Return, Settlement

The streets of the Edo Period bustled with life, packed with people and overflowing with noise.

All kinds of stalls lined the streets—performers, medicine sellers, snack vendors, anything one could want. The crowds flowed like a tide, people weaving through streets and alleys, brushing past one another as though they were somehow familiar.

Peddlers hawked their goods, their cries rising and falling without end. Lanterns swayed in the wind above the streets, casting a bright glow over people's faces. Vendors filled both sides of the road, their calls creating an exceptionally lively scene.

Boom—

A tremendous crash shattered the peaceful scene. The crowd scattered in panic, believing an earthquake had struck.

Yet from a perspective ordinary people could not see, a gigantic black shadow as tall as a building rampaged through the streets. The people dressed in Shinigami Robes with swords at their waists seemed no different from the pedestrians—they were running too.

Lu Li, who was sprinting for his life, looked up at the massive creature chasing him and the other Shinigami. How did things end up like this?

Sōsuke's crow mouth was fucking accurate!

Chasing Lu Li and the other Shinigami was a Gillian, a giant Hollow born from the resentment of souls and formed when over a hundred Hollows devoured one another. It was a low-level Menos Grande.

In the original anime, aside from its debut, when its massive size and setting made readers feel its oppressive presence, it was basically cannon fodder before the protagonists later on—the kind Ichigo Kurosaki could cut down several at once with a single swing.

But by the original setting, a Menos Grande was a monster that needed a Lieutenant-level Shinigami to handle safely. At the very least, it took a Seated Officer to contend with one, and its Reiatsu was probably no lower than rank ten.

Today was Lu Li's first time in the Living World. He had come on a mission with several Shinigami who had graduated alongside him and joined the Fifth Division. He had thought of it as a sightseeing trip, yet they had actually run into a Menos Grande!

Rumble—

The Gillian's enormous body smashed through row after row of wooden houses. It was the lowest-ranked Menos Grande and possessed little intelligence, but its Reiatsu and physical bulk were undeniably real. Lu Li had no effective means of attacking such a colossal creature.

"Mommy—"

Amid the shaking earth, a little girl fell to the ground and reached toward her equally terrified mother for help.

The street had already descended into chaos. Cries and wails blended together, like hell itself.

The two Shinigami on the mission with Lu Li were equally terrified. They had never seen a scene like this at the True Spirit Arts Academy. The Hadō they had learned struck the Gillian like scratches.

Lu Li looked at the crowd ahead. These people had no idea what was happening; all they knew was terror and despair.

When they woke up that morning, they had thought it would be an ordinary day. They had never imagined this would be the end.

As the earth trembled, husbands embraced wives, wives embraced children, as though that could give them the courage to face death. Yet their twisted faces spoke of nothing but their fear of it.

Lu Li glanced at his dwindling remaining time, then turned and slashed out with his blade. At the same time, he shouted, "Retreat east! I'll hold it back and draw it away!"

After Prison Demon entered Shikai, Lu Li charged at the Menos Grande under the shocked gazes of his two Shinigami comrades. His speed allowed him to race across the giant Hollow's body, and flashing blade light carved wound after wound into it.

Lu Li fought his way to the Gillian's head, guiding it toward the outskirts of town.

"Damn it, why did we have to run into a Menos Grande!? Lu-kun is probably..."

One Shinigami stopped to catch his breath. Looking at Lu Li and the Gillian growing farther away, he felt both lingering fear and regret.

In his view, no matter how talented Lu Li was, his Reiatsu was still low. Fighting a Menos Grande at close range would soon get him killed.

"No, Lu-kun is still fighting! He made it to the Menos Grande's head!"

The other Shinigami clenched his fists, his expression excited. "He seems to have wounded the Menos Grande!"

But before two seconds had passed, his face turned ugly. His voice trembled. "A Black Portal... Damn it, the Menos Grande is going back, but Lu-kun is still on it!"

Under their watchful eyes, Lu Li looked like a war god crazed with slaughter as he hacked away atop the Menos Grande's head. Yet in the end, he was helplessly dragged into the Black Portal along with it.

Once the Menos Grande returned to Hueco Mundo through the Black Portal, Lu Li would certainly die!

With tears in his eyes, the Shinigami watched the Black Portal close. Lu Li's figure vanished completely along with the Menos Grande.

Unwilling and furious, he slammed his fist into the ground. "Damn it! It's because we were too weak that Lu-kun had to stay behind!"

