Chapter 410

2-in-1 chapter:

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Even though at that time he had been completely under the will of Hell’s control, the memories could still be retained.

Back then, it was precisely this mysterious shadow ability that had stopped his Bankai.

With Kuruyashiki Kenpachi in tow, Kaelith passed through the shadow corridor, arriving in a mysterious room.

As they stepped inside, Kuruyashiki showed a somewhat confused expression.

This was a room resembling a laboratory.

Against the far wall, there was a large tank.

Azashiro Sōya’s body was immersed inside.

Kaelith walked over to the control panel, frowning slightly, his face thoughtful.

He tried reaching out to activate the console, wanting to do something.

Suddenly, a voice sounded—

[User detected: Kaelith… switching operation mode.]

[Hello, I am the voice-operated system. How may I assist you?]

[Please state your request in a simple, clear sentence~]

[For example: open the mini-game interface, play a certain movie, call Urahara Kisuke, etc…]

Kaelith’s eyes lit up.

Impressive, Sōsuke—when had he set this up?

And it seemed to have been designed specifically for him?

After a brief pause, he smiled smugly.

So that’s it—Sōsuke must have finally recognized his research potential and wanted him to help test the latest tech.

Kuruyashiki watched from the side, observing this scene.

Although he didn’t know who had created this system, he had to admit: this was someone who understood Captain Kaelith very well.

Just now, when Kaelith approached the console, he thought Azashiro Sōya was done for…

Kaelith cleared his throat:

“Awaken Azashiro Sōya.”

[Verifying permissions…]

[Permission level: Class-A, operation permitted!]

[Executing awakening protocol…]

[Awakening complete. Thank you for using this service!]

With the system’s announcement, Azashiro Sōya slowly opened his eyes inside the tank.

He frowned slightly at the scene before him.

“Kaelith and Captain Kuruyashiki standing together…? What kind of dream is this?”

After a moment’s doubt, he prepared to close his eyes again.

Suddenly, with a loud bang from the glass tank, his eyes flew wide open.

In his confused gaze, Kuruyashiki approached the tank, pressing both arms against it.

“What’s going on… Azashiro, what is this?”

Although he didn’t know why Kuruyashiki could speak so clearly in this “dream,” Azashiro Sōya answered honestly:

“I violated the law and was sentenced by the Central 46 to imprisonment. I can’t leave this tank.”

“Central 46?”

Kuruyashiki looked surprised.

Under his gaze, Azashiro Sōya spoke in a calm tone and pace, recounting everything that had happened since he became a captain.

The implementation—and cancellation—of the Silent World Project.

The Central 46’s judgment.

The will from the Zero Division.

Imprisonment in Muken.

He even described his subsequent plan to sever the prefrontal cortex of all humanity.

After hearing Azashiro Sōya’s story, Kuruyashiki frowned in thought.

“So that’s it… eliminating all Hollows from the world, that was your aim.”

“No wonder, back when I accepted your challenge, I felt you seemed to be chasing after some distant, painful ideal.”

“So this was the truth…”

Looking at Kuruyashiki standing clearly before him, Azashiro Sōya seemed to suddenly realize something.

His eyes widened in shock:

“You… are you really Captain Kuruyashiki?”

Kuruyashiki Kenpachilooked back at him:

“Oh, absolutely genuine!”

Azashiro Sōya stared wide-eyed, for a moment unable to accept this reality.

After a brief daze, he bowed his head to Kuruyashiki:

“Forgive me, Captain Kuruyashiki, for the methods I used against you.”

Though he didn’t understand how the dead could return to life and appear before him, after all he had seen with Aizen and Kaelith, he now understood: before these two, nothing was impossible.

“If it weren’t for me, you would have…”

“My situation stopped mattering long ago.”

Kuruyashiki shook his head, interrupting him.

Under the other’s surprised gaze, he smiled:

“Azashiro, you are the man who defeated me fair and square and inherited the name of Kenpachi.”

“Though your thinking may have been extreme, I can feel that everything you did was for Seireitei, for Soul Society.”

“If so, then you did not betray the meaning of ‘Gotei’.”

“Rather than drowning in guilt and regret, you should think carefully about what you should do next.”

“I forgive you, Azashiro.”

“And you… should come to terms with yourself.”

He gradually retracted his smile, face turning serious.

“Azashiro, Soul Society is facing calamity.”

“I wished I could have defended Seireitei through this catastrophe.”

“Unfortunately, I can no longer do it.”

“But—you still can.”

“Decide what you should do, what path you should walk!”

“Unlike me, you still have a future.”

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On the way back, Kaelith looked curiously at Kuruyashiki.

“Those words just now… you already know your situation?”

Kuruyashiki smiled and nodded:

“Mm, Lord Aizen already explained our situation, our fate, very clearly.”

Thinking back on Aizen lecturing all the former jailers of Hell, Kuruyashiki felt some emotion.

That man must not have wanted to leave all the burden to Kaelith alone—that’s why he stepped forward and shouldered it.

He looked toward Kaelith.

“Captain Kaelith… truly has a very good friend.”

At these words, Kaelith showed a proud expression:

“Of course. My Sōsuke is invincible!”

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In the days that followed, Kaelith remained active in Hell.

During the process of transforming Hell, he discovered a unique use for it.

The miasma of Hell caused Shinigami severe pressure and discomfort.

Hell’s reishi also made it difficult for Shinigami to act.

In that case, with some modifications, couldn’t this be turned into a training ground like the monk’s Trial Path in the Royal Palace?

At this thought, Kaelith couldn’t help but sigh.

He really was a damn genius!

With Aizen’s help, it took less than a week for the first batch of training programs to launch!

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Recently, Hell had become the training ground for Soul Society.

