Kirio Hikifune's 'temporary souls', saved up for over twenty years, gave Sora's Spiritual Pressure a huge boost!
[Spiritual Pressure lv99 (380000/500000)]
Kirio Hikifune was very generous to Sora. When she was cooking, she used all the 'temporary souls' she had stored up for two decades.
His Spiritual Pressure experience increased by over a million, raising him from level 97 to level 99!
In the months preparing for war, Sora had spent most of his time teaching his disciples.
This had saved up some General Experience. He used it to raise his Hollowfication to level 90, with some left over.
Sora invested 120,000 General Experience into his Spiritual Pressure.
The next instant, his Spiritual Pressure surged!
The surging Spiritual Pressure rushed through his body like a herd of wild horses.
But Sora had already experienced level 100 Spiritual Pressure through Hollowfication. He instantly tamed and calmed the chaotic power.
"You've grown so much. None of it was wasted!"
Kirio Hikifune sensed the unconcealed Spiritual Pressure.
She patted Sora's solid shoulder and laughed. "You're as reliable as Captain-Commander Yamamoto now!"
"It's all thanks to your hospitality, Kirio-san. Otherwise, it would have taken me a long time to reach this step," Sora said gratefully.
Kirio's senses were correct. Sora had now reached the limit of a Shinigami!
Before, he could only reach this state for a short time using Hollowfication. Now, it was his normal state.
Sora used Hollowfication in front of Kirio, and the mask formed.
[Spiritual Pressure lv100]
"The gap between my Hollow power and Shinigami power is too large. After Hollowfication, there's no Spiritual Pressure increase."
"But it gives me high-speed regeneration, Hierro, and Cero. My Hollow state is still much stronger than my normal state."
Sora felt the changes in his body.
His Shinigami power was at its limit. Next, he had to keep raising his Hollow and Quincy powers.
His goal wasn't just to become a transcendent being like Aizen with the Hōgyoku. If he wanted to, the Hōgyoku he had could get him there.
Sora's goal was the Soul King level!
Or even to become a being that surpasses the Soul King!
Sora had never forgotten that the three worlds created by the Soul King needed the 'Linchpin of the Three Worlds' to be maintained.
If he didn't surpass the Soul King, he might be chosen as the next 'Linchpin'.
To control his own destiny, he had to surpass the Soul King and do what even he could not!
"That's Hollow power, right!"
"It feels just like a Hollow's mask. A bone-like texture."
Kirio Hikifune observed Sora's mask with interest, even reaching out to touch it.
After joining the Zero Squad, she learned many things. She knew the Soul King controlled Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy powers.
So, she wasn't surprised that Sora, the 'Shadow of the Soul King', had Hollow powers.
"The material is probably the same as a Hollow mask. If the mask breaks, will it affect you?"
Kirio Hikifune's researcher side had awakened.
"It won't affect me. It's a bit different from a normal Hollow. When I exit this state, the mask breaks on its own."
Sora exited his Hollowfication, and the bone mask on his face shattered.
Kirio Hikifune quickly reached out to catch some of the falling pieces. But they quickly broke down into Reishi and vanished.
"It breaks down that fast?" Kirio looked disappointed. "I wanted to save a piece to study."
"You should have regained those sealed memories by now, right? The ones about your origins."
Kirio Hikifune brought up the old secret.
"After the Reigai and the Shadow of the Soul King fused, the seal was broken."
Sora nodded.
When he first crossed over into the Soul King's Shadow, he was discovered quickly.
After being separated, Shutara Senjumaru had sewed him into Batsu'unsai Katori's Reigai.
"Back then, Senjumaru tried many times."
"If we didn't seal the 'Shadow of the Soul King', the first-version Reigai was too weak. It couldn't hold you and would have been burst apart."
"Later, the Monk (Ichibē) sealed the 'Shadow of the Soul King'. From that moment, you were no longer the 'Shadow of the Soul King'."
Kirio Hikifune revealed more secrets.
After the 'Shadow of the Soul King' in Sora's spiritual body was sealed by Ichibē Hyōsube, it lost its status as the 'Shadow of the Soul King'.
It became an ordinary shadow containing Sora's consciousness and soul.
Once it lost that status, Batsu'unsai's Reigai could finally hold the shadow.
"The Monk can even seal the 'Shadow of the Soul King'?... Right. He's the one who made the 'Linchpin of the Three Worlds'. Sealing me wouldn't be hard."
Sora thought to himself. His worry wasn't baseless.
The three worlds were stable now, so Ichibē wasn't hostile.
But if the three worlds became unstable, they would need a new 'Linchpin'.
At that time, Sora might be chosen as the next one.
That's why Sora had to surpass Ichibē Hyōsube and the Soul King. He had to control his own destiny!
"So, all five of you were involved in this," Sora said.
"That's right. Kirinji-senpai set Batsu'unsai's treatment plan, but I was the one who created the Reigai!" Kirio Hikifune smiled.
"Then Nimaiya-senpai cut off the 'Shadow of the Soul King'. After the Monk sealed it, Senjumaru sewed it into the Reigai spiritual body."
Kirio sometimes treated Sora like a child or a junior because she had helped create him. She even made his spiritual body.
She naturally felt fond of Sora. As he grew, that fondness had turned into doting.
After catching up, Kirio HikUfune sent Sora away from the Gatonden.
"It's getting late. I'll send you to the next place."
...
Sora's next stop was Shutara Senjumaru's palace.
Her palace had a very different style. It was covered in all kinds of fabrics, and even the floor was layered with cloth.
When Sora arrived, she was leisurely drinking her Deer Antler Spirit Wine.
"Kirio was very generous. She gave you all the 'temporary souls' she'd saved for twenty years." Shutara Senjumaru drained her golden wine cup.
"I've just about finished my drink. Next..."
A slight smile appeared on Shutara Senjumaru's lips.
"Take off your clothes."
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