Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

What can I buy with 100,000 points?

Rukia couldn't answer that question—not yet.

After all, she had only spent 8,000 points so far, and even that had propelled her into the ranks of the strongest in all of Seireitei newcomers.

But if she were to have 100,000 points...

No!

If all the resources of the Kuchiki family could be converted into points...

How powerful could she become?

For the first time since entering Seireitei three months ago, Rukia dared to envision her future.

A flicker of ambition lit up in her deep, contemplative eyes.

With a determined thought, she selected resources worth 32,000 points from the trading system and pressed the confirmation button without hesitation.

From experience, Rukia knew that by tomorrow morning, a family retainer would notify her about the transfer of ownership for those resources.

All she had to do was instruct the housekeeper assigned to her to deposit the supplies into her warehouse—just as she had done countless times before.

If she played her cards right, no one would notice anything was missing.

Of course, she couldn't afford to be reckless.

The Kuchiki family had allocated her enough resources to last at least a decade. If too much suddenly vanished, it would inevitably draw suspicion.

Thus, Rukia carefully selected only inconspicuous items for her trades.

She had done this many times before and had grown adept at skimming just enough without raising eyebrows.

The selected resources disappeared instantly, and the points balance on her panel updated with a satisfying five-digit figure.

"The moment of truth is finally here!"

Rukia clutched her quilt tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

If 8,000 points had brought her this far, then with 32,000 points...

She was certain her reputation as a genius would soar to unprecedented heights.

But first things first...

"Hermes! Exchange 10,000 points for the power of the waveguide—immediately!"

Under the looming threat of the abnormal spiritual pressure within her, Rukia made the bold decision to spend heavily to protect herself.

"Oh? Ten thousand points? Quite the daring move!" Hermes remarked with a hint of surprise.

Even the seasoned trader seemed momentarily taken aback by her determination.

In truth, resisting Aizen's illusions wouldn't necessarily require so much waveguide power.

But as a merchant, Hermes had no intention of discouraging a willing buyer.

Besides, the power of the waveguide was among the most versatile abilities in its inventory—perfect for both offense and defense, as well as reconnaissance.

With a resounding boom, an immense, mysterious energy surged through Rukia's body. It felt as though it had been lying dormant within her since birth, quietly waiting to awaken.

"Is this... the power of the waveguide?"

Rukia opened her eyes in awe, a faint blue glow shimmering within them.

Suddenly, the power of the waveguide burst forth.

In an instant, the waveguides of every living being in Seireitei appeared before her mind's eye.

While she couldn't yet identify which waveguide belonged to whom, she knew it was only a matter of time before she mastered this ability.

After deactivating the waveguide's detection, Rukia focused inward, channeling its energy within her body.

Under the cover of the dark night, a soft blue glow illuminated her room.

A massive wave missile formed between her hands, crackling with raw power.

The azure light danced across her face as she murmured in awe:

"Such incredible power..."

Dispelling the wave missile, Rukia's excitement surged.

Although she lacked an experimental partner to test the waveguide's defensive capabilities, the missile alone convinced her that her combat strength had at least doubled.

Even better, the waveguide's unique properties promised to enhance her flexibility in battle.

With her bankai's immense power often endangering allies, this newfound ability would make her fighting style far more adaptable.

Rukia smiled to herself, her heart racing with exhilaration. The possibilities were endless, and her journey as a true contender in Seireitei had only just begun.

Although spending 10,000 points to counteract the illusion caused by abnormal spiritual pressure might seem excessive... 

The results spoke for themselves—Rukia had made an incredible profit! 

And this was only the beginning. 

No one could predict what heights she might reach once she spent the rest of her points. 

Excited by the possibilities, she immediately reached for her Cell Phone Rotom. 

Since it wasn't appropriate to carry a phone at school, she usually left her Rotom at Hermes' place, only getting a chance to use it briefly before bedtime. 

Without wasting time, she began filling her shopping cart to the brim.

Complete mastery of the demon realm? 

Something new she hadn't seen before—worth 8,000 points? 

Bought! 

The Ice Swordsman's insights into swordsmanship? 

Perfect for compensating for her lack of talent in swordsmanship and her weaker combat skills. Worth 5,000 points? 

Bought! 

Shunpo techniques? 

Even though she already had 'Moon Steps' and 'Shave', adding another mobility technique couldn't hurt. Just 3,000 points? 

Bought! 

She even considered purchasing the two advanced Haki abilities for 1,000 points each. 

In total, the value of her cart soared past 20,000 points. 

When she finally checked out, her points balance dropped to a mere 5,000 points, her savings reserved for a future Pokémon purchase. 

She knew she couldn't rely on the Kuchiki family's resources in the short term. These remaining points were likely the last bit of flexibility she would have for a while. 

Still, at this moment, her strength had skyrocketed. 