Large numbers of Shinigami passed through the special channels built by the Sarunomiya clan, arriving in Hell to train.

Most Shinigami had no sense of time.

They were like elves from fantasy stories: long-lived, prone to slacking.

In the original work, before Aizen’s defection, captains would go decades or centuries without any noticeable growth.

After Aizen’s defection, within a single year, their strength changed dramatically.

And the Thousand-Year Blood War arc—no need to mention it—after being harshly taught by the Quincy, the Shinigami’s strength increased significantly in just a few days.

What Kaelith was doing now was using forceful methods to stir the enthusiasm of these slackers.

And as for how to motivate them…

Looking down at the training grounds, Kaelith grinned.

In Hell, the intense miasma and special spiritual pressure caused all Shinigami to experience severe pain.

At this moment, everyone he had brought was being sorted into different training arenas based on their spiritual pressure levels.

The arenas were covered with massive transparent domes that kept out Hell’s miasma.

Depending on the strength of the Shinigami inside, the domes would open to different degrees, letting in just enough miasma to exceed what they could comfortably endure.

If they didn’t want to be overwhelmed by the miasma and humiliated in front of everyone, they had to push themselves and break through their limits.

All Shinigami were among the elite of ordinary souls, one in ten thousand.

Even if they were cannon fodder during major events, no one wanted to be the weak link dragging the team down!

Right now, every Shinigami participating in training was gritting their teeth inside those domes, squeezing out every last bit of their spiritual pressure to resist the force of Hell.

Near Kaelith, several Sarunomiya clan Shinigami showed subtle expressions.

For a million years, they had been responsible for overseeing Hell.

But even they, who had dealt with Hell countless times, still faced unpredictable dangers whenever they entered.

Yet this Captain Kaelith—not only did he not avoid Hell, he turned it into a training ground.

Did this man have any respect for such a deadly environment?

They wanted to complain, but they had to admit: they were very pleased with this turn of events.

Hell was now more observable than ever.

With large numbers of Shinigami stationed here, any unusual developments could be detected far earlier than before.

When it came to a realm as unknown as Hell, timing could determine whether a crisis could be resolved.

Toward Kaelith, the man who had personally ended the era of the nobility, the Sarunomiya clan felt no hatred at all—in fact, their favorability toward him was rising steadily.

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The powerful souls that Kaelith had rescued from Hell, after a simple sorting and review, were mostly forcibly dismantled and sent for reincarnation.

A small number, deemed worth keeping, were assigned to various departments to make use of their remaining value.

Those skilled in teaching were sent to Shin’ō Academy.

Those adept at research were sent to assist at Kaelith’s Technical Bureau.

Those good at administration were sent to help the council.

Eventually, as time passed, these warriors too began to encounter situations similar to that of Shigekuni Yamamoto’s old friend Batsu'unsai Katori.

On a sunny afternoon, the guards of Hell all gathered atop a picturesque hill in the Rukongai.

Here, they would take one last look at the Soul Society they had loved before undergoing Kaelith’s reiryoku purification procedure and entering reincarnation.

They did not fear reincarnation.

In fact, compared to serving as guards of Hell, reincarnation was a supreme happiness.

Yet even so, understanding this truth didn’t lessen the pressure of relinquishing hundreds, even thousands of years of memories to become someone entirely new.

Many arrived here with complex feelings.

But when they reached the hilltop, everyone froze.

At some unknown point, a huge crowd had gathered.

Kaelith, Yamamoto Shigekuni, captains from all divisions…

A great many Shinigami.

Even many ordinary souls were present.

Everyone sat directly on the ground, with food and drink laid out before them.

Seeing them arrive, Kaelith grinned broadly and raised his hand:

“Yo! Seniors! You’ve all worked hard these days!”

“At last, the time has come to send you off!”

The crowd: “……”

Kaelith lifted his sake bowl and let out a hearty laugh:

“Come on! Raise your cups! Eat your fill!”

“The banquet begins!!”

Seeing Kaelith laugh heartily, the crowd exchanged glances, all showing wry smiles.

Even though many of them, due to memory erosion, no longer had clear minds… what did a banquet require of the mind anyway?

Amid cheerful laughter, these Shinigami joined the feast.

Kaelith carried a large sake jar on his back, sake bowl in hand, toasting and drinking with each one in turn, singing loudly.

As he drank, whenever he encountered someone who had fully lost consciousness, he would smile, reach out, purify them, and send them into reincarnation.

Gradually, the guards of Hell all transformed into shining particles of light, scattering into the sky.

The captains of the original Thirteen Court Guard Squads gathered around Yamamoto and Unohana, smiling as they offered their blessings and drank their final cups.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi roared loudly, offering his final encouragement to the members of the Eleventh Division.

At last, as Kaelith lowered his hand one final time, all the dead had entered the cycle of reincarnation.

Kyōraku Shunsui, sake bowl in hand, looked up at the sky.

There, blue particles of light gathered into a luminous river, swirling and flowing above the banquet.

In the end, these souls, united once more, surged into the sky and vanished.

He raised his hand and gently lowered his bamboo hat.

A single flower petal drifted down from above, falling gently into his bowl.

From this moment onward, the long-standing entanglement between the captains and Hell formally ended.

A new era had arrived.

He looked toward Kaelith, who stood among the crowd, exchanging banter with Yamada Kiyosuke, a smile rising at the corner of his lips.

Yes, this new era’s name was Yurei.

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Note: This is probably my favorite chapter. By the way, here is an explanation as to why it was named Yurei.

The name "Yurei" means "ghost" in Japanese, but not in the Western sense of something horrifying. It reflects a quiet, lingering presence. The name was chosen for the new era to honor those who came before—souls who have passed on, but whose memories, sacrifices, and legacies still resonate in the world they shaped.

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