Chapter 258: Chapter 258: The Gate of Hell Reappears

NanatsukiandAizenmoved swiftly through the courtyard.

They encountered a few people along the way.

Aside from servants, everyone wearing theTsunayashirofamily crest was slain one by one byNanatsukiandAizen.

Their movements were sharp and efficient.

There was much to do and little time.

This mission wasn’t just about killing — there were several objectives to accomplish.

"Sensei, this is whereEnrakyōdenis stored," saidAizen, leading his teacher to a grand tower-like building.

This was the most heavily guarded place in theTsunayashiroestate.

Yet the guards inside, unaware of the chaos outside, remained stationed inside the building, guarding the treasure.

In addition to the killings and planting signs of infernal energy,Nanatsukialso intended to retrieve a particularly valuable item: afragment of the Soul King.

TheTsunayashiroclan’s ancestors had participated in dividing the Soul King’s body, and retained some of the fragments.

"Upstairs is the library and rarer treasures. The Soul King fragments are in the basement."

Aizenhad visited this place before and had already scouted out the layout. He knew exactly where the fragments were kept.

"Take it all!"Nanatsukideclared. "Bankai —Shosō Eijin!"

Nanatsuki’smastery over shadow-based abilities had improved drastically.

Originally, his Bankai could only summon a shadow clone with about 10–50% of his strength.

If it was his own shadow, the clone retained up to half his power.

If it was someone else’s, the power depended on the strength of the copied target — the stronger the target, the weaker the resulting shadow.

Now, however, he could summon two such shadows at once.

Not only that, but each shadow clone could divide further.

These splits reduced the power of each clone, but multiplied their number.

Nanatsukisummoned dozens of his own shadows.

He handed each one a preparedReishi Pocketand sent them into the building to pack everything up.

Meanwhile, he andAizenwent to handle the dozen guards stationed in the upper floors.

These guards were members of theTsunayashirobranch families — and since they had decided to act, they had no intention of leaving any survivors.

Just like their clan head, by the time the guards noticed something was wrong, it was already too late.

The Soul King fragment was kept behind aReishi Barrier, soNanatsukihad to retrieve it personally.

He andAizendescended into the basement.

Surprisingly, there were no guards stationed here — theTsunayashiroseemed confident in theirReishi Barrier.

The pair moved down a narrow corridor and arrived at a sealed chamber.

"The Soul King fragment is inside.Enrakyōdenwas kept in the room on the right."

Aizengestured to a nearby chamber, where only an empty sword rack remained — the blade was already gone.

There were two adjacent side chambers. The Soul King fragments were stored in the left one.

Nanatsukiextended hisShadow Space, piercing through theReishi Barrierin an instant.

Inside were over a dozen containers filled with green fluid.

The fragments were submerged in this alchemical solution — it suppressed their activity and prevented them from developing consciousness.

Among the containers, only two held sizable pieces. The rest were fragments under one centimeter long.

One contained abone, and the other apiece of flesh.

"This one looks like the Soul King’s kneecap... and that’s... lower leg muscle."

Nanatsuki, familiar with human anatomy, immediately identified the body parts.

They were both from the leg.

"So they really did dissect the Soul King..."

Aizen’seyes flickered. Though he had obtained a Soul King fragment before for research, it had only been a sliver of bone. It hadn’t told him much about the Soul King’s current state.

But seeing these full body tissues deepened his understanding significantly.

There was no time to analyze anything now —Nanatsukidecided to take it all and study later.

Soon after, the shadows returned with all the building’s books and treasures.

"Now comes the final step,Sosuke!"

"I’m ready, sensei."

The two flew into the air above the estate.

Nanatsukidrew the box containing theHell Bead.

He infused it withReiatsuand tossed it toward the ground.

Moments later, theHell Beadexploded inside theTsunayashiroresidence.

Black-red infernal energy spread rapidly, visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, the entire compound was soaked in a dense aura of Hell.

Every trace ofReishileft behind byNanatsukiandAizenwas now tainted and converted intoHell Reishi.

Even the surrounding atmosphere’sReishiwas corrupted.

The infernal particles were so thick they appeared as red-black mist.

The entire manor was soon blanketed in it.

UnderAizen’sillusion, people nearby began to see aGate of Hellslowly materializing over the estate.

Meanwhile,Ōmaeda KishinosukeandObana Jirōhad already retreated to a nearby tower.

"Vice-Captain, I spottedTsunayashiro Tokinadaat the estate!"

Kishinosukewas using hisDenreishinkito contactShihoin Yoruichi.

"What nonsense are you spouting? My sensei already killed Tokinada!"

Yoruichi’svoice crackled through the device.

"It’s true! He came back from Hell — and he killed the clan head!"Kishinosukeinsisted.

"Hey, hey—what’s that?!"

Obana Jirōtugged onKishinosuke’ssleeve.

"I’m reporting in, don’t interrupt—wait... The Gate of Hell?!"

Kishinosuketurned around and froze.

There, before his eyes, aGate of Hellhad appeared above the courtyard.

The gate cracked open slightly, black mist pouring from within.

HoldingEnrakyōden,Tsunayashiro Tokinadastood before it.

His body dissolved into black-red mist and entered through the narrow opening.

Moments later, theGate of Hellslowly vanished.

"Hello? Hello? Why did you go quiet... What did you just say? What’s going on with this Gate of Hell?"

Yoruichi’svoice from theDenreishinkipulled the stunnedKishinosukeback to reality.

"Vice-Captain! I’ve got urgent intel! TheGate of Hellopened at theTsunayashiroestate!"

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