"Thank you, thank you, really, thank you!!"
Near the outskirts of a settlement not far from where Seff had just slain a Hollow, an elderly man with graying hair grasped Seff's hands with shaking gratitude.
"Thank you so much for killing that monster… that thing, it already took so many lives from our village. Even my son…"
By the end, the old man's voice choked with grief.
Though Soul Society was technically a world of the dead, most people here had already died in the living world. But even so, this place functioned as a second life. Souls here could form new families, marry, and even have children. The elder was probably one of those.
He had been the only one to greet Seff, likely driven by vengeance, desperate to know whether the job had been done. And when Seff returned, not even a single strand of his silver hair out of place, the old man instantly knew: just like the rumors said, what was a terrifying monster to them was barely a threat to this strange swordsman, this man who wasn't quite a Soul Reaper, but clearly something close.
"No need. You hired me to slay the Hollow, and I've done so. That's all there is to it. I just hope this area doesn't see any more of them."
Seff gave the man's hands a brief pat before subtly pulling away.
Some people had begun to whisper that the sudden rise in Hollow attacks and Seff's rising fame weren't entirely unrelated. Self-staged crises, perhaps? But in the end, when danger was imminent, the majority still came to him, because he solved problems.
And for those who had hired him, there was no doubting his sincerity.
Seff truly did not want to see any more Hollows in the Rukongai. His initial motivations might not have been noble, but his actions made a difference.
Still, now that he felt Hollows were beginning to lose their usefulness, he didn't see himself continuing this work for much longer. And if no one stepped up after he quit, many innocent people would die.
But Seff wouldn't take that as his responsibility. Even now, he knew, somewhere out there, others were suffering. He wasn't a god. He couldn't save everyone.
He would help when he could, if it aligned with his goals. But if protecting others came at the cost of his own growth or priorities, Seff would walk away without hesitation.
He wasn't interested in moral blackmail.
So, even if people misunderstood him, it didn't matter. If, by some miracle, no more Hollows showed up after he stopped, then all the better.
"For someone like you, that may be true," the elder said quietly. "But for me… I'll never forget what you've done. I'll bring the rest of your payment tomorrow. Please forgive the delay."
Despite being far older than Seff, the man still used honorifics and polite speech. In that moment, Seff was reminded again that in this world, strength was the true currency.
Still, even as the elder bowed and thanked him profusely, once the job was done, he turned and left in a hurry. No second glance. No lingering presence.
Seff didn't get angry. But he wouldn't pretend it didn't sting a little.
What was odd was that it wasn't just this one man, recently, everyone who came to him behaved the same. No one lingered longer than they had to. They avoided standing too close, and once the conversation was done, they bolted.
For a while, Seff even thought something was wrong with him, had he worn the wrong clothes? Did he smell? Was his reputation going sour?
But after checking everything, he couldn't find a reason. And the pattern continued.
Still, a finished job was a finished job.
With nothing else to do, Seff began the journey back to the 45th District.
He now had full control over his spirit energy and could use it to boost his speed, even glide short distances. Compared to when he first traveled from the 80th District, his movement was vastly more efficient.
The trip back to the 45th District wouldn't take long.
Ability Growth, he had come to realize, was an expensive pursuit. No money, no resources then no progress.
On the way back, Seff kept trying to see if he could harness his spiritual power for proper flight. But every attempt failed.
And strangely, the words of that odd boy kept echoing in his mind:
"You should become a Soul Reaper."
Maybe it was time to seriously consider it. Because he could feel it, he had hit a wall.
No matter how much he trained, there was no more progress. Or rather, the path ahead was no longer one that could be cleared with practice alone.
Seff didn't think he was strong. Not really. Sure, to the average Rukongai resident, he was a monster who could kill a Hollow with one strike.
But as a certain saying went: I'm not strong. You're just weak.
He lacked a proper benchmark, had no way to judge where he stood compared to actual Soul Reapers.
But he could compare himself to his own potential.
To what he should be capable of.
The signature techniques of Sephiroth, Octaslash, Heartless Angel, Supernova, were all still completely out of reach. He hadn't even touched the edges of those powers.
Right now, the only things he had truly mastered were the base technique: Zangeki, his signature slash, and Shukuchi, the burst movement skill that let him close gaps instantly after launching an opponent.
On top of that, he'd developed a few derived skills: Dōchi, Issen, Zanshin , Amaterasu, Satsuna, and about half of the Dark Fusion Arts.
Beyond that, his attempts to perform airborne techniques like Shinten, Shinsoku, Voidstep, and Gates of Hell, all moves that required gliding or midair combat, had completely failed.
So no, Seff didn't feel "strong." Even when others said he was, he felt embarrassed. He knew better.
Self-awareness was important. Empty flattery meant nothing.
Just hacking down weaklings wouldn't help him improve anymore. Some voice deep inside kept telling him:
To break through… you need battle.
Not just overwhelming fights. No, real fights. Ones that pushed him to the brink, where one mistake meant death. Only through that could he evolve.
And that kind of battle…
Didn't exist in the Rukongai.
"So… it's time to head for the Seireitei, huh?"
That was where Soul Reapers gathered. Where hundreds of years of strength and experience converged. Surely, there would be no shortage of people stronger than him there.
With that thought in mind, Seff arrived back in the 45th District.
He'd only stayed in Yui's home for a few days at first. After that, once the idea struck him, he immediately moved out, settling temporarily into one of the unused properties the family owned.
It was a modest little place tucked into a corner of the district, far from the main streets. Not an ideal location, but it suited him just fine.
As he walked back through the streets, Seff noticed the way people reacted to him, if they hadn't already seen him, they'd still sense him coming, and clear a path like leaves scattering in the wind.
It was as if some invisible aura around him repelled everyone in a wide radius.
A bit weird.
But he didn't dwell on it. When he reached the modest building that served as both his home and office, a familiar voice called out:
"Seff-san!!"
A young boy was squatting outside his door. The moment he saw Seff, he jumped up excitedly and ran over.
"I found something! Just like you asked, I heard there's someone in Zaraki District who fits what you're looking for!"
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed