¡°S¨­suke¡­¡±

    ¡°That bone armor¡­it¡¯s literally fused to her skin¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s¡­nothing underneath to touch¡­¡±

    ¡°This is¡­so cruel! So, so cruel¡­!!¡±

    Aizen stood there in silent exasperation as Kaelith slumped to the ground, punching the sand in theatrical misery. Finally, Aizen sighed, raised a hand to his forehead, and waited for his blood pressure to stabilize. Then he spoke.

    ¡°Calm down and pull yourself together. We need to move soon.¡±

    Kaelith abruptly sat up. A moment ago, he¡¯d been dramatically weeping, yet now his face showed not the slightest tear.

    ¡°Move? Where to?¡±

    ¡°Las Noches,¡± Aizen replied, gazing toward the crescent moon far off in the sky. ¡°Harribel¡¯s two subordinates were captured. Given her character, she¡¯s bound to head there to save them. A Vasto Lorde at full strength can certainly stir up trouble in that place. We¡¯ll lie low in the chaos and see if we can strike at Baraggan or Tsunayashiro Senzo.¡±

    Kaelith blinked. ¡°Strike at them? They¡¯re no pushovers, and they¡¯ve formed an alliance. If we can¡¯t take one of them down in a single blow, it¡¯ll be pointless. They might dig in and hold us off¡ªeven join forces. That¡¯d be bad news for us.¡±

    Aizen let out a soft laugh and shook his head.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to kill them outright. Don¡¯t overestimate their bond. Not every alliance is as solid as ours. Baraggan and Tsunayashiro Senzo are just using each other. As long as both remain at full strength, their truce stands. But if one of them shows a fatal weakness, the other will devour him.¡±

    ¡°Our goal is simple: leave one of them critically wounded. If we manage that, Las Noches might soon change hands.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Brilliant plan! As expected of you, S¨­suke¡ªalways scheming like some twisted poison master!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen inhaled sharply, making a mental note to hold a grudge against Kaelith for that remark. He was about to say something when Kaelith suddenly turned toward the distance.

    Seeing this, Aizen didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªhe began gathering spirit particles for another spell.

    A moment later, a Hollow appeared atop a nearby sand dune with a flash of Son¨ªdo. It was a large catlike Hollow, fur white as snow, black cracks streaking across its body¡ªa panther of sorts. Judging by its reiatsu, it was an Adjuchas, and a highly evolved one at that. It seemed on the brink of transforming into a Vasto Lorde but lacked the final push.

    Aizen¡¯s eyes gleamed. A first-rate subject for research, he thought.

    Kaelith, however, found the Hollow oddly familiar.

    As Kaelith tried to place the memory, the panther Hollow flickered forward, stopping at a closer vantage. It eyed them warily, as if wanting to approach yet afraid to let down its guard. After a few seconds of silence, it spoke:

    ¡°Shinigami.¡±

    Locking eyes on Kaelith, it continued, ¡°You¡¯re a Shinigami, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, can¡¯t fake that.¡± Kaelith grinned, taking a few steps closer. ¡°What¡¯s up, big kitty? Neck all itchy? Want me to scratch it?¡±

    The white panther ignored his taunting and inhaled deeply.

    ¡°Shinigami, I want to challenge you.¡±

    ¡°I saw your fight just now. You¡¯re strong, far stronger than I am. That¡¯s exactly why I must challenge you.¡±

    Kaelith raised a brow. ¡°You know you can¡¯t beat me, so why bother?¡±

    ¡°Because I want to grow stronger,¡± the panther answered without hesitation. ¡°If I can defeat you, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll break through to the next level. I¡¯m a Hollow; my sole purpose is evolution. If I can¡¯t evolve any further, I¡¯d rather die!¡±

    Aizen gave a nearly imperceptible nod, silently agreeing with the sentiment. If only all Hollows were so determined to push their limits¡­he¡¯d have countless experimental specimens.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith felt a growing certainty. He was sure he¡¯d heard of this Hollow before. Stroking his chin, he asked:

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Grimmjow,¡± the panther declared. ¡°Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.¡±

    Ah¡ªso it¡¯s you, big kitty.

    Kaelith let out a chuckle of delight.

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to waste on him. Kill him.¡±

    Aizen walked over, applying light pressure with his thumb to push part of the blade out of its scabbard.

    Although he was tempted to bring Grimmjow back as raw material, priorities were priorities.

    If wasting time on a single Adjuchas cost them the chance to severely damage Las Noches, it would be more than a simple waste¡ªit would be a crime.

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s words, Grimmjow arched his back slightly, baring his fangs.

    Kaelith raised a hand, blocking Aizen.

    He stepped toward Grimmjow.

    ¡°Big cat, what do you think the difference in strength is between you and me?¡±

    Grimmjow thought for a moment. ¡°My strength is maybe a third of yours.¡±

    Kaelith shook his head with a grin.

    ¡°You little cat, where do you get that confidence?¡±

    ¡°Not a third¡ªright now, you can¡¯t even reach a fifth of my power.¡±

    ¡°With such a huge gap, if I don¡¯t guide you, if I don¡¯t hold back, I could end your life in no more than two moves.¡±

    ¡°In such a short time, you¡¯d have no chance to push your limits or gain any insights.¡±

    Grimmjow fell silent, pondering.

    Kaelith¡¯s words seemed to carry some truth.

    But here in Hueco Mundo, he could hardly find any worthy opponents.

    If he didn¡¯t challenge Kaelith, what else could he do?

    Living forever as an Adjuchas, constantly fearing regression into a Gillian, sounded worse than death.

    ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±

    Unable to think of anything else, Grimmjow asked directly.

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡±

    ¡°S¨­suke Aizen over there¡ªthe Shinigami who wants to kill you¡ªand I are heading to Las Noches to stir up some trouble.¡±

    ¡°Come with us. Listen to my instructions and lend us a hand.¡±

    ¡°Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll spar with you from time to time. I¡¯ll tailor the training, give you proper guidance. How about that?¡±

    Las Noches?

    Grimmjow looked a bit surprised when he heard that.

    ¡°Las Noches is Barragan¡¯s domain¡ªcountless Adjuchas dwell there.¡±

    ¡°Lately, plenty of powerful Shinigami have been showing up in the vicinity.¡±

    ¡°You really plan on going there?¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head slightly. ¡°Cat, that¡¯s the difference between us.¡±

    ¡°What you see as an extremely dangerous place to avoid at all costs, I see as just another testing ground.¡±

    ¡°My power didn¡¯t come from someone else¡ªI forged it by stepping into life-and-death battles over and over, pushing myself in the midst of terror.¡±

    ¡°If you want to understand why I¡¯m this strong, the first thing you should do is come with me!¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s unwavering confidence, Grimmjow considered for a few seconds, then nodded.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re strong, so I¡¯ll trust you.¡±

    ¡°As you say, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    Kaelith looked at the snowy-white cat in front of him, a faint smile curving his lips like an angel.

    Then he glanced back at Aizen, grinning like a devil.

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Sure, it was just a Hollow, but Kaelith truly treated it like nothing.

    ¡­

    ¡°Woohoo!!¡±

    The two men and one panther sped across the desert.

    Well, to be precise, it was one panther galloping at full speed. Kaelith was perched on top, riding high.

    At that moment, he finally understood the pleasure of a tribal chieftain.

    Straddling a giant cat, one hand gripping the fur on its neck, the other raised in triumph, he whooped and hollered without restraint.

    Such joy is reserved for the most mature men with a mental age under seven. Originally, Kaelith wanted Aizen to hop on for a spin.

    But Aizen firmly, seriously declined.

    Clad in his Shihakush¨­, he used Shunpo to flicker gracefully through the air, his robes fluttering like an otherworldly sage¡ªan exact contrast to Kaelith¡¯s raucous display below.

    After who knew how long, Aizen suddenly appeared by Kaelith¡¯s side in a burst of Shunpo.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith leapt off the big cat.

    ¡°Man, that was a long run. I¡¯m beat.¡±

    He rolled his neck, letting out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°?¡±

    Grimmjow eyed him in confusion.

    I was the one doing all the running¡ªwhy are you the one who¡¯s tired? sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Aizen remained expressionless, clearly used to Kaelith¡¯s antics.

    Sensing the shifting spiritual pressure in the air, Aizen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s already begun.¡±

    ¡°Oh-ho!¡± Kaelith grinned. ¡°They¡¯re pretty quick. Should we make our move too?¡±

    Aizen nodded.

    He took out a sheet of paper from his robes. ¡°Earlier, I captured a few Hollows from Las Noches.¡±

    ¡°By interrogating them, I managed to sketch a rough map of the place.¡±

    ¡°This is where we need to go.¡±

    He pointed at a high tower near the edge of the map.

    ¡°This is where the Shinigami are staying.¡±

    ¡°Knowing Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s caution, he¡¯s not likely to separate his subordinates too much. He¡¯s probably there himself.¡±

    ¡°His room is most likely in one of these spots. We¡¯ll start by focusing on these areas.¡±

    Kaelith raised his hand.

    ¡°Teacher Aizen, why not go to the top floor?¡±

    ¡°Because that¡¯s just an attic. You can¡¯t live there.¡±

    Kaelith nodded in sudden understanding.

    Aizen was about to continue when Kaelith quickly raised his hand again.

    ¡°Teacher Aizen, why go to that old man¡¯s room?¡±

    ¡°If we want to ambush him, we could just track his spiritual pressure, couldn¡¯t we?¡±

    Aizen gave a slight nod, glad to hear such a pertinent question.

    Lowering his voice, he said, ¡°Senzo Tsunayashiro may have the Enra Ky¨­ten hidden in his room.¡±

    ¡°That blade isn¡¯t his Zanpakut¨­, but it can absorb life force.¡±

    ¡°Unless there¡¯s an emergency, he wouldn¡¯t carry it on him at all times.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see if we can find it, then take it.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of the Enra Ky¨­ten¡ª

    A legendary blade said to copy all Zanpakut¨­ abilities it encounters, a sacred treasure passed down the Tsunayashiro line.

    If not for Aizen¡¯s reminder, he would¡¯ve forgotten about it entirely.

    ¡°Excellent, truly excellent!¡±

    Kaelith clapped, clearly excited. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s get moving!¡±

    Seeing the two about to leave, Grimmjow frowned.

    ¡°Shinigami, what do I do?¡±

    Kaelith glanced at him and spoke without hesitation:

    ¡°Head over to the battlefield and keep an eye on Harribel and her people¡ªthe ones who came here to challenge us. She¡¯s the blonde humanoid Hollow.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re on the verge of defeat, use your feline speed to pull her out. Even though her Hollow mask fragment is currently on her¡­uh¡­ chest, leaving little to appreciate, she¡¯s bound to become quite alluring in the future. We can¡¯t have her dying here.¡±

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207

    "Roar..."

    High atop Las Noches, a pale skeleton sat on his throne, silently observing the plaza below.

    A blonde, humanoid Hollow wielded a massive bone sword, battling more than a dozen Adjuchas.

    Baraggan leaned to one side, propping his bony cheek with elongated fingers.

    ¡°So¡­ Harribel really came.¡±

    One of the Adjuchas grinned. ¡°Lord Baraggan, please let me go. I¡¯ll bring you victory!¡±

    Baraggan merely sneered.

    ¡°A mere Adjuchas, hoping to defeat a Vasto Lorde?

    The foolish courage of the ignorant.

    Even if there were ten or twenty of you, you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against her.¡±

    ¡°Go. Fetch Szayelaporro.

    Tell him he¡¯s been living in Las Noches long enough¡ªtime to pay some rent.¡±

    Though the Adjuchas looked unwilling, it bowed and left to carry out the order.

    Baraggan turned his gaze below once more.

    He recalled that Harribel had three Adjuchas following her.

    Two of them were already captured and locked up.

    What about the remaining one?

    Did it see Harribel making this desperate move and run away in terror?

    Or¡­ is there another mission?

    A low chuckle escaped Baraggan¡¯s throat.

    Not that it mattered.

    Soon, Harribel would be his¡ªshe¡¯d either pledge loyalty or die.

    ¡­

    ¡°Time¡¯s running short.¡±

    Aizen knelt before a door, quickly dismantling the Kido-based lock as he spoke.

    ¡°Even though Harribel is a Vasto Lorde, her combat skills are nothing special.

    I¡¯ve fought her before¡ªshe¡¯s the type who has raw power but little finesse.

    She might look intimidating, but in truth she¡¯s only good at overpowering Adjuchas.¡±

    ¡°If another Vasto Lorde appears, she¡¯ll lose in no time.¡±

    Not far away, Kaelith leaned against a wall, looking half-asleep.

    At the sight of Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s Kido lock, Kaelith¡¯s first instinct had been to slash it open with Rixiang Jimie.

    Aizen immediately blasted him aside.

    If you didn¡¯t use the correct method, the caster would be alerted at once.

    Then, if Senzo Tsunayashiro rushed back, they¡¯d have no chance to escape.

    Seeing he was of no help here, Kaelith wandered off to rest.

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s remark, Kaelith lifted his head.

    ¡°Another Vasto Lorde? There¡¯s another one here in Las Noches?¡±

    Aizen shot him a look. ¡°Your new subordinate.¡±

    ¡°My subordinate?¡±

    Kaelith frowned in thought.

    A few seconds later, realization dawned.

    ¡°Ah¡ªSzayelaporro.¡±

    In the anime, Szayelaporro had already been weakened to an ordinary Adjuchas level.

    So whenever anyone mentioned a Vasto Lorde, Kaelith subconsciously overlooked him.

    But now, Szayelaporro was indeed a bona fide Vasto Lorde.

    ¡°Heave-ho!¡±

    Kaelith planted a hand on the ground and sprang from sitting to standing in one fluid motion.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find that pink-haired guy and have a talk.¡±

    Aizen lifted a brow. ¡°You know where he is?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Kaelith gave a smug tilt of his head. ¡°I left a tracking Kido on him. Let me see¡­ Found him. I¡¯ll be right back!¡±

    In a flash, he vanished. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching him leave, Aizen raised an eyebrow.

    A tracking Kido¡­

    Another unknown technique. Aizen had often wondered how Kaelith located him so easily in the past.

    Now he knew.

    Once we¡¯re back in the Soul Society, I¡¯ll have to settle this properly.

    Aizen mentally added another entry to his personal ledger of Kaelith¡¯s antics.

    ¡­

    By the time Kaelith returned, Aizen had already opened the lock.

    Seeing Kaelith, Aizen spoke decisively:

    ¡°Check for any other traps in the room.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Kaelith leapt inside without complaint, releasing his Domain.

    A few seconds later, he pointed at one wall. ¡°Right here!¡±

    ¡°Well done.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Before Kaelith got back, Aizen had already searched the entire room, finding no likely hiding place for the Enra Ky¨­ten.

    He was starting to suspect Senzo Tsunayashiro had taken it away.

    Now, with Kaelith¡¯s discovery, he realized that wall was indeed suspicious.

    Pressing a hand against it, Aizen cycled through precise Reiatsu adjustments until he smiled.

    Yes, something was there.

    Using expert Reiatsu control, he gradually forced his way in.

    Before long, waves rippled across the surface, revealing a hidden compartment.

    Inside was an ornate sword rack, holding a cloth-wrapped blade.

    Even without unwrapping it, they knew it must be the Enra Ky¨­ten.

    ¡°I never expected such a powerful relic to fall into our hands so easily.¡±

    Aizen reached in and retrieved the blade, clearly satisfied.

    He glanced at Kaelith¡ªwho was staring eagerly¡ªand smirked.

    Under Kaelith¡¯s excited gaze, Aizen tossed him the Enra Ky¨­ten.

    ¡°Hold onto it until we return to the Soul Society.

    But until I¡¯m sure of its nature, don¡¯t even think about using it.¡±

    Kaelith immediately agreed.

    He caught the blade and unwrapped it slightly, revealing part of the cold steel.

    Seeing its eerie gleam, he let out an appreciative sound.

    ¡°As expected of the Tsunayashiro family¡¯s treasure. The craftsmanship alone is stunning.¡±

    ¡°You understand craftsmanship?¡±

    Aizen raised a brow.

    ¡°Not at all¡ªI just say that to sound impressive.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Aizen could almost feel his blood pressure rising.

    Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.

    ¡°Our main objective is complete. Next we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Get down!¡±

    Before Aizen could finish, Kaelith¡¯s expression shifted in a flash. He sprang forward, pinning Aizen to the floor.

    A moment later, a black-and-red Cero tore through the nearby wall and blasted into the room.

    A brilliant flash and thundering explosion rocked the spot where they¡¯d just been standing.

    Because the Cero was fired in a wide arc, it swept through quickly and was gone.

    Above them, the ceiling was neatly shorn off, revealing the dark night sky.

    On a nearby high platform, Senzo Tsunayashiro looked furious.

    That old skeleton Baraggan¡ªfor him to launch such a destructive strike that tore into the tower¡­ it was blatant provocation.

    He was about to erupt in anger when he froze.

    In his line of sight, two cloaked figures were dashing out of his chamber.

    Shocked, Senzo Tsunayashiro turned to look at the wall where he kept his hidden items.

    In the next instant, his face went pale like a ghost!

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208

    ¡°Trident¡­ Mist Halberd!¡±

    Harribel raised her massive bone sword, pointing it at several Hollows rushing toward her.

    A dense mist, compressed by her Reiatsu, burst forth in an instant.

    Countless droplets scattered from the blade, forming a spray of tiny water bullets that exploded into thick, billowing smoke.

    Several Adjuchas were hurled backward from the cloud, shrieking in pain, their bodies riddled with small, deep punctures.

    A nightmare for those with trypophobia¡ªyet a grim triumph for her.

    Next, Harribel lifted her sword overhead, tracing a half-circle in the air.

    A sharp stream of water flowed along with her sweeping motion.

    Once accelerated, it splintered into dozens of slicing water blades that shot out in all directions.

    ¡°Aaargh!¡±

    Fresh cries of agony rose from the Adjuchas.

    In no time, some lost limbs, and many suffered severe organ damage.

    Harribel swung her bone sword downward.

    ¡°Move!¡±

    Her imposing aura made her seem unstoppable.

    Yet the Adjuchas glanced around at one another without backing off.

    At first, they¡¯d been terrified of Harribel. Even under Baraggan¡¯s orders, most had been too frightened to charge in.

    But after a while, they noticed her fatal flaw:

    She refused to kill Hollows.

    Even if they lunged at her with murderous intent, Harribel would only wound, never kill.

    All those who had collapsed just now were still alive¡ªmostly lightly injured. (Note: Severing limbs doest matter much to a hollow, so it is a "light injury")

    What reassured them even more was that Harribel wouldn¡¯t consume their power either.

    At the Adjuchas level, being wounded by another Hollow¡ªwho might devour the flesh around the injury or absorb the spiritual essence from the wound¡ªcould doom one to regress into a Gillian, losing all hope of further evolution.

    But Harribel, who only inflicted wounds without absorbing power, was a rarity they had never encountered.

    This strange benevolence actually stoked the Adjucha¡¯s fighting spirit.

    If you won¡¯t absorb our power, then we¡¯ll absorb yours.

    If anyone managed to land a blow on this Vasto Lorde and consume her strength¡­

    Just thinking about it filled the Adjuchas with excitement.

    Seeing their refusal to retreat, Harribel shook her head in exasperation.

    Her belief in ¡°self-sacrifice¡± always seemed to invite opponents who took advantage of it.

    Still, that might work in her favor.

    If these Hollows weren¡¯t all beaten, Baraggan would be less inclined to make a personal move.

    The more time she could buy, the better chance Sunsun had of rescuing their comrades.

    I hope everything goes well on Sunsun¡¯s side, Harribel thought, once again raising her blade.

    ¡­

    On a high platform, Baraggan observed the scene.

    ¡°What a ridiculous conviction.¡±

    ¡°Once you become my subordinate, I¡¯ll rid you of that revolting ideal, one step at a time.¡±

    Even as he spoke, a figure appeared beside him.

    Long pink hair with golden highlights, white bone-framed glasses¡ªSzayelaporro.

    ¡°Well, well. I wondered why you summoned me so urgently.¡±

    ¡°So it was for a prime specimen, hmm?¡±

    He smiled at Harribel on the plaza below.

    Baraggan chuckled. ¡°Perfect timing.¡±

    ¡°Szayelaporro, show me your power. Go defeat Harribel, crush her foolish pride!¡±

    Szayelaporro turned his head, eyeing Baraggan coolly.

    After a few seconds, he smiled and nodded.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    He raised an arm, drawing the blade at his hip. Off in the distance, Senzo Tsunayashiro, who had been watching, frowned in distaste.

    A mere Hollow, imitating a Shinigami¡¯s Zanpakut¨­¡­

    How revolting.

    Down on the plaza, where Harribel was still battling the Adjuchas, she abruptly looked up at Szayelaporro.

    The moment he drew his sword, his presence surged, magnifying to an alarming degree.

    That sense of a razor at her throat made her break into a cold sweat.

    He¡¯s strong¡­

    He¡¯s on the same Vasto Lorde tier as I am?

    No¡ªthat pressure suggests he¡¯s even stronger.

    A fighter this powerful is serving under Baraggan?

    A trace of wariness appeared in Harribel¡¯s eyes.

    With such a formidable opponent stepping in, she¡¯d have to alter her plan.

    Mila and Apacci must be rescued.

    Sunsun couldn¡¯t be abandoned, either.

    If someone had to be sacrificed, it might as well be me.

    Taking a deep breath, Harribel steeled herself for a life-or-death struggle.

    Dying in battle here might buy Sunsun and the others enough time to escape.

    She set her sword horizontally, prepared to face Szayelaporro¡¯s onslaught.

    Then, to her astonishment, Szayelaporro smiled and suddenly swung his blade backward¡ª

    Crack!

    Two of Baraggan¡¯s bony fingers went flying through the air.

    Though the skeletal face showed no clear expression, the fury pouring from him was palpable.

    ¡°Szayelaporro¡­ what do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±

    Despite the ambush, Baraggan still sat on his throne with regal composure. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the moment he gripped his enormous battle-axe, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t remain passive.

    Szayelaporro gave a delighted laugh.

    ¡°Oho¡­ Baraggan, you make a marvelous sight. But that question is so dull.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m betraying you.¡±

    Baraggan slowly rose to his feet, spiritual pressure surging around him.

    ¡°Betrayal¡­ you intend to take Las Noches for yourself?¡±

    Szayelaporro shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve found a new boss.¡±

    Boss?

    Baraggan didn¡¯t know the word, but from the context, it had to mean Szayelaporro had a new master.

    Enraged, he let out a resentful laugh.

    ¡°In Las Noches, I am the strongest. I hold the greatest authority.

    And beneath me, you were the strongest among the rest.

    If you wanted to carve out your own domain, I might respect it.

    But you have the gall to pledge yourself to someone else? Absurd!¡±

    Szayelaporro only smiled wider.

    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t say that. My new leader is far more interesting than you.

    And the prospects are far better.¡±

    ¡°Utter nonsense!¡±

    Baraggan roared, leveling his colossal axe at Szayelaporro.

    At once, a dark red and black Cero burst forth.

    Anticipating this, Szayelaporro swung his sword, diverting the beam aside.

    Boom!

    The massive Cero slammed into Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s tower.

    Two figures emerged from the rubble.

    Before anyone could fully grasp what happened, Szayelaporro chuckled, pointing:

    ¡°See that sneaky fellow over there, creeping around like a thief?

    He¡¯s my new boss.¡±

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209

    ¡°Thief!¡±

    Senzo Tsunayashiro bellowed in rage as he launched himself into the air, charging straight for Kaelith.

    Aizen frowned slightly, glancing toward Szayelaporro.

    Kaelith grinned.

    ¡°Even if the setup was a bit off, the result¡¯s fine by me.

    Time for the old man to cough up some coins!¡±

    With that, he whipped out the Enra Ky¨­ten.

    Aizen¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    He¡¯d just warned Kaelith not to use it, yet here he was, unsheathing it in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°Kaelith!¡±

    At Aizen¡¯s shout, Kaelith followed his gaze to the sword in his hand. Realizing what Aizen meant, he quickly stashed the Enra Ky¨­ten back at his waist.

    Aizen gave a subtle nod¡ªthis was more like it. Time to unleash Rixiang Jimie, perhaps.

    But instead, Kaelith only flashed a wild grin and ripped open the front of his shirt.

    ¡°Heh, time to pluck your feathers!¡±

    He stomped the ground, releasing a circular blast of energy underfoot, then shot into the sky to meet Senzo Tsunayashiro head-on.

    Aizen sighed inwardly.

    He¡¯d been hoping for a surprise attack, or at least a more subtle approach, not a full-frontal assault.

    Sometimes, he truly envied Kaelith.

    Surrounded by enemies in the very heart of Hueco Mundo, yet charging straight at the enemy commander without hesitation¡­

    Of course, Aizen had such courage himself¡ªbut only after all schemes were spent and he had no other choice.

    While Kaelith¡¯s reckless onslaught often lacked strategy, it undeniably had a certain infectious bravado.

    Aizen let out a small chuckle and raised his hand.

    ¡°Had¨­ #63: Raik¨­h¨­!¡±

    High above, Kaelith clashed with Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    When Senzo finally got a clear look at Kaelith¡¯s face, his eyes widened.

    ¡°Kaelith?!¡±

    ¡°Gramps is here!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    After an instant of shocked anger, Senzo couldn¡¯t help but smile in excitement.

    How delightful.

    He¡¯d been planning to slip into the Soul Society one day to settle the score with Kaelith¡ªand yet here was the man himself, delivering his head on a platter in Hueco Mundo.

    This is what they call walking right into the lion¡¯s den.

    His glee was short-lived, though; a sudden flash from the side caught his attention.

    He turned to see a massive bolt of lightning blasting toward him.

    Senzo found it puzzling.

    He hadn¡¯t clearly seen the face of the man at Kaelith¡¯s side, but he seemed to be about the same age.

    Such a young Shinigami, casting Raik¨­h¨­ without incantation?

    And that power¡­ easily matching a captain-level spell with the full chant!

    When did the Soul Society¡¯s new generation become so monstrous?

    Before Senzo had time to linger on the thought, he flashed aside in midair, shifting his position.

    But the moment he reappeared, Kaelith was already there, as though he¡¯d predicted the move.

    Bare-chested, Kaelith grinned broadly, his face half-shadowed as his fist came hurtling toward Senzo¡¯s face¡ª

    ¡°¡°Double Ikkotsu!¡± (Double Impact¡ªSingle Bone)

    Senzo Tsunayashiro merely scoffed.

    A mere whippersnapper¡­ Even if he¡¯s Yamamoto Shigekuni¡¯s disciple, it¡¯s too soon to bare his fangs at me.

    Without bothering to draw his blade, Senzo flipped his scabbard, using the pommel to meet Kaelith¡¯s fist head-on.

    In the next instant, his expression changed dramatically.

    A mountainous force hammered his Zanpakut¨­, no weaker than a fully chanted high-level Had¨­.

    Worse yet was the bizarre ripple carried by Kaelith¡¯s punch.

    It felt as if two fists struck at once, their impact resonating.

    His insides heaved in protest, pain wracking him from within.

    Senzo¡¯s stomach churned violently.

    Were it not for his deep reserves of Reiatsu suppressing the backlash, he might have vomited on the spot.

    This kid¡­ there¡¯s something off about him.

    That punch definitely wasn¡¯t a simple ¡°Ikkotsu.¡±

    Senzo slipped away with a Shunpo, putting some distance between them.

    He pressed his hand to the hilt of his blade, intending to draw.

    Yet before he could, several blue flames streaked toward him from all angles.

    S¨­ren S¨­katsui?

    He can even cast something on that level?

    Visibly startled, Senzo drew his sword in one swift motion, weaving a dense net of steel around him.

    Each blossom of S¨­ren S¨­katsui exploded on contact, rocking him with blue fire.

    Amid the smoke and debris, Senzo raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    Normally, someone would wait for the dust to settle, checking for traps before charging in again.

    He planned to use that interval to release his blade.

    ¡°Shine¡ªhuh?¡±

    Within that swirling haze, Kaelith tore the smoke open, laughing wildly as he lunged once more.

    That terrifying fist came crashing in again!

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Senzo growled, forced to engage Kaelith in close combat once more.

    The fight was infuriating to him.

    In raw stats and spiritual pressure, he surpassed Kaelith by a wide margin.

    Yet Kaelith¡¯s heedless, relentless style made it impossible for Senzo to establish any rhythm.

    Meanwhile, Aizen off to the side kept harassing him with Kid¨­ attacks, further complicating matters.

    Most importantly, Senzo hadn¡¯t battled seriously in ages.

    When was his last real fight to the death?

    Five hundred years ago?

    Eight hundred?

    He couldn¡¯t even recall.

    Any encounters since then had been one-sided affairs¡ªhe¡¯d all but forgotten how to handle real duels that required technique and swift adaptability.

    Now, he couldn¡¯t even find a chance to release his Zanpakut¨­.

    Irritated, he shouted, ¡°Baraggan¡ªassist me!¡±

    Below, on the platform, Baraggan stood face-to-face with Szayelaporro, brandishing his massive axe.

    That pink-haired fiend refused to fight in earnest or get out of the way. He just delayed Baraggan, biding his time.

    Down in the courtyard, Harribel was growing stronger by the moment. She¡¯d practically seized the upper hand against the other Hollows.

    Baraggan had half a mind to tell Senzo Tsunayashiro he was on his own; let him learn the hard way.

    A whole squad of Shinigami residing in his fortress¡ªpretending to bow to him¡ªwho knew what they¡¯d do if he left them with too much leeway?

    Better they took a few hits themselves.

    But faced with the immediate crisis, Baraggan reluctantly set aside that tempting thought.

    He raised his voice:

    ¡°Third Squad¡ªhelp Senzo!¡±

    The moment he spoke, more than twenty Adjuchas nodded and sprang skyward, heading straight for Kaelith.

    From afar, these Hollows opened their jaws wide, all aiming at Kaelith.

    One after another, red orbs of energy flared into being, shining with deadly brilliance.

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    High in midair, Kaelith glanced down at the Ceros fired by the Adjuchas below.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro smirked coldly.

    With so many Adjuchas launching Ceros at once, even a lieutenant-level Shinigami would be instantly obliterated.

    No matter how strong Kaelith might be, he¡¯d have to dodge, right?

    During that opening, Senzo could finally release his Zanpakut¨­¡­ or so he thought. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But then¡ª

    To Senzo¡¯s shock, Kaelith didn¡¯t dodge at all.

    Instead, he threw his arms wide and lunged straight at Senzo, as if to embrace him.

    Though Kaelith was only in his late teens by Shinigami standards¡ªaround college age¡ªhis physique matched a grown man who has been in the gym for decades.

    Spreading his arms so suddenly left Senzo no room to escape.

    Whump!

    Kaelith wrapped Senzo in a massive bear hug.

    ¡°?!¡±

    The older Shinigami had no time to react to such a bizarre move.

    He instinctively tried flaring his Reiatsu, attempting to break Kaelith¡¯s hold.

    ¡°No! Don¡¯t leave me Grandpa, let me fix your back!!¡±

    Kaelith gave a roar, tightening his grip further.

    His ironclad arms crushed Senzo¡¯s lanky frame as though he intended to fuse them into one body.

    Senzo¡¯s eyes nearly popped from his skull.

    Every ancient bone in his body creaked under that crushing force.

    A heartbeat later, more than twenty colossal Ceros¡ªthick as water barrels¡ªswallowed both men in a blinding surge of energy.

    Aizen stood below, momentarily speechless at the sheer recklessness on display.

    Even Szayelaporro, clashing with Baraggan in the distance, glanced skyward.

    His new boss¡¯s fighting style was certainly¡­ spirited.

    On the ground, Harribel¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Had that Shinigami named Kaelith just sacrificed himself along with the enemy?

    In the stunned silence, the barrage of Ceros burned from thick pillars down to faint beams before vanishing into the air.

    Two figures reemerged.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s once-glorious white hair was half burned away.

    His Shihakush¨­ hung in ragged shreds, revealing scorched flesh beneath.

    While the injuries weren¡¯t fatal, the grand, elder aura he projected before was all but gone.

    By contrast, Kaelith¡ªwho¡¯d long since torn off his own shirt¡ªlooked hardly different.

    His bare upper body remained solid and unscathed, shimmering slightly with Reiatsu.

    ¡°Rrraaaagh!¡±

    Finally free from Kaelith¡¯s grasp, Senzo lost all composure, unleashing a roar of sheer rage.

    ¡°What, you planning to bite me?!¡±

    Kaelith sprang back, looking alarmed.

    He struck a wary pose.

    ¡°Kaelith! I will kill you¡­ No, I must kill you!¡±

    Senzo¡¯s hair hung wildly around his face as he snarled.

    Then he snapped back to his senses¡ªthis was the perfect chance to release his Zanpakut¨­.

    He raised it hastily.

    ¡°Leap¡ª¡±

    ¡°Had¨­ #90: Kurohitsugi.¡±

    A calm, unhurried voice spoke behind Kaelith. Aizen emerged, weaving threads of black energy that soared upward and formed layered barriers around Senzo, sealing him in an instant.

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t give him any chance to move!¡±

    In a flash, Aizen joined Kaelith¡¯s side.

    ¡°Senzo Tsunayashiro used his authority in the Great Spirit Library to erase all records of his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s powers.

    It must be something unusual.

    If possible, don¡¯t let him release it.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Kaelith nodded.

    While they spoke, the black coffin gradually dissipated.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro stood revealed, no additional wounds on his body.

    A dense, formidable layer of Reiatsu coated him entirely.

    It resembled Kaelith¡¯s own Reiatsu barrier, but Aizen noticed right away that it operated on a different principle.

    Kaelith¡¯s spiritual membrane was formed by combining his inner power¡ªwhat he called ¡°Domain¡±¡ªwith Reiatsu, allowing it to shift instantly as needed, whether blanketing his entire body or concentrating on a single point.

    A technique like that implied advanced mastery.

    Senzo, however, simply unleashed a massive external surge of Reiatsu, forming a protective buffer around his body.

    It reminded Kaelith of what happened when Zaraki Kenpachi removed his eyepatch¡ªan overwhelming flood of spiritual pressure.

    But how was this old man able to unleash such a torrent on the spot, without any visible preparation? It didn¡¯t seem to strain him at all.

    Kaelith smacked his lips in amazement.

    ¡°Damn, the old guy really lives up to the saying ¡®Only the sly survive to old age!¡¯

    That¡¯s an insane level of Reiatsu¡­ Not many in the Soul Society could stand on par with him.¡±

    He scratched his head.

    ¡°Though, he still doesn¡¯t compare to my own geezer.

    When it comes to old devils, my teacher reigns supreme!¡±

    Aizen fell silent.

    By now, Senzo¡¯s blinding pillar of spiritual power had everyone¡¯s attention.

    The Hollows who¡¯d already been eyeing these Shinigami with hostility gaped in shock.

    Baraggan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

    He had indeed considered betraying this group once they wore each other down¡ªespecially after witnessing Kaelith and Aizen momentarily overwhelm Senzo.

    But seeing Senzo¡¯s true prowess made him reconsider.

    Though he was old, he was no toothless tiger¡­

    Sensing the stares from all around, Senzo was pleased with himself despite his earlier embarrassment¡ªand breathed a small sigh of relief.

    He couldn¡¯t risk dragging this out any longer.

    Even if Kaelith and Aizen were genuinely captain-class, he needed to prove his own power, cowing any ¡°allies¡± who might get ideas.

    He had to end this fight decisively.

    Bathed in raging Reiatsu, Senzo Tsunayashiro raised his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Leap and dazzle, Reverse Tide!¡±

    Kaelith flung Rixiang Jimie.

    Aizen fired Raik¨­h¨­.

    Yet backed by the explosive force of Senzo¡¯s surging Reiatsu, neither attack managed to break his concentration.

    Kaelith jerked the chain, recalling Rixiang Jimie to his hand.

    Senzo¡¯s wave of spiritual energy shielded him too well, a seemingly endless supply of raw force that neither Kaelith nor Aizen could pierce outright.

    As they watched him, Senzo sneered and gave his blade a small flourish.

    Aizen flickered forward, positioning himself in front of Kaelith.

    With his superior analytical skills, he could gauge Senzo¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ at close range¡ªfigure out what power it held.

    But no sooner had he moved than Kaelith grabbed him by the collar and hurled him backward.

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211

    ¡°Kaelith, be cautious¡ªobserve his ability first!¡±

    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t out-rush the reckless one, Aizen warned him.

    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m great at improvisation!¡±

    With that, Kaelith flashed a grin and spread his arms wide.

    Shadow Power, infuse my body!

    He blurred forward, appearing before Senzo Tsunayashiro. The fist at his waist burst forth¡ª

    ¡°Double S¨­kotsu!¡±

    Boom!

    A shockwave¡ªseemingly stretching on forever¡ªswallowed Senzo in its path. Buildings shattered, the desert sands roiled. Kaelith bared a fierce smile, peering ahead.

    How was that old codger holding up?

    Within the warped air, Senzo¡¯s figure reappeared. The elder Shinigami¡¯s face was icy. Though Kaelith¡¯s blow had punched holes in his protective Reiatsu layer and left him with several fresh wounds, he showed no fury.

    Kaelith let out a mocking snort.

    ¡°While you¡¯re wounded, I¡¯ll finish you off¡­ Old man, time to drop that loot!¡±

    ¡°Break them¡ªRixiang Jimie!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Twin blades licked with blue fire streaked in from both sides, chains rattling behind. At the same moment, Kaelith commanded a shadow clone to thrust a sword at Senzo¡¯s back.

    He was attacking on all fronts¡ªno matter how cunning the prey, he¡¯d force him to drink defeat.

    But then Kaelith¡¯s vision wavered.

    Not far away, Senzo hovered in midair, silent. Kaelith himself stood empty-handed: his Zanpakut¨­ was still at his waist, and the shadow clone remained hidden within him, ready to coordinate another double strike.

    Kaelith blinked.

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Something felt off about this scene.

    ¡°Kaelith, be careful¡ªfigure out his ability,¡± Aizen reminded.

    ¡°O-Okay¡­¡±

    Startled, Kaelith nodded. With a low chuckle, he dashed toward Senzo once again.

    Shadow Power, infuse my body!

    He raised a fist high, poised to unleash a shining Double S¨­kotsu on Senzo. But halfway into the strike, Senzo abruptly drew his blade.

    Slash!

    A blade glinting with cold steel carved a wide arc. Blood spattered from Kaelith¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Kaelith stared at the wound on his arm, slightly puzzled. The speed of his punch was phenomenal, giving little time for a counter. Usually, opponents wouldn¡¯t target his striking arm so precisely.

    ¡°Not bad, old man. You¡¯ve got an eye for openings.¡±

    Senzo snorted.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen that move from you five times now.¡±

    ¡°Five times?¡± Kaelith tilted his head.

    While he pondered, Senzo slipped aside with a sudden Shunpo.

    In the spot he¡¯d just vacated, a Kurohitsugi shot up, trapping only empty air.

    Noticing Aizen appear at Kaelith¡¯s side, Senzo¡¯s eyes flickered with disdain.

    That innocent-looking kid was unbelievably vicious. Kaelith was easy to read, but ¡°S¨­suke¡± was a different story¡ªno pattern at all. If there was any pattern, it was that he always struck right when you least expected, often with Kurohitsugi.

    Having dodged Aizen¡¯s attack, Senzo felt confident. The intel he¡¯d gathered was more or less complete. Time to start his real assault¡ª

    Just as he thought this, he saw Kaelith charging back in.

    ¡°Fool! I¡¯ve seen through your every move, and you¡¯ve already hurt one arm. What can you possibly do now?!¡±

    He raised his Zanpakut¨­, ready to take the brash youth¡¯s head.

    In that instant, Kaelith¡¯s form flickered. For the briefest moment, Senzo saw none other than Yamamoto Shigekuni in front of him¡ªwild white whiskers whipping about, rippling scars etched across bulging old muscles.

    ¡°Yamamoto?! Impossible¡­ how could you¡ª!¡±

    He managed only that shout before the figure turned back into Kaelith.

    ¡°?!¡±

    While Senzo stood aghast, Kaelith burst out laughing and slammed another punch his way. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Again, it was Double S¨­kotsu¡ªonly this time, Senzo forgot to maintain his Reiatsu guard, rattled by the vision he¡¯d just seen. Kaelith¡¯s blow tore straight through his protective aura, hammering into his chest.

    At the last second, Senzo twisted aside, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.

    Boom!

    The devastating punch, brimming with explosive power, connected with Senzo¡¯s torso. A shimmering blue shockwave erupted from his back like a trailing comet. Senzo nearly blacked out, regaining his senses a heartbeat later. Feeling a stab of dread, he hastily reactivated his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability¡ª

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± Aizen cautioned again, ¡°stay alert¡ªstudy his power first.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°Got it!¡±

    Yet no sooner had he spoken than he grimaced and halted his forward rush.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s expression, Aizen assumed something was amiss.

    Kaelith straightened up and scratched his head.

    ¡°Strangely, I feel tired. We¡¯ve only just started fighting, so why do I feel drained?¡±

    Aizen raised a brow.

    If anyone else said it, he might dismiss it as nerves.

    But Kaelith had uncanny instincts; he could be onto something.

    Aizen¡¯s gaze shifted to Senzo Tsunayashiro. The old Shinigami wore a dark, unreadable look, eyes locked not on Kaelith, but on Aizen¡¯s Zanpakut¨­. No previous foe had ever stared so intently at his blade.

    Suddenly, Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up in realization.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it. I get it now¡ªthis must be his Zanpakut¨­ ability!¡±

    Hearing those words, Senzo¡¯s pupils shrank. Even Aizen glanced at Kaelith in surprise.

    Under their scrutiny, Kaelith gave a mocking laugh.

    ¡°Senzo Tsunayashiro, your power is to drain the stamina of anyone who sees your Zanpakut¨­, right?!¡±

    Senzo fell silent.

    Aizen exhaled, resting a hand to his forehead. Then he drew his blade and aimed it at Senzo.

    ¡°Kaelith, hit him with your strongest technique.¡±

    Kaelith blinked, then grinned.

    ¡°No problem. Leave it to me!¡±

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212

    If you had to ask what Kaelith¡¯s strongest move was at the moment¡ª

    Naturally, it would be the ¡°Pseudo Four-Bone¡± strike, propelling himself with his legs while both fists hammer forward.

    That very punch had once defeated the all-powerful Kuchiki Koga, shaking the World to its core.

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s call for his strongest technique, Kaelith wasted no words and charged in.

    Suspended in midair, he clenched both fists, thrusting them straight ahead.

    His legs snapped together behind him, body stretched out horizontally.

    ¡°Human Cannon Kaelith¡ªlaunch!¡±

    He roared, hurtling toward Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    Senzo blinked in mild surprise.

    He¡¯d never seen this move in their previous clashes.

    At first glance, ¡°Human Cannon¡± looked like some wild gimmick¡ªbut instinct warned him not to take it lightly.

    Having nearly been knocked out cold earlier, Senzo wouldn¡¯t dare drop his guard again. He focused his full attention on Kaelith, gripping his Zanpakut¨­ and bracing for impact.

    Kaelith¡¯s speed was outrageous¡ªhe covered over a hundred meters in under a second, closing in on Senzo.

    Now! Slash him!

    Senzo¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent; he raised his blade.

    But in that instant, Kaelith abruptly vanished from his sight.

    The sudden turn of events caused Senzo¡¯s movement to stall, just slightly.

    The hallucination came and went in a blink¡ªwhen his vision caught Kaelith again, it was exactly like before.

    Senzo fumed.

    He flicked a quick glance toward Aizen, who, at some point, had drawn his Zanpakut¨­ again.

    The color had drained from Aizen¡¯s face, as though he¡¯d spent too much energy.

    That one instant of disorientation¡ªbrought on by Aizen¡ªhad cost Senzo the best chance to stop Kaelith.

    Thankfully, having been fooled once, he hadn¡¯t relaxed his Reiatsu barrier this time.

    Raging spiritual pressure still burned around him, flaring like a Super Saiyan aura.

    Kaelith grinned from ear to ear under Senzo¡¯s watchful gaze, a demonic glint in his eyes.

    From both legs came twin jets of Reiatsu, stretching thousands of meters like blazing tails.

    Veins bulged along Kaelith¡¯s forearms.

    Double S¨­kotsu¡ªArm Edition!

    Double S¨­kotsu¡ªLeg Edition!

    Pseudo Four-Bone Strike!

    BOOM!!!!!

    A terrifying spiritual explosion lit up the sky above Las Noches.

    The land of Hueco Mundo, shrouded in endless night for millennia, now welcomed a second sun.

    A massive bright flare hovered like an all-seeing eye in the deep black heavens, driving all beneath it to scurry for cover.

    Several nearby Adjuchas were disintegrated on the spot by the shockwave, reduced to nothing but black dust.

    ¡°Well now¡­¡±

    Szayelaporro raised a hand to shield his eyes, peering at Kaelith¡¯s spectacle in the distance.

    Harribel blinked, astonished.

    Such power¡­

    Maybe this Shinigami really could topple Baraggan¡¯s dominion of a thousand years.

    Baraggan gripped his giant axe, the soul-flame in his eyes flickering restlessly, lost in thought.

    Aizen suddenly popped a pill into his mouth, swallowing it.

    Then he lifted Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, letting the blade¡¯s glimmer catch in his own pupils¡­

    Amid the blast¡¯s shockwaves, Kaelith let out a soft snort.

    Victory was his.

    He could feel it¡ªhis punch had burst through Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s vital point.

    That old relic could no longer stand and fight.

    Next up was just clean-up, right¡­?

    But then he spotted Senzo, still standing not far away, and tilted his head in confusion.

    Was it a trick of the eyes? He felt as though he and the old man had already finished things.

    It was almost like¡­ they¡¯d fought multiple times under this same sky.

    Was he dreaming? D¨¦j¨¤ vu? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Kaelith, be cautious¡ªstudy his ability first,¡± Aizen cautioned.

    Kaelith frowned.

    ¡°S¨­suke, something¡¯s off.

    It feels like we¡¯ve been at this with him several times already¡­ and I don¡¯t think I¡¯m imagining it.

    Each time, it¡¯s like he gets a little better at handling us.¡±

    At those words, Senzo¡¯s eyes flashed with alarm.

    Impossible¡­

    His Zanpakut¨­, Reverse Tide, placed a ¡°time anchor¡± the moment it was released.

    Unless he died or was knocked unconscious, he could rewind time to that anchor point any time within a minute after it was set.

    By repeating this ability, he could fight an opponent over and over, gradually learning all their moves until he completely dominated them.

    Yes, the enemy might eventually notice something amiss if they were unusually sharp¡ªperhaps even discover his secret¡ªbut that required at least twenty loops.

    His clan¡¯s experiments had shown that no matter how sharp a Shinigami was, they¡¯d need to witness at least forty loops to guess the hidden truth of Reverse Tide.

    They hadn¡¯t fought even ten loops yet¡­

    He still hadn¡¯t seen the full abilities of these two monsters. How could they possibly suspect anything already?

    Meanwhile, Aizen was mulling over Kaelith¡¯s remark.

    Repeated battles¡­

    Kaelith rarely spoke without reason. If he sensed something, it was worth trusting.

    Aizen drew his Zanpakut¨­ once more, preparing to both fight and analyze Kaelith¡¯s insight.

    But the moment he started unsheathing it, he froze¡ªimages suddenly flared in his mind, as if waking from a dream.

    He shut his eyes, letting those newly awakened visions surge through his thoughts.

    Several seconds later, he opened them again and nodded lightly.

    So that¡¯s it¡­

    Kaelith glanced at him, noticing Aizen¡¯s expression, and grinned.

    ¡°S¨­suke, you got a plan?¡±

    Whenever Aizen looked like a strategist calculating his next move, it meant some nas¡ªerr, ingenious¡ªscheme was brewing.

    Aizen nodded. ¡°All thanks to Serum No. 9.¡±

    Kaelith paused, trying to recall.

    Then his eyes widened.

    ¡°No. 9? Didn¡¯t you say that stuff has insane side effects¡ªsomething about burning one¡¯s soul?¡±

    ¡°It does,¡± Aizen said with a faint smile. ¡°But thanks to our opponent here, I managed to slip free.¡±

    Kaelith looked perplexed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll explain when we¡¯re done,¡± Aizen said, dismissing the topic with an easy wave of his hand. ¡°Right now, I need you to do something for me.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Unleash a move even stronger than your Pseudo Four-Bone Strike.

    If you want to defeat Senzo Tsunayashiro, that¡¯s our only way.

    We¡¯re stuck in his loop, and the only two paths left are¡ª¡±

    Aizen¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Beat Senzo Tsunayashiro¡­ or die here.¡±

    Kaelith fell silent, lost in thought.

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213

    ¡°An even stronger move than Human Cannon, huh¡­¡±

    Kaelith closed his eyes, tilting his head back in deep thought.

    His first idea was to stack Yingda on top of his Pseudo Four-Bone Strike.

    But the technique demands such precise control¡ªlike trying to replicate a pro gamer¡¯s infinite input combo.

    It might sound simple in theory, but pulling it off in reality was a whole different story.

    From Aizen¡¯s tone, Kaelith gathered he wanted a more reliable attack, not something that combined too many risky tricks and insane execution.

    All right then¡­ what else did he have?

    After a few seconds, Kaelith raised his arm, determination flashing in his eyes.

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­ and pressed the blade against his forearm.

    ¡°Wait¡ªwhat are you planning?¡±

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s maneuver, Aizen couldn¡¯t help speaking up.

    Kaelith snorted, lifting his chin.

    ¡°Itt¨­ Kas¨­!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen felt his blood pressure surge.

    Had¨­ #96¡ªItt¨­ Kas¨­¡ªdemanded sacrificing a large, charred portion of one¡¯s body to unleash its terrifying flames.

    And ¡°a portion¡± wasn¡¯t just a fingertip or an earlobe¡ªpulling it off typically cost you an entire arm.

    No Kid¨­ healing could ever restore it afterward.

    ¡°You really have the guts to use that,¡± Aizen said coldly.

    Kaelith puffed up his chest. ¡°A true man never sweats the small stuff!¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t complimenting you.¡±

    Seeing that Aizen clearly disapproved, Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ve got another idea.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Hand me a dose of Serum #9. Then we can show off in style.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen took a steadying breath, fighting to keep calm.  sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It looked like Kaelith was all out of safer trump cards.

    So what now?

    By all appearances, Senzo Tsunayashiro had them nearly figured out.

    Going head-to-head would be suicide.

    His Reiatsu was higher, and even if Aizen threw every ounce of power into illusions, it would only scratch Senzo¡¯s senses for a split second.

    With his endurance, a minor distraction wouldn¡¯t decide the fight.

    Worst-case scenario: even the surprise attacks that might work had probably been tried (and thwarted) in Senzo¡¯s ¡°loops.¡±

    Which meant he was likely on guard against them now.

    They couldn¡¯t flee.

    And they couldn¡¯t win¡ªat least not under normal conditions.

    That was the power of a truly formidable Zanpakut¨­.

    Thoughts racing, Aizen¡¯s gaze fell on the sword at Kaelith¡¯s waist.

    Enra Ky¨­ten.

    Maybe it was time.

    He could use Enra Ky¨­ten to mimic Rixiang Jimie¡¯s ability, employing that defense-shattering power to lure Senzo into a trap and give Kaelith an opening.

    Or he could replicate Ry¨±jin Jakka for a head-on brawl.

    He¡¯d read through Yamamoto¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ details back in the Great Spirit Book Library¡ªhe knew enough to simulate it.

    How much damage would that do to his soul?

    He¡¯d have to find out.

    He reached out for the sword, only for Kaelith to clamp a hand around his wrist halfway there.

    At Aizen¡¯s startled look, Kaelith drawled lazily:

    ¡°Aizen, you said I¡¯d be holding onto it. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going back on your word.¡±

    ¡°Stop playing around¡ªwe¡¯re out of time.¡±

    Aizen frowned.

    Kaelith¡¯s expression darkened in turn. ¡°Playing around? Kaelith Yurei doesn¡¯t mess around. I take everything seriously.¡±

    He smirked, a bit recklessly.

    ¡°Relax, Aizen. As long as I¡¯m here, there¡¯s no need for that blade to strut its stuff.

    If Shikai isn¡¯t enough, then it¡¯s time for¡­ Bankai.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯ve achieved Bankai?!¡±

    ¡°No, not at all.¡± Kaelith shook his head.

    Just as Aizen started to bristle, Kaelith drew Rixiang Jimie from its sheath.

    ¡°Rixiang Jimie¡­ I might not have learned Bankai yet, but I need your help right now.

    If we¡¯re friends, lend me your power¡ªjust this once!¡±

    Aizen nearly laughed in exasperation.

    If it were so easy¡ªtwo lines of dialogue to awaken a Zanpakut¨­¡¯s final form¡ªcaptain-level Shinigami would be a dime a dozen in the Soul Society.

    Even Senzo Tsunayashiro, off in the distance, couldn¡¯t hide his mocking sneer.

    So this is the best Yamamoto Shigekuni¡¯s prized disciple can do in a pinch?

    ¡°If he¡¯s gone mad,¡± Senzo muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll put him out of his misery.¡±

    He swung his Zanpakut¨­ from afar.

    A silver crescent of sword pressure tore through the air, screaming toward Kaelith¡¯s neck.

    Icy light glinted in Aizen¡¯s eyes as he prepared to move in front, intending to shatter the attack.

    .

    .

    .

    But before he could even step forward, a colossal pillar of Reiatsu erupted around Kaelith.

    Crrreeeeaaak!

    The sound was like nails on a chalkboard, an ear-grating friction reverberating in the air.

    Dense, liquid-like spiritual energy trembled between heaven and earth.

    Everyone present snapped their gaze upward, alarmed, eyes fixed on the figure blazing at the pillar¡¯s center¡ª

    ¡°Heh¡­ hehehe¡­ gahahaha!!¡±

    Amid that dazzling glow, Kaelith was barely visible. Only his resonating laughter¡ªbrimming with fierce resolve¡ªcould be heard.

    Aizen lifted an arm to shield himself from the gale, all while keeping half an eye on Senzo Tsunayashiro. At the same time, disbelief flickered across Aizen¡¯s face.

    ¡­This couldn¡¯t be real, could it?

    Senzo, hovering in midair, was shoved back two steps by the monstrous outpouring of power.

    He reached out, fingertips brushing the reishi-laden atmosphere.

    It was real?!

    From his distant vantage, Szayelaporro lost his composure for the first time since the battle started, eyes bulging as though he¡¯d discovered a new frontier.

    So his ¡°new boss¡±¡­ or rather, his boss¡­ actually seized Bankai in such an outlandish way?

    He¡¯d spent a thousand years researching Shinigami, yet had never even heard of anything remotely this absurd.

    He wanted to drag Kaelith into a lab, dissect him, examine every single organ¡­

    Harribel frowned slightly.

    Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu was overwhelming.

    Though she was a Vasto Lorde, she could scarcely stand under that crushing weight.

    Nearby Adjuchas fell to their knees; those already injured disintegrated, turning into clouds of black dust.

    Harribel took a slow breath, gazing up at the sky.

    If Hueco Mundo were to get a true king, ending this brutal chaos¡­ it had to be that man above.

    As the glare subsided, Kaelith came into view.

    His arms were bare, each hand gripping a gigantic golden claw.

    Behind him floated a broad golden shield.

    It split in two, spreading into a pair of ornate wings.

    A half-face helm emerged, revealing only his cold, gleaming eyes, flanked by two silver horns.

    A lightweight layer of silver armor covered his torso and back.

    Under everyone¡¯s scrutiny, Kaelith exhaled a long, white plume of breath.

    He crossed his arms and flung them wide.

    Senzo Tsunayashiro¡¯s eyes went round, his instincts shrieking in alarm.

    He gripped his Zanpakut¨­ with both hands, ready to wind time back the moment things went south.

    All at once, color drained from his vision¡ªblack and white swallowed the entire world.

    Kaelith reached one taloned gauntlet forward, unleashing a scythe of silver light that looked poised to cleave the sky itself.

    No one could even say when, but in the next instant, Kaelith stood behind Senzo Tsunayashiro.

    A hush blanketed the battlefield as Kaelith¡¯s voice echoed slowly¡ª

    ¡°Bankai.¡±

    ¡°Rixiang Jimie¡­ Shin Ga Tomy¨­!¡±

    -----------------

    Did knew you just had to be nice to get Banki? By the way, one of the meanings is "Illumination of the True Self" or "true self-shining forth" but I will be sticking with the "Shin Ga Tomy¨­"

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214

    A surge of exhilaration.

    An indescribable high.

    The instant his Bankai activated, Kaelith felt as though he commanded the entire world.

    Reiatsu gushed endlessly from every cell, merging into a raging river within him.

    Now that he controlled this river in its entirety, what could possibly stand in his way?

    Even Senzo Tsunayashiro in his ¡°super-charged¡± state seemed like a mere paper tiger¡ªa single strike would shatter him.

    That thought barely formed before Kaelith moved.

    He lunged at Senzo, metal talons flashing gold.

    Danger.

    DANGER!

    DANGER!!!

    The moment Kaelith attacked, Senzo was overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of dread.

    His soul, his instincts¡ªevery particle of his being screamed at him:

    Run!!

    Without hesitation, Senzo prepared to activate his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability and roll time back.

    But just as he tried, Kaelith¡¯s voice echoed by his ear¡ª

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±

    ¡°?!¡±

    Senzo¡¯s pupils constricted.

    When¡­ did he get so close?!

    Somehow, that hellish figure had appeared right beside him, the cold gaze beneath that half-face silver helm fixed on him¡­

    Then Kaelith darted past.

    Splurch!!

    A massive bloom of blood burst from Senzo¡¯s body.

    The tall, emaciated old Shinigami slowly toppled forward, plummeting from the sky.

    His Zanpakut¨­ slipped from his grasp.

    Kaelith turned, eyes locked on Senzo, and kicked off the air in pursuit.

    With just a casual step, he moved faster than his usual ¡°Ikkotsu boost.¡±

    Smack!!

    A moment later, under everyone¡¯s watchful gaze, Kaelith¡¯s silver armor¡ªalong with the metallic claws and wing-like shield¡ªsuddenly fractured into shimmering particles that dissolved into the air.

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Kaelith stared at himself, taken aback.

    Then he gave a short, humorless laugh.

    ¡°So what if my Bankai¡¯s gone? I can still fight!¡±

    Even as he spoke, he drew his right arm back, ready to finish Senzo off.

    Yet when he tried to stomp on the air, nothing formed beneath his foot.

    He kicked twice to no effect, wearing a baffled look as he fell.

    Fortunately, before he could drop too far, Aizen flashed by and caught him.

    ¡°Recklessly charging in without knowing your own limits¡­ how foolish.¡±

    With an arm clamped around Kaelith¡¯s waist, Aizen sped away, scolding him all the while.

    Kaelith twisted his neck around.

    ¡°Go, S¨­suke! He¡¯s practically done¡ªfinish him off!¡±

    ¡°Move it, S¨­suke, why aren¡¯t you moving?!¡±

    ¡°Panzervor!!¡±

    Aizen gripped him even tighter, like restraining a rowdy dog, and muttered wryly, ¡°Quit squirming.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t give chase now. Be glad we could get out.

    If not for that strike of yours, we¡¯d never have escaped in the first place.¡±

    Kaelith glanced downward.

    Baraggan, in his skeletal form, was rushing at Senzo with his giant axe.

    Also hurrying over were numerous Tsunayashiro descendants, scrambling to rescue their clan head.

    Meanwhile, Szayelaporro¡ªwho¡¯d been stalling Baraggan earlier¡ªwas now staring curiously at his own arm.

    A cloud of black mist had engulfed it, creeping steadily upward.

    Everywhere it passed, flesh disintegrated to ash, leaving only bone. Then even the bone would crumble a few seconds later.

    Szayelaporro looked almost excited by this phenomenon, as though he wanted to keep it for further research.

    After a brief hesitation, he sighed.

    The black mist spread too fast, and even his Reiatsu couldn¡¯t halt it.

    Left unchecked, he¡¯d be dead before he could dissect anything.

    With a decisive slash, he lopped off his own arm without a second thought.

    Then he glanced upward, grinning.

    ¡°Boss is gone, so I¡¯ll take my leave as well.

    Until next time, ¡®Lord¡¯ Baraggan~¡±

    His figure vanished in a flash.

    Harribel looked toward a far-off dune where a faint glow flickered.

    It was the signal she¡¯d arranged with Sunsun¡ªindicating the others had been rescued.

    Harribel breathed a sigh of relief.

    She brandished her sword to push back the Adjuchas closing in, then bounded away in several leaps.

    Seeing Senzo carried off by his kin, Kaelith clicked his tongue in annoyance.

    Still running gracefully beneath Hueco Mundo¡¯s moonlit sky, Aizen looked down at Kaelith sulking in his arms and gave a quiet chuckle.

    ¡°Kaelith, aren¡¯t you forgetting why we came here in the first place?¡±

    Kaelith paused, then grinned at the second Zanpakut¨­ hanging from his waist.

    ¡°Oh right, we¡¯re here on a treasure hunt!¡±

    ¡°The Enra Ky¨­ten¡­ the prized heirloom of one of the Five Noble Clans. We¡¯re loaded now!

    Once we get back, I¡¯ll sell this baby, dine like a king for the rest of my days¡ªno more tiptoeing around Old Man Yamamoto, no more Shinigami drudgery!¡±

    Listening to Kaelith¡¯s triumphant laugh, Aizen couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Our objective was to weaken either Senzo Tsunayashiro or Baraggan.

    With two tigers sharing one mountain, if both remain strong, they maintain a tense equilibrium.

    But if one shows vulnerability, the other will surely move to devour him.¡±

    ¡°Relax¡ªit won¡¯t require another chase. Senzo Tsunayashiro is finished.¡±

    Kaelith blinked, processing this for a few seconds, then smiled broadly.

    ¡°Ha! That¡¯s exactly why you make the perfect villain.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    He had half a mind to drop Kaelith right then and there.

    They touched down on a stretch of dunes.

    Despite the shifting sand underfoot, Aizen¡¯s composure never wavered¡ªhe stood as steadily as if on solid ground.

    Kaelith hopped off him, lost his balance, and promptly plopped down into the sand.

    He shook his head and rose to his feet.

    Only moments ago in Las Noches, he could barely move, yet he now seemed to be recovering at an unbelievable rate.

    Watching his companion¡¯s rapid return to form, Aizen felt a hint of wonder.

    Even Hollows with regeneration abilities would be in awe of Kaelith¡¯s constitution.

    Before long, Harribel arrived with her three subordinates in tow.

    She strode forward the moment she saw Kaelith.

    Aizen quietly shifted his stance, ready to protect a certain someone from any sudden aggression.

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Harribel halted before Kaelith.

    Then, without hesitation, she dropped to one knee.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­ thank you for your help.

    If there is anything you need in the future, just say the word. I will carry out your orders anytime!¡±

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215

    Kaelith tilted his head at the sight of Harribel kneeling before him.

    He pointed to Aizen at his side:

    ¡°You¡¯ve chosen the wrong allegiance. I¡¯m just here to rob¡ªcough, I mean, to hunt for treasure.

    That man there is the one who wants to become ruler of Hueco Mundo.¡±

    Harribel paused, then turned to look at Aizen.

    She found him regarding her with a faintly amused expression.

    He chuckled. ¡°No, from beginning to end, I¡¯ve just been following his orders.

    Whether it¡¯s expanding influence in Hueco Mundo, setting up a secret base here, recruiting Baraggan¡¯s subordinates, or stealing the Tsunayashiro family¡¯s treasured blade¡­ every last bit has come from Kaelith¡¯s directives.

    So don¡¯t worry, Harribel. You have pledged loyalty to the right person.¡±

    Hearing that, Kaelith scratched his head.

    So he was that impressive? Even the lofty Aizen was happily working under him?

    He gazed at Aizen with a moved expression.

    ¡°S¨­suke, your devotion is truly felt by this king. Rest assured, I won¡¯t keep this authority in my hands forever. You, whose talent is ten times that of my useless son, S¨­jun¡ªonce I die, I¡¯ll make sure to take that fool with me, and leave this position for you!¡±

    With that, he took Aizen¡¯s hand in a solemn gesture.

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    His blood pressure spiked.

    He spoke coolly. ¡°You haven¡¯t even ascended the throne yet, ¡®Your Majesty.¡¯ Meanwhile, someone here is waiting for your response.¡±

    Only then did Kaelith recall Harribel kneeling nearby. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ you want to repay me, right?

    No rush. Wait until you break through next time.¡±

    Once she became an Arrancar, Harribel would shed her Hollow armor and reveal warm, resilient skin. He planned to properly¡­ comfort her then.

    Harribel blinked, then understood.

    Indeed, with her current strength, she was still far from being of real help.

    She bowed her head. ¡°I see, Kaelith. I will work hard to become stronger.¡±

    Not far behind, Sunsun and the other two immediately bowed as well.

    Just then, Szayelaporro flashed in beside them.

    Seeing Harribel on one knee, he raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°As expected of you, Boss. Baraggan tried all sorts of methods to bring Harribel to heel, and yet he failed. Meanwhile, you¡¯ve won her loyalty with such ease!¡±

    As he spoke in a lilting tone of praise, Szayelaporro also knelt on one knee.

    Aizen narrowed his eyes at the sight.

    Unlike Harribel, this guy was no straightforward ally. One careless step, and he might do what Baraggan did¡ªappear to submit, then sink his fangs in deep at a crucial moment.

    Before Aizen could warn Kaelith, the latter let out a smug grunt.

    ¡°Obviously. I¡¯m the man supported by Chancellor Aizen. Pulling off something like this is perfectly normal.

    Szayelaporro, since you¡¯ve come along, does that mean you¡¯re ready to join my Hueco Mundo research institute?¡±

    ¡°Precisely!¡±

    Szayelaporro lifted his head with a smile. ¡°Please allow me to offer you my strength!¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± Kaelith nodded. ¡°I know your abilities somewhat.

    Stuff like planting bombs in your organs, poisoning your body from within¡ªnone of that will work on you. You¡¯d just find a way to remove it. It¡¯s child¡¯s play for someone like you.¡±

    Aizen gave a barely perceptible nod.

    Without a proper threat to keep someone like Szayelaporro in check, working with such a cunning, powerful being was a risk.

    ¡°But!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s voice rose.

    ¡°Even if threats won¡¯t work, I can still tempt you with rewards. You¡¯re in the middle of some research, aren¡¯t you?

    I have three researchers on par with me¡ªtop experts in their fields.

    If you cooperate, I¡¯ll have them meet you from time to time to exchange know-how, share technology from the Soul Society, and help move your research forward.

    Of course, in return, you¡¯ll have to share what you know as well.

    ¡°But if you ever harbor treacherous thoughts, not only will all cooperation end, but once my powers reach their peak, I¡¯ll hunt you down across all Hueco Mundo.

    I grow stronger at an alarming pace¡ªS¨­suke¡¯s here to back me up, so it won¡¯t be long before I reign supreme.

    When that day comes, if you ride with me, you flourish; if you defy me, you¡ªperish!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s triumphant stance drew a twitch from Aizen¡¯s eye.

    What was all this?

    Using power he didn¡¯t even have yet to threaten someone?

    He¡¯d seen plenty of people painting grand visions to bluff others, but painting threats was a new one.

    Plus, flat-out telling Szayelaporro ¡°I¡¯ll bribe you with benefits¡±¡­

    What in the world had Kaelith actually learned from Yamamoto¡­? Negotiation clearly wasn¡¯t on that list.

    Szayelaporro froze for a few seconds.

    Then he broke into a broad grin, remaining on one knee, bowing his head.

    ¡°Rest assured, my lord.

    Until the day your radiance fails and you revert to mortal dust, I shall display unwavering loyalty.

    Right now, I¡¯m even more excited to witness your rise into that shining existence.¡±

    Kaelith laughed and helped Szayelaporro up.

    Watching them chat so casually, Aizen sank into thought.

    The persuasion was a confused mess.

    The surrender was equally unconvincing.

    And yet these two were hitting it off like a house on fire. Did he really dare let them set up a shared lab?

    ¡­

    Shwaa!

    A portal slid open, and Kaelith and Aizen leapt out.

    They emerged in a secret lab within the Department of Research and Development¡ªone so hidden that even Urahara and Kurotsuchi knew nothing about it.

    Kaelith casually removed the Enra Ky¨­ten from his belt and tossed it aside. Then he headed for the door.

    Aizen moved deeper inside the lab to drop something off.

    Kaelith, on the other hand, walked toward the main entrance. He wanted a bath.

    From a distance, he spotted Kisuke Urahara leaning at the door of the R&D Department, anxiously scanning the area.

    ¡°Yo, Kisuke. Waiting for someone?¡±

    Kaelith strolled up, patting Urahara on the shoulder.

    Startled, Urahara spun around.

    He saw who it was and widened his eyes.

    ¡°Kaelith? Where did you just come from?¡±

    Before Kaelith could answer, Urahara hurriedly added, ¡°Never mind that¡ªget ready, quick! The Captain-Commander¡¯s looking for you!¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Kaelith was momentarily surprised.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯d better take a bath and change¡­ it¡¯d be a disaster if I show up looking like this.¡±

    He was still in tattered clothes from his fight in Hueco Mundo.

    But at that instant, a deep, elderly voice rang out, brimming with vigor:

    ¡°No need for that.

    I¡¯m already here.¡±

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216

    Yamamoto was furious.

    Today, he had planned to take Kaelith up into the mountains for training, to teach him some newly refined techniques. Yet when he tried sending messages, no response came back. He sent people to Second Division¡ªno sign.

    Checked the Research and Development Bureau¡ªempty.

    Even went to the Shih¨­in estate¡ªstill nothing.

    Worried that Kaelith might end up dead in some corner where no one could even retrieve his body, Yamamoto used a tracking Kid¨­. Upon seeing the destination revealed¡ªHueco Mundo¡ªhe fell into deep thought.

    That little brat actually went to Hueco Mundo?

    A bad feeling settled in his gut.

    Deciding he might as well look for answers, he headed to the Tech Bureau¡¯s vicinity. The moment he arrived, he sensed Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu. Following that trail, he saw Kaelith stepping out, clothes ragged, one arm bearing a long wound. That unmistakable trace of Hueco Mundo¡¯s spirit particles clung to him, causing Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure to spike.

    He scowled and opened his mouth to speak¡ªbut Kaelith beat him to it, dashing forward like an arrow.

    ¡°Teacher!! They bullied me!!¡±

    Yamamoto paused, and in that fleeting second, Kaelith crashed into him like a cannonball, nearly knocking him off balance. The impact was so forceful it felt like a war chariot slamming into his chest. Even with Yamamoto¡¯s sturdy physique, he almost coughed up his lunch.

    Holding this brawny youth who clung to him, wailing, Yamamoto couldn¡¯t help the question marks swirling in his mind.

    ¡°What happened? Explain.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith employed a brief burst of Reiatsu to redden the skin around his eyes, lifting his head with a teary look.

    ¡°Teacher¡­ you know I recently became a noble, right? I thought I¡¯d use my privileges a bit.

    I¡¯ve spent years in the Soul Society, visited the World of the Living, but never Hueco Mundo.

    So I opened a Senkaimon to have a look around. I walked just a few steps and¡ªbam! Some Hollows ganged up and beat me!¡±

    ¡°Sob, you have to stand up for me!¡±

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, silently observing Kaelith for a moment. Then he spoke calmly.

    ¡°Traces of time¡¯s erosion¡­¡±

    At those words, Kaelith froze.

    Yamamoto¡¯s tone was unhurried, like still water.

    ¡°Others may not see it, but I can.

    Kid¡­ you didn¡¯t just take a stroll in Hueco Mundo. You went all the way to Las Noches.¡±

    ¡°And while you were at it, you clashed with that old fool Senzo Tsunayashiro¡­ am I right?¡±

    The farther he went, the colder Yamamoto¡¯s voice grew. It was downright freezing, despite his Zanpakut¨­ being fire-based.

    Feeling the old man¡¯s glare, Kaelith coughed once and slowly let go of his teacher¡¯s waist.

    ¡°Fine, since Sensei doesn¡¯t care, I¡¯ll swallow it down.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got my own self-training to do. If nothing else, you can head on back. Another day I¡¯ll bring some good sake when I visit.¡±

    With that, he turned to leave.

    In the next instant, his eyes bulged wide and bloodshot, as though pursued by a vengeful spirit. Screaming in panic, he tore off running.

    Behind him, Yamamoto¡¯s face had gone dark as iron, flames roiling around him in a raging cloud as he gave chase.

    ¡°Teacher! You can¡¯t do this!!

    I¡¯m a noble! A middle-ranked noble¡ªyou can¡¯t just beat me!

    Hey, the Captain-Commander¡¯s attacking me! Won¡¯t somebody stop him?!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s piteous cries echoed as the Captain-Commander¡¯s monstrous Reiatsu swept across half of Seireitei like a tsunami.

    Countless Shinigami felt a chill, lifting their heads in alarm toward the onrushing spiritual power.

    ¡°The Captain-Commander is fighting?! That¡¯s some enormous Reiatsu¡­ He¡¯s serious!¡±

    ¡°An intruder in Seireitei?¡±

    ¡°Wait. Listen carefully to the direction it¡¯s coming from!¡± Some of them concentrated, then halted.

    They sensed it was coming from near the Second Division, mingled with Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu.

    Yamamoto vs. Kaelith.

    Well, nothing new there.

    Kaelith had tried to rebel and challenge the Captain-Commander before¡ªnothing but old news around here.

    So, each Shinigami patted their chest in relief and dispersed, leaving the distant clouds of scarlet flame and faint screams behind.

    ¡­

    Sometime later

    Kaelith lay sprawled on a sickbed, while Soifon stood at his side, calmly applying medicine.

    ¡°Ow¡­ careful, that spot got seared by Ry¨±jin Jakka¡ªhurts like hell.¡±

    ¡°Smear a little more on this side. That wretched old man burned me up. Whenever there¡¯s time, I need a real soak in the Hell Hot Springs.¡±

    As Kaelith whined, Soifon couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit of awe.

    Ry¨±jin Jakka wounds¡ªhe spoke of them so casually. Anyone else would be sitting in a prison cell, or feeding the Soul Society¡¯s soil by now.

    Her lord might not be the most dependable person, but his guts were undeniable, and his recklessness absolute.

    Wait¡ªlord? She reminded herself that she was only placed here temporarily. Until Kaelith officially married into the Shih¨­in family, she wouldnt always work under him.

    Soifon let out a little snort, pressing the ointment down harder. Kaelith yowled like a cat caught in a door.

    The application done, Kaelith¡¯s Shihakush¨­ began repairing itself.

    Once dressed again, he sat up.

    ¡°Old man Yamamoto, bullying the weak like this¡ªjust wait two hundred more years till I grow strong enough to¡ª¡±

    ¡°To do what, exactly?¡±

    Yamamoto slid open the door and stepped inside.

    Kaelith froze. ¡°¡­Until I can show him my unrivaled massage technique, obviously!¡±

    He shot a bright smile.

    ¡°Teacher, didn¡¯t you head home? Why¡¯re you back so soon?¡±

    Yamamoto shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no going back, not yet. This is too big a matter¡ªyou¡¯re going to explain everything.

    I am the Captain-Commander. This concerns the stability of the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo; I won¡¯t let you off just because you¡¯re my student.

    If you¡¯ve done something you shouldn¡¯t have, I will punish you. Possibly more severely than you expect.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. From the moment Yamamoto mentioned Senzo Tsunayashiro by name, Kaelith knew there was no squirming out of this.

    Under Soifon¡¯s worried gaze, Yamamoto led Kaelith away, toward a distant mountain range.

    Soifon stood thinking for a second or two, then turned and set off for the Shih¨­in estate.

    ¡­

    Two shapes flickered in Shunpo, arriving among the mountains.

    ¡°Speak. What exactly happened?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s voice was calm.

    Kaelith scratched his head.

    He owed Yamamoto too much gratitude; if possible, he didn¡¯t want to lie to him. But this tangled up so many issues involving Aizen.

    He couldn¡¯t betray that¡­ helpful friend.

    Under the Captain-Commander¡¯s piercing stare, Kaelith began recounting the major events¡ªomitting any mention of Aizen, or at least filtering him out¡­

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217

    Yamamoto placed both hands on his staff, expression grim.

    ¡°So, let me summarize what I¡¯ve heard:

    ¡°You wandered off to Hueco Mundo, picked up several Hollows as your subordinates¡­¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Kaelith nodded vigorously.

    ¡°Including one who¡¯s a humanoid Vasto Lorde¡ªa rather beautiful one.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Kaelith confirmed.

    ¡°That Vasto Lorde¡¯s followers were captured by Baraggan¡¯s forces. To help her rescue them, you took a bunch of Hollows and attacked Las Noches.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡±

    ¡°On your way out, you ran into Senzo Tsunayashiro and had a skirmish.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡±

    ¡°In the end, you briefly ¡®borrowed¡¯ a Bankai from your Zanpakut¨­, beat Senzo, and got away unscathed.¡±

    ¡°You said it, brother¡ªcouldn¡¯t be more right!¡±

    Kaelith nodded, eyes wide with earnest innocence.

    ¡°Utter foolishness!!¡±

    Yamamoto roared, his Reiatsu unleashing a shockwave across the valley.

    But Kaelith moved even faster.

    The second Yamamoto opened his mouth, Kaelith shot a hand up, plugging his ear with fingers reinforced by spiritual pressure.

    Even though he took the brunt of Yamamoto¡¯s bellow head-on, it didn¡¯t harm him much.

    A vein popped on Yamamoto¡¯s forehead.

    This blasted disciple!

    Seeing the old man¡¯s dark expression, Kaelith flashed a cheeky grin.

    ¡°Surprised, Teacher? I¡¯ve learned to predict your moves!¡±

    Yamamoto fell silent for a moment.

    Then, without warning, he raised his staff and swung it hard into Kaelith.

    Boom!

    A deafening impact echoed through the mountains, and Kaelith went flying.

    Yamamoto snorted, watching Kaelith vanish into the distance.

    You think you can ¡°predict my moves,¡± child? Come back in two thousand more years.

    Yet he didn¡¯t bother giving chase; he stood there, waiting.

    His so-called ¡°wretched disciple¡± might be reckless, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to flee with Yamamoto in a rage¡ªbecause next time, the punishment wouldn¡¯t just be a beating.

    Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before Kaelith trudged back, rubbing his head.

    Yamamoto lifted an eyebrow, planning to continue where they¡¯d left off.

    Honestly, Hueco Mundo no longer worried him as much.

    What he really wanted to know was Kaelith¡¯s ¡°Bankai¡± abilities.

    Even if it was a temporary borrowing, the Zanpakut¨­ wouldn¡¯t lend such power without genuine acknowledgment. Learning these abilities ahead of time would help him tailor Kaelith¡¯s training.

    But when Yamamoto looked closely, he was taken aback. Kaelith was lugging a dog¡ªno, a giant dog.

    A nearly three-meter-tall figure with a canine head and a vaguely humanoid body, wrapped in tattered cloth that seemed meant to hide its features.

    Yamamoto frowned.

    What had this blasted disciple dragged back this time?

    ¡°Teacher! Teacher! Look!¡± Kaelith strode forward, beaming, the giant dog draped over one shoulder.

    ¡°I brought you dinner!¡±

    Kaelith, at roughly college age, stood only around 175 cm. Carrying a three-meter-tall dog-man looked downright bizarre.

    He clomped up to Yamamoto and dropped the dog with a thud.

    At its chest was a dent roughly the size of Kaelith¡¯s fist. Judging by the relative proportions¡­ well, that explained how the creature ended up unconscious.

    Stroking his beard, Yamamoto studied the dog-man.

    ¡°It looks like it could be one of the Mountain Wolf Clans, but not exactly.

    I met their leader once: a near-complete beast form, all fours for limbs, real claws. They don¡¯t stand upright like this.

    Besides, they never leave the deep mountains, let alone mimic human behavior.¡±

    He paused and glanced at Kaelith.

    ¡°But if this is a wolf-man¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Kaelith had already yanked off the cloth strips around the dog¡¯s head and was gleefully ruffling the fur.

    ¡°Teacher, the texture feels amazing. Real dog quality here. Come try!¡±

    Yamamoto felt his blood pressure climb once again.

    He was about to act, but then the Wolf-man stirred, slowly opening its eyes.

    Moments earlier, that Wolf-man¡ªKomamura Sajin¡ªhad been wandering the mountains. He¡¯d sensed strong spiritual pressures here and wanted to investigate.

    He had barely approached when something like a cannonball¡ªKaelith¡ªslammed straight into his chest. Without time to dodge, he was knocked out cold.

    Recalling that impact, Komamura grimaced, massaging his chest.

    Then a voice overhead said casually:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My adopted son, Seinosuke, is good at surgery. He¡¯ll fix your chest so it looks just like new¡­¡±

    ¡°!!¡±

    Alarmed, Komamura jerked upright and scanned his surroundings.

    He raised a hand to feel for the cloth that concealed his face¡ªbut it was gone.

    He froze.

    He looked to the only other person present¡ªa tall, bearded old man.

    ¡­Incredibly strong.

    He had no chance if it came to combat. Was this man summoned by some villagers to drive him away?

    Before Komamura could think further, that voice spoke again:

    ¡°Easy now, no need to be scared. That¡¯s my teacher¡ªhe¡¯s a good man.

    Sure, he always looks grumpy, but deep down he¡¯s got a heart of¡­ well, an axe, I guess. But he¡¯s kind at heart.¡±

    Komamura: ¡°¡­?¡±

    An axe for a heart? That¡¯s even scarier than a knife¡­

    Wait¡ªwhere was this voice coming from?

    He whipped his head around and realized, to his shock, that there was a teenage boy perched on his back, cheerfully stroking his fur.

    The boy was so close that if he wanted, he could stab Komamura in the neck at any moment.

    It rattled Komamura¡¯s instincts as a beast. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Get off me!!¡± Komamura snarled.

    His lips curled, revealing fangs. He flung out massive hands, easily capable of crushing a person.

    Yamamoto stayed put, watching impassively.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith just chuckled.

    BOOM!!

    A colossal burst of Reiatsu hammered down like a falling mountain.

    In the distorted air, Komamura¡¯s eyes went wide¡ªand with a dull thump, both knees hit the ground!

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218

    ¡°What!!¡±

    Komamura was forced to his knees, palms braced on the ground, struggling to withstand the roaring Reiatsu pressing down on him. Just when he thought he would be crushed, that oppressive pressure abruptly vanished.

    Seated on Komamura¡¯s shoulders, Kaelith gave a light pat.

    ¡°Woof-chan, be good¡ªno biting.¡±

    Back in his previous world, Kaelith had seen dog-training videos.

    If the dog¡¯s temperament was fierce, you had to assert dominance with overwhelming force, teaching it who was boss so you could build rapport from then on.

    Sure enough, after that burst of spiritual pressure, Komamura became noticeably more docile. While Kaelith idly combed through his fur, he peppered him with questions about his breed and coat color.

    Yamamoto, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes, watching with interest. A moment ago, when Kaelith released his Reiatsu, Komamura had instinctively unleashed his own in resistance. For that brief instant, the quality and intensity of Komamura¡¯s spiritual power was quite remarkable.

    To Yamamoto¡¯s discerning eye, it was clear this Wolf-man had never undergone formal training; he¡¯d simply figured out how to use Reiatsu by instinct.

    Which meant he was an excellent raw material, a diamond covered in coal. A bit of polishing would make him highly useful indeed.

    Legends said the Wolf Clan lived deep in the mountains, abiding by ancestral laws to remain secluded. But if one emerged, he¡¯d be the embodiment of loyalty and courage.

    Someday, that big mutt might be a fine right-hand for Kaelith.

    While Kaelith kept needling Komamura with questions, Yamamoto cleared his throat. At once, Kaelith stiffened, sprang down from Komamura¡¯s back, and stood at attention.

    Yamamoto stepped closer and tilted his head up to look Komamura in the eye.

    ¡°Descendant of the wolf-man tribe, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    Komamura¡¯s gaze stayed wary, and he didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Doggy, Teacher¡¯s talking to you,¡± Kaelith nudged.

    In a low voice, Komamura said, ¡°Komamura¡­ Komamura Sajin.¡±

    ¡°Komamura Sajin, would you like to join the Gotei 13 as a Shinigami?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Komamura¡¯s eyes widened.

    He knew of the Gotei 13¡ªSoul Society¡¯s highest martial organization, the final aspiration for many souls. Was he really qualified to join with his appearance?

    He couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°You¡­ have the authority to decide that?¡±

    Yamamoto nodded. ¡°I do.¡±

    Kaelith chimed in with a smug grin, ¡°Teacher here is the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Genry¨±sai himself. Think about it.¡±

    C-Captain-Commander?!

    Fireworks exploded in Komamura¡¯s head.

    Yamamoto spoke calmly: ¡°Then from this day on, Komamura Sajin, you¡¯ll join the Gotei 13 under this brat, Kaelith¡¯s, Under his direct authority.

    Kaelith, you¡¯re responsible for training him and helping him learn the ropes as a Shinigami.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kaelith scratched the back of his head.

    Teaching and mentoring weren¡¯t exactly his favorite job. But he quickly realized¡ªhe could just foist the task on S¨­suke.

    If S¨­suke refused¡­ there was always Kisuke.

    If Kisuke refused¡­ well, Ikkotsu would fix that.

    Having decided, Kaelith grinned at Komamura. ¡°Great, Doggo. From now on, you¡¯ll be part of my Squad Two¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hold on.¡±

    Yamamoto interrupted abruptly.

    ¡°You think you can just wave off everything you¡¯ve done wrong?¡±

    Kaelith sighed, turning around.

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s watchful gaze, he steeled himself, pulling down the top of his uniform.

    ¡°Come on, Teacher, don¡¯t go easy on me!

    If I lose my head, it¡¯s just one more scar. In a hundred years I¡¯ll be back on my feet!¡±

    At this display, Yamamoto let out a short, scornful laugh.

    ¡°You¡¯ve long since ceased to find physical punishment an actual deterrent. As punishment for your reckless actions, I want you to do something.¡±

    A bad feeling pricked the back of Kaelith¡¯s mind.

    Sure enough, Yamamoto pulled out a document and tossed it over.

    Kaelith caught it, opened it¡ªand saw the large characters emblazoned at the top:

    ¡°Writ of Appointment.¡±

    ¡°Ever since Captain Nagaki stepped down, Squad Eleven¡¯s been in a state of chaos. Henceforth, you are appointed Acting Captain of Squad Eleven!

    Before the next Kenpachi is chosen, you must restore order to the Eleventh as quickly as possible.

    In one month, I want to see the Eleventh free of chaos and back on its feet. Fail that, and you¡¯ll be training under the waterfall for a hundred years!¡±

    Kaelith ruffled his hair, then nodded. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±

    Seeing him so readily agree, Yamamoto was taken aback and squinted. "Kid, what are you planning?¡±

    Kaelith gave a snicker. ¡°What ¡®plan¡¯? I know this is for my own good.

    Walking into Hueco Mundo without clearance, crossing paths with Senzo Tsunayashiro, even collaborating with Hollows¡ª Any one of those could be trouble if they picked on it.

    Getting off with just this? I¡¯m not complaining.¡±

    Yamamoto eyed him suspiciously, then gave a vague nod. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Hmph¡­ As long as you know.¡±

    Watching Kaelith and Komamura head off, Yamamoto felt a strange mix of emotions. That thickheaded disciple¡­ sometimes he was so dense it hurt to see.

    Yes, for the average Shinigami, sneaking into Hueco Mundo was a severe crime. But Kaelith was nobility; with a little maneuvering, it would¡¯ve been easy enough to smooth things over. It really wasn''t a big deal.

    With a sigh and a flash step, Yamamoto vanished into thin air.

    ¡­

    Returning to Squad Two, Kaelith bumped into Aizen, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. Seeing that Kaelith was safe, Aizen relaxed slightly. He was about to say something when he noticed Komamura at Kaelith¡¯s side.

    By then, Komamura had rewrapped his face, making it impossible to discern his features. Kaelith summoned a squad member to get Komamura fitted for a Shihakush¨­ and an Asauchi. While waiting, he explained his conversation with Yamamoto.

    Having heard the story, Aizen nodded.

    ¡°Acting Captain of Squad Eleven, hm? That position could be a real boon for you. It¡¯s good you took it. But if you genuinely didn¡¯t want it, you know that with your noble status, the Captain-Commander can¡¯t really force you.¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°I know.¡±

    Aizen blinked, surprised. He¡¯d assumed Kaelith had accepted only because he hadn¡¯t thought of using his noble privileges.

    Seeing the look on Aizen¡¯s face, Kaelith smiled.

    ¡°Of course I know I could¡¯ve used my status to wriggle out of it. But when I pretended not to realize and took the appointment, Teacher seemed genuinely happy. That grumpy old man rarely smiles¡ªit¡¯s nice to let him have it.¡±

    Aizen gazed at Kaelith a moment, a tinge of wistfulness flickering in his eyes.

    With a disciple like this, it¡¯s no wonder Yamamoto finds it hard to sleep at night without any worry¡­

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219

    Outside the Eleventh Division¡¯s gates.

    A few Fourth Division members approached cautiously, carrying medical kits in their hands.

    From a distance, they could see two Shinigami standing guard¡ªor rather, lounging around¡ªby the entrance.

    One of the guards sat on the ground, leaning against the gate in a slouch.

    He had one knee drawn up and the other leg stretched straight out, a sprig of grass dangling from his mouth, and his Zanpakut¨­ loosely cradled in his arms.

    His uniform looked rather filthy, but he didn¡¯t seem to care. He wore straw sandals with no tabi socks, and his muddy feet were exposed to the air.

    He lazily scratched his ear, appearing utterly bored.

    Suddenly, a timid voice broke the silence:

    ¡°E-Excuse us¡­ we¡¯re from the Fourth Division. We received a report that the Eleventh Division had some injured, so we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    Before the speaker could finish, the other guard snapped upright, frowning as he cut him off.

    ¡°You¡¯re from Fourth Division? What seat are you?¡±

    The Fourth Division Shinigami blinked. ¡°I¡¯m the Ninth Seat, here as the lead for¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ninth Seat?!¡±

    The Eleventh Division guard roared, leaping to his feet.

    He was tall, towering over the few Fourth Division members.

    ¡°Our men went to patrol Rukongai and got hurt fighting Hollows!

    Meanwhile, you lot hide back here, enjoying the peace we¡¯ve carved out with our blood.

    And now you send just a Ninth Seat to treat our people? You scum think we¡¯re not worth your respect, is that it?! Huh?!¡±

    He shouted with such unreasonable hostility that the Fourth Division Shinigami nearly burst into tears. Huddling together, trembling, they kept apologizing profusely.

    The Ninth Seat, however, merely furrowed his brow and stepped forward.

    ¡°I may only be the Ninth Seat, but I mean no disrespect to all you do.

    In fact, aside from our captain and lieutenant, I¡¯m the one most skilled at treating external injuries.

    Please, let me handle this.¡±

    At this show of calm composure, the two Eleventh Division guards exchanged a glance.

    They¡¯d already decided to pick a fight from the start¡ªrespect had nothing to do with it. Even if Fourth Division had sent a Third or Fourth Seat, they would¡¯ve caused the same trouble.

    Their aim was to express their dissatisfaction to the higher-ups.

    Many of these older members of the Eleventh Division had once served under Kuruyashiki Kenpachi¡ªa real monster, someone truly worthy of respect.

    Unfortunately, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was slain by Tsitaj¨­ Kenpachi.

    They resented it, but Tsitaj¨­ was still strong, so they grudgingly accepted him.

    Before long, Tsitaj¨­ Kenpachi disobeyed Central 46 and wound up in the Muken.

    Five-suke took over in his stead, but although he inherited the ¡°Kenpachi¡± title, he didn¡¯t really measure up to it. The members tolerated him only because he¡¯d once been under Captain Kuruyashiki.

    Then Captain Nagaki from the former Tenth Division was parachuted into the Eleventh, and that was the final straw:

    An Eleventh Division captain who wasn¡¯t Kenpachi?

    Unthinkable! A disgrace!

    Though they couldn¡¯t openly revolt, they responded by slacking and showing little cooperation. Nagaki eventually left early, partly due to old injuries, but also because of all this underlying tension.

    Now, one of the Eleventh Division guards, sporting a mohawk, abruptly lifted his Zanpakut¨­ and jabbed the sheathed blade at the Ninth Seat in front of him.

    The Ninth Seat never dreamed they¡¯d actually strike him, eyes going wide.

    *Thwack!*

    Suddenly, a foot came from the side, blocking the path between sheath and the Fourth Division Shinigami.

    The mohawk¡¯s blade sheath smacked into this person¡¯s instep, but failed to budge him an inch.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±

    The other Eleventh Division guard cried out¡ªyet even as he did, he saw the sole of a straw sandal swinging straight for his face.

    Boom!!

    Inside the Eleventh Division courtyard, a figure crashed through the front gates in a cloud of dust, rolling across the yard before slamming violently into a building.

    Several team members who¡¯d been practicing with wooden swords all stared in astonishment.

    Before they could ask what was happening, a loud shout rang out from outside:

    ¡°Someone¡¯s here to pick a fight!

    Someone¡¯s here to pick a fight!

    Eleventh Division¡ªwho¡¯s the toughest around here?!

    Never mind¡ªcome at me all at once!¡±

    Every last member of the Eleventh within earshot flew into a rage.

    Are you kidding?!

    Somebody actually dared provoke the Eleventh Division? Sure, they had no captain at the moment, but they were still the Combat Division.

    Whoever it was, they¡¯d get a lesson in blood and bruises.

    Outside the gates, the few Fourth Division Shinigami were dumbfounded. That young man had saved them, yet before they could thank him, he¡¯d suddenly started baiting the entire Eleventh.

    He must have a death wish!

    The Ninth Seat quickly tried to intervene. ¡°Sir, please, you should run! The Eleventh Division is in turmoil these days. Their captain is¡ª¡±

    He couldn¡¯t finish. A horde of muscular Eleventh Division members had already charged out through the gateway.

    ¡°Who wants a fight?!¡±

    ¡°Try my wooden sword!¡±

    ¡°You maniac, face my blade!¡±

    Under the Ninth Seat¡¯s shocked gaze, the young man let out a cold laugh, then strode forward.

    Seeing his face, several Eleventh Division Shinigami frowned in puzzlement.

    He looked¡­ somehow familiar. But they couldn¡¯t quite place him.

    Before they could think further, he was already among them, moving like a launched arrow.

    In an instant, the sound of bodies slamming echoed nonstop.  S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At the entrance to the Eleventh Division, it was as though a cauldron had boiled over. One Shinigami after another flew high into the air, then crashed to the ground. Those still pouring in only saw a swarm of their comrades in the melee, so they rushed in shouting¡ªand were likewise sent flying, landing around the gate in a heap.

    Soon, the lone newcomer blocked the Eleventh¡¯s gates, fighting for over an hour.

    Mounds of ¡°casualties¡± piled up in five separate piles, each like a small hill. Moans, groans, and cries of pain joined in chorus.

    As the number of combatants dwindled, someone finally got a good look at his face.

    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re¡ª!¡±

    A Shinigami stared in shock, pointing.

    He was silenced mid-sentence by the newcomer¡¯s driving knee strike. Down he went.

    Then the young man abruptly lifted his arm, signaling to the Ninth Seat of the Fourth Division who¡¯d been watching from a distance.

    Realizing what he meant, the Ninth Seat ran over. He noticed a towel wrapped around the man¡¯s forearm.

    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he tugged it free¡ªand gasped, quickly averting his eyes.

    Underneath that towel, a golden character glinted on the sleeve¡ªa large ¡°ÌØ¡± (read as ¡°Toku,¡± meaning ¡°Special¡±).

    ¡°I am Kaelith, your Special-Class Instructor!¡±

    ¡°Starting today, I¡¯ll be in charge of training you worthless fools.¡±

    ¡°And if you want to become Pok¨¦mon Masters, get ready to fight for your lives!!¡±

    In the middle of the crowd, Kaelith cracked a pure, guileless smile.

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220

    At the Fifth Division barracks, Hirako Shinji burst out laughing.

    ¡°Ahahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°Hohohohoho!¡±

    Aizen S¨­suke, passing by with an armful of documents, paused to eye his captain. ¡°Captain, would you like some medicine to calm down?¡±

    Shinji whipped around.

    ¡°S¨­suke! Did you hear?¡±

    ¡°That guy, Kaelith, got chucked into the Eleventh Division to be their captain!¡±

    He was still laughing so hard that he had to catch his breath.

    ¡°That guy¡¯s had captain-level strength for ages, but refused to take the position, just lazing around in his squad¡­ infuriating beyond belief!¡±

    ¡°Finally, justice is served. This is his punishment!¡±

    ¡°Hah, serves him right!¡±

    He cackled again, unable to stop.

    Aizen glanced at him, then strode into the room and dropped the stack of documents on Shinji¡¯s desk with a thud.

    ¡°Eh?¡± Shinji blinked.

    Aizen spoke in a cool tone:

    ¡°Captain, these files need your personal review. Please have them done before lunch. I¡¯ll be by then to collect them.¡±

    With that, he turned to leave.

    Shinji¡¯s grin vanished. ¡°Wait¡ªhang on, S¨­suke! Aren¡¯t these the ones you usually handle?¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Captain Hirako, but I¡¯m extremely busy. Because of your, shall we say, ¡®lack of involvement,¡¯ I already have more than enough to do as your lieutenant. If you¡¯re eager to help me for once, I won¡¯t complain.¡±

    Shinji¡¯s face twisted, and he promptly withdrew his hand from the documents.

    He¡¯d been a captain for so long, always unloading work, never taking it back.

    Watching Aizen depart, Shinji clicked his tongue. Darn it. His own lieutenant was always bending over backward for Kaelith.

    Hmph! If Aizen wanted to defend that guy, all the more reason for him to go see the fun for himself!

    Taking advantage of the moment while his subordinates weren¡¯t looking, Shinji slipped out of the Fifth Division and sped off in the direction of the Eleventh.

    He hadn¡¯t gone far when he caught sight of a familiar figure: a conical hat, a flower-print haori, and hairpins.

    It was Ky¨­raku Shunsui.

    Just like Shinji, he was heading for the Eleventh.

    ¡°Yo, Captain Ky¨­raku!¡±

    Shinji dropped down beside him, raising a hand in greeting.

    ¡°My, my, it¡¯s been a while, Captain Hirako. And you¡¯re here because¡­?¡±

    Ky¨­raku sized him up, surprised to see him here.

    Shinji grinned. ¡°Bet our destination¡¯s the same.¡±

    Ky¨­raku gave a little cough.

    ¡°That slothful junior brother of mine got assigned to the toughest Division to manage. I suspect he¡¯s struggling already. As his senior, I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing, right?

    I¡¯m on my way to see if there¡¯s anything I can help with.¡±

    Shinji gave a dry chuckle.

    If Ky¨­raku wasn¡¯t lugging around several jugs of sake, Shinji might¡¯ve taken him seriously.

    Birds of a feather¡ªthey might pretend different reasons, but clearly they both came to watch Kaelith squirm.

    Along the way, they ran into Ukitake J¨±shir¨­, who truly was concerned about Kaelith. Worried Kaelith might not navigate the Eleventh¡¯s complexities on his first day as captain, Ukitake hurried over to give genuine help.

    The three of them arrived at the Eleventh Division barracks together.

    From a distance, they heard shouts echoing inside.

    Ukitake¡¯s heart tightened.

    Meanwhile, Shinji and Ky¨­raku both perked up, breaking into sly grins.

    They moved even faster than Ukitake, using Shunpo to land atop the Eleventh¡¯s outer wall, peering inside.

    What they saw made them freeze in unison.

    The Eleventh Division compound was filled with¡­ perfect order and harmony. Shinigami on patrol moved intently along their routes, while those in training swung their wooden swords, drenched in sweat.

    The earlier ¡°battle cries¡± they¡¯d heard were simply the energetic shouts of training drills.

    Shinji¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief.

    He¡¯d heard rumors about the Eleventh¡¯s sloppy state. Even when Captain Nagaki was in charge, the Eleventh was a mess¡ªlow turnout, poor training, chaotic missions. They once sent out thirty men, and only twelve returned; the rest didn¡¯t die but got lost, trickling back over the next few days.

    By Shinji¡¯s reckoning, Kaelith¡ªno matter how strong¡ªwould need at least a month to whip them into shape.

    So what in the world was going on here? S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just then, a small squad came marching toward the main gate.

    Leading them was a tall, muscular man with a mohawk, Zanpakut¨­ tucked at his waist. As they walked, he roared:

    ¡°Listen up, you bastards! We¡¯re heading out on this mission, and Kaelith-sama¡¯s watching our backs!¡±

    ¡°Anybody who humiliates us¡ªI¡¯ll chop you to bits and feed you to the Hollows!¡±

    Far from being annoyed, the Shinigami in the team seemed thrilled.

    ¡°Are you kidding me, Nekota Sixth Seat? Who¡¯d screw up now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! This is Kaelith we¡¯re talking about¡ªhe¡¯s the one who dares brawl the Captain-Commander head-on!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill more Hollows than anyone and earn Kaelith-sama¡¯s reward!¡±

    ¡°Idiot! I¡¯ll be the top Hollow-killer! Kaelith-nii-san¡¯s reward is all mine!¡±

    A fight was about to break out among the rowdy men, but just then, Nekota barked:

    ¡°Morons! What are you doing?!

    Kaelith-aniki said attacking your own comrades makes you the lowest kind of scum! You wanna disappoint him?!¡±

    That shut everyone up instantly.

    In a flash, these hulking warriors were slapping each other on the arm, giving thumbs-up, and cheering one another on.

    Nekota nodded in approval.

    ¡°Is the team organizer here yet?¡±

    A Shinigami raised his hand. ¡°Sixth Seat Nekota! I¡¯m here!¡±

    ¡°Your job is to keep an eye out so no one gets separated. If anybody gets lost on the way, use Kid¨­ to track em down.

    We¡¯re bringing back exactly as many people as we send out, got it?!¡±

    ¡°Sir, yes sir!¡±

    With the group organized, they left the Eleventh Division barracks, jogging off toward Rukongai.

    Shinji just stood there dumbfounded.

    This¡­ this can¡¯t be right.

    He glanced over at Ky¨­raku, who wore an equally stunned expression.

    After a brief silence, Ky¨­raku flashed forward, grabbing one of the stragglers for questioning.

    Thanks to his rank as Captain of the Eighth, the man soon let down his guard.

    Making small talk for a bit, Ky¨­raku casually asked, ¡°By the way¡­ Kaelith doesn¡¯t hold the title of ¡®Kenpachi,¡¯ does he? But I was under the impression that the Eleventh only recognizes a Kenpachi¡­¡±

    At that, the Shinigami snorted with laughter.

    ¡°Kenpachi?

    As if Kaelith-aniki needs some fancy title to prove his worth! We¡¯re talking about the guy who goes shirtless against the Captain-Commander!¡±

    ¡°¡®Kenpachi¡¯s is the one that needs Kaelith-aniki¡¯s stamp of approval if you ask me!¡±

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui: ¡°¡­ ¡­ What?¡±

 Chapter 221

    Chapter 221

    Inside the Eleventh Division¡¯s training grounds¡ª

    Two figures, both stripped to the waist with their muscular torsos on display, clashed in an intense grapple.

    ¡°Haaaahhhh!¡±

    ¡°Oooohhhh!¡±

    Kaelith locked fingers with a burly man, arms fully extended as each tried to overpower the other.

    With a bellow, the muscles on Kaelith¡¯s back swelled, their contours twisting together until they seemed to form a demonic visage.

    Seeing that pattern, the surrounding onlookers shouted in awe:

    ¡°It¡¯s the Demon Back!¡±

    ¡°Such powerful muscles, forming a devil¡¯s face!¡±

    ¡°As expected of Aniki Kaelith!¡±

    ¡°Aniki!!!¡±

    Egged on by the crowd¡¯s cheers, Kaelith forced the burly man¡¯s arms overhead, lifting him off the ground¡ªthen slammed him down onto the platform with a resounding crash.

    Once sure his opponent couldn¡¯t move, Kaelith grinned and raised his right fist high. A wave of applause and roars erupted from the Eleventh Division spectators.

    Stepping off the platform, several squad members rushed forward to attend him. One passed him a towel to wipe off sweat, another offered strong liquor from Rukongai, a third fanned him with a large paper fan.

    In the midst of their boisterous adoration, Kaelith made his way to a tall chair draped in animal hide. He plopped down on it; before him sat a low table laden with various dishes.

    Kaelith grabbed a large piece of beast-leg, tore off a bite, and chewed.

    ¡°Even eating looks so cool when Kaelith-aniki does it!¡±

    ¡°I wish I could be the chair that Aniki sits on!¡±

    ¡°I want to be that chunk of meat, so he could devour me completely!¡±

    "...what?"

    Their exclamations were all admiration¡­ But as Kaelith swallowed a few mouthfuls of meat, a jolt of clarity hit him.

    No¡­

    No, this isn¡¯t right!

    Kaelith, what are you doing?!

    He glanced at the meat in his hand, the burly men sparring nearby, and felt a quiver of alarm.

    He was never supposed to let the Eleventh Division consume his life like this.

    His plan had been to do the bare minimum, appease Yamamoto, then quickly find a real Kenpachi to replace him.

    Yet somehow, he¡¯d actually become the ringleader of these people.

    Kaelith, you¡¯ve got bigger goals! You can¡¯t waste time here!

    There are so many cute girls in the Soul Society, so many adorable Hollows in Hueco Mundo¡ªeveryone¡¯s waiting!

    He couldn¡¯t squander the prime of his youth on a bunch of sweaty muscleheads!

    With a start, Kaelith sprang to his feet.

    ¡°Aniki!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Aniki?¡±

    ¡°Aniki, who do we fight next?!¡±

    Seeing him stand, the surrounding members perked up, eyes shining.

    Still gripping the hunk of meat, Kaelith rumbled,

    ¡°Third Seat! Gather a few squads¡ªwe¡¯re heading out!¡±

    ¡°Heading out?¡±

    ¡°Cough, we¡¯re, uh, going down the mountain!¡±

    He corrected himself under their confused stares.

    ¡°To Rukongai!¡±

    He¡¯d already prepared a fallback plan before taking up this post. According to his knowledge, Zaraki Kenpachi should be wandering somewhere in Rukongai by now. The surname ¡°Kenpachi¡± came from the region he was born in.

    If they scoured that area, maybe they¡¯d find him quickly.

    If they couldn¡¯t find Zaraki Kenpachi, Kaelith had a Plan B: drag Urahara Kisuke here and make him Captain of the Eleventh.

    ¡°Urahara Kenpachi¡± sounded nice enough!

    Kaelith smirked.

    Truly, he was a master strategist, always acting with foresight¡ªplan A, plan B, all set up.

    Even S¨­suke can¡¯t compete with my cunning!

    ¡­

    In the First Division barracks, Yamamoto stood by his desk, calmly writing with a brush.

    Suddenly, a figure flickered into the room.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Yamamoto asked quietly.

    Right now was a time of relative peace in the Soul Society. Barring the sudden appearance of the Wandenreich or an unexpected assault by Senzo Tsunayashiro, not much could truly surprise him.

    ¡°Captain-Commander, the Eleventh Division Captain, Kaelith, just led two hundred subordinates out of the Eleventh barracks, heading north into Rukongai!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s brush slipped, his calligraphy line going crooked.

    He stared at his aide in surprise.

    ¡°How many men?¡±

    ¡°Over two hundred, sir!¡±

    Yamamoto felt his blood pressure rise. ¡°Go inform Captain Hirako Shinji. Tell him to follow and see what¡¯s going on!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    In no time, Hirako Shinji left the Fifth Division and hurried toward the northern district of Rukongai, tears practically streaming down his face.

    Kaelith, you wretch¡ªnow that you¡¯re a Captain, you drag me into your mess too!

    Just you wait. Someday, I¡¯ll get my revenge¡­ Maybe on that S¨­suke of yours, since you two are so chummy¡­

    Imagining a series of devious schemes, Shinji felt his mood improve slightly.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, over at the Fourth Division barracks¡ª Unohana Retsu sat quietly, flipping through a medical text.

    A stealth-garbed Shinigami appeared beside her, quickly relaying information.

    After listening, she frowned.

    Kaelith¡­ took troops to North Rukongai, heading for Zaraki District?

    So he¡¯s found out something?

    She hesitated for a moment, then rose, disappearing from the room in a blur.

    ¡­

    Indeed, as Unohana¡¯s intel indicated, Kaelith had marched his forces straight for Zaraki¡¯s region upon leaving Seireitei.

    He kept moving without pause until he reached District 60, where civilization thinned. Finally, he halted, letting the men eat and rest.

    Once they reached the 80th District, he planned to deploy them in groups to search for local ¡°powerhouses.¡±

    Zaraki Ward was huge, but with two hundred men diligently asking around, they¡¯d find something within a few days at most. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sitting for a break and a drink, Kaelith sought out the local shopkeeper, pumping him for clues about any notable tough guys in the area.

    The shopkeeper, faced with a Shinigami, dared not hide anything. After a moment¡¯s thought, he wore a troubled expression.

    ¡°Well¡­ if it¡¯s a strong man you¡¯re after, I do know of someone. They¡¯re huge, unbelievably strong¡ªnever been beaten, far as I¡¯ve heard!

    He¡¯s even defeated a few Shinigami who passed through here hunting Hollows. Sounds like exactly who you mean!¡±

    Kaelith raised a brow in surprise.

    He¡¯d figured finding Zaraki Kenpachi was going to be a big project¡ªbut he¡¯d already gotten a possible lead in the 60th District?

    A brute from Rukongai capable of beating Shinigami, with monstrous strength? That matched Zaraki Kenpachi perfectly.

    ¡°Where is this man now?¡± Kaelith asked, excitement creeping into his voice.

    But the shopkeeper could only give a wry smile and shake his head.

    Just as he was about to speak, a commotion rose in the distance.

    ¡°What are Shinigami doing here?¡±

    ¡°Move it, you¡¯re blocking my way to get food!¡±

    Hearing those shouts, the shopkeeper¡¯s face went pale.

    ¡°He¡¯s here¡­ He¡¯s here!¡±

    ¡°That fiend just showed up!¡±

 Chapter 222

    Chapter 222

    "The Plague God!"

    ¡°Huh¡­ ¡®Plague God¡¯?¡±

    Hearing the shopkeeper¡¯s words, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    He knew Zaraki Kenpachi could be a bit rough around the edges, but he wasn¡¯t someone you¡¯d call a ¡°plague god.¡±

    Still, he glanced in the direction of the commotion.

    Not far off, he spotted a massive figure¡ªaround two meters tall, maybe closer to two-thirty.

    Not as tall as Komamura, yet just as imposing¡ªbroad and thickset.

    By Kaelith¡¯s estimate, the man had to weigh at least five or six hundred pounds, with a bearded face full of coarse features.

    He was like a living mountain of flesh, clad in ragged clothing that revealed a hairy chest, filthy patches all over his body. Even from dozens of meters away, it seemed you could catch a whiff of his strange odor.

    ¡°Why¡¯re you Shinigami here anyway?!

    Move it, get out of my way so I can eat!¡±

    As the hulking figure stomped forward, the Eleventh Division members bristled.

    Several men rose, scowling, and approached him.

    ¡°Hey! What¡¯d you just say?¡±

    ¡°You dare talk like that to the Eleventh? Tired of living?!¡±

    ¡°Stop right there!¡±

    Facing these armed Shinigami, the giant snorted with disdain.

    He swung a massive paw, thick with Reiatsu, unleashing a fierce gust of wind.

    Those Eleventh Division men had no chance to react¡ªthey were sent flying backward, tumbling into the comrades behind them.

    Chaos broke out at once.

    A few seated officers exchanged glances, then strode over.

    Far away, Hirako Shinji perched atop a large tree, quietly observing.

    Even from this distance, he could sense the muscular giant¡¯s strong Reiatsu.

    It might even be on par with a typical captain¡¯s level.

    So there¡¯s such a monster lurking in Rukongai?

    Meanwhile, hidden down a narrow side street, Unohana Retsu watched silently, her spiritual pressure completely suppressed.

    Once she confirmed the person she was looking for wasn¡¯t here, she relaxed slightly.

    Within moments, the giant had knocked down yet more Shinigami¡ªincluding the Eleventh¡¯s Fourth and Fifth Seats.

    He didn¡¯t use any fancy technique, just brute force, and it was enough to leave these daily-trained seated officers utterly helpless.

    They stared in despair as their bodies got overpowered with ease.

    Kaelith, however, was intrigued. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This wasn¡¯t Zaraki Kenpachi, but the guy could still work as a stand-in.

    A direct, no-frills, head-on fighting style¡ªa perfect match for the Eleventh¡¯s rowdy bruisers.

    Compared to them, Kaelith himself¡ªwho preferred more refined tactics¡ªreally didn¡¯t suit the Eleventh at all.

    He gave a grin, about to speak, but paused, brow creasing.

    The giant, evidently unsatisfied after flattening those officers, lifted one colossal foot to stomp down on an injured man.

    Seeing this, many Shinigami cried out, preparing to intervene.

    But before that massive foot could descend, the giant¡¯s body suddenly jerked, as though struck by an invisible hammer, and was sent hurtling away.

    Boom!

    Under their stunned gazes, the giant crashed into a section of wall.

    The Shinigami he¡¯d just pummeled scrambled upright at once.

    ¡°Forgive us, Kaelith-aniki!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re ashamed to have let you down!¡±

    Kaelith shook his head.

    He was just a model law-abiding Shinigami, not some underworld boss¡ªwhat was there to be embarrassed about?

    Through clouds of dust, the giant slowly emerged again.

    Despite that spiritual blast from Kaelith, he showed no sign of serious injury.

    Soon, his gaze locked onto Kaelith¡ªthe clear culprit.

    ¡°Huh¡­ so you¡¯re the strongest one here?¡±

    Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kaelith, Acting Captain of the Eleventh.¡±

    At that, the giant paused, then gave a wide grin.

    ¡°The Eleventh Division, huh? I¡¯ve heard of it. They say if you kill the Eleventh¡¯s captain, you get to be captain yourself. That true?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Kaelith agreed. ¡°But not if you fight the way you just did.¡±

    ¡°What d¡¯you mean by ¡®the way I just did¡¯?¡± The giant frowned.

    Kaelith nudged his chin toward the ground. ¡°Using your foot to stomp on a fallen opponent, nearly taking their life¡ªthat won¡¯t do.¡±

    Judging by his dead-serious expression, the giant couldn¡¯t help laughing.

    ¡°You brat¡­ you¡¯re not some noble, are you? In a battle between warriors, who¡¯s got time for that nonsense?¡±

    He waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Enough talk¡ªcan I fight you now?¡±

    Evidently, the big man couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Kaelith inclined his head.

    ¡°You can.¡±

    The moment Kaelith finished speaking, the giant slammed a heavy foot into the ground.

    The earth burst underfoot like a mortar strike. Using that explosive force, his five- or six-hundred-pound frame propelled itself forward with startling speed!

    ¡°Aniki!!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith-aniki!!¡±

    Many Eleventh Division members shouted in alarm.

    But in the next second, their shock only deepened.

    The giant¡¯s enormous fist froze in midair¡ªstopped by a single finger from Kaelith.

    The man¡¯s knuckles, the size of Kaelith¡¯s palm, had been completely neutralized by a single fingertip.

    An expression of disbelief spread across the giant¡¯s face.

    ¡°You¡¯re straining with raw strength¡ªit¡¯s not gonna help,¡± Kaelith said with a playful grin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Use both hands, try bending my finger. You won¡¯t manage.¡±

    ¡°Rubbish!¡± the giant growled.

    He clutched Kaelith¡¯s finger in one big paw, exerting force to snap it.

    But the moment he tried, he realized something was off.

    Just as Kaelith had said, he couldn¡¯t budge that lone finger at all.

    That scrawny digit might as well have been steel. Harder, in fact.

    Desperate, he tried again, but suddenly, a terrifying surge of spiritual pressure blasted from Kaelith¡¯s fingertip.

    Despite its small size, it burned like searing iron. The giant yelped, hurriedly letting go and stumbling back a couple of steps.

    Now his gaze toward Kaelith had changed completely.

    ¡°Damn you, you lousy Shinigami¡­ I¡¯ll tear you apart!¡±

    As he spoke, he reached beneath his ragged clothes.

    A few seconds later, he pulled out a sword¡ªabout a meter long, an Asauchi, by the look of it.

    In his massive grip, though, it looked like a child¡¯s toy.

    Even more off-putting were the filthy smears covering the scabbard. Kaelith wrinkled his nose.

    Sure, he was desperate for a replacement, but handing his seat over to this guy¡­ something about that didn¡¯t sit right.

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223

    ¡°Brat, let me show you¡ª¡±

    ¡°What real power looks like!¡±

    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the hulking figure let out a wild grin and drew the sword in his hand.

    ¡°Crush and kill¡ªKiganj¨­!¡±

    The instant he roared those release words, an explosive storm of Reiatsu burst from his body.

    That fierce surge of spiritual energy forced many Eleventh Division members to retreat several steps.

    Amid the swirling gale, the Zanpakut¨­ in the giant¡¯s grip emitted a bright glow, swiftly growing thicker and larger. In just moments, the one-meter blade morphed into a two-meter-plus spiked club.

    It looked somewhat similar to Love Aikawa¡¯s Shikai¡ªyet Love¡¯s version had a longer handle and a certain spring to it.

    This ¡°Kiganj¨­,¡± however, radiated a rigid, unyielding heft. A large metal ring dangled near the hilt, wrapped in red cloth.

    With a few swishes, the man tested his club. The weapon¡¯s terrifying weight whipped up a powerful gust around him.

    Amateurs just saw spectacle, but those who understood combat recognized the deeper truth.

    Observing the club¡¯s momentum, Kaelith let out a slight exclamation of interest.

    From that gust alone, it was clear the weapon was a solid chunk of iron.

    By the look of it, it must weigh at least several hundred pounds.

    And yet the giant was wielding it as if weightless¡ªunreal, even for someone naturally gifted with brute strength.

    So this must be the true ability of his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    Kaelith tilted his neck side to side, stepping toward the giant.

    As he walked, he pulled open the top of his Shihakush¨­, baring his torso.

    ¡°All right¡ªshow me if you¡¯ve got what it takes to bear the Eleventh Division on your shoulders.¡±

    Seeing that Kaelith hadn¡¯t even unsheathed his own blade, clearly intending to fight with nothing but his bare hands, the giant¡¯s grin widened.

    ¡°Kid, before you die, remember my name¡ªKiganj¨­! The man who¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    He took several heavy strides forward, spiked club held high.

    When barely a few meters remained between them, he roared, swinging the weapon down with a sharp whistle¡ª

    Boom!!

    A massive explosion hammered the spot where Kaelith stood.

    ¡°Got him!¡±

    Kiganj¨­¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Perched on a tree branch off to the side, Hirako Shinji snorted.

    Hiding in the side alley, Unohana Retsu wore a neutral expression.

    The Eleventh Division members watched with bated breath as the dust billowed.

    Gradually, Kaelith¡¯s silhouette emerged through the swirling debris.

    He had raised one arm, palm flat, stopping the descending spiked club cold.

    Though the ground beneath his feet had fractured layer by layer, not a speck of harm clung to him¡ªhe wasn¡¯t even dusty. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Kiganj¨­¡¯s eyes showed genuine surprise for the first time.

    His Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability was to negate weight¡ªfor himself.

    That meant this six-hundred-pound iron club felt like barely ten pounds in his grip, making it easy to swing at crazy speeds. Meanwhile, to the outside world, it was still every bit as heavy.

    Using this power, he¡¯d effortlessly beaten even an Adjuchas-level Hollow.

    He¡¯d assumed this ¡°scrawny¡± little Shinigami would be smashed with a single blow. Yet here the guy stood, unscathed.

    In that brief moment of shock, Kiganj¨­ bellowed and yanked the spiked club back.

    Then he raised it again and began pounding down like a blacksmith driving nails.

    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

    The huge iron bludgeon struck at a frenzied rate¡ªfaster than anyone could have believed, raining upon Kaelith in a torrent. If it weren¡¯t a Zanpakut¨­, the sheer weight would have shattered it from its own force long ago.

    After delivering more than a hundred vicious blows, Kiganj¨­ smirked, lips curling into a grin.

    No way you survived this time.

    With a final sweep of the club, he blew aside the lingering dust.

    When the air cleared, his eyes went wide.

    Kaelith remained in place, utterly unchanged.

    Even the ground beneath his feet was intact now. He stood enshrouded by a viscous layer of Reiatsu¡ªan almost liquid membrane, tinged with an undercurrent of spiritual power.

    Those hundred-plus strikes had all been diffused and absorbed by that swirling barrier, the energy fueling its rising ¡°temperature.¡±

    Kaelith sighed, looking the towering brute up and down with plain disappointment in his eyes.

    ¡°Not fun at all.¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    ¡°You could be a captain who¡¯s weaker¡ªif you at least found joy in battle.

    But your weapon carries none of that delight.

    That club of yours¡ªit¡¯s like an executioner¡¯s blade, existing only to claim lives. No conviction, no passion, no artistry¡­¡±

    ¡°How do you think someone like that could become Kenpachi?¡±

    Under Kiganj¨­¡¯s stunned gaze, Kaelith raised a hand.

    At once, the membrane of Reiatsu around him began to boil.

    In that moment, Kiganj¨­ felt a potent sense of danger. This small-framed Shinigami¡ªwhom he never once saw as a threat¡ªnow radiated an unmistakable aura of lethal power.

    Alarmed, he prepared to fling himself forward in a desperate counterattack, but Kaelith abruptly paused.

    He scratched his head.

    ¡°Mm¡­ somehow killing you outright doesn¡¯t feel right. I don¡¯t like you, but slaying you without proper cause would make me¡­ well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯m not trying to play the villain here.¡±

    Kaelith glanced around, quickly spotting the trembling shopkeeper standing off at a distance, having long since abandoned his stall.

    ¡°Hey! Boss! You called this guy ¡®Plague God¡¯ earlier¡ªwhat does that mean?¡±

    The shopkeeper froze at being addressed, then stammered, ¡°H-he¡¯s always snatching up food in these districts¡­ never paying a coin. We, uh¡­ we small vendors all call him that¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, so he¡¯s a thief who won¡¯t pay for his meals? That¡¯s a good enough reason.¡±

    Kaelith clapped his hands together, then turned, staring pointedly in one direction.

    ¡°Friend in the tree¡ªwhat do you think?¡±

    Hirako Shinji, perched on a tall branch, twitched his lips.

    Though he wasn¡¯t precisely hiding, it still took skill to sense his presence so quickly. This brat¡ªno wonder the Captain-Commander kept muttering about wanting him caught for labor. He really was a piece of work.

    In a flash of Shunpo, Shinji dropped down beside Kaelith.

    ¡°This lump of an idiot? If you drag him back, you¡¯ll only feel sick just looking at him¡ªbetter off finishing him here.¡±

    Kaelith nodded.

    Then he raised his voice toward a dark alley not too far away:

    ¡°And to the sister hiding in that alley¡ªma¡¯am, what¡¯s your opinion?¡±

 Chapter 224

    Chapter 224

    ¡°Ah?¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s shout, Hirako Shinji wore a puzzled expression.

    Wait, besides me, someone else is hiding there?

    He followed Kaelith¡¯s line of sight and flared his reiatsu perception.

    Yet he sensed nothing at all.

    He was about to conclude that Kaelith had made a mistake¡ªthat no one else was there¡ªwhen a figure slowly emerged from the alley.

    A white haori¡­

    Long braids bound at her chest¡­

    Seeing who it was, Hirako¡¯s eyes went wide.

    Captain of the Fourth Division¡ªUnohana Retsu!

    So this venerable senior is here?

    No, that¡¯s not the question¡­

    The real issue was that she¡¯d been this close, and he hadn¡¯t noticed her at all.

    He had heard the rumors that she might not be so gentle in truth¡ªthat there was something fearsome about her¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this extreme.

    Then another thought struck him:

    If Unohana¡¯s ability to hide her reiatsu was so high that he couldn¡¯t sense her at all, how on earth had Kaelith realized she was there?

    Hirako¡¯s gaze toward Kaelith turned¡­ complicated.

    Not long ago, during a casual afternoon chat, Aizen had mentioned that Kaelith was a ¡°true genius.¡±

    Hirako, who had seen countless ¡°geniuses¡± in the million-plus year history of the Soul Society, paid that little mind.

    He himself had been called one, back when he was younger.

    But now¡­ Hirako Shinji suddenly felt Kaelith might be even more impressive than he¡¯d thought.

    While he mulled it over, Unohana Retsu drew closer, her calm face carrying a faint smile.

    ¡°Yu-kun, surely you weren¡¯t about to address me in some¡­ discourteous way just now?¡±

    Kaelith blinked, feigning confusion.

    ¡°What do you mean, Hana-nee? I¡¯m not sure I follow.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s casual use of ¡°Hana-nee,¡± Unohana¡¯s mouth curved slightly, as if satisfied.

    In truth, while she appeared composed on the outside, she was quietly astonished. She understood better than anyone how deeply she had masked her presence.

    Even Yamamoto¡¯s two beloved pupils likely couldn¡¯t detect her at such close range.

    Yet Kaelith had casually discovered her¡ªwithout even looking in her direction¡ªand had known it was her.

    Just how strong was his perception?

    ¡°Hana-nee, about this Kiganj¨­ fellow¡ªwhat do you think?

    How about letting him inherit the Kenpachi title?¡±

    Her attention refocused at Kaelith¡¯s question.

    She looked at the huge, dim-witted Kiganj¨­ just a short distance away, and suddenly her eyes widened.

    In that instant, the very colors of the world seemed to drain. A dark, oppressive aura spread out, wrapping Kiganj¨­ in layers of suffocating dread¡ªlike a giant invisible hand plunging him into frigid depths.

    He let out a strangled cry, legs collapsing beneath him in sheer terror.

    Staring at Unohana, his lips moved wordlessly in shock. Bile, tinged yellowish-green, spewed from his mouth.

    ¡°Aaah¡ªaaahh!!¡±

    Ignoring the pain, Kiganj¨­ tossed aside his spiked club. On all fours, he scuttled backward, scrambling to flee.

    Kaelith watched, feeling his horizons broaden.

    Unohana had used nothing but pure killing intent to break a brute like Kiganj¨­.

    He could imagine that in the days to come, Kiganj¨­ would be too shaken to fight anyone again. Even standing on the sidelines near such a thing felt like wading through a sea of corpses, ghostly faces clawing to drag you under.

    So this was one of the oldest captains in the Gotei 13, a warrior who had once fought alongside the old man Yamamoto himself.

    Watching the terrified Kiganj¨­ vanish into the distance, Kaelith felt a curious clarity.

    Humans¡ªby nature¡ªare prone to compromise.

    Like when shopping: you might set out determined to buy a particular product, but on the way, see a mediocre substitute that ¡°kind of works,¡± and impulsively settle for it. Later, you regret it¡ªtoo late.

    Kiganj¨­ was that substitute: something you¡¯d buy, only to kick yourself afterward.

    Kaelith¡¯s real target, however, was clear. He needed to find the man he truly wanted.

    Zaraki Kenpachi.

    ¡­

    Unohana withdrew her gaze from Kiganj¨­ and turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Yu-kun¡­ how much do you know?¡±

    She showed not the slightest concern for Kiganj¨­ fleeing in panic. She focused directly on Kaelith with her question.

    Yet Kaelith was genuinely confused.

    ¡°¡­Know about what?¡±

    Unohana watched his eyes for a moment. Then she gently nodded.

    ¡°Forgive me. I must have overthought.¡±

    From Kaelith¡¯s clear gaze, she sensed no subterfuge at all. Though this boy could be rather unpredictable at times, he was truly Yamamoto¡¯s disciple¡ªa man who wouldn¡¯t spin secret plots.

    As for that ¡°boy in the Zaraki District¡± from centuries ago¡­ Kaelith must¡¯ve just caught a rumor that piqued his interest. Thinking it over, maybe that was for the best.

    If Kaelith managed to find that certain boy from hundreds of years ago, well¡­ it would fulfill one of her lingering wishes.

    The memory of that day rose in her mind, a sense of nostalgia.

    Back then¡ªshe, the first Kenpachi, had met a child in North Rukongai¡¯s District 80: ¡°Zaraki.¡±

    That child had used a wild, brutal sword style to defeat her, leaving a scar across her chest.

    Her heart beat faintly faster at the thought of meeting that boy again.

    But then, her gaze drifted to Kaelith nearby.

    Now that she really thought about it¡­

    He, too, was a bestial fighter, relying on raw instinct. How would he fare against that boy from Zaraki? S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In that instant, Unohana felt a flicker of surprise.

    Where once she¡¯d regarded that boy as a unique, peerless existence, Kaelith¡¯s star seemed to be rising alongside him.

    Kaelith¡­

    Yamamoto¡¯s disciple had an ever-growing air of mystery.

    Feeling a swirl of conflicting emotions, Unohana bid Kaelith farewell and hastened away.

    She left so quickly because she feared if she lingered, she might challenge him to a duel.

    Should she unleash the sword intent she¡¯d protected for centuries¡ªmeant for that other person¡ªon Kaelith, she¡¯d betray her own resolve.

    That¡­ just wouldn¡¯t do.

    But¡­ could she really say that for sure?

    Leaping through the skies, the swordswoman felt her heart waver for the first time in centuries.

 Chapter 225

    Chapter 225

    ¡°Spread out and search! Move it!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just check the villages¡ªlook in the barren hills too!¡±

    ¡°Go ask around for any wandering ronin who can fight!¡±

    In an open expanse of wasteland, the seated officers of the Eleventh Division were shouting orders.

    Their squad members acknowledged them and scattered in every direction, searching for the person Kaelith wanted.

    Kaelith¡¯s intel was minimal¡ªjust three points in total:

    Born in the Zaraki District, skilled at brawling, and likely traveling with a little girl.

    Vague conditions, lacking even a name, but no one found that odd.

    Rukongai was split into four directions¡ªnorth, south, east, west¡ªeach divided into 80 numbered districts.

    Any district beyond 60 was mostly wasteland, nothing but barren hills where not even a bird would roost.

    The Zaraki District was North Rukongai¡¯s 80th ward, a VIP among wastelands, the apex of barren territory.

    Being born there, it would be more surprising if you did have a proper name.

    Once most subordinates had fanned out, Kaelith turned to the person standing nearby.

    ¡°And why are you still here?¡±

    Hirako Shinji kept both hands tucked in his sleeves, mouth quirking in a smirk.

    ¡°I¡¯m free right now, so I figured I¡¯d stay and watch. You¡¯re trying to find someone to take over the Eleventh, right? I¡¯m a bit curious what kind of person would catch your eye.¡±

    Kaelith let out a soft snort.

    ¡°Then keep your eyes open.¡±

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­ and planted it in the ground. At once, a swath of shadow stretched upward, taking the shape of a large parasol. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Beneath it, the darkness formed into a lounge chair.

    With a quick ¡°heave,¡± Kaelith flopped into the seat, stretching his limbs in lazy comfort.

    Hirako Shinji stared as though he¡¯d seen a ghost.

    This kid¡­ could he possibly indulge himself any more?

    He sidled closer, putting on an ingratiating grin: ¡°C¡¯mon now, Yu, how about making one for me too?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯ll be one million.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Hirako glowered.

    Even a sketchy tourist trap wouldn¡¯t charge that much, right?

    He gritted his teeth. ¡°Brat, you better think carefully. S¨­suke Aizen is my lieutenant¡ªoffend me, and I¡¯ll be sure he causes you trouble back home!¡±

    Kaelith blinked in surprise. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re not afraid of dying?¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Shinji paused, puzzled by the remark. He was about to follow up when he suddenly sensed something, frowning as he glanced back the way they¡¯d come.

    A distinct Reiatsu was flaring in that direction: sharp, almost aggressively so.

    Even from afar, it felt like needles against the skin.

    ¡°That¡¯s the 79th district¡­ something happening?¡±

    Kaelith also rose from his lounge chair.

    He held up a hand, tasting the air¡¯s spiritual energy. He didn¡¯t recognize this Reiatsu, yet it felt oddly familiar¡ªbrimming with a certain eagerness, the bold spirit of a warrior.

    ¡°Hey! Who goes there? Stop¡ªno further!¡±

    A handful of Eleventh Division members had drawn their blades, blocking the path. A tall, lanky man was steadily striding forward under their watch.

    He had long, disheveled hair and a slender face marked by a prominent scar. In his grip was a sword whose blade was so worn it looked like a jagged saw.

    Anyone, no matter how careless with their weapon, would feel like an expert by comparison.

    On his shoulder perched a small pink-haired girl. Behind him walked two young men, appearing around 18 or so in human terms:

    One bald-headed with a rebellious look, another with mid-length hair wearing a flamboyant purple yukata.

    Confronted by these hostile Shinigami, the long-haired man raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Huh¡­ so it¡¯s you guys, huh.

    Hey¡ªwho¡¯s Kaelith?!¡±

    He pointed that saw-like sword at one of the Shinigami.

    ¡°What?¡±

    The questioned Shinigami stared blankly, baffled at the out-of-nowhere demand.

    Without waiting for an answer, the man shook his head.

    ¡°No, too weak¡ªyou¡¯re not him.¡±

    ¡°Hey¡ªyou Kaelith?¡±

    He rotated the sword, pointing at another Shinigami.

    The first one bristled in anger. ¡°What the hell¡¯s your problem?!¡±

    He stepped in, weapons raised, prepared to strike.

    But before the blade could fall, the bald youth following the swordsman lunged forward, launching a fierce kick straight into the Shinigami¡¯s gut.

    ¡°Urgh!!¡±

    The Shinigami let out a choked cry, bracing for a painful landing¡ª

    only for a hand to reach out and grab him midair.

    Blinking in disbelief, he saw that Kaelith had caught him by the back of his uniform and gently set him aside.

    ¡°Kaelith-aniki!!¡±

    Relieved at the rescue, the Shinigami¡¯s eyes gleamed with gratitude.

    But Kaelith didn¡¯t even look his way.

    He was focused on the quartet ahead of him: A long-haired man, a little pink-haired girl, a bald youth, and¡ªwell, a flamboyant one.

    They perfectly embodied the future Eleventh Division vibe.

    Zaraki Kenpachi¡¯s crew, right in front of him!

    The long-haired man took a measure of Kaelith, interest lighting his face.

    ¡°Oh¡­ you¡¯re not like those others.

    You¡¯re strong¡ªa real fighter.¡±

    ¡°That Kiganj¨­ guy was beaten by you, am I right?¡±

    Kaelith was a bit intrigued. ¡°You¡¯re well-informed.¡±

    The yukata-wearing man¡ªAyasegawa Yumichika¡ªgave a charming laugh.

    ¡°That Kiganj¨­ brute had been running wild around the 60th District, and everyone was sick of him.

    A bunch of folks pooled their money to hire our big boss here to take him out¡ªbut we arrived only to hear someone else had already defeated him.¡±

    ¡°Relax, the boss isn¡¯t here to pick a fight. He just wants to see what kind of person could beat Kiganj¨­.¡±

    But even as Yumichika spoke, the long-haired man shook his head.

    Grinning, he tightened his grip on that serrated sword.

    ¡°No¡ªchanged my mind.

    So you¡¯re Kaelith, huh? Let¡¯s have a scrap! If it¡¯s you, maybe I¡¯ll finally enjoy myself!¡±

    Seeing Zaraki Kenpachi raring to go, Kaelith felt his own excitement rising.

    ¡°What a coincidence. I came out here precisely to find you. If I win, you¡¯re coming with me to Seireitei to join the Gotei 13!¡±

    ¡°Beat me first, then we¡¯ll talk!¡±

    Zaraki Kenpachi bared his teeth in a savage grin and swung his sword.

    Kaelith spread his hand; the Zanpakut¨­ stuck in the ground nearby flipped into the air, spinning before landing perfectly in his grasp.

    With a single upward slash, he met Zaraki¡¯s blow head-on.

    Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

    In an instant, their blades clashed more than ten times.

    Those watching¡ªthe entire group¡ªstood amazed.

    Hirako Shinji had never expected to see someone in Rukongai unleashing such oppressive sword strikes.

    Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika had never imagined anyone could stand toe-to-toe with their ¡°big boss¡± like this!

 Chapter 226

    Chapter 226

    ¡°Hey, hey¡­ you¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡±

    Muttering under his breath, Hirako Shinji grabbed a few nearby Shinigami and withdrew further away.

    Between Kaelith and that wandering swordsman, their battle unleashed a raging storm of spiritual pressure, turning the surrounding air into a field of slicing blades.

    Any closer, and even a Shinigami would be in real danger.

    On the other side, Ikkaku Madarame was doing much the same.

    He grabbed hold of the pink-haired girl by the collar and retreated.

    ¡°Someone who can fight that man evenly?¡± Ikkaku couldn¡¯t help voicing his disbelief.

    The little girl dangling from his grip just shook her head.

    ¡°No, baldy, that big brother isn¡¯t fighting him evenly.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Ikkaku glanced at her, confused.

    From where he stood, Kaelith seemed to be holding his own blow for blow.

    How was that not ¡°evenly matched¡±?

    Smiling, the pink-haired girl explained, ¡°That big brother is way stronger than Lil Sword is right now.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s just playing with him.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Ikkaku¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He¡¯d fought that man countless times and had always been beaten down. If anyone qualified as invincible, it was him.

    And now someone was treating him like a toy?

    Taking the hint from Yachiru¡¯s words and looking back at the fight, Ikkaku gradually realized she had a point.

    Although the swordsman¡ªZaraki¡ªwas slashing away in a relentless offensive, brimming with raw power, Kaelith¡¯s expression remained relaxed.

    It was as if Kaelith anticipated every swing, always blocking right on time.

    At first, Zaraki was all fired up, but he soon started to frown.

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    Zaraki grinned wildly, pouring more strength into his blade.

    His spiritual pressure flared, layer upon layer.

    Sensing the shift, Ikkaku¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    Zaraki was getting serious now¡ªsurely Kaelith couldn¡¯t stay so casual anymore!

    Yet, to his astonishment, Kaelith simply raised his own reiatsu to match.

    Its power smoothly adjusted to Zaraki¡¯s level, as if it were effortless for him. It was like Kaelith could tap into that level at any time, with minimal strain.

    Ikkaku found it hard to believe.

    Meanwhile, more Eleventh Division members¡ªthose who hadn¡¯t gone too far¡ªcame rushing back.

    Seeing the fierce battle unfolding, they were all taken aback.

    ¡°Whoa! He¡¯s forcing Kaelith-aniki to use some actual effort¡­ that guy¡¯s no joke!¡±

    ¡°Where did this monster come from?¡±

    ¡°No wonder Aniki came out here specifically¡ªif this guy joins the Eleventh, we¡¯ll be unstoppable!¡±

    ¡°See? That¡¯s our big brother for you. He¡¯s only been captain a short while but is already strengthening our squad!¡±

    ¡°Our aniki sees the bigger picture!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna train hard and become his right-hand man!¡±

    ¡°Together with Aniki, we¡¯ll topple the First Division¡ª¡¯cause the Eleventh¡¯s the strongest!¡±

    ¡°Eleventh Division!! Aaaargh!!¡±

    Yumichika blinked, baffled by the raucous cheers from these Shinigami.

    ¡°¡­These people are all right in the head, I hope?¡±

    In the midst of it all, Kaelith and Zaraki Kenpachi were locked in a furious exchange of blows.

    Kaelith was somewhat surprised¡ªZaraki wasn¡¯t as strong as he¡¯d imagined.

    Even without that eye-patch limiting his power, Zaraki¡¯s abilities were just¡­ average.

    Roughly between a Lieutenant and Captain. Not quite Captain level. It might be some years before the canon storyline began, but still¡ªhe was further behind than Kaelith had expected.

    Curious, Kaelith decided to increase his own power once more.

    He raised his reiatsu, quickened his attacks, sharpened his strength¡ªan all-round boost.

    At that moment, Zaraki clearly failed to keep up.

    Shing!

    Kaelith¡¯s blade flashed, carving a long gash across Zaraki¡¯s body.

    Blood burst in a vivid bloom.

    Zaraki looked down at the wound, momentarily taken aback.

    Then a crazed grin spread over his face.

    ¡°Perfect!¡±

    ¡°So you really are strong¡­ this is great!¡±

    He roared in delight, lifting his sword again.

    Even as blood spilled from that open slash, he shrugged it off, slashing faster instead of slowing down.

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    Just as he¡¯d thought:

    Though Zaraki wasn¡¯t the typical protagonist in appearance, his battle instincts were absolutely protagonist-level¡ªsustaining injuries only fueled his drive.

    He could sense Zaraki¡¯s excitement and love for combat in every swing of that battered blade.

    Truly, this was a man born for the Eleventh Division.

    Feeling Zaraki¡¯s fervor, Kaelith¡¯s own excitement rose.

    Their blades collided at ever-increasing speed, the resulting spiritual pressure bursting like flying razors, splitting the nearby rocks and outcroppings.

    The more Kaelith powered up, the wilder Zaraki became.

    He was trembling from an intensity that soared with each moment, relishing this chance to push himself further and further.

    Then, all of a sudden, Zaraki noticed something off.

    Wait¡­

    I¡¯m trembling not just from excitement.

    His muscles were nearing their limit.

    He couldn¡¯t keep pace with Kaelith¡¯s onslaught anymore.

    Realizing this, Zaraki felt a jolt of shock¡­ followed instantly by a surge of delight. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So, this is what it¡¯s like to find an opponent beyond my power? That¡¯s even more thrilling!!

    He bellowed laughter, mouth splitting in a vicious grin. It was as if he was throwing every last bit of himself into the furnace of madness, craving the strength to overwhelm Kaelith.

    Seeing his skin redden, steam beginning to rise from his body, Kaelith arched an eyebrow.

    Suddenly, he flung away his Zanpakut¨­.

    With Shunpo too swift for the eye, he slipped around Zaraki¡¯s next slash and appeared right in front of him.

    A fist wrapped in raging spiritual pressure traced a silver arc¡ª

    smashing into Zaraki¡¯s face with a thunderous impact.

    A colossal jolt shot through Zaraki¡¯s skull, making his eyes roll back.

    Then he collapsed to his knees, toppling forward, rump in the air, sprawled out on the ground.

 Chapter 227

    Chapter 227

    ¡°H¨­yo-ghen!!¡±

    Kaelith fired off a punch with casual ease, his speed and Reiatsu vastly outstripping Zaraki¡¯s. Despite Zaraki¡¯s extraordinary toughness, a direct blow to the brain stem left him with no choice but to pass out.

    Watching Zaraki sprawled on the ground, Kaelith lifted his fist like a gunslinger, blowing an imaginary wisp of smoke off his knuckles. In truth, he¡¯d been curious about seeing Zaraki go fully berserk¡ªbut mindful of the man¡¯s physical state, Kaelith chose to end the fight. For a brief instant, Zaraki had tapped into frightening potential.

    As a ¡°semi-protagonist,¡± Zaraki Kenpachi had more than enough potential to explode with power multiple times in life. But doing that too often at once could be crippling¡ªlike a man with the stamina for seven rounds in one night, who¡¯s forced to go all-out in a single burst. Even if he doesn¡¯t die, he¡¯d be wiped out.

    For several seconds, the Eleventh Division members gaped in stunned silence. Then they erupted in cheers:

    ¡°Big Bro won!!¡±

    ¡°Not a doubt¡ªthat¡¯s our Aniki!¡±

    ¡°Aniki, we adore you!!¡±

    As the cheering continued, Ikkaku and Yumichika rushed over to Zaraki, confirming he was alive. They exhaled in relief¡ªthen stared at Kaelith as though he were a monster.

    All their years following Zaraki, whether solo or double-teaming, had never yielded anything but painful losses. Yet Kaelith beat him without even breaking a sweat. From that final punch, they realized Yachiru had been right: Kaelith¡¯s strength far surpassed their ¡°big boss,¡± and all that fencing a moment ago was merely play.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    While Ikkaku wrestled with the idea of challenging Kaelith himself, Zaraki slowly opened his eyes.

    He hadn¡¯t been unconscious for long, even though his face had been pummeled. Sitting up, he rubbed his cheek.

    ¡°Woohoo, Lil¡¯ Ken!¡±

    Yachiru chirped joyfully, jumping to perch on his shoulders, tugging at his hair.

    Zaraki ignored the girl clinging to his neck. Instead, he tilted his head at Kaelith and gave a feral grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re really strong, huh¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s fight again!¡±

    He reached for his sword, but before he could grasp it, Kaelith strolled over and planted a foot on the blade.

    ¡°Mm?¡±

    Zaraki furrowed his brow in displeasure.

    In a lazy tone, Kaelith reminded him,

    ¡°We still have some unfinished business. You agreed¡ªif I won, you¡¯d come with me.

    Or are you planning to renege?¡±

    At that final question, Kaelith¡¯s lips curved into a dark smile.

    Zaraki locked eyes with him for a moment, clearly thinking something over. Then:

    ¡°If someday I beat you, does that mean I get to order you around?¡±

    Kaelith paused, then nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s how it works in the Eleventh.

    ¡­As long as you didn¡¯t kill me in the process, and I haven¡¯t quit the Division, yeah.¡±

    At those words, Zaraki¡¯s grin turned wild, full of animal glee.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll come with you.

    I¡¯ll beat you eventually¡ªand make you fight me forever!¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ forever might be a bit much.¡±

    Kaelith briefly pictured that scenario, shuddering at the absurdity.

    Zaraki stood up.

    ¡°My name is Zaraki Kenpachi¡ªZaraki from the Zaraki District, and ¡®Kenpachi¡¯ ¡®cause I¡¯ll be the strongest swordsman! Hmm¡­ guess I¡¯ll call you Big Bro Kaelith, like these guys do.¡±

    Before Kaelith could respond, the nearby Eleventh Division Shinigami exploded in outrage.

    ¡°Kenpachi?! You think you can just take that name?¡±

    ¡°Big Bro Kaelith is the real Kenpachi!¡±

    ¡°He may not have beaten the previous Kenpachi officially, but we all recognize him!¡±

    ¡­In fact, I did beat the last Kenpachi.  sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith remained poker-faced.

    Zaraki just bared his teeth. ¡°Eventually it¡¯s gonna be mine!¡±

    While Eleventh soldiers continued their grumbling, Zaraki turned to Ikkaku and Yumichika:

    ¡°I¡¯m off to become a Shinigami with this guy¡ªwhat about you two?¡±

    They exchanged glances, resolve hardening on their faces.

    Ikkaku looked Zaraki in the eye.

    ¡°In that case, we¡¯re joining the Gotei 13 too!¡±

    ¡°Huh, go for it.¡±

    Zaraki nodded, not pressing further.

    Kaelith waved a hand.

    ¡°Becoming a Shinigami isn¡¯t as easy as just walking in the door. Zaraki, at his level, can skip ahead, but you two will need to enroll in the Shinigami Academy for a few years.¡±

    Ikkaku frowned, about to protest, but Kaelith beat him to it:

    ¡°When I graduated that school, I could¡¯ve stomped ten of you the way you are now. And I¡¯m hardly the only one at that standard.¡±

    Ikkaku¡¯s eyes widened.

    He could tell Kaelith wasn¡¯t bragging; it was pure fact.

    It was mind-boggling¡ªand for a moment, he questioned his entire outlook on life.

    After several seconds of silence, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

    ¡°¡­Got it. I¡¯ll do it¡ªgo to the Academy.¡±

    ¡­

    That same evening, Kaelith sent a report to the First Division:

    \- The former lieutenant was being demoted to Third Seat.

    \- A wandering swordsman from Rukongai named Zaraki Kenpachi was being promoted to lieutenant.

    Reading this bizarre proposal, Yamamoto initially fumed.

    His foolish disciple was causing a stir again?

    But after personally inspecting the Eleventh and confirming the new ¡°Kenpachi¡¯s¡± strength, Yamamoto looked upon Kaelith with unexpected satisfaction.

    Perhaps his bratty disciple really was taking this Captain gig seriously.

    All that order, discipline, and the newfound ¡°genius swordsman¡± from Rukongai¡ªYamamoto was pleased.

    Before leaving, he patted Kaelith¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done well, kid.

    In a few days, it¡¯ll be your official Captain Induction Ceremony¡ªmake sure you clean up and look the part.¡±

    And with that, Yamamoto vanished in a Shunpo.

    Staring at the place he¡¯d disappeared, Kaelith planted a hand on his hip.

    Huh, guess I¡¯m not doing so bad at this, if I actually try¡­

    ¡­Wait.

    Something wasn¡¯t right.

    He froze in realization.

    No, no, no¡­

    I was supposed to shove the Captain role onto Zaraki and slip out myself!

    Why did I end up installing him as lieutenant instead?

    If this kept up, Kaelith¡¯s ¡°Acting Captain¡± title might become permanent!

    Alarmed, he sprinted off in the direction of Zaraki¡¯s newly assigned quarters¡­

 Chapter 228

    Chapter 228

    Kaelith¡¯s sinister plan fell apart.

    He¡¯d tracked down Zaraki Kenpachi in hopes of handing him the Eleventh Division Captaincy¡­only for Zaraki to refuse flatly. Zaraki had made up his mind: train hard, then slaughter Kaelith so the latter would forever be his sparring partner. Not until he defeated Kaelith fair and square would he consider becoming Captain.

    Exasperated, Kaelith couldn¡¯t believe that a clueless hacker who only knew how to hack and slash could be so scheming.

    Luckily, he¡¯d soon come up with a Plan B.

    If Zaraki Kenpachi wouldn¡¯t take over, well, there was always Urahara Kisuke, right?

    That kid¡¯s raw Reiatsu was nothing special compared to Kaelith¡¯s, but using his mysterious ¡°Tenshintai,¡± he¡¯d somehow achieved Bankai. Surely making him Eleventh¡¯s Captain would be¡­ perfect?

    Brimming with excitement, Kaelith rushed to the Second Division¡¯s territory to nab Urahara for the job¡ªonly to discover he was nowhere to be found. Questioning Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Kaelith learned that from the very day Kaelith had gone to the Eleventh, Urahara had vanished.

    In Urahara¡¯s private lab, Kaelith found only a note:

    > **Greetings, Mr. Kaelith

    > I trust you¡¯re well.

    > Until such time as you find a suitable scapegoat to fill the Eleventh Division Captain¡¯s seat, I shall be in hiding.

    > Wishing you ever-greater success.

    > ¨C Urahara Kisuke**

    ¡°You bastard!!!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith ground his teeth, tearing the note to shreds.

    That damned peasant¡ªUrahara¡­ how dare you!

    Seething with frustration (and vowing payback on Urahara someday), Kaelith left.

    ¡­

    Somewhere in Rukongai¡¯s mountain forests, Urahara Kisuke reclined under a makeshift grass shelter, idly flipping through a book.

    Abruptly, he sneezed. Setting down the book, he cast a glance in the direction of Seireitei.

    Sure, he¡¯d probably earned Kaelith¡¯s eternal wrath. Likely Kaelith would give him a savage beating if they crossed paths again.

    But¡­ that was still better than being stuffed into Eleventh Division¡¯s Captain seat.

    A man must know which battles to fight and which to dodge.

    Grinning, Urahara sank back, returning to his reading.

    Live for today, worry about tomorrow later!

    ¡­

    At the Fifth Division gates, Aizen S¨­suke took a stack of documents handed over by a squad member.

    He was just about to head back when he spotted Kaelith racing by in the distance.

    One glance, and Aizen¡¯s brow furrowed.

    Kaelith¡¯s clothes were filthy¡ªcaked in dirt, shredded in places by sword-clash aftershocks. Though he didn¡¯t seem hurt, there was no hiding he¡¯d just been through a sizeable brawl.

    And as for his own captain, Hirako Shinji¡­he¡¯d apparently accompanied Kaelith to North Rukongai but had returned without so much as a speck of dust on him.

    At the crucial moment, Shinji was obviously no help at all.

    Picturing that lazy, smirking face of his captain, Aizen¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡­

    A few days later, Kaelith arrived at the First Division barracks.

    All Captains had gathered for the occasion¡ªlined up in two rows, clad in their white haori, they turned to face the entrance.

    Lieutenant Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe stood at Yamamoto¡¯s side with a faint air of nostalgia. Hands behind his back, he announced in a carrying voice:

    ¡°Hear ye, the induction ceremony of the new Captain of the Gotei 13¡ªbegins now!

    New Captain, enter!¡±

    All eyes shifted toward the doorway, where a figure slowly strode in: black Shihakush¨­ beneath the familiar white Captain¡¯s coat.

    ¡°Eleventh Division Captain¡ªKaelith!¡±

    Kaelith sauntered forward and let out an easy, ¡°Yo¡ªeverybody eaten yet?¡±

    Reactions varied.

    Love Aikawa and Kensei Muguruma, who had once taken odd jobs with Kaelith, weren¡¯t surprised in the least. Love discreetly gave Kaelith a thumbs-up.

    Unohana Retsu seemed lost in thought, an unreadable expression on her face.

    Hirako Shinji wore his same easygoing half-smile.

    Kuchiki Ginrei was all aristocratic indifference.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui tipped his straw hat and smiled.

    Hikifune Kirio flashed a quick ¡°V¡± sign.

    Ukitake J¨±shir¨­ just smiled warmly.

    With Yamamoto¡¯s official decree, Kaelith¡ªwho hadn¡¯t even graduated the Academy three full years before¡ªwas now formally recognized as Captain of the Eleventh Division.

    After the ceremony, a few of the Captains and Lieutenants he knew well gathered to celebrate with food and drink.

    All felt it was only natural Kaelith lead the Eleventh. They were far more intrigued by the rumor that Eleventh had gained a fearsome new Lieutenant, a wandering swordsman from the 80th district.

    Kaelith sang Zaraki¡¯s praises so loudly it annoyed Hirako Shinji, who quietly grumbled to Aizen:

    ¡°Hey, S¨­suke, not to stir the pot, but d¡¯you hear the way Kaelith¡¯s talking? Seems like he¡¯s convinced his new Lieutenant is stronger than you, huh?¡±

    Aizen just shot Shinji a calm look, not responding.

    Then Kaelith turned to Omaeda (who was still a seated officer at this time) to ask about Yoruichi and Soifon.

    ¡°Lady Yoruichi¡¯s gone off for special training with her clan¡¯s family art. She took Soifon with her,¡± Omaeda explained. ¡°It¡¯s been about a month, I think.¡±

    Kaelith nodded, picturing Yoruichi and Soifon, parted for a serious training arc like the classic ¡°MC trains away for a time skip.¡± When they returned, they¡¯d likely appear reborn and more powerful than ever¡ªlike Naruto returning from Jiraiya¡¯s tutelage or the Straw Hats post-two-year training.

    He was kind of hyped to see that.

    ¡­

    After officially becoming Captain, Kaelith found his days slightly busier.

    Among all Divisions, the Eleventh responded the fastest to Hollow appearances in Rukongai. Consequently, they also suffered the highest casualty rates.

    Kaelith spent time reshuffling unit compositions¡ªrather than making multiple flimsy squads, he preferred fewer squads packed with strong fighters.

    As a result, the Eleventh¡¯s mortality rate dropped, thanks also to Kaelith and Zaraki. Whatever the enemy, they could flatten it with ease.

    Today, Kaelith took a group of Eleventh officers out to Rukongai for barbecue. After the meal, he told them to head back while he made his way alone toward the Fifth Division.

    Earlier in the day, Aizen had sent a coded note saying he needed Kaelith¡¯s help with some project.

    But as Kaelith walked, he suddenly froze in his tracks. Off in the distance, he saw a dark-skinned man kneeling at the entrance to the Central 46 Chambers, frantically shouting:

    ¡°She was murdered¡ªshe was killed!

    I beg you¡ªplease find the murderer!¡±

 Chapter 229

    Chapter 229

    At the entrance to Kantei Street, a dark-skinned man knelt on the ground, wailing in grief and desperation.

    ¡°Please! Let me see the members of the Central 46!¡±

    ¡°She was murdered! Why won¡¯t you sentence the killer to death?!¡±

    His eyes were tightly closed, as if he couldn¡¯t see anything.

    His clothes were those of a simple commoner¡ªworn but still intact.

    Several guards armed with iron rods blocked his way. Two of them crossed their rods in front of him, preventing him from moving forward.

    ¡°You fool, get out of here already!¡±

    ¡°This is Kantei Street, where the high nobles live. Keep causing trouble, and we¡¯ll make you regret it!¡±

    But the black-skinned man didn¡¯t seem to hear their threats. He reached out and grabbed the iron rods, continuing to shout his grievances.

    Seeing that their warnings were useless, the guards lost patience. Two of them raised their rods, ready to bring them down hard on the man.

    However, before the rods could fall, a figure suddenly appeared by the man¡¯s side. With a single sweep of his hand, a surge of spiritual pressure knocked all the guards backward with ease.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    The guards tumbled to the ground, about to shout in anger, but when they recognized the newcomer, they froze in place. Scrambling to their feet, they bowed low.

    The man acknowledged them with a nod, then turned to the black-skinned man.

    ¡°Come with me.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, he set off in a certain direction.

    The dark-skinned man hesitated. Though his eyes were blind, he could sense the reverence the guards showed this newcomer. If anyone could help him see the Central 46, maybe it was this person.

    Harboring that hope, he stood and hurried after him.

    Before long, they reached an empty riverbank, with no one else in sight.

    By the water¡¯s edge, the man sat down and beckoned him over.

    He walked closer and bowed.

    ¡°Thank you for your help just now. My name is T¨­sen. I¡¯m just a common soul from Rukongai, and I¡¯m very grateful for your assistance.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The man smiled. ¡°T¨­sen, I know who you are. I saw you at Miss Kakko¡¯s funeral¡ªyou were crying quite sorrowfully.¡±

    Hearing Kakko¡¯s name, T¨­sen inhaled sharply. Kakko, like him, was originally a simple soul from Rukongai. A few years ago, she had joined the Gotei 13 as a Shinigami and later married another Shinigami.

    Though T¨­sen felt a pang of regret that his friend was taken, he had been genuinely happy for her. But he never expected she would be killed by her own husband. Worse, despite the clear evidence¡ªmany had witnessed the murder¡ªthe Central 46 found the killer not guilty.

    That was why T¨­sen had come all the way to Seireitei, desperately trying to plead his case to the Central 46.

    At the mention of Kakko, anger and sorrow welled inside him.

    ¡°You¡­you knew Kakko?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m a Shinigami too, one of her colleagues.¡±

    The man nodded.

    T¨­sen grew agitated. ¡°Then¡­do you know how Kakko really died? I heard it was her own husband who killed her!¡±

    The man gave a low murmur of affirmation. ¡°That¡¯s right. Supposedly, it started with a petty argument. He killed a fellow Shinigami, and when Miss Kakko tried to stop him, she was cut down as well.¡±

    At that, T¨­sen¡¯s lips trembled. Tears rolled from his sightless eyes.

    ¡°Why¡­why did Kakko have to die? It makes no sense¡­¡±

    The man, looking pensive, said softly, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because she was someone who stood firm in her beliefs¡ªsomeone whose sense of justice outweighed her fear.¡±

    T¨­sen¡¯s anger flared. ¡°Are you saying Kakko¡¯s beliefs were a mistake? She hated conflict, believed in justice¡­and she was killed for it! Meanwhile, the husband who murdered her isn¡¯t punished at all!¡±

    The man listened, nodding thoughtfully. ¡°I see. So this is the reason you were making such a scene in Kantei Street.¡±

    He fell silent for a few seconds, then let out a quiet laugh.

    ¡°T¨­sen, have you ever heard of the Five Great Noble Houses?¡±

    T¨­sen frowned. Of course he¡¯d heard the name before, but as a commoner from Rukongai, he knew little about them beyond their power.

    ¡°They are the highest authorities in the Soul Society,¡± the man continued. ¡°Even the Central 46 won¡¯t judge them. The one who killed Miss Kakko is a member of these Noble Houses.¡±

    He paused, then gave a name. ¡°Tokinada Tsunayashiro. Though he¡¯s only from a branch family, if he¡¯d been from the main bloodline, not only would he go unpunished, they might even have labeled Kakko a traitor for resisting him.¡±

    T¨­sen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How could this be¡­?¡±

    The man sighed. ¡°That¡¯s the way this world is. The Soul Society, the noble system¡­it¡¯s all like that.¡±

    He looked at T¨­sen with a sudden intensity. ¡°T¨­sen. If one day you or I gain the power to fight against all this, should we take our revenge?¡±

    T¨­sen froze, the word ¡°revenge¡± echoing in his mind. For a moment, he was sorely tempted to say yes. But before he nodded, he remembered Kakko¡¯s face. She cherished justice and believed in doing what was right, no matter the cost. She would never choose vengeance.

    If he chose revenge, wouldn¡¯t that be betraying Kakko¡¯s very principles?

    After a long silence, he drew a deep breath. ¡°No. I won¡¯t go that far. This isn¡¯t just my decision¡ªit¡¯s what Kakko would do, too.¡±

    The man let out a quiet breath, as though relieved. Then he gave T¨­sen a gentle smile.

    ¡°All right. If even her closest friend feels that way, I suppose I won¡¯t seek revenge either.¡±

    T¨­sen felt profound gratitude toward him. Though they had only been colleagues, he truly seemed to understand Kakko¡¯s ideals.

    ¡°May I know your name?¡± T¨­sen asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± the man replied without hesitation. ¡°My name is Tsunayashiro Tokinada.¡±

    The moment he revealed his name, the warmth in his voice vanished, along with any hint of shared sympathy. All that remained was a mocking glint in his eyes.

    T¨­sen froze. Tsunayashiro Tokinada¡ªthe very Shinigami who had killed Kakko.

    -------------

    Bang plot twist!

    I bet you though that Kaelith speaking this whole time right?

 Chapter 230

    Chapter 230

    -------------------------

    Suddenly, T¨­sen remembered a certain moment: when Tokinada had asked if he would seek revenge, there had been a faint killing intent. T¨­sen had assumed it was aimed at the system, at the nobility.

    In reality, that killing intent had been directed at him.

    Though blind, he could picture this chilling truth: the man responsible for his friend¡¯s death was right beside him, asking that dangerous question. If T¨­sen had answered incorrectly, he¡¯d already be dead.

    Sensing T¨­sen¡¯s realization, Tokinada let out a light chuckle.

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve figured it out. I wasted my time chatting because I needed to know if you still hungered for vengeance. It¡¯s always the powerless ones¡ªthose with nothing to lose¡ªwho cause the biggest headaches. If you¡¯d chosen revenge, I wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to kill you on the spot.¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re as spineless as Kakko was.¡±

    He broke into laughter.

    Hearing this, T¨­sen¡¯s world seemed to shatter. Mere minutes ago, he¡¯d thought this man might understand him, might even be a friend. But this supposed ¡®ally¡¯ was the most twisted demon imaginable.

    Rage surged through him. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Tsunayashiro Tokinada!¡±

    T¨­sen roared and threw himself at Tokinada, only for Tokinada to casually land a kick that sent him sprawling.

    ¡°Hey, hey¡­what happened to not taking revenge?¡± Tokinada gave a disappointed sigh. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re attacking a noble like me, you must be ready to face the consequences.¡±

    He gripped the hilt of his sword and drew it slowly, raising it high as though performing an execution. Then he brought it down, aimed straight at T¨­sen.

    Lying on the ground, T¨­sen braced himself with his hands. He couldn¡¯t see, but his instincts screamed that death was moments away. Foolish enough to trust the killer of his friend, maybe he deserved it.

    But right when he was ready to die, a voice cut through the tension.

    ¡°M¨¦ng L¨®ng B¨£i W¨§i!¡± (Fierce Dragon¡¯s Tail!)

    In Tokinada¡¯s startled gaze, a figure in a black cloak appeared out of nowhere. Tokinada tried to dodge, but the stranger was too fast. The cloaked newcomer spun in midair and landed a crushing kick directly to his face.

    Boom!

    The impact hurled Tokinada backward. His head snapped back, pulling the rest of his body along, and he crashed into the river with a huge splash.

    ¡°Heh,¡± said the newcomer as he landed lightly on the riverbank. He glanced at the water. ¡°That splash was too big¡ªzero points for style.¡±

    T¨­sen stared, completely lost as to what was happening.

    Not far away, another figure in a matching black cloak stood in the shadows¡ªAizen. He sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.

    ¡­

    A short while earlier, in Kantei Street, Kaelith had been about to step in when he saw the guards threatening T¨­sen. But before he could, a hand fell on his shoulder.

    He turned to see Aizen, cloaked in black, motioning for silence.

    ¡°Aizen?¡±

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t go over just yet,¡± Aizen said quietly.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s puzzlement, Aizen explained, ¡°That man is T¨­sen. I discovered him a while ago. Initially, I intended to bring him back as a test subject. But before I moved in, I realized he had a lot of potential. If we can harness it, maybe we can cultivate someone at least Lieutenant-level¡ªperhaps stronger.

    ¡°He¡¯s just suffered a serious blow to his spirit. If we use that, we can make him utterly loyal to us. So wait. Let him taste despair first. When he¡¯s at his lowest, that¡¯s when we step in. It¡¯ll get us the best results.¡±

    Kaelith clicked his tongue but didn¡¯t argue. Hearing T¨­sen¡¯s name reminded him that T¨­sen eventually became a captain of the Ninth Division and served under Aizen. Interfering too soon might mess up the timeline or complicate things unnecessarily.

    So he stopped and took the black cloak Aizen handed him, throwing it on.

    Aizen was visibly relieved that Kaelith was so cooperative this time. If he hadn¡¯t listened, Aizen would¡¯ve had to find a different way to recruit T¨­sen.

    From there, they followed Tokinada and T¨­sen to the riverbank, overhearing every word. Watching Tokinada deceive T¨­sen, Aizen couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how thoroughly he embodied the word ¡°despicable.¡±

    On the other hand, Tokinada¡¯s cruelty had pushed T¨­sen to resent Seireitei and the entire nobility¡ªexactly what Aizen wanted. Once Tokinada took action, Aizen planned to appear like a savior, offer T¨­sen a new path, and make him into his subordinate.

    But that plan was derailed when Tokinada revealed who he was and started gloating.

    Seeing Tokinada, Kaelith grinned and stepped forward. Aizen frowned in confusion.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± he warned.

    Kaelith turned back with a small shrug. ¡°Sorry, Aizen. I¡¯m going to interrupt your plan. As compensation, anything you wanted T¨­sen to handle for you someday, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±

    With that, he blurred forward.

    Watching Kaelith rush in, Aizen pressed a hand to his forehead again, both exasperated and somewhat amused.

    Behind him, the sound of many more guards approached. Aizen turned away from the riverbank to face them, drawing the Zanpakut¨­ at his waist.

    ¡°Shatter, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.¡±

    .......

    ..

    .

    T¨­sen stood rooted to the spot, momentarily stunned.

    ¡°You¡­you are¡­?¡±

    He turned ¡°toward¡± Kaelith, his face filled with disbelief.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t answer. He only cast T¨­sen a brief glance before disappearing in a blur.

    Meanwhile, down in the river, Tsunayashiro Tokinada burst to the surface.

    ¡°Pffft!!¡±

    He spat out a mouthful of water, glaring furiously at the bank.

    ¡°Damn it! Who did that? Do you realize whom you just attacked?!¡±

    But on shore, only T¨­sen stood there. Farther off, a group of noble guards milled about¡ªTokinada¡¯s own men. Under normal circumstances, they would have rushed in to protect their master after he was struck. Yet instead, they were in total chaos. Wielding iron rods, they attacked each other savagely, as though locked in a bitter blood feud.

    This bizarre sight made Tokinada¡¯s eyes widen in alarm. He tried to climb out of the water, only to notice a figure appearing in front of him.

    ¡°Mmgh!!¡±

    A large hand slammed against his face. The grip was firm and gave him no room to struggle, shoving him backward at breakneck speed. Tokinada¡¯s body skimmed the water, throwing up a long, ragged wave behind him. The surge of the river felt like knives cutting into his flesh, wringing pained howls from his throat.

    Boom!

    Still pressing down on Tokinada¡¯s face, the figure bulldozed him straight out of the river and into the opposite bank, sending earth and debris blasting ten meters high.

    ¡°You¡­you bastard,¡± Tokinada gasped, sprawled in a newly formed crater. His eyes squeezed shut in agony, but that didn¡¯t stop the curses from spilling out. ¡°You dare lay a finger on a noble?! You¡¯re dead!¡±

    Just then, a familiar voice spoke next to him.

    ¡°That¡¯s too bad for you,¡± the voice said quietly. ¡°I may not have the same prestige as you, but I, too, am a noble. This might just count as¡­nobles settling things their own way.¡±

    Tokinada¡¯s eyes snapped open. When he saw who was standing before him, he shouted in shock:

    ¡°Kaelith!¡±

    ¡°At your service,¡± Kaelith replied with a mocking grin. His fist shot downward.

    Tokinada¡¯s eyes bulged, and his spiritual pressure flared. Lying sideways as he was, he hastily crafted a foothold of reishi beneath his feet. That sudden burst of energy propelled him sideways, allowing him to dodge at the last moment.

    Kaelith¡¯s punch slammed into empty ground, leaving him looking mildly surprised. ¡°Huh. Not bad.¡±

    He had assumed Tokinada was just another pampered aristocrat, perhaps no stronger than a seated officer¡ªhence Kaelith hadn¡¯t used much force. But the brief flash of spiritual power and Tokinada¡¯s skilled Shunp¨­ were definitely Captain-class. And not the watered-down kind, either.

    Straightening up, Kaelith turned to regard Tokinada, who now faced him with wary eyes.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± Tokinada began, ¡°I¡¯ve never wronged you. We can pretend none of this ever happened. Let¡¯s both step away¡ªno harm done. How about it?¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°My, how timid. You had no qualms about killing your wife, and you showed no mercy to a defenseless civilian. If you¡¯re so bold in that, why shrink away from me?¡±

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­, eyes flashing. ¡°Come on, show me the dignity of a noble from one of the Five Great Houses!¡±

    Tokinada narrowed his eyes, but forced a smile. ¡°Kaelith, you and I have no grudge. Why go this far? Even if the Tsunayashiro family has fallen from its peak, we¡¯re still one of the Five Great Noble Houses. Better to make friends where you can¡ªperhaps I could even help you someday.¡±

    Kaelith gave him a look of utter disdain. ¡°A beast who murders his own wife isn¡¯t worth my friendship.¡±

    At that, Tokinada¡¯s thin veneer of civility finally cracked. His palm shot forward. ¡°Had¨­ #63: Raik¨­h¨­!¡±

    Blinding golden light surged forth, its radiance tearing through the darkness of the night. Through the thunderous beam, Kaelith simply reached out and ripped the electricity apart. Then he leapt into the air, Zanpakut¨­ in hand, racing straight for Tokinada.

    ¡°Shatter Defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!¡±

    Blue flames roared to life around Kaelith mid-flight. Tokinada¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight of that blazing figure. The resemblance was uncanny¡ªtoo much like that man.

    Long ago, Tokinada had been a classmate of Ky¨­raku Shunsui and Ukitake J¨±shir¨­. Back then, the Gotei 13 wasn¡¯t as vast as it was now, and Yamamoto Genry¨±sai Shigekuni personally trained promising students. He¡¯d taken a special interest in Shunsui and Ukitake, but he¡¯d also given Tokinada considerable guidance.

    Tokinada¡¯s feelings toward Yamamoto were complicated¡ªgratitude, admiration, resentment, and fear. The old man¡¯s fiery image had always lingered like a nightmare, one Tokinada thought he could avoid for the rest of his days by never crossing paths with Yamamoto again.

    Yet here it was, resurrected in the form of Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ release.

    After a moment¡¯s panic, Tokinada sucked in a sharp breath, fixing his gaze on the incoming Kaelith. With a swift yank, he drew his own blade.

    ¡°Bite, Wind Serpent!¡±

    As soon as he uttered the command, a sudden breeze swirled around him. In midair, Kaelith gave a puzzled grunt as a stray gust brushed past his ear. A stabbing sensation flared there, and though he didn¡¯t see what happened, he instantly knew: twin pinpricks of blood dotted his earlobe as if he¡¯d been bitten. A dangerous force coursed in through the wounds, racing through his bloodstream toward his heart.

    All of it transpired in a mere flash. By the time Kaelith registered the stinging in his ear, he was already upon Tokinada. His dual blades, engulfed in azure flames, slashed downward with unstoppable momentum.

 Chapter 231

    Chapter 231

    Faced with Kaelith¡¯s blade slicing downward, Tokinada raised his own sword to meet it.

    In that instant, he was a completely different person from moments before. The eyes that were usually half-lidded in perpetual mockery now glowed with an unmistakable madness.

    One of Kaelith¡¯s blades was blocked. The other bit deep into Tokinada¡¯s shoulder.

    The reiatsu he used for defense gave way like soft cream, offering no protection. Blood was sprayed in a crimson arc.

    Yet even as fresh blood streamed down his arm, Tokinada¡¯s grin only grew more frenzied.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­I¡¯ve already won. Die hating me all you like.¡±

    With that, a surge of spiritual pressure burst from Tokinada, forcing Kaelith backward. Kaelith flipped once in the air before lightly landing on his feet. Tilting his head, he eyed Tokinada¡¯s twisted smile.

    ¡°You¡¯ve won?¡± Kaelith asked. ¡°What makes you think so?¡±

    Clamping a hand over his wounded shoulder, Tokinada sneered.

    ¡°My Wind Serpent is everywhere in the air. Its fangs are sharper than any Zanpakut¨­. If it so much as bites you, it injects an incurable poison directly into your veins. The moment it reaches your heart, you¡¯re as good as dead.¡±

    Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°Got it. There¡¯s indeed a pretty nasty poison racing toward my heart. It¡¯s probably about¡­here.¡± He pointed to a spot just inside his shoulder.

    Tokinada¡¯s lips curled in mocking triumph. Though Kaelith acted unruffled, Tokinada was certain of his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power.

    No matter the consequences, he would kill this man. He had decided that the moment Kaelith spat out those contemptuous words about refusing friendship. If push came to shove, he¡¯d flee to Hueco Mundo and join the main branch¡¯s exiled forces. It was ironic how his family¡¯s downfall provided him an escape route.

    With a low snort, Tokinada seemed to laugh at everything¡ªthis world, himself, or perhaps something else entirely. But in the next breath, his smug expression vanished.

    In Tokinada¡¯s stunned gaze, Kaelith shook his head. Suddenly, blood spurted from his wounded ear¡ªtwo small streams spraying outward. Not much volume, just a few milliliters. But for Tokinada, it was a thunderbolt out of nowhere.

    As Wind Serpent¡¯s master, he knew perfectly well that the poison he¡¯d injected was now draining out with Kaelith¡¯s blood.

    ¡°How is that possible? What did you do?!¡±

    ¡°Simple,¡± Kaelith said. ¡°I let my shadow slip inside my veins and wrap around the poisoned region. Then I pushed the tainted blood back out through the wound.¡±

    Returning Tokinada¡¯s earlier gesture of explaining a Zanpakut¨­¡¯s ability, Kaelith generously revealed how he¡¯d neutralized the poison. Yet Tokinada only looked more baffled.

    A shadow¡­in his bloodstream? Whose shadow? Isn¡¯t his Zanpakut¨­ a fire type?

    While Tokinada wrestled with his confusion, Kaelith raised his blade once more. ¡°That¡¯s enough chit-chat. Now it¡¯s time to cut you down.¡±

    He slammed his foot into the ground, using the ¡°Ikkotsu¡± move to close the distance in a single burst. Standing before Tokinada, he swung his weapon again. With Kaelith bearing down like a grim reaper, Tokinada¡¯s earlier bravado was nowhere to be found.

    Something is wrong¡ªeverything about him is wrong!

    Seeing the blade slice forward, Tokinada frantically raised one hand, forming a luminous shield in an instant.

    ¡°Bakud¨­ #39: Enk¨­sen!¡±

    Crack!

    To Tokinada¡¯s shock, Kaelith¡¯s strike shattered the Kid¨­ defense in one blow.

    Years ago, Tokinada¡¯s skill in Kid¨­ had even earned praise from Yamamoto himself¡ªso how was it breaking so easily?

    Because he¡¯d been too confident in his barrier, Tokinada had no time to dodge. Wreathed in blue flames, Kaelith¡¯s blade swept across him, severing an arm in a single stroke. It flew high into the air.

    Watching his own limb tumble away, Tokinada let out a roar of fury. Without that arm, his power would plummet. In desperation, he unleashed a surge of reiatsu to force Kaelith back, then lunged for the severed limb, hoping to reattach it with Kid¨­.

    But just as he was about to grasp his own hand, a flash of light streaked through the night:

    ¡°Had¨­ #54: Haien!¡±

    A whirling disc of crackling fire engulfed the airborne limb, reducing it to ash before Tokinada¡¯s very eyes. Its speed and timing were perfect, giving him no chance at all to react. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tokinada nearly lost his mind. ¡°Are you kidding me?! This has to be a joke!¡±

    He swung his Zanpakut¨­ wildly, screaming in rage. Kaelith, meanwhile, glanced toward where the Haien had flown in from and raised a thumb in casual acknowledgment.

    Snarling, Tokinada summoned over a dozen Wind Serpents, sending them howling in from all directions. To a typical Shinigami, these gentle breezes would be almost impossible to counter. But with his Reiatsu perception fully heightened, Kaelith saw them clearly: ghostly serpents of wind baring their fangs.

    He swung Rixiang Jimie, its blue flames blazing along an attached chain. In one sweeping motion, he crushed all of the serpents before they could strike.

    With the serpents annihilated, Kaelith gave a small flick of his wrist. His blade pivoted in midair and impaled Tokinada¡¯s shoulder with a sickening thud. The chain whipped back, dragging Tokinada across the ground until he crashed at Kaelith¡¯s feet, battered and bleeding from multiple wounds.

    Standing over him, Kaelith spoke in a quiet voice:

    ¡°Tsunayashiro Tokinada. If someday you gain the power to defeat me¡­would you seek revenge?¡±

    Tokinada¡¯s breath caught. It was the same question he¡¯d posed to T¨­sen just a short while ago. T¨­sen¡¯s ¡°no¡± had spared his life. How should Tokinada answer now if he wanted to survive? This man before him was insane¡ªthere was no normal logic to rely on. Should he say ¡°yes,¡± hoping Kaelith might let him live so they could settle it later? Or would that provoke immediate execution?

    Seeing the conflict raging across Tokinada¡¯s face, Kaelith shook his head in disgust.

    ¡°How pathetic.¡±

    He brought his blade down in a final stroke.

 Chapter 232

    Chapter 232

    Blue flames erupted from Kaelith¡¯s blade as it came crashing down.

    ¡°Kaelith! Wait!¡±

    A frantic shout rang out from somewhere in the distance.

    Kaelith acted as though he couldn¡¯t hear it; the speed of his descending sword did not slow in the slightest. But just as it was about to strike Tokinada, a black shadow in the shape of a blade emerged from the ground on the side.

    Clang!

    Rixiang Jimie slammed against that shadowy weapon, sparks exploding in the darkness.

    Kaelith showed no surprise¡ªhis expression didn¡¯t even change. While one of his blades was parried, he gripped his other weapon with a sharp snap and swung downward¡ª

    ¡°Bujing Dule!¡±

    The shouted technique unleashed a raging whirlwind that surged toward Kaelith¡¯s striking blade. His descending sword diverted midair, trailing its rattling chain into the gust of wind.

    Meanwhile, blue fire exploded from the blade that had been blocked by the shadow. Though the sword itself was stopped, the blue flames rushed forward unobstructed, engulfing Tokinada and setting him ablaze.

    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±

    Tokinada¡¯s agonized scream echoed through the night as he rolled frantically on the ground, a roiling ball of flames. Kaelith vanished in a burst of Shunp¨­, leaving that spot just as another figure appeared in his place¡ªa man wearing a flower-patterned haori and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

    Ky¨­raku Shunsui wasted no time. His spiritual pressure flared brilliantly, pressing down on Tokinada with the weight of a mountain. The air trembled; the very light seemed to warp. Under that crushing force, the flames wreathing Tokinada¡¯s body were forcibly snuffed out, but his form was already scorched and broken. Seeing a former classmate in such a state filled Ky¨­raku with complicated emotions.

    Above, Kaelith hovered on a platform of reishi, looking down.

    ¡°Old man, are you going to defend him?¡±

    Ky¨­raku managed a wry smile. Indeed, this kid¡ªhis junior brother just an instant ago¡ªwas back to calling him ¡°old man.¡± He adjusted his hat.

    ¡°Kaelith, he¡¯s still a member of the Five Great Noble Houses. If he¡¯s killed in public, it¡¯s going to cause massive trouble. Besides, he once trained under Old Man Yamamoto, just like we did. You kill him now, you¡¯ll find that hard to justify.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s expression grew puzzled.

    ¡°He did? Trained under Sensei?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Not officially as a disciple, but still a student.¡± Ky¨­raku nodded quickly, hoping Kaelith might relent.

    Kaelith gave a slow nod.

    ¡°Oh, I see. That changes things.¡±

    Ky¨­raku was just beginning to relax when Kaelith raised both blades again.

    ¡°That means I absolutely have to do this¡ªhe¡¯s tarnishing our teacher¡¯s name. Time to set things right!¡±

    He lunged forward, only to be blocked by a second figure with long white hair in a single ponytail, wearing a Captain¡¯s haori¡ªUkitake J¨±shir¨­.

    Kaelith cocked an eyebrow.

    ¡°Ukitake, you¡¯re going to stop me too?¡±

    Ukitake spread his arms to bar Kaelith¡¯s way, looking uneasy and more than a little guilty.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kaelith. I can¡¯t just stand by and watch you kill him. But I promise, he will be brought to justice.¡±

    Kaelith stared at the two men in silence.

    ¡°Brought to justice¡­what justice would that be? The rules of the Soul Society revolve around noble privilege. He¡¯s from the Five Great Houses¡ªelite among elites. Do you really think the Central 46 will punish him? Imprisonment for a thousand years, suspended for another thousand?¡±

    A mocking smile tugged at Kaelith¡¯s lips. Hearing this, Ukitake¡¯s expression darkened. Kaelith wasn¡¯t wrong; for someone from a house as powerful as Tokinada¡¯s, any real punishment was doubtful.

    Ky¨­raku stepped closer and laid a hand on Ukitake¡¯s shoulder, then turned to Kaelith.  S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s punished, Kaelith. I swear it on the honor of the Ky¨­raku family.¡±

    Kaelith said nothing, simply looking at them. During this tense exchange, more figures arrived¡ªCaptains and Lieutenants who¡¯d been nearby, drawn by the commotion. They stared, baffled, at the standoff.

    Without a word, Kaelith spun on his heel and strode toward the opposite bank of the river, each step forming a platform of reishi beneath his feet. Each step seemed to weigh on everyone¡¯s hearts. When he reached the far side, he stopped in front of T¨­sen Kaname.

    Though T¨­sen¡¯s eyes were useless, he sensed the man who¡¯d just battled Tokinada come to stand before him. He opened his mouth to speak¡ª

    Whoosh!

    Kaelith yanked off his Captain¡¯s haori. Then, he stretched out his hand toward the riverbank. Tufts of wild grass were pulled up by an unseen force, yanked from the soil to float in midair. Shredded by reiatsu, twisted dry, and bound together, they formed a makeshift brush that flew into Kaelith¡¯s hand.

    He infused it with his own energy, pressing its tip to the inside of the white haori. Tracks of inky spiritual power swept across the cloth, bold strokes forming strong, resolute characters.

    When he finished, Kaelith flicked the haori in T¨­sen¡¯s direction. The fabric seemed to suddenly gain weight and smacked against T¨­sen¡¯s chest.

    T¨­sen gingerly held the garment, unfolding it. Though he couldn¡¯t see ink, he could perceive the reiatsu etched upon the cloth¡ªeight distinct characters:

    ¡°Repay kindness with kindness;

    But if you also repay malice with kindness, how will you repay kindness itself?"

    T¨­sen¡¯s hands trembled around the haori. His entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

    Standing beside him, Kaelith asked in a low voice,

    ¡°T¨­sen Kaname. If you gain the power to do so¡­will you take revenge?¡±

    ¡°Even though you¡¯re blind, you¡¯ve seen everything you need to see. Now tell me¡ªwhat¡¯s your answer?¡±

    T¨­sen¡¯s unseeing eyes widened, locked on the white haori he held. Until now, he¡¯d been willing to suppress his own hatred for the sake of Kakko¡¯s ideals, believing revenge went against everything she stood for. But this was no longer just about Kakko¡¯s murder. Tokinada¡¯s vile nature was like nothing he had ever encountered. For such a person to live above all others in a world that permitted his atrocities¡­that was something T¨­sen could not accept.

    He lifted his head toward Kaelith.

    ¡°Revenge¡­ I choose revenge!¡±

    A thin grin tugged at Kaelith¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Good.¡±

    In the shadows beneath the trees, dressed in a black cloak, Aizen quietly observed. For reasons he couldn¡¯t quite name, he felt a strange surge of exhilaration at that moment.

    -----------------------

    For does wondering about the meaning of the poem it is quit simple.

    1) if you respond to everything with kindness, what distinction remains for genuine goodwill? if you use the same kindness to repay both good and evil, you blur the difference between those who help you and those who harm you. Basically "What special gratitude is left for people who genuinely deserve your goodwill?¡±

    2) And the more direct answer is don''t be a pussy...

    That was your daily Poetry Analysis with IDKjust. See you all next time!

 Chapter 233

    Chapter 233

    Hearing T¨­sen¡¯s answer, Kaelith¡¯s lips curved into a grin.

    He turned toward Ky¨­raku and Ukitake in the distance. The two of them tensed slightly as his gaze fell on them.

    ¡°Relax. I¡¯m not going to kill Tokinada Tsunayashiro now,¡± Kaelith said, raising his hand and pointing at T¨­sen by his side.

    ¡°Ky¨­raku, Ukitake¡ªwatch carefully! This man, T¨­sen Kaname¡­I, Kaelith, will train him into a true warrior. One day, he¡¯ll be strong enough to take Tokinada¡¯s head himself and avenge his friend!¡±

    Ky¨­raku and Ukitake did not reply. Yet the look they shared revealed a mutual sense of unease. If anyone else had just declared such a thing, it might¡¯ve been dismissed as empty rage. After all, Tokinada was powerful¡ªunquestionably Captain-class¡ªand he¡¯d only continue to grow stronger in time, sharpening both his reiatsu and swordsmanship. By any conventional logic, there was no way a commoner like T¨­sen could ever surpass him.

    But coming from Kaelith, those words felt all too real, as if foretelling Tokinada¡¯s inevitable doom. The two Captains exchanged glances, then both looked down at the scorched, barely alive Tokinada. Confirming the severity of his condition, they paid Kaelith¡¯s threat no further heed and rushed him away for treatment at the Shin¡¯¨­ Medical Institute.

    Kaelith turned away. ¡°Come with me.¡±

    Without thinking, T¨­sen nodded, then quickly asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bring this up now, but I really want to know¡­why did you help me?¡±

    From what had just transpired, T¨­sen sensed that this man had offended the very highest echelons of the Soul Society on his behalf. That savage style of combat and the near world-rending spiritual pressure were branded into his memory. Why would someone so dazzling¡ªso terrifying¡ªside with a blind nobody from Rukongai to such extremes?

    Kaelith glanced over.

    ¡°Help you? Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, T¨­sen.¡±

    He spoke flatly:

    ¡°You helped yourself. I just can¡¯t stand Tokinada, so I wanted him to suffer the fate he¡¯d hate the most. You happened to be the perfect candidate to carry that out. If you had chosen not to seek revenge, I¡¯d have left you right there. Whether you got beaten to death by his guards or starved to death somewhere¡­wouldn¡¯t matter to me.¡±

    His piece said, Kaelith strode off.

    T¨­sen stood silently, lingering for a moment. Something about Kaelith¡¯s cold, unsympathetic words actually filled him with an unexpected sense of calm. Following this man, it felt like there would be no confusion¡ªonly a road forward. A rare feeling of belonging welled up inside him. Squaring his shoulders, he hurried after Kaelith. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Oh, right¡ªT¨­sen suddenly remembered the cloth in his hands. From its warmth, it must have been the garment Kaelith wore just moments ago. The fabric felt high-quality, possibly worth a month¡¯s meals for an ordinary soul. I should train as hard as I can, T¨­sen thought, so I can someday pay him back for this¡­

    ¡­

    Kaelith led T¨­sen all the way back to the 11th Division barracks. He didn¡¯t bother seeking out Aizen. With so many people around earlier, Aizen had no doubt slipped away. All Kaelith wanted was a bath and some sleep. The old man¡ªYamamoto¡ªwould definitely summon him tomorrow for a scolding, and being well-rested would help him handle all that standing around.

    But no sooner had he stepped inside the barracks than he was greeted by a bizarre sight under the moonlit sky. A tall, lanky man with long hair¡ªKenpachi¡ªwas in the training ground, practicing.

    That in itself wasn¡¯t so strange, but he¡¯d planted his sword in the ground a short distance away and was pummeling the air with his fists.

    Kaelith watched for a few seconds, perplexed, then approached.

    ¡°Hey, Kenpachi.¡±

    Kenpachi paused, turned his head, and bared his teeth in a fierce grin. ¡°Aniki!¡±

    ¡­Being called ¡°big bro¡± by this bloodthirsty beast was still unsettling. Kaelith had tried more than once to get him to just say ¡°Kaelith¡± or ¡°Captain,¡± but Kenpachi either forgot or just didn¡¯t care, slipping back to ¡°aniki¡± right away. Eventually, Kaelith gave up and grew used to it.

    He glanced at the sword stuck in the dirt. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡±

    Kenpachi simply blinked, uncertain what Kaelith was asking. Not far away, a small pink-haired girl yawned and raised a hand.

    ¡°Kaelith! I know, I know!¡± said Yachiru. ¡°Ken-chan¡¯s been convinced ever since you knocked him flat with a single punch that fists are stronger than swords. He¡¯s been flailing around at empty air for days now!¡±

    Kaelith fell silent. Was Kenpachi just that quick to absorb new lessons, or was this some kind of twisted logic? With a sigh, he launched into a serious talk about fighting styles. In the end, he forbid Kenpachi from forsaking his blade. All of Kenpachi¡¯s power came from swordsmanship; switching to fists now would be a colossal waste. After Kaelith promised to train with him personally twice this month, Kenpachi brightened up again.

    While Kaelith and Kenpachi were talking, Yachiru bounced over to T¨­sen, noticing the white haori in his arms.

    ¡°Kaelith¡¯s haori? Huh¡­there¡¯s writing on it.¡±

    Hearing her voice, T¨­sen nodded politely. Though he couldn¡¯t see her face, she sounded young. If she was Kaelith¡¯s acquaintance, she was probably a senior of some kind. He briefly explained how he¡¯d received this ¡°inked treasure¡± from Kaelith and planned to save money so he could replace it someday.

    Yachiru tilted her head. ¡°Save up for a haori? Hmm¡­but I heard from Lisa that a Captain¡¯s haori is a symbol of authority¡ªpretty valuable, you know. If you had to put a price on it¡­huh, let me think¡­maybe about the cost of a shop near Seireitei?¡±

    T¨­sen froze. Clutching the haori in his hands, he felt his mind reel.

    ¡­No wonder it felt expensive.

 Chapter 234

    Chapter 234

    ¡°You fool!¡±

    Within the First Division barracks, Yamamoto¡¯s furious roar boomed through the sky.

    ¡°What do you take a Captain¡¯s haori for?!¡±

    Staring at Kaelith standing before him, Yamamoto¡¯s rage was palpable. This brat had decided to use his Captain¡¯s haori as writing paper just because he couldn¡¯t find anything else suitable to write on!

    Kaelith paused for two seconds, then replied:

    ¡°A ticket to the women Shinigami dorms?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure spiked. He was just about to deal with this insolent disciple when Kaelith darted behind him and began massaging his shoulders. Feeling the relaxing pressure, the old man narrowed his eyes. The matter of ¡°clearing house¡± could wait until after this massage.

    Sensing Yamamoto¡¯s reiatsu gradually settle, Kaelith grinned.

    ¡°Teacher, if you already know about the haori, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the rest of what happened, too. Any news on how severely Tsunayashiro Tokinada will be punished?¡±

    He had zero sympathy for a scumbag who could murder his own wife. While Kaelith was confident T¨­sen Kaname would one day claim vengeance, he still wanted Tokinada to suffer right now. There was no way he¡¯d leave that man free to do as he pleased until T¨­sen finished his training. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yamamoto let out a cold snort.

    Mentioning Tokinada made his anger surge anew. Even though the Tsunayashiro clan had fallen from its former rank as the top Great Noble House to the bottom, they were still part of the Five Great Noble Houses. In the Soul Society¡¯s hierarchy, those houses stood above all else¡ªeven the founder of the Gotei 13 had to abide by that fact.

    And yet his own disciple had publicly beaten Tokinada to a pulp. Fortunately for Kaelith, he was also a noble in name. Otherwise, it would have caused a massive scandal, beyond even Yamamoto¡¯s ability to smooth over.

    But then Yamamoto paused, frowning. On second thought, if the Tsunayashiro family really did try to retaliate, the Shih¨­in clan wouldn¡¯t stand idly by; the Kuchiki clan might also intervene. Power was gradually shifting in their direction¡ªKuchiki was rising, and Shih¨­in firmly held the second-highest spot. Facing the top two Great Houses, there was no guarantee the declining Tsunayashiro could do much at all.

    It was strange to realize how extensive his ¡°simple-minded¡± disciple¡¯s connections had become. His other two students, Ky¨­raku and Ukitake¡ªboth higher-ranking nobles¡ªwere seasoned Captains in the Gotei 13, yet it seemed their junior brother might have the upper hand when it came to political ties.

    It was absurd, truly.

    Yamamoto fell into deep thought until Kaelith urged him a few times to answer, pulling him back to the moment. Closing his eyes, Yamamoto spoke calmly:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Shunsui is already on it. He may have stopped you yesterday, but his anger is no less than yours. He¡¯s simply learned, over the long years, to keep it hidden inside.¡±

    Hearing this, Kaelith blinked, looking thoughtful¡­

    ¡­

    After Kaelith left, Yamamoto waited a few minutes to make sure he was gone, then vanished from the room in a blur. A few minutes later, he appeared in the 11th Division barracks, secretly slipping into T¨­sen¡¯s quarters. With a quick scan of his reiatsu, he found Kaelith¡¯s haori¡ªcarefully stashed away. Unfolding it, Yamamoto admired the strong, bold characters scrawled in reiatsu-infused ¡°ink¡± on the inside. The old man couldn¡¯t stop himself from nodding. He¡¯d have to find time to get Kaelith to write him a few more pieces¡­

    ¡­

    In the end, the verdict on this ¡°clash of nobles¡± was handed down:

    - Kaelith (a mid-level noble) had raised his hand against a Great Noble House member¡ªserious misconduct. However, he turned himself in, had cause to do so, and showed ¡°remorse,¡± so his punishment was reduced. Ultimately, he would forfeit ten years of his Captain¡¯s salary, and his noble status would be lowered from mid-level to low-level.

    - Tsunayashiro Tokinada had unjustly slain a fellow Shinigami, murdered his wife, and attempted to kill his wife¡¯s friend in order to avoid retribution. His crimes were brutal, with severe repercussions. In the end, he was sentenced to five years in the third level of the Shin¡¯¨­ Underground Prison (the ¡°Crowd Convergence Hell¡±). Once released, he would be confined to the Tsunayashiro family estate for a hundred years, stripped of his Zanpakut¨­, and expelled from the ranks of Shinigami.

    Learning Tokinada¡¯s sentence, Kaelith was taken aback. Five years sounded harsh, but for a Shinigami, it wasn¡¯t too long. The real punishment was what came afterward¡ªrestricted to the family grounds for a century with no Zanpakut¨­. For a man who¡¯d once had free reign of Seireitei, losing half his power, plus an arm that had been burned away¡­ Tokinada¡¯s life was effectively over.

    Kaelith remembered how Ky¨­raku had promised to see Tokinada punished. He¡¯d thought it was mere lip service, but this was clearly more than that. Feeling appreciative, he grabbed a few bottles of liquor and headed to the 8th Division.

    ¡°Esteemed Senior Brother! I¡¯ve come for a visit!¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s cheerful greeting, Ky¨­raku rolled his eyes. It was ¡°Senior Brother¡± now, but only yesterday it had been ¡°Old Man Ky¨­raku.¡± This kid¡­

    He was mildly annoyed, but seeing Kaelith¡¯s beaming face, he couldn¡¯t resist smiling. Getting older really did make one soft, he mused. Even though Kaelith wasn¡¯t that young anymore, Ky¨­raku couldn¡¯t help but feel he was still a child.

    ¡­

    In the following days, Kaelith found himself busier than ever. Sajin Komamura, Kenpachi Zaraki, T¨­sen Kaname¡ªhe¡¯d somehow acquired three ¡°students.¡±

    Kenpachi was easy enough. He just needed someone to spar with; after getting knocked around, he¡¯d naturally become stronger. But Komamura and T¨­sen required a bit more work. Though both were talented, their foundations were lacking. Kaelith had long since leapt past the usual training process by syncing up with Aizen¡¯s power, so most of his classroom knowledge had scattered from his mind.

    After some thought, he came up with the perfect solution.

    ¡°O Soi-doraemon, help me out!¡±

    In the 5th Division barracks, Kaelith¡¯s voice rang out. Aizen¡¯s blood pressure instantly shot through the roof.

 Chapter 235

    Chapter 235

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s outraged voice echoed through the hall as he slammed a hand onto the armrest of his large, fur-draped chair.

    ¡°This is a huge incident in the Soul Society, and you¡¯re only telling me now?! Are they looking down on the 11th Division?!¡±

    The messenger Shinigami froze for a moment before hastily adding, ¡°If you leave right away, sir, I can guide¡ª¡±

    ¡°Guide me? Not necessary!¡±

    Kaelith sprang to his feet and vanished in a blur.

    ¡­

    Snow blanketed the streets of Seireitei in a pristine layer of white. Several Shinigami on duty were busy clearing the roads, shoveling away the first snow of winter¡ªwhich was falling heavily this year. Overnight, it had already built up to several centimeters.

    Leaping nimbly from rooftop to rooftop, Kaelith could¡¯ve traversed the snow without leaving a trace, but he couldn¡¯t resist stomping on every undisturbed rooftop, simply because it was satisfying to leave footprints behind.

    Before long, he dropped from the sky into the courtyard of the Kuchiki estate. Alarmed by the sudden intruder, the guards braced themselves¡ªuntil they recognized him:

    The 11th Division Captain, Kaelith Yurei, a friend of their young master S¨­jun Kuchiki. He often visited the Kuchiki estate for a meal or two, and nobody dared provoke him.

    Not long ago, Kaelith¡¯s noble rank was demoted from mid-level to low-level for stirring up trouble. A certain family advisor had suggested that their young master should cut ties with such a reckless troublemaker. Within an hour, that advisor was expelled from the Kuchiki household¡ªpersonally at S¨­jun¡¯s command.

    Normally gentle, it was rare for S¨­jun to punish anyone, let alone so harshly, which only showed how highly the Kuchiki family regarded Kaelith.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith!¡± the guards said, all bowing in respect.

    ¡°Morning!¡± Kaelith replied with a broad grin, waving at them before disappearing again in a burst of speed.

    Though the Kuchiki estate was enormous, Kaelith knew his way around. It took mere moments to reach his destination. He slid open the horizontal door with a brisk motion:

    Crrrk!

    Inside, a few figures were seated on the tatami. Among them was S¨­jun Kuchiki, alongside a graceful woman by his side. Several elderly maids bustled about. The woman was cradling a fussing infant, whose cries echoed through the room with enough force to rattle one¡¯s skull.

    When S¨­jun looked up and saw Kaelith, he smiled.  S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Kaelith, you¡¯re here.¡±

    Kaelith ignored him and quickly stepped inside, sliding the door shut behind him. Then he strode across the floor, grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡°Quick, let me see the kid!¡±

    The graceful woman gave a wry smile. She knew Kaelith well¡ªboth his strength and his character satisfied her as S¨­jun¡¯s friend. But this baby, barely born, had a surprisingly strong set of lungs. It felt rude to hand over such a noisy child to a guest. Yet Kaelith simply reached out and scooped him up without hesitation.

    Her warnings died on her tongue as she realized the baby, once in Kaelith¡¯s arms, stopped crying altogether. He blinked at Kaelith, two tiny hands stretching out to pat the man¡¯s face. Stunned by the peaceful scene, the woman fell momentarily silent. S¨­jun, on the other hand, nodded approvingly.

    ¡°Incredible, Kaelith¡ªyou¡¯ve got a knack for soothing children!¡±

    Even the old maids began to murmur praise at the sight. Kaelith studied the baby for a while, then clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Why¡¯s he so ugly? Well, as hideous as he is, I¡¯m not heartless. I¡¯ll still accept you. Come on, little guy¡­call me ¡®Gramps!¡¯¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± S¨­jun nearly rolled his eyes.

    Just then, there was a cough from outside. A servant slid the door open, revealing Ginrei Kuchiki in the doorway, hands clasped behind his back in a dignified pose. Seeing him, S¨­jun and his wife gave polite bows, and the maids dropped to their knees.

    ¡°Father,¡± S¨­jun greeted softly.

    Ginrei Kuchiki gave a brief nod, about to speak, but Kaelith cut him off:

    ¡°Hurry up and come inside, old man! It¡¯s freezing out there¡ªdon¡¯t want the baby catching a chill!¡±

    Ginrei¡¯s lips tightened. He stepped in, closing the door behind him, eyeing Kaelith with clear disapproval. Good thing he arrived when he did¡ªthis rascal nearly stole the title ¡°Grandpa.¡±

    Even so, Kaelith stood there, entirely shameless, making Ginrei¡¯s blood pressure climb. If only his own son had half of Kaelith¡¯s audacity, life would be easier.

    While Ginrei was momentarily lost in thought, Kaelith peeked under the baby¡¯s blanket to confirm the child¡¯s ¡°important details.¡± Satisfied it was a boy, he asked, ¡°So, S¨­jun, does he have a name yet?¡±

    S¨­jun nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re calling him Byakuya. Kuchiki Byakuya.¡±

    Ginrei took a few seconds to consider, then nodded his approval. Kaelith, too, broke into a grin. Sure enough¡ªKuchiki Byakuya. Though Shinigami could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, a child¡¯s early growth wasn¡¯t all that different from a human¡¯s. In just a few short years, Kaelith would have a fun little¡­well, an interesting junior around.

    He couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of emotion: Byakuya¡¯s birth meant the grand wheel of destiny was in motion. By the time Byakuya reached his early teens, the Aizen of the original storyline would have begun his plans. But this world¡¯s Aizen was so different from canon¡­ Could it be that some event diverged, altering his character?

    Oh well, Kaelith thought, that¡¯s his own affair, probably nothing to do with me.

    Humming under his breath, Kaelith continued entertaining little Byakuya in his arms.

 Chapter 236

    Chapter 236

    After playing with Byakuya for a while, Kaelith casually handed him over to one of the elderly attendants nearby.

    Kuchiki Ginrei cast his gaze upon Kaelith.

    ¡°Kaelith, if you have a moment, please join me in the reception room.¡±

    Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°Give me just a bit, Elder. I want to set something up first.¡±

    Under Kuchiki S¨­jun¡¯s curious watch, Kaelith made a circuit around the room, surveying its structure. Once satisfied, he nodded.

    He then spread his fingers; threads of reishi shot out, attaching themselves to various corners of the chamber. The lines formed intricate patterns across the interior, each concealing multiple layers of Kid¨­. When the designs were complete, Kaelith stepped outside and repeated the same process around the exterior.

    Finishing at last, he returned inside.

    ¡°I¡¯ve put a barrier around the room. From now on, even if the doors or windows are opened, cold air won¡¯t get inside. Mothers who¡¯ve just given birth and newborns both need to avoid drafts, but at the same time, keeping the windows shut day after day and never seeing sunlight isn¡¯t good either. This barrier solves that problem.

    ¡°It draws energy directly from the surrounding air. The reishi concentration in Seireitei is much higher than in the outside world, so there¡¯s plenty of power to keep it running. It¡¯s a fully automatic, all-around safeguard!¡±

    Kaelith raised his chin proudly.

    S¨­jun was startled¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected his friend to be so thoughtful, far more than he himself had been as a husband. He felt a bit ashamed.

    ¡°Thank you, Kaelith. If not for you, I wouldn¡¯t have realized this mistake.¡±

    The lady of the house and the elderly attendants also nodded in approval. This Captain of the 11th Division certainly knew what he was doing. After bowing in gratitude, S¨­jun¡¯s wife watched Kaelith depart for the reception room.

    Upon seeing Kaelith arrive, Ginrei inclined his head, inviting him to sit. Although Kaelith was technically a friend of Ginrei¡¯s son, Kuchiki family protocol was strict, and Ginrei insisted on treating him according to the customs for nobles of equal status.

    ¡°Kaelith, I know you¡¯re not one for formalities,¡± Ginrei began. ¡°So I will be direct. Though the Yurei household has been demoted to low-ranked nobility, the truth is, it hardly affects you. In the end, your standing¡ªyour clan¡¯s standing¡ªdepends on your strength and your connections. Let¡¯s be honest: as far as anyone¡¯s concerned, the Yurei clan is you alone. If not for the estate that the ¨­maeda family provided, you wouldn¡¯t even have land of your own.¡±

    Kaelith sipped his tea, already fully aware of these facts. He wondered why Ginrei was bringing them up now.

    Ginrei continued in a low voice.

    ¡°I also understand that titles and power mean little to you. But the Soul Society¡¯s laws place nobles above all else. You may care nothing for fame or wealth, but from what I¡¯ve seen, you deeply value your friends. Whenever they are in danger, you never hesitate to step in, risking yourself if needed. With your ability, it¡¯s usually not difficult to defeat enemies and protect them.

    ¡°However, there are limits to what one person can accomplish alone. If the Yurei clan were to gain sufficient status and influence, your reputation alone could silence much petty scheming before it ever touched your friends.¡±

    Kaelith wore a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Elder Ginrei, are you saying the Kuchiki family wants to help restore me to mid-level noble status? I don¡¯t see the point. In your noble circles, sure, rank matters a lot, but for most people, being a higher or lower noble is all the same. Those bold enough to attack a low-ranked noble won¡¯t be scared off by someone mid-ranked¡­and anyone too wary to provoke a low-ranked noble wouldn¡¯t dare cross a mid-ranked one either¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Ginrei shook his head. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Simply bringing you back to mid-level wouldn¡¯t do you much good.¡±

    Fixing Kaelith with a serious stare, Ginrei went on:

    ¡°The Tsunayashiro clan is left in shambles now that Tsunayashiro Chiz¨­ has departed. Anyone with genuine ability went with him. What remains is a pack of good-for-nothings who know only idle luxury, plus a few branch members who lack the power to rule.

    ¡°If the Kuchiki family joined forces with the Shih¨­in to fully oust the Tsunayashiro from the Five Great Noble Houses, it wouldn¡¯t be hard. At that point, Kuchiki would stand at the head of the Houses. The Kuchiki and Shih¨­in together could then support the Yurei clan as a new member of the Five Greats. It¡¯s not impossible.¡±

    Kaelith blinked in surprise. He never expected the old man to have such grand ambitions. In the Soul Society¡¯s million-plus years of history, the Five Great Noble Houses had never once been replaced. Yet here Ginrei was, talking about reshuffling the entire hierarchy.

    Seeing no hint of jest in Ginrei¡¯s expression, Kaelith frowned.

    ¡°Elder, there¡¯s an old saying: ¡®Nothing in life comes free.¡¯ Even if I¡¯m good friends with S¨­jun, that hardly justifies you risking so much for me. After all, my friend is Kuchiki S¨­jun, not Kuchiki Ginrei.¡±

    Rather than taking offense, Ginrei smiled faintly.

    ¡°And that is precisely why I want to help you.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Kaelith arched a brow.

    Ginrei regarded him silently, then murmured, ¡°I won¡¯t be alive much longer.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s face showed little reaction, which made Ginrei sigh in mild relief.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve suspected as much.¡±

    ¡°I had an inkling back when we spoke about collaborating on the video game project,¡± Kaelith said with a nod.

    Ginrei chuckled.

    ¡°I know my own condition best. I won¡¯t last another hundred years before my life ends. Once I¡¯m gone, S¨­jun will inherit the Kuchiki name. You know better than anyone how kind and gentle my son is. Under his lead, the Kuchiki clan will appear to all other nobles like a succulent morsel¡ªeveryone will want to sink their teeth in.

    "He is a good son, to good for the world of nobles"

    ¡°I lack the confidence and the time to shape him into a perfect clan leader. But I can cultivate someone else¡ªsomeone with sufficient ability and moral strength¡ªso that when things grow dire, that person can step forward and protect S¨­jun.

    ¡°Kaelith, I trust you. Both your power and your character. If you¡¯re willing, I will use everything the Kuchiki family has to elevate you into the Five Great Noble Houses before I die. And in return, you must give your full support to S¨­jun¡ªprotect the Kuchiki clan, protect S¨­jun, protect Byakuya.¡±

    Ginrei finished and fell silent, fixing Kaelith with a piercing gaze, waiting for his answer.

 Chapter 237

    Chapter 237

    ¡°Five Great Noble Houses, huh¡­¡±

    ¡°Just the thought of it sounds pretty sweet.¡±

    ¡°If I became one of the Five Great Nobles, I¡¯d be on equal footing with Yoruichi. I could use my status to pressure her, haul her up the mountain, and make her my captive bride.¡±

    ¡°Plus, I could ride roughshod over my teacher, ordering him to do all sorts of things as I please.¡±

    ¡°But most importantly, once I become one of the Five Great Nobles, having a big harem would be totally reasonable¡ªmy plan for a Soul Society paradise is right before my eyes!¡±

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes, as though already seeing that glorious future.

    Kuchiki Ginrei nodded gently. ¡°So, does that mean you agree?¡±

    ¡°No, I refuse.¡±

    Under Ginrei¡¯s startled gaze, Kaelith showed a smug expression. He leaned back into his chair in a casual recline.

    ¡°I, Kaelith, live by loyalty above all else!¡±

    ¡°If someday someone tries to cause trouble for S¨­jun just because an elder of the Kuchiki Clan died, I¡¯ll make them learn exactly how sharp my blade can be!¡±

    Ginrei¡¯s eye twitched.

    ¡°S¨­jun is my sworn brother. If anything happens to him, I, Kaelith, will never back down.¡±

    ¡°But if I accept the old man¡¯s offer because of that, then our brotherhood would turn into a dull transaction.¡±

    ¡°Old man, let¡¯s not bring this up again!¡±

    He drained the teacup before him in one gulp, clasped his hands in a brief bow, and left.

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s departing figure, Ginrei stood up, his eyes thoughtful.

    Kaelith had said that if Kuchiki S¨­jun were in trouble, he¡¯d lend his full support. Ginrei believed he was entirely sincere.

    But Kaelith¡¯s firm refusal of a position among the Five Great Noble Houses made him think there was something left unsaid.

    He pondered for a long time yet couldn¡¯t imagine why anyone would reject such an honor. For any Shinigami, it was the highest prestige.

    In the end, he could only conclude that Kaelith¡¯s way of thinking was simply too unorthodox for a traditionalist person to fathom.

    Leaving the Kuchiki estate, Kaelith returned briefly to the 11th Division.

    Lately, Aizen often stopped by to help supervise Komamura and T¨­sen¡¯s training. Unfortunately, today was a miss.

    Aizen wasn¡¯t there, and T¨­sen and Komamura had gone to the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy for culture classes.

    Kaelith checked the calendar and realized today was the day Aizen would be at his lab in Rukongai.

    Though Aizen had a private lab in Kaelith¡¯s Technology Bureau, he felt it wasn¡¯t safe. If Urahara Kisuke or Kurotsuchi Mayuri ever got curious and snuck in to see something they shouldn¡¯t, would he have to kill them or not?

    To avoid that awkward situation, he performed most of his risky experiments in a Rukongai lab.

    After confirming Aizen¡¯s whereabouts, Kaelith left the 11th Division and headed toward Rukongai.

    His mood was sour.

    That Tsunayashiro Tokinada¡ªan utterly disgusting piece of trash¡ªwas perched above everyone else simply by virtue of noble status, wielding power over life and death while standing above the law.

    Even though Ginrei had remained polite and courteous during their talk, he clearly believed in the supreme privilege of nobility.

    Back when he¡¯d first arrived in this world, Kaelith¡¯s ambitions were simpler: become a Shinigami, climb the social ladder, and stand above the folks in Rukongai. But over time, his mindset gradually shifted.

    Would fully joining the system that had been upheld for a million years¡ªbecoming a noble and transforming from a mere ¡°worker¡± into a privileged elite¡ªreally give him the life he wanted?

    No one else would understand such thoughts. The unspoken rules ingrained over a million years had become part of everyone¡¯s daily life. Probably only Aizen could talk to him about it.

    In terms of cleverness and wisdom, Kaelith considered himself far superior to Aizen. But in terms of iconoclasm, Aizen was far ahead.

    At a moment like this, he really wanted to hear how Aizen would evaluate his decision.

    With that curiosity in mind, Kaelith sped through Rukongai.

    After running for a while, he suddenly stopped, turning his head toward a wooded area in the distance.

    A faint, unstable spiritual pressure¡ªcharged with fear¡ªwas moving in that direction.

    Bandits lying in wait?

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow and dashed toward the source of the reiatsu.

    If they really were bandits, this was perfect timing. He was in a bad mood, and beating up some bandits sounded pretty refreshing.

    Within moments, he reached the scene. He landed lightly on a tree branch, shaking loose some of the snow.

    Below, a small figure was running for her life, chased by more than a dozen wolves.

    So it was wolves¡­

    Kaelith looked slightly disappointed.

    The one being chased was a little girl, around twelve or thirteen, with short, golden-orange hair¡ªan uncommon sight in the Seireitei. Despite the snowfall, she wore only a thin yukata.

    In fact, Rukongai was severely lacking in resources. Even in winter, areas beyond District 40 rarely had decent clothing.

    Kaelith frowned, his already sour mood growing worse.

    As she ran, the girl scooped up stones whenever the snow wasn¡¯t too deep and threw them at the pursuing wolves. She had some spiritual pressure; though untrained, she was stronger than most kids her age. The wolves slowed a bit, dodging her stones.

    But it was only a feint on the wolve¡¯s part. Kaelith sensed that a few had already looped around from the side.

    Sure enough, before long, the girl realized in horror that several wolves had appeared in front of her.

    A flash of despair flickered in her eyes.

    Looking around, she took a deep breath, backed up against a tree, broke off a branch, and gripped it in both hands, waiting for the wolves to close in.

    Kaelith was about to step in, but paused when he saw her stance.

    This little kid¡¯s got guts¡­

    To stand her ground against a pack of wolves with no way out¡ªshe might actually have what it takes to join the 11th Division someday.

    Standing on the branch, Kaelith formed a Kido sign. If she couldn¡¯t hold off the wolves, he¡¯d throw a defensive Kid¨­ to protect her. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As he watched, the girl pressed herself against the tree, staring the wolves down. After a dozen seconds or so, one of them lunged.

    ¡°Eee-yah!!¡±

    Faced with the wolf leaping at her, she struck hard with the branch.

    Kaelith shook his head slightly. It was just a wild swing. If her spiritual pressure were stronger, maybe she could defeat them with sheer force. But with her level of reiatsu, that sloppy attack wouldn¡¯t work.

    He was about to intervene when, to his surprise, something happened.

    The girl¡¯s hands suddenly flared with a burst of potent spiritual energy.

    Boom!

    The wolf in mid-leap took the blow and was sent flying sideways, slamming into a tree with tremendous force.

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    Kaelith was taken aback.

 Chapter 238

    Chapter 238

    A thud.

    The wolf fell from the tree and stopped breathing on impact.

    Snow showered down from the branches, covering the wolf beneath its frosty blanket¡ªsaving the trouble of finding it a gravesite, Kaelith thought absently.

    Collecting his thoughts, he turned his gaze toward the orange-haired girl. She looked just as stunned. She knew she was stronger than most kids, but she hadn¡¯t expected to be this strong.

    Before she could figure out what had happened, two more wolves lunged at her simultaneously. The girl was so tense she nearly forgot to breathe. Gripping her branch, she swung with all her might¡ª

    Boom!

    Just like before, the moment she struck, her strength suddenly surged. The first wolf was sent flying with a yelp. By coincidence, it collided with the second wolf, and the two rolled away in a tangled heap.

    Seeing how fierce she was, the remaining wolves hesitated.

    Wolves always hunt with the goal of maximizing gain. If the prey put up too strong a fight, it wouldn¡¯t be worth the risk. A wounded leg today meant no more meals tomorrow.

    After some thought, the pack decided on a final attack. Three wolves emerged slowly, encircling the girl. Although the tree at her back protected her from behind, the other directions were still dangerous.

    She swallowed hard, her full attention on the wolves. A few seconds later, all three pounced.

    Unlike earlier, this time they staggered the timing just enough. The first wolf took another full-force blow from her branch and went flying. The second ducked under the swing, lashing her arm with its tail. Pain flared; the girl¡¯s face went pale, and her movements slowed.

    Seizing the moment, the third wolf lunged, jaws wide, aiming for her neck. She saw the rows of razor-sharp teeth inches away and felt a surge of despair.

    Bang!

    To her shock, the lunging wolf slammed into an invisible wall. It had put all its weight into the leap and was knocked back, yelping as it hit the snow.

    A figure descended from above, landing between her and the wolves. Seeing this newcomer, the wolves grew wary. They sensed danger from this man.

    Moments later, the lead wolf made its decision. With a low growl, it barked an order, and all the wolves that could still move turned tail and fled.

    Kaelith watched them vanish and felt a hint of admiration. Animals of the Soul Society really did have a keen sense for danger.

    He turned to the girl leaning against the tree. Initially, he had planned to save her and leave, but the power she displayed piqued his interest. Each time her strength flared, he sensed a peculiar surge of energy around her¡ªenough to make even someone of his Captain-level skill feel uneasy.

    Maybe he¡¯d caught Aizen¡¯s flue for studying strange phenomena. Kaelith now had a habit of investigating anything unusual.

    ¡°Hello there. I¡¯m Kaelith, a Shinigami. I saw your fight with those wolves¡ªit was impressive.¡±

    ¡°You must be hungry after that battle. I happen to live alone in a pretty big place. You¡¯re welcome to come stay, for as long as you¡¯d like. No problem at all.¡±

    Hearing this, the girl grew wary. Anyone who grew up in Rukongai would be no stranger to caution. Although she was grateful he had saved her, his words clearly hinted at ulterior motives.

    She forced a thin smile. ¡°Thank you for the offer, but I have something I need to do¡­¡±

    Kaelith waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not a bad person. I often help folks in Rukongai who have nowhere else to go. But it¡¯s your choice¡ªyou don¡¯t have to come. If you do, though, I¡¯ll take you to a restaurant for a good meal.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t help hesitating. In truth, she was starving. She had come to the mountains looking for food, only to find wolves instead. After that chase and fight, she was so hungry she felt dizzy.

    After a few seconds¡¯ thought, she nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    She made up her mind to fill her stomach first and run away afterward if needed.

    Kaelith nodded, clearly satisfied.

    ¡­

    In the restaurant, the girl stared wide-eyed at the scene before her. Half an hour earlier, Kaelith had led her into town for a meal. Because she was so hungry, she wolfed down three bowls of rice in one go, cautiously sampling some side dishes while worrying he might be upset. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She thought she had eaten quite a lot¡ªuntil she witnessed Kaelith. From the moment he sat down, he seemed to do nothing but devour plate after plate. In only half an hour, bowls and dishes were piled high beside him. The entire restaurant bustled just to keep bringing him more.

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s hearty appetite, the girl swallowed again. Her own appetite stirred anew. Do all Shinigami eat this much?

    Sensing her gaze, Kaelith looked up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t like the dishes? Why don¡¯t you order something else? I can finish that plate for you.¡±

    She quickly shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine with this¡­¡±

    Kaelith simply nodded, then raised a hand. ¡°Boss, three more bowls of rice for her!¡±

    The girl could only smile wryly. Still, despite his odd behavior, he didn¡¯t seem like a bad person at all.

    Once he¡¯d had his fill, Kaelith let out a long breath and looked content. He was about to say something but paused, as though recalling something important.

    ¡°By the way, I still don¡¯t know your name. Calling you ¡®girl¡¯ all the time feels like I¡¯m calling Soifon at home¡­so how about introducing yourself?¡±

    She nodded quickly. ¡°Ah¡­ I¡¯m Rangiku. Matsumoto Rangiku.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Kaelith paused in surprise. Matsumoto Rangiku¡ªthe future Lieutenant of the Tenth Division? He hadn¡¯t expected the random kid he rescued to be such a key figure in the story.

    He unconsciously glanced at a certain spot on her figure. Even at her young age, she already showed signs of¡­ promise. So that explains her future development.

    However, as far as he remembered, Rangiku had never displayed that sudden surge of strength she¡¯d used earlier. Was the plot shifting somehow?

    He decided to confirm the timeline.

    ¡°Rangiku, do you know a boy named Ichimaru Gin?¡±

 Chapter 239

    Chapter 239

    ¡°Ichimaru¡­ Gin?¡±

    Rangiku tilted her head, thought for a moment, then shook it. ¡°Never heard of him.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rare for kids in Rukongai to even have names, so if I¡¯d met someone like that, I definitely would¡¯ve remembered.¡±

    With that, she reached out with her chopsticks and cautiously picked up a small piece of grilled fish. Seeing that Kaelith wasn¡¯t angered, Rangiku breathed a quiet sigh of relief and happily continued eating.

    Kaelith pondered her answer. If he recalled correctly, Rangiku had known Ichimaru Gin since childhood¡ªthey wandered Rukongai together. After that, she got caught up in Aizen¡¯s experiment, which took part of her soul. Gin¡¯s grudge against Aizen stemmed from that incident.

    He looked at the girl across the table, cheerfully wolfing down her meal. On closer inspection, she did appear younger than she looked in the anime. Thinking back to how she¡¯d displayed that mysterious power while fighting the wolves, Kaelith suspected that might be what drew Aizen¡¯s interest.

    He smiled faintly. Meeting him first was her lucky break.

    Once they finished eating, the two left the restaurant. Kaelith stretched his arms overhead. Finding S¨­suke could wait; first, he¡¯d take Rangiku back to the 11th Division. After figuring out her curious ability, he¡¯d sign her up for the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy. And maybe ask Yoruichi to send a few people around here to search for Ichimaru Gin. That white-haired brat was a rare genius¡ªit¡¯d be a shame not to conscript him¡­ahem¡­bring him on board.

    Straightening his thoughts, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help feeling smug. Truly, he was the ultimate strategist of his time. Aizen? Kisuke? Mere child¡¯s play next to him.

    In high spirits, he glanced into the distance. Rangiku was sprinting down the street, aiming for crowded spots and using her small stature to dart under gaps in the throng. Whenever she got caught stealing food, this trick helped her slip away.

    Surely she¡¯d pull it off again today and escape that gullible Shinigami, or so she thought. With a little laugh, she told herself that no normal person would pay for a free meal for some stray kid in Rukongai. As good an actor as he seemed, she was convinced his behavior gave away his real intentions.

    Her glee faded as she slowed down. Ugh, stomachache. She¡¯d stuffed herself too much, then run right after¡ªher stomach was killing her. Face pale, she clutched her slightly bulging belly and leaned against a nearby wall. Well, she¡¯d already gotten far enough that even if the guy was a Shinigami, finding her wouldn¡¯t be easy. Better just rest here.

    She was about to sit when a voice came from beside her: ¡°Don¡¯t stop all at once¡ªwalk it off slowly first.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Rangiku turned and nearly popped her eyes out of her head. ¡°Y-y-you¡­¡±

    Kaelith stood right there. She almost dropped onto the ground in shock.

    ¡°Foolish child,¡± he teased. ¡°You didn¡¯t really think you could run away after eating a meal on my dime, did you?¡±

    With one hand on his hip and the other coyly covering his mouth, Kaelith let out a lofty chuckle. Rangiku was too stunned to mock his ridiculous pose.

    Gritting her teeth, she glared. ¡°So you do have some scheme after all!¡±

    ¡°Tch, of course.¡± Kaelith¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°In the World of the Living, there¡¯s an old saying: ¡®There¡¯s no free lunch.¡¯ For years, I¡¯ve been mooching off other people¡¯s meals, but no one¡¯s ever gotten a freebie out of me.¡±

    ¡°Rangiku, if you want to go, fine. Just pay me back for that meal first.¡±

    Her heart sank. It was a trap. Even though she guessed the outcome, she had no choice but to ask, ¡°How¡­how much?¡±

    ¡°Hm, let me think¡­¡± Kaelith paused, then held up one finger with a sunny smile. ¡°Ten million kan.¡±

    ¡°Just kill me now!¡± Rangiku gaped in disbelief. Ten million kan? She¡¯d never laid hands on even a full string of coins in her entire life!

    Folding his arms, Kaelith nodded. ¡°No money? Fine, then you can come work it off.¡±

    ¡°W-work it off?!¡±

    Mouth falling open, Rangiku stared at him as though he¡¯d lost his mind. How could he say something so outrageous with a straight face? She was under fifty¡ªhow was she supposed to ¡°work¡± for him? What kind of pervert would buy her?

    Seeing that Kaelith was dead serious, Rangiku turned and ran. She didn¡¯t get far before he snatched her up by the collar like a kitten.

    ¡°Wah! Let me go! I don¡¯t want to do that!¡±

    Rangiku cried out as Kaelith soared into the sky, cackling the whole way.

    ¡­

    They landed, and Kaelith set Rangiku on solid ground. Her eyes were swirling, nearly faint from the experience. Sometimes he had used Shunp¨­; other times he practically stomped on thin air, blasting shockwaves beneath his feet to propel them forward.

    If they¡¯d been in a secure container, it might have been bearable, but he carried her by the back of her collar, literally holding her life in his grasp. She almost blacked out multiple times.

    Now that they were back on the ground, Rangiku felt reborn. As she tried to steady herself, voices called out:

    ¡°Kaelith, sir!¡±

    ¡°Welcome back!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Thank you for your hard work, sir!¡±

    Rangiku looked around in surprise. A bunch of Shinigami dressed in black uniforms were bowing respectfully toward Kaelith. Among them were two figures approaching: one was a large dog, the other a dark-skinned man.

    ¡°Kaelith!¡± Komamura greeted him with a happy grin. Ever since he met Kaelith and Captain-Commander Yamamoto, he¡¯d gradually adapted to life in the Seireitei. The more he learned, the more grateful he was for his luck in meeting them. Had it not been for those two, he might still be wandering aimlessly.

    He handed Kaelith a gourd of water with his furry paw. Kaelith took it, downed several big gulps, and wiped his mouth with a satisfied sigh. Meanwhile, T¨­sen curiously ¡°looked¡± at Rangiku.

    ¡°Kaelith, who is this?¡±

    Kaelith grinned. ¡°This is Matsumoto Rangiku. I brought her back from Rukongai. Starting today, she¡¯s one of us!¡±

    No sooner had he spoken than a voice called from afar:

    ¡°Brought back from Rukongai?! Then she must be another powerhouse! Quickly, face me in battle!¡±

    Rangiku: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 240

    Chapter 240

    Seeing the man approaching from not far away, Rangiku¡¯s eyes went wide.

    He had long hair, his clothes were tattered and covered in dust, and his eyes glowed with a bloodthirsty light. His grin suggested rows of sharp fangs. In his hand, he casually held a long sword whose edge was full of nicks, as though the blade were just a toy.

    One solid cut from that thing would probably take months to heal.

    Instinctively, Rangiku hid behind Kaelith.

    Seeing her reaction, Kenpachi Zaraki frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Get out here and cross blades with me!¡±

    ¡°Why on earth would I want to fight a monster like you?!¡±

    Rangiku felt faint. Kenpachi gave her a puzzled look.

    Not long ago, Kaelith went to Rukongai, dragged him back, and Kenpachi turned out to be extremely strong.

    After that, Kaelith went again and brought back Komamura. Though Komamura wasn¡¯t as skilled, his brute strength made sparring with him enjoyable enough if Kenpachi went easy.

    In Kenpachi¡¯s mind, anyone Kaelith hauled back from Rukongai had to be a fearsome fighter.

    So why was this one so feeble?

    He grumbled, ¡°Anyone who can¡¯t fight has no place in the 11th Division!¡±

    Again, who said I wanted to join your division anyway? Rangiku lamented silently, but only dared to complain in her mind. The tall, gaunt man radiated such a terrifying pressure that she found herself ignoring her grievances with Kaelith just so she could stay behind him.

    Kaelith waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, Kenpachi. Rangiku¡¯s still young¡ªshe¡¯s not ready to fight yet. Let her grow up a bit, learn some skills, and then she can go head-to-head with you.¡±

    Kenpachi scratched his head. Grow up¡­ how long would that take? He had no idea and found it annoying to even think about.

    After a moment, he turned his gaze back to Kaelith, flashing a savage grin. ¡°If she won¡¯t fight, then you fight me, Boss! Lately I¡¯ve been eating a ton, and I¡¯m way stronger than before. I¡¯ll definitely win!¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°Come back and talk to me about being ¡®full¡¯ when you weigh 270 pounds.¡±

    Because Kenpachi had lived in Rukongai for so long, he was extremely thin despite his height. When he first arrived at the 11th Division¡ªat almost two meters tall¡ªhe weighed barely 130 pounds. Even so, he fought like a monster. Some people just defy the rules of nature.

    Kaelith had told him to eat as much as possible until he was at least 200 pounds. He wasn¡¯t the least bit worried about Kenpachi getting flabby; the guy burned outrageous amounts of energy every day brawling with the rest of the division.

    One by one, more Shinigami came over to greet Kaelith, bowing respectfully. Rangiku watched in surprise. Could this Kaelith person¡­ actually hold some lofty position among the Shinigami?

    While she was still stunned, a figure dropped from the sky into the courtyard. He had spiky white hair, and his haori¡ªminus its sleeves¡ªrevealed muscular arms. The newcomer was the Ninth Division Captain, Kensei Muguruma.

    Seeing him, Rangiku felt even more taken aback. Although she was from Rukongai, she¡¯d heard of the Shinigami¡¯s strongest elites¡ªthe Captains¡ªwho wore the white haori. This spiky-haired man was one of the top fighters?

    Should she kneel?

    As Rangiku looked on, Kensei landed, raised a hand, and smiled broadly at Kaelith.

    ¡°Hey, Commander Kaelith! Long time no see!¡±

    Years ago, he and R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi (the 3rd Division Captain) had once served in Kaelith¡¯s special operations squad. Ever since, both of them called Kaelith ¡°Commander.¡±

    Kaelith eyed Kensei curiously. He wondered how strong Kensei was now. On that trip to the World of the Living dealing with Quincy, Kensei, as a captain, had fallen for the enemy¡¯s trick and got blindsided¡ªan embarrassing fiasco.

    Maybe afterward he¡¯d worked hard to improve. If he was still lacking, maybe Kaelith would have him dragged into the 11th Division for a few months of hellish training¡­

    He waved casually, then smirked. ¡°Kensei, since you¡¯ve come all this way to the 11th Division, how about a little spar?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kensei blinked, then his eyes lit up. ¡°Sounds good to me! But hang on¡­ I came bearing a delivery.¡±

    With that, Kensei pulled a folded white garment from the bag he¡¯d been carrying.

    ¡°Oh, they finished it so soon?¡± Kaelith took it and snapped it open. It was a new white haori with a black, diamond-shaped design on the back, bearing the kanji for ¡°Eleven.¡±

    After examining the fresh haori, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction and slipped it on. The weather was chilly, and another layer certainly helped.

    Seeing Kaelith donning the captain¡¯s haori and conversing with Kensei, Rangiku blinked repeatedly. Wait¡­ Kaelith is also a captain?!

    That spiky-haired man had the number nine on his back. Kaelith¡¯s said eleven. And from how polite Kensei was to him, did bigger numbers mean higher rank? Did that make Kaelith stronger than ten other captains?

    Was he really that strong?

    Within a single day, Rangiku¡¯s young mind had been shattered by too many surprises. She felt like her entire worldview had flipped upside down.

    Initially, Kaelith was about to test Kensei himself, but when Kenpachi heard there was a chance for a fight, he insisted on going first. Kensei was curious about the newly appointed 11th Division Vice-Captain too, so the two left together for the training grounds.

    Kaelith, meanwhile, suddenly remembered the girl he¡¯d brought back. He found two female squad members and asked them to help Rangiku bathe and change into something warmer.

    A small note: these two ladies represented exactly half of the total number of women in the 11th Division.

    Right before leaving, Rangiku turned to Kaelith anxiously. ¡°What exactly do you want me to do?¡±

    He cocked his head. ¡°Become a Shinigami.¡±

    She stared, puzzled. ¡°Become a Shinigami¡­ what does that have to do with working off my debt?¡±

    Kaelith clicked his tongue and chuckled. ¡°When you think about it, this job is basically selling yourself to the Seireitei. We¡¯re all selling ourselves, one way or another.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That¡¯s definitely not how it works! Rangiku thought, exasperated. This guy was beyond strange. Yet, when he laughed like that, she couldn¡¯t help feeling oddly reassured.

    ¡­

    Close to sunset, Aizen arrived at the 11th Division. After asking a few squad members where Kaelith was, he learned that Kaelith was alone in his study. Aizen¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.

    Kaelith¡­ alone in a study? That was more unusual than any experiment subject volunteering for dissection.

 Chapter 241

    Chapter 241

    Aizen slid open the door to Kaelith¡¯s study.

    Inside the dimly lit room, Kaelith sat leaning forward in a chair, both elbows braced against his knees, chin resting on the backs of his hands. He looked deep in thought. Catching sight of Aizen, he blinked, then gave a slight nod.

    ¡°S¨­suke, good timing. Come in and sit.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen studied him, suspecting an illusion, but found nothing of the sort. He pulled over a chair and sat facing Kaelith.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Run into some trouble?¡±

    Kaelith nodded, brow furrowed as though choosing his words carefully. Aizen waited patiently in silence. After a moment, Kaelith spoke:

    ¡°S¨­suke, would you consider joining the Yurei family? We may be only minor nobles right now, but if I make the effort, climbing back to mid-level or even upper-noble status won¡¯t be too hard. I could give you all the power I have, and you wouldn¡¯t even need to change your name. How about it?¡±

    Aizen paused for a few seconds before shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kaelith. You know I don¡¯t like the spotlight. I much prefer being behind the scenes¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s your only reason?¡± Kaelith cut him off before he could finish. Straightening in his seat, he continued:

    ¡°Becoming a noble doesn¡¯t conflict with remaining behind the scenes. You¡¯re no less clever than I am¡ªyou could easily find a way to balance the two. The reason you¡¯re turning me down is that, in your eyes, a noble title is an insult, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Hearing that, Aizen finally betrayed a flicker of surprise. Looking at Kaelith¡¯s earnest expression, he smiled faintly.

