Chapter 206 – 206 ⥤ Akira’s Recipe

Aizen studied Akira’s serious expression. From what he knew of the man, that look meant he was speaking the truth.

“Stars, Kūkan Mukai… Are you listening to yourself?”

As a scientist, Aizen prided himself on his rich imagination, yet he realized his creativity paled in comparison to this husky’s.

A Zanpakutō, born from a Shinigami’s soul, connecting two massive stars? Surely even the Soul King couldn’t accomplish such a feat?

“Though it may sound far-fetched.” Akira said gravely, “There’s some foundation to this theory. Remember what we learned from the Daireishokairō? The Soul King separated the three worlds.”

Aizen nodded slightly. That intelligence was still fresh in his mind.

“The Three Worlds were separated primarily to prevent Hollows from devouring humans and disrupting the world’s cycle. But what the Boss mentioned recently sparked a new thought. It’s not just Hollows that threaten the world — Hell does too. After the Sangai’s separation, the world could move forward, avoiding consumption by Hell. Yet looking at our current situation, this solution has barely worked. Could this mean there’s an unbreakable link between the Sangai and Hell? Or were they perhaps one and the same?”

Aizen’s eyes lit up with surprise.

“Are you suggesting… those two massive stars are Hell and the three worlds?”

Akira snapped his fingers, “As expected of Sōsuke, whose wisdom is second only to mine — you’ve hit the mark in just a few words.”

Seeing Akira’s serious demeanor, Aizen’s surprise turned to shock, leaving him speechless.

This hypothesis was staggering, challenging everything he thought he knew. Not since discovering the secrets between the Five Noble Houses and the Soul King had he been so stunned.

If Akira’s words held truth, this man’s value needed reassessment. Perhaps this was why Mimihagi had taken such interest in him?

Considering all of Akira’s peculiarities — his extraordinary training ability, his incredibly resilient Spiritual Body, his seemingly muscle-bound yet astounding wisdom…

Aizen found his composure. Nothing seemed unusual anymore when it came to this remarkable individual.

“Let’s examine Kūkan Mukai first.” He set aside his thoughts, ready to make observations.

Science wasn’t built on imagination alone; practical research was essential for finding answers.

Akira obligingly drew the Zanpakutō from its scabbard.

With a pleased expression, he said, “Brother, I had no idea of your impressive legacy. Forgive my past neglect. From now on, I’ll protect you perfectly, never allowing even a scratch on your blade…”

The gleaming blade trembled, emitting Reiatsu light.

Akira beamed, “As expected of my good brother, so understanding! Rest assured, I, Akira Kisaragi, will keep my word.”

Aizen: “…”

Though not an expert on Zanpakutō, his experience suggested Kūkan Mukai’s response wasn’t exactly positive.

After all, a Zanpakutō existed to fight and kill. Keeping it locked away was tantamount to breaking its spirit.

No wonder it had such a strong reaction.

Recalling how Kōga Kuchiki had turned Kyōka Suigetsu against him earlier, Aizen shook his head helplessly.

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

Black chains spread throughout the laboratory, swiftly forming an iron mountain under Akira’s control. The links ground against each other, casting off sparks that ignited in the air.

Observing the scene, Aizen adjusted his glasses and pointed at the blade in his hand, his expression puzzled.

“If I remember correctly, wasn’t the blade’s appearance after Shikai release different before?”

Akira raised his Zanpakutō, casually performing an instinctive sword spin as he spoke.

“Oh, this? After going through the transformation twice, the Shikai took this form. I can’t tell if it’s stronger, but it looks much cooler than before.”

An all-black blade, sharp-edged tsuba, and a longer blade than before.

Aizen sighed again. A pearl cast before swine. No matter how cool it looked, in a real fight someone would still just swing their iron fists and blast their enemies to pieces.

