Chapter 236 – 236 ⥤ The Old Man’s Suspicions

When Aizen and the others arrived, the giant of light had vanished completely.

Across the vast, ravaged desert, a luminous heart floated in the air, wreathed in a thick aura of death.

“Is this the Soul King’s Heart?” Mayuri’s golden eyes flashed with excitement.

As a senior researcher of the Soul King’s power, he couldn’t resist his fascination with the Heart, much like how others couldn’t resist a fighting style of torn clothes and thrown swords.

Even if Kisuke dropped dead right there, Mayuri would gladly spend centuries researching the Soul King’s Heart.

Under his eager, bloodshot gaze, Aizen used a sealing Kidō to contain the Heart temporarily.

Such a strategic resource couldn’t risk even the slightest mishap — the consequences of losing it would be unthinkable.

“Before heading to Hell, we have one month for research. Record every possible data point we can obtain.” Aizen assigned heavy workloads to everyone except Akira.

No one objected.

For scientists pursuing the unknown, studying the Soul King’s Heart was like drinking ice-cold cola on a scorching summer day — pure satisfaction beyond words.

The group hurried back to Las Noches.

Akira didn’t return with them — he had snuck out, and discovery would bring serious consequences.

Finding a deserted spot, he opened the Gates of the Sun and dove in.

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The Seventh Tower.

Two towering figures faced each other, their killing intent so thick it was almost tangible across the training grounds.

Spectators held their breath, watching intently as reishi flowed around the pair.

They had held this stance for some time. Neither showed any sign of fatigue, and even the onlookers remained riveted.

As seasoned Quincy, they knew well — when these two moved, it would be with lethal precision.

A gentle breeze swept across the training ground, lifting their hair…

Candice and Bambietta raised their Heilig Bogen in perfect unison, took aim, and released their bowstrings without hesitation.

Thunder danced and light exploded across the grounds, creating spectacular displays like blooming fireworks. The solid earth cracked beneath the assault, fissures spider-webbing in random patterns.

⤫ Donner Heilig Pfeil ⥤ Thunder Sacred Destruction Arrow! ⤬

⤫ Explosiv Heilig Pfeil ⥤ Explosive Sacred Destruction Arrow! ⤬

Two Heilig Pfeil containing different powers collided at the center of the training ground.

The dim sky darkened momentarily as waves of heat swept across the field, raising the temperature of the surrounding air.

The collision’s aftershocks sent both figures flying backward. Their expressions remained determined, showing no sign of surrender. After a brief respite, they simultaneously gathered Reishi from the air, forming new Heilig Pfeil, and then…

FIRE!

Two arrows — one blue, one red — spiraled through the air toward each other, their piercing sound echoing across the training ground.

To their surprise, a pair of large hands caught both arrows precisely.

Akira crushed the Schrift-imbued Heilig Pfeil with slight force. The raging lightning and violent explosions left white marks on his palms, but before he could activate his healing circuits, the marks vanished on their own.

“Captain.”

“Lord Senju.”

Candice and Bambietta stood shoulder to shoulder like scolded schoolchildren, looking at him guiltily.

“No need for that — I’m quite lenient.” Akira said, patting their shoulders, “However, for unauthorized combat, I need a proper explanation. If the reason doesn’t satisfy me, don’t blame me for punishing you.”

The two exchanged awkward glances before Bambietta raised her hand.

“May we ask what the punishment would be?”

Akira: “?”

What was wrong with these two? Why did they seem eager at the mention of punishment?

He fell into contemplation.

After mediating, he learned they had gotten into conflict over an abstract question, which had escalated into trading arrows.

Finally, they posed their question directly to Akira, awaiting his answer.

“You’ve got good taste! Throughout the Invisible Empire, who doesn’t know that I, Hashirama Senju, surpass all Knights in wisdom, past and present.” He crossed his arms confidently, “Speak quickly, and watch me answer your question.”

Candice grinned mischievously, “Captain, we want to know… Who is your most loyal Knight?”

As the two looked at him eagerly, Akira replied without hesitation.

