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Chapter 410: Aizen Is Born and Arrives in Soul Society
Avatar Mall.
[Hōgyoku]: 25,000
[Conqueror's Haki]: 10,000
[Zanpakutō·Kyōka Suigetsu]: 20,000
[Thousand Thoughts]: 10,000
[Observation Haki]: 10,000
[Armament Haki]: 3,000
Kai examined the abilities listed in the avatar mall.
A slight smile crossed his face.
Then, he slipped into a familiar process.
In mere moments, a man appeared—short brown hair, brown eyes, framed by black-rimmed glasses. His appearance was gentle, his eyes warm like the sun.
Looking at the man with a gentle smile before you, you would likely smile in return.
"Welcome to the world, Sōsuke Aizen."
Half a day later, the two arrived in Soul Society, the realm of the undead.
They approached the Spiritual Arts Academy.
The school resembled a fortress, its outer walls encircling the campus, divided by gates.
Upon arriving, Kai led Aizen to an academic office and enrolled him directly.
The Spiritual Arts Academy served as the training ground for Soul Society's Seireitei, preparing future Shinigami. Those trained here could one day join the Gotei 13, the Secret Mobile Team, or the Kidō Corps.
This brings us to the development of Soul Society since the division of Underworld into four realms two years ago.
The Underworld, at the time of Kai's division, was an immense and boundless world of death. Except for the strongest souls who endured for centuries, ordinary souls could not survive more than a few years under the harsh winds of hell. In other words, the souls remaining in the underworld then were those who had died within the past few years.
If you counted only humans, excluding other beings, the numbers were stark compared to the current population.
How many pirates existed in this world? In Kai's previous life, he had seen a movie where a red-haired singer claimed Uta had 80 trillion fans. Honestly, such a number was unimaginable in this world.
In reality, the current population hovered around billions, scattered across islands like stars in the sky. The annual mortality rate among pirates was a staggering 15 to 20 percent, driven by the chaos of the Great Pirate Era, which inflated the death rate. To maintain balance, people in this world needed to produce more offspring to offset the losses.
But to return to the point—at that time, over 150 million souls lingered in the Underworld. Every year, tens of millions more would pour into the underworld.
Of those, only about 100,000 entered Soul Society. Annually, roughly ten thousand new spirits arrived—a probability of about one in a thousand. These spirits, often having overcome countless others, would almost certainly become Shinigami upon entering Soul Society.
There were no wandering souls here, as only spiritual bodies could enter. Thus, their path to becoming Shinigami was nearly assured.
Once they became true Shinigami, the lifespan of most basic spiritual bodies extended significantly, often lasting hundreds of years. Over the centuries, the number of Shinigami would continue to grow.
At this rate, Soul Society's population could reach tens of millions when it stabilized.
That was a matter for the future.
For now, Soul Society had an abundance of spirits capable of becoming Shinigami. The original Spiritual Arts Academy simply could not accommodate them all.
As a result, in addition to expanding, a new branch was established. Ten branches in total. This was the main campus.
The main campus and its ten branches admitted only a few thousand students annually. The remaining new spirits settled in the streets surrounding Seireitei as spiritual citizens.
There, another Shinigami academy operated, though the quality of its instructors was questionable. Many spiritual beings shifted their ambitions. Instead of rushing to become Shinigami, some formed gangs or started businesses.
In this world, spiritual beings still experience thirst and hunger. Where there was need, there was a market.
Beyond merchants, others soon took up roles, drawing on faint memories and experiences from their past lives in this world. The area around Seireitei quickly transformed into a city-like hub.
The hierarchy of Soul Society began to take shape.
Tap, tap, tap.
Walking down the corridor, Kai soon led Aizen to a classroom door. He opened it.
More than twenty pairs of eyes turned toward him.
"Students, a new classmate joins us today. Please welcome him!"
"Kai-sensei!"
The classroom erupted as Kai entered with an unfamiliar man.
The reason was simple. By tradition, Kai taught at least one class a week. His last class had been just two days ago, so his arrival now was unexpected.
Many students gazed at Kai with admiration. Some women's eyes sparkled, as if they wished to cling to him.
To the students of the Spiritual Arts Academy, Kai was a legend. He was the vice-captain of the Second Division of the Gotei 13—a towering figure.
The Gotei 13 was Soul Society's elite force, with each division capped at two hundred members. Every position was fiercely contested.
Those studying at the main campus or its branches were considered prodigies among the spiritual beings around Seireitei. Yet, even among such talent, especially in the first and second years, geniuses abounded.
To join the Gotei 13, the minimum requirement was to master Zanpakutō liberation—Shikai. Even then, it only granted a chance to apply.
Many students skipped grades in the six-year academy, aiming to graduate as soon as they achieved Shikai. The rush to join the Gotei 13 was intense, driven by fear of missing out.
Only the most talented and confident pursued this path. However, surprises were common. Sometimes, a Zanpakutō's Shikai defied expectations, and those who believed they were ready often fell short.
Joining the Gotei 13 after leaving the academy required significant merit.
Becoming a vice-captain was even more daunting. It demanded not only strength but also the favor of a captain.
To the male students, Kai's ability to secure the vice-captain position under such conditions made him an almost mythical figure.
His legend extended further. The current captain had once been his student, mentored with great care. In just half a year, Kai's guidance led Unohana Retsu to see such promise in her successor that she passed the captain's mantle.
That successor, Soralin, now led both the First and Third Divisions. Her Zanpakutō, Ice Flower Burning Sky, wielded ice and fire and was recognized as the strongest and most ancient. Its ability to freely control temperature was nothing short of terrifying.
( End of this chapter )