“Stay at the shrine for this period.” He explained, “Researching Zanpakutō isn’t a small project. I’ll try my best—”

Before he could finish speaking, Akira simply threw Kūkan Mukai to him, “Research it yourself.”

With that, he left gracefully, without any attachment.

Watching his retreating figure, Aizen fell silent again.

Could a normal Shinigami do something like this?

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Regarding Aizen, Akira had complete trust. The two of them were in the same boat.

Returning to the loyal 11th Division, the training scene was still in full swing.

Zaraki was fighting four opponents at once, laughing wildly on the fighting platform like a demon.

Opposite him were Sajin, Kaname, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. The four wore serious expressions, fighting with all their might, their brilliant Shikai releases filling the spacious battlefield.

What interested Akira most was Yumichika’s Shikai, which differed from the original story.

Under his guidance, the 11th Division now pursued the ultimate in power, not caring about the means. Whether Kidō or Hakuda — any technique that could defeat the enemy was a good technique.

Thus, under Sajin and Kaname’s guidance, Yumichika soon developed his true Shikai — Ruri’iro Kujaku (Azure Peacock).

The blade disappeared, sprouting countless azure vines from the hilt that could entangle enemies while draining their Reiatsu. In terms of performance alone, it was the strongest Shikai among the four. However, with average Reiatsu, it could only assist in battle.

The real main force against Zaraki was still Sajin.

As a member of the Wolfman Clan, both Sajin’s Reiatsu talent and Spiritual Body strength far exceeded ordinary Shinigami. With Akira occasionally providing special training, his rate of progress had been dramatic.

Though he hadn’t mastered Bankai yet, he wasn’t far from achieving it.

Akira planned to ask Sajin about his grandfather’s address and pay him a visit once things settled down.

First, he would obtain the Humanization Technique, then persuade Kisuke to improve it. After all, someone who could develop the Hōgyoku should have no trouble improving a secret technique.

If the side effects of the Humanization Technique could be reduced or eliminated, Sajin would become an invaluable front-line combat force in Soul Society.

Zaraki’s sword cut through Ikkaku’s Hōzukimaru (Demon Light), blood flowing from his ear canal, and shattered Sajin’s Tenken with a powerful two-handed strike.

Though Yumichika’s Ruri’iro Kujaku had wrapped around him and begun absorbing his flame-like golden Reiatsu, it became clear that his current Reiatsu level wasn’t enough to seriously damage Zaraki.

The mighty opponent simply withstood the Shikai attacks before cutting everyone down.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

Heavy dark clouds connected heaven and earth as torrential rain soaked the ground, its pounding rhythm striking against eardrums.

Though morning had come, the Seireitei remained as dark as night. Perfect weather for curling up at home to sleep, enjoying peaceful solitude.

However, as Akira turned over in his bed, he sensed something unusual.

Wait!

He jolted awake, realizing his normally flat bed had unexpected bumps and dips, with something soft beneath his hand.

Pulling back the covers, four eyes met — two figures locked together in a strange position, limbs entangled like an intimate embrace.

“Call forth the Twilight…”

⤫ Shikai: Mirokumaru ⥤ Initial Release: Maitreya Circle! ⤬

Before Akira could process what was happening, anger flashed across the girl’s delicate face as she unhesitatingly released her Zanpakutō.

Light burst forth as a monk’s staff-like weapon appeared in her hand. Rather than striking with the blade at its end, the girl brought the staff’s top down forcefully.

Then—

The room erupted with the sharp clash of metal against metal.

The girl stared in bewilderment at her trembling hands, barely able to hold onto Mirokumaru. She couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

“No need to be nervous — I’m not exactly a bad person… or a good one.” Akira sat up, smoothly snatched the staff from her hands, and embedded it in the nearby wall with a casual throw.

His movements were fluid and practiced, clearly perfected through countless repetitions.

Seeing this display, the girl immediately grasped the vast difference in their abilities and managed a strained smile.