“Of course it’s Little Lefty.”

Candice and Bambietta: “?”

After a moment of confusion, both became furious.

Here they were with their shapely figures, full of youthful energy, yet in his eyes they weren’t even worth a spiritually awakened left hand?!

Bambietta immediately bristled, grabbing her Heilig Bogen and storming off toward the Sternritter quarters. The one who stole the Captain’s love absolutely couldn’t be allowed to exist in this world.

Candice watched her departing figure, considered for a moment, then decisively followed.

If they couldn’t have it, they would destroy it completely!

In that moment, the two formed an alliance.

Akira stroked his chin, making no move to stop them.

Having just received their Schrift, Candice and Bambietta were clearly in a phase of power inflation. After facing some hard lessons from reality, they would learn to settle down.

BG9 would show restraint for his sake.

Probably…

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The Third Tower, Deep Prison.

In the dim chamber, military boots echoed rhythmically against the ground. When the footsteps ceased, a shadow fell across what little light reached the prison cell.

Szayelaporro lifted his head, opened his eyes, and immediately perked up at seeing who had arrived.

Akira flashed him a grin.

“Yhwach asked me to relay a message — if you surrender to the Empire, you’ll gain immense power and witness the birth of the new world.”

Szayelaporro’s eyes flickered with interest as he considered the offer.

According to the script, this was when he should defect and surrender, joining the Wandenreich as an Arrancar and climbing step by step to become a Sternritter Knight.

“Sōton has already surrendered; you’re the only one left.” Akira left him with final words, “Think it over carefully. The Empire will treat you well.”

With that, he turned and left the deep prison.

The next day, after careful deliberation, Szayelaporro chose to surrender. Due to his special status, Jugram personally received him and shared some of the Quincy’s power with him.

As the next Emperor of the Wandenreich, he wielded considerable authority. While he couldn’t decide matters involving Yhwach independently, he could make direct decisions on everything else.

After Akira’s persuasion, he also recognized Hueco Mundo’s strategic importance in the future war. If the Shinigami realized this advantage and managed to win over all the Arrancar Hollows, the tide of war would inevitably turn in Soul Society’s favor.

For the establishment of the new world, such a small sacrifice was negligible. Jugram even promised that if Szayelaporro performed well, he could be granted the power of a Schrift.

Currently, the Sternritter had many vacancies and urgently needed talented individuals. Rather than cultivating new Knights from active soldiers, discovering powerful Arrancar from Hueco Mundo would be more advantageous.

Once granted power, their souls would be assimilated anyway. With their lives in His Majesty Yhwach’s hands — this double insurance meant neither Human nor Hollow would dare betray.

Jugram was confident in his plan.

As for Akira, after happily acquiring his new general Szayelaporro, he promptly handed over the training duties to him, mounted his steed Sōton, and secretly returned to Soul Society.

{T/N: I think this is the first time in my life that I read about a hamster knight. Maybe a reference to Hamlet?… Hamsterlet? You get it.}

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“Master!”

The disciple’s clamor from the barracks instantly ruined the calligraphy piece Genryūsai had just finished.

The old man’s blood pressure shot up, and he pulled Ryūjin Jakka from under the tea stove as he headed outside. If he didn’t beat his disciple until his face bloomed like peach blossoms today, he wouldn’t be worthy of the name Genryūsai!

But when he arrived outside the tea house, the sight before him left him shocked, his old eyes widening in disbelief.

“Boy, what is this?!”

Akira sat proudly atop Sōton, rubbed his nose, and said mockingly, “Master, your eyesight really is failing with age. Such an obvious Hollow — do I really need to introduce it to you? In my opinion, while you’re not yet senile, you might as well retire from the Captain-Commander position early and enjoy your golden years.”

Genryūsai’s breath caught, his eyes narrowing with anger.

In just a few days apart, someone’s ability to push boundaries had improved yet again. He had killed more Hollows in his lifetime than his disciple had probably ever seen.

