Chapter 320: I'll Solve It, I'll Stop It!
"The top priority is to figure out exactly how Katori Batsu'unsai escaped from Hell and came to the Soul Society."
"If Hell truly has a problem that allows its sinners to escape, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the Soul Society... no, for the entire Three Realms!"
Yamamoto's expression was grave.
In this world, if there was any force so powerful that it was absolutely impossible to resist, it was undoubtedly Hell.
Over millions of years, the vast majority of Shinigami with third-class spiritual pressure or above—that is, captain-level—had been sent to Hell.
According to legend, the beings in Hell were immortal and indestructible; even if they died in Hell, they would be resurrected there again.
If the legend was true, just thinking about how many captain-level beings were currently in Hell was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Satoru crossed his arms.
Recalling the entire process of Katori Batsu'unsai's appearance and departure, he felt something was off.
It seemed less like an escape and more like she was being manipulated by something.
And... come to think of it, hadn't he signed a contract with the Saginomiya family and become one of the guardians of the Gates of Hell?
If someone escaped from the Gates of Hell, he should have sensed it.
Why hadn't he noticed anything at all?
As he pondered, a Shinigami rushed in.
"Report! Captain-Commander, the Saginomiya family has sent someone, saying they have important matters to report!"
The Saginomiya family?
Yamamoto raised an eyebrow.
Right, at a time like this, the Saginomiya family definitely wouldn't stand by idly.
For millions of years, the Saginomiya family had been guarding the Gates of Hell.
To do so, they had given up most of their political resources in the Seireitei, becoming almost invisible entities.
Even when the Tsunayashiro Clan was nearly wiped out before, the Saginomiya family had shown no reaction.
Only when problems arose with the Gates of Hell, as they had now, would they appear immediately to resolve the issue.
Before long, two young men entered.
Satoru recognized both of them.
Saginomiya Yasuo and Saginomiya Jin.
These were the two who had previously invited him to sign the contract and share his power to suppress the Gates of Hell.
The two bowed to everyone present, then respectfully turned to Satoru, asking for the specific details of the entire incident.
After hearing the account, both showed looks of surprise.
"So that's it... no wonder Hell would react this way."
Under everyone's gaze, Saginomiya Yasuo spoke:
"Captain Mikami, I believe Captain Katori did not 'escape' from Hell."
"Judging from the questions she asked you and her behavior patterns, she has become a 'Will of Hell.'"
"Will of Hell?"
Satoru repeated the term.
"Yes, as the name implies, the Will of Hell is the agent of Hell's will."
"Hell imprisons countless sinners. To manage these sinners and also to increase their suffering, Hell grants power to some individuals, turning them into Hell's guardians—the 'Will of Hell.'"
"According to the Saginomiya family's observations, most Wills of Hell are composed of..."
At this point, he instinctively paused.
The fact that captains are sent to Hell after death was classified information not permitted to be publicly disclosed in the Seireitei. As guardians of Hell, they naturally adhered to this rule.
However, considering that Satoru had already disclosed this information, he continued:
"...they are all filled by captain-level powerhouses sent to Hell."
"After all, compared to sinners actively dragged into Hell by its forces, these captains sent by Soul Society generally bear lighter sins, requiring neither judgment nor torment."
"And Hell also needs entities capable of executing its will."These captains sent to Hell just happen to fulfill that requirement.""
Hearing this, Kensei Muguruma couldn't help interrupting:
"Wait... isn't Hell a 'world' just like Soul Society and the living world?"
"How could it possess something like 'will'?!"
At this, Saginomiya Yasuo looked at him.
"Captain Muguruma, Hell and the Three Realms are fundamentally different existences."
"Soul Society, the living world, and Hueco Mundo - these Three Realms were created by the Soul King and are maintained by His power."
"Hell is different. It existed even before the Soul King created the Three Realms."
"Therefore, we can only speculate about its essential nature and operational principles through observation, unable to perceive its full picture."
"That Hell possesses a will is a conclusion the Saginomiya family reached after hundreds of thousands of years of observation. Until competing theories emerge, we consider this to be the truth."
Kensei Muguruma scratched his head.
