Vice-Captains' Soul Abilities

In fact, the Seireitei does possess a ritual, or rather a special spiritual technique, known as the union of man and sword.

However, this spiritual technique is a forbidden art among forbidden arts, and Shinigami are unable to use it.

In the history of the Seireitei, someone did use this forbidden art, but that was 350 years ago.

At that time, a member named Umebari used the forbidden art of the union of man and sword to integrate his Zanpakuto into his soul, but its power was too immense for a soul at the Shinigami level to bear.

The intense pain drove Umebari mad, and he directly killed sixty-three teammates, including the Vice-Captain!

Immediately after, the Gotei 13 dispatched several Captains to apprehend him, but he ended up killing two of them. The remaining Captains joined forces to seal him.

This is the consequence of rashly using forbidden arts!

The union of man and sword is simply not a realm that Shinigami can touch. If one forcibly tries to enter this realm, their physical body cannot withstand it, leading to madness!

However, through Isshin Shiba's ability, Gaoyu could directly enter this realm.

But this ability requires Isshin Shiba's favorability to reach eighty to be useful. If it's not eighty, using it will consume all of one's Spiritual Power.

Just like Ichigo Kurosaki, who became an ordinary person after fighting Aizen.

Gaoyu didn't want to become like that.

Therefore, maintaining a good relationship with Isshin Shiba is crucial.

"Yo, Gaoyu!"

Rangiku greeted Gaoyu when she saw him, "You really became a Vice-Captain! That's amazing!"

"Not at all, it's just that Captain Aizen thinks highly of me," Gaoyu smiled. "My current skill level is still far from that of a Vice-Captain."

Isshin Shiba, standing next to Rangiku, stroked his chin and looked at Gaoyu curiously. "So you're Gaoyu Kouun. Rangiku has been mentioning you a lot lately, and you're the mastermind behind the soul disappearance case. You truly are a talented individual."

"Captain Shiba flatters me," Gaoyu quickly said humbly. "Captain Shiba comes from a prestigious family and became a Captain long ago. I am nowhere near his level."

"Excessive humility can turn into arrogance," Isshin Shiba chuckled, then looked at Aizen and said, "Sosuke, congratulations on discovering another genius."

Aizen smiled and nodded, then said, "Gaoyu-kun is indeed a genius."

Gaoyu felt a bit embarrassed by the praise from the two of them. He followed behind them without speaking, while Rangiku chattered about random things.

Finally, Sosuke Aizen and Isshin Shiba entered the First Division's office, while the Vice-Captains waited in the room next door.

Gaoyu and Rangiku walked in and found several people already there.

Judging by the armbands on their arms, they were the Vice-Captains of the First, Fourth, and Sixth Divisions. It seemed they had arrived quite early.

The Vice-Captain of the First Division is Chōjirō Sasakibe, an old fellow of two to three thousand years who has been by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's side since before the Gotei 13 was established.

Chōjirō Sasakibe's Soul Ability is 'Permanent Scar'.

'Permanent Scar: Unleash an attack that leaves an eternal scar on the enemy.'

Heh, it's fitting for an ultimate background character. His Soul Ability is derived from Captain-Commander Yamamoto's scars.

One of the two crossed scars on Genryūsai Yamamoto's head was left by Chōjirō Sasakibe.

So, this is the origin of Soul Abilities?

It's rather absurd.

The Fourth Division Vice-Captain Yūne Kotetsu's Soul Ability was previously stated as 'No More Growing', and the current Sixth Division Vice-Captain is named 'Ginjiro', whose Soul Ability is 'Glasses Designer'.

'Glasses Designer: Can design various styles of glasses. By injecting different Reiatsu and abilities, the designed glasses can possess corresponding characteristics.'

Ginjiro was the Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division before Renji, and he was one of the rare members who could 'retire' from the Gotei 13.

The Gotei 13 is actually an organization that does not allow 'leaving'. Shinigami who leave are arrested by the punishment force and thrown into prison.

However, once one reaches the Captain level, a Shinigami's status rises dramatically, to the point where it's like heaven and earth compared to ordinary Shinigami.

Things that ordinary Shinigami cannot do are not necessarily forbidden for Captain-level Shinigami. Retiring is not a major issue as long as one surrenders their Zanpakuto.

It's no wonder some people strive desperately to climb up. Those at the bottom are just laborers their entire lives, and they can't even stop being laborers if they wanted to.

At this point in time, the members of each division of the Gotei 13 are not yet very familiar with each other, so the Vice-Captain's room is very quiet, with almost no one speaking.

Gaoyu and Rangiku's arrival also broke this quiet atmosphere, mainly because Gaoyu didn't want to break the 'rules' on his first day.

He just took office today, so he shouldn't act rashly. He'll just make himself known first.

Didn't you see that even the usually boisterous Rangiku wasn't talking much?

After a while, the Vice-Captains from each division had all arrived.

The Thirteenth Division Vice-Captain, Shiba Kaien, has the Soul Ability named 'Similar Appearance'.

'Similar Appearance: Designate one person. After use, transform into a similar appearance to the target, including their Reiatsu and abilities.'

This was within Gaoyu's expectations, as Shiba Kaien's most prominent feature is having a face almost identical to the protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki.

The Twelfth Division Vice-Captain is Nemu Kurotsuchi, whose Soul Ability is 'Gikon Kaizō'.

'Gikon Kaizō: Permanently reduce a portion of one's soul to permanently enhance a certain part of one's body.'

This is also Nemu Kurotsuchi's physical attribute, as she herself is an 'artificial soul' created by the Twelfth Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and the most perfect creation of the 'Sleep Project'.

The Eleventh Division Vice-Captain is Yachiru Kusajishi, whose Soul Ability is 'Zanpakuto Incarnation'.

'Zanpakuto Incarnation: Splits one's Bankai into a tangible form with a corresponding name.'

'Note: If the affinity is less than eighty, the split Bankai cannot be recalled.'

Hmm, Yachiru Kusajishi herself was split from Kenpachi Zaraki's Bankai, so having such a Soul Ability is normal.

The Second Division Vice-Captain is Marechiyo Ōmaeda, whose Soul Ability is "Special Assignment Force."

'Special Assignment Force: After use, one can break the fourth wall to see high-dimensional comments and can also do one thing that a high-dimensional comment boasts about being able to do.'

"?"

When Gaoyu saw this ability, he had to admit he was momentarily bewildered.

Then, he fell into shock.

This...

What kind of ability is this?!