Lu Li himself, however, had already reached the end of his remaining time an instant before the Black Portal closed.

The moment the countdown hit zero, his body felt weightless, and everything before him turned white, as though he were traveling through a warm tunnel.

When his vision cleared again, he found himself standing in a square, empty room. The voice of End Space sounded by his ear.

It has been detected that the Explorer has no obvious injuries, no negative status effects, and has passed the Trial World. Begin settlement?

Lu Li moved his arms and legs, marveling at End Space's miraculous nature. It had pulled him away exactly when it said it would—without even the slightest delay.

His Master had once said something when teaching him martial arts: the strong had no obligation to protect the weak, but they had the right to protect them.

He had found those words abstract as a child, and he still did now. Yet he seemed to understand a little of how his Master had felt when saying them.

May his Martial Heart remain clear.

The "company" had torn his family apart, and he knew better than anyone the hardships of being an orphan. So if saving a few families only required a casual effort from him, he was more than happy to give it a try.

More importantly, being chased by a Menos Grande all that way had been truly stifling. Leaving without taking a couple slashes at it to test his blade would have been hard to justify.

And End Space had not disappointed him. According to the description, it had precisely and forcibly pulled him out of the world of Shinigami.

"So this is End Space?"

Lu Li observed his surroundings, thinking that this space was far too small. Was this four-by-four-by-four-meter room really End Space?

This is the personal room of official Explorer No. 404040404. Unauthorized outsiders cannot enter. It is an absolutely safe private space belonging to you. You may decorate it according to your preferences. Expanding its size and adding special items requires Doomsday Coins. Standard furniture is free.

Lu Li understood. This was merely his own private room. Following End Space's guidance, he roughly arranged the room and transformed it into the martial arts school from his previous life.

"What changes are there between an official Explorer and before?"

Lu Li sat down on the sofa he had chosen and asked.

End Space will unlock the Explorer Mark for official Explorers. The Explorer Mark represents an Explorer's identity and provides Storage Space of varying sizes according to the Explorer's rank.

Official Explorers gain access to more detailed system assistance functions, allowing Explorers to better complete missions in various worlds. For details, consult the new permissions in the Official Explorer Manual.

Lu Li looked at his wrist and found that a pale cyan vine tattoo had appeared there, winding around it.

After sensing it briefly, he discovered that he could easily resonate with the mark. There was a small space within it where he could store and retrieve items at any time.

"End Space, settlement."

Having figured out the situation and confirmed that his current location was safe, Lu Li turned his attention to the rewards from this Trial World.

Beginning settlement of Derivative World rewards...

Derivative World: Shinigami

Difficulty: lv.3–??? (Difficult–Certain Death)

World Exploration: 13.6%

Beginning settlement of mission completion for Explorer No. 404040404...

All Main Quests completed. Obtained 3,500 Points and Asauchi ×1 (converted into Prison Demon).

Outstanding completion of Main Quests. Comprehensive Evaluation for this world increased.

Beginning Comprehensive Evaluation of the Explorer's mission in this world...

The Explorer Mark's level is far below this world's overall difficulty level. Rating increased. Explorer experience increased.

Comprehensive Evaluation: S- (Note: Ratings range from E- to S+. Comprehensive Evaluation is primarily calculated based on World Exploration and mission completion and is affected by the comparison between Explorer level and world difficulty.)

Obtained one S- Honor Badge. This badge can be used to exchange for special privileges.

Explorer level increased. Upgraded to lv.3.

Based on the Explorer's Comprehensive Evaluation, choose three of the following six rewards.

A. 5 Free Attribute Points

B. 10,000 Doomsday Coins

C. Rare Random Equipment Chest

D. Rare Random Item Chest

E. Inheritance Crystal (Small) ×3 (Note: Inheritance Crystals can be used to improve skills, Bloodlines, and specialization-type techniques.)

F. Title: Fearless One

Since this was a multiverse anime novel, it was still somewhat different from the old book. If they wanted to visit more anime worlds, they definitely could not clear Shinigami all at once. Otherwise, the power level would rise too quickly, and they would miss out on many low-power anime worlds. So they could only enter each world in stages.

The advantage of doing this was that they could visit the most suitable worlds at every stage of strength. There would not be awkward gaps where their strength restricted them from showing off, and the pacing could be more satisfying.

Don't worry, bros. It won't be long before they return to Shinigami.

Also, if there are any worlds you want to see, feel free to leave a comment. I'll consider adding them within the outline's pacing.