Before heading to Hell, Asano Kiyoshi needed to report to Captain-Commander, because Hell was slightly different from other places.
Inside the First Squad captain's office, Captain-Commander looked at Asano Kiyoshi. No emotion could be read from his face as he said to him,
"What are you going to Hell for this time?"
Asano Kiyoshi pondered for a moment before deciding to tell Captain-Commander the truth.
"There seems to be an unusual connection between my Zanpakuto and Hell. It seems that unless I go to Hell, my strength cannot improve."
Listening to Asano Kiyoshi's explanation, Captain-Commander stroked his beard, then opened his eyes and glanced at the Zanpakuto hanging at Asano Kiyoshi's waist.
"Your Zanpakuto truly is rather unusual, to actually resonate with a place like Hell. You know that Hell is not within the Soul King's control."
Asano Kiyoshi nodded. Captain-Commander had told him before that Hell differed from the other Three Realms; it was the only world not controlled by the Soul King.
It was like a fish tank. Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Living World formed one large goldfish, while Hell was the small goldfish.
Of the worlds, the large goldfish belonged to the Soul King, while the smaller one seemed to possess an awareness of its own, making it a world entirely different from the other three.
An indescribable glint flashed in Captain-Commander's opened eyes as he looked at Asano Kiyoshi.
"Do you know? When the environment for growth is fixed, only when the large goldfish dies can the small goldfish have room to grow further. And you are an important part of that large goldfish. Many times, the small goldfish will want very badly to keep you there and make you part of its flesh and blood."
Asano Kiyoshi gave a wry smile and shook