Half a day later, Soul Society!
With Soul Society on high alert, the atmosphere was tense. Every division was bustling with activity as people trained in Kidō, Hakuda, and all kinds of combat techniques. Everyone was preparing for the great battle that would come in a few months.
After all, this battle would be the greatest test Soul Society had ever faced. The Arrancar's strength had far exceeded their expectations. A Menos Grande that had been turned into an Arrancar had nearly put even Captain- and Lieutenant-level Soul Reapers in mortal danger, despite their restraints still being in place!
The incident had cast a shadow over everyone, but it had also stirred their sense of crisis. Even the Soul Reapers who had enjoyed peace for too long had begun training again!
Today, however, was different. Of the captains remaining in Soul Society, only Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of the 12th Division, and Kenpachi Zaraki, captain of the 11th Division, had failed to attend, citing "no interest." Every other captain still in Seireitei had gathered at Sokyoku Hill!
Nearly a hundred members of the Kido Corps had split into two groups. One group had assembled in the center of Sokyoku Hill, chanting an unfamiliar incantation, while the other had set up a barrier around the perimeter. They were about to forcibly summon the Gates of Hell.
Aside from the Hell Miasma that would seep through as the gates opened, they also risked angering Hell and causing the Hell Keepers to enter Soul Society. They might end up in conflict with Hell before the battle with Hueco Mundo even began!
To prevent any mishaps, all the remaining captains had gathered here. At the same time, their presence was meant to show respect. After all, in a sense, Hell's Will stood on equal footing