After dealing with Muramasa and Koga, Shin returned to Seireitei.
Besides some loose ends from Zanpakuto rebellion, he had another very important matter to attend to.
Shin tallied the Points he had received from this incident: 450 points.
Added to his previous balance, he now had a total of 850 points.
The system hadn't issued any missions recently, so his acquisition of Points was clearly insufficient.
Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
After the captain's meeting, Shin and Mayuri came here together.
"I wonder what Nohara-san needs from me? Are you interested in my previous proposal?"
Shin always felt a bit unnerved by Mayuri's gaze, which was like looking at a specimen. He hadn't considered making a deal with Mayuri before, but now he was about to give in.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, do you have a Reishi converter here?"
"What does Nohara-san need such a thing for?"
Shin explained, "As a human, it's too inconvenient to eliminate Hollows in the Human World, but as a spirit, there are no such concerns."
"I see, I do have a Reishi converter here."
"But what do you plan to exchange for it?"
"A tube of my blood, how about that?"
Mayuri shook his head. "Not enough."
Shin gritted his teeth. "Then add a skin tissue sample. Anything more is out of the question."
"Deal. Nemu, go get a Reishi converter."
Mayuri readily agreed, turning to Nemu behind him.
"Yes, Mayuri-sama."
Soon, Nemu carried a half-human-sized machine to the two of them.
What a strong girl!
Nemu carrying this thing had a somewhat contrasting feel.
Shin had expected a small instrument, but it was quite large. However, he had his Yogasa, so it didn't matter. He stored the Reishi converter into his Yogasa in front of the two of them.
Mayuri watched the Reishi converter disappear. "Nohara-san seems to have many secrets."
"If you ask me, let me modify you. I guarantee it will enhance your strength."
Mayuri still wouldn't give up, blood was nowhere near as good as the real person.
Shin waved his hand in refusal. "Is that a proper modification? It's clearly an experiment, isn't it?"
Mayuri showed a mouthful of white teeth. "I promise it won't hurt."
"Forget it."
...
Dangai.
Shin and Soi Fon were passing through quickly, they didn't encounter the Kōtotsu.
Shin suggested, "Soi Fon, since we're going to the Human World this time, how about we buy some clothes?"
"Why buy clothes?"
The mention of buying clothes reminded Soi Fon of Suzumebachi's sharp tongue.
"Are my clothes unfashionable?"
Shin looked at Soi Fon, who was wearing a backless Shinigami uniform. "No, they're not. Suzumebachi probably meant you have too few clothes, and just rotate through Shinigami uniforms."
"In Soul Society, as Captain of the Second Division, I can't wear other clothes."
"That's why you should try more different things in the Human World."
Soi Fon pondered for a moment and didn't refuse. "Mm."
—
Nohara Residence's underground space.
Yoruichi and the other two were training.
Seeing Shin and Soi Fon return, Yoruichi greeted them, "Shin, Soi Fon, was everything resolved smoothly?"
"Mm."
Shin briefly explained the incident.
"That sounds interesting. I wish I had gone to play along."
The commotion in the Human World yesterday was huge. Even in the underground space, Yoruichi clearly sensed it.
Yoruichi looked at Soi Fon curiously. "Soi Fon, how's your Zanpakuto's materialized form?"
At the mention of Suzumebachi, Soi Fon almost couldn't keep her composure.
"Hehe. Suzumebachi is also very cute. She even complained that Soi Fon's clothes are too unfashionable." Shin mercilessly exposed Soi Fon's shortcomings.
Soi Fon glanced at Shin and elbowed him in the waist.
"Ouch!"
Shin crouched down, holding his waist.
"Hahahahaha! Soi Fon, you really should try some different clothes. I'll pick them out for you then."
After laughing, Yoruichi scrutinized the two of them, feeling that the atmosphere between them was somehow different.
"Did something happen between you two? Soi Fon-chan has grown up too."
"Yoruichi-sama..."
