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Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
Currently at Chapter 136 on Patreon. Read at one go.
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The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days. (Chapter 136-141)
patreon.com/FrancisMW
The Artificial Soul King Project—just as the name implies—is an attempt to artificially create a new Soul King.
Afterward, the plan is to replace the existing Soul King with the man-made one, thereby seizing his position and power.
To put it plainly: become a new god.
The artificially created Soul King was successfully born by fusing the powers and souls of Shinigami, Quincy, Hollow, and Fullbringer.
> "In other words… I'll become a target too. No—maybe I already am a target."
Kanbaru scratched his head with a helpless expression.
This was another one of those things that made being a Quincy such a pain—aside from the threat of forced sanctification.
As a rare and dying race, Quincies were often regarded as valuable test material by mad scientists in every realm.
The Fullbringers were no exception.
All Fullbringers shared a common trait: their mothers had been attacked by Hollows before their birth, causing residual Hollow power to pass on to them in utero.
Because of this, they could manipulate the souls residing in physical matter, using their spiritual pressure to enhance objects or grant them abilities.
This manifested in abilities such as walking on water, staying airborne briefly, and transforming everyday items into weapons—an ability they called Fullbring. Those who wielded this power were known as Fullbringers.
But the truth?
That supposed Hollow power wasn't Hollow at all.
It was the fragmented remnants of the Soul King's power.
The Fullbringers, unknowingly, were tapping into the splinters of a god.
But they couldn't develop or master this divine power properly. Their use of the Soul King's fragments was incomplete—flawed.
> "I still have things to take care of. Most likely, I've been dragged into Karakura Town's latest headache again."
Kanbaru smiled faintly. He had already guessed Kugo Ginjō's real purpose.
Understanding Ginjō's personality made it easy to predict his actions.
A man like Ginjō wouldn't move without benefit—but once he did, it always meant something big. His sudden arrival in Karakura Town? It could only mean one thing.
—Later That Afternoon—
Next door to Kanbaru's house, an uninvited old guest appeared once again.
> "Another Adjuchas-class Arrancar in the Human World?"
> "Karakura Town might be a high-spirit zone, but this is way too frequent."
Shiba Isshin frowned. Something felt wrong.
The Soul Burial Training incident… the Shiro Hollow emergence… and now an Adjuchas?
None of it felt coincidental.
This had to be the work of traitors within the Soul Society.
> "Still… thanks to you, Rangiku was saved."
> "Otherwise, I'd be shopping for a new lieutenant."
Shiba Isshin spoke with sincere gratitude.
> "Captain… I'm right here, you know."
Matsumoto Rangiku pouted indignantly.
> "Ah—sorry, forgot you were here."
Isshin chuckled awkwardly.
> "So that's how it is when I am not around, huh? Talking behind my back?"
> "Believe it or not, I'll stab you!"
Rangiku puffed her cheeks and marched over with her voluptuous figure swaying.
> "Kanbaru! Help me cut this guy up!"
Kanbaru: "???"
Isshin: "???"
> "C'mon~ Help me teach him a lesson," Rangiku whined as she shook Kanbaru's arm, her voice saccharine enough to make bones go soft.
There was no denying it—Rangiku was a master of playing cute when she wanted something.
Kanbaru found himself struggling to resist.
> "Wait a second—what's that look in your eyes?"
> "Why are you leaking killing intent and Reiatsu? You don't actually want to kill me, do you?!"
Feeling the spiritual pressure spike, Isshin wiped cold sweat from his brow.
> "You seriously want to off me?! What the hell do you think I am?!"
> "Try it—I'll flop over and ruin your life with one good scream!"
Isshin panicked.
> "Also, since when did you two get so close, huh? Something's weird. Seriously weird."
Isshin squinted at the two.
The way Rangiku interacted with Kanbaru—this was not normal.
Not normal at all.
> Hiss... I get it now.
> "You two are that kind of relationship, aren't you? Yep, it all makes sense!"
Isshin put on the I've-been-there expression.
> "Well then, just remember to use protection, okay? Soul Reapers and humans—never know what might pop out!"
> "CAPTAIN ISSHIN, DIE!!!"
> "HEY! DON'T DRAW YOUR ZANPAKUTO!"
> "NO MORE NONSENSE! TODAY IS YOUR LAST!"
> "Wait! Let's talk this out! Bridge bean sack! Kanbaru, don't just stand there! Don't come over—AHHH!!!"
After a long scream…
Isshin sat cross-legged on the floor, face swollen like a balloon.
> "Ow… You guys are really too much."
> "Why do you always go for the face?"
He grimaced, brushing a hand against the bruise.
But pride intact, Isshin lit up a cigarette with a grin. The head could break, the blood could flow, but damn it, the smoke had to stay.
Lighting up, he leaned against the wall and pulled out a compact communication device.
> "Still gotta report this to Captain Yamamoto."
> "This might be a case involving a Soul Society traitor."
He hesitated—then tossed something at Kanbaru.
> "What's this?"
Kanbaru caught it—a wooden tag.
> "You did what I asked. So I'll keep my end."
> "That's Nel Tu's identification tag."
> "As long as she doesn't attack humans or Soul Reapers, the Gotei won't hunt her."
> "Getting this done took a lot of arguing with that stubborn old man."
Isshin waved it off casually, but Kanbaru knew it wasn't simple.
Convincing Yamamoto Genryūsai to make exceptions? That was like chiseling stone with a spoon.
By the time Kanbaru processed this, Isshin had connected with the Soul Society.
On the display, the stoic image of Captain-Commander Yamamoto appeared, flanked by Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō.
> "In short, this was the situation in Karakura Town today," Isshin reported, sitting up straight and snuffing out his cigarette.
> "...Wait a second."
> "Isshin, what happened to your face?" Shunsui asked, wide-eyed.
> "Ahaha! Oh, that? I, uh… walked into a wall. Heh."
Isshin laughed and scratched his head. From the corner of his eye, he sent a death glare to that dog and woman who had just tag-teamed him.
> "...Walked into a wall?"
Shunsui raised a skeptical brow.
Who the hell was buying that? A captain-level Shinigami wouldn't bruise from falling off a skyscraper, let alone bumping into drywall.
Yamamoto finally spoke.
> "Another Adjuchas-level Arrancar?"
> "Captain Shiba Isshin—you've done well."
His eyes were deep, ancient, hiding thoughts he didn't voice aloud.
> "But this incident isn't my doing," Isshin said quickly.
> "It was handled by a Quincy—Kurosaki Kanbaru."
> "He defeated the Arrancar before I arrived, rescued Lieutenant Matsumoto, and protected Karakura Town."
Isshin shot Kanbaru a wink.
Kanbaru: "???"
> I swear, I will end you.
> I've been trying to stay off the Soul Society's radar—and you just tossed me under the bus?!
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes.
> "The Quincy, is it...?"
> "Understood."
> "Then, Captain Shiba Isshin—return to the Soul Society. As a captain, you must not remain in the World of the Living too long."
> "Hm? Why is there no response…"
> "Captain Shiba Isshin, are you there?"
Kyōraku walked up, stared at the screen, and muttered, "Old Man Yama… I think he hung up."
Ukitake: "…"
Yamamoto: "…"
> "He HUNG UP?!"
> "Has he grown tired of living?! He hung up on Old Man Yama?!"
Shunsui facepalmed while exchanging a long-suffering look with Ukitake.
> "Isshin's cooked."
> "Completely."
Meanwhile, in the World of the Living…
> "Hello? Anyone there?"
> "Captain? Old man? Shunsui? Jūshirō?"
> "...No sound?"
Isshin looked at the now blacked-out screen.
> "Wait… did I… accidentally turn off the transmission?"
He froze.
> "I'm screwed."
> "I'm so screwed."
> "Old Man Yama's gonna break my legs."
Isshin collapsed to his knees, almost weeping.
Kanbaru: "…"
Rangiku: "…"
> "GO TO HELL, YOU IDIOT CAPTAIN!!!"
Join my Patreon to read advanced chapters.
Five new chapters uploaded on PATREON.
Currently at Chapter 136 on Patreon. Read at one go.
patreon.com/FrancisMW
The next one chapter on webnovel will be uploaded in the next 2 days.
The next five chapters will be uploaded on Patreon in the next 2 days. (Chapter 136-141)
patreon.com/FrancisMW