In the Central Under the Great Underground Prison.

　　This was an area found deep within squad one`s district. It is controlled by Central 46. And like the name implies, it is also underground. Only Soul Reapers who break the laws of the Soul Society were sent here to be imprisoned as criminals.

　　There are eight levels. The higher the level, the more dangerous of a crime the Soul Reaper committed, and the longer their sentence. Depending on the severity of said crimes decides where members of Central 46 placed them.

　　So far, only three levels have ever been revealed in the story: the third level and the eighth.

　　The third level is reserved for forbidden kidM users. Tessai had been given a life sentence here after performing two spells: Jikanteishi and Kkkanten`I. The former could halt time, while the latter could teleport a specific part of space from one point to another.

　　Finally, the eighth and most fearsome level was Muken. Soul Reapers condemned to this place could face sentences exceeding ten thousand years! Often reserved for traitors and those who committed the gravest of crimes, Muken proved to be the harshest punishment anyone could receive—not accounting a death sentence.

　　Muken is a desolate void, cut off entirely from the outside world except for a single tower that acts as both an entrance and an exit. This vast darkness creates the illusion of infinite space. Entry is normally forbidden to anyone but the condemned. However, Retsu was able to obtain special permission from Shunsui (who became the head captain following Genryksai at the time). She sought to use the harsh isolation of the territory as a training ground for Zaraki.

　　In a confined space with the inability to do anything except breathe was Silas. Anyone in his position couldn`t tell whether they were sitting or standing.

　　Yet he could.

　　Central 46 had not only sent him here blindfolded, but they also stripped him of all his clothes save his undergarments. The space was so dark that nothing was seeable. There wasn`t anything binding him to anything, yet they made sure he couldn`t move, talk, or even lift a single finger.

　　All he could do was listen to the sound of his breath as he waited patiently. Time had gone by, but there was no telling how much. Day or night, Muken wasn`t the type of place prisoners could determine. It was like being in solitary confinement, but without any light or guards.

　　The guard was the prison itself, and the light was whatever your mind could fester with.

　　Regardless of how deadly a criminal was, mainly those who were deemed unkillable were sent here. Silas was, by no means, immortal. But they sent him here anyway while his case was ongoing. Whether he starved or lost his mind, they didn`t seem to care. That was mainly because of his arrogance during the trial.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

　　It was also something he needed them to do.

　　Muken didn`t at all bother him. The unseeable walls, the lack of any noise, even his own—they were all a means to allow him to freely think. And why would someone like him be bothered or distraught at such a place? He was Silas Wren, a man who had gone through the impossible because of faith!

　　" " "

　　Several years ago on earth.

　　Work was hectic for the business Silas worked at. On certain days, he wouldn`t make it home until ten at night due to overtime and traffic. But today was a special day. He couldn`t afford to stay late.

　　Packing his suitcase, he clocked out, got in the car, and took the highway home.

　　"Hun, you almost missed it," a woman asked as he pulled in the driveway. Silas`s wife is a caring and beloved stay-at-home mother. Whenever he forgot something, she was always there to set him straight.

　　"I`m sorry, love. Where is he?" Silas anxiously asked.

　　Just as he questioned, a little boy`s voice screamed out, "Daddy!" It was his son, his only son. Those who were fathers understood how special it was to have a child. And not just a child, but a boy in their likeness.

　　Silas picked up his boy and spun him around. They shared laughter as he said, "How does it feel to be three, chico?" His son gave a childlike response, believing he was ready to be a man like his father. So Silas rubbed his head as the family walked inside.

　　The home was decorated with party streamers and balloons. Some kids around his age were also present, as were their parents, who were supervising them. Many of them were neighbours, with whom Silas never had the time to interact with. Nonetheless, he understood what it meant to be kind to others.

　　After singing happy birthday, he was the first person to give his son a present.

　　"What is it, daddy?" the boy asked, opening what looked like a cassette tape.

　　"It`s a movie called `Spirited Away`," Silas answered. "Back when I was your age, we didn`t have VHS. We had to wait for anime shows to air on television."

　　"What`s anime?"

　　"Jeez, have you been living under a rock, chico?"

　　Once the party ended and everything was cleaned up, Silas and his wife prepared for bed. She laid by him with a concerned look. Any time he made a mistake, she always gave him that look—the look that told him she was displeased.

　　So he asked what was wrong, and she answered, "I don`t think it was right to give him that movie."

　　"What do you mean?"

　　"Hun, I read somewhere that things like anime are bad for kids."

　　When Silas pressed on, intrigued at just how bad animated pixel characters on a screen could be, he was left speechless at the reason. There were so many things he wasn`t aware of. Such as the hidden mature content despite the rating, the provocative female characters promoting unreal body standards, escapism concerns, and the negative fan culture.

　　Regardless of how old someone might have been, there wasn`t any content suitable for anime`s intended audience. If a child watched it, they would be exposed to inappropriate scenes. And if an adult viewed it, they could be desensitized to the violence, dark themes, and potential neglect of important responsibilities in their lives.

　　"Now do you understand, hun?" she asked.

　　"Okay, okay, love. I`ll watch over him to make sure he`s learning appropriately."

　　"Promise?"

　　"Yeah!"

　　As time passed, due to work, Silas was never able to supervise his son on anime.