    ¡°I thought you never gave these matters any thought.¡±

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t, at first. After all, everyone close to me was either a genius like you or came from a prestigious family like S¨­jun. Even those with weaker talent, like some of our friends, still lived at a level far above most. Places I couldn¡¯t see felt like they didn¡¯t exist at all.

    ¡°But lately¡­I¡¯ve come to realize that¡¯s not right. In Rukongai, there are children who can¡¯t even find a single drop of water. Commoners who wear nothing but thin rags, even in this freezing winter. Even here in the Seireitei, countless people become fodder in the meat grinder in the name of the Five Great Noble Houses. This world has existed for a million years. Crawling on all fours for that long¡ªshouldn¡¯t we be further along?

    ¡°You saw these truths long ago, which is why you scoff at nobility. When I became a noble, you never once offered congratulations, because in your view, it wasn¡¯t an honor¡ªit was a stain.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Yes, Kaelith. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve finally noticed. As expected¡­you truly are my friend.¡±

    A rare gleam lit his usually composed gaze. He raised one hand, and in a flash, a soundproof barrier enveloped the room.

    ¡°As you said, the Soul Society has existed for a million years, but nothing¡¯s really changed. Even the World of the Living, messy as it is, has outpaced us in many systems. Three main reasons lie at the root of this.

    ¡°First, Shinigami possess immense power. If personal might can solve any crisis¡ªthrough spiritual pressure or Zanpakut¨­ abilities¡ªthere¡¯s no motivation to progress further. Those already in power, benefitting from the status quo, see no need for change.

    ¡°Second is our longevity. Strong Shinigami can live for a thousand, even two thousand years. In that same time, humans cycle through a hundred generations; each shift between the young and the old brings another chance for transformation. But for Shinigami, that¡¯s only one or two generations. The pace of change barely registers.

    ¡°Lastly, there are the Five Great Noble Houses.¡±

    At that phrase, Aizen¡¯s eyes betrayed open contempt.

    ¡°Kaelith, do you know how the Five Great Noble Houses came to be?¡±

    Kaelith thought a moment. ¡°Appointed by the Soul King?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the anime, there wasn¡¯t much detail about the Soul King, so he could only guess. Aizen¡¯s tone was tinged with melancholy.

    ¡°The notion that ¡®the Soul King appointed them¡¯ is a nice cover story. Reality is far less pleasant. The Soul Society has existed for a million years. So what was the world like before that?

    ¡°A million years ago, the Three Worlds¡ªHuman, Soul, Hollow¡ªwere still one. Humans, souls, and Hollows all lived together. With no cycle in place, all spirits eventually merged into a single colossal Hollow that would bring about the end. To break that loop, the Soul King rose up. Using his godlike power, he destroyed that great Hollow, restarting the world¡¯s cycle.

    ¡°Upon witnessing the Soul King¡¯s power, the ancestors of the Five Great Noble Houses hatched a plan: separate the single world into three. Humans, souls, and Hollows would each reside in its own realm. Using the mutual pull and repulsion among them, souls would flow in a grand cycle.

    ¡°To accomplish this, the ancestor of the Shiba Clan¡ªyes, that Shiba¡ªwent to negotiate with the Soul King, seeking his cooperation. Meanwhile, the Tsunayashiro ancestor seized the opening to attack the Soul King. He didn¡¯t resist; he let them seal him, confine him, imprison him in the Royal Palace. Thus, his power became something they could control.

    ¡°With the Soul King¡¯s power, the Five Great Noble Houses completed the separation into three realms: the World of the Living, the Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo. Ever since, they¡¯ve enjoyed continuous authority. But their fear of the Soul King¡¯s retribution never ceased. Even though he never fought back, they constantly worried he would one day break his bonds and take vengeance.

    ¡°They used secret arts to trap him in an impossible state¡ªboth alive and dead. Then they severed his arms that governed ¡®forward¡¯ and ¡®stillness.¡¯ Even that wasn¡¯t enough. Over many ages, they cut out his heart, amputated his legs, tore out his organs¡ªremoving them one by one from his body. They scattered every fragment of his power across the Three Worlds so it would never reunite.

    ¡°By whittling down the Soul King¡¯s strength, they fabricated a ¡®king¡¯ they could control. And those who sealed him¡ªwho profited from his power¡ªbecame the earliest ruling class of the Soul Society. That¡¯s the real reason the Five Great Noble Houses reign eternally. It¡¯s also the wretched truth of the Soul King¡¯s existence.¡±

    Kaelith was left speechless for a long time. He had no reason to doubt Aizen¡¯s words; with Aizen¡¯s investigative abilities, he wouldn¡¯t speak of this unless he were certain. Though Kaelith had glimpsed the darker side of nobility, he never imagined such a repulsive history behind it all. They would do that to a being who willingly offered his strength, going so far as hacking him apart and scooping out his organs?

    After a prolonged silence, Kaelith regarded Aizen. In the anime, he¡¯d never really understood why Aizen¡ªan accomplished captain leading a comfortable life¡ªinsisted on rebellion. Especially that famous line: ¡°The vacant throne of heaven ends now.¡± Indeed, if the Soul King was just a mutilated hostage sustaining the Three Worlds, he wasn¡¯t really a ¡°king¡± at all. Aizen, with his personality, could never accept that once he knew.

    He also recalled Aizen¡¯s words to Urahara Kisuke after his defeat by Ichigo Kurosaki. Aizen had scorned Urahara, accusing him of knowing the truth yet doing nothing. Back then, Kaelith had assumed Aizen was just raving in delirium. Now it all made sense. Over the course of his life, Urahara must have uncovered the truth as well, but he¡¯d chosen to accept it. For someone like Aizen, that was intolerable.

    Kaelith suddenly felt like laughing. Beneath that calm exterior, Aizen was still a bit of a dreamer at heart.

    In the country Kaelith had lived in before he transmigrated, someone who devoted their entire life to confronting injustice¡ªespecially one that didn¡¯t personally affect them¡ªhad a special name.

    A Hero

    Raising his head, he looked at Aizen. ¡°S¨­suke, since you¡¯ve laid all this out, you must have a plan.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Aizen lifted his chin slightly. ¡°Kaelith, I¡¯m determined to change everything. The Soul King relinquished resistance, so let me¡ª¡± He paused, then looked at Kaelith and smiled. ¡°Let us resist in his place. Kaelith, you become the new Soul King. Then you can reshape it all. Nobility, darkness, injustice¡­we¡¯ll put an end to it here!¡±

    The instant he finished, Kaelith¡¯s face twisted with reluctance, and he shook his head vigorously, like a drenched dog shaking off water.

    ¡°No, no, no. Count me out. The very idea of sitting on some glittering throne, with a bunch of Shinigami bowing at my feet, makes my skin crawl.¡±

    Setting aside how boring that would be, it would also ruin his dream of making the Soul Society his personal paradise. Gaining a harem by wielding the Soul King¡¯s authority was nothing compared to the thrill of winning it on his own.

    He glanced at Aizen and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re better suited to that position than I am, S¨­suke. You¡¯re always so aloof anyway¡ªwhy not go be lonely on a nice, cold throne?¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes. Some friend indeed.

    Rising to his feet, he said with a trace of exasperation, ¡°Enough of that. Forget becoming Soul King¡ªright now, we can¡¯t even control the Soul Society. According to the texts, there are four fearsome Royal Guards in the Soul King¡¯s Palace, collectively known as the Zero Division. Their strength surpasses the entire Gotei 13. In other words, to stand a chance, we must grow more powerful. Once you can stand toe-to-toe with Captain-Commander Yamamoto, then decide if you want to be Soul King.¡±

    Kaelith wore a skeptical look. ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡ªmy teacher is invincible! I¡¯ll grant that the Royal Guard might surpass the Gotei 13 aside from him, but beyond the whole Gotei 13 including my teacher? I don¡¯t buy it.¡±

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely convinced either, but if we¡¯re serious about confronting them, we have to be prepared for the worst. The longer the game, the more we have to anticipate every outcome. One wrong move, and it¡¯s all over.

    ¡°Honestly¡­I never thought I¡¯d discuss such matters openly.¡± A slight smile tugged at his lips as he looked at Kaelith. ¡°Life is full of surprises, isn¡¯t it? Let¡¯s keep moving forward together, Kaelith.¡±

    With that, he dismissed the soundproof barrier and turned to leave. He was in high spirits; luck had certainly been on his side in meeting Kaelith. But before he could slide the door open, Kaelith blurred into motion, blocking his path.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen raised an eyebrow. Kaelith flashed him a grin.

    ¡°S¨­suke, don¡¯t leave just yet. You showed up at the perfect time. The Shin¡¯¨­ Academy group is back¡ªthey need a teacher. Why don¡¯t you give them a lesson?¡±

    Aizen closed his eyes, feeling his blood pressure rise. Here they were, fresh from discussing grand secrets and grand ideals¡ªonly to be derailed by trivial chores. Maybe meeting Kaelith wasn¡¯t such a blessing after all.

    But then, a sudden idea came to him. In the expectant gaze of Kaelith, Aizen¡¯s expression shifted into something rather sly.

    ¡°Kaelith, I think there¡¯s someone else more suited to that job than me. You¡¯ve been letting him hide for quite a while¡­it¡¯s time we drag him out. I can help.¡±

    With that, he smiled meaningfully.

 Chapter 242

    Chapter 242

    Deep in the mountains of Rukongai, a small hut perched halfway up one slope.

    Outside the hut, Kisuke Urahara sat on a small stool, humming a tune as he stoked the fire beneath a cooking pot. Once he finished adding firewood, he dipped a long-handled wooden ladle into the pot, giving the contents a gentle stir.

    Ever since fleeing the 2nd Division and hiding out here in the mountains, he felt as though his entire life had undergone a sublime transformation. No official duties, no mandatory attendance, no overtime, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªno Kaelith.

    Every day, he slept when he wanted, ate when he felt like it, and read books when he was bored. It was the perfect life. Or so he thought at first.

    Watching the pot of white mochi soup bubble away, Kisuke¡¯s expression remained calm. In the first few days, he believed this life of absolute leisure was everything he¡¯d dreamed of. But little by little, he began to sense something amiss. Though his days were easy, it felt like something was missing. The realization alarmed him.

    ¡°Get a grip, Kisuke,¡± he told himself. ¡°You¡¯ve been ¡®Kaelithed¡¯¡ªsnap out of it!¡±

    In desperation, he started giving himself tasks: writing a diary, chasing insects, hauling wood from the mountain to build small pieces of furniture, doing some light home renovation. These activities distracted him for a while, but soon lost their flavor.

    Kisuke fell into thought. Was running away truly the right choice?

    Probably. With Kaelith¡¯s personality, if Kisuke had stayed, he¡¯d surely have been dragged in as a scapegoat¡ªforced to become Captain of the 11th Division. That was the last thing he wanted. Sure, he¡¯d mastered Bankai while still young thanks to his Reish¨±kaku technique, but his spiritual pressure simply wasn¡¯t enough to be a real Captain. Had he taken the position, everyone would only see him as a half-baked sham.

    Anyway, reputation didn¡¯t matter much to him, but he prided himself on being a thinker. Leading the 11th Division¡ªa division devoted to pure combat¡ªwould have been an insult to his abilities. Honestly, no one else in the Seireitei fit the 11th Division better than Kaelith. So running away was definitely the right call. But ¡°right¡± didn¡¯t mean ¡°perfect.¡± He might have evaded that biggest pitfall, yet others loomed.

    Last week, in his restless boredom, he finally did something he¡¯d vowed never to do¡­

    Just as he reached out to remove the pot from the fire, Kisuke suddenly froze, eyes widening. Someone had shattered the cloaking barrier he¡¯d set up around the hut¡ªone he¡¯d reinforced multiple times. There were only so many individuals in the Soul Society capable of such a clean break.

    His thought was barely complete before a familiar laugh echoed around him:

    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­ Ha ha ha ha ha! Kisuke¡­where are you hiding? I¡¯ve come to see you¡­¡±

    Layer upon layer of sound waves seemed to reverberate from every direction, pounding at Kisuke¡¯s eardrums. Yet his face betrayed no surprise. He calmly took down the pot, ladled mochi soup into two bowls, set one aside, and lifted the other to sip from it.

    Shff! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The air beside him shimmered. Kaelith appeared in a distortion of space. Spotting Kisuke on his stool, unruffled and still savoring his soup, Kaelith arched an eyebrow.

    Kisuke looked up with an innocent smile. ¡°Kaelith, have a seat. I made some soup for you too.¡±

    Kaelith stared at him for a couple of seconds, then circled around to the other side of the outdoor hearth and plopped himself down heavily. He accepted the offered bowl, slurped half of it in a single go, and nodded.

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    ¡°Heh, glad to hear it. I¡¯ve been practicing my cooking lately.¡± Kisuke sounded rather pleased, and Kaelith drained the rest. Without warning, he blurred forward, clamping a hand around Kisuke¡¯s head and shoving him backward so he toppled to the ground. With a wild grin, Kaelith drew back a fist to strike.

    ¡°Kaelith, wait!¡±

    Though his face was pressed into the ground, Kisuke remained calm, raising a hand in protest. Under Kaelith¡¯s wary gaze, he reached into his robe and pulled out a book.

    ¡°Kaelith, look at this!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kaelith eased the grip on Kisuke¡¯s face and slid back, plopping himself down on Kisuke¡¯s stomach. He took the proffered book.

    The title read The Wisdom of Kaelith.

    At first glance, Kaelith snorted. ¡°Really? You trying the same trick you pulled on me before¡ªdangling a fake book to lure me into testing your experiments? Think I¡¯m a goldfish with a three-second memory?¡±

    His eyes narrowed, fist lifting once again. Kisuke only grinned. ¡°Please, open it first.¡±

    After a brief pause, Kaelith loosened his fist and flipped through the pages. Gradually, surprise registered on his face. During that earlier ¡°test¡± with the so-called book, only an outline had existed¡ªlittle more than a blank folder waiting for content.

    Now it was packed to the brim. Complete explanations, thorough references, meticulous notes on system designs¡­ Enough to be both a beginner¡¯s manual and an advanced guide for ¡°game engineers.¡± Even more impressive, each entry had two versions: one in terms of reishi (spiritual particles) and one in terms of ¡°device engineering.¡± With slight adjustments, it could even be published in the World of the Living to spark a gaming revolution.

    Kaelith felt a rush of emotion. Then Kisuke drew out a second volume and passed it over. Kaelith took it and skimmed a few pages¡ªhis pupils dilated. This was the upgraded LSP2 engine!

    The first LSP engine (LSP1) had focused on colorized pixel art. Pixel games already existed in the World of the Living, but most were strictly black-and-white. LSP1 had achieved full color and improved resolution. Now LSP2 took resolution to another level entirely¡ªso much so that ¡°pixel¡± no longer did it justice. It also addressed previous issues like lag and crashes.

    Thanks to the Kuchiki and Shih¨­in familie¡¯s backing, LSP1 had found a small market in the Soul Society. But because the bulk of resources was concentrated in the Seireitei and the first twenty districts of Rukongai¡ªwhere even ¡°wealthy¡± folks had only just enough to manage¡ªthe market was limited. Widespread adoption of gaming was unrealistic until Aizen¡¯s ambitions could be realized.

    However, with these two books, Kaelith¡¯s console could finally break into the World of the Living.

    Gazing at Kisuke, who was still pinned beneath him, Kaelith grinned broadly. ¡°Kisuke, you¡¯re truly my very own brilliant Doraemon!¡±

    He clapped Kisuke¡¯s shoulder a few times, all thought of beating him forgotten. Kisuke winced as Kaelith¡¯s enthusiasm made his shoulder throb, but he forced a smile. He didn¡¯t know who ¡°Doraemon¡± might be (Kaelith¡¯s reference had gone over his head), yet it was clearly a compliment. And with that, it seemed he¡¯d survived this predicament.

    Then Kaelith gave him a curious look. ¡°So you ran off all the way here, risking desertion, just to write these?¡± Judging from the ink and paper, Kaelith could see the content was recently produced. For a classic slacker like Kisuke, the chance to live in peace should have meant sleeping and tinkering idly. Why work so hard on all this?

    Kisuke¡¯s face froze. He opened his mouth. Admitting he¡¯d been bored stiff and actually missed being worked like a dog would only get him teased for a year. After a brief hesitation, he coughed and changed the subject.

    ¡°Ahem¡­ Kaelith, could you, um¡­maybe get off me first?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, sure.¡±

    Still seated on his midsection, Kaelith planted both feet on the ground, pivoted, and stood up. Kisuke almost puked out last night¡¯s dinner. Struggling upright, he looked at Kaelith again. The man was hugging those two books, eyes sparkling with delight.

    Once Kaelith tucked the books away, Kisuke spoke. ¡°Kaelith, does this mean you¡¯ve stepped down from the 11th Division?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Nope,¡± Kaelith said, shaking his head. ¡°No one there yet can fully take over. I¡¯ve got a good successor in mind, but he still needs more time.¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s face went pale. He¡¯d assumed Kaelith must have found a new scapegoat by now, and had only come to drag him back for some other chore. But it turned out there was no scapegoat yet. Which meant Kisuke was still in danger.

    He figured he should at least say something¡ªmaybe deflect Kaelith¡¯s attention to someone else. Aizen would make a decent candidate, right? He was strong, cunning¡­

    Before Kisuke could open his mouth, Kaelith leveled a warning look at him. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re about to say, but my gut tells me you¡¯d do well to keep it inside. You only get one life.¡±

    Kisuke froze. Kaelith waved dismissively. ¡°Relax. I¡¯m not here to make you a captain this time. Over these past months in the 11th Division, I¡¯ve come to understand them. To keep those roughnecks in line, you need someone who can be crude or refined as the situation demands. With your personality, they¡¯d walk all over you. You¡¯d end up like Captain Nagaki.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡± Kisuke pressed his lips together. It was nice not being forced into the captain¡¯s seat, but Kaelith¡¯s offhand comment about how they¡¯d underestimate Kisuke still stung his pride. He swallowed it down.

    When Kaelith explained he only wanted Kisuke back to teach a few promising rookies, Kisuke felt relieved. By Kaelith¡¯s usual standard of exploitation, that was nothing. He could handle it easily¡­until he realized, with a sudden grimace, that at some point he¡¯d started viewing a ¡°lighter workload¡± as ¡°not really work.¡±

    He¡¯d changed.

    After a few seconds, though, he calmed down. Life was like certain¡­unavoidable things. If you can¡¯t escape it, learn to live with it. That was his new reality: Kaelith would forever be a looming shadow over his life. Might as well adapt sooner than later.

    Seeing Kisuke¡¯s face shift through a range of expressions, Kaelith wondered if he should send the man to the 4th Division for a checkup¡­

    ¡­

    Over the next few days, Kaelith paid a visit to the World of the Living. He found Ishida S¨­ken and asked the old Quincy to establish a company, recruit talent, and begin developing consoles and games. S¨­ken agreed without hesitation. Before long, a firm called ¡°San-Tend¨­¡± was founded in Karakura Town.

    On his first night back in the World of the Living, Kaelith found an uninvited guest in his room: a figure in a white uniform, peaked cap, and long black hair. Bambietta, whom he¡¯d stationed here to keep tabs on the local Quincy. She strongly objected to his ¡°use and abandon¡± approach¡ªsending her here and then never showing up again. As retribution, she demanded he ¡°take responsibility¡± and ¡°punish¡± her again.

    Though Kaelith couldn¡¯t fathom that bizarre request, he had to admit people came in all kinds. Using a variety of small, medium, and large ¡°toys,¡± along with his own ¡°holy sword,¡± he thoroughly satisfied Bambietta¡¯s demands. By the time he left for the Soul Society, she still couldn¡¯t get out of bed. Yet even after all that, Bambietta eagerly looked forward to a next time.

    Returning to the Soul Society, Kaelith entered a rare period of relative calm that lasted almost a year. He caused no serious commotion, merely handled his captain duties, sparred with Kenpachi and the others, took casual strolls around the Seireitei, and mooched meals whenever the chance arose. Occasionally, he used his shadow-manipulation power to help the Kid¨­ Corps search for the Wandenreich¡¯s hidden domain.

    At first, Yamamoto suspected his troublesome disciple was biding his time for some big stunt, remaining on high alert. But as the months passed, he gradually relaxed. Perhaps Kaelith had developed a real sense of responsibility after taking on the captaincy. Yamamoto was pleased enough to even call Kaelith over and teach him some new close-combat techniques he¡¯d recently devised.

    After nearly a year of this, Kaelith finally concluded that Yamamoto had fully let down his guard. He flashed a wicked grin. Today¡­he would lead loyal followers to storm the Armory and seize Luoyang¡ª

    Well, not quite.

    In a secret lab somewhere in Rukongai, Kaelith stood side by side with S¨­suke. They exchanged glances, and S¨­suke nodded, pressing a switch. A Garganta opened in the air with a whoosh. Without hesitation, they plunged inside.

    The two landed on the familiar silver-white sands of Hueco Mundo, where Kaelith let out a manic laugh.

    ¡°Hueco Mundo, your emperor has returned!¡±

 Chapter 243

    Chapter 243

    Ever since Kaelith last slipped away to tussle with Las Noches, Yamamoto had been keeping close tabs on his movements. The moment Kaelith showed any sign of leaving the Soul Society without permission, the old man would catch him in the act and drag him back.

    That was why Kaelith spent a whole year lulling Yamamoto into lowering his guard. After all, you can¡¯t keep a thief out forever if you¡¯re on alert every single day. At last, the old codger slipped up.

    Emperor Kaelith had returned to Shurima¡ªat least, that was how he put it.

    Watching Kaelith look so smug, Aizen couldn¡¯t help letting out a small laugh. Once they¡¯d confirmed there were no threats nearby, the two raced across the desert dunes until they arrived at a certain expanse of sand. Aizen released a pulse of reiatsu from his feet, sending out a distinctive vibration. A few seconds later, the silver sand turned into a puddle of inky ¡°quicksand.¡±

    They both sank into it, revealing a silver, futuristic-style laboratory hidden underneath. Hearing the commotion, Szayelaporro looked up. Seeing Kaelith, he broke into a delighted grin.

    ¡°Ah, Boss! You finally managed to sneak out of the Soul Society?¡±

    He spread his arms wide, coming forward in an attempt to hug. Kaelith lifted an arm to block him, and Szayelaporro dodged back and tried again. The two of them dodged and parried each other¡¯s moves like a pair of kung-fu actors in an old movie.

    Aizen stood there, speechless.

    Just then, three newcomers approached. One lion, one deer, one snake¡ªMila Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun. They dipped their heads respectfully.

    ¡°Kaelith-sama!¡±

    Still adopting a Wing Chun stance to fend off Szayelaporro, Kaelith glanced their way.

    ¡°Why are you three here¡­didn¡¯t you stay with Harribel?¡±

    Sung-Sun gave a wry smile.

    ¡°Harribel-sama¡¯s been pestered by a strange individual lately. That weirdo¡¯s strength is on par with hers. She didn¡¯t want us getting caught up in the fighting, so she told us to lay low here.¡±

    ¡°A weirdo?¡± Kaelith was intrigued. Harribel was a Vasto Lorde. Even if she lacked extensive combat experience¡ªgiven her unusual evolution¡ªvery few in Hueco Mundo could threaten her besides Baraggan or Senzo Tsunayashiro. Sung-Sun knew those names, so she wouldn¡¯t have called either one a ¡°weirdo.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s expression turned serious. He fixed Sung-Sun with a sharp look, his features seeming suddenly more chiseled.

    ¡°Sung-Sun. Any idea where this ¡®weirdo¡¯ is now?¡±

    Blinking in surprise, she replied,

    ¡°When Harribel-sama left, she headed in the direction opposite the moon. If you¡¯re planning to find her, you could start that way.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. Aizen opened his mouth as if to speak, but Kaelith sprang upward, vanishing through the shadowy ceiling at once. Aizen closed his eyes for a moment, visibly suppressing an oncoming headache. Then he turned back to inspect Szayelaporro¡¯s latest research.

    Unlike Kaelith, Aizen had been visiting Hueco Mundo regularly over the past year. Initially, Szayelaporro didn¡¯t think much of him; he assumed Aizen was just another subordinate, much like himself, working under Kaelith.

    But the more they interacted, the more Szayelaporro¡¯s views were upended. Whether it was knowledge of Shinigami and Hollow physiology, his expertise in pharmacology, or the terrifying power he occasionally revealed, Aizen never failed to astound him. Szayelaporro stopped resisting whenever Aizen asked to see his experiments and even offered explanations on his own.

    ¡°Lord Aizen, over here¡ªthis wave chart is from the tests you requested, mixing reiatsu from Shinigami and Hollows. Frankly, it appears impossible to merge the two. We can¡¯t achieve the ¡®qualitative leap¡¯ you predicted. Perhaps we should shelve these experiments for now and focus on physical enhancement?¡±

    Aizen shook his head.

    ¡°Continue until you find a breakthrough.¡±

    Szayelaporro frowned. Had anyone else spoken to him like that, he would¡¯ve reached for his blade in an instant. But in this man¡¯s case, Szayelaporro recognized true capability. He had no wish to oppose him unless strictly necessary. After a brief hesitation, he nodded.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    He still seemed reluctant, though, and Aizen gave him a faintly superior smile.

    ¡°Szayelaporro, perhaps right now you can¡¯t imagine such a thing. But one day, you¡¯ll see the greatness behind it. You¡¯ll take pride in knowing you had a hand in these experiments.¡±

    Taken aback by Aizen¡¯s resolute confidence, Szayelaporro swallowed, uncertain why Aizen was so sure. Still, he placed a hand over his chest and gave a respectful bow.

    ¡°Yes¡­I understand.¡±

    Aizen nodded, turning to leave. Szayelaporro couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Lord Aizen, are you heading after the Boss?¡±

    Aizen hummed his assent. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Szayelaporro scowled slightly. ¡°Lord Aizen, with your intellect and ability, you must see it¡ªKaelith-sama may be¡­exceptional, but deep down, isn¡¯t he just a fighter, someone who loves a good brawl? His goals and vision differ from yours and mine. Why spend your time following him instead of dedicating yourself here? With your help, our research would advance so much faster.¡±

    Aizen stopped and looked back, the hint of a smirk on his lips.

    ¡°Szayelaporro, how much do you think you understand about this world? You pride yourself on wit and knowledge, but it¡¯s only thanks to your long lifespan that you¡¯ve cobbled together those scraps. You struggle just to see yourself clearly¡ªhow can you claim to share my view of things?

    ¡°But if you really want to know, fine.

    The things Kaelith sees and seeks lie far beyond your grasp. Don¡¯t use your feeble mind to measure someone you know nothing about.¡±

    The instant those words fell, Aizen lifted his head, eyes radiating icy authority. Szayelaporro stiffened, and for a moment¡ªdespite being a self-evolved Vasto Lorde-level Arrancar¡ªhe felt a crushing pressure, barely resisting the urge to kneel.

    By the time he snapped out of it, Aizen was gone. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Szayelaporro stood there, lost in deep thought.

 Chapter 244

    Chapter 244

    A thunderous blast tore through the night sky, a Cero striking the silver desert and blasting a massive crater into the sand. The explosion hurled a figure backward.

    Harribel gazed wearily at the molten pit before her. All she wanted was a quiet life¡ªwhy did strange people keep pestering her?

    Landing on the ground, her long, shark-like tail swished behind her. Sensing danger closing in, her expression changed. She raised the huge white bone-sword across her chest¡ª

    Clang!

    A long lance slammed into her blade, sparks flying on impact. The force behind that lance was terrifying; even Harribel, a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow who¡¯d partially become an Arrancar, found it hard to bear.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    Harribel pushed upward, deflecting the lance. Then she used her bone-sword¡¯s shorter reach to her advantage, slashing in a tight horizontal arc. But just before the blade landed, her opponent flashed away in a streak of green light, retreating several dozen meters in an instant.

    Harribel froze momentarily. That speed¡­

    Now at a distance, the enemy shook out her arm and readjusted her grip on the lance. She, too, was a Hollow.

    From the waist up, she resembled a human with an antelope-style mask covering her face. Though the mask had several cracks, it wasn¡¯t shattered the way Harribel¡¯s was.

    Judging by the curve of the torso from neck to abdomen, this Hollow was female. But below the navel, she had the body of a four-legged beast, covered in thick, soft fur.

    By Arrancar standards, she was weaker than Harribel. However, unlike Harribel¡ªwho had grown stronger by absorbing reishi rather than engaging in constant combat¡ªthis one had gone through countless brutal battles. Naturally, she fought on a level Harribel¡¯s ¡°eat-and-grow¡± style couldn¡¯t easily match.

    Watching this antelope knight, Harribel frowned. ¡°Who are you¡­some new subordinate of Baraggan? We have no quarrel. Why chase me so relentlessly?¡±

    The antelope knight shook her head. ¡°My name is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. I¡¯m not one of Baraggan¡¯s men. I¡¯m pursuing you because of your betrayal.¡±

    ¡°Betrayal?¡±

    Harribel was puzzled. She¡¯d never joined any group since her days as an Adjuchas. How could she betray someone she¡¯d never served?

    Nelliel spoke calmly. ¡°Harribel, did you not ally with a Shinigami to bring harm to Hueco Mundo?¡±

    Harribel almost denied it outright¡ªshe and her three companions had always wandered around Hueco Mundo, surviving on their own. How could they possibly threaten the entire realm? Yet the words died in her throat.

    Allying with a Shinigami¡­

    She couldn¡¯t exactly refute it. After Kaelith saved her a few times, they had forged a close bond. Calling it an alliance wasn¡¯t wrong.

    After a pause, she said, ¡°It¡¯s true I have a certain relationship with a Shinigami, but I¡¯ve never harmed Hueco Mundo.¡±

    Nelliel shook her head. ¡°Lies are meaningless. Before coming after you, I investigated. You and that Shinigami attacked Las Noches, causing many Adjuchas to die. Without question, that¡¯s a betrayal.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Harribel¡¯s brow twitched. What nonsense¡ªshe hadn¡¯t chosen to fight Las Noches of her own free will. Baraggan had tried to recruit her by capturing her companions. Besides, wasn¡¯t Baraggan the first to collude with a Shinigami? If Nelliel hated Hollow-Shinigami alliances, she ought to challenge him instead!

    A flood of retorts rose within her, but it wasn¡¯t in her nature to rapid-fire them like a machine gun. After a few seconds of silence, she sighed.

    ¡°I understand. If you¡¯re convinced, there¡¯s nothing I can say. I¡¯ll have to defeat you first before anything else.¡±

    She brandished her bone-sword.

    Nelliel nodded. ¡°For the sake of justice, I, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, will strike you down here!¡±

    She raised her lance, galloping forward on four hooves. One golden reiatsu, one green reiatsu¡ªtwo streaks of light clashed in midair. Waves of pressure radiated outward, flattening dunes and melting the ground beneath them.

    They exchanged dozens of blows before Harribel realized she was slowly losing ground. Though she had greater reiatsu and strength, her every full-force strike was deftly diverted, leaving her open to attacks when her guard was momentarily down. If this continued, she would lose.

    She came up with a plan. If a prolonged battle put her at a disadvantage, she¡¯d use a single decisive blow. Forcing Nelliel back with a heavy slash, she pointed her bone-sword at the other Hollow. A swirling orb of gold took shape, rotating rapidly, infused with terrifying spiritual power. A Vice-Captain-level Shinigami would have no choice but to flee at the sight of it.

    Yet Nelliel showed not the slightest fear, almost as though facing the Cero with ease. Beneath her antelope mask, she opened her mouth.

    ¡°Cero!!¡±

    Harribel¡¯s golden sphere flared at the tip of her blade, erupting in a blazing beam that engulfed Nelliel. Harribel relaxed slightly. She¡¯d won. Though she hadn¡¯t used her full power¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to kill¡ªthis blast was still nothing an unguarded body could withstand. She lowered her sword, preparing to leave.

    But then she felt something and froze, eyes snapping back to Nelliel¡¯s direction. There stood Nelliel, hovering in the air, jaws agape. That supposedly unstoppable Cero was rushing from all around into her mouth, as if a pool of water meeting a vacuum pump.

    Having swallowed the entire Cero, Nelliel paused to gather the energy. Then she opened her mouth again. There was no charge time. A Cero many times stronger than Harribel¡¯s own roared out toward her. Caught off guard, Harribel had virtually no chance to dodge.

    Who could¡¯ve anticipated an opponent capable of absorbing attacks and spitting them back? Even the original Ultraman wouldn¡¯t see that one coming!

    A note of desperation flashed through Harribel. She prepared to fight to the death. But at that instant, a figure descended from above, landing in front of her. As Harribel watched, Kaelith stood there, white haori fluttering in the pinkish glow of the Cero as though he, too, were lit up from within.

    In the next second, blue flames erupted from both his shoulders and arms. His dashing white haori was instantly incinerated.

 Chapter 245

    Chapter 245

    Another 2-in-1 chapter

    --------------- S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Shunh¨­: Jigoku Mud Truck!!¡±

    Amid the dazzling flare of the Cero, Kaelith grinned. Blue flames engulfed his upper body, and wreathed in that fierce blaze, he charged forward like a maddened bull.

    Harribel¡¯s eyes went wide. She wanted to warn Kaelith that the opponent¡¯s Cero was no ordinary one. But before she could speak, he was already rushing in.

    Boom!!

    The moment Kaelith¡¯s Shunh¨­ clashed against the Cero, a terrifying shockwave erupted, rippling in all directions. Harribel hastily raised her arms, generating a defensive layer of reishi. The violent air currents howled for more than ten seconds before gradually subsiding.

    Waving away the swirling dust, Harribel peered ahead and saw the supposed ¡°heroic figure¡± charging forward with wild laughter. In midair, Kaelith left a streak of brilliant blue behind him as he reached out to grab Neliel. Neliel, on the other hand, looked extremely wary, fleeing at high speed and leaving a long swath of green light.

    A streak of blue and a streak of green spiraled through the sky like two strands of DNA.

    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­ Little girl, there¡¯s no escaping my grasp! Surrender peacefully, and you¡¯ll be spared unnecessary pain!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s grin was sinister, the flames around him making him look like a demon incarnate. Even Neliel¡ªaccustomed to the monstrous sights of Hueco Mundo¡ªfelt an involuntary twinge of panic. During that earlier head-on clash of Ceros, Kaelith¡¯s upper garments had been burned to ash, revealing his lean, muscular torso. The sight made Neliel¡¯s head spin.

    Contrary to appearances, his fighting style, though seeming reckless, was actually full of technique and timing, again he would stomp on the air in a peculiar way, unleashing blasts of force to accelerate himself forward. Had she not possessed her own ¡°hyper-acceleration,¡± she might already have been caught.

    What frightened her most was that Kaelith hadn¡¯t even drawn his Zanpakut¨­ yet. Every Shinigami supposedly had a unique power that emerged by chanting a release command. Without knowing what his Zanpakut¨­ did, she couldn¡¯t act rashly.

    She¡¯d barely arrived at that decision when Kaelith, who had been matching her pace, suddenly sped up.

    ¡°One-Bone: Acceleration Mode!!¡±

    With a fierce step off the air, Kaelith shot forward like a cannonball, hurtling toward Neliel. She had grown somewhat accustomed to this trick. Engaging her own hyper-acceleration and dragging along a green afterimage, she shifted sideways. Kaelith¡¯s charge could only go in a straight line; if she ran sideways, she should be safe.

    Or so she thought¡ªuntil she noticed Kaelith flashing her a weird grin as he swept past.

    ¡°Rinbo: Hengyoku!¡±

    What was that supposed to mean?

    Neliel instinctively glanced around, checking if he¡¯d laid some trap. Nothing. The space was wide open, nothing obstructing her path. Yet the very instant she concluded that, a sharp, stinging sensation sliced across her back.

    Rip!

    A deep wound streaked from her left shoulder down to her right lower back, sending blood spurting out. Neliel stared in shock as her strength drained away, and she plummeted from the sky.

    Thud!

    From hundreds of meters high, Neliel crashed into a dune, sending clouds of sand billowing up. Legs together, Kaelith slowly descended, like a Unit-06 that had just thrown the Spear of Cassius.

    ¡°Kaelith, thank you for helping me,¡± Harribel said, bowing slightly as she approached.

    Kaelith only nodded, though he felt a faint pang of disappointment. When Sung-Sun told him a ¡°weirdo¡± was chasing Harribel, the first thing that popped into his mind was Coyote Starrk. Considering Harribel¡¯s strength, it might take a fully Hollowfied Arrancar to push her back. Kaelith had been anticipating that it would be Starrk and, by extension, Lilynette¡ªmostly out of curiosity about their soul-splitting power. He definitely wasn¡¯t excited to get more experimental subjects for a certain friend or anything like that¡­

    But it turned out the one hounding Harribel was Neliel, which was fine but not nearly as interesting as Lilynette would have been.

    As Kaelith was pondering this, Neliel sprang out of the sand pit. Half-human, half-antelope, she flipped in midair and landed steadily on the desert floor. Glancing up at Kaelith floating overhead, her eyes were full of shock.

    This Shinigami¡­was unbelievably strong. No wonder Harribel had seemingly sided with him. With power like that, surrender might indeed be reasonable. Neliel took a deep breath, her grip tightening around her lance. Even if she lacked the upper hand, she¡¯d never allow someone to trample Hueco Mundo unchecked. If this man planned to destroy the realm, he¡¯d have to step over her body first!

    Seeing Neliel¡¯s resolute look, Kaelith arched an eyebrow curiously. ¡°You¡¯re Nel, right?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t address me so familiarly.¡± Her voice was icy.

    Kaelith acted as though he hadn¡¯t heard. He cocked his head. ¡°If I recall, you¡¯ve never been the sort who relishes bloodshed or combat. Why attack Harribel?¡±

    In a calm tone, Neliel repeated what she had told Harribel. Kaelith sneered. ¡°So allying with a Shinigami can¡¯t possibly be ¡®justice?¡¯ I never expected someone who claims to stand for righteousness to have such a narrow perspective.¡±

    ¡°Who decided Hueco Mundo can only belong to Hollows? A Shinigami might also want to own land bathed in moonlight. I haven¡¯t committed any wrongdoing. Why am I automatically on the wrong side just because I¡¯m a Shinigami? That¡¯s malicious discrimination. A Shinigami¡¯s life matters too!¡±

    Neliel fell silent for a few seconds. Then she shook her head. ¡°No, you¡¯ve got it wrong. If Hollows and Shinigami were evenly matched, we could talk about balance. But as it stands, Shinigami overwhelmingly dominate. Our only advantage here in Hueco Mundo is the vast, elusive terrain. If a Shinigami enlists help from a few Hollows and launches a large-scale invasion, it¡¯s catastrophic. As a guardian of justice, I have to stand with the weaker side. You are my enemy.¡±

    Kaelith burst out laughing. ¡°You stand with the weaker side? Fine. Then how about a deal: I, Kaelith, swear never to guide an army of Shinigami here. Meanwhile, I¡¯m already facing Senzo Tsunayashiro and Baraggan¡¯s pursuit all alone. In that fight, who¡¯s weaker?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Neliel paused to think. A few seconds later, she spoke quietly. ¡°Relatively speaking¡­you are the weaker one.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Kaelith clapped his hands. ¡°Then you, as a knight who protects the weak, have an obligation to protect me. As long as I don¡¯t break our contract by bringing a Shinigami force here, you¡¯ll safeguard me until those two give up hunting me. How about that?¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Neliel hesitated.

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Knight? Is it because I¡¯m a Shinigami that you don¡¯t care if the strong crush me?¡±

    ¡°No, that isn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then you do discriminate against me?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Neliel stood there, at a loss. She thought for a long while. It all came down to the same conclusion: Baraggan was undeniably near the top of Hueco Mundo. The so-called ¡°traitor¡± Shinigami had enough power to strike deals with him. Together, they commanded numerous Adjuchas and Shinigami forces.

    Facing such a huge alliance, Kaelith was definitely the underdog. As one sworn to justice, she had a duty to protect him¡ªand in doing so, could also keep an eye on him, ensuring he never led an invasion of Shinigami here.

    Firming her resolve, she nodded. ¡°Very well.¡±

    Bending slightly at the waist, Neliel declared in a formal tone, ¡°I, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, hereby make my vow. For the duration of this pact, I shall do all in my power to safeguard¡­¡± She paused.

    Harribel cut in softly, ¡°Kaelith.¡±

    Neliel inclined her head. ¡°To safeguard Kaelith, and in return, Kaelith will not lead any Shinigami force into Hueco Mundo. This contract shall last until he is free from Las Noches¡¯s pursuit.¡±

    Kaelith grinned, raising a hand in a thumbs-up. Neliel gave a thumbs-up in return, their fingers meeting in midair.

    ¡°Contract complete!¡±

    ¡­

    Aizen was on his way to offer support when he saw Kaelith and the others returning. Besides Harribel, there was someone new. He looked inquiringly at Kaelith, and Neliel, alarmed to see another Shinigami, also glanced over for an explanation.

    Smiling, Kaelith gestured toward Neliel. ¡°S¨­suke, this is Neliel. She¡¯s my new bodyguard. Like Harribel, she¡¯s a Vasto Lorde¡ªvery powerful. You know how dangerous Hueco Mundo is for someone as weak as me, so I¡¯ve hired a guard.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    The amount of information was overwhelming. Ignoring that silly remark about Kaelith being weak, the rest was startling enough. In just a short time away, he¡¯d gotten another Vasto Lorde on his side. According to Aizen¡¯s intel, there were fewer than ten Vasto Lordes in all of Hueco Mundo. Yet Kaelith alone already controlled three of them if you counted Harribel, Neliel, and Szayelaporro. At this rate, his top-tier fighting force nearly matched Las Noches.

    Aizen observed Kaelith¡¯s goofy grin and lifted a corner of his mouth. As expected of someone he had set his sights on¡ªKaelith had a natural gift for winning allies. He gave Neliel a polite nod by way of greeting.

    Kaelith then turned to Neliel. ¡°Nel, this is my counselor, Aizen S¨­suke, courtesy name Wolong, religious name F¨¨ngch¨².¡±

    ¡°Looking across the Soul Society, aside from me, he¡¯s the top mind when it comes to strategy. We¡¯re like insulin and hyperglycemia¡ªtightly bound, deeply connected. Even coming here to Hueco Mundo, I can¡¯t go without him.¡±

    Understanding dawned on Neliel. So it was just one companion, not a whole Shinigami army. That didn¡¯t really break her oath; Kaelith still seemed to be the underdog in a conflict with Las Noches.

    ¡­

    Back in the lab, Kaelith introduced Szayelaporro to Neliel. She eyed the pink-haired weirdo in silence. Though she¡¯d had little direct contact with Las Noches, she did have a sense of their capabilities. Plenty of Adjuchas, but very few Vasto Lordes¡ªmaybe only one or two. Yet here Kaelith was, with two under his command already. Counting herself, that made three Vasto Lordes on his side. Suddenly she wondered who really was weaker.

    Just then Kaelith sighed. ¡°I hear that Emperor Baraggan has a mystical power. Even a Vasto Lorde can be finished off if he touches them with it. Numbers don¡¯t matter against such a terrifying force.¡±

    Neliel gave a slight nod. That made sense. Kaelith might have exaggerated a bit, but it was true that Baraggan possessed a special ability, something that made him nearly unbeatable once he unleashed it.

    Her thoughts settled, Neliel remained silent. Meanwhile, Kaelith glanced at Szayelaporro. Over his time dealing with Szayelaporro, he¡¯d discovered why Szayelaporro hadn¡¯t grown stronger: unlike most Hollows focused on power, Szayelaporro cared almost entirely about research.

    He¡¯d been working to enhance his unique skill by altering the ¡°underlying code¡± of his existence, splitting his soul to create a new body more easily modified, in hopes of evolving. Whether it would succeed or not, the cost was a massive downgrade in combat ability¡ªlikely why he ended up only ranked eighth in the original timeline.

    Kaelith considered ¡°helping¡± him along, splitting Szayelaporro¡¯s soul now. Then he¡¯d have only two Vasto Lordes left, ensuring Neliel¡¯s loyalty would remain firm¡­ Heh heh.

    Sensing Kaelith¡¯s stare, Szayelaporro stiffened, feeling raw malice, as though the man wanted to drag him down to hell. Had his earlier heresy while talking to Aizen been revealed?

    Awkwardly, he forced a smile, cold sweat trickling down his spine. He had always seen Kaelith as gentle enough¡ªbut apparently, when provoked, Kaelith radiated this terrifying pressure. His respect for Kaelith climbed another notch.

    Watching them, Aizen quickly guessed what had transpired. Only Kaelith would pretend to be weak and ask to be ¡°protected.¡± Aizen himself could never pull off such a stunt. After Kaelith finished convincing Neliel, Aizen stepped over.

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t forget why we¡¯re here.¡±

 Chapter 246

    Chapter 246

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t forget our main objective.¡±

    ¡°Main objective? What main objective?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling a spike in blood pressure. Kaelith gave an awkward cough.

    ¡°I-I know what you¡¯re talking about. Of course I do.¡±

    With a sheepish chuckle, he patted the Zanpakut¨­ at his waist.

    ¡°I¡¯m all set. That skirmish just now was my warm-up.¡±

    The reason Kaelith risked sneaking into Hueco Mundo, even with the chance of Yamamoto discovering him, was simple: Aizen¡¯s lab had run out of space.

    When he built the original Shadow Space lab last time, Kaelith only opened up around three hundred square meters. On one hand, it was experimental¡ªno need to make it huge. On the other hand, his power back then was limited; he¡¯d reached the ceiling of what he could manage.

    Now, with Aizen having ¡°added some points¡± to Kaelith¡¯s growth and Kaelith himself achieving deeper mastery of his own abilities, he could expand the Shadow Space considerably.

    They had planned it all before coming here. Besides enlarging the Shadow Lab, they wanted to shift its coordinates¡ªfrom this empty desert straight beneath Las Noches, nesting the entire lab in the shadows of the fortress.

    Kaelith had stolen¡­ahem¡­borrowed the concept from the Wandenreich. They¡¯d move their forward base quietly right up to the enemy¡¯s doorstep. Then, at the critical moment, they¡¯d jump straight out and fight right in the enemy¡¯s face. What could be more fun?

    Under Aizen¡¯s watchful gaze, Kaelith drew his Zanpakut¨­¡ªthen almost tossed it away out of habit.

    ¡°...?¡±

    Aizen blinked. Thankfully, Kaelith covered his slip by twirling the blade with a flourish. After a spin, he thrust the Zanpakut¨­ into the laboratory floor with a low shout.

    In response, the walls and floor began to shift and ripple. Aizen hurried to shield his equipment, while Szayelaporro looked on with fascination. Though he understood the broad mechanics of the Shadow Space, it was his first time seeing the remodeling process firsthand. He was eager to absorb this knowledge for his own research.

    Neliel stepped back warily, but Harribel waved a hand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With Kaelith here, nothing will happen to us.¡±

    Hearing that, Neliel eyed her curiously. Though Harribel had been at a disadvantage during their earlier fight, Neliel knew it was largely because Harribel lacked combat experience. In terms of raw power, a self-evolved half-Arrancar Vasto Lorde like Harribel actually ranked a bit higher than Neliel herself.

    Why place such faith in a Shinigami? Neliel then glanced at the three female Hollows beside Harribel¡ªher ¡°family,¡± apparently. They certainly looked close. If everything Harribel said was true¡ªthat the conflict with Las Noches had simply been forced upon them¡ªthen Neliel¡¯s pursuit might have been entirely unjust.

    A heaviness settled in her thoughts. If that was indeed the case, she owed them both an apology.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith¡¯s power swelled, causing the Shadow Space to grow at a tremendous rate. Initially just three hundred square meters, it expanded until it reached over fifteen hundred, like a large factory floor.

    Kaelith knelt on one knee, hand on his Zanpakut¨­, and slowly opened his eyes. The transformed lab made him grin. Aizen and Szayelaporro, however, reacted more intensely¡ªAizen paced around the new Shadow Space, tapping the floor and walls to check stability. Szayelaporro closed his eyes and sensed the spatial distortions in excitement.

    Once satisfied with the Shadow Space¡¯s strength, Aizen nodded.

    ¡°Well done, Kaelith. This is a masterpiece. A work of art.¡±

    ¡°Oh, keep going, keep going!¡±

    Kaelith beamed with pride. But Aizen, having said his piece, merely waved him off and told him to stabilize the space while he handled the coordinate shift.

    Standing in the middle of the room, Kaelith mulled things over. To Aizen, moving the Shadow Lab was crucial. But to Kaelith, it was also an experiment. If it succeeded, if he truly mastered the coordinates and could ¡°drive¡± the Shadow Space wherever he pleased, then once he returned to the Soul Society, he could do something similar to chase the Wandenreich.

    No more wandering around taking ¡°core samples¡± of reishi. He could rampage through the shadows in one grand pursuit. Breaking through the Wandenreich¡¯s barriers and eliminating the Quincy would be within reach.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    Aizen¡¯s voice startled him. Kaelith whirled around.

    ¡°S¨­suke¡­ Aren¡¯t you busy monitoring the coordinate device?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re still far from Las Noches. As long as the Shadow Space keeps heading the right way, there¡¯s no immediate issue.¡±

    All of it, of course, involved complex theories of space and mathematics, but Aizen used plain words, as usual, for Kaelith¡¯s sake. Kaelith nodded.

    He glanced around. Szayelaporro was already scribbling some newly acquired formulas onto a monitor, presumably knowledge Aizen shared. Farther away, Harribel and Neliel were chatting, seemingly getting along just fine. Finally, Kaelith¡¯s gaze settled on Aizen himself.

    Wearing the glasses Kaelith had once given him, Aizen¡¯s slightly curly hair framed a face not yet fully matured, giving him a calm, somewhat intellectual air.

    Kaelith hesitated. If Aizen managed all the planning, he might decide to incorporate the Quincy as part of the grand scheme. After all, they needed massive might to oppose the Soul Society¡ªand especially the Royal Palace. The two of them alone weren¡¯t enough.

    At the moment, the Quincy were scattered, their king not yet resurrected. With the right push, they could emerge, fight the Shinigami, and weaken the Soul Society¡¯s forces, thereby aiding Aizen¡¯s rebellion.

    Kaelith simply didn¡¯t want that. He¡¯d seen how Yamamoto reacted at the mention of the Sternritter and the Wandenreich¡ªan uncontrollable rage, a murderous fury, a near-twisted obsession. He didn¡¯t wish to ally with his teacher¡¯s greatest enemies and risk seeing Yamamoto¡¯s disappointment.

    Aizen studied him for a moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re worried I¡¯d use the Quincies¡¯ power and stop you from attacking them. You¡¯re unsure whether to speak openly about your plans.¡±

    Kaelith showed surprise. Had Aizen learned to read minds? He suddenly pictured a pulpy light-novel title: *I Transmigrated to the Soul Society, and Aizen Can Read My Mind?!*

    Aizen smirked. ¡°Relax, there¡¯s no mind-reading ability at play here. If I needed something like that to figure you out, I¡¯d have no business scheming in the first place.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He lifted his head toward the dark, shifting ceiling.

    ¡°Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°...Yes?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me. And don¡¯t underestimate yourself. True, compared to the Soul Society or the Royal Palace, we¡¯re both still immature, still weak¡­ But we¡¯re different from the masses on a fundamental level. Optimizing plans, never missing a single potential advantage¡ªyes, that¡¯s quite clever, but it¡¯s only the logic of ordinary people.

    An ordinary person¡¯s goal is to move further than others on the ground. We, however, are destined to leave the ground behind and take to the sky. We exist on another plane, so why concern ourselves with each step, right or wrong? The sky is vast¡ªours to walk as we please.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to use the Wandenreich, then don¡¯t. If you want them gone, I¡¯ll help you eradicate them. Before us, no enemy stands invincible.¡±

    Kaelith blinked, caught off guard by Aizen¡¯s statement. After a few seconds of silence, he clicked his tongue and shook his head.

    ¡°S¨­suke¡­you¡¯re getting really good with words now. Are you trying to swindle me, too?¡±

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need flowery tricks to deal with you.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that a challenge?¡±

    Kaelith grinned and lifted a fist. Aizen lightly clenched his own, tapping Kaelith¡¯s knuckles. They exchanged a look and both broke into smiles.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, after a lengthy chat with Harribel, Neliel felt more certain she¡¯d made the right choice. Harribel was an earnest person who disliked lying. Hearing how she¡¯d come to know Kaelith, Neliel realized Kaelith likely wasn¡¯t evil at all¡ªLas Noches had forced his hand. At least Neliel hadn¡¯t made a grave mistake. She would apologize to them both when the time was right.

    Just then, over by the three men, someone shouted in excitement.

    ¡°It worked!¡±

    ¡°Boss, we did it! If these coordinates are correct, we¡¯ve arrived!¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡±

    Kaelith rubbed his palms together in anticipation. ¡°Can we install some sort of periscope to see what¡¯s above?¡±

    ¡°On it.¡± Aizen began adjusting a few controls.

    Moments later, he pressed a button, and the ceiling of the Shadow Space grew transparent. Curious, Neliel lifted her gaze to see what they were up to. Within seconds, her pupils shrank.

    Above them hung a pale crescent moon, silhouetting decrepit silver buildings. Adjuchas-level Hollows occasionally roamed the area in patrols. This was¡­Las Noches?

    They were directly beneath Las Noches now?

    She froze. Moments ago, they¡¯d clearly been in some remote desert. How had they ended up under Las Noches in such a short span? More importantly¡­why bring their hidden base here?

    Kaelith let out a triumphant laugh.

    ¡°Great, great! My Special Operations Squad has infiltrated the enemy capital! Next time, we¡¯ll bring our elite forces, jump out, and hit them right in the face! Senzo Tsunayashiro? Baraggan? They¡¯ll be crushed! Las Noches is as good as mine! Keh heh heh heh!!¡±

    Neliel¡¯s eyes widened at his gleeful boasting. Invasion? Elite forces? Seizing Las Noches? So he *was* here to destroy Hueco Mundo after all! She gave an enraged shout and charged at Kaelith.

    But before she could reach him, three figures moved in unison: Aizen, Szayelaporro, and Harribel all struck from different angles. Facing three opponents on her level¡ªor beyond¡ªNeliel couldn¡¯t even react before being knocked to the ground.

    Kaelith strode over, frowning.

    ¡°Minister Nel, why the sudden attack? Have I not treated you well?¡±

    Neliel glared fiercely. ¡°Kaelith, so you really *do* intend to lead a Shinigami army and wipe out Hueco Mundo!¡±

    Kaelith gave an exasperated snort. ¡°A Shinigami army? As if. If I showed up with my teacher and the rest, the moment we conquered Las Noches it¡¯d turn into the property of Central 46. But I want it for Aizen. He¡¯ll replace Baraggan and become the new King of Hueco Mundo.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°...¡±

    Szayelaporro tilted his head. ¡°Boss, you were just calling yourself ¡®king¡¯¡ªwhy hand the position over to Aizen?¡±

    Kaelith scowled. ¡°How could a mere Hueco Mundo throne be worthy of me? Once S¨­suke ascends and becomes ruler of Hueco Mundo, I¡¯ll be its *Emperor of the Harem*!¡±

    Aizen: ¡°...¡±

    Watching Kaelith cackle like a maniac, Aizen silently added several thick lines to the ledger in his mind.

    ¡­

    A few days later, in a mountain region of Rukongai, Yamamoto stood with both hands resting on a wooden cane, staring wordlessly at the miscreant disciple he¡¯d rashly accepted.

    Kaelith stood there, beaming from ear to ear in his black Shihakush¨­ and white haori.

    Except¡ªhaori, my foot! Yamamoto¡¯s eyes practically bled with rage. It was a plain scrap of white cloth, with the number eleven scrawled on the back in ink.

    Fwoosh!

    As flames flared, Yamamoto¡¯s wooden cane was reduced to ashes, revealing the Zanpakut¨­ hidden within. Seeing this, Kaelith¡¯s face fell, his smile vanishing.

    ¡°Teacher, what are you doing?! You can¡¯t¡ª You mustn¡¯t¡ª!!

    Ry¨±jin Jakka!!!¡±

 Chapter 247

    Chapter 247

    You know how it goes by now. Another one.

    --------------

    Far off in the Soul Society, a beautiful event was unfolding.

    Boom!

    Scarlet flames shot high into the sky. Trees several hundred meters away were instantly incinerated to ash by the wave of heat. Amid the firelight, Kaelith shone with spiritual energy, leaping high.

    ¡°Ow! My butt¡¯s on fire!¡±

    ¡°Old man! If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m gonna fight back!¡±

    ¡°Help meee!¡±

    Roiling flames dyed a vast swath of sky red. Even the distant Seireitei could feel the terrifying ripples of power emanating from there.

    At the 13th Division barracks, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake was lounging under the eaves, basking in the sun, when he looked toward the commotion in surprise.

    ¡°¡­Hasn¡¯t our junior disciple been keeping his head down for the past year? Why¡¯s he suddenly fighting with Teacher Yamamoto again?¡±

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku adjusted his hat and gave a mischievous grin.

    ¡°You know Kaelith¡¯s not the type who can stay quiet for long. That bout of ¡®lying low¡¯ was probably just a ploy to lull Old Man Yama. Hard to believe a dignified Captain-Commander could be toyed with by his own disciple¡ªreally shows that age spares no one!¡±

    Chuckling, he took a delighted sip of his drink. Ukitake could only give a wry smile.

    After sensing the spiritual pressures clashing in the distance for a while, Ukitake spoke again:

    ¡°Shunsui, you felt it too, right?¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± Shunsui nodded. ¡°In just a single year, Kaelith¡¯s grown a whole lot stronger. It¡¯s hard to imagine where his limits lie at this rate. Old Man Yama has his work cut out for him.¡±

    Putting himself in Yamamoto¡¯s shoes, Shunsui admitted it¡¯d be a dilemma.

    Kaelith was improving far beyond the norm. If the Captain-Commander indulged him too much, Kaelith might grow arrogant and self-destruct. But if he was too strict, it might turn out like Kuchiki K¨­ga¡¯s case, creating a stubborn and resentful outcome.

    Striking the right balance tested the mettle of a good teacher. Shunsui, for one, didn¡¯t think he could handle it. But both he and Ukitake held absolute faith in Yamamoto. If anyone was the greatest teacher in the Soul Society, it had to be Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

    ¡­

    At the 5th Division barracks, Shinji Hirako sipped tea with a shameless smirk.

    ¡°Nice, real nice. Kaelith dares defy his superior¡ªwhat a traitor he is. Then the Captain-Commander, upholding justice, chops him to bits. Such sweet music!¡±

    He lifted his steaming teacup, eager for a tasty sip, when suddenly a hand clapped down on his shoulder. The timing and strength were precise¡ªlight enough not to harm him, yet forceful enough to knock the teacup from his grasp.

    Splat! Scalding tea spilled all over Shinji.

    ¡°Waaaagh!¡±

    He jumped up, yowling in pain and frantically shaking off the burning liquid.

    Standing nearby, Aizen S¨­suke watched with mild surprise. ¡°My apologies, Captain, I didn¡¯t see you were drinking. Are you all right?¡± Even as he spoke, he hurried over. Passing the teakettle on the way, he planted his foot on the wooden floor with a bit of force, causing the kettle to bounce up and splash half its contents onto Shinji¡¯s feet.

    ¡°Gyaaaah!¡±

    Now hopping on one leg, Shinji flailed around the room. Aizen sighed.

    ¡°Captain, please be more composed. You¡¯ve got sixty files still waiting for your review.¡±

    Shinji gaped at his lieutenant in disbelief.

    ¡°Traitor¡­ You fiend, Aizen! I should strip you of your rank as vice-captain!¡±

    Aizen raised his brows. ¡°Really? That¡¯d be great. I have two hundred more files that need tending. If you remove me, could you handle those too?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ª Actually, Aizen, what do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll treat you!¡±

    Shinji¡¯s expression flipped in an instant, brimming with courtesy. Aizen dropped his smile, gave him a flat look, and turned away.

    ¡°Get the files done. I¡¯ll come by tonight to collect them.¡±

    Listening to his vice-captain¡¯s frosty order, Shinji felt a surge of grief and indignation. He¡¯d never rest until he took vengeance. He couldn¡¯t do anything about Aizen, but Kaelith had vulnerabilities everywhere! With his cunning, Shinji was sure he¡¯d make Kaelith pay dearly. Yes¡­he¡¯d gather every scrap of Kaelith¡¯s dirty laundry, present it to the Captain-Commander, and watch the old man lop off that rogue disciple¡¯s head. Shinji grinned wickedly, already dreaming up an evil plan.

    ¡­

    A bruised and battered man returned to the 11th Division he commanded so loyally. Before the astonished eyes of his squad, Kaelith strode over to his big fur-draped seat and plopped down. Only then did they recognize him as their captain. The group bowed as one.

    ¡°Boss!!¡±

    Kaelith nodded, taking a grape from a tray offered by a nearby member and spitting out the seeds casually.

    ¡°My friends!¡±

    He cleared his throat. ¡°In a few days, I¡¯m bringing in a special expert. He¡¯ll teach you some new combat methods for dealing with certain special enemies. Make time for it¡ªpay attention and learn! If I catch anyone trying to skip out, I¡¯ll personally give them a knuckle sandwich!¡±

    The moment Kaelith finished, the crowd roared in unison, ¡°Yes, Boss!!¡± But in the lull that followed, surprise rippled through them. Though most of them seemed like dropouts at first glance, they¡¯d actually studied properly at the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy. They already knew the usual enemies from the textbooks. Why bring in an outside expert?

    Kisuke Urahara, within the crowd, had a guess. It likely concerned Kaelith¡¯s latest developments on the Wandenreich front. Whoever this expert was, he probably specialized in fighting Quincies. Such busy times for the Soul Society, indeed. Kisuke shook his head in quiet reflection.

    Right then, a figure used Shunp¨­ to appear nearby¡ªa member of the messenger squad. Several of the 11th Division tried to intercept him.

    ¡°A courier? What¡¯s your business here?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better not be some assassin in disguise!¡±

    The messenger broke out in a cold sweat. He edged past the imposing brutes and bowed to Kaelith.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith! This is a message from the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy!¡±

    The Shin¡¯¨­ Academy? Kaelith blinked in curiosity, thinking of the place he¡¯d attended for under a year.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    The messenger answered promptly, ¡°The Academy¡¯s Education Committee and Principal Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto have sent you an invitation¡ªto a teaching position.¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. They wanted him to teach? He¡¯d only been out of the academy a few short years, and now they wanted him back as an instructor?

    He grew intrigued. ¡°So what subject does my teacher want me to teach? Battle strategy? Tactical layouts? Swordsmanship? Kid¨­? Maybe how to connect with and care for your Zanpakut¨­?¡±

    At that, the messenger hesitated, then shook his head.

    ¡°Ah¡­no, that¡¯s not it. The Academy has extended an offer for you to serve as an instructor in calligraphy.¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    From the crowd, Kisuke Urahara couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh. Though he suppressed it immediately, Kaelith snapped his head around, eyes flaring with crimson glints like a rocket¡¯s tail. Kisuke turned to flee, but Kaelith was on him in a flash, pinning him to the ground.

    ¡°Kaelith-san, I¡¯ve rendered so many services for the 11th¡ª!¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s protest became a wail that echoed over the division¡¯s grounds.

    ¡­

    Later, holding the letter from Shin¡¯¨­ Academy, Kaelith lapsed into thought. On one hand, he was delighted by the chance to openly return to campus and¡­exchange knowledge with female students. On the other hand, calligraphy class? It didn¡¯t sound very satisfying. He was much more suited to grappling and close-quarters practice with those underclasswomen¡ªsurely that was a real man¡¯s calling.

    Sensing Kaelith¡¯s dilemma, a squad member sidled up.

    ¡°Boss! If you don¡¯t wanna go, just turn ¡¯em down!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Boss, that Academy¡¯s full of nitpicky rules¡ªnowhere near as free as the 11th Division!¡±

    ¡°Boss¡ª¡±

    Aizen arrived at the 11th just then, finding the place in a noisy uproar. Scanning the crowd, he saw Kaelith on the big fur seat, bruised and battered¡ªand in the corner, Kisuke Urahara wearing a matching set of bruises.

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    Walking over, he asked Kisuke what had happened. Upon hearing it all, he paused. Then he approached Kaelith.

    ¡°Step aside¡ªlet the Grand Vizier through!¡±

    At Kaelith¡¯s shout, the chattering members parted like a wave.

    ¡°Brother Aizen!¡±

    ¡°Hi, Aizen-bro!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s lips twitched. The awkwardness was palpable. By sheer will, he brushed off their greetings and came to stand before Kaelith.

    ¡°Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡±

    ¡°Take the position as calligraphy teacher.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    He certainly hadn¡¯t expected Aizen to specifically push him toward that. Under Kaelith¡¯s puzzled look, Aizen¡¯s gaze grew resolute.

    ¡°I said, do it.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s invitation to teach, Aizen had formed a plan. To accomplish their goals, they needed manpower. The best source of fresh blood was the academy¡¯s top students. With Kaelith on staff, it¡¯d be much easier for Aizen to filter out talents and quietly bring them aboard. Or maybe Kaelith¡¯s knack for drawing people in would simply gather them without any complex schemes. Either way, Aizen looked forward to it.

    Unaware of Aizen¡¯s true motives, Kaelith only saw the confidence of the Soul Society¡¯s second-greatest schemer (after himself). So he gave a casual nod.

    ¡­

    Emerging from the Red-White Springs, Kaelith stretched and shook out his hair like a husky dog. The bruises from Yamamoto¡¯s beating had vanished completely. How many times now had these springs saved him in his short Shinigami career?

    Watching the steaming water, Kaelith felt a sudden urge to check on Yoruichi and Soifon¡¯s training. In the lifespan of Shinigami, a single session could last ten years. But Yoruichi and Soifon were both exceptional talents; maybe they¡¯d wrapped things up early. If so, he might head to the Shih¨­in estate, spar with them, then bathe together afterward. He could lie on Yoruichi¡¯s pillowy thighs while Soifon worked on his back¡­ Just imagining it made him feel all warm inside.

    He¡¯d just finished dressing in his Shihakush¨­ and was preparing to return to the 11th when he heard a voice from out of nowhere. Opening his protective layer of reiatsu, he let a faint thread of spiritual energy enter his ear. It was Kirio Hikifune.

    ¡°Master! Come to the 12th Division, there¡¯s a surprise for you!¡±

    Kaelith raised a brow. A surprise at the 12th? Maybe Kirio had whipped up some new dish for him to taste-test? If that was the case, no way he¡¯d show up empty-handed!

    He hurried back to the 11th to fetch a special item he¡¯d prepared: tofu dyed black with sesame paste, plus a variety of special seasonings. This time, if the 11th and 12th Divisions were to have a ¡°master chefs¡¯ duel,¡± he¡¯d wow Kirio with his ¡°Dark Magic Panda Mapo Tofu!¡±

    Excited, Kaelith arrived at the 12th Division to find an unexpected visitor sitting across from Kirio¡ªsomeone wearing a Shihakush¨­ with no one inside it, moving on its own.

    Frowning, Kaelith studied the animated clothing for a few seconds. Then recognition dawned on him.

    The garment huffed.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with that look? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten who I am in the short time since we last met?¡±

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°Ridiculous. You stand before one of the top three brains in the Soul Society! You¡¯re¡­that big-shot from the Royal Palace. The ¡®Bloody Mary!¡¯¡±

    ¡°Most certainly is not!!¡±

    Shutara Senjumaru burst out in protest, then turned to Kirio.

    ¡°Kirio! See how rude he is to someone who came bearing gifts? We might as well refuse to give it to him!¡±

    Only then did Kaelith remember. Last time they¡¯d met, this ¡°robe spirit¡±¡ªahem, Royal Guard¡ªhad promised him a garment capable of completely sealing off spiritual pressure.

    His eyes lit up. He was about to ask for it when he suddenly froze: Royal Guard? He¡¯d nearly forgotten. Not only was Shutara Senjumaru an active member of Squad Zero, but Kirio Hikifune was on the cusp of joining Squad Zero as well.

    S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 248

    Chapter 248

    ¡°Robe Spirit, I recall that Captain Hikifune mentioned you¡¯re part of the ¡®Royal Special Task Force¡¯ last time?¡±

    Kaelith zipped over to Shutara¡¯s side with a solemn look.

    The empty Shinigami uniform let out a faint snort, its collar shifting a little. Even though there was no one inside, the movement suggested she was tilting her head back in a smug gesture.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I am a member of the Royal Special Task Force, also known as the ¡®Zero Division¡¯!¡±

    ¡°Ohh, that¡¯s amazing!¡±

    Kaelith clapped his hands like a seal.

    Buoyed by his flattery, Shutara finally seemed in better spirits. She gave a little huff.

    ¡°Now do you see how lofty I am? Show your reverence properly!¡±

    ¡°Amazing! Absolutely amazing!¡±

    Kaelith clapped again. True, it was repetitive, but at least it was praise¡ªgood enough for her.

    As Shutara nodded in satisfaction, Kaelith dragged over a small stool and sat down beside her.

    ¡°Big Sis Robe Spirit, I have a friend who¡¯d like me to ask you a few things.¡±

    ¡°¡­A friend, huh? All right, speak.¡±

    Shutara chuckled quietly. She wasn¡¯t fooled for a second by the ¡°friend¡± line. People always said they were asking for a friend, yet it was inevitably about themselves.

    Hold on¡­ Did he just call me Big Sis Robe Spirit?

    Before she could dwell on it, Kaelith cleared his throat.

    ¡°Big Sis, what does the Soul King look like? Is the King male or female?¡±

    Shutara¡¯s collar quivered in a negative shake.

    ¡°Never met him. No clue. My Zero Division hall is separate from the Soul King Palace¡ªwe just guard the surroundings. Any royal decrees from the King come through ¡®sensing¡¯ rather than face-to-face contact. I¡¯ve never seen the real thing.¡±

    ¡°How useless,¡± Kaelith blurted.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Shutara eyed him up and down, wondering where to start if she wanted to throttle him. Kaelith hurriedly changed the subject.

    ¡°So, Big Sis, how strong is the Zero Division? Word is that a mere four or five of you could take down the entire Gotei 13. Most of the captains, sure¡ªbut my old man is the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years. Can they really beat him?¡±

    Shutara let out a thoughtful hum. She lifted a sleeve, as though propping her chin. After a few seconds, she shook her collar again.

    ¡°I¡¯m not too certain. I haven¡¯t been in the Zero Division that long, after all. But¡­ going by intuition, I¡¯d say the Zero Division¡¯s commander has an aura far more dangerous than Genry¨±sai-dono¡¯s. Though I¡¯ve never seen him fight, I get the feeling that whoever faces him¡ªloses.¡±

    Kaelith kept his expression blank, simply nodding. Seeing that, Shutara smirked inwardly. Looks like he was just curious. If he had any big plans, hearing her description of the Monk would¡¯ve made him look uneasy or worried.

    But right then, Kaelith rubbed his chin and murmured, ¡°I see¡­ then a direct violent approach doesn¡¯t seem workable for now.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Shutara silently produced a question mark in her mind. Kaelith went on thinking, then his eyes lit up.

    ¡°Does the Zero Division need new recruits? How would one go about joining?¡±

    ¡°Oho, so that¡¯s how it is. You want to become Zero Division?¡±

    Shutara chuckled as she picked up a teacup with her newly developed ¡°Heavenly Garment¡± extension, capable of tasting roughly eighty-five percent of a beverage¡¯s flavor.

    ¡°To join the Zero Division, you need tremendous power first and foremost. I¡¯ve heard from Kirio that you¡¯re captain of the 11th Division already? So young and already that strong¡­ maybe in two or three hundred more years you could meet the requirements. But besides sheer might, there¡¯s something else even more important: You must leave a unique and extraordinary mark on Soul Society¡¯s history!

    ¡°Take me, for instance¡ªI invented the Shinigami uniform. Kirio invented artificial souls. ¨­etsu invented the Zanpakut¨­¡­ You¡¯d need a creative breakthrough of your own to earn an invite.¡±

    Kaelith pondered a moment, then made a troubled face.

    ¡°Invent something, huh¡­ That¡¯s a bit tough. If I wiped Soul Society off the map, would that count as an equally big achievement?¡±

    Shutara spat out her tea.

    ¡°You little punk¡ªsaying something so treasonous right to my face!?¡±

    She resolved that if this kid ever did meet the entry requirements for Zero Division, she¡¯d be the first to veto him. Letting a brat like this in would be out of the question.

    Kaelith was about to press the destruction question, but since Shutara was obviously unwilling to give a serious answer, he changed tack.

    ¡°All right, last question: If I wanted to get to the Soul King Palace, how would I do it?¡±

    Shutara drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re not actually planning anything weird, are you?¡±

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°Told you already, it¡¯s for a friend.¡±

    ¡°¡­Heh.¡±

    Shutara sneered. This kid definitely had a rebellious streak a mile wide. He was still young, a genius with a rebellious heart¡ªsuch fantasies were normal. Give him a few more years, and he¡¯d grow out of it once he understood just how vast the world was.

    Lazily, she stretched her¡ªsleeve.

    ¡°To reach the Soul King Palace, you¡¯d have to use the Shiba Clan¡¯s special cannon, which launches you into the sky. But there are dozens of powerful barriers between Soul Society and the Palace. A mere Captain can¡¯t possibly get up there alone. To pass through it all and go straight to the final point, you¡¯d need the King¡¯s own ¡®¨­ken.¡¯ A troublemaker like you has no chance of ever getting one.¡±

    She ended on a triumphant laugh.

    ¨­ken¡­

    Kaelith recognized that term. Wasn¡¯t Aizen¡¯s whole incursion on Karakura Town an attempt to forge the King¡¯s Key? It seemed the ¡°Robe Spirit¡± was telling the truth. As thanks, he personally whipped up the black-and-white tofu dish he¡¯d brought along.

    Rather than fancy gimmicks, ¡°Dark Magic Panda Mapo Tofu¡± fundamentally depended on whether the chef¡¯s sauce was any good. Wanting to cater to both Kirio Hikifune¡¯s and Shutara Senjumaru¡¯s tastes, Kaelith copied Kirio¡¯s style of imbuing substantial spiritual pressure into the dish by using the artificial-soul control technique.

    Before long, Kaelith¡¯s tofu and Kirio¡¯s few other selections were laid out on the table. Removing her apron, Kirio smiled.

    ¡°Captain Shutara, you¡¯re in for a treat. My master¡¯s cooking is quite something!¡±

    Shutara let out a dismissive huff. She was a refined member of the Zero Division, living in a floating city filled with top-tier chefs. What had she not tasted? As for this upstart¡ªDeep Tanaga¡­ ahem, Kaelith¡ªthere was no way she¡¯d be impressed by his cooking.

    The three of them sat down at the table, picking up their chopsticks. Shutara tried Kirio¡¯s roast chicken first.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ The seasoning is rich, the skin crisp, the juices completely locked in. This is clearly chicken, yet there¡¯s none of that dry texture. They must¡¯ve used applewood for the roasting¡ªfragrant, lingering on the palate.¡±

    Seeing her evaluation, Kirio looked delighted and a bit amazed.

    ¡°Captain, you¡¯ve really changed from the old days!¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ It¡¯s passable, just passable.¡±

    Still, Shutara felt a trace of pride at being praised by her former subordinate. Trying to remain calm, she cleared her throat.

    ¡°This roast chicken was taught to me by Master. I¡¯ve been painstakingly perfecting the timing and heat. As expected of you, Captain¡ªyou immediately caught the key points my master emphasized!¡±

    Shutara: ¡°¡­¡±

    All her good mood vanished. She coughed lightly. ¡°Forget that. I was just hungry. After starving for a while, even a mid-level dish tastes good. Let me try something else.¡±

    I need to avoid any more traps!

    Glancing over the table, she picked up a piece of stir-fried vegetables. After chewing a few times, the eyes of her real body up in the Soul King Palace shone.

    ¡°Spicy, fragrant, crisp, and sweet¡ªso flavorful! Even though it¡¯s just a simple stir-fry, it¡¯s unbelievably delicious.¡±

    Kirio grinned.

    ¡°Right? This is shredded cabbage¡ªone of the earliest ¡®national dishes¡¯ Master taught me. I practiced a long time.¡±

    Again with him!!!

    Shutara burned with annoyance, setting her sights on Kaelith¡¯s Dark Magic Panda Mapo Tofu. Fine. Some trifling tofu dish with a fancy appearance. In the end, it comes down to how it actually tastes. I¡¯ll let him see that flair is worthless if it isn¡¯t delicious!

    As though brandishing a blade at an enemy general, Shutara took up her chopsticks and stabbed at a cube of sauce-drenched tofu. She brought it to the spot where her mouth would be.

    A moment later, she went stiff.

    ¡°Captain?¡± Kirio glanced at her in confusion.

    Under their gaze, the black Shinigami uniform suddenly collapsed in on itself, like the person inside had disappeared.

    Clatter!

    Her chopsticks fell to the floor.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Huh???¡±

    Startled, Kirio wondered if something terrible had happened in the Soul King Palace. Just then, the uniform on the floor swelled and stood back up, as though the wearer had returned. Shutara turned toward Kaelith, staring at him unwaveringly. Even without eyes, he could sense the intensity of her gaze.

    ¡°Captain?¡± Kirio pressed, bewildered.

    Shutara drew in a shaky breath. ¡°Kirio. Try his dish.¡±

    Kirio nodded and took a piece of tofu for herself. After a few bites, her eyes flew open, cheeks flushing pink.

    ¡°Mm!!¡±

    She let out an involuntary little moan, head tipping back. Her face had gone bright red, ears and neck tinted the same.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ so intense¡­ too much¡­ I¡­ I shouldn¡¯t¡­¡±

    After a bit, she managed to calm herself. Then¡ªsmack! Kirio slammed both palms on the table, leaning forward, eyes alight as she stared at Kaelith.

    ¡°What the heck¡¯s gotten into you two?¡± he asked, baffled. If a bystander saw this, they might assume they¡¯d strayed into a Food Wars arena. Was he supposed to tighten a bandana and shout some dramatic line?

    ¡°Master, you¡¯ve already reached this level?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb!¡± Shutara¡¯s voice was full of gritted teeth. ¡°You infused the dish with that ¡®artificial-soul injection,¡¯ didn¡¯t you? Kirio¡¯s been mastering that technique for ages¡ªit¡¯s why she ascended to the Zero Division. Even then, the amount of reiryoku she can embed into a single dish is only one-third of yours! You can instill that much spiritual power into food¡­ Have you been researching this longer than Kirio?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kirio gave a helpless chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Master¡¯s only known about this method for, what, not even three years?¡±

    Shutara couldn¡¯t find words. Not even three years¡­ and already at this stage?

    When she ate that tofu, the bursting spiritual pressure overwhelmed her senses for a second, almost causing her to lose connection with her living robes. It wasn¡¯t as though that amount of spirit energy posed any real threat, but she¡¯d been totally unprepared, letting the flavor explode right in her mouth¡ªnothing short of a visceral shock.

    This punk is truly dangerous.

    Even so, recalling that electrifying sensation, she couldn¡¯t resist taking another piece.

    ¡°Mmph¡­ nn¡­¡±

    Shutara inhaled sharply, a faint murmur escaping her. She could only taste around eighty percent of the dish with this ¡°remote garment,¡± but every bit of spirit energy inside it came through loud and clear. Kaelith was no joke in the kitchen. She actually found herself wanting him up in the Soul King Palace, cooking for her in that floating castle every day¡­

    Kirio, meanwhile, refused to be outdone and began vying with Shutara over the tofu.

    Observing them, Kaelith stroked his chin. So his cooking really could ¡°blow people¡¯s clothes off¡±?

    Suddenly, he felt the urge to invite his dear senior brother to a crowded place for a meal and see if that old coot might burst out of his uniform in public. ( he is so evil haha)

    As Kaelith hatched evil plans, Shutara seemed to recall something. In the midst of gulping down tofu, she extended a sleeve.

    From within, she pulled a small bundle.

    ¡°Kid, here it is¡ªthe ¡®Heavenly Garment¡¯ I promised last time.¡±

    ¡°Open it and see if it¡¯s to your liking!¡±

 Chapter 249

    Chapter 249 S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the immortal words of DJ Khaled, "Another One," we got another one. Truly inspiring words.

    ---------------------------

    A secret lab in Rukongai.

    Aizen stood at the control panel in his Shihakush¨­, his face unreadable. The glow of a blue monitor reflected off his glasses with a frosty gleam. Not far away, a giant glass container held hundreds of souls thrashing about in apparent attempts to escape. Yet under the pressure of Aizen¡¯s formidable reiatsu and the guidance of his machinery, these souls slowly merged together.

    He had no compunction about using them¡ªhe set the souls to crash into each other, provoking a reaction. Before long, the readouts on the monitor skyrocketed, revealing a novel power that took shape before his eyes. Aizen¡¯s gaze flickered with anticipation.

    Would this force serve as a guiding beacon to fulfill his ambitions?

    Under his command, the agitated energy condensed into droplets of red liquid. Aizen used a test tube to collect them, then slipped it carefully into a small pocket inside his robe.

    The materials were ready; the next step was experimentation.

    Feeling a surge of expectation, he left the core lab and headed into the outer chamber.

    ¡°Yo, nice work. Care for some water?¡±

    That voice. Aizen nodded, taking the offered cup in hand. He was about to share what he¡¯d just discovered when he suddenly froze in place. A cold alarm pricked at him, as if Kaelith had silently crawled up his spine.

    Kaelith was good at hiding his reiatsu, and if he were wearing a special Shih¨­in cloak or something similar, his presence could be nearly undetectable.

    But it was still impossible for him to get so close without Aizen sensing anything.

    Whoever was concealing themselves to that degree obviously didn¡¯t want Aizen picking up on their spiritual signature. In other words, whoever it was probably wasn¡¯t Kaelith.

    In a heartbeat, Aizen drew Ky¨­ka Suigetsu and slashed to the side¡ª

    Clang!

    To his mild surprise, an arm lifted, blocking his blade. The skin on that forearm shimmered with a concentrated barrier of reiatsu. Even though Aizen¡¯s strike had been an impromptu attack, its force, bolstered by his vast spiritual energy, was as strong as a typical captain¡¯s all-out swing. That his opponent could endure it with sheer physical toughness¡­

    The chill in Aizen¡¯s eyes gradually eased. This was the real one, after all.

    Only now did he have time to take in the other¡¯s appearance. The person wore a black cloak¡ªunlike the plain, drab black shroud Kaelith had once worn (like someone leaving the house wrapped in a bed sheet), this new cloak was downright stylish. It had an extra mantel around the shoulders, raising its fashionable flair, and subtle dark-gold embroidery around the edges, giving it a mysterious, regal air. Beneath the hood, Kaelith was grinning at Aizen.

    ¡°Well now, S¨­suke¡ªwhy greet a friend with your sword right off the bat?¡±

    Aizen ignored him. Sheathing his Zanpakut¨­, he asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s with that outfit?¡±

    ¡°Ho ho, you noticed?¡± Kaelith gave a smug look. ¡°Unlike a certain someone who greets folks with a violent slash, I, Kaelith, have arrived bearing my latest research results.¡±

    He lifted his arms, letting Aizen get a good look at the monk-like cloak.

    ¡°Feast your eyes upon the brand-new Super Kaelith Cloak! Put it on, and you¡¯ll defeat any fearsome solar monst¡ªcough, I mean, you can hide your reiatsu completely!¡±

    Aizen was startled despite himself. He had assumed that the Shih¨­in clan¡¯s special cloaks were peerless for suppressing spiritual presence.

    Evidently, something even stronger existed. After a moment¡¯s thought, he gave a small nod.

    ¡°I see¡­ so that was the Royal Special Task Force. Shutara Senjumaru¡ª¡®Great Weave Guard.¡¯ If she took the trouble to temporarily descend from the Soul King Palace, weaving her ability into this cloak would explain it. Nothing gets by you, does it? You¡¯ve already roped in a Royal Guard member¡­¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened. How is S¨­suke deducing all this without me saying a thing? Could he have evolved into some higher-dimensional being who sees the entire timeline?

    Before Kaelith recovered from his astonishment, Aizen¡¯s hand shot out eagerly. ¡°Hand it over.¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    ¡°Take it off.¡±

    ¡°W-wait, S¨­suke! Not like thi¡ªaaah!¡±

    Despite Kaelith¡¯s halfhearted protest, Aizen briskly stripped the cloak off him, took it in hand, and strode back into the lab without another word. Shaking his head, Kaelith followed him in.

    ¡°You know, S¨­suke, you¡¯re lucky I¡¯m such a tolerant friend. If it were anyone else, you¡¯d have been stabbed in the stomach and pumped full of lethal poisons.¡±

    ¡°Relax. Anyone harboring that sort of plan would¡¯ve fallen under Ky¨­ka Suigetsu before they ever got close enough to harm me.¡± Without looking back, Aizen laid the cloak carefully beneath a microscope and began examining its structure¡ªthread, embroidery, weaving technique.

    Every detail might hold secrets. He wasn¡¯t merely aiming to replicate the cloak; he also wanted to understand Senjumaru¡¯s capabilities. Someday, he and Kaelith would stand against the Zero Division, so today¡¯s observations might come in handy.

    While Aizen studied the cloak, Kaelith wandered over to the equipment where he¡¯d seen Aizen just a moment ago.

    ¡°Look, but don¡¯t touch,¡± Aizen said, not turning away from his microscope.

    Kaelith sighed. ¡°Is that how you treat a sage, hmm?¡±

    He picked up a folder of Aizen¡¯s experiment logs. Skimming a few pages, Kaelith grimaced. So many souls, used just like that. He assumed most belonged to ordinary Rukongai citizens. He understood Aizen¡¯s actions logically, but it still made him uncomfortable. The latter pages contained data he couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of, though it looked like Aizen had achieved a breakthrough. If they were back in Kaelith¡¯s original world, he¡¯d be scamming some massive research grant for sure.

    Feeling a little dazed, he slumped into a big armchair and dozed off.

    He wasn¡¯t sure how long he slept before a push woke him. Aizen stood in front of him. ¡°Get up. We¡¯re going to the 11th Division.¡±

    ¡°¡­For what?¡±

    ¡°To give a lecture for a certain fool who only kills and never buries. His subordinates need some lessons.¡±

    Aizen¡¯s tone was utterly flat. Kaelith only needed a moment to puzzle out whom he meant. He snickered, hopping down from the chair.

    Thanks to the methods they¡¯d devised in recent months¡ªand the sheer growth in both their powers¡ªa journey that once took days now scarcely took an hour. They arrived at the 11th Division gates and, amid the respectful greetings of its members, proceeded to the training yard.

    Kenpachi Zaraki, Komamura Sajin, T¨­sen Kaname, Madarame Ikkaku, Ayasegawa Yumichika¡ªthey were all here. Oh, and the orange-haired girl as well. Compared to when he first picked her up, Matsumoto Rangiku looked vastly different. Gone was her ragged old clothing, replaced by the red-and-white Shin¡¯¨­ uniform. Her once grimy face now clean, she gave off a delicate prettiness. But the biggest change was her eyes.

    In Rukongai, they¡¯d been full of wariness, like a frightened stray ready to bolt. Now there was a steady determination in that gaze¡ªshe had found a decent life here.

    Upon seeing Kaelith, Rangiku¡¯s lips curved in a smile. She waved an arm. ¡°Y¨±! Over here!¡±

    Kaelith clicked his tongue, strolling over to her. He rapped her on the head. ¡°Hey, kid. Show some respect. I¡¯m a professional Shinigami and a fine, upstanding member of society. You¡¯re just a student¡ªyou ought to call me ¡®senpai.¡¯ Understood?¡±

    Rangiku winced, rubbing her skull. ¡°Oh, please. Word on the street is that you dropped out of Shin¡¯¨­ after not even a year. By rights, you¡¯re still short of graduation age.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t dropping out¡ªthat was early graduation!¡± Kaelith snapped, incensed.

    ¡°Yo, Boss!¡± Kenpachi, sword slung over his shoulder, grinned wildly and came striding over. He¡¯d missed Kaelith fiercely. The mere memory of Kaelith¡¯s ferocious sword strikes made him shiver in excitement. Going even a few days without being cut by that savage blade left him itching.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith!¡± T¨­sen approached more reservedly, bowing. Even after all this time, he remained the most reverent member of Kaelith¡¯s circle, and if not for Kaelith¡¯s stern forbiddance, T¨­sen would drop to a knee whenever they met.

    ¡°Kaelith, you¡¯re here to play in the 11th?¡± Yachiru Kusajishi bounced out of nowhere to latch onto his back.

    He nodded. ¡°Yep, I guess you¡¯re all quite friend¡ªeh?¡± Halfway through, he paused, pulling Yachiru off by her head and flicking her lightly on the forehead. After all, he was the 11th Division Captain. Even if he retired one day, he¡¯d still be a former captain, a sort of ¡®Grand Emperor¡¯ figure around here. A glorious retirement spanning four more years¡ªeveryone else would just have to deal with it.

    Following Aizen¡¯s instructions, everyone began training. He quietly observed, noting issues and improvements. This methodical, individualized teaching earned the admiration of all in Kaelith¡¯s circle.

    Eventually it was Rangiku¡¯s turn. Aizen stepped over, eyes calm, as she practiced strikes against a group of artificial dummies formed with Kid¨­. They¡¯d boosted both the number and defense of the dummies this time, anticipating her recent progress.

    Sure enough, the added difficulty was pushing her harder¡ªwithin two minutes, her swordplay was starting to slip.

    Aizen was about to call the drill off when, to his mild surprise, her anxious expression suddenly shifted to an eerie calm. Clutching her sword in both hands, she slashed forward. The instant a silver light flickered, the three Kid¨­ dummies disintegrated.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes, focusing on Rangiku¡¯s fingers. Kaelith sidled over.

    ¡°Right, S¨­suke, this is probably the first time you¡¯ve seen that move of hers. First-year academy students have mostly theory classes, so she¡¯s spent more time training with Kinoshita-sensei. It¡¯s that amazing trick I saw in the mountains that made me bring her to the 11th Div¡ª¡±

    Before Kaelith could finish, Aizen said quietly, ¡°That¡¯s a fragment of the Soul King.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kaelith blinked, confused.

    ¡°She has a Soul King fragment in her body,¡± Aizen muttered. ¡°And it¡¯s a large piece. Her left hand¡¯s index and middle fingers up to the second joint, plus the thumb, index, and little finger on her right hand up to the first joint¡ªall fused tightly with the King¡¯s fragments. The stability and power flux are clear. Essentially, her hands are the Soul King¡¯s fingertips.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes went wide. He¡¯d assumed that this particular timeline¡¯s Matsumoto had stumbled on some stroke of fortune indirectly caused by him. He never would have guessed it was due to a Soul King fragment. After his brief shock, worry welled up. Aizen was collecting Soul King fragments for his experiments. They were vital to his next phase. But if that meant tearing them out of someone in Kaelith¡¯s circle, that was something Kaelith couldn¡¯t allow.

    He turned to Aizen, trying to decide how to dissuade him. But before he could say a word, Aizen glanced at him with a faint smirk.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m going to quietly harvest her fingers?¡±

    Kaelith blinked, saying nothing.

    Aizen gave a dismissive snort, raising his chin slightly in a smug gesture.

    Then he pulled a sheet of paper from inside his robes and flicked it over. Kaelith caught it and scanned it curiously.

    After a moment, he looked stunned. The page contained rudimentary logs of his recent ¡®materials¡¯¡ªincluding the sources of countless test subjects. All those Kaelith had assumed were just random Rukongai souls turned out to be criminals, drifters, bandits, and the like.

    The outer 30 districts had no shortage of such types, so it was enough to fuel Aizen¡¯s experiments. Still, Aizen would have needed to devote time and resources to gather them. Kaelith never expected him to bother.

    Observing his expression, Aizen said tonelessly, ¡°Even for regular ¡®specimens,¡¯ I chose a method you¡¯d find more acceptable by using those who, shall we say, deserved it. As for the Soul King shards, there are plenty of ways to track them down.

    According to the texts, the Five Great Noble Houses carved up the King so thoroughly that fragments were scattered all across the worlds. If I look hard enough, I can find as many as I need¡ªno sense relying on your underling¡¯s souls to do it.¡±

    Kaelith stared at Aizen¡¯s proud demeanor, momentarily dazed. Then he couldn¡¯t help but break into a grin.

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250

    Kenpachi had already started sparring with Komamura Sajin while Kaelith and Aizen conversed.

    At this point, Kenpachi¡¯s strength was far beyond what it had been when he first joined the division. Every time he crossed swords with Kaelith, his abilities surged. A year ago, Komamura could still trade a few dozen blows with him; now, Komamura couldn¡¯t last ten moves.

    Clang!

    A crisp sound rang out as Komamura¡¯s sword was knocked from his hand, spinning through the air before burying itself in the ground.

    Komamura: ¡°¡­¡±

    He glanced down at his large, fur-covered hands. These hands could crush an ordinary person¡¯s bones, but against Kenpachi¡¯s attacks, he couldn¡¯t even maintain his grip on his sword. Though Kenpachi was tall, he was still very lean. The fact that Komamura, all broad and imposing, was getting tossed around by that skinny figure made him give a wry smile.

    Kenpachi shook his head, looking unsatisfied.

    ¡°This won¡¯t do, Dog. You¡¯re improving too slowly! How can you call yourself an 11th Division man?¡±

    Looking remorseful, Komamura answered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Vice-Captain Zaraki. I¡¯ll work twice as hard!¡±

    Nearby, Madarame Ikkaku couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°Hold on¡ªyou¡¯re already training nine hours a day. Any more and you¡¯ll overwork yourself to death!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m pretty confident in my stamina,¡± Komamura said with a smile.

    When he¡¯d first been brought to the 11th Division, Komamura had been deeply anxious about his canine face¡ªwhat if people shunned him or told him to ¡°go back to the mountains?¡± However, what he actually encountered was very different.

    Sure, the 11th Division members crowded around him, but not because of how he looked. After a brief moment of surprise upon seeing his face, they all just wanted to test his skills.

    Risking the possibility they might hate him, Komamura sparred with them a few times. Once they experienced Komamura¡¯s strength, the 11th Division¡¯s attitude shifted.

    ¡°Not bad, Big Dog! You can really fight!¡±

    ¡°Looks like once you officially join, the 11th Division will have another top©\tier officer!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll overthrow the 1st Division and usher in an 11th Division regime in no time!¡±

    ¡°All for Big Bro Kaelith!¡±

    (Setting aside those last two alarming comments¡­) Komamura truly liked this division. They didn¡¯t care about one¡¯s background or appearance. Earning approval came down to character and ability. With a canine grin, he looked toward Kaelith. He counted himself lucky indeed to have been brought to Seireitei under Kaelith¡¯s notice. To one day become Kaelith¡¯s right hand in earnest, he¡¯d keep striving to grow stronger. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having hurled a few casual insults at Komamura, Kenpachi hoisted his sword and scanned the area. When he spotted Rangiku decimating three training dummies with a single swing, his eyes lit up.

    ¡°Hey! Little brat!¡±

    Kenpachi brandished his blade from afar, pointing it at Rangiku.

    ¡°Have you grown up enough yet? Come and cross swords with me!¡±

    Alarmed, Ikkaku hurried to stop him:

    ¡°Hold on, Vice-Captain! That¡¯s Matsumoto¡ªshe¡¯s only a first-year at the Academy. You can¡¯t be serious!¡±

    Ayasegawa Yumichika also stepped up, trying to intervene. Kenpachi, however, just shrugged.

    ¡°What¡¯re you two on about? That kid looked pretty strong to me.¡±

    Yumichika gave a wry smile. How much skill could a mere first-year¡ªno matter how talented¡ªreally have? Not everyone was Kaelith, after all¡­

    He was about to say more when a voice called from behind him, ¡°All right! Let¡¯s give it a go!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Startled, Yumichika glanced over his shoulder. Rangiku was dusting off her red-and-white uniform and taking a few steps forward.

    ¡°But you¡¯re going to limit your reiatsu to the same level as mine!¡± she added.

    Kenpachi flashed a toothy grin. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m good at that.¡±

    Under many surprised gazes, the two walked to the center of the training ground.

    ¡°Captain! Is this really okay?¡± Ikkaku asked, glancing anxiously at Kaelith.

    Kaelith had his arms folded, brow arched. He knew Rangiku was nowhere near Kenpachi¡¯s level¡ªwhere was the girl¡¯s confidence coming from? Maybe she was so intoxicated by that hidden power of hers that she believed herself unbeatable?

    That being the case, letting Kenpachi clobber some sense into her might not be a bad idea. Recalling the carefree personality Matsumoto showed in the original story, Kaelith doubted she¡¯d suffer any lasting trauma from the experience.

    Watching them from the sidelines, Aizen observed with interest. He stepped forward, offering to referee. At his signal, Kenpachi and Rangiku launched themselves into action.

    Kenpachi was all wild grins, sword raised high as he charged forward in big strides. Rangiku, by contrast, stayed in place, calmly lifting her Zanpakut¨­. Then, for all to see, she brushed one hand along the side of her blade.

    ¡°Growl¡ªHaineko!¡±

    The moment she uttered those words, the weapon¡¯s blade disintegrated into silvery-gray ash that wafted through the air.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She¡¯s only been at the Academy for about a year, and she already knows how to release her Zanpakut¨­? As expected of a prominent character in the main storyline, that¡¯s some enviable talent.

    But¡­ Kaelith knew Haineko¡¯s power. Good for mowing down small fry. Dealing with someone on her level was no issue. But jumping tiers¡ªespecially against a juggernaut like Kenpachi¡ªseemed impossible. He assumed Haineko¡¯s meager offensive power would be shrugged off while Kenpachi barreled straight in.

    Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly frowned.

    Wait¡­there¡¯s something off about the volume of ash!

    His eyes grew sharp, watching the motes swirl around Matsumoto. In half a second, he confirmed his suspicion. In the canon, Haineko¡¯s ash was basically just a handful¡¯s worth. Now, the dust cloud around her was at least a whole bucket¡¯s worth!

    Given that Haineko¡¯s combat style was similar to Senbonzakura¡ªaffected in large part by both the user¡¯s finesse and the overall amount of material¡ªsuch a massive increase in ash should mean a big jump in her attack power. Kaelith couldn¡¯t help looking forward to seeing how it would turn out.

    While Kaelith¡¯s mind raced, Kenpachi roared and charged straight in. Though he sensed some danger in Haineko, he was still confident he could power through. Matsumoto gave a slight smile, raising a hand in a slicing motion. As she did so, the tips of two of her fingers on each hand glowed faintly.

    The ashen particles in the air leapt to life.

 Chapter 251

    Chapter 251

    -----------------

    Large swathes of silvery ash, driven by Rangiku¡¯s movements, frantically converged.

    Rotating currents of ashen dust formed a thin yet sturdy shield in front of her.

    Clang!

    Kenpachi struck with his sword, the blade crashing into Haineko¡¯s shield. He¡¯d assumed that a shield made from mere dust would be easy to cleave through, even if there were ten layers of it. Surprisingly, that rapidly flowing metallic ash produced a powerful force that pushed his blade sideways. At first, his sword cut in smoothly, but once half the blade sank into Haineko, most of its momentum was gone. Feeling the massive force transmitted from within that metal dust, Kenpachi showed a brief flash of surprise¡ªthen an exhilarated grin.

    ¡°Ha, indeed¡ªyou¡¯re strong!¡±

    He wrenched his sword free in a single brutal jerk.

    Boom!

    A faint glow of reiatsu surged on his body. Because he¡¯d lowered his reiatsu to match Rangiku¡¯s level, the glow was dim¡ªnowhere near the sky-lighting savagery he usually had. Yet even so, the danger radiating from him couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    Thud!

    Kenpachi slammed his sword onto Haineko¡¯s shield again. This time, instead of pushing in, he took advantage of the shield¡¯s rebound to raise his blade once more, and then he struck a second time.

    Thud! Thud!! Thud!!!

    Every downward blow of Kenpachi¡¯s sword was deflected by Haineko¡¯s shield. However, each time the shield bounced his blade back, it also boosted his next swing, making every subsequent strike heavier. To handle that greater force, Rangiku had to speed up the shield¡¯s flow even more. In a matter of seconds, she realized that her supposedly unstoppable Haineko shield was starting to slow down under the strain.

    Crack!!!

    With a wild, menacing grin, Kenpachi unleashed the built-up power in his chipped, serrated sword, slicing Haineko¡¯s shield clean apart. Rangiku¡¯s face went pale. Even Kaelith, watching from the sideline, couldn¡¯t help but think that Kenpachi resembled Jack from *The Shining*, hacking through a door with an axe.

    ¡°Wahaha!!!¡±

    Having slashed open Haineko¡¯s shield, Kenpachi let out a raucous laugh. He waved his massive arm, scattering clumps of metallic ash around him, then swung his blade to strike Rangiku directly.

    Rangiku hastily tried to control the metal dust to cut into Kenpachi¡¯s skin, but her flustered state kept her from extracting Haineko¡¯s full potential.

    Even though Kenpachi wasn¡¯t deliberately boosting his defenses, the metal dust caused him only minor wounds¡ªjust enough to make him bleed a little, which only excited him more. Seeing the sword coming straight down, Rangiku¡¯s eyes went wide.

    Am I¡­about to die?

    Right then, she was startled to see a blade made of metal dust suddenly extend from the hilt she still gripped. The metal dust gathered together but didn¡¯t solidify like a normal sword.

    Bzz bzz bzz bzz!

    A faint vibration hummed from the blade. Before Rangiku could figure out what was happening, it was already bringing her arm up to meet Kenpachi¡¯s slash.

    Scrraaaape!

    The metal-dust sword collided viciously with Kenpachi¡¯s blade, sending sparks flying like a grinding wheel. In an instant, Rangiku¡¯s sword bit three or four millimeters into Kenpachi¡¯s weapon¡ªthen continued slicing further.

    ¡°Oh¡­another new trick? Interesting!¡± Kenpachi barked a laugh, unbothered that his own sword was being damaged.

    Kaelith, on the sidelines, shook his head faintly.

    Look at this attitude toward one¡¯s Zanpakut¨­¡­ No wonder his blade never grants him Shikai. That¡¯s just like asking the abuser for forgiveness.

    At the same time, Kaelith flicked his fingertip almost imperceptibly. Obeying his movement, the blade of swirling metal dust retreated two steps, pulling Rangiku back and widening the gap between her and Kenpachi. Sure enough, Kenpachi lashed out with a kick the moment there was space, but missed when Rangiku withdrew. The man seemed even more satisfied¡ªthis kid was better than he¡¯d imagined.

    Acting as referee, Aizen narrowed his eyes and glanced at Kaelith outside the ring. Kaelith just folded his arms behind his head, gazed off elsewhere, and whistled innocently.

    Rangiku peered down at the sword in her hands, startled. Only now did she realize that the swirling metal dust forming the blade was spinning wildly. It hadn¡¯t hardened into a conventional weapon at all. Instead, that rotating dust created a sawlike cutting edge. No wonder it had sliced into Kenpachi¡¯s sword so easily.

    But she herself hadn¡¯t made it do that.

    Why is Haineko moving on its own?

    Just then, Kaelith¡¯s voice reached her ears: ¡°Feel the reiatsu pulsing inside it and learn from it. I can only help you out for a second¡ªS¨­suke¡¯s already itching to come after me.¡±

    Rangiku¡¯s expression cleared. So¡­that was Kaelith¡¯s doing.

    A faint smile touched her lips. It reminded her of when she¡¯d been attacked by wolves in the mountains a year ago. Kaelith had pretended not to care but stepped in at the critical moment anyway.

    She closed her eyes and concentrated on how Kaelith was manipulating the metal dust. There it was¡ªhis subtle kindness, rescuing her yet again. The only pity was, that gentleness didn¡¯t belong exclusively to her. Kenpachi Zaraki, Komamura Sajin, T¨­sen Kaname¡­all of them shared in Kaelith¡¯s care. That was part of what made him shine so brightly.

    Rangiku swiftly opened her eyes. Kaelith¡¯s power withdrew from the blade, letting her own reiatsu replace it and bond with the metal dust. The rotating sword edge paused¡ªthen spun up again. Seeing how quickly she¡¯d assimilated that move, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    Maybe this was how Yamamoto felt, having a disciple who picked up everything without needing endless lectures. For a moment, Kaelith envied the old man.

    Meanwhile, in the 1st Division quarters, Yamamoto suddenly sneezed. The old man, puzzled, pulled his robe tighter and drew Ry¨±jin Jakka to his side so its warmth would comfort him. Then he happily returned to reading.

    Back in the training yard, Rangiku¡ªwielding her ¡°iron-sand sword¡±¡ªtraded blow after blow with Kenpachi. The Soul King¡¯s fingertip granted her potent strength. Long-range manipulation of iron dust alone didn¡¯t show that much of a difference, but swinging the blade in direct combat brought out every ounce of that power. Though she was visibly only fifteen or sixteen, barely up to Kenpachi¡¯s midsection, each of her slashes was not far behind his for sheer force.

    On top of that, drifting metal particles around her occasionally struck from blind angles.

    At that moment, Matsumoto Rangiku¡¯s fighting prowess easily rivaled that of a mid-ranking officer.

    After dozens of exchanges, she finally lost due to running out of stamina¡ªthough, to be fair, she was up against Kenpachi, whose battle style was all brute force, barely any technique, and minimal footwork.

    Crucially, if he said he¡¯d fight at your power level, he truly did so; he wouldn¡¯t add an ounce of extra strength. Had she faced an officer who fought cunningly, even her heightened power might not have held out so long. She still had plenty to learn.

    As Kaelith mulled this over, Rangiku jogged over to him. Sweat trickled down her face, and her orange hair stuck to her brow in damp clumps. She gave him a bright grin.

    ¡°Well? How¡¯d I do, Y¨±?¡±

    ¡°You did great. You can beat any pack of wolves in Rukongai now,¡± he replied.

    Rangiku blinked¡ªthen burst out laughing. ¡°What kind of comparison is that?¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°No helping it; if I compared you to me, that¡¯d be too discouraging.¡±

    Kaelith puffed out his chest in smug pride, and Rangiku stuck out her tongue before running off. Kaelith watched her with a soft smile.

    He figured out why Rangiku¡¯s powers had grown so much. In the original timeline, Aizen had violently ripped out the Soul King shard from her, damaging her soul and stunting her potential. Now, with her soul intact¡ªand that extra portion of the King¡¯s power¡ªher capabilities far surpassed what they had been. She might even achieve Bankai someday. Given that Haineko now had a chainsaw-like edge, maybe in Bankai form she¡¯d get an explosive shotgun as well¡­ Kaelith¡¯s imagination ran wild at the thought.

    ¡­

    Dressed neatly, wearing his newly delivered Captain¡¯s haori, Kaelith admired himself in the mirror. He turned to Urahara Kisuke.

    ¡°Which of us is more handsome: me or that S¨­suke from the 5th Division?¡±

    Without hesitation, Kisuke answered, ¡°What¡¯s Aizen got on you, sir?¡±

    Kaelith gave a pleased nod. ¡°Your honesty is what I like best about you!¡±

    Leaving the 11th Division barracks, he set off for Seireitei¡¯s East Gate. He¡¯d walked that route countless times when he was younger, so he knew it backward and forward. Before long, he arrived at the gates of the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy. The guard recognized him instantly and bowed.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith!!¡±

    Stepping onto campus, Kaelith took a look around. Students in red or blue uniforms were everywhere. Just a few years ago, he¡¯d been one of them. Since he was masking his reiatsu and sticking to the less crowded paths, no one paid him any notice. Then a voice called out:

    ¡°Hey! Kaelith!!¡±

    Turning, he saw a man approaching with a beaming smile. Kaelith lit up as well. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Mr. Kinoshita¡ªI¡¯m not playing sick today.¡±

    He smirked mockingly, a subtext of ¡°Even if I did, you couldn¡¯t touch me now.¡± Kinoshita merely grinned back.

    ¡°Haha, no worries. If you do skip class, I¡¯ll just report you to the Captain-Commander.¡±

    Kaelith: ¡°¡­¡±

    Such is life¡ªone shouldn¡¯t get cocky.

    Feeling slightly deflated, he followed Kinoshita inside the main teaching building. Along the way, Kinoshita pointed out all the changes the Academy had undergone: new textbooks, updated teaching standards, revised training regimens. Even though only a few years had passed, it felt like a century¡¯s worth of innovations. Kaelith found many of these new things intriguing.

    When the topic shifted to the new teacher guidelines, Kinoshita remarked, ¡°That said, these rules mostly apply to full-time instructors. You¡¯re only teaching an elective course, so just keep it in mind. Besides, that haori of yours means you¡¯re not exactly bound by standard procedures.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t help noticing how new Kaelith¡¯s haori looked. For someone who¡¯d been a captain for a while, Kinoshita had half-expected it to be dirty or torn. The pristine condition moved him a bit.

    This kid must have grown up and realized how precious the captain¡¯s mantle truly was.

    After a few laps around campus, Kaelith found a resting room and took a nap. Having only left school a few years back, his initial novelty soon faded. Might as well just sleep until his calligraphy class started.

    When he woke, the timing was just right. Gathering a bit of reiatsu into his palm, he smoothed down his messed-up hair with a single pass. Exiting into the corridor, he saw Kinoshita waiting for him. The man wore a grave expression.

    ¡°Kaelith, we¡¯ve run into a situation. When you begin your lesson, you must stay calm. No matter what you see, don¡¯t panic¡ªkeep your emotions steady, you hear?¡±

    Kaelith gave him a puzzled look. Had the students grown so undisciplined in just a few years? If so, he was more than ready to deliver some tough love¡ªshow them a real ¡°strict teacher¡± approach.

    He smirked. ¡°Kinoshita, fear not. With me here, I¡¯ll quell any storm with one firm anchor.¡±

    And with that, he strode confidently to the classroom. Watching Kaelith¡¯s assured back, Kinoshita felt a renewed burst of faith. As expected of someone who became a captain a few short years after leaving school. He was reliable in a pinch.

    ¡­

    ¡°Uh, sorry, Kinoshita¡ªI need to go home. My stomach hurts!¡±

    A few minutes later, Kaelith opened the classroom door, took a single glance inside, then promptly shut it again and turned on his heel to leave. Outraged, Kinoshita seized him in a bear hug.

    ¡°Curse you, you can¡¯t run away at the last second!¡±

    ¡°What the hell, man¡ªdid you see what¡¯s in there?!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®what¡¯? Everyone is just here because they like your calligraphy and want to learn from you!¡±

    ¡°Yeah right! Then why don¡¯t you teach them?¡±

    ¡°If I could do it, I would!¡±

    ¡°Kinoshita, you¡­ you¡­!¡±

    Breathing deeply to compose himself, Kaelith opened the door once more. The modest classroom was jam-packed with people. Among the red-and-blue-uniformed students, several figures stood out like beacons:

    Yamamoto Shigekuni, Unohana Retsu, Kuchiki Ginrei, Shiba Sh¨­dai, Hikifune Kirio, and Ukitake J¨±shir¨­¡­

    Yes¡ªsix captains (including the Captain-Commander himself) had come to attend one single student lecture.

    How the hell was any of this normal?

 Chapter 252

    Chapter 252

    Back to 2-in-1 chapters

    ------------

    A teacher¡ªa sacred, lofty profession, praised by many.

    The moment one steps into a classroom, stands behind the lectern, and the bell rings, the teacher becomes ruler of that domain, holding limitless power.

    Yet even such an invincible being has an Achille¡¯s heel: if the higher©\ups suddenly come for an inspection, sitting among the students to observe, that once©\invincible teacher is instantly stripped of their halo. From a lofty immortal, they plummet down to the mortal plane.

    No doubt about it¡ªthe people crowding in today, those eyesores, were all enemies!

    Standing at the podium, Kaelith abruptly locked his gaze on Yamamoto Shigekuni.

    ¡°Principal, sir, are you here as the leadership today¡­or as a student?¡±

    Yamamoto gave him a quizzical look. ¡°Since I¡¯m sitting here, naturally I¡¯m just a student.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡±

    Kaelith clapped once. Yamamoto frowned. ¡°Why do you ask that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing¡ªjust making sure.¡±

    Kaelith grinned, brushing aside the question. He turned to the others in the room. With Yamamoto taking the lead, they all stated they were here as students. Kaelith nodded in satisfaction.

    From his pocket, he produced a pair of glasses he¡¯d ¡®borrowed¡¯ from Aizen, elegantly opened the temple arms, and slid them onto his face.

    ¡°Well then, to check everyone¡¯s skill level, please pick up your brushes and write a few words so I can see.¡±

    At that, the students sprang into action. Kaelith¡¯s name had lost none of its luster at the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy over the last few years; in fact, he was more famous than ever.

    Students were curious about the legendary upperclassman who¡¯d become an 11th Division captain in the blink of an eye. Plenty who had no interest in calligraphy tried to slip in just to see if Kaelith had multiple heads or extra arms.

    But the presence of the Captain©\Commander and several other captains scared away most of the onlookers. By now, nearly all who remained were serious calligraphy enthusiasts.

    After waiting about a minute, Kaelith stepped down from the podium.

    ¡°In one major kingdom of the Living World, there¡¯s a saying: *¡®Your handwriting reflects who you are.¡¯* Looking at your calligraphy tells me not only your technical level but also the secrets hidden in your heart. I won¡¯t lie¡ªmy skill in reading people by their writing is quite accurate!¡±

    He approached a student¡¯s desk to inspect the characters.

    ¡°Mm¡­ The brushstrokes are sharp and straightforward. You¡¯re a straightforward, decisive person. However, when writing the curved hooks, you should lift your brush a bit earlier, press down more gently for a smoother transition. After you become a Shinigami, remember to think thrice before you act¡ªdon¡¯t rely on brute force alone.¡±

    The student tried the suggestion and lit up in delight.

    ¡°Thank you, Teacher Kaelith!¡±

    *Teacher Kaelith!*

    Kaelith stood a bit straighter¡ªhe was secretly thrilled by the address.

    He walked around checking a few more student¡¯s writing, then ended up at Yamamoto¡¯s spot. On the paper before the old man were four characters: ¡°Äþ¾²ÖÂÔ¶¡± (*Tranquility leads to transcendence*).

    Looking at the writing, Kaelith sighed. The phrase spoke of a calm mind, yet in Yamamoto¡¯s hand, each character seemed to blaze with fire. Though the old man liked to appear with eyes half©\closed, free from worldly cares, Kaelith could see deep inside him the flames still raged.

    He bent down to study it for a while, then nodded.

    ¡°I see it clearly. The one who wrote these characters is an evildoer¡ªoutwardly a gentle person, but never holding back when bullying his disciples. Especially his youngest disciple, forced to live in agony every day. This student here ought to treat his youngest student better¡ªshare good food, maybe some valuables too. Only in that way can you improve your calligraphy.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s eyes snapped open. Anger flared in them. But before he could speak, Kaelith quickly hopped back several steps.

    ¡°Careful, young man¡ªthis is a sacred classroom. Laying a hand on your teacher brings punishment!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Yamamoto took a deep breath, hands clenched into fists. Many of the students in the room turned their heads in astonishment at the little drama. Though he had half a mind to squash Kaelith on the spot, Yamamoto worried that might traumatize the kids. He had to hold back.

    Seeing the old man stay quiet, Kaelith gave a half©\smile. Just some random ¡®leadership inspection¡¯¡ªnobody was stealing *his* domain today.

    He moved on to Ukitake J¨±shir¨­¡¯s writing.

    ¡°Ukitake, this is quite excellent. Bold and spirited, but with a gentle elegance in the details. Clearly, the one who writes like this must be a genuinely nice person. Still, it lacks a certain rebellious streak. Try pushing back against your teacher from time to time¡ªyou might see surprising results.¡±

    Ukitake blinked, then shook his head with a grin. Meanwhile, Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure rose.

    Kaelith drifted over to Kuchiki Ginrei and Shiba Sh¨­dai, nitpicking their calligraphy as though searching for trouble. Finally, he arrived at Unohana Retsu¡¯s spot.

    Observing this, Yamamoto inwardly smirked. *Go ahead, try needling her. Let¡¯s see if you can get out of this in one piece.*

    But Kaelith peered at Unohana¡¯s calligraphy a long while, then abruptly straightened, face showing astonishment.

    ¡°These are good characters¡ªonly a few short lines of haiku, yet I can see the writer¡¯s high©\level literary skill. Above all, your gentler brushstrokes, especially the reverse©\angled entry strokes, show no lack of accommodating breadth. This proves just how expansive your inner world must be! Unohana, my dear student¡ªwhere did you learn this style? Clearly, someone so capable¡ªelegant, graceful, stunning¡ªmust have taught you. I¡¯d be honored to meet them, even if that meeting spelled my death.¡±

    Unohana let slip a faint smile at his overblown flattery. On the other hand, Ukitake rolled his eyes, and Yamamoto ground his teeth. This punk had pummeled *him* with insults yet showered Unohana with praise¡ªdid the brat think Ry¨±jin Jakka wasn¡¯t still sharp?

    Eventually, Kaelith returned to the podium to demonstrate a few common brush techniques used in semi©\cursive writing. After finishing, he casually called on a few students to summarize key points.

    ¡°Shiba Sh¨­dai, please explain what ¡®upright brush¡¯ and ¡®tilted brush¡¯ achieve in semi©\cursive.¡±

    Sh¨­dai stood and repeated Kaelith¡¯s explanation about building structure with vertical strokes and adding flavor with angled ones. Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°Good job, Shiba. Ten extra points for the Tenth Division.¡±

    *Extra points?*

    Shiba blinked, confused, but didn¡¯t ask further.

