The Variance of Souls

Seiya's new Kido technique received official approval from the Captain's Meeting.

From here on, it was only a matter of time before its widespread implementation and the adaptation of others to this newfound power.

Thus—

"Let us celebrate, everyone."

Inside the Fifth Division's barracks, within the captain's office—

Aizen Sōsuke raised his cup of sake, flashing his signature smile.

"A toast to Seiya-kun's proposal successfully passing deliberation and being placed on the agenda."

"A toast to our plan moving one step closer to fruition."

"A toast to our dream… which is no longer so distant."

Seizing the opportunity of the Captain's Meeting's adjournment, Aizen's close circle had gathered, responding to the moment with enthusiasm.

The mood was high, almost excessively so—

Even Seiya himself felt a bit embarrassed.

"Do we really need to make such a big deal out of this…?"

Tōsen Kaname, usually composed and serious, seemed more relaxed than usual, his tone carrying a trace of amusement.

"And here I thought you wouldn't be one to get shy at this point. You've been preparing for this for so long."

Seiya chuckled awkwardly, sighing.

"Well… I suppose you're right."

Still, achieving a long-standing goal did make one feel a certain way.

Something like that.

"That aside, while the proposal was approved in the Captain's Meeting, won't we still need the approval of Central 46 before full implementation?"

Ichimaru Gin wasn't trying to dampen the mood—just pointing out a necessary step from an objective standpoint.

"Those noble old geezers are hard to convince. Even with Head-Captain Yamamoto's backing, it won't be easy."

Hearing Gin's concern, Seiya nodded thoughtfully.

He simply swallowed and responded briefly.

"Hm, but it's nothing to worry about."

Revealing the abilities of Bankai: Gandharva and introducing the new Kido techniques Seiya had designed served multiple purposes.

First, it provided Seiya with a legitimate reason to access places he wouldn't normally be allowed to.

After all, in terms of its framework, familiarity with the environment was a key requirement for constructing the Reishi Communication Network.

"Central 46 won't impose too many restrictions."

Aizen's tone was firm.

It was rare for him to speak with such confidence—this alone indicated just how certain he was.

"Those people only care about their own interests, and beyond that, they won't be overly concerned with these developments."

And the reason for that?

"Because Seiya-kun was very clear in his presentation."

"This is a special ability that only Shinigami can learn—a power beyond the reach of mere mortals."

"That alone acts as a built-in screening mechanism. At the same time, Seiya-kun is a captain of the Gotei 13."

Think about it.

This was an ability exclusive to a select few.

It was different from a past case—like Jisei Sōya, whose actions directly threatened the ruling class of Soul Society.

His efforts sought to empower the commoners, directly clashing with the nobility.

That was why Central 46 moved so decisively against him.

"But Seiya-kun is different."

Aizen's smile deepened, exuding absolute confidence.

"With the information we've presented, there is no conceivable reason for Central 46 to suspect Seiya-kun of betraying his duties."

That aristocratic committee, bloated with self-interest, rarely acted unless something posed a direct threat to them.

At the same time—

"If they did decide to make things difficult, I have… alternative measures."

With that, Gin had no further objections.

Seiya himself summed it up succinctly.

"This gives me an opportunity to move freely in places I previously couldn't access."

"Hmm… and in the future, even without Aizen-sensei accompanying me, I'll have unrestricted movement in many areas."

"From a practical standpoint, this is a major convenience."

From Seiya's perspective, this was undoubtedly a good thing.

For example, gaining access to the Eighth Division's Intelligence Archives, as well as Central 46's various estates and restricted zones.

Under normal circumstances, these locations were strictly off-limits—even captains had no access.

While they might not hold immediate value…

Power and privilege—one could never have too much of either.

And beyond that—

There was a second benefit.

Seiya turned his attention to his personal stats.

Over the years, with steady accumulation and experimentation, his abilities had advanced significantly.

[Zanjutsu: 82] [Hakuda: 80] [Hohō: 79] [Kido: 80]

Overall, a very balanced stat distribution—though without any extreme strengths.

As mentioned before, growth became increasingly difficult at higher levels. Without a breakthrough, improvement came only incrementally.

However, today, that pattern had been broken.

[You have developed a new, teachable Kido technique based on your Zanpakutō's properties, and it has been acknowledged by all… You have forged a power of your own.]

[You have reached mastery.]

[Kido +5]

It had arrived.

For Seiya, advancing any of his core Shinigami disciplines required dedicated breakthroughs.

And now that his proposal had been officially approved and recognized by the Captain's Meeting—

A full 5-point increase in Kido was his reward!

He examined his updated stats:

[Zanjutsu: 82] [Hakuda: 80] [Hohō: 79] [Kido: 85]

With Kido surpassing 85, Seiya felt an almost ineffable shift in his understanding of the art.

