After leaving the noble district, Shimo returned once more to the Fourth Division and met with Unohana.

"Shimo-kun, you're finally back."

At the sight of Shimo standing before her, a gentle smile bloomed on Unohana's face.

For reasons even she couldn't quite explain, the taut string in her heart loosened at that moment.

"I was worried I might lose a friend I could share discussions of swordsmanship with,"

she offered a composed explanation to conceal her previous concern.

Shimo smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry, Hana-ne," he said calmly.

"I do value my life, after all."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Unohana inquired about the specifics of the rescue mission in Hueco Mundo.

Shimo relayed nearly everything—excluding only matters concerning Nel.

While the Sixth Relief Unit followed his words unquestioningly, that wasn't the case for the Eleventh Division.

Expecting to keep the whole mission a secret was almost impossible.

Unohana took mental notes while listening. Due to the special nature of the mission, it would need to be reported again in detail.

Shimo stood quietly by as she documented the events.

He could sense that Unohana had something else she wanted to tell him.

After she finished writing, she looked up at him with a soft gaze.

"Shimo-kun, for today, I want you to get some proper rest."

"Tomorrow, you'll need to accompany me to the First Division barracks."

"The Captain-Commander wants to consult you about certain matters."

Shimo was slightly surprised.

"Suddenly?"

Unohana hesitated, then added,

"The discussion likely concerns the Arrancar you encountered in Hueco Mundo."

Shimo nodded.

"—You mean Nnoitra? I see."

He could guess the Captain-Commander's intentions:

It was nothing more than gathering intelligence—about Shimo's strength and the situation in Hueco Mundo.

Whatever comes, he'd deal with it.

Right now, he was a rising figure—

A top graduate from the Shin'ō Academy, the special Lieutenant who reformed the Fourth Division's image, and a noble of high status.

From any angle, there was no reason for the Captain-Commander to make things difficult for him.

After saying goodbye to Isane Kotetsu, Shimo returned alone to the Sixth Relief Unit's barracks.

Since breaking through his limit, he hadn't entered his Zanpakutō's inner world even once.

In Hueco Mundo, danger and combat could erupt at any time.

The enhanced state he experienced after his spiritual pressure surge still left lingering fear in his heart.

Had his spiritual energy been completely exhausted during that mission, he would've been left utterly defenseless.

Besides... there was someone else he needed to stay wary of—

Aizen Sōsuke, Captain of the Fifth Division.

If anyone believed Aizen wasn't behind the ambush during the Nnoitra battle, Shimo wouldn't believe it for a second.

The Forest of Menos was home only to Gillian-class and lesser Hollows.

Even Adjuchas merely maintained some semblance of order there.

Yet dozens of Rudobone-type Hollow soldiers had escorted them directly into the forest, where a trap awaited—

an army of Hollows already in position and a Espada primed for battle.

Was that all just coincidence?

Seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, Shimo's gaze grew more profound—like starlight in the night sky.

After organizing his thoughts, he finally calmed his mind and began his daily Zanpakutō meditation.

Since his return from Hueco Mundo, Shimo's vigilance had significantly increased.

As long as Aizen's true motives remained hidden, it wouldn't hurt to stay cautious.

He had even laid down Kido wards around his barracks—

Should anyone step into the area, he'd immediately be alerted.

With everything in place, he formally entered the inner world of his Zanpakutō.

The scenery was just as it had always been—unchanged, silent...

"Wait... something's different."

As he walked up the Stairs of Time, the world around him began to subtly transform.

The once twisted, broken clockwork dimension reappeared in his Zanpakutō's inner world.

The tick-tock of countless timepieces rang out like a strange symphony, echoing through the space.

With every step Shimo took up the Stairs of Time, more clocks appeared around him—

And with every additional clock, his spiritual pressure limit subtly increased.

Though the boosts were small individually, the cumulative effect was significant.

If every step of the staircase enhanced his strength like this...

Shimo narrowed his eyes toward the Throne of Time at the summit.

"If I climb all the way… just how strong would my spiritual power become?"

That answer was still far off.

For now, he'd focus on completing today's climb.

Thump. Thump.

Soon, the heavy echo of his footsteps blended with the ticking clocks, creating an eerie rhythm throughout the Zanpakutō space.

When Shimo exited the inner world, a faint smile formed on his face.

"My time stopping ability extended to 7 seconds.

Energy cost of the time rewind reduced by 20%.

Additionally, Spatial Suspension has grown more powerful."

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

[Ding! A new check-in task has been issued.]

[Please check in at the Nest of Maggots and suppress all inmates.]

[Task Reward: Shunpo (Flash Step) — Peak Mastery!]

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