Marechiyo Ōmaeda

"I call this thing I created the 'Tenshintai.'"

"As long as a Soul Reaper inserts their Zanpakuto into the Tenshintai, this thing..."

Tapping the humanoid dummy on the ground, Urahara Kisuke could not help but grin.

Creating something like this was indeed enough to make Urahara Kisuke proud.

"This thing can manifest a Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto in their place."

After hearing Urahara Kisuke's words, Yoruichi stroked her chin and nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. In fact, many Vice-Captains possess considerable strength, but their spiritual pressure is insufficient to manifest their Zanpakuto, so they have never been able to complete Bankai."

"If the Tenshintai can manifest a Zanpakuto in place of a Soul Reaper, then at least half again as many people in the Soul Society will be able to train for Bankai."

"No, not that many."

Urahara Kisuke shook his head. "Although most Soul Reapers are stuck at the step of manifesting their Zanpakuto, making the Zanpakuto submit is no easier than manifesting it."

"Even if those people use the Tenshintai to successfully manifest their Zanpakuto, it would already be impressive if two or three out of ten could make their Zanpakuto submit and train it into Bankai."

"And..."

At this point, Urahara Kisuke scratched his head and chuckled foolishly. "Since my Tenshintai does not use the Soul Reaper's own spiritual pressure to manifest the Zanpakuto, it is best to make the Zanpakuto submit within three days."

"After three days, the manifested Zanpakuto will go berserk because its spiritual pressure does not match the Soul Reaper's. At that point..."

Hearing Urahara Kisuke's final words, Yoruichi folded her arms. "The Zanpakuto goes berserk? Urahara, is this thing of yours a failed product?"

A manifested Zanpakuto going berserk was practically the greatest disaster possible for a Soul Reaper.

For most Soul Reapers, eighty percent or even more of their strength lay in their Zanpakuto.

Soul Reapers could call out their Zanpakuto's name and release it. The first stage of release could raise a Soul Reaper's spiritual pressure three to fivefold and allow them to use their Zanpakuto's abilities.

The captains who had completed Bankai training were better off. Their compatibility with their Zanpakuto had reached an extremely high level, allowing them to use Shikai without calling out their Zanpakuto's name.

But for those who had not yet completed Bankai training, if their manifested Zanpakuto went berserk and refused to respond to them, they would not even be able to release their Zanpakuto.

In other words, if a Soul Reaper using the Tenshintai to train for Bankai could not complete their Bankai training within three days, they would never even be able to use Shikai again.

What puzzled Yoruichi was that, with Urahara Kisuke's abilities, he should not have been capable of creating a tool with such severe side effects.

If a Tenshintai without side effects had a practicality rating of one hundred, then one with this side effect did not even have a rating of one.

Not everyone had the courage to gamble everything they had in the future on one final leap forward.

And even if they had that courage, they might not have enough strength to make their Zanpakuto submit within three days.

This created a "paradox."

Those who could make their manifested Zanpakuto submit within three days had no need for the Tenshintai at all. They could manifest their Zanpakuto themselves, gradually grow stronger, win over their Zanpakuto, and achieve Bankai.

Those who could not make their Zanpakuto submit within three days would only suffer a tremendous loss in strength after using the Tenshintai, unable even to use Shikai.

Put another way, this Tenshintai could only be used by geniuses with enormous potential who did not wish to waste time training for Bankai.

"Oh my, you saw right through it, Yoruichi."

After making a silly face at Yoruichi, Urahara Kisuke turned serious. "I did it on purpose."

As a researcher, Urahara Kisuke was naturally drawn to pursue the unknown.

But the more he learned, the more confused he became.

This period was also the most bewildered time of Urahara Kisuke's life.

In that state of mind, some of the things Urahara Kisuke invented were like the Tenshintai—things of great use that, in practice, were not useful at all.

As Urahara Kisuke's childhood friend, Shihoin Yoruichi naturally knew about his current condition.

However, she said nothing and simply stayed quietly by Urahara Kisuke's side.

"Let's go, Yoruichi-san. If I remember correctly, the Vice-Captain's challenge is today, right?"

"Mm, let's go. Let's see whether this little guy truly has strength to match his courage..."

Several hundred people had gathered in the Second Division's training grounds.

After three days of publicity, everyone knew that Ailin, who had recently risen to fame in the Second Division, had challenged Vice-Captain Marechiyo Ōmaeda today.

Seat Officer challenges in the Second Division happened once every few years, but it had been nearly two hundred years since anyone had challenged the Vice-Captain.

This was not merely because of the Shihoin Family's trust in the Omaeda Family. Marechiyo Ōmaeda's strength was also enough to suppress most people.

It could be said that in the entire Second Division, aside from Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke, Marechiyo Ōmaeda was the strongest.

Standing in the very center of the training grounds, Ailin closed his eyes and focused.

If the Second Division's Vice-Captain had been Urahara Kisuke, he would never have considered issuing a challenge.

After all, there might be no one in this world who understood that man better than he did.

But if it was only Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Ailin did not believe he would lose.

"Hey, hey, hey. You're the little runt who wants to challenge me?"

Just as Ailin rested with his eyes closed, a deep voice rang out behind him.

Opening his eyes, Ailin felt as though an enormous shadow had engulfed him.

Tilting his head up slightly, Ailin saw a man several heads taller than himself.

His brown pompadour, height of nearly three meters, and massive body even fatter than that of an ordinary person gave off immense pressure.

The current Vice-Captain of the Second Division—Marechiyo Ōmaeda!

"Yes, it's me. I hope Vice-Captain Ōmaeda will offer me some guidance shortly."

"Hahahaha! Little guy, you're not bad. You've got guts and spirit!"

To Ailin's surprise, Marechiyo Ōmaeda did not insult him for challenging him and seeking to take his position as Vice-Captain. Instead, he happily patted Ailin on the shoulder.

"As your senior, nothing makes me happier than seeing you juniors surpass us."

"Little guy, I like you."

"After this battle, win or lose, I'll treat you to a drink!"

After saying that, Marechiyo Ōmaeda laughed heartily as he passed Ailin and walked to the opposite side of the training grounds.

However, once he had passed Ailin, Marechiyo Ōmaeda's face immediately turned serious.

This brat isn't simple!