Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 224 ⥤ The Secret of the Soul

Looking at Akira strutting in his Quincy uniform, Aizen fell into silence once more.

Thanks to Sōken, he knew the Wandenreich's structure well. Though similar to the Gotei 13, it maintained far stricter regulations and hierarchy.

Yet somehow, in this austere organization, Akira had managed to secure the position of second-in-command.

What could this mean?

It was like watching a husky, freshly introduced to a wolf pack, suddenly become their second-in-command — even more absurd than this priest becoming Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.

"Well, don't I look more dashing than before?" Akira straightened his posture proudly, "This Quincy Cross emblem marks my position as Vice-Captain — a recognition of my leadership abilities. Unlike that stubborn Yama-jii, Haschwalth knows talent when he sees it. Yamamoto just keeps dragging his feet, refusing to hand over the Captain-Commander position. Sigh, such narrow-mindedness..."

Aizen remained silent, unwilling to engage with such shameless boasting.

He knew his friend too well — given any encouragement, this guy would brag non-stop for three years straight.

"That's enough." Aizen cut him off irritably, steering the conversation elsewhere, "Have you returned because you've run into some unsolvable problem?"

Akira gave a thumbs up, "You know me so well, Sōsuke. I have hit a snag, but it's not about the Wandenreich or the Quincy. During my time there, I gained a new ability called Soul Immortality."

Aizen frowned slightly. The name alone suggested an overwhelmingly powerful ability.

By now, Akira's bizarre and extraordinary powers no longer surprised him. If the world were a puzzle of countless mysteries, this husky would surely be its largest piece.

"It has two main aspects: my soul can't be erased by any attack, and I can share others' damage. The first part makes sense, but the damage-sharing bit is puzzling." Akira spread his hands and fixed his gaze on his friend, "So, Sōsuke, what's your take?"

Aizen sank into deep thought.

This guy's abilities were becoming increasingly outlandish. Just the fact that his soul couldn't be erased immediately sparked 396 potential experiments in Aizen's mind.

The rest was unclear for now, but Akira was undoubtedly the best material for forbidden soul experiments. Without a doubt. Not to mention his absurdly extreme defensive capabilities.

Initially, Aizen had worried about potential soul damage from the Quincy's unique Schrift abilities, but those concerns were now unnecessary.

Most remarkable was Akira's impenetrable defense — even Ryūjin Jakka couldn't pierce it. Aizen doubted that any Quincy in the Wandenreich possessed power surpassing Genryūsai's might.

If such a formidable warrior existed, the Soul Society would have fallen to the Quincy long ago.

"Regarding soul research..." Aizen said after a moment's reflection, "There is some data that might be worth referencing."

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Mayuri was in particularly high spirits lately.

With Kisuke's help, his Nemuri Project had made significant strides. Though he loathed to admit it, that man's intellect matched his own.

As he watched the flesh continuously divide and grow within the container, he felt an unexpected urge to share.

Perhaps few could understand the joy of creating something from nothing, but having even one person who could comprehend this happiness was enough.

After sealing the container, Mayuri left the laboratory and headed directly to the Captain's office.

To call it an office was generous — it functioned more as a casual gathering spot.

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Kisuke and Kaname handled most of the 11th Division's official duties, with Yachiru helping occasionally.

Word had spread that their Captain had recently returned from the Wandenreich after another fierce battle with Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

Following the clash, Kisuke had been detained for questioning. With the truth emerging, his fate might well lead to Sōkyoku Hill.

This thought drew an uncontrollable, wild grin across Mayuri's face.

The 11th Division needed only him, Mayuri Kurotsuchi — Kisuke Urahara was expendable.

"Captain..." Mayuri entered the empty office.

Finding no one, he frowned and turned toward the nearest laboratory.

Few visited this place besides Akira and Kisuke — the 11th Division's warriors had little interest in scientific pursuits.

