The days that followed were very regular and full for Sora.
He ran back and forth between the Technology Bureau lab and the Sarcophagus Stone Mine lab.
Quincy ability training was also added to his daily routine, and he practiced diligently every day.
Just like that,
twenty years passed in a flash.
...
Sarcophagus Stone Mine Laboratory.
"Professor, Grandmaster's Reigai is undergoing Hollowfication again,"
Rii Hoshino reminded him.
The Reigai in the incubation tank had grown some bone-like outer shell.
"I know."
Sora frowned slightly.
The spirit body growth agent obtained from Tetsuya Miyamoto's lab was essentially an extract from a half-human, half-Hollow creature.
A Reigai cultivated with it would inevitably accumulate Hollow reishi in its spiritual body.
After Batsu'unsai's Reigai was cultivated to the captain level, the accumulation of Hollow reishi in its body became too much, and it inevitably began to transform into a Hollow.
In twenty years, Sora had cultivated several captain-level Reigai, but without exception, they all underwent Hollowfication.
"Increase the dosage of the powerful anesthetic by six times," Sora said. "Don't let it wake up."
"Okay!"
Rii Hoshino nodded and operated the incubation tank to increase the dosage.
"It seems we still have to rely on the Hollowfication vaccine."
Sora left the Reigai cultivation lab and went to Sōsuke Aizen's laboratory.
With Sora's intervention and a large number of Soul King fragments to study, Aizen's research and development progress was much faster.
He had recently developed a vaccine that could temporarily halt Hollowfication.
"Professor, you've come at the right time," Aizen was standing in front of an operating table. "I'm conducting a clinical trial of the Hollowfication vaccine. Please lend me a hand."
Aizen invited his professor. With the help of a master of healing Kidō like him, this experiment would be much easier.
"Is this Matsuri Miyanouji's Reigai?"
Sora glanced at the humanoid creature lying on another operating table. Most of its body was covered by a bone-like shell, but some personal features could still be vaguely seen.
Matsuri Miyanouji was a Shinigami from the 5th Division. She had been seriously injured by a Quincy while on a mission in the human world two days ago.
The damage to her spiritual core was even more severe than Batsu'unsai Katori's. Aizen had used a large amount of spirit body growth agent to accelerate the creation of a Hollowfied Reigai to replace her spiritual core.
"Yes. Matsuri agreed to cooperate with my experiment," Aizen looked at Matsuri with a gentle expression.
"Regardless of the outcome of this experiment, her contribution will not be in vain. It will provide us with valuable experimental data. The Hollowfication vaccine is a very viable route, it just requires a few small challenges."
Aizen's charisma was extremely strong. After leading the 5th Division for many years, he already had subordinates who were willing to volunteer for clinical trials.
"What do you plan to do?"
Sora asked, putting on gloves and coming to the operating table.
"Let's replace her spiritual core with the Hollowfied Reigai's first, then record the data before testing the vaccine."
Aizen began to operate with his scalpel.
The master and disciple had cooperated on the operating table many times before. By the time Aizen exposed Matsuri's damaged spiritual core, Sora had already removed the core from the Hollowfied Reigai.
"Hollow power makes up 53.68%..." Aizen used an instrument to test the spiritual core. "Fortunately, it hasn't exceeded 65%. According to my calculations, when the proportion reaches about 65%, the Hollowfication should be irreversible."
"This spiritual core is filled with Hollow power. She'll probably Hollowfy as soon as it's transplanted," Sora said.
"To create such a Reigai in two days, I used sixteen times the dosage of the spirit body growth agent," Aizen said.
Matsuri's injuries were too severe; she could only last a few more days at most. Therefore, Aizen had created a Reigai with a spiritual pressure comparable to hers at the fastest possible speed.
"Let's begin the replacement."
Sora swung the scalpel, severing the connection between the spiritual core and the Saketsu and Hakusui.
Aizen immediately handed over the new core.
Sora connected the Reigai's spiritual core to Matsuri's Saketsu and Hakusui with extreme speed.
Only after the connection was complete did he remove the damaged core from her body.
He used forceps to adjust the position of the new core, returning it to its original location.
After all this was done, Sora continued to use healing Kidō to stimulate the spiritual core, Saketsu, and Hakusui.
They were quickly activated, and the spiritual pressure they produced flowed continuously into the core.
The Hollow power within the core also rapidly spread throughout her spiritual body.