Though he didn't fully understand, it seemed Hell indeed had "consciousness."
He felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Satoru clicked his tongue: "If captains sent to Hell just become tyrannical guards, then purifying dense Reishi seems rather pointless."
Saginomiya Yasuo shook his head.
He took out a scroll from his robe and unrolled it before Satoru:
"Captain Mikami, this is what the guards of Hell look like."
Satoru focused his gaze.
It depicted a bizarre monster with a massive skull for a head and skeletal remains from the neck down.
Cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, ribs, lumbar vertebrae...
Yet the arms were densely packed with muscle.
It could only be described as bizarre.
Saginomiya Yasuo stated, "After becoming a Hell Guard, one will maintain this form indefinitely."
"According to Saginomiya family records, Hell Guards cannot retain independent consciousness. For their entire existence, they can only wander mindlessly through Hell, carrying out missions bestowed upon them by the underworld."
"Captain Mikami, if I had any choice in the matter, I would never accept such a fate."
The surrounding captains nodded one after another, agreeing with Saginomiya Yasuo's words.
"Returning to our earlier topic, Captain Mikami, I believe Captain Rokutori was dispatched by the will of Hell."
"Once your Heavy Reishi purification technology becomes widely used in the Soul Society, Hell will lose its source of new guards."
"Yet sinners continue pouring into Hell without end."
"If this continues, Hell's order will collapse, with the worst-case scenario possibly leading to complete stagnation."
"To prevent such an outcome, Hell will undoubtedly seek ways to eliminate the technology that purifies Heavy Reishi."
"That is to say... to eliminate your existence."
Shiba Isshin spoke up:
"Big bro... ahem, Captain Mikami, if you share the Heavy Reishi purification method with Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Captain Kyōraku, and others, letting many people know about it, then Hell won't be able to do anything about it, right?"
"No matter how powerful Hell is, can it challenge all the captains of the Soul Society?"
Hearing this, Satoru shook his head.
"Useless. Currently, this technology must be used in conjunction with my ability."
"If I die, the purification technology might as well not exist."
Saginomiya Yasuo also shook his head:
"Even without such limitations, Captain Shiba's plan would be ineffective."
"The power accumulated by Hell is unimaginably vast."
"The Gotei 13 has only existed for a thousand years. For the hundreds of thousands of years before that, the Soul Society always had powerful Shinigami, though they didn't carry the title of 'captain'."
"Even if this technology were fully disclosed and known to all captains, Hell would simply expand its elimination targets to include everyone rather than abandon its goal."
Yoruichi showed a surprised expression.
"Are you saying... From the Soul Society's inception until now, over hundreds of thousands, even millions of years, all captain-class strong individuals are now serving as guards in Hell?"
If this were true, what chance would the Soul Society have?
Even thirteen Yamamoto Shigekunis would inevitably perish!
Saginomiya Yasuo shook his head:
"Although the beings in Hell are theoretically immortal, there are conditions."
"To maintain form, one must possess a sense of self."
"The sinners in Hell suffer constant torment, combined with Hell's harsh environment. Most people will have their spirits depleted in a very short time, turning into handfuls of sand in Hell's deepest depths."
"In comparison, the guards fare much better. They aren't tortured, and their minds are largely protected by their muddled state."
"However, even so, their survival time is limited."
"Under the erosion of endless years, even guards eventually reach complete spiritual depletion."
"When that happens, they turn to sand, becoming nourishment for Hell."
Hearing Saginomiya Yasuo's words, the captains' expressions turned grim.
Just imagining such an ending was enough to evoke a suffocating feeling.
"In summary, the power of Hell is not infinite."
"Considering the guards needed for Hell's own operations, the number that can be dispatched to the Soul Society at any given time is actually quite limited."
Saginomiya Yasuo explained the current situation to everyone in a steady voice.
Shunsui Kyōraku stroked his chin.
Indeed, as Saginomiya Yasuo said, the Hell guards had duties and couldn't all be mobilized for war.
If they really did that, the sinners in Hell would cause chaos before the Soul Society even had a chance to resist.
But Satoru Mikami shook his head.