Before him gaped the dark portal between worlds: the Garganta.

"Did he go to Hueco Mundo?" After brief consideration, Mayuri stepped through.

His Captain's troublemaking tendencies no longer surprised him. If an 11th Division Captain could infiltrate Quincy headquarters, venturing into Hueco Mundo seemed perfectly ordinary.

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Wait...

When Mayuri emerged from the Garganta, the sight before him made his usually composed mind ripple with emotion.

What was this?

Before him stood a towering, majestic castle that pierced the clouds.

Though Mayuri had visited Hueco Mundo countless times to gather materials, he had never witnessed such a breathtaking spectacle.

The castle made the 11th Division barracks he and Kisuke had painstakingly built in the Seireitei look like children's toys.

"A newcomer?"

Near the Garganta appeared a strikingly handsome man with skeletal glasses and shimmering pink hair, his curious eyes fixed on Mayuri.

"What a pity, wearing the Eleventh Division's haori as propaganda." Szayelaporro said with regret, "I thought it was a Shinigami who had wandered in by mistake."

Mayuri studied the man before him with curiosity. His instincts told him this individual was someone like himself — though perhaps even more ruthless.

The similarity was repelling. The moment their eyes met, Mayuri felt an urge to dissect him.

"May I ask, where is this—"

Before Mayuri could finish, Szayelaporro flashed a peculiar smile and spread his arms wide with pride:

"Welcome to... His Majesty Kisaragi's Las Noches!"

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"You mentioned soul research."

Akira leaned on the glass container, studying Ganryū Ryōdoji who floated in the unknown liquid.

"Does it have anything to do with him?"

Aizen nodded calmly, "Remember the Hollowfication experiments I told you about? Through our combined efforts, we've refined the Hōgyoku further and gained insights from the Arrancar experiments.

While you were in the Wandenreich, we achieved a breakthrough. Ganryū Ryōdoji, immersed in this liquid, has successfully undergone Hollowfication and gained the ability to transcend a Shinigami's soul boundaries."

Akira tapped the container wall, producing a hollow sound.

"Words can't compare to experiencing it firsthand." Aizen said indifferently, placing his finger on the release button, "Ganryū's strength has increased significantly. When it comes to soul-related issues, perhaps he holds the answers."

After exchanging a glance, he pressed the button.

The liquid drained slowly as the container walls descended, revealing waves of Reiatsu fluctuating from Ganryū's body — one after another, seemingly limitless.

Akira observed attentively while Aizen recorded data from the sidelines.

The white-haired man opened his eyes. Though the laboratory's bright lights initially stung his crystalline vision, he quickly adjusted.

"Akira Kisaragi..."

Finally, the hazy figure before him came into focus — it was Akira Kisaragi, the man he had longed to destroy, to tear apart limb by limb.

Though uncertain of exactly what Aizen had done to him, Ganryū could undeniably feel power surging through his body.

He had grown stronger — several times more powerful than he had been in the valley!

The swelling power filled Ganryū with exhilaration. More than mere vengeance for past grievances, even destroying the Soul Society now seemed within his grasp.

His Reiatsu erupted as his eyes widened, a violent aura surging forth. White, liquid-like bone seeped from his pores, forming a fearsome mask.

Without warning, Ganryū struck. His right hand condensed an immense amount of Reiatsu that radiated brilliant light as he unleashed his punch!

The ground shook and mountains quaked from the impact. He poured years of pain and hatred into this single blow. No Shinigami could withstand it.

None! Not even Shigekuni Yamamoto himself!

His mortal enemy, Akira Kisaragi, was finished!

In that moment, as if transcending to a new mental state, he heard something shatter.

Crack—

Wait... why did he feel pain?

The arrogant smile froze on Ganryū's face. Looking down in confusion, he saw his punch had landed squarely on his opponent's chest.

Akira stood completely unharmed, while Ganryū's own right hand had twisted grotesquely, bone fragments jutting through flesh and skin.

