Chapter 55: To the Second Division! |
'The changes this time weren't quite so dramatic.'
Yeruashi whispered thoughtfully, feeling the subtle shifts occurring within his body.
The changes weren't as radical or fundamental as when he transitioned to the star level in the One Punch Man world.
The evolution of a star is a long, gradual process, and Yeruashi's metamorphosis followed a similar path. Although his human mind's control over the stellar power made his metamorphosis many times faster than that of a real star, it was still a steady progression. A true turning point was expected to arrive in about a hundred years.
That turning point would be a sudden, violent surge of energy.
After reaching this conclusion, Yeruashi moved on to research and analyze the other effects brought about by absorbing the Soul King's power.
Controlling the Soul King's power was significantly more difficult for Yeruashi than managing the Six Paths evolution power he had previously obtained in the One Punch Man world.
It felt as though his entire body was connected to countless microscopic threads; an incautious movement of even one could cause tremors throughout the entire world of Bleach.
The reason for this state was quite simple.
Initially, Soul Society and Hueco Mundo consisted of only five percent of his power, but now, after absorbing the Soul King, that volume had reached a full one hundred percent.
Now, every movement Yeruashi made—having almost perfectly integrated the Soul King's power—could immediately reflect upon Soul Society or Hueco Mundo, as if he shared a direct nervous system with those dimensions.
Therefore, as the wielder of the Soul King's power, he was required to maintain exquisite control over both dimensions. Otherwise, terrifying catastrophes would begin to occur constantly, leading eventually to total collapse and destruction.
After Yhwach had obtained the power of the Soul King, he immediately attempted to merge the three worlds, which suggested that controlling the dimensions wasn't an impossible task.
"Controlling them isn't so simple."
Yeruashi, enveloped in a soft white glow, closed his eyes and whispered softly.
Since any movement of these threads could trigger a horrific disaster in Hueco Mundo and Soul Society, he needed to thoroughly investigate his current state to first separate these threads and then bind them in a different manner.
In reality, this wasn't an overly difficult task for the owner of the Eyes of God. Additionally, he could use his ability to see both the past and the future to learn how the Soul King had managed this problem, then develop his own method based on that precedent.
As Yeruashi closed his eyes and began to systematically implement changes, the shuddering of Soul Society and Hueco Mundo gradually subsided until it stopped entirely.
"It is over."
Ichibei and the other members of the Zero Division, standing before the Great Soul King Palace, breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The leader of the Zero Division closed his eyes and slowly bowed his head, reflecting on the current situation.
It seemed the Hollow King had succeeded in absorbing the Soul King's power, marking the final death and disappearance of one of the two kings who had created this world nearly a million years ago.
Now, not only his consciousness but his very power was gone.
From this moment on...
Hueco Mundo and Soul Society had only one ruler—the Hollow King!
By taking the Soul King's power into himself, the Hollow King had become the pillar and support of this world.
Which meant...
A single thought from him was now enough to completely obliterate Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.
However, judging by the current situation, the Hollow King had no intention of doing so. After absorbing the Soul King's power, he had instead moved to stabilize Soul Society and Hueco Mundo; otherwise, they could not have balanced themselves so quickly on their own.
"He is one of the two kings who created this world, after all," Oetsu whispered, standing beside a pensive Ichibei.
Under the present circumstances, he could say with certainty that Soul Society and Hueco Mundo were in no immediate danger. The Hollow King clearly harbored no desire to destroy the world, though they could not yet predict what changes the world would undergo under the influence of the newly crowned sole King.
"Go and rest. I will wait here," Ichibei said, turning his head to look at Oetsu and the other Zero Division members standing slightly behind him.
Senjumaru nodded. "I must prepare suitable attire for the King."
"I will go and prepare a meal," Kirio added with a nod in response to Ichibei's words.
The members of the Zero Division looked at one another before each headed toward their respective cities.
Only the leader of the Zero Division remained standing before the Great Soul King Palace.
After a short while, he reached up to the back of his head as if remembering an important matter and produced a blank sheet of paper. With a few skillful and sharp strokes of his large brush, he wrote a few words.
He then carefully folded the paper and pressed his palms together.
Poof!
Accompanying the movement of his hands, the folded sheet of paper emitted a faint glow before simply vanishing.
...
Soul Society.
The Captains' Council Hall in the First Division barracks of the Gotei 13.
A few minutes after the tremors throughout Soul Society ceased, the gathered captains began glancing at one another, realizing that this pause had lasted much longer than any of the previous ones.
Shiba raised a hand and smoothed back his black hair. "Looks like that's it. And not even an hour has passed since the battle began! Just as expected from the elders of the Zero Division..."
