Jujutsu High.
Chu Yang was locked inside a room covered in curse inscriptions.
That description wasn't entirely accurate—he had walked in on his own.
Before Chu Yang entered, Gojo Satoru had exchanged a few words with the higher-ups of Jujutsu High.
"This room can't hold him. He's only cooperating to give you face. It's meaningless."
"In the entire jujutsu world, aside from me, no one can guarantee a win against him."
"So don't provoke him. You'll only make things more complicated."
The leader of the conservative faction—the principal of Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High School, Yoshinobu Gakuganji, an elderly man whose age was hard to guess—leaned on his cane and asked in a hoarse, heavy voice:
"Gojo Satoru, how do you guarantee he won't become an enemy of the jujutsu world?"
"He's eaten Sukuna's fingers. If he turns into something even more troublesome than Sukuna, what then?"
"Our goal is to solve the problem posed by this special-grade cursed object, not to create an even bigger one!"
Gojo swept his gaze across the room and smiled confidently.
"When that happens, I'll handle it."
At those words, the higher-ups—including Gakuganji—fell silent.
With that statement alone, there was nothing they could argue.
If a problem arose that even Gojo Satoru couldn't resolve, then there was no point in holding onto any hope at all.
The negotiations took far less time than Chu Yang had expected. Not long after, Gojo entered the inscription-filled room.
Chu Yang was sitting on a chair, legs crossed, half-asleep, completely unconcerned about his fate.
Gojo casually tossed six sealed Sukuna fingers at him.
"You sure you can handle these? Don't stuff yourself to death—I just finished hyping you up to those old guys."
There were twenty Sukuna fingers scattered across the world. Jujutsu High had sealed away six of them, and after some maneuvering, Gojo had brought all six to Chu Yang.
Gojo had his own selfish motives.
He was dying to see just how strong Chu Yang would become after swallowing all of Sukuna's fingers.
It would surely be an unprecedented opponent.
What Gojo didn't understand was how Chu Yang's strength grew—not linearly, but exponentially.
Every version of Chu Yang across different worlds improved just a little, and together, those gains stacked into a complete transformation.
The Nine Yin Manual, Nine Yang Divine Art, Dugu Nine Swords…
Fengdu and Tianque, the two Zanpakutō forged from countless aspects of Chu Yang, so powerful that they had directly completed the Hōgyoku.
The swordsmanship insights and breathing techniques of Demon Slayer Chu Yang.
The constantly refined Ōtsutsuki bloodline of Naruto-world Chu Yang.
The Haoshoku Haki approaching Emperor-tier from Pirate-world Chu Yang.
And Magic-world and Marvel-world Chu Yang, who were actively integrating all spell-based systems into a unified framework.
With this level of support, Chu Yang didn't believe he would lose to Gojo Satoru.
Taking the fingers from Gojo, Chu Yang calmly peeled away the curse seals, the sensation like stripping candy wrappers.
"I suggest you slow down—don't eat them all at—"
Before Gojo could finish, Chu Yang dumped all six fingers into his mouth and reminded himself to swallow.
"You have no idea how disgusting these things taste…"
Better short pain than long pain. Chu Yang had no intention of savoring something this vile.
Just like swallowing bitter medicine as a child.
The moment the six fingers entered his stomach, his consciousness plunged uncontrollably into chaos.
When he opened his eyes again—
Sukuna sat high upon a throne.
Corpses littered the ground.
Sukuna propped his chin on one hand, lounging lazily with one leg crossed over the other.
"Just you this time?"
Cold light flashed in Sukuna's eyes.
"I'm surprised too."
Chu Yang had expected the Soul Palace to appear again, but instead, he'd been dragged directly into Sukuna's domain.
It seemed the Soul Palace appeared on a whim—Sukuna's fingers were only a trigger.
Sukuna slowly stood up.
Killing intent surged like a broken dam, flooding toward Chu Yang.
Chu Yang stood calmly at the center of the storm and summoned Susanoo.
The humanoid avatar enveloped him as Armament Haki coated its entire form.
