I'm in Bleach, starting with Unlimited Blade Works.

"Vice Captain Erin, you performed exceptionally well in this mission."

"Feel free to tell me what you need, and I will consider fulfilling it for you."

In the captain's room, the captains didn't react much to what Captain-Commander Yamamoto said.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto has always believed that maintaining the stability of Seireitei is the responsibility of all the Shinigami of the Gotei 13.

Since they enjoy the privileges that make them superior to Shinigami, they naturally have the responsibility and obligation to give everything for the Seireitei.

Among them, the captains of the Gotei 13 are at the pinnacle of all Shinigami, and all the missions they complete are their due responsibility.

Erin is currently only a vice-captain, but he has exceeded expectations by completing a subjugation mission that even the captains might not be able to accomplish. The captains have no objection to rewarding him.

Is there such a good thing?

In response to the Captain-General's promise, Erin directly stated his own requirements.

"Captain-Commander, after this battle, I feel that my Kido still needs improvement, so I would like to enter the Kido Clan's library to learn more advanced Kido. I hope you will grant my request."

In fact, for Erin, who has already copied all the captains' Zanpakuto, as long as he has time to create all of these Zanpakuto and fully absorb the experience of their masters into himself, his limits will be raised infinitely.

However, the three skills of slashing, instant step, and free-fighting can be considered as innate talent.

Without higher-level demonic incantations, Erin's knowledge of advanced demonic arts would become an unusable "blacklist."

Erin's current request is a way of hoping to clear his name of his advanced demonic arts.

Once he enters the library of the Ghost Path sect, who can know how many Ghost Path incantations he has memorized?

“Yes, Vice Captain Erin, I will speak directly to the Great Ghost Dao Master, Wo Ling Tiezhai, and arrange for you to study Ghost Dao within the Ghost Dao Clan for three months. During this time, the Ghost Dao Clan's library will be completely open to you, except for forbidden techniques.”

"Furthermore, you may ask the Great Demon Master, Tsukabishi Tessai, and the Vice Great Demon Master, Ushōda Hachigen, if you have any questions."

"Yes."

……

The next three months were the most comfortable three months Erin felt since becoming the Grim Reaper.

Because of the Captain-Commander's special permission, Erin didn't need to do any missions. Every night, he would create some of the Zanpakuto he had copied and then absorb the experience of the Zanpakuto's original owners.

During the day, he would report to the Ghost Path Sect and study their incantations and release techniques.

Every day, Erin's spiritual pressure grows.

However, Erin's control over spiritual pressure was also increasing, so as Erin maintained his spiritual pressure at the same level, no one noticed the changes in Erin.

On this day, when Erin came out of the Kido Clan, he saw Kuchiki Ginrin standing in front of the Kido Clan's gate.

"Captain Kuchiki?"

……

In the Soul Society, the full moon hangs high in the sky at night.

Erin crossed his fingers behind his head, held a toothpick in his mouth, and slowly walked towards the Second Division.

The reason Erin is so late today is because she chatted with Kuchiki Ginrin for a long time on her way back.

As Erin had predicted, the content revolved around the Kuchiki family and the Sixth Division's exchange.

Currently, Kuchiki Ginrei is quite old, her son Kuchiki Sōjun has suffered a misfortune, and her eldest grandson Kuchiki Byakuya is still very young...

The only way for the Kuchiki family to maintain its power and avoid being targeted by nobles who secretly covet it is to have a powerful son-in-law come to live with them, using their daughter, Kuchiki Haruko's, identity.

Hoshino Hibiki, who was once favored by Kuchiki Ginrin, has become a traitor and was killed by Erin.

Fortunately, Haruko Kuchiki and Erin had some connection. In fact, when Ginryu Kuchiki held a funeral ceremony for her son, Sojun Kuchiki, Erin and Haruko Kuchiki entertained the guests together, leading him to believe that Erin had agreed to marry into the Kuchiki family.

Unexpectedly, for three months in a row, Erin did not show any intention of visiting his father-in-law. Puzzled, Kuchiki Ginrin approached Kuchiki Haruko and learned that the last time Kuchiki Haruko invited Erin, it was only as a friend, not as the son-in-law of the Kuchiki family.

Therefore, when Kuchiki Ginrin found out that Erin was with the Kido Clan, she went directly to the Kido Clan's entrance to wait.

"Marrying into the Kuchiki family, huh..."

Upon entering the dormitory, for the first time ever, Erin did not practice his sword meditation.

