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Chapter 18: The Darkness Grows III
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"Just kidding, you won't be leaving here alive," Akashi continued, watching with amusement as despair surged on her face, and feeling the darkness within her rumble, "Ah, hahaha hahaha, I missed this."
Akashi seemed rather different, more alive. Indeed, he felt alive, away from the stressful environment of Seireitei where he had no control or power.
There, he's at the bottom of the ladder, watched by some of the most horrifying existences to ever exist.
It was the weight of the world weighing on him, suppressing his nature. Now, he felt much happier, "Threw them to the trench til I deal with them."
Akashi sheathed his Zanpakuto, his movements smooth and unhurried. As he turned to face the rest of the Creed's members, the room seemed to hold its breath.
His gaze swept over them, sharp and unrelenting, pausing briefly on each new face.
Many of them trembled under his scrutiny, unable to meet his eyes. Some he touched lightly on the forehead, his fingers cold and unnerving, as though he could peel back the layers of their soul with a single gesture.
He was searching, probing, feeling for any hint of disloyalty or hidden malice.
Finally satisfied, Akashi straightened, his expression calm. "Good," He said simply.
The tension in the room eased slightly, though no one dared to speak.
Akashi strode into the private chamber of the Creed's headquarters, the soft click of his boots against the wooden floor the only sound in the room.
It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the main hall outside. Here, the air was heavy, as if the room itself held its breath in anticipation.
One by one, the core members of the Creed entered, led by Kenji, his face an unfeeling mask, followed by four others.
They stood before Akashi in perfect silence, their eyes fixed on him with an intensity that might have unnerved anyone else.
To Akashi, it was a comfort. These were his creations, not just members of the Creed, but living extensions of his will.
The silence stretched for a moment before Akashi spoke, his voice soft yet commanding, "We have much to discuss."
He walked to the head of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, his dark eyes sweeping over the group.
Each of them bore the mark of his influence; not physically, but in their demeanor, their movements, their very being.
They were his, molded and shaped by the Voices, the strange, insidious whispers that Kurayami had gifted him long before his Shikai had fully awakened.
Akashi could see how Kurayami came to be. He had long had a tendency to create monsters.
The Voices were a side effect of his Zanpakuto, or perhaps they were part of its true power.
They were quiet at first, faint murmurs that seemed to slip into the minds of those around him.
Over time, they grew louder, more insistent, until they became impossible to ignore.
With practice, he learned to control them, to direct their whispers toward specific targets.
The Voices could break even the strongest minds with time, unraveling their defenses until there was nothing left but raw, malleable darkness.
That was how Akashi had built the core of the Creed. The people standing before him had all been strong-willed individuals once, leaders in their own right. Now, they were something else entirely.
It was cruel, but to him, it was a necessity. The Creed was too important to be left to chance.
He needed absolute loyalty and the only way to ensure that was to break them completely and rebuild them in his image.
This meeting was unlike any before it.
For years, the Creed had operated cautiously, staying below the radar of the Seireitei and some dangerous forces in the outer districts, keeping its movements subtle. That time had passed.
"It's time," Akashi began, his voice calm, "For us to expand."
Akashi leaned forward, his inky black eyes scanning the room.
"For too long, we've kept ourselves hidden, playing it safe. That was necessary then, but not anymore."
"The Creed has the resources, the connections, and the strength to grow beyond what we've been. And grow we will."
Akashi's first priority was trade. The Creed would capitalize on the stark economic disparity between the districts of Rukongai.
"The first districts are well-off," Akashi continued, "Not wealthy compared to the Seireitei, but comfortable. They have access to better goods, better materials, and better tools."
"Meanwhile, the outer districts scrape by with scraps. But what they lack in refinement, they make up for in uniqueness; handcrafted items, rare herbs, and even certain materials that can only be found in the outermost areas. We will bridge that gap."
He stood, walking to a map of Rukongai pinned to the wall. His finger traced a line from the first district to the farthest reaches.
"We'll establish a supply chain," Akashi said, "Import goods from the first districts to the farthest ones, where such items are a luxury."
"And we'll export the treasures of the outer districts; things that the wealthier inner districts have never seen."
Kenji nodded, his voice steady, "And the logistics?"
Thankfully, Akashi didn't brainwash them to oblivion. He just turned them into something akin to puppets that would follow his orders with zealousness as if the words of God.
"We'll start small," Akashi replied, "with trusted members managing key routes. Build alliances where we must, but keep the core operations within the family."
Akashi moved to a small stack of books on the table, picking up the first one; a freshly bound copy of The Call of Cthulhu.
The cover was crude, the binding cheap, but it had an allure that couldn't be ignored.
"These," Akashi said, holding up the book, "Are our gateway to the minds of Rukongai."
The core members leaned in as he continued.
"We'll market these stories as the creations of despairing souls from the outer districts. We'll emphasize the darkness of their origins; tales born from suffering, written in the shadows of a hellish environment."
"People from the inner districts will eat it up. They crave a connection to the raw, unpolished world outside their comfort."
"And for those in the outer districts, these stories will resonate with their struggles, making them feel seen, understood."
Akashi leaned in and picked up another, "I have written several of such books, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Colour Out of Space. And then, a more so experimental series of books, the Harry Potter series."
"I want you to read at least one of them to understand what I am providing for stories and entertainment will be one of our staples in the future," Akashi stressed.
Indeed, Akashi even included books such as the Harry Potter series, wondering if Voldemort could be construed as an Eldritch Horror?
Voldemort will definitely draw negative emotions from people, but will it be enough? Akashi wondered.
"I can not be the only one writing stories. Tell our people, and even the random people of Rukongai that writing is a very valuable craft and encourage them to produce results." He continued.
Trade and stories were only the beginning. Akashi knew that the Creed's strength lay not just in its external operations but in its internal unity.
"We're not just an organization," Akashi said, his voice softening, "We're a family. Everything we have, we share with each other. No one here is alone."
He gestured to the room around him, his gaze sweeping over the core members.
"The Creed must be a place of love and support. We're stronger together, and that strength comes from trust, from knowing that no matter what happens, we have each other's backs."
The core members nodded, their expressions briefly flickering with something akin to zealousy.
"To reinforce this," Akashi continued, "We'll hold regular gatherings; not just for business, but for bonding. Meals, stories, celebrations. We'll create a culture that others will want to be a part of."
"And when they see the Creed, they won't just see power; they'll see a community. A home."
As the Creed expanded, Akashi knew they would need new blood. But recruitment wasn't something he intended to rush.
"We won't take just anyone," Akashi said, "The Creed isn't for the weak or the unworthy. We'll identify individuals with potential; those with ambition, talent, or unique skills. We'll bring them in slowly, integrating them into our operations while ensuring their loyalty."
He paused, his gaze dimming slightly, "And for those who rise within our ranks, I'll ensure their dedication personally."
The meeting continued, Akashi outlining his plans with meticulous detail. The core members listened and took notes in silence.
When he was done, Akashi returned to his seat, and said, "You are dismissed."
Only when they left did Akashi unsheath Kurayami, allowing a drop of Ink to fall to the ground, soon forming into the First Eldritch, the latter mirroring Akashi's appearance.
Without a word, he vanished into the distance through the window, knowing that he could not stay there for long, thus he left the First behind.
Only, he had to halt only moments after, leaping back and looking about for the unknown source of malice he clearly felt... Before him stood an unknown masked Shinigami... Who?
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