REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 118: Restriction
A room concealed in pitch darkness.
The room proved abnormally spacious, yet appeared somewhat cramped from dense instruments.
The only light source came from dozens of variously sized monitoring screens embedded in walls, emitting eerie cold light, illuminating the standing figure within like a phantom.
Screen images displayed varied angles. Most screens showed fixed-angle surveillance footage.
Some were dynamic images captured by "eyes."
As the brown-skinned, purple-haired man wearing captain's haori operated with his fingers before screens.
The central large screen clearly played Suoh bringing Matsumoto Rangiku to battle Metastacia.
The room remained silent. Screen images rapidly switched.
Each frame clear and smooth, capable of capturing subtle expression changes in pictured figures.
The instant Metastacia erupted, Suoh's calm response expression formed stark contrast with Matsumoto Rangiku's suddenly contracting pupils beside him.
From Dankū rising to Kikou's release, extremely brief time elapsed.
Until dazzling radiance filled the screen, all footage abruptly ceased.
Gotei 13's only blind captain, Tosen Kaname, received complete image information through the highly technological eyewear covering his face.
The next moment, a low voice containing fury sounded, especially clear in the silent room.
"Wasting so many experimental resources only to be easily eliminated by a lieutenant and seated officer? Truly worthless!"
His words expressed considerable dissatisfaction over the experimental subject's careless failure.
"Kaname, don't say that. Experiments always accompany variables and accidents."
Aizen's voice came from behind him, carrying customary gentleness.
Likewise wearing pure white captain's haori, he calmly stepped forward from shadows in the room's depths, standing at the boundary between cold screen radiance and room's deep darkness.
"Though we didn't achieve experimental expected results, didn't we gain something?"
Aizen stepped forward. Slender fingers lightly traced across a certain control panel area.
The main screen's image immediately switched, transforming into multilayered overlapping spiritual pressure fluctuation curves and data analysis charts.
Two curves repeatedly fluctuated with time, finally experiencing brief intersection in a certain interval, after which one curve dropped cliff-like until completely reaching zero.
Data collection also ended there.
"Metastacia's spiritual pressure peak reached 91% of estimates. The stripping interference effect on zanpakuto was verified, already constituting significant threat to lieutenant-level Shinigami."
"The inability to use core parasitic fusion ability proves somewhat regrettable, but this precisely represents this experiment's interesting aspect."
"This young Suoh 3rd Seat—his strength growth truly proves remarkable. Combat intuition and risk avoidance awareness also quite outstanding."
"Throughout, only one precise and restrained direct engagement, as though before battle began he'd already detected its most threatening trait, choosing quite excellent combat approach."
"This kind of ability and personality—among Shinigami, quite rare indeed."
The recent footage left Aizen feeling quite novel.
Though he'd long known Suoh received the Captain-Commander's personal guidance, once again personally reviewing Suoh's combat performance, he genuinely felt a bit fresh interest.
His face revealed a satisfied slight smile.
Only that gentle smile appeared somewhat strange in this extremely enclosed, dim space.
Withdrawing his gaze from the curves, Aizen turned to instruct.
"End this experimental phase here. Kaname, prepare to initiate the next phase's experiments."
"Yes, Aizen-sama."
Tosen Kaname lowered his head, receiving orders.
From beginning to end, a third figure standing silently in room corner shadows, like a sculpture merged into background, never spoke a word.
Time arrived ten days after returning from West Rukongai.
Seireitei never proved a place emphasizing humanity and warmth.
Aside from brief heaviness and grief pervading within Tenth Division, several squad members' accidental deaths caused no ripples whatsoever.
Fatality reports and records were thoroughly archived.
Only in recent days would some squad members from other divisions discuss this occasionally during leisure, usually carrying detached sighs.
Soon, everyone's attention was firmly seized by more explosive developments.
Tenth Division Captain Shiba Isshin personally confronted Twelfth Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi demanding accountability. Two captain-level figures stood off before the Research Department entrance.
Spiritual pressure surged. They nearly came to blows on the spot.
This once-in-a-millennium situation far exceeded several ordinary squad members' deaths in stimulating Seireitei's nerves, instantly becoming the most attention-grabbing gossip.
Yet all this held no relation to Suoh.
His and Shiba Kaien's unauthorized attack already constituted indisputable clear violation.
Thanks to Shiba Miyako reporting the situation to Ukitake Jushiro in advance as buffer, plus successfully saving one squad member, this barely avoided formal accountability and punishment.
But exemption from responsibility didn't equal freedom from consequences.
Both clearly received warning documents from Central 46, cautioning them to focus responsibilities on Thirteenth Division internal affairs, being informed their actions temporarily required restraint.
Suoh's training life was forcibly paused. During restraint period, once his feet stepped beyond barracks gates.
A completely black little tail would appear behind him.
Whether heading to division area libraries or commercial streets, as long as he walked Seireitei's paths, this figure always maintained a fixed distance neither far nor near.
Not that he couldn't shake it off, but that he couldn't shake it off.
Deliberately evading restraint would only invite tighter scrutiny and potentially escalated punishment.
That would prove even more troublesome.
Fortunately the time limit was only one month. Otherwise Suoh would truly go crazy.
Inside the office.
Suoh's expression remained quite calm and relaxed.
Having eliminated Metastacia, this major hidden threat, brought a weighty sense of achievement.
This wasn't merely a successful ambush, but his first time since transmigrating truly using planning and strength to change original story character fate trajectories.
Proving he could bring changes to the future—qualifying as an extremely important milestone in his Shinigami career.
However, milestones' significance lay in marking traveled paths.
During this period he'd also not relaxed continued statistical tracking of mission data.
With Test Subject A, naturally Test Subjects B, C, D might also exist.
Before the Hogyoku's complete formation, Aizen's experiments wouldn't cease. Experimental subjects under him would only continuously update iterations.
Vigilance still required maintaining.
Suddenly, Shiba Kaien's voice sounded from beside him, interrupting Suoh's thoughts.
"Tsukasa, free tonight?"
"About last time's matter—we contributed considerable effort. Uncle Isshin wants to invite us to dinner tonight expressing thanks."
"Consider it a family banquet. Miyako will also attend."
"Of course I'm free. But is he alright?"
Suoh nodded, asking with confusion.
Yesterday sitting in the office, he'd clearly sensed spiritual pressure fluctuations transmitted through air.
Even without truly fighting, alarming half of Seireitei didn't feel like something concluding with simple "nothing happened."
"What could happen? He just went to discuss reason. Finally didn't actually fight."
Shiba Kaien laughed, waving his hand casually.
"That's good."
Suoh felt somewhat surprised by this but didn't dwell excessively.
"Then after evening duties conclude, Miyako and I will come find you. We'll tidy up briefly, then head over together."
Shiba Kaien patted Suoh's shoulder, confirming arrangements.
After exchanging a few words, he turned to handle his own affairs.
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