After Kirio Hikifune's induction ceremony concluded, the next phase was the forging of her Ōken, the King's Key born from the Spirit King's own power.
Ichibē Hyōsube acted personally, extending his brush toward the Reiōkyū's inner sanctum and drawing forth a current of the Spirit King's reiryoku from the main chamber of the Soul King Palace.
That reiryoku surged directly into Hikifune's body.
In the same instant, Kirio Hikifune released a cry of pain.
A dense torrent of hyper-condensed spirit particles enveloped her, shaping itself into a radiant cocoon. Inside it, her bones were being broken down and reforged. Only her agonized voice escaped the cocoon's glow.
None of this was unexpected.
The so-called Ōken is not a physical key: it is the entire skeletal structure of a Royal Guard member, reforged by the Reiō's power. Every existing bone in the body is dissolved, and new ones are created from the Spirit King's reiryoku. The suffering that accompanies such total reconstruction is inevitable—pain so intense that even some early Royal Guard candidates failed simply from shock.
And the transformation takes time.
For that reason, Ōetsu Nimaiya, Tenjirō Kirinji, and Shutara Senjumaru did not need to remain. Only Ichibē Hyōsube stayed behind to supervise the creation of Hikifune's Ōken, and, afterward, teach her how to use that foundational reiryoku to form her own Shin'ō Palace—the personal domain granted to every Royal Guard upon ascension.
Ōetsu Nimaiya, Kirinji Tenjirō, and Shutara Senjumaru departed together.
While traveling along the sky-path that connected to the outer districts, Nimaiya let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Man—been a long time since I saw someone getting their bones rebuilt. Last one was when Senjumaru joined us."
He tilted his head with a grin. "Gotta hand it to you, Senjumaru. Compared to me 'n the monk, you've barely been here any time at all and already got to welcome a newcomer."
Tenjirō Kirinji snorted, crossing his arms.
"Speak for yourself. I waited ages before Senjumaru showed up. If she hadn't agreed to join when she did, I'd still be the fresh face in the Royal Guard."
Shutara Senjumaru listened quietly to their reminiscence, offering neither correction nor agreement.
Once Kirinji veered off toward the Eastern Palace—his hot springs and healing domain—only Ōetsu and Senjumaru remained, heading respectively toward the Western Palace and Northern Palace.
Just before they parted, Shutara Senjumaru called out:
"Wangyue."
Ōetsu stopped mid-stride and blinked in mild surprise.
"Huh? Senjumaru? What's up?"
Shutara Senjumaru rarely initiated conversation. Her elegance was cold, immaculate, and distant—something like a flower blooming alone on a high mountain peak. If she spoke, it was rarely trivial.
And this time:
"I want to ask a favor."
A request. And from Senjumaru.
Ōetsu nearly dropped his sunglasses.
"S-Senjumaru… you're askin' me for help? With what?"
"Assistance regarding someone's Zanpakutō."
That got Ōetsu's attention instantly.
"Oh?"
To Ōetsu Nimaiya, creator of every Zanpakutō in existence, nothing was more compelling. But more than the subject matter, another implication hung in Senjumaru's words:
She was not referring to Hikifune.
Meaning—Senjumaru had brought someone else into the Reiōkyū.
Someone who was not a Royal Guard.
Ōetsu raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Well then," he said, voice brightening, "just bring him over. I'll take a look."
Senjumaru nodded and departed for her domain.
⸻
The Northern Palace—the palace of fabrics, mechanisms, and divine attire—belonged to Shutara Senjumaru. Within that vast hall of drifting silk and elaborate looms, Gosuke Shigure walked slowly and observantly.
The layout reminded him of Senjumaru's old chambers in the 12th Division when she had retrieved her Captain's haori all those years ago, but on a scale magnified tenfold. Endless textiles of intricate weave hung weightless in the reishi-dense air.
While wandering, Shigure felt an enormous surge of spiritual pressure from the distant Inner Court of the Spirit King, so oppressive it pressed across the palace like a tidal wave. He knew at once: that was Hikifune's transformation entering its most severe stage.
He did not go to watch.
Instead, he waited quietly.
"Shigure-kun."
A soft, familiar voice called out.
Shigure turned, and there stood Shutara Senjumaru.
He had reminded her multiple times that his current name was Gosuke Shigure, yet for Senjumaru, certain habits were carved deep. Her voice—rarely directed at anyone—still carried the title she had used long ago:
"Shigure-kun."
"You're back, Senjumaru."
She nodded delicately.
"I've already spoken with Ōetsu. I will take you to the Western Palace now."
"Good."
Senjumaru seemed hurried, but that urgency belonged to Shigure.
He was not the one ascending to the Zero Division. He could not remain in the Reiōkyū indefinitely. He needed to accomplish everything he came here to do while the path remained open. If he lingered too long, chaos could erupt in the Soul Society in his absence.
The Royal Guard's palaces were arranged according to the heavenly directions.
Shutara's Northern Palace marked her as the North Divinity.
Ōetsu Nimaiya was the Divinity of the West.
Tenjirō Kirinji ruled the East.
Ichibē sat at the Center.
And the newly ascended Kirio Hikifune would inherit the South.
The North and West were close.
It did not take long to reach Ōetsu's domain—the Western Palace, the birthplace of every Zanpakutō.
Two rows of women—Ōetsu's attendants, the Asauchi Girls—stood at attention to welcome them. Their synchronized voices chimed like bells:
"Welcome, honored guests!"
Shigure blinked at the sudden fanfare.
Senjumaru lifted an eyebrow.
"Wangyue… what is this?"
From behind one of the attendants, Ōetsu Nimaiya appeared, sunglasses gleaming, grinning smugly.
"Hey now, Senjumaru, don't look so frosty! Gotta welcome ya properly."
His gaze slid toward the man standing beside her.
"So you're the one she wants me to help out, huh?"
Before Shigure could answer, Ōetsu vanished in a flicker of speed and reappeared behind him, already examining the cloth on Shigure's shoulders.
His grin widened.
"Well, well! That's a Gotei 13 Captain's haori. And you're from—what's this? The Eleventh Division?"
He cracked a wider smile.
"So that makes you… the new Captain?"
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