Chapter 50: I Wouldn't Be Surprised If He Was the Reincarnation of the Soul King |
The Soul Society.
Somewhere in the skies above the 4th district of Rukongai, a black spatial rift tore open. Yeruashi's figure emerged first, followed quickly by Lilith and Nelliel.
'So this is the Soul Society?'
"This place is certainly much more lively than Hueco Mundo," Nelliel whispered, sensing the immense number of souls inhabiting the surrounding area.
The number of souls in just one district was so vast it rivaled the entire population of Hollows in Hueco Mundo.
The Soul Society and Hueco Mundo existed in a state of equilibrium.
While the Soul Society held a far greater number of souls, Hueco Mundo boasted a significantly higher concentration of Reishi for the same reason.
Even the Reishi density within the Seireitei couldn't compare to the average levels found in Hueco Mundo.
In this way, the two realms maintained a near-perfect balance of total spiritual energy. Any disruption to this harmony would inevitably lead to catastrophe for the entire world. The Thousand-Year Blood War had erupted precisely because the Quincies intended to eradicate all Hollows, an act that would have utterly shattered the balance between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.
As the trio appeared in the sky, the various monitoring devices of the Gotei 13's Tenth Division began to blare with alarms.
"Emergency report! Abnormal spatial fluctuations detected in the 4th district of Rukongai!"
"A Hollow invasion? I'm heading out," Rangiku Matsumoto, the Fifth Seat of the Tenth Division, declared. She immediately left her post, flanked by a dozen Shinigami.
The Shinigami hurried toward the Seireitei gates leading to the Rukongai, where the anomalous Reiatsu had been felt, only to run straight into Yeruashi at the exit.
"Lieutenant Hatake!" Rangiku exclaimed, startled. She quickly composed herself and bowed to the Lieutenant of the Second Division.
Yeruashi gave a carefree smile. "There's no need for alarm. If you're investigating the spatial disturbance, that was just me returning from Hueco Mundo."
"You... you just came back from... Hueco Mundo?" Rangiku stammered, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Normally, when the Gotei 13 conducted expeditions to Hueco Mundo, they used a stable channel that didn't cause such violent spatial ripples. The fluctuations they had just recorded were identical to those of a hostile Hollow breach.
"Exactly," Yeruashi replied with a calm nod, stepping past her into the Seireitei.
Lilith followed him with a completely indifferent expression. Nelliel, however, watched Rangiku with blatant curiosity, her eyes lingering on the woman's ample chest before she hurried after Yeruashi and Lilith.
The squad of Shinigami following Rangiku came to a halt.
"Officer Matsumoto, should we proceed with the investigation?"
"...That won't be necessary."
Rangiku shook her head, looking puzzled as she watched Yeruashi walk away. "If Lieutenant Hatake says there’s no problem, then there isn't. But... why did the Reiatsu of that second girl feel so strange? I don't think I've ever felt anything like it before..."
She turned back to her men. "Return to the barracks."
...
The Second Division headquarters.
Yeruashi made his way to his residence without hindrance.
No one dared to question or interfere with his business, even with the unfamiliar and exotic Nelliel in tow. Despite holding the rank of Lieutenant, Yeruashi commanded as much respect within the Second Division as the Captain herself.
Bringing a few souls from Rukongai into the Seireitei was well within his authority. After all, Rukia and Hisana were officially considered servants he had brought with him from the outer districts.
"Lieutenant Hatake."
"Welcome back, sir."
Every Shinigami they passed greeted him with profound deference.
As Yeruashi and Lilith strolled leisurely through the grounds, Nelliel watched the interactions with growing confusion. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Lord Yeruashi, why do these Shinigami call you Lieutenant? And isn't their attitude a bit...?"
They were respectful, certainly, but it wasn't the reverence one would expect for the supreme king who had created the world.
"Here, I am known as the Lieutenant of the Second Division," Yeruashi explained as they approached his house.
"I simply felt like experiencing the life of a Shinigami for a while."
"..." Nelliel looked at him thoughtfully, following him inside.
