Chapter 152: The New Gotei 13
Hundreds of years ago, in his pursuit of ultimate power, Mebari forcibly fused with his Zanpakuto and ended up in his current state.
Neither human nor spirit, he had to endure unimaginable pain every moment of every day.
The only way he could release that pressure was through slaughter.
At the same time, he had been seeking a chance at "liberation" through that very path.
Even if the price was death, he did not care.
It was not until a few months ago, when Ichigo captured him and brought him back to the Soul Society, that he was finally able to catch his breath.
Because inside Takeru's laboratory, once Rangiku injected him with a Soul Serum she had prepared, Mebari would fall into a dormant state.
In that state, he became useful to Takeru and Rangiku's research.
They were studying how to undo his Zanpakuto fusion.
But no matter how long they researched, they saw no results. In the end, they only managed to discover a way to break apart Kōga's dragon form thanks to Muramasa.
That method, however, was useless for Mebari.
First, the nature of their fusions was different.
Second, there was a gap in their strength.
In short, the best way to help Mebari was not to forcibly strip away the Zanpakuto, but to try to transform him into a different "species."
Much like a Menos Grande evolving into an Arrancar.
That path would allow him to escape the fear of regression.
Originally, the rare Gillians that possessed a strong individual consciousness still had to keep hunting their own kind and devouring souls after evolving into Adjuchas, or else they would regress.
And once they regressed into Gillians, they would lose their individual consciousness for good and never evolve again.
Because of that, the middle ranked Hollows of Hueco Mundo were almost all trapped in constant survival anxiety.
But after Aizen arrived with the Hogyoku, a clear sky had appeared for them.
A Menos Grande that evolved into an Arrancar could be called a hybrid of Shinigami and Hollow, a higher order species.
Not only were they stronger, but their fatal weakness had also been compensated for.
If Mebari had been sent to the Technical Development Bureau and injected with a Hollow soul to reconstruct his own, then by mastering Hollowfication, he should have been able to achieve a true full release like a Hollow and gain a tremendous increase in power.
But there was one problem.
There was no Hogyoku.
So that plan could only be abandoned.
If he were to be modified, then the direction had to change, toward something like a Bount, a Quincy, or a Fullbringer...
Originally, when Takeru had promised that after the war he would perform a soul modification surgery on Mebari, that had been the plan he had in mind.
But now, he had changed his mind.
Because a better method had appeared.
That method was the new technique he had comprehended after slaying Yhwach.
Its name was [Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace].
...Next to the underground laboratory was the observation room.
Its overall structure resembled something out of a science fiction film, a pure white room with nothing but a one way glass wall.
Rangiku and Nozomi stood outside the glass, watching Takeru walk into the room. Both were curious about what he planned to do.
What they did not expect was this.
Takeru did not take out any strange tools. Nor did he wake Mebari to ask for cooperation. He simply withdrew his right hand from his haori pocket and raised it.
In the next moment, the dense spiritual pressure filling the room began to boil, and the entire chamber instantly became a furnace.
Mebari slowly floated off the ground and came to a stop in midair. His body began to glow with the red heat of steel fresh from the forge.
"...!"
"Is this... Kido?!"
Rangiku and Nozomi were not exactly experts in ancient and modern knowledge, but as scientists, their insight far surpassed that of ordinary people. With a single glance, even through the glass, they could sense an utterly inconceivable "heat."
It was not that the temperature itself had risen to a shocking level. In fact, it felt like the opposite. They did not feel the ambient air growing hotter at all. But the reishi inside the room beyond the glass was boiling, and the blades protruding from Mebari's supposedly indestructible body had begun to show signs of melting.
Takeru cast aside all stray thoughts and focused entirely on activating [Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace].
He still was not particularly proficient in mastering this technique, which combined three different powers: the Bount ritual, Fairy Tale Dragon magic, and Shinigami Kido.
Even so, its terrifying side was already clear.
The ability of [Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace] was to use his own spiritual pressure to smelt metallic elements, or anything bearing the concept of "metal," within the range of his Reiatsu.
He could alter both its form and its properties.
He could also convert reishi and synthesize it into metallic elements with entirely new properties, in other words, create metal from nothing.
Its versatility was absurdly powerful.
On a large scale, if Takeru wished, he could open up a small world of metal in the shadows or elsewhere, just like a Quincy.
He could even transform the Seireitei into a city of metal.
On a smaller scale, whenever he went to the Human World, he could casually forge himself a special metallic gigai to wear. No matter what kind of tool he needed, as long as he understood its operating principles, he could temporarily craft a "metal version" substitute with his own hands.
