Time passed, second by second.
Gunjo still did not appear.
Shuren and the others could no longer sense his reiatsu either.
At last, they began to believe that Gunjo really had been completely erased by this Shinigami, never to revive again.
Shuren sighed helplessly and finally lowered that pitiful pride of his.
Submitting to the Shinigami before him, he said.
"Fine. In that case, what do you want us to do?"
The Shinigami smiled faintly and nodded in satisfaction.
"See? That's more like it. If you had cooperated earlier, that tentacle freak wouldn't have had to die. Honestly, what I need you to do isn't difficult."
Shuren frowned in confusion.
"What is it?"
Kazuma revealed a mysterious smile and slowly said, "Hell is far too big. I need to find a few Shinigami like me."
"That's it?" Shuren looked doubtful.
"That's right. I'm just looking for people," the Shinigami confirmed.
Shuren felt a surge of regret.
Just for something so trivial, this Shinigami had cruelly killed one of his subordinates.
"There shouldn't be many Shinigami who have come to Hell. They should be easy to find, shouldn't they?" Shuren asked in confusion.
"Then why don't you go search yourself?" Shuren snapped back.
"I'm lazy. I don't feel like moving and Hell is huge. Is that reason good enough?"
Kazuma answered with complete confidence.
"You…"
Shuren was so angry he could not speak.
Kazuma continued, "Besides, I'm not familiar with this place, so I'll still need to rely on you. As long as you help me find the other Shinigami, I'll let you go. Of course, if you dare try anything funny…"
A chill flashed through Kazuma's eyes.
"Then don't blame me for being rude."
Shuren gritted his teeth, but in the end, he agreed.
He knew they had no other choice now.
Rather than be tortured to death by Kazuma over and over, it was better to compromise for the time being and look for a chance to escape later.
...
Time continued to pass.
Shuren led his subordinates and began a carpet-style search through Hell, refusing to let even the smallest clue slip by.
Kazuma and Rukia, meanwhile, could only wait helplessly.
They had no way of knowing how long this long wait would last.
There was no distinction between day and night in Hell, so they could not tell how much time had passed.
Then, Taikon suddenly appeared in front of them, with a Shinigami following behind him.
This Shinigami wore a captain's haori, making him especially eye-catching.
His skin was dark, giving him a distinctive charm that made people instinctively take a second look.
His eyes were deep, as though they could see through everything.
Kazuma studied the Shinigami Taikon had brought over with great interest, a teasing smile appearing on his face.
"Yo, tanned guy. Long time no see. How's life in Hell been treating you? Nobody's been bullying you, right?"
The newcomer was Chika Shihōin.
Originally, he had been quietly staying in some corner of Hell.
But that day, a fat man had suddenly come looking for him.
The fat man told him that a Shinigami had entered Hell to search for old friends who had fallen here.
At first, Chika Shihōin did not believe those words at all.
He had even killed Taikon countless times. But in the end, he helplessly followed the fat man over to see exactly who else had fallen into Hell.
Hearing Kazuma's voice, Chika froze for a moment.
Then his eyes widened in surprise.
"And here I was wondering who it might be. Kazuma, did you die too? In all three worlds, there's actually someone capable of killing you?"
Kazuma rolled his eyes and answered irritably, "Don't talk nonsense! I'm not dead. Look at me. Do I look like someone who died and fell into Hell? Let me tell you, I forced my way in here."
"Chika Shihōin? He… he's the first-generation captain of the Second Division, isn't he? Sensei, Captain Shihōin is your old friend?"
Rukia, who stood beside Kazuma, looked at this mysterious and handsome man with a face full of surprise and curiosity.
Chika Shihōin also smiled at the adorable girl, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
"Mm, that's me. Little girl, what's your name?"
"My name is Rukia, Captain Shihōin!" Rukia answered nervously, her voice even trembling a little.
Kazuma smiled and patted Rukia's head, comforting her.
"No need to be so stiff. Tanned guy here is easy to get along with."
Only then did Rukia relax, revealing a sweet smile.
"She's your new disciple?" Chika Shihōin asked, looking at Kazuma.
"Not quite. I only taught her some Zanjutsu," Kazuma explained with a smile. "But she really is a good seedling."
Chika Shihōin nodded in agreement.
"Mm, I can see that. If she earned your approval, then this girl's talent must be quite good."
Kazuma then added, "Oh, right, tanned guy. Rukia is Kōga Kuchiki's niece."
Hearing Kōga Kuchiki's name, Chika Shihōin paused slightly, but he quickly regained his calm.
"So she's from the Kuchiki Clan. No wonder…"
Rukia said respectfully, "Captain Shihōin, it is an honor to meet you."
Chika Shihōin laughed heartily.
"No need to be so polite, Rukia."
"All right. I came to Hell looking for you all because there's something I need. I didn't come here just to reminisce."
Kazuma's expression turned serious.
"What matter is important enough for you to force your way into Hell to find us?" Chika Shihōin frowned slightly, his tone carrying a trace of doubt.
Rukia tactfully stepped aside.
She knew there were certain matters she was not qualified to hear yet.
However, her curiosity toward Kazuma grew even stronger.
If he was friends with the first-generation captains, then didn't that mean Kazuma was also an ancient monster? He definitely was not merely over three hundred years old, as the spiritual records claimed.
"Of course it's important," Kazuma said in a deep voice. "Do you still remember Yhwach?"
Hearing that name, Chika's expression immediately turned grave.
Of course he remembered the King of the Quincy.
"Back then, the Captain-Commander did not kill him completely. He merely fell into a deep sleep," Kazuma continued. "Now, it seems he has already awakened."
"So I hope you can return to the World of the Living with me and kill him again."
Kazuma looked at Chika seriously.
He still held a grudge over how Yhwach had ambushed him a thousand years ago.
Chika Shihōin was silent for a moment.
Finally, he nodded.
"I can go back with you. But we cannot remain in the World of the Living for long. Besides, we are still bound by Hell."
As he spoke, he pointed at the chains of Hell wrapped around his body.
Kazuma let out a breath of relief.
He knew that as long as Chika agreed, his chances of success had increased again.
His future plans would be much easier to carry out too.
"That's all? I'll just cut it off." Kazuma spoke casually.
"Cut it off? Do you think we haven't tried? These can't be cut," Chika Shihōin said, shaking his head.
"Not necessarily."
Kazuma smiled confidently and opened the Hokushin Domain once more.
At the same time, the Zanpakutō in his hand released a powerful aura.
Kazuma swung his Zanpakutō.
A purple flash cut through the air, instantly severing the chains of Hell wrapped around Chika Shihōin.
The moment the chains broke, Chika felt his entire body become light.
Did this mean he had come back to life?
"Is this a new ability you developed for your Zanpakutō? It can actually sever Hell's shackles?"
Chika Shihōin's eyes widened as he asked in disbelief.
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