Chapter 154 – 154 ⥤ Konsō Reisai

The First Stage of the Konsō Reisai: Jogimen Reibaku (Prefacing Ceremonial Surface of Spiritual Arrest).

Led by Chōjirō, the Lieutenants gathered at the Senkaimon, preparing to depart for their mission.

Originally, the Lieutenants were meant to handle this task alone. However, this Konsō Reisai was different from previous ones — an oddball had joined their ranks.

While everyone else wore black Shihakushō with their Zanpakutō at their waists and division badges on their shoulders, one particular person stood out in elaborate Shrine Priest attire, holding a ceremonial wand like a Shinigami coming to collect spirits.

His demeanor was completely out of place. Standing among the crowd, he was like a husky mixed in with a pack of wolves, disrupting the entire atmosphere.

This drew everyone’s attention.

Seeing this, Chōjirō could only sigh helplessly and hand over command. Nothing ever went according to plan when Akira was involved.

The original mission was simple: go to the World of the Living, catch two Hollows, and return.

But someone — Akira — had strongly objected, insisting that Hollows from the World of the Living weren’t pure enough. Only Hollows from Hueco Mundo would suffice.

Hearing this, Chōjirō wondered if Akira was selecting ingredients rather than ceremonial items.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Target: Hueco Mundo!” Akira waved his hand grandly and charged straight into the Senkaimon.

This was his first time traveling to Hueco Mundo through official channels; previously, he had always sneaked in with Aizen through counterfeit Garganta.

Seeing their leader charge ahead enthusiastically, the others could only sigh in resignation and follow.

According to their Captains’ briefings, the enthusiastic figure who had just charged into the Senkaimon was essential to this Konsō Reisai.

Without him, there would be no need for the upcoming ceremony at all.

Fortunately, this Hueco Mundo Expedition Force wasn’t composed of ordinary Shinigami Officers, but of Lieutenants — and even included the soon-to-be Captain of the 11th Division.

There shouldn’t be any danger… right?

Chōjirō followed with worried thoughts.

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Under the endless night sky, a white desert stretched beneath its dark curtain. Sand dunes dotted the landscape like pieces on a chessboard, creating a vista utterly different from the Soul Society.

Several figures bound by black chains burst from the gate of light, crashing into the desert and creating huge craters. As they regained consciousness, they all faced an existential crisis.

“Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?!”

According to 12th Division Captain Kirio Hikifune’s precise calculations, this journey through the Dangai should have avoided any Kōtotsu encounters.

However, the usually infallible Kirio had made an unprecedented error.

As they appeared in the Dangai, a train with blazing headlights thundered toward them from the darkness.

Chōjirō’s expression barely had time to change before he felt a black chain wrap around his waist. An overwhelming force yanked his body forward.

“Hold on tight, we’re going downhill!”

Under his bewildered gaze, Akira dragged everyone straight toward the Dangai’s exit.

The Lieutenants dangled helplessly like caught fish.

Swaying behind Akira, Chōjirō watched in horror as the figure ahead moved.

Unlike normal Shinigami who constructed complete Reishi paths, Akira created disc-like Reishi platforms under his feet. He bounded like a monkey through mountain forests, advancing at an absurd pace and leaving the pursuing Kōtotsu far behind.

Within minutes, they shot out of the Senkaimon like cannonballs, crashing into the desert.

“Perfect landing.” Akira flipped and landed gracefully on the white sand.

Once recovered, Chōjirō eyed the unfazed man suspiciously, “Captain Kisaragi, you seemed to have anticipated the Kōtotsu’s appearance?”

The Kōtotsu’s sudden emergence in the darkness had caught many Lieutenants off guard. Before they could react, Yotsuki Akira had already hooked them around their waists and dragged them along.

“Getting beaten up by Yama-jii so many times has sharpened my instincts.” Akira lied smoothly, “I sensed the danger and reacted instinctively.”

In truth, he and Aizen had visited Hueco Mundo numerous times. Whenever they had free time, or when Aizen needed new experimental materials, they would venture there to capture specimens.

But as this continued, Aizen noticed a problem.

Why did they encounter Kōtotsu every time they went to Hueco Mundo through Garganta?

Initially, he thought there was an error in his calculations. The Kōtotsu — the Dangai’s cleaner — only appeared once every seven days to eliminate everything in its path. Such frequent encounters shouldn’t have been possible.

After careful reasoning and verification, he finally discovered that the seemingly harmless Akira was the culprit.

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause, one fact remained clear: every Hueco Mundo trip with Akira guaranteed a Kōtotsu encounter.

This wasn’t surprising — Akira had always attracted dangerous things and troublesome situations.

From Genryūsai and Unohana to Senjumaru, Takeda Chishi, and Okama Shinji — attracting a Kōtotsu seemed almost mundane in comparison.

This was precisely why Aizen chose not to accompany the Lieutenants to hunt Hollows in Hueco Mundo.

He had three reasons: it wasn’t necessary, he needed to attend the Konsō Ceremony in Hiyori’s place, and he had no desire to be tossed around like a festival float.

Chōjirō narrowed his eyes, sensing there was more to the story. But questions would have to wait — Hollow Reiatsu had begun appearing around them.

Unlike the World of the Living, Hueco Mundo served as the Hollows’ stronghold. Its vast quantity and variety of Hollows surpassed the Shinigami of Soul Society, nearly matching the human population of the World of the Living.

Chaotic and violent Reiatsu surged from all directions. The Lieutenants snapped to attention, took defensive positions, and released their Reiatsu.

Large groups of Hollows soon appeared, their ear-splitting roars echoing as they launched a ferocious attack against the Shinigami formation.

The Lieutenants responded swiftly, unleashing various Bakudō and Hadō in succession. Brilliant lights bloomed like fireworks across Hueco Mundo’s desolate landscape, adding an otherworldly radiance.

These Hollow groups, lacking even a single Menos Grande, posed little challenge to the Lieutenants. Without needing to release their Zanpakutō, they easily dispatched the threat using only Hadō and Bakudō, even managing to capture and restrain several weaker Hollows for transport.

Rolling white sand surged and howled beneath the darkened sky as something massive moved toward them.

Soon, they could clearly see the being’s form.

A huge black elongated body with an ugly, fierce white bone mask, disproportionately thin limbs, and violent, chaotic, viscous reiatsu.

The Gillian, Menos Grande.

Chōjirō took a deep breath and looked toward Akira beside him. Before he could speak, his vision blurred — the figure had vanished.

Looking back, he saw Akira had already appeared at the front of the formation. A massive pillar of Reiatsu erupted from his body as gorgeous swords, burning with flames and lightning, floated behind him.

Such an exaggerated scene drew shocked, stunned looks from the Lieutenants.

Without any fancy preparation, he simply channeled his Reiatsu to its limit.

⤫ Hadō: Kenami: Raien ⥤ Sword Rain: Thunder Fire! ⤬

Countless brilliant lights, like a missile barrage, tore through the fragile air. An explosive roar echoed through the heavens, illuminating the sky darkened by swirling dust and sand.

Where the barrage passed, white sand flew and fireworks blazed, leaving trails of scorching lashes.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

A shockwave rocked the desert. The silver sand for miles around surged and exploded like ocean waves during a storm, each wave reaching up to touch the sky.

In a flash, the Menos Grande group shattered, their body fragments scattering in all directions, all signs of life extinguished.

The crisis was resolved in a single burst.

The chaotic Reiatsu dissipated in the viscous air, mixing with the scent of explosive gunpowder that filled the Lieutenants’ nostrils.

“Hmm…” Akira narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the collapsed Menos Grande group, but didn’t find the presence he had expected.

This group of Hollows seemed to have been merely sent out to die.

