Gikongan?
The moment Seiya Arima heard the term, his expression briefly reflected surprise.
But he quickly connected the dots.
"I almost forgot… this thing may look inconspicuous, but it's actually incredibly important."
This brought up a very practical issue: including Seiya himself, everyone in the Seireitei functioned and lived as spiritual beings.
The Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the World of the Living—these three regions formed the core of the world, each with its respective duties and "tasks."
Shinigami ventured into the World of the Living to exterminate Hollows, stationing squads for operations.
The Thirteenth Division, under the command of Jūshirō Ukitake, primarily handled this role.
"Seiya-kun, you should have some understanding of this. When spiritual beings like us enter the World of the Living, it's almost impossible not to create an impact."
Kisuke Urahara raised his right hand slightly, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"For ordinary spirits, humans can neither see nor touch them, so their presence has no effect."
"But for those with some strength, their existence inevitably influences the surroundings to varying degrees… this idea isn't hard to grasp, right? After all, a Shinigami's power fundamentally stems from the density of their soul."
"A substance too heavy entering the World of the Living—without even taking any deliberate actions—will easily disturb the environment around it."
This point wasn't hard to understand.
After all, in the original storyline during the Arrancar Arc, Ulquiorra and Yammy's arrival in the World of the Living had already caused enough chaos just from their spiritual pressure.
And even more extreme…
Seiya's gaze briefly flickered toward Aizen, who was rearranging beverages at the drinks station nearby, wearing a studious expression.
He recalled how, after merging with the Hōgyoku, Aizen's evolved state in the World of the Living became visible even to ordinary humans.
However, merely approaching him caused anyone nearby to lose all vitality, resulting in the iconic line:
"Move farther away. I'd rather not have your blood splatter on me."
"I understand this," Seiya responded.
"Oh~ good. That means I can skip some of the basics and save myself a lot of talking."
Kisuke Urahara paused mid-sip, realizing his bottle was empty.
"Captain Urahara, please use this."
Standing nearby, Aizen, disguised as Sakaki Hanō, handed over a freshly opened bottle with a gentle smile.
"Ah~ thank you! You're quite thoughtful."
"It's just a small gesture, not worth mentioning."
"You're quite the smooth talker. The Twelfth Division could use someone like you. Uh… what's your name again?"
"My name is Sakaki Hanō, Captain Urahara."
Watching the two maintain their facade of camaraderie, Seiya managed to keep a straight face, though he inwardly sighed deeply.
What a playful mood, Aizen…
Once Urahara had refilled his drink, he turned back to Seiya.
"Haha, where was I just now?"
Seiya paused to consider.
"You were about to skip over the basics of Gikongan?"
"Ah! That's right."
Kisuke's expression shifted into a thoughtful one as he continued.
"Seiya-kun, you're probably aware that trained Shinigami must suppress their spiritual pressure when operating in the World of the Living."
This wasn't new information.
Seiya immediately recalled the Arrancar Arc, where the Shinigami initially needed to limit their powers in the World of the Living—until they dramatically lifted those limits during the battle.
At the time, the phrase "Release the limit" had a certain unforgettable flair.
"Shinigami operating in the human world must limit their powers, especially those at or above the rank of lieutenant. Typically, the restriction reduces their abilities to about 1/5th to 1/10th of their original capacity."
According to this system, even spiritual entities classified as Level 5 could impact the human world significantly.
For those at higher levels, wielding Bankai—with its exponential boost—would naturally make such prohibitions essential.
With a smile, Urahara glanced at Seiya.
"Do you know why this restriction is necessary?"
"To prevent harm to ordinary humans, correct?"
"Precisely~ The density and weight of spiritual energy can leave irreversible effects on the World of the Living. Ah, humans are such fragile beings, aren't they?"
This being the case…
"Anyone ranked lieutenant or higher would find it very inconvenient to function in the World of the Living."
That much was clear.
"Thus, I developed the Gikongan. After some fine-tuning, it can perfectly adapt to an individual."
"This allows even a black-hole-like spiritual pressure to be concealed, minimizing its impact on the World of the Living."
"Don't you think it's quite fascinating?"
…It certainly was.
In fact, the original storyline consistently highlighted the importance of Gikongan.
For example, during the Winter War Arc, it facilitated the Shinigami's operations in the human world. Even Ichigo's very existence as a Substitute Shinigami was tied to this invention, considering his father, Isshin Kurosaki, also relied on a Gikongan to remain in the human realm.
Wow… when you think about it, the Gikongan is a truly pivotal invention, Seiya thought.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he realized just how vital Urahara's creations were.
"Judging by your expression, Seiya-kun, it seems you understand why I've been working on this?"
"I think so, to some extent."
"Ah, modest as ever."
"You flatter me… By the way, how far along is your research?"
"It's nearly complete. The core concept has been proven, and now it's just a matter of finalizing production."
The Twelfth Division truly lived up to its reputation.
After taking another sip, Urahara's cheerful demeanor shifted slightly. His tone softened.
"And, truth be told, I've had a personal motive for pursuing this research."
"…What do you mean by that, Captain?"
"I want to visit the World of the Living—to experience human life firsthand."
Urahara's voice was calm as he elaborated.
"Most in the Soul Society look down on the human world. I can't say I'm surprised, given our perspective. Humans live short lives, their vision limited by mortality. Bound by such constraints, they cannot stand at the same height as us."
Nearby, Aizen paused his movements, maintaining an attentive posture despite not turning his head.
As for Seiya, he listened intently, softly asking,
"Captain Urahara… are you saying you disagree with this view?"
"Indeed. I believe this unwarranted disdain is fundamentally arrogant."
Life, after all, has no inherent hierarchy.
"The fleeting brilliance of a shooting star holds its own meaning."
"Seiya-kun, I wish to explore the World of the Living, to witness its untold sights, to learn and grow."
"And then, to use what I've gained to give back to this world."
"Oh, right…"
"Even though I've graduated from the academy, I've always thought of myself as a student."
That's it.
"I still have so much to learn…"
Draining the last of his drink, Urahara hesitated briefly before smiling faintly.
"That's why I believe… a world where the three realms—Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the World of the Living—continue in balance and harmony is the most correct state of being."
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Powerstones?
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