Chapter 494: Even the World Is Guilty?
"Lieutenant-sama, the elders of the Yomi Clan request an audience."
Hearing his subordinate’s report, Aizen, who had been reviewing documents in the Captain-Commander’s office, suddenly paused mid-sentence.
He frowned slightly, as if lost in thought.
Setting down his pen, he leaned back in his chair. After a moment of silence, he drew a deep breath, stood up, and made his way toward the reception room.
At the door, he pushed it open and stepped inside, taking a seat and waiting quietly.
Before long, an elderly man entered.
It was an old acquaintance—Kurenai Seijin, one of the Yomi Clan’s representatives, who had worked with the Gotei 13 on several occasions.
"Greetings, Your Excellency," Kurenai Seijin said with a bow.
Aizen nodded and asked,
"What brings the Yomi Clan here this time... is there another issue with Hell?"
Kurenai Seijin let out a sigh.
"Yes, Your Excellency. And it’s not just Hell—it involves Chief Judge Masatsuki as well."
"Though Hell has long been severed from the Three Realms, we’ve continued to monitor it."
"Just today, another disturbance occurred. We observed the situation and... saw the Chief Judge himself."
Aizen’s eye twitched slightly. He inwardly sighed—this wasn’t good.
"Take me there immediately."
...
Led by Kurenai Seijin, they made their way to the Yomi Clan’s territory.
Before they even arrived, a suffocating aura of Hell rushed to meet them.
In the distance, a massive gate to Hell hovered high in the air, connecting two completely different worlds.
Not far from the gate stood many members of the Yomi Clan, their expressions solemn as they watched it.
Also present were numerous members from the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and the Kidō Corps.
Unlike the other great noble families, the Yomi Clan showed no interest in Seireitei’s power shifts, as if such matters didn’t concern them.
However, Seireitei had once faced a major crisis from Hell’s invasion, and as protectors of the world, the Gotei 13 could not simply stand by and leave everything to the Yomi Clan.
"Lieutenant-sama, please come this way. From here, you can see inside Hell."
Kurenai Seijin led Aizen aside and gestured for him to follow.
Aizen stepped forward and stood before a screen displaying the scene.
As he focused on the screen, his eyes narrowed.
Above was an endless radiance, below a boundless surface of water. Nothing else existed—the boundary between heaven and earth had blurred, and time and space had lost all meaning.
Everything here felt both illusory and unnervingly real. That Creator God really was a slacker...
Masatsuki Aozaki looked up. No sound, no energy fluctuation—Hell’s massive will had vanished silently, as if it had never appeared.
There was no response from his senses at all.
Masatsuki frowned.
With Hell’s will gone, this pale world felt even more desolate and cold.
He stood silently, as if asleep between a lonely heaven and an empty earth.
Time was indiscernible. His once-fiery heart seemed to sink into the monotony of this world.
Then, Masatsuki Aozaki vanished without a sound.
Ripples spread across the surface of the lake, gradually expanding—until a blinding golden light engulfed the entire realm.
Boom—
A waterfall of golden light poured from the heavens. Pillars of gold crashed down with thunderous force, sending up enormous plumes of water. The dazzling brilliance reflected off Masatsuki Aozaki, who had moved aside.
Then came a torrential downpour.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Countless golden pillars rained down, each one striking with such power that even a divine child like Yhwach would be obliterated on the spot.
"The aftershocks alone are enough to make me feel pain. The rules of sin and punishment are corroding both body and soul."
Masatsuki Aozaki’s form glided effortlessly as he raced through the torrential downpour.
Condemning sin and punishing evil—this is Hell’s reason for existence, and also the source of its power.
These golden pillars weren’t just simple energy attacks. The will of Hell and Hell itself were one and the same. This force was far stronger than that of beings who had transcended their limits, and it carried the power of rules—each motion a clash of worlds.
Suddenly, the rain ceased. Brilliant golden light shone overhead, and a vortex-like halo began to spin downward.
This time, Masatsuki Aozaki didn’t dodge. He simply watched.
His eyes were calm and profound, as if they could pierce the essence of all things.
A white screen of light spread above him, intercepting the incoming force. The torrent of sin and punishment was stopped cold.
Compared to Haschwalth’s shield, which merely substituted for a wounded one, this was the true Freund Schild!
Masatsuki Aozaki felt an immense pressure. It disrupted his breathing and even made him wonder—could even the Soul King withstand such a strike?
By the laws of the world, the Soul King would likely be suppressed.
But Masatsuki Aozaki wouldn’t be. He possessed what the Soul King needed. That’s why the Soul King had chosen him.
Masatsuki’s pupils narrowed. Suddenly, he heard the sound of splashing water at his feet.
From beneath the surface, the proud figure of the Will of Hell emerged, stretching its form with elegance. A long sword in its hand burned with golden flames as it swung the blade toward Masatsuki.
"I want to see how you plan to judge my sins—and how you’ll punish me!"
Faced with the strike, the long blade in Masatsuki Aozaki’s hand responded on its own.
Sword clashed with sword. World collided with world.
BOOM!!!
Tidal waves soared ten thousand meters high. Each droplet of water evaporated the instant it appeared, as if it had never existed.
The Will of Hell showed no fear of death. It abandoned all defense. The deflected sword spun in midair and came slashing down again with terrifying momentum.
The blazing golden greatsword was as radiant as the sun, splitting the heavens in two, leaving a luminous scar across the sky.
Though the strike appeared slow, it was unavoidable. A moment later, the empty air ahead suddenly shattered, releasing a wail that sounded like a plea for mercy.
CLANG!!
Golden flames and the brilliant long blade clashed violently. The energy within each weapon exploded, as rule tangled with rule.
The Will of Hell attacked with the power of the world—Masatsuki Aozaki countered with the world itself!
"Even the world is guilty!?"
Masatsuki felt his blade cry out in anguish. Even a weapon forged from the world trembled in the face of that force.
One could only imagine how terrifying, how overwhelming the rules within it truly were.
Thankfully, he had sent the women in Banshō Senran to remain in the Three Worlds. Otherwise, that guy would’ve been too distressed—he’d rather give up than be forced to fight.