Metal with the properties of wood, metal with the properties of water...
In short, beyond controlling existing metallic elements, he could create universal metals as well.
Takeru still remembered that when he had "comprehended" this technique, the [machine soul] had nearly praised him into the role of a giant who burned down a mythological world and forced the prophetic eye that saw through the future toward its final twilight.
But to Takeru, the joy of mastering a new technique, especially something this powerful and nearly omnipotent, was no less than that of the [machine soul].
An hour later, Mebari woke up.
No one had roused him.
He awoke naturally.
Like... a normal person.
"I... I... I've recovered?!"
The instant Mebari opened his eyes, he felt the changes in his body.
The pain that had tormented him endlessly was gone without a trace. In its place was a lightness he had never experienced before.
It was like a fledgling bird breaking out of its shell. Even though he was still inside a confinement room, it felt as though he had entered a world overflowing with light, and the joy of being alive surged up from within him on its own.
For a moment, tears streamed down his face. He was so overcome with emotion he could barely control himself.
"How do you feel?"
A voice suddenly came from the side.
Mebari looked up and saw a sword flying toward him. He subconsciously caught it. The moment it touched his hand, that familiar spiritual pressure interrupted his combat instincts before he could counterattack.
"This is... my Zanpakuto?"
Mebari stared blankly at the serrated blade in his hand, then turned to the person who had thrown it.
"...Shimiya Takeru, you did this? But how? I didn't feel a thing..."
"Have you heard of Arrancar?"
Takeru glanced toward Rangiku and Nozomi, who were just entering the room, and answered without hiding anything.
"Menos Grande evolve by breaking their masks with the power of a Shinigami. The broken mask, which is the core of their soul, is compressed into a Zanpakuto. Once they release it, they reclaim that core and return to their original form. That phenomenon is called [Resurrección]."
"In a sense, both you and the Arrancar are fused with a Zanpakuto."
"But they can come out of that state. You could not."
"Even I couldn't help you strip away the Zanpakuto, because your soul and your Zanpakuto are fused together. If I removed the blade, the sword could remain, but you would be annihilated."
"So I changed methods. I used my newly developed technique to directly recast you as a Zanpakuto."
"As you are now, you are essentially still in a state of fusion with your Zanpakuto, but I referred to the Arrancar's [Resurrección] and allowed the sword to change form, presenting itself as an asauchi."
"I don't know what your Zanpakuto's original abilities are, but the moment you release it, you'll return to that previous state where your body is covered in blades. The same will be true for Bankai."
"But the difference is that after I reforged you, your state became much more stable, and those side effects were removed. Consider that my promise fulfilled. As for the rest... do you feel any discomfort at all now? If you do, say it quickly. There's still time, so I can adjust it on the spot."
Even as rough a man as Mebari could understand that explanation.
Rangiku and Nozomi certainly could.
They exchanged glances, each seeing the same trace of shock in the other's eyes.
Modifying a Zanpakuto was not unusual.
But to recast a Zanpakuto, and one that had already fused into another person's body at that, and to do it so casually without harming that person's body in the slightest, was far too outrageous.
"...Discomfort?"
Mebari clenched his fist and circulated his spiritual pressure.
After several attempts, no side effects appeared at all. He understood from Takeru's explanation that he had not truly returned to the self he had once been hundreds of years ago.
But his current state was already more than enough for him.
In a sense, he had even realized the wish he held back then.
That was, to pursue ultimate power through this method.
He had not reached true ultimate power, but...
He had undeniably grown stronger.
Since that was the case, what more was there to ask for?
"Yeah... we're even now. Even if you turn around and throw me back into prison next, I won't complain."
"What are you talking about?" Takeru said indifferently. "I also promised you freedom. If I were going to go back on my word, there'd have been no need to wait until now."
Mebari's eyes widened.
"You're really going to let me go? Me, the man who once killed dozens of Shinigami and caused the deaths of several captains?"
"If not for your help, perhaps even more people would have died. I do not want to call it atonement, because that would be unfair to the dead. But I also won't break my promise or ignore your sacrifice."
"So... you may go."
Takeru's gaze did not look remotely like a joke.
It placed enormous pressure on Mebari.
"Leave the Seireitei. I don't care where you go. But if you commit any more crimes, then just wait. Even if you kill yourself and your soul escapes into Hell, I will still tear you into ten thousand pieces."
"...I'll remember that."
Mebari fell silent for a moment. Then he hung his Zanpakuto at his waist and grinned at Takeru.
"You too. If a deal this good comes up again in the future, remember to contact me."
Once he said that, he briskly turned and left the underground research institute.