    Kaelith¡¯s gaze shifted to Yamamoto. ¡°Yamamoto.¡±

    Face dark, the old man rose. As principal, he had to set an example. Even if Kaelith posed some tricky question, he was confident in his knowledge of calligraphy.

    Under Yamamoto¡¯s scrutiny, Kaelith spoke slowly:

    ¡°Please name every person in the Living World who has ever practiced calligraphy. By name. One by one.¡± (t/N; man I can''t take this bwahahah)

    ¡°???¡±

    Even though Yamamoto had known his ridiculous disciple would pull a stunt, he was still floored. When Yamamoto didn¡¯t reply, Kaelith sighed dramatically.

    ¡°Sigh. Yamamoto, you¡¯re not focusing in class. The 1st Division loses 500 points. After class, copy *Seireitei Calligraphy Selections* ten times and hand it in tomorrow.¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure shot up, and he clenched his teeth. ¡°Kid¡ªkhh, Teacher Kaelith¡ªthen *please* enlighten me. What are all those names?¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. ¡°At your current level, it¡¯s premature. When the time comes, I¡¯ll share them with you as your teacher.¡±

    The old man¡¯s hands shook, itching to slice someone.

    That very night, outside Seireitei, the collision of spiritual pressure caused terrible waves. Yamamoto¡¯s reiatsu blanketed the city in surging force. When the 4th Division arrived, Kaelith only managed to utter a partial last phrase¡ª

    ¡°The one who did it¡­ is¡­ urgh¡­¡±

    He left behind a smoldering body. Yamada Seinosuke sighed, gently closing Kaelith¡¯s eyes. "Farewell, you foolish soul."

    ¡­

    By the following evening, Kaelith stretched and yawned, finally returning to his beloved 11th Division. The first time he got roasted by Ry¨±jin Jakka, he¡¯d felt a brush with death. These days, he was more or less used to it. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He halted suddenly. Deep within him, the reiatsu that usually flowed quietly began to churn violently¡ª

    Boom!

    All that pent©\up spiritual energy erupted, swelling inside him. Kaelith, prepared for something like this, quickly suppressed the power so as not to alarm anyone around him. Simultaneously, a voice sounded in his mind:

    \[Detected that bound partner ¡°Aizen S¨­suke¡± has reached a new level. Synchronizing cultivation progress¡­ synchronization complete!\]

    \[Your spiritual power has increased. Current spirit©\force rank: Level 2!\]

    Kaelith felt the surge of thick, roiling reiatsu and couldn¡¯t help feeling wistful. He¡¯d been stuck at the peak of Level 3, hoping to break into Level 2 on his own before Aizen did. But in the end, he hadn¡¯t even scratched the threshold while Aizen had already crossed it. *Truly a once©\in©\a©\megaannum ultimate Shinigami.*

    Yes, with Aizen¡¯s nature, now that he¡¯d advanced to Rank 2, there was sure to be new moves in the works.

    Sure enough, not half an hour passed before Aizen showed up confidently.

    ¡°Kaelith, it¡¯s time to act.¡±

    ¡°To act? You mean against my teacher?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m not that thick©\skinned.¡± Aizen shook his head. ¡°I just advanced to Second Rank. It¡¯s time to bring Las Noches under our control.¡±

    Though Kaelith had suspected as much, the moment Aizen actually said it made him strangely excited. He nodded. ¡°Excellent. I got a thrashing from the old man just yesterday, so he won¡¯t be watching me for a while.¡±

    After a few quick words, they came to a neat agreement, forming an alliance¡ªcough, a *mutual collaboration*¡ªand departed the 11th Division for Rukongai.

    Not long after they left, a glimmer of light at the doorway faded out. Wearing a black cloak, Kisuke Urahara stood there, expression sober.

    He¡¯d been by Kaelith¡¯s side for years. Although he constantly griped about Kaelith, the truth was he didn¡¯t dislike him at all. Being around Kaelith was comfortable, if often tiring. He never worried about the future when working under him. However, the more time Kisuke spent with Kaelith, the more he realized Kaelith was planning something. With Kaelith alone, Kisuke wasn¡¯t too concerned. The real problem was Aizen S¨­suke¡ª a man full of danger, be it ability or ambition.

    Kisuke didn¡¯t know *exactly* what Aizen was plotting. He only knew that if someone could hide themselves so thoroughly, their target was anything but trivial. With Kaelith constantly in Aizen¡¯s company, there was bound to be trouble.

    To confirm his suspicions, Kisuke borrowed data from the Mikami Technology Bureau, creating a reiatsu©\isolating cloak. Tonight, seeing Kaelith come home alone and wait in his study, Kisuke donned the cloak, marshaled his entire repertoire of stealth skills, and hid by the door.

    He knew Kaelith had some extraordinary sensing technique¡ªif Kaelith used it, he would be exposed. Luckily, Kaelith wasn¡¯t in the habit of scanning his own home continuously.

    Recalling the conversation he overheard, Kisuke¡¯s brow furrowed. Aizen S¨­suke¡­ who apparently now held Rank Two spiritual power.

    Impossible¡ªhe graduated only a few years ago. If he hadn¡¯t graduated early, he¡¯d be a sixth©\year at best. Yet from Kaelith¡¯s demeanor, he wasn¡¯t surprised. So Kaelith clearly knew about Aizen¡¯s true strength all along.

    Kaelith himself was presumably Rank Three, a bona fide captain level.

    Combined with Aizen, who had soared to Rank Two, who knew what they¡¯d been up to all these years?

    Kisuke recalled many past incidents he¡¯d once deemed unsolvable because Kaelith alone couldn¡¯t alter the outcome. But factor Aizen into the mix, and suddenly everything made sense. The two of them likely had turned Hueco Mundo into their private backyard. All those times Kaelith staggered back through the Senkaimon in tatters? He must have been fighting there.

    So why would they want to control Las Noches? For research? Just capturing Hollows would suffice for that, no need to conquer the entire realm. If they wanted to eradicate the Arrancar, they could do it openly, with Yamamoto behind them¡ªit would be far simpler.

    Kisuke took a deep breath. Maybe he was overthinking it. Kaelith was a noble, and Yamamoto¡¯s disciple, after all¡­

    Then again, it was Kaelith. The second that name popped into his head, Kisuke rubbed his temples.

    Indeed, everything pointed toward a single conclusion: under Aizen¡¯s influence, Kaelith was amassing power to stage a rebellion. And this crucial moment demanded Kisuke make a choice that would define his entire life.

    In the end, the curtain fell on that day¡¯s events¡ªbut his decision loomed.

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253

    2-in-1 chapter.

    -------------------

    ¡°S¨­suke, did you notice?¡±

    ¡°Notice what?¡±

    ¡°That just now, when we were talking, Kisuke was eavesdropping outside the door.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen was running through the Garganta, momentarily taken aback by Kaelith¡¯s words.

    Urahara Kisuke, hiding outside?

    Because of Kaelith¡¯s monstrous sixth sense and detection skill, Aizen usually didn¡¯t bother scanning the surroundings when Kaelith was present. Even so, avoiding his own perception wouldn¡¯t be an easy feat.

    If Aizen himself hadn¡¯t noticed Urahara, it meant the man must possess some kind of special reiatsu-concealment technique or had developed an outfit much like Aizen¡¯s own reiatsu-isolating garb¡ªeither possibility highlighting Kisuke¡¯s formidable talents.

    He looked at Kaelith.

    ¡°You want to drag Kisuke in with us?¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°If he¡¯s willing, sure. If not, at least keep him from ending up on the opposite side.¡±

    Aizen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you think he can actually stop us?¡±

    ¡°Heh heh, don¡¯t underestimate him.¡± Kaelith grinned.

    In the original timeline, Aizen¡ªwith all his meticulous plotting¡ªwas ultimately brought down by Kurosaki Ichigo and Urahara Kisuke. True, Kaelith was here now, a chosen one brimming with the Soul Society¡¯s combined cunning, yet he still couldn¡¯t guarantee a sure bet against Kisuke.

    That was why he¡¯d deliberately dropped hints, dragging Urahara into their orbit. Once Kisuke dug into the matter, they¡¯d see how he chose to respond. If Urahara cooperated, that was that. If not¡­Kaelith would employ heavier measures.

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s expectant smile, Aizen mused. Indeed, Kisuke was clever, skilled in the tech domain, but he did seem rather mild-tempered. Not the kind to shake the world.

    Aizen himself wasn¡¯t overly interested in him, but he did trust Kaelith¡¯s knack for picking the right people. For all Kaelith¡¯s casual antics, he seldom misjudged competency.

    ¡­

    They exited the Garganta, stepping onto the white-sanded deserts of Hueco Mundo. Because they¡¯d previously relocated the lab beneath Las Noche¡¯s shadow, returning to the lab required a new ritual. Such trivial chores that didn¡¯t showcase ¡°grand wisdom¡± were fully delegated to Aizen.

    While Aizen was setting up Kid¨­, Kaelith wandered around. He sensed traces of an odd reiatsu lingering in the air. Lifting a finger, he tasted it:

    Rage, despair, resentment.

    It brought to mind the agony of a bitter death.

    What happened here?

    Before he could think further, Aizen was done arranging the Kid¨­. The two of them walked into the formation, and the scenery shifted rapidly. Moments later, they reappeared in the Shadow Lab.

    At once, they caught sight of Szayelaporro, covered in blood, grinning as he stabbed a syringe into himself. Noticing their arrival, he looked up in delight:

    ¡°Hey, Boss. Aizen-san. Good timing. My latest body-mod serum is practically finished. You can alter a Hollow¡¯s appearance any way you like¡ªextra arm, extra mouth, anything¡¯s possible. I tested it on myself earlier; the effect lasts at least four hours! But I¡¯m not sure what happens with Shinigami¡­ Either of you feel like trying?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Kaelith refused without hesitation. In the Soul Society, he¡¯d heard a similar pitch from Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri so many times. No way he¡¯d take that bait again.

    Szayelaporro looked a bit disappointed.

    Then the air off to the side rippled. Harribel and Nel appeared together via Son¨ªdo.

    ¡°Kaelith-sama, there¡¯s trouble.¡±

    Under their grave stares, Harribel said:

    ¡°A few days ago, Baraggan clashed with Senzo Tsunayashiro. The battle¡¯s scale was enormous¡ªhalf of Las Noches was leveled. Senzo lost, and Baraggan devoured him. Most of Senzo¡¯s Shinigami fled into the deserts, but Baraggan¡¯s army pursued them and slaughtered many from the Tsunayashiro clan out there.¡±

    Kaelith looked genuinely surprised. He turned to Aizen.

    ¡°Pull up the day¡¯s reiatsu readings and recorded data.¡±

    Aizen reached inside his uniform for his glasses, only to realize they were gone. Kaelith also paused, then fished out a pair from his pocket.

    ¡°Haha, S¨­suke, I figured you¡¯d forget¡ªso I brought these for you.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen felt a twinge of suspicion while accepting them. He suspected Kaelith had simply swiped them earlier, but concluded that wouldn¡¯t make sense¡ªthese glasses were originally a gift from Kaelith anyway. Why would he steal a worthless item he¡¯d already given away? Probably not.

    Donning the glasses, he walked to the monitor and operated it swiftly. After some time, Aizen stood up again.

    ¡°It¡¯s confirmed. A major battle took place at Las Noches¡ªan immense clash of forces. We detected the ¡®heavy spirit particles¡¯ that appear when Senzo Tsunayashiro, a third-rank spirit, died.¡±

    ¡°Heavy spirit particles¡± referred to the residue left by those of third-rank spiritual power or above, something the world itself couldn¡¯t dissolve. The Soul Society periodically conducted Soul Funeral Ceremonies to send such remnants to Hell.

    If Senzo¡¯s heavy spirit particles turned up, there was no chance of it being fake.

    Kaelith felt a mix of emotions. Senzo had schemed so ruthlessly, only to lose to a Hollow in the end. Likely that lingering aura of despair he¡¯d picked up outside was Senzo¡¯s final bitterness¡­

    Aizen continued, ¡°Besides Senzo¡¯s reishi residue, the data also reveals an unusual reiatsu wave. After devouring Senzo, Baraggan evidently achieved a partial Arrancar transformation. He¡¯s advanced further in power.¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. Even before partial Arrancarization, Baraggan had outclassed Harribel and Nel. Now that he¡¯d evolved, his strength had doubtless taken another leap.

    Reading his thoughts, Aizen said, ¡°He may be strong, but the two of us combined aren¡¯t necessarily weaker. Besides, we¡¯ve got three Vasto Lordes on our side. He¡¯s only just reached this new level; fully mastering it will take time. Striking now is our best opportunity.¡±

    Harribel nodded. Though she disliked bloodshed, she understood that if Baraggan fell and Kaelith took over Hueco Mundo, the realm¡¯s chaos and cruelty would surely improve. In that sense, Baraggan¡¯s death was an acceptable price.

    Szayelaporro scratched his head. ¡°Um, am I required for this? Not to be rude, but fighting¡¯s not my thing. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± Aizen said calmly, cutting him off. ¡°After this, I¡¯ll give you all the data on soul-splitting you want.¡±

    Eyes shining, Szayelaporro had no further objection.

    Nel glanced at the group.

    ¡°Kaelith, sir¡­ what about Baraggan¡¯s subordinates?¡±

    Baraggan¡¯s army included countless Adjuchas, who in turn commanded hordes of Gillians. One or two Adjuchas was no threat to them, but if tens or hundreds converged, that was formidable.

    Kaelith let out a knowing laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got a plan.¡±

    Nel grew uneasy. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on calling in a Shinigami force, are you?¡±

    Surely bringing an army from Seireitei was the easiest way to handle that many Adjuchas. Kaelith shook his head.

    ¡°No need. The force we need is already here and waiting.¡±

    Hearing that, Aizen quirked a smile. Perfect. He¡¯d just been thinking of the same group.

    ¡­

    Somewhere out in the vast white deserts, a band of Shinigami fled in desperation. They were part of the Tsunayashiro clan who¡¯d come to Hueco Mundo with their patriarch.

    They wouldn¡¯t have been chosen if they lacked strength. Yet after witnessing Baraggan devour Senzo, any fighting spirit they had drained away. If even their invincible lord was defeated, what could they hope to do?

    All they wanted now was to outrun Baraggan¡¯s dominion, never crossing paths with him again. But the heavy reiatsu of Hollows pursuing them in the distance filled them with dread. Apparently, Baraggan had no intention of letting them go.

    Up front, a few leaders exchanged glances, seeing the same resolve in each other¡¯s eyes. This was Hueco Mundo, the Hollows¡¯ domain¡ªwhether it was familiarity with the terrain or absorbing reishi to recover stamina, the pursuing Adjuchas had the upper hand. Continuing to run would only tire them out and lead to slaughter.

    Better to halt here, stage a rearguard stand, and buy time for those ahead to escape. Not all Tsunayashiro loyalists were with them; some were further along. If they could stall the Hollows, maybe some portion of the clan would survive.

    Clenching his teeth, the leader shouted, ¡°Stop!!¡±

    The others, startled, watched him draw his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Everyone, prepare to fight! We¡¯ll hold them here, do or die¡­ We mustn¡¯t let these damn Hollows catch up to the ones in front!¡±

    Despair flashed across many faces, but after a brief inner struggle, they all drew their blades. Twice they¡¯d become hunted strays; they were done running. If they were going to die, at least they¡¯d die honorably in battle.

    They spotted the Adjuchas in the distance. With both dread and a wild final resolve, the Tsunayashiro Shinigami readied themselves. Seeing the Shinigami stop, the group of Hollows cheered. After Baraggan devoured that Shinigami lord and soared in power, they¡¯d all felt the surge. Who was to say they might not also gain strength by eating more Shinigami?

    With that hope burning in their hearts, the Adjuchas roared and charged.

    Then, unexpectedly, a voice rang out from above:

    ¡°Heaven and Earth in wonder, the cosmos ancient beyond measure¡ªyield unto My Blessing! The sun and moon sink, yin and yang are reversed¡ªoppose Me and face oblivion!¡±

    Startled, both Tsunayashiro¡¯s Shinigami and the Hollows looked upward. They saw a figure standing proudly in midair, wearing a white haori with the kanji for ¡°Eleven¡± on the back. At the sight of him, both sides cried out in terror:

    ¡°S-S¡­ San¡­ Kaelith Y¨±!!¡±

    ¡°Ha! Indeed, that¡¯s me!¡±

    As exclamations echoed, Kaelith laughed heartily. Then, from that great height, he leaped straight toward the Hollow¡¯s formation. Midair, he shrugged off his haori, yanking open the front of his Shihakush¨­.

    A sudden eruption of brilliant blue flames burst from his arms and back. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°One-step Shunh¨­¡ªKaelith Flying Kick!!¡±

    Boom!!

    Before the stunned eyes of the Tsunayashiro Shinigami, Kaelith crashed into the Hollow¡¯s ranks like a meteor. A terrifying shockwave threw sand in every direction as though a mountain had erupted. Just warding off the billowing sand cost the Shinigami plenty of energy. Frozen in place, they stared at the explosion¡¯s epicenter.

    Once again, Kaelith¡­had he grown even stronger?

    That blow was insane. Surely he¡¯d taken damage too, right? If so, perhaps now was their chance to¡ª The lead Tsunayashiro member swiftly considered ways to take advantage¡­ Then a gale howled from the center of the battlefield, blasting the swirling sand away and revealing the scene within.

    At the bottom of a massive crater stood Kaelith, motionless. His well-defined muscles glowed with reiatsu. Broken chunks of Hollow flesh littered the sand around him. Farther off, some still-breathing but gravely wounded Hollows lay prone, too frightened to stand.

    Kaelith rolled his neck. Spotting the Tsunayashiro Shinigami, he flashed a grin.

    ¡°Dear old brothers who¡¯ve shared life and death¡ªI¡¯ve come to save you!¡±

    The Shinigami: ¡°¡­¡±

    Was that so-called ¡°bond of life and death¡± genuine?

 Chapter 254

    Chapter 254

    Back to 2-in-1 chapters

    ---------------------

    All the Shinigami present knew Kaelith by name.

    Back then, the Tsunayashiro clan was defeated and forced out of the Soul Society largely because of him. Driving them into Hueco Mundo wasn¡¯t enough¡ªhe even pursued them here and fought viciously against the clan¡¯s master. If that battle hadn¡¯t exposed their master¡¯s abilities, how could Baraggan have so easily killed him afterward?

    What life-and-death bond? More like Kaelith lives, and the rest of them die!

    ¡°Kaelith¡­are you here to wipe us out for good?¡±

    A Shinigami stepped forward, shouting in anger.

    Hearing that, Kaelith wore a pained expression:

    ¡°My good brother, what are you saying! Senzo and I were bosom friends who¡¯d faced life and death together. The moment I heard he was in trouble, I rushed over at once! But the heavens are jealous of talent¡ªI hurried as much as I could, yet still arrived too late.

    ¡°Even though Brother Senzo is gone, I can¡¯t just abandon his clan. Don¡¯t worry, I already know the situation. With me, Kaelith, here, I won¡¯t stand idly by and let Baraggan have his way! I¡¯ll stop Baraggan¡ªeven if I have to stake the entire Tsunayashiro family¡­cough, cough¡­even if I have to stake my son Seino¡¯s life!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    That last line left the Shinigami visibly at a loss. Kaelith didn¡¯t look ready to fight, which made him furrow his brow, deep in thought.

    As the rearguard leader, he wasn¡¯t dull. Soon he guessed the general picture: Kaelith aimed to incorporate the Tsunayashiro clan in Hueco Mundo under his wing.

    Logically, he should refuse on the spot¡ªthis was the very man who¡¯d ruined them, the culprit behind their current misery. But¡­they no longer had room to negotiate.

    Hunted relentlessly by Las Noches, fewer than half of the Tsunayashiro survivors remained. Without a powerful protector, mere flight was no way to survive Hueco Mundo. And Kaelith was undoubtedly strong enough to shield them.

    He took a deep breath. ¡°Kaelith, if we surrender to you, what then? Don¡¯t forget¡ªHueco Mundo may look vast, but Baraggan¡¯s spies are everywhere. Without proper preparation, you can¡¯t possibly build up forces under his nose. Maybe with your strength you can escape his attacks¡­but we¡¯ll all be dead.¡±

    Kaelith just grinned. ¡°Build up forces? Didn¡¯t I say? I won¡¯t sit back and watch Baraggan rampage. I¡¯m taking you with me, we¡¯ll kill Baraggan, avenge Brother Senzo, and snatch that grand throne for ourselves!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Seeing how serious Kaelith was, the Shinigami suddenly felt his legs go weak.

    Crap, run for it¡ªthis guy isn¡¯t some schemer; he¡¯s just nuts!

    He opened his mouth to protest, but then spun around, staring into the distance. Kaelith also looked over curiously.

    Some ten-odd kilometers away, a terrifying reiatsu had just flared into existence. Judging by the feel of it, it was a Hollow¡ªfar beyond an ordinary captain¡¯s class, easily among the top five even in the Thirteen Court Guard Companies.

    The Shinigami¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s where the main group of our clan was stationed!¡± He moved to rush over but felt a hand come down on his head.

    Kaelith swept past him, releasing his grip as he went. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªit¡¯ll be fine. From the way that reiatsu¡¯s fluctuating, there¡¯s no intent to kill. Besides, the one man in Soul Society whose cunning rivals my own has already gone on ahead.¡±

    The Shinigami, startled by Kaelith¡¯s composure, realized he hadn¡¯t even seen Kaelith move. To think he¡ªone of the second-generation clan elites¡ªcould be outclassed so utterly. If Kaelith had wanted them dead, they¡¯d have had no chance to fight back.

    Swallowing hard, he thought: Kaelith¡­he¡¯s growing more unfathomable by the day.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith touched a hand to his ear and heard Aizen¡¯s voice:

    ¡°Kaelith, come over here. We¡¯ve found something unexpected.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess¡­you discovered some Hollows that evolved into Arrancar on their own?¡±

    ¡°¡­Hm?¡±

    ¡°And there are two of them, together?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen them before?¡±

    ¡°Heh, who needs to see them? I, Kaelith, am Heaven¡¯s chosen; a mere snap of my fingers reveals everything under the sun!¡±

    After finishing his grandiose line, Kaelith cut the transmission. Turning back to the Tsunayashiro Shinigami, he said:

    ¡°Come on, we¡¯re off to save your people!¡±

    With that, he kicked off the ground and shot into the sky. The Shinigami made to follow, only to notice something at his feet¡ªseveral scraps of white cloth. Weren¡¯t these bits of Kaelith¡¯s captain¡¯s haori? He¡¯d already shrugged it off before the fight, but somehow it still got shredded by the shock waves he unleashed.

    Recalling Kaelith¡¯s battle just now, the Shinigami couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit awed. What a wild man¡­

    ¡­

    ¡­

    A scattering of Shinigami lay across the silvery desert sand. Out of nearly a hundred, fewer than twenty could still stand. All stared in terror at a figure perched on a distant dune.

    A rough-looking man in a ragged black cloak sat with eyes downcast, a similarly cloaked girl at his side who eyed the Shinigami with interest.

    ¡°Starrk, look, look¡ªsome of them are still able to withstand your reiatsu,¡± the girl teased, elbowing the man.

    But Starrk ignored her. His attention was fixed on that lone figure standing a short distance away: clad in black Shihakush¨­, with a wooden placard reading ¡°Five¡± strapped to his arm, tall and lanky with soft brown hair. He looked like a shy rookie, but there was no doubt that was a facade. Something about him radiated sheer pressure.

    ¡°You¡­a Shinigami?¡± Starrk asked, peering at Aizen.

    Aizen nodded. ¡°For now, yes.¡±

    Starrk frowned. ¡°Are you here to kill us?¡±

    He knew from other Hollows that Shinigami and Hollows were mortal enemies, destined to clash on sight.

    ¡°Rest assured,¡± Aizen replied with a soft smile. ¡°You two appear to be Hollows who completed Arrancar transformation on your own. You¡¯re valuable research subjects. I have no desire to harm you if I can avoid it.¡±

    Starrk let out a dry laugh. ¡°Should I be thanking you?¡±

    ¡°No thanks needed. I¡¯m just following my analysis,¡± Aizen said calmly.

    Hearing the exchange, the green-haired girl piped up: ¡°Starrk, why talk so much? Let¡¯s just take him down!¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­not that I want to fight, but I see no other option.¡± Starrk¡¯s voice was laced with resignation. Despite the man¡¯s mild tone, that cold gleam in his eyes betrayed the deadly truth: this Shinigami wanted to capture them as test subjects, which obviously meant no good end.

    He stood slowly. The girl flashed a feral grin¡ªit wasn¡¯t often they had to go all out, and she was eager to see what full power might do.

    She grabbed a curved blade out of thin air. Starrk shook his head. ¡°Lilynette.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± the girl grumbled, setting the weapon aside and stepping over to him.

    Aizen showed no impatience, not even drawing his sword. He simply stood there, watching. Under that steady gaze, Starrk placed a hand on Lilynette¡¯s head¡ªbut halfway through, he suddenly jerked his eyes upward. Aizen did the same, wearing a wry look.

    Descending through Hueco Mundo¡¯s pale moonlight, a laughing figure plummeted toward the battlefield. Though he came down at breakneck speed, a casual midair flip let him land in perfect balance.

    ¡°Hold on, everyone! The party can¡¯t start without me!¡±

    As he spoke, he looked at the two on the dune. Sure enough¡ªit was Starrk and Lilynette. Starrk was a decent-looking older guy, but Lilynette turned out even cuter than he imagined. Soft green hair, violet eyes¡ªa sweet, fruit-like charm about her.

    When they¡¯d invaded Karakura Town in that other timeline, she wore the typical Las Noches style: skimpy, a bit risqu¨¦, but not exactly perfect. That sort of revealing outfit suited someone like Harribel. For a lively girl like Lilynette, it was more appealing to be swathed in a baggy cloak.

    After these random musings, Kaelith strolled forward with a bright smile.

    ¡°You two, first time meeting. I¡¯m Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m Starrk.¡± The older man seemed polite enough to respond. Lilynette eyed Kaelith warily but stayed silent.

    Seeing this, Starrk added, ¡°And this is Lilynette.¡±

    Kaelith nodded, pondering. A moment later, he seemed to realize something and offered Lilynette a saintly smile, extending his hand.

    ¡°My fair lady, would you care to¡ªmmph?!¡±

    Before he could finish, someone clapped a hand over his mouth from behind. Aizen, exasperated, had abandoned his usual poise to stop Kaelith in this rather graceless manner. But with two Arrancars in front and a whole crowd of Tsunayashiro Shinigami behind them, letting Kaelith finish that line would only make everything more awkward.

    If it were just Kaelith alone, Aizen wouldn¡¯t care how he humiliated himself. But Aizen himself was here¡ªhe refused to share that embarrassment.

    Seeing Kaelith abruptly silenced, Starrk turned to Lilynette. Standing near Kaelith gave Starrk an odd sense of ease, even though they were supposed to be natural enemies. The man¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t oppressive; he didn¡¯t look down on them for being Hollows. And with enough strength not to buckle under Starrk¡¯s reiatsu, he seemed worth knowing.

    Unfortunately, he appeared to be acting under that bespectacled man¡¯s orders. With a small sigh, Starrk murmured, ¡°Guess we have no choice. Let¡¯s do it, Lilynette.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Lilynette¡¯s excited voice rang out from within the gun that had suddenly replaced her. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Starrk placed a hand on her, quietly chanting: ¡°Hunt them down, wolves¡­¡±

    Boom!

    A massive surge of reiatsu whipped the desert into a storm. Kaelith suddenly felt it would be perfect to have some epic background music playing right now¡ªmaybe ¡°Braveheart¡± or something.

    When the storm died down, Starrk stood revealed, draped in a wolfskin-like coat. In each hand he gripped a long-barreled gun; Lilynette¡¯s form was nowhere to be seen.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed with regret. Aizen observed him briefly, then turned back to Starrk.

    ¡°I see¡­ That girl is part of your soul, split off. No wonder she could achieve an Arrancar form.¡±

    ¡°Just as I thought,¡± Aizen went on softly, ¡°her own power isn¡¯t what completed her transformation¡ªit¡¯s your shared soul.¡±

    From one of Starrk¡¯s pistols came Lilynette¡¯s outraged yell: ¡°Shut it, four-eyes! Who¡¯re you calling weak?!¡±

    Aizen merely smiled without answering. An Arrancar formed by splitting the soul in two¡­ It was the most fascinating research subject he¡¯d ever encountered. That thought alone made him brim with satisfaction.

    Kaelith, however, raised his hand. ¡°Question! Starrk-sensei, between you and Lilynette, who¡¯s the ¡®true¡¯ main soul?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s obviously me!¡± Lilynette barked from the gun.

    Starrk hesitated, reflecting a moment before replying, ¡°Hard to say. We¡¯re two equal halves¡ªeither could be considered the main body.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So if you wanted, Lilynette could become the hunter, and you¡¯d transform into the twin guns?¡±

    Starrk paused. He¡¯d never thought about that possibility before.

    ¡°Sounds pretty cool!¡± Lilynette said from the gun, clearly intrigued.

    Starrk scratched his head. He wasn¡¯t necessarily against it¡ªbut he had a hunch Kaelith¡¯s suggestion came with ulterior motives¡­

 Chapter 255

    Chapter 255

    2-in-1 chapter

    ------------------

    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!

    High above, Starrk stood in silence, continuously firing off Cero blasts.

    Some distance away, Kaelith gripped his blades with both hands, sweeping out a long arc of steel that sliced through the oncoming barrage in dazzling style.

    Though he¡¯d seen Starrk¡¯s abilities in the anime, actually facing them left Kaelith somewhat awestruck. So fast. Two guns were somehow unleashing hundreds of Cero in an instant. If he remembered correctly, even an 11-barrel close-in weapon system could only put out a couple hundred rounds per second. Where did all these shots come from? Truly a master gunner!

    For his part, Starrk was just as shocked. Thanks to his extraordinary talent, he¡¯d begun evolving far beyond other Hollows when he was still just an Adjuchas. While the rest struggled to avoid devolving, he¡¯d already become a Vasto Lorde. Then, while other Vasto Lordes played king, lived off the land, or enacted their form of justice, he quietly completed his Arrancar transformation.

    Because he¡¯d evolved too quickly, his reiatsu always leaked out uncontrollably, easily killing any lesser Hollow that tried to approach. Even Vasto Lorde¨Cclass Hollows wouldn¡¯t last long around him. For ages, his main worry was how to make himself weaker so he wouldn¡¯t accidentally crush anyone who came near.

    Only now, upon meeting this man called Kaelith, did Starrk realize there could be someone even stronger. Forget the reiatsu he normally leaked¡ªhe¡¯d already merged with Lilynette, drawing upon nearly all of their power, and still couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand. This guy¡­is a monster?

    A slight frown creased Starrk¡¯s brow; he felt the pressure mounting. Still, he didn¡¯t change tactics. As far as he was concerned, his flurry of Cero was enough to keep Kaelith at bay. If these two Shinigami would just back down, all the better. After all, it¡¯d been ages since he¡¯d met anyone he could actually talk to, and he had no wish to kill them.

    On the ground below, Aizen watched Kaelith¡¯s battle in silence. After a moment¡¯s thought, he spoke up:

    ¡°Kaelith, use your full strength. Baraggan may find out we¡¯re here at any time¡ªfinish this quickly.¡±

    ¡°Roger!¡± Kaelith called back from midair. He opened his eyes wide, pupils locking onto one tiny gap among the hundreds of Cero. With mere eyesight, no one could pick out that minuscule flaw in the ocean of blue light, but Kaelith¡¯s instincts never failed to reveal an enemy¡¯s opening.

    He grinned, leaning forward slightly. In the next instant, blue flames erupted around him. His foot, wrapped in surging reiatsu, stamped hard on empty air, trailing a blazing streak as he shot across a thousand meters in a flash¡ªstraight to Starrk!

    Voom!!

    Even as he moved, Kaelith unleashed his full spiritual pressure. At once it filled the skies, making the very air quake in unease.

    ¡°Wha¡ª?¡±

    Starrk¡¯s eyes widened. So he hadn¡¯t even been fighting seriously until now? Never having faced a rival at his own level, Starrk stumbled under this sudden assault.

    ¡°Idiot! Don¡¯t panic!¡± Lilynette¡¯s angry shout rang from the twin guns. She yanked Starrk¡¯s arms up, aiming to blast Kaelith before he could close in.

    But before she could fire, a short blade whirled forward.

    Clang!!

    Wrapped in blue flames, the dagger struck the side of Starrk¡¯s gun, knocking it away. Lilynette cried out in surprise as she spun through the air. Instinctively, Starrk reached out to grab his displaced weapon. But the dagger had a long chain trailing behind it¡ªafter looping around, it snapped tight around Lilynette and dragged her back toward Kaelith even faster than it had come.

    ¡°Lilynette!¡± Starrk shouted.

    ¡°Hahahaha! Lilynette¡¯s mine now!¡± Kaelith laughed, stretching out a hand to catch the gun reeled in by his chain. Yet just before he could grab it, the weapon vanished, replaced by dozens of gray wolves wreathed in fiery reiatsu. Their jaws gaped wide, snapping at Kaelith from all directions¡ª

    Chomp!!

    Their teeth clacked shut on empty air. Kaelith reappeared a short distance away. ¡°Wow, terrifying, absolutely terrifying.¡± He mock-wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow, eyeing the wolf pack Lilynette had become.

    ¡°Damn it, still no success?¡± Lilynette¡¯s voice echoed through the air.

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Keep at it! Maybe next time.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you look down on me!¡± she yelled, transforming into a wolf pack once more and charging him.

    ¡°Well, come on then,¡± Kaelith crowed, brandishing twin blades as he rushed to meet them. Starrk could only shake his head at the frenzied clash; Lilynette and Kaelith were locked in a heated fight, leaving him¡ªher actual partner¡ªmomentarily sidelined.

    He relaxed a bit, deciding to wait it out. That was when a voice rose behind him:

    ¡°Losing focus so soon?¡±

    Crap!!

    Starrk¡¯s pupils shrank. He reached out, gathering spirit particles into a sword, but the enemy moved faster. Just as he gripped the hilt, agony flared along his back. Aizen stood there, smiling faintly, Zanpakut¨­ in hand. Blood dripped from its tip.

    Starrk couldn¡¯t see the wound, but from the pain, he guessed it was a deep slash running across his back.

    Dazed, he tumbled from the sky.

    ¡°Starrk! Starrk!¡±

    Lilynette¡¯s anxious shouts came through the gun form they shared. In their merged state, she could sense how badly he was hurt. If he hit the ground, even shifting sand could aggravate his wounds. She wanted to revert to her human form, but half her soul was off battling Kaelith in wolf form. What now?!

    Just as Lilynette panicked, someone caught Starrk by the collar, halting his fall with a jolt. She turned, startled, only to see Kaelith already there. But¡­what about the wolves?

    A quick check revealed that Kaelith had already dealt with the entire pack. The huge power gap made her tremble¡ªshe hadn¡¯t felt genuine fear since becoming a Vasto Lorde. Centuries, maybe millennia? Possibly longer. Because Kaelith had wiped out the wolf half of her soul, she could finally revert to her human form from the gun. A flash of light, and Lilynette separated from Starrk¡¯s body, bracing him as they regarded Kaelith warily.

    ¡°Sorry, Lilynette, I¡­¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault. If I hadn¡¯t rushed off after Kaelith, you wouldn¡¯t have been blindsided,¡± she muttered, teeth clenched.

    Kaelith burst out laughing. ¡°What do you expect? That¡¯s Aizen we¡¯re talking about¡ªthe grand master of sneak attacks. Even if you hadn¡¯t chased me, he wouldn¡¯t have missed his mark.¡±

    Behind him, Aizen remained silent, though a faint twitch marred his brow. He mentally noted to add that remark of Kaelith¡¯s to his personal ledger of grudges.

    Starrk glanced between the two men, torn, then sighed. ¡°What are you planning to do with us? If it¡¯s experiments you want, then take me. Spare Lilynette that ordeal. I¡¯ll cooperate fully¡ªwhatever data you need, I¡¯ll help you get it.¡±

    Kaelith burst into a hearty laugh. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re thoroughly exploited. You¡¯ll be working eight full hours a day, with only three meals plus snacks, just three bonuses a year, and only two months of vacation! Worst of all, you only get a pay raise once every four months, and overtime is paid at triple the rate. After hours, you have to train for an hour, and you¡¯ll only receive my personal counseling session once a week.

    How¡¯s that? Terrified yet?¡±

    Starrk gave him a bewildered stare, while Aizen closed his eyes with a sigh and stepped in, figuring he¡¯d better handle the real negotiations. Leaving serious matters to Kaelith would only lead to more chaos.

    Kaelith wandered off with a yawn, approaching the Tsunayashiro Shinigami instead. At sight of him, many swallowed hard. They¡¯d recognized him from the start; some even thought of running, but the crushing spiritual pressure from the fight had pinned them in place. Soon, the Shinigami Kaelith saved earlier arrived and explained what had happened. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So he¡¯d come to recruit them¡­

    Despite that explanation, they still worried. Sure, Kaelith was strong, but was he strong enough to face the newly empowered Baraggan? They doubted it¡ªuntil they witnessed his fight with Starrk firsthand.

    Only then did they truly grasp how the onetime prodigy at the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy had become anything but a simple student. Kaelith¡­had indeed become a formidable Shinigami. Even if their clan master were alive, he couldn¡¯t contend with him now. And that was without mentioning the one who followed Kaelith around¡­

    A few clan leaders snuck a glance toward Aizen. Feeling their eyes, Aizen turned, giving them a benign smile¡ªyet it was no smile at all, but raw malice made cold and tangible.

    There was no doubt that refusing Kaelith¡¯s offer meant a fate worse than death at the bespectacled man¡¯s hands. By comparison, sticking with Kaelith, however risky, beat immediate demise.

    As Kaelith drew near, clearing his throat as if to speak, a dozen Tsunayashiro Shinigami dropped to one knee in unison.

    ¡°We of the Tsunayashiro clan pledge ourselves to Lord Kaelith!¡±

    Kaelith blinked in surprise. He hadn¡¯t even begun persuading them, yet they¡¯d already folded? Then he broke into a grin. Aizen had to talk and talk to earn a single defection, but here Kaelith did nothing¡ªjust radiated a bit of kingly presence, and they surrendered. The difference was obvious.

    Seeing the Tsunayashiro clan yield, Aizen gave a nearly imperceptible nod before returning his focus to Starrk.

    ¡­

    ¡­

    In Las Noches, Baraggan¡ªstill in his bony form¡ªlounged on a massive throne, body slouched at ease, face propped on one hand, gazing at the frantic scene below. The recent clash with Senzo Tsunayashiro had left half the fortress in ruins, and hordes of Adjuchas and their minions were hard at work rebuilding.

    Baraggan raised a hand, watching a shimmer of light cross over it. Where before his arm was all bleached bone, now flesh and blood appeared.

    Feeling the renewed sensation of a living body, Baraggan gave a smug laugh. If he¡¯d known devouring Senzo would bring such wondrous gains, he¡¯d have done it sooner. Now he was likely unrivaled in all existence.

    How could any Soul Reaper defeat one who¡¯d shattered the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami? Impossible!

    Just then¡ªBoom!! A huge explosion echoed.

    ¡°What was that?!¡± Baraggan roared in fury. A dozen Adjuchas immediately soared skyward, peering toward the source. There, a number of familiar figures stood. One Adjuchas let out an excited cry:

    ¡°Lord Baraggan, it¡¯s the Shinigami¡­those Tsunayashiro strays!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Baraggan roused himself, floating upright. Weren¡¯t they fleeing like whipped dogs not long ago? Now they¡¯d come back?

    ¡°They blasted a hole through the outer wall and are marching in!¡± another Adjuchas called. ¡°¡­Though there was already a breach from your last fight, so why bother making a new one?¡±

    Baraggan ignored that, drifting forward. He wanted to see whoever was leading these rogue Tsunayashiro upstarts. Managing to rally them for direct revenge¡ªwhoever it was must have some skill.

    If the fellow knew which way the wind blew, Baraggan wouldn¡¯t mind adding such talent to his ranks.

    Cavernous sockets flickered with a ghostly flame as he focused on the distant group. The moment Baraggan recognized the Shinigami at the forefront, he gave a startled exclamation:

    ¡°Kaelith!!¡±

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 Chapter 256

    Chapter 256

    2-in-1 chapter

    -------------------

    Seeing Kaelith, Baraggan instinctively tensed up¡ªthen quickly came to his senses.

    Ridiculous. What was there to fear?

    Sure, Kaelith was fairly strong, but in the end, he was just a Shinigami. Baraggan, on the other hand, had crossed the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami and gained an entirely new, mighty power!

    From his vantage point, Baraggan watched as Kaelith led a raucous band of Shinigami rushing into Las Noches.

    ¡°Baraggan, you old fiend! Get out here and face your death!¡±

    Kaelith was shirtless, brandishing his blade and shouting at the top of his lungs, with a crowd of Shinigami echoing his calls.

    Baraggan: ¡°¡­¡±

    This should have been a grand, high-stakes war, one where rival kings exchanged lofty words from afar before sending their troops in. Yet Kaelith¡¯s antics shattered that solemn atmosphere, making them look less like conquerors and more like rowdy invaders.

    Though irritated, Baraggan had an image to uphold. High above, his black-and-purple robes billowed in the wind.

    ¡°Kaelith, you¡¯ve come at just the right time,¡± he declared.

    ¡°I have yet to test my new power on a worthy foe and christen my great ax in blood. Your rank is somewhat beneath me, but you¡¯ll suffice. Let your life be my tribute!¡±

    With that, Baraggan raised his skeletal arm, pulled down a colossal battle-ax from behind, and gave it a mighty swing, pointing it at Kaelith.

    Kaelith studied Baraggan in midair, noticing the ax had a long chain trailing from the handle. It looked like it could be hurled around just like some raging beast. Its style overlapped with his own Release¡¯s chained weapon¡ªworse yet, Baraggan¡¯s giant double-bladed ax seemed even more imposing.

    Eyeing the blade in his hand, Kaelith shook his head slightly.

    All right, he thought, I won¡¯t release my Zanpakut¨­ for this fight.

    Sensing his decision, the Zanpakut¨­ trembled in protest¡ªuselessly. Kaelith simply sheathed it, rolling his neck loose.

    ¡°A true hero claims the throne first, so tell me, Baraggan¡ªwhy is it you alone can sit on Hueco Mundo¡¯s throne, but not I, Kaelith? My Kaelith Technical Bureau commands a thousand fine officers, an army of a million. How could your rotten spark compare to my blazing moonlit sky?

    ¡°If you lay down your arms and surrender, I¡¯ll grant you a seat among Hueco Mundo¡¯s high officers. Isn¡¯t that a gracious offer?¡±

    Baraggan paused for several seconds, then glanced again at the few hundred Tsunayashiro survivors behind Kaelith. Filthy Shinigami and their bottomless lies!

    ¡°Insolent fool,¡± he scoffed. ¡°I have transcended all boundaries and stand far above mortal dregs¡ªand you, a mere Shinigami, dare flap your lips?

    ¡°Charlotte, Abirama, Findor!¡±

    With a swipe of his ax, Baraggan called out three names. At once, three Adjuchas soared into view: one a vaguely humanoid Hollow clad in pink armor, one a red-feathered eagle-like Hollow, and one resembling a large white shrimp. Their spiritual pressures exceeded those of typical Adjuchas. Spreading out, they charged Kaelith from three directions.

    Baraggan kept his gaze fixed on the battlefield. He had no real expectation that these three would defeat Kaelith¡ªhe merely wanted a chance. If Kaelith got distracted, Baraggan would hurl his ax. As long as it so much as grazed Kaelith, he¡¯d be done for.

    Yet Kaelith didn¡¯t budge, showing no intention of attacking. The moment those three Adjuchas drew close, several figures darted from the shadows of nearby ruins¡ª

    ¡°Uuaugh!¡±

    ¡°Graah!¡±

    ¡°Gwah!¡±

    Three heavy impacts: the Adjuchas were all knocked sprawling, plowing trenches through the ground. Baraggan stared in shock at the trio who had appeared: Harribel. Nelliel. Szayelaporro!

    Fury flared in Baraggan¡¯s eyes. Szayelaporro¡­an underling of his! Harribel, whom he¡¯d threatened more than once to bow down before him. And Nelliel¡ªthough he didn¡¯t know her well, Baraggan had long assumed she would eventually submit to him, the ¡°king.¡±

    All of them, now standing with Kaelith! Ridiculous¡­unforgivable!

    The soul-fire in Baraggan¡¯s hollowed eye sockets blazed.

    ¡°Szayelaporro¡­you damned traitor! I¡¯ll tear you limb from limb!¡±

    Szayelaporro scratched his head.

    ¡°Come now, Your Majesty, plenty of people here are working against you. Why single me out? No need to lose your composure.¡±

    Smiling gently, he continued, ¡°Oh¡ªdid I hear you say something about having ¡®broken the boundary¡¯ and becoming ¡®transcendent¡¯? I see you¡¯re quite taken with that. But crossing such lines isn¡¯t really a big deal. Look at us: Harribel and I have also surpassed the border between Hollow and Shinigami to assume new forms, yet here we are, working under Lord Kaelith just the same.

    ¡°I¡¯d advise you not to dwell on such trifles¡­it¡¯s a bit lacking in class.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Baraggan trembled in rage, bone joints rattling with sharp cracks.

    ¡°Fine¡­very well, Szayelaporro. Once I¡¯ve got my hands on you, I¡¯ll shred you until nothing¡¯s left!¡±

    He let out a bellow, summoning two more Adjuchas: one shaped like a saber-toothed tiger, another resembling an elephant. Kaelith barely recognized the first, but at sight of the elephant-like Hollow, his eyes lit up. Right, wasn¡¯t this the one who got taken out by ¡°Daizenjin¡± in that big war? A rare subordinate he actually remembered.

    Even so, Baraggan¡¯s display was rather pitiful. Kaelith had three Vasto Lorde on his side¡ªtwo were half-Arrancar¡ªand Baraggan kept sending untransformed Adjuchas? A bit embarrassing.

    Kaelith took a deep breath. Since Baraggan was reluctant to attack first, he¡¯d take the initiative himself. He stepped forward¡ªonly for some massive shape to surge up from beneath the sand, triggering an alert in Kaelith¡¯s Soul Domain. Curious, he glanced down.

    A huge maw burst out of the silver desert, wide enough to swallow Kaelith and his allies in one gulp. As the gargantuan body emerged, Harribel, Nelliel, and Szayelaporro instinctively leaped aside to avoid it. Mid-jump, Nelliel glanced anxiously at Kaelith, who was still standing there, head bowed as though pondering something.

    Was he too stunned to react in time?! Without hesitation, Nelliel sprang toward him, her hoof-like feet pounding the air. But she was still a fraction too slow.

    Boom!!

    Under everyone¡¯s stunned, excited, or fearful gazes, that colossal maw clamped shut, swallowing Kaelith whole. Only then did people see the beast clearly: a giant whale, nearly a hundred meters long, with a head thirty-plus meters across.

    The saber-toothed tiger Hollow laughed. ¡°Well done, Choe Neng! Just digest Kaelith in there!¡±

    The enormous whale offered no response, simply channeling all its spiritual pressure into its digestive system, hoping to corrode Kaelith from within. Baraggan observed calmly.

    Choe Neng was a unique Adjuchas: not particularly high in class, but massive in size, and brimming with spiritual pressure inside its body¡ªan endless supply of Cero. More importantly, if it swallowed an enemy, it could create an unbreakable cage of reiatsu inside. Once a foe was trapped, a ceaseless flood of digestive gas would dissolve them to sludge.

    Kaelith was powerful, but at the end of the day he was a Shinigami, his physical defenses and recovery surely inferior to a Hollow¡¯s. Perhaps this might actually wound him.

    Indeed, after Kaelith was devoured, there¡¯d been no sign of movement or spiritual struggle from within, as if he¡¯d vanished.

    Growing alarmed, Nelliel drew a knight¡¯s lance out of the air and prepared to charge the whale, only to sense a surge of danger from the side. She swept her spear horizontally, and Harribel arrived to assist with her own white-bone greatsword. Together, they knocked aside a huge ax that came spinning from nowhere.

    Sparks flew. Even with two Vasto Lorde combined, they barely managed to parry.

    ¡°Haaah!¡±

    They shouted in unison, forcing the ax upward. Far off, Baraggan gave his black chain a casual pull, reeling the weapon back in.

    Nelliel and Harribel grew tense. Moments ago, they¡¯d seen the ax wreathed in black mist¡ªBaraggan¡¯s ¡°breath of death.¡± If it so much as grazed the body, you had to cut off that part at once, or the rot would spread and turn you to dust.

    Although they knew of this power, it was a different matter to face it up close. Thankfully, Baraggan¡¯s deadly miasma required the blade to land a hit; otherwise, both women would already be gravely injured.

    ¡°Harribel,¡± Nelliel said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep Baraggan occupied¡ªplease save Kaelith!¡±

    She bent her knees, bracing for a charge at Baraggan. Harribel frowned. It wasn¡¯t ideal for Nelliel to confront Baraggan head-on, but there was no better option at the moment. She nodded and readied to rush toward the whale.

    Before she could move, a voice echoed from within the creature¡¯s body:

    ¡°Sis, open your mouth! I¡¯m coming out!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Harribel froze at that familiar voice. Baraggan snorted. So he wasn¡¯t dead after all!

    Yet the whale clamped its jaws tight, as though determined to imprison Kaelith inside forever. In the next instant, a bulge rose in its belly¡ªshaped like a fist pressing outward. The creature wailed in agony, reflexively opening its mouth. A figure shot from inside, landing on a distant dune.

    ¡°Hey, Aizen¡ªI brought you a present!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu flared in brilliant glory, not a trace of the whale¡¯s innards on him. In his hand was a large bag formed of condensed spirit particles, inside which lay a mass of quivering flesh. Many of the Tsunayashiro Shinigami grimaced at the sight, while Aizen¡¯s eyes lit with satisfaction. He approached, hand outstretched.

    Sure enough, opening the bag revealed the whale¡¯s unique internal structure. He glanced up at Kaelith: once upon a time, this man was a clueless fool about research, but now he¡¯d scooped up valuable samples on his own. Pleased, Aizen mentally struck off a tiny fraction of Kaelith¡¯s ¡°annoyance debt.¡±

    All that took Aizen a couple of seconds. Behind Kaelith, the whale thrashed in vain, its huge body collapsing with a thud. It tried one last time to suck Kaelith back in, only to find it had lost the power to do so¡ªits internal sealing ability was gone, leaving it in despair. Kaelith paid the creature no mind, and Aizen even less so. After tossing the harvested organ into the ¡°Shadow Lab,¡± Aizen pulled down his hood and strode to the front lines.

    With each step, his reiatsu swelled anew. By the time he stood in the center, all eyes, including Baraggan¡¯s, were on him. Aizen smiled.

    ¡°Everyone,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯d like you to witness something.¡±

    Drawing the Zanpakut¨­ from his hip, he held it elegantly, tip downward. Recognizing the gesture, Kaelith clamped his eyes shut without hesitation.

    Aizen¡¯s lips curved. ¡°Feast your eyes upon my sword¡¯s Release¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shatter, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.¡±

    ''-------------------------

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 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257

    2-in-1 chapter

    -------------------------

    ¡°...?¡±

    Watching Aizen raise his blade yet remain utterly still, Baraggan found himself puzzled.

    What just happened?

    Wasn¡¯t he about to release his Zanpakut¨­? Where was the actual release?

    An uneasy silence blanketed the surroundings.

    Kaelith slowly opened his eyes.

    Although Ky¨­ka Suigetsu was powerful, it offered no flashy visual effects. Paired with Aizen¡¯s youthful face, it almost seemed like a novice fumbling his first Shikai, failing to make it work. Kaelith briefly imagined Aizen botching his Shikai release, then slinking off in shame¡ªand that made him grin.

    Nearby, one of the Adjuchas suddenly burst out laughing.

    ¡°Lord Baraggan, I get it! This punk can¡¯t handle his own power. It fizzled on him!¡±

    Hearing that, the surrounding Hollows all seemed to arrive at the same conclusion.

    No wonder Aizen¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ hadn¡¯t changed at all, and they felt no attack. He must have publicly flopped, losing his ability mid-release!

    Amid their mocking jeers, Aizen¡¯s face remained impassive. Despite his age, he had already mastered a state of composure where taunts were little more than a breeze. The more these Hollows laughed now, the worse their fate would be in mere moments. He was about to withdraw from the spotlight when a short blade attached to a long chain streaked past him.

    Splurt!!

    The very first Hollow who mocked him was run clean through by Rish¨­ Jimetsu. Stunned, it glanced down at the hole in its chest.

    ¡°Lord¡­Baraggan¡­save¡ª¡±

    Before it could finish, blue flames roared up from the blade, engulfing the Hollow. It struggled a moment before collapsing into ash, dissolving into Hueco Mundo¡¯s sands.

    Kaelith gave the chain a sharp tug, drawing Rish¨­ Jimetsu back into his hand with a clatter.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your sense of humor, heckling over the same old joke?¡±

    He swept his gaze across the other Hollows, and at once the mocking ceased. The plaza of Las Noches fell eerily silent.

    The soul-fire in Baraggan¡¯s hollowed eyes flickered. Moments ago, he hadn¡¯t caught how Kaelith launched that strike. Though Baraggan¡¯s attention was largely on Aizen, the fact that Kaelith had grown even stronger since fighting Senzo Tsunayashiro was beyond doubt. Was this man¡­a monster?

    At this rate, give him another few hundred years, and he might truly stand above me.

    That thought only steeled Baraggan¡¯s resolve to kill Kaelith right here and now.

    He looked to his subordinates. They outnumbered the Shinigami by several times, but faced with Kaelith, these once-arrogant Hollows all seemed cowed. Baraggan snorted. Descending from the sky step by step, he spoke:

    ¡°This silly farce ends now. Kaelith, I will personally bury you!¡±

    Gripping his massive ax, he unleashed a towering blast of reiatsu and lunged straight for Kaelith.

    ¡°Good timing!¡± Kaelith shouted back. ¡°I¡¯ll show you there¡¯s an upside to being the smaller guy!¡±

    Bellowing nonsense, he brandished Rish¨­ Jimetsu and charged to meet Baraggan.

    From below, Nelliel called out urgently, ¡°Kaelith! Whatever you do, don¡¯t let that ax blade cut you! Baraggan¡¯s weapon carries a special power¡ªif it injures you, your body rapidly ages from that wound until you crumble into dust!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s expression flashed with mild surprise.

    So that¡¯s Baraggan¡¯s so-called ¡°death breath.¡± He¡¯d known about it all along, but in his own memory, that power could be freely cast around as a lethal mist. Now it seemed it had to be channeled through the ax. A moment of confusion later, he realized:

    So the old fox has been hiding his trump card, never showing its true form.

    You cunning old scoundrel¡­

    And people that sneaky should be hammered hard!

    Above, Baraggan and Kaelith clashed in a whirling melee. Caught up in the battle, Baraggan didn¡¯t notice that down on the field his subordinates were suddenly, inexplicably fighting among themselves.

    To the Tsunayashiro Shinigami¡¯s surprise, Baraggan¡¯s own forces broke into small groups and started brawling with each other, yelling:

    ¡°Damn it¡ªwhy are these Shinigami over here all of a sudden?¡±

    ¡°Curses, I won¡¯t be beaten by mere Soul Reapers!¡±

    While they were baffled, Aizen walked over.

    ¡°All of you¡ªgo drag any Adjuchas who can¡¯t fight out of the fray. Inject them with this and lock them up.¡±

    He handed them some sort of anesthetic. The Tsunayashiro Shinigami glanced at each other, realizing they weren¡¯t even here for combat but rather clean-up duty?

    Clang, clang!!

    Sparks flew as Baraggan¡¯s huge ax traded blow after blow with Kaelith¡¯s twin blades, creating surges of reiatsu that buffeted Kaelith¡¯s body. As a Hollow from the ancient past, Baraggan had likely lived longer than all current Shinigami combined. That extended life gave him two major advantages:

    First, endless combat experience.

    Second, a colossal ocean of spirit power.

    Kaelith narrowed his eyes. Baraggan¡¯s reiatsu battered him like a wild sea storm, stinging against his face with icy spray. Seeing Kaelith¡¯s reaction, Baraggan grinned. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°So, Kaelith¡ªdo you feel my might?¡±

    ¡°Oh, indeed¡ªtremendous and unstoppable!¡±

    While whirling his blades, Kaelith actually gave Baraggan a thumbs-up. Baraggan, slightly annoyed at his casual tone, nonetheless took satisfaction in the seeming admission of defeat. He was about to respond magnanimously¡ªallowing Kaelith to bow and serve him¡ªwhen Kaelith added,

    ¡°Lucky for me, I planned ahead, knowing this wouldn¡¯t be so simple. So¡­I brought in a little backup!¡±

    Backup?

    Baraggan¡¯s heart lurched. Did Kaelith mean him?

    He pictured the younger Yamamoto Shigekuni: black mustache, piercing gaze, bulging muscles, tearing off his uniform at the drop of a hat, surrounded by raging flames¡­

    But the next moment, two figures darted out of the shadows in the distance, rocketing into the sky. Baraggan¡¯s gaze snapped over, baffled by how these intruders kept emerging from Las Noche¡¯s ¡°shadows.¡± It didn¡¯t matter. He had to see what sort of reinforcements Kaelith had summoned.

    When Baraggan finally caught sight of the new arrivals, he froze for a second. A lanky, world-weary man in a Shihakush¨­ was peering around curiously, while next to him stood a green-haired girl bearing a cocky grin with sharp little canines.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re Baraggan?¡± she called. ¡°Starrk¡ªtime to fight!¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah. That was our deal, after all.¡±

    Starrk nodded, turning to Lilynette. ¡°Hunt them down, wolves!¡±

    A swirling tempest of reiatsu erupted, that familiar fur-lined coat once again draping his form. Lilynette became twin pistols in Starrk¡¯s hands. Without further ado, he aimed at Baraggan and fired a colossal Cero, thick as a water tank, that roared straight at him.

    Tssshhh!!

    Baraggan met it head-on with a diagonal slice of his ax, trailing a black, crescent arc. The Cero split upon impact, flying to either side and blasting Las Noche¡¯s outer walls, kicking up clouds of crimson smoke.

    The raw force in that one shot startled Baraggan. This Shinigami-garbed Hollow was incredibly strong¡ªlike Baraggan, he¡¯d crossed the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami. No¡­given how fully he¡¯d transformed, he might even be a step beyond Baraggan¡¯s own incomplete stage.

    Not even Ikomikidomoe (the ancient Hollow who once stormed the Soul Society) had reached this level. How could such a mighty Hollow have existed unknown to him?

    While Baraggan stood stunned, Starrk finished his test shot. With both guns raised, he unleashed a hail of Cero like a pounding rain.

    Baraggan¡ªunlike Kaelith, who had both power and speed¡ªcouldn¡¯t dodge them all. He took several direct hits. Typically he ignored such blasts, but these hammered his body with real pain. Enraged, he tried to swing his ax overhead and hurl it at Starrk¡ªbut Kaelith suddenly appeared from behind one of Starrk¡¯s Cero beams, grinning broadly.

    Under Baraggan¡¯s startled gaze, Kaelith laughed, brandishing twin swords for a fierce overhead strike.

    Crack!!

    Baraggan¡¯s purple robe was torn open, and the steel-hard rib bones beneath were mostly shattered. If a fleshy being would bleed, for Baraggan a broken bone was even worse: he invested all his reiatsu in his skeletal form¡ªlose a bone, lose a chunk of strength.

    Starrk¡¯s keen senses caught the moment Baraggan faltered. Another torrent of Cero followed in rapid succession. Meanwhile, Kaelith withdrew briefly, readying a second strike. Baraggan felt a spike of alarm. Someone else¡ªan extremely powerful presence¡ªwas also locking onto him, aiming to immobilize him with some binding move. He couldn¡¯t tell who, but that individual¡¯s strength might rival Kaelith¡¯s.

    Facing a triple threat, Baraggan sneered. He made no attempt to dodge or defend, simply gripped his ax tightly:

    ¡°Decay¡­Arrogante!¡±

    Boom!!

    The moment he spoke, a rolling wave of pitch-black miasma erupted from his body, surging outward. Starrk¡¯s hundreds of Cero disintegrated on contact, dissolving into harmless spirit particles. The binding cords Aizen had cast from afar shattered into glittering fragments the instant they neared the cloud.

    Kaelith, seeing the churning darkness, performed a sudden midair flip, retreating. The scene stunned onlookers. In one moment, Kaelith¡¯s side had forced Baraggan to the brink, dominating the fight. In the next moment, fortune flipped. Now it was Baraggan in command.

    Nelliel cried out, ¡°That¡¯s his Death Breath!¡±

    Harribel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I thought it could only spread through the ax¡ªhow is he releasing it freely?!¡±

    High above, Baraggan let out a maniacal laugh, black mist still gushing from him in all directions. Kaelith showed no sign of continuing the fight. He turned tail and fled at top speed.

    Shwoom!

    Starrk flickered over to join him in his retreat.

    ¡°Kaelith, do something!¡±

    Starrk had survived eons by hiding and running when necessary; from the instant Baraggan deployed that skill, he knew it was unstoppable. His own attacks were useless, so he dashed to Kaelith¡¯s side.

    Kaelith simply laughed. ¡°Foolish question. If I could handle that, I wouldn¡¯t be running, now would I?¡±

    ¡°¡­Right.¡±

    Starrk blinked. For all Kaelith¡¯s dramatic flair, it didn¡¯t change the embarrassing reality that they were fleeing at top speed.

    Shwoosh!

    Another figure joined them, Aizen.

    ¡°So this is that ¡®Death Breath¡¯ you mentioned¡­truly an eerie power. Accelerating time to instantly age and rot anything, even spirit particles.¡±

    Starrk parted his lips, then shut them again¡ªAizen was also a Shinigami, so maybe it wasn¡¯t wise to comment on ¡°a mere Hollow¡¯s power¡± being so bizarre in his presence.

    Lilynette, still in gun form, spoke in exasperation. ¡°Four-eyes, less analyzing, more solutions! Hurry!¡±

    Expressionless, Aizen said, ¡°A power this absolute? How could I possibly have a solution?¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª?!¡±

    Lilynette was dumbfounded.

    Kaelith chimed in, ¡°No giving up so easily, Aizen. We still have time¡ªthink of something!¡±

    Aizen turned to Baraggan, still spewing black mist, then glanced at Kaelith.

    ¡°¡­All right. I have an idea.¡±

    Kaelith beamed. ¡°Excellent, as expected of my personal strategist¡ªlet¡¯s hear it!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s smile was cool. ¡°Just turn around and charge straight back in. Cut him.¡±

    For a moment, even Kaelith was stunned silent.

    Lilynette shouted furiously, ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡±

    Aizen offered no retort, merely gazing at Kaelith. The latter suddenly seemed to grasp Aizen¡¯s meaning. He grinned widely and, without warning, skidded to a halt in midair, flipping himself around.

    Boom!!

    One foot stamped against the air, blasting out a white shockwave. He hurtled back toward Baraggan at an even greater speed than before.

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 Chapter 258

    Chapter 258

    2-in-1 chapter

    -----------------

    Seeing Kaelith truly charge forward, Starrk couldn¡¯t help but pause in surprise.

    Lilynette let out a cry of alarm.

    On the ground, Harribel looked up, her eyes full of shock.

    Without much hesitation, she shot upward, chasing in Kaelith¡¯s direction.

    But Nel was even faster.

    In her antelope-like knight form, she trailed a swath of green light, instantly crossing half the battlefield to catch up behind Kaelith.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith! You mustn¡¯t go any farther!¡±

    ¡°If you step into the range of Respira, you¡¯ll be annihilated!¡±

    Hearing that, Kaelith burst into laughter:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªAizen said I can just rush in!¡±

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s because my strength is at its peak now, so Respira can¡¯t do anything to me!¡±

    ¡°Watch carefully, Nel. This is the day I, Kaelith, prove my might to the world!¡±

    With that, he glanced at the sword in his hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re of no more use¡ªstand down.¡±

    Before the Zanpakut¨­ could protest, Kaelith canceled its Shikai and, with a flick of his wrist, returned it to its sheath.

    Shielded by his blazing Reiryoku, he charged headlong into Baraggan¡¯s Respira.

    The moment he entered, though, he realized something was wrong.

    While the Reiryoku shield could block Respira, the corrosive speed was too great.

    At this rate, by the time he reached Baraggan, the shield would be gone in just a few moves!

    Aizen misled me!

    Kaelith sighed in frustration.

    In that split second of distraction, the corner of his trailing Haori brushed the black mist of Respira.

    Instantly, the spot that touched it decayed into dust. The rot spread rapidly, and nearly half the Haori disintegrated in the blink of an eye.

    Seeing this, Kaelith didn¡¯t hesitate. He tore off the Haori and tossed it aside.

    Then he pulled off the upper part of his Shihakush¨­ and tied it around his waist so it wouldn¡¯t get in his way.

    He wasn¡¯t sure how exactly Aizen had planned all of this, but now that he was here, he wouldn¡¯t leave without landing at least one punch on Baraggan.

    Grinning, Kaelith continued rushing at Baraggan.

    At that moment, Baraggan let out a cold chuckle.

    ¡°So bold, to keep coming closer!¡±

    He lifted a hand and flung it outward.

    With that motion, a mass of black mist surged away in the opposite direction from Kaelith.

    ¡°Oh ho¡­¡±

    Kaelith raised his brows.

    So that¡¯s why Aizen said to go straight in.

    He must have refined his use of Ky¨­ka Suigetsu even further.

    Baraggan¡¯s Reiryoku is clearly above ours, so hypnotizing him with Ky¨­ka Suigetsu alone would normally be extremely difficult.

    Back when we fought Tsunayashiro Senzo, Aizen had to go all out¡ªonly managing to disrupt him at the decisive moment.

    But now, he can create illusions on such a large scale.

    I can¡¯t afford to be left behind!

    Because the density of black mist around him suddenly thinned, Kaelith could finally gather his Reiryoku in full.

    He snapped his eyes open, and blue flames erupted from his body.

    Trailing a brilliant azure flare, he shot forward like a missile, closing in on Baraggan in an instant.

    Pseudo Fourfold Twin Bones!

    Nine Hundred Ninety-Thousand Horses!

    ¡°Kaelith Explosive Fist!!!¡±

    Baraggan focused on his right side, where Kaelith was rushing in fiercely.

    Though Baraggan didn¡¯t feel much danger, letting a mere insect breach Respira would be humiliating.

    To crush Kaelith with absolute power, he concentrated nearly all of the black mist in that direction.

    Under the onslaught of Respira, Kaelith indeed came to a halt, struggling in that sea of black mist.

    Baraggan sneered.

    Down below, many people looked on in alarm.

    ¡°This is bad¡ªLord Kaelith is trapped!¡±

    ¡°Lord Kaelith!¡±

    Meanwhile, the Hollows were in high spirits.

    ¡°Lord Baraggan is invincible!¡±

    ¡°Lord Baraggan is going to win!¡±

    Suddenly, before everyone¡¯s eyes, Kaelith vanished from the black mist.

    In his place, a figure unexpectedly appeared on Baraggan¡¯s left.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nel, about to rush over, froze in shock.

    She stared wide-eyed at the scene. Just a moment ago, Kaelith had been stuck in the black mist on Baraggan¡¯s right, yet in the blink of an eye, he was on Baraggan¡¯s left.

    He threw a punch!

    Crack!!

    Baraggan¡¯s skull was struck hard by Kaelith¡¯s fist, instantly shattering.

    ¡°Uwooooh!!!¡±

    Reeling from the tremendous pain, Baraggan roared in agony.

    He was sent flying, bone fragments scattering through the air, before crashing into one of Las Noche¡¯s buildings.

    Kaelith hovered in midair, rolling his neck.

    Among the onlookers, Aizen S¨­suke curved his lips in a faint smile.

    ¡°Beautiful.¡±

    Lilynette (in gun form) cheered.

    Starrk tilted his head, somewhat baffled by what had just happened.

    ¡°How powerful¡­¡± Nelliel murmured in astonishment.

    Although she had lost to Kaelith before, she chalked part of it up to being caught off-guard. If they fought head-on, she thought she wouldn¡¯t lose too badly.

    But after witnessing that single punch, her mind changed completely.

    Taking that attack herself would mean death or severe injury.

    Baraggan really lives up to his title as Hueco Mundo¡¯s king¡ªhis defense is so tough¡­

    Harribel nodded repeatedly.

    As expected of Lord Kaelith, he never disappoints!

    Though she had no idea how he managed that sudden teleportation, a win was a win¡ªno need to overthink it.

    Szayelaporro blinked, looking puzzled.

    He replayed the moments before in his mind. A few seconds later, he glanced over at Aizen.

    Sensing his gaze, Aizen also turned, meeting Szayelaporro¡¯s eyes.

    Szayelaporro trembled, quickly looking away, pretending nothing had happened.

    ¡­

    Dust billowed as a storm of Reiryoku swept through, scattering the haze.

    Baraggan emerged again.

    A quarter of his skull had been smashed apart.

    His golden crown still rested on top, but it no longer held any majesty¡ªonly a pitiful sight.

    ¡°Damn you¡­ using illusions to fool me¡­¡±

    Gripping his huge axe, Baraggan ground bone against metal in his fury.

    ¡°You caught on quickly,¡± Kaelith said with a light chuckle, moving closer. ¡°So, Baraggan, are you going to keep this up?¡±

    ¡°Look around you¡­ except for you, all the top forces in Hueco Mundo have already pledged allegiance to me.¡±

    ¡°All you have left is yourself and a bunch of low-level Hollows.¡±

    ¡°Instead of resisting to the end, why not surrender honorably?¡±

    ¡°Hueco Mundo has been fragmented long enough. It¡¯s time for it to unite under one rule!¡±

    Baraggan nearly burst into laughter.

    He was the king of Hueco Mundo¡ªthe ruler since ancient times. A mere Shinigami dared make claims of overthrowing him?

    And he spoke of Hueco Mundo being ¡®divided¡¯? Where did that come from?

    Snorting coldly, Baraggan ignored Kaelith¡¯s words and summoned another roiling mass of black mist.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­ I¡¯ll admit your illusions are troublesome.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s too naive to think such tricks can defeat me.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t concentrate Respira in one spot anymore. I¡¯ll release it fully in all directions. Let¡¯s see you cope with that!¡±

    Kaelith flickered away, distancing himself.

    Baraggan had a point.

    If he simply disregarded Ky¨­ka Suigetsu¡¯s illusions and unleashed Respira at full power, Kaelith really wouldn¡¯t be able to break through.

    Now what¡­

    He instinctively glanced at the Zanpakut¨­ on his waist.

    Should he borrow the power of Rixiang Jimie again, ask her to lend the might of her Bankai?

    As a warrior of light, borrowing power seems perfectly reasonable¡­

    But before he could speak, it was as though the Zanpakut¨­ sensed his plan: with a metallic clang, it locked itself inside the scabbard. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith tried pulling it a few times, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°How insolent! A mere Zanpakut¨­ dares betray its master?!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never treated you poorly¡ªhow can you do this to me at such a critical juncture?!¡±

    With no success in drawing the blade, he gave up.

    Seeing Respira spread around Baraggan, Kaelith¡¯s expression turned thoughtful.

    During the recent training period¡ªbesides guiding newcomers like Kenpachi and T¨­sen¡ªhe had never neglected his own development.

    After countless merges with Yingda to perform the ¡°double impact,¡± he had begun to sense something strange.

    That special technique normally required the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s strength, but Kaelith felt as though he was on the verge of doing it on his own.

    Even Yamamoto, who pioneered Genry¨±tai, and the super-genius Aizen S¨­suke had said it was impossible, yet Kaelith believed he was right at the threshold.

    If¡­ he could unleash double impact with just his body, then combine it with Yingda, couldn¡¯t they form a triple impact?

    And if Yingda also used double impact, and they found a way to merge both sets of double impacts perfectly, wouldn¡¯t that result in a quadruple impact?

    Just imagining it thrilled Kaelith.

    He licked his lips, fixing his gaze on Baraggan.

    In both manga and novels, the main characters often find breakthroughs when pushed to the brink of death.

    Maybe he should do the same¡ªrisk everything and have a proper showdown with Baraggan!

    Having made up his mind, he shifted his foot to charge forward.

    But before he could move, a hand clapped down on his shoulder.

    Kaelith swayed on the spot, nearly stumbling.

    ¡°S¨­suke?¡±

    He turned to see Aizen beside him, one hand resting on his shoulder.

    ¡°I suggest you abandon those risky, unrealistic ideas.¡±

    ¡°Eh? I don¡¯t follow¡­¡±

    ¡°Heh.¡±

    Snorting at Kaelith¡¯s attempt to play dumb, Aizen adjusted his glasses and looked at Baraggan, who was standing amidst the black haze.

    ¡°Baraggan, your defeat is inevitable.¡±

    ¡°But forcing a king to submit is crueler than killing him outright.¡±

    ¡°So, let¡¯s make a deal.¡±

    Baraggan didn¡¯t bother responding.

    At least Kaelith was near his level, but who was this other man?

    Yet Aizen¡¯s next words made Baraggan waver.

    ¡°Baraggan, you¡¯re afraid, aren¡¯t you¡­of aging.¡±

    ¡°Even after existing so long and wielding the power to make others age, that fear still lingers.¡±

    ¡°But what if I said I can relieve you of that fear?¡±

    The flames in Baraggan¡¯s eye sockets flickered.

    Aizen spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯m Aizen S¨­suke, a researcher.¡±

    ¡°The power you crave¡ªthe one that transcends the boundaries between Hollow and Shinigami¡ªis precisely what I study.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ve already achieved some early results.¡±

    ¡°If all goes well, in fifty years, I¡¯ll make a breakthrough.¡±

    ¡°At that time, every Hollow can have the chance to surpass their mask.¡±

    ¡°You must have noticed that partial removal of your mask greatly extended your lifespan.¡±

    ¡°If you submit to Kaelith and help him govern Hueco Mundo, I will guide you toward fully removing your mask, granting you a life far longer than what you have now.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps¡­you might even take a step beyond that, reaching an even higher state of being!¡±

    Baraggan¡¯s eyes showed a flicker of thought.

    Was he tempted? Absolutely¡ªnothing was more tempting than true longevity.

    But why should he trust mere words?

    Sensing his doubt, Aizen turned to a pink-haired figure on the field.

    ¡°Szayelaporro.¡±

    Though he didn¡¯t raise his voice, Szayelaporro heard him clearly and flashed over to stand beside them.

    Facing Baraggan, Szayelaporro smiled faintly.

    ¡°I can verify that Lord Aizen has made considerable progress in this research.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not particularly interested in it myself.¡±

    ¡°Until I finish my own project, I¡¯m just helping out now and then¡ªI don¡¯t plan on fully joining for the time being¡­¡±

    Hearing Szayelaporro¡¯s statement, Baraggan¡¯s suspicion eased slightly.

    After a few moments of silence, he nodded.

    ¡°What you say isn¡¯t without merit.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s one mistake.¡±

    Under Aizen¡¯s gaze, Baraggan lifted his head.

    ¡°My power is absolute¡ªyou cannot hope to challenge it.¡±

    ¡°No matter how many ants gather, they¡¯re worthless before true strength!¡±

    ¡°You are the ones who should kneel!¡±

    With that, he raised his enormous axe again, preparing to release Respira.

    At that moment, Aizen spoke in a low voice:

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Recalling a tidbit Kaelith had shared with him earlier, Aizen continued coolly:

    ¡°Your power is indeed formidable.¡±

    ¡°But if I¡¯m not wrong, your Respira doesn¡¯t just kill others¡ªit could kill you as well.¡±

    ¡°To avoid being consumed by it, you use a special defense on yourself whenever you unleash it.¡±

    ¡°So consider this¡ªif you can¡¯t be sure your own body is fully protected¡­if you can¡¯t even tell whether you¡¯ve activated that defense¡­what will become of you?¡±

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 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259

    2-in-1 chapter

    --------------------

    Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.

    Silver moonlight spilled across the land.

    Countless collapsed, shattered walls bore stark witness to the brutal war that had taken place here.

    Traces of Respira corrosion and the aftermath of Cero and Kido bombardments were everywhere.

    Numerous Adjuchas, as well as Shinigami from the Tsunayashiro family, were hard at work repairing Las Noches.

    In a damaged tower, Baraggan stood in his room, gazing out the window.

    A day earlier, during the war for the king¡¯s throne, he had used Respira as his trump card and demanded that Aizen S¨­suke and Kaelith submit to him.

    He never expected Aizen¡¯s threat to be real.

    Under an intense mental disruption, Baraggan was shocked to find he couldn¡¯t even tell how much power he himself was using.

    With no other option, he steeled himself, roughly confirmed his own defense, then released Respira.

    In an instant, he realized something was wrong.

    Several parts of his body had been corroded by his own Respira.

    Acting decisively, Baraggan swung his arm and cut away those sections of bone.

    Watching what had once been pieces of his own body crumble into dust and blow away, Baraggan felt deeply unsettled.

    Such a twisted power truly existed in this world?

    He couldn¡¯t even tell how fully his own body was being protected?

    If that ability grew stronger, would it be possible to interfere with another¡¯s very thoughts?

    Kaelith, Aizen S¨­suke¡­

    Those two names were etched into his mind like a curse.

    With every tactic failing, he finally chose to concede.

    Death would be the most fitting end for a fallen king.

    But sadly, he lacked that courage.

    Dying with dignity sounded simple, yet few could truly follow through.

    The more Baraggan dwelled on it, the more frustrated he became, so he simply sank onto the throne he had dragged into his room and gave up thinking altogether. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    Elsewhere in Las Noches, inside a certain room:

    ¡°You¡¯re staying here?¡± Kaelith asked in surprise upon hearing Aizen¡¯s words.

    Aizen nodded. ¡°Las Noches has just changed hands, and it needs all sorts of reconstruction. You have your duties as a captain and can¡¯t remain here for long. As for me¡­I left one of my subordinates back at the study, working through paperwork. I¡¯ve used Ky¨­ka Suigetsu so everyone sees him as me. While I¡¯m ¡®busy with official business,¡¯ Captain Hirako won¡¯t disturb me, so there¡¯s little risk of exposure. During this time, I¡¯ll personally oversee the rebuilding of Las Noches and work on a few projects with Szayelaporro.¡±

    Kaelith nodded, gave a yawn, and turned to leave. Suddenly, Aizen spoke up:

    ¡°Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Besides the abilities I already know about, you possess another special power, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kaelith turned back, looking puzzled.

    ¡°A special power? What do you mean?¡±

    Aizen regarded him calmly. ¡°You can enhance Reiryoku. For instance¡­you can make your spiritual pressure match another person¡¯s.¡±

    Those words made Kaelith freeze.

    He¡¯d prepared himself for the possibility that Aizen would figure it out sooner or later, but now that the moment had arrived, he still panicked. How was he supposed to respond?

    Before his mind could settle on an answer, he blurted out a laugh:

    ¡°Hahahaha! S¨­suke, you¡¯re really joking around. There¡¯s no such power in the world!¡±

    To hell with scruples or dignity¡ªnone of that mattered now!

    Aizen studied Kaelith¡¯s carefree expression, then shook his head with a small smile. ¡°Fine, just a little joke. If you have nothing else, go on. I need to get to work.¡±

    Relieved, Kaelith quickly backed away. ¡°You¡¯re starting work right now? Alright then, I¡¯ll leave you to it!¡±

    Waving as he hurried out, Kaelith made his escape.

    Watching him go, Aizen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The world was vast indeed, and all sorts of peculiar abilities might exist. He¡¯d first noticed something amiss when Kaelith fought Starrk. At full strength, Kaelith¡¯s Reiryoku had exactly matched Aizen¡¯s. That odd phenomenon reminded him of many past incidents¡ªsparring sessions, Kaelith¡¯s battles with various enemies¡­ And above all, he recalled their academy days, when Kaelith suddenly asked him to take him to the 1st Division to see the Captain-Commander. At the time, Aizen had thought his classmate seemed a bit delirious. In retrospect, putting the answer before the process helped everything click.

    Standing in the lab, Aizen looked at the equipment arrayed before him, feeling strangely calm. By nature, he wouldn¡¯t typically stand by if someone might be siphoning the fruits of his effort. Even if it was only a possibility, he wouldn¡¯t allow it. Yet now, he felt no anger at all.

    Perhaps his mindset had shifted, or maybe it was because that person was Kaelith, so he simply didn¡¯t care. Either way, someone else was undoubtedly responsible for this change in him.

    Smiling wryly, Aizen sat down at a monitor and began organizing data.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith¡¯s return to the Soul Society was somewhat less peaceful. The first thing he did upon arriving was pull out his private stash of money and secretly open a garment workshop in the Rukongai district. Officially, it produced everyday clothing and bedding for regular citizens, but in reality, it was there to fabricate new captain¡¯s Haori for Kaelith.

    A few days later, Kaelith, clad in a freshly forged Haori, proudly visited the 1st Division. Before long, Yamamoto discovered the substandard material and pursued him in anger. After getting smacked on the head, Kaelith retreated to his workshop and explained Yamamoto¡¯s findings to the tailors. On his way back, he even sneaked into the 8th Division to ¡°borrow¡± his senior¡¯s Haori for reference. Eventually, after getting beaten twice more, the workshop¡¯s tailors perfected the method of replicating a Haori.

    Gazing at these indistinguishable copies, Kaelith was delighted. From now on, he was unstoppable. Let¡¯s see how that old man Yamamoto tries to hassle me now!

    ¡­

    For the next while, Kaelith¡¯s life was relatively peaceful. Hueco Mundo was tranquil thanks to Aizen¡¯s presence and the Adjuchas under his command. Kaelith dropped by a few times. With the combined efforts of the Adjuchas and the Tsunayashiro Shinigami, the reconstruction of Las Noches was proceeding swiftly.

    Roaming among the renovation crews, Kaelith offered his opinions now and then, occasionally indulging in a bit of design himself. Aizen had to suppress an oncoming headache whenever Kaelith started remodeling things.

    In the second year after he took Hueco Mundo, Marenoshin ¨­maeda paid him a visit, bringing large amounts of gold, silver, and valuable items. Kaelith was somewhat puzzled. He and Marenoshin had known each other for quite some time; ordinarily, the man could just ask for help. There was no need for so much ceremony. But Marenoshin got straight to the point.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, I heard that under your command, the 11th Division has changed completely. I have a friend at Shin¡¯¨­ Academy who says many of today¡¯s top cadets were trained by the 11th Division. So¡­I¡¯m wondering if I could send my son to serve under you for a while, let you straighten him out. Don¡¯t worry¡ªno one knows my boy¡¯s limits better than I do. I¡¯m not expecting him to become some prodigy like those monstrous talents. As long as he can take my place one day and not disgrace the 2nd Division, I¡¯ll be content. These gifts are just a deposit¡ªthere¡¯ll be more to come if it all works out!¡±

    Upon hearing Marenoshin¡¯s request, Kaelith nodded in understanding. ¡°So you¡¯ve heard of our unstoppable Kaelith Training Institute, famed for turning out top-class barb¡­cough, top-class Shinigami. You¡¯ve come to the right place, my good sir! Where¡¯s your son now?¡±

    Marenoshin grinned and yanked out the person clinging to his back¡ªa round-bellied boy in flashy, gold-studded clothes, a heavy gold chain draped across his chest. Pulled out, the boy looked at Kaelith warily. Though they weren¡¯t that far apart in age, he acted like he was facing a high elder.

    Kaelith nearly laughed. Sure enough, it was Marechiyo ¨­maeda¡­in the original timeline, a top-notch comedic figure and, in some sense, a ¡°child of fate.¡± The 11th Division was said to produce talents, but in truth, Kaelith was the one who kept attracting those with significant roles in history¡ªT¨­sen, Komamura, Kenpachi¡­all future captains.

    Even Rangiku, who¡¯d been stuck at lieutenant level, still had limitless potential once she kept hold of the Spirit King¡¯s fingernail. What about Marechiyo? Considering his comedic exploits, Kaelith suspected that even after training in the 11th, he might not develop too far. Fortunately, Marenoshin wasn¡¯t expecting miracles. Since the client¡¯s expectations were modest, Kaelith felt relieved.

    ¡°Alright, if you trust me, leave Marechiyo¡ªer, leave your son in my care,¡± he agreed. ¡°But I¡¯ll say this up front: once he¡¯s here, I¡¯d prefer you not come to see him. Once his training is finished, I¡¯ll send him back to show you the results.¡±

    Overjoyed, Marenoshin readily agreed to that one condition. Taking comfort in his hopes for his son¡¯s future, he departed by carriage.

    Kaelith watched him fade into the distance with a smile, then turned back to Marechiyo with a devilish grin.

    The next day, Marechiyo¡¯s screams rang out over the 11th Division.

    Kaelith¡¯s method of training him was simple: start by making him lose weight. In the original story, Marechiyo ¨­maeda could move faster than certain Arrancar using Shunpo while sporting that bulky physique, implying he had solid talent. If he slimmed down, his speed would surely soar even higher.

    Then Kaelith would push him into grueling battles and high-pressure drills. As for the intensity¡ªmaybe start at one-tenth of what Kenpachi had endured. With luck, when Marenoshin came to pick him up, his son would still be in one piece¡­

    ¡­

    Several years passed in the blink of an eye.

    Soon enough, it was recruitment season again. Kaelith donned his captain¡¯s Haori and cheerfully welcomed new blood into the 11th Division.

    A few years earlier, his first official recruitment effort had caused quite a stir. Typically, the 11th Division only managed to attract rough-and-tumble men, but that year alone, they brought in over thirty female recruits.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku, the first to complain, soon discovered that most of these recruits had once taken Kaelith¡¯s calligraphy class at Shin¡¯¨­ Academy. Many of the female students had formed various dreamy impressions of Kaelith and flocked to join him upon graduation. Naturally, Kaelith welcomed them with open arms, provoking Ky¨­raku to sulk in private.

    In the years that followed, the 11th Division continued to see a rising number of female recruits. People¡¯s reactions shifted from shock to resignation, from envy to numb acceptance.

    ¡°Alright¡­Aizawa Kita, congratulations on joining the 11th Division!¡± Kaelith extended a hand toward the newly enlisted woman, smiling. Blushing, she nodded quickly.

    Next up was a new student who plopped down on the seat in front of him. Kaelith was still scanning the previous candidate¡¯s information and assumed the newcomer was male based on that brash posture. He glanced up and froze.

    Sitting there was a young woman with golden-orange hair. She regarded him with a broad grin.

    ¡°A graduate of Shin¡¯¨­ Academy, Matsumoto Rangiku,¡± she said. ¡°Here to apply for the 11th Division!¡±

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 Chapter 260

    Chapter 260

    2-in-1 chapter

    -------------------------

    Facing Rangiku before him, Kaelith was briefly taken aback, then couldn¡¯t help but grin.

    ¡°Rangiku, I suggest you think this over carefully.¡±

    In the 11th Division, his recruitment standards differed greatly from when he had been in the 2nd Division. The 2nd Division¡¯s main force came from internal training and didn¡¯t rely heavily on campus recruitment. Those recruited from Shin¡¯¨­ Academy typically served in clerical roles, unless someone truly exceptional appeared¡ªlike Kisuke Urahara, for instance.

    But it was different for the 11th Division.

    Once you joined the 11th, you were bound to shed blood someday. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Indeed, many female students chose the 11th Division impulsively¡ªcharmed by Kaelith¡¯s calligraphy or his (carefully disguised) demeanor¡ªand each year, quite a few of them passed the screening. Even so, Kaelith kept a personal ¡°scale¡± in his heart. He only recruited those with genuine courage and actual combat potential. Anyone enrolling purely to be near him, whose fighting skills weren¡¯t up to par, would never be admitted to face pointless death.

    Upon hearing Kaelith¡¯s caution, Rangiku smiled.

    ¡°Oh? Are you worried about me?¡±

    ¡°Not worried, exactly. More like afraid you¡¯ll be a menace once you join the 11th.¡±

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    Rangiku rolled her eyes, then chuckled and patted Kaelith¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Relax. I¡¯ve come fully prepared. Sure, the 11th Division faces intense battles, but I haven¡¯t spent these years training for nothing! Instead of worrying about me, you might want to worry about T¨­sen and the others.¡±

    Seeing Rangiku so resolute, Kaelith said nothing more and stamped her approval.

    Not far away, a group of male students had been watching. When they saw Rangiku get accepted into the 11th Division, several promptly followed, handing in their own applications. Kaelith nodded in satisfaction. As expected of Rangiku¡ªon her very first day, she was already drawing people in. Excellent!

    Next came Ikkaku Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa, T¨­sen Kaname, and Komamura Sajin¡ªall graduating this year and choosing to join the 11th Division. The gathering crowd grew noisy. A large portion of the recent standout cadets were converging on the same division. Just how powerful would the 11th become with them all together?

    The more perceptive ones had suspicions: clearly, these geniuses had gotten some kind of inside scoop. Perhaps something really enticing was on the horizon in the 11th Division. The students traded glances, then flocked toward Kaelith. Watching the throng around the 11th Division in contrast with the near-empty queues at other divisions, many captains felt a pang of helpless frustration¡­

    ¡­

    After bringing the new graduates back to the 11th Division, Kaelith placed them under Zaraki Kenpachi¡¯s supervision. However, he kept a few familiar faces¡ªRangiku, Ikkaku, and the rest¡ªbehind. Once the newcomers were settled, Kaelith summoned the entire 11th Division currently on-site.

    ¡°Everyone!¡±

    ¡°These folks here may be fresh graduates, but I¡¯m sure you already recognize them. They¡¯ve been hanging around us a lot over the past few years. Now that they¡¯ve graduated and joined the 11th Division, I¡¯ve decided¡­to hold a tournament!¡±

    ¡°Every member of the 11th Division can challenge each other, fighting for a chance to swap ranks!¡±

    At those words, the division members lit up with excitement. So the newcomers wanted to stage a collective uprising on their very first day? Fine by them¡ªtime to give these rookies a real lesson!

    Grinning, one group after another stepped into the ring. Immediately, the 11th Division barracks resounded with cheers and the booming impact of collisions. Under the watchful gaze of Captain Kaelith, Lieutenant Zaraki Kenpachi, and that ¡°external-brain-for-the-lieutenant¡± Yachiru Kusajishi, the 11th Division swiftly underwent a grand reshuffle of positions.

    After the matches, the finalized roster was as follows:

    - Captain: Kaelith

    - Lieutenant: Zaraki Kenpachi

    - 3rd Seat: Komamura Sajin

    - 4th Seat: T¨­sen Kaname

    - 5th Seat: Ikkaku Madarame

    - 6th Seat: Rangiku Matsumoto

    - 7th Seat: Yumichika Ayasegawa

    - ¡­

    Reviewing the list in his hand, Kaelith couldn¡¯t help clicking his tongue.

    Goodness, the 11th Division really was about to soar. Counting Rangiku, a late bloomer but still with plenty of potential, the captain through sixth seat were all at a captain-class threshold. What did that make them¡ªa mini¨CGotei 13 of their own? With a lineup like this, the entire Seireitei was theirs to roam!

    Just as Kaelith was grinning from ear to ear, Zaraki Kenpachi came over.

    ¡°Boss!¡±

    ¡°I challenge you!¡±

    Kaelith gave him a once-over. Over the years, Kenpachi had made astonishing progress. Even without learning how to release his Zanpakut¨­, he¡¯d reached captain level just by relying on his fierce, almost feral swordsmanship. But beating Kaelith was still a distant dream. This was less a real challenge than a blatant attempt to get some sparring in.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t dislike Kenpachi¡¯s passion¡ªsomeone who simply wanted to fight to grow stronger. Such single-minded resolve was certainly praiseworthy. He was about to accept when Rangiku ran over, too.

    ¡°Kaelith! I want to fight you as well!¡±

    Kaelith folded his arms, tilting his head in mock derision. Rangiku Matsumoto? Freshly graduated, basically a newbie hero stepping out of the starter zone, daring to challenge him, the demon lord of chaos? She had no idea that calling for a duel wasn¡¯t so simple. The instant she leapt forward to declare combat, that ten-point power boost might not land where she expected!

    Before he could snark further, several others hurried over as well. Seeing them all gather, Kaelith paused in thought for a moment. Then he broke into an easy smile.

    ¡°Alright. You can all come at me together!¡±

    They all froze for a second. Kenpachi was first to object.

    ¡°Boss, wouldn¡¯t it be more fun with just the two of us?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Komamura Sajin countered, shaking his head. ¡°Lieutenant Zaraki, I¡¯ve learned a great deal these past few years and am no longer who I once was.¡±

    Rangiku craned her neck, chiming in, ¡°Exactly! Don¡¯t assume you¡¯re the best just because you¡¯re built like a tank, Kenpachi. I¡¯m going to surpass you sooner or later!¡±

    Komamura: ¡°¡­¡±

    He was the biggest one here, so Rangiku¡¯s jab inadvertently dragged him into the line of fire¡­

    While the group argued, Kaelith hummed a little tune and strolled onto the field. They exchanged glances, nodded, and followed after him. The rest of the 11th Division, which had been about to disperse, turned back at the commotion. Spotting the face-off about to unfold, everyone was stunned.

    ¡°Is this the final match of the rank battles?¡±

    ¡°All of them are challenging the Boss at once?¡±

    ¡°If they win, does the Boss step down?¡±

    ¡°Would they share the captaincy? Or does the Boss end up doing everyone else¡¯s work from 7th Seat to lieutenant?¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable that the Boss has so much energy!¡±

    ¡°As expected of the Boss!¡±

    ¡°Boss, do my paperwork, too!¡±

    ¡°Boooss!!¡±

    Amid the deafening roars of excitement, Kaelith raised his head proudly. Behold, such was true popularity. Seeing him about to annihilate this band of upstarts, his squadmates were so thrilled they could hardly contain themselves.

    Under their fervent gazes, Kaelith casually doffed his Haori and tossed it aside. Then, with a sunny smile, he pulled open the top of his Shihakush¨­, baring his upper body. Completing this signature warm-up, he held both arms out straight and gave a slight come-at-me gesture with his hands.

    The spectators roared even louder.

    ¡°Boss!!!¡±

    ¡°I want to lick the Boss¡¯s sweat!!¡±

    ¡°I want to lick the Boss¡¯s black¡ªuh, Go board?!!¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Hearing some distinctly off-kilter cries in the crowd, Kaelith shot a wary glare in that direction. But the officers had no time to wait.

    Zaraki Kenpachi charged in first, bursting forward with wild laughter and explosive Reiatsu, wielding his battered blade. Kaelith sidestepped the initial slash and slipped inside Kenpachi¡¯s guard, slamming him with a vicious shoulder check.

    Boom!!!

    A muffled impact rang out as Kenpachi went flying, crashing into Ikkaku behind him. Still locked in that shoulder-check stance, Kaelith pivoted his upper body twice. Then he launched a sudden one-handed backflip, kicking at Yumichika, who was about to slash him from behind.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Unable to dodge, Yumichika took the blow full on his shoulder, grunting in pain.

    ¡°Roar, Tenken!!¡±

    Just as Kaelith completed his kick and tried using the recoil to flip back upright, Komamura let out a thunderous shout. A massive arm¡ªformed entirely of spiritual particles¡ªsuddenly appeared in midair, gripping an enormous sword. This giant limb echoed Komamura¡¯s every move. He raised his Zanpakut¨­ and slashed downward. The colossal blade overhead duplicated the strike, cleaving straight for Kaelith.

    Slash!!

    The blade cut the air, sending a sharp shockwave tearing a deep gash in the ground. Kaelith¡¯s figure vanished.

    ¡°Did the Boss just get sliced in half?¡± blurted one stunned onlooker.

    ¡°Say that again and I¡¯ll slice you in half!¡± another 11th Division member snapped.

    On the battlefield, T¨­sen Kaname¡ªeyes concealed¡ªsuddenly turned to look upward. Following his cue, everyone peered above. To their shock, Kaelith was standing atop Tenken¡¯s massive sword, arms folded casually.

    Noticing their gazes, he kept one arm crossed and waved a forefinger in mild reprimand.

    ¡°Too slow, too slow! Komamura, this Zanpakut¨­ of yours can tear through weaker enemies, sure. But if you¡¯re facing an opponent on your level¡ªor stronger¡ªyou might want to reconsider your approach.¡±

    Komamura¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ resembled Susanoo in form, yet lacked any special abilities. Susanoo could equip mystical artifacts, but Komamura only had raw power.

    Huh¡­special abilities, though. Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed at the thought. Speaking of giants, if they turned Tenken into a true war machine¡­he could ask Mayuri Kurotsuchi for some modifications, just like how Mayuri¡¯s Bankai had been tweaked in all sorts of bizarre ways.

    Imagine an enormous Black Rope Tenken My¨­¨­ rigged with shoulder-mounted missiles, flamethrowers for arms, a laser beam from its mouth¡­ The thought alone thrilled him. And crucially, it could be layered with reactive armor. Anyone attacking Tenken My¨­¨­ directly would face a saturating counter-blast. That would teach them not to treat it like some easy weak spot!

    While Kaelith was excitedly fantasizing, a haze of grayish dust crept up behind him.

    ¡°Purr¡­Haineko!¡±

    With a sweep of her arm, Rangiku unleashed countless iron-like particles that enveloped Kaelith in a swirling cloud. He made no move, allowing them to completely cocoon him.

    Buzzzz!!

    Within that cocoon, the glittering grains whirled rapidly, turning the sphere into a giant grinder of iron sand. As if that weren¡¯t enough, T¨­sen leapt overhead, sword in hand.

    ¡°Sing¡­Suzumushi!¡±

    He swung his Zanpakut¨­, conjuring dozens of razor-sharp blades that hurtled in from every angle, stabbing into Rangiku¡¯s sphere of swirling iron.

    It was like a magic show where swords pierce a box containing someone inside. Meanwhile, Kenpachi stomped the ground and launched into a leaping slash at Kaelith¡¯s position. Seeing him move, Rangiku swiftly withdrew Haineko so Kenpachi could strike unobstructed.

    But as the iron sand scattered, everyone froze.

    Kaelith, now in shredded clothing that left him looking half like a beggar, stood in a bizarrely contorted pose, twisting his upper and lower body in opposite directions. In so doing, he had evaded every one of T¨­sen¡¯s blades. As for Rangiku¡¯s Haineko, it had only ripped his uniform, leaving his gleaming, Reiatsu-tempered flesh unscathed.

    Watching Kenpachi descend with a mighty slash, Kaelith remained in that twisted ¡°pretzel¡± stance, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

    ¡°Kenpachi¡­allow your master to give you a lesson today.¡±

    ¡°A diving slash isn¡¯t something you can just throw around!¡±

    Before Kenpachi¡¯s astonished eyes, Kaelith barreled toward him with a manic laugh. As they closed in, Kaelith leaned back into a sliding maneuver. In the same motion, he drew his Zanpakut¨­¡ªsheath and all¡ªfrom his waist. Then he swung it low at Kenpachi¡¯s unguarded midsection, giving him no chance to change course.

    With a heavy thud, Kenpachi collapsed to the ground. This ironclad man, who normally wouldn¡¯t flinch at any wound, was now clutching a particular spot in agony, unable to stand. Every male present gulped in unison.

    Cackling, Kaelith hefted his Zanpakut¨­¡ªstill sheathed¡ªonto one shoulder.

    ¡°Who dares kill me? Who dares kill me?!¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone in the world who dares?!¡±

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 Chapter 261

    Chapter 261

    2-IN-1 CHAPTER

    ----------------

    A few days later, word spread throughout the 11th Division¡ªand half of the Seireitei¡ªthat Kaelith alone had overwhelmed six formidable officers, from the lieutenant down to the seventh seat, in a single battle.

    To those unfamiliar with the situation, it might not sound remarkable. After all, the gulf between a captain and a lieutenant¡ªor a lieutenant and the third or fourth seats¡ªwas often vast, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to see other divisions pull off similar feats. But anyone who knew the 11th Division and this year¡¯s Shin¡¯¨­ Academy graduates understood just how outrageous this was.

    Those weren¡¯t six ordinary members. Every single one of them was either at or near captain-level, with the lieutenant and the others all strong enough to be lieutenants themselves. Across the entire Seireitei, only a handful could so casually achieve what Kaelith had done.

    News of this eventually reached the 1st Division, where Yamamoto stroked his beard in deep thought.

    On another note, the participants of that fight ended up getting along better than before. Although they used to train together frequently, everyone was usually busy with their own tasks. This time, working together to take down Kaelith made them realize the huge benefits of more frequent communication.

    A unique culture soon emerged in the 11th Division: the stronger members often gathered to spar and exchange combat insights. They generously shared pointers with those of lower skill levels as well. T¨­sen and Komamura, who were notably patient, would sometimes spend entire days in the training grounds, helping other squad members analyze problems. In teaching others, they discovered and corrected many of their own shortcomings. As a result, the overall strength of the 11th Division climbed yet another tier.

    Marechiyo ¨­maeda, meanwhile, fared rather miserably. Having some talent among the lower-ranked members meant he was frequently ¡°cared for¡± by those top six officers¡ªand their focus on him forcibly elevated his strength. By now, Marechiyo was entirely qualified for a seated position. The only reason he hadn¡¯t been promoted was because, as a member of the ¨­maeda family, his very first rank had to be granted by the Onmitsukid¨­. Kaelith decided it was about time to send him home.

    ¡­

    ¡°So, Lord Kaelith¡­may I ask why you¡¯ve come?¡±

    Inside a lavishly built, traditional-style house, Kaelith sat on one side of a table. On the other side were more than ten elders dressed in ornate clothing, each bearing the crest of the Tsunayashiro clan.

    Though Kaelith was alone, these elders seemed deeply uneasy, as though his lone presence had them surrounded.

    Kaelith picked up a teacup and took a slow sip.

    ¡°Hm. Good tea.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t really taste how good it was, but still made a show of it. After setting the cup down, he looked at the elders. This was the Tsunayashiro clan in the Seireitei.

    Long ago, Tsunayashiro Senzo had been exiled and taken many of the clan¡¯s promising youths to Hueco Mundo¡ªthose very Shinigami now serving in Las Noches. The ones left behind were either less talented heirs who had little potential, or else branch families.

    Because of Tsunayashiro Senzo''s ¡°disgrace,¡± the original main family had slipped into irrelevance, while several branch families seized its resources and status, emerging as the new ¡°main line.¡± Through significant effort, the Tsunayashiro clan managed to preserve a basic commercial foothold and avoid being swallowed entirely by other nobles.

    They thought they could continue quietly¡­until Kaelith delivered a surprise. One Tsunayashiro branch member had offended Kaelith somehow, and Kaelith had retaliated swiftly and mercilessly. To the nobles, it scarcely mattered what that man had done; they saw it instead as a sign of Kaelith¡¯s lingering anger at their clan. So when Kaelith arrived at their door, they treated him like a dreadful foe. All the clan elders had gathered, none daring to be absent.

    Under their collective gaze, Kaelith didn¡¯t waste words. He simply pulled out an object wrapped in cloth and plunked it onto the table with a ¡°thump.¡±

    ¡°Take a look at this!¡±

    When they saw the box-like shape bundled in cloth, the elders¡¯ faces changed in unison. It looked almost exactly like something that might contain a severed head. Could it be that Kaelith had killed yet another one of their kin and brought it here as a warning?

    For a moment, no one dared approach. Finally, after several seconds, one elder steeled himself and stepped forward. He untied the cloth and opened the box¡ªthen let out a cry of surprise.

    ¡°A seal!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Hearing it wasn¡¯t a human head, the other elders rushed up. Inside, resting on a silk lining, lay a large seal. At the sight of it, the elders rejoiced.

    ¡°The family head¡¯s seal!¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that taken away by Senzo?!¡±

    ¡°This is wonderful¡­with this, our branch line can claim legitimate standing!¡±

    They were practically dancing with excitement¡ªuntil a sudden realization subdued their cheer. Glancing at Kaelith, who sat calmly across from them, they spoke nervously:

    ¡°Lord Kaelith¡­may we ask how you obtained this?¡±

    Waving a hand, Kaelith replied, ¡°No need to worry about that. Pretend I fished it out of a well somewhere. The real question is: what are you prepared to offer in return for this item?¡±

    A hush fell. The elders exchanged glances.

    Money? There was no point even bringing that up. Kaelith was on close terms with the Shih¨­in family head, and thoroughly allied with the ¨­maeda clan, too. Before their downfall, perhaps the Tsunayashiro clan could have competed. Now¡­not a chance. So what could the Tsunayashiro clan offer?

    Seeing them agonize over it, Kaelith spoke again:

    ¡°All right, no need to think it over too long. It¡¯s simple. Your clan and its affiliated families occupy nine seats in the Central 46. I want four of them for my people. If you can make that happen, I¡¯ll give you this seal.¡±

    The elders gasped.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡±

    ¡°How could we do such a thing?!¡±

    Seats in the Central 46 were the greatest symbol of a family¡¯s power. They had only nine left; ceding four to Kaelith would leave them with almost nothing. As for the seal¡ªeven if they failed to reclaim it, it wouldn¡¯t affect their day-to-day affairs too badly.

    Kaelith nodded at their refusal. He rose to his feet and picked up the seal.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll be on my way, then. Actually, Tsunayashiro Senzo¡¯s people in Hueco Mundo were the ones who gave this to me. They hoped I¡¯d help them return to the Soul Society. I wasn¡¯t interested in going to the trouble¡­but if you¡¯re unwilling to negotiate, then I suppose I¡¯ll have no choice but to continue my conversation with them.¡±

    He turned as if to leave. At once¡ªsmack, smack, smack!¡ªmultiple hands grabbed at his sleeves. Feeling their desperation, Kaelith glanced back with a devilish smile, as though horns had sprouted from his head¡­

    ¡­

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Aizen S¨­suke remarked, nodding slightly after Kaelith reported his success in claiming the Central 46 seats. He stood before a console, observing the data shifting across the displays, seemingly unfazed by Kaelith¡¯s news.

    Kaelith pouted. ¡°S¨­suke, do you have any idea what it means to have four seats in the Central 46? That practically makes me a force to be reckoned with here in the Seireitei. What have I done to deserve your lack of respect¡ªeven refusing to call me ¡®milord¡¯?¡±

    Aizen paused for two seconds, suppressing a spike in blood pressure. He responded calmly, ¡°You took the Tsunayashiro seal and threatened them with the Hueco Mundo main clan. Those conservative nobility were bound to cave. I already knew you¡¯d succeed the moment you set out.¡±

    Hearing that, Kaelith blinked. So it wasn¡¯t his imposing aura that made it work, but rather something that had been inevitable from the start? A bit deflated, he sidled over to the console and glanced at the screen.

    Though hardly an expert, he¡¯d known Aizen long enough to read basic data.

    Watching the progress bar for a moment, he clapped his hands in realization.

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s moving fast! Looks like this phase is just about done¡ªvery impressive!¡±

    Aizen nodded. ¡°Indeed. Thanks to that unique experience last time, a lot of crucial points were solved almost immediately. Otherwise, it¡¯d have taken me many times as long.¡±

    He gazed at the slowly rotating, crystalline gem on the monitor, a glimmer of zeal in his eyes. If this experiment succeeded, everything in this world would be rewritten.

    Before, he¡¯d believed the research would only shatter the boundary between Hollow and Shinigami, propelling one to a new level of power. He never imagined that, as it developed, he would discover entirely unforeseen capabilities latent within this soul-fused jewel.

    Those possibilities still lay in the future. For now, their priority remained breaking that boundary. With that in mind, he turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Kaelith, we¡¯re almost ready to begin trials. As for Hollows, we can just pick some out of Las Noches as experimental material. But what about the Shinigami side? Any ideas?¡±

    Kaelith paused to think, then said, ¡°We¡¯ve still got some leftover thugs and bullies from Rukongai, don¡¯t we?¡±

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°No good. During the previous round of experiments, I realized common souls from Rukongai are far too weak to endure the process. We need subjects who are at least of active-duty Shinigami level.¡±

    Kaelith rubbed his chin. Full-fledged Shinigami¡­ There were a few morally dubious members of the Tsunayashiro clan in Hueco Mundo who could be used as test subjects, but there weren¡¯t many of them. It was a shame that back when they were evading Yamamoto¡¯s hunt, Kaelith had killed off those renegade captains. If he¡¯d kept them alive until now, they¡¯d be the perfect specimens.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, he nodded. ¡°Got it. Leave it to me, and I¡¯ll handle it as soon as possible.¡±

    Aizen made a small sound of acknowledgment. In truth, there was one test subject he dearly wanted to use: his own captain, Shinji Hirako.

    That man had caused him no end of trouble. Aizen would feel zero guilt if something ¡°accidentally¡± went wrong. But¡­knowing Kaelith¡¯s personality, he probably wouldn¡¯t condone that plan so easily. It would require a more careful approach.

    ¡­

    Upon returning to the 11th Division, Kaelith found he had a visitor bearing an invitation. Its envelope bore the Shiba family crest, and it asked him to come to the Shiba residence for a chat.

    Kaelith was a bit surprised. Of the various noble houses he¡¯d dealt with since arriving in the Soul Society, the Shiba clan was one he¡¯d had almost no direct contact with. Even the elusive Sarunomiya clan had crossed paths with him several times, from whom he¡¯d obtained plenty of rare materials. Yet, for various reasons, he¡¯d never interacted much with the Shiba.

    Having nothing pressing to do, he put on a fresh Haori and headed to the Shiba estate. Situated in the noble¡¯s district, the Shiba compound was by no means large¡ªmore akin to a modest noble¡¯s home. Compared to the sprawling mansions of clans like the Sarunomiya, which might encompass multiple gardens, the difference was stark.

    A servant recognized Kaelith¡¯s captain¡¯s Haori at the gate, swiftly ushering him inside. Thanks to the estate¡¯s compact size, they soon arrived at a certain room. Standing outside was a figure apparently waiting for him. Like Kaelith, this person wore a white Haori, although it was noticeably older than Kaelith¡¯s newly made one.

    ¡°Captain Shiba, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Kaelith greeted cheerfully, addressing the 10th Division captain.

    Shiba Sh¨­ta smiled. ¡°We may not see each other often, but there¡¯s hardly a day goes by without me hearing some new tale of Captain Kaelith.¡±

    Leading Kaelith inside, Shiba Sh¨­ta offered him a seat, chatting about old times. He recalled how, at Kaelith¡¯s graduation exam, he¡¯d been one of the captains observing. The more Kaelith listened, the more he sensed a certain ambiance, prompting him to ask curiously:

    ¡°You aren¡¯t trying to induct me into some five-great-noble plan, are you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shiba Sh¨­ta looked briefly startled, then laughed. ¡°Hardly. I¡¯m just the acting family head and actually a branch member myself. I don¡¯t have that kind of authority.¡±

    Kaelith relaxed. ¡°Oh, good. The mood you set had me thinking you wanted me to adopt your heirs or something.¡±

    Shiba Sh¨­ta fell silent for a moment. ¡°Captain Kaelith, well¡­it¡¯s somewhat similar to that, but not exactly. I do have a favor to ask.¡±

    He continued, ¡°Word is that you¡¯re exceptional at training new talent. The current batch of Shin¡¯¨­ Academy geniuses all received instruction from you while they were students. Even that boy from the ¨­maeda clan ended up quite capable in your care.

    ¡°To be candid, the Shiba family doesn¡¯t have many heirs to pin our hopes on this generation¡ªjust two, really: our main-house prodigy Shiba Kaien, and Shiba Isshin from a branch family.

    Kaien is unquestionably talented, but he¡¯s still young. More importantly, he¡¯s extremely upright¡ªdetermined to climb to captain rank through his own accomplishments rather than lean on noble privilege. Which means, if something unexpected happens, we need Isshin to be ready to shoulder the Shiba clan¡¯s responsibilities at any moment.

    ¡°So I wanted to ask if you would accept Isshin into the 11th Division, and just teach him a little. Whatever you may need of me in return, I¡¯ll do everything I can.¡±

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 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262

    2-in-1 chapter

    ----------------------

    ¡°Wait¡ªhold on a second.¡±

    Kaelith raised a hand, interrupting Shiba Sh¨­ta.

    ¡°Shiba Kaien¡­he should be getting close to academy age, right? If he¡¯s a genius, then maybe in twenty or thirty years, he¡¯ll be ready to take over. You¡¯re not that old, so why act like you can¡¯t wait that long?¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s words, Shiba Sh¨­ta showed a somewhat wry smile.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith, how old do you think I am?¡±

    Kaelith blinked. ¡°Well, you look pretty young. I¡¯d guess¡­four hundred?¡±

    Shiba Sh¨­ta shook his head. Meeting Kaelith¡¯s curious gaze, he said with a laugh, ¡°I¡¯m eight hundred and twenty.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help letting a question mark pop into his head.

    Shinigami do have long lifespans, but as they age, their appearance typically changes. Shunsui Ky¨­raku is only six or seven hundred, yet he already looks like he¡¯s pushing fifty¡ªand that¡¯s with his great strength prolonging his life more than the average Shinigami.

    No matter how skilled Shiba Sh¨­ta might be, he shouldn¡¯t surpass Kaelith¡¯s own senior brother in longevity. At eight hundred plus, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he¡¯d grown as wizened as Ginrei Kuchiki.

    Apparently guessing Kaelith¡¯s thoughts, Shiba Sh¨­ta lowered his voice.

    ¡°If a Shinigami wants to keep a younger appearance, it can be done through their Reiatsu. Consider Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division¡ªshe¡¯s been an active force since over a thousand years ago, so by normal reasoning, shouldn¡¯t she be¡­ Well.¡±

    Kaelith took a sharp breath and quickly waved a hand to stop him. That topic was a slippery slope best avoided.

    Still, Shiba Sh¨­ta¡¯s explanation made sense. Unlike Yamamoto or Unohana, his own overall power wasn¡¯t enough to grant him such extraordinary longevity. At over eight hundred years old, he was truly at the tail end of his prime. Much like Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe, old injuries and ailments had piled up, so it wouldn¡¯t be long before he stepped down as captain and let someone new take over. If that ¡°someone new¡± was Shiba Isshin, it would be much better.

    Kaelith understood Shiba Sh¨­ta¡¯s request perfectly¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t particularly interested. Everyone Kaelith had gathered under his wing so far was to strengthen the 11th

    Division for his own purposes.

    Marechiyo ¨­maeda was a special exception, sent there because Kaelith got along with his father and was paid handsomely. As for Shiba Isshin¡ªyes, he was the future father of the original storyline¡¯s main character, so he was certainly important in canon. But to Kaelith, there was nothing personally compelling about him.

    That in mind, Kaelith stood up, preparing to leave.

    Seeing Kaelith¡¯s movement, Shiba Sh¨­ta showed a flash of disappointment. But right then, a voice rang in Kaelith¡¯s ear:

    [Kaelith, bring some things back for me.]

    The voice came from a small mechanical device he wore at his ear. Recognizing it immediately, Kaelith cleared his throat.

    ¡°Captain Shiba, may I borrow your restroom?¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Shiba Sh¨­ta found it odd. Kaelith had clearly been about to say his farewells, so why the sudden change of heart? Despite his puzzlement, he hurriedly pointed out the way.

    Hiding away in the restroom, Kaelith gave a low cough.

    ¡°What do you need me to bring?¡±

    [You¡¯re at the Shiba estate?]

    Aizen¡¯s tone carried a hint of amusement instead of an answer.

    ¡°Yep. The old man here wants me to babysit his kid¡ªtrying to dump him on the 11th Division. As if the 11th is so easy to join!¡±

    [The Shiba family child? Which one?]

    ¡°That¡¯d be Shiba Isshin. But why are you so interested in the Shiba clan all of a sudden?¡± Usually, Aizen paid only cursory attention to noble matters.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s response, Aizen raised an eyebrow. He did know of Shiba Isshin.

    [Kaelith, agree to it. Bring Shiba Isshin back. Don¡¯t worry about anything else; leave his training to me. I¡¯ll handle it.]

    Kaelith nodded. Although he couldn¡¯t fathom why Aizen wanted Isshin, if Aizen was willing to do the work, Kaelith didn¡¯t mind doing the Shiba clan this favor.

    ¡­Though, speaking of work, what was Kisuke Urahara up to lately? Perhaps Kaelith ought to assign that guy more tasks¡ªmilk him for some added value.

    ¡­

    Shiba Sh¨­ta was beyond delighted. Who would have imagined that after a quick trip to the restroom, Kaelith would return and agree to accept Isshin? Could the toilet of the Shiba household have some mysterious power that changed Kaelith¡¯s mind? Overjoyed, Shiba Sh¨­ta nearly wanted to erect a monument for that restroom.

    In gratitude, he gifted Kaelith a special writing brush. As long as Shiba Sh¨­ta remained the acting head of the Shiba family, Kaelith could come anytime with this brush in hand and request a favor¡ªanything Shiba Sh¨­ta could manage, he would.

    But Kaelith didn¡¯t think much of it. Honestly, there was little the Shiba clan could do that Kaelith couldn¡¯t already do himself. The brush¡¯s significance meant less to him than its quality. It felt perfectly balanced in his grip, the tip the ideal firmness, so good it made him want to write something straight away. Perhaps he could visit the old man Yamamoto and add a few new flourishes to his study¡­

    After arranging a time to pick up Isshin, Kaelith departed. He then swung by the 8th Division to see his dear senior, Shunsui Ky¨­raku. The two buddies¡ªwho had a considerable age gap¡ªfound a courtyard, where they relaxed with warmed sake, enjoying the snowy scenery.

    Around midway, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake appeared, carrying a box of dried persimmons. He had planned to drop off some for Ky¨­raku first, then bring more to the 11th for Kaelith. Finding both men in one place saved him a trip.

