Chapter 374: Aizen's Trip to the Living World
No, no!
Something was definitely wrong here!
After being suppressed by Satoru's utterly unreasonable tactics yet again, the Priest couldn't help but frown.
Just a few days ago, when Satoru had fought him, it was a standard back-and-forth battle.
There was no way Satoru had been holding back back then.
In just a few days, it was impossible for this kid to suddenly change his entire approach to fighting him as if he were a different person.
The only explanation was that he had used some kind of ability to memorize his patterns.
But then, the question arose.
Every gamer knew that to memorize patterns, you first had to know all of your opponent's attacks—and know them in detail: the wind-up time for each move, the telltale signals, the fixed range…
If any of these changed, pattern memorization would become a joke.
In games, boss behavior was programmed, so memorizing patterns was nothing special.
But reality wasn't so simple.
For instance, now that he realized he might be facing someone who had memorized his patterns, he had already made many on-the-fly adjustments to his strategies, including abandoning techniques entirely and resorting to random, chaotic strikes.
Under these circumstances, all his actions were highly randomized.
Relying solely on pattern memorization, it was absolutely impossible for Satoru to suppress him so completely!
Watching Satoru, with his wild grin, launch yet another round of attacks, something suddenly flashed in the Priest's mind.
His eyes widened abruptly, and a white spark seemed to crackle behind his head.
Distracted, he was shoved hard to the ground by Satoru, who proceeded to pummel him relentlessly.
The Priest raised a hand, stopping Satoru's unfriendly attempt to slit his throat.
"Satoru, can you see the future?"
"Huh?"
Satoru gave him a strange look.
"How could I? I'm not a Grand Caster—I don't have any weird abilities like that…"
Under the Priest's intense gaze, he explained his mental simulation ability.
Although the mental simulation ability was unique, it wasn't something that needed to be kept secret.
So what if the enemy learns about this?
Could they possibly crawl into my head and stop me from simulating?
If they deliberately hide their strength to prevent my simulations, that's even simpler—no simulation needed, I'll just mince them into fine pieces on the spot.
If our allies know, they'll feel reassured.
If the enemy knows, it'll affect their performance on the battlefield.
Spreading the word about my mental simulation ability brings nothing but benefits.
After explaining his ability, Satoru crossed his arms, wearing a smug expression.
Such high-level mental work was surely enough to prove his wisdom was unparalleled throughout the Soul Society's history, right?
If he could earn the approval of the Priest, the most ancient Shinigami, he'd have plenty to boast about when he returned to the Seireitei!
Just imagining Aizen and Urahara forced to lower their heads in humiliation before his extraordinary intellect made Satoru struggle to hold back his laughter.
But the Priest didn't react with the astonishment he'd expected.
Instead, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"As I thought."
The Priest grinned, his expression a mix of emotion and admiration.
"Satoru, weren't you always complaining that my name-control ability was cheating?"
"Now, you've embarked on the same path."
"This isn't just some simulation ability… Without a doubt, you've grasped the embryonic form of a certain rule."
"Causality, the future, probability… I can't determine the exact nature of the rule right now."
"But make no mistake—if you continue down this path, sooner or later, you'll become like me, someone who can freely wield the power of rules in battle!"
"You can trust me on this."
"As a being who has lived for over a million years, my experience is second to none."
"If the Soul King's prophecy holds true and my rule cannot subdue Yhwach, then let your rule accomplish it!"
He pointed a finger at Satoru's chest, making a declaration that resonated with power.
Hearing the Priest's words, Satoru was first taken aback, then fell into deep thought.
Originally, he had always believed his mental simulation ability was a unique extension of his extraordinary intellect.
But after the Priest's explanation, it was as if he suddenly understood something.
Key details he had previously overlooked were now slowly rising to the surface…
As Satoru pondered, the Priest began to emanate a dark, malevolent aura, a sinister smile spreading across his face:
"Heh heh heh… Since Satoru, like me, is a master of rules, it's only natural that I use the power of Ichimonji in our sparring, isn't it…"
"The grievances I suffered earlier... cough, I mean the friendly sparring session, shall now come to an end!"