"What an efficient shortcut to growing stronger." Akira remarked admiringly, "That punch was about a third as powerful as Yama-jii's."

Before Ganryū could unleash a cry of rage, Aizen casually cast a Bakudō spell, binding him as he collapsed heavily to the ground.

He lay there gray and lifeless, staring at the sky in despair.

"Ganryū Ryōdoji and the numerous Arrancars are the culmination of related research projects." Aizen explained, "Strictly speaking, both Hollowfication and the Arrancar process are forms of soul damage. If what you've said is true, it means Hollowfication experiments would have a hundred percent success rate."

Akira's eyes lit up at this.

As expected of his psycho-genius friend. Through subtle conversation, he had revealed another path to greater power.

Now possessing both Quincy and Shinigami powers, if Akira could master Hollowfication too, wouldn't that make him like a young, overpowered protagonist?

"However..." Aizen's tone shifted, "The specifics still require further research. Until we're completely certain, I won't allow you to participate in any Hollowfication experiments."

Akira wasn't in a hurry. He still had another ability to develop.

Under his friend's surprised gaze, he demonstrated the power of the Schrift {W}. Blood armor manifested for both offense and defense!

⤫ Kūkyō Genso Henkō ⥤ Empty State, Elemental Transformation! ⤬

⤫ Shikai: Kūkan Mukai ⥤ Initial Release: Unbounded Emptiness! ⤬

⤫ Schrift: W ⥤ Sacred Letter: The World! ⤬

Blinding flames of Reiatsu engulfed his body, descending with a force that rivaled the collapse of heaven itself. The sturdy laboratory walls creaked under the unbearable pressure.

A deafening boom resonated through Las Noches, drawing the astonished attention of countless Arrancars.

Aizen's expression shifted subtly as he instinctively released his own Reiatsu to counter the overwhelming force.

Unlike Akira, his endurance was limited. Apart from his slightly elevated Reiatsu, he remained largely comparable to an ordinary Shinigami.

"Sōsuke Aizen, are you watching?"

Amid the surging spiritual pressure, the husky's voice carried an ethereal quality, radiating supreme authority.

"This is the power of the Schrift."

Aizen nodded slightly, gesturing for him to restrain the display. Any longer and the laboratory — built with such effort — would crumble.

Though his expression remained composed, his thoughts churned with turmoil.

This man had grown even stronger! And in such a brief time since returning from the Wandenreich.

His feelings were mixed. At this rate, it seemed entirely possible that this individual might achieve what he had boldly claimed during his academy days—

To stand at the pinnacle of the heavens.

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The research on Akira immediately became top priority.

Upon hearing this, Szayelaporro and Mayuri instantly volunteered their assistance. After brief consideration, Aizen accepted their offer.

One person's strength had its limits. Despite his pride, he had to acknowledge that unlocking all of that man's secrets alone would be nearly impossible.

Soon after, Kisuke returned from the 1st Division and joined the research team.

Genryūsai hadn't been too harsh with his wayward disciple's right-hand man — merely offering a friendly "greeting" in the form of a Hakuda mastery demonstration.

Upon seeing Akira, Kisuke complained bitterly, declaring the Captain-Commander the greatest villain the Soul Society had ever produced.

By comparison, his own Captain seemed a paragon of virtue, a daily doer of good deeds.

Akira found this highly amusing. He promised that when the time came to overturn the heavens, this loyal workhor—ahem, I mean—Lieutenant would have a front-row seat.

Kisuke eagerly accepted.

After days of relentless research, they finally achieved results.

Reading the conclusions on plain white paper, Szayelaporro's expression grew remarkably strange.

"If this truly represents His Majesty's ability." He said, "Then it's simply outrageous..."

Aizen, however, maintained his composure, as though he had expected this all along.

Through their combined efforts, they had finally unveiled part of Akira's secrets...

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