Five years ago, before Erin had successfully created his own Zanpakuto, his greatest wish was to live a long and peaceful life until his death.

The stronger the spiritual pressure, the longer the lifespan.

Given Erin's spiritual pressure at the time, his lifespan would have been around two hundred years.

However, once Erin awakens his true abilities, with his current captain-level spiritual pressure, his lifespan will be around five hundred years.

Furthermore, as Erin's strength increases, his lifespan will only grow longer.

So, what is Erin's dream now?

Turning her head, Erin looked out her window at the full moon in the sky.

One by one, the characters from Bleach appeared in Erin's mind.

Aizen Sousuke, Ichimaru Gin, Tosen Kaname...

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

Yhwach's personal guard...

Yhwach, those in the Soul Palace...

And—Hyōnobu Ichibei…

Now that he possesses an EX-level ability like Unlimited Blade Works, Erin would feel that he had wasted his time in this era if he didn't exchange a few words with the people who had left such a lasting impression on him.

Erin thought even more deeply.

The limit of this world is the Spirit King.

Can I break through this limit?

Slowly, Erin reached out her hand.

Despite the difference in visibility, the full moon in the sky was held firmly in Erin's hand.

……

"Captain Yoruichi, I'm sorry to be looking for you at this time."

The next day, Erin found Yoruichi, and the two sat facing each other in the captain's room of the Second Division.

"What? Vice Captain Erin, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, although I've been in the Second Division for quite some time, Yoruichi-sama, I still want to take it a step further."

Erin didn't hide anything from Yoruichi Shihouin, briefly mentioning that Ginrin Kuchiki had come to him.

Erin is at most a vice-captain in the Second Division.

Now that Erin has openly stated that he wants to take it a step further, it means that Erin aspires to be the captain.

Chapter 43 Taking Office as Captain

Yoruichi Shihouin expressed her understanding of Erin's desire to become the captain of the Gotei 13.

Not everyone is like her childhood sweetheart, possessing great power but not seeking a higher status.

Erin possesses captain-level spiritual pressure and has also completed the Bankai of his Zanpakuto, thus he is indeed qualified to serve as the captain of the Gotei 13.

However, under normal circumstances, Erin would not have the opportunity to become the captain of the Second Division.

Both Erin and Yoruichi Shihouin were well aware of this.

Unless Erin challenges Yoruichi Shihouin and wins, witnessed by more than two hundred Shinigami members.

Now, the sixth division captain, Kuchiki Ginrin, has extended an olive branch to Erin, giving Erin a new option.

"Well, congratulations in advance."

"I imagine that we'll be new colleagues soon."

"Thank you, Captain Yoruichi."

After bowing to Yoruichi in thanks, Erin removed the armband representing the vice-captain of the Second Division from his left arm, gently placed it on the table, and left the captain's room of the Second Division.

Stepping out of the Second Division's gate, Erin looked back at the place where he had spent over thirty years, and then headed towards the Kuchiki family's residence.

"Hey……"

She hadn't walked far when a gust of wind blew, lifting a few strands of Ailin's hair, and a girl's clear voice rang out behind her.

"Erin, are you really leaving the Second Division?"

Erin stopped and wanted to turn around, but in the end he just smiled and waved gently with his back to the girl.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Little Soi Fon, next time we meet, perhaps you should call me Captain Erin."

Erin knew very well that she and Bee Sho were different.

Aya Hachisho is the next head of the lower-ranking noble Hachi family and the successor to the captain of the 2nd Division after Yoruichi Shihouin defected to Seireitei.

Erin, a Shinigami who came from Rukongai, could not possibly serve as the captain of a special division like the Second Division.

If Erin wants to advance further, leaving the Second Division is inevitable.

The girl opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. She just watched Erin's figure disappear around the corner, and lingered there for a long time.

The following day, news spread from the Kuchiki family that Erin, the former vice-captain of the Second Division, had become engaged to Kuchiki Haruko, the eldest daughter of the Kuchiki family, and had become their son-in-law.

Meanwhile, Erin will serve as the vice-captain of the Sixth Division.

A year later, Kuchiki Ginrin officially retired, and Erin took over as captain of the Sixth Division.

Ginjiro, formerly the third seat, has been promoted to vice-captain of the sixth division.

……

"Aha!"

"Ah ah!"

Under the cherry blossom tree in the backyard of the Kuchiki family, a handsome young man was diligently practicing his swordsmanship.

Not far away, Kuchiki Ginryu squinted, very satisfied with the boy's performance.