The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

Yusuke didn't react to these words. He started tapping his fingers lightly on the table. With his movement, faint spiritual energy fluctuations accompanied by the tapping sound began to spread quietly, quickly enveloping the entire room.

"By the way, big brother, you haven't eaten all day, you must be hungry. I'll prepare some food for you right away. The food Nobushi provided this time wasn't very good, just a few dry and hard biscuits. Fortunately, the opening registration for the Shinigami Academy is not far away, so we'll definitely be able to eat better food when we get to the school."

Shota didn't notice Yusuke's actions. To avoid his older brother asking strange questions he didn't know how to answer, he decisively changed the subject, picked up the small bag that was placed aside, and started taking out something to eat.

Then, Shota heard Yusuke laugh. Unlike his usual gentle laughter, this laugh was high-pitched and carried a kind of unsettling excitement, completely unlike the sound Yusuke could make.

"Haha, if it's not good, there's no need to bring it out. We have ingredients right here anyway."

Shota looked over in astonishment and saw that Yusuke had somehow produced a gleaming short sword in his hand. What made him even more uneasy was that Yusuke's hand was not on the safe hilt, but was gripping the sharp blade tightly.

He gripped the blade so tightly that it almost severed his fingers completely. Bright red blood flowed rapidly down the blade, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, his face still beaming with an excited smile, his wide eyes bloodshot.

"Just you wait, Shota, I'll get the food out right now!"

As he spoke, under Shota's gaze, Yusuke plunged the dagger into his own chest.

"The heart has a rather crunchy texture, so it's not exactly delicious on its own. But that's okay, we'll marinate it with brains later, and the taste... well..."

Before the still-beating heart could be completely removed, the excited Yusuke quickly lost his strength, his head slamming heavily onto the wooden tabletop, yet he continued to mutter incantations, seemingly trying to teach Shota the "authentic" way to eat the heart.

Shota only then realized how absurd the scene before him was, and instinctively wanted to run away from Yusuke, who had gone mad. But just before he was about to open the door, he hesitated.

Shota knew very well that Yusuke was a genius that Nobushi had taken a liking to and invested in. If Yusuke died, it would mean that all the resources Nobushi had invested in Yusuke would have gone down the drain. Nobushi would definitely be so angry that he would want to go crazy and kill people to vent his anger, and Shota, as Yusuke's friend, would undoubtedly be the best person to vent his anger on.

Escape is definitely an option, but Nobushi is the largest force in the East 61st District of Rukongai. If they just run away recklessly, they won't get very far before Nobushi members catch them and hand them over to their boss.

and so……

Shota helped up Yusuke, who was still breathing but could not be saved. He grabbed a sheet, crumpled it into a ball, and roughly stuffed it into the hole in Yusuke's chest, barely stopping the blood that was still gushing out. Then he put Yusuke's usual coat on him to cover the bloodstains on his body.

After such a rough operation, Yusuke, who was still clinging to life, finally breathed his last. Without thinking much, Shota carefully helped the body to the window, arranging it with its back to the window, one hand supporting its forehead in deep thought.

Normally, because of Yusuke's strength, no one dares to approach him or pry into his life.

Therefore, by creating the illusion that Yusuke is still alive, he should be able to buy himself two to three more days to escape.

After that, as long as he uses the excuse of running errands for Yusuke, he can run westward and should be able to reach the East Sixty District within three days, temporarily escaping Nobushi's territory.

Nobushi's boss is very powerful and might demand that the boss of the East Sixty District hand him over. But by then, there should only be less than ten days left before the Shinigami Academy's enrollment. He has the talent to become a Shinigami, and as long as he can survive for ten days, he can go to the Shinigami Academy's enrollment point to register and become a prospective Shinigami.

No matter how arrogant those bosses are, they only dare to show off to ordinary people. Once you become a Grim Reaper in preparation, you will no longer need to be afraid of them.

With a complete plan in mind, Shota carefully examined Yusuke's body again, making sure that the blood on his chest had not soaked through his outer clothing and that placing him by the window would not reveal any flaws. He finally breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed a towel from the side, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and neck, and muttered to himself softly.

"Now, there shouldn't be any problems."

Beside him, Yusuke looked at the "towel" gleaming coldly in Shota's hand, nodded in agreement, and thought that there was no problem now. He then turned and pushed open the door to leave, leaving behind only a soft whisper.

"Unfortunately, even as an ordinary person, Shota, you are far from being qualified."

A few minutes later, Nobushi's boss received the news and rushed to Yusuke's hut as fast as he could, where he immediately saw Shota's body lying by the window.

Nearby, a loafer who always loitered around the area had been captured by members of the Nobushi gang and was trembling as he recounted what he had seen to the Nobushi boss.