"You missed one point."
"Hell has so many enforcers. Even if they can't send them all at once, sending some repeatedly, bit by bit, will eventually wear down the Seireitei."
"And... if Hell truly possesses sufficient intelligence, they could employ some tricks."
"For example, suddenly deploying a large number of powerful fighters to join the battle at a critical moment in the war."
"While this might leave Hell short-handed internally for a short time, it would be worth it if they could destroy the Gotei 13 in one fell swoop."
Hearing this, everyone showed grave expressions.
Indeed, what Satoru said wasn't impossible.
Yoruichi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
According to Satoru's analysis, the Soul Society was completely at a disadvantage against Hell.
If this guy analyzed the situation so accurately, what if everyone decided not to fight and handed him over instead?
Under her gaze, Satoru looked at everyone.
"It seems we're at a disadvantage."
"But let me be clear from the start... I won't give up on the Reishi purification technology."
"Even if it provokes Hell's wrath and drags the entire Seireitei and Soul Society into it, I won't give up."
"If anyone wants to persuade me to abandon it, you can save your breath."
"If anyone wants to surrender and offer me to Hell, I'll fight to the end rather than wait helplessly for death."
He raised his head, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
These words could be called the height of selfishness.
But Satoru felt no guilt whatsoever.
Looking at the man standing there proudly, Shunsui couldn't help but smile.
This kid...
Retsu Unohana took a step forward.
This time, Yoruichi was faster.
The girl used Flash Step to appear beside Satoru.
"Anyone who wants to hand Satoru over will have to go through me, Yoruichi Shihōin, first!"
Retsu Unohana also came to Satoru's side, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Kensei Muguruma spoke up:
"I support Commander Mikami!"
"This has nothing to do with personal feelings. I just think it's too strange that Captains who have fought for the Soul Society their whole lives end up falling into Hell and becoming monster-like Hell guards, no matter how you look at it!"
Ukitake frowned deeply.
As a Captain, he certainly didn't want to accept such a fate.
But... according to Saginomiya Yasuo, if no more Captains fell into Hell from now on, wouldn't Hell be headed for destruction?
Faced with the choice between personal salvation and the stability of the world, he was caught in a difficult dilemma.
Shunsui adjusted his straw hat but remained silent.
Like Ukitake, as a Captain, he couldn't bring himself to say that "personal fate matters more than the world's survival."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi stayed quiet, secretly placing his hand between his legs.
If the situation turned bad, he would immediately use Bankai to help Satoru escape.
What happened to the Soul Society or Hell was none of his concern.
He only knew that his sleep plan had been completed with the help of Satoru Mikami.
To advance further, he would also need Satoru Mikami's assistance.
In the face of his dream, what did the continuation of the world matter?
Shiba Isshin took a deep breath.
He couldn't bear to watch Hell collapse, but he was even more unwilling to see Satoru Mikami inexplicably sacrificed as an offering.
If it truly came to the worst-case scenario, he would choose to help Satoru Mikami first.
After all, the collapse of Hell was still distant, while Satoru Mikami's safety was an immediate concern.
Yamamoto sat at the head of the room, remaining silent.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze.
The eerie silence made time feel as if it had slowed down.
Just then, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.
Everyone instinctively turned to look.
They saw the Shinigami guarding the door already lying on the ground.
A figure stepped inside.
Seeing this person, Satoru Mikami was slightly taken aback.
Shinji Hirako's eyes widened.
Fifth Division Vice-Captain, Sōsuke Aizen!
Aizen walked forward step by step, stopping beside Satoru Mikami.
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, his voice icy:
"Vice-Captain Aizen, entering the captains' meeting without announcement, attacking the guards, and forcing your way in—do you know the severity of these charges?"
Under everyone's gaze, Aizen adjusted his glasses.
"Those matters are unimportant."
"I came here to make a declaration to all of you."
"Fight without restraint. There is no need for fear."
"I will find a way to manage Hell's operations."
"I will stop Hell's one-sided, unimpeded access to the Soul Society."
His words left everyone stunned.
Many instinctively looked toward Shinji Hirako.
Has your vice-captain... gone mad?