"Another technique I've never seen," Sukuna said, narrowing his eyes. "You really do know a lot of tricks."
He formed hand seals.
"Malevolent Shrine."
Within his innate domain, Sukuna unleashed terrifying slashes—Cleave and Dismantle—capable of shredding anything infused with cursed energy.
Its destructive power rivaled even Gojo's Limitless.
But compared to Gojo's unpredictable spatial abilities, Sukuna's pure physical offense was easier for Chu Yang to handle.
Susanoo towered over the domain, nearly piercing its ceiling. Chu Yang could track Sukuna with ease.
Silver-white lines filled the air.
Slashes tearing through space.
Like a torrential downpour, they rained down upon Susanoo.
Sparks exploded as the slashes collided with Armament Haki.
The Haki was steadily worn down.
The remaining slashes were absorbed directly by Susanoo's body.
"…Huh?"
Sukuna's eyes widened.
Blocked?
For the first time in centuries, someone had stopped his slashes head-on.
Chu Yang was just as surprised—Sukuna's attacks were stronger than expected, capable of breaking through Armament Haki.
Susanoo drew a bow and loosed a massive chakra arrow.
Sukuna countered with another barrage, shredding it midair.
Then—
Susanoo vanished.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
It reappeared directly in front of Sukuna.
Sukuna's pupils shrank.
He'd assumed Susanoo's massive size meant it was slow.
He was wrong.
With three heads and six arms, Susanoo swung six chakra-forged greatswords in a furious storm.
Sukuna blurred, evading at near-teleportation speeds.
The space itself trembled, on the verge of collapse.
Sukuna clasped his hands together, shrinking his domain's range to amplify his slashes to the extreme.
White light flooded the world.
Susanoo was completely engulfed.
"HAHAHAHA!!!"
Sukuna laughed maniacally.
But—
"Sorry to ruin your mood, but isn't it a bit early to celebrate?"
Chu Yang stepped out of the smoke, completely unharmed, calmly forming seals.
Cursed energy poured out, constructing an unfamiliar domain.
"My turn."
"Domain Expansion!"
Sukuna's laughter froze.
Chu Yang's domain began swallowing his own.
"Corridor of Deathmatch!"
An endlessly looping corridor, head to tail.
Only when one party dies does the domain end.
No sorcerer—no matter the level—can forcibly see their way out.
Sukuna's expression darkened.
The oppressive force of the domain was terrifying.
Such a domain demanded extreme conditions from its user.
Like Toji Fushiguro's Heavenly Restriction—trading everything for overwhelming power.
Corridor of Deathmatch bound Chu Yang in a similar way.
Yet strangely, Malevolent Shrine grew even larger.
Uneasy, Sukuna launched another slash.
The strike tore open space itself, leaving a long, thin crack before vanishing.
Space rupture.
Something that once required full power.
"…My cursed energy has nearly doubled."
"This domain actually makes the enemy stronger?"
"What's the point of that?"
Sukuna frowned deeply. He didn't believe there were idiots in this world who would benefit others at their own expense.
Chu Yang threw a punch, shattering the silver-glinting slash.
Lightning erupted across his body.
The Breath of Origin surged at full power.
Faint starlight of sun and moon spilled from his breath.
More resilient than Susanoo itself was Chu Yang's physical body.
And the weapon in his hands was no longer a simple wooden sword, but two ancient blades of completely different colors.
Although he hadn't yet fully grasped the abilities of these two Zanpakutō, it didn't hinder him in the slightest from wielding them with sword techniques.
In this world, there were no weapons more powerful than these two ancient swords.
Just as the battle was about to erupt—
Sukuna finally couldn't hold back and asked a question.
"Why does your domain make me stronger?"
"And in exchange… what exactly do you gain?"
Facing Sukuna's question, Chu Yang smiled and answered with just one sentence.
"Corridor of Deathmatch—when it ends, the victor gains everything of the defeated."
Sukuna's pupils contracted sharply.
Holding Fengdu felt bone-chillingly cold. Chu Yang casually swung it, pale moonlight flowing like rippling water along the blade's edge.
"Anything else you want to say?" Chu Yang reminded him kindly. "Next time we meet, it'll probably be a long while."
Next time, he would gather all the fingers and completely strip Sukuna of every last trace of cursed power.
Sukuna sneered and silently raised both arms. Flames burst forth from his fingertips—no longer razor-sharp slashes.
Double my cursed energy?
Then go straight to hell!
Scorching heat flooded the air as Sukuna revealed another technique for the first time.
The temperature of the flames was terrifying.
Far beyond fire-style jutsu or Flame Breathing.
Even hotter than magma.
Sukuna snapped his fingers.
Firelight instantly illuminated the entire space, the bones beneath their feet turning to ash in the blink of an eye.
Even fully buffed, Chu Yang could still feel waves of searing pain.
Crimson flames gathered, tinged with gold as their temperature continued to rise.
Sukuna swept his hand as if grasping the sea of fire around him and hurled it toward Chu Yang.
The inferno surged forward.
Fengdu seemed to be provoked—the blade trembled violently, as if something was about to pour out.
Chu Yang didn't notice. He gripped both swords and unleashed the Second Form of the Breath of Origin.
Sunlight and moonlight intertwined, forming a massive rotating disc that blocked the raging flames.
The disc spun rapidly, dragging the inferno along as the radiance of sun and moon steadily ground it down.
"How does this guy have more techniques than me?" Sukuna muttered.
Many techniques were sealed within his shrine, but each required specific conditions to activate.
He hadn't yet returned to his peak and couldn't wield them freely.
To Sukuna, Chu Yang's techniques seemed to have no restrictions at all—something he simply couldn't comprehend.
"If this continues… I might lose."
Sukuna decided to gamble everything.
If the opponent had endless techniques, then he would choose close-quarters combat.
His physical abilities were among the very best in the entire jujutsu world.
At the peak of the clash between flames and the sun–moon disc, Sukuna vanished and reappeared behind Chu Yang, launching a surprise attack.
From behind, he drove a punch straight toward Chu Yang's heart.
The sound of tearing air reached Chu Yang's ears. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he swung both swords behind him, crossing them into a guard.
Sukuna's fist slammed into the point where the blades met.
Clang!
Sparks exploded everywhere.
The blades of Fengdu and Tianque sank slightly, but they stopped Sukuna's devastating punch.
Fengdu radiated icy cold.
A pale yellow, viscous liquid seeped from the black blade—as if flowing out from the river engraved along its surface.
The instant Sukuna touched that unknown liquid, a shocking cold surged violently into his body.
His vast, ocean-deep cursed energy began draining at an alarming rate.
Before long, even if Chu Yang didn't strike again, Sukuna would vanish simply from exhaustion.
Sukuna stared at Chu Yang in disbelief.
That sword in his hand was the bane of all curses—even sorcerers were suppressed by it!
This man could destroy the entire jujutsu world!
Chu Yang didn't notice Sukuna's expression. After blocking the attack, he pivoted smoothly and slashed toward Sukuna's neck.
Sukuna was half a beat too slow—his head was nearly severed.
Under normal circumstances, he would have healed instantly with Reverse Cursed Technique.
But now, he understood it was futile.
As long as Fengdu's suppression of cursed energy remained unresolved, healing himself would change nothing.
So for the second time in his life, Sukuna accepted death willingly.
His gaze was calm—no longer hysterical like before.
He looked straight at Chu Yang.
"Your wish… isn't it to destroy the entire jujutsu world?"
Hearing this, Chu Yang's lips curled into a strange smile.
"Who knows?"
Sukuna burst into excited laughter as his body gradually dissolved.
With the disappearance of Malevolent Shrine, Chu Yang's consciousness returned to reality.
Unfortunately, his strength hadn't increased much.
It wasn't because the domain had failed.
It was because Sukuna's state was special.
To truly defeat him in every sense, all the fingers would need to be gathered.
Even so—
Thanks to the effect of Corridor of Deathmatch, Chu Yang could now wield part of Malevolent Shrine's authority.
When he came back to his senses, he saw Gojo Satoru had already pulled down his blindfold, fully prepared for combat—even his hand seals were complete.
Throat dry, Chu Yang smiled.
"Senior, could you get me some water? That thing kind of got stuck in my throat."
Gojo put his blindfold back on and patted Chu Yang on the shoulder.
"Drink outside."
At the same time—
The Soul Society.
Chu Yang's Zanpakutō caused an enormous upheaval in Seireitei.
It even…
Alarmed the Royal Palace.
The guardians of Seireitei were the Gotei Thirteen.
Above them existed Squad Zero.
Also known as the Royal Guard, their duty was to protect the Royal Palace and safeguard the creator of the Soul Society—the Soul King.
There were five members of Squad Zero, each far surpassing captain-level strength.
Beyond raw power, there was another crucial requirement to join Squad Zero.
One had to create something of historic significance for the Soul Society—recognized by the Soul King as "shaping the history of the Soul Society."
Zanpakutō were created by one such individual.
Ōetsu Nimaiya.
The Third Officer of Squad Zero, the Western God General, titled the "Sword God."
All Zanpakutō prototypes—Asauchi—were forged by his hands alone.
The leader of Squad Zero, Ichibē Hyōsube, was the namer of all things in the Soul Society.
Bestowed the titles "Eye Monk" and "True Name Caller" by the Soul King, he possessed the authority to call forth true names.
The words "Zanpakutō," "Shikai," and "Bankai" were all named by him.
Every Zanpakutō's true name was known to Ichibē Hyōsube.
Except—
Chu Yang's two Zanpakutō.
After Fengdu and Tianque came into existence, two nameless Zanpakutō appeared in the Soul Society—something that had never happened in tens of thousands of years.
Ōetsu Nimaiya could sense their existence, but Ichibē Hyōsube could not perceive their names.
And so, Squad Zero—who would never interfere in matters outside the Royal Palace—appeared unannounced in Seireitei, before Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
As emissaries of the Soul King, their actions followed the Soul King's will.
Upon learning of the situation, Yamamoto's expression turned grave.
Such a seemingly minor "anomaly" often heralded earth-shattering upheaval in the future.
They summoned Chu Yang at once.
It was already late at night.
Most Shinigami should have been asleep.
But Squad Zero's arrival shook Seireitei—Ōetsu Nimaiya's and Ichibē Hyōsube's spiritual pressure blazed like twin suns in the dark.
No one could sleep.
Chu Yang couldn't either.
He stepped out of his room, gazing at the central palace of Seireitei, lost in thought.
He had a feeling this disturbance was connected to him.
After a long while—
Everything settled.
Two Shinigami captains appeared at Chu Yang's door.
Kyōraku Shunsui.
Ukitake Jūshirō.
The two most prized disciples of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni had come to escort him to meet Ōetsu Nimaiya and Ichibē Hyōsube.
"The Captain-Commander said it's just a few simple questions," Kyōraku said gently. "No need to be nervous."
Shunsui Kyōraku spoke up to reassure Chu Yang.
He had a fairly good impression of this young man—especially since Chu Yang had previously "stumbled into" ruining Aizen's scheme.
Jūshirō Ukitake, however, remained silent.
Anyone who could alarm Squad Zero… how could that possibly be a trivial matter?
This kid was almost certainly hiding some unspeakable secret.
The Soul Society had existed for countless years, yet cases like Chu Yang—entering Seireitei as a Ryoka and successfully becoming a Shinigami—were exceedingly rare.
Not to mention that he had managed to outplay someone as dangerous as Aizen.
There was no way such a person was harmless.
As they walked, Chu Yang had already more or less guessed the purpose of the Royal Palace's intervention.
It was almost certainly because of the two Zanpakutō—Fengdu and Tianque.
When the three arrived at the Central Palace, many Shinigami had already gathered there.
Rukia, who had just returned from a mission in the World of the Living, looked at Chu Yang with clear concern.
"What trouble did you cause this time?" she asked as she stepped up to him. Behind her stood Byakuya Kuchiki, the siblings staring straight at Chu Yang.
It looked like reproach, but in truth, they were questioning Kyōraku and Ukitake with their eyes.
Kyōraku glanced around, saw more and more Shinigami gathering, and immediately waved his hand to drive them away.
"It's nothing serious. The Captain-Commander just has a few questions for him. Anyone not involved—go patrol if you're on duty, rest if you're off. Disperse!"
As one of the longest-serving captains, Kyōraku carried immense authority. After a brief scolding, most Shinigami quickly left.
Only a small number of captains and vice-captains remained.
Retsu Unohana stepped forward and asked softly, "Captain Kyōraku… those two spiritual pressures just now, were they—"
Before she could finish, Kyōraku nodded solemnly.
Upon receiving confirmation, Unohana glanced at Chu Yang, surprise flashing across her face, before turning and leaving.
The others also understood from that exchange. In an instant, all eyes focused on Chu Yang.
Him again?
Rukia sensed the atmosphere turning strange and leaned toward Byakuya, whispering, "Brother?"
Byakuya replied succinctly, "The Royal Palace."
Rukia froze.
By the time she recovered, Kyōraku had already led Chu Yang far away.
Her gaze dimmed. Once the Royal Palace was involved, not even the entirety of Seireitei could help Chu Yang.
Chu Yang and the others arrived at Genryūsai Yamamoto's residence.
The Captain-Commander himself, Squad Zero's leader Ichibē Hyōsube, and the Zanpakutō creator Ōetsu Nimaiya were already waiting in the courtyard.
"Your Zanpakutō have awakened, haven't they?" Yamamoto asked.
Despite being built like a man who could punch a bull to death, Yamamoto insisted on leaning on a cane as he slowly approached Chu Yang. His weathered face was calm as still water, yet his words carried immense pressure.
Unlike other manifested Zanpakutō, Fengdu and Tianque resided within Chu Yang's soul.
With a single thought, the two blades appeared out of thin air, floating before him.
Terrifying spiritual pressure spilled from their blades—no weaker than the shockwaves caused earlier by Ichibē Hyōsube and Ōetsu Nimaiya's arrival.
Just as Yamamoto stepped forward to examine the Zanpakutō more closely, Ōetsu Nimaiya beat him to it, appearing before Fengdu and Tianque.
He gently reached out and stroked the blades, eyes filled with obsession, face intoxicated, as if gazing upon the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Absolutely… indescribable…"
Zanpakutō came in countless forms. Ancient sword styles weren't unheard of—but blades as exquisite and magnificent as Fengdu and Tianque were truly unprecedented.
Yamamoto cleared his throat, seemingly reminding Ōetsu Nimaiya to restrain himself—but the Sword God ignored him completely.
Like an overzealous fan meeting their idol.
"When did your Zanpakutō awaken?" Yamamoto asked.
"Not long ago," Chu Yang answered honestly.
Yamamoto frowned slightly. "Shikai?"
Chu Yang shook his head.
The situation with Fengdu and Tianque was extremely special. Although he knew their names, he had yet to complete their Shikai.
Yamamoto glanced at Ichibē Hyōsube, who gave a subtle nod.
Then—
To everyone's shock, the Captain-Commander slowly removed his upper garments, revealing a powerful, battle-hardened physique.
"For certain reasons, we need to understand your Zanpakutō," Yamamoto said.
"Since you haven't achieved Shikai yet, I'll help you."
Before Kyōraku and Ukitake could even react, Yamamoto had already launched an attack at Chu Yang.
At least the old man still had some sense of decorum—he didn't start with Ryūjin Jakka.
Instead, he used Hakuda—the Shinigami art of unarmed combat.
A vein-bulging fist tore through the night like lightning, robes snapping violently as Yamamoto threw a seemingly casual punch that made space itself tremble.
A spark ignited in Chu Yang's chest.
The Captain-Commander's domineering, unilateral approach made him deeply uncomfortable. Even knowing it was a test, Chu Yang felt the urge to respond in kind.
Lightning Armor, Conqueror's Haki, the Breath of Origin, Six Paths Mode, the Nine Yang Manual, Dragon Elephant Prajñā Skill—
Every strength-enhancing buff activated instantly.
If we're comparing Zanpakutō and spiritual pressure, I'm not your equal.
But if it's raw physical power—that's a different story.
Terrifying pressure erupted from Chu Yang as well.
He threw a plain, unadorned punch.
Their fists collided violently—
The ground beneath them was torn apart, and a heartbeat later, the entire courtyard was hurled into the air.
Yamamoto's pupils contracted, then his eyes lit up with delight.
Chu Yang's performance far exceeded his expectations.
This kid… is interesting.
The four observers retreated from the battlefield. After a moment of shock, Kyōraku quickly erected barriers around the area.
He feared their clash would cause massive destruction to Seireitei.
Everyone was caught completely off guard.
No one had expected such an explosion of force.
A newly appointed Shinigami—able to trade punches head-on with the Captain-Commander?
Who would believe it?
They had all assumed Chu Yang would be utterly overwhelmed.
"The energy fluctuations around him are strange," Ōetsu Nimaiya muttered, stroking his chin as he examined the chakra-like cloak around Chu Yang. "Massive physical enhancement. A new Kidō?"
"Something he created himself?" Ichibē Hyōsube was equally intrigued.
Kyōraku's expression was far more complex.
Setting Zanpakutō aside, Chu Yang's hand-to-hand combat alone already placed him firmly at captain level—and among the very top.
After Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen's departure, several captain seats were still vacant.
From today's display, this newly graduated Shinigami might soon fill one of them.
The brawl between Chu Yang and the old man continued.
Yamamoto grew increasingly excited, beginning to use advanced Hakuda techniques like Ikkotsu and Nikotsu.
He dared to strike harder because he realized Chu Yang's strength wasn't merely equal to his—
He wanted to see how much more this young man was hiding.
Meanwhile, Chu Yang discovered that the most effective technique against Yamamoto was Conqueror's Haki.
Haki coating was the defining line between emperors in the pirate world—a mark of true dominion.
And against beings like Shinigami, composed of highly condensed reishi, Conqueror's Haki had a unique suppressive effect.
Each time Yamamoto was struck by Haki coating, his movements noticeably stalled.
At a microscopic level, one could see the reishi in the impacted areas briefly dispersing before reforming.
In theory, if Chu Yang's Haki were strong enough, he could beat a Shinigami down into raw reishi.
But that was only theory.
In practice, it was nearly impossible.
Haki was finite—and once exhausted, it couldn't be used again for some time.
Even with its limitations, Conqueror's Haki coating was terrifying in real combat.
Against equally matched opponents, a single opening could decide everything.
Before Haki ran dry, it could force countless openings.
Like now.
The man known as the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years—Genryūsai Yamamoto—had begun to move stiffly and awkwardly after taking repeated Haki-coated blows.
To an outsider, he looked like a frail old man on the verge of death.
It was infuriating to watch.
"Yamamoto's being suppressed," Ichibē Hyōsube said, eyes lighting up with schadenfreude.
"Looks like it's time to get serious," Ōetsu Nimaiya said, anticipation flickering in his voice.
"Gentlemen," Kyōraku said with a troubled expression, "my barrier won't hold up against what comes next. This is Seireitei, after all. I'll need your help."
Ichibē Hyōsube nodded and reached into the void. A massive brush appeared in his hand.
With a single stroke, an even more powerful barrier enveloped the area.
Even so, the earlier clash had already alarmed the captains and vice-captains of the Gotei Thirteen—they were rushing over.
The first to arrive were Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana.
As they joined the spectators—
Yamamoto took a deep breath.
The cane he habitually leaned on transformed into a katana—deep purple hilt, oval guard, shaped like a flame burning at its absolute peak.
The moment the blade appeared, the atmosphere turned heavy. Everyone held their breath.
"I didn't expect that I'd need to draw my blade just to feel pressure from you," Yamamoto said gravely.
"Truly… the younger generation is formidable."
Genryūsai Yamamoto watched Chu Yang's youthful face and couldn't help but feel a trace of emotion.
"The Captain-Commander seems rather eager," Chu Yang said calmly. "Do you really need to see my Shikai right now?"
He tightened his grip on Fengdu and Tianque.An inexplicable tremor rose in his heart, as if something were about to break free from its shell.
From afar, Retsu Unohana asked in surprise, "This child… he's dual-wielding as well?"
Dual-blade Zanpakutō were exceedingly rare. Apart from Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, almost no one possessed such a form.
At the center of the battlefield, Genryūsai Yamamoto had already spoken the release command.
"All things in the universe, turn to ash—Ryūjin Jakka!"
The katana burst into roaring flames in an instant.A terrifying heat of six thousand degrees warped the very air.
"If this blade lands on you, your physique means you won't die," Yamamoto said gently, using the mildest tone imaginable. "But you'd best find a way to withstand it. The experience isn't pleasant."
Saying the most terrifying words in the calmest voice, Yamamoto swung his blade without mercy.
"Blazing Hell!"
Dozens of sky-piercing pillars of fire erupted from the ground, instantly incinerating the earth beneath Chu Yang's feet.
Ichibē Hyōsube immediately swept his massive brush through the air. With ink splashing across the void, the flames that broke through the barrier were forcibly extinguished, as if pinched out by an invisible hand.
The captains who had just arrived were struck dumb by the sight.
At the same time—
Chu Yang's face twisted in agony as his body was scorched by the searing heat. The strange throbbing in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
Then, at last, a voice echoed beside his ear.
The voice of Fengdu.
Human and blade—souls intertwining.
Chu Yang drove Fengdu straight into the blazing ground.
He threw his head back and roared:
"Huangquan!"
Yellow springs surged forth with bone-freezing cold and overwhelming resentment—from the void, from the depths of the earth, flooding outward in a frenzy.
Under the shocked gazes of Genryūsai Yamamoto and all who watched—
The flames that were said to burn everything were gradually extinguished by the devouring Huangquan.
For thousands of years, nothing had ever put out the fire of Ryūjin Jakka.
Until today.
Yamamoto stared at the charred black earth left behind as the flames faded, his expression complex.
Yellow springs flowed in every direction.
He had indeed expected Chu Yang to surprise him.He simply hadn't expected the surprise to be this overwhelming.
Among the assembled captains, only Kenpachi Zaraki studied Fengdu with naked interest. The others were pale with shock, struggling to believe what they had just witnessed.
"This water… what is it?"
"Six thousand degrees should vaporize any liquid. How could it extinguish the flames?"
"Did the Captain-Commander hold back?"
"Doesn't look like it."
"He seems just as shocked."
"When did this boy even awaken his Zanpakutō?"
Ōetsu Nimaiya bent down and scooped up some of the Huangquan flowing across the ground. After a moment, he said softly, "This water… it's constantly reducing my spiritual power."
Ichibē Hyōsube froze, then crouched and pressed his hand into the yellow springs as well.
The instant that terrifying cold surged into his body, he clearly felt the reishi within him diminishing.
Ichibē Hyōsube's pupils trembled violently.
This was not normal.
He had assumed this Zanpakutō merely countered Ryūjin Jakka.He hadn't expected it to be even more oppressive to spiritual beings themselves.
"'Huangquan'…" Ichibē murmured. "In a sense, that's a most ominous name for a Zanpakutō."
Everyone present had heard Chu Yang's roar, and so they took "Huangquan" to be the Zanpakutō's true name—unaware that it was merely one ability of Fengdu.
Had they known the truth, their expressions would have been even more spectacular.
Ichibē Hyōsube frowned deeply. The more ancient the Shinigami, the more reverence they held for ancient myths.
No one could say what the world was like before the Soul King created the Three Realms.
Even today, beyond the Three Realms, Hell still existed.
"I wonder what the Soul King's stance would be, if he knew of this," Ichibē said quietly.
Ōetsu Nimaiya's gaze never left Fengdu's jet-black blade. For a fleeting moment, an improper desire surfaced in his heart.
Such a special Zanpakutō…Perfect for a collection.
He took a deep breath, clarity returning to his eyes.
Having lived for untold ages, his greed lasted only an instant before reason reasserted itself.
"You've confirmed the Zanpakutō's name," Yamamoto said slowly. "That should be enough. It's time for you to return."
"The Soul King cannot be left unguarded."
At some point, Yamamoto had already sealed Ryūjin Jakka away, replacing it with his cane. He walked toward the two men, hunched once more, returning to the appearance of an ordinary old man.
Ichibē Hyōsube and Ōetsu Nimaiya exchanged a glance.
This was a clear dismissal.
Being drenched so thoroughly by a young upstart—even the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years would have trouble saving face.
Still—
No one believed Chu Yang was stronger than Genryūsai Yamamoto.
The title of "strongest Shinigami in a thousand years" was not an empty boast.
With their purpose fulfilled, the two had no reason to linger. The stability of the Royal Palace outweighed all else.
Before leaving, Ōetsu Nimaiya cast a long, meaningful glance at Tianque.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it…"
He couldn't shake the feeling that the two Zanpakutō each possessed their own true name. But the idea seemed too outrageous upon reflection.
Dual blades were rare—but a single person awakening two Zanpakutō?That had never happened before.
Only after their presence completely vanished did Yamamoto approach Chu Yang.
He was silent for a long moment, his gaze roaming over the young man.
"The Fifth Division captaincy has been vacant for far too long," Yamamoto finally said. "From now on, you will take the position."
The announcement stunned the captains present once again.
Under normal circumstances, there were only three ways to become a captain:
First, pass the captain's exam under the witness of three captains, including the Captain-Commander.Second, be jointly recommended by six captains and approved by at least three of the remaining six.Third, challenge the sitting captain before two hundred Shinigami—victory grants succession.
The First Division, the Captain-Commander's post, was even more special, requiring approval from Central 46.
A unilateral appointment like this—by Yamamoto's word alone—had never occurred in the history of the Soul Society.
Even so, after witnessing the battle, the captains could not deny that Chu Yang's combat strength had reached captain level.
"The Fifth Division… of all divisions, the one Aizen once commanded," many thought silently. "The Captain-Commander's choice is certainly… interesting."
The Third Division left by Gin Ichimaru and the Ninth Division left by Kaname Tōsen were also vacant, yet Yamamoto had chosen the Fifth Division for Chu Yang.
Judging purely by combat ability, the Third Division—focused on support—might have suited him better.
But with the decision already made, the other captains could only accept it and offer their congratulations.
With that, the matter came to an end. Thanks to Ichibē Hyōsube's barrier, only captains and a handful of vice-captains knew what had occurred that night.
On the way back, Chu Yang was led to a new residence—a secluded courtyard.
As a newly appointed captain, he could no longer remain in the dormitories with ordinary recruits.
Standing in the courtyard, Fengdu and Tianque circled him as if alive.
"Huangquan…" Chu Yang murmured.
"According to legend, to reach Fengdu, one must pass the Ghost Gate, the Road of Huangquan, the Naihe Bridge, and the Platform of Homeward Longing."
"If the abilities correspond one by one, then aside from Huangquan, Fengdu should still have three more abilities."
"Four abilities together would form its complete Shikai."
"And then… Bankai?"
"What would that look like, if this continues?"
As his thoughts wandered, Chu Yang turned his gaze to Tianque.
Fengdu's abilities were beginning to take shape—but this blade remained an enigma to him.
The next day.
On Chu Yang's very first day as a captain, the entire Gotei Thirteen was thrown into uproar.
Especially the new Shinigami who had graduated alongside him.
Such a promotion speed was unheard of since the Gotei Thirteen's founding.
No one knew why Chu Yang had been made captain by exception—but in their hearts, many simply could not accept it.
Those who refused to acknowledge him were everywhere.
In response—
Chu Yang took an uncompromising stance.
"According to the rules, anyone may challenge the sitting captain before two hundred Shinigami. Victory grants succession."
"I'm right here."
"If any of you want to be captain, come challenge me."
"Life and death are your own responsibility."
(End of Chapter)