"Come, Nanao, pour the guests some sake."
Nanao, the lieutenant of the Eighth Division, was an intellectual woman wearing glasses. While pouring the sake, she discreetly glanced at the man in front of her.
He was young and handsome, with a strangely approachable aura, making it hard to associate him with a terrifying man capable of fighting the Captain-Commander to a draw.
"Thank you." Tenya returned a gentle smile.
Nanao reached up and tucked her hair, pretending to be calm, but her fair cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Oh my. It seems Tenya-kun is quite interested in Lieutenant Ise? Would you like me to help you get her contact information?" Unohana said with narrowed eyes.
"Really?" Tenya's eyes lit up.
"Hey..."
"Don't casually set your sights on my subordinate." Shunsui looked wary.
At the same time, he gave Unohana a strange look. From his understanding of women, he seemed to subtly sense the killing intent coming from her just now.
"Captain Unohana, I've missed you greatly since we last parted." Tenya proactively raised his sake cup to her.
The two of them had a history of knowing each other thoroughly.
"I also wish to spar with Tenya-kun in swordsmanship again." Unohana's voice was as elegant as ever.
"Captain Unohana, seems quite familiar with him?" Soi Fon cast a curious gaze.
"Captain Unohana and I have a very deep connection. Of course, I'm also very happy to be friends with Captain Soi Fon." Tenya responded.
"Your swordsmanship is indeed excellent, but I wonder about your hand-to-hand combat?" Soi Fon was also very interested in him.
Skilled in Hakuda, she considered herself one of the best in the Gotei 13 in the field of hand-to-hand combat.
"Coincidentally, I also know a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat. If there's a chance, I must have a hearty physical exchange with Captain Soi Fon." Tenya drained the sake in his hand in one gulp.
"Then it's a deal." Soi Fon downed the sake boldly.
On the other side, Rukia was being pestered by an old friend.
"Rukia, how did your strength become so great? You actually defeated my Captain too." Rangiku, with her large chest, leaned over with a curious look.
"It's mainly because being by his side makes you stronger, I guess." Rukia was vague.
She only had a partial understanding of the hogyoku's power.
"Being by his side makes you stronger? Can I too?" Rangiku's eyes immediately lit up.
"Getting stronger..."
Momo stayed on the side, muttering to herself and spacing out.
She had been deceived by Aizen before and was almost stabbed by him in the end. Fortunately, thanks to Tenya's protection, she was spared from disaster. At this moment, she had complex feelings for her savior, Tenya.
...
"Tenya-kun. Our meeting is fate."
"Come! Let's finish this pot."
Rangiku held two pots of sake, handing one to Tenya and raising the other herself, drinking it down with gulps.
"Rangiku-san, you are so spirited."
Tenya did not refuse. He picked up the sake pot, and drained it in one go.
"Haha!"
"You are too handsome, what should I do, it's making my heart flutter a bit?"
Rangiku sat down beside him, putting her arm around his shoulder and continuing to drink.
This woman...
Is she trying to use me to get stronger?
Tenya heard Rangiku's inner thoughts. In her heart, she still couldn't forget the defected Ichimaru. She always wanted to chase after Ichimaru, but her strength was limited.
"Action is better than a fluttering heart."
Understanding the other party's intention, Tenya naturally didn't need to be polite with her. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling hard to draw Rangiku into his embrace.
Feeling the pressure of her large chest against him, Tenya revealed a satisfied smile.
"You...!"
A hint of shy anger flashed in Rangiku's eyes.
Don't let her outgoing personality and avant-garde dressing fool you. In reality, she had a pure heart like a young girl.
She was single-mindedly devoted to her childhood sweetheart Ichimaru, and approaching Tenya was merely to gain power, so she could go to Hueco Mundo and reclaim the one she loved.
Tenya was well aware of this, but he didn't seem to care much.
Who said I was talking to you?
What I want is a treasure chest.
[Ding!]
[Discovered Treasure Chest Holder: Matsumoto Rangiku]
[Extract?]
'Extract.'
[SS-Rank Treasure Chest: Fragment of the Soul King]
[Maintaining the balance of the Three Realms, with the Fragment of the Soul King, the holder can obtain shockingly powerful Reiatsu!]
It's this thing?
Interesting.
A hint of surprise flashed in Tenya's eyes.
In the original story, Rangiku carried a Fragment of the Soul King, which was later discovered and taken by Aizen to be used as the core material for creating the hogyoku.
Ichimaru hated Aizen because of this, vowing to take back what belonged to Rangiku one day.
"You, let go of me quickly." Rangiku struggled.
"Let you go, are you sure?" Tenya's mind stirred, and he activated the power of the hogyoku.
"I... Hmm?!" Rangiku's pupils suddenly constricted.
She clearly felt that her body seemed to be injected with some mysterious power, and her Reiatsu was continuously soaring.
"Rangiku, you...?!"
Momo, sitting nearby, keenly sensed the change in her Reiatsu, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"How does it feel? As long as I'm willing, I can immediately let you gain Captain-level Reiatsu." Tenya chuckled.
"This kind of thing..."
"Can it really be done?"
Rangiku's heart trembled, her brows filled with a look of eagerness.
"Of course. Rukia is the best example." Tenya said confidently.
The hogyoku can absorb desires and turn them into reality. Of course, the premise for doing this is that the target itself possesses the potential to realize the desire.
For example, if the hogyoku is used on an ordinary Shinigami, the latter would not be able to obtain powerful Reiatsu, and forceful application would only cause the latter's soul to collapse and self-destruct.
The reason why Rukia was able to become stronger under the influence of the hogyoku was because she herself had the great potential to become a Captain-level Shinigami.
The hogyoku just made her evolve early. Rangiku is no exception. Being able to serve as the Lieutenant of the 10th Division indicates that her talent and strength are not low. Therefore, she can withstand the increase in Reiatsu brought by the hogyoku.
"Rukia, huh..."
Rangiku glanced in the direction of Rukia, remembering how the other party had defeated her Captain's Bankai with Shikai, her strength was incredibly unreasonable.
"Rangiku-san, do you want to gain more power?" Tenya hooked her chin with his finger, staring at her with an invasive gaze.
"..."
Rangiku understood his look and immediately fell silent.
There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. She didn't believe that the other party would be kind enough to enhance her strength for free.
To gain power, she had to pay a price. It's just that this price is a bit too heavy.
"You should think it over carefully."
Seeing this, Tenya did not disturb her inner struggle and actively released her.
"Tenya-kun! I am willing to pay the corresponding price."
Surprisingly, the taciturn Momo suddenly spoke, looking at him with bright eyes.
"Oh?"
"Momo-chan, have you thought it through?"
Tenya was startled at first, then after reading her thoughts, he immediately understood her true purpose.
To gain power...
And then stab Aizen back.
Once upon a time, as much as she loved that man, she now hated that man just as much. A typical case of love turning to hate.
"Momo, you?"
Seeing her good friend by her side getting ahead, Rangiku immediately became anxious. Her previously conflicted heart instantly made a decision.
"I am willing to pay any price."