    Seeing Ukitake in a cloak and looking somewhat pale, Kaelith shook his head. ¡°Brother Ukitake, winter¡¯s not the best time for you to be out and about.¡±

    With that, Kaelith patted his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Rixiang Jimie¡ªgive us some warmth.¡±

    At a faint tremor of the blade, a gentle heat spread out, warming the small table. Ukitake gave him a grateful nod.

    ¡°Thank you, Kaelith.¡±

    After three rounds of drinks, Kaelith stretched, then prepared to leave¡ªtaking his share of the persimmons, of course. Although not the prettiest fruit, they tasted wonderful. He planned to share them with everyone back in the 11th.

    Walking along with the paper bag of persimmons, Kaelith hummed a tune on his way back. Mid-journey, he suddenly halted and looked into the distance. He sensed a familiar Reiatsu.

    A slow grin spread across his face.

    ¡°Finally out, huh? I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡±

    In a blur, he vanished into the snow.

    ¡­

    At the Shih¨­in estate:

    Kaelith arrived via Shunpo, landing in midair. From afar, he spotted two figures beneath a large tree¡ªone person sitting on a sturdy branch, legs swaying idly, and a petite figure standing beside her like a vigilant guard.

    Seeing the pair, Kaelith felt genuine pleasure deep in his heart. Dispelling his foothold of Reishi, he dropped down before the tree.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Yoruichi, Soifon. Judging by your aura, I guess I should say congratulations?¡±

    Perched in the tree, Yoruichi peered down at him and grinned.

    ¡°If you want to congratulate me, how about testing it out firsthand?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Kaelith agreed readily. The moment the words left his mouth, Yoruichi¡¯s figure blurred, appearing instantly before him.

    ¡°Soifon, you¡¯re not joining in?¡± Kaelith asked.

    Yoruichi shook her head. ¡°During training, yes, Soifon and I often fight as a team. But what I¡¯m about to show you isn¡¯t suitable for fighting alongside an ally.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Kaelith looked intrigued. When Yoruichi landed, Soifon flashed away, repositioning herself on a small distant hill. Kaelith shrugged off his Haori, readying himself. Seeing him toss the Haori aside, Yoruichi smirked.

    In the next instant, searing arcs of electricity flared around her body.

    ¡°Shunk¨­!¡±

    With crackling thunder, Yoruichi vanished, dashing straight for Kaelith. Her speed amazed him.

    Before her secluded training, Yoruichi had already been the fastest in the Onmitsukid¨­. Now, with added lightning, she¡¯d reached a whole new realm.

    Boom!

    Kaelith raised his left forearm to block. Almost the instant he lifted it, Yoruichi¡¯s whiplike kick came crashing in, enveloped in churning lightning. Her blow slammed into the outside of his forearm, making Kaelith feel a rare flash of pain.

    Well¡­managing to hurt me is proof enough her retreat wasn¡¯t wasted.

    Kaelith gave her an internal nod of approval. Even as he thought this, he continued his defensive maneuvers. Yoruichi¡¯s onslaught didn¡¯t stop at one strike; her attacks poured down like a wild thunderstorm, coming in from every angle.

    If Kaelith¡¯s style balanced strength and speed, Yoruichi leaned more heavily on speed¡ªenough strength to do the job, then everything else into agility. If they were at the same level, he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to fend off all her hits. Unfortunately for her, real battles don¡¯t equalize power levels. Within a few seconds, Kaelith had parried nearly a hundred of Yoruichi¡¯s strikes.

    ¡°Heh heh heh, my dear lady, your fancy strikes sure look good, but they¡¯re not quite enough to wound me.¡± He gave a dramatic laugh. ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything stronger, I might just carry you off for my own pleasures~¡±

    From a distance, Soifon narrowed her eyes, her blood pressure rising. Yoruichi unleashed a spinning kick, using the recoil from Kaelith¡¯s counter to widen the gap between them. Staring at him¡ªstill smiling, still standing in the same spot¡ªshe felt a pang of resignation.

    Every time she thought she was gaining on him, she¡¯d realize she wasn¡¯t even close. And the more time passed, the more that gap seemed to widen. At first, she¡¯d stressed over it, struggling to catch up. Now, she¡¯d begun accepting reality: surpassing Kaelith was impossible. Yet even so, she wanted to show she hadn¡¯t given up on moving forward.

    She flashed a feral grin. ¡°Kaelith, watch yourself on this next move.¡±

    ¡°If you get hurt, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you first.¡±

    Kaelith laughed. ¡°Bring it on!¡±

    Yoruichi took a deep breath and slowly lowered herself to all fours. Not quite lying down, but pressing both palms to the ground, arching her lithe figure and pushing up her hips¡ªlike a cat rising from a nap, stretching languidly. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Gold lightning flickered over her body, destabilizing. Usually, her Shunk¨­ crackled around her shoulders and back. Now it flowed across her entire frame, as if uncertain or anxious. Kaelith couldn¡¯t help wondering what kind of technique could make lightning itself ¡°uneasy.¡±

    Then he noticed a small cluster of electricity forming on top of Yoruichi¡¯s head, shaping into a pair of pointed cat ears.

    ¡°Hah, that¡¯s pretty nice,¡± Kaelith commented.

    He watched, fascinated, as parts of Yoruichi¡¯s body truly began transforming. Her legs shifted to accommodate a four-legged stance, morphing into feline hind limbs. A long black tail extended from her lower back, swishing about.

    Zzt!

    The golden lightning gathered until it clung firmly to her arms and legs, fusing so tightly with her flesh that each limb seemed made of living thunder.

    ¡°Nya~¡±

    Opening her mouth, Yoruichi let out a cat-like cry. A shudder ran through Kaelith¡ª(not that kind of shudder, mind you). He did notice that even her little tongue glowed with golden electricity. Anyone on the receiving end of that might¡­ well, it could be lethal, in multiple senses of the word.

    Kaelith grimaced slightly in awe. Just then, Yoruichi vanished from his line of sight.

    ¡°?!¡±

    By instinct, he punched hard to his left. Crackle! The golden, catlike Yoruichi flashed into view¡ªbut Kaelith¡¯s preemptive strike missed entirely. In the instant he threw that punch, she vanished again. Deceiving him with three feints in quick succession, she finally raked her claws across his back, leaving a long gash.

    Pain flared along his shoulder blades, and Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up.

    Fast¡­ and sharp!

    He glanced at Yoruichi, who withdrew immediately and prepared for a second pass. Overcome with curiosity, he shouted:

    ¡°What¡¯s this technique called?¡±

    She didn¡¯t reply. The moment Kaelith spoke, Yoruichi blurred once more, weaving left to right and vanishing again.

    ¡°Oh¡­ so serious you won¡¯t even chat? Fine.¡±

    Seeing her so focused ignited Kaelith¡¯s own fighting spirit. In cat-spirit form, Yoruichi fought differently than normal. If anything, her approach reminded him of himself¡ªdiscarding all formalities and letting raw instincts dictate her moves. A mindless, single-minded quest to take down the opponent. That carefree, primal style was a pure delight. Among so many in the Soul Society, only Zaraki Kenpachi had given Kaelith that same thrill. He hadn¡¯t expected to see it again from Yoruichi.

    ¡°Your fighting intent is so pure¡ªI¡¯m really happy for you!¡±

    Roaring these words, Kaelith unleashed a swirl of blue flames. If Yoruichi was going for an all-out Shunk¨­ finish, so would he. Lightning clashed with fire, speed collided with ferocity, cat against Kaelith. Bolts crackled, flames roared, echoing across the sky.

    Soifon watched the frenetic battle from afar, growing uneasy. Was Kaelith going to hurt Lady Yoruichi¡­?

    For nearly half a minute, thunder and flame rang out, obscured by a dust cloud. When the sounds finally subsided, Soifon waved an arm, using a gust-based Reiatsu to clear the air. She saw Kaelith pinning Yoruichi to the ground, both hands gripping her arms.

    ¡°Mrrrow!¡±

    Even pinned, Yoruichi refused to yield, letting out a defiant feline cry. Only now did Kaelith realize that when she hadn¡¯t spoken earlier, it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t want to¡ªit was that in this form, she couldn¡¯t.

    Possibly, her human intellect was being overpowered by something more primal. He made a wry face and glanced at Soifon, who dashed over.

    ¡°Lady Yoruichi!¡±

    Soifon crouched to check Yoruichi¡¯s condition. Confirming she was unharmed, Soifon breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Hey, Soifon¡ªhow do we turn Yoruichi back?¡± Kaelith asked, still holding Yoruichi down to keep her from running wild.

    ¡°Just give me a moment!¡±

    Soifon flickered away and soon returned, carrying a few wispy stalks of foxtail grass. She hesitated, then held them out to Kaelith.

    ¡°Um¡­Lord Kaelith, Lady Yoruichi is now basically an ordinary cat in temperament. As long as you¡¯re restraining her like this, she won¡¯t calm down. Please use these to soothe her mood.¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. Though he¡¯d suspected as much, hearing Soifon confirm the half-cat transformation was real still struck him as amusing.

    So he took the grass, thoroughly entertained, and started teasing Yoruichi with it. In no time, she went from furious thrashing to happy purring.

    ¡°Haha, this is great, this is great!¡±

    Kaelith laughed, playing with her ears, stroking her cheeks, giving a pat here and there.

    ¡°Mmph¡­¡±

    Soifon stood off to the side, face a mix of anger and envy. If she¡¯d known it would turn into a cuddle session, she might have done the calming herself instead of worrying about rank and etiquette.

    Unexpectedly, Kaelith proved quite adept at ¡°cat-taming.¡± A bit of chin-scratching, some ear-rubbing, a pat or two on her¡­ ahem. Not long after, Yoruichi gave a little yawn and drifted off to sleep. All the lightning cat features melted away, dissolving into the air as Reishi.

    Relieved, Kaelith stood up. Soifon opened her mouth to speak, then froze. Only now did she notice the numerous wounds on Kaelith¡¯s body¡ªsome just surface claw marks, but others clearly inflicted by lightning-augmented Shunk¨­, the flesh scorched and torn.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, your injuries¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    He glanced down at himself, then smiled and shook his head. ¡°No worries. Yoruichi¡¯s cat-woman form is strong, but if I¡¯d really defended myself, none of this would¡¯ve happened. I only let her hit me so she wouldn¡¯t take rebound damage and hurt herself. Give it a few days, and I¡¯ll be good as new.¡±

    Soifon¡¯s eyes softened. Though they hadn¡¯t met in years, Kaelith was still the same as ever¡ªbenevolent behind his irreverent exterior. She reached into her uniform and pulled out a small jar of ointment.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, please sit over there. This is a medicinal salve Lady Yoruichi and I used in our training¡ªapplied to wounds, it accelerates healing and prevents scarring.¡±

    She guided Kaelith to sit down. Kneeling behind him, Soifon used her delicate fingers to spread the ointment on his back. Kaelith shut his eyes, enjoying the moment. Ah¡­it had been so long since he¡¯d been tended by Soifon. Being willingly ¡°injured¡± was definitely the right call.

    Before long, she finished applying medicine to the wounds on his back and moved around to the front. He watched her kneel there, so focused on treating him, and took a deep breath as he leaned closer. Noticing his intent, Soifon gave him an annoyed glance.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, don¡¯t do anything reckless. I haven¡¯t finished treating your injuries.¡±

    ¡°Heh, forget the wounds for now¡ªthere¡¯s a more important matter at hand¡­¡±

    ¡°No! Lady Yoruichi is still right here¡­¡±

    ¡°Relax. I¡¯m only going to do a bit. Won¡¯t take too long.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine. Hurry up, then.¡±

    Soifon stood up, tacitly allowing his request.

    ¡­

    Some time later, Yoruichi stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Blinking groggily, she stretched her arms overhead, then frowned at the unfamiliar ceiling.

    She was back in the Seireitei.

    A low moan reached her ears.

    Turning her head, she saw Kaelith lying on his stomach, his Haori tossed aside. Standing on top of him, Soifon hesitantly pressed her bare foot against his back, her expression stiff with embarrassment.

    Yoruichi stared.

    Soifon immediately tensed, nearly losing her balance. ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t¡ª! He said it would help his muscles, and¡ª!¡±

    Kaelith exhaled in satisfaction. ¡°She¡¯s surprisingly good at this.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Soifon snapped, her entire face burning red.

    Yoruichi smirked, resting her head back against the pillow. ¡°I leave you two alone for one night¡­¡±

    Soifon¡¯s head whipped around. She gasped. ¡°L-Lady Yoruichi! You¡¯re awake!¡±

    Soifon¡¯s face lit up. Yoruichi nodded, offering a relaxed smile.

    ¡°Thanks, Soifon. I¡¯m guessing you helped me lift that ¡®black cat battle princess¡¯ form when I couldn¡¯t revert on my own.¡±

    Before the fight, she¡¯d been so eager to show off for Kaelith that she¡¯d completely forgotten to explain how to undo her transformation. Fortunately, Soifon had been present. Otherwise, it could¡¯ve become a real disaster.

    Hearing this, Soifon instinctively started to nod¡ªthen froze, recalling something. Under Yoruichi¡¯s puzzled gaze, Soifon¡¯s cheeks reddened even further somehow, and she forcefully shook her head.

    ¡°It¡­ it was all Lord Kaelith¡¯s doing! I didn¡¯t do anything at all!¡±

    Yoruichi: ¡°?¡±

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 Chapter 263

    Chapter 263

    2-in-1-chapter

    ---------------------

    Yawning loudly, Ky¨­raku Shunsui strolled along the streets of the Seireitei. Along the way, any patrolling Shinigami who spotted him immediately stopped to bow. Ky¨­raku greeted them with a friendly wave. Once they moved on, he let out another long yawn.

    Seeing him like this, Yad¨­maru Lisa cast a doubtful glance his way.

    ¡°Captain, you didn¡¯t sneak out in the middle of the night for a drink again, did you?¡±

    Ky¨­raku looked shocked. ¡°Lisa, you can¡¯t go around saying that. I, Ky¨­raku Shunsui, am an esteemed captain of the Eighth Division, a noble from a venerable house, and personally trained by the Captain-Commander. I¡¯d never do anything so shameless.¡±

    Lisa snorted. She might trust him on other claims¡ªat least by a fraction of a percent¡ªbut that ¡°personally trained by the Captain-Commander¡± bit held no weight. There were three such disciples, and two of them were notoriously troublesome. Especially Kaelith, who stirred up big incidents at the drop of a hat.

    Not long ago, the Captain-Commander had chased him halfway across the Seireitei, causing widespread mayhem. Had the two troublemakers not both held high positions, the Central 46 might well have thrown them in a cell.

    Compared to that, her own captain¡ªwho just liked to sneak drinks and laze around¡ªactually seemed more reliable. The moment she realized someone else surpassed her captain in irresponsibility, Lisa couldn¡¯t help clicking her tongue. Who else but Kaelith could manage such a feat?

    Lost in thought, the pair arrived at the 1st Division¡¯s barracks. Lisa immediately straightened her posture, falling half a step behind Ky¨­raku with a serious face. In the division itself, she could act freely around him, but once they went out, she had to maintain the captain¡¯s dignity¡ªthat was the art of being a proper subordinate.

    Ky¨­raku entered the meeting chamber while Lisa waited outside. She glanced around and noticed most of the lieutenants already gathered. The most eye-catching among them was an exceptionally tall man with long hair¡ªZaraki Kenpachi, lieutenant of the 11th Division.

    This 11th Division was truly odd. The captain wasn¡¯t ¡°Kenpachi,¡± but the lieutenant filed in for the still-alive captain. In previous generations, that would have been unthinkable.

    Zaraki Kenpachi leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes closed, as if dozing off. His uniform collar gaped wide, revealing a solidly built physique beneath. Lisa couldn¡¯t help recalling something Kaelith had mentioned on a visit to the Eighth Division a few years ago¡ªabout Zaraki Kenpachi¡¯s build.

    Apparently, when he first joined, he¡¯d been quite skinny. Kaelith had the mess hall feed him heavily every day, telling him not to worry about calories. Lisa had assumed Kaelith was fattening him up like a pig, predicting the 11th would end up with its first plus-sized lieutenant. But surprisingly, none of that extra food had turned to fat; it all converted to muscle. Countless would-be weight-watchers would surely cry tears of envy.

    As Lisa mulled over these random thoughts, Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly raised his head and glanced her way. In that split second, her entire body tensed up. The look in his eyes was pure beast. Though he merely looked at her for a moment, she felt pinned in place, like there was no chance of escape. Alarmed, she nearly reached for her sword.

    Fortunately, Zaraki quickly lost interest and closed his eyes again, resuming his nap. Lisa exhaled, shaken.

    The 11th Division really was home to a swarm of monsters.

    Just then, someone walked up to Zaraki. He frowned slightly, opened his eyes, and saw a handsome man wearing a silver hair ornament and a polite smile.

    ¡°Greetings, Lieutenant Zaraki. I¡¯m Kuchiki S¨­jun, lieutenant of the Sixth Division. I¡¯m a good friend of Kaelith¡¯s. Since you¡¯re Kaelith¡¯s lieutenant, I figure we ought to be friends as well. Nice to meet you.¡±

    He extended a hand in greeting. Zaraki didn¡¯t take it at first, simply staring impassively. A few seconds later, he reached out for a brief, casual shake.

    ¡°You look decent¡ªlike you can fight. But you¡¯re too weak. Boring.¡±

    With that, he shut his eyes again, saying nothing more. Kuchiki S¨­jun smiled wryly. ¡°You can fight, but you¡¯re too weak¡±¡ªtwo phrases that summed up all his frustrations. As expected of Kaelith¡¯s lieutenant¡­

    ¡­

    Inside the meeting room, Yamamoto stood at the head, both hands resting on his cane.

    ¡°Today, I¡¯ve summoned you all to discuss the matter of appointing a new captain for the 2nd Division. A few days ago, the Shih¨­in family submitted a letter stating that their head, Shih¨­in Yoruichi, has completed her training and is ready to assume the captain¡¯s seat. The 2nd Division¡¯s lieutenant, Marenoshin ¨­maeda, has already expressed his support. Do any of you object?¡±

    Many of the captains looked surprised. While the 2nd Division captain was indeed typically from the Shih¨­in family, Yoruichi seemed quite young for the post. Normally, even for a prodigy, it took over a century to become captain¡ªbarring oddities like Kaelith.

    Ukitake J¨±shir¨­ spoke up. ¡°Teacher, does Lady Shih¨­in have Bankai?¡±

    Yamamoto shook his head. ¡°Shih¨­in Yoruichi abandoned her Zanpakut¨­¡¯s development early on, dedicating herself to secret family techniques instead.¡±

    At that, the captains exchanged glances. Without Bankai, how could her combat strength be guaranteed?

    For something like the Fourth Division, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t matter.

    Even the Fifth or Tenth might allow some flexibility since they saw fewer large-scale battles.

    But the 2nd Division was a serious combat force, constantly facing major conflicts. If its captain were weak, it could lead to dire consequences. Generally, Bankai was a baseline requirement for a captain¡ªagain, excluding ¡°freaks¡± like Kaelith.

    And so, after a bit of low-voiced discussion, everyone turned to look at Kaelith. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°?¡±

    Seeing all eyes on him, Kaelith cocked his head. Hirako Shinji, hands tucked in his sleeves, said, ¡°Kaelith, what do you think?¡±

    Kaelith pondered a moment. ¡°I sparred with Yoruichi a few days ago. She¡¯s strong¡ªhurt me pretty good. I¡¯d say she¡¯s more than qualified to be a captain.¡±

    Hirako Shinji: ¡°¡­¡±

    Everything about that sentence was irritating, in its own way.

    Having given his opinion, Kaelith discreetly suppressed a yawn. He guessed the meeting would go on for a while, and he was tired from staying up late playing LSP2. Time to bust out his secret move¡ªsleeping while standing¡­

    But before he could close his eyes, the other captains chimed in one after another:

    ¡°In that case, I have no objections.¡±

    ¡°I agree with appointing Shih¨­in Yoruichi.¡±

    ¡°No problem here¡­¡±

    To Kaelith¡¯s surprise, those who had been hesitant moments earlier were now all voting in favor. Brow furrowing, he sidled over to Ukitake.

    ¡°Senior, am I really that influential in the Gotei 13? They were all so doubtful before, but turned right around because of one comment from me. Is this a signal that I should raise the banner of revolution and overthrow our Teacher?¡±

    Ukitake chuckled softly, shaking his head. ¡°Kaelith, your opinion is absolutely valued¡ªno question. But the reason they changed their minds so quickly is that they trust your judgment. For all the wild stunts you pull, everyone knows you¡¯d never recommend a friend for a dangerous position if they couldn¡¯t handle it. Especially the 2nd Division, where several captains have died in the line of duty over the years.¡±

    Once all captains cast their votes, Yoruichi¡¯s succession was formally decided. Three days later, Yamamoto reconvened the captains to present her commission and captain¡¯s Haori.

    Watching Yoruichi don the Haori, Kaelith nodded. Despite her lively, sometimes mischievous nature¡ªeven climbing rooftops for fun¡ªshe looked unexpectedly fitting in the crisp white coat. The austere Haori, combined with her spirited, striking beauty, exuded a unique, regal aura.

    One couldn¡¯t help but stare.

    Yoruichi glanced at herself, lifting an arm experimentally.

    ¡°Huh¡­ It¡¯s a bit cumbersome, doesn¡¯t seem great for fighting.¡±

    Kaelith gave a short laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Wear it without concern. Once we¡¯re done here, I¡¯ll have my people make a hundred copies and send them to your place. The Kaelith Clothing Workshop produces top-quality replicas. Even Teacher would find it hard to tell real from fake! If anyone else needs something, just let me know¡ªI¡¯ll give you all an insider discount!¡±

    Kaelith clasped his hands with a grin, smoothly advertising his workshop.

    Yamamoto: ¡°?¡±

    The meeting wasn¡¯t even over, and he was right there! His blood pressure spiked.

    ¡­

    Exiting the 1st Division building with a noticeable bump on his head, Kaelith carried on as if nothing had happened. Years ago, a single punch from Yamamoto had been like a mountain dropping on him, sending him crawling home. Now¡­all it did was raise a lump.

    He couldn¡¯t help musing about whether he should stage some heartfelt performance¡ªsomething like the ¡°Boyu Weeping at the Staff¡± routine¡ªto move Yamamoto¡¯s heart. Maybe if he succeeded, and eventually he truly did rebel, his venerable teacher would step aside quietly without fighting back.

    ¡°Hey, what are you lost in thought about?¡±

    Snapping out of it, Kaelith realized Yoruichi was at his side, smiling.

    ¡°I was thinking about Soifon,¡± he replied solemnly.

    ¡°Seems the Captain-Commander went easy on you,¡± Yoruichi remarked a little irritably.

    After brief farewells with the other captains, Kaelith found Zaraki Kenpachi.

    ¡°Kenpachi, head back to our division, get Marechiyo, and bring him here to the 2nd Division.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Kenpachi nodded and started to set off.

    ¡°Wait¡ªhold up.¡±

    Kaelith stopped him. Zaraki turned, eyes puzzled. Kaelith spoke seriously:

    ¡°Ask for directions along the way. Don¡¯t rely on your own sense of direction. Worst case, grab someone and make them guide you.¡±

    Zaraki Kenpachi cracked a grin. ¡°No worries, Boss, I won¡¯t get lost!¡±

    With that, he strode off toward the 11th Division. Kaelith watched for a few seconds, confirming Kenpachi was at least heading the right way, then nodded. He and Yoruichi walked toward the 2nd Division.

    Standing once more in the 2nd Division¡¯s quarters, Kaelith felt a wave of nostalgia. Unknowingly, it had been years since he left.

    Shinigami perceived time differently from humans; their longer lifespans dulled their sense of passing years. In the original storyline, captains often remained at a plateau for decades or centuries, basically ¡°coasting.¡± Only when major crises occurred did they scramble to train, shooting up several levels in a matter of months¡ªlike certain novelists ignoring their work all month then frantically writing at the deadline.

    Kaelith once clung to a near-human perception of time, but slowly became numb to it. Even though he¡¯d been away from the 2nd Division for years, it felt like merely a month.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith!¡±

    Many Shinigami recognized him, greeting him warmly. Then they noticed the white Haori on the person beside him. Taking a closer look, they gasped.

    ¡°Commander of the Corps!¡±

    ¡°Welcome back!¡±

    ¡°No¡­not the Corps Commander now¡ªshe¡¯s Captain!¡±

    Seeing ¡°2¡± stitched on the back of Yoruichi¡¯s Haori, the squad members buzzed with excitement. The 2nd Division hadn¡¯t had a captain in a long time. Although Marenoshin ¨­maeda had done well keeping things running, it still felt incomplete.

    Now, with a proper captain, they were overjoyed.

    Before long, Marenoshin ¨­maeda arrived. Spotting Yoruichi¡¯s Haori, he became so emotional he nearly wept.

    ¡°Finally¡­ Lady Yoruichi, you¡¯ve taken up the Haori at last! The old family head would be so pleased¡­¡±

    Watching him cry, Yoruichi offered a gentle smile. Under the expectant gazes of the squad, she headed to the captain¡¯s office with Marenoshin ¨­maeda to handle official handover tasks. At first, she tried her best to listen as he explained all the division¡¯s affairs. But soon enough, Yoruichi grew restless¡ªthis wasn¡¯t how she pictured being captain. She hadn¡¯t sought the position just to sit in an office all day!

    She turned, fixing Kaelith with an innocent look.

    ¡°Kaelith, isn¡¯t there something you can do? Help me out here.¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°I figured this would happen. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI have just the solution!¡±

    He stepped out, returning after a few moments with a Shinigami slung by the collar. Yoruichi blinked in surprise as Kaelith plopped the new arrival down before her¡ªa man wearing a hat, looking resigned to his fate.

    ¡°Presenting my invention: a fully automated document-processing device! Give him food, water, and a little fist-based encouragement, and he¡¯ll churn out solutions to every stack of paperwork. A must-have for anyone who wants to slack off.¡±

    Yoruichi: ¡°¡­¡±

    She glanced at Urahara Kisuke, sitting on the floor with an air of quiet despair, and couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for him. Still, she was the captain now, so she couldn¡¯t turn her back on the chance to delegate.

    Putting on a solemn face, she said, ¡°Urahara Third Seat, I¡¯ll leave these to you.¡±

    Urahara Kisuke: ¡°¡­¡±

    He felt his soul leave his body.... somehow.

    Spotting his sulky expression, Kaelith¡ªan expert in the ¡°stick and carrot¡± principle¡ªpromptly dangled a carrot.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum, Kisuke. I¡¯ve got good news for you. Captain Kirio Hikifune of the 12th Division will likely be stepping down within the next few decades. When that happens, I¡¯ll recommend you for captain. Doing this paperwork is the perfect warm-up, right?¡±

    Hearing this, Urahara Kisuke only looked more devastated. That would mean covering the workload for three captains at once¡­which was the last thing he wanted!

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 Chapter 264

    Chapter 264

    2-in-1 chapter

    -----------------------

    ¡°Come and eat, come and eat!¡±

    Back at the 11th Division, Kaelith was waving a large paper bag in his hand, beaming. Yachiru Kusajishi rushed over first, grabbing a persimmon cake and taking a big bite.

    ¡°Mmm!¡±

    Her cheeks dimpled as she chewed, face lit with pure happiness.

    ¡°It¡¯s so yummy!¡±

    ¡°Heh heh, good stuff, right? My white-haired senior made these by hand¡ªonly place you¡¯ll find ¡¯em in the entire Soul Society!¡± Kaelith handed her another one. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Rangiku approached, wearing a somewhat nostalgic look.

    ¡°Persimmon cakes¡­ Back when I was in Rukongai, I used to see them for sale in the village. I remember desperately wanting some at the time. Thinking about it now, it makes me a bit sentimental.¡±

    Kaelith took one cake for himself, then shoved the bag toward Rangiku.

    ¡°Eat up. Satisfy those cravings you couldn¡¯t before. Here in my 11th Division, we never let our squad go hungry.¡±

    Seeing how generous her captain was, Rangiku couldn¡¯t help smiling. Rather than take from the bag, though, she suddenly snatched Kaelith¡¯s own cake. As he stared at her in puzzlement, she waved the ¡°trophy¡± with a mischievous grin.

    ¡°Snatched ones taste better!¡±

    Kaelith paused, then let out a mild sigh of realization. So that was where she got this mischievous streak¡ªmaybe she had some secret free-spirited heritage in her.

    Before long, all of J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake¡¯s persimmon cakes were devoured by the 11th Division members. Kaelith saved the last few pieces, planning to take them to Aizen¡¯s lab later¡ªAizen was busy with experiments in Rukongai today.

    After greeting his squadmates, Kaelith departed, Shunpoing across the Seireitei. Partway there, light snow started to fall. The cool flakes on his face reminded him of when he¡¯d found Rangiku all those winters ago. If he hadn¡¯t come across her in that snowy moment, what would have happened?

    Most likely, Aizen would¡¯ve found her soon enough and drained her spiritual energy, leaving her helpless.

    That man really had no scruples, Kaelith reflected. Even if little Rangiku wasn¡¯t yet the jaw-dropping beauty she¡¯d one day be, she was still an adorable youngster¡ªsomeone you¡¯d think anyone would want to protect. And yet, Aizen just drained her Reiryoku and carried on without a second thought. Maybe the guy¡¯s taste was just way off.

    As Kaelith continued forward in silent steps, a sudden thought occurred to him: Aizen had never shown any interest in the opposite sex, or even in romance.

    Even Dio, who saw humans as walking bread, ended up fathering a few children. Surely Aizen wouldn¡¯t view everyone else as mere bread, would he? Didn¡¯t he ever want a family or a partner?

    Maybe Kisuke Urahara¡­?

    ¡­

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s question, Aizen turned and gave him a pitying look.

    ¡°You¡¯re still caught in the mindset of ordinary mortals. Physical pleasures mean nothing to me. Rather than waste time finding a woman and establishing a pointless home, I¡¯d rather spend that time thinking¡ªreading.¡±

    He took one of the leftover persimmon cakes from Kaelith¡¯s paper bag, calmly biting into it.

    Kaelith let out a pained sigh.

    If everyone were like you, how would the country¡ªer, the Soul Society¡ªcarry on?

    Then he remembered how the Soul Society had a steady supply of souls from the living world, so maybe it wasn¡¯t a problem.

    Aizen finished his cake and wiped his hands.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Going where?¡± Kaelith asked, confused.

    ¡°Rukongai.¡±

    Still answering Kaelith, Aizen keyed in a combination on a secure storage unit and pulled out a gleaming, gem-like object. Seeing it, Kaelith stepped closer curiously.

    Ever since they had conquered Las Noches years ago and founded a new regime in Hueco Mundo, Aizen¡¯s research progress had skyrocketed. The H¨­gyoku Project¡ªformerly an empty ¡°new folder¡±¡ªwas more than halfway complete now.

    ¡°Today, we¡¯re scouting for souls with a talent for spiritual power. I¡¯ve already identified the targets¡ªlet¡¯s go.¡±

    Taking the H¨­gyoku and Kaelith along, Aizen left the lab and headed toward the sixtieth district of Rukongai. After a short walk through shallow snow, they arrived at a small hamlet where a narrow stream provided a modest but sufficient flow of spiritual particles.

    Aizen¡¯s aim was a burly man with a hairy chest¡ªapparently the only one in the village who needed to eat real food, a sure sign of some spiritual potential.

    This fellow lorded his ability over the others; he was always the one doing the bullying, never the victim. He couldn¡¯t have imagined he¡¯d be taken down today.

    Just as the man finished drinking from the stream and was preparing to head home for a nap, he found himself paralyzed by Aizen¡¯s suffocating Reiatsu. Struggling even to speak, he watched helplessly as the stranger pressed a jewel against his forehead.

    !!!

    The instant the gem touched his skin, a terrifying force surged through his body. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound emerged.

    A thick, milky-white fluid began oozing from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Like spider silk, it hardened on contact with air, slowly forming a bone-like layer across his entire face.

    Only then did the brute manage to produce a howl¡ªyet it wasn¡¯t a human cry. It was a beastly roar, layered with multiple discordant echoes, that reverberated with surging Reiatsu.

    He tried rampaging several meters, but all was futilely contained by a spiritual barrier Kaelith raised. Aizen, standing to the side with a folder, recorded data at high speed, the pen flickering over pages. As the man¡¯s mask solidified, Aizen¡¯s excitement was clear. Occasionally pausing to reposition instruments, he kept detailed notes.

    Waiting for a moment when Aizen wasn¡¯t too busy, Kaelith sidled over.

    ¡°Think it¡¯s working this time?¡±

    ¡°Hardly so simple,¡± Aizen said, shaking his head.

    True to his words, the hapless man soon began to disintegrate¡ªone moment standing in place, the next scattering into fragments of Reishi in the air. His worn bathrobe fell to the ground in a heap. Kaelith watched, somewhat regretful.

    ¡°That was close.¡±

    But Aizen maintained his composure. ¡°It¡¯s normal. Most Hollowfication experiments fail at precisely this phase. Our next step is simply testing different levels of spiritual aptitude, logging each outcome, then tweaking the H¨­gyoku¡¯s output accordingly.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next target,¡± he said.

    Over the next two hours, Kaelith saw seven more Hollowfication attempts, each ending in the subject¡¯s soul shattering. Once Aizen finished that round of note-taking, he compared the data. Roughly ten minutes later, he turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. All these subjects were roughly the same power. Running more tests at this tier won¡¯t yield new results.¡±

    Leaning against a tree, Kaelith had nearly dozed off. He perked up instantly, wearing a grin as he approached.

    Amused, Aizen commented:

    ¡°If you find this so boring, don¡¯t bother coming next time. Experiments in the field sound intriguing, but they¡¯re really just mechanical drudgery. With your personality, I doubt you¡¯d cope well.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty tedious, but I want to come at least once in a while. You might not mind killing people, but I don¡¯t like the idea of you doing it alone. Letting my friend do all the dirty work while I hide in the background isn¡¯t my style.¡±

    Stretching, he shot a bright smile. ¡°We¡¯re done, so let¡¯s head back and eat. I am starving!¡±

    Aizen blinked before giving a faint laugh. Killing was no burden to him.

    If anything, going out of his way to target the wicked and criminal souls¡ªjust to spare Kaelith¡¯s conscience¡ªwas the real hassle. But strangely enough, hearing Kaelith¡¯s casual declaration improved his mood.

    Maybe it was just entertaining to see him playing the fool.

    He stashed the folder, ready to return. Suddenly, Kaelith halted in place, scanning his surroundings.

    Then he walked off in a particular direction. Aizen, puzzled, followed suit. Extending his senses, he, too, showed mild surprise.

    Kaelith strode through the snow until he reached a large tree. Brushing aside some frosty branches, he uncovered a small hollow in the trunk. Inside it lay a short-haired boy, fast asleep, hair a silvery-white.

    His complexion was so pale, it almost looked unhealthy. His tattered robe appeared old but not dirty.

    Gazing at the snoozing boy, Kaelith¡¯s mind latched onto one word: hibernation¡ªlike a coiled snake lying in its den through winter. It was a strange metaphor, but it fit the initial impression.

    Suddenly, Kaelith let out a small exclamation.

    A silver-haired boy, serpent-like aura¡­ So this was the Gin Ichimaru he¡¯d searched so long for.

    Aizen came closer, observing the sleeping figure. He gauged the boy¡¯s Reiatsu. Adjusting his glasses, he said, ¡°He¡¯s got spiritual power¡ªfairly high level, too. And by the look of him, he hasn¡¯t eaten in a while. But even in a starving state, his Reiatsu¡¯s still stable¡­ This child has talent.¡±

    Indeed, Kaelith thought. In canon, Gin was prodigiously gifted¡ªthe kind of genius who could¡¯ve survived even Aizen¡¯s H¨­gyoku transformations.

    Kaelith rummaged through his sleeve, retrieving the last two persimmon cakes. He held one out toward the boy¡¯s face. The aroma coaxed the boy into opening his eyes. He blinked in confusion, spotting the food first, then shifted his gaze to Kaelith and Aizen.

    Alarmed, the boy¡¯s pupils shrank; he bolted out of the tree hollow and rolled across the snow, defensive. Kaelith raised the cake, smiling:

    ¡°No need to be afraid. I¡¯m not a bad guy¡ªlook, I¡¯ve got something tasty for you.¡±

    Aizen: ¡°¡­¡±

    If Kaelith wasn¡¯t a ¡°bad guy,¡± then maybe no one in the world qualified.

    In a split second, the silver-haired boy decided he couldn¡¯t take on these two. He tried to run, but before his foot even landed, he was shocked to find himself floating in midair. Spinning around, he saw Kaelith standing there, hand outstretched. With a pull, Kaelith drew him back as though carrying him on an invisible string.

    Smack.

    Kaelith grabbed the boy by his collar, and within a heartbeat, Gin realized escape was impossible. Seeking an opening, he asked:

    ¡°What¡­what was that ability?¡±

    ¡°You mean that little trick I used just now?¡± Kaelith tilted his chin up smugly. ¡°That¡¯s the famed ¡®Dragon-Grip¡¯¡ªstill a beginner¡¯s stage, pardon my lack of refinement.¡±

    Gin mulled over feigning a polite compliment on the technique in hopes of softening Kaelith up. But Kaelith¡¯s response made no sense to him: ¡°Dragon-Grip?¡± What on earth was that?

    While Gin was caught off-guard, Aizen spoke up. ¡°So, what do we do with him? If you don¡¯t want him, I could take him back for experiments.¡±

    Gin¡¯s heart nearly stopped. So this was the worst-case scenario¡ªhe¡¯d end up a lab rat?

    But Kaelith shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯ll take him. End of story.¡±

    Aizen wasn¡¯t surprised. Under Kaelith¡¯s leadership, the 11th Division had become legendary for nurturing talent, many from unfortunate backgrounds¡ªnumerous noble houses tried sending their kids there.

    Yet Kaelith himself personally oversaw only a chosen few. Glancing at this white-haired kid, Aizen acknowledged he¡¯d likely struck gold.

    With Kaelith¡¯s guidance and his inherent gifts, at minimum he¡¯d reach lieutenant-level. Perhaps even captain.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith had already coaxed Gin into eating the persimmon cake. Once the boy had a bite, he gave his name¡ªIchimaru Gin. He looked around eleven or twelve in human terms, but years of living on the streets had sharpened his instincts.

    He quickly recognized these two wore Shihakush¨­ and could crush him without effort. The bespectacled one was particularly terrifying, gazing at him like a lifeless tool.

    However, the seemingly more suspicious man¡ªthe one with the kind smile¡ªactually possessed a kinder heart. Accepting his food and forging a friendly connection seemed the safest path.

    When Kaelith proposed taking him back, Gin promptly agreed. Watching how cooperative he was, Kaelith felt a bit nostalgic. He had picked up many strays, but none so docile from the start¡ªcertain people with green hats could have learned a thing or two¡­

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 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265

    2-in-1 chapter

    -----------------

    On a bright, clear day with a pleasant breeze, T¨­sen Kaname sat atop a rooftop, savoring the wind brushing against his cheeks.

    Another peaceful day.

    Watching the 11th Division members bustling about in the distance, he felt a tinge of emotion. Compared to the filthy underbelly of the Seireitei, the 11th Division was like an oasis in the desert. No scheming for profit, no sinister backstabbing, no leveraging power to bully others. It was exactly the kind of society he dreamed of.

    He smiled. Right then, a voice drifted into his ears¡ª

    ¡°Kenpachi, this won¡¯t do!¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Not far from the training grounds, Zaraki Kenpachi was stretched out under the shade of a tree, enjoying a midday nap. Hearing the voice beside him, he lazily opened one eye.

    He saw Rangiku Matsumoto crouched next to him, her expression earnest.

    ¡°Kenpachi, this is no time to be sleeping!¡± she said. ¡°We and our buddies have run into an unprecedented crisis! If we don¡¯t catch on soon, disaster¡¯s inevitable!¡±

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    Kenpachi gave her a puzzled look, then shut his eye again.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t doze off¡ªI¡¯m being serious!¡± Rangiku patted him on the shoulder.

    ¡°Tch, annoying. Spit it out already,¡± Kenpachi grumbled, frowning.

    If it were anyone else, he¡¯d have laid them out with a punch by now. But Rangiku¡ªalong with T¨­sen, Komamura, and a few others from their cohort¡ªwere special. They¡¯d joined the squad at the same time, hanging around Kaelith¡¯s side, so he gave them more leeway.

    Under Kenpachi¡¯s impatient gaze, Rangiku cleared her throat.

    ¡°Kenpachi, haven¡¯t you noticed how Kaelith is giving Gin Ichimaru way too much attention lately? Think back to when we were in the academy¡ªhe never visited us that often! Does that mean Kaelith cares more about that kid than about us?¡±

    Kenpachi responded flatly, ¡°I never attended the academy, came straight into the Division.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, you get what I mean. Don¡¯t sweat the little details!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    He fell silent. After a few seconds, he shrugged. ¡°Back then, there were a bunch of you at the academy all at once. How could the Captain have the time to watch over each of you individually? Gin is different¡ªhe¡¯s the only one in his current batch going off to train at Shin¡¯¨­ Academy, so of course Kaelith pays closer attention.¡±

    Rangiku wagged a finger. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong! Shiba Isshin arrived at the same time as Gin. Yet Kaelith doesn¡¯t hover over him nearly as much. Gin Ichimaru is a real wildcard. If we don¡¯t act early, he¡¯ll become a huge problem!¡±

    Kenpachi sounded bored. ¡°Gin¡¯s someone the Captain adopted personally. Isshin belongs more to Aizen¡¯s side of things. Obviously, the Captain¡¯s gonna favor his own people first.¡±

    Seeing that Kenpachi had zero inclination to share her concerns, Rangiku put on a thoughtful look. A moment later, she spoke again:

    ¡°Kenpachi, Kaelith¡¯s eye for talent has never been wrong, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    He¡¯d never doubted Kaelith¡¯s judgment. Whether it was someone like Komamura¡ªwho had some foundation already¡ªor complete novices like T¨­sen or Rangiku herself, Kaelith always identified their strengths precisely and helped them grow. The facts spoke for themselves: they were all well on their way to captain-level power.

    Rangiku gave a low chuckle. ¡°Then if Kaelith values Gin Ichimaru so highly, it means that even among geniuses, Gin is another step above. Think about it¡ªonce he levels up, you¡¯ll have a perfect new sparring partner, right? Another skilled fighter to clash with?¡±

    This made Kenpachi pause for the first time. Rangiku seized the moment:

    ¡°My suggestion, Kenpachi, is for you to pay him more visits¡ªtrain him hard. Let him discover how wonderful battle can be, show him the thrill of crossing blades! Under your guidance, Gin will become your perfect dueling partner!¡±

    Zaraki stared at the sky for a few seconds. Then, in one swift motion, he jumped to his feet and dashed off toward the division¡¯s front gates.

    Watching him run off, Rangiku lightly raised a fist in triumph. With Kenpachi pestering Gin day after day, that kid wouldn¡¯t have the time to stick to Kaelith like glue. Feeling pleased, she grabbed her sword and went off to find someone to spar with.

    Meanwhile, T¨­sen Kaname sighed inwardly.

    I was too na?ve. It¡¯s just as Lord Kaelith said: Wherever people gather, there¡¯s bound to be friction. Achieving my ideal world will take a lot more work.

    ¡­

    ¡°You¡¯re making too many useless moves,¡± came a calm voice. ¡°No stepping wide at that part; your balance goes off. And don¡¯t swing with full power here. If your opponent sees it coming, they¡¯ll exploit the opening and end it with one blow. Always keep about thirty percent in reserve. If you don¡¯t land the hit, pull back in time.¡±

    In a small grove, S¨­suke¡¯s voice resonated coolly. Not far from him, a young Shinigami in standard uniform swung his blade, looking hopelessly distraught.

    This was Shiba Isshin, a member of one of the Five Great Noble Houses. Although he was from a branch family, his ¡°genius¡± reputation surpassed many of the main line.

    Even the clan elders tended to spoil him a bit. Life was pretty smooth¡ªuntil the day he received orders to join the 11th Division.

    Truth be told, Isshin was thrilled about the 11th. He¡¯d heard many tales of Captain Kaelith¡ªthis legendary man made him curious. He never expected that he wouldn¡¯t be trained by Kaelith or any of the 11th¡¯s officers, but rather by the 5th Division¡¯s lieutenant, Aizen S¨­suke.

    When he first learned of this arrangement, Isshin protested on the spot. If he was in the 11th Division, then everything he did reflected on the 11th. How could he let himself be guided by someone from another squad?

    Aizen had nodded calmly¡­then taken him to a dojo. Thirty minutes later, Isshin emerged in tatters, face bruised and swollen, and immediately pledged eternal loyalty to Lieutenant Aizen. Kisuke Urahara had called it ¡°expert-level strategy.¡±

    Hearing Aizen¡¯s frosty advice now, Isshin dared not slack off. He adjusted his stance and how much force he put into each slash. After a few attempts, he realized with surprise that the strike felt smoother than before. He looked at Aizen with renewed excitement.

    ¡°Incredible, Aizen-senpai! Thank you for the pointers!¡±

    ¡°Heh¡­glad it helps.¡±

    Aizen slid his glasses higher, eyes hidden by the glare on the lenses. A faint, cryptic smile showed on his face. He picked up a folder filled with that day¡¯s training plan for Shiba Isshin, ready to start in earnest¡ªwhen suddenly a shout rang out:

    ¡°S¨­suke!!!¡±

    Aizen paused briefly, then tucked the folder away. Isshin glanced over, delighted to see a familiar figure flashing toward them not far off.

    ¡°Captain!¡±

    Beaming, Isshin waved. Kaelith responded in kind, greeting him casually. Then he walked over to Aizen.

    Under Aizen¡¯s scrutiny, Kaelith let out a sly chuckle. ¡°S¨­suke, I¡¯ve prepared a wonderful present for you.¡±

    ¡°A present?¡± Aizen narrowed his eyes. His first instinct was that Kaelith had caused some mess and needed him to clean it up. But judging by the smug look on Kaelith¡¯s face, it seemed he¡¯d genuinely done something he considered worthwhile.

    Glancing at Isshin, Aizen spoke: ¡°Isshin, you¡¯ll be doing solo training today. Practice that sword style thoroughly. Tomorrow I¡¯ll give you a pop quiz. If you can¡¯t execute it flawlessly the moment I test you, your training load for the next week doubles.¡±

    Faced with this merciless proclamation, Isshin looked ready to cry. Kaelith chipped in:

    ¡°If you need someone to practice with, go ask Lieutenant Kenpachi. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be very happy to join.¡±

    Isshin¡¯s face twitched¡ªnobody in the Seireitei enjoyed a good scuffle more than that man. ¡°Captain, if you have time, could you coach me sometime?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll find you when I¡¯m free.¡±

    With that, Kaelith vanished in a burst of Shunpo, and Aizen followed suit. Isshin stared at the empty spot they¡¯d just occupied, envy written on his face. Both men were so fast that he, a self-proclaimed genius, couldn¡¯t even detect their departure. They weren¡¯t that much older than him, either. Compared to them, was he really any kind of ¡°genius¡± at all?

    ¡­...

    ..

    .

    Aizen froze momentarily at the sight before him. Even someone as composed as he was couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment. Inside the lab, over a dozen people were bound and arranged in neat rows. Judging by their spiritual signatures, every single one was a fairly capable Shinigami. One figure in particular stood out¡ªa two-meter-tall, six-hundred-pound hulk. His presence was impossible to ignore. Aizen assessed him briefly and felt a spark of excitement.

    That Reiatsu¡­he¡¯s on the level of a captain.

    ¡°Kaelith, what¡¯s all this?¡± he asked, though he already had a clue.

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Rejoice, S¨­suke. This is the mighty realm your chancellor¡ªyours truly¡ªhas seized on your behalf. That big one there, name¡¯s Guiyanj¨­, was a tyrant out in Rukongai. Ages ago, he tried challenging me to steal the 11th Division captaincy. Captain Unohana happened to be around and frightened him off with a burst of killing intent. Lately, I tracked him down again, just out of curiosity.

    Turns out he was lying low for a while, then went right back to being a thug. Guy¡¯s a menace¡ªfigured we might as well make him useful for an experiment.¡±

    Aizen eagerly nodded. With a subject of that caliber, he certainly wasn¡¯t giving him back. Kaelith gestured toward several others.

    ¡°These are from the Tsunayashiro clan defectors in Hueco Mundo. A group of them tried sneaking back to the Seireitei through the Garganta while we were away, hoping to report us. To reward their courage, I decided to gift them a shot at ¡®new power.¡¯¡±

    Aizen simply nodded. Their attempt at betrayal didn¡¯t surprise him in the slightest; after all, he was the one who¡¯d ¡°accidentally¡± leaked the Garganta¡¯s location to them.

    Two days of preparations later, Aizen began his experiments. One by one, these Shinigami broke through the taboo boundary under the H¨­gyoku¡¯s power. Though none survived in the end, the wealth of data gleaned let Aizen discover the key he needed. Sifting through his notes, he further refined the H¨­gyoku. Half a month passed before he finally turned to his most precious specimen: Guiyanj¨­.

    When Shinigami undergo Hollowfication¡ªsuccessful or not¡ªthey lose control briefly and their power surges. To prevent accidents, Aizen specially invited Kaelith for backup. Together, they layered over a dozen barriers. With everything secured, Kaelith watched as Aizen lifted the dazzling jewel and pressed it to Guiyanj¨­¡¯s forehead.

    A burst of light flared.

    Even under heavy anesthesia, Guiyanj¨­ abruptly thrashed.

    ¡°Urrgh¡­Hrrr¡ªRrraaaagh!!¡±

    He let out a frightening roar, colossal body shaking off the drug¡¯s effects. White fluid gushed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, solidifying into a stark-white mask over his entire face. The eyes behind that mask opened¡ªwhere the sclera had once been black, an eerie crimson glow now shone.

    ¡°Hurgh¡­ Kaelith¡­Kaelith¡­!!!¡±

    The mask¡¯s jaws parted, revealing row upon row of teeth in a dark cavity, scraping together with a nerve-grating screech. In the next moment, a terrifying Reiatsu erupted from Guiyanj¨­¡¯s body.

    BOOM!!

    A towering pillar of spiritual pressure soared upward¡ªonly to be hammered back down by two colossal forces. Almost simultaneously, Kaelith and Aizen unleashed their Reiatsu like a falling sky, slamming down on Guiyanj¨­¡¯s power. They couldn¡¯t risk letting him burst through the barriers and spread his presence across half the Soul Society.

    Sensing how strong Guiyanj¨­¡¯s Reiatsu had become, Kaelith was momentarily taken aback. He¡¯d expected it to be high, but not on this level. None of the Visored had shown so much sheer force¡­ Aside from Kurosaki Ichigo, most Hollowfied Shinigami in the original story were unimpressive.

    What Kaelith didn¡¯t know was that Aizen¡¯s research progress here far surpassed its pace in the original timeline. Back then, even by the time he defected, Aizen hadn¡¯t perfected the H¨­gyoku, so the one used to create the Visored was essentially a failure. Had Kisuke Urahara not cleaned up the aftermath, none of those Hollowfied captains or lieutenants would have survived. Now, though the H¨­gyoku still wasn¡¯t ¡°perfect,¡± it far exceeded what made the old Visored.

    ¡°Kaelith! Be careful,¡± Aizen called out. ¡°The specimen¡¯s strength is beyond our estimates.¡±

    Kaelith simply grinned. ¡°Relax, S¨­suke. My strength, too¡­might be beyond your expectations.¡±

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 Chapter 266

    Chapter 266

    2-in-1 chapter

    ------------------

    ¡°Tch, that¡¯s just how he is,¡± Aizen thought, watching Kaelith brim with confidence. It wasn¡¯t unusual; Kaelith never balked at a tough fight.

    .......

    ..

    .

    A guttural roar came from the masked Guiyanj¨­, his voice distorted and hollow, vibrating the air.

    Aizen didn¡¯t hesitate. He raised his hand and cast a spell:

    ¡°Had¨­ #63: Raik¨­h¨­!¡±

    A golden pillar of lightning spiraled forward with a deafening crackle. Faced with this Kido, the Hollowfied Guiyanj¨­ didn¡¯t even dodge. Instead, he thrust both massive hands out to catch it.

    Sizzle¡­ The thunderclap of Reiryoku surged, yet for half a second, it was stalemated between the colossal hands and the lightning column. Then Guiyanj¨­ let out a violent bellow and tore the energy apart, scattering it into a cloud of sparkling gold Reishi.

    But in that gleaming burst of particles, a figure shot through like a vengeful phantom.

    ¡°Aha!!¡±

    Kaelith emerged, white Haori fluttering in his wake, delivering a punishing right hook straight at Guiyanj¨­.

    ¡°Rrraaaagh!¡±

    Guiyanj¨­ roared in return, clenching a fist the size of Kaelith¡¯s entire head, as though a runaway truck were barreling toward him. Yet Kaelith¡¯s unrelenting aura more than matched that threat. Had the battlefield offered a direct side-by-side comparison, one might¡¯ve sworn Kaelith looked the more predatory, despite being physically smaller.

    Their fists clashed¡ªBOOM!!!¡ªand the floor of Aizen¡¯s lab tore up in layers. Aizen scowled; he had to abandon preparing a second Kido in order to suppress the shockwaves with his Reiryoku, lest his research lab be demolished.

    ¡°Oh ho, that¡¯s something!¡± Kaelith grinned in midair, forced back slightly. He kicked off the air behind him, propelling himself right back into the fray.

    His first strike had just been a casual blow¡ªno special techniques. In the past, that alone would¡¯ve put Guiyanj¨­ down. Now, it seemed Kaelith himself had taken the slight disadvantage. So Hollowfication was pretty astonishing after all.

    Exhilarated, Kaelith inhaled sharply. Spotting his posture, Aizen immediately started layering additional barriers, knowing Kaelith was about to use his ¡°dual-impact¡± technique.

    BOOM!!!

    Their fists smashed together a second time. Guiyanj¨­ roared in pain as his oversized hand split open in multiple places, spraying blood¡ªyet the wounds began stitching themselves closed within seconds. Aizen studied the regeneration process with keen interest, mentally noting speed and progression.

    Kaelith still wasn¡¯t satisfied, throwing another punch¡­then another. Explosive waves from his dual-impact strikes wreaked havoc throughout the lab. Meanwhile, Guiyanj¨­¡ªonce a vicious thug¡ªadjusted quickly to the gritty exchange. Freed by Hollow madness and reinforced by his obscene healing factor, he swung wildly back, reveling in the raw clash.

    If there had been two onlookers behind each fighter, staring each other down, it would have made a perfect ¡°legendary scene¡±:

    ¡°Muda muda muda muda¡­!¡±

    As Kaelith unleashed a flurry of punches, he let loose a nonsensical battle cry. Aizen mentally blocked out the noise, laser-focused on observing Guiyanj¨­.

    Suddenly, Guiyanj¨­ misjudged a counterpunch. Kaelith¡¯s blow crashed into his face, shattering bone-white fragments and drawing a torrent of blood. At the same time, Guiyanj¨­¡¯s errant strike sent a crescent of spiritual force flying at Aizen¡¯s barrier. Busy collecting data, Aizen reacted a fraction too late to dispel it, but an invisible slash cut through the air and negated the blast.

    Aizen nodded appreciatively.

    So that¡¯s Kaelith¡¯s ¡°Invisible Swordsman¡± ability.

    He had to admit¡ªKaelith had planned carefully, covering all avenues.

    ¡­Wait.

    Something clicked in his mind. Aizen found himself frowning at the battling duo. Kaelith was obviously still using his dual-impact style, but the ¡°Invisible Swordsman¡± was also in play¡ªboth at once?

    Isn¡¯t that technique only possible with Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ in Shikai?

    Yet here it was, seemingly working independently.

    As the thought crossed Aizen¡¯s mind, Kaelith suddenly leapt backward, distancing himself from Guiyanj¨­. The intangible swordsman presence vanished altogether. In the next breath, Kaelith¡¯s battle aura intensified drastically.

    ¡°Breaking past the limit of single-impact¡­that¡¯s dual. So the limit of dual¡­¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s voice rumbled with ferocity. From an outsider¡¯s point of view, his fist moved both lightning-fast and oddly slow at once, twisting normal perception. He smashed forward with unstoppable momentum, eyes gleaming:

    ¡°Triple-Impact: Ikkotsu!!!¡±

    Aizen watched in astonishment as Kaelith¡¯s fist slammed Guiyanj¨­¡¯s outstretched arms. A brutal wave of force poured into him, colliding with his limbs and Reiatsu. Then it seemed to vanish for an instant¡ªonly to hammer back in a second time, shattering Guiyanj¨­¡¯s guard. A third wave of pressure followed an imperceptible beat later, delivering final devastation.

    Bang!!

    Guiyanj¨­¡¯s arms, thick as tree trunks, exploded in a red mist. Aizen blinked. Kaelith hadn¡¯t been exaggerating; that punch was indeed beyond anything he expected. If Kaelith had simply snapped them with raw power, or torn them off in a frenzy of berserker strength, Aizen wouldn¡¯t have been too surprised. Kaelith was Kaelith, after all. But the mechanics behind that triple-hit were on a whole different level.

    He had done it¡ªfully mastered the dual-impact technique that Yamamoto, Aizen, and every other top-tier Shinigami had previously deemed impossible. Before, Kaelith might have been a gifted but somewhat reckless fighter. In that instant, he¡¯d transcended.

    Aizen could only watch with something akin to respect. That final attack was the combined product of talent, diligence, and many blood-soaked battles.

    Heh.

    Aizen allowed himself a small grin. This had nothing to do with him, strictly speaking, yet a quiet pride bloomed inside. Watching Kaelith¡¯s success was oddly gratifying.

    With both arms gone, Guiyanj¨­ had effectively lost the fight. Although the stump of his shoulders was already writhing with regenerative growth¡ªgiven a few more seconds, he might regrow those limbs¡ªagainst a foe like Kaelith, a few seconds might as well be an eternity.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    Kaelith roared, punching Guiyanj¨­ hard enough to flatten him. Then, as the monstrous man bellowed in agony, Kaelith rained blow after blow upon him. Within moments, Guiyanj¨­ was left gasping on the floor, face barely recognizable¡ªa mass of pulp and bone shards. His mask had essentially been ¡°broken¡± by physical trauma. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Alright, alright, that¡¯s enough!¡±

    Aizen hurried over, stopping Kaelith. Truthfully, he¡¯d wanted to intervene sooner, but he also wanted Kaelith to get a good handle on that triple-impact technique¡ªbetter not to interrupt mid-practice. Now that he¡¯d had time, that was sufficient.

    Shoving Kaelith aside, Aizen knelt to check Guiyanj¨­¡¯s vitals. Still alive, thankfully. Despite the savage beating, Kaelith had aimed mostly at nonlethal areas (if smashing up his face could be called ¡°nonlethal¡±). No fatal damage to the heart or brain had occurred.

    As expected, though, the same corruption that befell other would-be Hollows was rapidly eating away at Guiyanj¨­¡¯s body. Only his formidable physique, plus the refined H¨­gyoku¡¯s improvements, kept him from disintegrating instantly. Likely, his Reiatsu would become more and more unstable over the next month before it self-destructed. That month gave Aizen plenty of time to study him hundreds of times.

    Perfect.

    Feeling quite satisfied, Aizen knocked Guiyanj¨­ out with more anesthetic and sealed him in stasis. Finished, he came to find Kaelith outside, gulping down some water.

    ¡°S¨­suke, did you see that final move?¡± Kaelith beamed. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it incredible? C¡¯mon, give me your honest opinion!¡±

    Seeing his swagger, Aizen couldn¡¯t help but needle him.

    ¡°Meh¡­ it''s alright.¡±

    ¡°Alright?! That¡¯s it?! You must be out of your mind!!¡±

    Kaelith erupted in mock outrage, going on about how his ¡°limit-breaking genius,¡± ¡°unprecedented achievement,¡± and ¡°unstoppable might¡± would shake the world.

    Watching Kaelith fume, Aizen felt oddly pleased.

    Annoying man¡­ but it was surprisingly entertaining.

    Kaelith glanced into the lab at the unconscious Guiyanj¨­, now placed in a tank, recalling how much cooler he had looked with the tribal-themed Hollow mask.

    If I got Hollowfied, what would mine be like?

    He remembered Ichigo Kurosaki¡¯s intimidating black-and-gold Hollow eyes. That would be cool.

    He turned to where Aizen was cleaning up nearby.

    ¡°S¨­suke, I think I can handle your H¨­gyoku just fine. You need test subjects, right? What if you tried it on me?¡±

    Aizen froze. Slowly standing straight, he dried his hands, then looked at Kaelith with half-lidded eyes.

    ¡°Kaelith Yurei ¡±

    ¡°Y-yes?¡± Kaelith answered, startled by Aizen using his full name so seriously. He straightened instinctively.

    Aizen¡¯s gaze was cold, Reiatsu brimming with menace. Kaelith felt a slight chill.

    ¡°If I find out you ever lay a finger on the H¨­gyoku without my approval and supervision,¡± Aizen said, voice low, ¡°I¡¯ll personally deliver every last detail of your past transgressions to Yamamoto Shigekuni¡ªand have him break every bone in your body before tossing you into Muken.

    Do you understand?¡±

    Leaving Kaelith standing there, shaking, Aizen walked off under a cloud of displeasure¡ªlike a mother bird scolding her chick for wandering too far from the nest.

    ..............

    ..

    .

    Summer passed, and the so-called ¡°Kaelith Group¡± soon got a surprise: Ichimaru Gin, the newest recruit under Kaelith¡¯s care, had graduated early from the Academy.

    Rangiku practically gaped in disbelief.

    ¡°Graduated? Get out. He hasn¡¯t even been there a year! How is that possible?¡±

    Shiba Isshin exhaled, shaking his head. ¡°Strong¡ªhe¡¯s way too strong. A real genius.¡±

    ¡°Oi, Isshin, whose side are you on?¡± Rangiku complained.

    Isshin scratched his cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll always stand by Lieutenant Aizen¡­¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Rangiku blinked. A traitor among their midst? She started wondering whether to handle the ¡°spy¡± personally, but that was when Kaelith arrived with Gin in tow.

    He had silvery hair, narrow eyes, and a perpetual half-smile. Having been adopted by Kaelith, Gin no longer had to struggle for food. Regular meals had boosted his growth considerably¡ªwhere he once stood at grade-school height, he was now barely a head shorter than Kaelith. Of course, next to the two-meter Zaraki Kenpachi, they were all runts in comparison.

    Gin bowed politely.

    ¡°To all my seniors in the 11th, I¡¯m Ichimaru Gin, newly assigned. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    In truth, he already knew exactly who they were. None of them particularly threatened him. Even Matsumoto Rangiku¡ªarguably closest to Kaelith¡ªwas just a naive girl in his eyes. Among all these folks, the only figure Gin genuinely couldn¡¯t upstage was that terrifying one: Aizen S¨­suke.

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 Chapter 267

    Chapter 267

    2-in-1 chapter

    ---------------

    ¡°Report! An abnormal Reiatsu has been detected in East Rukongai, District 48!¡±

    ¡°Reiatsu level 7, waveform¡­blue!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a Hollow!¡±

    ¡°The patrol squad has already arrived on-site! The 9th Seat of the 10th Division, Yamagishi Aitsuki, is leading the extermination!¡±

    ¡°Report! The extermination failed, three Shinigami are seriously injured, and 9th Seat Yamagishi has been forced to retreat!¡±

    In the Disaster Monitoring Department of the 12th Division, voices rang out in rapid succession.

    Hearing the reports, a seated officer present wore a grim expression.

    Reiatsu level 7¡ªthis was no ordinary Hollow. Sending random reinforcements would likely lead to a second massacre. Frowning, he barked loudly:

    ¡°Check! Which patrol squad is closest to that location? They must have at least a high-ranking officer in charge!¡±

    Several Shinigami manning the terminals typed quickly. Ten seconds later, one shouted:

    ¡°Report! It¡¯s the 11th Division, led by the 8th Seat¡ªIchimaru Gin! They¡¯re stationed in District 46, the closest to the site!¡±

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    Hearing that name, the officer felt an instant headache. He¡¯d heard of Gin, a so-called ¡°genius¡± from Shin¡¯¨­ Academy who graduated early with perfect marks in less than a year, then ignored invitations from other divisions to join the 11th.

    Under normal circumstances, such a prodigy deserved respect. But in an emergency like this, a young genius might prove unreliable. Many talented cadets had excelled in training and tests, only to freeze the moment they confronted a real Hollow.

    To prevent that, Shin¡¯¨­ Academy usually arranged simulated combat for students in their fifth or sixth year¡ªcapturing Hollows for them to practice on. Even so, plenty of graduates still panicked and died in real battles. Someone like Ichimaru Gin, who graduated in under a year, probably never even took part in those simulations. Who knew if he¡¯d just wet himself in front of the Hollow?

    Plus, if the 9th Seat of the 10th Division had already lost, what good was an 8th Seat from the 11th?

    After a few seconds of deliberation, the officer opened his mouth, intending to ignore Ichimaru Gin and call for someone else¡ªonly to be cut off by a subordinate:

    ¡°Report! Ichimaru Gin¡¯s patrol squad is already en route to the scene!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    The officer¡¯s eyes widened. Ichimaru Gin was in District 46¡ªhow had he detected something in District 48 so quickly?

    ¡°Tell all nearby squads to head there for support!¡± he ordered. ¡°And notify the 4th Division to prepare for heavy casualties!¡±

    In an instant, the department buzzed with activity.

    ¡­

    ¡°Roooaaaar!!¡±

    A massive, beast-like Hollow roared shrilly, sending weaker souls sprawling in fear, their legs giving out under the crushing spiritual pressure. Sensing prey nearby, the creature sniffed the air, then gnashed its pale teeth and crawled toward one of the fallen spirits.

    Such incursions into the Soul Society happened frequently. Unlike the orderly Seireitei, Rukongai¡¯s spatial fabric was less stable, allowing some Hollows wandering Hueco Mundo to slip through the Dangai and pop out in the districts. Typically, the further toward the outskirts one lived, the more common these attacks became. To have it happen here, around the 40s, was unusual, so the residents had no idea how to hide or flee.

    Watching the Hollow creep up, a terrified woman turned deathly pale and shrieked, ¡°No¡ªaaaah!!¡± She raised an arm, covering her face with her sleeve in despair.

    Nearby, 9th Seat Yamagishi Aitsuki of the 10th Division lay on the ground, glaring in fury. He desperately tried to stand, but a gaping wound slashed across his waist. Straining himself only made loops of intestine start sliding out.

    ¡°Rrraaagh!!¡±

    The Hollow opened its jaws wide, about to devour her, when suddenly¡ª

    ¡°Shoot to kill¡ªShinso.¡±

    A silvery flash streaked through the air, piercing the Hollow¡¯s head in a single thrust.

    ¡°?!¡±

    Yamagishi Aitsuki turned in shock, searching for that flash¡¯s origin. He found a silver-haired boy at some distance, arm outstretched, gripping a Zanpakut¨­. The gleaming projectile that skewered the Hollow had extended straight from the hilt of his blade.

    It was only after the silver glow vanished that Aitsuki realized it was the boy¡¯s sword itself, elongated to strike from tens of meters away¡ªa sure sign of Zanpakut¨­ release!

    Hand on the hilt, the boy smiled faintly. With a soft pull, the blade shrank back to the size of a short wakizashi. The Hollow disintegrated into black ash, dispersing into the wind.

    After sheathing his Zanpakut¨­, Ichimaru Gin strolled over.

    ¡°You all right?¡±

    He smiled at the terrified woman. She stared blankly for a moment, then hurriedly nodded.

    ¡°Th-thank you¡­! Thank you so much!¡±

    Gin shook his head lightly.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t thank me.¡±

    He spoke gently but with no hint of joking:

    ¡°If you want to thank someone, thank my Captain¡ªKaelith. Without my Captain, I wouldn¡¯t have become a Shinigami. Wouldn¡¯t have had this power. It¡¯s only because of my Captain that you were saved. So please, take a moment to give proper thanks to Captain Kaelith.¡±

    Seeing how serious he was, the woman nodded along.

    ¡°Th-thank you, Captain Kaelith!¡±

    Satisfied, Gin turned toward 9th Seat Yamagishi, who was struggling on the ground.

    ¡°Wow¡­ that¡¯s a nasty injury.¡±

    He crouched, examining the gash at Yamagishi¡¯s waist. The man grimaced. ¡°Appreciate it¡­ You¡¯re from the 11th Division? That technique just now was incredible!¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Gin replied. ¡°I¡¯m Ichimaru Gin, 8th Seat of the 11th Division. A pleasure.¡±

    The¡­ Eighth Seat?

    Hearing that, Yamagishi froze, forgetting the pain in his shock. Such a powerful display¡ªreleasing his Zanpakut¨­ and dispatching that fierce Hollow in a single blow¡ªwould easily place him among the upper seats or even vice-captain rank. Yet he was only 8th Seat?

    What on earth was going on in the 11th Division?

    He recalled rumors about their captain, Kaelith: some said the man was a weirdo, personally strong but a poor manager, even needing help from a former colleague at the 2nd Division and from the 5th Division¡¯s lieutenant. Until now, Yamagishi had thought those tales sounded wild.

    Maybe they were true after all¡­

    While he wrestled with those thoughts, Gin spoke again:

    ¡°Yamagishi 9th Seat, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. My Captain doesn¡¯t just throw ranks around. He always has his reasons. As for strength, the more senior folks back in my squad are on par with me. Captain Kaelith¡¯s decisions are never mistaken¡ªkeep that in mind.¡±

    The sudden pressure in Gin¡¯s voice made Yamagishi swallow hard. Good grief, was this kid reading his mind? Frightening¡­

    Before long, a healing team from the 4th Division arrived. Their leader started tending to the wounded 10th Division Shinigami immediately. One of the lightly injured men, worried for Gin¡¯s group, asked, ¡°Could you also check on the 11th Division? They fought too, right?¡±

    In response, the 4th Division members just chuckled.

    ¡°Relax. With an officer in the 11th Division present, they don¡¯t get hurt.¡±

    ¡­

    Indeed, that statement was spot-on. For the last few years, any Hollow incident that included a seated officer from the 11th Division ended in easy resolution. Problems that once required multiple seats¡ªand risked casualties¡ªwere as trivial as eating or drinking to them. Gradually, a rumor circulated within the Gotei 13:

    **¡°All 11th Division seated officers are at vice-captain level!¡±**

    It sounded ridiculous, but with all the eyewitness accounts, many found it plausible. Over time, an even more extreme claim arose: that 11th Division¡¯s upper seats were aiming for Bankai, and some may have already achieved it. Captain Kaelith was said to be planning a grand betrayal, ready to raise the banner against his own teacher as soon as his men all reached Bankai. Then blood would run in rivers, and the Seireitei would be turned upside down.

    ---

    ¡°Is there any truth to this?¡±

    In the 1st Division¡¯s training hall, Yamamoto stood stripped to the waist, staring at his rebellious student. Kaelith likewise stood shirtless nearby, having tossed his Haori aside. At first, Yamamoto had punished him for such disrespect, but after so many sparring sessions, he¡¯d grown used to it.

    There was even a time the old man nearly did the same, discarding his own Haori, only to catch himself and beat Kaelith in embarrassment.

    Hearing the question, Kaelith was outraged:

    ¡°Lies¡ªpure slander! Sensei, you know what shape the 11th Division was in before I got there. We hardly had any functional seats, let alone strong ones! Some of the lower seats couldn¡¯t even reach 10th-class Reiatsu level!

    With a squad that poor, what could I really do? If you ask me, we¡¯re still miserable¡­my own vice-captain can¡¯t even use Shikai¡ªimagine that, a vice-captain with no release! Doesn¡¯t that prove how lowly we are? Instead of pitching in, the other squads just slander me! When will the 11th Division ever stand tall? I¡¯m furious!¡±

    Kaelith layed on the ground, muscles bulging, yet pretended to sob in frustration. Yamamoto felt a spike of blood pressure.

    He didn¡¯t know the exact condition of the 11th Division but had a general sense. As far-fetched as ¡°all seated officers at vice-captain level¡± might sound, it wasn¡¯t far from the truth.

    He¡¯d even thought of asking Kaelith to distribute some of his powerful subordinates to other squads. But seeing his pupil¡¯s over-the-top dramatics, Yamamoto sighed.

    Hard to bring it up now¡­

    On second thought, the kid had a point. Back when Yamamoto tossed him into the 11th, it was both to find him a job and because nobody there was worth promoting. From the vice-captain downward, they were all duds.

    The 11th was at rock bottom.

    Kaelith had scraped it together to what it was today; it would be awful for Yamamoto to undermine that effort by poaching people.

    Relieved yet a bit disgruntled, the old man cracked his neck with loud pops.

    ¡°No more nonsense, brat. Stand up and train. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve neglected your own growth while busy with the division¡¯s affairs. If I¡¯m not satisfied, it¡¯s ten years under the waterfall for you!¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ what exactly would ¡®satisfied¡¯ entail?¡± Kaelith asked cautiously.

    Yamamoto smirked, arching an eyebrow. As if the brat planned to tailor his strength to the old man¡¯s demands. Who gave him such confidence¡ªhis so-called Kaelith Clothing Workshop?

    With half his face in shadow, Yamamoto grinned like a bloodthirsty beast.

    ¡°Since you asked, show me your full power. Whether I¡¯m satisfied or not is up to me. Of course, if you can beat me outright, I¡¯ll be permanently satisfied.¡±

    Kaelith considered, then nodded firmly.

    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll try.¡±

    Oh? Yamamoto¡¯s grin spread wider.

    **He actually thinks he can do it¡­**

    His fists tingled in anticipation. He couldn¡¯t wait to thrash this uppity student.

    With a simple signal, they both sprang into action. After a brief exchange of testing blows, Yamamoto gave a subtle nod.

    Not bad¡ªKaelith¡¯s Reiatsu had grown significantly, likely because he was aging into his prime. At this rate, he¡¯d surpass Ky¨­raku and Ukitake in due time. The old man felt both proud and irked.

    A bit more skill polish wouldn¡¯t hurt, though. For now, Kaelith was still using the same techniques Yamamoto had taught him, plus that Zanpakut¨­-based special ability.

    **If he ever develops his own methods,** Yamamoto mused, **maybe I can finally enjoy my twilight years¡­**

    He was mulling that when a sudden chill prickled the back of his mind. Kaelith¡¯s aura felt strangely menacing, more than usual.

    **Dual-impact?** he wondered. **No¡­ This sense of danger is far beyond that!**

    Focusing on Kaelith, he noticed the man¡¯s clenched fist¡ªit wasn¡¯t in its usual posture. Something peculiar was occurring around his knuckles, an unusual rhythm.

    **Could it be¡­?**

    Yamamoto¡¯s eyes lit up, excitement stirring. With a crunch of muscle, he swelled his frame, releasing a surging pressure.

    ¡°All right, brat, bring it on!¡±

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 Chapter 268

    Chapter 268

    2-in-1 chapter

    --------------

    Under a clear sky, J¨±shir¨­ Ukitake stepped through the gates of the 1st Division with a gentle smile. He was in excellent spirits today: the weather was pleasant, and his chronic illness had lightened up for once. He felt great all over.

    For the past few winters, Kaelith had been bringing Ry¨±jin Jakka over to the 13th Division. Using the Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power, they set up a year-long constant-temperature barrier, allowing Ukitake to pass each winter far more comfortably. Despite all appearances, that little junior of his was surprisingly thoughtful.

    Today, Ukitake had come to talk to their teacher about Shiba Kaien.

    Kaien was a promising new recruit in the 13th Division. Though young, his abilities shone brightly. Ukitake felt such a talent should be put to use sooner rather than later.

    The problem was Kaien¡¯s background as a member of one of the Five Great Noble Houses.

    Deciding if, how, and when to promote him carried certain formalities. If they just did whatever they liked, word would spread in noble circles, and people would interpret it as secret signals. Ukitake had no qualms about being inconvenienced himself, but he didn¡¯t want to drag their teacher into any mess.

    He picked up on two familiar Reiatsu signatures as soon as he entered the 1st Division grounds.

    Teacher is sparring with Kaelith, huh?

    The corners of Ukitake¡¯s mouth lifted. Ever since Kaelith had joined their ¡°lineage,¡± the old man¡¯s life had gained more vigor.

    Ukitake, sickly by nature, seldom ventured out. Ky¨­raku Shunsui preferred taking it easy and only came when Yamamoto strictly summoned him; he¡¯d never show up just to get beaten for fun.

    Kaelith was different: he would drop by on his own, even if Yamamoto grumbled that he came too often, and was too noisily. Ukitake found it hard not to smile at the dynamic.

    Beneath the Captain-Commander¡¯s stern exterior was a fair amount of stubborn pride; he might complain aloud, but whenever Kaelith arrived, the old man was visibly energized.

    In the past, Yamamoto might go decades without ever exchanging blows. Nowadays, he sparred dozens of times each year, seeming more youthful. Ukitake was quite glad Kaelith had become the old man¡¯s disciple.

    Heading toward the dojo, Ukitake felt a slight pang of envy for his junior. If Ukitake wanted to promote someone, he had to tread carefully, but Kaelith could simply bring in whomever he liked¡ªeven scions of noble families¡ªand no one batted an eye. Nobody even suspected any hidden agenda. ¡°Don¡¯t ask. If it¡¯s Kaelith, that¡¯s just how it is.¡±

    If only Ukitake himself could live with such freedom¡­

    ¡­Huh?

    Pausing in his tracks, he turned sharply toward the dojo with a look of alarm. On reflex, he raised an arm in front of his face.

    At that exact moment, **BOOM**¡ªa shockwave exploded from the dojo, sending fierce winds ripping through the courtyard. Ukitake¡¯s robes and his long silver hair whipped around wildly.

    That¡¯s¡­Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    What on earth did he just do to cause such a massive backlash? Ukitake prepared to go check, but an ominous warning flared within him.

    Not good!

    He stamped the ground once; a barrier of spiritual energy sprang up, encircling the dojo. Right afterward, Yamamoto Shigekuni¡¯s towering Reiatsu surged like a demon king unleashed. The air around them crackled under the pressure, distorting the very scenery.

    Teacher¡¯s getting serious?! Why?

    Ukitake wore a baffled expression. They were only sparring, so how had it escalated?

    **BOOOOM!!**

    He watched in disbelief as someone shattered the dojo roof from below¡ªlike a comet shooting in reverse¡ªblasting high into the sky with a blaze of swirling light. Far in the distance, Ukitake heard a faint shout:

    ¡°Ugh, what a horrible feeling!!!¡±

    At least that voice sounded unharmed. Letting out a long sigh, Ukitake rushed into the dojo. The moment he entered, he saw his teacher standing in the broad expanse of the training hall. The old man had stripped off his top, revealing a muscular frame. From the way his body still heaved with adrenaline, he must have been in the thick of battle just moments ago.

    ¡°Teacher?¡± Ukitake called.

    Yamamoto glanced over. ¡°Ah, J¨±shir¨­¡ªyou came at a good time.¡±

    He pulled up the clothes hanging at his waist with one hand. ¡°Call Captain Unohana to my study immediately.¡±

    Captain Unohana? Ukitake blinked. Then he noticed something odd: Yamamoto was using only one arm to adjust his clothes, leaving the other completely unmoving. Squinting closer, he spotted a ghastly bruise near the middle of Yamamoto¡¯s forearm.

    Teacher¡¯s forearm¡­broken?

    Recalling how Kaelith had just been sent flying by Yamamoto, Ukitake couldn¡¯t help blurting out:

    ¡°Teacher, did Kaelith¡­break your arm?¡±

    At once, Yamamoto¡¯s face fell.

    ¡°That little brat? Nonsense! Absolutely not! I simply¡­let my guard down for a moment. No¡ªrather, I gave him an opening on purpose, to see what new technique he¡¯d come up with!¡±

    ¡°Stop gawking and go! Must I deliver my own message?!¡±

    Ukitake, eyes wide, nodded hastily. ¡°R-right, I¡¯m on it!¡± He hurried out, mind churning with astonishment.

    Did his junior truly manage to break the old man¡¯s arm? Sure, Yamamoto might not have been at full power¡ªhe could have underestimated Kaelith¡¯s new skill or tried to see its full extent. Even so¡­in hundreds of years, no one had dealt such a wound to the Captain-Commander. Kaelith was becoming more incredible by the day.

    Before long, Unohana Retsu arrived at the 1st Division. After examining Yamamoto¡¯s forearm, her face remained blank:

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing severe¡ªjust a minor fracture. You treated it properly yourself; there¡¯s no displacement in the bones. I¡¯ll tend it with Kaid¨­, and you¡¯ll fully recover with half a month¡¯s rest.¡±

    Raising a hand, she channeled healing Kid¨­ into Yamamoto¡¯s arm. Once finished, she closed her eyes briefly, gave a small bow, and headed off.

    Exiting the 1st Division gates, Unohana slowly reopened her eyes, failing to hide the eagerness shining there.

    Kaelith¡­

    He had far surpassed her expectations, developing faster than she had imagined. She once believed he¡¯d reach her projected level in about three centuries, but at this pace? Far sooner.

    What a sweet, enticing fruit¡­if she could pluck him someday and savor it, it would be pure bliss. The only pity was that his approach relied on fists rather than swords. Without the thrill of crossing blades, a spark of the excitement was lost.

    She had once looked forward to another rising star these hundreds of years, one who remained bright and ever-growing. Yet that light, while dazzling, now seemed overshadowed by an even more radiant sun. Her heart pounded, stirring with anticipation:

    **Grow faster, Kaelith. Become more beautiful and lethal. I can hardly wait¡­**

    ¡­

    Having secured Yamamoto¡¯s permission to promote Shiba Kaien, Ukitake departed the 1st Division and headed home. Partway there, Shunsui Ky¨­raku suddenly stopped him.

    ¡°J¨±shir¨­, hey, hold up!¡± Shunsui clasped his hands in a mock ¡°knife¡± shape, jogging over with zero captainly decorum. Reaching Ukitake¡¯s side, he glanced around to ensure no one else was listening, then lowered his voice:

    ¡°J¨±shir¨­, what happened back there with Old Man Yama? I sensed Kaelith¡¯s Reiatsu spike, then Yama went furious for real¡ªlike he took a blow and lost his temper.¡± Shunsui gave a knowing grin. ¡°I know him too well. So what¡¯s the story? Come on, you were there. Spill it.¡±

    Ukitake pursed his lips and didn¡¯t answer. Shunsui scowled theatrically.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m going to blab? We¡¯re both disciples of Old Man Yama, you know. He¡¯s like a father to me¡ªhis honor is my honor! You can trust your dear brother here, who has faith in you!¡±

    Ukitake found himself speechless, exasperated.

    **What an act¡­**

    Unable to resist Shunsui¡¯s probing any further, he sighed:

    ¡°All right, but you can¡¯t tell anyone else!¡±

    ¡°Understood. My lips are sealed!¡± Shunsui¡¯s eyes gleamed as Ukitake began explaining.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Kaelith had returned to his beloved 11th Division. The fight had left him euphoric. Right before the old man exploded in anger, Kaelith had felt a distinct snap from Yamamoto¡¯s arm. He actually fractured the old man¡¯s bones¡ªso satisfying!

    He flexed his right hand, recalling how the final triple-impact had jostled two fingers out of place.

    Fortunately, Yingda (his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s shadow) had already drawn them back and held them in alignment. The first time he¡¯d had to yank his bones together via shadow-manipulation, the pain was indescribable. Now it was only mildly unpleasant. Maybe even¡­somewhat thrilling?

    ....NO never think like this again...He scratched that thought from his mind.

    Opening and closing his fist a few times to confirm no lingering problems, Kaelith nodded in satisfaction. Keeping the bones secured for half a day would let them heal by themselves. The human body was amazing.

    He did not go to his usual seat of furs. Instead, he headed to his study. Locking the door, he waited¡ªand Soifon flickered into view.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith.¡± Dropping to one knee, Soifon saluted.

    Recently, by Yoruichi¡¯s arrangement, Soifon had temporarily relinquished her Executive Militia duties to assist Kaelith in the 11th Division. Although Kaelith insisted such formalities were needless in his presence, Soifon stuck to them anyway.

    ¡°We¡¯ve returned Bambietta Basterbine to the World of the Living. All vice-captains and high-ranked seated officers gathered for her lecture. This session was about limiting casualties in group encounters against Quincy. I¡¯ve compiled her lecture into written form, ready for mass printing and distribution to each division.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. Over the years, he had never ceased preparations for the threat of the Wandenreich. Every so often, Bambietta returned to the Seireitei to teach ways to handle Quincy warfare.

    At first, she¡¯d felt uneasy¡ªlike it was betrayal. But thanks to Kaelith, Soifon, and Yoruichi¡¯s combined¡­¡°DIY,¡± her body was now wholly attached to them. Given a choice between loyalty to His Majesty or the overwhelming satisfaction of her new ¡°life,¡± she¡¯d chosen the latter.

    After all, it was Haschwalth who betrayed her first; she was merely returning the favor.

    Kaelith flipped through the file Soifon handed him. ¡°Any new info on the Wandenreich?¡±

    Soifon shook her head. Before coming here, she¡¯d already inquired at the 12th Division. ¡°None of the hidden Reiatsu detectors in the Seireitei have found anything. The 12th Division suspects the Wandenreich has left the Seireitei¡¯s interior and is hiding somewhere in Rukongai.¡±

    Kaelith clicked his tongue. The Seireitei alone was huge enough that fully monitoring it was practically impossible. Expanding that net to all of Soul Society was a lost cause.

    Over the years, he¡¯d tried asking Yamamoto for details about the Wandenreich, but the old man always brushed him off with vague responses, concluding with something like, ¡°If they come, you hold off the subordinates while I kill Yhwach.¡±

    It made Kaelith want to yank his beard right out. Actually, that might be fun. If push came to shove, he could team up with Ry¨±jin Jakka itself¡ªhe suspected that Zanpakut¨­ had wanted to rebel against its master for a long time. A nudge from him and success was guaranteed, right?

    Snickering to himself, Kaelith stood and stretched. ¡°Attend me, Soifon¡ªI¡¯m weary and wish to rest. Come to my room and give me a back rub.¡±

    ¡°Pardon, my lord. I still have official tasks to handle, so¡ª¡±

    She didn¡¯t even finish before Kaelith scooped her up in his arms, striding toward his bedroom.

    ¡°Bastard!!¡±

    Soifon¡¯s blood pressure surged.

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 Chapter 269

    Chapter 269

    2-in-1 chapter

    -------------------

    Inside the Eighth Division barracks:

    Lisa Yad¨­maru was carrying a stack of documents as she made her way to the captain¡¯s office.

    To be honest, she didn¡¯t really expect to find anyone here.

    No one knew better than she did how unreliable her captain could be.

    Getting him to sit down quietly and handle paperwork? That would happen when chickens finished pecking all their feed, and Komamura finished licking up all his noodles¡­

    Somehow, a rather mischievous story that Kaelith once told floated through her mind.

    Shff!

    She slid open the study door.

    The scene inside made Lisa pause in surprise.

    Her captain was actually sitting at his desk, diligently handling official matters!

    Lisa¡¯s expression changed. She reached for the hilt of her sword at her waist.

    ¡°Who are you? Where did you hide my captain?!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Ky¨­raku looked baffled. The next moment, he lowered his voice and waved her over.

    ¡°Come on, Little Lisa, come over here.¡±

    Lisa narrowed her eyes and took half a step back.

    ¡°Captain, if you dare get any funny ideas, the Women¡¯s Shinigami Association won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±

    ¡°Relax, I¡¯ve got big news for you. If you don¡¯t listen, you¡¯ll regret it for a whole year!¡±

    Once he managed to coax his lieutenant closer, Ky¨­raku cupped a hand around his mouth:

    ¡°Lisa, I¡¯m telling you this in strict confidence¡ªyou absolutely mustn¡¯t tell anyone else.¡±

    ¡°I heard¡­ Old Man Yamamoto sparred with Kaelith, but he was too slow because of his age. Kaelith seized the opportunity and broke his arm!¡±

    ¡°Yamamoto¡¯s bound to find some excuse to take out his anger on me these days. If you see him, just say I¡¯ve been busy handling official duties here in the division and haven¡¯t gone anywhere.¡±

    Lisa looked astonished.

    Kaelith¡­broke the Captain-Commander¡¯s arm?

    Her own captain was Yamamoto¡¯s disciple, and he wouldn¡¯t randomly make up something like this. She¡¯d also heard countless rumors claiming Kaelith was cunning, always harboring thoughts of toppling his superiors and snatching the Captain-Commander¡¯s position. She¡¯d always thought it was just gossip.

    After all, how powerful was the Captain-Commander? According to her captain, even if the entire Thirteen Court Guard Squads teamed up, they still wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against him.

    And yet, this mighty and ferocious Yamamoto had his arm broken by Kaelith? Even if Yamamoto had underestimated him, that was more than enough proof of how terrifying Kaelith¡¯s strength must be.

    She pushed her glasses up, hiding her eyes behind the glare on the lenses.

    ¡°All right, Captain, I understand. Since you need to work on these documents, I¡¯ll leave them here for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got other tasks to attend to, so I¡¯ll be going now.¡±

    With that, she placed the documents on the desk and quickly left.

    Ky¨­raku stared at the stack on his desk and grimaced. He picked up a brush, propped up his cheek, and thought for a moment. Before long, a strong urge to share the news overcame him again.

    He tapped a finger on the desk, tracing a pattern of spiritual pressure in the air. A thread of that spiritual pressure shot out of the room.

    A few seconds later, he grinned.

    ¡°Kirio Hikifune, I¡¯ve got some news for you¡ªdon¡¯t tell anyone else¡­¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Guys, who can relate?!¡±

    ¡°I literally just went home, had a nice massage from Soifon, didn¡¯t go anywhere or say anything, and yet the rumor is that I was out bragging to everyone!¡±

    ¡°There must be some treacherous scoundrel stirring things up! Just wait¡ªsooner or later, I, Kaelith, will clean out all those rebels and restore order to the Seireitei!¡±

    In Las Noches, on a throne of white bone, Kaelith sat with one leg crossed over the other, grumbling nonstop.

    Below the throne, three people stood.

    The first was Tier Harribel, who was utterly devoted to him, the sort who would never betray him under any circumstances. She listened quietly, though she couldn¡¯t understand much of what he was ranting about. When he finished, she spoke solemnly:

    ¡°Kaelith, whoever dares oppose you, I will become your sword.¡±

    Kaelith was delighted. ¡°Excellent! Everyone knows I treasure my sword like family. Becoming my sword promises a wonderful future.¡±

    The other two were Coyote Starrk and Lilynette. Starrk sat in a corner leaning against the wall, half-asleep. To him, the matters Kaelith spoke of were from a whole different world.

    In fact, they kind of were.

    Either way, he didn¡¯t see what it had to do with him. He liked his life as it was¡ªhe was surrounded by people who didn¡¯t die just from being in his spiritual presence, and over time, he¡¯d gotten familiar with them. He wasn¡¯t great at conversation, but even exchanging a greeting once in a while made him feel content.

    Lilynette, on the other hand, was bright and full of energy. She perched on the arm of Kaelith¡¯s throne, both feet kicking back and forth, her eyes shining.

    ¡°Kaelith, Kaelith, next time take me with you! I want to see that place you mentioned¡­ the Soul Society!¡±

    ¡°Sure thing! Just leave it to me!¡± Kaelith laughed heartily and patted his chest in promise.

    Starrk said nothing, but his face looked wary. Bringing a Hollow from Hueco Mundo to the Soul Society?

    One of them dared to propose it, and the other dared to agree¡­ He could only hope they were joking.

    ¡°Hey, Starrk!¡±

    Starrk yawned and was just about to doze off when Kaelith¡¯s sudden call gave him a jolt.

    That man had appeared at his side like a ghost. Although Starrk hadn¡¯t been actively on guard, the fact that Kaelith could approach so silently showed how much stronger he¡¯d gotten.

    ¡°Ka¡ªKaelith?¡± Starrk edged a little farther away from him.

    ¡°Look at you, Starrk,¡± Kaelith said. ¡°You¡¯re the only Hollow in Las Noches who achieved complete Arrancar evolution on your own¡ªtheoretically our top fighter¡ªyet you spend every day in a daze!¡±

    ¡°How are you supposed to carry the banner of positivity like this? How can you set an example for the other Hollows? People who see that might assume all Hollows are a bunch of degenerates!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Starrk couldn¡¯t help twitching at the corner of his eye. Isn¡¯t it possible that Hollows are basically the embodiment of negative emotions? It¡¯s not exactly shocking for Hollows to be dissolute. Still, he felt too lazy to argue.

    ¡°Perfect timing. I want to practice fighting enemies with longer reach. You can be my sparring partner,¡± Kaelith declared with enthusiasm. ¡°You and I will fight for twenty-five hours each day, pushing each other to improve, inspiring each other!¡±

    ¡°If this goes on long enough, not only will our powers grow, our feelings will grow too. Then, in a few years, people in Hueco Mundo will be telling stories about our grand partnership!¡±

    Laughing, Kaelith reached out to grab Starrk¡¯s hand.

    ¡­??!!

    Starrk¡¯s pupils shrank. Twenty-five hours a day? That means if I fought him nonstop without sleeping, I¡¯d still be in debt an hour! He could already guess what Kaelith might say next: something like ¡°You¡¯re short an hour, let Lilynette cover that time¡­¡±

    ¡°Heh, worried about that extra hour?¡± Kaelith exclaimed, enjoying Starrk¡¯s horror. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m nothing like that villain Baraggan. If you¡¯re short an hour, let Lilynette make it up!¡±

    Starrk stared at the ceiling with a defeated look. He suddenly recalled one of Kaelith¡¯s catchphrases: ¡°Guys, who can relate?¡± Indeed¡­

    Right then, salvation arrived.

    ¡°Kaelith, come here for a moment¡ªI need your help.¡±

    Aizen entered the hall. Noticing Starrk¡¯s desperate face while Kaelith had him cornered, Aizen looked amused for a second, then assumed his usual calm expression.

    Starrk felt like crying inside. If they kept this up, he was going to die from stress long before he died from loneliness.

    Kaelith let go of Starrk, following Aizen down the long corridors to a secret laboratory. In the center of the room stood a large glass cylinder containing the carefully crafted H¨­gyoku, which Aizen must have brought here from the Soul Society at some point.

    As soon as they entered, Aizen seemed to remember something and glanced at Kaelith.

    ¡°I heard you tore off Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto¡¯s arm¡ªthat he¡¯s so seriously injured he can¡¯t even go to the Fourth Division and is recovering in secret at the First Division.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes went wide. A new version of the rumor already? He couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°Where¡¯d that come from?¡±

    ¡°From Captain Shinji Hirako.¡±

    ¡°All right, next time I go back, I¡¯m arresting him for Hollowfication experiments.¡± Kaelith grinned with a lethal spark in his eyes.

    After hearing Kaelith¡¯s original story, Aizen nodded pensively. Truthfully, he hadn¡¯t believed Hirako¡¯s version. The question was just an easy way to make Kaelith explain everything in detail.

    From Kaelith¡¯s account, Yamamoto¡¯s strength was clearly far beyond what Aizen had imagined. Even though Aizen was already very powerful¡ªand Kaelith was even stronger in a direct fight¡ªtogether they might still be no match for someone like Yamamoto.

    If Aizen wanted to reach the Royal Palace in the future, he¡¯d have to face Yamamoto. That meant there were two paths:

    1. Keep strengthening himself until he could defeat Yamamoto head-on.

    2. Arrange a strategy in advance to take Yamamoto down by other means.

    A thought about allying with the Wandenreich flickered in Aizen¡¯s mind¡ªhaving the Quincies intervene at the critical moment would certainly rattle Yamamoto. But almost immediately, he dismissed that idea.

    If the Wandenreich emerged, the Soul Society would face a cataclysmic disaster, with countless casualties¡ªeven among the Captains.

    He could guess what certain individuals, who valued their relationships more than their own lives, would do.

    Besides, he was S¨­suke Aizen, destined to stand above the heavens. Resorting to the Quincie¡¯s help would be beneath him.

    So how should he proceed? Perhaps cultivating a Hollow with special powers that could neutralize Yamamoto¡¯s Ry¨±jin Jakka?

    The more Aizen pondered, the more plausible it seemed. Yes, he would add that to his research list.

    Thinking about the Royal Palace again, Aizen found himself reflecting on the Zero Division. He had too little information on them. Kirio Hikifune served as one point of reference, but that alone wasn¡¯t enough.

    Among Captains, the gap in strength could be enormous, and the same might be true within the Zero Division. Plus, as the Soul King¡¯s personal guard, they might possess some unique method of boosting their strength further.

    Achieving his and Kaelith¡¯s goals would be a long journey indeed.

    While Kaelith was still figuring out how to take revenge on Shinji Hirako, Aizen was already mapping out a grand plan. The difference in their perspectives would likely never be bridged.

    ¡­

    Today, Aizen was conducting Arrancar experiments. Last time, using Guiyanj¨­ for Hollowfication experiments had yielded a wealth of valuable data. Using that data, Aizen further refined the H¨­gyoku. With no suitable Shinigami subjects on hand, he turned to experiments on Hollows becoming Arrancar. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Compared to Shinigami, Hollow test subjects were in abundant supply. Under Aizen¡¯s supervision, a lineup of powerful Adjuchas filed into the testing chamber. One moth-like Hollow stood waiting outside, feeling nervous.

    Ahead of her, a humanoid Hollow entered the lab. Moments later, harrowing screams rang out, accompanied by waves of spiritual pressure.

    The moth Hollow trembled. What on earth was happening inside? Aizen had told them this process would make them stronger. She had been excited before, but now she could only wonder if this experiment was¡­legitimate.

    At that moment, the doors opened.

    ¡°Next,¡± Aizen said, standing in the doorway as he adjusted his glasses.

    The moth Hollow peered inside, just in time to see Kaelith hefting the limp form of the previous test subject¡ªa humanoid Hollow¡ªand casually toss it aside to a corner. A pile of Hollow corpses lay there already.

    She let out a small cry of despair. Her first instinct was to turn and flee, but if she gave up now, she might never have another chance. Adjuchas spent their entire existence fighting against regression.

    If they couldn¡¯t get stronger, one day they would inevitably revert to a Gillian, losing all memories and rational thought with no hope of returning to an Adjuchas form. Even dying or being devoured by other Hollows might be preferable to that fate.

    Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and entered.

    Kaelith sat backward on a chair, one arm draped over the backrest, waving in greeting. Under normal circumstances, she would have been thrilled that the new King of Las Noches personally acknowledged her. Right now, she just wanted to give this experiment her all.

    Aizen looked at a clipboard.

    ¡°Cirucci Sanderwicci.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes!¡± the moth Hollow answered quickly.

    He nodded, then produced the gleaming H¨­gyoku and stepped toward her. As soon as it touched her forehead, she felt as if invisible hands had wrapped around her body¡ªthose hands crushed and reshaped her, twisting her into every possible form. The pain was like nothing she¡¯d experienced before, and she let out a chilling scream. It continued for minutes until her throat was raw and no sound emerged at all.

    Then, gradually, she sensed a surge of immense power flowing through her. Aizen stood nearby, calm and unruffled, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

    Crack¡ª

    The moth Hollow¡¯s mask shattered.

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 Chapter 270

    Chapter 270

    2-in-1 chapter

    ---------------------------------

    Cirucci let out a ragged roar, raising her long, insect-like arms and gingerly touching her face.

    The hard white mask was gone, replaced by soft, human-like skin.

    Before the experiment began, Aizen had given them all a quick introduction to the basics of Arrancarization. A broken Hollow mask revealing a human appearance¡ªthere was no doubt about it: she had succeeded!

    Eyes shining with excitement, she turned to the two men before her.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith! Lord Aizen! I did it¡ªI really did it!¡±

    ¡°Well done,¡± Aizen praised, even giving her a round of applause.

    After so much work, he had finally created the first artificially Arrancarized Hollow. A wave of satisfaction washed over him as he turned a rather triumphant gaze toward a certain someone.

    Kaelith eyed him for a few seconds, then put on a look of sudden realization.

    ¡°Su-goi! Subarashii!!¡±

    He raised a hand with a theatrical show of awe, clapping at lightning speed to produce a bizarre series of popping sounds.

    Aizen stood there, watching the display. Although the reaction was precisely what Kaelith intended, something about it rankled him.

    Narrowing his eyes, he made a mental note in his personal grudge book even if he wasn''t sure.... better write it down to be safe.

    ¡°Cirucci, release your full spiritual pressure. I need to take measurements,¡± Aizen said.

    She nodded without hesitation but paused the moment she was about to act. Her eyes lit up again.

    ¡°Lord Aizen, my power has soared far beyond what it was before! Such immense strength¡­ If I unleash it here, it could cause huge damage. Would you take me somewhere more open to test it?¡±

    Aizen regarded her with a subtle, inscrutable gaze.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± he said quietly.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Kaelith stood and rolled his neck, strolling over. Under Cirucci¡¯s surprised stare, he came right up to her with a mischievous grin¡ªand abruptly pulled his collar open at the chest.

    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about unleashing your spiritual pressure, feel free to test it on me. Step right up and provide your name, zodiac sign, bank card number, and password, and we¡¯ll instantly calculate which fictional character you are¡ª¡±

    ¡°Uh?¡± Cirucci blinked, clearly confused.

    Aizen¡¯s expression grew sharper. Kaelith gave a light cough.

    ¡°Ah, sorry, wrong script. Let¡¯s try that again¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, hit me with your strongest attack. I¡¯ll measure exactly how strong you¡¯ve become in a single instant.¡±

    Cirucci gasped. ¡°How can I do that?! Lord Kaelith, my power is too overwhelming now. If I hurt you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to¡ª¡±

    ¡°No problem. In fact, feel free to try and kill me.¡± Kaelith¡¯s face was as warm as a friendly neighbor¡¯s. Still smiling, he added, ¡°But it had better be at full power. If you hold back, I¡¯ll have to roast you for dinner.¡±

    Cirucci¡¯s eyes widened in alarm. After a few seconds of anguished indecision, she finally nodded. If this was an order, there was no refusing it. She only hoped that if Kaelith got injured, he wouldn¡¯t turn around and kill her out of anger.

    Resolving herself, Cirucci drew her Zanpakut¨­. Even though she had just become an Arrancar, the method to release her powers flooded into her mind like instinct.

    ¡°Tear them apart¡ªK!¡±

    Her shout rang out. Spiritual pressure surged around her, returning her body to the moth-like form from before. With a roar, she gathered reishi behind her, forming a giant axe of light.

    ¡°Be careful, Lord Kaelith!!¡± she cried, hurling one hand forward.

    ¡°Great Axe Slash!!!¡±

    With a thunderous shout, the enormous, ten-meter-wide blade of spiritual energy came crashing down on Kaelith. In that instant, Cirucci¡¯s heart pounded with sudden dread¡ªthis attack was far more powerful than she¡¯d expected. That single strike might do more than merely injure Kaelith; it could kill him outright!

    Panic, regret, and a heady surge of excitement all tangled within her. She¡¯d become stronger¡ªtremendously stronger! Surely now she could rival these two men¡­ No, she had surpassed them!

    A savage grin spread across her face. Let Kaelith be the first to fall!

    Clang!!

    The brilliant spiritual axe, shining with dazzling light, slammed hard into Kaelith¡¯s chest. The visual effect was spectacular, like a mountain-splitting strike. But Cirucci¡¯s triumphant smile slowly faded. To her bewilderment, the massive axe had come to a dead stop against Kaelith¡¯s torso. That impossibly sharp, seemingly invincible blade had been halted by nothing but his bare body?!

    Eyeing the axe, Kaelith gave a small nod.

    ¡°Not bad. Judging by your spiritual pressure alone, you¡¯re about on par with a seasoned Lieutenant. However, the technique itself is too crude. If a real Lieutenant had used it, I would at least feel a bit of a sting.¡±

    He flexed his chest muscles. A hidden force traveled through the giant axe, sending Cirucci stumbling back until she fell hard onto the floor. Wide-eyed and speechless, she stared at Kaelith, unable to accept the reality. How could she be so thoroughly crushed after growing so overwhelmingly powerful? Just how strong was this man?

    Having dealt with Cirucci, Kaelith stepped up to Aizen and briefly relayed his observations. Aizen listened intently, making notes now and then. Satisfied, he closed the folder.

    ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡±

    He looked at Cirucci, a faint smile on his face as though witnessing an amusing performance.

    ¡°Cirucci Sanderwicci, your power check is finished. Any other concerns?¡±

    ¡°N-no¡­¡± she stammered.

    A flash of light, and she reverted from Resurrecci¨®n to her humanoid form, vigorously shaking her head.

    Her earlier arrogance was gone without a trace. Two Shinigami? No¡ªtwo Lords¡­ Two deities, even! She wanted to bury her overblown pride in a deep, dark hole.

    Seeing that Kaelith and Aizen had no intention of punishing her, she let out a shaky sigh of relief and hurried away.

    Creating an Arrancar the first time had been the hardest part. Now that Aizen had the method, the pace picked up. Out of the thirty-plus Hollows tested, three ended up successfully becoming Arrancar.

    Eleven more experienced a partial mask break that boosted their strength significantly but didn¡¯t fully transform them. Most of these subjects also showed the same kind of overconfidence that Cirucci had¡ªonly for Kaelith¡¯s iron fist to swiftly give them a reality check.

    The rest, over a dozen in total, died in the process. Had the subjects been Shinigami, that fatality rate would have been a massive scandal that landed Aizen in the lowest level of the underground prison for ten thousand years. But Hollows saw it differently. They were willing to accept those risks if it meant a chance for greater power.

    Adjuchas with barely Seated Officer¨Clevel strength went in, emerged, and came out Lieutenant-level. Those that started at Lieutenant-level jumped straight to Captain-level.  Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even if that improvement was purely in raw spiritual pressure rather than skill, it was still a dream come true for Adjuchas constantly living under the threat of regression. Aizen didn¡¯t even need to recruit more test subjects¡ªHollows themselves lined up, desperate for the second round of modifications.

    Aizen approved of their determination. At this rate, he would soon be able to stabilize the Arrancar-creation process entirely. Then he could transform any Hollow Kaelith had his eye on, fulfilling the man¡¯s twisted desires.

    He pictured Kaelith in tears of gratitude, falling to his knees at the brilliance of Aizen¡¯s creation. That thought alone put him in a fine mood.

    ¡­

    As the experiments progressed, the number of Arrancar in Las Noches steadily grew. Hallways once filled with monstrous visages now began to resemble the Seireitei in some small way, populated by people in human form wielding Zanpakut¨­ at their hips.

    During this time, Kaelith had his private tailoring workshop produce a batch of uniforms in various sizes for everyone. Every Arrancar received a set or two. Clad in those crisp, matching white outfits, they projected an even more imposing aura.

    Aizen was surprisingly pleased. Initially, he¡¯d thought Kaelith¡¯s clothes-making venture was just clownish. He didn¡¯t expect it to become so useful. Without it, he¡¯d have to train a whole squad of Hollows just to sew and supply uniforms.

    With the Arrancar ranks swelling, a new issue arose: the hierarchy in Las Noches needed an overhaul. The old system was straightforward¡ªBaraggan reigned as king, with a handful of Adjuchas acting as his personal guards. Hollows below that level fell under various subordinates and could be disposed of at will.

    Such a messy arrangement hardly fit Aizen¡¯s sense of elegance. He planned to finish his current projects, then calmly devise some tasteful new titles for his followers.

    Yet Kaelith found out and volunteered on the spot.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve told me earlier, S¨­suke! I¡¯m great at naming things!¡± he insisted. From Aizen¡¯s skeptical look, Kaelith boasted that he¡¯d finish the job in no time. Sure enough, within an hour, Kaelith came back with a finalized plan.

    Aizen accepted the document and began to read it carefully:

    - **Supreme Commander of Las Noches**: S¨­suke Aizen

    - **The Three Grand Generals**: Baraggan, Starrk, Harribel

    - **Chief Scientist**: Szayelaporro

    - **Seven Hollow Blades**: Neliel, Grimmjow, Zommari, Cirucci, Ticaro, Gantenbainne, Dordonii

    - **And the respective Fracci¨®n for each of these major groups¡­**

    Aizen rubbed his chin, mulling it over. At first glance, those titles felt a bit odd, but on second thought, they sounded rather good. Then he realized something was missing.

    He scanned each group for Kaelith¡¯s name. Finally, he found it:

    **Female Arrancar Dormitory Manager: Kaelith.**

    His blood pressure spiked. Taking a deep breath to calm the urge to draw his blade, Aizen said coolly, ¡°We¡¯ll use your system¡ªminus this one.¡±

    He lifted his brush, preparing to strike Kaelith¡¯s name off the page.

    Kaelith suddenly let out a wail, startling Aizen. Doubling over in apparent agony, Kaelith clutched his forehead, thrusting one hand out in supplication.

    ¡°S¨­suke, don¡¯t cross it out! There¡¯s a special curse on that list. If you erase my name, I¡¯ll melt into a puddle on the spot¡­¡±

    ¡°Really.¡±

    With one swift stroke, Aizen inked a line through ¡°Kaelith¡± and walked off, ignoring Kaelith¡¯s dramatic shrieks from behind.

    When the new leadership chart was posted, the Hollows¡¯ reactions were mixed. Those like Cirucci, Gantenbainne, and others who had risen through the experimental rounds to become officers were elated. But many Arrancar were unconvinced.

    They could grudgingly accept Neliel and her seat among the Seven Hollow Blades. But Harribel? They insisted that a mere half-Arrancar had no right to rank among the Three Grand Generals. Some of them believed their own power now outstripped hers.

    The loudest voice belonged to Grimmjow, who had frequently challenged Kaelith after Las Noches changed hands. Eventually, Kaelith forced him to undergo Arrancarization.

    Feeling his strength multiply several times over, Grimmjow seemed content to stay¡ªyet he repeatedly sought Kaelith¡¯s permission to duel for a higher position, only to be refused.

    Kaelith claimed that the newly formed ¡°Three Grand Generals¡± and ¡°Seven Hollow Blades¡± had a grace period¡ªa ¡°newcomer protection phase.¡± They¡¯d have to wait until it ended before anyone could issue a formal challenge.

    Although Grimmjow didn¡¯t like it, there was little he could do. But at last, that protection phase was about to end. Overjoyed, he headed straight to the Las Noches arena, determined to take Harribel down at once and claim the title of Grand General.

    He wasn¡¯t alone. Five other Arrancar set out at the same time, each convinced they could defeat Harribel and any other rivals.

    They still had half an hour until the protection phase ended, and they were all itching for a fight. As they sized one another up on the way, a monstrous wave of spiritual pressure suddenly erupted from the main hall of Las Noches.

    Boom!!

    The pressure hammered into them like a raging tide. Horrified, they glanced toward the palace. They recognized that reiatsu¡ªit was Harribel¡¯s.

    Grimmjow¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°She¡¯s just become a complete Arrancar?!¡±

    Before he could finish, a second crash of spiritual power pounded through the corridors.

    Boom!!

    ¡°Neliel¡ªthat¡¯s Neliel¡¯s reiatsu! She¡¯s turned into an Arrancar too!¡±

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 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271

    2-in-1 chapter

    --------------------

    The sudden release of two waves of spiritual pressure sent shockwaves through the entire group of Arrancar.

    With the advancement of the artificial Arrancarization process, the Adjuchas had all successfully transformed, their powers soaring to new heights.

    However, both Harribel and Neliel had yet to undergo the transformation.

    Many began speculating that these two might not have the qualifications for Arrancarization at all. They had only risen to their positions because of their ¡°Vasto Lorde¡± status, not due to any innate power.

    Many Arrancar in the room were eager to prove that transformed Adjuchas were not inferior to Vasto Lordes. But unexpectedly, before they could even make a move, both Harribel and Neliel suddenly became Arrancar!

    Boom!!

    The air vibrated with intensity.

    Before the shocked Arrancar, two figures appeared out of nowhere.

    On the left was a cold, golden-haired woman with dark skin. Her eyes were cold, gazing down on the gathered Hollows as though they were beneath her. She wore a white, Las Noches-style uniform, but unlike most female Arrancar, her top was cut to expose her shoulders, arms, and upper chest, leaving her waist and the lower half of her torso exposed.

    Although the outfit was rather revealing, it did not seem overly seductive on her. On the contrary, the way it accentuated her cold demeanor gave the outfit an almost sacred quality.

    Tia Harribel.

    Next to her was a woman with long green hair and gray eyes, her expression firm yet gentle, like a devout protector. Her Las Noches uniform covered her fully, leaving no skin exposed, but the tightly wrapped attire only fueled the desire to uncover what lay beneath.

    Neliel Tu Oderschvank.

    Although this was the first time the other Arrancar had seen them in this form, everyone immediately recognized them.

    (As a side note, all opinions expressed here are based on objective analysis, with no personal biases related to Kaelith.)

    Seeing the two women, Grimmjow¡¯s face twisted in anger.

    ¡°What the hell¡­ If you two could become Arrancar, why wait until now?¡±

    ¡°Are you messing with me?!¡±

    The flames of rage burned in his eyes. It wasn¡¯t the fact that they had suddenly grown stronger that bothered him. What angered him was the feeling of being mocked.

    Neliel and Harribel could have transformed long ago but had waited until now, when the others were coming to challenge them, to finally reveal their true strength. Was this some kind of joke?

    Hearing Grimmjow¡¯s accusation, Harribel coldly replied, ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡±

    Neliel, on the other hand, looked a little embarrassed and quickly averted her gaze. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When the Arrancarization process first started, Neliel had volunteered to be part of the experiment. However, Kaelith had stopped her. He had noticed that early Arrancar transformations had a flaw: many of the successfully transformed Hollows ended up with strange scars.

    For example, Grimmjow had blue streaks around his eyes. Lindocruz had a green scar on his face. And if Kaelith remembered correctly, Harribel originally had a blue lightning-shaped mark on her face.

    As for Neliel, she had a long sunburn mark along her nose.

    Kaelith found these imperfections, especially Neliel¡¯s sunburn, somewhat unattractive, so he delayed their transformations. During this time, Aizen had slightly modified the H¨­gyoku to address these flaws.

    Now, both Harribel and Neliel had flawless skin, with no strange marks remaining.

    Kaelith was quite pleased with the results.

    Harribel could stay with him, driven by her unwavering loyalty, satisfied with the improvements.

    But Neliel, hearing Grimmjow¡¯s frustration, couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty. As a warrior, she had delayed her transformation for such a trivial reason. But then, remembering her conversation with Kaelith, she realized she had actually helped Grimmjow and the others.

    Not long ago, Neliel had approached Kaelith.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, if the ¡®grace period¡¯ ends and Aizen hasn¡¯t completed his modifications on the H¨­gyoku, can I participate in the challenges in my current form?¡±

    Kaelith thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯d like to make a slight change. Let¡¯s turn it into a two-person team fight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll form a team with you and Harribel, and we¡¯ll fight the challengers together.¡±

    At first, Neliel was stunned. With Kaelith¡¯s power, teaming up with her would be like a professional fighter showing up at a children¡¯s match.

    She chuckled bitterly. ¡°Lord Kaelith, if you do that, it will cause chaos in Las Noches.¡±

    Kaelith smiled mischievously. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Anyone who dares speak out against it will get a taste of my little schemes.¡±

    Neliel thought for a moment. Compared to being crushed by Kaelith or falling victim to Aizen¡¯s schemes, waiting for a while didn¡¯t seem so bad.

    While Neliel was deep in thought, Grimmjow approached with heavy steps.

    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t care if you¡¯ve become Arrancar or not.¡±

    ¡°If I said I¡¯m going to challenge you, I won¡¯t let you escape!¡±

    ¡°Prepare yourselves!¡±

    With a grin, Grimmjow unsheathed his Zanpakut¨­.

    Seeing his actions, Neliel and Harribel exchanged glances.

    Harribel spoke, ¡°Grimmjow, which one of us do you want to challenge?¡±

    Grimmjow yelled, ¡°If we¡¯re going to fight, let¡¯s start with the strongest! Harribel, you¡¯re first!¡±

    Harribel nodded and stepped into the arena, facing Grimmjow.

    Neliel stepped back, positioning herself at the edge of the arena.

    From atop a nearby tower, Kaelith and Aizen stood side by side, watching the battle below.

    As Kaelith felt Harribel¡¯s overwhelming spiritual pressure, Aizen nodded slightly.

    ¡°Not bad. From the spiritual pressure alone, she¡¯s already on par with a veteran Captain.¡±

    ¡°Although she¡¯s a bit weaker than I expected, it¡¯s still impressive.¡±

    ¡°In the past, Las Noches had Baraggan, a strong figure, but overall, it wasn¡¯t anywhere near the level of the Seireitei.¡±

    ¡°Now, with these Arrancar, Las Noches has finally started to resemble a true power.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s mood was even better than Aizen¡¯s. The improved H¨­gyoku had not only boosted the Hollows¡¯ strength but also had a ¡®beautifying¡¯ effect.

    Earlier, before Harribel went into battle, Kaelith had personally helped her into a new uniform. As he adjusted her clothing, he tested her heart, finding it soft and elastic¡ªperfect.

    Neliel, meanwhile, was even softer than Harribel.

    Both were perfect in their own ways. Kaelith nodded at Aizen¡¯s words.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Now, Las Noches has finally started to take shape as a paradise¡­¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

    On the battlefield below, the first fight was underway.

    Grimmjow immediately released his Zanpakut¨­.

    The blade turned into light, merging with his body as he transformed into a half-human, half-leopard warrior. Every swipe of his claws left long spiritual scratches in the air.

