A Shinigami's Path
Harry had faced many strange situations in his life—battling Dark Lords, mastering Deathly Hallows, even coming back from the dead. But finding himself in a world where death wasn't the end? That was new.
The Rukongai, as the young man called it, was a vast city that stretched beyond the horizon, divided into districts. Some areas were peaceful, while others were lawless and brutal. There were no wands, no spells, yet Harry could feel the power in the air. It wasn't magic, but something similar—something deeper.
"So, what do people do here?" Harry asked as they walked through the streets.
"Survive," the young man answered. "Most souls just live out their afterlives here, but if you've got spiritual power, the Shinigami might take an interest in you."
"Shinigami?"
The young man looked at Harry like he had grown a second head. "You really don't know anything, huh? Shinigami are the ones who keep order—guiding souls, fighting Hollows, protecting the balance of life and death."
Harry frowned. "Hollows?"
"They're monsters—twisted souls that feed on others. They attack the weaker districts all the time. If you've got power, your best bet is to train and join the Gotei 13 before they find you first."
Harry didn't respond right away. This world was nothing like the one he had left behind, yet conflict still existed. Order and chaos. Protectors and predators. And now, he was caught in the middle.
But then again, wasn't that always his fate?
Two Years Later
Time moved differently in the Soul Society. Harry had adapted quickly, his instincts sharper than ever. He had no wand, but he didn't need one—his reiatsu, as they called it, was immense, enough to shatter walls with a glance if he wasn't careful. It reminded him of raw magical energy, but purer, more fluid.
At first, he kept a low profile, watching, learning. But he couldn't hide his strength for long. A patrol of Shinigami passing through his district had felt his power from miles away. Within days, he was taken to the Shin'ō Academy, a school for future Soul Reapers.
And Harry thrived.
Swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, kido—a form of spellcasting using spiritual energy. Everything came naturally to him, as if his very soul had been waiting for this power all along. Some instructors whispered that his reiatsu was as strong as a captain's, but that was impossible. Wasn't it?
Then, during one of his training exercises, something changed.
His squad was sent to the outskirts of Rukongai, where a Hollow had been spotted. It should have been an easy fight. But when Harry struck the creature down, something unexpected happened—
The Hollow's mask cracked, and a surge of energy flooded into him.
A piercing scream echoed in his mind, and for a split second, he wasn't standing in Rukongai anymore. He was inside a dark void, staring at something lurking in the shadows. A pair of glowing, golden eyes stared back at him, filled with hunger and madness.
What are you? Harry thought, gripping his sword tighter.
A low, distorted voice whispered in response:
"I am you."
The vision shattered, and Harry collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. His squadmates rushed to him, but none of them had seen what he had. None of them had felt the darkness slithering inside him.
Something was wrong.
And deep down, Harry knew—this was only the beginning.