Keiji's Shikai essentially split into three abilities: Connect, Manipulate, and Absorb the reishi of the "Heaven".
In theory, it sounded like a logical sequence of connect, then manipulate, and finally absorb. But in practice, the three abilities didn't mix.
Each one existed in isolation, functioning like threads of the same spiritual web that couldn't intersect.
When Keiji "absorbed" reishi, he couldn't "manipulate" it. When he "manipulated" it, he couldn't "connect".
It was as if his own zanpakutō imposed a restriction, forcing him to choose only one mode of operation at a time.
Keiji and Sora theorized that this limit existed because neither of them had fully "matured" yet.
But among the three, the ability he used the most was "Connect".
When Keiji connected to the reishi around him, his awareness expanded. His perception became so vast that he could sense every particle of reishi in the air, every movement, every living presence within his range.
It was as if the world unfolded before his eyes in infinite layers, and his mind reached out to touch them all at once.
That state of hyper-awareness allowed Keiji to perceive many of the Soul Society's secrets... things few could even imagine.
At first, he thought it was all the work of the nobles or the Gotei 13. It was logical to assume that the old captains and noble clans had left traces of their power scattered throughout history.
But that idea had changed recently.
Like this hidden place beneath the Sōkyoku Hill.
He was certain he had seen Yoruichi head this way… and his ability told him there was a concealed space below.
As he descended, the metallic echoes of footsteps bounced through the vast underground hall.
In the center of the Underground Training Room, Ichigo was clashing blades with a man who had black hair, a scruffy beard, and a reiatsu that felt similar to Ichigo's own.
Further back, Keiji could also sense the familiar reiatsu of Lieutenant Abarai Renji, focused on his own training with his reiatsu unstable but steadily rising.
"So this is how you expect Kurosaki-san to reach Bankai, Shihōin-san?"
Keiji asked, turning his head when he sensed a familiar reiatsu approaching behind him with a silent shunpo.
Not only was it incredibly fast, but it barely caused any disturbance at all.
Yoruichi stood beside him, hands on her hips, wearing a calm smile. She stayed quiet for a while, watching Ichigo charge again at his opponent.
Then she let out a soft sigh.
"That was the original plan… but things have changed now."
Keiji raised an eyebrow.
"Changed how?"
Yoruichi exhaled shortly and looked to the side.
"Kuchiki Rukia's execution has been moved up. It's happening tomorrow, at noon."
His time limit had already been short, but now it had gotten even worse. That left very little time for Ichigo to learn Bankai, something even captains usually took years to master.
Keiji was also surprised to hear it would happen so soon, but he figured whatever Aizen was after, he probably already had everything he needed prepared. Delaying any longer might actually be dangerous.
Yoruichi turned toward him.
"Do you have any advice to help him? Anything that might make the process easier?"
Keiji stayed silent for a while, watching Ichigo push himself in the center of the training ground, shouting and attacking with everything he had.
"Everyone should learn it their own way."
After all, Bankai was something deeply personal. It was the final form of a zanpakutō. Only the blade's spirit and its wielder could truly understand what it was and how to reach it.
Yoruichi gave a small smile and tilted her head.
"So, you already have a Bankai, huh?"
Keiji shrugged, not bothering to deny it.
"It's the least I could have."
With the bond he had with Sora, it would've been almost embarrassing if he hadn't reached that level yet.
They started walking together, leaving Ichigo to focus on his training. The distant sound of swords clashing mixed with the echo of voices and the pulsing reiatsu in the air.
Yoruichi glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her body relaxed but her gaze sharp, watching every subtle movement Keiji made.
No matter how laid-back he seemed, Yoruichi recognized him as a dangerous opponent.
"And you? What are you doing here?"
Keiji looked at her sideways as he answered.
"There's something I want to try out, so I needed some space."
Yoruichi let out a teasing chuckle, resting a hand on her hip.
"Really? Even a genius like you needs to train, just like the rest of us common folks?"
Keiji gave an idle look in response.
"How 'common' can someone called the 'Flash Goddess' really be?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow and laughed, shaking her head.
"Touché."
Even with the infamy that came from her desertion, the reputation of Shihōin Yoruichi was well-known throughout the Seireitei.
If he wasn't currently focused on something else, Keiji might have actually tried challenging her just to see how far the famous "Flash Goddess" could really go.
Yoruichi watched him for a few seconds, sensing that faintly competitive look in his eyes, before changing the subject.
As much as she also enjoyed a bit of rivalry, now really wasn't the time for that...
"So… what happened between you and Aizen?"
It was impossible for her not to have heard about Captain Aizen's supposed death at the hands of Ayano Keiji. And even though she knew it had to be one of Aizen's tricks, she didn't understand how they ended up fighting in the first place.
None of the intel she'd gathered hinted at any conflict between them.
Keiji scratched the back of his neck and replied.
"I had a few complaints to bring up with him."
"Complaints, huh?"
Yoruichi shot back, clearly amused.
"But he used that to set me up…"
Which ended up making Keiji pretty annoyed at Aizen.
'He couldn't just take a beating quietly, could he?'
It wouldn't have been a problem if Aizen had fought back and resisted, that would've been fine, but instead he just went and caused even more trouble for Keiji.
Yoruichi had to hold back a laugh at the suddenly irritated expression on Keiji's face. For a moment, he actually looked his age.