    He¡¯s like a beast-man, Garuru!

    Harribel, however, didn¡¯t even release her Zanpakut¨­. She calmly deflected all of Grimmjow¡¯s attacks with ease.

    The strength of an Adjuchas after becoming an Arrancar could rival a Vasto Lorde.

    But what about a Vasto Lorde after transforming?

    The result was a crushing victory.

    The waves of spiritual pressure surged, and Grimmjow, flying through the air, tried to avoid Harribel¡¯s attacks using his incredible speed. But under the heavy suppression of her power, he soon began to show signs of losing.

    Even the weakest five-star cards are still five-star.

    No matter how strong the four-star cards, they¡¯re just four-star cards.

    With a final strike, Harribel¡¯s blade stopped right at Grimmjow¡¯s nose. With a frustrated click of his tongue, Grimmjow turned and walked away.

    The other Arrancar looked at each other in shock.

    For someone like Grimmjow, even after losing, he rarely admits defeat and would usually demand another round.

    But for him to give up so decisively¡ªwas Harribel really that strong?

    Many of the Arrancar who had planned to challenge her now hesitated.

    They looked toward Neliel. Harribel must have been strong because Kaelith had seen her potential and given her the position of Grand General. Neliel was just one of the Seven Hollow Blades¡ªthere¡¯s no way she could have the same strength!

    With that thought, some of the stronger Arrancar began to challenge Neliel.

    Minutes later, one by one, they all lay defeated on the battlefield.

    After losing to the two women¡ªGrimmjow included¡ªall the Arrancar, including those who had challenged them, awaited their judgment.

    Before Kaelith and Aizen arrived, the rule in Las Noches was clear: if you lost a challenge, you could be disposed of at the winner¡¯s discretion. Usually, that meant being eaten.

    However, Neliel and Harribel, one disliking killing and the other averse to pointless bloodshed, simply pardoned everyone present.

    Grimmjow¡¯s face darkened.

    Although he wasn¡¯t punished, this result stung worse than any punishment.

    Two Arrancar, unable to hold back, knelt before Neliel.

    ¡°Lady Neliel! Your mercy fills us with shame. Please forgive our ignorance and disrespect!¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing, we offer ourselves as your subordinates, your sword, your shield!¡±

    ¡°If we can repay you for today¡¯s kindness, we will do so without regret, even if it costs us our lives!¡±

    Neliel looked at them. She had initially planned to refuse, but in their eyes, she saw sincere regret and loyalty.

    Perhaps these two were not joking after all.

    If anything were to happen in the future, they might indeed risk their lives to repay her.

    She didn¡¯t need their gratitude, but she knew that refusing them might mean they would spend the rest of their lives trying to repay her anyway. Instead of putting them in danger, it would be better to accept them as her nominal subordinates.

    Besides¡­ she would always be near Kaelith, with little time for managing subordinates.

    Looking at them, she spoke.

    ¡°What are your names?¡±

    One of the thin, tall Arrancar answered without hesitation, ¡°Report, Lady Neliel, I am Pesche, Pesche Kadis!¡±

    The other, a more portly Arrancar, was a bit slower to respond. ¡°Lady, I am Dongdeqiaka, Dondochakka Birstan!¡±

    ¡°Mm, I¡¯ve noted your names.¡±

    Neliel nodded lightly.

    ¡°From now on, you two may act in my name as my subordinates.¡±

    ¡°However, remember this: becoming my subordinates does not grant you protection to commit evil deeds.¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, as my subordinates, you must uphold justice and principles. If I ever learn that you¡¯ve used my name for acts of oppression or bullying, I will end your lives immediately!¡±

    Both Arrancar nodded in agreement without hesitation.

    On the tower, Kaelith, who had overheard the conversation, smiled with a nostalgic expression. He remembered that these two had been Neliel''s subordinates in the original world. When Neliel had been ambushed and lost her powers, these two had immediately abandoned their status in Las Noches and fled into the Endless Desert.

    When they confirmed that Neliel was unlikely to ever regain her strength, they made the decision to live out their lives in the desert, never returning to Las Noches. To a Hollow, losing Aizen¡¯s protection and the possibility of evolution was more terrifying than death itself.

    Despite their dire circumstances, they had clung to their faith and loyalty to their master. In Kaelith¡¯s eyes, these two now possessed what could be described as golden spirit.

    ¡°Well¡­ Seeing their loyalty, I think I¡¯ll dedicate some time to training them,¡± Kaelith mused. ¡°To help them grow stronger faster, I¡¯ll make the training a bit more grueling. Shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±

    He recalled that the old man had used similar intense training on him, and he had survived. If Kaelith could handle it, surely others could too.

    A satisfied smile spread across his face.

    Seeing this, Aizen¡¯s instincts told him that someone was about to face misfortune.

    Suddenly, a figure appeared behind them.

    ¡°Report, Lord Kaelith, Lord Aizen!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an urgent matter that needs to be brought to your attention!¡±

    The two turned to face the messenger.

    It was a humanoid Hollow, dressed in the standard white Las Noches uniform and carrying a Zanpakut¨­ at his waist. Despite having undergone Arrancarization, he still wore a white bone mask, obscuring his face.

    His name was Ludon, the captain of Las Noche¡¯s execution division. Aizen had created this special division by mimicking the standards of the Kido Corps, specifically to serve as an intelligence-gathering team.

    Ludon quickly reported:

    ¡°Not long ago, one of the members of the execution squad discovered a powerful Hollow approximately 700 kilometers away from Las Noches. Several of our members were instantly defeated and devoured.¡±

    ¡°To confirm the information, I sent out two teams of decoys, but they were all defeated, with none returning.¡±

    ¡°One of the Seven Espada, Gantenbainne, went after it, but we lost contact with him two hours ago.¡±

    ¡°Most likely, he was defeated as well.¡±

    Aizen raised an eyebrow at the mention of an Espada being defeated by a Hollow.

    ¡°An Arrancar-level Hollow that can defeat a member of the Espada?¡± Aizen murmured, intrigued. ¡°We still have wild Hollows this powerful?¡±

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 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272

    2-in-1 chapter

    -----------------

    Gantenbainne¡ªone of the Seven Hollow Blades¡ªwas part of the first batch of Arrancar. Among all of them, his strength wasn¡¯t especially remarkable. In Kaelith¡¯s recollection, this was the same guy who lost to Chad. As for Chad¡¯s level, it was never clear if he was stronger than Kensei Muguruma¡ªwho could say?

    But even so, an Adjuchas that¡¯s become an Arrancar is still a top-tier force in Hueco Mundo. If someone was able to defeat Gantenbainne, then their power was at least on the level of a Vasto Lorde¡ªand most likely an experienced fighter at that. Of course, there was also a chance it could be another Hollow who had naturally gained Arrancar powers.

    Aizen, however, thought this unlikely. Natural Arrancar requires immense innate talent and are extremely rare. So far, he¡¯d only ever known Coyote Starrk to accomplish that.

    Regardless of the truth, capturing whoever had done it was definitely the right move. Aizen turned to speak to Kaelith but realized he was already gone.

    ¡°Lord Aizen, Lord Kaelith ran off halfway through the explanation,¡± someone nearby reported. ¡°Shall I pursue him?¡±

    Aizen took a deep breath, calming the slight spike in his blood pressure.

    ¡°No need. You¡¯ll never catch up to him anyway. Just follow his spiritual pressure from a distance. If anything changes, send back word immediately.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±

    With that, Ludon bowed and vanished into thin air. Once sure Kaelith and Ludon had both departed, Aizen¡¯s expression turned icy. He walked to the nearby wall. Each step he took triggered layer after layer of barriers until all external contact was blocked.

    He stopped at the wall and pressed a hand against it. A lock panel appeared. After verifying his spiritual pressure, scanning his irises, and passing one final random intelligence test, the wall slid open to reveal a hidden chamber.

    He had built this chamber in secret while Kaelith was away from Hueco Mundo. Every inch of the walls was lined with Seki-seki (Spirit-Sealing Stones) that concealed any trace of spiritual presence. Inside were a dozen or so humans immersed in fluid-filled capsules.

    They were Quincy. Aizen had abducted them from the World of the Living. His reason for capturing them was simple:

    Identify and exploit their weaknesses, and find a straightforward way to annihilate the Quincy entirely.

    Kaelith had worked hard to secure Hueco Mundo, and Aizen acknowledged that success was largely thanks to him. Though Kaelith might not care, Aizen was unwilling to be the one who did nothing but receive.

    He wanted to help realize Kaelith¡¯s vision. Right now, Kaelith¡¯s biggest threat was the hidden empire of Quincy. That made them Aizen¡¯s enemy, too.

    These Quincy in this room, however, were unrelated to the Wandenreich¡ªjust innocent humans from the World of the Living. But that was why this secret laboratory existed: Aizen planned to experiment here, away from Kaelith¡¯s eyes. He knew Kaelith would not approve of this.

    With a cold glint in his eyes, Aizen opened one of the capsules and lifted the unconscious Quincy onto an operating table¡­

    ¡­

    Across the endless desert, two figures walked slowly. One was a black-haired humanoid Hollow, appearance nearly human¡ªpale face, distant eyes, twin green tear-lines trailing from beneath each eye. A half mask of white bone covered the left side of his head, crowned by a single horn.

    He wore a ragged cloak reminiscent of Starrk¡¯s old garb. Though the fragments on his face hinted at his Hollow nature, the faint spiritual waves he emitted testified to a complete Arrancarization.

    Beside him was an Adjuchas, not yet Arrancar, shaped like an odd insect. Its body stretched over three meters in length; only the head and arms resembled something vaguely humanoid, while multiple spider-like legs extended behind. Its crawling gait was enough to unsettle anyone who watched for too long.

    After walking for a while, the bug-like Hollow grew impatient.

    ¡°Ulquiorra, where the hell are we even going?¡±

    The young man in front didn¡¯t break stride.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t traveling together. I¡¯m simply walking my own path. You¡¯ve been following me.¡±

    The Adjuchas grinned. ¡°I¡¯m protecting you. You just killed off a bunch of those weird guys. They might have friends who¡¯ll come looking for trouble. That¡¯s when I¡¯ll eat them!¡±

    Ulquiorra sighed. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°I had no intention of killing anyone. I only meant to drive them away. If not for you interfering, they wouldn¡¯t have died, and there would be no aftermath.¡±

    The Adjuchas scowled. ¡°They were coming after us. If we didn¡¯t kill them, what¡ªsit around waiting to die? Kid, you¡¯ve got decent strength, so why be so timid? If you¡¯re that afraid of conflict, you might as well off yourself right now and let me devour you!¡±

    Ulquiorra said nothing. He wanted to explain that he wasn¡¯t afraid, only that he found it meaningless. Still, he realized there was little point in clarifying. Life was an endless void, and eventually, he would become desert dust in Hueco Mundo.

    No matter how many people understood him or how much he justified himself, in the end, it would mean nothing.

    Seeing him remain silent, the Adjuchas was annoyed at first. But after spending some time with Ulquiorra, he¡¯d come to expect such behavior. Getting angry wouldn¡¯t help.

    ¡°So, where exactly are you heading?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to Las Noches,¡± Ulquiorra replied swiftly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard someone new took over.¡±

    ¡°Someone¡­ replaced Baraggan?¡± The Adjuchas sounded shocked. ¡°So there¡¯s a Hollow stronger than him?¡±

    Ulquiorra shook his head.

    ¡°Hueco Mundo is vast and teeming with life. It¡¯s no surprise there are Hollows stronger than Baraggan. But apparently, the new masters of Las Noches aren¡¯t Hollows at all.¡±

    He paused.

    ¡°They¡¯re two Shinigami.¡±

    The Adjuchas froze.

    ¡°What did you say?! That¡¯s insane! How could Shinigami be ruling Las Noches? Did the Soul Reapers invade Hueco Mundo and conquer it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Ulquiorra. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I want to see them. I¡¯ve asked countless Hollows about the meaning of life and the nature of the heart, but none had an answer. If Hollows can¡¯t help, then I¡¯ll ask the Shinigami. If they overthrew Baraggan, perhaps they¡¯re capable of answering me.¡±

    The Adjuchas stared in disbelief. He knew Ulquiorra was unusual, but he never suspected this level of insanity.

    If those Shinigami were powerful enough to topple Baraggan, they¡¯d surely be formidable. Going to them willingly was practically suicide.

    ¡°Hey, Ulquiorra, are you out of your mind? Quit messing around. They¡¯re not going to chat with you¡ªthey¡¯ll slice you up!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re correct. That¡¯s the most likely scenario,¡± Ulquiorra answered calmly. ¡°But it¡¯s the best idea I have left. If I can¡¯t find an answer, wandering aimlessly through a near-immortal life is pointless. Perhaps dying is better.¡±

    The Adjuchas had no words. After a moment, he let out a derisive snort.

    ¡°All right, if you¡¯re that dead set on it, I¡¯ll tag along to Las Noches. I¡¯ve killed a lot of Hollows, but never a Shinigami. I wonder what they taste like!¡±

    Ulquiorra glanced over. This Adjuchas wasn¡¯t particularly strong; what made him follow so persistently? Even knowing it might be a death sentence, he still refused to leave. It was strange.

    He started to ask but was cut off by a flicker of alarm in his eyes.

    Swish!

    Ulquiorra spun sharply, drawing the Zanpakut¨­ at his waist in an upward slash. Almost simultaneously, a short sword wreathed in blue fire came hurtling down from the sky, linked to a long black chain.

    Clang!!

    Metal met metal, sending sparks flying. Ulquiorra raised his other hand, forming a shield of reishi to block an identical chain sword coming from another angle. Within a fraction of a second, he determined how to parry¡ªonly for his shield to shatter at once. The blue-flamed blade pierced through his palm and grazed his cheek before shooting off behind him, leaving a faint bloody line.

    Surprised by the pain throbbing in his hand, Ulquiorra realized his defensive strength should have been enough to endure that strike. So this opponent¡¯s weapon must be endowed with some special property.

    While he processed that thought, the chain began retracting. Without hesitation, Ulquiorra yanked hard and allowed his wounded palm to tear completely free. If he hesitated for even a split second, his whole body would be dragged off. His hand ripped apart in a spray of blood, then regenerated within the span of a single breath. The cut on his face disappeared just as quickly.

    ¡°Zehahaha!!¡±

    With a crisp laugh, a figure dropped from the sky, slamming down in front of them. Only then did the Adjuchas realize what had happened. Staring at the young man wearing a Shihakush¨­ and white captain¡¯s haori, the bug-like Hollow broke into a cold sweat.

    ¡°A¡­ Shinigami!!¡±

    ¡°Right answer¡ªhere¡¯s your prize: a blade!¡± Kaelith roared with laughter, lunging forward.

    Clang!!

    He was abruptly intercepted by Ulquiorra, who flashed into position, meeting his slash head-on instead of opting to defend. Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Interesting. Did he just figure out my pattern after a single clash, or was that sheer coincidence?¡±

    Ulquiorra offered no reply. He simply looked at the man before him.

    ¡°You are the new master of Las Noches?¡±

    ¡°To be precise, I¡¯m the new master of the Hueco Mundo Paradise,¡± Kaelith corrected with a grin.

    ¡°Hueco Mundo¡­ Paradise?¡± Ulquiorra repeated uncertainly.

    ¡°It¡¯s my personal venture¡ªmy guiding principle!¡± Kaelith said cheerfully.

    Ulquiorra¡¯s eyes flickered at the word ¡°principle.¡±

    So the Shinigami understood something about the heart after all. His brief distraction gave Kaelith the opening he needed. One blade locked Ulquiorra¡¯s sword in place, while the other swept upward from below, trailing a blaze of blue fire.

    In that split second, Ulquiorra instinctively tried to reinforce his skin with spiritual pressure¡ªhis usual tactic.

    The moment he did so, he realized it was a mistake.

    Slash!!

    A flash of steel sent Ulquiorra¡¯s forearm spinning into the air.

    ¡°Your royal power is mine now!¡± Kaelith yelled, crowing triumphantly. Ulquiorra had no idea what that meant. The Shinigami¡¯s words always seemed disconnected from reality.

    While his arm regrew through his High-Speed Regeneration, Ulquiorra shifted tactics. Rather than blending offense and defense, he poured everything into aggression, mirroring Kaelith¡¯s unbridled style.

    Visually, they were polar opposites: one with a pale, melancholic grace, the other radiating sunny confidence. They should have looked like a frail magician and a bold hero in some fantasy epic. Instead, they raged against each other like berserkers, unleashing hit after devastating hit.

    Initially, Ulquiorra managed to hold his own. But after a couple of minutes, he started falling behind. Whether it was raw strength, reflexes, or the ability to read attacks, he couldn¡¯t match this Shinigami. Wounds multiplied across his body. Although High-Speed Regeneration healed them quickly, it consumed large amounts of spiritual energy. If things went on like this, defeat was inevitable.

    Comprehending the situation, Ulquiorra wasted no time. Slipping out of Kaelith¡¯s range, he leveled his Zanpakut¨­ in front of him.

    ¡°¡­ ¡±

    A violent surge of black spiritual energy flared up around him.

    Seeing Ulquiorra¡¯s posture, Kaelith nodded in approval.

    ¡°Just as I suspected¡ªlike Starrk, you achieved Arrancarization on your own.¡±

    ¡°In that case, I should show my true strength!¡±

    He tossed aside his Zanpakut¨­ in its Shikai form. Thunk¡ªit landed blade-first in the sand, quivering.

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 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273

    2-in-1 chapter:

    ----------------------

    Amid the raging surge of spiritual pressure, Ulquiorra revealed his transformed appearance.

    Where before he wore a half mask on his head, now the entire thing formed a solid helmet with two curved horns rising like a demon¡¯s. A pair of black wings unfurled behind him, pushing the style factor to the max. Yet the puzzled look on his face undercut the dramatic entrance.

    Seeing Kaelith casually toss aside his Zanpakut¨­, Ulquiorra thought it over for a moment, then spoke:

    ¡°Shinigami, is it that you saw me set aside my blade, so you decided to abandon yours as well? If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no need. I have not forsaken my sword; I merely reclaimed the power stored within it¡ªtaking back my Hollow essence to display my full strength.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kaelith paused, then seemed to understand. Don¡¯t worry. My decision has nothing to do with that.

    ¡°I happen to love my sword too much and don¡¯t want it getting nicked. So I¡¯m taking care of this fight on its behalf.

    ¡°Go ahead and come at me!¡±

    At Kaelith¡¯s words, Rixiang Jimie¡ªstill lodged in the sand¡ªbegan trembling even harder.

    Ulquiorra said nothing. For a moment, he suspected that sword wanted to fly over and hack at its own master.

    Dismissing the thought, he remembered his original purpose.

    ¡°Shinigami, I came here to ask: what is the heart? What is the meaning of existence?¡±

    He had barely finished his question when Kaelith¡¯s expression twisted.

    ¡°Seriously, officer? We¡¯re in the middle of a fight, and you want a pop quiz now? But since you¡¯ve asked so sincerely, I¡¯ll be generous and enlighten you!¡±

    Ulquiorra¡¯s eyes lit up. An actual answer existed! With mounting anticipation, he watched as Kaelith folded his arms and adopted a profound pose.

    ¡°The meaning of existence is finding a balance between pleasure and peace of mind. For any sentient being, the greatest drive to survive is the pursuit of pleasure.

    ¡°Eating good food, indulging in sexual desire, seeking recognition, wielding power, reveling in victory¡ªthese are all sources of pleasure.

    ¡°By the looks of you, with that, uh¡­ ¡®low-energy vibe,¡¯ you might think you¡¯re not the type to chase pleasure.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not true. Even as you search for the heart¡¯s meaning, you¡¯re satisfying your thirst for knowledge.

    ¡°And just now, when I said I could solve your problem, you definitely felt a spark of excitement, right?¡±

    Ulquiorra blinked. Indeed¡­ He had long believed pursuing enjoyment was foolish because pleasure eventually cooled, leaving you with nothing. Yet only moments ago, he had felt excitement at the prospect of hearing Kaelith¡¯s answer. What made him hold these conflicting views?

    He frowned, about to ask. Kaelith, however, flashed a grin:

    ¡°No need to fret. That¡¯s perfectly normal.

    ¡°When you devote yourself to a specific kind of satisfaction, all other pleasures will seem hollow by comparison. If you¡¯re starving, you¡¯ll think playing around is a waste of time.

    ¡°If you¡¯re absorbed in a book, you¡¯ll think games can¡¯t offer any real fun. You¡¯ve become fixated on quenching your curiosity. Of course everything else looks fake to you.

    ¡°But once that thirst is fulfilled and you develop a new need, you¡¯ll discover new forms of enjoyment.¡±

    Ulquiorra looked thoughtful. Kaelith¡¯s explanation seemed to make sense. After a moment, he asked, ¡°What about peace of mind?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s even simpler.¡± Kaelith waggled a finger.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say you¡¯re starving and only have disgusting food, while the little girl next door has something delicious.

    ¡°If you only cared about pursuing pleasure, you¡¯d go right over and rob her, maybe even kill her and take her meal.

    ¡°But doing that would break the balance between pleasure and peace of mind.

    ¡°Afterwards, you¡¯d wake up in the middle of the night, slap yourself, and curse what a monster you are.

    ¡°You¡¯d lose your sense of calm, and with it, true enjoyment.¡±

    Ulquiorra mulled that over, then shook his head. ¡°A strange theory. What if I eat the girl, too, so there¡¯s no chance of regret?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Kaelith studied him for a few seconds, then abruptly changed examples.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say your curiosity is so intense you¡¯ll do anything to satisfy it¡ªeven hurting yourself until you can¡¯t regenerate anymore, leading to death.

    ¡°Sure, it might briefly bring satisfaction, but you¡¯d be facing mortal terror. You¡¯d lose your peace of mind.

    ¡°To avoid that outcome, you have to find a place to draw the line¡ªa balance between feeding your curiosity and stopping before it destroys you.

    ¡°That balance is the meaning of survival.¡±

    Ulquiorra nodded slightly. The pursuit of enjoyment shouldn¡¯t be endless or reckless; you have to account for both pleasure and peace. Odd as it sounded, it gave him a workable frame of reference. After reflecting a moment, he folded his black wings and bowed his head toward Kaelith.

    ¡°Thank you, Shinigami. I appreciate your explanation.¡±

    ¡°Mm, no problem,¡± Kaelith replied. Then, in one swift motion, he yanked off his white haori and tossed it aside.

    ¡°I¡¯ve satisfied your desire. Now it¡¯s your turn to satisfy mine.¡±

    With a grin, Kaelith tugged open the top half of his black Shihakush¨­, revealing a well-built torso.

    ¡°All right, Ulquiorra¡ªshow me everything you¡¯ve got. Entertain me!¡±

    Blue flames burst around Kaelith as he stomped down, launching himself like a human battering ram at Ulquiorra.

    For a split second, Ulquiorra was confused. Why fight again, after they¡¯d just reached an understanding? Then he recalled Kaelith¡¯s logic¡ªhe was simply chasing the thrills of combat and victory.

    How, then, would Kaelith strike a balance between pleasure and peace while pushing himself toward that enjoyment?

    Intrigued, Ulquiorra decided to see it through. With a quick gesture, he formed a sword of condensed reishi in his hand and rushed forward to meet Kaelith head-on.

    Not far away, Yammy watched this in surprise. He had known Ulquiorra for a while, yet never seen him so fired up. Typically, Ulquiorra fought only when there was no alternative, using just enough power to defeat his opponent. Now, though¡­

    He was unleashing everything. Unreserved reishi, fierce light in his eyes¡ªthis was an Ulquiorra Yammy had never witnessed.

    Was that Shinigami the cause? In just a few words, he¡¯d triggered such a shift in Ulquiorra?

    But Yammy soon realized a bigger issue. The shockwaves of Kaelith and Ulquiorra¡¯s fight were growing more intense. Though Yammy was an elite among Adjuchas, he was starting to feel the pressure.

    This was insane.

    As much as he wanted to curse out loud, he simply kept backing away.

    In the heart of the battlefield, Kaelith hammered forward with both fists, launching a flurry of attacks. After entering Resurrecci¨®n, Ulquiorra¡¯s strength soared¡ªbefitting a naturally evolved Vasto Lorde Arrancar. Each slash of that glowing reishi blade was as potent as a Cero from a high-level Hollow, and Kaelith¡¯s fists felt the sting.

    Yet it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    Ulquiorra¡¯s most iconic move, after all, was his second Resurrecci¨®n.

    Taking one slash head-on, Kaelith pressed in with a powerful punch:

    ¡°Double¡ªIkotsu!¡±

    Boom!!

    The explosive blast tore through the silver sands, kicking up a wild sandstorm. Ulquiorra skidded backward; part of his cloak had been shredded, leaving him looking disheveled. Kaelith¡¯s gaze drifted downward for a second. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°¡­Huh, there¡¯s nothing there?¡±

    Beneath the remnants of Ulquiorra¡¯s robe, everything was smooth¡ªno sign of certain, well, features.

    Kaelith¡¯s expression flickered with sympathy.

    Poor guy, he was born missing one of life¡¯s joys¡­

    He recalled once worrying that Ichigo Kurosaki might be dealing with a case of unfaithfulness. Now Kaelith retracted any pity he¡¯d felt¡ªwhatever feelings might arise, there was no possible outcome there.

    Clueless about Kaelith¡¯s thoughts, Ulquiorra continued slashing with one hand and launching black Cero blasts with the other, advancing like a dual-wielding warrior.

    Kaelith was more than used to Cero techniques. Starrk was quite adept at them, and Kaelith had sparred with him too many times to count. Effortlessly swatting away a Cero, he shouted:

    ¡°Warm-up¡¯s over, Ulquiorra! Show me that move¡ªyour second Resurrecci¨®n!¡±

    Ulquiorra froze in mid-attack.

    ¡°Second Resurrecci¨®n?¡±

    He really had no idea what Kaelith meant. Kaelith, seeing his blank stare, blinked.

    ¡°What, you haven¡¯t developed it yet?¡±

    Ulquiorra¡¯s silence only made Kaelith¡¯s disappointment grow. Among the Espada, many ranked below didn¡¯t particularly interest him. Harribel was decent, but mostly for¡­ aesthetic reasons. Baraggan¡¯s skill was so-so, though his rot power was impressive. Starrk was strong but hadn¡¯t tapped his real potential, usually just fancy-shooting like a bored bystander.

    In other words, the most exciting Espada to fight was Ulquiorra with his second Resurrecci¨®n. Yet now Kaelith had finally found him, only to discover Ulquiorra didn¡¯t have that ability yet.

    ¡°Boring¡­¡± Kaelith muttered, rolling his neck as though ready to leave.

    He took a few steps, but behind him, Ulquiorra followed.

    ¡°Shinigami, you¡¯re sparing my life because you think one day I¡¯ll gain that power? That I might bring you greater enjoyment?

    ¡°If so, aren¡¯t you leaving a hidden threat for yourself? That means you can¡¯t really have peace of mind¡­ Doesn¡¯t that contradict what you taught me?¡±

    Kaelith snorted.

    ¡°Such shallow reasoning. You¡¯re applying the theory mechanically without considering real conditions.

    ¡°With your earnest, rule-bound personality, are you really going to plan some revenge if I let you live?

    ¡°On the contrary, you¡¯ll remember the favor I did you today. Maybe someday, when you¡¯ve awakened that new ability, you¡¯ll join me of your own will. That¡¯s the perfect union of pleasure and peace, right there.¡±

    Ulquiorra¡¯s eyes went wide with disbelief. After a few seconds, he caught up again.

    ¡°Shinigami¡­ Kaelith¡­ why are you so sure I¡¯ll master this ability?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m the chosen one, the only one. All sorts of intel about this world drifts into my mind unnoticed. You wouldn¡¯t understand¡ªit¡¯s too profound,¡± Kaelith replied with a dismissive wave.

    Oddly, Ulquiorra nodded. ¡°That explains it. I never told you my name, yet you said it so easily.¡±

    Kaelith paused, rummaging through his memories.

    ¡°Huh. Guess so.¡±

    He tilted his head upward and smiled smugly. ¡°Yeah, exactly!¡±

    Ulquiorra fell silent for a moment, then, as though making up his mind, he let his Resurrecci¨®n fade away. Gripping his Zanpakut¨­ before him, he spoke:

    ¡°Shinigami¡­ no, Kaelith. Please, take me back to Las Noches.

    ¡°I want to remain by your side, observe your words and deeds, learn the meaning of existence, and search for the heart.¡±

    Kaelith burst out laughing. ¡°Ha! Didn¡¯t I say so? I knew you¡¯d come around!

    ¡°Great¡ªstay with me, learn and watch. You¡¯ll become an outstanding individual, strong in virtue!

    ¡°No more confusion, no more suffering!

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    Ulquiorra nodded, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. Not far away, Yammy felt a chill.

    Somehow, he had a strong hunch that Ulquiorra was stepping onto the wrong path¡­

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 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274

    2-in-1 chapter

    ------------------------

    An empty courtyard was suddenly disturbed by a swift figure flashing into view.

    Soifon paused, scanning left and right.

    No one.

    Strange¡­ She¡¯d tracked them all morning, yet found no trace of Kaelith or Yoruichi. She¡¯d been searching for two full hours. Where on earth had they gone?

    Wasn¡¯t it the Captain¡¯s duty to stay in the Soul Society and deal with actual work? Wandering off every day¡ªdid they have no sense of responsibility whatsoever?

    The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Blood pressure rising.

    Come to think of it, more and more Divisions these days let their Captains laze around, dumping all the paperwork on their subordinates. The Second, Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Divisions stood out the most.

    As the Third Seat of the Second Division, once the personal guard for an esteemed leader¡ªand now, unfortunately, for a good-for-nothing¡ªshe had to put a stop to this trend!

    With that firm resolve, Soifon settled under a large tree and decided to take a short break. ¡­She wasn¡¯t being lazy, just following the example of certain degenerates who preached pacing oneself to maintain top condition. Definitely not contaminated by them at all.

    A soft breeze stirred the leaves overhead, and Soifon felt herself relaxing. Not far away, beneath another tree, two small black cats played tag¡ªone fleeing, the other chasing, occasionally tumbling over each other in the dirt.

    A smile curved Soifon¡¯s lips. What a soothing midday scene.

    Seeing these two black cats reminded her of Lady Yoruichi. Whenever Yoruichi turned into a cat, Soifon couldn¡¯t resist the urge to pet her¡ªbut, unlike a certain reprobate, Soifon lacked the nerve for such impertinence.

    Then again¡­ that reprobate had secretly learned Yoruichi¡¯s cat transformation technique as well. Could these two black cats possibly be those two troublemakers, fooling around?

    The instant that idea occurred to her, Soifon snorted in amusement.

    Impossible. Not even those two were so shameless as to turn into cats and wrestle in the dust like that¡ªfilthy.

    She raised a hand and waved to the cats. The two black cats both lifted a paw in return, mirroring her gesture.

    Soifon: ¡°¡­¡±

    The two cats: ¡°¡­¡±

    They froze, then whipped around to bolt. But two steps later, Soifon caught them with Shunpo, lifting each by the scruff of the neck. The little cats dangled helplessly, wide-eyed and flailing in midair.

    ¡°Lady Yoruichi, Lord Reprobate¡­ Would you like me to catch some fish and serve you fresh entrails?¡± Soifon¡¯s chilly voice cut through the air.

    (Note: Reprobate means an unprincipled person.)

    The two cats instantly wilted, ears drooping in unison.

    Boom!!

    A burst of white smoke enveloped them, and as it dissipated, two human figures emerged. One was a tall, bronze-skinned woman with a high ponytail of purple hair and a curvaceous figure. The other was a powerfully built man who looked like he¡¯d just walked off the set of a martial arts film.

    Yoruichi Shih¨­in and Kaelith lowered their heads.

    ¡°We¡¯re terribly sorry, Soifon. We promise we¡¯ll reflect on our actions!¡±

    Their bowed postures were full of apparent remorse, perfectly angled in faultless unity¡ªenough to charm any bystander into forgiving them.

    Soifon¡¯s face only grew colder.

    ¡°Apologize all you like, but please¡ªput some clothes on first.¡±

    ¡­

    Inside a small room, Kaelith and Yoruichi had redressed and were now sitting upright as Soifon delivered her report. Their expressions grew puzzled.

    ¡°Marenoshin ¨­maeda wants to resign?¡±

    ¡°Is there something wrong with his health?¡±

    Soifon shook her head.

    ¡°Lieutenant Marenoshin is in fine shape. He could easily work another hundred years if needed. But his decision stems from having an heir ready to take over. He feels his family obligations are fulfilled, so he¡¯d like to retire early and enjoy life.

    ¡°I hear he plans to travel the World of the Living and visit every single country¡­.¡±

    Kaelith felt a pang of envy. Truly befitting the wealthiest man in the Soul Society¡ªno shortage of money, his son grown, the perfect time for a world tour. In his prime, it¡¯d be no problem to explore the entire globe.

    Lucky man.

    ¨­maeda was part of the Shih¨­in household¡¯s extended network, enjoying a position akin to that of a minor noble. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to resign. Yoruichi, as his formal superior, couldn¡¯t exactly forbid it.

    Marenoshin mainly reported out of respect for Yoruichi, and to request Kaelith¡¯s help in recalling his son, Marechiyo ¨­maeda.

    In truth, Marenoshin ¨­maeda hadn¡¯t seen Marechiyo in years. Whenever he visited the Eleventh Division hoping to see him, Marechiyo was never around¡ªalways off on missions or locked away training. There were moments Marenoshin worried something terrible had happened to his boy, but repeated inquiries proved otherwise. His son was simply avoiding him.

    Now that Marenoshin intended to retire, someone had to inherit the family estate. That brat couldn¡¯t hide forever.

    ¡­

    Kaelith went to his wardrobe and pulled out a fresh captain¡¯s haori. The last one had been tossed aside in Hueco Mundo and forgotten. Come to think of it, he¡¯d lost more than ten haori that way.

    Hopefully no bizarre Hollows had picked them up and discovered cosplaying.

    He recalled certain members of the Eleventh Division who had borderline fanatical obsessions¡ªwanting to touch his sweaty uniform, or requesting he hug them until their bones shattered¡­ it was too much. Kaelith had long since stopped casually sparring with those sorts. Let them guess whose fault that was.

    Soifon, walking behind him, gave an approving nod. Without his clothes, he looked like a wild beast¡ªevery muscle sharply defined. But once dressed, he appeared civilized and refined, hiding that powerful frame.

    ¡°As expected of you, My Lord Reprobate,¡± she remarked inwardly. ¡°Even your outward image is deceptive.¡±

    ¡°Heh, Soifon, are you captivated by my suave persona?¡± Kaelith abruptly turned, grinning proudly. ¡°Out of appreciation for your daily service, I¡¯ll permit you to kiss the back of my hand!¡±

    Soifon promptly spun around and left. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before long, the three of them met up with Marenoshin ¨­maeda and headed straight for the Eleventh Division. As they stepped in through the main gate, a chorus of ¡°Boss!!¡± rang out from the members on duty. Kaelith spoke up:

    ¡°Go get that Marechiyo kid. Tell him I¡¯m here to check his training.¡±

    ¡°Right away, Boss!¡±

    The Shinigami he addressed was all too eager to oblige, racing off toward the practice grounds. Anytime he passed a friend, he¡¯d shout, ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, just running an errand for the Boss!¡±

    Naturally, everyone he passed burned with envy, wishing they were in his shoes.

    Kaelith strolled over to his familiar seat¡ªan imposing throne draped in beast hides¡ªand plopped down.

    ¡°Come on, everyone, sit! No need to be formal!¡±

    Marenoshin ¨­maeda found a place to settle, feeling a bit out of his element. It was like walking into a bandit lair, not another Division. Still, soon enough, he got into the spirit. Drinks, meat, and fruit were brought out, and they relaxed around the makeshift feast.

    They were enjoying themselves when someone appeared with a burst of Shunpo.

    ¡°Boss!¡±

    A young Shinigami addressed Kaelith. He exuded confidence, head held high. But upon spotting Marenoshin¡¯s robust figure nearby, the young man froze. Alarm flickered in his eyes.

    Sensing an intense stare, Marenoshin glanced back curiously at the newcomer¡ªa tall, healthy man in his late teens or so. His hair was styled neatly, shaved on the sides, giving a crisp and energetic look. He was built well, though from Marenoshin¡¯s perspective, far too scrawny. At six feet tall, how could he weigh just a hundred fifty pounds?

    Back home, that was practically skin and bones. He should be closer to two-fifty¡­ three hundred would be proper.

    While Marenoshin was thinking such things, the young Shinigami seemed to panic. He tried to dash away, but Kaelith extended a hand, pinning him in place from across the yard.

    ¡°Marechiyo, where do you think you¡¯re going? Your father came all this way to see you, and you¡¯d run off without a word?¡±

    Trapped, the youth looked like he might cry.

    ¡°Boss, please¡­ let me go. I can¡¯t let my family see me like this!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. You¡¯re far better off now than¡­ well, than the old days,¡± Kaelith said with a cough.

    From the conversation, Marenoshin got a strange feeling. He looked more carefully at the young man. After a few seconds, his eyes flew wide in astonishment.

    Though at a glance the youth didn¡¯t ring a bell, on closer inspection, his brows, nose, and mouth were uncannily similar to those of¡­ the son he hadn¡¯t seen in years¡ªMarechiyo ¨­maeda!

    Leaping up with joy, he exclaimed, ¡°Marechiyo?!¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes, Father.¡±

    Seeing no escape, Marechiyo lowered his head.

    A laugh of relief burst from Marenoshin. He bounded over, tears welling up.

    ¡°Ha! Wonderful, just wonderful¡ªI was afraid you might be¡­ ahem. Well, at least you¡¯re safe. Look at these muscles! Quite impressive¡ªreminds me a bit of myself!

    ¡°But you¡¯re still far too thin! You¡¯ll wear yourself out like that!¡±

    Tears clung to Marenoshin¡¯s lashes as he patted Marechiyo all over. The son rolled his eyes, thinking how normal people wouldn¡¯t call him thin at all.

    When he¡¯d first arrived in the Eleventh Division, he also saw everyone as far too slim, believing they all needed more deep-fried snacks. But over time, as he trained day in and day out, he realized a lighter body let him move more fluidly, strike more precisely. Back home, he never would have embraced such training, but here in the Eleventh, it was the culture: daily drills, constant sparring. No one could remain unaffected by that atmosphere.

    Once a lazy scion, Marechiyo ¨­maeda had become a warrior who voluntarily sought out stronger foes. He found himself smiling as he recalled it. Seeing his father still looking so upset, he wanted to offer some reassurance¡ªbut wasn¡¯t sure how.

    Then a new voice broke in:

    ¡°Hey, big guy. If you¡¯re so concerned, how about checking out your son¡¯s progress firsthand?¡±

    Marechiyo looked toward the speaker: the Division¡¯s Vice-Captain, a man carrying a long sword on his shoulder¡ªZaraki Kenpachi.

    ¡°Vice-Captain!¡±

    He stood ramrod straight. Over the years, Kenpachi¡¯s aura had only grown sharper. While still not on Kaelith¡¯s level, he was formidable in his own right.

    Marenoshin glanced over too, frowning at the palpable killing intent rolling off the Vice-Captain. As a fellow Lieutenant, Marenoshin felt a near-total inability to muster fighting spirit. Who in their right mind would pick a fight with a lion?

    Before he could greet Kenpachi, Marechiyo stepped forward.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Vice-Captain. Father, allow me to show you how much I¡¯ve improved.¡±

    Without giving Marenoshin a chance to respond, he faced Kenpachi.

    ¡°Vice-Captain! Marechiyo ¨­maeda respectfully requests a spar. Please give me the honor!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Kenpachi bared his teeth in a feral grin. ¡°Sure thing.¡±

    Sword on his shoulder, he strode toward the training grounds. Marechiyo followed without hesitation.

    Only then did Marenoshin snap out of his daze. He rushed after his son, grabbing his sleeve.

    ¡°H-Hey, Marechiyo, are you insane? That guy is a monster!¡±

    Marechiyo smiled and met his father¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°No, Father. He¡¯s not a monster¡ªhe¡¯s our Eleventh Division Vice-Captain.

    ¡°Watch closely. Let me show you the result of my years here.¡±

    He placed a hand on the hilt at his waist and walked onto the field. Facing Zaraki Kenpachi, he took a deep breath, drew his blade with a sharp clang, and called out:

    ¡°Marechiyo ¨­maeda of the Eleventh Division¡ªplease guide me!¡±

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 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -------------------

    Marenoshin ¨­maeda felt uneasy.

    He knew very well what his son¡¯s capabilities had been. When Marechiyo first arrived at the Eleventh Division, he was just a run-of-the-mill academy graduate. Calling him ¡°ordinary¡± was practically a compliment. Among the four basic skills¡ªZanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoh¨­, Kid¨­¡ªhe could only manage halfway decent Shunpo compared to those his age. Everything else was subpar at best.

    On top of that, Marechiyo¡¯s will to fight was practically non-existent. Raised in comfort and privilege, he defaulted to fleeing from danger. Even being scolded repeatedly did nothing to change that.

    Although Marechiyo¡¯s bearing seemed different now, stepping into a head-on clash with Zaraki Kenpachi¡ªsomeone even Marenoshin tried to avoid¡ªstill felt far too extreme. Kenpachi was a true beast; how could his fool of a son possibly stand up to him?

    Marenoshin badly wanted to drag his son back, but seeing that Kaelith had no intention of stopping them, he couldn¡¯t overstep. So he simply kept an anxious watch on the fight.

    Yet as he observed, he realized something was off. His son really had changed.

    In the training grounds, Marechiyo stood firm, both hands gripping his Zanpakut¨­. Darting here and there with Shunpo, he looked for brief openings in Kenpachi¡¯s frenzied attacks. On several occasions, he was a hair too slow¡ªKenpachi¡¯s jagged blade gouged long wounds in Marechiyo¡¯s flesh, staining his black Shihakush¨­ a dark red.

    Then, after narrowly dodging a heavy downswing, Marechiyo ramped up his speed and roared:

    ¡°Hrraaah!¡±

    His Zanpakut¨­ swung in a broad silver arc, slicing across Kenpachi¡¯s chest. The savage strike ripped through Kenpachi¡¯s uniform, opening a gash near his chest. Marechiyo immediately withdrew, drawing his sword back as blood welled from the wound, leaving a thin red line.

    Spectators erupted in cheers:

    ¡°Nice one, Marechiyo!¡±

    ¡°He actually landed a hit on the Vice-Captain!¡±

    ¡°Well done! Go for another slash!¡±

    Hearing their shouts, Marenoshin felt touched. What supportive comrades!

    Even though Marechiyo had barely nicked Kenpachi, they still cheered with genuine enthusiasm. It was obvious why his son¡¯s progress had shot forward.

    He was in the middle of that thought when the same crowd started yelling:

    ¡°Vice-Captain, you gonna take that?!¡±

    ¡°Finish him off, sir!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let him walk away from this!¡±

    Marenoshin blinked. ¡­Maybe these squad members were a bit too enthusiastic.

    Meanwhile, Marechiyo¡¯s expression had grown grim. Kenpachi¡¯s assaults were getting fiercer, showing zero mercy just because Marenoshin was watching. In fact, if Kenpachi ever started going easy for such a reason, Marechiyo would be the first to worry he¡¯d been replaced by a doppelg?nger.

    Under that relentless pressure, Marechiyo¡¯s range of movement kept shrinking. Shunpo offered extra speed but wasn¡¯t real teleportation; solid swordwork could still cut off routes and corner him. If this kept up, he¡¯d lose before long.

    Time to switch tactics.

    He gripped his Zanpakut¨­ and shouted:

    ¡°Crush him¡ªGokei Tou!!¡±

    A flash of light transformed his blade into a long, chain-linked weapon ending in a massive spiked flail. Marechiyo¡¯s fingertips glowed briefly as he swiped them across the chain, then he swung the heavy head of the flail at Kenpachi.

    It hurtled forward with devastating force. Kenpachi merely tilted his head to evade, his expression unchanging as he raised his sword.

    That¡¯s it, Marechiyo thought, I¡¯m done for. Gokei Tou needed distance to be effective. Once the flail head flew off, the wielder was practically defenseless at close range. One casual strike from Kenpachi¡¯s sword could end the match right there.

    And indeed, Kenpachi brought his blade down with a bored air¡ª

    Screech!

    ¡°Hnnngh¡ª!¡±

    Gritting his teeth, Marechiyo crossed the chain in front of him, catching Kenpachi¡¯s downward slash.

    ¡°Vice-Captain! I¡¯m not going down that easily!¡±

    Kenpachi glanced at him. Was he trying to buy time by tangling Kenpachi¡¯s sword with the chain? Pointless stalling. Kenpachi kept pressing down, lifting his right foot for a vicious kick aimed at Marechiyo¡¯s stomach¡ªenough to send him flying off the platform.

    Just then, Kenpachi sensed something off. He reflexively glanced back. At some point, the flail head had begun to return in a tight arc. Thanks to Marechiyo¡¯s constant shouting, Kenpachi hadn¡¯t noticed the noise behind him until it was almost too late. By the time he saw it, the spiked ball was already nearly upon him.

    Boom!

    The iron ball nailed Kenpachi in the back. Even with his thick skin, he felt that impact. Taking the chance, Marechiyo used Shunpo to slip free of Kenpachi¡¯s sword and regain open ground.

    Kenpachi turned, gave him a feral grin, and muttered:

    ¡°Interesting¡­ So you can remotely manipulate the flail head after it¡¯s let loose? Kinda reminds me of Big Bro¡¯s weapon.¡±

    Breathing heavily, Marechiyo smiled in return.

    ¡°It does. In fact, I developed this Kid¨­ technique based on how Big Bro¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ works.¡±

    Upon hearing that, the spectators exchanged glances of realization.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it¡ªI remember seeing Marechiyo release his Zanpakut¨­ before, and there wasn¡¯t any glowing on his hands. Turns out he¡¯s using Kid¨­?¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    One Shinigami¡ªwho¡¯d sparred with Marechiyo a few times¡ªshouted in surprise.

    Marenoshin looked at Kaelith. ¡°Kaelith, you taught him that?¡±

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not that good at Kid¨­.¡±

    Off to the side, Isshin Shiba spoke up. ¡°Lieutenant Aizen helped. At first, Marechiyo tried developing the spell on his own but kept failing. I suggested he talk to Aizen¡ªeveryone knows Lieutenant Aizen can do just about anything. Three days later, Aizen had a brand-new Kid¨­ formula ready for him.¡±

    Isshin sounded proud at the mention of Aizen¡¯s name.

    Marenoshin was startled. S¨­suke Aizen¡­ He knew the man¡¯s name: the Fifth Division¡¯s Vice-Captain, widely regarded as a rising star. But most people associated him with ¡°Kaelith¡¯s inner circle,¡± not as a brilliant mind on his own.

    Who would¡¯ve guessed he could whip up such a high-level Kid¨­ in just three days?

    Meanwhile, Marechiyo continued to fight with all his might. Although his strength was nowhere close to Kenpachi¡¯s, he refused to give up. Only after nearly five minutes of intense struggle did Kenpachi knock him down with a flurry of blows, sending Marechiyo sprawling off the platform, battered and bleeding.

    Marenoshin rushed forward to help, but a crowd of Eleventh Division members got there first:

    ¡°Healers! Over here, quick!¡±

    ¡°Hang in there, Marechiyo¡ªhere, have some water!¡±

    ¡°Good job! You really represented the Fourth Squad with pride!¡±

    ¡°Show me some moves later, okay?!¡±

    They surrounded him, all grinning and cheering. Seeing his son with new comrades who genuinely cared made Marenoshin pause, then smile quietly.

    ¡°You foolish boy,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up so much¡­¡±

    Kaelith walked over, flashing a broad grin. ¡°So? How do you feel about your son now?¡±

    ¡°More than satisfied,¡± Marenoshin said softly. ¡°I¡¯m proud of him. I never expected him to change this much¡­ If I died tomorrow, I¡¯d have no regrets.¡±

    Then another thought struck him, and he turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Kaelith, those squad members earlier mentioned something about a ¡®Fourth Squad.¡¯ What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ that¡¯s something Aizen set up. For easier organization, he grouped everyone into thirteen small teams, each led by a Seated Officer,¡± Kaelith explained. ¡°Kenpachi commands Team One, Komamura leads Team Two, T¨­sen leads Team Three¡­¡±

    As Kaelith went on, Marenoshin grew increasingly uneasy. Zaraki Kenpachi, Komamura Sajin, T¨­sen Kaname¡ªeach one a powerhouse Vice-Captain who could pass for a Captain. This ¡°thirteen teams¡± arrangement was practically a brand-new Gotei 13 under Kaelith¡¯s command.

    Breaking into a cold sweat, Marenoshin decided it was best not to think about it. After all, if Captain-Commander Yamamoto hadn¡¯t intervened, then there was no reason for him to meddle. He valued his life far too much to pry any deeper.

    When the excitement died down, he walked over to Marechiyo. The Division¡¯s makeshift ¡°healers¡± had already patched him up; the injuries wouldn¡¯t stop him from moving. Marenoshin suspected they¡¯d formed a mini Fourth Division here as well¡ªwhy else call them a ¡°treatment team¡±?

    ¡°Father¡­¡± Marechiyo murmured, looking a bit awkward.

    Marenoshin merely smiled and placed a large hand on his son¡¯s shoulder with a solid slap.

    ¡°Well done, Marechiyo. I¡¯m proud of you. You¡¯ve truly become a Shinigami who can stand on his own.¡±

    Surprise flashed across Marechiyo¡¯s face, followed by a shy twist of his lips. He¡¯d grown up getting scolded constantly, always compared unfavorably to his brothers who lazed around as much as he did. He had wondered more than once if his father disliked him¡ªmaybe that was why he¡¯d been thrown into the Eleventh Division in the first place.

    Then one day, while talking to Kaelith about it, Marechiyo had complained: ¡°My father¡¯s always singling me out. How could he possibly care about me?¡±

    Kaelith burst into laughter. ¡°Idiot. Isn¡¯t it obvious? Not only does your old man not hate you, he¡¯s downright doting on you!¡±

    Marechiyo refused to believe it. ¡°If that¡¯s true, why does he pick on me more than my brothers?¡±

    Swirling his drink, Kaelith explained: ¡°Because he expects you to succeed him. The ¨­maeda Family is built on wealth, sure¡ªbut they still need someone strong enough to command respect. Until now, that¡¯s been your father. But he won¡¯t stay young forever. So he¡¯s searching for the one who¡¯ll inherit everything. You might be a slacker, but out of all his kids, you¡¯re the only one with any promise at all. Of course he¡¯s going to push you harder, so you can someday keep the family standing.

    ¡°It¡¯s just like my teacher,¡± Kaelith continued. ¡°He puts on a strict, grandpa-like face for everyone else. Only around me or Ky¨­raku Shunsui does he show his more ¡®volatile¡¯ side. Does that mean he hates us? Obviously not. It¡¯s just another way of saying he cares.¡±

    At the time, Marechiyo found it half-convincing. Sure, it sounded plausible regarding his father¡ªthough he wasn¡¯t so sure about the Captain-Commander¡¯s motivations. Maybe that ¡°love¡± came with some complicated extra feelings.

    Marechiyo smiled at his father now.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Father. I understand. I¡¯ll do my part for the ¨­maeda Family. I, Marechiyo ¨­maeda, won¡¯t ever disgrace the Eleventh Division¡¯s name!¡±

    That evening, the Eleventh Division threw a farewell feast for him. Everyone off-duty gathered in the courtyard, lighting bonfires, eating, and drinking under the open sky while Kaelith laughed and toasted them from his beast-pelt seat.

    The following morning, Marechiyo ¨­maeda of the Eleventh Division officially left his post.

    ¡­

    In the first light of dawn, Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto entered a small courtyard and spent an hour diligently training with his Zanpakut¨­. Once finished, he took a bath, then stepped into his study to practice calligraphy.

    He opened the door only to find a certain young rogue snoozing on the floor. Yamamoto¡¯s brow twitched, annoyance flaring.

    Why was that brat napping in his study?

    He scanned the room in case anything valuable was missing. Everything seemed in place¡ªexcept there were a few extra sheets of paper on the desk. Walking over, he stooped to read them.

    They contained a completed piece of calligraphy: ¡°Xiaoyao You.¡± The elegant prose exuded majestic flair and boundless vision, written in a firm, upright hand. On first glance, Yamamoto might have pictured the writer as a calm, ambitious soul¡ªsteady and dependable.

    He read it again, feeling a vague sense of pleasure. Who¡¯d have thought the boy would sneak in late at night just to produce something like this? Surely it would¡¯ve been easier if he¡¯d simply asked. Yamamoto would¡¯ve let him write as much as he wanted. What an oddball.

    Shaking his head, Yamamoto set his walking stick aside. Inside that cane, Ry¨±jin Jakka glowed with warmth, raising the room¡¯s temperature so the fool sleeping on the floor wouldn¡¯t catch a cold.

    The moment Ry¨±jin Jakka began releasing heat, Kaelith opened his eyes. Spotting Yamamoto standing there, he flashed a grin.

    ¡°Morning, Sensei.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± Yamamoto gave a curt nod, his attention still mostly on the calligraphy.

    Kaelith sat up, crossing his legs and tugged a captain¡¯s haori out from under him.

    ¡°If you like it, Sensei, I could write more for you over the next few days¡ªwhatever style you want, just say the word.¡±

    At those words, Yamamoto suddenly tensed, frowning in suspicion.

    ¡°You punk¡­ you didn¡¯t get into some huge trouble again, did you? And now you want me to fix it?!¡±

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 Chapter 276

    Chapter 276

    2-in-1-chapter

    ---------------------

    Late at night in the Second Division, at Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau¡­

    Though Kaelith had long since left the Second Division, the building that embodied the peak of Soul Society¡¯s technological prowess remained. The Division members admired his ¡°selflessness¡± in not relocating it.

    Kisuke Urahara, however, knew better.

    Kaelith hadn¡¯t moved the bureau simply because it would have been useless anywhere else. Which researchers in the Eleventh Division could possibly handle the team? No one. Better to leave it here than stick it in the Eleventh.

    Yes, Kaelith might act casual most of the time, but when it came to weighing pros and cons, he was plenty shrewd¡­ Kisuke privately grumbled about this while moving stealthily through the darkness in a black cloak, face concealed in shadow. Slipping past the patrolling Shinigami, he reached an empty lab. One quick Shunpo into the room, close the door¡ªclean and silent.

    After confirming no one had spotted him, Kisuke exhaled, then approached a large screen. His heartbeat sped up as he inserted a USB stick beneath it, pulled out the control panel, and swiftly began tapping commands.

    The virus program launched, breaking through each firewall in turn. He¡¯d used these same computers for years and was intimately familiar with their security. Before long, the entire security system of Kaelith¡¯s Bureau stood wide open, waiting to be manipulated.

    Kisuke did not hesitate. He accessed the data logs Kaelith and Aizen used most often, pressing the button with a twinge of conflicting emotions. At last, he truly was a traitor.

    Sure, Kaelith worked him to the bone, made him do all sorts of jobs, but in the end, he¡¯d helped Kisuke a lot. There was no turning back now. He felt regret, yet no doubt. Observing Kaelith and Aizen for years had convinced him they were plotting something huge¡ªfar beyond normal political maneuvering.

    Something that threatened not just the Soul Society but all three realms.

    Anyone else might dismiss that as lunacy. But having witnessed Kaelith Yurei and S¨­suke Aizen¡¯s abilities firsthand, Kisuke knew better.

    S¨­suke Aizen was a genius in research, strategy, and the development and application of Kid¨­. Though he always appeared unassuming, that was purely the face he chose to show. Beneath the calm surface lurked terrifying depths. Most people with great strength or brilliant inventions couldn¡¯t help but show them off a little. But Aizen displayed no vanity whatsoever; he was perfectly content to stay hidden under someone else¡¯s radiance.

    This astonishing restraint unsettled Kisuke more than anything.

    Kaelith Yurei was even more enigmatic¡ªa born fighter who, in less than fifty years after graduation, had become one of the strongest Captains. In a mad frenzy, he could even trade blows with the Captain-Commander. Moreover, Kaelith possessed a knack for drawing in talented individuals. Whether intentionally or not, he had gathered more and more capable allies: Zaraki Kenpachi, Komamura Sajin, T¨­sen Kaname, Gin Ichimaru¡­ Every one was an extraordinary genius in their own right.

    Thanks to Kaelith¡¯s efforts, the Eleventh Division alone was practically half the Gotei 13 in power. Even more worrying was that all these elites saw Kaelith as their true center. For them, Kaelith was the one who had discovered and nurtured them, welcomed them into the Shinigami world, and watched over their development. If one day Kaelith and the Gotei 13 ever came into conflict¡ªKisuke dreaded the thought of which side they would choose.

    He spent six months crafting a virus that left no trace, designed to break into the Bureau¡¯s main database. Then he waited two more months for a night when Kaelith and Aizen were both gone. Now was his chance to find out exactly how far their plans had progressed.

    Data flooded the screen, and Kisuke¡¯s eyes gleamed¡ªhe was in.

    Kaelith¡¯s personal files were child¡¯s play to crack: mostly useless items like game saves and¡­ questionable images.

    Aizen¡¯s, though, bristled with terrifying defenses. Kisuke pushed himself to the limit, exploiting every trick he had, until he tore a tiny hole and began reading.

    His expression darkened with every line:

    **

    **

    **

    **

    **

    All of it was shocking. Just what was Aizen planning? Kisuke¡¯s breathing turned ragged as he clicked on ¡°Breaking the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow.¡± Sure enough, Aizen had already come up with an idea similar to Kisuke¡¯s notion of the H¨­gyoku. He¡¯d not only thought of it¡ªhe was far ahead.

    Kisuke had always regarded himself as the top-tier genius of the Soul Society. It had never occurred to him that someone might surpass him in research¡­ until now.

    Continuing, he discovered Kaelith and Aizen had defeated Baraggan and seized Hueco Mundo¡¯s Las Noches. They¡¯d even carried out countless experiments there, successfully creating an army of Arrancar. Kisuke felt a pang of envy¡ªwhat a setup.

    Then he jolted, snapping back: ¡°What are you thinking? That¡¯s criminal¡­!¡±

    He read on¡ª**¡ªan entire organization had been formed. Kisuke¡¯s breath caught in his throat. If they were as powerful as the data suggested, Kaelith and Aizen wielded a force that might exceed the entire Gotei 13.

    Absurd¡­ absolutely absurd!

    Unaware of the time, Kisuke fell deeper under the spell of these findings. Research on Shinigami Hollowfication, Hollow Arrancarization¡ªlike a sweet poison he couldn¡¯t resist. Before he knew it, his stomach rumbled loudly.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ starving.¡± Kisuke stretched, bones cracking in protest. ¡°I can¡¯t keep going. They¡¯ll be back tomorrow¡ªif I don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯ll be caught. But I have enough evidence to prove what they¡¯re up to¡­¡±

    Muttering to himself, he began downloading the crucial data. Partway through, a thought nagged at him. If Kaelith already controlled Hueco Mundo, why store these files in the Seireitei at all? Keeping them in Las Noches would be safer and more convenient. Unless¡­

    Surely a man as cunning as S¨­suke Aizen wouldn¡¯t overlook that. Kisuke considered two possibilities:

    1. There was someone even less trustworthy in Hueco Mundo, prone to stealing secrets¡ªlike that ¡°Szayelaporro¡± the files mentioned.

    2. Kaelith and Aizen had deliberately left the data here as bait for anyone who came sniffing around. And realistically, who else would know these systems well enough to attempt this hack besides Kisuke himself?

    He let out a dry laugh, cold sweat breaking out. Time to leave¡ªanother moment and it might be too late.

    He yanked out the USB stick. Just then, a voice spoke from behind:

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush off now. I even prepared some snacks since you seemed hungry.¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s heart seized. Slowly, with a tortured creak of the neck, he turned to see Kaelith seated casually in a black cloak, watching him with an easy smile.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­ sir¡­¡± Kisuke croaked. Usually, he¡¯d greet Kaelith with a flippant grin, but the words wouldn¡¯t come.

    Kaelith sat with his legs spread around the back of the chair, arms folded across it. ¡°So, how¡¯s my carefully arranged data? Satisfied?¡±

    So it really was all set up¡­ Kisuke forced a grimace. ¡°How¡­ how long have you been here?¡±

    Kaelith chuckled. ¡°Ever since you plugged in that USB. You took so long reading I got bored and left for a while, then came back.¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief. ¡°Impossible. Even while I was focused, if someone had come in from outside, I would have noticed!¡±

    Rising to his feet, Kaelith snapped his fingers. A dark shadow spread at his feet, and he sank noiselessly into it. Moments later, he rose from the floor behind Kisuke.

    ¡°Back in the day, I used this technique to discover the whereabouts of the hidden Wandenreich. The only people who know this move are my teacher, Aizen, Captain Ky¨­raku, and a handful in Hueco Mundo. Overlooking the Shadow Realm is understandable¡ªit¡¯s a gap in intel, not in logic.¡±

    Kisuke fell silent, resignation flooding him. After several seconds, he sighed wryly. ¡°I lose, Kaelith. Do what you must. But before you kill me, I need to know¡­ what exactly are you and Aizen plotting? If it¡¯s about controlling the Soul Society, with your current power, you¡¯ll inherit the Captain-Commander¡¯s seat sooner or later. Why all this trouble? Unless¡­ your true goal is to become that being above the heavens?¡±

    Kaelith paused thoughtfully. ¡°Standing atop the heavens is Aizen¡¯s dream. I don¡¯t share that ambition. What I want is to change the Soul Society¡¯s stagnant system. Jumping straight to some utopia is unrealistic, but we can at least modernize it to match how things are in the World of the Living.¡±

    Kisuke couldn¡¯t help feeling the disconnect as he heard Kaelith utter the word ¡°system.¡± Yet Kaelith went on:

    ¡°Though, now that you mention it, the noble system survives because of the Soul King. If I want to abolish that entirely, I¡¯ll need the Soul King to ¡®speak up.¡¯ In that sense, my ultimate target really is the one above.¡±

    Kisuke took a shaky breath, frowning in deep thought. ¡°But Kaelith, did it ever occur to you¡­ perhaps the Soul King isn¡¯t what you¡ª¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His voice cut off mid-sentence as he jerked his wrist, snatching out his Zanpakut¨­.

    ¡°Scream, Benihime!!¡±

    A bright red beam of energy erupted from the short blade, engulfing Kaelith in a surge of light. Knowing a single Shikai attack wouldn¡¯t truly harm him, Kisuke spun and ran. He yanked off his hood, letting his spiritual pressure flare. Drawing more attention was now the priority¡ªif only the Captain-Commander or someone else would come running.

    Boom!

    He unleashed every ounce of reiatsu in a massive blue column shooting into the sky. Please, someone out there, notice something¡¯s wrong¡­

    Outside, various Second Division members and passing Shinigami did, in fact, sense that violent surge. They stiffened, ready for battle.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Are we under attack?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go check!¡±

    But then they realized the spiritual pressure came from Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau and recognized the signature as Kisuke Urahara¡¯s. Relaxing, they shared a laugh.

    ¡°Jeez, scared me for a second. Must be Captain Kaelith sparring with Third Seat Urahara.¡±

    ¡°False alarm, folks. Let¡¯s clear out.¡±

    ¡°Say, once we¡¯re off duty, let¡¯s drop by Runrinin for a drink¡­¡±

    Casually chatting about their plans, everyone dispersed.

    Feeling no rescue arrive, Kisuke stiffened in horror. The entire Second Division must have been neutralized!

    As that dread sank in, Kaelith¡¯s voice spoke again, right at his shoulder.

    ¡°Kisuke~ where do you think you¡¯re off to?¡±

    ¡°Eek¡­!¡±

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 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277

    2-In-1 chapter

    -----------------

    ¡°Ehehehehe! Kisuke, where do you think you¡¯re running off to?¡±

    ¡°Little Kisuke¡­ you were born to be eaten by your Captain!¡±

    High in the air, Urahara Kisuke¡¯s face was ashen as he fled for his life. Behind him, the roar of an oncoming demon echoed closer and closer, an oppressive spiritual pressure bearing down on him.

    He twitched his fingers, preparing to cast a stealthy Kid¨­ to trip up the monster.

    ¡°Bakud¨­ No. 61: Rikuj¨­¡ª¡±

    ¡°Rikuj¨­k¨­r¨­.¡±

    Boom boom boom boom!

    Several panels of light formed out of thin air. Under Kisuke¡¯s stunned gaze, they clamped firmly around him. Trapped by the powerful restraints of Rikuj¨­k¨­r¨­, he lost his foothold in midair and plummeted straight downward.

    Crash!

    He slammed into the ground from a height of several dozen meters, letting out a muffled groan. He was just trying to get up when Kaelith dropped out of the sky and landed on him with a resounding thump.

    Wham!

    ¡°Guh¡­!¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s eyes bulged. That impact from Kaelith¡¯s landing on him hurt even worse than hitting the ground.

    ¡°Kehehehe! Kisuke, run, keep running! I¡¯m curious to see exactly where you plan on going!¡±

    Seated on Kisuke¡¯s stomach, Kaelith folded his arms, chin held high, wearing a thoroughly triumphant grin.

    From a nearby patch of shadow, Aizen emerged. It was he who had remotely cast Rikuj¨­k¨­r¨­ just moments ago. He might have started his chant a heartbeat later than Kisuke, but he¡¯d launched the Kid¨­ itself far faster.

    His training with Kaelith had forced him to hone his casting speed to an absurd level¡ªotherwise, Kaelith¡¯s unpredictable strikes and shadow would catch him the instant he slowed down.

    Pinned under Kaelith, Kisuke knew at once he¡¯d stepped right into their trap. He sighed, closed his eyes, and said,

    ¡°I¡¯m prepared. Kill me.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. You think I don¡¯t dare end you?¡± Kaelith¡¯s snort rang out with all the flair of a classic villain¡ªor, well, a righteous hero in his own mind.

    Aizen shot him a nearly imperceptible glance, as if to see whether Kaelith was truly going to kill Kisuke. But Kaelith only leaned down with a grin, meeting Kisuke¡¯s gaze at close range.

    ¡°Just killing you wouldn¡¯t begin to satisfy my grudge. I hear Mayuri has come up with a new invention¡ªa half-organic, half-mechanical worm that can be inserted into someone¡¯s brain. Its limbs and antennae link directly to the frontal lobe, sending unique signals that control a person¡¯s thoughts and actions.¡±

    ¡°If I handed over a nearly Captain-level Shinigami as a test subject, don¡¯t you think that would make Mayuri dance with delight?¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s that sound to you?¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s eyes went wide, unable to tell if Kaelith was serious or joking. He stammered, ¡°Ka-Kaelith, I don¡¯t recall any real grudge between us¡­¡±

    Kaelith gave a scornful sniff. ¡°You think I didn¡¯t notice you slacking off every day? A project that should take one month ends up dragging on for three. One that should be done in three months gets stretched to an entire year! I¡¯ve been keeping track in my little ledger, waiting for the day I could settle it all.¡±

    At first, Kisuke went pale. So his boss was really this petty. But upon reflection, there was nothing surprising about that at all. What else could he expect?

    He realized then that Kaelith was wielding an enormous syringe, tapping around on Kisuke¡¯s body as if to find a suitable spot.

    ¡°Kaelith, what¡­ what are you planning to do with that?¡±

    Kisuke was aghast at the size of the needle. Was he about to drain Kisuke¡¯s bone marrow?

    Kaelith threw him a baffled look. ¡°I¡¯m giving you anesthetic, obviously¡ªknock you out before hauling you in for the experiment.¡±

    ¡°Who uses a needle that thick just for anesthesia?!¡±

    ¡°Blame Aizen. He¡¯s the one who gave it to me.¡±

    A silent scream of rage erupted in Kisuke¡¯s head: Aizen, you scheming wretch!

    Desperate, he tried to stall Kaelith. ¡°Kaelith! Isn¡¯t there room for reconciliation? I¡¯ve shed blood for the Technical Bureau, for your ¡®Kaelith¡¯s Paradise!¡¯ Don¡¯t you care about my accomplishments¡ªmy effort?¡±

    Aizen noted that if Kisuke had stayed defiant, Kaelith might have subjected him to further torment. But now that Kisuke was basically groveling, it was obvious what would happen next.

    Sure enough, Kaelith burst out laughing, then casually drove the syringe into the ground, rising to his feet.

    ¡°All right, enough teasing. Let¡¯s go. Aizen and I didn¡¯t come out here so late just to scare you.¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s expression turned grave. He knew they were about to let him see the core secrets the two of them had kept hidden. If he could accept their ideas and walk the same path, great; if not, no amount of pleading would save him a second time.

    Before long, the three of them arrived at Aizen¡¯s lab, on the outskirts of the Rukongai. Kisuke swallowed hard at the sight inside.

    Rows and rows of high-grade equipment filled the room, likely worth more than the entire sum of his salaries over the years. If Kaelith¡¯s Technical Bureau hadn¡¯t existed, Kisuke would be forced to cobble together sub-par contraptions in his barracks¡ªtruly a miserable thought.

    Watching Aizen idly press a few controls and open a Garganta to Hueco Mundo, Kisuke felt another surge of envy. If he¡¯d had such easy access to Hueco Mundo, he¡¯d have used it to gather thousands of Hollows for experimentation by now.

    Stepping onto Hueco Mundo¡¯s silver-white sands, his wariness gave way to curiosity. This was the realm whose secrets he¡¯d glimpsed in Aizen¡¯s files¡ªKaelith and Aizen had claimed it not too long ago and were in the process of reconstructing Las Noches. If it was anything like Aizen¡¯s local lab in the Rukongai, he couldn¡¯t imagine how grand it might be. Maybe five times bigger? Twice as many machines? He almost drooled at the thought.

    Ten-odd minutes later, that excitement turned into something else entirely.

    Kisuke bit his lip, nearly drawing blood. He stood in silent shock at the sight before him¡ªa secret laboratory in the depths of Las Noche¡¯s main citadel. The place spanned nearly three thousand square meters, bursting with all sorts of equipment. Scores of Arrancar in white coats bustled back and forth, jotting down data, operating devices.

    Several of them rushed over when they saw Kaelith and Aizen arrive.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith! Lord Aizen!¡±

    ¡°Lord Aizen, please take a look. We¡¯ve finished screening candidates for the fourth batch of Arrancar. They can undergo experiments anytime!¡±

    ¡°This selection process is stricter than ever¡ªjust as you instructed, all are powerful, resolute Hollows devoted to Lord Kaelith!¡±

    Aizen nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Have them stand by. I¡¯ll begin after I finish here.¡±

    Eager smiles on their faces, the Arrancar researchers hurried off. Kisuke stared, his throat parched with disbelief.

    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong¡­ but that was a Hollow?¡±

    Aizen inclined his head. ¡°Indeed. She¡¯s part of the third batch of Arrancar. She gained enhanced memory during her transformation, so we assigned her to assist with research.¡±

    Speechless, Kisuke could only gape. In his mind, newly formed Arrancar were the ultimate research specimens. If he could have just one, he would cling to them in tears of gratitude. For Kaelith and Aizen, though, Arrancar were now so plentiful that they could even staff white-collar positions. The sheer thought of the Three Grand Generals and Seven Hollow Blades left him trembling.

    Following Aizen¡¯s lead, Kisuke toured the operating area, archives, and more. He even got to witness a live Arrancarization, during which Aizen wielded the H¨­gyoku to transform multiple Hollows. Kisuke had to fight the urge to blurt out, ¡°Let me try too!¡±

    Finally, the three of them took seats in a side room. Kaelith wore an unabashedly proud expression as he asked, ¡°So, Kisuke, how do you like it?¡±

    Even though he didn¡¯t entirely want to admit it, Kisuke nodded firmly. ¡°Amazing. Truly amazing. Being able to do research here must be paradise for any scientist.¡±

    ¡°Heh heh! Then sign this contract¡ªuh, I mean, cooperation agreement.¡± Kaelith grinned, sliding a document toward him. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kisuke grabbed a pen without hesitation, then caught himself and put it down. He frowned at both of them.

    ¡°Kaelith, Aizen¡ªI want to know what you¡¯re planning. Exactly what is this all for?¡±

    Aizen answered quietly. ¡°We intend to change this pitiful world. Kisuke Urahara, someone as bright as you must have realized the problem at some point. Those with ability can lead the Soul Society to a brighter future, yet the Central 46, dominated by the Five Great Noble Clans and lesser aristocrats, keeps a stranglehold on everything as countless array of rules and limits lock the social hierarchy in place.

    A strong individual can only train until they¡¯re a Captain¡ªa brand-new blade for the nobles to wield. A brilliant mind can only strategize until some trumped-up charge lands them in the Muken.

    Do you honestly think a world like that makes sense?¡±

    Kisuke said nothing. Of course it was irrational, but it was at least stable.

    This system, for all its ugliness, had survived for a million years. Any drastic upheaval ran the risk of causing more suffering than it solved¡ªoverthrowing the nobility might well drag everyone into endless violence, the powerful devouring the weak. People like Kaelith and Aizen wouldn¡¯t mind, but to ordinary souls, that would be catastrophic.

    Noting Kisuke¡¯s hesitation, Aizen smiled. ¡°You¡¯re worried that I¡¯d push for extreme, unbridled equality, driving the entire world into a savage battle for survival, aren¡¯t you? Admittedly, the old me might have done exactly that. But I¡¯ve come to realize that every phenomenon needs its own process.

    Whether the World of the Living or the Soul Society, a reformer only sees a minuscule section of the great river of history. Even so, that small shift might inspire those who come after to imagine new possibilities. I¡¯ve abandoned my desire to force the realm toward extremes.

    ¡°As things stand now, the first step is to break the line of noble succession. Let these aristocrats vanish from history. After that, Soul Society can look to the World of the Living for a model¡ªadapting what we learn to create our own unique path.¡±

    Kisuke listened wide-eyed. To hear such a gentle, moderate approach from Aizen felt strangely off.

    He glanced at Kaelith, who was yawning in apparent boredom. So it was Kaelith who had guided Aizen to this mindset. Kaelith was never one to cling to elaborate courtesy, and his fighting style was raw and unrestrained, but deep down, he was impossibly kind¡ªfar too kind for a cruel world like this.

    Kisuke mulled it over for a long while. Kaelith and Aizen waited patiently. At last, Kisuke let out a long breath and lifted his gaze. ¡°I want in on this H¨­gyoku project, as an assistant or whatever else you need. I need to see for myself how far it can be pushed.¡±

    Aizen agreed right away. ¡°No problem.¡±

    ¡°I need the freedom to leave whenever I want. If you two stray from what you¡¯ve said tonight and threaten the three realms, I¡¯ll stop you¡ªeven if it kills me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Kaelith answered.

    ¡°And one last thing!¡± Kisuke¡¯s face turned deadly serious. ¡°I demand a lighter workload¡ªespecially all those console projects for the arcade system!

    It¡¯s too much. My personal life is suffering!¡±

    ¡°Request denied.¡±

    ¡°At least pretend to think about it for half a second!¡±

    ¡°Eheheh, Kisuke was born to toil away for the boss! Get back to work!¡±

    Amid Kaelith¡¯s uproarious laughter and Kisuke¡¯s plaintive wails, the Soul Society¡¯s most cunning schemer formally joined Kaelith¡¯s banner.

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 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278

    2-in-1chapter:

    -----------------------

    A mournful cry rang out from inside the room.

    ¡°¡®My life is over!!¡¯ ¡­What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Kisuke Urahara frowned, confused.

    Lately, he had been sneaking off to Hueco Mundo whenever he could to watch Aizen¡¯s H¨­gyoku experiments. At first, Aizen had treated him rather dismissively: although there was no attempt to hide the data (all of it was laid open for Kisuke to study), Aizen always spoke as if lecturing an inexperienced junior. Kisuke didn¡¯t mind¡ªhe simply concentrated on learning.

    After all, he¡¯d already planned something similar himself, so he adapted quickly. Before long, he began proposing improvements on the existing results. When Kisuke first mentioned modifying the H¨­gyoku, Aizen almost laughed¡ªgiven Aizen¡¯s own resources, experience, and grasp of spiritual power, what suggestions could Kisuke possibly offer?

    Surprisingly, after reading Kisuke¡¯s paper, Aizen discovered that the plan really did work. Originally, the H¨­gyoku-based Hollowfication experiments could only work on Captain-level (and above) Shinigami, and even then they inevitably lost their reason, becoming mindless, instinct-driven monstrosities. But by adopting Kisuke¡¯s adjustments, the threshold would be lowered, letting someone with Lieutenant-level strength withstand the process. Not only that, they could retain their reasoning ability, subject to their overall power.

    Aizen was taken aback by Kisuke¡¯s insight. Shortly thereafter, Kisuke submitted a second paper¡ªthis time about Arrancarizing Hollows with a focus on targeted abilities. Previously, Arrancar transformations had been random in terms of which skills got stronger. Now, they could specify which traits to enhance during the process. This breakthrough went a long way toward Aizen¡¯s pet project: engineering Arrancar designed to counter Yamamoto specifically.

    From that point on, Aizen¡¯s attitude transformed completely. He involved Kisuke in virtually every experiment, and they began speaking as equals rather than mentor and disciple. The two of them launched into a prolific joint research venture in Hueco Mundo¡ªintense and unbelievably fruitful.

    However, Aizen soon realized something was off: for the past half year or so, a certain pest hadn¡¯t showed up to pester him. That familiar drawl of ¡°S¨­-laa-mon~¡± had vanished. Kaelith Yurei, that aggravating presence, seemed to have disappeared. Aizen wondered if Kaelith had said something out of line while back in the Soul Society, causing Captain-Commander Yamamoto to detect the hint of treason and throw him in the Muken prison. Unsure, he asked Kisuke to look into Kaelith¡¯s status during his next trip to the Eleventh Division.

    And so here Kisuke was. But upon arrival, all he heard was that wail from inside the house¡­

    He pushed the door open¡ªcautiously¡ªand stepped in, only to find Kaelith plopped down on a tatami mat, staring at a screen with undisguised frustration. On the screen, a muscular woman lay sprawled powerlessly on a wooden cart, being dragged off by a few feline creatures dashing every which way.

    Kaelith was beating his chest in regret.

    Kisuke¡¯s face went blank.

    He¡¯d been genuinely worried something terrible had happened to Kaelith, only to find him¡­ in this state.

    Sensing someone¡¯s arrival, Kaelith glanced over. Spotting Kisuke, he leapt to his feet, delighted.

    ¡°Kisuke! How¡¯d you know today I was planning a no-damage run of this Elder Dragon fight?¡±

    ¡°¡­I had no idea,¡± said Kisuke, expressionless. ¡°From what I see, you¡¯re getting carted by cats, not exactly a ¡®no-damage clear.¡¯¡±

    Kaelith turned crimson and sprang about in indignation.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t count as getting carted! My perfect run got ruined, and there was no point continuing, so I let the cats haul me home, that¡¯s all!¡±

    Kisuke couldn¡¯t stop his thoughts from swirling: If you¡¯ve given up anyway, wouldn¡¯t you just reset¡­? The time wasted by letting yourself get killed is even more than just quitting, right? That shriek you gave sure didn¡¯t sound like a ¡®I¡¯m doing this on purpose¡¯ performance¡­

    Thousands of retorts swam in his mind, but he decided to hold his tongue. Voicing them would only land him in trouble.

    He glanced at the game on-screen and asked instead, ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve spent all this time¡ªthese past months¡ªholed up here gaming?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kaelith answered, quite pleased with himself.

    Kisuke¡¯s eyelid twitched. Taking a deep breath, he leaned in and lowered his voice.

    ¡°You¡¯re someone with big ambitions, Kaelith. Don¡¯t you realize ¡ªhow can you afford to waste time playing games? Never mind anything else¡ªCaptain-Commander Yamamoto is still our greatest obstacle! Until we figure out how to handle him, all our plans are just daydreams.¡±

    Kaelith mulled it over for a second and shrugged.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to whisper. If anyone was eavesdropping, I¡¯d sense them. Kinda like how, those four times you spied on me and Aizen, listening in on our conversations, I was aware each time.¡±

    ¡°F-four times¡­?!¡±

    Kisuke¡¯s thoughts spun. He wasn¡¯t surprised Kaelith had noticed, given his terrifying reconnaissance abilities. But capturing all four eavesdrops exactly? He¡¯d assumed maybe one or two, but all four? That was a shock.

    Now it made perfect sense how Aizen would act so smug whenever he called him out before Kaelith could show himself. This guy was indeed on a different level in certain aspects.

    Setting aside his controller, Kaelith stretched.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry about the old man. I¡¯ve already got the perfect plan.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Kisuke¡¯s brow lifted in interest. If anyone else claimed they had a ¡®perfect plan¡¯ to handle Yamamoto, he¡¯d laugh them out of the room. But Kaelith? That was another matter.

    Under Kisuke¡¯s expectant gaze, Kaelith folded his arms proudly.

    ¡°All I need to do is wait quietly¡ªplay some video games, amuse myself with Soifon, with the Arrancar, with Bambietta¡­ so that while Aizen trains and grows stronger, he¡¯ll eventually beat old man Yama. That¡¯s the pinnacle of our strategy!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡± Kisuke inhaled sharply, forcing down the urge to explode. There was no talking sense today.

    He stood, preparing to leave. But just then, Kaelith¡¯s gaze turned serious.

    ¡°Kisuke¡ªcan you still make that ¡®Tenshintai?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered, reflexively. ¡°With the materials on hand, I can make two.¡±

    ¡°Then I need five. I¡¯ll use them tomorrow.¡± Kaelith extended a hand, splaying five fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of getting the materials. You¡¯ll be pulling an all-nighter, I guess.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kisuke felt a sudden urge to scream. He tried to quell it, then asked, ¡°Kaelith, why do you need so many Tenshintai?¡±

    Tenshintai were tools for Shinigami who stood near Captain class, used to quickly attain Bankai by manifesting and overpowering the spirit form of their Zanpakut¨­. They had stringent requirements and harsh penalties if the process failed. Under normal circumstances, almost no one would want them.

    Kaelith smirked, whipping out a folding fan from who-knows-where.

    ¡°A man¡­ has his secrets.¡±

    A horrifying possibility took shape in Kisuke¡¯s mind. He hoped he was overthinking things¡­

    ¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In a remote plain in the northern 72nd district of the Rukongai stood a small group: Komamura Sajin, T¨­sen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin, and Soifon¡ªall silently facing Kaelith. He had a stack of white, human-shaped boards in front of him.

    ¡°Alright, so that¡¯s the Tenshintai¡¯s function.¡± Kaelith finished explaining. ¡°You four have the power to master Bankai but haven¡¯t made the final breakthrough yet. I¡¯m giving you the chance to learn it now. I¡¯ve explained the risks and the possible consequences of failure. If you¡¯re ready, then step forward!¡±

    No sooner had he finished than all four raised their hands in unison. Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval.

    Standing off to one side, Kisuke felt his pulse quicken. As ridiculous as it was, these four intended to forcibly achieve Bankai today, all at once. The Tenshintai¡¯s manifestation was extremely dangerous. Failure could mean never achieving Bankai for the rest of their life. Out of sheer conscience, he couldn¡¯t help but protest:

    ¡°Everyone¡ªyour natural talent is plenty. If you keep training patiently, you¡¯ll reach Bankai eventually. Using the Tenshintai simply speeds the process, but the risk is huge. Are you really sure?¡±

    T¨­sen Kaname shook his head immediately, undeterred. Among them, his determination to grow stronger was the fiercest. Initially discovered by Kaelith, he¡¯d been just an unremarkable soul, unversed in battle. Through sheer fervor for vengeance¡ªand loyalty to Kaelith¡ªhe ascended to Lieutenant-level with astonishing speed. In truth, even if he didn¡¯t resort to the Tenshintai, he was only a step away from Bankai, likely to attain it within two decades. But even two decades felt too long. The sooner he gained strength, the sooner he could repay Kaelith.

    Ichimaru Gin merely smiled at Kisuke, ignoring his caution. He had no grand revenge or lofty ambition, only a simple wish: to stay by Kaelith¡¯s side. He likened himself to a snake that needed external warmth to survive, and Kaelith was his sun. As long as the sun shone there, Gin would climb toward it, pushing himself to grow stronger¡ªwarmer. He still remembered the taste of that persimmon cake shared on a snowy night, and he¡¯d never forget it.

    Komamura Sajin stood tall. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of any danger, Urahara-dono.¡± Once a wandering outcast, abandoned by his own tribe, he¡¯d found a place to belong thanks to Kaelith. He owed Kaelith everything and would risk it all to repay that kindness.

    Soifon nodded firmly, sparing no words. She was once the personal guard for the Commander of the Punishment Force¡ªand now, the personal guard of this ¡°scoundrel.¡± As a bodyguard, her strength still lagged far behind the man she was supposed to protect. It was disgraceful. Even if she understood it was impossible to surpass him, that was all the more reason not to slack off. The more unattainable the goal, the harder she would push herself.

    Kisuke could only sigh. Nothing he said would stop them now. Resigned, he inserted a Tenshintai into the ground. T¨­sen, brimming with resolve, walked up first and planted his Zanpakut¨­ in the device.

    ¡­

    Evening fell. The once desolate field was pitted with deep scars of spiritual carnage¡ªhuge gouges rent the earth, blackened craters smoked from explosions, leaving the air thick with the aftermath of violent clashes.

    From behind a large boulder, Kisuke said nothing for a long time. All four had succeeded in unlocking Bankai. In the span of a single day, each had surged to a new level. They were undeniably ¡°Captain-class¡± now.

    An uncanny feeling washed over him. The Eleventh Division effectively had four newly-minted Shinigami with Bankai. Add in Zaraki Kenpachi¡ªwho might not have a Bankai, but whose fighting ability rivaled most Captains anyway¡ªand it became flat-out absurd.

    ¡­

    Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t just Kisuke who felt that way. The entire Seireitei reeled in shock. The quartet made no attempt to hide their spiritual pressure during the breakthroughs, and the fearsome waves of reiatsu rolled across the Soul Society. Once people recognized whose signatures they were, they realized all four were from the orbit of the Eleventh Division. And though Soifon wasn¡¯t formally a member, everyone knew she hung around Kaelith.

    In the 1st Division barracks, Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe turned to Yamamoto Genry¨±sai, deeply worried.

    ¡°Head Captain, the Eleventh Division¡¯s strength is becoming far too great. Four newly emerged Captain-level fighters¡ªplus Kaelith himself, and Vice-Captain Kenpachi, who matches a Captain in combat. That¡¯s six ¡®Captain-class¡¯ forces in one Division. That¡¯s more power than a single Division was ever meant to hold!¡±

    Contrary to Ch¨­jir¨­¡¯s alarm, Yamamoto remained unperturbed. Calmly, he continued writing his calligraphy. Lifting the brush on a final stroke, he spoke.

    ¡°Ch¨­jir¨­, you¡¯re missing the other side of the story.¡±

    ¡°Another side¡­?¡± Sasakibe repeated blankly.

    Glancing over with a faintly amused look, Yamamoto turned. His weathered face wore a faint smile.

    ¡°A bunch of ordinary souls, who less than a century ago had next to no training¡ªand now they¡¯re each of Captain rank under that kid¡¯s tutelage. If he can do that with merely one Division, imagine how things might look if he took over the entire Gotei 13 someday.¡±

    Ch¨­jir¨­¡¯s face paled.

    ¡°Head Captain, you¡¯re not implying that your body¡ª?¡±

    It was a natural assumption. Shinigami might live a very long time, but not forever. Typically, a thousand years was remarkable. Those of massive strength, such as Yamamoto or Unohana, could push well beyond that, but eventually even they would age. Now well past two thousand, Yamamoto was surely nearing his limit¡ªwas that what this was about?

    Seeing Sasakibe¡¯s reaction, Yamamoto chuckled.

    ¡°Calm yourself, Ch¨­jir¨­. I won¡¯t be dying anytime soon. At least not before I see Yhwach turned to dust.¡±

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 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279

    2-in-1chapter:

    -----------------------

    Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe¡¯s expression changed the moment he heard Yamamoto mention that name.

    Yhwach¡­

    For a Shinigami of his generation, that name was practically a curse. Nine hundred years earlier, the King of the Quincy, Yhwach, had led the Sternritter to invade the Soul Society, wreaking immense destruction and casualties. Back then, corpses had piled up everywhere, rivers of blood flowing freely. To end the calamity Yhwach brought, Yamamoto had turned into a raging demon, igniting half the Soul Society in a blaze of roaring flames.

    As for Sasakibe, he had abandoned all pride as a swordsman. In the crucial moment of the final battle, he disguised himself as a corpse, hiding in a mound of bodies until Yhwach passed by. Then, he suddenly sprang up and ran him through from behind with a single strike. Sasakibe had believed that Yhwach had truly been finished in that fight.

    Unexpectedly, he had survived, lurking in the shadows of the Seireitei all this time. Whenever Sasakibe recalled that, he felt a chill up his spine. If not for Kaelith stumbling upon them by chance and uncovering their existence, the Gotei 13 would still be clueless. By the time the Quincy grew strong enough and the revived Yhwach led them once more¡­ Sasakibe didn¡¯t even want to imagine how many would die then. Most of the Gotei 13 would likely be wiped out.

    Thinking this, Sasakibe felt a surge of gratitude toward Kaelith. If Kaelith could just keep on being a proper Captain, not doing anything strange, it really wouldn¡¯t be so bad. After all, so long as the Captain-Commander was here, how much trouble could Kaelith actually cause?

    Better not to overthink it¡­

    ¡­......

    ..

    .

    ¡°So¡­ this is the lowest level of the Great Prison.¡±

    Amid the darkness, Kaelith¡¯s figure slowly emerged. He wore a black robe embroidered with gold thread, his face half-hidden by its hood, looking around with interest. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    No light source shone here¡ªeverything lay submerged in shadow. Even the space itself was peculiar. By Kaelith¡¯s senses, it felt barely a thousand square meters in area. Yet if he concentrated, it seemed both boundless and endless. Narrowness and vastness, existence and nothingness, overlapping in contradiction.

    Aizen had once been very curious about this place. After reading top-secret documents in the Daireishokair¨­ that described the Muken, he¡¯d wanted to study it. But the Great Spirit Prison¡¯s guards were unbelievably strict. Unless he spent years parsing out the structure, hypnotizing them one by one, descending to the bottom was impossible. It would have been stuffed with danger¡ªexposing himself even slightly would bring the wrath of the entire Soul Society upon him and endanger his allies as well. In the end, Aizen had let the idea go.

    Now Kaelith had accomplished what Aizen never could. That, Kaelith thought smugly, was true skill.

    He cheerfully produced a camera from his ¡°four-dimensional¡± pocket and began snapping pictures. In absolute darkness, he released a bit of spiritual pressure from his body to illuminate the surroundings. When he finished, he put the camera away. Imagining how deeply grateful Aizen would look upon receiving these photos, Kaelith felt even more pleased.

    ¡°Now then, time to get down to business.¡±

    Before, when Aizen started his Hollowfication experiments, Kaelith had promised to help gather experimental subjects. Ever since then, he¡¯d had his eye on the Muken. The Muken existed for criminals who had committed terrible crimes yet weren¡¯t executed for various reasons¡ªa dark pit the Soul Society used for those they could not simply kill. Most people had no right to be here. Anyone locked in the Muken had once been famous¡ªbefore landing in prison, of course.

    Many of them had been Captains. Though most had lost the power they once boasted, their ¡°realm¡± still remained. They would be perfect for Hollowfication experiments.

    Sure enough, Kaelith soon found his first target.

    A man bound in restraints, slumped against an iron pillar with vacant eyes. His fiery red hair and faint spiritual pressure spoke clearly of who he was:

    Takagawa Shenn¨­, the Second-Generation Captain of the Third Division.

    Long ago, this hotshot must have lost his head to greed. In pursuit of higher noble rank, he had either threatened or bribed many in the aristocracy. Of course, those willing to be bought were scoundrels by nature. Once the Tsunayashiro clan noticed, they swiftly dug out the whole truth. Ultimately, Takagawa Shenn¨­ was hurled into the Muken with an eight-thousand-year sentence. That intense power struggle was basically a dogfight¡ª¡°dogs biting dogs,¡± Kaelith thought.

    Sensing someone approach, Shenn¨­ opened his listless eyes. When he saw Kaelith¡¯s appearance, he looked surprised. Usually, the only ones who came to the Muken¡¯s lowest floor were either someone like the Captain-Commander or uniformed personnel. Kaelith, however, wore a black hooded cloak¡ªhe looked nothing like a normal visitor.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Shenn¨­ muttered.

    ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kaelith said quietly. ¡°What matters is: Takagawa Shenn¨­, do you want to leave this place?¡±

    Immediately, the man leaped up from his slumped position.

    ¡°Want to leave? Of course I do!¡±

    Because he¡¯d hardly spoken for so long, his loud outburst stung his throat, bringing a grimace of pain to his face. Kaelith inclined his head.

    ¡°Then allow me to be clear. I can take you out. But in exchange, you must agree to be part of an experiment. There¡¯s a chance it¡¯ll grant you a new power¡ªperhaps stronger than before. Yet there¡¯s also a high chance you¡¯ll become a mindless creature of slaughter and destruction, or simply die on the spot.

    Even so, do you still want out?¡±

    Shenn¨­¡¯s eyes flickered with hesitation. ¡°¡­What kind of odds are we talking about?¡±

    ¡°Hard to say,¡± Kaelith replied. ¡°Our sample size is too small to yield statistically significant results. We¡¯ve tested only one Captain-level subject so far, and he failed. Almost all his reasoning is gone.

    However, maybe you¡¯ll be luckier?¡±

    ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve got thirty seconds to decide. I can¡¯t linger here¡ªif I stir up trouble, it¡¯ll be annoying.¡±

    Shenn¨­¡¯s expression changed rapidly. An eight-thousand-year sentence was basically a death penalty. Not everyone could live that long, not unless they were a monster like Yamamoto. Rather than spending an eternity slowly withering in the dark, why not roll the dice? Taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth. ¡°I accept!¡±

    ¡°A wise choice!¡± Kaelith clapped, then reached out to grip the chain behind Shenn¨­¡¯s back.

    ¡°H-hey, don¡¯t be stupid¡ªthese are shackles made of Seki-seki (Spirit-Sealing Stone); they seal all spiritual pressure. You can¡¯t just tear off¡ªwha¡ª?!¡±

    In Shenn¨­¡¯s stunned gaze, Kaelith gave a sharp tug, snapping the chain with a loud crack. The once-Captain could only stare in disbelief. Seki-seki restraints weren¡¯t ordinary metal, yet Kaelith had ripped them off with his bare hands as if it took no effort. Just who was this man?

    Fear and excitement warred in him. Perhaps this man¡¯s strength could really help him grow. Based on his demeanor and attire, he probably wasn¡¯t on the side of the Soul Society. Maybe he was another rebel like that Yanlongji group from back then. If Shenn¨­ went with him, he might exact some vengeance on the Soul Society one day.

    He licked his lips at the thought. Though Kaelith had broken the chain, the shackles still encased his wrists. He was about to ask Kaelith to remove them when the ground vanished beneath him. With a startled cry, he sank into the floor as if it were a swamp, disappearing without a trace.

    Having stowed Shenn¨­ inside his shadow, Kaelith turned, addressing the darkness around him.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect anyone to be wandering freely in the Muken¡­ You¡¯ve been watching a while. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you showed yourself?¡±

    It was as if his words prompted a tiny light to flicker into existence. An old-fashioned paper lantern glowed softly. Holding it was a refined-looking man with a reserved expression, quietly approaching. A few meters from Kaelith, he stopped.

    ¡°Eleventh Division Captain¡ªKaelith Yurei.¡±

    ¡°I never would have thought you¡¯d come down here. You, so favored by Genry¨±sai-dono, sneaking into this place to free criminals of the Soul Society¡­ Aren¡¯t you betraying your teacher?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes sharpened with curiosity. This man knew a lot about him. And that was surprising, given how heavily guarded the Muken was. Typically, there¡¯d be no way to exchange information with the outside world.

    How had he learned all this?

    Suddenly, Kaelith recalled remarks from Yoruichi and Kirio Hikifune. ¡°So that¡¯s it¡­ You must be Azashiro Kenpachi.¡±

    ¡°You know me?¡± The scholarly man seemed surprised.

    He looked more like a mage or a wizard from some fantasy novel, bearing no resemblance to a ¡°Kenpachi¡± whatsoever. But there was no doubt: this was the Eighth Kenpachi, once the Captain of the Eleventh Division¡ªAzashiro Kenpachi.

    He had been a noble scion from a lesser branch, whose clan was purged from aristocratic status, leaving many of his kin executed. He had grown up in hardship, training himself into a mighty swordsman. After defeating K¨­yashiki Kenpachi, he became Captain of the Eleventh Division. After that, he promoted a plan called ¡°Spearhead Project.¡±

    The Spearhead Project aimed to transform all souls in the Soul Society into humanoid weapons with combat potential, mass-deploy them into Hueco Mundo, and exterminate every Hollow. At first, the Central 46 had approved it. But the Zero Division soon intervened, ordering a halt. Not only was the project aborted, but Azashiro Kenpachi was labeled a criminal and sentenced to over nineteen thousand years in the Muken¡ªa term even longer than Aizen¡¯s.

    Yet even in prison, Azashiro continued receiving intelligence from outside. His Zanpakut¨­ possessed a unique Bankai that let him merge with all things. During his century in the Muken, he¡¯d slowly spread his reishi outward, fusing them with every street, every building in the Seireitei. Through that, he could glean practically everything that happened there.

    When Kaelith first learned about Azashiro Kenpachi, he had developed a habit: Whenever he discussed secrets with Aizen or anyone else, he put up a silencing barrier. Whenever he engaged in certain activities with Yoruichi, Soifon, or others, he¡¯d even layer on extra wards to block all sight.

    ¡°I don¡¯t just know about you¡ªyou¡¯ve caused me no end of grief,¡± Kaelith muttered with evident irritation. ¡°Thanks to you, I keep feeling like I¡¯m being spied on. Every time I look, there¡¯s no one. Like I¡¯m stuck in some ghost story. Does being a peeping Tom make you happy? It¡¯s time I teach you a lesson about what you can and cannot do!¡±

    A devilish grin spread across his face as he snapped his knuckles menacingly.

    Azashiro Kenpachi was more surprised than ever. Based on Kaelith¡¯s reaction, the man had long since known of his existence and had constantly guarded against him. All those anti-surveillance maneuvers Kaelith pulled¡­ not simply caution by nature, then?

    As Kaelith advanced with slow, deliberate steps, Azashiro murmured, ¡°Stop, Kaelith Yurei. I know you¡¯re strong, but brute force is worthless against me. If you really know my ability, you understand that everything around us is under my control. Oppose me, and you¡¯ll be fighting the entire Seireitei¡ª¡±

    He broke off as Kaelith vanished in a burst of speed, launching a punch at him. Azashiro had no desire to block it head-on. Kaelith¡¯s blows were like cannon fire¡ªpure might that even someone as tough as Komamura would feel. Reflexively, Azashiro hopped backward, simultaneously activating the reishi he had merged into the air. Immediately, the air churned into a taut rope attempting to loop around Kaelith¡¯s neck. At the same time, the ground beneath both of them surged in overlapping waves, trying to snare Kaelith¡¯s legs. Most lethal of all was Azashiro¡¯s attempt to vacuum all air from around Kaelith¡¯s mouth and nose, cutting off his breath.

    He layered the techniques in a single sweeping move. Azashiro had reason to believe that was enough to seal this fight. But Kaelith¡¯s rush scarcely slowed at all.

    He was still coming!

    Watching Kaelith charge in, Azashiro Kenpachi¡¯s eyes flickered with shock. ¡°He¡¯s still¡ª?!¡±

    That was as far as he got before¡­

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 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280

    2-in-1chapter:

    -----------------------

    ¡°Hrah!!¡±

    Under Azashiro Kenpachi¡¯s astonished gaze, Kaelith dashed right up and unleashed a fierce punch.

    Boom!!

    Kaelith¡¯s fist instantly tore through Azashiro Kenpachi¡¯s body. Azashiro¡¯s feet lifted off the ground slightly as he arched backward. Then, with a light crackle, he dissolved into motes of reishi, vanishing into thin air.

    ¡°Oh¡­?¡±

    Kaelith glanced at his own hand, still recalling the sensation of striking Azashiro¡¯s flesh. From the impact feedback, he really had hit something that felt like a human body. But on closer thought, something was off¡ªhis opponent¡¯s muscle density felt too weak, like an elderly man on the brink of collapse. The bones, the skin toughness, none of it resembled a normal person. More like a crude imitation.

    ¡°I see¡­ Some kind of clone technique, maybe.¡±

    Crossing his arms, Kaelith analyzed the situation. That moment had looked a lot like an illusion, but after countless sparring sessions with Aizen, Kaelith had developed a particular ¡°intuition¡± about illusions. Even without focusing too hard, a single glance would tell him if what he saw was real or illusory. He had caused Aizen no end of headaches by countering illusions that way.

    Not far away, Azashiro Kenpachi¡¯s body reformed. A puzzled furrow creased his brow; after a few seconds, he abruptly turned to the side.

    ¡°Be silent!!¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kaelith cocked his head. Was this guy losing his mind after centuries in the Muken?

    Azashiro turned back to him.

    ¡°Kaelith Yurei, your strength surpasses my expectations. If it¡¯s you, I can accept that you truly are fit to be the Eleventh Division Captain. But that alone isn¡¯t enough.¡±

    Azashiro gently placed a hand over his chest.

    ¡°To inherit the name ¡®Kenpachi,¡¯ you must defeat the previous Kenpachi. G¨­suke never defeated me, so taking him down doesn¡¯t make you Kenpachi by default. You, as a swordsman, should understand what that means.¡±

    Kaelith, arms still folded, shook his head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it at all.¡±

    He was already quite satisfied with his own name, which happened to match a certain distinguished teacher in certain ways. The idea of calling himself ¡®Kaelith Kenpachi¡¯ struck him as jarringly off, which was why, despite leading the Eleventh Division for so long, he never bothered claiming that title.

    He was about to say more, but suddenly sensed another presence beside Azashiro Kenpachi. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, ¡°Is there someone else standing by you?¡±

    Azashiro was plainly surprised.

    For two hundred years now, since he first unleashed Bankai, his Zanpakut¨­ had stayed materialized by his side¡ªyet only he could see it. This was the first time anyone else had picked up on its presence.

    Next to him stood a woman in a kimono with black straps across her face. She exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Sh¨­ya, this guy actually noticed me. That¡¯s amazing! See how big the gap is between you and him?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Azashiro gave her a sidelong glance. Kaelith had only felt her presence once, and she was this thrilled. Meanwhile, he saw her every single day, and she never seemed so happy. Annoyed but not surprised¡ªhe already knew how unreliable his Zanpakut¨­ could be.

    He turned to Kaelith.

    ¡°What you¡¯re sensing is my Zanpakut¨­. In fact, until now, you¡¯re the first person to ever notice her. Kaelith Yurei¡­ you are indeed extraordinary. But your actions are steering the Seireitei in the wrong direction.¡±

    A faint lift of Kaelith¡¯s eyebrow: so this man, locked away in the Muken, might actually know something of his plans? Azashiro Kenpachi went on:

    ¡°A Shinigami¡¯s duty is to maintain the balance of the three worlds, to guide departed souls and slay Hollows. In its purest sense, a Shinigami should be like a cold, unfeeling gatekeeper, fixated on that job alone. Originally, the Seireitei never approached perfection, but it did more or less follow that principle¡ªuntil you appeared and disrupted everything.¡±

    His voice grew heavier. ¡°The starkest change, no doubt, is in Genry¨±sai-dono. In the past, he firmly upheld the rules. Even when reluctant, he always treated orders as absolute. Yet through contact with you, he¡¯s clearly allowed emotion he shouldn¡¯t have. That sentiment has begun clouding his judgment and shaking his actions. In the Tsunayashiro affair, he went so far as to clash with the Central 46 and threaten them by force. How can he still deserve the Captain-Commander¡¯s seat?¡±

    Kaelith merely narrowed his eyes, a faint curve of amusement at his lips, but said nothing. Azashiro pressed on:

    ¡°Besides the Captain-Commander, other Captains have also been affected. In the past, the squads rarely socialized; each simply performed its role. Aside from Ky¨­raku, no one cared to hang around other Divisions. Now, because of you, there¡¯s far more interaction between them¡ªCaptains growing friendly with each other and squads forming ties they shouldn¡¯t. This will weaken everyone¡¯s respect for orders. Kaelith Yurei, your wanton ways will someday bring disaster upon the Soul Society.¡±

    He paused for a beat. ¡°That said, you haven¡¯t done only wrong. Without you, the Quincy infiltration wouldn¡¯t have been discovered, and once they gained enough momentum under Yhwach¡¯s revival, the Seireitei would¡¯ve been doomed. Had the Seireitei taken crippling losses from a Quincy ambush, the entire three-world balance might have collapsed¡­¡±

    As Azashiro Kenpachi spoke on, Kaelith simply nodded.

    ¡°Got it. I understand perfectly.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Azashiro broke off, prepared to listen.

    Kaelith cracked a grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re just a complete lunatic with paranoid delusions¡ªa ¡®spiritual capitalist.¡¯ You want your organization strictly bound by rules¡ªno friendships among employees, no talk of salaries, no office romance. You¡¯re more extreme than any compliance department.¡±

    He gave a sarcastic snort. ¡°Face it: you were a Captain working for the Central 46. Yet your head is filled with what¡¯s best for your higher-ups and for the ¡®company¡¯s¡¯ convenience. For a toady like you, it¡¯s odd they locked you up. The Soul Society¡¯s a weird place indeed. If anything, you seem like the ideal stooge they¡¯d want to promote.¡±

    Kaelith scratched his chin. ¡°So tell me again¡ªwhy¡¯d they lock you up? Right, you planned to transform all the commoners into weapons, storm Hueco Mundo, and crush the Hollows? That¡¯s why you were imprisoned?¡±

    Azashiro Kenpachi shook his head.

    ¡°I never intended to flatter the Central 46. I simply believed that plan best fit the Shinigami¡¯s role. Back then, yes, my intent was precisely as you¡¯ve said. But over these many years in the Muken, I¡¯ve realized my mistake and devised a new plan.¡±

    Kaelith brightened. ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°For a long time, I pondered why the Zero Division¡ªwhy the Soul King¡ªdenounced my project. Eventually, I figured it out. Hollows arise from humanity¡¯s negative emotions. As long as humans exist, new Hollows will keep appearing. Even if I marched an army into Hueco Mundo and slaughtered every Hollow, more would just spawn anew. So nothing would be solved, and countless souls would die uselessly. It was indeed flawed.¡±

    Kaelith couldn¡¯t help a little laugh. ¡°Let me guess: now you¡¯re thinking of wiping out all humanity so new Hollows won¡¯t ever appear?¡±

    Though outwardly polite, Azashiro was evidently a dyed-in-the-wool ch¨±niby¨­. Perhaps a middle-aged variant, but still¡­

    Azashiro Kenpachi shook his head. ¡°Although that¡¯s a workable idea, it would destroy the balance of the three worlds. Killing every human means the World of the Living loses the anchor of souls, which leads to its self-destruction. My plan is far more stable¡ªless violent.¡±

    He raised a hand and tapped his forehead under Kaelith¡¯s intrigued gaze.

    ¡°In the World of the Living, there¡¯s a procedure called a frontal lobotomy. Removing the frontal lobe robs humans of most of their desires. Without desires, there¡¯d be no negative impulses to spawn Hollows. If every human underwent that surgery, we could eliminate the root cause of all Hollows. Hueco Mundo would be cleansed and become unnecessary. We¡¯d have only the World of the Living and the Soul Society, maintaining a clean cycle.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, even after a hundred years, I haven¡¯t come up with a swift way to lobotomize all humankind. That¡¯s the greatest obstacle.¡±

    Even Kaelith¡¯s strong nerves were rattled. Silently severing the frontal lobes of all humans to prevent Hollow births¡­? It was something straight out of a surreal nightmare.

    He let out a low chuckle. ¡°I originally thought you a bit twisted in your logic. Now I see you¡¯re no mere schemer; you¡¯re just outright insane.¡±

    Kaelith gave a brief shrug. ¡°I can¡¯t say if humans need lobotomizing, but as for you, Azashiro Kenpachi, your frontal lobe absolutely needs to go.¡±

    On the final word, Kaelith¡¯s eyes snapped wide.

    **

    A shadowy swordsman coalesced at Azashiro¡¯s side, hacking into him. As before, Azashiro¡¯s body shattered and drifted away like scattered reishi.

    ¡°I told you¡ªattacking me is useless. I¡¯m merged with the entire Seireitei. Unless you can destroy the Seireitei itself, you¡¯ll never defeat me. Instead of pointless fighting, we¡¯d do better to have a conversation.¡±

    Azashiro¡¯s voice coolly resounded, ¡°Kaelith Yurei, from my thorough observations, you¡¯re clearly someone who values personal bonds with friends, teachers, and family¡ªyet you give little thought to anyone else. If it doesn¡¯t concern you, you¡¯re indifferent. Wouldn¡¯t that mean my plan causes you no conflict? The humans of the World of the Living are ants to you, so why bother battling me for their sake? With your resources and skills, you could even help me succeed. I¡¯d relinquish all credit, letting you take full glory. Eradicating every Hollow once and for all¡ªsuch an achievement might earn you a seat in the Royal Guard or beyond. Why not consider it seriously?¡±

    He paused. Meanwhile, Kaelith stretched out a finger, tasting the reishi that floated in the air. After a few seconds, Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°Alright. I see what¡¯s happening.¡±

    ¡°See what?¡±

    ¡°That all this chatter is just you stalling.¡±

    Azashiro Kenpachi shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. I sincerely want to cooperate¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough with that idiotic plan. Dwelling on it too long will lower my rank among the top strategists in the Soul Society.¡± Kaelith let out a mocking grunt. ¡°One thing was bugging me: for someone who once casually murdered an Eleventh Division Captain to seize the Kenpachi title, you¡¯re talking an awful lot now. You never showed hesitation or kindness before, so why the attempt at persuasion? Then I realized the reason right after I felt how your reishi scattered and reformed.

    ¡°Azashiro Kenpachi¡­ Your Zanpakut¨­ powers may still function in here, but I¡¯d wager they¡¯ve been heavily suppressed by the Muken. When I shattered your body, all that reishi dissolved into the surroundings, sure¡ªbut that same portion of reishi was forced to coalesce back into the new body. Clearly, you can¡¯t call upon all the reishi spread throughout the Seireitei at once, can you? Not quickly, at least.¡±

    A grim smirk lit Kaelith¡¯s face. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°So if I keep destroying the part of you trapped in this prison, eventually I can erase the real ¡®you¡¯ from existence. The stray reishi you scattered across the Seireitei will revert to ownerless bits, gradually absorbed by walls, floors, plants¡ªwhatever. You¡¯ll become fertilizer. Far more eco-friendly than most Captains, who can¡¯t return to the cycle and must be tossed into Hell. In your case, you subdivided your soul so thoroughly it can rejoin nature once you¡¯re gone. That¡¯s the only reason you¡¯ve avoided detection all this time.¡±

    With that, he tossed aside his Captain¡¯s haori and yanked open the top of his Shihakush¨­, baring his upper body.

    Boom¡ª

    A surge of brilliant blue flames erupted across his shoulders and back!

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 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281

    2-in-1 chapter:''

    -------------------------

    Laughter rang out, bold and boisterous, as Kaelith shot toward Azashiro Kenpachi with righteous fervor.

    ¡°Ze-ha-ha-ha-ha!!¡±

    Fiery jets blasted from Kaelith¡¯s shoulders as he rocketed forward, smashing another fist at Azashiro. Azashiro didn¡¯t even bother dodging; he knew it was pointless anyway. He took the blow head-on and exploded into flecks of reishi once again.

    A second later, his figure reassembled a dozen meters away. He started manipulating the surrounding space to counter Kaelith, only to realize Kaelith was already there, lying in wait.

    ¡°ORA!!¡±

    One more punch. Azashiro burst into fragments once more. Usually, none of these attacks would matter. As long as he could call back the reishi he¡¯d spread everywhere, he could ¡°resurrect¡± hundreds or thousands of times. If Kaelith had any skill, he¡¯d simply have to keep striking forever¡ªsee who got tired first.

    But¡­not here.

    In the Muken, the Great Prison¡¯s bottommost layer, Zanpakut¨­ abilities were severely restricted. Azashiro had spent a century dispersing most of his own reishi outward so that he could monitor the Seireitei more widely. Summoning those pieces back now was far from easy. If he took too many more hits, he might not have enough reishi left to rebuild his body, dooming him to soul-dissolution¡ªjust as Kaelith threatened.

    On the fourth time Kaelith smashed him apart, Azashiro realized this couldn¡¯t continue. Instead of reforming, he caused his remains to drift off in the distance. The Muken was a peculiar space: no light, no sense of direction, even distance felt illusory. If he could just get far enough away, Kaelith couldn¡¯t find him so easily. Kaelith couldn¡¯t stay here long, not with the extreme security of this place. A little delay would force him to leave.

    He allowed himself a slight relief. Then, without warning, he heard a heavy stomp from behind, followed by a towering downpour of spiritual pressure.

    Boom!!!

    It was like the sea pouring overhead, space twisting inside out. A deluge of reiatsu rattled the air so violently that the paper lantern lying on the ground was shredded in an instant.

    Azashiro Kenpachi, horrified, turned his ¡°viewpoint¡± around. He saw Kaelith, arms folded, standing proudly nearby. A column of blue spirit energy erupted from Kaelith¡¯s body, piercing the void above before crashing like heavy rain in all directions. Feeling that mind-boggling power, every prisoner in the Muken¡ªonce fearsome criminals themselves¡ªpricked up their ears, astonished.

    When had the Soul Society gained such a monstrous presence?

    Azashiro attempted to remain in his scattered reishi form, but under the brutal waves of Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu, he lost control. Forced back into human shape, he tumbled across the ground. Gone was his calm, scholarly demeanor; he knelt there, gasping, staring at Kaelith in disbelief.

    Did that man have any idea what he was doing? This was the Muken, the most secure level of the Great Spirit Prison. Entering at all was madness, and now letting loose his reiatsu as if he didn¡¯t care¡ªhe had to be insane.

    Or¡­

    He was doing it on purpose.

    He hadn¡¯t come to stealthily break the rules¡ªhe was here to burn all bridges with the Soul Society and raise a flag of rebellion. The Muken was full of sinners, all once-famous, formidable forces. If Kaelith released them, the Soul Society would plunge into chaos. Not even Yamamoto could suppress so many threats quickly. With Kaelith¡¯s terrifying power, who could stop him?

    ¡°Disaster¡­this is cataclysm,¡± Azashiro muttered. Grimly, he tried to speak up, to accuse Kaelith of imperiling the three worlds. But before he got a word out, a fist blotted out his vision.

    BOOM!

    Azashiro¡¯s body shattered, not into reishi, but into shredded flesh. Agony knifed through him, and he nearly blacked out. The next moment, under the crush of Kaelith¡¯s violent reiatsu, his body re-formed once more in human shape. Kaelith grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground.

    It¡¯s over, Azashiro thought. He¡¯d come forward believing Kaelith might share his ambitions, so he hadn¡¯t tried to conceal himself. What a grave mistake. If he¡¯d stayed hidden, he might have had a chance to alert the outside.

    Now no one would curb Kaelith¡¯s deadly scheme.

    He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for death. Kaelith sneered, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Where¡¯s all that talk now? So my teacher doesn¡¯t deserve to be Captain-Commander, but you do? You worthless blowhard. Don¡¯t clam up¡ªtalk!¡±

    Smack! Fire seared Azashiro¡¯s cheek, snapping his head aside. Startled, he opened his eyes to see Kaelith perched on top of him, grinning fiendishly. Azashiro Kenpachi frowned.

    ¡°You do all this¡­over that?¡±

    Kaelith narrowed his gaze. ¡°Azashiro Kenpachi¡ªbah, I won¡¯t call you that. You¡¯re not worthy. What¡¯s your real name?¡±

    ¡°Azashiro Sh¨­ya,¡± he replied firmly. ¡°And whether you recognize it or not, Central 46 granted me the Kenpachi title.¡±

    ¡°So be it.¡± Kaelith didn¡¯t bother arguing. Gripping Azashiro¡¯s head, he let a surge of blue flames crawl over the man¡¯s skin. The flame¡¯s damage was carefully limited¡ªjust enough to induce raw, unbearable pain.

    Azashiro Sh¨­ya gasped. Within that roaring blaze, Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly.

    ¡°Genry¨±sai Shigekuni Yamamoto founded the Gotei 13, ended countless wars, and forged the Seireitei into what it is today. He smashed the Quincy King Yhwach¡¯s invasion, safeguarded us from oblivion. He established the Shinigami Academy so commoners could rise in strength. He singlehandedly kept the noble houses in check and maintained peace in the Soul Society. He gave up marriage having his own children and even a seat in the Royal Palace¡ªeverything¡ªto protect the realm.

    He gave up on his family and freedom so we could have ours!

    ¡°And you ask what right he has to be Captain-Commander?¡± Kaelith¡¯s lips twisted into a fierce grin. ¡°Because he¡¯s Yamamoto Shigekuni¡ªa man unmatched in the Soul Society! For you to question him¡­ you¡¯re a thousand centuries too early!¡±

    With that, Kaelith flung Azashiro aside. The blue flames licking at his body faded away. One more blow or another second in the fire, and Azashiro Sh¨­ya would have died. But Kaelith had different plans¡ªhe wanted this man alive to hand him over to Aizen for the riskiest of experiments. Someone who could break himself into reishi and merge with the environment would definitely pique Aizen¡¯s curiosity.