Takeru did not linger much longer either.
As the newly appointed leader, there were still many things he needed to handle.
The two left one after the other, and peace returned to the laboratory.
But Rangiku and Nozomi could not calm themselves.
"So this is the Captain Commander's capability? The problem that had troubled me for so long... he solved it this easily."
"I've heard people say he's extremely talented at developing combat techniques. Whether it's Kido, swordsmanship, Hakuda, or Shunpo, not only is he proficient in all of them, he can also innovate in every field... That must be why he could become so strong in less than a year. It's as if he was born specifically to be a Shinigami, a Shinigami among Shinigami. Rather than saying this is the capability of the Captain Commander, it's more accurate to say... this is the capability of Shimiya Takeru."
"It is Captain Commander Takeru."
"...Right."
Unlike before, they now deeply felt just how much weight was carried by the combination of "Shimiya Takeru" and "Captain Commander."
...On the other side, the moment Takeru stepped out of the underground research institute, he received a gift with just as much weight.
[On that day, before the eyes of others, you declared that you would become the strongest.]
[Today, you have finally realized that dream... the machine soul is greatly pleased!]
[But the strongest Shinigami is still only a Shinigami. You understand better than anyone that there is no such thing as an ultimate strongest, only endless transcendence, reigning above dimensions.]
[You will aim to become the Shinigami among Shinigami, and reach ultimate sublimation!]
[And you have already conceived a way forward, and that way is... Zanpakuto fusion!]
[But this path is extremely rugged, and before surpassing the limit, even taking the first step is difficult.]
[Thus, you have comprehended [Saint Cloth Crafting Insights] from the alchemists of the otherworldly Mu Continent.]
The familiar ink wash words hung before his eyes like smoke, so fleeting that they seemed as if a light breath could disperse them.
Yet the weight carried by those words rivaled the sun itself.
That was no exaggeration.
A terrifying golden radiance lit up deep within Takeru's pupils.
It was a reishi phenomenon born from taboo knowledge reigning above the human domain pouring into his spirit.
The instant it appeared, it was deeply engraved into his soul, impossible to forget.
Knowledge was power. As long as he followed its contents, he could create power that distorted reality itself, turning the impossible into the possible.
"..."
Takeru remained silent.
This was what one could truly call a surprise.
While others were still reeling from the shock of his ascension to Captain Commander and his rise to the peak of the Soul Society, he had already obtained a clear growth plan for the next stage.
Just as the [machine soul] had said, once he reached the soul limit of a Shinigami, he would use the power of the Bount and the Fairy Tale Dragon to achieve a high level trinity fusion, complete the ultimate leap, and step into the realm of the Transcendent.
This was an extremely feasible plan.
But carrying it out would not be easy.
To be more precise...
Fusing with the Zanpakuto itself was relatively easy.
But to use that method to reach a higher realm... one could only say that there had been no successful examples so far.
In Takeru's view, reforging the Zanpakuto would play a crucial role.
He had no doubt that Oetsu Nimaiya, the Sword God, had done something special while forging Zanpakuto.
But a Zanpakuto made by an outsider, no matter how much of one's soul essence was poured into it, no matter how much communication and nurturing took place, still amounted to making an item granted by someone else into one's own.
It was never something that had been yours from the very beginning, never a true part of yourself.
If he could make the Zanpakuto wholly become a part of himself, like an Arrancar...
Then drawing the blade would itself become fusion.
And once the power of the Bount and the Fairy Tale Dragon were added into that, then he would undoubtedly surpass ordinary Shinigami and step into a higher realm, just as Arrancar used Shinigami power to surpass Menos Grande.
If he chose not to reforge the Zanpakuto and instead attempted fusion only after already reaching the limit, then there would likely be some unknown hidden danger.
For example, fusion failure.
Or perhaps the effect would be greatly reduced.
Just enough to barely break through the limit.
That would be equivalent to the fourth stage of Aizen's Hogyoku transformation in the original timeline.
Then, using Bankai on that basis and relying on the effect of [Reishi Fusion], one could match the final stage of that fusion.
It would still be terrifyingly strong.
But Takeru was by no means satisfied with that.
That was why, when he had "comprehended" [Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace], his joy had matched that of the [machine soul].
Because it meant he now possessed the ability to reforge his Zanpakuto himself.
The most difficult first step had already been taken.
However, having the ability was only one part of the matter.
In truth, it would not necessarily be all that different from Mayuri Kurotsuchi's own technical capabilities.
It was difficult to say for certain whether the performance of the reforged Zanpakuto would improve.
The one thing that could be guaranteed was one hundred percent mutual understanding.
