Hell Butterflies, contrary to the terrifying connotations of their name, are quite elegant spiritual creatures. Their black wings shimmer with a deep luster under the glow of spirit particles.
As essential partners in a Shinigami's work, they serve not only as safe beacons guiding passage through the Dangai but also hold the important responsibility of transmitting messages both inside and outside the Seireitei.
Suō Tsukasa gazed at the little creatures fluttering before him, a sense of curiosity and fondness rising in his heart. He really wanted to keep one as a pet.
Unfortunately, these creatures were Shinigami-exclusive and considered rare even within the Soul Society.
Ordinarily, they were tended to and managed by designated personnel within the various Divisions. They were only assigned for use to the relevant Shinigami when executing missions, according to regulations.
"Everyone must wait in place upon arrival in the Living World."
"We will officially begin the Soul Burial practical once all members have arrived!"
"No one is permitted to leave the arrival point or act alone without explicit instruction!"
"Now, line up by squad, prepare to depart!"
As the guide, Tōyama, finished speaking, he turned toward the Senkaimon (Tunnel World Gate), drew his Asauchi, and inserted it into the gate's slit.
"Unlock!"
As his spiritual pressure surged in, the two wooden doors unfolded sequentially as if awakened, revealing a circular portal shimmering with spiritual light.
"Follow me!"
The figures of the three Sixth-Year students, led by Hell Butterflies, vanished one by one into the light portal.
Suō Tsukasa's squad was second in line. After Hitsugaya's squad entered the light portal, they stood in place, waiting for the Hell Butterflies to move.
After a short while, the squad's Hell Butterflies suddenly fluttered their wings and plunged into the light portal simultaneously.
Following the instructions in the textbook, Suō Tsukasa suppressed his spiritual pressure. Guided by the butterflies, he and his squad members leaned their bodies into the circular opening.
The moment he passed through the circular light portal, Suō Tsukasa felt a slight tug, and the scene before him abruptly changed.
The blue sky and white clouds of the plaza vanished, replaced by a boundless, hazy gray chaos.
Before him was a wide, long corridor. The brightly lit circular exit lay at the end of the passage.
The walls on both sides were torrents of dark air currents, emitting a deafening roar like rushing water.
That was the Kōryū (Wresting Flow), the feared current within the Dangai (Precipice World).
Despite being continuously suppressed by the instruments of the Department of Research and Development, the currents instinctively tried to entangle any life form crossing the passage, creating a massive sound.
If a life form were completely entangled by it, they would be eternally banished to the temporal rift, with no possibility of return.
"Ah!"
Kenta Takahashi panicked slightly upon seeing the terrifying scene after entering the gate.
Coupled with the slightly uneven ground at the landing spot, his body staggered.
"Steady! Watch your step and follow me!"
Just as he was about to lose his balance, a hand timely grasped his arm and spoke steadily.
Suō Tsukasa stabilized him. Once Kenta stood firm, he released his hand and started moving, following the distant Hitsugaya squad straight ahead.
With his steady performance, the other two members of the squad locked their gazes on the Hell Butterflies and closely followed his steps.
After their squad rushed forward for a period, the next squad members arrived consecutively.
Squad after squad, their figures traced a consistently moving path through the faint light of the spirit butterflies and the dark surge of the Kōryū, rushing toward the exit at the end of the long corridor.
The moment he passed through the exit, a fresh night wind rushed over his face. The heart-stopping roar of the Kōryū ceased abruptly, replaced by the unique tranquility and hustle of the Living World's night.
"Looks like it's not Karakura Town."
Upon arriving in the Living World, Suō Tsukasa's first sensation was that the density of spirit particles in the air was somewhat low.
Karakura Town was famous in the original work as a high-density spiritual ground, which the current town clearly was not.
However, this didn't stop him from enjoying the atmosphere of the modern age.
The faint sound of traffic in the distance, the flow of light and shadow between the city buildings—everything around him carried a familiar yet foreign vitality.
"Academics who arrive first, wait in place nearby."
As the squad arrived in the Living World, the voice of the guide, Tōyama, came from the front.
"Yes."
"Yo! Tōshirō, what are you looking at?"
Receiving the instruction, Suō Tsukasa led his squad members near Hitsugaya's squad and raised a hand in greeting.
The flow of time inside the Dangai is vastly faster than the outside world, by a factor of two thousand.
The time spent rushing through the Dangai just now was very short in terms of the time of both worlds.
Although there was a significant distance separating them from Tōshirō's squad during the rush, their arrival time in the Living World was virtually the same.
When Suō Tsukasa passed through the light portal at the end and his feet touched the ground of the Living World, the deep night sky had already enveloped the world before his eyes.
"Tsukasa, you're here!"
"Look over there. I didn't expect the night in the Living World to be like this."
Tōshirō had been standing on a concrete block, intently gazing at the distant neon lights. Hearing Suō Tsukasa's voice, he turned around, his voice carrying a hint of ease.
The night wind caused the silver hair on his forehead to flutter slightly. His small figure, wrapped in the blue and white school uniform, looked particularly cool and slender in the dark.
"It is quite beautiful."
Suō Tsukasa walked to the rooftop railing, stopped in front of the metal barrier, and looked in the direction Tōshirō had been watching, genuinely marveling.
The current Living World was nearing the end of its golden age.
Bands of streetlights stretched infinitely along the roads, cutting the city into alternating blocks of light and shadow. The lights of the distant commercial district constantly shifted their captivating colors, standing out prominently in the night.
The other students present were immediately drawn to the scenery. After all, besides Suō Tsukasa, no one else had ever witnessed such a spectacle.
Just then, another gust of night wind blew past, carrying a faint, subtle smell of disinfectant into Suō Tsukasa's nose.
"So we're on a hospital rooftop."
Suō Tsukasa's nose twitched slightly, then immediately relaxed. This familiar scent instantly told him his location.
Looking down below, several white buildings stood quietly in the night, marked by the prominent red cross symbol.
He immediately extended his spiritual awareness and quickly detected dozens of whole souls (Wholes) in the nearby neighborhood.
In a place like a hospital, where many people die, the number of Wholes lingering in the nearby neighborhood increases.
After all, too many people leave this world with regret in such places. It was the most suitable starting point for Soul Burial practical training.
"What's wrong?"
Tōshirō noticed the change in Suō Tsukasa's expression and lightly leaped down from the concrete block to stand beside him.
"Nothing. The number of Wholes nearby is quite high. Frequent spiritual pressure fluctuations from the Soul Burial ritual might easily attract the attention of Hollows."
"Remember to be extra vigilant when you disperse for Soul Burial later."
"You can also extend your spiritual awareness to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Consider it training."
Suō Tsukasa advised, not retracting his spiritual awareness. He maintained his focus on the movement of the Wholes within his detection range, sensing the changes in their emotional states.
The emotions of these Wholes—helplessness, confusion, sadness, and attachment to loved ones—were like ripples on the water, clearly discernible in his perception.
He wouldn't be able to do his evening practice tonight, so training in this manner was a pleasure in itself.
"Mm, I understand."
Upon hearing this, Tōshirō also lost his interest in admiring the night view and focused his mind, extending his own spiritual awareness.
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