His face was young and handsome, his features as flawless as marble. His eyes were deep and arrogant, and his entire body exuded a sacred aura that made one want to bow down in worship.
"Lord... Lord Koenma?!"
Botan saw this handsome man, her eyes turning into red hearts as she stammered out his name.
"Hah?! This is Koenma?!" Yusuke's jaw nearly dropped to the ground. He pointed at the handsome guy in the sky and yelled, "Who were you trying to fool with that short, dumpy look you usually have?!"
"Show some respect... I only maintain that form normally to conserve my Spiritual Energy!"
The adult version of Koenma rolled his eyes at Yusuke. With a blur of motion, he teleported to Asuka and Senna's side.
He glanced at Asuka, who was painfully suppressing the power within his body, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"To actually dare to swallow the core of a world into your body to save someone... Your guts are even bigger than this brat Yusuke's."
"However, I quite like this kind heart of yours."
Koenma turned his head and looked at the fading Senna, his expression turning serious.
With a pop, he pulled the pacifier out of his mouth. Immediately, it began to emit waves of golden-green Spiritual Energy.
This seemingly playful prop was actually the Spirit World's greatest treasure, the Mafukan.
"Since you've already solved the root cause of the world's collapse for the Spirit World, leave the aftermath to me."
Koenma raised the Mafukan above his head.
A vast, ocean-like, and incredibly pure golden-green Spiritual Energy cascaded down from the Mafukan like a waterfall, instantly enveloping Senna's fading body!
"Although this girl is not a true lifeform, it also makes her like a blank sheet of paper—a naturally pure soul."
As Koenma manipulated the massive Spiritual Energy to reshape Senna's spiritual core, he spoke rapidly, "As long as there is enough Spiritual Energy to support her, she can stabilize in this realm and come back to life."
"Botan!" Koenma shouted.
"Here!" Botan quickly flew over.
"From today onward, she is your junior! In the name of the next ruler of the Spirit World, I grant her the identity and duties of a Spirit World Guide!"
As Koenma's words fell, that golden-green Spiritual Energy began to condense and take shape on Senna's body.
Her transparent body became solid again, and a rosy flush returned to her cheeks.
The school uniform she originally wore gradually transformed into a black kimono extremely similar to Botan's, representing her status as a Spirit World Guide.
With this, the Shinenju Senna ceased to exist, and the newly born was the Guide Senna.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
After a long and agonizing tug-of-war, the two forces within Asuka's body finally reached a reconciliation.
The berserk All the World's Evils was pacified by the warm and complex human memories within the Shinenju, ultimately transforming into a massive, no longer uncontrollably maddening Spiritual Energy that lay quietly dormant deep within Asuka's soul.
"Haaah—!"
Asuka panted heavily, his entire body drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of the water.
But he had succeeded.
Not only had he maintained his sanity, but he could also feel that his Spiritual Pressure had reached an entirely new height due to the fusion of these two forces.
Buzz... buzz...
With the Shinenju's core completely extracted and merged with All the World's Evils.
The fragmented cracks that originally loomed over Sarayashiki City began to rapidly close and repair themselves after losing the power supporting them.
Those twisted high-rises, floating ruins, and gray fogs.
As if erased by a giant eraser, they swiftly faded from the World of the Living.
Sunlight spilled onto the streets of Sarayashiki City once more.
The hustle and bustle of traffic and the chatting and laughing of pedestrians echoed in their ears again.
The reality that had been distorted into other dimensions slowly returned, and the laws of the World of the Living took over the city once again.
"It worked!" Shinobu Kocho looked at the scenery returning to normal around them, clenching her fists in excitement.
She quickly ran to Asuka's side and, ignoring the sweat on his body, hugged him tightly.
"You did it, Asuka! You weren't swallowed by that power, and you saved that girl too!"
Feeling the soft warmth in his arms, Asuka's tense nerves finally relaxed completely.
He reached out and gently patted Shinobu Kocho's back, a weary smile curving the corners of his mouth.
"I told you, I would protect everything."
Not far from them.
Senna's long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at the black kimono she was wearing in confusion, then looked at Yusuke, Botan, and the others gathered around her with concerned faces.
"What... happened to me?" Senna's voice carried the purity and blankness of a newborn baby. "I'm so sleepy today... why did I fall asleep again..."
"You survived, kiddo!"
Yusuke happily ruffled her short hair and laughed loudly, "Although you might not remember what happened before, it doesn't matter. From now on, you're Botan's sidekick. We have plenty of time to create new memories!"
Botan also hugged Senna excitedly. "This is great! I finally have a junior! Now there's finally someone to share the errand-running in the Spirit World!"
Watching this heartwarming scene, Asuka and Shinobu Kocho both smiled.
He looked at Koenma, who was standing to the side, having already put his pacifier back in his mouth while still maintaining his handsome demeanor.
"Thanks, boss of the Spirit World," Asuka gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Biting his pacifier and with his hands stuffed in his pockets, Koenma walked over to Asuka with elegant steps.
He gave Asuka a deep look, his eyes revealing a wisdom that seemed to see through everything.
"No need to thank me. This is a decision any Yama with a just and brave heart would make."
"Though if you had just slashed her with your sword, things would have been much simpler, and I wouldn't have had to waste the Spiritual Energy I've saved up for hundreds of years..."
Koenma paused, his expression suddenly turning serious as he spoke in a voice only the few of them could hear, "However, Soul Reaper from another world."
"It would be best if you don't easily let anyone else know about your actions today."
"The emotional energy of an entire small world... even in the Spirit World, that is an extremely terrifying taboo."
Koenma glanced up toward the outskirts of Sarayashiki City and said meaningfully, "I don't know what the situation is like in your world, but if those with ulterior motives find out that you harbor this kind of power inside you..."
"You, and the people around you, will likely never know peace again."
Koenma's warning caused Asuka's eyes to narrow slightly.
When leaving his inner world, the black-haired youth had said something similar.
'I haven't been coming out lately, and it's not because I'm hiding from you.'
'The guys from Squad Zero are very troublesome. It's best not to call me out unless absolutely necessary... things will get hard to clean up.'
'Also... don't trust those guys too much.'
"I understand," Asuka nodded solemnly.
"Until I am absolutely certain, I won't easily expose this power in the Seireitei."