"That guy suddenly stood by the window, slashing his face and neck with a knife across the street. He must be insane! Yusuke? I didn't see Yusuke. He's probably already been secretly killed by this madman! I told you long ago that this kind of kid can't be trusted. Yusuke was blind..."

Enraged, the leader of the Wild Ambition gang snatched the sword from one of his henchmen, slashed down the still-talking idler, and turned away in a huff.

"Chop them up and feed them to the dogs, both of them!"

A dozen days later, at the admissions office of the Shinigami Academy in the East 60th District of Rukongai, a boy with a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling into slits, looked up at the huge signboard, his heart filled with anticipation.

The living live in a world woven by the Grim Reaper with lies, and ordinary Grim Reapers regard the lies of nobles as truth. Whether there are even more lies beyond that remains to be seen.

Thinking about how he had lived for so many years without ever seeing the true face of the world, how could he not feel excited as he was about to take his first step to understand it?

"Um, Aizen Sousuke, is that your name? Your test results are in. Congratulations, starting today, you are a member of the Shinigami Academy."

A senior student walked over with the boy's registration form. Looking at the boy's handsome face and his warm smile that seemed to reach the depths of her heart, her expression softened, and she abandoned her attempt to assert her authority.

"Once you get to school, if there's anything you don't understand, feel free to come to me. My name is Momotani Natsuna, and I'm in Class 3, Grade 4."

The boy was stunned when his real name, which he hadn't used in a long time, was called out. It took him a moment to realize that someone was talking to him.

"Then I thank you in advance for your care, senior. If there is anything you can do to help me, please don't hesitate to ask, and I will certainly not refuse."

Looking at the boy who bowed respectfully to her, the senior student was even more satisfied. She was right. Unlike her classmates who were all muscle and brains, this boy was a humble and polite child.

It seems we'll have to take good care of him when he gets to school. It wouldn't be good if he got bullied by those rude guys.

Chapter 121 Special Cases

"Gu Shi, you know so much! So the shrine maiden outfit with exposed armpits is the proper one. I used to think that shrine maidens had to be completely covered up."

Nilu's large, golden-green eyes were filled with admiration. Tianpeng and Erlang had often looked at Gu Shi with similar gazes in the past, and even Bai, who had recently joined the team, would occasionally praise Gu Shi's erudition. Gu Shi had become somewhat immune to the admiration of others.

But it must be said that Nilu does have a certain unique charm. Her clear, big eyes seem to always have a kind of pure and sincere innocence that is beyond the mundane world. So much so that even Gu Shi, who is immune to worship, can't help but get a little carried away when she praises him and wants to show off and ask her to praise him more.

"You flatter me, you flatter me. I just read a lot of miscellaneous history. Let me tell you, not only are there rules about the shrine maiden's clothes, but the shrine maiden's surname also has a lot of meaning. Let me tell you slowly."

"First of all, there are the shrine maidens with the surname Hakurei. Although the shrine maidens of this clan are powerful, most of them are quite greedy. Generally speaking, they are easy to talk to as long as you pay enough money, and they are not particularly dangerous."

"But the shrine maidens with the surname Furude are different. This clan is very dangerous and good at disguising themselves. They all look soft and harmless, but they are actually extremely ruthless. It's best not to provoke them. Also, if they invite you to watch the Cotton Stream Festival, remember not to agree."

"Then there are the shrine maidens with the surname Higurashi. Whether they are warm or aloof, the shrine maidens of this clan are actually very kind. It is definitely the right thing to ask them for help when you encounter a difficult situation. However, they also have a very strong sense of justice, so remember never to do anything bad in front of them."

"Most importantly, be careful of the shrine maidens with the surname Urushihara. Occasionally, some male shrine maidens will infiltrate this clan. You can't tell their true gender from their appearance at all. Niru, you must not let them take advantage of you!"

Gu Shi rattled off so many strange and unconventional stories about priestesses that were completely contrary to traditional beliefs, leaving Nilu somewhat dumbfounded. She quickly nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely pay attention. I never imagined there were so many strange witches in the world."

"Yes, I didn't expect it either, there are even male priestesses."

On the desert where there should only be Gu Shi and Nilu, a third somewhat emotional voice rang out. Gu Shi was startled at first, but then completely relaxed.

“Stark, now that you’re back, you should say hello. Eavesdropping isn’t a good habit.”

Stark stepped on the spinning top and slowly descended from the air, landing on Gu Shi's shoulder, and offered a half-hearted apology.

"Sorry, I didn't want to bother you because you seemed to be having a good time chatting with your new friend."

Nelrew stared at Stark in surprise. She hadn't sensed his spiritual pressure at all before. If she hadn't seen him descend from the sky, she would have thought he was just an ordinary human soul.

But the other party is clearly not ordinary, so it can only be a powerful person who can easily deceive her senses.

Nilu stood up nervously, her muscles tense, ready to fight desperately.

With her human form and immense strength, the only person she could think of immediately was the Grim Reaper.

