Maybe They Really Could Turn Things Around

Soul Society.

As Ross continued to stay out of sight, undercurrents began stirring within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

Fortunately, Kirisuke Tōshirō publicly stated in the 12th Division that, under Ross's guidance, research into the fusion of vessel particles and Spirit Particles had achieved a small breakthrough, and the stabilization of Soul Society was within reach.

Immediately afterward, Mayuri Kurotsuchi also gave a rare definitive answer.

Before Soul Society completely collapsed, they would certainly find a solution.

Even taking the worst-case scenario into account, if they could not solve it, Soul Society could simply merge into Captain-General Ross's world like Hueco Mundo had. That would directly stabilize the world's foundational structure.

The statements from these two heavyweights were like twin pillars holding up the sea, truly calming a large portion of the Shinigami who had chosen to trust Ross and dispersing the gloom that had hung over them for days.

But the human heart had always been the hardest thing to predict.

Those whose anxiety had already been quietly stirred up by the Kuchiki Clan, along with those born prone to needless worry, became even more terrified.

After all, these two public declarations not only offered solutions, but also proved one thing.

The collapse of Soul Society passed down through the Kuchiki Clan, which Ross had continually avoided answering directly, was not only real—it was already happening.

Even with several powerful Captains suppressing matters from above, people still began making secret connections, contacting those in other divisions whose resolve had wavered with the Kuchiki Clan's help.

Compared to the looming crisis of world destruction, the internal conflicts and factional divisions among the Shinigami caused by differing ideals seemed far less important at this moment.

Whether humans or Shinigami, most groups were blindly conformist, easily swept along by prevailing trends or