After a week.
Soul Society, Seireitei.
In the main hall of the 1st Division, Yamamoto sat in his usual seat while Ren and Ichigo stood before him.
Beside him stood a man dressed rather oddly compared to the others, but his presence made it clear he was no ordinary person.
Yamamoto spoke in a formal tone:
"Kurosaki Ichigo, Kurosaki Ren… The creation of a custom Asauchi for both of you has been approved. It has also been decided that you will receive training under the supervision of the Royal Guard for a certain period of time."
Ren didn't show much of a reaction except for a slight nod.
Ichigo, however, raised his head slightly, clearly not expecting the decision to be made so quickly.
Yamamoto continued as he motioned to the man beside him:
"This is Nimaiya Ōetsu, the inventor of the Zanpakutō and Asauchi, and a member of the Royal Guard."
Nimaiya lifted his hand in a casual greeting:
"Yo~! Looks like I'll be responsible for you two from now on."
Ichigo responded with a slightly surprised look, while Ren simply observed in silence.
Yamamoto said:
"You will depart with him right after this meeting. Prepare yourselves… the path to the Royal Guard is not merely a privilege."
Both nodded in affirmation.
Nimaiya turned as he added lightly:
"Alright, follow me. We've got a lot of work to do."
...
"So, why are we at the Shiba Estate?" Ichigo asked in confusion as he noticed the familiar long metal cannon that he once used to break into Seireitei.
"We'll be using the Kakaku Taihō to launch the Tenchūren back to the Soul King Palace," Nimaiya answered nonchalantly as he stepped into the Tenchūren, which was already loaded into the cannon.
"Well then, take care of yourselves up there," Kūkaku waved at them cheerfully before the doors were shut. Flames burst from her artificial arm as she slammed her fist onto the ground.
Boom!
With the thunderous sound of explosive gunpowder, the area filled with white smoke as the Tenchūren was fired into the sky at tremendous speed.
"So, why are Rukia and the others here too?" Ren cast a glance toward Rukia, Renji, Suì-Fēng, and the other three beside them before turning back to Nimaiya.
"..." Nimaiya gave Ichigo a quick glance before looking back at Ren. "They're here for training too. We've discovered their potential, so it's best we train them properly.'
Nimaiya's way of speaking was strange—like it had a rap rhythm to it, mixing Japanese and English words, and even reversing some of them.
"I see…" Although Nimaiya didn't reveal the full truth, Ren understood they were preparing them for an invasion of the Shadow Dimension beneath Seireitei.
"Once your true Zanpakutō is forged, you'll train under the Royal Guard for about a month, in preparation for facing Aizen and his army, as well as other factions stirring up trouble," Nimaiya added, as this was also one of the reasons Suì-Fēng and the others were there.
Ren didn't say much. Although the Royal Guard's training wouldn't offer him much in terms of power, he could still gain valuable combat experience by fighting them—which was what he lacked the most, especially after learning the true name of his Zanpakutō, which had multiplied his power several times. Combat was the best way to get used to that power and master it.
He didn't mind; in fact, fighting the Royal Guard would be extremely beneficial to him. Still, he remained cautious, especially after Yoruichi had warned them about the man known as Hyōsube Ichibe'e.
Soul King Palace.
The Soul King Palace consists of several layers, each suspended above the other. The lowest level is composed of many buildings in the same style as Seireitei. From there, a large stairway leads upwards to a wide and flat expanse, with both the base and top of the stairs lined with rows of massive circular pillars. Floating above are five discs, each with numerous buildings, and suspended even higher is a large cylindrical structure with conical top and bottom.
Upon reaching the white passageway surrounded by pillars on both sides, everyone stopped, gazing around in curiosity—it was their first time arriving at the Soul King Palace.
"Welcome to the Soul King Palace," a cheerful, deep voice rang out, as four other figures appeared alongside Nimaiya, who had guided them here.
They were none other than the Royal Guard, led by Hyōsube Ichibe'e, the monk-like figure with a terrifying presence.
Upon seeing the arrivals, several of the Royal Guard began making lively noises, teasing Ichigo and the others playfully.
Ren, however, stood to the side, staring at a beautiful woman—a slender and youthful figure with fair skin and long, black hair adorned at the back with a large golden crescent ornament, radiating fine lines. She wore the standard Shinigami shihakushō beneath a long-sleeved white haori, and another white robe clasped near her chest. She was the shortest among the Zero Division, but wore extremely thick-soled okobo. Six long, golden skeletal artificial arms extended from her back, replacing her physical hands.
For Ren, it was better to enjoy this beauty than join the unnecessary noise caused by the others.
"Is there something on my face?" a refined yet gentle voice suddenly spoke beside him. The beautiful woman was now standing next to him, staring at him with polite curiosity.
"No, but I'm simply the type who enjoys looking at beauty while it lasts," Ren responded calmly, unbothered by her sudden appearance. "By the way, my name is Kurosaki Ren. And you are?"
"Shutara Senjumaru…" the woman replied softly, her phoenix-like eyes observing him with transparent curiosity.
"Alright then, Sen-neesan," Ren nodded at her with a confident grin. "How about we go on a date sometime? After all this chaos is over?"
Senjumaru smiled faintly, her lips barely curling as she closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke in a soft voice that still carried unmistakable authority:
"You're quite bold, Kurosaki Ren… Very few dare to speak to me that way."
She raised one of her golden artificial arms to adjust a strand of her shimmering hair. The arms moved in seamless harmony, as though they were a natural extension of her body.
Then she added, in a slightly less formal but still composed tone:
"A date, you say?… That depends on whether you survive the training, and the battles ahead."
Ren's eyebrows lifted slightly as he listened, then he murmured with cool confidence:
"You can consider that extra motivation for me to stay alive."
Senjumaru didn't respond immediately. She studied his serious expression for a moment, then nodded lightly—as though granting something rare without stating it outright.
"Very well… Let us wait and see, Kurosaki Ren."
...
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