"Well, I was indeed going to hitch a ride, but I changed my mind," Sora said with a chuckle.
"Ah!!?" Hearing Sora's words, Kukaku was very surprised.
"Changed your mind? But then, how will you..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Sora understood.
She was wondering how he would get into the Soul King Palace now. If she were in his position, she might be very annoyed, complaining about how he didn't follow the rules and ended up messing up his own plans.
If Sora still wanted to go to the Soul King Palace, he'd probably have to ask Kukaku to work overtime again!
Of course, how could Sora make Kukaku work overtime?
"Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you!" Sora reassured her: "I just suddenly realized I don't actually need to do it this way."
"Huh, you don't need to go up?" Kukaku was confused.
"No!" Sora shook his head: "I just realized I can go up by myself, I don't need this!"
"Go up by yourself!!?" Kukaku repeated Sora's words, utterly baffled.
Ever since the Soul Society was established, they had always been launching people to the Soul King Palace. When had anyone ever gone up on their own? Souls in Soul Society couldn't fly.
In the Living World, they could fly because the Reishi was thin, allowing them to create footholds.
But Soul Society's Reishi was dense… it was very difficult to create a foothold in such a dense Reishi environment. It required many techniques, was troublesome, and not worth the effort.
Therefore, Kukaku couldn't understand Sora's words.
Seeing this, Sora didn't explain. Explaining everything was too troublesome.
"It's okay, just watch me."
Sora smiled at Kukaku.
Then, to Kukaku's shock, Sora pushed off the ground with both feet, instantly rocketing into the air like a missile.
Beneath his feet, continuous ice propelled him upwards.
Propelled by this ice, Sora quickly caught up with the others who had left earlier.
Then, Sora stood directly on top of the cannonball in mid-air.
Soon after, after some time traveling, a massive palace appeared before everyone.
Boom!
The door opened, and Yamamoto and the others walked out.
"We're here!"
Looking at the familiar sight of the Soul King Palace, Ichibe'e suddenly remembered: "Oh, where is that lord?"
Ichibe'e sounded a bit pleased: "He didn't manage to hitch a ride, did he? Maybe he didn't come up?"
"Heh!" Hearing Ichibe'e's words, Sora smiled slightly: "Ichibe'e, don't speak ill of me behind my back. I can hear you!"
"Ah!!!" Hearing Sora's voice, Ichibe'e was very shocked.
He turned around and looked up, only to find Sora was actually on top of the cannonball!
"Ah, my apologies!" Having been caught gossiping, even someone with Ichibe'e's thick skin had to apologize properly.
"It's fine, I forgive you!" Sora nodded: "Take me to see the Soul King."
After seeing the Soul King, it was about time for Sora to prepare for his return. He had been here for a while.
But at that moment, Ichibe'e, who had been so accommodating before, shook his head: "Not yet, my lord!"
"Hm?" Sora looked at Ichibe'e, 'Were these people planning to fight on their home turf and take me down?'
'But if so, weren't they afraid I would wipe them all out?'
'Well, it seemed like they weren't afraid.'
Sora remembered the Zero Division's setting: they were reconstructed using the Oken, immortal and indestructible, with the same lifespan as Soul Society, eternally guarding the Soul King.
So, they truly couldn't be killed!
Of course, even if they couldn't be killed, dealing with immortal enemies was simple. Sora wasn't worried.
However, seeing Sora's expression, Ichibe'e quickly began explaining.
"My lord, since you've come all this way, we should at least fulfill our duties as hosts!"
"Please!" Ichibe'e gestured invitingly.
"Oh, now I'm curious!" Following Ichibe'e, Sora headed to Ichibe'e's palace.
Inside the palace, Ichibe'e began introducing the history of Soul Society and their roles to Sora.
However, in a place Sora didn't see, Hikifune Kirio began cooking for the first time in a long while.
Soon after, Hikifune of the [Ruler of Grain] arrived with a table full of delicious food.
"Oh, not bad!" Seeing this table of exquisite, aromatic food, Sora was pleasantly surprised.
He didn't expect such a treatment.
"Well then, I'll gladly accept!" Invited by Ichibe'e, Sora began his feast.