Hearing Shigure's words, all Captains' eyes immediately brightened.
They couldn't possibly not know the Dangai's existence. In fact, from the moment the fissure opened, they'd immediately recognized it.
After hearing these words, they finally understood what Urahara meant by "preparations."
The Dangai—several layers of severed space overlapping together, surrounded by torrents of time.
This was the gap between Soul Society and the World of the Living.
Due to its properties, time density inside compared to outside was overwhelmingly high.
Converted to numbers, approximately... 2000 times!
When one year passed outside, 2000 years had already passed in the Dangai.
Meaning—a plan requiring nine days outside, once completed in the Dangai, would take less than seven minutes outside!
Such short time—the Wandenreich fundamentally couldn't react!
However, thinking this, the Captains suddenly remembered a loophole in the plan.
But just as they wanted to raise it, Shigure and Urahara had already completely stepped inside.
Then Yamamoto Genryusai, sitting quietly to the side, suddenly spoke:
"Obey Segawa, Captains."
"This counterattack led by Segawa... began the moment the Dangai path opened."
"I will guard here alone, awaiting everyone's return."
His eyes lowered slightly, expression seemingly calm, yet tone exceptionally resolute.
Seeing this, the Captains' hearts grew heavy. Naturally they had no objections, successively stepping inside.
Just then, outside the council hall, Unohana Retsu, currently performing treatments, suddenly arrived.
Behind her, several Fourth Division members carried two white stretchers—upon them, the severely wounded and unconscious Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki.
Unohana entered. Seeing the situation inside, her expression immediately shifted.
"Captain-Commander, you specifically instructed me to bring Captain Kuchiki and Captain Zaraki because..."
Yamamoto Genryusai slightly raised his eyes:
"Unohana, no need for more words."
"Trust Segawa. Then lead them forward into it."
He referred to the purple fissure currently in the council hall's center.
Hearing this, Unohana's expression immediately grew serious. She nodded heavily:
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
As her words fell, she immediately led the squad members behind her into the Dangai.
Undoubtedly, she trusted the Captain-Commander's judgment—and naturally trusted Segawa Shigure even more.
After Unohana and others entered, the Dangai fissure immediately closed.
Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes slightly closed. Silent.
At this moment, inside the Dangai.
This was a dark purple corridor. Whether underfoot or overhead, completely surrounded by purple walls.
The instant the fissure closed, pale purple gas immediately spread from the depths.
That gas, viscous as liquid, rapidly surged forward.
Seeing this, Toshiro Hitsugaya's expression immediately shifted.
"That is... the Koryu?"
Hearing this, Kyoraku Shunsui beside him gently nodded:
"Correct, Captain Hitsugaya."
"The Dangai was once both a passage to the World of the Living and an exile ground for criminal souls."
"So to prevent external enemies like Hollows from invading, the Dangai produced this current that can stop soul movement."
"Once covered, one will be forever trapped in the Dangai's time torrent."
"However..."
Saying this, Kyoraku paused slightly. A strange smile suddenly appeared on his face. He turned toward Shigure, chuckling:
"We all know—in the Dangai, the most troublesome thing isn't the Koryu."
"Soul Society's development until now—countless methods exist to restrain it. Calling it effortless isn't excessive."
"The truly troublesome existence... is the 'Cleaner.'"
"Segawa, your plan requires nine days to complete, but the Cleaner appears every seven days... Even so, no problem?"
Hearing this, Kensei Muguruma and several other Captains immediately looked seriously toward Shigure.
Earlier in the council hall, this was precisely their concern.
The Dangai's Cleaner—the Kototsu!
An existence produced simultaneously with the Koryu to maintain Dangai stability.
But unlike the Koryu, the Kototsu's advance fundamentally couldn't be restrained or slowed, because... it didn't rely on Reiatsu to exist.
Once appearing, the Kototsu would completely crush everything in its path!
In other words, it was a natural disaster produced within the Dangai.
A creature worthy of the word "invincible."
This was why the Captains worried.
For millennia, Shinigami in Soul Society researched it extensively.
Yet until now, no method existed to stop its advance or avoid its crushing force.
However, hearing this, Shigure smiled calmly:
"Everything is within the plan."
"This plan—the Quincy cannot obstruct it. Neither can the Kototsu."
As his words fell, the Captains' hearts violently shook.
Though Shigure wore a smile, when speaking these words, the determination in his eyes seemed to suppress everything.
This was absolute confidence and unwavering advance.
Seeing this, Kyoraku suddenly pressed down his hat brim. A smile rose at his lips as he softly murmured:
"Yare yare, I suddenly feel like I'm back three years ago, seeing you for the first time at the Spiritual Arts Academy..."
"That overwhelming presence—still just as unstoppable."
Soi Fon, Unohana, and others who'd maintained serious expressions seemed infected by Shigure's confident smile—slowly revealing smiles themselves.
After a moment, Shigure looked toward Urahara beside him:
"Let's begin."
Hearing this, Urahara nodded. Then sweeping his gaze across all Captains' faces, he said seriously and loudly:
"Then, I won't beat around the bush."
"According to the concept Segawa-san provided earlier, after restraining the Koryu, I'll begin modifying everyone's Bankai."
"However, though my Bankai allows me to do this, it doesn't mean I can specifically alter your Bankai abilities. Rather... I'll add something to them."
"As everyone knows, Hollow Reishi is deadly poison to Quincy, capable of destroying life functions."
"That's why they massacre Hollow groups and conquer Hueco Mundo."
"Then, if I use Bankai to inscribe the most lethal Hollow poison onto everyone's Zanpakuto Bankai—once Quincy steal Bankai, it will immediately activate!"
"That deadly Hollow poison will instantly transfer into the Quincy's body, immediately destroying all neural pathways and life functions!"
"Meaning—all Quincy attempting to steal Bankai will die instantly upon theft!"
"I call this inscription..."
"Hollowfication Corrosion!"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨patreon.com/DarkGolds]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━