A deeper insight into Kido had begun to take form in his mind.

At the same time—

He could distinctly sense it.

His spiritual pressure had ascended to the upper ranks of the Second-Class Reiryoku level.

Since becoming a captain, his growth had been steady, yet every advancement had required considerable effort.

Most captains were typically at a lower Third-Class Reiryoku level.

For him to already reach the higher stages of the Second-Class category—his progress was anything but slow.

'Captains usually start at Third-Class Reiryoku.'

'Senior captains are generally at the Second-Class level…'

'Few reach the highest tiers, but those who do are on an entirely different plane of power.'

It wasn't self-flattery—true talentless individuals could never even reach the Second-Class threshold.

—Not to speak ill of Kiganjō, but could anyone really picture him possessing high-level captain-class strength?

Absolutely not.

Seiya kept his thoughts to himself, his expression remaining composed.

Looking at the others present, he simply offered a calm smile.

"It was just a minor gain. Hardly something worth celebrating."

"Never one to grow complacent—that's one of the qualities I admire in you, Seiya-kun."

Aizen's mood was visibly good.

Not only was his tone lighter than usual, but even his facial expressions seemed a little more animated.

It was clear—he truly cared.

A debt Seiya could never fully repay.

But for now, there was something more important to focus on.

—His perception of spiritual pressure.

In Bleach's established lore, only those on the same level could sense each other's spiritual energy.

(A good example being Kenpachi's battle with Sternritter V—lesser combatants couldn't perceive his reiatsu at all.)

With that principle in mind, Seiya made a deduction.

Spiritual energy classifications… were, at their core, a distinction in the fundamental nature of the soul.

Those at lower levels simply couldn't comprehend the presence of those above them—

Like ants unable to perceive the vastness of an elephant.

'And thinking back—Ichigo once described Kyōraku Shunsui's reiatsu as being uniquely deep, unlike any other.'

By that logic, spiritual energy had its own unique qualities.

At this moment, Seiya could clearly sense the reiatsu of both Tōsen and Gin.

The former was solemn and restrained, the latter shadowy and composed.

Wait.

Not a single upbeat personality in this division?

He chuckled at the thought before focusing on Aizen.

He sensed… nothing.

Like trying to scan an empty void.

Aizen was right in front of him—yet he appeared as pure absence.

This phenomenon was rare, occurring only with an extremely select few…

As expected.

'Aizen, like Yamamoto, has reached the pinnacle—perhaps even beyond.'

A boss-tier existence from the very beginning… 

Still, compared to Yamamoto, Aizen had reached that level in a much shorter time span. 

To call him a prodigy was an understatement—when standing beside Aizen, even so-called "geniuses" seemed utterly ordinary. 

The only person who could rival him in raw talent was that ultimate hybrid born decades later—Ichigo. 

"Alright, that concludes matters related to Seiya-kun for now." 

Celebration was fine, but this was merely a step in the process. 

Their true goal remained a mirage on the horizon. 

To grasp it, they would need to redouble their efforts. 

Aizen adjusted his expression, returning to his usual composed demeanor. 

"Now then, everyone—we should conduct a periodic review and analyze our current progress." 

The advancement of their research. 

The growth of their abilities. 

The networks they had cultivated within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads… 

A private meeting of Aizen's inner circle was held that day, and once it concluded, its members dispersed—each returning to their individual tasks, continuing their contributions toward the greater plan. 

"Captain Seiya, I'll take my leave now. Going to get some rest." 

After the meeting, Ichimaru Gin's mood was noticeably off. 

Seiya picked up on it immediately. 

"Still troubled by what Aizen-sensei said, Gin?" 

Gin seemed about to say something dismissive but quickly fell silent, his expression unreadable. 

"Yeah… I suppose it's bothering me a little." 

Aizen had given Gin a task. 

—Now that his power had grown, he was to aim for the position of captain. 

"Is it because you're unsure which captain to target?" 

A reasonable concern. 

But surprisingly, Gin shook his head, his tone casual—yet carrying an uncharacteristic sincerity. 

"No… I just don't want to work anywhere else." 

"The position of Fifth Division lieutenant… is enough for me." 

It was a personal choice, overriding any mission. 

What Seiya hadn't expected was that Gin's reasoning would be this simple. 

It was… unexpectedly touching. 

He hadn't thought he had that kind of influence on others. 

"After all, Captain Seiya, you're terribly careless with details. If I weren't around, all the effort put into maintaining the Fifth Division's image would go to waste—that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?" 

"Tch… Not holding back at all, are you?" 

"Did you expect me to sugarcoat it?" 

"…Fair point." 

Seiya laughed. 

His power had grown, but looking ahead— 

There was still a long road to travel.

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Powerstones?

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