Whitewashing

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who had slaughtered countless living beings, needed only one glance at Hibiki Hoshino's injuries to see that he had indeed been gravely wounded by a powerful attack and died because he could not accept the immense disparity.

Of course, if Ailin's final strike had not been raised and had instead punched a hole through Hibiki Hoshino's head, what Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto would have thought would have been another matter entirely.

"Vice-Captain Ailin, you performed outstandingly in this subjugation mission."

"If there is anything you require, you may ask this old man. I will consider granting it."

In the Captain-Commander's office, none of the captains reacted much to Captain-Commander Yamamoto's words.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto had always believed that maintaining the stability of the Seireitei was the responsibility of every Soul Reaper in the Gotei 13.

Since they enjoyed the privileges of being superior to ordinary people as Soul Reapers, they naturally bore the responsibility and obligation to give everything for the Seireitei.

Among them, the captains of the Gotei 13 stood at the very pinnacle of all Soul Reapers. Completing any mission was simply their duty.

Ailin was currently only a Vice-Captain, yet he had exceeded expectations by completing a subjugation mission that might not have been possible even with captains deployed. The captains had no objections to rewarding him.

There's actually something this good?

Regarding the Captain-Commander's promise, Ailin immediately made his request.

"Captain-Commander, after this battle, I feel that my Kidō still requires improvement. Therefore, I would like to enter the Kidō Corps library and study more advanced Kidō. I hope you will grant permission."

In truth, now that Ailin had copied all the captains' Zanpakuto, so long as he was given time to forge them all and fully absorb and integrate their owners' experience, his limits would rise without end.

However, Zanjutsu, Shunpo, and Hakuda could still be attributed to exceptional talent.

But without higher-level Kidō incantations, the advanced Kidō Ailin knew would become unauthorized techniques that he could not cast.

His request now was meant to legitimize the advanced Kidō he would use in the future.

Once he entered the Kidō Corps library, who could possibly know how many Kidō incantations he had memorized?

"Very well, Vice-Captain Ailin. I will personally explain the matter to Great Kidō Commander Tetsusai Gantetsusai and have him allow you to study Kidō in the Kidō Corps for three months. During that time, the Kidō Corps library will be fully open to you, except for Forbidden Jutsu."

"Furthermore, should you have any questions, you may ask Great Kidō Commander Tetsusai Gantetsusai and Vice Great Kidō Commander Hachigen Ushōda."

"Yes."

The next three months were the most comfortable Ailin had felt since becoming a Soul Reaper.

With the Captain-Commander's special permission, Ailin did not need to carry out missions. Every night, he forged some of the Zanpakuto he had copied, then absorbed the experience of their owners.

During the day, he reported to the Kidō Corps, studying Kidō incantations and casting techniques.

Every day, Ailin's spiritual pressure grew.

Yet his control over his spiritual pressure improved as well. Since Ailin kept his spiritual pressure at the same level throughout, no one noticed the changes in him.

One day, when Ailin emerged from the Kidō Corps, he saw Ginrei Kuchiki standing before its gates.

"Captain Kuchiki?"

In the Soul Society night, a full moon hung overhead.

With his fingers interlaced behind his head and a toothpick in his mouth, Ailin strolled leisurely toward the Second Division.

The reason Ailin was returning so late today was that he had spoken with Ginrei Kuchiki for quite some time on his way back.

As Ailin had expected, the discussion revolved around the Kuchiki Clan and the Sixth Division.

Ginrei Kuchiki was already advanced in years, his son Sōjun Kuchiki had suffered misfortune, and his eldest grandson Byakuya Kuchiki was still young...

The only way for the Kuchiki Clan to remain powerful and avoid becoming a target for the nobles coveting them in secret was for his daughter, Haruko Kuchiki, to bring a powerful son-in-law into the family.

Hibiki Hoshino, whom Ginrei Kuchiki had previously favored, had become a traitor and was executed at Ailin's hands.

Fortunately, Haruko Kuchiki and Ailin shared some friendship. When Ginrei Kuchiki had held a Squad Funeral for his son Sōjun Kuchiki, Ailin and Haruko Kuchiki had received guests together. Ginrei had even thought Ailin had agreed to marry into the Kuchiki Clan.

But unexpectedly, three months passed without Ailin showing any intention of visiting his future father-in-law. Puzzled, Ginrei Kuchiki sought out Haruko Kuchiki, only to learn that when she had invited Ailin last time, it had merely been as a friend, not as a prospective son-in-law of the Kuchiki Clan.

Thus, after learning that Ailin was at the Kidō Corps, Ginrei Kuchiki had gone directly to wait at its entrance.

"Marrying into the Kuchiki Clan..."

After returning to his quarters, Ailin did not practice Blade Zen for the first time in a long while.

Five years ago, before Ailin had successfully nurtured his own Zanpakuto, his greatest wish had been to live safely until old age.

The stronger one's spiritual pressure, the longer one's lifespan.

With Ailin's spiritual pressure at the time, he could expect to live to around two hundred.

But after awakening his true ability, with his current Captain-level spiritual pressure, his lifespan was around five hundred years.

Moreover, as Ailin's strength increased, his life would only grow longer.

So what was Ailin's dream now?

Tilting his head, Ailin looked through his window at the full moon in the sky.

Figures from the world of Soul Reapers surfaced in Ailin's mind one after another.

Aizen Sosuke, Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen...

The Espada of Hueco Mundo, the Visored, Ichigo Kurosaki, the Bount, the Quincy of the Wandenreich...

Yhwach's Royal Guard...

Yhwach, those few within the Soul King Palace...

And—Ichibei Hyosube...

Now that he possessed an EX-Rank ability like Unlimited Blade Works, if he did not exchange a few moves with those people who had left such remarkable impressions in his heart, Ailin himself would feel that he had crossed into this world for nothing.

Ailin even thought further than that.

The limit of this world was the Spirit King.

Could he break through that limit?

Slowly, Ailin raised his hand.

Through the disparity in perspective, Ailin seemed to clasp the full moon in the sky within his palm.

"Captain Yoruichi, sorry for coming to see you at this hour."

The next day, Ailin sought out Yoruichi. The two sat facing each other in the Second Division Captain's office.

"What is it, Vice-Captain Ailin? Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes. Although I have spent quite some time in the Second Division, Lord Yoruichi, I still want to take another step forward."

Ailin did not hide anything from Shihoin Yoruichi. He briefly told her about Ginrei Kuchiki coming to see him.

Ailin could at most be a Vice-Captain in the Second Division.

Now that Ailin openly said he wanted to take another step forward, it meant that he aspired to become a captain.