The world is still that same world, with the familiar Soul Court beneath his feet...
But not far ahead, there seemed to appear a faint light and a door, slightly ajar, waving at him.
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni was sitting cross-legged on the long corridor of the courtyard, basking in the sun. Beside his hand was an ancient staff wrapped with the fire-wreathed Ryujin Jakka... The old man quietly watched the suddenly appearing door and light, his old eyes squinting, suddenly emitting two beams of divine light, startling the frolicking cats and raccoons in the courtyard...
"What's wrong, Jaegersai?"
Wearing a high-collared shirt under his soul reaper uniform, with white hair and golden eyes, often dressed in Western attire, the Chief Choujiro Jiro kept tending to two pots of greenery in front of him as usual, sensitively noticing a trace of anomaly, and turned around...
The old man remained silent, only reaching out a withered hand to touch his chest, feeling the heart that remained steadily beating despite two thousand years of erosion, and suddenly it skipped a beat... Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, lost in thought, stared intently at the glowing portal before him and gradually spoke: "Choujiro, can't you see it?"
"See what?"
"The door, it's right behind you."
"?"
Chief Choujiro Jiro furrowed his brow, knowing well Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's disposition, clearly understanding that their captain would never lie, nor would he ever bother to do so.
Since he said there's a door behind, then there must be one!
Without showing any expression, the man put down the sprinkler in his hand, and suddenly raised his hand again, throwing it fiercely towards the direction Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni mentioned!
"Bang~"
The sprinkler directly passed through the portal of light, flying over to Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's front, who unconsciously raised his hand and caught it steadily.
"It seems it's not waiting for you."
The portal was right there, yet Choujiro couldn't see or touch it... For how many years now, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni couldn't recall encountering anything that sparked his interest and… couldn't be seen through at a glance!
"Thud~" For no reason, that heart weathered by two thousand years of battles and trials skipped another beat...
The old man touched his chest and reflexively threw the sprinkler back to Chief Choujiro Jiro.
He dragged his long beard and slowly rose, midway, raising his hand, the ancient staff containing Ryujin Jakka was firmly grasped in his palm, then... Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's figure flashed, bathed in light, stepping into the portal and disappearing...
"Let me go and see." He informed Chief Choujiro Jiro.
Chief Choujiro Jiro slightly bowed, watching the captain depart, without a shred of worry... Firstly, due to his absolute confidence in Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, secondly, should there be danger, it wouldn't be just Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni affected, but likely the whole Soul Court, along with the entire Soul Society... After all,
For two thousand years, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni has been the strongest Soul Reaper, unparalleled in the living world, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society.
However,
What Chief Choujiro Jiro did not expect was... The captain's soul had gone, yet his body still sat cross-legged on the corridor, leaving him stunned!
It must be known, Soul Reapers are pure forms of high spiritual particle concentration, single life entities, unlike "humans" who have a physical body as the attachment for their "soul"... In other words…
Creatures active in the Soul Court, whether Soul Reapers or wandering souls, even cats and dogs, are essentially souls, in theory, "soul out of body" shouldn't occur.
Yet it did… Chief Choujiro Jiro frowned, looking at the silent Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni basking in the sun as always, so... who was "that" who just left with the sword?
Unable to comprehend... Chief Choujiro Jiro lost interest in watering the plants, raised his guard quietly, sitting down next to Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni to remain vigilant... Groggily, between sleep and alertness, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni also noticed the anomaly within himself, with a trace of inquiry delving into the portal, then looking around, catching sight of a "dazzling" long sword!
The sword was straight, not a Samurai Sword, its blade wrapped in black flame patterns, resembling somewhat in style the ancient staff he held.
Stood on the ground it is a staff, drawn... it becomes a sword!
Moreover... as the old man approached along the path gathered by the light... he keenly perceived a wave of heat!
This heat wave, burning the air like boiling water, surged layer by layer outward, at the first taste... nearing... ten thousand degrees!
'A sword wreathed in flames, radiating light...'
'Is it summoning me?'
Nearer... Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni finally saw clearly... Ahead was a lush garden... Amidst the garden stood a black-haired young man with hair slightly astray, back to him lifting the sword towards the sky, absorbing sunlight.
The young man was very young, likewise, very keen... As if hearing his footsteps, he turned back, through the light... old and young, one holding a cane, one raising a sword as a cane, silently facing each other... silence is at this moment Kukuroo Mountain...
"What's he looking at?" It was eight o'clock in the morning, spring turning into summer, the weather getting hot, alongside... [Eclipse]absorbing sun, breaking the heat wave... As Silva returned with the doctor responsible for delivery, the man folded his arms, standing shoulder to shoulder with Maha.
Just watching the young man staring aimlessly at a certain place, slightly furrowing his brow.
"Don't know." Maha dug his ear hole, truthfully said.
"Grandfather doesn't know either?"
"You also don't know what your son's 'Nenryoku' is, do you?"
Silva: "...."