Chapter 81: Chapter 81 - Negotiations
"Great, then let's sit," Ryu said as he conjured a wooden table and two wooden chairs to the amazement of the Captains.
"Since the Head Captain is not well at the moment, I assume you'll speak for him?" Ryu said, turning to Yamamoto. While Unohana admitted high-quality treatment in the little time she had, Yamamoto still needed time to recover. Ryu could've healed him, but he didn't want to bother himself.
As Shunsui sat at the table he looked at Ryu with nervousness prevalent in his normally calm eyes. "Oh, you misunderstood. I'm not the leader here, that would be Nadare," Ryu said as he stepped aside before the wounded and tired Nadare sat down heavily on the chair.
Nadare didn't have the mental capacity to go back and forth, so he got straight to the point.
"We want better conditions and care for the souls in the far districts of Rukongai," Nadare announced firmly.
Shunsui sighed. He knew that Nadare had a point, but he also knew that the surplus of souls could cause an imbalance in the cycle of reincarnation. "I understand your concern, Nadare, but we cannot allow the balance to be disturbed."
Nadare scoffed. "The balance? What about the people? Don't they matter?"
"Of course they matter," Shunsui said, his voice rising slightly. "But we cannot sacrifice the greater good for the sake of a few."
Nadare's eyes narrowed. "And who decides what the greater good is? The captains who sit in their ivory towers and make decisions that affect the lives of billions without ever setting foot outside the Seireitei? The Soul Society contains the Seireitei 𝐚𝐧𝐝 the Rukongai, in case you forgot,"
Shunsui felt a pang of guilt. Nadare was right. The captains had become complacent, so focused on maintaining the status quo that they had lost touch with the people they were meant to protect.
He took a deep breath. "You make a valid point, Nadare. Perhaps we have become too detached from the people we are meant to serve. But we cannot simply give in to your demands. We need to find a way to help the people without disrupting the balance."
Nadare crossed his arms. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Shunsui hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I suppose we can start by sending a team of captains and vice-captains to the far districts of Rukongai. They will work with the Protectors to improve the living conditions and provide better care for the souls there. If we distribute our resources evenly across all the districts, the souls that die from old age, diseases, or accidents should be enough for the cycle."
Nadare considered this for a moment before nodding. "That's a good proposition, though it's probably best that Shinigami don't show up. Your kind is not liked there. Deliver the resources to us instead."
"I understand, that's logical. However, in the case where the souls that die from natural causes are not enough for the cycle, what do you propose we do?" Shunsui asked.
"If such a thing comes into fruition, randomly select old souls from all the districts. Make it fair, then we won't have any objections," Nadare explained.
"We will do that, then," Shunsui said after thinking for a bit.
Nadare nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Very well. We have an agreement."
Shunsui let out a sigh of relief. He knew that this was only the beginning, but he was hopeful that they could work together to create a better future for the people of Soul Society.
As the two sides turned to leave, Shunsui called out to him. "Nadare, I want you to know that I am sorry for the way we have treated you and the far districts of Rukongai. We should have done more to help you."
Nadare paused for a moment before turning back to face Shunsui. "Apology accepted. But words are not enough. You must prove that you are committed to making things right."
Shunsui nodded. "I understand. And we will do everything in our power to make things right."
"Before you leave, I have a question," Ryu suddenly spoke, making the captains freeze in their tracks. "What is it?" Shunsui replied with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Can you tell me more about the man who made your Zanpakutos? Where can I meet him?" Ryu inquired.
"The man who made our, and every Zanpakuto in the Soul Society, is Oetsu Nimaiya. Otherwise called "God of the Sword", though after seeing your creations his title may not be justified anymore," Shunsui chuckled.
"Where can I meet him?" Ryu inquired, disliking that man more and more. "Unfortunately, you can't. He's part of the Zere Division, a division with the sole purpose of protecting the Soul King. They are not allowed to go outside of the palace area unless some catastrophe happens," Shunsui explained.
"And why is that? Who is the soul king, anyway?" Ryu asked.
"The Soul King," Shunsui said, "is a being that serves as the very linchpin that sustains the three worlds - the Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo. He is a god-like entity, worshipped by many as the ultimate being. Various parts of his body are scattered around, or given to certain people as a power boost."
"God-like? I feel like you guys throw that word around a lot," Ryu said. As an actual god, he felt a little irritated. "But let me get this straight. Your words are held up by a mutilated body? What if he dies or something?" Ryu questioned.
"If the Soul King were to die, the balance of the three worlds would be thrown into disarray. It would be catastrophic, with unimaginable consequences," Shunsui replied, his tone grim.
"That's the least stable way to hold up a world I've ever seen. I couldn't imagine a more useless way even if I tried. *Sigh*, I wanted to meet that blacksmith anyway. I guess that while I'm up there I can fix that stupid problem for you," Ryu facepalmed.
"...Up there? Do you intend to go to the Soul King's palace?" Shunsui replied in shock. "Yeah, I'll do it now. Bye," Ryu said as he vanished from his spot.
The Soul King's palace was a grand and majestic structure that stood tall and proud. The palace was built entirely of a material that shone like polished silver, reflecting the light of the sun with dazzling brilliance. Its many towers and spires seemed to reach up towards the heavens themselves, casting long shadows over the surrounding gardens.
The gardens that surrounded the palace were a sight to behold, filled with exotic flowers and plants of all kinds. There were towering trees with leaves that shimmered like gold, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. There were crystal-clear streams that wound their way through the gardens, their banks lined with fragrant flowers and lush greenery. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of incense, adding to the grandeur of the atmosphere.
The Soul King's palace was not only grand and majestic, but it was also a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship. The entire structure seemed to have been carved from a single piece of the silver-like material, as there were no visible seams or joints between the different sections of the palace. The silver material itself seemed to be infused with a subtle, pulsing energy that gave the entire palace an otherworldly aura.
The entrance to the palace was a massive gate made of the same silver material as the rest of the structure. The gate was several stories tall and wide enough to allow even the largest creatures to pass through. The gate was adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs, depicting various symbols and figures that were sacred to the Soul Society.
"Let's get to work," Ryu smiled in anticipation as he walked through the gate.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone