Setsuna's explanation to Kisuke about the 'sealed Hollow of destruction within his body' was not loud, yet it was like throwing two massive boulders into a calm lake.
In the hearts of Aizen and Yoruichi, listening nearby, it stirred up towering waves.
They had always known Setsuna was strong, abnormally so. They had also vaguely felt that Setsuna seemed to bear some unknown secret or goal.
But the truth of 'using oneself as a vessel to seal an ultimate Menos Grande capable of destroying the universe' still far exceeded their imagination.
Yoruichi looked at Setsuna's profile as he narrated calmly. That familiar face now seemed to her to be coated with a heavy and tragic halo.
'Has he been enduring this pressure all alone? To prevent that kind of monster from destroying the world, he turned himself into a cage imprisoning the monster? Enduring erosion and pain every moment?'
A surge of emotion, mixing heartache, admiration, and an indescribable bitterness, welled up in Yoruichi's heart.
She looked towards the distant, faint outlines of the noble estates. The anger and disappointment that had arisen in her heart because of Tokinada now burned into a raging fire of extreme disgust.
'Setsuna is under this kind of pressure to protect this world, still trying to find a way out. And those so-called nobles? They are just a bunch of parasites holding everyone back, stumbling blocks for Setsuna and everyone who truly wants to change this world!'
For the first time, she so clearly realized that what Setsuna wanted to 'cleanse' might not just be a few corrupt individuals, but the entire rigid, decaying old order that hindered progress.
And she, as the daughter of the Shihoin Clan, as the Lieutenant of the 11th Division, must never become his burden. Instead, she must become his support.
She needed to get stronger, to understand the dark side of this world better, to help him sweep away those damn parasites!
Unlike Yoruichi's outward anger and determination, Aizen's reaction was more introverted, yet deeper.
He had always considered himself Setsuna's 'shadow', viewing him as his goal, his elder brother, his guide to a higher realm.
His desire for power, to break boundaries, to surpass the Soul King, was largely inspired by Setsuna's unfathomable strength and his vision that seemed to always see further into the future.
He had thought that what he needed to catch up to was the power Setsuna demonstrated.
But now he understood.
What Setsuna demonstrated was far more than power. It was the boldness and wisdom to actively seek a way out, even to try and control that power of destruction, while in such a desperate situation.
'Setsuna-nii, have you been walking such a dangerous and great path all along?'
An unprecedented pressure, like a mountain, fell upon Aizen's heart.
'If even someone like Setsuna-nii needed to resort to the taboo-breaking technique of 'Shinigami Hollowfication' to find a chance for survival.'
'Then the importance of this research simply surpassed all existing topics in the Soul Society!'
'It was the key to 'transcendence', and possibly the only hope to save the world.'
'I must help Setsuna-nii complete the research on 'Shinigami Hollowfication'. No, not just to help him, but also to prove myself, to prove that I, Aizen Sosuke, am worthy of being his shadow, worthy of standing alongside him, to face that cosmic-level threat, to pioneer that new world beyond the Soul King!'
Across from Setsuna, Kisuke was silent.
The laziness, evasion, and cynicism on his face vanished without a trace at this moment.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with a nearly reverent, blazing light.
"To seal that kind of ultimate Menos Grande, capable of destroying the universe, within one's own body – what courage, what resolve, and what... loneliness and pain. Captain Chiaki, I truly cannot express my admiration in words."
He took a deep breath, as if making a certain decision. "To be honest with you, I, Urahara Kisuke, have lived all these years, considering myself fairly smart, but I always felt that people should just follow their fate, find some fun within the rules, and live comfortably. Changing the world, defying fate… those were just stories in books. But today, I saw it."
"I saw someone truly daring to 'defy fate and change destiny'. Not for personal gain, not for power or glory, but to nip destruction in the bud, to leave hope for the masses who are completely unaware of all this. In comparison, my little cleverness and laziness are simply ridiculous and pathetic."
Kisuke said solemnly, "If my wisdom can truly help you, help this world, find that path to control the Hollow and avoid destruction, then I am willing to dedicate all my intellect, to join you in unraveling this most difficult issue concerning the survival of the world!"
Setsuna smiled slightly, 'Urahara Kisuke was still that Urahara Kisuke. In small matters, he might muddle through, but in matters of righteousness, he never shirked.'
"Welcome aboard."
…
11th Division, Deep Research Lab.
The air here was thick with the smell of complex Reishi Solvents. Countless precision instruments flickered with various colors. The walls were plastered with papers covered in complex formulas and hasty ideas.
Mayuri was scratching his head over a set of bewilderingly complex Reishi Flow Charts and a pile of experimental data, muttering incessantly, "No... The ratio of the spiritual stabilizer has been optimized to the theoretical limit. Why does the 'perceptual expansion coefficient' still show a cliff-like drop in the seventh phase? Is it a tolerance issue with the carrier soul? Or a paradoxical effect of time dilation itself..."
Just then, Setsuna walked in with Kisuke and Aizen.
"Kurotsuchi, how is the progress?" Setsuna's voice made Mayuri look up sharply.
Seeing it was Setsuna, the displeasure at being interrupted in his eyes quickly transformed into a complex mix of irritation and desire to show off. After all, this Captain was his most important 'project provider' and 'ultimate test subject'.
"Captain Chiaki, you've come at the right time!" Mayuri waved the data pad in his hand. "The advanced version of the [Superhuman Drug] is stuck at the soul-bearing limit of the seventh phase. Theoretically, a perception acceleration of a thousand years per second is feasible, but all existing soul reinforcement plans are garbage. The souls of those test subjects are as fragile as paper!"
There was a hint of barely perceptible expectation in his complaining tone, as if he hoped Setsuna could bring some 'special' inspiration or material again.
"This is Urahara Kisuke, a newly joined researcher of the 11th Division," Setsuna introduced, stepping aside.
"Researcher?" Mayuri narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze scanning Kisuke up and down like a scanner.
Being in the same 11th Division did not create a sense of camaraderie in him. Instead, it aroused a stronger territorial awareness and competitive spirit.
This was his research domain!