"Blacken, Ichimonji!"
As the release incantation echoed, the Priest laughed maniacally and charged toward Satoru...
...
...
Kirinji Tenjirō's eye twitched.
Satoru's body was covered in wounds deep enough to reveal bone.
Most of them were clearly inflicted by forbidden kidō spells.
That damn Priest really went all out.
Just because he lost once a few days ago, was such retaliation necessary?
What a petty man.
But compared to the Priest, Satoru was even more baffling.
Despite being covered in injuries—at least five of which were fatal enough to kill him instantly if mishandled—he lounged leisurely in the hot spring as if nothing were wrong, contemplatively soaking as though pondering life's mysteries.
The gruesome injuries combined with his vacation-like demeanor created a bizarrely dissonant scene.
After soaking for a long time in the rich bone-broth hot spring until all his pain dissipated, Satoru rose instinctively with a thoughtful expression and slowly moved to the adjacent red oil pool, plopping himself inside.
The crimson hot spring water gradually flowed through his limbs and meridians, repairing his body.
At first, Kirinji Tenjirō didn't react much.
After all, his red and white hot springs were designed for exactly this purpose—nothing unusual.
But soon, he realized something was wrong.
Goddammit, Satoru was like a black hole... endlessly draining his Blood Pond Hell!
For a normal captain-level Shinigami, even if they were chopped to mincemeat and delivered with only one breath left, just a few liters of the blood pond would be enough to fully revive them.
But Satoru?
This bastard, just sitting there, had already absorbed dozens of tons of the blood pond!
This wasn't soaking in a hot spring—this was coming for his life!
Kirinji Tenjirō was furious.
Then his fury subsided.
Faced with a creature like Satoru, even as a member of the Zero Division, there was really nothing he could do.
This sorrow lingered until he visited the Phoenix Palace.
Seeing the cooling water level that had dropped several meters and Ōetsu sitting by the shore with a weathered expression, Kirinji Tenjirō's face finally broke into a long-absent smile.
Happiness doesn't disappear—it just transfers between people.
...
...
Seireitei, Fifth Division.
Aizen sat in his secret laboratory, carefully reviewing data.
Suddenly, the room door was gently knocked.
Aizen paused slightly, his entire body freezing for a moment.
Then, as if sensing something, he regained his composure.
"Come in."
The laboratory door slowly opened, revealing Ichimaru Gin's smiling face emerging from the darkness.
He wore a white Captain's Haori.
Last year, he had challenged Seventh Division Captain Love Aikawa, won with overwhelming superiority, and became the new Seventh Division Captain.
Entering the laboratory, he first subtly scanned the surroundings.
Confirming no one else was present besides Aizen, a barely detectable flicker of disappointment flashed deep within his narrowed eyes.
But he quickly adjusted his emotions.
"Captain Aizen... or should I say, Vice-Captain Aizen? It's been too long. How have you been lately?"
"Well... if I must say, probably better than many who are growing impatient."
Aizen raised his hand to adjust his glasses and replied with a smile.
"..."
The smile on Ichimaru Gin's face stiffened.
After two seconds of silence, he let out a sigh.
Forget it, the person's no longer here—what's the point of bickering with this guy?
He spoke up:
"It's been a long time since I visited the Living World. Let's see how Isshin is doing."
"I was just about to go check. Would Vice-Captain Aizen care to join me?"
Hearing this, Aizen paused his work.
Calculating the time, it had indeed been a while since his last visit.
Shiba Isshin's condition was classified as Priority Alpha in his research schedule, requiring regular personal verification.
With this in mind, he nodded:
"Alright, let's go together."
The two opened the Senkaimon and disappeared into the depths of the Dangai.
After researching the Valley of Screams and the power of the Jōgyo, Aizen's control over the Dangai had reached unprecedented levels.
Now, even without specifically isolating Reishi fluctuations, he could freely open the Senkaimon and travel between the Living World and Soul Society without being detected by the Twelfth Division.
Not even the exclusive Senkaimon of the Five Noble Clans could achieve this.
Walking through the Dangai, Ichimaru Gin suddenly said:
"Lord Mikami... hasn't returned for a long time."
Aizen fell silent for a moment.
Then he grunted in acknowledgment.
In the blink of an eye, over eight years had passed since Satoru left Seireitei for the Zero Division.
If not for the fact that during these years, that guy regularly sent letters back through special means—with both the content and Reishi traces being impossible to forge—Aizen would probably have found a way to storm up there already.
According to Satoru, he had discovered a potentially existing path. To verify its feasibility, he needed to stay in the Soul King Palace for a while, focusing on training.
Aizen's feelings about this were somewhat complicated.
Having ambition was good—better than being a slacker.
But... in the past, such matters would always be brought to him first, waiting for him to analyze and compile a complete methodology before that guy would proceed.
Now, it seemed that guy could manage even without his help.
Since he couldn't confirm Satoru's current level, he didn't even know whether he had surpassed Satoru during his own upgrades or if his power had been synchronized to that guy.
This feeling was unpleasant.
However, for the sake of their promise and to achieve their ultimate goal, he could endure it.
As he pondered these thoughts, light appeared ahead.
Exiting the Senkaimon and gazing at Karakura Town before him, Aizen curled the corners of his lips.
"Let's go to Satoru Paradise."
This super gaming company managed by Quincies had become a must-visit spot for Shinigami of Satoru's faction when coming to the Living World.
So many people stored their Gigai here that an urban legend once circulated within the company:
There was a secret passage in the company leading to an unknown place, from which people who never appeared in surveillance records would occasionally emerge.
Employees had been quite dokidoki about this for a while.
After donning their Gigai, Aizen and Ichimaru Gin walked out of Satoru Paradise one after the other.
Seeing the two men in suits, passing employees instinctively stopped and looked their way.
Female employees in particular, upon seeing their appearances, nearly started planning how many children to have and what to name them.
Although Satoru Paradise had Ulquiorra—the number one most handsome male actor in the Living World's entertainment industry—these two were in no way inferior!
Especially the man walking in front with brown hair and a dark blue suit—his aura was simply off the charts!
Those with quicker wits had already started opening group chats to inquire about the identities of these two...
Sensing the undisguised gazes from all around, Ichimaru Gin felt a wave of nostalgia.
"The Living World and the Soul Society are truly different."
If this were the Soul Society, commoners would immediately bow upon seeing someone with such a distinctly extraordinary presence.
Those who stood out were either powerful figures or individuals of high status.
Showing even the slightest disrespect toward such people could lead to dire consequences.
But here in the Living World, people clearly didn't need to worry about such things.
This was exactly what Lord Mikami had always wanted to achieve...
To become a source of strength for Lord Mikami when that day arrived, he had to grow even stronger!
Walking along the familiar streets, the two arrived at a particular road.
There stood a small building with a sign hanging above it.
"Kurosaki Clinic"
Seeing the sign, Ichimaru Gin curled the corner of his mouth and was about to say something.
Just then, the clinic door swung open, and a small figure dashed out:
"Stupid old man! I'm not learning any of your weird tricks from you!"
With that, he stuck out his tongue toward the inside of the house and sprinted away.
As he passed by Aizen and Ichimaru Gin, he glanced up at the two.
Noticing their gazes fixed on him, the boy frowned slightly, as if sensing something dangerous.
He warily took a few steps back before quickly running off.
Ichimaru Gin clicked his tongue in amazement:
"Vice-Captain Aizen, it seems he sensed the thick aura of a villain around you."
"Perhaps he sensed a cold-blooded creature... Children are often afraid of such things."
Aizen gently retorted, then turned his gaze toward the clinic entrance.
A somewhat disheveled man in a white coat rushed out:
"Ichigo! You brat! Don't let me catch you! Or you'll get a taste of your old man's loving fists!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to sense something and looked to the side.
Spotting the two standing not far away, he froze for a moment.
Then, a heartfelt smile spread across his face:
"Master! Gin!"
Under their watchful eyes, he quickly strode over.