Chapter 287 - 145: Seireitei’s Grand Welcome, a Master-student Reunion Across a Century (Part 1)

Chapter 287: Chapter 145: Seireitei’s Grand Welcome, a Master-student Reunion Across a Century (Part 1)

In the central plaza of the Seireitei, the pristine white stone tiles shimmered with a cold luster under the moonlight. At the heart of the plaza stood a towering stone sculpture—the statue of Alex. Its lines were sharp, its expression majestic, and at its base sat a mountain of ritual offerings.

A group of younger Shinigami huddled at the back of the crowd. Watching the solemn, heavy expressions of the Four Great progenitors at the front, waves of doubt and shock surged in their hearts. They had read in ancient scrolls that Ade, the First progenitor, once had a master—a god of peerless power. The birth of the Shinigami, the emergence of Hollows, and even the awakening of Ade’s own abilities were all tied to this deity.

But to them, these were merely ancient myths. Since their birth, they had never seen anyone stronger than the First progenitor. In their hearts, Ade was the only true god. Even with the statue of Alex standing there, they viewed it only as a memorial to a forefather, never dreaming that the legendary god would actually descend.

Suddenly, a terrifying, extraterrestrial pressure enveloped the entire Seireitei, and it was intensifying at a staggering rate!

Spirit particles (Reishi) grew agitated in the air. Small pebbles on the ground defied the laws of physics, floating slowly upward. Even the light seemed warped by this overwhelming weight. Every Shinigami fell silent instantly, their gazes instinctively snapping toward the sky above the statue.

The clouds there were rapidly dissipating, revealing a pitch-black void.

Ade was the first to step forward. Dressed in a white robe embroidered with golden patterns, his long, jet-black hair fell over his shoulders. He stood before the statue, quietly watching the stone effigy. Behind him, the Four Great Noble House progenitors—Shiba Enjo, Tsunayashiro Kyōen, Kuchiki Kyō, Shihōin Yoruha—stood side-by-side, their faces a mixture of suspicion, awe, and reverence.

Ichibe Hyosube and Nimaiya Oetsu, the core members of what would become the Zero Division, followed closely behind the Four progenitors. The remaining Shinigami stood in a black torrent of formations across the plaza. Their black-and-white Shihakusho and the Zanpakuto at their waists created a picture of grim, absolute solemnity.

Without warning, a pillar of light—pure to the point of extremity—tore through the heavy clouds. Like a spear of judgment cast by a God, it struck the open ground before the stone statue with pinpoint precision!

The blinding golden light instantly swallowed the plaza. A Cosmo as vast as sea of stars, carrying the majesty of divinity, erupted like a physical tidal wave!

The brilliance and pressure forced most Shinigami to instinctively recoil. The weaker, newly-born Shinigami were pressed down until they were forced to one knee, hands braced against the ground just to stay upright. Their Zanpakuto emitted uneasy hums within their scabbards.

Only Ade, the Four progenitors, and the Zero Division members remained standing. Their robes snapped violently in the energy surge, yet their eyes remained filled with shock and adoration.

Ade straightened his back. The four pupils within his eyes erupted with a scorching radiance. He showed no fear, only endless anticipation and filial devotion. He could never mistake this energy signature! It was his master!

Though a century had passed, his master’s power remained as boundless as ever.

As the golden light faded, a figure slowly materialized within the halo. It was a young man in simple white linen clothes. He stood tall, his face calm. Though unarmed, he radiated waves of energy that made the heart tremble.

Ade’s eyes widened in excitement. This time, his master had descended in his true, physical form...

Alex stood silently before the stone statue, looking as though he had existed there since the dawn of time. His cold divinity, his massive Cosmo, and the destructive aura of lightning fused perfectly within him, creating a unique, staggering presence.

Ade could no longer suppress the surge of emotion within him. He stepped forward and sank to one knee, his voice carrying an unutterable sob.

"Master... you have finally returned!"

Behind him, every Shinigami—including the Four Great progenitors and Ichibe Hyosube—bowed their proud heads before this undeniable miracle and majesty, shouting in unison:

"We welcome the God!"

The voice was perfectly synchronized, echoing through the plaza like a clap of thunder.

Alex turned around, his gaze landing on Ade. The face before him was refined and middle-aged, the frame thin. He was no longer the ignorant boy of a century ago; his eyes now held steady layers of composure and the weathering of time. Alex’s gaze then swept over the army of Shinigami, so numerous they blotted out the horizon like ants. He couldn’t help but feel a touch of melancholy.

To him, it had been a matter of months. To Ade, it had been a hundred years. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the unfaded admiration and awe in Ade’s eyes.

"Ade," Alex said softly. "It has been a long time."

...

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