Taikon and the others straightened their backs under Saito Furofushi's gaze, forcing stiff smiles.
They were terrified that she might give them the sa brutal treatnt she gave their master.
She actually forced Lord Shuren to self-destruct...
Gulp—
The very thought made their throats tighten in fear.
What the hell had Lord Shuren just experienced?
To actually choose self-destruction?
Saito Furofushi only glanced at them briefly before losing interest.
They simply didn't qualify to attract her attention.
…
anwhile.
Now officially the administrator of Hell, Ai Enma received a resurrection request from a soul.
Ai Enma: "…"
This resurrection chanism is seriously flawed.
With a stern expression, she rejected the application.
But...
That soul's spiritual strength was exceptional.
A rare powerhouse, even in Hell.
Hmm...
After so thought, Ai Enma decided to bring the soul back manually.
Monts later.
Shuren opened his eyes, dazed like soone just waking up from a deep sleep.
"I... I'm alive again...?"
Then—
He noticed several people staring at him.
"...?"
Looking up in confusion, Shuren's mind raced.
Had the resurrection location changed?
After a mont of hesitation, he didn't question it further. But when he tried to move...
His whole body froze.
He couldn't move?!
Hone onna glanced at him, then asked, "So, how do we want to assign him?"
Ai Enma replied calmly, "There aren't many strong individuals in the new Hell. Send him to the human world to collect souls."
"?"
Shuren blinked, completely lost.
What are they talking about?
Sending him to the human world?
That made his heart skip.
Quietly, he remained still and listened.
Hearing Ai Enma's words, Hone onna hesitated and said, "This guy…"
"Seems a bit untrustworthy."
"It's fine."
Ai Enma said flatly, "Hell's new systems may still be under developnt, but the chains are functional."
"As long as he's chained, he can't escape Hell's grasp."
"Understood."
Hone onna nodded, then looked down at Shuren with a teasing smile.
"You heard that, didn't you?"
"…"
Shuren was silent for a while, then asked cautiously, "You guys sound like… the administrators of Hell?"
His eyes were full of confusion.
He had lived in Hell for so many years but had never seen any of them before.
"To be exact…"
Hone onna smirked. "Master Lynn is the new manager Hell just hired, he was paid handsoly for it, too."
Shuren's expression twisted in disbelief.
Still...
Feeling the heavy restraints on his body, his gaze darkened.
This had never happened before during a resurrection.
Plus...
Looking around, he noticed many unfamiliar beings—so even looked like working dogs?
Whatever.
The important part was...
They really were building a new Hell.
So Lynn really was the new manager?
His expression was a mix of shock and frustration.
He had worked loyally in Hell for years, yet they brought in an outsider for the top role?
Unwilling to explain further, Ai Enma handed Shuren the new Hell rulebook and an employnt manual.
"Read this. If you agree, you can start."
Shuren: "…"
He opened his mouth, ready to object, but ended up lowering his head to read instead.
Part of him was curious about how these people planned to manage Hell.
Then—
His eyes widened in shock.
They were actually planning to compete with the Soul Society?
They wanted to extradite souls from the human world?!
If sothing went wrong…
Wouldn't that lead to a war with the Soul Reapers?
Gulp—
Shuren swallowed hard.
He had thought his own escape plan was already daring enough.
He was nothing compared to these lunatics.
Especially when he rembered that man in the Soul Society.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni!
This group...
Were they really not afraid?
Clutching the manual tightly, Shuren's hands began to shake.
He asked weakly, "What happens if I say no?"
He had a bit of confidence facing Saito Furofushi, but Yamamoto...
No way.
Besides.
He thought he was strong, but still got destroyed by Saito.
Facing the top of the Soul Society's hierarchy? He didn't stand a chance.
The pride he once had crumbled.
He was quietly retreating from the edge.
"Refuse?"
Hone onna's tone was flat and her expression unchanging.
"Then I'll just keep you imprisoned in Hell."
"Given your cris... Hmm, let think."
She tapped her chin.
"Let's just make it permanent exile. No reincarnation."
Shuren: "…"
Honestly, that didn't sound too different from before.
He hadn't been able to leave Hell anyway.
But…
Reincarnation?
That part was new.
Flipping through the manual again, he paused at the section explaining reincarnation.
"Reincarnation?!"
Shuren clutched the manual, eyes wide. "Is this real?!"
Hone onna nodded. "The Six Realms of Reincarnation are part of Hell's fundantal frawork."
Shuren's breath grew heavy.
So...
If everything else failed, at least reincarnation was an option.
He'd had enough of Hell.
But—
Reincarnation required wiping one's mories.
Would he still be himself afterward?
He hesitated for a mont, then gave up trying to figure it out.
At the very least...
There was finally a path out of Hell.
That alone was enough to give him hope.
He turned back to the manual and started reading thoroughly.
He quickly realized how limited his understanding of Hell had been.
These people...
They really had a thodical approach to managing Hell.
The Six Realms of Reincarnation. A formal position system. Everything was structured and detailed.
And…
Once soone reached a certain position within Hell, they could enter and exit freely?
This…
That was basically the sa as escaping!
Shuren looked up, eyes serious. "I want to enter Hell's system!"
He made the decision without hesitation.
He'd test it out himself.
If it didn't work.
He'd just go back to destroying the Gate of Hell.
Hearing his reply, Hone onna nodded with a satisfied smile.
Soon after.
Shuren and Saito Furofushi exchanged glances.
A short while ago they were enemies.
Now they were coworkers?
Shuren had mixed feelings.
He never imagined Saito—the supposedly upright and honorable one—was already part of this whole operation.
And more shockingly.
That overwhelming spiritual pressure from before…
Actually belonged to Hell's new master!
Lynn didn't even glance at Shuren.
He simply sat in the temporary office, lost in thought.
This version of Hell was made from spirit particles, just like the Soul Society.
If they wanted major structural changes…
They needed to bring in souls.
So—
The matter of extraditing souls from the human world needed to move forward imdiately.
But...
That was Ai Enma's job.
Lynn was perfectly content being the hands-off boss.
He opened the screen to check on Kikyo's group.
Hmm…
Judging from the image...
Sothing interesting might be happening.
…
anwhile.
First Layer of Hell.
Soi Fon and her squad were trudging forward, struggling with every step.
The fiends along the path attacked like rabid beasts, swarming them nonstop.
"Tch!"
Soi Fon frowned. "How much farther till we reach the bottom?"
(To be continued.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)