Chapter 333: Gate of Hell Reappears

The ocean of reishi in the sky rippled, casting a beautiful, radiant glow over the area surrounding the Shin'o Academy. The students below were in awe as the tops of buildings disintegrated into tiny particles of reishi, rising toward the Three Thousand Worlds. Some students reached out to touch the light, moving their hands through the streams of reishi but grasping nothing, as the reishi flowed like water through their fingers, continuing upward toward the three thousand spheres in the sky.

The instructors' faces changed, filled with astonishment and doubt.

One instructor drew their zanpakutō, intending to stop H'el. Regardless of what H'el was trying to do, this spectacle was already causing chaos at the Shin'o Academy. Moreover, with such a massive and unusual phenomenon, where even the buildings were disintegrating into reishi and being absorbed, they couldn't let H'el continue. If they didn't stop him, the entire academy and perhaps the surrounding sky and earth could be absorbed.

Just as the instructor prepared to intervene, Shunsui Kyōraku flash-stepped into the sky, placing his hand on the hilt of his zanpakutō. The pink haori he wore fluttered violently in the wind, and beneath his straw hat, his face was serious and cautious as he stood in front of H'el.

"H'el, my friend, please don't act rashly. This isn't a good idea," Shunsui said, secretly alarmed as he looked at the ocean of reishi H'el had stirred up. The entire area was bathed in the eerie glow of reishi, a breathtaking yet terrifying sight. He added, "I promise to let you read quietly in the Central Great Spirit Book Library. I give you my word."

Shunsui was now too afraid to be casual. Allowing H'el to read quietly in the library was beyond his control, but Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni could likely handle it. He could explain the situation to the higher-ups, theoretically. But in practice, who knows... Either way, the pressure would shift to his teacher, so Shunsui didn't hesitate to throw the responsibility to him.

Otherwise, they might end up with the Gate of Hell opening up and causing chaos in the Seireitei.

He had no other options left.

"I already gave you a chance, Shunsui Kyōraku." H'el's face remained calm as he glanced at Shunsui. Holding his black Zanpakuto, he continued forward. Shunsui, like a persistent suitor clinging to a beautiful woman, kept retreating as H'el advanced, his pink haori hanging loosely on him.

From the moment Tsunayashiro Tokida managed to escape from the Central Great Spirit Book Library, it was clear that trouble was brewing.

H'el wasn't someone who waited for trouble to come to him before dealing with it.

He preferred to take the initiative, eliminating problems before they could arise.

Besides, these people had never truly faced his power. They didn't understand why even the Gate of Hell would appear in the Soul Society to claim him. If he didn't display this power and shake up the Soul Society, some of those self-important nobles would keep showing up to challenge him. That wouldn't be good.

This included people like Shunsui Kyōraku.

"This really isn't a good idea, my friend. Do you understand what you're up against?" Forced to retreat by H'el's steady advance, Shunsui kept his hand on the hilt of his zanpakutō, shaking his head bitterly. With a serious yet cautious expression, he added, "Please, retract your shikai while you still can. Otherwise, you'll be facing the combined forces of all three worlds, the Gotei 13, and the Four Great Noble Houses that created this world. They are not to be trifled with.

Didn't you just want to read your books?"

Shunsui made one last attempt to reason with H'el, his hand tightening on the hilt of his zanpakutō. He began to draw it, exposing the sharp, cold blade.

Shunsui, tall and imposing, stood with the wind blowing fiercely from behind him, causing his pink haori to billow out in front of him. Beneath his straw hat, his expression grew more serious and stern.

Although he knew this last plea might not work, he had to try.

At this moment, a flash of regret crossed Shunsui's mind. If only they hadn't encountered Tokida when entering the Central Great Spirit Book Library, things would have been different.

H'el could have quietly read in the library, and he could have reported the situation to Yamamoto, letting the old man handle it.

But now… they were in the most troublesome situation.

Shunsui had come to understand H'el's personality all too well during their escort to the Seireitei. It's just that H'el's demands were too much, violating the rules and dignity of the Seireitei's nobility.

"Kyoraku Shunsui, the only reason I'm able to talk to you right now is because you understand people and situations, and you've tolerated my presence. But you should know, no true strong person ever adapts to the rules, laws, society, or feudal systems of the weak.

You've tried hard to pull me into your Seireitei's old-fashioned feudal system.

But you've misunderstood something—it's you who should adapt to me," H'el said coldly, his thin goodwill toward Shunsui now exhausted.

Whether they would be enemies or mere acquaintances from now on depended on Shunsui's next move.

"H'el, you mustn't be so arrogant. There are forces in this world that you don't yet understand," Shunsui replied, his eyes under the straw hat fixed on H'el as he slowly drew his zanpakutō. "If that's the case, then I will be your first opponent."

The blade of Shunsui's zanpakutō gleamed like a mirror, reflecting his rugged, middle-aged face with stubble. In a voice tinged with gritty magnetism, he chanted:

"Wind of flowers, disarray; weeping of the flower god. Winds of heaven, confusion; sneer of the heavenly demon—Katen Kyōkotsu."

Fully drawing his zanpakutō, Shunsui wielded it in both hands, spreading his arms wide. In his right hand was Katen, and in his left, Kyōkotsu. Standing tall in the sky, he exuded a powerful spiritual pressure that disturbed the surrounding reishi.

The immense spiritual pressure from Shunsui's shikai scattered the nearby glowing reishi, revealing the blue sky underneath.

"Now, let's see what you can do," Shunsui said with a faint smile, ready to strike.

Suddenly.

Boom—boom—

A massive sound echoed across the Seireitei, tearing through the sky.

Shunsui turned his head, his face changing in shock. He saw the sky above the Shakonmaku being torn apart, as if the very fabric of reality was exploding. An enormous, ominous gate began to emerge from the blue sky, its outline twisted and grotesque, covered in skeletal protrusions, and exuding an aura of dread.

The Gate of Hell had appeared.

°°°

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