But it doesn't seem to be the Grim Reaper?

Because in the center of the other's chest, there is a bright black hole, which, no matter how you look at it, should be a special structure called "Void Hole" that belongs only to the Void.

...What exactly is this thing?

Nilu became increasingly suspicious, but since the other party didn't seem to have any ill intentions, she remained vigilant but also relaxed a little and stopped preparing for battle.

Stark glanced at Nelrue calmly, not caring about her reaction. She was just an ordinary Adjuchas; her attitude was not worth paying attention to.

Gu Shi didn't offer any explanation to Nilu. He stood up, brushed the sand off his black robe, and waved cheerfully at Nilu.

"My friend is back, so I should head back too. See you next time, Nilu~"

After saying that, Gu Shi turned and left without any hesitation.

Nilu felt reluctant to part ways with her newly acquainted friend, and subconsciously followed Gu Shi for a couple of steps before finally stopping.

Although Gu Shi didn't say it explicitly, his silhouette seemed to convey the message, "Don't follow me."

As an Adjuchas, besides a few Vastods, she is already at the top of Hueco Mundo. Nel also has her own pride. Since Gu Shi doesn't want her to catch up, she won't insist on pestering him.

Stark, perched on Gu Shi's shoulder, glanced curiously at the Hollow Antelope who was still standing there, gazing at Gu Shi's back, and raised an eyebrow with some curiosity.

"I thought you were already friends."

"They are friends, no doubt, but they are not on the same path."

Gu Shi shook his head, his resolve unwavering.

Nilu is a good candidate for a friend. Her purity brings a relaxing atmosphere. Gu Shi enjoys talking and spending time with her and really wants to become friends with her.

However, we are ultimately not on the same path.

Nel detests "meaningless" killing, but Tianpeng uses Hollows to refine pills. Erlang, in order to expand his martial arts and understand the physical structure of Hollows, will also dissect Hollows. Asido is full of killing intent towards all Hollows who are not in Gu Shi's camp. When Gu Shi himself is researching Arrancar, he will inevitably "damage" some samples.

The huge difference in their views meant they were destined to be on different paths. Rather than taking Nilu back and having a conflict with her, it would be better to stop here and leave each other with a good impression and memory.

Stark, after all, was an old man who had lived for hundreds of years. Although life in Hueco Mundo was mostly simple, he was still very experienced. After a little thought, he understood what Gu Shi meant and couldn't help but laugh.

"Friendship naturally requires adjustment. If there are differences in values, you can gradually work things out."

Gu Shi nodded again, but his steps did not slow down at all as he left.

He knew Stark was right. Although Nel didn't like killing, she wasn't intolerant of exceptions. When she became an Espada in the future, she would have two subordinates named Peschel and Dondchaca. Their relationship with her was as close as that of real family.

The fact that they had such a deep bond suggests that the two were not subordinates assigned to her by Aizen, but rather, like Halibel and Grimmjow's subordinates, they were friends who had been with her long before the Arrancar.

Pesser and Dondchaka's strength is mediocre; they should just be ordinary Adjuchas. It's conceivable that before becoming Arrancars, they would need to eat frequently to avoid regressing into Kyrians.

The fact that Nel was able to get along with them amicably for so long and develop a deep bond suggests that she tacitly approved of, or even endorsed, their hunting of other Hollows.

In other words, familial affection made Pesser and Dondechaka "special cases" in Nel's heart.

Chapter 122 Bold Ideas

Even setting aside emotions, which are an insurmountable hurdle for most people, there are still quite a few things that could change Nel.

The best example is Nel's future identity—the 30th Espada.

Since she was willing to become one of the Espada and bear the weight of the numbers bestowed upon her by Aizen, it means that at least at that point in time, she had already accepted Aizen's killing of Hueco Mundo rebels and the deaths he caused during his Arrancar experiments.

Perhaps Aizen used the concept of "righteousness" to bind Nel, making her accept that the deaths of these Hollows were necessary "sacrifices" for the happiness of more Hollows.

Alternatively, Aizen invited her under the guise of an "overseer," granting her the power to supervise other Arrancar and prevent them from killing indiscriminately. Nel joined Aizen's side in order to stop those unnecessary killings.

But whatever the reason, it shows that Nel is not unpersuasive or unchangeable. If one is willing to put in the effort, it is not impossible to get her to accept "necessary killing".

Gu Shi understood all of this, but he didn't intend to try to change Nilu, nor did he intend to forcibly pull Nilu onto the path he wanted to take.

After all, judging from the plot of "Bleach", Nel and Ichigo Kurosaki are exceptionally compatible, even far surpassing Ichigo Kurosaki's official wife, Orihime Inoue. They are basically the kind of people who can treat each other as best friends after just a few words.

To be honest, Gu Shi believes that his mental stability has decreased somewhat since he became a Hollow.