“Malice... negative emotions? I only ever heard of those affecting Spirits to make Hollows! To think there are actual pockets of this ‘Malice’ affecting the world. I can’t imagine how much that must affect spirits and people alike,” Chisai said in both awe and a little nervous. I tried not to speak too much to Chisai in public. Being a fleshy man, I would look like I was insane talking to thin air.

Ichigo can have the hero complex and the pissed-off attitude but I was keeping my feelings on talking to ghosts to a limit. Chisai didn’t mind as he was mostly rambling to himself.

“Could these be the cause of high Hollow appearances in disaster zones? Would suffering feedback into itself? What would that make Valley of Screams? What about Hell?” He frowned. Good questions but If I went to hell I was condemning myself to filler hell in itself.

Bleach had some good filler... and some bad filler.

Bounts? Very good! Hell? Not bad!

Others...

Well, I’d cross that bridge when I met them.

Seeing I had some isolation I looked at my new Reaper friend.

“Valley of the Screams? I know people who talked about them. Aren’t they like pocket dimensions?” I inquired. Chisai mostly nodded.

“They’re a concerted gathering of impurities and lost souls between Soul Society and the Human world. Someone I overheard basically compared them to zits on reality but with more consequences,” he admitted. He looked around as if looking for nosy eyes.

“I heard they can be caused by poorly performed Konsō because the Reaper doesn’t really focus on saving souls but that theory is... not popular,” he admitted.

“I bet. Reapers wouldn’t like to admit to causing problems,” I agreed. They also don’t like to admit to secret genocide of Mod souls, not-so-secret genocide of the Quinces, the noble houses doing shady shit, lesser nobles making living weapons, Maggot’s nest, Hollowfied Captains and Lieutenants...

The list sort of never ended.

“Well, hopefully, I can find more information to help Soul Society learn! I bet they’d like to know about Malice if it helps,” Chisai said brightly as we turned a corner into an asylum.

The asylum was a strong word for the tiny fenced off area of a building that looked more like an inn. It was officially the ‘Respite Forest Retreat’. Basically, a sealed-off area where troubled people could be looked after.

I eyed Chisai. Hopefully, I could convince him that Malice Zones were limited to my power and I didn’t want attention just yet.

Chisai went through the fence and cut the chain lock easily for me.

Did I mention having a Reaper for a friend made this easy?

The area didn’t give me negative scary vibes. I got more... sadness. I eyed the stone structure with barred windows and long rotted flower gardens. King trembled in sadness at the sight. The ant was tiny and in my hair.

He... uh... she didn’t like the sight it seemed. It was weird to think of King as a girl but I decided to keep treating my bud as I had.

“I saw some sick people when I was in the Rukongai. They stared at walls or screamed through the night. They disappeared a lot. I think they were outcast to the outer districts,” Chisai said quietly. I frowned as a chill wind blew past on the secluded area of trees and stone wall. I didn’t really give a thought to those with issues in their mind. If the soul had to match the body... would those illness pass to the soul?

“Which of these districts did you grow up in?” I asked distractedly.

“...District 75. The Drowned Bird district,” Chisai replied so quietly I almost missed it. I didn’t react but wasn’t some of the lowest in the 70’s?

“You seem well adjusted and kind by the sounds of the name,” I grinned but Chisai only looked more pained.

“I didn’t see the sun until I was 24. I lived in a mineshaft where I had to work day and night for my food. It was honest work but it wasn’t nice,” he told me ever so frankly. Note to self. Burn the 75th district.

“Well, forget that. You’re my bud now and you’re free,” I said confidently as we pushed the door open. No one had locked the front door.

“Free?” Chisai said to himself.

The asylum was dark, rotten, and smelled like pickles. I stepped in and the floor groaned. Straight ahead was a torn metal mesh fence and desk for visitors. The desk looked like it had been set on fire.

That was where I found the Portal.

You have discovered the ‘Gaps in the Mind’ Malice Zone! C-3!

I turned and left the building with Chisai following confused.

“I saw the swirling gate! Is it not... correct?” he asked ever so nervously.

“Too strong! Like the one before but way worse,” I explained. Seeing his wide eyes I calmed him by asking about his favourite spells. Chisai’s eyes lit up and I learned that he favoured healing Kido. Our next stop was a scene of a ‘Murder House’. That Portal was D-ranked. The next one on my list tunnels big enough to drive a car in. Maria told me there were some spooky stories here.

You have discovered the ‘Lost Dregs’ Malice Zone. E-9!

Feeling like my luck was getting a bit frayed, we went to our next location.

“Almost all cities have countless horror spots if you think about it,” Chisai pointed out. When I went near the functional Karakura Hospital?

You have discovered the ‘Broken Bow’ Malice Zone. B-1.