"Amazing regenerative ability!"
A glint flashed in Aizen's eyes.
Matsuri's body was beginning to heal itself!
A white substance grew out of the surgical wound, forcibly healing it at a speed visible to the naked eye.
As expected, after replacing her spiritual core with the Hollowfied one, Matsuri immediately showed signs of Hollowfication.
"Aaargh!!!" She suddenly woke up. A white substance poured out of her mouth, quickly enveloping her face.
"Her spiritual pressure is increasing... the original dosage of the powerful anesthetic can no longer restrain her."
Aizen recorded the constantly changing values on the instrument.
"Matsuri... Matsuri... can you hear me?"
Aizen tried calling her name to confirm if she was conscious.
Matsuri struggled desperately on the operating table. The Sarcophagus Stone shackles on her arms and ankles were forcibly broken by her own strength.
"She's lost her reason."
"Inject the Hollowfication vaccine immediately."
Aizen picked up the prepared liquid and injected it into Matsuri's artery.
The vaccine gradually began to take effect, and her struggles slowed down.
After a long while, some clarity returned to Matsuri's blackened eyes.
The bone-like shell on her body also fell off, turning into powder.
"Matsuri, can you hear me?"
Aizen once again confirmed her consciousness.
"Lieutenant Aizen... Captain Katori..."
Matsuri looked at them.
"Do you remember? You are cooperating with my experiment. You did very well, perfectly."
Aizen's tone became even more gentle.
He always had more patience for special talents.
This was not the first time he had tested the vaccine.
But Matsuri was the first Shinigami to survive the Hollowfication.
For some reason, the Quincy forces in the human world had made a comeback in recent years and had even started to actively attack Shinigami stationed there.
However, this also gave Aizen more opportunities to test his vaccine.
"I know..."
Matsuri shook her head.
"I just saw another me in my inner world..."
"Oh? Tell me in detail. This is very important information."
Aizen said gently.
"She was wearing a white Shihakushō and looked just like me, but her hair and skin were white, and her personality was completely different..."
"She claimed to be the embodiment of my Hollow power and wanted to fight me for control of my body. After I defeated her, I woke up..."
Matsuri recounted her experience.
"I see... a battle in the inner world? Then it depends more on the Shinigami's own will."
Aizen nodded slightly and recorded what she said.
"You did very well, overcoming the Hollow's power with your own will," Aizen said gently. "Now, let's test what changes have occurred in your body."
...
In the courtyard of the Katori Dōjō, a figure just a little taller than a wooden sword was swinging one.
"Your swing has no power... have you forgotten everything I taught you?"
"When you swing, you must use the power of your back, arms, and wrists at the same time!"
Sora, who was chatting with Batsu'unsai on the veranda, turned his head to look at Kuchiki Byakuya practicing in the courtyard. Seeing him slacking off, he corrected his improper swing.
Twenty years is a long time for a human.
But for a Shinigami with a lifespan of at least a thousand years, it's nothing.
Twenty years had passed, and Kuchiki Byakuya still looked like a child.
The growth rate of a spiritual body varies individually.
Generally, the better the spiritual potential, the longer the childhood and adolescence.
Byakuya's potential was very good. It had taken him nearly thirty years to grow from an infant to being taller than a wooden sword.
"Professor... I've been practicing all morning!" Byakuya panted. "I want to take a break!"
Although Byakuya was still young and his spiritual body had not yet fully matured, he could begin his training. Sōjun Kuchiki had requested that Sora take him as a disciple.
Sora had a good relationship with the Kuchiki family, and Byakuya's talent was also very good, so he had gladly agreed.
"Take a break. You can practice again in the afternoon."
Sora nodded slightly.
"Great!"
Hearing that he could rest, Byakuya immediately perked up and ran to the kitchen to rummage through the cabinets.
A moment later, he came out with four glasses of iced orange juice.
"Professor, use that bubble Kidō!"
Byakuya excitedly placed the iced orange juice in front of Sora.
"Byakuya really likes sparkling water..."
Batsu'unsai smiled and picked up a glass. She preferred her juice without bubbles.
"Orange juice is only good with bubbles!"
Byakuya nodded.
With a flash of light from Sora's fingertip, some gas appeared in the orange juice, and it started to bubble.
"The Professor is so amazing!" Byakuya exclaimed. "This Kidō is so hard to learn... why can't I learn it!"
He loved sparkling water so much that he wished he could learn this self-created Kidō spell immediately.