That would certainly help later with fusion, but how much it would help was still an unknown.
On top of that, his plan for fusing with the Zanpakuto still needed to be further perfected.
So, as a total amateur in swordsmithing, Takeru could only settle down and refine his "forging" plan slowly.
He had to strive for perfection and lay down an absolutely solid and powerful foundation for fusing with the Zanpakuto and stepping into a higher realm in the future.
In any case, his abilities in every field were still some distance away from the limit of a Shinigami.
There was no need to rush.
Still...
The operation of the [machine soul] had not exactly made his previous mental preparation useless, but it definitely meant it now needed a major adjustment.
"[Saint Cloth Crafting Insights]... Although it isn't a sword, armor worn on the body has far greater contact with the body itself. The rejection should be very small if it is fused. And my Bankai also takes the form of scale armor... I see. No wonder this was given to me specifically. It really is extremely suitable."
"This should already belong to the level of Soul King class Super Spirit Arts, shouldn't it? With [Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace] and this, the road ahead is clear."
Takeru was more than satisfied with this inauguration gift.
At that moment, he suddenly noticed something and glanced to the side.
"Do you need something from me, Kyouya?"
The moment he spoke, ripples appeared in the air, and a figure condensed out of them.
"After defeating Yhwach, you seem to have grown even stronger. I was discovered the moment I arrived..."
Zaraki Kyouya gave Takeru a deep look. Then, without lingering on that topic, he got straight to the point.
"I came to inform you... that I will be returning to [Muken]."
"Returning to [Muken]...?"
Takeru looked slightly puzzled.
"Why bother? The merit you've earned is more than enough to erase the punishment for crimes you didn't even have time to commit."
"That may be true..."
Kyouya looked up at the clear blue sky overhead.
"But I still wish to return there. I want to sleep once more in that pitch black place, retrieve the emotions I previously cast away into my Zanpakuto, and in the process... meet her again, earn her acknowledgement, and learn her true release command and the meaning carried by her name."
"For me, the punishment of [Muken] is nothing. This is the punishment I truly ought to bear, and the trial I should have faced long ago."
His tone was light, but the seriousness behind it was absolute, like a vow from the soul.
Takeru thought for a moment after hearing that, then said, "I understand how you feel. But I have a better suggestion."
"I'm listening."
"Stay outside. Succeed me as Captain of Squad Nine."
"..."
Kyouya frowned. He was clearly confused, and even faintly resistant to the idea.
Takeru saw through his thoughts at a glance.
"I know you don't understand, and you probably think it isn't a good suggestion. But if you truly want to begin again with an entirely new mindset, then serving as a captain once more, living through everything little by little, might be the better path."
"You understand how Squad Nine works and what sort of environment it has. After being imprisoned for so many years, don't you want to try viewing public order from an entirely different perspective? Besides... the information you get from the Seireitei Bulletin that reaches the Seireitei and even the Rukongai will always feel completely different from the information you get through fused objects."
"What you gain by sleeping in [Muken] is only what you once had before. But if you remain outside, recover your emotions little by little, and then test them against all the many aspects of life that you encounter, wouldn't that be twice the reward, or even more?"
"I won't deny that what you say does make some sense..."
Kyouya fell into thought.
Then Takeru added one final sentence.
"Regardless, this is the position I once held myself. I am certain the perspective it can offer will benefit you. Just as you trusted me back when I was still Captain of Squad Nine, and I never let you down."
"..."
Kyouya froze slightly.
"Aha! You guy with 'Zaraki' in your name, are you seriously going to rush over and become somebody else's half baked substitute again? Maybe I should start calling you something else from now on. You talked so big, but after a few words from him you got moved all over again. Is this really okay?"
Amamizukan's head popped out over his shoulder and started mocking him gleefully.
"...It's fine."
Kyouya looked directly into Takeru's eyes, while at the same time speaking to both of them.
"Anywhere is the same. What I need to do, and the determination I carry, will not change."
"Although I am not foolish enough to bet everything on some intangible hope, I do not mind listening to the suggestions of others, especially trustworthy people, and trying something."
"..."
Amamizukan blinked in a daze.
Then her face shifted into an expression that practically said, I really can't do anything with you, so I'll just stay by your side until the end.
Takeru nodded slightly.
"Then I leave Squad Nine to you. I will let you know the time of the captain proficiency test separately."
"Understood."
After that, Kyouya's form dispersed.
Once his Bankai had been released, it would take at least another year or two before he could again fuse with the Seireitei itself. But that did not stop him from moving freely by merging with the surrounding atmosphere.
The position of Captain of Squad Nine was filled.
Next, the only one still unsettled was Squad Two...
Takeru thought for a moment, then took out his denreishinki and called Yoruichi.
...Three days later.
First Division Barracks, Meeting Hall.
Takeru wore a brand new haori. The aura it gave off was entirely different from Yamamoto Genryūsai's. It held a sharpness like an unsheathed divine blade, one that made others instinctively lose the will to resist.
He did not enter through the main doors, but came in from the side corridor connected to the barracks. He strode to the center before the assembled rows, and the moment he stood there, it felt as though the Gotei 13 had gained a backbone.
The entire atmosphere became incredibly steady.
Even if Yhwach were to lead another invasion at that very moment, it would have been difficult for him to shake so much as a single brick or tile of the barracks.
"...Without further delay, let us begin."
Takeru's gaze burned like a torch as it swept over the captains lined up in two rows and the lieutenants standing along the walls.
There were several obvious gaps in the formation.
Proof that some captain seats were empty.
And not just one.
Takeru addressed that fact directly.
"Ever since Ichimaru's group defected, the Gotei 13 has had captain seats left vacant. Now, with Captain Ukitake and Captain Commander Yamamoto retired, and Captain Suì Fēng transferred to the First Division as lieutenant, the number of vacancies has only grown."
The moment he said that, everyone instinctively looked toward Suì Fēng behind him.
Although she still wore a haori, its style was different.
It was a white short jacket resembling Tsubakabe's.
There was no division number on the back.
Many people were clearly shocked by that. Captains retiring or dying in battle was one thing, but transfers were rare. A captain transferring and being demoted to lieutenant at the same time was virtually unheard of.
But looking at Suì Fēng's calm expression, it was obvious that no one had forced her into it.
"The Second, Third, Ninth, and Thirteenth Divisions all have vacancies. Therefore, I have decided to promote suitable talent to fill them. According to regulations, four qualified candidates passed the captain proficiency test yesterday under the witness of myself, Captain Kyōraku, Captain Unohana, and Captain Aizen."
"The captain inauguration ceremony begins now... Everyone, enter."
Takeru gave the order.
The doors of the meeting hall slowly opened.
Under the extremely complicated gazes of the crowd, gazes mixed with all sorts of emotions, three men and one woman stepped inside. All of them emitted powerful spiritual pressure, each with their own distinct temperament, but none of them were strangers to those present.
"Captain of the Second Division, Shihōin Yoruichi."
The dark skinned beauty wore a long face, utterly lacking the old liveliness and sly ease she used to have.
"Captain of the Third Division, Amagai Shūsuke."
The unshaven man with the messy hair had clear dark circles under his eyes, though those likely came from excitement and lack of sleep.
"Captain of the Ninth Division, Zaraki Kyouya."
The handsome young nobleman carried such solemn composure that people could not help but think of Byakuya, who stood among the captains already assembled.
"Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Kurosaki Ichigo."
The orange haired young man looked visibly tense, clearly not yet accustomed to being the central figure in such a formal occasion.
"Take your places."
Takeru was deeply satisfied as he watched the four new captains slot into the lineup like perfect puzzle pieces, completing a whole that was now powerful and complete.
First Division: himself. Lieutenant: Suì Fēng.
Second Division: Yoruichi. Lieutenant: Ōmaeda.
Third Division: Amagai. Lieutenant: Kira.
Fourth Division: Retsu Unohana. Lieutenant: Isane.
Fifth Division: Aizen. Lieutenant: Hinamori Momo.
Sixth Division: Byakuya. Lieutenant: Renji.
Seventh Division: Komamura. Lieutenant: Iba.
Eighth Division: Kyōraku. Lieutenant: Nanao.
Ninth Division: Zaraki Kyouya. Lieutenant: Shūhei.
Tenth Division: Tōshirō. Lieutenant: Rangiku.
Eleventh Division: Kenpachi. Lieutenant: Yachiru.
Twelfth Division: Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Lieutenant: Nemu.
Thirteenth Division: Ichigo. Lieutenant... Rukia.
Though it was still not as formidable as the era of Yamamoto Genryūsai, its potential was limitless.
"Furthermore..."
Takeru continued, his voice resonant with authority.
"Though they are not appointments within the Gotei 13 itself, they are matters all of you should be informed of. As of today, Yushima Oko will succeed to the position of Grand Kido Chief of the Kidō Corps, while Kagerōza Inaba will succeed to the position of Vice Kido Chief."
"Finally, I have only this to say... the road ahead is long and difficult, but if we keep moving, we will reach the end. I hope all of us can continue to encourage one another."
"Yes!"
.....
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