I remembered then that Uryu’s Dad was a director or something in a hospital. His grief and dislike over Quincy powers combined with just the shit Hospitals had to handle? Yeah, I could see the mixture becoming rather powerful.

Honestly, I should have thought of a good weak Malice Zone much quicker but it wasn’t until I thought of Uryu did the idea click.

High school. It was filled with horrible stuff but nothing like a hospital. It had anger, greed, envy, wrath... but the people passing through wouldn’t be able to infect it too long.

So I lead us to Karakura high.

You have discovered ‘Endless Days’ Malice Zone. G-5.

The school was busy and I stared fondly at the classrooms, remembering how I crawled through them with nothing but climb and panic.

“Modern schools seem so nice! Everyone is wearing the same uniform and it isn’t segregated!” Chisai pointed out with awe. I hustled Chisai out the area before Uryu saw me with a reaper and unleashed hellish fury on me.

A stalker and a reaper friend. Uryu might actually pop a blood vessel. I’d wait for Maria and for school to empty out. Her Uniform looked like Karakure high... was she in the same class as Ichigo?

“Chisai, we’ll come back at night. But first, I had a favour to ask!” I grinned and the brown-haired young man tilted his head.

---

“GO AWAY!” the ghost yelled and Chisai was trying to calm him with words of paradise and peace. Watari seemed to have his pissy attitude back but it still lacked true malice since his rest. Chisai tried to bop the ghost but he moved away at the last moment, avoiding the afterlife.

“Please, sir! Let me help you!” Chisai begged. And the man sneered.

“What a little girl boy. Go ask Daddy to come to talk to me,” he taunted.

Okay, that was far enough. I crossed the Director’s room and ignited in my Empowering Bulwark. Watari froze and looked at me.

“Insult him again. See what happens,” I growled. Watari’s pigheadedness reared and he stuck his chin out.

“What you gonna do about it?!” he demanded. I infused my mace with spirit energy and hit him. He slammed to the floor, howling and crying in panic. Perhaps the first pain he had felt since he had died.

Well, besides my punch from before. Chisai bent down and tapped the head of Watari where a symbol was left, glowing on his forehead. Watari squirmed as his half-opened chest hole leaked smoke. He whimpered and strained in the air as his chain vanished... his hole seemingly repaired.

“Find peace in a wonderful afterlife,” Chisai said ever so blankly. His words a practised speech. The man vanished in a flutter of a black butterfly. I Observed it.

Hell Butterfly. Creature. G-0. A guiding spirit that carries weak souls to the Soul Society. Formed by engraved spells of the Zanpakuto that grants permission to enter the area known as the Soul Society. Once finished ferrying the soul, they vanish.

I tried not to think about how they were called Hell Butterflies and not say... Heavenly or Guiding.

It was like the creators knew what they were sending the souls to...

Quest complete! Sent Watari to the afterlife by request of his father! Gained 100 EXP! Two rewards now available for the zone due to defeating Main boss and Optional boss.

The feeling of levelling up felt amazing.

All stats increased by one! Three free stat points available to spend!

Level four felt so far from level three... Now I needed 700 EXP to level. Getting to level 5 was going to be a journey.

Mental has reached 10! Please choose a path for this stat to focus on!

The Inner World: Develop an inner world.

The Outer World: Control the world around you.

“Bit vague...” I muttered.

The Inner World: Allow you dive into own mind to gain peace and deal with issues that may arise.

The Outer World: Gain great control over psychic energy and perform acts of using your mind to manipulate physical items, minds, and senses.

I picked Inner because in an Anime world, dealing with your dark side was like late side arc level of crap. It usually got some decent upgrades! My head pulsed and I blinked at the forest around me.

Forest... wasn’t I somewhere else just a second ago? I turned ever so slowly to see the forest was cut into four sharp lines. A green lush forest. A quarter forest in pure blue skies, a quarter of fall and the last in pure snow.

“I didn’t think this would be seasonal...” I mused. I stood exactly where those four seasons met into a single point. I saw statues of people in each of the zones. The Captains, Aizen, Hollows, Yhwach... in Spring I saw Chisai and Maria! In Summer, King.

Urahara and a cat figure of Yoruichi lingered in Autumn I was wondering if I should move or walk somewhere when I saw something dart from winter to spring.

The weird thing was that falling leaves and snow were frozen as if time was paused for each section. The thing moving was fast and was before me in a second. I stared at the black humanoid on four legs as it reared back, hand covered in FrostFlame and smashed my jaw with a wooden club dripping with Acid.

I stumbled back as Chisai caught me. I was back in the Hospital. The setting sun was high but the afternoon was clearly on us.

“Are you alright? You went off in a daze and I got worried! I cast healing on you but you didn’t respond!” Chisai said quickly. I frowned as I rubbed my unharmed jaw.