By daytime standards, Rukia with her bankai release could hold her ground and secure a place among Seireitei's elite. 

But now, even without her bankai, her abilities had grown enough to defeat many of the less powerful squad captains. 

In particular, Tōsen Kaname's bankai, which deprives opponents of their five senses, would be useless against her. With her waveguide abilities, Tōsen's tactics were rendered ineffective. 

Her strength had reached a level where she could surpass more than half the division captains in Seireitei. 

According to the dimensional trading system's strength calculations, Rukia's power level had climbed to an impressive 85!

In the pirate world, before experiencing the transformation of dimensional trading, this was equivalent to the strength of a naval admiral.

But... 

Whether in the pirate world or here in Soul Society, a level of 85 was only the starting point for true power. 

Even so, for someone like Rukia, who had just entered Seireitei from Rukongai three months ago, this was nothing short of a dream come true. 

After integrating her newly acquired abilities, she didn't have the chance to practice or test them due to her current position. 

Instead, she slipped under the quilt, curled her small body comfortably, and closed her eyes. Before long, she drifted into a peaceful sleep. 

---

The night was silent, tranquil. 

Even the patrolling Shinigami moved quietly, careful not to disturb the nobles sleeping within their mansions. 

Yet, amidst this calm, a shadow passed by the patrol unnoticed. 

The patrolling Shinigami continued their rounds, oblivious to the figure advancing deeper into the noble district, heading directly toward the Kuchiki family's residence. 

"The Kuchiki family... so this is it." 

Aizen stood before the mansion gates, gazing at the grand and luxurious entrance. 

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. 

"Nobles living in their self-made dreams... Nothing more than rats playing at propriety." 

To Aizen, a villain with lofty ambitions, such hypocritical aristocrats were nothing more than fodder for his disdain. 

Bound by their rules, they clung to the illusion that the world would remain forever unchanged. 

With a subtle wave of spiritual pressure, Aizen bypassed the two Shinigami guards and stepped through the gates of the Kuchiki mansion. His senses quickly locked onto Rukia's spiritual signature.

'Tap... Tap... Tap...' 

Soft, measured footsteps echoed as Aizen approached Rukia's room, the rest of the Kuchiki household oblivious to his presence. 

He soon reached her door. 

'Click.' 

The door creaked open gently. 

Aizen stepped inside, retrieving a small vial of glowing, otherworldly liquid from his robes. 

As the strange white light from the vial reflected off his face, Aizen's gaze fell upon the sleeping Rukia. 

"I'm sorry, Miss Rukia." 

"You... know too much." 

Aizen's voice remained as gentle as ever, a faint smile lingering on his face. 

As he spoke, he thrust the reagent in his hand toward Rukia's neck. 

This was his latest creation: a hollowfication reagent. After extensive testing, it was proven capable of transforming a Shinigami into a Hollow in mere moments. 

While the process significantly diminished the victim's intelligence, the combined power of a Hollow and a Shinigami was greatly enhanced. 

It could be said that... 

This was the most perfected potion Aizen had developed thus far. 

After all, a slight reduction in intelligence only made one more naive, not outright foolish. 

And given enough time—perhaps a few decades—Aizen believed he could resolve this final imperfection. Then, the ultimate power he sought... 

Would finally manifest in this world. 

He couldn't help but feel curious. 

What kind of strength would someone as proud and capable as Rukia possess after being hollowfied? 

Of course... 

Regardless of how powerful Rukia became, her fate was already sealed. The Central 46, under Aizen's covert control, would inevitably sentence her to death. 

After all... 

The presence of hollow aura in the Seireitei was intolerable. 

Though it was a shame to lose such an excellent experimental subject, Aizen considered it a necessary sacrifice. 

Rukia's bankai had the power to counteract his 'Kyōka Suigetsu', giving him all the justification he needed to act. 

Through the open doorway, the silver moonlight glinted off the sharp tip of the needle in his hand, casting an eerie white glow. 

But just as the needle was about to pierce Rukia's delicate skin— 

Clang! 

The sharp sound of metal striking metal shattered the quiet of the bedroom. 

"Just as I thought—it's you, Captain Aizen!" 

Rukia's eyes narrowed, her expression sharp as she confronted him. 

Her snow-white Zanpakutō had intercepted the strange reagent, halting it entirely. 

It was none other than her personal Zanpakutō: 'Sode no Shirayuki'! 

Earlier that day, she had sensed something amiss, which was why she had been so eager to redeem the power of the waveguide. 

Who would have guessed that less than two hours after gaining this ability, it would save her life from Aizen's sinister plot? 

Thinking this over, Rukia let out a breath of relief. 

Not bad. Not bad at all... 

If she'd been even a day late, who knows what might have happened? 

