Shigure Segawa repeated the word.
Recalling the Thunder Tool he had just seen, he began to understand why Mayuri Kurotsuchi had summoned him here.
Mayuri raised a hand and extended one finger.
"First, I need the thunderstorm power of your Zanpakutō."
Then, he extended a second finger.
"Second, I need your immense spiritual pressure."
Shigure's eyes glimmered as he smiled. "What makes you so certain that I would agree to cooperate with you?"
Mayuri let out a peculiar laugh.
"Because you're not as rigid as the Captain-Commander. To secure victory in battle, you're willing to use 'methods.'"
"And besides, you've always yearned for greater power, haven't you?"
His gaze, filled with amusement, locked onto Shigure.
Shigure chuckled. "Captain Mayuri, you're absolutely right. If this collaboration can make me stronger, I'll gladly work with you."
"Excellent." Mayuri's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"So, what exactly are you planning to create?" Shigure asked. "Why do you need my spiritual pressure and the power of my Zanpakutō?"
Instead of answering immediately, Mayuri walked to the opposite end of the workbench, leaving a distance of about three ken (approximately 18 feet) between them. He then turned around to face Shigure.
"From this distance, if you were to attack me as your enemy, ensuring I couldn't escape, what method would you choose?" Mayuri asked with a cryptic smile.
Shigure grinned. "Spiritual pressure and Kido."
"Correct." Mayuri nodded with a smile. "But is there a more effective and energy-efficient method?"
Shigure's eyes flickered with understanding.
Mayuri raised a hand and pointed at the Zanpakutō at Shigure's waist. Slowly, he said, "The answer is... the Thunder Sealing Device."
"Thunder Sealing Device?" Shigure murmured, his gaze slightly shifting.
Mayuri grinned widely. "In my vision, this device is the ultimate upgrade to the Thunder Tool, capable of unlimited use."
"Its function is to instantaneously release the thunderstorm power of your Zanpakutō in a compressed form!"
"With the immense offensive and control capabilities of your Zanpakutō, it will far surpass the effects of sealing Kido."
"Although I've never attempted to suppress the power of a Zanpakutō before, with your immense spiritual pressure to stabilize it, combined with the perfect vessel I'll create, it should be entirely feasible!"
By this point, Mayuri's face was alight with excitement.
Shigure was momentarily stunned.
Mayuri's creativity was truly astounding.
Sealing the power of Kido wasn't enough for him—he now wanted to seal the power of a Zanpakutō.
But just hearing about it, Shigure couldn't help but feel intrigued.
"I agree. When do we start?" Shigure asked directly.
Mayuri shook his head. "I haven't even begun crafting the vessel yet."
"Hmm?" Shigure raised an eyebrow. "Then why call me over so soon?"
Mayuri smirked smugly. "Although I was confident you'd agree to collaborate, there's always a chance, however slim, that you wouldn't. If I were to invest significant effort into creating something, only for it to become useless trash, that would be heartbreaking."
Hearing this, Shigure immediately understood.
From the moment he saw the Thunder Tool, he had noticed that the glass orb was composed of highly concentrated spiritual particles.
And that was merely for sealing Kido.
To seal the thunderstorm power of Candle Dragon, the required vessel would clearly need to meet far higher standards.
"Will seven days be enough?" Shigure asked.
"Just enough," Mayuri replied confidently.
"Alright, I'll come find you after I return from the Black Erosion Prison," Shigure nodded slightly.
After leaving the Department of Research and Development, Shigure decided to pay a visit to Jūshirō Ukitake.
Previously, to complete a sign-in task, he had been forced to reject Ukitake's goodwill and instead chose to join Aizen's faction.
Although it was difficult to explain, there was no other choice.
Still, Shigure believed that with Ukitake's magnanimity, he wouldn't hold a grudge over such a matter.
When he arrived at the 13th Division barracks, the Soul Reaper guarding the gate frowned, clearly unfamiliar with Shigure.
"Which division are you from?" the guard asked.
Shigure smiled. "I'm Shigure Segawa. I currently don't belong to any division. I'd like to see Captain Ukitake. Could you please inform him?"
"Shigure... Segawa?" The Soul Reaper's expression turned puzzled. "Why does that name sound so familiar..."
He glanced Shigure up and down, and suddenly his eyes widened in realization.
Wasn't this the name mentioned earlier in Captain Unohana'sTenchi Kōrō?
The guard immediately straightened. "P-please wait! I'll report this right away!"
He hurried off and returned shortly after.
"Captain Ukitake is waiting for you in the main hall. Please, go on in!"
"Thank you," Shigure nodded slightly before stepping inside.
The layout of the 13th Division barracks was similar to that of the 5th Division, so Shigure found his way without detours and headed directly toward the main hall.
As he walked, a petite female Soul Reaper approached him from the opposite direction.
The moment he saw her face, Shigure paused slightly.
Rukia Kuchiki?
Noticing his gaze, Rukia glanced back with a neutral expression. She gave a slight nod. "Hello."
Without stopping, she continued walking, passing by Shigure without further acknowledgment.
Shigure chuckled softly. He hadn't expected to run into her here.
But for now, as the protagonist of the story, she had yet to become entangled in Aizen's plans.
There was no need for him to pay her too much attention.
With that thought, Shigure maintained a calm demeanor and continued forward.
The doors to the main hall were open, and Jūshirō Ukitake sat inside, draped in a blanket, his complexion looking less than ideal.
Standing at the doorway, Shigure called out softly, "Captain Ukitake."
Ukitake looked up and smiled warmly. "Come in, Segawa. I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Shigure smiled as he stepped inside.
From the time the guard reported to now, not even a minute had passed. Clearly, Ukitake hadn't been waiting long.
What Ukitake meant by "waiting for a long time" was something else entirely.
He was referring to Shigure finally coming to see him.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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