It also reminded her that this little monster had only been in the Soul Society for less than a decade…
"So, can we count on your help to save Kuchiki Rukia?"
She asked, crossing her arms.
Keiji looked at her for a moment before answering.
"I think Shihōin-san can say that."
From start to finish, everything seemed to revolve around Rukia. Even though Keiji couldn't see what was so special about her, it was undeniable that she was deeply involved, even if unintentionally.
And if her execution was part of Aizen's plan… then Keiji didn't need another reason to interfere.
"If it's his plan, I'll have fun ruining it."
"That's good enough for me."
She nodded lightly and took a few steps forward, returning to the area where Ichigo was still training intensely.
"Try not to take too long with whatever it is you need to do."
Yoruichi said without looking back.
"Things are about to get really complicated, and we might need your help."
Before disappearing with an elegant shunpo, she looked over her shoulder and smiled slightly.
"Oh, and you can just call me Yoruichi, Keiji~"
Keiji watched her leave with a calm smile.
"'Flash Goddess', huh…"
When she vanished from sight, he stayed silent for a moment, letting the sounds of training fill the space. Then he sat down, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Within seconds, his mind slipped into a Jinzen (Sword Zen) state as he connected with Sora, his zanpakutō. The world around him dissolved, and in the blink of an eye, he was already inside his own inner world.
His Inner World was just as before, created in an endless sky of white and blue, so calm it almost felt motionless.
The only thing standing out was a massive ancient shrine in the distance, and the ground beneath him that reflected light like liquid glass. Each step Keiji took sent soft ripples spreading out across the surface.
Here, there was no weight, no time, no sound. It was the same feeling he experienced whenever he used the "Connect" ability of his Shikai . As if his body had ceased to be part of the material world.
A state where his "nature" as a "living being" stopped being a burden, and everything was reduced to the purest form of existence.
For Keiji, who had felt this countless times, every "living being" was nothing more than a spectator of the heaven's and the world's splendor.
They lived, breathed, and died without ever perceiving the whole.
Only by crossing that boundary could someone truly understand what "life" was.
Only then could they become truly "free".
"Kei-chan."
A soft, serene voice called out to him through the absolute silence. He lifted his eyes and saw Sora walking toward him, her steps light and almost floating.
Her appearance was unchanged as that of a litlle girl with long white hair and deep blue eyes, dressed in a priestess's outfit that covered her arms and legs completely.
Keiji smiled faintly when he saw her.
"It's been a while, Sora~"
She crossed her arms, pouting in mock offense, her lower lip jutting out slightly.
"Hmph, it hasn't been that long."
Keiji chuckled, because she wasn't wrong. But so much had happened since the last time he visited that it felt like an eternity.
"You came here to try your last reward?"
Sora asked, tilting her head.
"Exactly."
Keiji raised his hand, and something began to form above his palm.
A small bluish light appeared, spinning until it solidified. A set of sixteen chess pieces floated above his hand, glowing faintly.
They shimmered with a soft white-blue hue, completely different from the crimson red color that the original Evil Pieces had when he first received them.
Sora watched closely, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"The system seems to have stripped away all their devil traits…"
Keiji picked up one of the pieces between his fingers, turning it slowly and watching the way the light reflected off the translucent material.
"Yeah… looks like it did."
"So Kei-chan can't use them to become a devil and break the limit?"
Keiji slowly shook his head.
"I don't think so. But that's not why I chose this reward anyway."
Sora looked at him quietly, her expression shifting between concern and anticipation.
As his zanpakutō spirit, she understood Keiji better than anyone. From the very moment he chose this reward, Sora had known exactly what he intended to do.
Because they were one and the same.
"Kei-chan… do you really want to try this?"
Keiji gave a faint, knowing smile.
"We are the 'Heaven', and we represent the greatest freedom of the 'World'."
But how could that be true if Sora was still confined within the Inner World? No matter how vast and beautiful that silent white sky was, it was still a prison.
The only time Sora could truly exist was when Keiji released his Bankai. Only then could she manifest in the real world, free from the confines of the blade.
But how could that be called freedom if it was not independent?
"This could make us weaker."
Sora said, looking at him again.
The biggest risk was that Sora's "freedom" might break their connection, something that would inevitably make them weaker, unable to use Shikai or Bankai ever again.
But Keiji laughed, showing no hint of concern.
"So what? Mere spectators can't win."
He walked closer, his steps echoing softly against the glasslike floor of the shrine.
"That's why we were born into this world, Sora."
Yes… no matter what happened, as long as they were together, their path would always be one.
To win.
Sora took a small step forward, her eyes on the chess pieces still floating between them.
"And which piece will you use on me?"
"What else could it be? Only Sora can be my Queen~"
The other pieces began to fade, dissolving into light until only the Queen remained, hovering just above his palm.
"We'll enjoy all the possibilities of these countless worlds together, Sora."
He brought the Queen Piece toward her chest, and the moment he did, it began to glow before being absorbed into her body.
Light spread across Sora, enveloping her completely. The reiatsu in the area reacted instantly, vibrating as if the entire inner world itself was breathing.
Sora closed her eyes, and the energy radiating from her grew until the whole shrine began to tremble.
It was as if a dormant part of the "Heaven" had finally awakened.