CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99: THE SECRET OF THE REISHI SHELL

Kirinji Tenjirō’s improved The Spirit-Converging Pill worked!

Nanatsuki let out a breath of relief.

Batsu’unsai’s Reiatsu had stabilized.

"You there, kid—where did you learn Kaido? The idea behind this The Spirit-Converging Pill is brilliant!" Kirinji Tenjirō exclaimed.

"My Kaido was taught by Captain Unohana," Nanatsuki replied.

"I only taught him the basics. Everything he’s achieved is due to his own effort," Unohana said with a gentle smile.

"Is that so? Looks like you’ve grown, Unohana—you can teach students like this now, huh?" Kirinji Tenjirō looked surprised, but then nodded. "Then I suppose we’re connected by lineage. Hahaha!"

After all, Kirinji Tenjirō had been Unohana Retsu’s Kaido teacher—so in a way, he and Katori Nanatsuki shared the same lineage.

Nanatsuki snuck a glance at Unohana and felt the killing intent lurking behind her seemingly kind smile.

Kirinji slung an arm around Nanatsuki’s shoulder and warned,

"Kid, Senjumaru has already linked Batsu’unsai’s Locks, Soul Sleep, and that Improved The Spirit-Converging Pill."

"Right now, the pill is essentially substituting for part of the Spiritual Pressure Core, giving Batsu’unsai the ability to hold Reiatsu again."

"I’ve also adjusted the pill’s release frequency—enough to sustain daily consumption. The stored Reiatsu can last her body several months."

"But the pill isn’t a real Spiritual Pressure Core. Batsu’unsai’s body can no longer produce Reiatsu on its own."

"Every three months, you’ll need to replenish the Reiatsu in the pill inside her."

Nanatsuki nodded.

"When I recharge her Reiatsu, should I still use the Spiritual Pressure Booster?"

"No need for that hassle," Kirinji said, wagging his index finger.

"I had you use the Spiritual Pressure Booster just now to quickly embed the Improved The Spirit-Converging Pill. In the future, you can take your time when recharging her."

"Still, let me give you the formula for the Spiritual Pressure Booster. I did learn how to make your pill, after all—hahaha!"

Kirinji took out a sheet of paper, wiped off the original text, and wrote down the formula.

"Thank you very much," Nanatsuki said as he accepted it. "Lord Kirinji, Lady Shutara—thank you both for saving Batsu’unsai!"

Kirinji patted his shoulder encouragingly.

"Kid, this pill is just a stopgap. She can’t fight in this state. You need to keep researching Kaido and find another way to repair her Spiritual Pressure Core!"

Compared to before, Batsu’unsai’s current condition had its upside—there was no longer a risk of the core deteriorating further. As long as Nanatsuki supplied Reiatsu, she could survive.

But fighting was out of the question. The pill’s output was fixed—just enough for basic upkeep.

If Nanatsuki wanted Batsu’unsai to fight again, he’d need to find another solution to restore her Spiritual Pressure Core.

With that worry set aside, other thoughts returned to Nanatsuki’s mind.

He recalled the sealed memories that had just resurfaced—memories hidden by Kidō—and the Datenshinkotsu.

He took out the Datenshinkotsu and turned to Shutara Senjumaru.

"This divine weapon... it was you who placed it near me, wasn’t it?"

He couldn’t understand why—if his body had been created solely to incubate a Spiritual Pressure Core for Batsu’unsai—he’d been given a divine weapon at all.

"I did," Shutara said offhandedly. "Just a tool for self-defense. Can you wield it now?"

Nanatsuki nodded.

But his doubts lingered.

If it was just for protection, why not give him a standard Asauchi?

Why give him a divine weapon that required Vice-Captain level Reiatsu just to activate?

"You can already use it?" Shutara’s lips curled slightly into an ambiguous smile.

"Then it’s yours. Keep using it."

With things settled, Shutara and Kirinji prepared to return to the Soul King Palace.

Nanatsuki brought Batsu’unsai back to the Katori-ryu Dojo to rest.

Just before leaving, Unohana suddenly asked Shutara:

"Shutara, last year I came across a Reishi Shell made from my own Reishi. What’s going on?"

That shell had even used her identity to sneak into Squad 4’s storage and swapped out the Hollow Poison she’d prepared for class demonstrations.

"You’re sure it was made from your Reishi?" Shutara was taken aback.

"After the Captain Replacement Project was terminated, I only made one shell—that was Batsu’unsai."

"I’m certain it was a shell. I even asked Kirio, and she didn’t know anything about it." Unohana frowned. "Could it be the nobles meddling again?"

In Soul Society, very few individuals or organizations had the ability to create Reishi Shells.

Since the Captain Replacement Project was shut down, all knowledge about making them had been sealed away in the Great Spirit Book Gallery.

Only individuals with the highest clearance—mainly captains or upper noble families—could access those records now.

"There are others making Reishi Shells of the captains?" Shutara frowned deeply.

"I’ll continue investigating," Unohana said before vanishing with a Shunpo.

"Someone’s making a shell of Unohana?" Kirinji stroked his chin. "But what’s the point?"

"The tech still has big flaws. Shells can’t grow," Shutara mused.

"Yeah—Nanatsuki’s an exception. Without the Soul King’s shadow sewn into him, he wouldn’t have developed like this," Kirinji said with a laugh.

"Indeed. Even if I tried to make another now, I couldn’t replicate Katori Nanatsuki," Shutara nodded.

"Say, Shutara—what do you think the Soul King’s true aim was? Creating a shell like this... giving him part of His shadow... handing him a divine weapon... It can’t have all been just to heal Batsu’unsai, can it?"

"Who knows?"

Three days later, Batsu’unsai finally woke up.

She opened her eyes and saw a familiar ceiling—her heart trembled in shock.

Did Shutara and Kirinji end up taking Nanatsuki’s Spiritual Pressure Core to save her after all?

"Nanatsuki!!!"