Under the crescent moon, in the Palace of Hueco Mundo.
Several figures floated in cylindrical glass containers filled with viscous green liquid. Though diverse in age and appearance, they shared one common trait — the same type of Reiatsu surrounding their bodies.
While Aizen monitored everyone's condition, Kisuke concentrated on data calculations. Meanwhile, Mayuri and Szayelaporro injected mysterious substances into the glass containers.
Each person had their distinct role in the project.
When Aizen withdrew the Hōgyoku, an overwhelming pressure burst through the laboratory, making the building shudder and creak ominously.
All eyes fixed tensely on the scene as the Hōgyoku cast a dark purple light over Kūgo Ginjō's body. His face contorted in agony.
The moment passed swiftly. Within a second, as the Hōgyoku drew a faintly glowing fragment from his forehead, Kūgo's expression softened.
"Is this a fragment of the Soul King?" Kisuke leaned forward, studying it with fascination.
While its original body part remained a mystery, years of research confirmed one thing — it bore striking similarities to the power of the Almighty.
Working under Akira might be demanding, but the rewards were unmatched. Beyond access to forbidden soul experiments like Hollowfication or Arrancar creation, merely studying the Almighty — the fundamental power that shaped the world and governed its rules — made it worthwhile.
Still, one had to know when to push back. That ruthless taskmaster would pile on ten or a hundred new research projects for every one completed.
Now this audacious fellow had proposed something even more outrageous — creating an artificial Soul King.
An impossible feat! The mere thought sent chills down one's spine.
"Based on these specifications, this fragment meets our needs." Aizen nodded, "It should serve as an adequate foundation for replicating Captain-Commander Yamamoto."
Kagerōza Inaba's Reigai technology, while incorporating Gikon elements, ultimately came down to having the right materials.
Standard Gikon pills couldn't maintain prolonged Reigai combat or prevent power degradation. To create perfect Captain replicas capable of fooling Yhwach, Soul King fragments were crucial.
Working together, the team helped Aizen use the Hōgyoku to extract all the Soul King fragments.
The advanced development of Reigai technology followed naturally. For the brilliant minds present, mastering it posed little challenge — anyone in the room matched or surpassed Kagerōza's genius.
Under Aizen's guidance, they used the largest Soul King fragment to recreate Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Akira had even visited the 1st Division to record Genryūsai's Reiatsu. Though initially reluctant, once the old man heard their plan, he eagerly offered Ryūjin Jakka, even volunteering to visit the laboratory if needed.
As he put it: "Whoever wants to fight Yhwach, this old man will certainly lend a hand."
The laboratory soon filled with familiar faces as the experiment continued.
"I don't think this is necessary." Kisuke frowned, "Soul King fragments are far too precious — we should reserve them for creating Reigai of the powerful Captains. A simple Gikon would suffice for Captain Muguruma."
His words drew immediate nods of agreement from the others.
"That's right."
"Good steel should be used for blade edges."
"Exactly, exactly!"
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Having resolved the Genryūsai issue, Aizen and Kisuke left the laboratory. Mayuri and the others could handle the remaining work — they had more pressing matters to attend to.
In the final desert of Hueco Mundo.
Akira had already been waiting when the two arrived.
His face betrayed impatience as he fidgeted anxiously, "Which Kidō will we be inscribing this time?"
Aizen fixed him with a steady gaze, "After mastering Hollowfication, both your Spiritual Body and Reiatsu have improved significantly. Considering the compatibility between Kidō, our discussed result is..."
"Hadō #91, Senju Kōten Taihō, and Hadō #96, Ittō Kasō." Kisuke finished, "Of course, if you're up for it, Captain, we could also try Hadō #99, Goryūtenmetsu."
Akira grinned with confidence, "Mere Hadō? Ha! With my supreme physical form and powerful Reiatsu, I am invincible!"
Within moments, his agonized wails echoed across the silver-white desert, creating visible sound waves that rippled outward in white surges.
Watching Akira writhe in cherry-colored flames, Kisuke asked with concern, "Lord Aizen, will the Captain be alright?"
Aizen adjusted his glasses calmly, "If there were truly a problem, he'd be unsettlingly quiet — not carrying on like this."
Kisuke considered this and had to agree.
They'd often heard such wailing in the Seireitei, but it was usually just theatrics. Even after a beating from the Captain-Commander, he'd emerge merely bruised, recovering almost instantly.
Reassured, Kisuke produced his prepared sunflower seeds and settled in to enjoy the show.
Though Akira might punish him later, nothing mattered more than savoring this moment. The sound of those wails made even the sunflower seeds taste better.
This was truly the good life!
The inscription of Senju Kōten Taihō (Thousand-Hand Incandescent Heaven Culling-Sear) proved harmless, passing without incident.
Then came Ittō Kasō (Single Blade Cremation)!
A sacrificial Hadō that burns one's body to release its power. While inscribing its patterns wouldn't demand such extreme sacrifice, this did mean reduced potency.
Even so, Hadō #96's power dwarfed that of #91.
Crimson flames pierced the heavens, manifesting as a giant blade that rent the night sky. Waves of scorching heat erupted, sweeping across the desert and melting the silver-white sand.
The extreme temperature steadily eroded Akira's body. His wails had ceased; now his eyes were squeezed shut, brows knotted in concentration.
Merely enduring Ittō Kasō alone wouldn't have been enough to harm him. But inscribing Kidō patterns worked from within, reaching deep into the soul itself.
This meant his very soul had to endure the corresponding torment, although due to his Traits, he would not suffer fatal damage to his soul. Yet he still could not escape the pain.
The two observers wore grave expressions as they watched from a distance. Aizen held the Hōgyoku in his hand, while behind Kisuke stood a huge, elegant woman wearing a sleeveless kimono.
Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame (Modification of the Crimson Princess' Dissection at the Doors of Avalokiteśvara).
Its ability to reconstruct and modify things within its Bankai range could prevent unexpected situations. Given how dangerous inscribing high-level Kidō was, Kisuke's presence was essential.
Fortunately, despite its precarious nature, the entire process concluded without incident.
As the flames subsided and flowed into Akira's body, this journey of becoming stronger came to an end. When he slowly opened his eyes, intense flames flickered in his pupils as a suffocating pressure descended, only to vanish in an instant.
He took a deep breath and grinned at the two people in the distance.
"It's done!"
His body stretched out, revealing charred marks on his skin and crimson, magma-like patterns. Scorching air rushed from his nostrils, and burning winds rose from the ground.
The next moment, black and red intertwined flames burst forth in Akira's eyes like the reflection of a blazing sun.
Strangely, the originally terrifying Reiatsu vanished completely. Kisuke's face showed bewilderment as he stared at the figure walking toward them.
Terrifying heat surrounded them, rapidly evaporating moisture from the air — just like when the Captain-Commander had released his Bankai.
It was suffocating!
Yet even with Akira right before him, Kisuke couldn't detect even a trace of Reiatsu.
"Captain, your Reiatsu..." Kisuke furrowed his brows, analyzing the phenomenon, when suddenly his face lit up with realization.
"When the difference between two beings is too great, the weaker one cannot detect the stronger one's Reiatsu." Aizen explained, his brown eyes calmly observing the imposing figure before him.
Unlike Kisuke, in his vision, Akira was like a sun striding across the desert — more aggressive and terrifying than the Captain-Commander's Bankai.
The inscription of multiple Hadō patterns had triggered a subtle reaction within his Spiritual Body, enabling him to break through to a higher level. In this state, he transcended the bounds of mere Shinigami or Hollow.
Perhaps he should be called... a transcendent being?
While Aizen pondered this, Akira spread his arms wide, fingers splayed, wearing a maniacal, demon-like grin.
"Such dominance, such wild power! Sōsuke, no, son, I feel terrifyingly strong right now! Even if I had to shoulder the Soul Society and lift up Hueco Mundo with one hand, I would still be invincible in this world!"
Aizen: "..."
Perhaps he should establish another research project to study why someone's legendary wisdom seemed inversely proportional to their combat power?
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"A message from the Soul King Palace?"
In the 1st Division's tea room, Akira quickly swallowed his roasted sweet potato and asked in surprise.
"Could it be that the Zero Division discovered I'm invincible and wants to invite me up there to replace the Soul King?"
Genryūsai glared at him in exasperation. Whether he was invincible or not remained unclear, but his thick skin had certainly grown even thicker.
From Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 to God-King of Hueco Mundo to second-in-command of the Wandenreich — was there anything this brat wouldn't dare to do?
"They are indeed inviting you to the Soul King Palace." Genryūsai said, stroking his beard, "The message didn't specify the reason, but it shouldn't be anything concerning. After all, you haven't violated any Soul Society laws, committed acts of treason, or threatened the Soul King."
Akira shook his head, "Hard to say."
Genryūsai: "?"
What mischief had this troublemaker done behind his back now?
"Though the Soul King Palace and Soul Society rarely communicate, they're not completely isolated." The old man said, gathering his thoughts, "Since Senjumaru Shutara joined the Zero Division, she has sent multiple messages to the First Division about the Soul King Palace's state and improvements to the Shihakushō. I suspect this invitation might have something to do with Yhwach."
Like Senjumaru, who had earned her place in the Zero Division by creating the Shihakushō — the very garment that symbolizes a Shinigami's identity.
His wayward disciple's head was full of muscle — there was no reason he would become one of them. Unless his unique sword-throwing combat style could count as a creation.
Akira pondered thoughtfully.
It probably had nothing to do with Yhwach. Even though he had awakened, he hadn't started a war or threatened the Soul King yet. The Zero Division wouldn't concern themselves with that.
The reason likely concerned himself instead.
Still, these were merely guesses — he'd have to wait until he reached the palace to know for certain.
Besides, whether dangerous or not, he had to visit the Soul King Palace.
"Kid, what are you going to do?" Genryūsai asked in a deep voice, noticing something unusual about his disciple, "If you don't want to go, I'll help you decline their invitation."
Hearing this, Akira looked up to see the elderly man's serious expression, catching a faint trace of concern in his aged eyes.
Compared to the Shigekuni Yamamoto who had once strictly adhered to Soul Society's laws, the Yama-jii of today had changed dramatically...
Thinking this, Akira grinned:
"No, I'll go."
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6th District, Noble Quarter.
In front of an ancient mansion, a huge signboard bore the characters for the word "Shiba".
Wearing the 10th Division Captain's haori, Isshin Shiba walked in front, cheerfully explaining to the group behind him.
"To reach the Soul King Palace, we need to use the Shiba family's secret techniques and special spirit tools."
Akira arrived at the platform and looked up at the towering black cannon barrel that pierced the clouds, exclaiming:
"What an impressive Chō Sugeē Bakuhatsu Dangan Taihō (Super Awesome Explosion Bullet Cannon)!"
Isshin: "?"
Though he didn't understand what Lord Kisaragi was saying, it sure sounded impressive.
Maybe he should discuss changing the Kakaku Taihō's name to that with the clan elders?
Soon, the transportation device to the Soul King Palace — a coffin-like palanquin — rose from beneath the platform and stood at the cannon's entrance.
Without hesitation, Akira waved goodbye to Genryūsai and strode into the palanquin like he owned the place.
"Soul King Palace, here I fucking come!"
⤫⤬⤫
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