“Sir Shinigami, did you bring me here to violate—”

Before she could finish, Akira shook his head and cut in, “Too flat, not on my menu, next.”

“Flat?”

The girl looked confused, unconsciously following his gaze downward to what could only be described as a flat plain.

She inhaled sharply twice, her smile turning fierce as she ground out through clenched teeth:

“So sorry to disappoint you!”

Akira waved his hand dismissively, indicating it wasn’t worth discussing.

From her Zanpakutō’s release command and appearance, he had already recognized who she was.

He had also deduced why the girl had appeared in his bed. A collection of soul memories given form, a humanoid Shinenju—

The regret-filled girl, Senna.

Dressed in pure white undergarments, with purple-tinted hair and a cute, charming face — though admittedly flat — she would be considered a priceless treasure to those with particular preferences.

Noticing his offensive gaze, Senna instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.

“The situation is like this.”

Akira explained: last night while trying to unlock the secrets of the Memory Rosary, he had unexpectedly fallen asleep during his examination, which led to their current predicament.

“Shinenju?” Confusion flashed in Senna’s amber eyes, “Am I… am I not a Shinigami?”

“I know it’s hard to accept the truth right away.” Akira sat cross-legged opposite her, grinning, “How about this — let’s go explore the outside world. Maybe you’ll remember something.”

The girl sat motionless, countless chaotic memories swirling in her mind.

Akira didn’t rush her, quietly waiting nearby. His previous preparations and preemptive moves against the Ryōdoji Family had been partly aimed at changing Senna’s fate.

For such an adorable girl to save the Soul Society and World of the Living through self-sacrifice seemed too cruel. Though she didn’t quite fit his menu, Akira didn’t mind making a sacrifice to save a lost girl.

After a moment of silence, Senna raised her head uncertainly, looking at his grinning face. Though his smile was ugly, her instincts told her he harbored no ill intent.

If anything, perhaps just a hint of innate lecherousness…

“Though it might be presumptuous to ask.” She hesitated, “Would you accompany me to see the outside world?”

Akira paused briefly, then smiled and said, “It would be my honor.”

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After some guidance, Senna finally accepted her identity, though her jumbled memories still caused occasional headaches.

Fortunately, Mayuri, who was researching this field, quickly developed a memory processing device to eliminate these negative effects.

Such a capable person showed complete obedience to the man before them.

Senna’s gaze toward Akira held a hint of curiosity. Though he seemed unreliable on the surface, he clearly possessed quite the charismatic personality.

“Do you have any plans for your future?” Akira suddenly asked, “Like marriage, children, traveling the world?”

Senna shook her head, “I still prefer being a Shinigami.”

Since Shinigami memories dominated her consciousness, she had manifested in Shinigami form at birth, and her mind naturally aligned with that identity.

“A Shinigami by choice?” Akira pondered thoughtfully, “That’s fine too, but before that, you’ll need professional training.”

With her incomplete and chaotic memories, Senna had a long way to go before becoming a proper Shinigami. The Shin’ō Academy would undoubtedly be her best destination.

Speaking of which, Rangiku had been progressing quickly in her studies lately, possibly graduating early. She would be perfect to mentor the newcomer before graduation.

Akira felt quite confident about this.

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A crescent moon hung high above silver seas that stretched endlessly.

A majestic palace stood in the boundless desert, like a war fortress emanating a fierce aura.

“Pink Pineapple, why have you summoned your king?”

A Garganta split open as a figure emerged, approaching Szayelaporro.

“My lord, this time we have real trouble.” Szayelaporro brought up a screen showing massive dark shadows flying past like rolling storm clouds.

Even through the screen, one could feel the heavy atmosphere.

“These are Hollow groups I just observed. The weakest among them are Adjuchas, and there are quite a few Vasto Lorde. From their direction and trajectory, it’s not hard to guess their destination is… Las Noches.”

⤫⤬⤫

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