"Mr. Zed, can you get this thing out?"
Rukia Kuchiki's tone was edged with both surprise and hope as she looked at the sealed orb in front of them.
"I can't promise success," Zed replied calmly, stepping forward. "But I'll give it a try."
"Then... I'll leave it to you!" she responded, quickly bowing her head. Even if he failed, at least now there was hope. Not even Sode no Shirayuki could touch the object now nestled within her consciousness.
Zed focused on the object sealed before him—the Hōgyoku. His fist tightened, cloaked in a soul power far more refined than before, and then—
BOOM!
The punch detonated with explosive force. His soul power, which had undergone continuous evolution since arriving in this world, surged forward like a tempest. Though he couldn't rival the ancient titans of the Soul Society, his current strength eclipsed Rukia's by far.
The air shook from the blast. Sode no Shirayuki immediately stepped in to shield Rukia, snow and mist swirling as the shockwave swept through the inner world.
Though Rukia couldn't yet hear her Zanpakutō's name, the bond between a Shinigami and their blade transcended such limitations. Sode no Shirayuki, being born of her soul, would always protect her.
"Amazing... but still not enough," Sode no Shirayuki muttered, eyes narrowing.
The barrier encasing the Hōgyoku stood unscathed.
"Typical," Zed murmured. "Urahara Kisuke's craftsmanship… there's definitely a gap between us."
He wasn't frustrated, merely reflective. The Soul Society had centuries—millennia—of expertise in soul power manipulation. His own approach was newly forged, an offshoot of the Food Spirit techniques native to the Gourmet World.
But potential? The Food World's upper limits were astronomical.
"It didn't even budge?" Rukia asked, disappointment tinting her voice.
"It's stronger than I anticipated. Still, there's another way," Zed said. "But I'll need to borrow a different power. Since this is your inner world, I need your permission."
He was referring to the Leader Slime—his Gourmet Demon. In the material world, channeling its power bore heavy consequences. But here, in a spiritual plane, he could invoke it freely—assuming Rukia consented.
"I understand… but…" She turned toward her Zanpakutō spirit.
"I agree as well," Sode no Shirayuki said, her gaze steady. "Leaving the Hōgyoku here is far too dangerous. And truthfully, you could've forced your way in without asking."
Zed gave a faint smile. "I could have. But that would've been rude."
He extended his hand. The inner world rumbled.
And then it appeared.
A colossal shadow blanketed the snowy plane.
The Leader Slime manifested in part—a mountain-sized form, translucent and quivering with infinite malice and gluttony.
"...Tch." Zed blinked. "So this is the limit… even here, it can't manifest fully."
The pressure radiating from it was immense, nearly tearing the consciousness space apart. Cracks formed in the sky of Rukia's inner world.
"H-Huh?!" Rukia stumbled back, her eyes wide. The sheer presence was suffocating.
"If I hadn't pulled back in time… your mindscape would've collapsed," Zed muttered. "Apologies."
"I-Is that what you meant by borrowing power?" Rukia gasped, still stunned.
"Yes," Sode no Shirayuki replied, voice tight. "And thank the heavens he did stop. That was far too close."
Even she, born of Rukia's soul and bound to her deepest instincts, felt fear in the presence of this entity. That power—pure, ancient, and unrestrained—could devour everything.
"But at least now… we have the force needed."
Zed focused. The Leader Slime shrank, condensing its form to match their scale—small in appearance, but still monstrously dense in power.
It approached the Hōgyoku's barrier and opened its gaping maw.
CRACK!
The moment its teeth touched the seal, the once-impenetrable barrier shattered like fragile glass. The Hōgyoku, radiating soul energy, was swallowed whole in a single gulp.
"Y-You ate it?!" Rukia yelped. "Is that safe?!"
"Completely," Zed said. "The Hōgyoku may be terrifying here… but compared to a Gourmet Demon?"
He shook his head.
Within the Leader Slime, the Hōgyoku trembled violently, attempting resistance. But Zed could feel it—each cell of the demon breaking it down, unraveling the very essence of the artifact.
It was being digested.
In moments, it was gone.
And then came the influx.
An ocean of new knowledge flooded into Zed's mind—fundamental principles of how soul power was wielded in this world. Not techniques, but foundational methods. He could now intuitively understand how to manipulate Reiryoku, how to form Kido, how to bend soul threads like the Quincy, and how to project raw energy like the Hollows.
Before this, his use of soul power was rudimentary—instinctual and crude.
Now, it was refined.
More than that, the Hōgyoku had amplified the Food Honor principle at his core. Even without external offerings or blessings, he could now evolve his soul power rapidly.
"Mr. Zed…" Rukia spoke up. "That thing… can you tell us what it was?"
Zed nodded and waved his hand, allowing the remnants of the Leader Slime's presence to fade.
"That was my Gourmet Demon—the Leader Slime. In our world, few people possess something called Gourmet Cells. But when they awaken, the cells birth a creature within: a Gourmet Demon."
"They're cosmic beings. Their physical forms have mostly died out, but their souls remain—living on within our cells."
Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki were quiet for a long moment.
After a deep breath, Sode no Shirayuki finally said, "Since the problem's resolved, I believe it's time for you to leave."
Zed nodded. "Understood."
He gave a glance toward Rukia, then turned and exited the inner world.
"Now then," Sode no Shirayuki turned to her wielder. "You should leave, too."
"Huh? Wait—when are you going to tell me your name already?" Rukia frowned. "This world's gotten way more dangerous, you know!"
"It's close. Once your spiritual pressure recovers fully, you'll hear it."
And without further warning—kick!
"HEY—! You kicked me out again!" Rukia shouted, glaring as she returned to consciousness.
"…Kicked you out?" Mirajane tilted her head, confused.
Zed crossed his arms, giving Rukia a questioning look. "You okay with me explaining?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
With her permission, Zed calmly explained everything that had happened inside her consciousness.
Gasps and wide eyes followed. The group finally understood what had occurred—what couldn't be seen from the outside.
Everyone's attention then shifted toward the mysterious concept of Zanpakutō.
"Zanpakutō are what we Shinigami acquire after entering the Shinyang Spiritual Arts Academy," Rukia explained. "We start with Asauchi—blank swords that gradually evolve based on our souls. In time, they become our Zanpakutō."
"They each have a name, a spirit, and two forms: Shikai, the initial release, and Bankai, the true form."
"But right now… I still can't hear her name yet," Rukia added, face reddening slightly.
"You haven't achieved Shikai yet?" Erina Nakiri asked, surprised.
"I—uh… well, not yet," Rukia mumbled, scratching her cheek. "There are others like me! Even some who've graduated still haven't awakened their Shikai!"
"But," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "with my spiritual pressure returning, I think it won't be long."