“You fool, are you in your right mind?! What I mean is, why did you bring this Hollow into Soul Society?!” He roared, showing signs of wanting to draw his sword and slash his disciple in anger.

If he hadn’t previously guessed that someone was stirring up trouble in Hueco Mundo, he might have already concluded that this kid had betrayed Soul Society and become Las Noches’s lapdog.

Akira stood on the big hamster’s head, performed a perfect 360-degree aerial rotation, and landed precisely in front of the old man.

“Times are changing, Master. Can’t Hollows and Shinigami coexist peacefully? Sōton, come, greet my master.”

Under Genryūsai’s astonished gaze, Sōton tremblingly moved its fat body, prostrating itself in an awkward posture, and respectfully stammered:

“C-Captain C-Commander, sir, may you live ten thousand years!”

Genryūsai: “…”

Like master, like student. This was definitely something that troublemaker taught.

Sōton felt the scorching aura emanating from the elder before it, cold sweat seeping relentlessly from its pores.

Though it had never heard of Genryūsai’s great name, as a Hollow, it possessed proper instincts. Even without the old man directing his Reiatsu at it, Sōton could sense the terrifyingly strong pressure that made Hollows suffocate.

Death itself lurked like a shadow!

“Alright, go play somewhere else.”

Noticing Genryūsai had something to discuss, Akira kicked Sōton’s bottom, signaling it to leave with Chōjirō.

Given permission, Sōton scrambled away from this frightening place. If it stayed any longer, it might die of fright.

Compared to the gentle and approachable God-King, this white-bearded old man was like a demon risen from hell — too terrifying for a Hollow.

“Boy, explain yourself.” Genryūsai said gravely, “What exactly did you do in Hueco Mundo? And why does this Hollow called Sōton have such a strange form? Besides Reiatsu, it barely shows any Hollow characteristics.”

Akira smiled and answered breezily, “Nothing much — just took over Las Noches, became the God-King of Hueco Mundo, gathered countless elite troops, ready to sound the horn of war against Soul Society at any time. As for Sōton, it’s an Arrancar.”

Genryūsai’s heart skipped a beat.

As a sage who had lived for thousands of years, he wasn’t unfamiliar with the concept of Arrancar.

Legend held that when Hollows broke the masks that symbolized their identity, they would gain unprecedented power — enough to easily destroy the world.

But wasn’t that merely a legend?

He looked at his foolish disciple skeptically, “Where did you find an Arrancar?”

Hearing this, Akira puffed out his chest, “Naturally, I used my world-shocking wisdom to research and create it. Using Shinigami power to break the Hollow’s soul boundaries, and that was that!”

Completely meaningless drivel.

Genryūsai glared at him irritably.

World-shocking wisdom? You kid, is there anything in your head besides muscle?

With you around, Soul Society’s average IQ must drop several points!

Though somewhat begrudgingly, the old man still made a rough judgment based on his rich life experience and understanding of his disciple. Without a doubt, this Arrancar must have been researched by his Lieutenant Kisuke.

Given that this kid had already risen to become the second-in-command of the Wandenreich, a mere Arrancar Hollow wasn’t particularly significant.

Besides, judging from Sōton’s appearance, it was clearly quite weak. It posed no threat to Soul Society, so Genryūsai decided to simply view it as his disciple’s pet.

Genryūsai shook his head, choosing not to press the issue further.

As for the claims about Las Noches and being God-King of Hueco Mundo, he dismissed them as his disciple’s usual exaggeration.

He had encountered Baraggan personally. With time-manipulation powers that could decay even Ryūjin Jakka’s flames, Baraggan was terrifyingly powerful. After thousands of years, he must have grown even more formidable.

Though Akira was undoubtedly strong, the idea of him becoming God-King of Hueco Mundo seemed far too improbable.

Genryūsai lowered his gaze, catching his disciple attempting to pilfer his roasted sweet potatoes.

“You’ve been spending all this time with the Wandenreich — have you been neglecting your daily training?”

Akira looked up with a blank expression, “What training?”

Genryūsai: “?”

His anger flared up!

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep