"Could you tell me where you came in from? Of course, only if you are willing to talk." A voice smooth as silk and fair face like a noblewoman, the slender black-haired woman with a gaudy headpiece stood in front of her, the numerous golden hands coming out of her white long-sleeved haori, worn over the traditional soul reaper garments.
She wasn't any normal soul reaper, the woman in front of her was part of the Royal Guard, the elite division made to protect the palace of the Soul King. The Grand Weave Guard, Shutara Senjumaru.
Yet, Unohana didn't feel any sense of danger from her spiritual pressure, in a way it felt comfortable, like she was right at home.
"What if I am not willing to tell you?" Unohana said, making the woman smile.
"Then I'll have to be a little forceful." Shutara's voice came from behind her, with a quick turn Unohana unsheathed the katana and swung it at the woman, slicing two of her mechanical arms clean however she remained calm. "I do not like people who move when I work, it increases the chances of accidents."
Unohana smiled, however unlike the beautiful smile it should've been, a devil-like appearance was formed as her long hair slid down on her face narrowing one vision to the curved lips.
"Those are just excuses of the unskilled." Her grip on the sword tightened, at that moment the air started to shake, the ground rumbled and split in two as dark clouds covered the sun above.
'This…' Shutara knew of this phenomenon, it wasn't a natural change but something like an aftereffect from the release of power, and this wasn't the only realm that felt it.
"Oi, that's dangerous you know?" An old but powerful voice came, and Unohana felt something similar to hair touch her, looking down she saw the black ink covering her and the sword. "Can't we talk it out? No need to fight between fellow Shinigami."
The bald monk with a bushy beard, the leader of Squad Zero, Hyosube Ichibe smiled heartily.
"I wouldn't have done that if not for your unpleasant gazes." Unohana's eyes looked around, all four members of the Royal Guard were here, their purpose transparent.
"Hoho, it had been a long time since we saw a potential candidate, so we may have gone overboard." Ichibe's laugh was as fake as his excuse. "But this turned out to be a bigger surprise, your spiritual pressure has made quite the jump."
The Royal Guard caught wind of Unohana's rapid growth 150 years ago. They followed her afterward and saw her grow in the remote mountains, however, she vanished right under their nose. When she came back, her powers had risen to another level in that short instance.
"So, will you come with us or resist in vain?" Ichibe said, his black orb-like eyes digging into Unohana.
"My choice? Isn't that obvious?" Even when facing the royal guard with their spiritual pressures unfurled, she had not an ounce of fear.
'This pressure… it is like gentle shower compared to the storm I have felt from him.' Her blade itched to taste some blood, if things went sideways she had an escape plan. The card in her sleeve pocket was one she wouldn't have used before, but now she had a reason to.
"I see." Ichibe stood in front of her, the brush leaned on his shoulder like a spear.
His eyes looked empty, almost as if he wasn't even looking at a living being. The other three Royal guards felt the tension rising, each preparing for what was to come. Until the monk burst into laughter.
"I guess there is nothing we can do about that. You are free to go." The royal guards watched from the side, their faces devoid of expression at the sudden change.
"How boring." Unohana walked away, her spiritual pressure rushed into her zanpakuto to burn away the black ink that covering it and her hand.
The others only spoke after she was out of sight.
"Do you think that was a good idea?" Kirinji asked, Unohana was dangerous, even if he knew her before there was something different about her now.
"My bud didn't chu see? Her zanpakuto has evolved, Yo!" Oetsu hadn't seen an evolution of that type before. "Make her join the Royal Guard so we can keep a close eye on her, and have another cool baddie, yo!."
"I agree, when I tried to use my needles on her, I couldn't find even a tiny gap in her robe to insert it. The one who created such a robe, I want to meet them too." Senjumaru looked at the bent needle with a glint her eyes.
The Shihakusho that Unohana wore wasn't one she had seen before, such a cloth was impossible to make, no matter how tightly the fabric was woven there would always be room for the needle.
But this was Adam's handiwork, common sense wouldn't apply to it. Of course, Senjumaru had no idea about this right now.
The three had formed their opinions, Unohana Yachiru was too dangerous to be left without supervision. Her powers had eclipsed that of any Soul reapers in Seireitei and along with her unknown means to vanish in thin air, leaving her alone would only lead to a disaster given her nature. However, there was one thing to note.
"Her body… it has been reforged like ours." Ichibei dropped the bomb.
"Impossible. How could that have happened?" Kirinji found it bogus, but it had come from the leader of Squad Zero.
"Are you implying that she had met the soul king without our knowledge?" Senjumaru had a thin smile on her face, her real feelings hidden away.
"That's not possible, yo. Ain't no way she can get past us, especially the one and only O-et-su!" Oetsu's tone took a serious turn too.
"I haven't said anything about Soul King being the reason, now did I?" Ichibei's voice turned grave.
Could it be… someone else on the level of Soul King is out there? A face flashed before her face, but that outcome seemed unlikely.
"Let's go back, we need to hasten the preparations."
Squad Zero had no idea that they were dealing with a being beyond their world, one that would soon waltz through their doors thanks to their observation target. But that was for another day.
***
"Master, is the tea to your liking?" In the shop, Grayfia orbited Adam as the moon around the earth.
With sharp and smooth movements, she set up the table full of treats and kept the area clean. Her skills had leveled up to the point that people wouldn't even notice her movements.
"It is just what I needed." He said with a cup of matcha.
"I live for your praise, Master." There weren't better words she could hear as a maid from him.
'I am not saying that to keep her heart, her skills have seriously improved a lot.' Adam hadn't foreseen such an outcome. The reason became the shop system that he hadn't taken into account.
With the type of contract that bound them, the shop had connected Adam and Grayfia with a bond in more senses than one. Similar to a corridor it connected her existence to his, meaning if he dies she will too.
But it also connects her to his vast prowess and experience, making it easier for her to break free of the inherent and world-level limitations she had prior. She could walk down the roads he had paved and acquire the skills through it if they matched her body, this was the reward for her absolute loyalty. Grayfia was quite literally standing on the shoulders of a giant.
'Personally, this makes me happy. With this, she'd get stronger to defend herself, but I didn't want her life to be connected with me. What I want comes with risks of defying the Goddess, something that will end in death 99 out of 100 times.' Adam looked at the impassive face that had a small smile now.
"Is there something you need, Master?" Grayfia asked, ready to do anything for Adam.
"I was just thinking…" Placing the cup on the table, he stood up.
"Thinking?" Grayfia stood in place as he stepped closer, she flinched internally when his hand touched her shoulder.
"Just thinking about how high my luck is to have you here."
"..."
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