As they entered the inner courtyard, Hisana appeared at the entrance, greeting him with a polite bow. "You've finally returned, Mr. Yeruashi."
Yeruashi stepped into the foyer and removed his wooden sandals. He glanced around curiously. "Where is Rukia?"
"She ran off to play again," Hisana said, looking a bit sheepish. "You always indulge her whims, so..."
"Don't worry about it. Let her enjoy herself," Yeruashi smiled. He gestured toward Nelliel, who was standing in the courtyard. "This is Nelliel—my new maid. Please make her feel welcome."
Hisana was momentarily startled, but she quickly recovered and offered Nelliel a polite greeting. In truth, it didn't matter to her how many maids Yeruashi brought home, as long as she could remain by his side.
She only wished to repay his overwhelming kindness with her own devotion.
Nelliel returned the greeting warmly.
By nature, she was friendly and kind. Moreover, Hisana was clearly a servant who had earned Yeruashi's favor. Even though Nelliel could sense that Hisana was incredibly weak—far weaker than even a Gillian—she could never treat her with anything but respect.
...
At the same time, in a secret underground training ground deep within the Second Division's territory.
"Hah... hah..."
Soi Fon continued her relentless battle, but her body was no longer covered in the scars and bruises of previous days.
The confrontation was clearly going much smoother for her than it had just a few days ago.
Her Reiatsu continued to swell, and her mastery of Kido, Hakuda, and Shunpo was becoming increasingly fluid and integrated.
In this intense but balanced clash, there was almost no difference between Soi Fon and the materialized spirit of her Zanpakuto.
Finally.
Soi Fon's eyes narrowed as she blurred into motion. Seizing a momentary opening, she appeared at her spirit's flank and delivered a lightning-fast palm strike, channeling both Hakuda and Kido into the blow.
The materialized spirit managed to block the Kido, but Soi Fon's petite hand still managed to pierce through its chest!
"You win."
Suzumebachi slowly lowered her head and whispered, staring at the hand in her chest. Her form gradually dissipated, leaving behind only a lifeless training dummy.
Having defeated her Zanpakuto's spirit, Soi Fon sat on the ground and closed her eyes. She felt the sword truly become a part of her, fully under her command.
"Well done."
Yoruichi, who had been observing from the sidelines, smiled and clapped her hands. "Achieving Bankai in just nine days... Of course, it only took Urahara three, but his method was fraught with danger. Yours was much more controlled and safe, so there's no point in comparing the two."
Soi Fon exhaled and opened her eyes, looking at her Zanpakuto as it reverted to its sealed form. "Regardless of how you measure it, I still can't compare to Captain Yeruashi."
After Yeruashi had spent time training her, Soi Fon's way of addressing him had shifted from "Lieutenant Hatake" to "Captain Yeruashi."
At the same time, Yeruashi had started addressing her more casually, a change she didn't resist in the slightest.
"I've told you before..."
"Don't try to measure yourself against that unreasonable monster."
Yoruichi tossed a sugar cube into the air and expertly caught it in her mouth. "I wouldn't be surprised in the least if someone told me right now that the guy was actually the reincarnation of the Soul King."
Soi Fon sighed helplessly. "The reincarnation of the Soul King... even for him, that might be a bit much..."
"I was just using my imagination," Yoruichi chuckled.
She then vanished and reappeared at the entrance of the training area, where a Shinigami was already waiting.
The Shinigami immediately bowed and delivered his report. "Captain Shihoin, Lieutenant Hatake has returned."
"I see."
Yoruichi wasn't surprised. She had fully expected Yeruashi to find his own way back from Hueco Mundo soon.
The Shinigami hesitated, looking uncertain. "I'm not sure if this is worth reporting, but... Lieutenant Hatake brought back an unknown soul with a very peculiar Reiatsu. It doesn't seem like a normal soul at all."
"Oh? Who is it?"
Yoruichi was intrigued. "A man or a woman?"
The Shinigami whispered, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his temple. "...A woman."
Yoruichi tilted her head slightly and grinned. "I see. You may go."