In front of the Department of Research and Development, there was a creation shaped like a Torii gate.
This was the 'Sun Gate' imitated by the Shinigami. It was the core hub for building shadow space passages.
The Quincy's Reishi technology had many merits, and the Shinigami had no qualms about using it.
However, the Shinigami made some improvements to fit the style of the Seireitei, fashioning the Sun Gate into the style of a Torii gate.
"The signal from over there has come through. Open the 'Cross-World Gate'."
Sora glanced at the prompt popping up on the Reishi light screen and signaled Akon to open the 'Cross-World Gate'.
Akon and three other researchers wearing white coats stepped forward and activated the 'Cross-World Gate'.
"Matching signal source..."
"Verification passed. It's sent by Kenpachi Kuruyashiki."
"Locking coordinates. Opening the passage!"
A pitch-black rift cracked open in the middle of the 'Cross-World Gate'.
A moment later, a figure appeared in the pitch-black rift.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki stepped across the rift and set foot on the land of the Soul Society.
Subsequently, more Shinigami soldiers walked out from behind him.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. The environment in Hell is too harsh."
Sora saw the exhausted look on the faces of the Shinigami behind Kenpachi Kuruyashiki and comforted them aloud.
"The 5th Division has prepared a special allowance for everyone. It will be distributed to your hands in the next two days."
The environment in Hell was harsh, so the Shinigami stationed there received a special allowance.
Although the Hell Expeditionary Force hadn't found traces of Yhwach for the time being, these years hadn't been fruitless.
According to some materials found in ancient records, there were three seals in Hell, sealing the Lord of Hell's Zanpakutō, consciousness, and part of his power respectively.
The Hell Expeditionary Force had now found the locations of these three seals, but they also discovered a problem—
The seal that sealed the Hell consciousness had already been destroyed!
Now, the Hell Expeditionary Force had stationed troops at the other two seal locations to lie in wait, preventing Yhwach and the Lord of Hell from unsealing these two places.
"Captain Katori, long time no see!"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki looked unchanged.
"Long time no see. I have to trouble you this time, making you rush back from Hell."
"It's okay. I had to bring these people back anyway." Kenpachi Kuruyashiki laughed loudly.
"Besides, accepting challenges is a Kenpachi's duty. A Shinigami who doesn't even dare to accept a challenge, how is he qualified to continue bearing the name of Kenpachi!"
Bearing the name of Kenpachi meant being ready to accept challenges from others.
If someone challenged and defeated Kenpachi, they could take away his name of Kenpachi!
"I heard the brat who wants to challenge me is the disciple you accepted later?"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was somewhat curious about the Shinigami who wanted to challenge him.
"It's only been a dozen years or so, and he has grown to the level where he can challenge a Kenpachi?"
After all, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was performing a mission in Hell. He couldn't just come back every time a random passerby said they wanted to challenge him.
To challenge Kenpachi Kuruyashiki while he was not in the Soul Society, one had to pass the test of the Lieutenant and Seated Officers of the 11th Division first.
And the Shinigami challenging Kenpachi Kuruyashiki this time had already defeated the Lieutenant and Seated Officers of the 11th Division!
It was precisely because of this that Kenpachi Kuruyashiki took advantage of the personnel rotation of the Hell Expeditionary Force to return to the Soul Society to accept the challenge.
"Ken is very strong. If you are careless, I'm afraid the name of Kenpachi might change owners," Sora smiled.
With him presiding over this Kenpachi challenge, the safety of Kenpachi Kuruyashiki and Zaraki Ken would not be an issue; there wouldn't be any life-threatening danger.
"You think so highly of him? Then I look forward to it even more!"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki rubbed his chin, beginning to look forward to the upcoming battle.
"You just came back. Do you want to rest a bit?"
"No need. I haven't really fought much these past few days. I was stationed at the seal site recently, and the nearby villains ran away as soon as they saw me."
"I'm afraid in the eyes of those villains, you are the villain!"
"Hahahaha, that's very possible!"
"Then let's go directly to the 11th Division. Don't worry about here; Akon will help handle it."
A moment later, the two arrived at the 11th Division.
The news of Zaraki Ken challenging Kenpachi had long spread back to the 11th Division. The Shinigami of the 11th Division had all gathered in the largest courtyard of the division.
"Captain!"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had served as the Captain of the 11th Division for a long time and had considerable prestige there. Seeing the Captain they hadn't seen for a long time, the Shinigami bowed one after another.
"Long time no see, everyone!"
"Gosuke, you've worked hard during this time!"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki patted the shoulder of the former Lieutenant.
However, Gosuke was no longer the Lieutenant. According to the ranking rules of the 11th Division, Zaraki Ken had defeated Gosuke, so he was now the Lieutenant of the 11th Division.
"Captain... I'm sorry... I was defeated." 3rd Seat Gosuke's face was full of guilt.
"If I hadn't lost, Captain wouldn't have had to rush back to meet the challenge."
Although 3rd Seat Gosuke lost to Zaraki Ken, he didn't think Zaraki Ken could defeat the Captain, so he felt that making the Captain come back was a waste of time.
"Don't lose heart. It's just a temporary victory or defeat. Losing doesn't mean you won't have a chance to win it back in the future."
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki shook his head. "Even if no one challenged me, I would have brought people back recently. You don't need to blame yourself."
A moment later, the challenger for Kenpachi arrived.
Moreover, there were some more spectators in the 11th Division.
Sora's other disciples all came to watch the battle. Besides them, Retsu Unohana also came.
"Is Captain Unohana also interested in this battle?" Sora asked knowingly.
"I just want to see how this unpolished gem has been polished by you, Professor Katori."
Retsu Unohana's expression was somewhat complex.
This unpolished gem, whom she had thought highly of in the past, had inexplicably sealed himself.
When she went to the Spiritual Arts Academy to give a lecture, she saw Zaraki Ken studying general education classes there. At that time, she almost thought she had mistaken him for someone else.
The opponent who could rival her in the past was now fighting back and forth with Academy students when they met again, which made her feel dull and bored.
"Professor, do you think Ken can win?" Yoruichi asked.
"If this battle drags on a bit longer, I favor Ken more. He is the type who gets braver the more he fights."
Sora chuckled softly.
Zaraki Ken's talent was quite strange.
After so many years, he hadn't learned a single Kidō.
The same went for Kidō-based swordsmanship.
However, he had mastered those swordsmanship styles that didn't involve Kidō very well.
Last night, he specifically put some pressure on Zaraki Ken and unlocked some of his self-seals.
The current Zaraki Ken, even against Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, might not be without a chance of winning.
The Shinigami of the 11th Division cleared the open space and formed a circle at the edge of the courtyard.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki and Zaraki Ken walked to the center of the courtyard.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki felt a sense of a kindred spirit from Zaraki Ken. It was an aura that only warlike people possessed.
Moreover, the battle-crazed aura on Zaraki Ken was not even inferior to his, someone who had just returned from Hell.
"Are you the challenger this time?"
The corners of Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's mouth rose slightly.
"Your aura looks pretty good!"
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