    With that thought, Kaelith¡¯s mood brightened slightly. Azashiro lay there, staring at him with complex emotions. Kaelith stood tall, blazing with spirit energy that lit the Muken¡¯s eternal night like a brilliant lamp.

    Azashiro took a deep breath. ¡°Kaelith Yurei¡­ have you forgotten where we are?¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Kaelith paused.

    Azashiro pressed on, ¡°This is the Muken. Your burst of reiatsu would¡¯ve triggered thousands of alarms. I assumed you were initiating a rebellion and didn¡¯t care about the consequences. But from that look, maybe you really did forget?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s face stiffened. The intense flare of his spiritual power instantly subsided like a balloon losing air. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Indeed, the Muken was one of the Soul Society¡¯s most crucial sites¡ªthe apex of secure facilities, no less important than the Final Decree Barricade to NERV, Marineford to the Navy, or Division Nine Research for Kuka. There was no way intruders here wouldn¡¯t face swift, decisive retribution. Even if Kaelith tried to slip out through a shadowy dimension, the leftover traces of his reiatsu couldn¡¯t be erased. If discovered, he¡¯d essentially be forced into conflict whether he wanted to or not.

    As panic fluttered inside him, his instincts blared warnings. A colossal threat was closing in.

    Azashiro sighed softly. ¡°If you trust me, Kaelith, restore a fraction of my power. I can wipe away your tracks. Let me gather and condense these reishi remnants, fix the marks of battle. No one will know you were here.¡±

    Kaelith glowered back at him, disliking that cocky tone. Folding his arms, he snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t need it!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith, this is not the time for petty pride. The clock¡ª¡± Azashiro began, but broke off halfway, eyes widening with shock.

    He sensed a peculiar energy ripple from Kaelith. It was the same unique vibration Azashiro relied on when merging his reiatsu with his surroundings. Sure enough, the earth scorched and overturned by their fight began mending itself, all the cracks and craters reverting as if never disturbed. Meanwhile, the scattered particles of Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu were pulled back into his body, vanishing from the air.

    When it finished, Kaelith smirked at Azashiro. ¡°See? I managed just fine without you.¡±

    ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­that¡¯s my¡­¡± Azashiro stared, mind reeling. Being merged with all matter was his Bankai¡¯s unique property¡ªutterly one of a kind. Yet Kaelith had replicated it somehow. Did Kaelith have a power to copy Zanpakut¨­ abilities?

    Before Azashiro could think it through, Kaelith stepped forward and booted him into a swirl of shadow, then followed in after him. In an instant, they were gone. Darkness returned to the Muken.

    Not long after, a lone figure stepped into the prison: Yamamoto Genry¨±sai, eyes narrowed as he scanned his surroundings. Though the Muken was pitch-black, it hardly hindered his sight. Moments earlier, he had received an urgent distress signal: a powerful reiatsu, ranking around First or Second Class, had been detected in the deepest sector of the Great Spirit Prison, the Muken. Concerned, he immediately hurried over. Normally, even the Captain-Commander needed formal approval from the Central 46 to descend here, but an emergency brooked no delay. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yamamoto¡¯s keen gaze took in everything, expecting to find chaos and destruction. Instead, the Muken appeared undisturbed¡ªno damage, no alien reiatsu. Yet something was amiss. Frowning, he focused. As Captain-Commander, he knew exactly how many souls were imprisoned here and who they were. He had ways of perceiving them even in this warped space.

    Two of them were simply gone:

    Takagawa Shenn¨­, ex¨CThird Division Captain.

    Azashiro Sh¨­ya, ex¨CEleventh Division Captain.

    Yamamoto¡¯s heart sank. He remembered them vividly; they were no trivial criminals. Especially Azashiro: his abilities and convictions could unleash catastrophic chaos if he escaped.

    The old man inhaled deeply, turning sharply to the prison guards who came rushing to stop him.

    ¡°Find Kaelith Yurei and Ky¨­raku Shunsui. Bring them here immediately.¡±

    Startled, the guards glanced among themselves. They had rushed over to block the Captain-Commander¡¯s unauthorized entry, yet here he was issuing orders instead. They tried to protest, but Yamamoto growled,

    ¡°Go!¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡±

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 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282

    2-in-1 chapter: Got  to go soon so early chapters today!

    ----------------------

    ¡°How much is this?¡± Aizen asked.

    Behind the counter, the elderly shopkeeper grinned.

    ¡°Vice-Captain Aizen, you¡¯ve got a good eye. This is our newest model¡ªthere¡¯s not another one like it in the entire Soul Society! Since you¡¯re a regular, I¡¯ll give you my lowest price: sixty thousand kan. What do you think?¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­¡± Aizen thought for a few seconds, then shook his head.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pass for now.¡±

    Even though he liked it, he already had several pairs of glasses. If he collected too many, it would stop being a simple hobby and become an obsessive habit. He disliked the feeling of being controlled by mere possessions.

    Leaving the Sixth Division¡¯s former vice-captain¡ªnow Gin Ginzabur¨­¡¯s¡ªoptical shop, Aizen followed a familiar path and entered Squad Eleven. He didn¡¯t have to search long before finding Kaelith.

    Kaelith was shirtless, with the top of his Shihakush¨­ tied casually at his waist, looking as if he was in the middle of something. Aizen didn¡¯t find it strange: every time Kaelith sparred with the squad members, he¡¯d get so carried away that he¡¯d pull off some kind of dramatic strip-down. If anyone gathered all the discarded captain¡¯s haori he¡¯d tossed aside, it could probably make a massive sail.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± Aizen called from a distance.

    Hearing the familiar voice, Kaelith turned at once. Seeing it was Aizen, he broke into a grin.

    ¡°S¨­suke, you¡¯re just in time! I¡¯ve got a present for you¡­come take a look!¡±

    He beckoned Aizen over and headed inside.

    A gift? Aizen¡¯s eyebrows went up. He couldn¡¯t help thinking of that pair of glasses he¡¯d just been eyeing in the shop. Surely it wasn¡¯t that much of a coincidence¡­

    Feeling a bit puzzled, he walked into the room. Kaelith peeked outside to make sure no one was watching, then shut the door. Under Aizen¡¯s gaze, he snapped his fingers with a flourish.

    In response, a swath of darkness spread out, and two people dropped out with a thump. Both were unconscious, clearly knocked out by something.

    Seeing Kaelith proudly present new ¡°test subjects,¡± Aizen¡¯s mood lifted. If they were just ordinary fodder, Kaelith wouldn¡¯t have been so pleased with himself, so at minimum these two had to be of seated-officer level. Kaelith always had a knack for turning up high-grade¡­

    ¡­Wait a second.

    Studying the pair¡¯s faces, Aizen¡¯s brow furrowed. He stepped closer and righted their heads so he could see them clearly. The moment he recognized them, he drew a sharp breath.

    ¡°Takagawa Shenn¨­ and S¨­ya Azashiro?¡±

    Realizing he hadn¡¯t misread, he whirled around, staring incredulously at the smug grin on Kaelith¡¯s face.

    ¡°These two¡­where did you catch them?¡±

    He already suspected something, but even Kaelith, in all his recklessness, wouldn¡¯t go this far¡ªthere had to be some explanation.

    ¡°I took them from Muken,¡± Kaelith replied with a grin. ¡°True captain-class fighters are too rare. They¡¯re all busy in one realm or another, making it almost impossible to nab one. But Muken is different. There are plenty of captain-level prisoners locked away in there, and nobody pays them any mind¡ªperfect source material.¡±

    Seeing the self-satisfied look on Kaelith¡¯s face, Aizen felt his blood pressure spike.

    ¡°This is absolute madness! Muken is the most heavily guarded prison in the Seireitei. Even if you¡¯re a noble or a captain, if you¡¯re caught, there¡¯s no escape from a death sentence!¡±

    Kaelith only laughed. ¡°Relax. I used my shadow space to slip in bit by bit, then phased up into reality.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡± Aizen felt a headache coming on. He pressed his lips together and took a deep breath.

    ¡°The Central Great Underground Prison has existed since the dawn of the Soul Society. The reason Seireitei was established here is so the prison would always be within sight and under surveillance. Even now, there are countless mysteries about it¡ªespecially Muken. There¡¯s a strict set of protocols for going inside: the route, the necessary precautions, and how to respond to danger. Every guard and anyone cleared to enter memorizes all of it the moment they¡¯re assigned. Do you know why? Because anyone who thinks they can skip all that¡­ends up in real trouble!¡±

    Just imagining Kaelith wandering into Muken with his shadow space made Aizen¡¯s blood pressure climb again. He was going to have to find a way to punish him, or someday this fool would pull something truly catastrophic.

    Realizing that Aizen was on the verge of losing it, Kaelith gave a quick cough. ¡°S¨­suke, you should check on these two. I didn¡¯t use too many sedatives, so there¡¯s a risk they¡¯ll wake up. Especially Azashiro¡ªhe can disintegrate himself and the things around him into spirit particles. If we¡¯re not careful, he might escape.¡±

    At those words, Aizen refocused. Captain-level samples were far too valuable to risk losing. He moved closer and began examining their condition.

    Kaelith smirked. Piece of cake¡ªS¨­suke¡¯s attention successfully diverted!

    Just then, someone appeared at the door with a flash of Shunpo¡ªa member of the Onmitsukid¨­, kneeling on one knee.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith! The Captain-Commander has ordered you to proceed to the Central Great Underground Prison immediately!¡±

    Aizen narrowed his eyes and looked over. Kaelith froze for a moment, then clapped his hands together.

    ¡°Argh! My crime¡¯s been found out! I¡¯m done for!¡±

    He cast a pleading look at Aizen. ¡°S¨­suke, if I really do get executed, look after my two sons. Split my estate between them!¡±

    Aizen sighed. ¡°You have sons?¡±

    ¡°My first is S¨­jun, the second is Seinosuke!¡± Kaelith nodded earnestly, then remembered something else. ¡°Right, and Kisuke¡­ He respects me a lot. If he hears I¡¯m dead, he¡¯ll be overwhelmed by grief and try to follow me to the grave. Stop him, all right? Keep him so busy he doesn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. Work him to the bone if you have to.¡±

    Aizen thought, If you died, I¡¯m pretty sure Kisuke Urahara would be the happiest man in the Seireitei.

    ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t forget Sajin. Remember to feed him daily and give him dog chews regularly¡ªit¡¯s good for his teeth¡­¡±

    Aizen nearly snorted in disbelief but managed to keep his composure. He waved Kaelith off. ¡°Hold that thought.¡± Stepping outside, he closed the door behind him.

    ¡°Did the Captain-Commander say what this was about?¡± he asked the Onmitsukid¨­ member.

    ¡°Vice-Captain Aizen, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know. Captain-Commander Yamamoto just told us to find Captain Kaelith and Captain Ky¨­raku.¡±

    Aizen nodded in thought. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll let him know. He¡¯ll head out right away.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your help!¡± The messenger bowed again, then vanished in a flash of Shunpo.

    Aizen went back in. Kaelith was still in the middle of lamenting his presumably imminent demise. Aizen opened his mouth to explain, then decided otherwise. Two dangerous criminals had just vanished from Muken, and now the Captain-Commander was summoning Kaelith and Shunsui Ky¨­raku¡­ Clearly, the old man suspected the Wandenreich, not Kaelith.

    Aizen figured letting Kaelith fret a bit on the way might teach him a lesson.

    ¡°Captain-Commander Yamamoto is waiting for you in Muken. Go on.¡± Aizen kept his voice level, expression calm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªif you die, I¡¯ll make sure your grave is nice.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡± Kaelith stared at him, shocked. Had Aizen gone off the deep end?

    Feeling a bit out of sorts, Kaelith left for the prison. Before heading out, he swallowed a small pill. According to Aizen, if Kaelith died, that pill would erase every trace of his existence so Yamamoto couldn¡¯t track him afterward. Not that Kaelith really cared¡ªhe downed it with no hesitation.

    Watching him go, Aizen hesitated. Maybe he¡¯d pushed too hard. Hopefully Kaelith wouldn¡¯t scare himself to death before getting there.

    ¡­

    ¡°On a sunny day, the scenery¡¯s fine, red¡¯s so bright and green¡¯s divine¡­¡±

    ¡°I jog along, carefree and proud¡ªmountains far behind, but I¡¯m not bowed!¡±

    Kaelith hummed a little tune as he bounded across the rooftops. His worries about Yamamoto¡¯s summons were gone. If Aizen truly thought there was any real danger, he wouldn¡¯t have let him leave so easily.

    As for that pill¡­ Kaelith didn¡¯t know exactly what it did, but his instincts told him it wasn¡¯t anything harmful. You couldn¡¯t just go by what Aizen said¡ªyou had to compare it with the actual situation. Studying Aizen was an art in itself.

    Cackling softly, Kaelith dropped down in front of the prison¡¯s entrance. Shunsui Ky¨­raku seemed to have just arrived as well. He was frowning gravely, clearly expecting the worst.

    When he saw Kaelith, Shunsui paused. He looked conflicted for a moment but said nothing, simply waving Kaelith over. The two followed the prison guards all the way to the deepest level.

    ¡°Kaelith,¡± Shunsui said quietly, ¡°once we go in, space is going to get really unstable. Don¡¯t wander off on your own¡ªstay by my side.¡±

    The guards had already warned them, but Shunsui knew how he and his little junior could be. He wanted to be sure Kaelith was actually paying attention.

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my good senior. I¡¯ve already prepared myself to ditch you if things go south.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡± Shunsui felt his blood pressure spike slightly.

    They stepped into Muken and found Yamamoto standing in the darkness, his silent figure giving off an unshakable feeling of security¡ªlike as long as he was there, nothing could go wrong.

    Seeing Yamamoto¡¯s back, Kaelith remembered what Azashiro had said before:

    What qualifications does he have to stand in the Captain-Commander¡¯s position?

    Kaelith found himself smiling. That towering presence was qualification enough.

    ¡°Old man Yama,¡± Shunsui began, ¡°what happened?¡±

    Yamamoto looked annoyed, ready to bark at Shunsui for his casual tone, but the moment he spotted Kaelith, he couldn¡¯t hold it in.

    ¡°You fool! Why are you running around half-naked?!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kaelith glanced down. He was still shirtless, his Shihakush¨­ tied at the waist, his captain¡¯s haori nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°¡­¡± Apparently, he¡¯d pulled it off earlier when he fought Azashiro S¨­ya and never bothered to put it back on. He¡¯d done it so often he hadn¡¯t even noticed this time. Now he was left wondering where exactly he¡¯d dropped it.

    Shunsui grinned wryly. ¡°I¡¯m used to it by now. Old man Yama, you often run around looking like that yourself.¡±

    Yamamoto: ¡°¡­¡±

    Once everyone else was dismissed, Yamamoto explained what had happened. Shunsui frowned. It was just as he suspected. The Captain-Commander believed the Wandenreich had made a move down here, and that possibility gave Shunsui chills.

    Kaelith, on the other hand, burst out in anger. ¡°Those Quincy bastards¡­ How dare they? Captain-Commander, the Wandenreich is basically spitting on your authority! Just say the word. I¡¯m ready anytime!¡±

    Yamamoto nodded. ¡°You two, search for any traces of shadow-space activity. If you find evidence that a shadow portal was opened here, report the spatial fluctuations at once so we can try to track it. Of course, this is only an assumption. We can¡¯t be certain the Quincy were responsible. If you find anything else valuable, inform me immediately!¡±

    They acknowledged the orders and moved out. Kaelith summoned Yingda, spreading his shadow space as he searched through the endless darkness of Muken. It was like an RPG cave¡ªhe could only see a small area around him.

    Before they started, Yamamoto had given Kaelith a special tool to guide him back to the entrance. To prevent any prisoners from escaping or attacking them, Yamamoto himself stood guard there. Even in that warped space, he could reach them in five seconds if necessary. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith poked around, peering here and prodding there. Along the way, he ran into a prisoner wrapped in layers of black bandages, leaving only one eye, one ear, and two nostrils visible. The prisoner gave Kaelith a puzzled look, as though sensing a familiar spiritual pressure¡­ Could this be that same person who¡¯d caused all the chaos earlier?

    He paused, then decided it had to be a coincidence. Nobody would be crazy enough to tear up Muken and then stroll right back in. Closing his eye, the prisoner ignored him.

    Kaelith, however, sidled closer. ¡°Hey, buddy. Mind if I ask you something?¡±

    The prisoner snorted. ¡°Has the Seireitei really fallen so low? Sending a young fool like you in here¡­are they trying to get you killed?¡±

    Kaelith just grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. By the time you finally get out, I¡¯ll still be around. I¡¯ll probably outlive you, too.¡±

    The prisoner¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Tch¡­my blood pressure¡­¡±

    Off in some unknown corner, a muffled lament about water and electricity bills being outrageous drifted by, followed by a sorrowful whimper.

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 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------

    The entire Seireitei had fallen into chaos.

    It appeared that the Central Great Underground Prison had been invaded by the Wandenreich, and two high-security convicts were missing. Yamamoto Shigekuni, Kaelith, and Shunsui Ky¨­raku immediately began investigating the scene. That same afternoon, a Captain¡¯s Meeting was convened.

    All captains assembled at the First Division barracks, standing in two rows. Yamamoto stood at the head of the hall and spoke.

    ¡°Shunsui Ky¨­raku, Kaelith Yurei. Report your findings from the investigation.¡±

    Kaelith stepped forward.

    ¡°Teacher, I don¡¯t think the culprit is necessarily the Wandenreich.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Yamamoto raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    Kaelith thought for a few seconds, then shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain¡­¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s face turned grim. This rascal¡ªwhy act clueless at a critical moment?

    But Kaelith suddenly recalled something:

    ¡°That¡¯s right, I just remembered! Didn¡¯t the Quincy use a special technique before¡ªone that completely sealed off their space so nobody outside could enter, and nobody inside could leave? Under those conditions, how could they sneak out to abduct prisoners?¡±

    Yamamoto looked thoughtful. Kaelith was right. According to the intel they had, the Quincy had used a technique known as the ¡®Final Holy Domain.¡¯ Once it was activated, only Yhwach could lift it. That was how they¡¯d managed to evade Yamamoto¡¯s grasp last time.

    After a moment¡¯s consideration, Yamamoto turned to his other, somewhat hapless disciple.

    Shunsui Ky¨­raku stepped forward. ¡°Reporting to the Captain-Commander¡­although the traces were faint, we did detect signs that shadow space was used at the scene. Of all the known enemies in the Soul Society, only the Quincy of the Wandenreich are capable of using shadow space to move in and abduct prisoners like that.

    ¡°Furthermore, the two who were taken¡ªone who once led a rebellion against the Soul Society, and another who led a special project involving forbidden knowledge¡ªboth would be highly valuable to the Quincy if they plan to wage war. Putting it all together, it¡¯s almost certain the Wandenreich is responsible. As for the contradiction that Kaelith mentioned regarding that special technique, I don¡¯t yet know how they managed it.¡±

    Given the gravity of the matter, Shunsui¡¯s usual carefree demeanor was absent. Yamamoto nodded.

    ¡°From this moment, we will treat this incursion as the work of the Wandenreich. Kaelith Yurei, Shunsui Ky¨­raku¡ªyou two will take shifts overseeing the reconstruction of defenses in the Central Great Underground Prison and pursue the Wandenreich at the same time!

    ¡°All divisions, prepare countermeasures against potential shadow-space raids!

    ¡°Second Division, investigate any Zanpakut¨­ with shadow or spatial abilities in Seireitei and surrounding areas. If you find anyone with powers of that nature, arrest and interrogate them immediately!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With Yamamoto¡¯s orders, the great war machine of the Gotei 13 began to move once again.

    Kaelith¡¯s expression turned a bit complicated. The real culprit was now assigned to protect the very place he¡¯d broken into¡ªironic, to say the least.

    Leaving the First Division, Ukitake approached him.

    ¡°Kaelith, don¡¯t let it bother you. Investigations must consider every angle. Even if the Captain-Commander didn¡¯t say so outright, I¡¯m sure he took your concerns into account. Just look at how he ordered the Second Division to search for anyone with similar Zanpakut¨­ abilities. That proves he¡¯s listening.¡±

    Seeing the kind-hearted white-haired man, Kaelith felt grateful.

    ¡°Senior Ukitake, you really are a good person.¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­glad I could help.¡± Ukitake scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Shinji Hirako returned to the Fifth Division and sat down on the veranda outside his office. Aizen walked over, holding a stack of paperwork.

    ¡°Captain, since you¡¯re back, could you please take care of these documents?¡± Aizen asked, shifting the papers under one arm while adjusting his glasses with the other.

    Shinji looked at the files in Aizen¡¯s arms, then slowly let his gaze move upward until it landed on Aizen¡¯s face.

    ¡°S¨­suke¡­this morning, where were you?¡±

    Aizen¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver.

    ¡°Reporting, Captain: At dawn, I was in the training hall practicing swordsmanship. Afterward, I bathed, then handled squad duties. Later, I had breakfast during the Hour of the Dragon(t/n:7:00 AM to 9:00 AM), then returned to the office to organize books and dust the shelves, followed by calligraphy practice. Around midmorning, I went to Gin Ginzabur¨­¡¯s glasses shop, then swung by the Eleventh Division to spar with Isshin Shiba¡­¡±

    Shinji nodded. ¡°All right, I see. Thanks, S¨­suke. Just leave those papers inside.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡±

    Aizen lowered his head politely and stepped into the office. Watching Aizen¡¯s back, Shinji narrowed his eyes. Judging by the timing, Aizen hadn¡¯t been with the squad when trouble broke out in Muken.

    As Aizen turned, his eyes went cold. Shinji, much like Kaelith, had disturbingly sharp instincts. Someone who guessed too much was never convenient. Better for him not to look any deeper.

    Setting the documents on the desk, Aizen left the room.

    ¡­

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, gentler, gentler! Over here¡ªmore pressure, more!¡±

    Inside a particular laboratory in the Kaelith Technology Bureau attached to the Second Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi¡¯s frantic voice echoed. He stood at a machine, tapping rapidly on a console while keeping an anxious eye on Kaelith.

    Kaelith wore electrode-like devices on both wrists, attached to the machine. His spiritual energy raged around him, and several researchers hovered nearby, too scared to even breathe. This was their boss Mayuri¡¯s most crucial experiment: the ¡°Nemuri Project.¡±

    Despite its name, it wasn¡¯t about sleep. Mayuri¡¯s lifelong pursuit was to create a fully sentient artificial life-form. Even by Shinigami standards of technology and long lifespans, it was practically a dream. Since it was just a dream, Mayuri figured being ¡°awake¡± while attempting it was foolish¡ªthus he called it ¡°Nemuri,¡± or ¡°Sleep,¡± reflecting both cynicism and a bit of twisted romance.

    For once, Kaelith could offer meaningful assistance. Artificial life-form research was based on Mod Soul technology, requiring advanced modifications. In the entire Soul Society, Kirio Hikifune understood Mod Soul power best. But enlisting her help was anything but simple. Not only was she Captain of the Twelfth Division, but she was also destined to join the Royal Guard before long. Mayuri doubted he had the clout to drag her away from her obligations.

    So, he turned to Kaelith. In just a few decades of contact with Mod Soul power, Kaelith¡¯s mastery had reached impressive heights. Aside from Hikifune, he was probably the best in the Soul Society at manipulating it.

    After countless means of persuasion¡ªincluding making all sorts of deals¡ªMayuri finally convinced Kaelith to lend a hand.

    ¡°Lord Kaelith, maintain the same output! Keep it stable!¡± Mayuri barked out orders while rushing to fine-tune the machine.

    ¡°Hey, Mayuri, are you sure about this? With me¡ªthis genius¡ªhelping you, we¡¯ve still failed several times. Which attempt is this, our tenth? Or twentieth?¡± Kaelith asked casually.

    Mayuri grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s the seventh! This is the seventh attempt! Are you blind? It¡¯s written in huge letters on the screen: ¡®Nemuri No. 7 Launch Test.¡¯¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡± Kaelith bristled. This painted, freaky-faced man dared to mouth off at him? He¡¯d definitely settle this once the experiment was over.

    All the same, he followed Mayuri¡¯s instructions, keeping the Mod Soul energy steady. Kaelith knew how big the pressure on Mayuri was. Each iteration of the Nemuri Project represented an attempt to create a new life.

    Nemuri No. 1 through No. 4 were early trials and never reached full development. Nemuri No. 5 managed to be born but died soon after, still in an infant state. Mayuri used it as the basis for creating Nemuri No. 6, who managed to survive until the age of two and a half, then suddenly stopped cellular division and died. Mayuri had spent an entire night in silence in the lab.

    Kaelith thought that might be the end of it, but less than a year later, Mayuri had already begun work on Nemuri No. 7. He claimed that this time, he had enough experience to avoid mistakes. Kaelith wouldn¡¯t know¡ªhe¡¯d heard similar confidence from Kisuke Urahara whenever the LSP Series messed up. He was used to such talk by now.

    Working together, they watched a tiny form gradually materialize within a large glass cylinder. Like a documentary on fast-forward, the cells rapidly divided, going from a near-microscopic speck to a blob of flesh, then forming an embryo¡­

    Seeing light flash in Mayuri¡¯s eyes, Kaelith increased his own resolve, channeling Mod Soul energy without reservation. Finally, an infant¡¯s cry rang out, and Kaelith broke into a grin as everyone rushed forward¡ªsome preparing warm water to wash the child, others grabbing towels and blankets to keep it warm.

    Mayuri shouted and fussed over them all, acting like a cranky instructor. Kaelith crouched nearby, watching the scene unfold with an upturned mouth, quietly pleased.

    After some time, Mayuri walked over. Looking down at Kaelith squatting there, he inclined his head slightly.

    ¡°Thank you, Kaelith.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say much. For Mayuri Kurotsuchi, that simple statement was enough to convey how he felt.

    Kaelith waved it off, and Mayuri continued, ¡°I have a feeling this time will be a success. To prove it, I¡¯ve decided to give this life-form a name¡ªsomething real, not just ¡®Nemuri No. 7.¡¯¡±

    Kaelith seemed to realize something, but he kept quiet.

    With a smile, Mayuri said, ¡°Since it¡¯s ¡®Nemuri No. 7,¡¯ I¡¯ll take a homophone from ¡®Nemuri¡¯ and call her Nemu. And because she¡¯s my creation, I¡¯ll give her my surname. ¡®Nemu Kurotsuchi.¡¯ What do you think? A nice ring to it, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes went wide. He stared at Mayuri for a moment, making Mayuri uneasy.

    ¡°¡­Is there a problem?¡± Mayuri asked, confused.

    Kaelith suddenly stood up.

    ¡°Mayuri, I just cast your fortune. Don¡¯t worry¡ªyou¡¯re going to succeed this time. Nemuri No. 7¡ªno, Nemu Kurotsuchi¡ªwill grow up safe and sound. I¡¯ll stake my Zanpakut¨­ on it.¡±

    Mayuri was surprised to see Kaelith¡¯s unwavering confidence. Even Mayuri himself, the project lead, wouldn¡¯t boast like that after failing with No. 6. But for some reason, seeing Kaelith¡¯s firm belief¡ªdespite Kaelith¡¯s total lack of technical knowledge¡ªleft Mayuri strangely assured.

    He grinned.

    ¡°Very well. Then I¡¯ll take you at your word. I promise I¡¯ll make sure Nemu flourishes! And once she¡¯s grown, when I document the experiment, I¡¯ll list you as a second author!¡±

    With that cheerful declaration, Mayuri strode out. He¡¯d never really understood why so many people followed Kaelith so loyally, until today.

    Having someone put unconditional faith in you was¡­surprisingly uplifting.

    ¡­

    In the aristocratic district, at the Kuchiki estate¡­

    Amid the refined, traditional grounds with miniature mountains and flowing streams, a young boy in a white short-sleeved top stood practicing with a bamboo sword on the lawn. Despite dripping sweat, he never let up or broke form, and the unwavering determination in his eyes revealed no trace of laziness.

    This was Byakuya Kuchiki, heir of one of the Soul Society¡¯s five great noble houses. From the moment he could understand the world, he knew he had to work harder than anyone. His grandfather was already aged, unfit for extended combat. His father¡¯s health was precarious, only slightly better than that of the white-haired Captain in Squad Thirteen. As the only male Kuchiki in decent shape, Byakuya felt an urgent need to grow stronger, faster.

    Driven by that sense of purpose, he sped up his strikes.

    Just then, a voice rang out.

    ¡°Your form is off. Focus.¡±

    Startled, Byakuya reflexively corrected his posture. Then he looked up, eyes going wide.

    ¡°Kaelith!¡±

    Seeing the figure perched atop the compound wall, Byakuya¡¯s face lit up with excitement. The visitor shook his head in exasperation.

    ¡°You brat¡­ I¡¯m your father¡¯s ¡®dear teacher¡¯ and a fine elder. How dare you address me so casually?¡±

    He hopped down from the wall. Byakuya was about to run over, but then he paused, staring angrily at someone who¡¯d followed Kaelith down.

    ¡°Damned cat demon¡­who gave you permission to enter House Kuchiki?!¡±

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 Chapter 284

    Chapter 284

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    ¡°Whaaat did you say?!¡±

    Yoruichi dropped down behind Kaelith, landing beside Byakuya. With a wicked grin, she grabbed the boy¡¯s cheeks and tugged them back and forth. Byakuya tried using Shunpo to dodge, but his footwork was like a child crawling when compared to Yoruichi¡¯s skill¡ªutterly useless.

    ¡°You little brat. If Kaelith can transform into a cat, then why am I the only ¡®cat demon¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Kaelith¡¯s not like you at all!¡±

    ¡°Oh? And how exactly am I different?¡±

    ¡°¡­W-well, you just are!¡±

    Seizing the moment when Yoruichi¡¯s grip loosened, Byakuya swung his bamboo sword, darted away from her clutches, and hid behind Kaelith. Once he saw that she wasn¡¯t pursuing, he shot her a triumphant grin and stuck out his tongue.

    Narrowing her eyes, Yoruichi prepared to demonstrate some real cruelty to this cheeky kid, but she suddenly noticed someone behind Byakuya and stopped. A small smirk formed on her lips, full of anticipation.

    Byakuya was still basking in his so-called ¡°victory,¡± until he heard a voice directly behind him.

    ¡°Did I ever teach you it¡¯s acceptable to act rudely to guests?¡±

    He nearly jumped out of his skin. Spinning around, he stiffened to attention the moment he saw who it was: Ginrei Kuchiki, draped in a white, flower-patterned scarf, approaching at a measured pace.

    ¡°Hey there, Lord Ginrei! Have you eaten yet?¡± Kaelith raised a hand, smiling in greeting.

    Ginrei dipped his head politely. ¡°Thank you for asking, I¡¯ve already had my breakfast.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s S¨­jun doing?¡±

    ¡°Come with me.¡±

    Hearing Kaelith mention his father, Byakuya looked puzzled.

    ¡°Grandfather, isn¡¯t Father at the squad barracks?¡±

    Ginrei hesitated, as if weighing how best to respond. Kaelith seemed to grasp something and spoke before Ginrei could. He gave Byakuya¡¯s head a gentle pat.

    ¡°You should come too.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± Byakuya agreed at once.

    Ginrei briefly appeared as though he might object, but after a moment, he let out a small sigh and led the way. They arrived at S¨­jun Kuchiki¡¯s room, where a strong medicinal odor lingered even from outside.

    Opening the door, Kaelith saw Seinosuke Yamada inside, busy with various tasks. Time had tempered Seinosuke; he was no longer the brash young graduate he once was. Years in the Fourth Division had taught him much. He greeted Ginrei with a polite tilt of the head, but the moment he spotted Kaelith, his refined composure cracked into a familiar, mocking grin.

    ¡°Kaelith, I heard you got dragged off to do some real work?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the Kuchiki family said they needed you to cure someone¡¯s rear end or something¡ª¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    If Seinosuke¡¯s hands weren¡¯t full, he¡¯d have slugged Kaelith by now. As the pair traded jabs, a servant showed in another visitor. Aizen entered with quiet elegance, in stark contrast to Kaelith¡¯s empty-handed arrival¡ªhe carried a paper bag filled with fruit. After offering Ginrei a respectful bow, he passed the fruit to the servants.

    Watching Aizen, Ginrei felt a bit emotional. Of S¨­jun¡¯s friends, Kaelith was undeniably the flashiest. But the one who inspired the most confidence, who put people at ease, had to be this young man named Aizen.

    The three who had once trained together at the Shin¡¯¨­ Academy gathered around S¨­jun¡¯s bedside. He lay sleeping, silent and still. Kaelith turned to Seinosuke, who understood at once and carefully pulled back part of S¨­jun¡¯s blanket.

    To be honest, S¨­jun had a rather delicate, graceful appearance, and the way Seinosuke peeled the covers made it feel like there might be something¡­well, interesting underneath. But that was hardly the time for such thoughts. Beneath the bandages wrapped tightly around him, large swathes were stained with blood.

    Byakuya gaped in horror.

    ¡°Father!¡±

    Smack!

    Kaelith flicked his forehead. ¡°Why are you shouting? He¡¯s not dead.¡±

    That finally brought Byakuya back to his senses, and he mumbled an apology to everyone before returning his attention to his father. Kaelith studied S¨­jun as well.

    Lately, all of Seireitei¡¯s resources had been focused on the Wandenreich situation. Under Yamamoto¡¯s orders, they were conducting a new search for shadow-space traces, meaning fewer patrols in the Rukongai. S¨­jun had volunteered to help fill in those patrols. Normally, as part of the Sixth Division (an elite, noble-oriented squad), he wasn¡¯t expected to handle such grueling duties. Because of that, the division¡¯s members generally had solid base skills but far less real combat experience.

    While patrolling, S¨­jun¡¯s team encountered an incursion from Hueco Mundo. S¨­jun sustained injuries protecting local residents, and, being physically frail to begin with, his body relied heavily on spiritual power just to function. The tainted spirit particles from the Hollow infection disrupted that delicate balance, leaving him comatose. Had Gin Ichimaru¡¯s group not arrived in time to slay the Hollows, S¨­jun¡¯s squad would likely have been wiped out.

    Kaelith used Soul energy to check S¨­jun¡¯s condition. Confirming it was serious but not lethal, Kaelith breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Yoruichi, I¡¯m taking S¨­jun to the hot spring for treatment in a bit.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± she said easily. ¡°That¡¯s why we built it in the first place.¡±

    After a quick consultation, Kaelith reassured Byakuya. Under the pretense of needing a bathroom break, he and Aizen slipped out into the hallway.

    ¡°Aizen¡­that Hollow that attacked S¨­jun?¡± Kaelith asked.

    ¡°It was one of my experimental subjects,¡± Aizen answered before Kaelith could press further. ¡°I¡¯d sent it to the Forest of Menos to test some new abilities, but a fluctuation opened a path to the Soul Society. Once I detected its spiritual pressure, I had Gin head over right away, just to be safe.¡±

    He paused, voice calm. ¡°Sorry. My mistake nearly killed your friend.¡±

    Kaelith studied him curiously.

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strange to see you apologizing about something like this, you who¡¯ve always been so cool and composed.¡±

    Aizen cut him off, exasperated. ¡°If you have time to crack jokes, you¡¯d be better off taking him for treatment.¡±

    Kaelith nodded thoughtfully. It really was unexpected. In the original timeline, he suspected that S¨­jun had died in a similar incident¡ªno large-scale wars happened during his era, so the one plausible cause of death would be a Hollow infiltration. Ordinarily, S¨­jun was powerful enough that ordinary Hollows stood no chance. Being physically frail didn¡¯t negate his near-captain-level skill. It would likely take a modified Hollow from Aizen¡¯s experiments to kill him.

    Fortunately, in this timeline, Aizen wasn¡¯t completely cold-hearted. He¡¯d dispatched Gin in time, and S¨­jun survived. Which meant¡­in a roundabout sense, Aizen¡¯s action was also Kaelith¡¯s achievement, right? Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit with satisfaction at the thought.

    Receiving Ginrei¡¯s permission, Kaelith brought S¨­jun to their secret hot spring base for a full treatment. Because of S¨­jun¡¯s special status, Ginrei and Seinosuke Yamada came along as well. As the wounded man soaked in the spring, dark Hollow spiritual energy seeped from his injuries, while the wounds themselves visibly mended at an astonishing rate. Seinosuke¡¯s eyes lit up; compared to this, the Fourth Division¡¯s best medicine seemed lacking. If they could build hot springs like these, it would drastically reduce casualty rates.

    He went straight to Kaelith to propose the idea. Kaelith fell into thought. If the hot springs belonged solely to him, that would be one thing¡­but the knowledge behind creating them in the Soul Society belonged to Yoruichi. He couldn¡¯t simply give it away himself.

    While Kaelith pondered, Yoruichi¡¯s voice drifted over from nearby:

    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind! I¡¯ll send Tessai over to the Fourth Division soon so we can collaborate on building a few hot springs there. But remember, you¡¯ll need properly trained personnel who know the protocols. Mishandling these springs can lead to nasty accidents!¡±

    Hell Hot Springs were incredibly potent, but came with just as many drawbacks. Even the version she and Kaelith used here had been heavily weakened. If someone soaked for too long or at the wrong temperature, there was a risk of serious flesh erosion.

    Seinosuke bowed deeply to Yoruichi, fully aware that the nobility guarded their assets fiercely¡ªparticularly something as valuable as Hell Hot Springs, which bolstered a clan¡¯s authority. Sharing them so openly was no small gesture.

    ¡­

    By sunset, S¨­jun¡¯s injuries had stabilized enough that Seinosuke believed he¡¯d regain consciousness before the night was over. Relieved, Ginrei led his grandson Byakuya back home, having offered sincere thanks to both Kaelith and Yoruichi for their help. Seinosuke also departed soon after.

    Once everyone had gone, Kaelith and Yoruichi sat atop a small hill near the hot spring, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

    ¡°The Soul Society really is a beautiful place,¡± Yoruichi murmured with a smile.

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°In terms of scenery, yes¡ªit¡¯s gorgeous.¡±

    Yoruichi turned to look at him. ¡°Kaelith, you¡¯re planning something big, aren¡¯t you? Something that could shake the entire Soul Society, upending its current order.¡±

    He met her gaze without a flicker. After a moment of silence, Yoruichi smiled.

    ¡°Surprised I noticed? It¡¯s simple. Your whole aura is different than before.¡±

    ¡°My aura?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yoruichi said with a small nod. ¡°When I first met you, you were more noble than any actual noble. You came from the Rukongai, yet you had no worries¡ªeverything rolled off your back like it was beneath you, as if you were standing above the rest of us, looking down with a detached eye. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Cause I just wanted a stable 9-to-5 job" Kelith tought to himself

    ¡°But gradually, you started feeling¡­heavier. I¡¯m not sure what you saw or experienced, but it isn¡¯t hard to guess. The Soul Society¡¯s been rotten for a long time. Seeing a fraction of that ugliness is enough to weigh on anyone¡¯s heart. In time, most Shinigami resign themselves to it, choosing to ignore what¡¯s wrong.

    ¡®I¡¯ve clawed my way out of that muck, so why dive back in?

    I¡¯ll just do my duty and nothing more¡­¡¯

    Even captains end up feeling that way eventually.

    ¡°I used to think you¡¯d do the same.¡±

    ¡°Yet lately, I sense you¡¯ve discovered a new purpose. You¡¯re driven¡ªconstantly moving forward with a clear goal in mind, shining with that determination.¡±

    Kaelith blinked, genuinely impressed. Many of the people who spent the most time around him hadn¡¯t noticed such changes, but Yoruichi had.

    Seeing his surprise, she grinned smugly. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate a cat¡¯s intuition!¡±

    Kaelith rested his hands on the ground behind him, leaning back as he studied the warmth in Yoruichi¡¯s golden eyes. He flashed a grin of his own.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªI am working on something out of the ordinary. Someday, it might not be so good for you. Got any clever ways to handle that, Miss Shih¨­in?¡±

    Yoruichi let out a little huff. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I have a lot more tricks up my sleeve than you think. If you ever hit a wall, you can always come to me for help.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate it,¡± Kaelith replied, smiling. Then his tone turned sincere.

    ¡°Thank you, Yoruichi.¡±

    ¡°Idiot,¡± she teased, giving his shoulder a playful thump. ¡°Stop being so formal¡ªit¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    Basking in the last light of the setting sun, they both broke into laughter.

    That same evening, S¨­jun Kuchiki finally woke. Ginrei personally visited Squad Eleven to thank Gin Ichimaru for saving his son. Spending even a short while in Kaelith¡¯s ¡°bandit den¡± was enough to give Ginrei a mild headache. The Eleventh Division had always been a bit wild, but this was on another level¡ªclearly Kaelith¡¯s influence at work.

    From a distance, Ginrei watched the man perched on a bearskin throne, laughing and drinking with his subordinates, and couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Kaelith was truly someone impossible to define by normal standards.

    ¡­

    After finishing his midday meal, Aizen left the Fifth Division barracks and headed toward Squad Eleven. Halfway there, he paused, feeling as though someone was watching him. But when he continued on, the sensation faded the moment he stepped into Squad Eleven¡¯s territory.

    A slight scowl pulled at Aizen¡¯s lips. Being tailed so blatantly¡­was that meant as a warning?

    If it were because he¡¯d actually done something and been caught, he might feel intrigued by a worthy opponent. But in this case, he truly hadn¡¯t done anything¡ªand yet he was being watched. His own captain must have too much spare time on his hands.

    Still deep in thought, he heard a voice from afar:

    ¡°Vice-Captain Aizen! Good afternoon! Have you eaten?¡±

    Seeing Isshin Shiba waving enthusiastically as he approached, Aizen folded his arms, eyes narrowing as if he¡¯d found the perfect target for his frustrations.

    ¡°Isshin, go do ten thousand sword strikes at the training grounds.¡±

    ¡°...Huh?¡±

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 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Kuchiki S¨­jun had a dream.

    In the dream, he was killed by a Menos while on a mission to protect civilians. After his death, his father placed rigorous demands on Byakuya, and through countless efforts, Byakuya eventually grew into a Shinigami skilled enough to serve as a Captain. Later on, Byakuya married. Because his wife came from the Rukongai, weak in spiritual power and of low birth, the nobles clashed with Byakuya and tried to stop him multiple times. A few years after that, his wife passed away, and Byakuya changed from the lively child he¡¯d once been to a quiet, solemn adult. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching his son, who used to run around stirring up trouble, become so silent and withdrawn tore at S¨­jun¡¯s heart. As he grieved, S¨­jun suddenly realized something: Where was Kaelith?

    With Kaelith¡¯s personality, if he saw Byakuya being bullied, there was no way he would remain on the sidelines.

    But as the dream went on, S¨­jun came to see that something was wrong. Within the Gotei 13, it was as if Kaelith had never existed. The Captain of the Eleventh Division was Kenpachi Zaraki, who had once been vice-captain of the Eleventh. Yamada Seinosuke wasn¡¯t in the Fourth Division¡ªhe worked at a special noble¡¯s hospital known as the Shin¡¯¨­ Medical Bureau.

    Aizen was still the Fifth Division¡¯s lieutenant, but completely different from the Aizen S¨­jun knew. In reality, Aizen seemed distant yet held a sliver of warmth in his core.

    Here in the dream, he was the opposite¡ªcourteous on the surface but cold as ice within, showing no sign of interest or concern over Byakuya¡¯s troubles.

    S¨­jun felt disheartened. He longed for Kaelith to appear from somewhere, to use that defiant swagger of his and pull Byakuya out of this misery. Yet little by little, he realized that in this dream world, Kaelith simply did not exist.

    The previous Eleventh Division Captain was known as Guiyanj¨­, a fierce fighter from the Rukongai who ultimately fell to Kenpachi Zaraki. Even further back, it was Goj¨­ Kenpachi. Nowhere had there ever been a Captain named Kaelith. Yamamoto-Genry¨±sai¡¯s disciples were only Ky¨­raku and Ukitake; Kaelith wasn¡¯t part of that picture at all.

    Time sped by, and S¨­jun¡¯s perspective blurred. He saw Byakuya wounded in some battle while trying to save someone. He saw Byakuya become friends with an orange-haired, spiky-headed boy. He saw Byakuya enter Hueco Mundo, engaging in a flash-step contest with a humanoid Menos and emerging victorious. He saw Byakuya fight Kuchiki K¨­ga to protect the Kuchiki family¡¯s honor.

    Finally, he saw Byakuya fight a Quincy from the Wandenreich. In the fierce battle, Byakuya unleashed his Bankai. It was beautiful, like drifting sakura petals. But somehow, the Quincy took that very Bankai away and turned it against him.

    In S¨­jun¡¯s shocked gaze, the Quincy summoned Byakuya¡¯s Bankai themselves. A tide of countless petal-like blades swallowed him whole. When the wave of cherry blossoms receded, Byakuya was mangled beyond recognition, nothing more than a lump of battered flesh.

    ¡°No¡­no!!¡±

    S¨­jun jolted awake with a cry, gasping for breath, his face pale. Still trapped between dream and reality, his mind was spinning when a gentle hand reached over with a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow.

    Following that slender arm, S¨­jun looked up at his wife. Standing by his bedside, she continued to dab away his sweat while telling the servants to call for a medical Shinigami.

    ¡°S¨­jun, you¡¯re finally awake¡­thank goodness. Did you have a nightmare? Don¡¯t worry. Everything in the household is fine, and the Soul Society is peaceful¡­¡±

    S¨­jun nodded first, then looked up sharply as if he¡¯d just remembered something.

    ¡°Where is Byakuya? Where did he go?¡±

    ¡°Captain Kaelith took him away,¡± she said. ¡°He said you need rest, and Byakuya makes too much noise. It might disturb your recovery, so he took him out.¡±

    S¨­jun froze for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

    ¡°That rascal Kaelith¡­¡±

    Still sitting in bed, he reached out and guided his wife to sit down next to him.

    ¡°Ayako, let¡¯s suppose¡­if things had gone badly and I hadn¡¯t pulled through¡ªah, I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t mean it that way, but just hypothetically¡ªif I were gone and Byakuya grew up only to be bullied by the family elders or someone else, what do you think would happen?¡±

    Kuchiki Ayako frowned slightly, disliking the grim subject matter. But since her husband asked, she thought it over. A few seconds later, a subtle smile crossed her face.

    ¡°If it really came to that, I imagine Captain Kaelith would be the first to object. Knowing his temperament, he might just waltz in and start hitting people.¡±

    She pictured Kaelith storming into the Kuchiki estate, knocking down any elder who dared boss Byakuya around, and couldn¡¯t help smiling. S¨­jun laughed along.

    ¡°Yes, if it¡¯s Kaelith, he¡¯d definitely do it.¡±

    His thoughts now clearer, S¨­jun realized what he¡¯d just seen was no ordinary dream. It all felt too real. Possibly¡­he¡¯d hovered briefly by the banks of the River Sanzu and glimpsed events in another world. In that world, Kaelith didn¡¯t exist. He himself truly did die, and Byakuya suffered that tragic fate, ultimately having his Bankai stolen by the Quincy and cut to pieces¡­

    He sighed, chest tight at the memory. Rising from the bed, he stood on shaky feet.

    ¡°My lord,¡± Ayako said, concerned, ¡°your injuries aren¡¯t fully healed yet. You shouldn¡¯t be walking.¡±

    He raised a hand to stop her. More than anything, he wanted to find Kaelith and discuss what he¡¯d seen. If anything magical or unexplainable happened in the Soul Society, Kaelith was the one he trusted to figure it out.

    Seeing there was no convincing him, Ayako decided to accompany him to the Eleventh Division. Fortunately, she¡¯d learned some footwork as a noble and wouldn¡¯t slow him down too much.

    When they arrived, the gate guard recognized S¨­jun and offered what he probably thought was a friendly grin¡ªbut it came across rather ferocious. He waved them through without question. Along the way, several Shinigami who knew S¨­jun greeted him warmly.

    Ayako was taken aback by their enthusiasm.

    ¡°I¡¯d heard the Eleventh Division despises nobles. When I was young, my father always told me never to go near the Eleventh¡¯s barracks.¡±

    S¨­jun chuckled. ¡°In the old days, that was mostly true. Actually, it¡¯s still basically the same. They¡¯re only this friendly because I¡¯m Kaelith¡¯s friend.¡±

    She paused in surprise. One person influencing an entire division¡¯s behavior?

    Soon, they reached the door of Kaelith¡¯s study. Out of nowhere, Soifon appeared in a blur of Shunpo. At the sight of S¨­jun, she looked surprised¡ªshe knew he¡¯d been taken to the hot spring just yesterday with serious wounds. Though that hot spring was amazing, it still seemed too soon for him to be up and about. Not to mention, that scoundrel Kaelith had snatched the child away¡­now both parents had come knocking.

    As Soifon prepared to open the door for them, S¨­jun raised a hand, signaling her to wait. He¡¯d heard voices from inside. Kaelith¡¯s voice drifted out first:

    ¡°Byakuya, how about it? Any romance on the horizon lately?¡±

    ¡°Romance?¡±

    ¡°You know¡ªfalling for a girl, wanting to be with her, maybe having a kid someday¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course I know what romance is! I¡¯m just wondering why you¡¯re bringing it up all of a sudden!¡±

    Byakuya snapped, sounding offended.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re training every day to be the strongest Shinigami, right? No time to chase after girls?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Byakuya grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m busy. I can¡¯t waste time on something like that.¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­makes sense. No wonder my people couldn¡¯t dig up any rumors. In that case, using you as a reference was pointless.¡± Kaelith paused, then muttered, ¡°Well, you are a noble after all, so a¡­late-blooming relationship would be perfectly normal. Maybe she¡¯s still too young and isn¡¯t even in the Rukongai yet¡­¡±

    Listening to Kaelith¡¯s puzzling chatter, Byakuya peppered him with questions. Outside, however, S¨­jun went rigid, his breathing unsteady.

    A moment later, the door slid open, revealing Kaelith¡¯s face. One hand on the frame, he blinked in surprise.

    ¡°S¨­jun? Are you all healed up already? What brings you here?¡±

    Byakuya rushed up, bowing to both parents. ¡°Father, Mother!¡±

    S¨­jun ignored his son¡¯s greeting, instead fixing his gaze on Kaelith. Under Kaelith¡¯s puzzled stare, S¨­jun asked his wife to take Byakuya out of the room. When the door shut once more, he gripped Kaelith¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Kaelith¡­what did you mean by all that stuff you said to Byakuya just now?¡±

    ¡°What stuff?¡±

    ¡°All that about expecting him to find love in the Rukongai. He¡¯s the eldest son of the Kuchiki clan¡ªthe highest tier of Soul Society nobility!¡±

    Kaelith gave a knowing tsk. ¡°Wow, S¨­jun, I never took you for the type who was hung up on lineage.¡± He smirked. ¡°Sorry to say, but you¡¯re out of luck. I, Kaelith, am a saint reborn, omniscient from birth! I see five hundred years behind me and five hundred ahead. I know the heavens above and the earth below¡ªthat¡¯s me!

    I¡¯ve already calculated that Byakuya¡¯s future partner is going to be some Rukongai girl. If that doesn¡¯t come to pass, it would only be because you, his father, stuck your nose in and messed it all up!¡±

    That last line sounded off, but Kaelith continued, ¡°Whether you believe it or not, it¡¯s fate. Unstoppable destiny! Keh-heh!¡±

    He assumed S¨­jun would dismiss it as raving nonsense. Instead, S¨­jun flushed with sudden excitement.

    ¡°So you had that dream too! You saw Byakuya¡¯s future, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Kaelith gave him a baffled look.

    Without delay, S¨­jun told him everything he¡¯d seen in his near-death dream. Kaelith understood instantly how valuable the information was. S¨­jun had practically glimpsed the real ¡®original story.¡¯ When S¨­jun got to the part about the Wandenreich and the Quincy who stole Byakuya¡¯s Bankai, Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit.

    ¡°Give me details, S¨­jun! In that dream, what kind of forces did the Wandenreich have? What were their methods? How large was their army, and how exactly did they invade? Did Yhwach appear? And how did it all end?¡±

    Taken aback by the barrage of questions, S¨­jun blinked. ¡°Did we not have the same dream? You act like you don¡¯t already know.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s complicated¡­maybe we each picked up a different signal. No time for that, though¡ªtell me everything before you forget!¡±

    But after thinking for a few seconds, S¨­jun shook his head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. In the dream, I could only see things from Byakuya¡¯s perspective. Much of it went by so quickly, and I don¡¯t know those details. I only know that the Quincy Byakuya fought was able to snatch someone¡¯s Bankai and turn it against them.¡±

    Kaelith rolled his eyes. He might not have finished the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, but he¡¯d at least read enough to know Quincy could do that. Still, the vision of Byakuya being shredded by a cloud of blades was disturbing. After all, Byakuya was a top-tier fan favorite in the original storyline¡ªsurely Tite Kubo wouldn¡¯t kill him off so decisively. Perhaps someone saved him afterward¡ªmaybe Inoue Orihime¡¯s S¨­ten Kisshun, or some refined version of the healing hot spring¡­

    Kaelith brushed aside the thought for now and tugged S¨­jun¡¯s robe open to examine his wound. ¡°Looks okay. Mostly healed, but you should still take it easy.¡±

    Even so, the wound was gruesome by normal standards, still seeping a little blood. Before sending S¨­jun on his way, Kaelith warned him not to reveal the dream¡¯s contents to anyone else.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m alive, I won¡¯t let the world you saw in that dream come true,¡± Kaelith declared, patting his own chest.

    S¨­jun smiled. Since Byakuya wanted to spend the day playing around in Squad Eleven, S¨­jun left him there. Heading out with his wife, he mused aloud, ¡°If Kaelith had been a woman, I¡¯d have married him into the Kuchiki family, no matter what.¡±

    Ayako blinked. ¡°Huh?¡±

    Deep in thought, S¨­jun muttered, ¡°But if that were the case, it might not be so simple. Aizen would probably fight me for him, and I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d win. Perhaps it¡¯s better if I were the woman instead¡ªthen Kaelith could become a Kuchiki heir through marriage.¡±

    Ayako: ¡°???¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help a half-exasperated laugh. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re recovering nicely if you can spare brainpower for such silliness. In that case, let¡¯s spend tonight making an effort¡ªmaybe Byakuya can have a younger sibling soon.¡±

    S¨­jun froze, then broke into a smile. ¡°All right.¡±

    At sunset, the two walked off hand in hand.

    Back at Squad Eleven, Byakuya¡¯s indignant yells rang out as Kaelith teased him¡ªbusiness as usual.

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 Chapter 286

    Chapter 286

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    ¡°Bankai!!

    Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­!!¡±

    With a thunderous roar from Komamura Sajin, a massive, armored samurai rose from the earth, towering high above the land.

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    Not far off, Kaelith stood atop a small hill, voicing his admiration. Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­ had changed considerably from the first time he¡¯d seen it. Under Mayuri Kurotsuchi¡¯s direction, Komamura¡¯s Bankai had been modified twice already.

    Normally, a Bankai resets each time it¡¯s used¡ªany injuries it sustained, or modifications it received, vanish once the Bankai is dispelled. But Mayuri had found a way to make those modifications permanent by embedding artificial cells¡ªdeveloped during the ¡°Nemuri Project¡±¡ªinto the Zanpakut¨­, then stabilizing them with Mod Soul energy. In other words, he could remodel a Bankai into anything he wanted.

    Mayuri¡¯s own Bankai had originally taken the form of a centipede-like insect. To facilitate these alterations, he¡¯d integrated the remains of his failed ¡°Nemuri No. 5¡± experiment into his sword, transforming it into a half-insect, half-baby monstrosity. When Kaelith first saw that bizarre Bankai, he was nearly scared off¡ªnot by the Bankai itself, but by the possibility that Mayuri might lose it and blame him. Yet Mayuri was unexpectedly pleased with the outcome, even thanking Kaelith for his help.

    Shifting his gaze back to Komamura¡¯s Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­, Kaelith took in the hulking figure¡ªover a hundred meters tall¡ªencased in black armor. On its left shoulder sat a colossal multi-barreled Gatling gun; on the right, a huge cannon engraved with Kido Corps seals. When infused with spiritual energy, that cannon unleashed a fearsome Kido blast. In a certain ¡°Recollections¡± incident, under Yamamoto¡¯s command, the Kido Corps had once used a Kido cannon to annihilate an entire pocket dimension¡ªits power needed no further explanation.

    Such a weapon had always been restricted by two major factors. First, the cumbersome size made it difficult to transport. Unless the enemy kindly announced its intentions to fight head-on, it was nearly impossible to set up a Kido cannon in advance. But with Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­ carrying it around, that obstacle vanished. The massive giant could simply shoulder the cannon and move anywhere on the battlefield.

    The second problem was the immense spiritual pressure required. Typically, several hundred Kido Corps members had to work together, building up energy just to fire a single shot. However, Komamura possessed spiritual reserves far beyond ordinary Shinigami. If he had enough power to animate a behemoth like Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­, his ¡°blue bar¡± of energy was no joke. In Kaelith¡¯s assessment, Komamura could handle the Kido cannon¡¯s demands¡ªthough in rapid succession, he might only manage two shots at best. Still, that was plenty in most battles.

    As for the giant blade in Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­¡¯s hands, it looked identical to the original form, but that was a mere fa?ade. Against normal foes, hacking away with the sword would do fine. If the enemy proved exceptionally tough, though, Komamura could deploy a hidden trick. A large black canister was strapped to the Bankai¡¯s back, filled with Kaelith¡¯s ¡°Shatter Defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie¡± flames¡ªstored in advance. Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­ could pull a nozzle from its waist and spray those flames. Given that the Bankai itself had fire-type properties, it could guide Kaelith¡¯s flames to achieve more extensive area attacks.

    Yet the most dramatic changes were the numerous small, tile-like plates embedded all over the armor. Developed by Mayuri, these tiles were cutting-edge technology: whenever Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­ detected an attack exceeding its tolerance, those plates could detonate outward, unleashing a shockwave. The shoulders and arms had an especially dense covering of them. Kaelith had vivid memories of Komamura¡¯s Bankai losing its arms¡ªchopped clean off¡ªwhenever it faced a powerful opponent. This time around, Komamura could smile smugly and proclaim, ¡°Your slash may be impressive, but I¡¯ve rigged the spot you¡¯re aiming for with explosive reaction tiles. How will you handle that?¡±

    Just imagining that scene made Kaelith grin.

    Next to him, Mayuri rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

    ¡°Kaelith, I think there¡¯s still room for improvement. This upgrade isn¡¯t strong enough yet.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°See, if we turn both of Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­¡¯s arms into seven or eight tentacles each, with a weapon gripped in every tentacle, wouldn¡¯t that dramatically increase its damage output? In fact, if we add tentacles to its back as well, each holding its own weapon¡­ah, just the thought excites me!¡±

    Kaelith paused, considering Mayuri¡¯s proposal. Then he glanced at him warily.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask first: where exactly would these ¡®tentacles¡¯ come from?¡±

    ¡°Heh, excellent question,¡± Mayuri answered with a wide grin. ¡°I caught several Hollows in the Rukongai that appear to have been artificially altered, each possessing unique abilities. One of them can manifest tentacles out of thin air. If we can reconfigure those¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop right there.¡± Kaelith cut him off with a blank stare. Grafting Hollow limbs onto a Shinigami¡ªeven if just for the Zanpakut¨­¡ªwas far too risky. He wouldn¡¯t let Mayuri use Komamura as a test subject for that.

    Mayuri only shrugged. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. He could always look for some support from Kisuke Urahara. With that man¡¯s curious mind, he¡¯d probably cooperate. Or even Aizen S¨­suke¡­though there was something unsettling about him, that shouldn¡¯t matter in the name of science.

    Indeed, Kaelith¡¯s circle of friends was strangely blessed with talent.

    After a few final keystrokes on his console, Mayuri finished calibrating Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­. Kaelith, unable to hold back any longer, leaped into the air and yelled, ¡°Come on, Komamura! Let¡¯s see what you can do now!¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡± Komamura¡¯s own excitement had been building. He¡¯d been itching to test the full potential of his new-and-improved Bankai. As Kaelith soared overhead, Komamura immediately fired the massive cannon.

    A brilliant silver beam tore through the sky. Even in broad daylight, it lit the heavens so intensely that far-off Seireitei took notice.

    At the Fifth Division barracks, Shinji Hirako lay on the roof, yawning lazily. He¡¯d been busy lately. Though he lacked hard proof, his gut told him his lieutenant Aizen was connected to all sorts of recent turmoil in the Soul Society. Twice he had tailed Aizen, only to find nothing suspicious.

    Glancing at that flash of light streaking across the sky, he clicked his tongue. Unlike Aizen, who was always so secretive, Kaelith relished making a spectacle of everything he did. Hirako couldn¡¯t fathom how a brash fool like Kaelith had become friends with someone like Aizen.

    If his instincts turned out right, and Aizen truly was up to something, how would Kaelith handle it once he found out? He¡¯d never accept it.

    Hirako sighed, picturing the chaos that might bring. He was still pondering that when a voice sounded in his ear. Two or three seconds later, he bolted upright.

    ¡°¡­Got it, I¡¯ll be right there!¡±

    Frowning slightly, he vanished from the roof in a single flash step.

    ¡­

    Ratatatatat!

    A torrent of bullets poured from the Gatling gun, streaking across the sky in dense, fiery arcs. Kaelith darted back and forth with Shunpo, sometimes snatching a bullet out of midair and tossing it aside.

    ¡°You need a faster rate of fire. At this speed, a high-mobility opponent can slip through pretty easily,¡± he commented, momentarily zipping over to Mayuri¡¯s side to offer advice.

    Mayuri rolled his eyes. He¡¯d designed this weapon for foes roughly on Komamura¡¯s level. Kaelith was operating at a whole different echelon of strength. If Mayuri ever built armaments capable of actually hurting Kaelith, he wouldn¡¯t be messing around with artificial life; he¡¯d be mass-producing lethal weaponry for the whole Soul Society.

    He could even call them the ¡°Kaelith-Type Mark I, Mark II¡±¡­

    After trying out each of Komamura¡¯s new weapons¡ªand even taking a direct hit from the Kido cannon¡ªKaelith wore a satisfied expression. ¡°It¡¯s still got some flaws, but it¡¯s miles ahead of the original. A bit more fine-tuning and you¡¯ll be one of the strongest Captains around!¡±

    Beaming at the praise, Komamura looked like he wanted to speak, but just then an Onmitsukid¨­ operative arrived via Shunpo.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith, the Captain-Commander has summoned you to the First Division at once!¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s first thought was that the Wandenreich had finally turned up some new clue. Eyes shining in anticipation, he shot away like a streak of light. Komamura retracted his Bankai, watching Kaelith¡¯s fading silhouette.

    He felt certain that achieving Bankai made him one of the strongest in the Soul Society. But¡­was that enough to repay Kaelith¡¯s kindness? When Mayuri approached to give him a post-test medical exam, Komamura couldn¡¯t help asking as much.

    Mayuri flashed him a mocking grin.

    ¡°A foolish question. ¡®Can I help him?¡¯ is a pointless proposition. In what field, and to what extent? No matter how strong someone is, there are always tasks they can¡¯t handle or simply don¡¯t want to do.

    ¡°If your plan is to surpass that guy in raw power and fight enemies he can¡¯t beat, you may as well abandon that fantasy now. I¡¯ve never seen anyone grow so fast in the entire history of the Soul Society.

    ¡°If you really want to assist him, do it in your own way. For instance, he loves anything fluffy¡ªyou could let him pet your head. He¡¯d be thrilled.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Komamura was speechless. That was¡­some suggestion.

    Mayuri sneered. ¡°What, too simple for you? If you want something more complex, there¡¯s always another option. Kaelith might be tough, but he¡¯s tenderhearted. He can¡¯t always bring himself to do certain things. If you can figure out what those are, and quietly take care of them yourself, that¡¯s the greatest help you can offer.

    ¡°Then again, judging by your brainpower, that¡¯s probably out of reach for now. You might as well start with the first idea.¡±

    Finished with his scans, Mayuri tossed off a creepy laugh and walked away, leaving Komamura lost in thought.

    ¡­

    At the First Division barracks, Kaelith gazed in surprise at the people gathered inside: Yamamoto Shigekuni, Kirio Hikifune, Shinji Hirako, and¡­a white haori floating in midair.

    As soon as he saw that haori, Kaelith raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who just left a Captain¡¯s haori lying around? Do they think it¡¯s disposable?¡±

    Yamamoto said nothing, but he silently questioned how Kaelith dared make such a remark. Of all people, Kaelith had no right to talk.

    Before the old man could respond, the haori itself spoke in an indignant tone:

    ¡°You brat! Are you deliberately provoking me? You know what my ability is, yet you pretend otherwise¡­ Are you trying to pick a fight?¡±

    Kaelith snickered. ¡°Oh? If you¡¯re upset, why not come down here from the Royal Palace and settle it? One-on-one.¡±

    He goaded the speaker without the slightest fear. Kirio had mentioned that members of Squad Zero rarely descended to the Soul Society. The seventy-two layers of barriers between Seireitei and the Royal Palace, not to mention the insane distance, made traveling down and back more troublesome than circling the globe on foot. Typically, only Senjumaru Shutara projected herself here¡ªshe didn¡¯t even use her true body. She simply transferred her consciousness into a ¡°Heavenly Garment¡± stationed in the Soul Society, much like right now.

    Surely she wouldn¡¯t come all this way for a mere verbal spat. But instead of getting angry, the voice emanating from the haori gave a playful laugh.

    ¡°Oh? Well said. Let¡¯s see if you keep that same swagger when we meet in person¡­Kaelith.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s smile froze. ¡°¡­Wait, you really intend to come down here?¡±

    The floating haori swayed as if shaking its head. ¡°No, no. I won¡¯t be the one traveling. You, Kaelith, are the one who¡¯ll be coming up.¡±

    Floating over beside Kirio, the haori continued in a clear voice.

    ¡°By order of the Soul King, three days from now, Kirio Hikifune shall be officially promoted to the Royal Guard. At that time, she will leave the Soul Society and enter the Royal Palace. The Fifth Division Captain, Shinji Hirako, and the Eleventh Division Captain, Kaelith¡­both of you are to accompany Kirio Hikifune as her escorts.¡±

    All eyes in the room widened in surprise¡ªeven Yamamoto looked taken aback.

    Kaelith felt his heart pound. He¡¯d known about the Zero Squad, but he never expected to set foot in the Royal Palace so soon. The question was¡­why him? Shinji made perfect sense as a veteran Captain with more experience.

    But what had earned Kaelith this invitation?

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 Chapter 287

    Chapter 287

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    When people talked about heading to the Royal Palace, Kaelith suddenly recalled the standard for selecting members of Squad Zero.

    A candidate had to have created something that left a lasting ¡°historical footprint¡± in the Soul Society. By that logic, Mayuri Kurotsuchi would undoubtedly qualify someday. Nemuri No. 7¡ªNemu Kurotsuchi¡ªwas such a successful artificial life-form that its value rivaled that of Mod Souls. If Aizen were a normal person, he¡¯d be worthy as well. Creating the H¨­gyoku was nothing short of a monumental achievement, so Kisuke Urahara, as his collaborator, would likely get a pass too.

    And Kaelith? What could he create?

    Thinking about it, he realized one possibility: he could work hard with Harribel, Nel, and the others, have a few children, and become the first Shinigami ever to produce offspring half-born of Hollows. That would definitely be a historic feat.

    No way Squad Zero could ignore that, right?

    Yamamoto Genry¨±sai propped his hands on his cane, considering the deeper meaning. Kirio Hikifune¡¯s promotion was long decided; there was no issue there. But why pick Shinji Hirako and Kaelith for escort duty¡ªespecially Kaelith?

    His Zanpakut¨­ was peculiar, with an unnamed release form. Perhaps Squad Zero sensed that and wanted to see for themselves? Or maybe they were concerned about that incident in Muken and planned to glean more details from Kaelith. Shunsui Ky¨­raku might have been involved too, but being a sly old fox, he knew exactly what to reveal and what to conceal. Kaelith, on the other hand, was¡­less mindful of what he said. If Squad Zero employed some trick, they might pry a lot out of him. Their intentions hardly seemed benign.

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, studying his disciple to gauge Kaelith¡¯s reaction. He saw the young man deep in thought, then flashing a self-satisfied grin.

    What was that smug look for?

    His blood pressure spiked.

    ¡­...

    ..

    .

    ¡°Hmph! S¨­suke, I¡¯ll be leaving in a couple of days.¡±

    In the Eleventh Division¡¯s captain¡¯s office, Kaelith leaned back in a chair, feet propped on the table, sounding pleased with himself. Aizen was by the bookshelf, reading intently, and only gave a perfunctory nod.

    ¡°Where to?¡±

    ¡°The Royal Palace.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Aizen froze for a moment, then looked up sharply.

    ¡°The Royal Palace?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Kaelith lifted his chin.

    ¡°Reason?¡±

    ¡°Captain Hikifune is getting promoted. I¡¯m the escort!¡±

    Again, Kaelith jutted his chin proudly, prepared for Aizen to ask ¡°Why you?¡± so he could swagger and say ¡°Because I¡¯m that strong!¡± But Aizen was silent for so long that Kaelith peered over and saw he¡¯d already gone back to thinking deeply.

    ¡°Ahem, S¨­suke, aren¡¯t you curious why they chose me?¡±

    Aizen cast him a brief glance, then returned his gaze to the pages without a word.

    Kaelith: ¡°¡­¡±

    He felt annoyed. He was mulling over sneaking into Aizen¡¯s lab later to eat up all his tofu desserts. That was when Aizen spoke.

    ¡°This is problematic. To be safe, I advise you not to go.¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. ¡°And your reasoning?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be hard to come up with an excuse¡ªmaybe you were injured during a mission, or had an experimental accident. Anything would do.¡±

    Kaelith let out a dismissive grunt. ¡°S¨­suke, your view is too narrow.¡±

    He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair.

    ¡°If Squad Zero truly wants to harm me, it¡¯s not like they can¡¯t just come in person. I can¡¯t hide forever.¡±

    Aizen inhaled, feeling this was the ultimate insult: being called short-sighted by Kaelith. With a slight scowl, he said, ¡°First, as long as you remain in the Soul Society, you¡¯re under the protection of the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years. Squad Zero is powerful, but from what I¡¯ve gathered, they can¡¯t easily overpower Yamamoto Genry¨±sai. Even if, in the worst case, not even Yamamoto can protect you, you can still flee to Hueco Mundo or the World of the Living. The real world is vast¡ªno matter how strong Squad Zero is, they can¡¯t scour humanity in its entirety.

    Charging into their domain alone is risking a deathtrap.¡±

    Kaelith lowered his feet from the desk and sat up straight. ¡°Fair points¡ªbut I refuse!

    There¡¯s a saying in my dimension: you get only one thing if you retreat, but two if you advance. I¡¯m definitely going to the Royal Palace!¡±

    A vein throbbed on Aizen¡¯s temple. ¡°Kaelith¡­are you out of your mind? The Royal Palace isn¡¯t Hueco Mundo. You can¡¯t just rampage at will. The Squad Zero commander is said to be an ancient being over a million years old, with inconceivable strength. At your current level, you¡¯d stand no chance against him in a direct fight! I won¡¯t let you go. If you persist, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°S¨­suke.¡± Kaelith cut him off mid-sentence. ¡°To achieve our goal, we have to take this step eventually. Until now, everything we know about Squad Zero is from rumors and records. We know almost nothing about their makeup, their strength, their personalities. And from what we do understand about the Soul King¡¯s history, Squad Zero is likely the real power behind this world. If we want to replace the Soul King, we¡¯ll have to topple Squad Zero someday. Once we¡¯re strong enough to challenge them, it¡¯ll be too late to start investigating.¡±

    He smiled and got to his feet.

    ¡°When¡¯s the best time to act? Right now!¡±

    Aizen said nothing. He knew Kaelith had a point. The sooner they gathered intel on Squad Zero, the sooner they could plan. But sending Kaelith off alone while he stayed behind felt wrong.

    Whether as his closest friend or a co-conspirator, they should bear the risks together. Thinking back on all the years he¡¯d known Kaelith, it was always the other man who took the biggest gambles. Sure, Kaelith was the type to charge ahead recklessly, but that didn¡¯t change the fact that Aizen often hid behind him, reaping the benefits.

    He frowned, but just then Kaelith clapped a firm hand on his shoulder. The force made Aizen stumble slightly. Narrowing his eyes, he was about to speak when he saw Kaelith¡¯s bright grin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, S¨­suke. I¡¯m Kaelith¡ªthe one-of-a-kind, unsurpassed protagonist of this age. I can¡¯t die. Even if it¡¯s some hopeless death trap, the main character always manages to overturn fate. Maybe I¡¯ll even snag a few secret techniques or abduct a pretty daughter of a big-shot along the way.¡±

    Startled by Kaelith¡¯s unwavering confidence, Aizen recalled how the same person used to whine at him constantly for help. Without his noticing, Kaelith had grown so much.

    Under that steady gaze, Aizen finally inclined his head. ¡°All right. Just be cautious at all times. If you meet any danger you can¡¯t overcome, surrender. I¡¯ll think of something to rescue you.¡±

    ¡°Hah! Do you know who you¡¯re talking to?¡± Kaelith laughed, shining with an effortless charisma.

    ¡­

    ¡°Teacher, help me!!¡±

    Yamamoto stood at his desk, brush in hand, about to write. Hearing Kaelith bellow from outside, he didn¡¯t even have time to respond before Kaelith burst through the door.

    ¡°Idiot. You seem perfectly lively. Why would you need saving?¡± Yamamoto thundered, gripping his brush.

    Kaelith offered a cheeky grin and rushed behind him, starting to massage Yamamoto¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Teacher, Squad Zero is suddenly summoning me. There must be some sinister plot! I bet they want to lock me up in the Royal Palace to be their trophy boy, given my stellar looks and physique!¡±

    ¡°Watch your mouth,¡± Yamamoto grumbled, cutting off Kaelith¡¯s nonsense. He closed his eyes, allowing Kaelith to knead his shoulders for a moment before speaking again:

    ¡°When you go to the Royal Palace, take care not to mention your Zanpakut¨­¡¯s second ability. Anything about the Wandenreich or shadow-space matter should be pinned on your senior, Shunsui. I¡¯ve already spoken with him. He¡¯ll back you up and confirm the story. I also sounded out Captain Hikifune¡ªshe promised not to disclose your secrets.¡±

    Kaelith quickly agreed. No problem; he was used to dumping trouble on Shunsui. Yamamoto raised one hand, indicating his upper arm, and Kaelith obligingly shifted over to massage that area. He let out a pleased grunt.

    ¡°As for Squad Zero¡­you don¡¯t need to worry too much about most of them. They only joined within the last thousand years or so and still care about the Soul Society. The real threats are two individuals, especially one who might be your biggest danger on this journey.

    ¡°First is Ni¡¯maiya ¨­etsu, Lord of the Phoenix Palace. Dark-skinned, curly hair, fond of wearing sunglasses¡ªyou can¡¯t miss him. His claim to fame is that he created the Zanpakut¨­. He¡¯s exceptionally perceptive when it comes to swords, and might notice something odd about yours. But he¡¯s not the type to dwell on minor details, so just limit contact with him.

    ¡°The other¡­is the Squad Zero founder himself, Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube. He¡¯s existed for over a million years. That puts him in the same era as the original Five Great Noble Clans¡ªsomeone who witnessed the formation of the Soul Society when the Three Worlds were split. For him, defending the Soul King is everything. If he believes you pose any threat, he won¡¯t hesitate to eliminate you. To him, the life of a random Shinigami is nothing more than a bug to squash.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°So he¡¯s basically a violent old codger, kinda like you¡­only he¡¯s protecting the Royal Palace instead?¡±

    ¡°¡­!¡± Yamamoto bristled at the comparison. He smacked Kaelith into the floor with a single palm, then continued:

    ¡°Hy¨­sube¡¯s claim to fame is naming. Everything in the Soul Society received its name from him¡ªplants, furniture, beasts, foods¡­which grants him a unique authority to see the true name of anything and understand its nature. I can¡¯t say if he¡¯ll discover what¡¯s up with your sword. In the best case, maybe your ¡®Yingda¡¯ actually does have a hidden name you¡¯ve just never realized. If that¡¯s so, Hy¨­sube might reveal it to you, helping you unlock new power. If not¡­and your blade truly has no name¡­who knows what he¡¯ll do.¡±

    Kaelith scratched his chin. ¡°Naming the entire world¡ªthat¡¯s awesome. So if I create something new and don¡¯t give it a name, would he just make one up? Or would his power forcibly pull out the name it¡¯s meant to have?¡±

    If it was the latter, Hy¨­sube¡¯s ability was basically the ultimate cure for indecision. Need a name for a newborn? He¡¯d supply the perfect choice. Invented a new product but can¡¯t figure out what to call it? Hy¨­sube¡¯s got you covered.

    It was more efficient than a thousand marketing teams.

    ¡°Focus, idiot,¡± Yamamoto muttered, spotting his disciple¡¯s brain drifting off. In a graver tone, he went on:

    ¡°This trip to the Royal Palace is riddled with danger for you. Since they specifically named you, they must already suspect something. You must be extremely cautious, or you won¡¯t come back in one piece. As a backup, I advise doing what that Shih¨­in girl does¡ªhide your Zanpakut¨­ somewhere and go unarmed. Given your level of Hakuda, you won¡¯t be handicapped too much without it.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow. ¡°But even if I don¡¯t bring my sword, what if Hy¨­sube can sense a problem from a distance anyway?¡±

    Yamamoto was silent for a few seconds. Abruptly, he pressed his hand onto his cane, reducing it to ashes to reveal Ry¨±jin Jakka concealed within. Kaelith looked on, astonished, as Yamamoto drew the blade and held it high, pointing it at him.

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 Chapter 288

    Chapter 288 sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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    Flowing flames flared up along Ry¨±jin Jakka¡¯s blade as Yamamoto gripped the hilt and slashed downward toward Kaelith.

    Kaelith neither dodged nor reacted¡ªhe simply stood there. Ry¨±jin Jakka¡¯s tip swept past, stopping just in front of his chest, and an intense surge of heat poured into him. The rush lasted about three seconds before subsiding. Yamamoto gave his wrist a twist, dispelling the fire as he sheathed his sword once again.

    Curious, Kaelith tugged his shirt open, only to see a flame-shaped mark now imprinted on his chest. After staring at it for a couple of seconds, he jerked his head up in surprise.

    ¡°This is¡­a ¡®Heavenly Master last Transmission¡¯ kind of thing? Did you pass all your knowledge and power on to me?!¡±

    ¡°Old ma¡ªer, Teacher! If you gave it all to me, how will you survive? Do you only have days left? Teacher, nooo¡ªah!!¡±

    Those first cries were heartbreak; the last one was a scream. Kaelith, hands braced against the floor, had to yank several times before freeing his head. He ended up with a ring of floorboard around his neck, like some sort of frilled lizard. Yamamoto couldn¡¯t help feeling a little exasperated.

    ¡°That is a sensing mark, created with Ry¨±jin Jakka¡¯s flames,¡± he said curtly. ¡°If you ever face an enemy you cannot defeat, pour your spiritual pressure into that mark and stall for time by any means¡ªflee, surrender, whatever it takes until I arrive. Even if Squad Zero tries to strike you down, I can at least get you out of there.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened. Of everything Yamamoto had said so far, this shocked him the most. For Yamamoto, duty and the law were paramount. He had once been willing to blind himself to all sentiment just to obey Central 46¡¯s orders¡ªyet now, he was saying he would cross Squad Zero itself to rescue Kaelith.

    ¡°Teacher¡­¡±

    ¡°Mm?¡± Yamamoto arched an eyebrow, somewhat satisfied at how moved his disciple appeared. At Kaelith¡¯s deep sigh, though, an uneasy feeling stirred.

    ¡°I¡¯m truly a sinful man,¡± Kaelith lamented. ¡°Even someone like the Demon Yamamoto has been captivated by my charm, willing to risk turning Squad Zero into an enemy for my sake. Just imagining the entire Soul Society, or even all three worlds, locked in strife because of me¡­my heart aches¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Yamamoto¡¯s blood pressure spiked.

    Outside the First Division barracks, a patrol squad was making its rounds when a thunderous explosion shook the area. Startled, they turned to see a massive fiery cloud erupting from the First Division. A figure hurtled away through the sky, vanishing in the distance.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just Captain Kaelith,¡± someone observed.

    ¡°Pass a message to the engineering team to fix the Captain-Commander¡¯s study,¡± another added. ¡°Everyone else, back to patrol!¡±

    Relieved, they kept walking with smiles, the glow of flames reflecting off the sky behind them.

    ¡­

    While Kaelith was eagerly preparing for his trip to the Royal Palace, Aizen quietly stepped into a certain room. Half of it lay hidden in shadow, where vague shapes could be seen. Aizen shut the door, then turned to those figures. The reflection off his lenses hid his eyes.

    ¡°Kaname, Gin¡­Sajin ¡­Mayuri,¡± he said softly. ¡°And¡­Isshin. Welcome to the domain belonging to me and Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°Domain?¡±

    They exchanged glances at Aizen¡¯s choice of words. Shiba Isshin and Komamura Sajin both looked confused, while Gin Ichimaru and Kaname T¨­sen seemed contemplative.

    ¡°Aizen,¡± Komamura said bluntly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. This place is in the Rukongai¡ªunder Soul Society¡¯s rule. In what sense is it your domain?¡±

    Aizen was about to reply, but Gin interrupted with a quiet laugh.

    ¡°Aizen-fukutaich¨­, all that aside, I just want to know one thing. You told me I¡¯d get to see what Captain Kaelith is really up to. What did you mean by that?¡±

    T¨­sen nodded almost imperceptibly; he wanted the same answer. With everyone¡¯s attention on him, Aizen¡¯s lips curved upward.

    ¡°No need to rush, Gin.¡±

    ¡°The question you posed and the one Komamura asked are really the same.¡±

    He raised a hand, pointing toward the sky. At once, a spatial rift split open behind him with a tear, then yawned wider like a beast¡¯s maw. Darkness welled from within.

    ¡°A Garganta?!¡± Komamura blurted, hand flying to his sword hilt. Mayuri let out a derisive snort.

    ¡°Pretentious. I can open a Garganta too.¡±

    Without rebutting, Aizen simply turned around and stepped inside. ¡°If you want answers, come with me.¡±

    As he walked on, most of them hesitated. The Garganta was a void between worlds; a single misstep could cast one into endless chaos. But seeing Aizen pause and look back, they heard him speak:

    ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, trust Kaelith. I¡¯m the one person in this world¡­who will never betray him.¡±

    With that, he continued onward. The first to follow was Isshin, brows raised, aura determined. Of everyone present, he¡¯d spent the most time with Aizen¡ªlonger even than Mayuri, who conducted frequent joint research with him. Isshin respected and admired Aizen, so even if it turned out to be some terrible deed, he¡¯d stand by him and repay his debt of gratitude.

    Right behind Isshin came T¨­sen. Though he personally didn¡¯t trust Aizen, he knew Kaelith placed absolute faith in him. That was reason enough to follow. One by one, the others stepped into the Garganta. Mayuri trailed behind them, and Gin brought up the rear, smiling faintly while keeping a hand on his Zanpakut¨­, certain that if Aizen attempted anything, he could strike in a thousandth of a second.

    They traversed the dark corridor for quite a while before a pale light appeared. Stepping out, they found themselves bathed in silver moonlight reflecting off white dunes, a haunting glow.

    ¡°This is¡­Hueco Mundo?¡± Isshin said in surprise. Komamura took in the strange scenery, fur standing on end until he looked almost bulkier than usual.

    ¡°Aizen, what exactly do you want us to see?¡± Mayuri asked, eyes narrowed.

    Aizen chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s already here.¡±

    At his words, there was a crackling tear in the air, and a figure appeared in front of them: Starrk of the Three Commanders. Another figure materialized behind them: Tier Harribel, also one of the Three Commanders. Then more and more overwhelming spiritual pressures flared into being. In the blink of an eye, white-uniformed Hollows with swords at their hips dotted the dunes and filled the sky. The sheer weight of their reiatsu made Komamura gasp. Even the weakest among them felt roughly vice-captain level, and quite a few easily matched captain-class.

    This was Hueco Mundo? Could it truly be so fearsome?

    Cold sweat gathered on his brow. He turned to Aizen, who ascended a nearby dune, arms spread wide.

    ¡°I¡¯ll say it once more: welcome, everyone¡­to the domain belonging to me and Kaelith.¡±

    ¡­

    Early the next morning, Kaelith woke from a restless night¡ªhe was too excited about heading to the Royal Palace. He hurried to the First Division barracks, only to be told they¡¯d gather at the Shiba residence instead.

    ¡°Huh?¡± he muttered. ¡°Why Shiba¡¯s place? They¡¯re not about to host some grand send-off, are they?¡±

    He strolled into the Shiba compound with casual arrogance. It was a small courtyard, far less grand than places like Kuchiki or¡­others of similar standing. It was no wonder many nobles privately considered the Shiba name ¡°disgraceful.¡±

    ¡°Isshin! Isshin!¡± he hollered. ¡°Where are you? Can¡¯t spare the time to greet an old friend from the sticks, huh? Relax, we had a good harvest this year¡ªI¡¯m not here to sponge off you!¡±

    At his call, a young Shinigami hurried out.

    ¡°Captain Kaelith!¡±

    Turning in surprise, Kaelith saw a bright, energetic young man with spiky black hair that resembled a hedgehog. One glance, and Kaelith immediately thought of ¡°Kurosaki Ichigo.¡± From that, he guessed the newcomer¡¯s identity:

    ¡°Shiba Kaien¡­ Hmm, not bad. Your reiatsu is at vice-captain level. Must be the noble blood.¡±

    Kaien blinked. ¡°Captain Kaelith, you know who I am?¡± He grinned happily.

    ¡°Of course I do. I even know what you¡¯ll look like once you fuse with a Hollow¡­¡± Kaelith laughed, brushing aside the last part. ¡°Why are you the one greeting me? Where¡¯s Isshin?¡±

    ¡°Uncle Isshin went to the Fifth Division for training. He¡¯s not at home today,¡± Kaien answered respectfully.

    Kaelith made a distracted sound of acknowledgment, then suddenly did a double take.

    ¡°Wait¡ªdid you just call Isshin your uncle?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s the son of my grand-uncle from the branch family.¡±

    ¡°But you two are close in age¡ªare you sure you¡¯re not just cousins or something?¡±

    Kaien gave a wry chuckle. ¡°Rank is rank. Even if we¡¯re nearly the same age, an uncle¡¯s still an uncle.¡±

    Kaelith shrugged. He¡¯d seen stranger generational gaps in families before. Following Kaien deeper into the residence, he finally understood why he¡¯d been summoned there.

    To travel from the Soul Society to the Royal Palace, they had to use a special transport device¡ªa giant pillar known as the Tench¨±-Ren. The pillar itself was nothing fancy. It had room inside for passengers, but lacked any propulsion. To shoot it skyward through the dozens of layered barriers until it landed in the Royal Palace, they needed the Shiba clan¡¯s ancient super-cannon.

    ¡°Tch, what kind of transport is that? If they misfire, won¡¯t we crash into the Royal Palace?¡± Shinji Hirako approached, hands tucked in his sleeves, obviously skeptical. He glanced over at Kaelith to gauge his reaction.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, his breathing quickening.

    ¡°A people-launching cannon? Who¡¯d have guessed the Soul Society had something so entertaining! When we fire off, I¡¯m definitely planting myself by the window to soak in every detail!¡±

    Kaien gave an awkward laugh. ¡°Sorry, Captain Kaelith¡ªTench¨±-Ren doesn¡¯t have any windows¡­¡±

    Kaelith froze in shock, disappointment plain on his face. An enclosed pillar? How was that exciting in the least? Even a gourd stuffed in a furnace for alchemy had it better. His goodwill toward the Royal Palace dropped by five points.

    While he sulked, a white haori came drifting over.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the brash little brat,¡± came Shutara Senjumaru¡¯s voice.

    ¡°And hello to you, Outerwear Auntie,¡± Kaelith replied.

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Furious, Senjumaru whipped the haori at him. Kaelith merely grinned.

    ¡°Perfect timing. My heart aches, so I¡¯m craving a good fight!¡±

    Kirio Hikifune was about to greet them when she saw Kaelith tangling with the haori in an instant scuffle. With a deft maneuver impossible for a human body, Senjumaru twisted around Kaelith¡¯s offensive, snapping the haori tight around his head.

    ¡°Oh? Think blinding me will make you the victor?¡± Kaelith scoffed. ¡°We old Asura warriors won¡¯t fall for that!¡±

    He raised both hands to tear the cloth away, but paused when he heard Senjumaru¡¯s cool voice in his ear:

    ¡°Listen, brat. When you reach the Royal Palace, don¡¯t say or do anything you shouldn¡¯t¡ªespecially regarding the Soul King and the operation of the Three Worlds. If they question you, you must act satisfied with the current order, claim you want nothing more than to protect it. This isn¡¯t really my place to say, but after meeting you a few times¡­well, you¡¯re interesting enough that I¡¯d hate to see you die too soon.¡±

    Before Kaelith could respond, the haori released him with a whoosh, zipping away. Moments later, Shiba Sh¨­ta announced that the cannon adjustments were complete. Kaelith, Shinji Hirako, Kirio Hikifune, and the haori driven by Senjumaru¡¯s consciousness all piled into the massive pillar.

    The Shiba clan joined forces to load it into the giant cannon. With an earthshaking boom, the Tench¨±-Ren shot straight into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.

    Beneath the First Division¡¯s eaves, Yamamoto grasped his cane and gazed upward, watching the pillar streak away, trailing white smoke. The early autumn wind ruffled his haori, and his eyes were dark with concern. Standing nearby, Sasakibe silently observed the man he served.

    Please, let everything go smoothly¡­

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 Chapter 289

    Chapter 289

    2-in-1 chapter:

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    Ascending to a higher realm by piercing the void¡ª

    Back in his original world, Kaelith used to hate that phrase when reading web novels.

    Whenever a protagonist ¡°ascended,¡± it usually meant the story¡¯s power system was out of date, and the author, unable to continue properly, forced a new, higher world into the plot. Nine times out of ten, that was a sign to drop the book.

    But who would have thought that after crossing into this world, Kaelith himself would one day ¡°ascend¡±?

    Was it now the era where gods walked everywhere, and ¡°divine rank¡± was nothing special?

    He gave a weird laugh from the shadows on half his face, sending a chill down Shinji¡¯s spine.

    This guy¡­he¡¯s not planning to stir up trouble in the Royal Palace, right? I¡¯d like to live a few more years, thank you¡­

    As Shinji fretted, the Tench¨±-Ren came to a thunderous stop. Its door opened to reveal the scene outside.

    The first thing that drew the eye was a colossal column floating in midair, like a mighty stake impaled into the sky itself. Simply looking at it conveyed an ancient, dignified aura. Below it, four equally floating circular platforms¡ªeach roughly the size of a small town¡ªdrifted in the air. Under that, an expansive open platform also hung in midair, looking like an arena or something similar.

    Kaelith got the sense the Royal Palace had some kind of obsession with floating architecture. Finally, on the lowest level, there was solid ground, lined with orderly houses. Spirits dressed in yukata or traditional robes walked the streets, chatting and going about their day. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Wait, so they actually have a residential district here?¡± Kaelith muttered, surprised. ¡°I figured it¡¯d just be the few Zero Squad members, stuck here guarding the Soul King in lonely misery.¡±

    Senjumaru stiffened. She was just about to teach him a lesson when another voice spoke:

    ¡°Hmph. Kid, there¡¯s plenty you haven¡¯t imagined yet.¡±

    They¡¯d barely stepped out of the Tench¨±-Ren when they saw a man with a slick pompadour, a long wooden paddle slung over his shoulder, swaggering toward them. His stride looked carefree, but somehow he crossed the distance in a single instant, appearing right in front of them.

    Next second, he flickered to Kaelith¡¯s back, stretching his neck around to peer at Kaelith¡¯s face in curiosity.

    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re that new disciple Yamamoto took in, huh? Hmm. Can¡¯t say you look all that special. Your name is¡­¡±

    He trailed off abruptly, baffled. Kaelith, who¡¯d just been standing there, had vanished from his sight and reappeared behind him!

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Tenjir¨­ murmured, grinning as he lunged once more.

    Kaelith charged without hesitation. In flashes of Shunpo, they flickered around each other again and again, swapping positions so fast they ended up dashing right out of the plaza, heading toward the residential district in a blink.

    Shinji watched them vanish into the distance, wanting to bury his face in his hands.

    ¡°What a pair of idiots¡­ What are they doing?¡±

    Just before Kaelith and Tenjir¨­ reached the cluster of houses, a figure intercepted them with a pulse of spiritual pressure. The shockwave smacked them upward, then sent them flying back faster than before. Spinning a few times in midair, they each managed to steady themselves before slamming head-first into the ground, landing without too much disgrace.

    Tenjir¨­ turned to stare at Kaelith, astonished. This kid could actually match his speed?!

    Back when he became a Royal Guard, people had called him ¡°Thunderbolt,¡± unstoppable in terms of raw speed. Even Shih¨­in¡¯s best footwork was no match for him in a pure sprint. And now, this rookie who hadn¡¯t even been a Shinigami for a hundred years was matching him stride for stride?

    He mentally reviewed Kaelith¡¯s technique. The foundation definitely came from the standard Shunpo taught at the Academy, yet many tiny details were modified. Tiny as they were, stacking them up had produced a qualitative change. On top of that, some bits of Shih¨­in skills were blended in, and there was even a hint of the Hollow¡¯s Son¨ªdo. Countless Shinigami had tried to learn Son¨ªdo, Tenjir¨­ among them, but everyone had failed. Yet apparently this brat had at least gleaned something from it¡­

    Then there was that final flip through the air. The kid¡¯s recovery had been perfect, like he¡¯d been knocked sky-high countless times and learned exactly how to land. Tenjir¨­ almost laughed at the absurd mental image of someone literally getting tossed into the air over and over.

    Meanwhile, Kaelith looked ahead at the figure that had flung them back. Approaching now was a woman of striking beauty with long black hair adorned with gold, draped in a white robe. Most notable of all were the six white, skeletal arms extended behind her. Glaring coldly at Kaelith, she spoke:

    ¡°You¡¯re a lower-world Shinigami, standing before me, a Royal Guard member. Why haven¡¯t you knelt in respect?¡±

    As she spoke, crushing spiritual pressure erupted around them, making the air thick as glue. Every breath felt like choking on sticky lumps, and the vibrating reishi in the atmosphere scraped their skin like tiny knives. Shinji broke into a cold sweat¡ªof everyone present, he had the lowest spiritual power. Though not outright crushed, he was definitely under strain.

    Kaelith scratched his head under the woman¡¯s icy stare.

    ¡°Lady Haori-Spirit, what are you talking about? You¡¯re older than the hills¡ªmaybe your mind¡¯s starting to slip.¡±

    Her face twitched at once. Furious, she turned a betrayed gaze on Kirio.

    Kirio grinned innocently. ¡°Captain, this has nothing to do with me. I never showed him your real form. But he¡¯s always had freakishly sharp intuition. Even if you disguised your voice, I doubt you¡¯d fool him.¡±

    Unconvinced, the woman turned back to Kaelith. ¡°Brat, how did you recognize me? I always descend in the form of a haori, never my actual body. You shouldn¡¯t be so certain it¡¯s me at first glance.¡±

    She¡¯d even changed her tone of voice, hoping not to be recognized. How had this upstart guessed so easily?

    Kaelith blinked, then slapped a palm against his forehead as though suddenly realizing something.

    ¡°Oh, so that weird posturing just now was because you thought I didn¡¯t know who you were? Hah, so naive¡­way too naive!¡±

    Folding his arms, he looked smugly skyward.

    ¡°When you come down in the form of a haori, you aren¡¯t literally just a floating garment. You manifest a transparent body ¡®wearing¡¯ that clothing. Having seen it a few times, I could infer your body¡¯s outline from the contours of the cloth in contact. Thus, in my mind, I knew your figure.¡±

    Shutara stared, stunned. ¡°So, all that time¡­your mind was¡­¡±

    ¡°Precisely. Every time I ran into you in that floating haori state, I mentally pictured the body inside! Sure, it wasn¡¯t until today I bothered to fill in your facial details, but your figure? Been there, done that. In my eyes, no matter how you alter your appearance, you might as well be naked!¡± He burst out laughing.

    Her blood pressure spiked. With a wave of her six skeletal arms, she lunged for him.

    ¡°Perfect timing!¡± Kaelith crowed. ¡°Let¡¯s finish that fight we started!¡±

    He tossed aside his captain¡¯s haori and leaped to meet her. Shinji could only stare, the corner of his eye twitching.

    Great¡­they¡¯d only just arrived, and he¡¯d already brawled with two Zero Squad members. Was this really supposed to be an escort mission instead of a total fiasco?

    Within seconds, Kaelith and Shutara exchanged over a dozen blows. Fists, arms, and blasts pounded the air in a dizzying barrage.

    In midair, Kaelith braced himself, luminous sparks darting across his skin as he compressed his reishi to the extreme. Shutara¡¯s six arms, reminiscent of a multi-limbed deity, each held a deadly Kido. Enhanced by her terrifying spiritual power, they smashed into his defenses near-simultaneously, almost like a sixfold strike.

    Kaelith felt a stab of pain jolt through his bones, which only heightened his excitement. As expected of the Royal Guard¡ªeven a clothier packed a terrifying punch. Twisting his torso, he slammed a right hook into one of Shutara¡¯s arms before she could withdraw it.

    Crack!

    Her eyes widened in shock. He¡¯d actually snapped one of her skeletal limbs. This kid¡­he was even stronger than she had predicted. Shutara had only intended to show him how formidable a body enhanced by the Soul King could be, to warn him against reckless ambitions. She never expected Kaelith¡¯s physical strength to match hers so closely.

    Just who was putting pressure on whom?

    Seeing an opening, Kaelith pressed in for a follow-up. Laughing coldly, Shutara decided to get serious. She hadn¡¯t wanted to reveal too much, but if he was going to keep pushing, she¡¯d show him exactly why she was in the Royal Guard.

    Controlling four of her arms to counter and parry, she freed up a fifth for something more devious: a simple embroidery needle, trailing the faintest thread of spiritual silk behind it. She aimed the tip at Kaelith¡¯s uniform, using her ability¡ª¡°Supreme Garment¡±¡ªto silently re-stitch the target¡¯s clothing, transforming it into her own ¡°Heavenly Fabric.¡± Once done, she¡¯d have complete dominion over his uniform. She could constrict him, or fill it with spikes like an iron maiden.

    That¡¯d be enough to teach him a well-placed lesson¡ªno need to go overboard.

    Smiling to herself, she imagined Kaelith shrieking as his outfit ripped apart mid-battle, leaving him flailing. But the instant her needle neared its mark, he abruptly leaped backward, putting distance between them.

    Shutara blinked, thrown off. Kaelith merely grinned.

    ¡°Nice moves, Auntie Haori. Even though you¡¯re just a tailor, you pack a punch. In that case, I¡¯ll get serious too!¡±

    He let out a loud shout, grasping his uniform collar in both hands and yanking it apart. The top half of his Shihakush¨­ tore open, baring his muscular torso.

    Shutara¡¯s eye twitched. Usually, ¡°getting serious¡± meant unveiling some technique, not¡­stripping.

    With a burst of speed, Kaelith re-engaged. Shutara scowled. Could he at least keep some decency? She braced herself, blocking every blow while busily reworking the discarded half of his uniform. That chunk of cloth was now wholly under her control¡ªtime for payback.

    But as she prepared to manipulate it, Kaelith suddenly frowned and glanced down at his remaining clothes.

    ¡°This uniform¡­ Ugh, feels so annoying. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±

    He gave a swift tug, ripping away exactly the spot she¡¯d painstakingly stitched together. Then he simply tossed it aside.

    Shutara gaped. All the weaving she¡¯d just done, gone in one yank¡­ Did he do that on purpose, or was it sheer coincidence? It was impossible to tell. She felt a faint headache. How was it that every time she set him up, he dodged the bullet in the most bizarre ways?

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 Chapter 290

    Chapter 290

    2-in-1 chapter: Beffy chapters today!

    -----------------------

    With fury in her heart, Senjumaru brandished her embroidery needle, swiftly reworking Kaelith¡¯s clothing.

    Each time she finished altering a portion, Kaelith would abruptly tear it off in one of his unpredictable fits. In the blink of an eye, hardly any fabric remained on him, while Senjumaru was on the verge of a blood-pressure meltdown.

    She stared at the last shred of cloth covering Kaelith¡¯s lower half and paused in thought. Wait a moment¡­ Hadn¡¯t her original plan been to make him strip in front of everyone, leaving him humiliated?

    At this point, wasn¡¯t her goal already achieved?

    Her gaze drifted upward¡ªfrom his abs, to his chest, to that triumphant grin. He¡¯d practically lost all his clothes, yet he still looked so pleased with himself. Did he have no shame whatsoever?

    Senjumaru suddenly felt too weary to continue. This fight served no purpose anymore. Flipping her wrist, she enlarged her embroidery needle into a kunai-like weapon, slashing a wide arc. While Kaelith dodged, she pulled back and waved a hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m done¡ªI refuse to keep at this! I¡¯m a lady and won¡¯t fuss over a beastly brute!¡±

    With that, she flickered down to the ground, where Kirio Hikifune greeted her with a laugh, patting the dust from her sleeves.

    ¡°Captain, that was an impressive showing! Being in the Royal Palace has heightened your strength yet again!¡±

    Senjumaru gave a faint smile. ¡°Kirio, from now on, we¡¯re both in Squad Zero. There¡¯s no need to call me Captain. Just use my name from here on.¡±

    ¡°All right, Captain!¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡­¡±

    Staring at her former subordinate¡¯s smiling face, Senjumaru felt a headache brewing. Could this girl have caught ¡°the Kaelith virus¡±?

    While she was frowning, there came the sound of clapping.

    ¡°Marvelous, marvelous! As expected of Yamamoto¡¯s favored disciple¡ªso young, yet already able to trade blows with Senjumaru, and such Shunpo skill! Who knows how far you¡¯ll go given time!¡±

    Following the hearty praise, Kaelith glanced over. Two Shinigami had arrived at some point, and he only sensed them in the instant they spoke¡ªhis Soul domain picked up nothing prior. The one standing in front was a burly monk with bright eyes and folded arms, chin held high and proud. One look and Kaelith blurted:

    ¡°Buff Master Roshi?¡±

    Bald head, messy beard, and such a hulking figure¡­ He¡¯d look the part if he were carrying an iron turtle shell. Hearing Kaelith¡¯s remark, the monk scratched his head.

    ¡°Roshi¡­who now? Not sure who that is, but you must¡¯ve mistaken me for somebody else, haha!¡±

    He laughed robustly. Despite his oppressive aura, there was no hostility. If anything, he seemed quite friendly toward them. Behind him stood a dark-skinned man with curled hair and sunglasses, wearing a captain¡¯s haori refashioned into a jacket. Beyond doubt, these were the two individuals Yamamoto had warned Kaelith about:

    The "God of the Sword,¡± Nimaiya ¨­etsu.

    And Squad Zero¡¯s leader, Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube.

    The burly monk strode forward, calling loudly: S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Welcome, all of you, to the Royal Palace! Kirio Hikifune, your personal domain is ready¡ªI¡¯ll raise it for you now!¡±

    He glanced at the four large floating platforms overhead, made a slight lifting motion, and they rearranged from their original positions into a tighter formation. Then, a new platform rose from below, taking its place among them so that five platforms were arranged like a star.

    ¡°Kirio, from now on, that¡¯s your own personal ¡®detached palace.¡¯ If you need buildings added or removed, just let the ¡®Divine Soldiers¡¯ know, and they¡¯ll handle it as quickly as possible. If you want residents, you can pick people from the district below. For them, living on a Squad Zero platform is a tremendous honor! Also, if you come up with a name for your domain, just tell me. I¡¯ll handle the ¡®naming¡¯!¡±

    Kaelith frowned slightly at the mention of naming. Just then, a cheerful voice piped up beside him:

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, little bro?¡± Before Kaelith could turn around, someone slid smoothly into view, arms swaying like a rapper¡¯s. It was the dark-skinned man with sunglasses. He snapped his fingers in a quick beat:

    ¡°Six! Five! Four! Three!

    Nimaiya ¨­etsu!

    I¡¯m the Squad Zero¡¯s top idol!

    The forging king of Zanpakut¨­!

    If you got troubles, just tell me so!¡±

    Kaelith stared for two seconds, then raised both hands:

    ¡°Seven! Six! Five! Four!

    Kaelith Yurei!

    I¡¯m the most popular Shinigami across Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Human World!

    If you can¡¯t speak a word, come find me¡ªI¡¯ll teach you how!¡±

    Nimaiya: ¡°¡­?¡±

    He froze, momentarily stunned by Kaelith¡¯s freestyle comeback. Standing off to one side, Senjumaru looked downright conflicted. It was her first time seeing anyone steal Nimaiya¡¯s spotlight in such a direct way. Part of her found it satisfying; part of her found it exasperating.

    Recovering from the shock, Nimaiya cracked a grin. ¡°Dude, you¡¯re something else! All that skill you showed¡ªdid you learn it from Yamamoto? If you¡¯ve got time, come hang at my Phoenix Palace so we can chill¡ªhm?¡±

    Mid-sentence, he abruptly eyed the sword at Kaelith¡¯s waist. He bent down to stare at it, then tilted his head as though listening. After a few moments, he stood back up, looking at Kaelith with a complicated expression.

    ¡°Bro, that Zanpakut¨­ of yours¡­ It¡¯s got a real attitude.¡±

    ¡°You can hear it talking?¡± Kaelith asked curiously. From what he knew, Nimaiya¡¯s authority over Zanpakut¨­ was considerable, but the notion of him hearing a blade without manifested form was still surprising.

    Nimaiya hesitated, then nodded. Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit. ¡°So what did it say?¡±

    He recalled how some Shinigami hardly cared about their blades¡ªlike Yamamoto, who used Ry¨±jin Jakka to heat tea or roast sweet potatoes; or Aizen, who saw his Zanpakut¨­ as limiting his power; or Kenpachi, who never bothered maintaining his at all, leaving it battered beyond recognition. Kaelith, by contrast, was different¡ªhe prided himself on cherishing his sword.

    Any self-respecting Zanpakut¨­ would surely be grateful, right?

    Nimaiya opened his mouth as though about to speak, but after a beat, he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too vulgar to repeat.¡±

    ¡°?¡±

    Kaelith stared blankly at him. Was this some kind of jealousy over his bond with his Zanpakut¨­? Pulling out the blade, Kaelith held it before him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rixiang Jimie¡ªI won¡¯t believe his lies. You and I are close as can be, practically one in body and soul. How could I ever doubt your loyalty?¡±

    The Zanpakut¨­ vibrated violently in his hand. Kaelith brightened¡ªthere it was, a sure response. His blade cared for him!

    While they talked, Hy¨­sube also finished explaining various important details about life in the Royal Palace to Kirio, then turned to Kaelith and Shinji.

    ¡°Kaelith, Shinji, I appreciate you for escorting Kirio. Since you rarely come to the Royal Palace, why not stay a couple of days, look around, enjoy yourselves? It¡¯ll also give the Divine Soldiers time to fine-tune and repair the Tench¨±-Ren.¡±

    Shinji automatically glanced at Kaelith, only to see him agree without hesitation. Did this fool not know the meaning of caution? They were in someone else¡¯s domain, so a bit of prudence wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­

    After that, Nimaiya exchanged a few words with Kirio¡ªthis wasn¡¯t their first time meeting, as Kirio had visited the Royal Palace decades ago when she was chosen for Squad Zero. A little small talk later, he returned to Kaelith.

    ¡°Bro, how about coming to see my Phoenix Palace? I swear, it¡¯s the cooooolest place around. Once you see it, you¡¯ll never forget it!¡±

    ¡°No thanks,¡± Kaelith replied flatly, waving him off. ¡°A fancy name is still just a forge for making Zanpakut¨­, right? Not to brag, but I don¡¯t do blacksmith shops. My gear gets updated by boss drops. Feel free to enjoy your Phoenix Palace yourself.¡±

    Nimaiya gaped at him, astonished, while Kaelith just shot him a grin and turned to leave. But at that moment, several figures arrived in a flash-step. Kaelith paused in surprise: all of them were strikingly attractive women¡ªone with fiery red hair and a tomboyish vibe, one with black medium-length hair and a gentle manner, one with golden curls and a hearty laugh¡­

    In Kaelith¡¯s stunned gaze, the newcomers went straight to Nimaiya:

    ¡°Nimaiya-sama, hurry back! The forging furnace is about to blow¡ªit¡¯s your own defective materials at fault!¡±

    ¡°You idiot! You¡¯ve been forging blades your whole life¡ªhow can you still make such basic mistakes?!¡±

    Bombarded by complaints, Nimaiya raised both hands in surrender. ¡°Hang on, hang on! I had good reason, all right? We¡¯ve got a brand-new Squad Zero member today, so of course I had to come say hi. It¡¯s official business!¡±

    At the mention of official business, the girl with red hair relaxed a touch but still insisted, ¡°Fine, fine, but now you¡¯ve greeted them¡ªso hurry back and fix your mess!¡±

    Nimaiya sighed. He¡¯d been hoping for more time with Kaelith, someone so intriguing. Life in the Royal Palace could be dreadfully boring, since they had to remain here indefinitely. Senjumaru at least had her ¡°Heavenly Garments¡± for visiting the Soul Society; he didn¡¯t. He shot a glance toward Kaelith, intending to say goodbye, but the young man had already vanished.

    Then a hand clapped down on his shoulder:

    ¡°Nimaiya, to tell the truth, I¡¯d been dying to visit Chicken Palace even before coming here. It¡¯d be rude to refuse your invitation now.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Nimaiya blinked. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®Phoenix Palace,¡¯ not ¡®Chicken Palace.¡¯ Also, you just said¡ª¡±

    ¡°That was then. The past is the past; we living beings must always look forward,¡± Kaelith declared with a solemn face and sharpened jawline, as though he¡¯d changed styles entirely.

    Shinji sighed, baffled by how drastically Kaelith¡¯s attitude flipped. A moment ago, he¡¯d refused point-blank; now he was raring to go. The question of what went on in Kaelith¡¯s mind was best left unanswered.

    Kaelith eyed the ladies by Nimaiya¡¯s side. ¡°By the way, who are they?¡±

    Finally back in his element, Nimaiya let out a boisterous laugh and gestured at the group. ¡°They¡¯re all Zanpakut¨­ I created, of course!¡±

    He pointed to the red-haired girl. ¡°She¡¯s Mera, a fire-based Zanpakut¨­. She can spit flames thousands of degrees hot¡ªnot as strong as your teacher¡¯s, but still pretty formidable. It¡¯s incredibly useful during forging.¡±

    Then he moved on to the golden-haired woman. ¡°That¡¯s Hasuka. Once she touches the ground, no force can move her¡ªnot even I can budge her. She¡¯s like an unshakable mountain, perfect for holding a Zanpakut¨­ still while I refine the blade.¡±

    One by one, Nimaiya introduced the others. Kaelith stood there wide-eyed, saying nothing for a long while. Just as Nimaiya wondered if he¡¯d fallen asleep, Kaelith spun around with a burning look:

    ¡°All those Zanpakut¨­ of yours can stay manifested indefinitely?¡±

    ¡°Uh, sure. I¡¯m the ¡®God of the Sword,¡¯ after all,¡± Nimaiya replied, baffled by Kaelith¡¯s intensity.

    Kaelith took a step closer. ¡°Can you freely decide how they look once they¡¯re in a physical form?¡±

    ¡°¡­Complete control is impossible since every blade has its own distinct style and abilities. But from length to sharpness to forging techniques, I can guess the general outcome.¡±

    Before he could finish, Kaelith abruptly crouched and clutched his leg.

    ¡°Nimaiya! I¡¯ve drifted through half my life with no useful skills. If you¡¯ll take me under your wing, I¡¯m willing to devote myself to forging, shedding blood and sweat for the Phoenix Palace! Let¡¯s expand it and usher in a golden era!¡±

    Nimaiya stared at him in shock. Was this guy really Yamamoto¡¯s disciple? Did he have the wrong person?

    Nearby, Ichib¨¥ chuckled, clearly entertained. Shinji wore an expression of despair, as if seeking a way to prove he had no association with this insane man.

    Eventually, Squad Zero dispersed, each returning to their own realm. Kaelith and Shinji were assigned to stay at Tenjir¨­ Kirinji¡¯s domain. After dinner, Tenjir¨­ led them to a misty hot spring. Draped only in a towel, Tenjir¨­ grinned oddly:

    ¡°Fellas, this is my custom spring, able to revive the near-dead and even cleanse the healthy. Go ahead and see if it leaves a strong impression!¡±

    At the final remark, he failed to hide his mischievous grin. Shinji eyed the baths skeptically¡ªtwo pools, one red, one white. Obviously fishy. He was about to fake illness and slip away when Kaelith casually yanked off his towel and marched in.

    Idiot! Shinji was horrified and chased after him. Kaelith let out a carefree laugh and cannonballed right into the white pool, like an excited child seeing the ocean for the first time.

    Tenjir¨­¡¯s grin widened. He¡¯d pegged Kaelith as a reckless sort from his daytime scuffle with Senjumaru, and it looked like he was dead on. The White Bone Hell was not something to enter lightly. It drew out one¡¯s blood and spiritual energy along with any injuries, while the Blood Pond Hell afterward restored them.

    Normally, either pool would kill a person if used incorrectly. Though Tenjir¨­ wouldn¡¯t truly kill him, hearing Kaelith scream might be pretty entertaining.

    But what happened next left Tenjir¨­ gaping. Once in the White Bone Pool, Kaelith simply dropped his defenses, letting the water seep into his pores. At once, dark spiritual energy poured out of his body in large streams.

    Tenjir¨­ realized with a shock that Kaelith had all sorts of internal damage¡ªbone fractures, heavy burns, lacerations, old injuries from countless battles. It hadn¡¯t even been a hundred years since he graduated from the academy.

    What had he done to accumulate that level of trauma?

    Caught up in his thoughts, Tenjir¨­ watched half of Kaelith¡¯s blood and spirit energy flow out. Alarmed, he was about to call out for Kaelith to leave the water, but Kaelith calmly emerged on his own, heading straight for the Red Pool. Sliding in with a sigh, he let the restorative liquid surge into his pores, replacing what he¡¯d lost. Then, without warning, he hopped back into the White Pool for another round.

    Tenjir¨­ blinked. Wait, how was this man so familiar with the correct usage of Hell Hot Springs? Finally, Tenjir¨­ couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity. He eased in beside Kaelith and asked,

    ¡°Kid, have you heard of my Hell Hot Springs before?¡±

    Kaelith half-opened his eyes. ¡°Of course I have. Not only that, I built a simplified version of it in the Soul Society. The effect isn¡¯t as potent as Kirinden''s, but it¡¯s workable.¡±

    Tenjir¨­¡¯s eyes widened. ¡­ wha? ¡°Where¡¯d you learn about Hell Hot Springs?! It¡¯s my unique invention, and across the Soul Society, only the Shih¨­in¡ª¡±

    He stopped abruptly. Shih¨­in? He remembered how Kaelith¡¯s Shunpo had a few Shih¨­in flourishes. ¡°Kid, what¡¯s your connection to the Shih¨­in clan?¡±

    Kaelith mulled it over. ¡°Nothing specifically formal, at least for now. But Yoruichi and I often share the same bed, so we¡¯re quite close.¡±

    Tenjir¨­ nearly spat. Indeed, that was close. Eyeing Kaelith, he asked, ¡°So you¡¯re from an upper noble house?¡±

    ¡°Nope, a lower one.¡±

    ¡°Lower? That can¡¯t be¡­ Wait, I see¡ªyou plan to marry into their family?¡±

    ¡°Thought about it, but gave up.¡±

    ¡°Gave up? You reached that point and still gave up? Aren¡¯t you afraid the Shih¨­in clan will kill you?¡±

    Tenjir¨­ looked alarmed¡ªdid this punk just toy with Yoruichi¡¯s affections and then back out? The Five Great Noble Houses weren¡¯t pushovers. Kaelith just looked baffled.

    ¡°Kill me? Why would they? The Shih¨­in clan has always treated me well.¡±

    Since the betrayal of Senzo Tsunayashiro, the Shih¨­in elders had abruptly changed their tune toward Kaelith. Any who used to fuss that their clan head spent too much time with him had gone silent.

    Tenjir¨­ scratched his head. None of this made sense. Maybe he should personally visit the Soul Society one day to see what was going on¡­

    A sudden shout of pain interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Gaaah!¡± He glanced over to see Shinji leaping from the Red Pool, face burning red, half his body sloughing off. Tenjir¨­ roared with laughter. Even if Kaelith was immune, at least he¡¯d snagged Shinji.

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 Chapter 291

    Chapter 291

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Tap!

    Come morning, Kaelith cleaned himself up, dressed sharply, and headed to Nimaiya ¨­etsu¡¯s domain. He was determined to apprentice himself today and learn the ultimate forging secrets, then bring them back to Hueco Mundo and set up his Kaelith¡¯s Paradise. Just imagining it made his heart race.

    But a few steps in, he paused, falling into deep thought. Those sword-women he¡¯d seen with Nimaiya yesterday were indeed lovely, but maybe they were already the most beautiful in his Phoenix Palace. It wasn¡¯t easy forging Zanpakut¨­, and it wasn¡¯t guaranteed they¡¯d all turn out as fine as those. He¡¯d do best to lower his expectations so he wouldn¡¯t be disappointed if the rest turned out to be mediocre.