With a powerful twist of her wrist, Rukia leveraged the rebound force to free herself. The quilt was thrown aside as she leapt to her feet, swiftly putting some distance between herself and Aizen. 

Her white ribbon fluttered in the moonlight, and her snow-white blade gleamed with an icy chill. 

"Who are you?! What is your purpose in all of this?!" 

Rukia demanded, gripping her blade tightly with both hands as she glared at him. 

Given her understanding of the Kuchiki family, it was inconceivable for an outsider to infiltrate their estate—especially in the dead of night. 

Yet... 

Rukia's waveguide perception told a different story. 

Aizen had walked through the mansion, passing several guards without raising any alarm. 

In other words... 

The entire Kuchiki family's security detail—and perhaps even its dignitaries—had likely fallen under the sway of this man's illusions. 

Worse still... 

A chilling thought crept into Rukia's mind, one that made her blood run cold. 

Could this man have the entire Seireitei under his control?! 

If not, how else could someone with such malevolent intentions remain hidden within the heart of Soul Society for so long?! 

The more she speculated, the closer she felt to the truth. 

A cold sweat trickled down her back. 

On the other side of the room, Aizen's expression flickered with momentary surprise when his reagent was blocked. 

But just as quickly, his face became a blank slate once more. 

Under the moonlight, the reflection of his glasses obscured his eyes, giving his features an unreadable, almost mechanical quality. 

Straightening his posture, he spoke in an icy tone devoid of emotion: 

"Interesting. Very interesting." 

A dense, suffocating spiritual pressure began to seep from Aizen's body, filling the small bedroom with an overwhelming force. 

"Miss Rukia," Aizen said, his voice calm yet chilling. 

"I'm curious—how did you manage to escape my illusion?" 

Of course, it was the power of 'money'! 

Rukia thought this to herself but showed no outward reaction to Aizen. 

After all, if her suspicions were correct... 

That man, Aizen, was far too terrifying! 

Dealing with someone like him required utmost vigilance and caution. 

"Not willing to say anything, I see?" 

Aizen, noticing her silence, looked slightly disappointed. He slowly unsheathed his Zanpakutō, speaking in a calm, measured tone: 

"That's truly unfortunate." 

"I had originally hoped to invite Miss Rukia to become my experimental subject, but it seems that won't be possible now." 

"So, your bankai enables you to dispel illusions, does it?" 

"In that case, I can't let you remain in the Seireitei." 

Zing! 

The cold steel of his Zanpakutō gleamed as it left its sheath, and a mysterious smile curved at the corner of Aizen's lips. 

Rukia, however, remained unfazed. She had realized by now that Aizen's true combat prowess was likely far beyond what he had displayed thus far. 

Yet, emboldened by the recent acquisition of numerous abilities, she stood her ground, not flinching in the face of his threat. 

Tilting her head slightly, she fixed him with a serious expression and declared, 

"If you think you can, then try it!" 

Bankai!!! 

Crackle— 

An icy frost burst forth from Rukia's body. 

Though they were within the Kuchiki family residence and there was a high chance her 'bankai' might affect her relatives, Rukia felt she had no other choice. 

She wasn't confident in her ability to confront Aizen without her 'bankai'. 

As the saying goes, a lion uses all its strength even when hunting a rabbit. 

At this moment, all she could do was silently apologize to any family members who might be caught in the crossfire. 

Boom!!! 

A terrifying aura erupted from Rukia's body. 

This was no ordinary spiritual pressure familiar to Shinigami. 

It was an overwhelming force—a blend of sword intent, ki and blood, dying will flame energy, and spiritual pressure. 

Step! 

"First Dance – 'Tsukimi Slash!!!'" 

Without hesitation, Rukia swung her sword. 

Her entire being transformed into a blinding flash of white light that surged forward, slicing through Aizen in an instant. 

In the blink of an eye, she had left the bedroom and stood outside the Kuchiki family's mansion. 

But something was off. 

All the members of the Kuchiki household continued their activities as though nothing had happened. 

Some were asleep, others patrolling, yet none exhibited any sign of alarm or disturbance. 

Seeing this, Rukia's suspicions deepened. 

On the other side— 

"Oh?" Aizen let out a soft, almost casual sigh. 

The blinding light had pierced through him, and before he could respond, his body was encased in ice, frozen in the blink of an eye. 

He stood there like a flawless ice sculpture, utterly still. 

However... 

Even as her attack landed, Rukia's expression remained tense. 

She didn't believe for a second that someone like Aizen could be defeated by a single strike. 

Unless... 

He didn't take her attack seriously at all! 

As if to confirm her fears— 

A black fissure suddenly appeared on the surface of the ice. 

Moments later, a terrifying spiritual pressure, as vast and boundless as an abyss, surged forth. 

It erupted like a world-ending tsunami, engulfing everything in its path!