Chapter 326: Entering

Shunsui Kyoraku's pupils contracted, his shoulders stiffened, and his body froze.

Before he could react, the dark sphere behind him engulfed him, transporting him into a dark space.

In all his years as one of the captain of Gotei 13, he had never encountered a power that could catch him completely off guard.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that even facing Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kyoraku could hold his own for a few rounds, draining some of the old man's energy before being defeated.

But now, he found himself instantly transported into darkness.

This wasn't an illusion but a real spatial shift into this dark space.

There was no spirit particle fluctuation he could sense. What was going on? Could H'el control each spirit particle so finely that they emitted no detectable waves? But how was that even possible?

Kyoraku prided himself on his spiritual pressure, certainly not the weakest among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, but he hadn't noticed a thing.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his grip on his Zanpakuto tightening. The familiar feel of the hilt in his hand gave him a slight sense of security.

At least he still had his Zanpakuto, ready to fight back.

The space was devoid of light and shadows, yet he could see himself clearly.

Kyoraku's face hardened. In this darkness, he could only see himself.

Just as he was about to release his spiritual pressure to explore, H'el's indifferent face appeared before him.

Kyoraku's dangerous eyes locked onto H'el for a moment before he relaxed, his shoulders easing, and he reverted to his lazy, resigned demeanor, smiling wryly.

"H'el, you've certainly taught me a great lesson." He shook his head, resigned. "Are you telling me the Soul Society holds no value for you?"

"Is that why you let your will dominate the three realms with such arrogance?"

"Your spirit and understated tyranny are truly impressive."

At that moment, Kyoraku felt a sense of admiration for H'el's spirit.

He had never met someone like H'el, who seemed ruthless yet was full of emotion, ready to discard it at any moment.

Sadness, happiness, anger—they were all just emotions he accepted and was influenced by.

But these emotions never swayed his will or what he wanted to do.

Even if Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto had blades at their throats, it wouldn't stop him from pursuing his goals.

His will wasn't altered by the laws, rules, intentions, or power of the Soul Society.

This showed not only his immense self-confidence but also his power to disregard everyone in the Soul Society.

Such arrogance was unparalleled.

"I just do what I want, freely," H'el said calmly. His eyes were peaceful but without warmth, looking at Kyoraku with the same indifference he might show an ant or an ordinary person.

"As for you seeing me as tyrannical and arrogant, that's your business."

H'el considered his actions to be gentle.

But this gentleness didn't mean he would tolerate resistance to his will.

He understood that intelligent beings always hoped for a last-minute reprieve, crying and begging when they saw the coffin or facing death bravely.

To H'el, whether they cried or faced death boldly, the result was the same—they disappeared from the world.

"Freedom…" Kyoraku murmured, eyes gleaming with understanding. He sheathed his partially drawn Zanpakuto with a 'snap' and rested his hand on the hilt, sighing.

"Such unrestrained freedom. Others might not understand you, thinking it's childish and troublesome, but I get it. It's what every adult ultimately seeks. I envy your freedom."

Kyoraku dropped his hostility, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

He truly envied H'el's freedom, a freedom even curses couldn't touch, standing above the three realms, appearing arrogant but unburdened.

At that moment, Kyoraku realized as long as no one provoked H'el, he wouldn't care about the chaos in the three realms.

"So, why bring me here? I don't like this darkness. It's not cold or desolate, just dark without emotion."

Kyoraku continued rubbing his chin, asking.

"I planned to kill you if you attacked me," H'el said nonchalantly, "But since you didn't, I won't. I'm not a demon who kills for sport."

"Have you been to the Great Spirit Book Gallery?"

As he spoke, H'el's tone returned to his usual casualness, his face showing no expression, making him look lazily beautiful to many students.

"Well…" Kyoraku began to answer H'el's question but hesitated, feeling troubled.

"Are you taking me to the Great Spirit Book Gallery too? Hey, that's bad news for me. H'el, could you put me back in the pavilion? I tried to stop you, but I couldn't."

Kyoraku sensed a big trouble coming, one hard to handle.

If the Tsunayashiro family found out he secretly entered the Great Spirit Book Gallery, it would cause massive problems for his family and friends.

H'el might be free, coming and going as he pleased, but Kyoraku, living in the Seireitei, with a family, friends, and beloved subordinates, couldn't be so free.

"Too late."

The next moment, the darkness dissipated, and H'el and Kyoraku found themselves in a long corridor lined with bookshelves stretching endlessly like the Great Wall, silent and deep.

"How interesting, someone sneaked in… Kyoraku Shunsui?" A pair of narrow, evil eyes looked up from a book, spotting Kyoraku and the unknown child who had suddenly appeared.

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