After collecting several still-struggling Menos Grande and binding up some lively small fry Hollows, the Senkaimon opened once again under the urgent gazes of the Lieutenants.

Everyone filed in with their spoils, while Akira stayed behind to guard the rear.

After nearly half an hour, he finally entered the Senkaimon and departed Hueco Mundo.

Shortly after his departure, the pile of remaining corpses stirred. A final black-purple worm emerged, its strange straw-like mouthpiece sucking at the air. Once its body had turned completely black, the creature ceased its behavior.

Having found its direction, the worm burrowed into the silver sand and vanished.

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Soul Society, Seireitei.

The Lieutenants set down their captives, still shaken by what they had witnessed.

Being the most senior among them, Chōjirō immediately reported the battle details to Genryūsai.

As they say, old ginger is spicier. Throughout Chōjirō’s entire report, Genryūsai remained unfazed.

After the incident at the Central Great Underground Prison, Genryūsai’s tolerance for the extraordinary had grown considerably.

A mere group of Menos Grande hardly warranted concern. Given his knowledge of Akira’s capabilities, failing to handle a few dozen Menos would have been more surprising.

“Teacher.” Akira appeared before the group, unscathed.

Genryūsai nodded, signaling for the Konsō Reisai to begin.

Without hesitation, Akira stepped forward and, under the watchful eyes of his colleagues, commenced the ritual.

Incense filled the air with its delicate fragrance, wisping skyward as gentle bell chimes echoed outward in rippling waves.

“In the name of the Head Priest, Akira Kisaragi, I invoke the One-Eyed Great God Mimihagi…”

His usual demeanor transformed into one of utmost solemnity. His fingers wove intricate hand seals with practiced precision while he chanted, releasing waves of Reiatsu that left onlookers astounded.

Whoosh!

A dazzling pillar of Reiatsu pierced the heavens, its brilliant light reflecting in every watching eye.

Among the spectators, Aizen’s eyes narrowed, betraying a flicker of surprise.

None knew Akira better than he did. This guy was just at Rank 4 Reiatsu a short while ago, how had he already nearly reached Rank 3 in the blink of an eye?

Even with supplements, such rapid progress seemed impossible. At this rate, Akira might soon rival his own power.

This realization stirred an inexplicable urgency in Aizen — as if a wolf were stalking his heels.

Just then, a thunderous rumble shook the grounds as another wave of enormous Reiatsu descended upon them.

Before their astonished eyes, a massive, divine black shadow materialized before Akira, warping the surrounding Reishi.

The ink-black color traced outlines until darkness covered everything.

When the single eye opened, its indifferent gaze fell upon those present as silence devoured blood and embers. An enormous pressure descended like a collapsing sky.

The air grew viscous, making everyone feel as if they were deep underwater — even breathing became laborious.

This effect struck the weaker Lieutenants particularly hard.

Even Aizen showed surprise. Despite having witnessed this spectacle many times before, he still couldn’t suppress his amazement.

What made this man so exceptional? To receive such favor from a true deity.

If even Aizen was moved to awe, the other Captains and Lieutenants — seeing this for the first time — were utterly convinced. All doubts about the rumors circulating in Soul Society vanished.

This Sakahone Shrine Official truly could commune with deities.

Fine black shadows spread outward, with countless branch-like extensions cascading to Akira’s left and right like stars surrounding the moon, embracing him at the center.

The sacrifices, bound in black chains, were arranged around the shadow. In an instant, both Menos Grande and lesser Hollows broke down into Reishi, dissolving into the shadow.

“Konsō Reisai.” Akira reminded softly, “Boss, behind you…”

At these words, the shadow paused. Its indifferent single eye gazed deeply at Akira before slowly turning around.

In the next moment, branch-like black patterns crawled over the burnt remains. The divine eye’s power erupted within, annihilating the unconverted Reishi power that couldn’t be broken down.

And as the Konsō Reisai continued, a massive ancient gate materialized silently in the sky above…

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