Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 365 Method to Close the Call Valley

Yoruichi looked at Asuka and repeatedly warned, "I'm reminding you, it's best not to get into a conflict with that kid."

"Although that kid is not as strong as you, he is a local. If you fight him to the death in this barren spiritual energy field, even if you win, it will be a loss."

"Our current focus must be on shutting down Jiaogu."

Following her words, Shinobu asked, "Miss Yoruichi, you just said that shattering the Soul of Despair is futile. So how can we close this connection called Valley?"

"To shut down the connection to the Valley of Calling, we must find and destroy the core that maintains this rift." Yoruichi handed the two a diagram.

That core is called the Bead of Longing.

This is an unfamiliar term; even Shinobu Kocho wasn't very familiar with it.

"What is that?"

"You all remember that a 'blank soul' is a blank soul that has lost its memories and its sense of self, right?"

Yoruichi explained, "Have you ever wondered where those memories they forgot went?"

Asuka and Shinobu exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

"Memory is an extremely special kind of emotional energy. When countless souls are separated from the present world and trapped in the broken realm, the fragments of their memories do not disappear into thin air."

"These fragments of memory drifted through the void of the broken boundary, occasionally coming together due to some kind of strong resonance."

"Ultimately, a special aggregate with extremely high spiritual power will be born."

"This is the Bead of Longing."

Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho seemed to understand something: "Since it's a collection of memories, doesn't it contain an extremely large obsession?"

"That's right." Ye nodded. "The obsession of the Thought Bead is the core that sustains the existence of the Valley of Calling."

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"It can be said that as long as the Bead of Longing exists, the rift in the Valley will never close, and it will continuously draw energy from the mortal world to maintain its existence..."

"Then find it and chop it into pieces," Asuka said without hesitation.

"Yes, we must find it..." Yoruichi's eyes became somewhat complicated: "But the Bead of Longing is not a lifeless stone."

"It is a sense of belonging formed from the collective memories, emotions, and obsessions of countless humans... and it usually takes on human form."

"Human?" Shinobu Kocho covered her mouth in surprise.

"Yes." Yoruichi scratched her head: "It not only has a human appearance, but also its own independent consciousness and emotions, as well as false memories pieced together from countless fragments."

"It will think of itself as a living, breathing person, with parents, friends, favorite foods, and things it's afraid of..."

'

"But it itself has no idea what it is."

This... made Asuka tighten her grip on the hilt of the sword even more.

He never considered himself a good person.

Killing a monster or an enemy is no psychological burden for the bird.

But... asking him to kill an ordinary person who has no idea of ​​his own existence...

How is this any different from Aizen, who arbitrarily takes the lives of innocent people to achieve his goals, and those demons who devour the lives of others?

Suddenly, Asuka remembered the large "人" (person) character that Mr. Sakamoto Kinpachi had written on the blackboard.

If protecting one group of people necessitates the cruel elimination of another innocent person... then what about the human bonds he painstakingly rediscovered?

Feiniao had a gloomy face, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Yoruichi didn't urge her.

She knew that for those Shinigami captains who constantly talked about righteousness, sacrificing one person to save the world... or even sacrificing an entire Rukongai, was just a simple arithmetic problem that didn't require any consideration.

But for outcasts like Asuka and themselves, who cherish individual bonds, this is a cruel choice.

Just as the bird hesitated.

A pair of soft hands gently covered his hands.

She didn't speak, but gently pried open Fei Niao's fingers, which were stiff from using too much force, and then intertwined her own fingers with his.

"Mr. Asuka," Shinobu's voice was soft, "we are Shinigami, not gods...we can't save everyone."

.

She looked into the bird's eyes, her gaze unwavering: "If the rules of this world are so cruel, forcing us to make choices... you don't need to bear all the darkness alone. I'm willing to share this sin with you."

The bird shuddered and stared blankly at the woman before it.

Shinobu Kocho smiled with a firm yet helpless expression: "Even if I have to be the villain, I will always be by your side."

With her help, the tangled mess in my heart was untangled.

"...Sigh." Asuka gripped Shinobu's hand tightly with her other hand and looked at Yoruichi: "I will find that Thought Bead, and then... I will dispose of it."

Seeing the renewed determination in Asuka's eyes, Yoruichi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, that's good enough." Yoruichi straightened up, took out a strangely shaped metal device that looked like a compass from her pocket, and solemnly handed it to Asuka.

"You must listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

"Because Sarayashiki City has been severely corrupted by the laws of another world, this area not only lacks spiritual energy supply, but even the spiritual power within the Shinigami's body is being suppressed and extracted invisibly."

"Here, ordinary Shinigami cannot even unleash their Zanpakuto; forcibly releasing Kido will only lead to the depletion of their spiritual energy."

"Therefore, the Soul Society cannot provide you with any substantial combat support... Neither the Gotei 13 nor Kisuke can intervene."

"You can only fight this battle by yourself."

Yoruichi pointed at the metal compass: "This is a spirit particle detector made by Kisuke. It can help you find the special wavelength of the Thought Bead."

"All I can do now is help you pinpoint the approximate location of the Remembrance Beads... The rest is up to you."

Feiniao took the heavy radar and glanced at the screen that was flashing a faint red dot.

"That's enough."

He tucked the radar into his pocket and gently pushed away the thief's knife with his right thumb.

Although the sword was not drawn, its chilling aura caused the surrounding mist to churn and retreat.

"Ren, stay close to me."

"Yes, Vice Captain, you are ready to be deployed at any time." Shinobu Kocho smiled slightly.

Although she cannot use the Kido, she is still the Insect Pillar who traverses the forest during the age of demons.

"Be careful in everything." Yoruichi looked at the two of them standing side by side, a rare look of worry on her face. "If you run into that brat named Yusuke Urameshi, try not to get into a fight."

"If possible... perhaps you can find a better solution."

Asuka didn't answer, and without hesitation, she pulled Shinobu Kocho into the thick, grayish-white sea of ​​fog.