Unfortunately, he had tried several times and failed.
He had learned the Kidō to make ice cubes, though. The ice in the juice was made by him.
"This Kidō requires a high level of spiritual pressure control. You're still a long way off. Train hard!"
With a tap of his finger, Sora also added bubbles to his own glass.
"Ah—" Byakuya took a sip of the sparkling orange juice, and the strong, icy sensation shot straight to his head. "Drinking iced sparkling water in the summer is the best!"
"Professor, Grandmaster, I'm leaving now. I have a date with Miyu to go to the market!"
Miyu Gin was the daughter of the current 6th Division Lieutenant, Ginjiro Gin. She and Byakuya were childhood friends.
"Go on. Remember to come back to practice in the afternoon."
Sora glanced at the gate. He sensed that Miyu had already arrived.
"I know!"
Byakuya took two glasses of iced orange juice and ran out.
"I was wondering why Byakuya brought out four glasses. So they were for little Miyu."
Batsu'unsai took a sip of her juice, an inquisitive look in her eyes. "They're so close. Maybe little Miyu will be Byakuya's future wife!"
"That's not necessarily so. It's still too early."
Sora shook his head gently.
Batsu'unsai had guessed wrong. Byakuya's future wife was not Miyu Gin; the two did not develop a romantic relationship.
Probably no one would have guessed that the future Kuchiki Byakuya would cross class boundaries and fall in love with a woman from the Rukongai.
"Did you just say my Reigai's spiritual pressure has broken through to the captain level?"
Batsu'unsai returned to their previous topic.
"Yes, but after the Reigai was cultivated to the limit of the lieutenant level, it became extremely unstable," Sora nodded. "After testing, it was found that too much spirit body growth agent was used, causing a large accumulation of Hollow reishi in its body."
"So can my spiritual core be replaced now?"
Batsu'unsai looked expectant. She had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
"It's possible, but there is an uncontrollable risk of Hollowfication," Sora explained. "The Reigai we cultivated for Shizuku Saitō before also used the growth agent, but your strength is much greater than hers. To cultivate your Reigai to the captain level, the dosage used was far greater than before, which caused a large accumulation of Hollow reishi in the core."
"Hollowfication?" Batsu'unsai frowned and asked, "Will it turn me into a Hollow?"
"Yes. Hollowfication will cause a Shinigami to lose their reason and transform into a Hollow," Sora paused and continued, "But Sōsuke has recently developed a Hollowfication vaccine."
"The vaccine can forcibly halt a Shinigami's Hollowfication, allowing them to regain their sanity and fight against the Hollow power within them with their willpower," Sora explained. "Success or failure depends greatly on the Shinigami's own will."
The vaccine only temporarily halted the Hollowfication; it did not completely eliminate it.
Fighting against it still required the Shinigami's own willpower.
"Are there any successful cases?" Batsu'unsai asked.
"We've tested it on some Reigai, and without exception, they all failed. Because the Reigai we cultivated have not awakened their self-awareness, and even if they did, a nascent consciousness... its will is too weak to resist the Hollow power within. So we can't use Reigai to test the vaccine..."
Sora paused and continued, "But there have been successful cases among Shinigami. Sōsuke has tried it on some critically ill patients who could not be treated by normal means."
"A battle of wills, is it..." Batsu'unsai's gaze quickly became firm. "I believe in my own willpower. I can survive the Hollowfication!"
She was the first-generation captain of the 8th Division, Batsu'unsai Katori!
The first-generation captains had all walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Without an extremely strong will, it would have been impossible for them to get to where they were!
She would not shy away from a challenge!
----------------------
Unlock 400+ chapters across 7+ different novels on Patreon!
This Bleach novel alone already has up to chapter 416 available right now on Patreon, so if you want to support the project and enjoy even more exclusive content, I'll be waiting for you on Patreon!
We're also entering the final arc of the Bleach project — the final war between the three worlds, where every battle is decisive, every character reaches their limit, and every
revelation hits harder than the last.
There has never been a better moment to catch up and enjoy the story right at its climax 👀
And of course — many more projects are already in progress!
There's always something new to read.
If you ever spot a mistake or inconsistency, feel free to drop a comment — your feedback helps me improve the story and polish every chapter!
📌 Also, if you write a review or show support for the novel, it helps me a lot — and I'll keep uploading more chapters for those who do. Your support in any form truly motivates me to continue!