“Just... never mind. Thanks for the concern but I was just really distracted,” I grimaced. My Dark Side or something had just sucker-punched me.

The dick. What kind guy moves so fast and sneaks attacks a guy with magic and critical hits?!

Inner World developed. Great rewards and risk to be gained. System will prevent mind control or subtle emotional trauma. This is healthy but in this setting this power is more... than it should be.

Quiet Mesa Hospital has two upgrades to invest. Please choose Optional boss reward for area.

-Increased recovery of mundane sickness inside walls!

-Peaceful serene atmosphere gained.

-Various mundane herbs and roots grow in area.

First one was useful if I knew someone needed a hiding and resting spot. The second might attract spirits and repulse negative thoughts. The third was a physical gain but I had no idea what I could do with normal herbs. Cooking?

Not sure if I was coming back, I used the power for the serene atmosphere. As I did so, the building... shifted. Nothing physical but cracked walls looked like they had green in them. Holes in the roof looked perfect for sunlight... windows cracked had a sort of character to them. The destroyed furniture looked like it told a story not simply showed human waste.

The long hallways felt safe and I unconsciously relaxed.

Chisai breathed and looked around.

“Russel... you... that was amazing,” he whispered and he looked just as relaxed as me. I grinned but I wasn’t done.

Main Boss defeated. Please choose a reward!

-Raise motivation of all who are within view of the building.

-Increased medical skill’s performance within the area.

-Have a subtle non-violence field over the area that makes general agitation and anger feel more controllable.

I took longer to decide this as Chisai wandered about the room, enjoying the serene feeling he picked up on. Be a bit of a waste not to combo the skills... If I had a serene effect and combined it with the lower aggression. That would stack, right?

I picked the aura and the whole area felt... pleasant.

There was no other word for it. I felt like my day was peaceful here now.

Serene+Non-violence has created the combo effect of: Chill Dude.

Chill Dude: Those within range find an almost childish affection of the world around them. The air is sweeter and the grass is greener. Depression is negated for an hour for every 5 minutes spent in area. Those with no negative effects gain a cheerful buff and even spread it a little by speech and action until it fades.

“I feel good...” Chisia sighed and looked out a window as if the simple forest was a grand sight. It was interesting these fused but not the two at the trainyard. Perhaps the reason was the tree still had growing to do before it would mix?

I felt good, this felt good. Changing the world one little piece at a time. I wasn’t going to go mad and decided bad emotions and bad times shouldn’t happen. You needed shitty times to enjoy the good times but the shit shouldn’t linger if the good times couldn’t. It wasn’t fair. I calmly directed a rather distracted Chisai outside.

“This is really good. Reaper’s would remove the spirit and the structure would be left to crumble, I feel like we made a real difference for times to come. I can’t wait to see a normal Malice Zone,” Chisai said brightly.

I was about to answer until I saw something green. A green that didn’t match the trees or nature. This green was darker.

“Ah, the Reaper returned from nowhere! Don’t mind if we speak, do you?” Kisuke Urahara leaned on his cane with his shadowed face. At his feet, a cat flicked her tail.

“The amount of people who can see me in this town is scary...” Chisai mumbled. He opened his mouth but I held up a hand.

“State your business,” I told them. Urahara’s eyes were something so deep I wasn’t sure I was looking at the real man or some layer he wanted me to see. He beamed suddenly.

“Kisuke Urahara, candy store owner. No one important,” he promised me. I could see various Gods lining up to hit him with karma for that massive lie. I hummed.

“No one important can have no important business then. Good day,” I said and pulled Chisai by his arm. He looked so lost that it was sort of cute. His cane ever so slightly shifted.

“I appreciate a moment of your time,” he said calmly. I pretended not to notice. Urahara wouldn’t be so brazen to attack us but if I reacted he would see that I did which would cause him to know that I knew about his cane, therefore, his past therefore about Aizen.

Fuck. This was why I hated the plot in the way it was everywhere and so damn easy to mess up.

I stopped and just looked at him. He adjusted his hat.

“Such a serious guy. Such scary eyes!” he grinned and I still didn’t react. I was no Ichigo. I might not get his trust in a day or 3 but I wasn’t going to let him lead me about. Still, no need to be rude beyond strangers.

“My my... no issues. I was just worried because I sell to interested customers and I’ve been expecting Mr reaper here for some time. You have kept me waiting! I have so many supplies!” Urahara laughed and fanned himself.

Oh, I could poke a little here.