    Following Nimaiya¡¯s directions from the previous day, Kaelith arrived at the gate of Phoenix Palace. Two Divine Soldiers verified his identity, then stepped aside to open the door. Kaelith tugged at his collar and walked in.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!

    The moment the doors opened, lights flared inside and dozens of handheld party poppers exploded in unison, raining confetti all around.

    ¡°Welcome, Captain Kaelith!!¡±

    In the midst of the cheers, Kaelith stood there, eyes wide, stunned. Before him stretched paradise: golden hair, black hair, pink hair; long hair, short hair, wavy hair, silky-straight hair. A dazzling array of beautiful women formed a stunning feast of the senses, offering him the loveliest sights in the world.

    ¡°Heeey, bro! I prepared this whole welcome party for ya¡ª¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s this welcome party? Satisfied?¡±

    Nimaiya ¨­etsu stepped out from the side, looking proud of himself.

    Kaelith cast him a serious look.

    ¡°Sorry, but I have something important to do. Phoenix Hall is closed today¡ªplease come back next time.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°Ahem, I mean¡ªwould you like some water?¡±

    Realizing his slip, Kaelith cleared his throat and smiled.

    ¨­etsu shook his head in amusement. With a wave of his hand, the gathered Zanpakut¨­ spirits all bowed and withdrew. Then he turned back to Kaelith.

    ¡°Bro, first I want to answer your question from yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Sorry! You can¡¯t learn how to forge Zanpakut¨­!¡±

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Kaelith asked, genuinely surprised.

    ¨­etsu gestured for him to follow, leading him to a cliff overlooking the sea. Towering waves crashed against the rocks below, sending white spray high into the air. Near the edge stood a small wooden hut, solitary and silent, like a watchman awaiting the return of sailors.

    ¡°Bro, look at the sign on that hut. What does it say?¡±

    Kaelith stepped forward. It read ¡°Phoenix Hall.¡±

    He narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°Phoenix Hall? But I was just in a place with the same name. Was that a new site while this is the old one?¡±

    ¨­etsu shook his head. ¡°I wish that were the case. Unfortunately¡ªpity!¡ªit¡¯s not.

    ¡°This little hut before you is the real Phoenix Hall. The grand place you just visited, full of sweethearts, is only an imitation. It doesn¡¯t have the true function of forging Zanpakut¨­.¡±

    Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°So if you want to forge a Zanpakut¨­, you have to do it here?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± ¨­etsu said with a nod. ¡°Only here can an Asauchi gain a soul. Without a soul, an Asauchi can never become a proper Zanpakut¨­. That¡¯s been a fact since the moment Phoenix Hall was named.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said you have no way of learning how to forge Zanpakut¨­¡ªbecause you haven¡¯t been given the title ¡®God of the Sword,¡¯ and you don¡¯t have a place like this, one that can grant souls to Asauchi. You get it now, bro?¡±

    Kaelith thought for a few seconds. ¡°You need a bestowed name to have that power? If so, then where did the monk get his Zanpakut¨­? If you invented Zanpakut¨­, presumably you forged his as well. But if he was the one who gave you your name, allowing you to create Zanpakut¨­, and then you forged one for him¡ªthat seems contradictory.¡±

    ¨­etsu grinned oddly.

    ¡°You¡¯re off the mark. His blade wasn¡¯t made by me. Even before Zanpakut¨­ existed, Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube already had one. In truth, everything I created was just an imitation of his sword.

    ¡°Saying I ¡®invented¡¯ Zanpakut¨­ is really about expanding an ability that only a select few once had, making it available to almost everyone.

    ¡°Apart from the Soul King himself, everything in existence is subject to Ichib¨¥, the most fundamental being. If he acknowledges it, it¡¯s correct. If he doesn¡¯t, it¡¯s wrong.

    ¡°So¡­you might as well give up on forging Zanpakut¨­. At least until I die, nobody else can inherit that ability. And who knows when I¡¯ll die? I¡¯ve been altered by the Soul King¡¯s power¡ªmaybe I¡¯ll never die at all.¡±

    ¨­etsu shook his head to a lively rhythm, as though this was all in good fun.

    Kaelith stood in silence, deep in thought.

    All things in this world were named by Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube. A name signified power and authority.

    ¨­etsu might be credited with inventing Zanpakut¨­, yet he wasn¡¯t the first to own one. The Royal Guard¡¯s so-called ¡°creation of history¡± was merely them making a splash in the timeline Ichib¨¥ had already shaped.

    If that was enough to set them apart, didn¡¯t that mean Ichib¨¥ was practically a ¡°god¡± himself?

    No¡­¨­etsu said Ichib¨¥ is the most basic existence beneath the Soul King. That implies if someone could become the Soul King, or wield equal power and authority, they¡¯d surpass Ichib¨¥¡¯s control and become an entity on par with¡ªor even above¡ªhim.

    So how would one take that step?

    Just thinking about it gave Kaelith a headache, as if his brain was going to expand.

    This sort of challenge was best left for Aizen S¨­suke or Kisuke Urahara to figure out back in the Soul Society. In a monotheistic world, researching how to attain divine power¡ªlet alone surpass it¡ªwas as tough as solving a grand unified theory in the scientific world.

    No matter how he looked at it, that job wasn¡¯t something he himself should handle.

    ¨­etsu, meanwhile, quietly watched Kaelith. Since explaining Ichib¨¥¡¯s power, he had said nothing further. Behind the shades, his eyes were as deep and cold as a bottomless well.

    At length, Kaelith seemed to snap out of his reverie, stretching his arms.

    ¡°Got any good liquor?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Liquor¡ªa tasty drink. A specialty of the Soul Society. None of that bitter and spicy stuff from the World of the Living.¡±

    ¡°You serious?¡±

    Seeing that Kaelith wasn¡¯t joking, ¨­etsu scratched his head, then grinned.

    ¡°Liquor! Heck yeah, we¡¯ve got loads! C¡¯mon, let¡¯s head back and have the sweethearts bring us drinks and put on a show. We¡¯ll party all night¡ªlet¡¯s go!¡±

    Laughing loudly, he slung an arm around Kaelith¡¯s shoulder and headed back the way they came.

    A breeze swept past the cliff¡¯s edge, dispersing a presence that had been silently watching.

    ¡­

    Later, Kaelith marched along, singing some random tune under his breath, until he arrived at Kirio Hikifune¡¯s domain. Over the course of a single day, Kirio had commanded her personal guards to remodel the place to Kaelith¡¯s specifications. Only the basic framework was done so far, but it was apparently one of the few forms of leisure the Royal Guard members enjoyed.

    Kirio¡¯s palace was called "Gatonden" or "Lying Pig Palace.¡± A ¡°pig¡± reference¡ªsomething Kaelith found quite bizarre. Who names their residence ¡°Lying Pig Palace¡±? But Kirio seemed fond of it. In Soul Society (or Japanese) culture, pigs weren¡¯t always negative. Similar to the Ino-Shika-Ch¨­ motif, they could be considered refined in some contexts. (see Note:)

    From a distance, Kaelith already picked up an irresistible aroma. As he stepped inside, the scent intensified.

    In one corner of the room sat Shinji Hirako, arms folded behind his head, leaning against the wall with a distant look in his eyes.

    ¡°Hey, Samara Morgan¡ªthinking about crawling out of a TV screen again?¡±

    The sudden voice startled Shinji, who jerked upright. Kaelith noticed that Shinji must have been too deep in thought to hear him approaching¡ªunusual, given how sharp Shinji generally was.

    He turned and frowned at Kaelith. ¡°What ¡®Samara¡¯? I¡¯m Shinji Hirako, you dolt. Your nicknames are nonsense.¡±

    Hearing Shinji¡¯s all-too-familiar sniping, Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°Good. It¡¯s really you. If you¡¯d suddenly started mulling things over, I might¡¯ve assumed someone was impersonating you.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    Shinji felt his blood pressure rising¡ªgetting ridiculed by the guy who least liked to think seriously was a new low.

    He watched Kaelith head toward the kitchen, then called out, ¡°Hey, Kaelith.¡±

    ¡°Ho? Did I hit a sore spot, and now you want payback?¡± Kaelith abruptly jumped back, dropping into a fighting stance.

    Shinji almost laughed at the overdramatic reaction. Then, he took a deep breath, letting his face grow serious. Bringing his hands together, he formed a small soundproof barrier.

    Once it was up, he said quietly, ¡°Kaelith¡­before we go back to the Soul Society, be careful. Over there, you¡¯ve got the Captain-Commander¡¯s protection, the backing of both the Shih¨­in and Kuchiki families, and plenty of Captains and subordinates who support you. No matter what you say or do, there aren¡¯t any big consequences.

    ¡°But it¡¯s different here¡ªthis is the Royal Palace. If you say or do the wrong thing¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but the meaning was obvious.

    Kaelith folded his arms, staring at Shinji a moment before flashing a grin.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Shinji. My greatest virtue is my honesty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I believe that¡­¡±

    Rolling his eyes, Shinji dropped the barrier and waved dismissively.

    Kaelith strolled into the kitchen, where Kirio Hikifune was busy with a spatula. Spotting him, her eyes lit up.

    ¡°Perfect timing, Master! I was just about to have the guards bring you over. Ever since I officially joined the Royal Guard, my body¡¯s been modified by the Soul King¡¯s power. They say it¡¯s been strengthened from the bones outward.

    ¡°Thanks to that upgrade, I tried cooking again and realized my ability to fuse reishi into dishes got a massive boost! Ingredients that used to be hard to combine are suddenly a breeze now. Take a look¡ªI¡¯d love your feedback on the dishes I¡¯ve made.¡±

    Kaelith leaned in, studying the pans closely. Unlike his usual casual approach, he was meticulous today¡ªtaking small samples, checking color, aroma, and tasting each dish.

    Finally, he set down his plate and said, ¡°These smell amazing, the colors are mouthwatering, and the reishi infusion is rich.¡±

    He clapped his hands in praise. ¡°But there¡¯s still something missing.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Kirio looked baffled. She¡¯d prepared everything according to Kaelith¡¯s methods, practicing each dish a hundred times at least. Even if they weren¡¯t perfect, they shouldn¡¯t have any glaring errors.

    Under her anxious gaze, Kaelith smiled.

    ¡°They lack the final recognition and blessing of a top-class chef. Captain Hikifune, congratulations¡ªyou¡¯ve officially graduated today. All your past efforts have come together in these dishes, which are nothing short of first-rate.

    ¡°I have nothing left to teach you. The food you¡¯ve made is worthy of being called ¡®top-tier cuisine¡¯! I hope you continue down this path and become a true culinary god¡ªone who shines even without anyone else bestowing names upon her.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kirio¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise. ¡°Master, you¡­¡±

    ¡°Heh. This is my sincere blessing, so store it in your memory and savor it,¡± Kaelith declared smugly, tilting his chin up.

    Seeing how earnest he was beneath the playful front, Kirio grew serious. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind, Master. It¡¯s just¡­¡±

    She hesitated, as if trying to decide how to phrase her thoughts. Meanwhile, Kaelith turned toward the entrance.

    Slam!

    The door swung open, and Senjumaru Shutara strode in.

    ¡°Kirio, I¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried effortlessly through the hall and into the kitchen. In the blink of an eye, she was there with them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve only ever tasted your food remotely through my woven attire. I never got the full experience. Finally, I get to enjoy the real deal today. I¡¯m quite looking forward to it!¡±

    Then she caught sight of Kaelith.

    ¡°Tch. What¡¯s this brash thug doing here?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Auntie,¡± Kaelith replied cheerfully.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    Senjumaru bristled with anger. Ever since Kaelith had shown up at the Royal Palace, she¡¯d experienced more frustration in a short period than in centuries before. She almost regretted trying to advise him at all¡ªmaybe she should¡¯ve let him dig his own grave.

    Before long, Kirio brought out each dish, one by one. The other three Royal Guard members soon arrived as well.

    ¡°Ohh! Smells delicious!¡±

    ¡°Hikifune¡¯s cooking is part of her training. We¡¯re in for a treat from now on!¡±

    Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube roared with laughter, plopping down at the table. Nimaiya ¨­etsu and Kirinji Tenjir¨­ took their seats too.

    After the meal, Ichib¨¥ turned his gaze on Kaelith, adopting a friendly expression.

    ¡°Kaelith, how do you like the Royal Palace so far?¡±

    Kaelith stroked his chin. ¡°It¡¯s not that different from the Soul Society.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Feels like home already? That¡¯s wonderful!¡±

    Ichib¨¥ beamed, scratching his head. Then he extended an invitation:

    ¡°Tomorrow, come visit my domain! As the eldest veteran here in the Royal Palace, I¡¯ve got some rather interesting things. It¡¯d be a pity if you didn¡¯t see them!¡±

    From the corner of his eye, Shinji Hirako sipped water silently, hiding his face behind the cup. Kirinji and Senjumaru turned their gazes toward Kaelith, while Kirio Hikifune set down her utensils.

    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Kaelith nodded.

    ¡°All right. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll pay you a visit.¡±

    Grinning, Ichib¨¥ departed, bidding Kirio farewell. The other Royal Guard members also took their leave.

    Kaelith stretched, left The Gatonden, and strolled along.

    Partway down the path, a thread on his clothing drifted upward, and a faint voice sounded beside his ear¡ª

    ¡°Kid, come find me,¡± it whispered.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Kaelith glanced at the loose thread on his shoulder.

    ¡°Need me for something, Auntie Shutara? Planning to devour some tender grass? I might be a man of principle, but I won¡¯t just submit to your so-called unwritten rules that easily.¡±

    ¡°Go to hell!¡±

    Senjumaru was already annoyed.

    ¡°Quit spouting nonsense. Listen¡ªbased on what I know of Ichib¨¥, him showing this much interest in you is definitely bad news. For him, life¡¯s sole purpose is to guard the Soul King and maintain the Three Worlds with the Soul King at its core.

    ¡°To an ordinary Shinigami¡ªeven someone as powerful as Yamamoto or with the prestige of the great noble houses¡ªhe¡¯s never shown such personal concern. So whatever his reason might be, I¡¯m telling you:

    Leave the Royal Palace today and return to the Soul Society. I¡¯ll open the barrier for you. Just jump down; you¡¯ll reach the Soul Society in a few days.

    ¡°Even if he¡¯s curious about you, I doubt he¡¯d personally chase you down below. After that, don¡¯t ever come back.¡±

    Kaelith arched an eyebrow at her words, then smiled.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got a good heart after all, Captain Shutara.

    ¡°But don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not in any danger. Let¡¯s just say I can toy with the biggest bosses in this world in the palm of my hand. After all¡­I¡¯m the ¡®protagonist¡¯ here!¡±

    ¡°Ha?¡±

    Senjumaru almost laughed aloud. What was this about being a protagonist¡ªsome novel storyline?

    Irritated, she snapped, ¡°Enough of your delusions. Are you coming or not?¡±

    ¡°Not coming, Auntie. Not coming at all~¡±

    ¡°Get lost!¡±

    The thread on his shoulder went limp, no longer making a sound. Kaelith chuckled and continued on his way.

    Back at Kirinji¡¯s domain, Kaelith spotted him scrubbing the hot spring pool. He couldn¡¯t help feeling curious.

    ¡°Why not let the guards do that, old man?¡±

    ¡°Kid, the fact that you even ask means you¡¯re still too young!¡± Kirinji said, stopping to wipe sweat from his forehead.

    ¡°Real labor¡¯s only meaningful when you do it yourself¡ªthat¡¯s how you find its true joy!

    ¡°Mark my words, you¡¯ll live a long time if you don¡¯t get yourself killed first. When that day comes, don¡¯t forget what I¡¯ve said here. Always keep a sense of reverence for this world. That¡¯s how you hold on to your passion and live happily!¡±

    Kaelith mulled over the advice for a few seconds.

    ¡°What if everything in this world exists at the whim of someone else¡¯s will?¡±

    At those words, Kirinji suddenly stomped forward, appearing right in front of Kaelith. Putting a hand on his shoulder, he stared at him with cold intensity.

    ¡°Kid, out of respect for your ties to the Shih¨­in family, I¡¯m warning you¡ªwhen you visit Ichib¨¥ tomorrow, don¡¯t say a single thing like that. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be making it back to the Soul Society.¡±

    Kaelith simply grinned.

    ¡°Relax, old man. I¡¯ve got plenty to do, and I¡¯m not about to end up stuck here.¡±

    Kirinji watched Kaelith closely for a moment to make sure he wasn¡¯t talking recklessly, then let out a cold snort, returning to his scrubbing.

    ¡­

    At dawn, Kaelith left Kirinji¡¯s domain for the most unadorned one among the five. The round structure looked like a three-dimensional landscape painting¡ªverdant hills, flowing waters, and an ancient wooden house. Even walking there felt refreshing, as though the fresh air cleared both heart and mind.

    Through a bamboo grove, Kaelith came upon a dojo. Standing at its entrance was a rotund, jovial bald monk¡ªIchib¨¥ Hy¨­sube¡ªarms folded across his chest and wearing a broad smile.

    ¡°Well, how about it, don¡¯t you think my palace is nice?¡±

    Kaelith studied the ¡°big bald monk¡± for a moment, then shrugged.

    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s not quite on par with the First Division Barracks.¡±

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 Chapter 292

    Chapter 292

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    ¡°Uh¡­¡±

    Hearing Kaelith¡¯s response, Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube froze for a moment. Then he shook his head with a smile.

    ¡°All right then, come on in.¡±

    With that, he opened the door and walked inside. Kaelith followed.

    Ichib¨¥¡¯s dojo was very much like Genry¨±sai Yamamoto¡¯s in style¡ªtraditional and rustic. If you had to compare, Yamamoto¡¯s side felt more purely Japanese, whereas Ichib¨¥¡¯s had a slight Chinese flair.

    ¡°Have a seat anywhere. I¡¯m not a fan of chairs; I usually sit on the floor.¡±

    Rocking his hefty frame, the bald monk plopped down cross-legged on the tatami. Once Kaelith was seated, Ichib¨¥ gave him a grin.

    ¡°Let me guess¡­before you came here, a bunch of people probably warned you to be careful¡ªlike ¡®Don¡¯t say anything you shouldn¡¯t,¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t do anything out of line,¡¯ that kind of thing?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaelith replied. ¡°So, Roshi, do you think they were right?¡±

    It took Ichib¨¥ half a second to recall that ¡°Roshi¡± nickname Kaelith had once used for him. He merely smiled.

    ¡°They¡¯re both right and wrong,¡± he said. ¡°Kaelith, I¡¯ve lived for a very long time¡ªfar longer than you can imagine. For humans, a Shinigami living hundreds or even thousands of years is already a huge gap. But I¡¯ve been alive for a million years.

    ¡°Even your teacher, Genry¨±sai Yamamoto, is merely a tiny ripple in the endless river of history to me. That river is important, but still just a single ripple, a few drops of water, hardly matter. Add a few drops, it¡¯s still a river; lose a few drops, it¡¯s still a river.

    ¡°No matter a person¡¯s temperament¡ªfiery or composed¡ªthey aren¡¯t going to rage at a few drops in a river. So even the Zero Division Captains, or Yamamoto himself, can only understand me in the most superficial sense. Their warnings to you aren¡¯t surprising¡ªthey¡¯re based on what they¡¯re able to comprehend, producing the conclusion they shared.

    ¡°That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    Kaelith raised his eyebrows. ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, it seems you don¡¯t intend to treat your fellow Zero Division members as equals?¡±

    Ichib¨¥ shook his head. ¡°Equality is a false notion in the first place. Among the Zero Division, aside from me, Nimaiya ¨­etsu has lived the longest, so naturally we share more common ground. As for the others, the oldest among them has only been here for around a thousand years.

    ¡°Even if I wanted to chat with them all day every day¡ªwhat would we talk about? Think of it in a simpler way: if you¡¯re dealing with a kid in their early teens, you might care for them deeply, but at most you¡¯ll spend a little time playing or discuss the trivial things in their life. If you tried to share your deeper insights¡ªyour understanding of power, your new techniques¡ªhow much would they truly grasp?

    ¡°The more you engage, the more you realize it¡¯s pointless. It¡¯s not discrimination. There¡¯s simply no need for excessive interaction. That¡¯s how I view those younger recruits¡­and all of you Shinigami.¡±

    Kaelith frowned, mulling this over. In daily life, he¡¯d never really felt such a gap. He could chat with Aizen S¨­suke or Kisuke Urahara for hours, perfectly at ease. If anything, Aizen would often slip away after a few words.

    Wait¡ªcould it be they thought talking to him was like talking to a child?

    Ridiculous. Impossible!

    He was, after all, the wisest man in the Soul Society! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith took a deep breath, pushing aside any urge to murder Urahara on the spot, then looked back at Ichib¨¥.

    ¡°Keep going.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­oh.¡±

    Ichib¨¥ seemed slightly taken aback, then nodded. He couldn¡¯t help wondering if he¡¯d said something offensive just now¡ªKaelith¡¯s sudden aura of killing intent was no joke.

    Crossing his arms, Ichib¨¥ went on: ¡°Anyway, my point is simple: I don¡¯t want to involve myself too deeply in most matters anymore. I¡¯ve experienced all sorts of emotions and situations in my first ten thousand years of life. The hundred-some ten-thousands of years since have all been repetition. Even the most ardent lover of living would be tired by now.

    ¡°For me, only two things warrant true vigilance:

    ¡°One: Someone tries to threaten the very foundation of this world¡ªnamely the Soul King.

    ¡°Two: Someone who might not necessarily harbor such intentions but has the ability to do so.

    ¡°And Kaelith, you¡¯re the second type right now. I won¡¯t mince words.¡±

    He lifted a thick finger, pointing at Kaelith.

    ¡°You possess at least two types of power that I cannot discern. Do you realize what that implies?¡±

    Kaelith froze. Two types?

    One, he knew, came from Yingda, his shadow blade¡ªan outworldly power formed from external pollution cast out by the Soul King. It made sense that Ichib¨¥, a being born within this world, couldn¡¯t fathom such an ability.

    But what was the second one? Rixiang Jimie? The power to shatter any defense? Both were forces existing inside this world. Ichib¨¥ should be able to name them.

    Unless¡­he was referring to Kaelith¡¯s own peerless intellect?

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes gleamed in excitement. Finally, someone recognized his genius?

    While Kaelith basked in that thought, Ichib¨¥ continued, ¡°I am the one who names all things in this world. In principle, no power can hide from me. Even if the user themselves is clueless about it, I can still reveal its name.

    ¡°You, however, possess powers I cannot identify, making you extremely dangerous to this world. If I were the version of myself from several hundred thousand years ago, I¡¯d have obliterated you the moment I discovered that.

    ¡°But as I said, I¡¯ve grown weary of meddling. So let me ask you directly, Kaelith Yurei: do you bear any ill will toward the Soul King?¡±

    At that final question, Ichib¨¥¡¯s monstrous aura burst forth. A menacing presence loomed behind him like a ravenous demon, glaring at its prey. Most would cower under such crushing pressure, blurting out whatever secrets they held.

    Kaelith, however, stood his ground, gazing steadily at the monk.

    At this point, running was no option. Lying might work, but even if he managed to fool Ichib¨¥ for now, he¡¯d be under permanent surveillance afterward. A lie or the truth¡ªthere would be no real difference once he was constantly watched.

    Besides, Aizen¡¯s grand plan always placed Kaelith in front, as if he were the leader. Aizen disliked being in the spotlight, so he¡¯d purposely pushed Kaelith forward¡ªalso an expression of trust. If Kaelith cowered now, there¡¯d be no way he could maintain Aizen¡¯s respect¡­no dignity to stand by him.

    Under Ichib¨¥¡¯s intense stare, Kaelith undid his collar, revealing a flame-shaped tattoo. He pressed a hand against it, using Yingda¡¯s power to seal off its detection capabilities. The alert mechanism Genry¨±sai Yamamoto had placed on him would be temporarily neutralized.

    After finishing that, he bared his teeth in a grin. ¡°Yes. I want to overthrow the Soul King. After that, I¡¯ll¡­ahem. I¡¯ll become the Soul King myself¡ªstand at the apex of the heavens!

    ¡°All the nonsense about you naming everything in existence, all these archaic nobles clinging to their withered traditions¡­I¡¯m going to wipe them clean from this world!¡±

    With that, Kaelith flung aside his Captain¡¯s haori, ready to fight. To his surprise, Ichib¨¥ merely sat there, eyeing him with an odd expression, as though unsure what to say.

    He gave Kaelith a strange grin. ¡°You want to be the Soul King?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes. Is that a problem?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­it definitely poses issues, but¡­ahem.¡±

    Slowly rising, Ichib¨¥ rubbed his face, forcibly smoothing out the laugh that threatened to show. Only after some effort did he regain a serious demeanor.

    ¡°Enough talk. Since we¡¯ve come this far, let¡¯s see if your strength matches your words!¡±

    He reached out, aiming to grab Kaelith¡¯s shoulder. Kaelith dodged in a flash.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Seeing his grab miss, Ichib¨¥¡¯s eyes narrowed. In the next moment, he pounced like a caged tiger unleashed, lunging once more.

    Kaelith instinctively retreated¡ªbut this time, despite moving a good distance, he found Ichib¨¥¡¯s fingertips brushing his shoulder at the last moment.

    Smack!

    Ichib¨¥ seized his shoulder, and a tremendous force surged forth. The scenery blurred, and suddenly Kaelith found himself atop a mountain peak, far from the dojo.

    Releasing his grip, Ichib¨¥ flickered several yards away, facing Kaelith from a distance.

    ¡°Come, brat. Show me how far Genry¨±sai Yamamoto¡¯s disciple can push me!¡±

    He grinned, beckoning Kaelith forward.

    Kaelith frowned, not out of fear for Ichib¨¥¡¯s power¡ªhe¡¯d known a gap existed between him and the Royal Guard. What puzzled him was Ichib¨¥¡¯s shifting attitude.

    Right when Kaelith admitted he planned to overthrow the Soul King, Ichib¨¥ had unleashed an overwhelming killing intent, fiercer than anything Kaelith had felt, before it abruptly vanished. The hostility remained, but nowhere near as intense as that initial rage¡ªmore like someone regarding a criminal than a hated enemy.

    Which part of that conversation had changed his perspective? Kaelith couldn¡¯t figure it out. He just memorized every word he¡¯d spoken, planning to let Aizen figure it out if he survived.

    All Kaelith needed to do was ensure he made it out alive.

    His eyes narrowed as he launched himself at Ichib¨¥, fists cocked back in a bow-like stance¡ª

    ¡°Triple Dou¡ªSan S¨­kotsu!¡±

    Both fists unleashed Second Bone strikes, combined with Yingda¡¯s third layer of impact. Six streams of power flowed in precise unison¡ªa fraction off, and it would collapse entirely.

    Boom!!!

    A massive shockwave radiated out from Ichib¨¥¡¯s domain, ripping outward in all directions.

    All across the Royal Palace, people felt the disturbance.

    ¡°They¡¯re fighting after all?!¡±

    Senjumaru Shutara frowned. She was the second to join the Royal Guard after ascending from the Soul Society and still held deep affection for her former home. Worriedly, she considered rushing over.

    She¡¯d never witnessed Ichib¨¥ truly fight before, but her intuition told her he was unimaginably strong. Among the Soul Society¡¯s highest echelons, there was a saying: ¡°The Zero Division alone surpasses the entire Gotei 13.¡±

    In reality, you could tweak that phrase: Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube alone surpasses all the Gotei 13 plus the rest of the Zero Division. Even Genry¨±sai Yamamoto had never given her the same sense of absolute suppression Ichib¨¥ did. It was no longer a question of who was stronger¡ªIchib¨¥¡¯s very existence crushed others.

    ¡°That idiot. I warned him not to do this!¡± Senjumaru groaned. Just as she hesitated, Kirio Hikifune¡¯s reiatsu flared as she raced over.

    Realizing her former comrade had taken the lead, Senjumaru shut her eyes in resignation.

    ¡°All right, if we¡¯re going to die, we die. After the Soul King¡¯s modifications, maybe we can be revived¡­if Ichib¨¥ allows it.¡±

    Gritting her teeth, she bolted off toward the battlefield.

    Meanwhile, at Kirinji¡¯s palace, Kirinji Tenjir¨­ stood on the roof, gawking at the spiritual pressure waves in the distance.

    ¡°That brat is actually fighting Ichib¨¥?! He¡¯s done for! There won¡¯t even be a corpse left!¡±

    Beside him, Shinji Hirako suppressed the urge to cover his ears at Kirinji¡¯s booming voice¡ªlike a fishmonger in a busy market. But inside, Shinji was every bit as stunned.

    On his first day in the Royal Palace, Ichib¨¥ had privately summoned him. That night, the monk had cornered him and asked, point blank:

    ¡°Captain Hirako, if there¡¯s someone in the Soul Society who, in the future, might destroy it entirely, who do you think it is?¡±

    Shinji had been taken aback. Before he could answer, Ichib¨¥ continued:

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with ¡®there¡¯s nobody like that¡¯ or ¡®I have no idea.¡¯ I want a name.¡±

    Who¡¯d be most likely to destroy the Soul Society? Well, the one causing the biggest stir these past years was undoubtedly Kaelith. And if someone had enough power to overturn the Soul Society, it would again be Kaelith¡ªhis Eleventh Division was stronger than humanly imaginable, and those monstrous subordinates were absurdly loyal.

    Shinji had no doubt that if Kaelith ever rallied them, the entire squad would wreak havoc. Still, Shinji never believed Kaelith truly wanted the Soul Society¡¯s downfall.

    After a lengthy pause, Shinji shook his head. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want me to say it, I can only give this answer: that person doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

    Ichib¨¥ nodded thoughtfully. ¡°All right. But if the Soul Society absolutely had to have one person who could do it¡­someone closest to that possibility¡­who would it be?¡±

    What kind of question was that? Shinji frowned. Ichib¨¥ patted his shoulder.

    ¡°No need to be anxious. It¡¯s all hypothetical¡ªa joke, really. In one ear and out the other, so to speak. You don¡¯t think I¡¯d dash into the Soul Society to arrest someone based on a single comment, do you?¡±

    That logic was hard to refute. Shinji scratched his head. Even so, he still couldn¡¯t think of anyone. Then suddenly, a name flashed in his mind. He clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s nowhere near destroying the Soul Society, but if anyone¡¯s hiding their true nature best, it¡¯s my Lieutenant¡­S¨­suke Aizen. If he ever had a compelling reason, I guess he wouldn¡¯t lose any sleep over large-scale chaos. But I doubt he¡¯s that extreme¡ªhe¡¯s got a few friends, at least.¡±

    Ichib¨¥ merely hummed and nodded. ¡°Understood. Then when you return to the Soul Society, keep an eye on that Lieutenant. Oh, and keep an eye on Kaelith, too.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shinji frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think that kid would destroy the Soul Society, do you?¡±

    Ichib¨¥ wasn¡¯t offended by Shinji¡¯s bluntness. He just shook his head. ¡°No, no. I¡¯m just curious about him.¡±

    Not fully grasping the monk¡¯s intentions, Shinji agreed anyway. Back in the Soul Society, he could do as he pleased.

    Now, recalling that conversation, Shinji couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªIchib¨¥ had said he was only curious, so why was he fighting Kaelith outright?

    Scratching his head, Shinji muttered, ¡°I hope the Captain-Commander left some contingency in place¡­¡±

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 Chapter 293

    Chapter 293

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Amid swirling dust, Ichib¨¥ flew out, glancing at his arm in surprise. Kaelith¡¯s punch had actually hurt him. And that was no small feat¡ªhis flesh and bones were all reinforced by the Soul King¡¯s power, effectively making his entire body a ¡°Royal Key.¡± Being nearly forced into a broken arm was astonishing.

    ¡°What sort of monstrous student has Genry¨±sai Yamamoto raised?¡± he wondered, eyeing Kaelith emerging from the haze.

    Kaelith leapt into the air, body taut as though channeling power into his limbs. In that moment of peaked tension, he unleashed another punch.

    ¡°Evening Elephant!¡±

    A column of wind burst forth, engulfing Ichib¨¥. Within it, he found his movements slowed, the skin all over his body battered by violent currents.

    ¡°Hngh!¡±

    He twisted around, clapping his palms together. An intense surge of reiatsu shattered the vortex in an instant. But as it broke, two blades wreathed in blue flames¡ªconnected by long chains¡ªcame whipping in from behind.

    ¡°Oh¡­so he used that wind column to obscure my vision and bring Rixiang Jimie close. Unfortunately for you¡­this won¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°I already know its name,¡± Ichib¨¥ declared. Fingers tight together, he slammed out a palm. A giant reiatsu-formed hand materialized in midair, violently slapping the twin blades away.

    ¡°Anything whose name I know is powerless before me!¡±

    Having destroyed three consecutive attacks, he steadied himself in midair, eyes on Kaelith, who was reeling his Zanpakut¨­ back in. Ichib¨¥¡¯s lips curled into a dark grin.

    ¡°Kaelith¡ªif that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got, you can leave your life here.¡±

    Retracting Rixiang Jimie, Kaelith gripped the hilt in both hands, a manic glint in his eyes. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not planning on dying today.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Think you still have enough strength to fight back?¡±

    Ichib¨¥ tucked his hands into his sleeves. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen the true nature of your Zanpakut¨­¡¯s power. No matter what techniques you produce, if they¡¯re based on your Zanpakut¨­, I can see through them. And once they¡¯re within my understanding, I can nullify them.

    ¡°As for that hand-to-hand technique¡­yes, you¡¯re pretty good. But it¡¯s foolish to think you can win using only that. Among Shinigami, true power has always been drawn out through Zanpakut¨­. Fists and kicks are a side path. You might defeat a weaker foe that way, but relying on it to overcome someone vastly beyond you? Pure stupidity.¡±

    With that, he stomped once and appeared right in front of Kaelith, raising his palm to strike Kaelith¡¯s chest.

    Kaelith, who¡¯d prepared to launch a punch, suddenly shifted and blocked with his elbow instead.

    Boom!!!

    The terrifying energy of Ichib¨¥¡¯s palm channeled into Kaelith¡¯s arm. The impact dislocated his entire shoulder, blood spraying from it.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Seeing Kaelith willingly take damage to protect his torso, Ichib¨¥ raised a brow. Did he have some wound on his chest?

    Squinting, he spotted the flame-shaped tattoo. He recalled that Kaelith had exposed it before the fight, apparently sealing it in some way.

    What was the purpose of that?

    Driven by curiosity, Ichib¨¥ pressed forward again. Kaelith, rather than dodging, simply jammed his dislocated arm back into place, igniting a burst of blue flame from his shoulders.

    ¡°Shunhong¡ªHell Chariot!!¡±

    Twin jets of fire erupted, sending Kaelith hurtling toward Ichib¨¥ at an even faster speed. In an exchange of blows, each blocked or attacked in a flurry of fists and palms. Kirio Hikifune and Senjumaru Shutara arrived just in time to witness this fierce clash.

    Even as they traded strikes, Ichib¨¥ reached out with his reiatsu, studying the tattoo on Kaelith¡¯s chest. After a few seconds, realization dawned¡ªan alarm spell set by Genry¨±sai Yamamoto.

    Kaelith had intentionally locked it, preventing Yamamoto from sensing what was happening.

    Ichib¨¥ couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and exasperated: Yamamoto cherishing his disciple enough to prepare for possible conflict with the Royal Palace, and Kaelith, even with that precious lifeline, chose to throw it away to fight alone.

    He asked, ¡°Brat, why not call on Yamamoto for help?¡±

    Kaelith smirked. ¡°Because the Royal Palace isn¡¯t worth troubling my teacher.¡±

    ¡°Heh¡­Yamamoto wasn¡¯t wrong to treasure you,¡± Ichib¨¥ said with a small laugh, ramping up his reiatsu as he reached for the flame imprint. Bright spiritual light sparked around his fingertips, so sharp that Kaelith¡¯s defenses would be like tofu before them.

    At the final moment, Kaelith tapped his Zanpakut¨­¡¯s hilt.

    ¡°Shatter defenses¡ªRixiang Jimie!

    Boom!!!!

    A fierce windstorm erupted around him. Ichib¨¥ jumped back a few dozen meters, eyes wide as the storm dissipated to reveal Kaelith in a helmet of silver, half-covering golden armor, metallic claws, and shield-like wings.

    Though his figure was the same, his aura was drastically different. Kaelith exhaled, a plume of white steam rolling from between his teeth. Crossing his arms, he slashed them outward.

    ¡°Bankai¡ªRixiang Jimie! True Self¡¯s Radiance!¡±

    Sensing Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu spike through multiple layers, Ichib¨¥ nodded in approval. ¡°A powerful Bankai indeed. But I¡¯m afraid I know about this ability as well¡ªknew of it even before you did. Any power whose name I know is within my grasp.¡±

    He spread his hands and drew a long brush seemingly from thin air, gripping it firmly at chest level.

    Beneath his visor, Kaelith grinned. ¡°If you¡¯re so confident, why¡¯d you pull out your weapon?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­just for style,¡± Ichib¨¥ replied with a chuckle.

    ¡°That so.¡±

    Kaelith launched himself forward, transformed into a mechanical war-beast, slashing ferociously with both claws. Ichib¨¥¡¯s eyes went round, and he parried with the brush. Their figures blurred against the sky above the Royal Palace, colliding again and again in bursts of sparkling reiatsu.

    Down below at the entrance to Phoenix Hall, Nimaiya ¨­etsu shaded his eyes with a hand, watching intently. ¡°Wow. Is that kid a monster? With that kind of insane combat power, anyone else would¡¯ve lost by now if they weren¡¯t Ichib¨¥. But alas¡­nobody in this world can beat Ichib¨¥.¡±

    Overhead, Kaelith¡¯s armor gleamed brilliantly. His right arm¡¯s metal claw slashed down with each strike. In Bankai, his normal attacks carried the force of his Double-Bone technique, making even Ichib¨¥ get serious.

    ¡°Well done!¡± Ichib¨¥ roared, twisting his brush at the last moment to meet Kaelith¡¯s claw.

    Sparks flew, and the brush scraped along Kaelith¡¯s arm. Suddenly, Kaelith felt his right arm weaken, as though all strength had vanished.

    Noticing his reaction, Ichib¨¥ grinned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t cut flesh¡­it cuts names. That¡¯s the power of this brush. Anything it touches loses half its name¡ªand half its power. Feel your arm going limp? Hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Kaelith quickly retreated to put some space between them. ¡°So that¡¯s¡­its Shikai?¡±

    ¡°Shikai? No, not quite. My brush isn¡¯t the same as a conventional Zanpakut¨­. It possessed a unique ability from the moment it came into being. Only much later did I discover a second-stage power you people call a ¡®Shikai.¡¯ If you¡¯re curious, force me to use it!¡±

    Roaring, Ichib¨¥ charged again, swinging his brush in a wide arc.

    Kaelith didn¡¯t back away this time. From Ichib¨¥¡¯s explanation, ¡°slashing names¡± would only get worse the longer he stalled. The quicker he ended things, the better his chance of survival.

    Right as Ichib¨¥¡¯s brush was about to land, Kaelith thrust out his right arm, deliberately allowing contact. The moment the brush touched him, the limb felt even more drained¡ªthis time leaving him with only a quarter of its normal control.

    But Kaelith ignored that. The split second of direct contact brought him close enough. Clutching his metal claw, his eyes narrowed with focus.

    The first layer: a normal Double-Bone punch from his body.

    The second layer: Yingda¡¯s third impact.

    The third layer: Bankai-empowered Rixiang Jimie.

    And the final blow¡ª

    ¡°Fourfold¡ªFirst Bone!!¡±

    ¡°Kaelith¡¯s Hundred Rending Fists!!!¡±

    Boom!!!

    Before his claws even physically struck, the unleashed force raked across half of Ichib¨¥¡¯s body.

    ¡°Uwoooohhhh!!!¡±

    For the first time in hundreds of thousands of years, Ichib¨¥ let out a genuine scream of agony.

    Kirio Hikifune and Senjumaru Shutara arrived just in time to see Kaelith¡¯s claw pressed against Ichib¨¥¡¯s stomach, leaving a massive bloody hole. Intestines squirmed behind a gaping tear, and some internal organs had burst, blood gushing out.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding¡­¡±

    Far off at Phoenix Hall, Nimaiya ¨­etsu stared slack-jawed.

    On the roof of Kirinji¡¯s palace, Kirinji Tenjir¨­ was equally stunned, boat-paddle Zanpakut¨­ in hand.

    Ichib¨¥ was injured¡­he¡¯d only ever seen that once before, during a spar with ¨­etsu, and even then, ¨­etsu ended up nearly skinned alive, needing an entire day in Kirinji¡¯s healing springs to recover.

    Kaelith had surpassed that.

    Ichib¨¥ lowered his gaze to the gaping wound. ¡°What terrifying power¡­ It didn¡¯t even make direct contact, yet it tore through my flesh. If that blast had landed flush, it might¡¯ve punched straight through me.¡±

    He passed his hand over the injury, producing a green glow that closed it off. It didn¡¯t fully heal, but at least it wouldn¡¯t impede him anymore.

    Ichib¨¥ faced Kaelith, who was panting heavily, evidently drained by his all-out attack.

    ¡°That last move of yours, I acknowledge. In return¡­allow me to show you something.¡±

    He lifted the brush.

    ¡°My Zanpakut¨­¡¯s release.¡±

    Raising the brush toward the sky, Ichib¨¥¡¯s spiritual energy soared.

    ¡°Blacken¡ªIchimonji!¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A pillar of reiatsu blasted upward!

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, in the First Division of the Seireitei, Genry¨±sai Yamamoto stood beneath the eaves, gazing silently at a koi pond in the courtyard. Behind him, Ch¨­jir¨­ Sasakibe hovered, looking worried.

    Three days had passed since Kaelith headed to the Royal Palace. Aside from official duties, Yamamoto spent all his time here, watching the fish. Sasakibe knew him well enough to sense the underlying tension: the old man was waiting for news of his disciple.

    Suddenly, Yamamoto¡¯s brow furrowed, and he looked up at the sky.

    Concerned, Sasakibe ventured, ¡°Captain-Commander, there¡¯s no need to worry, right? You gave Kaelith that distress mark. Since we haven¡¯t received a signal, he must still be safe.¡±

    But Yamamoto¡¯s tone was grave. ¡°The mark I left on him¡­has been interfered with. Something is blocking my connection to it!¡±

    Sasakibe stiffened. ¡°Could¡­could it be the Royal Guard¡¯s doing?¡±

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, saying nothing. Based on the sudden disruption and the way it felt, he suspected a certain rebellious disciple had sealed the mark himself.

    He could feel his blood pressure rising.

    ¡°Instruct the Kid¨­ Corps to start the ceremony to contact the Royal Palace¡ªimmediately!¡±

    As Sasakibe rushed to obey, Yamamoto¡¯s silent anger mounted. If Kaelith truly chose to fight head-on, then even heading there right now might be too late.

    That damn brat¡­

    ¡­

    Back in the Eleventh Division barracks, S¨­suke Aizen stood quietly, as though waiting for something, several Captain-level combatants gathered behind him.

    Suddenly, Mayuri Kurotsuchi spoke up: ¡°I intercepted a coded message from the Kid¨­ Corps. They¡¯re urgently establishing contact with the Royal Palace¡ªby order of the Captain-Commander!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s expression barely shifted, though his eyes grew cold. The Captain-Commander wasn¡¯t personally moving; instead, he was contacting the palace in a hurry. That meant Kaelith had gone off on his own and started fighting.

    What a fool.

    Aizen was incandescent with rage. At the same time, his mind whirred. The Soul Society and the Royal Palace were separated by more than seventy barriers, reinforced over hundreds of thousands of years. Even if he hijacked the Shiba Clan¡¯s cannon, he still couldn¡¯t breach them. He¡¯d need a Royal Key.

    If Yamamoto wasn¡¯t moving personally, he must believe it was already too late. Then what was Aizen supposed to do¡ªjust wait here?

    For a moment, despair flickered in his chest. Then another thought struck him: for reasons he couldn¡¯t fully explain, Kaelith seemed tied to him.

    From countless subtle clues to Kaelith¡¯s half-joking admissions, Aizen was nearly certain Kaelith¡¯s power rose when Aizen¡¯s own power did.

    If Kaelith was indeed battling up there, then Aizen boosting his own reiatsu might give Kaelith a better chance. Yes¡­ If he took the ninth serum now, forcibly raising his spiritual pressure, it could help. Though it would permanently reduce his potential, right now, there was no alternative.

    Aizen exhaled and took out a small box, opening it to reveal a red pill. He was about to swallow it when¡ª

    A beam of light plummeted from the heavens like a satellite cannon, smashing into the Soul Society with a blinding explosion. Shockwaves and raw reiatsu tore through the area, ravaging buildings for kilometers around. Everyone in the First Division and Eleventh Division felt the impact.

    Aizen froze, then flickered outside to see what had happened. The moment he perceived the swirling reiatsu at ground zero, surprise flickered in his eyes.

    Meanwhile, in the First Division courtyard, Yamamoto¡¯s gaze snapped into focus.

    ¡°Sasakibe, dispatch a team to the impact site! Bring Fourth Division¡ªCaptain Unohana as well!¡±

    At the Eleventh Division, Aizen wasted no time. ¡°We¡¯re going to help¡ªMayuri, bring your healing compounds!¡±

    As the shockwave reverberated, he sensed Kaelith¡¯s reiatsu at the heart of the blast.

    So the idiot had returned on his own.

    Even as he raced toward the site, Aizen gave a wry shake of his head.

    Truly, scourges never die easily.

    He felt his chest lighten finally.

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 Chapter 294

    Chapter 294

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Ten days had passed since the massive explosion that shook all of Seireitei. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the various Division members and the Kid¨­ Corps, the rubble had finally been cleared away. Even so, those who saw the gigantic crater with their own eyes found it hard to believe that a single person¡¯s body could have created such destruction.

    At first, many Shinigami were terrified. Kaelith had been struck out of the sky, like a fallen black hawk¡ªwhat kind of power could do such a thing? Was it some calamity from beyond their world? An ancient Hollow? Or perhaps the legendary Quincy force lurking in the shadows of Seireitei?

    But the very next day, an official announcement dispelled the rumors:

    It was the Captain-Commander who had given Captain Kaelith that epic beating!

    Hearing this news, everyone relaxed. So it was the Captain-Commander¡ªno wonder! For a time, they all cheerfully toasted Kaelith¡¯s supposed demise.

    Yet the man himself was currently seated on a large fur-draped chair, narrating his daring tale:

    ¡°Back then, the Zero Division sent five thousand soldiers to surround me! You know about the Royal Guard soldiers blessed by the Soul King¡¯s power, right? Each one is as tough as steel and wields tremendous abilities, easily on par with a regular Lieutenant!

    ¡°Surrounded like that, I feared nothing. Charging right in, I left a bloody trail in the Royal Palace, piling up bodies like mountains. As for the Royal Guard¡ªwhat you call the ¡®King¡¯s Special Forces¡¯¡ªthey all knelt down and begged me to stop. They asked, ¡®Why are you so angry?¡¯

    ¡°So I told them that Seireitei¡¯s policies need improvement¡ªwhy on earth do female Shinigami have to wear those long uniform pants? It¡¯s an affront to human nature!

    ¡°The Zero Division started crying, promising to fix it at once. They said they¡¯d issue an order so all female Shinigami would have to wear short skirts!¡±

    Growing more excited by the second, Kaelith jumped onto the chair, one foot planted on the armrest, striking a spirited pose. Below him, the Eleventh Division officers roared with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Short skirts! Short skirts! Short skirts!¡±

    Their cheers echoed through the hall as Kaelith threw his head back in laughter. Standing at the edge of the crowd, Aizen folded his arms and watched coldly. Seeing Kaelith revel in his own tale, Aizen tweaked his voice with a bit of spiritual pressure and shouted:

    ¡°Captain! When¡¯s that order going into effect?¡±

    Kaelith, who¡¯d been cackling in triumph, froze. Everyone else turned with the same question in their eyes: Right, when would this short-skirt policy actually happen?

    Kaelith cleared his throat. ¡°You fools! Things with the Zero Division aren¡¯t that simple. They¡¯ve lived hundreds of thousands, even a million years. A century to them is like a single day for us. Something that takes them a few days could be centuries over here!

    ¡°But don¡¯t worry. I know plenty of bigshots up there. I¡¯ll make sure they push it through quickly, so we can show off our mighty forces!¡±

    Once again, the division members erupted in cheers. A muscular man suddenly yelled:

    ¡°Boss! I don¡¯t want to see the female officers in short skirts¡ªI want to see you in one!¡±

    For two seconds, silence reigned. Then the atmosphere exploded, louder than ever.

    ¡°Boss in a skirt!¡±

    ¡°Boss¡¯s muscles!¡±

    ¡°Boss¡¯s bulge!¡±

    The men flexed, brandished weapons, and waved flags. Aizen inhaled sharply, feeling a wave of exasperation. This place was impossible to tolerate even for a single day.

    Fortunately, the commotion didn¡¯t last long. Rangiku quickly climbed up, pulled Kaelith down, and hustled him back to his room.

    Inside, Rangiku wore a stern look as she set down a bowl of medicine. ¡°Kaelith, have you forgotten what Captain Unohana said? You¡¯re not fully recovered yet, so don¡¯t overdo it!¡±

    Kaelith merely smirked. With a body like his, why fear any doctor¡¯s orders? He accepted the medicine and downed it in one go. Rangiku nodded in satisfaction.

    Just as she was about to say something else, the door opened, and Gin Ichimaru entered with a bowl of porridge.

    ¡°Captain, I made you some vegetable porridge. I added a little meat for flavor, so it won¡¯t taste bland.¡±

    Kaelith sniffed it curiously, looking pleased at the aroma¡ªit was nearly as good as one of his own creations. As he sipped, Rangiku narrowed her eyes and eyed Gin disapprovingly.

    How dare this newbie act so presumptuous? Gin gave her a mocking grin, as if to say, ¡°What do you know about the captain? Men understand each other best.¡±

    A vein throbbed on Rangiku¡¯s forehead. Gin Ichimaru clearly had a death wish. She was about to act on that thought when the door opened again, revealing Aizen in his black Shinigami uniform and lieutenant¡¯s badge. He stepped inside, flashed a polite smile at the pair, and said nothing.

    Gin promptly stepped out, and Rangiku also took the hint and slipped away, shutting the door behind her. Aizen gave a satisfied nod, then took a seat across from Kaelith, who was still drinking porridge.

    ¡°All right, Kaelith. Let¡¯s hear all the details about what happened this time.¡±

    Ever since they dug Kaelith out of that crater, he¡¯d been unconscious for several days. Captain Unohana and a team of medical Shinigami had worked tirelessly to save his life. Officially, he was supposed to be discharged not long ago. However, on the very night the Captain-Commander visited him in the hospital, Kaelith¡¯s condition mysteriously took a turn for the worse, and he was forced to stay a few more days.

    He only managed to leave today.

    Aizen¡¯s comment on all this? ¡°That¡¯s just typical.¡±

    Kaelith polished off the porridge, set the bowl down, and recounted his journey to the Royal Palace in full detail. ¡°Aizen, I really suffered this time. You have no idea how strong that monk is. With just one blow¡ªseriously, just one¡ªhe fractured my bones. And my body¡¯s been tempered to the extreme!

    ¡°Then, near the end, he went even further, blasting me out of the Royal Palace. Who knows how far I fell? My uniform burned off completely, and everyone gawked at me in all my glory!

    ¡°The worst part was that even though I denied messing with the flame imprint, Teacher still decided it was my doing. The old guy was brutal¡ªI think I got it worse from him than at the Royal Palace¡­¡±

    While Kaelith rambled on, Aizen sank into thought. Kaelith¡¯s actions and words in the Royal Palace would be enough to anger any ruling authority. That monk attacking him was no surprise.

    Yet the monk¡¯s ambiguous demeanor was difficult to interpret. He was supposed to guard the Soul King and uphold the order of the Three Worlds¡ªwhy spare Kaelith in the end?

    Key words and phrases swirled in Aizen¡¯s mind, gradually forming a conjecture: the monk might not hold the Soul King in absolute regard after all. Could it be that the Soul King was more of a concept than a person? If so, maybe the monk thought Kaelith¡¯s ambition impossible and wasn¡¯t inclined to kill him.

    But that clashed with Aizen¡¯s own research. Over the years, he¡¯d gathered fragments of the Soul King, each indicating the Soul King was indeed a single living entity. So perhaps the Soul King had special attributes that made replacement impossible¡ªeven for Kaelith?

    If that were true, the monk¡¯s decision to spare Kaelith seemed odd. The Soul King could be killed or destroyed, so one would expect an absolute approach¡ªany challenger should be eliminated, ensuring no one would attempt it again. A being who¡¯d lived over a million years wouldn¡¯t neglect something that obvious.

    Then again¡­

    Aizen¡¯s expression shifted. He realized he¡¯d been analyzing this from an adversarial viewpoint, assuming the monk saw challengers as enemies. But what if it wasn¡¯t a direct conflict? What if a challenger and the monk could share a common ground?

    His face darkened as the thought crossed his mind. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Aizen?¡± Kaelith called, noticing the change.

    Aizen stared at him a moment, then spoke. ¡°From now on, regarding the plan for the Soul King, do nothing on your own. If I find out you move forward without discussing it with me first¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but the threat in his tone was clear.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Aha! You must¡¯ve figured something out, right? As soon as you say that, I know you have some grand idea. Actually, I¡¯ve basically guessed it too. Should we compare notes?¡±

    ¡°Sure. You go first,¡± Aizen said.

    Kaelith fell silent for a few seconds, then coughed. ¡°Aizen, you really need to work harder.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°I ended up getting pummeled by the monk only because you weren¡¯t pulling your weight. Starting now, double your training. I expect you to surpass that monk¡¯s reiatsu in ten years, so you can help me become the ultimate existence!¡±

    Aizen¡¯s blood pressure soared. He opened Kaelith¡¯s personal grievance ledger and scribbled furiously in it.

    Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. Glancing at Kaelith, he said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why the Captain-Commander was so sure you sealed that flame mark yourself?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Aizen smirked. ¡°I know. Right around the time you were about to be discharged, Captain Hirako returned from the Royal Palace. He went to report at the First Division barracks, and about half an hour later, the Captain-Commander stormed over to your ward in a fury.¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened in rage. ¡°Hirako, you rotten traitor! You¡¯ve dug your own grave!¡±

    ¡­

    For reasons he couldn¡¯t explain, Kaelith sensed something off about the Eleventh Division lately. T¨­sen, Gin, Komamura, even Isshin¡ªwhenever they looked at him, there was this odd glint in their eyes. It was a mix of sentiment, anticipation, and pride¡­some new emotion he couldn¡¯t quite place.

    Finally, he grabbed the most loyal among them¡ªGin¡ªand dragged him into a small alley, pressing him against the wall with a grin.

    ¡°Gin, you do still acknowledge me as your captain, right?¡±

    Caught off guard by Kaelith¡¯s sudden closeness, Gin blinked. Then he nodded. ¡°Of course. You¡¯ll always be my captain.¡±

    Kaelith nodded in approval. ¡°Then spill it. What are you all plotting? Why do you, Komamura, T¨­sen, and even Isshin keep giving me that strange look?¡±

    Gin seemed to understand, smiling after a brief pause. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. Since you¡¯ve caught on, I¡¯ll tell you. We wanted to ask when your birthday is. Most of us were orphans from Rukongai, drifting about with no concept of birthdays. If we celebrate your birthday, it¡¯s like celebrating our own.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Kaelith stared for a moment, then patted Gin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You fools! If it¡¯s just that, why not ask me directly?¡±

    He paused, eyes lighting up as though struck by inspiration. ¡°No, that¡¯s not enough¡ªwe need birthdays for all of you too! I want to plan a massive surprise, so don¡¯t mention a word. It¡¯ll be big. Just you wait!¡±

    Still beaming, he let go of Gin and vanished in a flash step. Gin stood there, exhaling slowly.

    His captain was easy enough to fool. Of course, they weren¡¯t simply plotting a birthday celebration. One day, they¡¯d present him with a gift of a far grander sort¡­

    ¡­

    A few days later, the Captains convened for a meeting. Yamamoto stood at the head, surveying them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve called you here today to discuss selecting a new Captain for the Twelfth Division.¡±

    Those words made veterans like Ky¨­raku and Ukitake feel a bit heavyhearted. Only now did it fully sink in that Captain Hikifune was truly gone from Seireitei and unlikely to return. The sense of old faces vanishing, replaced by a new generation like Kaelith, was stronger than ever. In just a hundred years, so much had changed.

    Was this the tide of the times?

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 Chapter 295

    Chapter 295

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Hearing that a new captain was to be chosen, many people subconsciously looked at Kaelith.

    A hundred years ago, most of the Soul Society¡¯s talent came from the Shin¡¯¨­ Spiritual Arts Academy, but now, Eleventh Division was the undisputed champion in producing extraordinary figures. Kaelith¡¯s seated officers alone were strong enough to secure Captain positions. Rumor had it that quite a few current Captains had redoubled their training, feeling the heat.

    In any case, the overall strength of Seireitei had improved notably.

    Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Kaelith scratched his head.

    ¡°I recommend¡­¡±

    His first reflex was to say ¡°Kisuke Urahara.¡± After all, in the original timeline, Urahara had indeed succeeded Kirio Hikifune as Twelfth Division Captain. But just as the words rose to his lips, he hesitated.

    Would Urahara actually  to be a Captain?

    Some people enjoy the authority of being in a high position and happily shoulder the responsibilities that come with it¡ªlike most normal Captains in the Soul Society. Others savor the perks of rank but dread the obligations (Kaelith, Ky¨­raku Shunsui¡­).

    And then there are those who simply have no interest in power, yet, if they¡¯re forced to take responsibility, they¡¯ll grit their teeth and accept it anyway. Kisuke Urahara clearly fell into that category.

    Being the Captain of Twelfth Division was less of a promotion for him and more like another job that would eat into his free time. As Kaelith recalled how many tasks Urahara had to juggle, he decided not to saddle him with another burden.

    After a moment of thought, Kaelith spoke up again:

    ¡°I recommend the former Twelfth Division Seventh Seat, currently serving under me in the Eleventh Division¡­ Mayuri Kurotsuchi!¡±

    Mayuri Kurotsuchi? Hearing that name, the Captains looked puzzled.

    How had he ended up in Eleventh Division?

    Yamamoto narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, then said, ¡°If I recall correctly, that name was on the list of rebels affiliated with the Tsunayashiro clan.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kaelith replied. ¡°He worked for them as a technical advisor, but only because they funded his research and provided facilities. After we defeated the rebels, I convinced him to repent and return to being a Shinigami. In these past years within the Eleventh Division, Mayuri¡¯s shown excellent conduct¡ªhe¡¯s matured, participated in many tasks, and completely disavowed his former self.

    ¡°Not long ago, through tireless work, he successfully created an artificial life-form based on man-made cells, fueled by Reishi. The creature has already grown to appear around five years old and continues to develop. With such scientific prowess, Mayuri can carry on where Captain Hikifune left of and even surp¡ª¡±

    He paused, hastily changing the word  to:

    ¡°¡ªI mean, uphold Captain Hikifune¡¯s will as the new Captain of the Twelfth Division!¡±

    The word ¡°artificial life¡± caused varied reactions. Those open to new ideas grew intrigued, silently weighing the pros and cons; the more conservative Captains frowned at its possible implications.

    Byakuya¡¯s grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki, turned to Kaelith. ¡°Captain Kaelith, does this individual you¡¯re recommending possess Bankai?¡±

    Around the room, people nodded almost imperceptibly. Having Bankai was a core requirement for becoming a Captain¡ªunless you could, like Kaelith, charge headlong at the Captain-Commander and remain standing.

    ¡°He does,¡± Kaelith answered. ¡°In fact, he¡¯s even used scientific methods to modify it. My Third Seat in the Eleventh Division, Komamura, underwent Mayuri¡¯s modifications as well. His Bankai is now much stronger.¡±

    Silence filled the hall. Most Captains stared at Kaelith with expressions that could only be called¡­indescribable. Kaelith blinked, puzzled by their sudden reaction, until R¨­j¨±r¨­ ¨­toribashi finally ventured:

    ¡°Captain Kaelith¡­ Which seat does Mayuri hold in the Eleventh Division?¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a seat,¡± Kaelith said, shaking his head. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter. Assessing someone¡¯s capacity to be Captain should be based on skill, not seniority. The Gotei 13 is a military force, after all, and shouldn¡¯t cling too much to old-fashioned rank¡ª¡±

    The Captains looked at one another and kept silent. Love Aikawa swallowed hard. He desperately wanted to say that nobody cared about Mayuri¡¯s seniority. What made their scalps tingle was how terrifying the Eleventh Division had become. If  of its top officers mastered Bankai and could fight on a Captain¡¯s level, that was one thing¡ªbut now it seemed even an ordinary foot soldier there had achieved Bankai.

    Just how many Bankai lay hidden in the Eleventh Division? They were practically forming their own mini-Gotei 13 at this point¡­

    Standing among them, Yoruichi couldn¡¯t help but laugh quietly to herself. If they counted not only the Eleventh Division but also the likes of Aizen, Soifon, Shiba Isshin¡ªeveryone who¡¯d become close to Kaelith¡ªthat ¡°mini-Gotei 13¡± might very well be stronger than the real thing.

    ........

    ..

    .

    Three days later, with all the Captains gathered, Mayuri demonstrated both his Shikai and Bankai. Satisfied, Yamamoto formally petitioned Central 46, which granted Mayuri the Captain¡¯s haori and appointment papers. Mayuri Kurotsuchi was thus officially installed as the new Captain of the Twelfth Division.

    He wasted no time tidying up Hikifune¡¯s old research equipment, consolidating it into a new facility. Kaelith thought the long-awaited ¡°Research & Development Institute¡± might finally appear in the Soul Society¡¯s history. But it turned out Mayuri¡¯s laboratory bore a sign that read:

    **

    ¡°...Huh?¡± Kaelith stared at the name plaque, baffled. He went to Mayuri to question it. Mayuri smiled.

    ¡°You misunderstand, Kaelith. While this lab will continue all the research tasks formerly handled by the Twelfth Division, its main focus now is the ¡®Nemuri¡¯ Project. And in that project, the most vital, pivotal figure is undoubtedly you.

    ¡°Hence the name, ¡®Kaelith Technical Bureau ¨C Branch Lab¡¯¡­makes perfect sense, yes? And as an aside¡­¡±

    He chuckled, ¡°I noticed my experiment proposals get approved at lightning speed whenever your name is attached. Thus, I see no reason to change the sign. Kekeke¡­¡±

    Kaelith fell into silent admiration.

    ¡­

    Winter came in a flash. With the first snowfall, Shinji Hirako ambled out of his quarters into the courtyard, wearing pajamas and letting his long blonde hair drape over his shoulders. He exuded a sleepy languor, appearing at a glance like some ethereal invalid. But the chilly air in his lungs gave him a crisp burst of energy.

    ¡°What great weather¡­¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°What shall I do today? Maybe go fish by the river?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He grinned. Lately, life had been smooth. For some reason, his Lieutenant Aizen S¨­suke was acting extra thoughtful¡ªhandling tasks he¡¯d once refused unless Shinji practically begged. He even gave Shinji the courtesy of first pick at meals in the dining hall, and sometimes, Shinji could order Aizen to bring food straight to his room.

    This, Shinji decided, was  authority¡ªthe satisfaction of being Captain at last.

    Still, behind his facade of ease, Shinji was on guard. After all, a villain who plans something nefarious often sugarcoats it with polite behavior first. Obviously, that was the game Aizen was playing. Shinji just had to keep his eyes peeled, ready to catch him in the act.

    Buoyed by a sense of anticipation, Shinji shuffled in his sandals toward the mess hall. After a few steps, he froze and darted behind a nearby wall, peeking around cautiously.

    There stood Aizen, calm as ever¡ªexcept it was breakfast time, and Aizen never missed meals, infected as he was by Kaelith¡¯s appetite.

    Why was he heading out now, of all times? Clearly up to something suspicious. Shinji quickly straightened his collar and followed him in secret. He¡¯d recently mastered a technique to alter his facial features and hair color by manipulating spiritual pressure¡ªa convenient little trick he¡¯d found scribbled on a scrap of paper left outside a library.

    Though he¡¯d first dismissed it as nonsense, testing proved otherwise. Now it served him well.

    Once he¡¯d disguised himself, Shinji trailed Aizen all the way out of the Fifth Division, observing as Aizen avoided leaving footprints in the snow by creating reishi platforms beneath his feet. Every sign reeked of stealth.

    Shinji suppressed a grin at his ¡°victory,¡± continuing to pursue the suspicious Lieutenant until they left Seireitei entirely, arriving at a mountain forest.

    There, Aizen halted. Shinji swiftly tucked himself out of sight, erecting a bending light Kid¨­. In his view, Aizen stood quietly, seemingly waiting for someone.

    Shinji mused. Just then, Aizen spoke:

    ¡°You¡¯ve followed me all this way. I imagine you¡¯re tired.¡±

    Shinji froze. The hair on his neck bristled¡ªhad he been found out? But Aizen continued:

    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you lurking around for a while. You must be among the remnants of that Tsunayashiro rebellion, plotting revenge on Captain Kaelith. Unfortunately, you¡¯ve chosen the wrong man to stalk.

    Today, you¡¯ll pay for your mistakes!¡±

    He drew his Zanpakut¨­ with a flourish. Shinji blinked in confusion.

    And yet¡­Aizen was staring straight in Shinji¡¯s direction, charging forward. Panicking, Shinji tried to reveal himself, to say ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve made a mistake!¡± But before he could make a sound, a fierce pain struck the back of his head.

    In the final instant before blacking out, he turned to see Kaelith wielding a club, eyes bright with excitement.

    ¡°Got him, boss! Should we finish him here?¡±

    ¡°No. We only have one dose of Mayuri¡¯s new drug. He¡¯ll do nicely for that test¡­¡±

    Shinji struggled in vain. Darkness swallowed him up.

    ¡­

    He had no idea how much time passed before consciousness returned. Slowly, he sat upright, pressing a hand to the back of his skull.

    ¡°My head¡­still here¡­?¡± he muttered, relieved to find it attached, though tender and bruised. Vague memories of Kaelith and Aizen drifted in.  But hold on¡ªhe¡¯d been in disguise.

    So they must not have known it was him, only that they thought they were dealing with some rebel scum. As for the drug Mayuri gave him¡­maybe it malfunctioned, sparing his life.

    Shinji shivered, realizing he¡¯d been lying in the snow for who knew how long. Soaked and freezing, he sneezed loudly. Golden strands of hair floated in front of him¡ª hair.

    Alarmed, he touched his head and realized huge clumps of hair were coming away in handfuls.

    ¡°???¡± Shinji created a Kid¨­ mirror and leaned in. One look at his reflection and he gasped. His once-lustrous hair was gone, replaced by a smooth, shiny scalp.

    ¡°Kaelith!!! Aizen S¨­suke!!!¡±

    He roared, voice echoing through the sky. Storming back to the Fifth Division, he searched everywhere until he found Kaelith and Aizen in the mess hall, casually eating  breakfast.

    ¡°You bastards!¡± Shinji slammed the table. ¡°How could you do this to me?! My lovely hair! Why?! We¡¯ve no real feud¡ªwhy stoop to this?!¡±

    Aizen calmly set down his chopsticks, slowly chewing and swallowing. ¡°Captain, I don¡¯t know what nonsense you¡¯re on about. Kaelith and I only left to clean up some remaining rebels, then came back to eat.

    We never touched you.¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head, looking equally mystified. ¡°Brother Shinji, you might¡¯ve slept poorly. Don¡¯t blame me if bad rest causes hair troubles.¡± Gazing at Shinji¡¯s gleaming bald dome, Kaelith¡¯s eyes brightened in genuine curiosity.

    ¡°Whoa, look at that shine. You really must¡¯ve had a rough nap!¡±

    Shinji bristled, about to retaliate, when Aizen¡¯s soft, chilling voice reached his ears: ¡°Captain, you¡¯ve been keeping a watchful eye on me lately, haven¡¯t you? Let me hazard a guess¡­ Could it be you¡¯ve reported something about me to certain authorities?

    ¡°But those ¡®authorities¡¯ couldn¡¯t care about a small fry like me unless someone pointed them in my direction. So¡­you must have mentioned something.¡±

    Shinji¡¯s pupils shrank as he stared at Aizen, who casually lifted his tea, taking a measured sip before narrowing his eyes. ¡°From now on, whenever you decide to do anything¡­adventurous, you¡¯d best be cautious. This time, you only lost your hair.

    Next time, who knows?¡±

    That said, he stood and left. Shinji¡¯s blood pressure soared, fury pounding in his veins.

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 Chapter 296

    Chapter 296

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Mayuri Kurotsuchi was in high spirits. He¡¯d expected Kaelith to recommend Kisuke Urahara for the vacant Twelfth Division Captaincy¡ªbut instead, Kaelith had chosen him.  he thought,

    Another delight: while Kaelith was visiting the Royal Palace, Aizen had brought Mayuri and a select group to Hueco Mundo, revealing countless secrets. Learning of all the covert operations Aizen and Kaelith had carried out over the years, Mayuri was stunned.

    He¡¯d always suspected they were plotting something big but had no idea their plan was already so advanced. The entirety of Hueco Mundo was effectively under Kaelith¡¯s control¡ªArrancar transformations, the Three Grand Generals, the ¡°Seven Swords¡± of the Hollow Blade, Las Noches brimming with human-shaped Hollows¡­

    Mayuri was nearly overwhelmed, then euphoric. His ¡°Nemuri Project¡± needed many Hollows as experimental material. He¡¯d been fretting over where to find so many high-quality specimens¡ªwhen suddenly, Hueco Mundo had fallen into his lap, courtesy of Kaelith¡¯s collaboration with Aizen.

    At the time, he wasn¡¯t exactly on good terms with Aizen, but the moment Aizen finished explaining the situation, Mayuri pledged loyalty to ¡°Team Kaelith¡± without hesitation.

    Now newly installed as Twelfth Division Captain, he wrapped up a day¡¯s work, then slipped into his lab. After concealing his reiatsu, he opened a Garganta and entered Hueco Mundo. Everyone in Twelfth Division had already learned to fear the new Captain¡¯s aura¡ªnobody dared disturb him, so he could secretly come and go as he pleased.

    Walking the grand corridors of Las Noches, Mayuri noted how the lower-ranked Arrancar bustled about, bowing politely. The sight of these Hollows greeting him courteously amused him greatly.

    He was in an even better mood recalling that Urahara hadn¡¯t been among those Aizen showed around Hueco Mundo.

    It meant Mayuri¡ªapproved by both Aizen and Kaelith¡ªwas actually ahead. With Hueco Mundo¡¯s resources, his research would reach new heights, and once he was hailed for his achievements, Kisuke Urahara would be nothing more than a tiny pebble on the path of his success.

    Mayuri thought, laughing quietly. He followed an Arrancar deeper into Las Noches until he reached the laboratory. With Aizen absent,  was the absolute authority here. Brimming with excitement, he shoved open the lab door¡ªonly to find Kisuke Urahara crouched beside an instrument, shoveling food from a boxed meal into his mouth.

    ¡°...Huh?¡± Mayuri stared. Urahara looked up at the sound.

    ¡°Oh! Mayuri, fancy seeing you here!¡± Urahara set down his meal, smiling in his usual genial way. ¡°Let me guess¡­Kaelith is busy with the Royal Palace, so I doubt he brought you on his own. That means it must¡¯ve been Aizen reaching out on Kaelith¡¯s behalf, gathering ¡®Team Kaelith¡¯ to stand by just in case something went sideways in the Royal Palace.

    ¡°Huh, I wonder who else was in that first wave of recruits. Either way, good for you! I¡¯ve been dying to discuss a few projects with someone of your caliber!¡±

    He moved to clasp Mayuri¡¯s hand and lead him to the instrument. Mayuri stared in disbelief at the hand gripping his. Jerking violently, he yanked free.

    ¡°Kisuke Urahara¡­ So you¡¯ve been in Kaelith¡¯s pocket all along? He recruited you long ago?¡±

    Urahara cocked his head. ¡°Not too long. Just a few months before you, I guess.¡±

    ¡°A¡­few¡­months?¡± Mayuri lifted his head to the ceiling, jaw clenched, fingers twitching. The pride he felt about ¡°being selected in the first wave¡± vanished.

    Urahara had already been there even earlier!

    He forcibly steadied his breathing, then abruptly turned back toward Urahara with a crooked grin.

    ¡°Hmph. Well, guess who replaced Captain Hikifune in the Twelfth Division¡ªme. Kaelith personally recommended me at the Captain¡¯s assembly. I hear he never once mentioned you¡ªstraight to my name!¡±

    Mayuri smiled broadly, baring sharp white teeth framed by his unsettling makeup. He watched, anticipating Urahara¡¯s frustration. Instead, Urahara paused, then broke into a gentle, heartfelt smile.

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful,¡± he murmured, his tone genuinely touched. ¡°Kaelith¡­he¡¯s mellowed a lot compared to the old days.

    All right, since he¡¯s gone out of his way, guess I should repay his kindness with some effort. Time for me to work a bit harder!¡±

    Beaming, he turned back to Mayuri. ¡°Perfect timing that you¡¯re here¡ªhelp me tinker with¡ªMayuri?¡±

    Before Urahara could finish, Mayuri toppled backward in a faint, leaving the lab in total disarray.

    ¡­

    A thin blanket of snow covered the stone walkways leading to the Eleventh Division¡¯s offices. Soifon moved briskly over it, heading toward Kaelith¡¯s study. She¡¯d grown taller since the day she first met him, her once mid-length hair now cropped short, with two longer locks pulled into ring-like braids¡ªSuzumebachi braids. Her once round, youthful face now carried a cool aloofness. Even her figure had developed a modest curve that, according to a certain shameless individual, was ¡°just right.¡±

    She was Kaelith¡¯s personal guard and intelligence officer, but the reason for her visit today was trivial. Allegedly, Kaelith insisted that he hadn¡¯t completely recovered from injuries inflicted by the Royal Guard, so he needed her special massage techniques for full recuperation. As she¡¯d been stepping on his back (and massaging him) for years, she knew every muscle on his body. And so, he demanded she come handle this ¡°critical duty.¡±

    Approaching the study, Soifon sighed.

    She was only a few steps away when she froze, noticing someone lurking behind a pillar, peering at her. Golden-orange wavy hair, a face still touched by youthful na?vet¨¦, and¡­a certain figure far more developed than her own, despite being younger.

    ¡°Rangiku Matsumoto¡­what are you doing?¡± Soifon asked coolly.

    Caught in the open, Rangiku emerged, eyeing Soifon warily.

    ¡°Soifon-senpai, what are  up to?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to give my report to Kaelith-sama,¡± Soifon answered flatly.

    ¡°Is that  you¡¯re here to do?¡±

    Kaelith¡¯s words caught Rangiku completely off-guard. She took a deep breath, as though steeling herself for something monumental, then spoke:

    ¡°Soifon-senpai, do you¡­like Kaelith?¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    Soifon¡¯s blood pressure spiked momentarily. Like Kaelith? What nonsense was that?

    She shook her head without hesitation. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Really.¡±

    ¡°¡­Then, if you don¡¯t like Kaelith, why did you do that¡­ that kind of thing with him?¡±

    ¡°!!¡±

    Soifon¡¯s pupils shrank. Had she seen it?

    Just yesterday, that scoundrel Kaelith had demanded her help with something indecent. Although Soifon hated it, after so many years, she¡¯d more or less gotten used to these tasks. So she had gone along with it despite her reluctance.

    She¡¯d been certain that no one else was around. How did Rangiku catch sight of them? Did this young girl already surpass her in stealth or detection? It sounded unlikely, but then again, Soifon had watched people from Rukongai grow into absolute monsters under Kaelith¡¯s Eleventh Division. Even if Rangiku didn¡¯t feel as terrifying as Kenpachi Zaraki or T¨­sen Kaname, there was still something special about her¡ªKaelith himself had personally brought her in.

    Soifon pressed a hand to her forehead and said, ¡°Matsumoto, it¡¯s¡­complicated. First, I¡¯m different from the rest of you. Although we¡¯re all considered subordinates of that scoundrel¡ªcough, I mean of Kaelith-sama¡ªyour overall status isn¡¯t really that different from his. But me? I was born into the F¨¥ng Clan, a branch of the Shih¨­in family¡¯s retainers. Since birth, I¡¯ve served the Shih¨­in. Yoruichi-sama and Kaelith-sama are bound to end up together eventually. As Yoruichi-sama¡¯s retainer, I¡¯ll inevitably end up serving him as well.

    ¡°As a servant, I can¡¯t disobey my master¡¯s orders. Whatever Kaelith-sama wants, I have no right to refuse.¡±

    Rangiku pursed her lips. ¡°Even that kind of thing?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes. Even that.¡±

    Seeing her expression, Soifon sighed inwardly. Sure, Kaelith was a degenerate in many ways, but he was undeniably accomplished and charismatic. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising for a girl like Rangiku to fall for him.

    Soifon turned away, ready to proceed with her errands, but Rangiku suddenly tugged on the hem of her clothing. Turning around, Soifon found the girl regarding her with a resolute look.

    ¡°Soifon-senpai, I want to do what you did with him, too! Teach me! Take me with you!¡±

    ¡°???¡±

    Soifon almost lost her composure on the spot. Inhaling deeply, she tried to steady herself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, Matsumoto. If you truly like Kaelith-sama, then you should tell him directly and court him properly, not offer your body like some bargaining chip. Even if that does get his favor in the short term, it won¡¯t last.¡±

    Rangiku met her gaze head-on, determination in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    Privately, Soifon sighed. Kaelith might be a scoundrel, but he was overwhelmingly skilled in so many areas¡ªno wonder a girl this age would be drawn to him. Accepting the situation, Soifon guided her to Kaelith¡¯s room.

    Inside, Kaelith was flopped out on his bed, fiddling with his LSP2. On-screen, a swordswoman clashed with a monster surrounded by crackling red lightning. Despite his honed reflexes, Kaelith was clearly struggling without a clear vantage point.

    ¡°Ah, Soifon? Sorry, just let me finish this important task first,¡± he muttered, wearing a pair of headphones and frantically rotating the joystick.

    Soifon ignored his chatter and simply cast Rangiku a meaningful glance. Without a word, she slipped off her top layer and stepped forward.

    Rangiku¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°W-wait, Soifon-senpai! Arent you bing to quick. What are you doing?!¡±

    Soifon paused mid-motion, puzzled. ¡°Preparing to step on his back. What else?¡±

    ¡°You mean¡­ that¡¯s all you were doing?¡±

    The two stared at each other for a moment¡ªmutual confusion slowly dawning.

    ¡°¡­Of course that¡¯s all we were doing,¡± Soifon said, frowning. ¡°What exactly did you think you saw?¡±

    Rangiku¡¯s face turned bright red. ¡°I¡ªI thought it was something¡­ else.¡±

    Soifon dragged a hand down her face. Unbelievable. I can¡¯t believe I confessed for nothing.

    Hearing the noise, Kaelith took off his headphones. ¡°Huh? Rangiku? What¡¯s going on?¡± On-screen, his character had just fainted, carried away by helper cats. ¡°Damn, again?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Rangiku started, glancing awkwardly at Soifon.

    ¡°She wants to learn how to give you a proper back massage,¡± Soifon cut in smoothly.

    Kaelith perked up. ¡°Oh? Wonderful news! Excellent! You ladies wait just a sec while I find a comfortable position¡­¡±

    Soifon exchanged a look with Rangiku, then slipped off her straw sandals, revealing the white tabi socks beneath. She moved onto Kaelith¡¯s back. Rangiku followed suit, though her gaze remained locked on Soifon. She still couldn¡¯t shake the sour feeling from discovering just how¡­ familiar Soifon and Kaelith¡¯s dynamic was.

    Meanwhile, an odd feeling twisted inside Soifon herself.

    When she thought Rangiku just wanted to give Kaelith a back massage, she''d felt nothing. But now that she realized the girl had been offering herself to him, a sharp pang twisted in her chest¡ªtight and uncomfortable in a way she couldn¡¯t explain.

    Why? Why did I feel this uneasy?

    ¡­........

    ..

    .

    Snow continued falling in Seireitei, each storm heavier than the last. In the First Division compound, beneath the eaves, Yamamoto sat on the veranda, quietly admiring the snowfall in the courtyard. Beside him crouched Kaelith, holding Ry¨±jin Jakka in one hand, using its flames to heat water for tea.

    ¡°Here you go, Teacher¡ªtry this!¡±

    He carefully poured a cup and brought it to Yamamoto. Tasting the brew, Yamamoto nodded in approval. Despite Kaelith¡¯s questionable skill with a charcoal brazier, for some reason, tea boiled with Ry¨±jin Jakka always turned out well. While he disliked recalling a certain earlier incident with ¡°tea¡± and that Zanpakut¨­, he couldn¡¯t deny the results were worth it.

    So he permitted his troublesome disciple to use Ry¨±jin Jakka each time he visited.

    Watching Kaelith¡¯s easy smile, Yamamoto couldn¡¯t help feeling reflective.

    This fool had single-handedly ventured to the Royal Palace, provoked Ichib¨¥ Hy¨­sube into a deadly fight, and then been slapped out of the sky, plummeting to Seireitei below. That alone would leave most people shaken, if not downright traumatized. But Kaelith acted like nothing happened.

    Setting his tea aside, Yamamoto finally spoke. ¡°Brat, are you telling me there¡¯s nothing in this world that frightens you?¡±

    Kaelith, in the midst of whispering something profane to make Ry¨±jin Jakka¡¯s flames hotter, turned his head. ¡°Scared of something? Yeah, sure, I¡¯m afraid of a few things.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Yamamoto arched a brow.

    ¡°Like your fists, or division paperwork, or a bad-tasting lunch¡ª¡±

    ¡°You idiot!¡± Yamamoto barked. ¡°That¡¯s not the kind of fear I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    Then, more solemnly: ¡°Listen closely. People who act fearless day to day, when they finally  meet something that chills them to the core, can become paralyzed with terror¡ªfar more so than the average person.

    No one is devoid of fear. Not me, not you.

    ¡°You must identify your deepest fear and think about how you¡¯ll overcome it, not hide it away. Repeatedly confronting what you fear is how you¡¯ll become truly strong, truly resilient.

    Hah! Are you even listening?!¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Kaelith jerked out of his daze. ¡°I am, Teacher! I promise!¡±

    ¡°Hmph.¡± Yamamoto huffed but let the matter drop. Kaelith stared at Ry¨±jin Jakka in silence, recalling his harrowing trip to the Royal Palace.

    Indeed, he had discovered something fearsome there¡ªthough not Ichib¨¥. That big bald monk might be scarily powerful and mysterious, but Kaelith¡¯s gut told him Ichib¨¥ wasn¡¯t what truly merited fear. The real nightmare was someone else¡­someone still dormant.

    Yhwach.

    Before Kaelith¡¯s transmigration, he never finished reading Bleach¡¯s Thousand-Year Blood War arc, but he¡¯d seen enough online snippets to learn that Yhwach ultimately  everyone in the Soul Society, including the entire Royal Guard. If that was accurate, then the threat was overwhelming. Ichib¨¥¡¯s abilities alone had boggled Kaelith¡¯s mind: ¡°Cut the name, not the flesh,¡± or stripping away the concept of a name.

    It seemed essentially unbeatable.

    If Yhwach could defeat Ichib¨¥, how had he done it? Kaelith couldn¡¯t even imagine. Which meant Yhwach¡¯s power was on a whole other plane. Maybe in the original story, only Kurosaki Ichigo¡ª¡ªcould stop him.

    But was that really all there was to it? Kaelith pursed his lips. Letting fate rely on someone else didn¡¯t sit well with him¡ªespecially if the canonical storyline might not even unfold the same way in this world.

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 Chapter 297

    Chapter 297

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    After indulging in some sweet potatoes roasted over Ry¨±jin Jakka, Kaelith left the First Division and headed toward the Fifth. Ever since the ¡°Bald Incident,¡± Shinji Hirako had quieted down somewhat.

    He¡¯d wanted to report what happened to Yamamoto, but there was no evidence. Shinji¡¯s face had been altered through a disguise technique, and thus the whole fiasco was categorized as an unfortunate misunderstanding.

    In truth, he started to suspect that  might have intentionally orchestrated him finding that disguise method in the first place, but the idea seemed so far-fetched that he convinced himself it was nothing.

    Aizen was just a ¡°kid¡± who graduated less than a century ago; how could anyone be that cunning?

    The Fifth Division members greeted Kaelith with friendly waves, used to his visits. A female officer even offered to lead him to Aizen¡¯s room. Inside, Aizen was scribbling intently, barely looking up as Kaelith walked in.

    ¡°Welcome. Grab a seat anywhere. I just need to finish this.¡±

    After a few seconds, he raised his head toward Kaelith, who sat quietly, hands folded, eyes unusually still. Aizen set his pen aside.

    ¡°All right. What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Kaelith tilted his head. ¡°Huh? What makes you think something¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Normally, if you saw these research drafts on my desk, you¡¯d sneak a peek or flip through them out of curiosity. Today, you¡¯re acting uncharacteristically well-behaved. You¡¯re obviously wrestling with something. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Out with it.¡±

    Kaelith blinked.  The unstoppable logic. In any case, he shrugged and pointed at his own face.

    ¡°Aizen, I want to learn Hollowfication.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Aizen¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why bring that up out of nowhere?¡±

    Kaelith explained, ¡°We¡¯ve done loads of successful Arrancar experiments, performed dozens¡ªno, hundreds¡ªof transformations. We have enough data. The Shinigami Hollowfication experiments have been fewer, but there have been a few successes.

    I figure it¡¯s safe to try on me.¡±

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°Safe is a stretch. Yes, we¡¯ve seen successful outcomes, but they all required special conditions. We still don¡¯t know how the subject reacts long-term or whether any side effects might appear. No records exist detailing a complete picture of Shinigami Hollowfication. It demands caution¡ª¡±

    Kaelith cut him off. ¡°Aizen, I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m sure I need this power. I  to do this.¡±

    He¡¯d decided. If beating Yhwach required someone like Kurosaki Ichigo, then Kaelith would  that person himself. Relying on the ¡°real story¡¯s hero¡± was a risk he refused to take.

    Besides, in the original timeline, Ichigo still failed to save Yamamoto from being killed. Why leave that hope in someone else¡¯s hands?

    was the protagonist now. If Ichigo could use Bankai, so would he. If Ichigo could Hollowfy, he¡¯d do that too. Then Fullbring? , he¡¯d tackle that as well. Layer on top of layers of power, increasing them exponentially.

    Whatever it took to ensure no one in this world¡ªneither Yhwach nor anyone else¡ªcould take him or does he cared about down.

    He was still lost in that fervor when Aizen pressed a hand to his shoulder. Kaelith looked up at him.

    ¡°Sorry, Kaelith. I¡¯ve been so absorbed in research that I neglected your mental state. Did your trip to the Royal Palace put  much pressure on you?¡± He waved off any protest from Kaelith.

    ¡°No need to explain. Whatever spooked you, whatever future threat you foresee¡­tell me. I¡¯ll find a way.

    Anything standing in our path, you and I together¡ªwe can sweep it aside.¡±

    Kaelith blinked, then grinned. ¡°You¡¯re right. Thanks, Aizen.¡±

    Aizen scoffed quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±

    Kaelith sat back down, explaining what he suspected about Yhwach. Aizen mulled over it for a few minutes, then spoke:

    ¡°In terms of raw strength, I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯ve uncovered every limit of Shinigami power, but I doubt I¡¯m far off. And at that level, simple direct power struggles matter less and less. I view Yamamoto¡¯s might as the Shinigami benchmark. So if this Yhwach person really killed him in the future you suspect, it implies a kind of rules-based ability, not just brute force.

    ¡°Yamamoto¡¯s defeats nearly always stem from having his power countered rather than being overpowered. Which means Yhwach likely used an unknown ¡®rule¡¯ or intangible factor to beat him, not raw strength.

    So you don¡¯t need to overestimate him on that front.¡±

    Kaelith recalled how Yamamoto¡¯s fights in the anime and manga often hinged on his vulnerabilities or ¡°blind spots.¡± That didn¡¯t necessarily mean the enemy was  overall, just that the Captain-Commander was undone by a peculiar technique.

    Kaelith¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That makes sense¡­¡±

    With Kaelith regaining his usual cheer, Aizen allowed a small smile, then continued, ¡°Of course, wanting to grow stronger isn¡¯t wrong. If you¡¯re aiming to uncover Yhwach¡¯s abilities before he catches us off-guard, then pushing the limits is logical.

    Still, Hollowfication is a big risk. We should at least test on a few more subjects first¡ªsay, Shinji Hirako. I can sow a bit of chaos in Rukongai, draw the Gotei 13¡¯s attention, get Yamamoto to send Shinji and maybe some other Captains to investigate, then we ambush¡ª¡±

    Kaelith shook his head. ¡°No, Aizen. Seireitei needs every warrior, even ones as useless and foul as that old scoundrel Shinji.

    You have faith in me, right? Then I do too. I¡¯ll be fine. If I can¡¯t handle even this, how could we hope to reshape the world?¡±

    Staring into Kaelith¡¯s unwavering gaze, Aizen let out a defeated sigh. ¡°You really are impossible.¡±

    ¡­

    They gathered at Hueco Mundo¡¯s central dome in Las Noches¡ªan unusual spot for such a procedure, yet it was bustling today. Under the eerie pale moonlight, Kaelith stretched his limbs, performing warm-ups. Aizen stood by a large apparatus, punching in calculations. Nearby, several individuals hovered protectively:

    ¡°Lieutenant Aizen, I refuse to let you perform this procedure on Kaelith-sama!¡± T¨­sen Kaname said in a low voice. ¡°If you must do a Hollowfication test, do it on me first. Ensure it¡¯s safe before you risk his life!¡±

    Gin Ichimaru, though silent, wore the same resolute glint in his eyes. If Aizen was tricking Kaelith into being some twisted experiment, Gin would not hesitate to skewer him right here.

    Aizen glanced at them, mouth curving into a wry grin. ¡°Those who ¡®do not think¡¯ often seek out someone or something to fill in for their deficiencies, calling that dependence ¡®honor.¡¯ But if they cling to it as the foundation of all action, they¡¯ll never meet a good end.¡±

    Before the others could react, Aizen lifted a small case from the machine and walked to Kaelith, dropping his flippant demeanor. He wore a grave expression.

    ¡°Ready, Kaelith?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Kaelith answered, flashing a thumbs-up.

    Aizen nodded, withdrawing a brilliant jewel from the case. It shimmered, almost enticing anyone who looked at it to pour their entire soul into its depths.

    Not far away, Kisuke Urahara observed, scribbling notes on a clipboard.

    Aizen murmured instructions to Kaelith:

    ¡°Once Hollowfication begins, your consciousness will enter an inner realm. You¡¯ll confront a Hollow formed by the H¨­gyoku¡ªone spawned from your negative emotions and darker memories. The deeper your negativity, the stronger this Hollow. I doubt yours will be all that powerful, but remember: no matter what it says or does, stand firm in your beliefs.

    Remember why you¡¯re doing this. Defeat it, and you¡¯ll master your Hollow powers.

    Lose, and I¡¯m sure you know the outcome.¡±

    Kaelith nodded. ¡°Yep. The outcome is that you lose your lifelong friend and, in despair, will have to kill him yourself¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Aizen said coolly. ¡°I¡¯d just dismember your corpse for research.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Kaelith laughed, infuriating Aizen.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started,¡± Aizen said, pressing the H¨­gyoku to Kaelith¡¯s forehead. At once, Kaelith¡¯s body went slack and he sank into a seated position. Gin, T¨­sen, and the others tried to intervene, but Starrk, Harribel, and Ulquiorra blocked them.

    There was no turning back now.

    Aizen leapt away in a flash, shouting, ¡°Prepare to fight! While Kaelith battles for control on the inside, his body out here will run wild under Hollowification¡ªhe¡¯ll indiscriminately attack everything nearby. Until he wrests control of his powers, we must take turns wearing him down to keep him from going berserk!¡±

    Everyone tensed. Even those who disliked the plan recognized Kaelith¡¯s safety depended on their next moves.

    Kaelith sat motionless, head bowed, as if asleep. Ten-odd seconds passed¡ªlong enough to stir nerves. Komamura glanced uneasily at Aizen.

    Then Kaelith¡¯s head snapped up, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. A ghastly white mask had somehow formed over his face, covering every feature. Black eyes with golden, catlike pupils darted madly behind the mask, and the mouth¡ªtwo rows of jagged, bone-white teeth¡ªsplit into a manic grin.

    ¡°Shh¡ª¡±

    ¡°Heeheeheehee!!¡±

    In a blur of force that seemed to tear space, Kaelith appeared before Komamura. A Hollow-white arm ended in razor-sharp claws that slammed downward. The monumental impact coursed through Komamura¡¯s entire body. Before he could even cry out, he flew backward in a shockwave of white energy, vanishing beyond the dome¡¯s horizon.

    ¡°What the¡­?!¡± Shiba Isshin¡¯s eyes bulged. Sure, he knew Kaelith was strong, but  strong? Komamura, who possessed Bankai-level prowess, had been blasted away with a single hit.

    ¡°Isshin!¡± T¨­sen roared. Snapping out of his daze, Isshin realized Kaelith was now barreling toward him.

    ¡°Burn, En¡ª!¡±

    Too slow. Kaelith was already upon him, that monstrous speed defying belief. Isshin¡¯s expression contorted as Kaelith¡¯s claws raked down¡ª

    Boom!

    At the last possible moment, Starrk and Ulquiorra appeared on either side, crossing a spirit lance and blade in front of Isshin to intercept Kaelith¡¯s strike.

    Even so, both felt the staggering force behind it.

    No good. "We can¡¯t hold him like this!"

    ¡°Retreat!¡± Starrk snarled. Isshin instantly dodged sideways, raising his Zanpakut¨­ overhead.

    ¡°Burn¡ªEngetsu!¡±

    His sword flared to life in a column of flames. Starrk and Ulquiorra let go of their weapons, shifting to offense. Three formidable attacks converged on Kaelith. The Hollowified Captain merely laughed manically, not even bothering to dodge. Two more arms sprouted from his shoulders with an audible .

    All four fists launched at once, each punching attacking with the force of a S¨­kotsu.

    S¨­kotsu x 4!

    BOOM!!

    A roaring explosion lit up the dome, echoing across the vast emptiness of Hueco Mundo.

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 Chapter 298

    Chapter 298

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Boom!!!

    Amid the deafening explosion, three figures were sent flying. Starrk and Isshin Shiba barely managed to regain their balance in midair, trails of dense reishi smoke swirling beneath their feet. Ulquiorra opened his black demonic wings after releasing Resurrecci¨®n, stabilizing himself as well.

    Down below, where the three of them had just stood, Kaelith threw his head back and roared at the sky.

    ¡°Roooaaarrr¡ª!!¡±

    Seeing Kaelith rampaging, completely devoid of reason, Kisuke Urahara felt an odd urge to poke fun. After all, when someone undergoes Hollowfication, they¡¯re supposed to lose control, right? Yet for Kaelith, he didn¡¯t seem so different from how he acted when goofing off under normal circumstances.

    Of course, that was a joke Urahara would take to his grave¡ªbest not to voice it if he valued his life.

    With Kaelith suppressing four powerful fighters in under ten seconds, the other Arrancars chose to unleash Resurrecci¨®n at once.

    ¡°Chant, Los Lobos!¡±

    "Hunt, Tibur¨®n!

    "Kishire, Pantera!¡±

    Watching the various flashes of light from their transformations, the Shinigami present had complicated feelings. Back in their academy days, they¡¯d been taught to fight Hollows to the death. Yet here they were, working side by side with Hollows against a common foe. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on them.

    Amid the crowd, Aizen drew his Zanpakut¨­ and walked forward. ¡°Everyone, follow my lead,¡± he said. Among all those present, his power was undoubtedly the greatest. If they wanted to subdue Kaelith with minimal harm, it would hinge on Aizen¡¯s performance.

    He glanced at the frenzied Kaelith, who was still howling mindlessly, and a faint smile flickered across his face. They¡¯d sparred plenty, but never like this¡ªnever a full-on life-or-death struggle. It was almost¡­an intriguing experience. He could finally cross off some of the grudges he had in his mental notebook.

    Bring it on, Kaelith!

    ¡­...........

    ..

    .

    Kaelith slowly opened his eyes. He found himself standing on the deck of a massive ship. The sky overhead churned with black clouds, flickering with lightning. Around him, the sea roiled, dark waves slamming against the hull. The tall masts creaked under the assault of wind and rain, and most people wouldn¡¯t be able to stay upright on such a deck.

    Yet Kaelith barely moved an inch, untroubled by the chaos. Lifting his gaze, he looked up at the highest yard, where a lone figure stood above him, staring down. Clad in a hooded cloak, its face was hidden.

    Kaelith snorted. ¡°Trying to be mysterious, huh? I¡¯ve seen this one before¡ªa pure-white figure that looks exactly like me, right? So come on, drop the cloak.¡±

    As he spoke, he drew his Zanpakut¨­ and pointed it upward. At his challenge, the figure slowly raised a hand to the hood, pulling it back.

    Long red hair streamed wildly in the gale, blooming like a blood-red spider lily in the raging storm. Savage golden eyes fixed on Kaelith¡¯s face.

    Recognizing the person, Kaelith showed a flicker of surprise. ¡°Rixiang Jimie? Why¡¯re you here? Shouldn¡¯t it be a Hollow taking form?¡±

    Rixiang Jimie¡¯s lips curved. ¡°Indeed,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s here in this realm is a Hollow.¡±

    Kaelith frowned. He realized her voice wasn¡¯t the clear, light tone she had carried before. Rather, it was layered, metallic, a buzzing resonance¡ªsimilar to how Ichigo Kurosaki¡¯s Inner Hollow had sounded in the stories he knew, except now with a woman¡¯s voice.

    He tilted his head.

    As he pondered, Rixiang Jimie drew the blade at her waist. ¡°Kaelith, last time we met, I certainly owed you quite a bit.¡±

    ¡°You mean when I beat you up before?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She fell silent for a moment, inhaling slowly as if to restrain herself. Then she spoke, ignoring his taunt, ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make you taste defeat.¡±

    Blue flames burst around her as her long sword split into two blades in her hands. Kaelith narrowed his eyes. ¡°Fighting you is fine, but I came here to learn Hollowfication. My body¡¯s presumably raging outside, and Aizen and the others must be struggling to contain me. I¡¯d rather hurry and finish off this inner Hollow so my mind can return.¡±

    Rixiang Jimie flashed a toothy smile. ¡°All the better, then.¡± Lifting one blade to point it at him, she said, ¡°I told you: the Hollow here is me. Overcome me and you¡¯ll master Hollowfication!¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Kaelith looked as though he finally understood. But the next instant, before Rixiang Jimie could react, he vanished and reappeared right in front of her, his Zanpakut¨­ swinging in a silver arc toward her throat.

    Clang!!!

    At the last second, she raised both blades to block his strike. Kaelith grinned fiercely, face inches from hers. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure why my Zanpakut¨­ took Hollow form, but hearing you say that is enough. I worried I¡¯d need some sort of enlightenment or epiphany. If all it takes is beating you, that¡¯s easy.¡±

    ¡°You speak too soon!¡± Rixiang Jimie snorted, shoving him back, then slashing at him.

    ¡°Pointless!¡± Kaelith¡¯s laugh echoed across the deck. With two casual strokes, he parried her dual blades. ¡°I remember your fighting style, your habits, your favorite techniques¡ªevery last one. Once I know a name, its power doesn¡¯t work on me!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She bristled, an angry vein nearly pulsing on her forehead.

    High winds and towering waves raged around them as they fought across the mast, sparks dancing with each clash. Blue fire trailed behind Rixiang Jimie¡¯s whirling twin swords. Kaelith nodded in faint approval. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than last time¡ªbetter speed and power. But you still think too much.

    Combat doesn¡¯t need all that extra thought!¡±

    He abruptly kicked her wrist, then sliced her left arm with a flick of his blade. ¡°See? You overthink your attacks and can¡¯t keep pace with me. That won¡¯t get you anywhere!¡±

    Rixiang Jimie silently acknowledged his words with a nod. ¡°You¡¯re correct. In the real world, I¡¯d stand no chance of victory. However, this is the inner realm.¡±

    She pressed both blades together, leaping to the top of the mast. ¡°This domain is mine! I told you, Kaelith, I¡¯ll make you experience defeat¡ªright here, right now!¡±

    At that declaration, she lifted one blade overhead as though beginning a ritual. The storm clouds churned even more violently.

    Drip¡­ A raindrop splashed against Kaelith¡¯s cheek. He raised a hand, noticing fine droplets now falling around him.

    ¡°What¡¯s this technique¡ªrain summoning?¡± he muttered, wiping his face. Did Rixiang Jimie suddenly become a water-type Zanpakut¨­? Doubling her attack in rainy weather? Should he invent some skill for fighting in the rain?

    But his musings were cut short as he spotted a looming figure amid the drizzle: Genry¨±sai Yamamoto, standing quietly, Ry¨±jin Jakka in hand. Opposite him stood a tall man in a cloak with a glowing blue bow¡ªa Quincy. Though his face was hidden, that signature weapon was unmistakable.

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡± Kaelith¡¯s heart lurched. Rationally, he knew it had to be an illusion. Even so, he instinctively reached out to stop what was happening.

    Zoom¡ªthe arrow shot forth in a streak of azure, ripping past the curtain of rain to pierce Yamamoto through the chest. The old man staggered back several steps before crashing to the ground.

    As Yamamoto fell, that cloaked Quincy lifted his bow again.

    Crack!

    Thunder tore open the sky as Kaelith suddenly appeared like a furious specter, both blades wreathed in brilliant blue flames, slashing viciously downward¡ª

    ¡­

    The dome above Las Noches had become a wreck. Aizen, blade in hand, confronted Kaelith in his half-Hollow state. His spiritual pressure radiated brilliantly¡ªoverwhelming and unrestrained. Even Isshin Shiba, who¡¯d known Aizen for years, had never seen him unleash such a level of power.

    ¡°To the left!¡± Aizen shouted, swinging his Zanpakut¨­ in a massive strike that extended hundreds of meters. Kaelith blurred aside, easily dodging.

    Starrk, Harribel, and the others, already in position, fired Cero the moment he reappeared. Beams of destructive energy lanced forward, swallowing Kaelith entirely.

    Off to one side, Kisuke Urahara exhaled, feeling a flicker of hope.  As long as they held Kaelith back until he overcame the Hollow inside, he could¡ª

    Wait.

    Urahara¡¯s gut twisted with sudden foreboding. On the battlefield, Aizen, about to strike again, abruptly stopped. The Cero beams faded, revealing Kaelith standing motionless in midair, no longer charging around like a mad beast.

    ¡°Retreat!¡± Aizen yelled. ¡°Everyone, back off!!¡±

    But it was too late.

    Kaelith raised his head and let out a jarring screech.

    ¡°Rooooaaaaar!!!¡± A metallic, thunderous roar¡ªfar more violent and heavy than before¡ªburst across the battlefield. Isshin¡¯s vision nearly went dark from the shockwave, and weaker fighters coughed blood from ruptured organs. Half of Las Noches collapsed under the impact.

    Urahara leapt back, heart pounding.  His inner Hollow was clearly ramping up to a disastrous level. They couldn¡¯t keep letting him run wild or he might be lost forever.

    Resolve hardened in Urahara¡¯s eyes as he lifted his Zanpakut¨­. ¡°Ban¡ª¡±

    He didn¡¯t finish. Kaelith locked onto him, and a bone-chilling alarm rang in Urahara¡¯s mind. Before he could call out for Aizen, his vision was filled by Kaelith¡¯s skeletal mask.

    ¡°!!!¡±

    In a flash, Kaelith tore through the thousand-meter gap, ramming his white claws into Urahara¡¯s chest. Blood spurted from Urahara¡¯s mouth as agony threatened to rob him of consciousness. Still, summoning immense willpower, he gripped Kaelith¡¯s forearm impaling him. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Aizen¡­!¡± he gasped. Aizen had already rushed in, slicing down at Kaelith¡¯s arm. The slash severed it cleanly¡ªbut before the limb could fully separate, a new one sprouted instantly from the stump. Aizen¡¯s eyes widened at the phenomenon.

    Two fists hammered forward at an impossible speed¡ª

    Boom!!!

    A doubled-up punch collided with the blade Aizen raised in defense. He felt as though an entire mountain had slammed into him, hurling him back uncontrollably. Even the tearing wind pressure felt like it might rip his limbs apart. Ulquiorra and Starrk attacked from both flanks; Gin unleashed Kamishini no Yari; T¨­sen sent a volley of red flying insects; Komamura, who had managed to rejoin the fight, unleashed his black-armored Kokuj¨­ Tengen My¨­¡¯¨­.

    Everyone flung their might at Kaelith simultaneously.

    Yet none of them saw what happened next. They only felt a scorching pain as each one was knocked aside, spraying blood. In the center of the battlefield, Kaelith howled at the sky, his spiraling reiatsu crashing down in sheets like torrential rain.

    Mayuri Kurotsuchi bit his lip, face twisted in disbelief. They had so many formidable fighters¡ªeven in quantity and quality, it was an unmatched lineup¡ªyet under Kaelith¡¯s onslaught, they¡¯d nearly been wiped out in such a short time?

    Just how much power lurked inside this man, who normally laughed and fooled around without a hint of a ¡°strongest¡± aura?

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 Chapter 299

    Chapter 299

    2-in-1 chapter:

    -----------------------

    Aizen felt a headache coming on.

    For as long as he could remember, being cornered in battle was a rarity. Yet the rampaging figure before him, charging and smashing in every direction like a crazed boar, was hitting him exactly where it hurt.

    His most reliable technique, Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, no longer worked on Kaelith in his frenzied Hollowfied state¡ªeither because Kaelith¡¯s skyrocketing spiritual pressure disrupted it, or because Kaelith¡¯s berserk mind simply ignored illusions altogether. Meanwhile, Kid¨­ and standard swordsmanship could wound him, but his high-speed regeneration healed everything in an instant.

    On Aizen¡¯s side, their forces were being pushed to the brink under Kaelith¡¯s ferocious onslaught. Casualties mounted by the minute, and there was no sign Kaelith might slow down.

    Boom!!!

    A figure went crashing into the ground at Aizen¡¯s side. Gin Ichimaru climbed to his feet, face dusty and disheveled.

    ¡°¡­Lieutenant Aizen, how long¡¯s it been?¡±

    ¡°Twenty-six minutes, eighteen seconds.¡±

    Aizen answered without hesitation. Gin exhaled a little in relief.

    ¡°That¡¯s not so bad¡­ The subject who took the longest to regain consciousness in past Hollowfication experiments needed almost fifty minutes. We¡¯re only halfway there.¡±

    Aizen gave a wry smile. ¡°Yes, which means Kaelith has enough time left. But for us¡­time is running out.¡±

    The surrounding air felt so stiflingly dense with Kaelith¡¯s spiritual pressure that it was warping the very space they fought in. Aizen never imagined the toughest battle he¡¯d face would be under circumstances like these.

    Kisuke Urahara flickered over, joining Aizen. He clutched a short blade, his clothes torn and ragged.

    ¡°Aizen, it¡¯s not looking good. Maybe¡­we ought to try something else. For instance, calling on ¡®that person¡¯?¡±

    Though he addressed Aizen, Urahara¡¯s eyes never left Kaelith, still raging in the distance.

    Aizen shook his head. ¡°No.¡±

    He knew exactly who Urahara meant: Genry¨±sai Yamamoto.

    Yes, Yamamoto could undoubtedly suppress Kaelith. The problem lay in what came after. Both the Hollowfication itself and the current state of Hueco Mundo could very well cross Yamamoto¡¯s bottom line. Even if Kaelith and the old man did share a deep teacher¨Cdisciple bond, it would be impossible to talk their way out of this.

    Aizen wasn¡¯t about to let his own failings force Kaelith into conflict with Yamamoto. Kaelith had sacrificed too much already¡ªAizen refused to see him hurt again.

    By now, Kaelith¡¯s carnage had reached a fever pitch. Of everyone here, fewer than half could still fight. Even the Arrancar, known for their tough skin and potent regeneration, lay scattered across the battlefield.

    Aizen thought of the ¡°Ninth Serum,¡± a trump card he¡¯d devised in his younger years. If he swallowed it, his spiritual pressure would soar by a large margin, but his potential would be permanently stunted. He reflexively reached for that option¡ªonly to remember a critical detail: Kaelith drew power from him. If Aizen suddenly boosted his own reiatsu, Kaelith might just become even stronger.

    Clenching Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, Aizen forced himself to calm down and think. He didn¡¯t know what Kaelith was witnessing in his inner world, but Kaelith¡¯s fury was climbing higher every moment. There had to be something that triggered that rage.

    As Aizen watched Kaelith hurl Ulquiorra into the ground like a rag doll, tearing off his arm in the process, his eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Urahara. Work with me.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    Urahara asked without hesitation. Aizen adjusted his glasses, exuding a confidence that belied the chaos around them.

    ¡°We tackle the source. If Kaelith¡¯s consciousness has turned against him, we help him regain it.¡±

    Urahara took two seconds to process this, then grinned through gritted teeth. ¡°I see¡­ Got it. Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    ¡°Bankai¡ªKan¡¯on Biraki Benihime Aratame!!¡±

    ¡­

    Amid the howling storm in Kaelith¡¯s inner realm, he rampaged like a demon from the depths, his azure flames blanketing the entire sea in blue light. The Quincy who loosed that fateful arrow at Yamamoto had been sliced into shreds of flesh, but no sooner was one destroyed than more appeared. Cloaked figures with glowing bows¡ªQuincy everywhere, stalking their prey.

    Yoruichi, Soifon, Gin, Rangiku, S¨­jun, Seinosuke¡­

    Swish!!

    An arrow tore through the pouring rain, striking Aizen squarely in the temple and exiting on the far side. Blood spurted from the wound as Aizen toppled with a confused look. Kaelith didn¡¯t utter a sound. Instantly, he lunged, capturing the Quincy in a pitiless grip and hacking him apart slice by slice.

    He lost count of how many cuts he made. Only once the shredded remains ceased to resemble anything living did Kaelith straighten and cast a sweeping gaze across the deck. The entire ship teemed with these unknown Quincy, each one cloaked and faceless, bow in hand, relentlessly hunting Shinigami. Everywhere he looked, comrades he recognized¡ªand many he didn¡¯t¡ªwere skewered by blue arrows. Dozens more had died while he was finishing off the one that felled Aizen.

    Kaelith stared at Aizen¡¯s motionless body at his feet, saying nothing. Even the sight of more allies perishing under a hail of arrows failed to stir him. He simply stood there, unmoving.

    Watching this from the rain, Rixiang Jimie remained silent.  she thought.

    As Kaelith¡¯s Zanpakut¨­ spirit, she¡¯d witnessed his entire journey from the closest vantage point. In that long, Shinigami life, Kaelith had seen far more hardship than most. Countless brutal battles left marks that ordinary people could never imagine.

    Yet even so, this man never truly tasted ¡°defeat.¡±

    Certainly, he¡¯d repeatedly lost sparring matches against Yamamoto. Aizen often bested him in their private duels with his cunningness. Not long ago, the Royal Guard hammered him so badly he nearly died from a single strike. But for Kaelith, none of those experiences felt like genuine failure. Physical blows and personal suffering never left a lasting wound on his heart. Only the deaths of those he cherished could possibly break him.

    If he confronted that agony¡ªif he experienced true despair¡ªhe could move forward again, even stronger. Merely as ¡°Rixiang Jimie,¡± she could never be so cruel as to force that on him. However, once the H¨­gyoku granted her Hollow powers, she gained both new abilities and a newfound ruthlessness toward her master.

    She watched him stand in the rain, eyes locked on Aizen¡¯s corpse, motionless and silent. Rixiang Jimie knew it was time to act. Though her heart hurt for him, she had to do what needed doing. Step by step, she approached from behind.

    ¡°Kael¡ª¡±

    ¡°Grah, so you finally show yourself?¡±

    Kaelith abruptly lifted his head. Shock flickered across Rixiang Jimie¡¯s face. Because in his eyes¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a trace of the near-mad despair she¡¯d expected. Instead, he wore his usual clear-eyed smugness.

    ¡°Wh-what¡­?¡±

    She felt a jolt of confusion. Hadn¡¯t she just watched him break down?

    Kaelith folded his arms, Zanpakut¨­ still in hand. ¡°You want to know how I snapped out of it? Simple. You killed Aizen.¡±

    Rixiang Jimie¡¯s brow furrowed. If Aizen was Kaelith¡¯s dearest comrade, shouldn¡¯t that loss push him further into collapse?

    Reading her expression, Kaelith gave a sardonic laugh. ¡°This nightmare you staged was impressive. Even knowing it was fake, my emotions sucked me right in. But the moment I saw Aizen fall, something in my gut told me¡ªthis was definitely an illusion. As if a random Quincy could possibly finish off S¨­suke Aizen.

    You messed up, Rixiang Jimie. You have no clue what ¡®Aizen S¨­suke¡¯ really means.¡±

    Kaelith raised his blade. At that exact moment, a voice resounded through the stormy skies:

    ¡°Kaelith, calm down. I¡¯m right here. I¡¯m fine, perfectly alive. Genry¨±sai Yamamoto is fine too¡ªhe¡¯s in the Soul Society, waiting to scold you once you get back. Everyone else is safe, all alive. Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m around¡­¡±

    Rixiang Jimie stared in disbelief. ¡°Impossible¡­ How is he sending his voice in here? This is the inner realm¡ªonly I should be able to control this domain!¡±

    Kaelith laughed. ¡°Idiot. Aizen S¨­suke is the man who never loses¡ªhis might and his cunning are second only to mine!¡±

    Then his eyes flicked back to Rixiang Jimie. ¡°And you made one more mistake. This isn¡¯t your world to control. It¡¯s mine.¡±

    He thrust his blade skyward. A piercing beam of light shot through the clouds, a radiant sword slicing apart the black rain. Sunlight flooded the sea, the storm¡¯s darkness scattering in the blink of an eye. The grand ship caught the breeze, plowing forward majestically across shimmering waves.

    Facing the red-haired girl¡ªher eyes black with gold irises¡ªKaelith gripped his Zanpakut¨­ in both hands.

    ¡°See for yourself, Rixiang Jimie. I¡¯m no fragile fool who can¡¯t handle his own mind.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡°Bankai¡ªRixiang Jimie, Shin Ga Tomy¨­!!¡±

    ¡­

    Out in Las Noches, Aizen crossed both arms over his Zanpakut¨­ to block Kaelith¡¯s downward slash. Forty-one minutes had passed since Kaelith¡¯s Hollowfication began¡ªa draining, high-intensity battle. Aizen hadn¡¯t felt such fatigue in ages.

    Crash!!!

    Kaelith¡¯s latest strike knocked his blade aside, and Kaelith lunged with razor-sharp claws at Aizen¡¯s neck. A blow like that would be lethal¡ªyet Aizen¡¯s eyes held no fear. He simply gazed calmly at Kaelith¡¯s onrushing hand.

    Clang!!

    A second blade interposed from the side, intercepting Kaelith¡¯s claw. Kisuke Urahara coughed up a mouthful of blood, planting his feet beside Aizen.

    Behind Urahara stood a gigantic, beautiful woman with closed eyes¡ªhis Bankai, Kan¡¯on Biraki Benihime Aratame. Much like Komamura¡¯s Bankai, it was a summons, though its ability wasn¡¯t raw combat, but total restructuring of anything within its range.

    Whether organs had been punctured or bones shattered, Urahara could restore them to working condition. Through this borderline-cheating power, he¡¯d managed to keep everyone in fighting shape. Though battered and exhausted, their spirits ran high. Going toe-to-toe alongside trustworthy comrades against one of the mightiest bosses in the Three Realms¡ªwhat greater thrill for a warrior?

    Weapons raised all around as Kaelith turned on them, golden eyes feral. His entire body was sheathed in an almost carapace-like shell of white bone. Starrk and Ulquiorra exchanged uneasy looks¡ªKaelith in that form looked more Hollow than any of them had pre-Arrancar transformation. Part of them wondered if they could cram him into the H¨­gyoku again to see if he¡¯d ¡°break off his mask.¡±

    Kaelith hunched in preparation, letting loose a roar. Everyone braced themselves for a final clash¡ªonly the attack never came. Instead, the white bone plating along his body shattered and fell away, as though he¡¯d just shed a second skin.

    Underneath, Kaelith stood almost stripped of clothing, his chiseled physique laid bare. A single white mask remained on his face, two golden irises gleaming through. Four blade-like antennae protruded from the top. Far from Ichigo Kurosaki¡¯s rounded mask design, Kaelith¡¯s was all edges and angles, an almost futuristic style.

    A red gem at its center sparkled in the light.

    Aizen¡¯s lips curved. ¡°So? How does your new power feel?¡±

    Reaching up, Kaelith touched the mask, then spoke in an electronically distorted voice: ¡°It¡¯s¡­fun.¡±

    ¡°Fun?¡±

    Aizen raised an eyebrow, uncertain what to make of that response.

    Kaelith curled his fingers under the mask. ¡°Yeah. The moment I woke up, I saw the ragged state of you all¡ªespecially you, Aizen. Look at you, like a beggar who crawled here from Rukongai.

    It¡¯s hilarious! Hahahaha!¡±

    He pointed at Aizen¡¯s disheveled appearance, letting loose a raucous laugh. Aizen wore his customary polite smile, giving nothing away externally. Internally, though, Kaelith¡¯s personal ¡°grievance ledger¡± in Aizen¡¯s mind had just expanded to twice its thickness.

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