Although Setsuna brought Mayuri back to the 11th Division, he was well aware of this guy's destructive power.
Therefore, Setsuna immediately sought out Aizen. "Aizen, this is Kurotsuchi Mayuri, whom I requested from the 12th Division. From today onwards, he is your direct subordinate."
In his view, Aizen should still be able to keep Mayuri in check.
Aizen pushed up his glasses, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
This was the first time he had seen Setsuna treat someone so seriously.
While he was sizing up Mayuri, Mayuri was also sweeping a scrutinizing gaze over Aizen.
"Can this guy really understand the greatness of my research?"
Setsuna smiled. "Of course he can. Aizen is also a genius whose vision surpasses his era."
"Good. I've had enough of dealing with mediocre people. Only those mediocrities would consider my Superhuman Drug a poison used to kill people."
As he spoke, Mayuri took out an exquisite metal box from his bosom, opening the lid with the reverence of displaying a treasure.
Inside the metal box, three test tubes were neatly arranged.
Each test tube held a dark red liquid that seemed to slowly writhe as if alive.
Within the liquid, countless tiny points of light flickered and spun like stars, emitting an unsettling Reishi fluctuation.
"Actually..." Mayuri's voice lowered, carrying a kind of missionary fervor. "This is a 'sacred drug' meant to transcend the limits of a Shinigami. After consumption, the consumer's neural response speed increases by a million times. For you, one second becomes a hundred years."
He picked up a test tube and raised it to his eyes.
The dark red liquid swirled inside the tube, reflecting his twisted smile.
"Of course, the price is that most Shinigami souls cannot withstand this level of 'time dilation'," Mayuri's smile grew even more bizarre. "It's like if a person's hearing became a million times more acute, even the slightest noise could ruin their brain."
"That's how the Superhuman Drug is. They experience a hundred years of perception within one second, and then their brains break down from receiving too much information. So those mediocrities call it a 'poison', entirely because they themselves cannot withstand it."
He looked at Setsuna, his eyes flickering with a probing, almost provocative light. "But true geniuses are different. True geniuses, within this extreme 'time dilation', can stimulate the latent potential deep within their souls, potential even they themselves don't know exists. Captain Setsuna, would you like to try a dose?"
"Stimulate potential?" Setsuna felt quite reminiscent. Back in the Dragon Ball World, relying on the immortal body granted by his wish to Shenlong, he forcibly took the Ultra Divine Water and struggled on the edge of life and death for a day and a night.
During that day, every second felt like eternity.
That feeling, thinking back now... he somewhat missed it.
"Alright," Setsuna took the test tube, pulled out the stopper, tilted his head back, and downed the liquid inside in one gulp.
Mayuri was stunned. "You actually drank it?"
A flicker of disappointment passed through Mayuri's eyes. He hadn't expected this man, hailed as the [Strongest Genius of the Soul Society], to be just a fool easily provoked.
'Looks like I need to run quickly. Killing a Captain is a major crime!' Mayuri sighed inwardly, a bit regretful. He shouldn't have pushed his luck.
However, just as he was about to turn and slip away, he heard Setsuna comment, "Pretty ordinary. Your Superhuman Drug's efficacy is still a bit lacking."
Mayuri froze.
He spun around sharply, staring intently at Setsuna. His bloodshot eyes were wide, almost splitting.
His brain was working frantically, analyzing every word Setsuna said, understanding Setsuna's current state… no sign of soul collapse, no sign of Reiatsu disturbance, not even a hint of a pained expression.
'This man had truly withstood it.'
'Withstood the theoretically unbearable Superhuman Drug.'
"How did you do it? That's the Superhuman Drug that increases reaction speed a million times!" Mayuri asked in disbelief.
Setsuna smiled calmly. "Although your Superhuman Drug is not bad, it still falls short compared to the speed of light. Compared to the perception during transcendence of life and death, where one second feels like billions of years, it's even farther off."
Nerve conduction speed is usually only around 50m/s to 70m/s. Even increased a million times, it's only a quarter or a fifth of light speed.
Although he couldn't enter the realm of light speed now, he had after all experienced battles at light speed. Withstanding this level of neural reaction was not difficult.
Mayuri opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.
His brain was refusing to accept this information.
'Reaction speed comparable to light speed? Perception where one second feels like billions of years?'
'This already exceeded my understanding… no, it exceeded the scope of the entire Soul Society's existing theories.'
Setsuna looked at Aizen. "This Superhuman Drug isn't very significant for me, but diluted, it might help you and Yoruichi comprehend the Seventh Sense."
Aizen smiled faintly. "One second equals a hundred years. What a wonderful experience. It sounds like adapting to prison life in advance."
If the things he and Setsuna were planning were ever exposed, even being imprisoned in the Muken for a hundred thousand years would be considered light.
Mayuri ignored Aizen's teasing. All his attention now was focused entirely on Setsuna.
"Someone actually can withstand it..." He muttered to himself. Then he abruptly looked up, his eyes erupting with unprecedented, almost frenzied light. "Hahahaha! It seems my ideas were indeed correct. The mistake lies with those mediocre Shinigami. They are too weak, they are unworthy of using my drug!"
He rushed in front of Setsuna, his tone unprecedentedly sincere. "Captain Setsuna, please let me develop drugs for you! I will improve the [Superhuman Drug] and develop an even more powerful version!"
Setsuna chuckled, not bothering to tease him with a line like 'first arrogant, then respectful'.
"Of course. I need your talent. By the way, do you also have a concept for a [Postcognition Drug]?"
Mayuri was stunned again.
"How do you know?" An even more excited light flashed in Mayuri's eyes. "The ideas of geniuses truly align! I've long had the idea of creating such a drug. Through specific Reishi resonance, it allows the consumer's consciousness to 'travel' to the past."
Setsuna's eyes glinted slightly. This kind of drug might be helpful to him.
In the One Piece World, he had read fragments of his past life memories through Pudding's Memo Memo no Mi, but that was merely watching, not experiencing firsthand.
If Mayuri's Postcognition Drug research succeeded, he could make his memories return to that moment again, feel the power of Omega Shenron.
Like a great man once said: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
Setsuna decisively said, "I will apply for funding. The 11th Division has independent budget authority. Whatever amount you need, I'll provide, as long as you deliver results."
The look Mayuri gave Setsuna grew increasingly fervent. A flicker of emotion stirred in his heart. He had drifted half his life, only regretting not meeting a wise ruler. Today, he had finally encountered someone who truly appreciated him.