“He nearly died. Why didn’t you find him when he was on benches or sleeping in trees or eating trash? How do you know he’s a reaper?” I demanded. Asking stupid questions would let the man feel more in control. He wasn’t evil but the man had a habit of using those around him. Rukia and the Hogyoku. Ichigo to retrieve it and reveal Aizen. Hiding the Vizards. So on... but he wasn’t evil. I didn’t think he hurt or liked seeing good people die. He was trying to stop Aizen, he saved Ichigo, he helped the Vizards, he took kids in...

The complexity of Kisuke Urahara was not so easily disliked or liked at first taste.

“Because I do have a store to run and I thought he simply assumed himself above my wares. I was unaware he was sleeping rough... not the usual Reaper standard. Are you not using your key to rest back home between patrols? Were you not given directions to my shop?” Urahara frowned.

I noticed ‘home’ was said and not ‘your home’. It was the small things that were obvious if you already knew about them. Chisai shook his head.

“I’m sorry, sir. I was here on prolong leave without many supplies,” he admitted. Urahara’s frown was so heavy it revealed the mad scientist underneath the shop keeper for a moment. Then he smiled.

“Must have been simply lost in the mail. Well here is my address for future reference, good reaper. I’m glad to see such a hard worker in our town,” Urahara beamed. He then smiled ever so oddly as he handed over a card.

“I have a habit of knowing dangers... how did you two escape a Hollow?” he asked. I was a little busy Observing him to answer right away.

Kisuke Urahara. Reaper. Exiled. A-2: A man of science and regrets. Kisuke had waited a long time for the coming days. His mind works beyond most but his foes might work faster. His sword is hidden in his cane and can be unsealed. Has many inventions to cover weakness. His Kido skill is not lacking. His sword play is masterful but it is his traps and deception that make him a fearsome foe.

“Russel saved me. He uh... he huh...” Chisai trailed off and looked straight down, looking upset at himself.

Urahara tilted his head.

“He...?” he encouraged.

“He is leaving. Thank you for the card. I may come by and shop with Chisai, if that is acceptable?” I pushed on.

The scary man nodded, looking ready to ask another question but I was moving on. I Observed the card.

Urahara’s business card. Item. G-5: A paper card with advance tracking spells on it. Can be triggered at a distance to explode with enough force to destroy Hollows.

Oh, you slimy little ass-

I memorized the address and threw it away when we were out of sight. I tried to ignore the black cat stalking us lazily.

Yoruichi wanted to play huh?

I dragged a very confused Chisai along a road and the cat sped up.

I had explored this way and I knew exactly what was ahead. Another corner into a park and Yoruichi seemed to freeze as countless dogs chased each other, barked, and panted.

Karakura dog park. One by one the dogs turned to the black cat at the park entrance. I didn’t slow down or look back. I just told Chisai we needed to meet someone first, trying to make the cat think this was just bad timing.

The sudden barks and cries of owners as well a single yowl was music to my ears I looked back and smirked a little at the hackle raised cat. No longer for a second but the yellow eyes glared into mine but my eyes kept moving as if I was scanning for something.

Then we were gone and Chisai looked sad as he wanted to stay to pet puppies and dogs.

Such a nice boy but he was not getting us dragged into Urahara’s shit for dogs. That’s why we had the internet and days off. To pet dogs. I did buy him a burger to cheer him up, however. Then it was time to really introduce Maria and Chisai. They hit it off like a church filled with screaming nuns.

“Maria... why are you putting five crucifixes on my neck?” I asked as she finally entered the Tunnel. Maria looked nonchalant.

“No reason...” she mused and Chisai was staring. Next thing I knew he was handing me his sword.

“You wanted to see the craftsmanship? This is Reaper treasure and merely holding it might give you a hint of my power,” he said ever so casually. Maria’s smile was bright as she brought out the holy water.

“Uh...” I looked between them.

System should mention your behind belongs to her but this is amusing.

“Guys enough. I don’t want religion or factions getting in the way of our friendship and group. I haven’t forced you guys to use the System or see gems as god-like treasures. I respect you like people and don’t... act like a child,” I said with a heavy frown.

Maria shook her head.

“It’s not that. I’m trying to show that I don’t care about secrets or hiding stuff from Chisai. I’m blessing you to show support and I guess Chisai feels the same. We want to show you we don’t care and are willing to work really hard! By combining our strength," she protested.

Chisai looked serious.

“We trust those we give our swords to. I don’t know Miss Maria yet but I uh... think you would make a good squad captain for this small group,” he smiled shyly.

“I refuse to be Squad 14. We need a good name,” I began and cut Maria off before she could speak up.

“That represents us all. No J-man group,” I said kindly.

We all shared a look as King walked past without a care.

I smiled.

---

We looked at the school. Dark and empty.

“Antventurers, let’s mosey,” I declared. Maria and Chisai burst into shared laughter and I refused to be embarrassed.

“Let’s go... kill some homework monsters and hormone beasts...” I grumbled as I climbed the gate.