"Perhaps it wasn't a battle at all," Mayuri said, turning his head to stare seriously at the calm sky outside the window. "But it seems it really is over. Furthermore, there don't appear to be any significant consequences."
Aizen cast a deeply serious and contemplative look at the quiet sky following Mayuri's gaze, but deep within his eyes, a flicker of intense agitation and hesitation flashed.
Yoruichi, standing nearby, cast a piercing look at Aizen.
Sensing her gaze, he turned and gave the Captain of the Second Division a friendly smile. "It seems we are out of danger, Captain Shihoin."
"Perhaps it's not quite over yet."
Yoruichi shook her head in disagreement. "After all, there has been no word from the Soul King Palace."
At the very moment the Second Division Captain spoke, a white light suddenly flared directly in front of the Captain-Commander.
The light, shaped like a small sphere, slipped out of a tiny spatial rift and then dissipated, revealing a folded slip of paper.
"..."
Yamamoto Genryusai reached out and took the folded paper, which hung suspended in the air right before his eyes.
Only a few words were written on the appearing sheet—all is well.
The Captain-Commander carefully studied the message before closing his eyes. His palm was then enveloped in a faint flame, instantly reducing the paper to ash.
This movement by the Captain-Commander was, of course, noticed by all the gathered captains of the Gotei 13.
Almost none of them doubted that this mysterious message had come directly from the Soul King Palace.
"Everything is under control."
Yamamoto Genryusai opened his eyes and spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over all the present captains of the Gotei 13.
The captains breathed sighs of relief and finally relaxed upon hearing the Captain-Commander's words.
Shunsui Kyoraku said lazily, touching the rim of his straw hat with his fingertips, "Ara-ra-ra-ra, I was so frightened..."
At the same time, drops of cold sweat appeared on Jushiro Ukitake's forehead, and his expression darkened considerably.
As the host of the Soul King's right hand, he had vaguely sensed the scale and importance of the preceding incident, but that sensation carried no feeling of danger or threat, as Soul Society quickly regained its stability.
Mayuri turned around and waved a hand. "Time to disperse, since everything is fine up there..."
"There is no need to be in such a hurry."
Yamamoto Genryusai immediately overruled Mayuri's fairly sensible suggestion. "Since we are all gathered here anyway and have no other business, let us at least hold a scheduled captains' meeting to discuss some recent matters."
The Captain-Commander paused before continuing seriously, "Right now, there are only two issues that require our personal deliberation: the appointments of Sajin Komamura and Kaname Tosen as captains of the Seventh and Ninth Divisions, respectively."
"Sajin Komamura?"
Kyoraku cast a lazy glance toward Yamamoto Genryusai.
Shiba looked up and said thoughtfully, stroking his chin, "If I'm not mistaken, Komamura is a divergent soul from the wolf clan, isn't he?"
"Yes."
Yamamoto Genryusai nodded. "But he possesses all the qualities necessary for a captain of the Gotei 13, and he is currently performing his duties as acting captain quite successfully."
Kyoraku shrugged. "I have no objections if the old man trusts him."
The other captains exchanged looks, but none voiced any opposition to Komamura's appointment.
"Then it is settled."
Yamamoto Genryusai leaned silently on his wooden cane for a moment before scanning the assembled captains. "Are there any other matters from those present that require the council's attention?"
Yoruichi stared intently at Aizen, who stood calmly nearby, for several seconds, but ultimately said nothing. Meanwhile, Aizen himself was thoughtfully observing Jushiro Ukitake, who stood directly opposite him.
Mayuri was busy examining the ceiling.
Shiba cast a hesitant look at Yoruichi.
Just as Yamamoto Genryusai began to lift his wooden cane to declare the meeting adjourned, Shiba took a step forward and addressed the Captain-Commander. "Captain-Commander, I have something to report..."
"An officer in my division noted that Second Division Lieutenant Yeruashi Hatake brought an unknown soul into the Seireitei. According to my officer, this unknown soul possesses a very unusual Reiatsu... one that gives off the sensation of a Hollow."
After Shiba's words, the room plunged into absolute silence.
All the captains present stared intently at Isshin, making him feel a surge of intense discomfort.
The Captain-Commander looked the Tenth Division Captain in the eye. "How certain is your officer in his judgment?"
Hollow Reiatsu!
Extremely strict rules regarding interaction with Hollows had existed in Soul Society for ages, especially in light of the recent Shinigami Hollowfication incident. This was an exceptionally serious and vital matter that could suggest Yeruashi's involvement in those recent events!
"The opinions of all the Shinigami I questioned, who saw this unknown soul, are in complete agreement."
Isshin nodded resolutely to the Captain-Commander after a brief hesitation.
Yamamoto Genryusai closed his eyes for a few seconds. When he opened them, he stepped forward with determination. "To the Second Division!"