These souls turned into pure white streaks of light in midair.
Like a meteor shower in reverse, they surged into the pillar of light from the Era Spirit Tree.
Following the "bridge" that connected the two realms, they carried their longing for family and friends as they traveled toward Spirit Capital in the human world.
Somewhere high in the Underworld.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki sat cross-legged on Centipede Sage's head, watching the scene as he murmured softly with deep emotion:
"Only Lord Imu and the World Government could accomplish something like this."
At the same time, Enma, Abe no Seimei, Kikyo, Ymir, and the other gods of the Underworld...
As well as Emori, Harald, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Tatsumi, Kagami Uchiha, King Hassan, and the others...
All turned their gazes toward the pillar of light rushing into the dark red sky.
Over in Spirit Capital.
Mikasa lifted her head, tears blurring her vision.
She knew that among those "meteors," there had to be two people she missed day and night.
"Eren. Armin."
"Sister."
Not far away, Shinobu Kocho was also gripping Giyu Tomioka's hand tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
And along the long, winding edge of Wano Island's coastline...
One translucent barrier after another rose out of thin air without warning, reaching from earth to sky.
These barriers gave off a faint pale-blue glow, like a massive inverted glass bowl, enveloping the entire island within.
This was the "Three Realms Rotation: Eternal Rest Barrier" that the Yin-Yang Bureau had arranged in advance.
It offered no obstruction at all to the living or to physical objects.
But it could prevent any soul from entering or leaving at will.
This was to ensure that this "Zhongyuan Soul Return" could proceed in an orderly manner within a controllable range.
And to prevent any dead spirits from