Soi Fon's face turned red from Yoruichi's teasing.
"I'm not. I didn't. What are you talking about?" Shin immediately denied all three points.
He had only given Soi Fon a princess carry, nothing else had happened.
—
Shin looked at Orihime and Chad, who were training. "How's their training going?"
Seeing him get down to business, Yoruichi sobered up. "Chad's Right Arm of the Giant has evolved to a higher level, he can now use a protective shield."
"Orihime can now skillfully use 'Tsubaki' for offense, her attack power has increased, and her healing speed has also improved significantly. Her 'Santen Kesshun' can now block Kidōs upto number 30."
Shin smiled upon hearing this. "As expected of Yoruichi, the training results are remarkable."
...
Abandoned parking lot underground space.
After several days of Reiatsu endurance tests, Ichigo's Hollowfication training was nearing its end.
Inside the barrier, the seven members of the Visoreds took turns fighting the Hollowfied Ichigo.
At this moment, Ichigo's Hollowfication was vastly different from before. The complete mask now had several more red markings, his body had taken on the appearance of a Hollow, with a Hollow hole in his chest and a tail growing behind him.
If Ichigo couldn't defeat the inner Hollow within the time limit, he would be completely consumed by the Hollow.
In his inner world, Ichigo confronted Hollow Ichigo.
Ichigo glanced around with his peripheral vision. "Where's old man Zangetsu?"
"I am Zangetsu." White Ichigo slashed at Ichigo, sending him flying.
"Ichigo, whether you understand it or not, Zangetsu and I are one. I am also a part of Zangetsu."
"If my power increases, control will fall into my hands, and Zangetsu will become a part of me."
Ichigo thought he understood. "Is that so? So if I defeat you, old man Zangetsu will regain his dominant position, right?"
"You? Defeat me? Impossible."
"Is that so?"
Saying that, Ichigo prepared to activate Bankai. But White Ichigo on the opposite side also assumed the same stance.
"Bankai"
Ichigo, clad in black with a black sword, and White Ichigo, clad in white with a white sword.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
A black and a white slash met, instantly causing a huge explosion.
Ichigo opened his eyes, only to find himself in Soul Society, and his opponent had become Byakuya.
"Is it an illusion?"
After he defeated Byakuya again, the scene changed, and his opponent became Zaraki. Once Zaraki fell, Ichigo finally returned to his inner world.
"It seems your fighting spirit hasn't completely vanished."
White Ichigo asked, "Ichigo, I ask you, what is the difference between a 'king' and a 'horse'?"
Ichigo didn't understand. "What?"
"Whether it's posture, ability, or power, if there are two identical beings, one acting as the king to dominate the battle, and the other as a horse to add combat strength, what is the difference?"
Without waiting for Ichigo's reply, White Ichigo answered his own question, "There is only one answer, and that is instinct."
"So, Ichigo, what do you want to become?"
Ichigo remembered what Shin had said about 'becoming your own king.' Was this what he meant?
"Of course, I want to become the king."
"A good answer. But you don't have the instinct to be a king."
White Ichigo spun his sword. "You fight with reason, you think with reason about how to defeat your enemies, you want to use your sword but still keep it sheathed. Who can you possibly cut?"
White Ichigo threw his sword, embedding it in Ichigo's abdomen.
Ichigo gripped the hilt of the sword, and in his mind, the words "fear," "become your own king," "grow stronger," "instinct," "battle" constantly echoed.
The next moment, White Ichigo's sword gradually turned black.
Ichigo picked up the black Tensa Zangetsu and, under White Ichigo's horrified gaze, plunged the sword into his chest.
White Ichigo slowly disappeared. "Since you've defeated me, I'll temporarily acknowledge you as king. But don't forget, the king and the horse can always swap places. Be careful not to die."
In the underground space, as Ichigo defeated his inner Hollow, his Hollowfication stopped. The berserk form vanished, leaving behind a complete mask.