The sky shattered like a torn curtain.
The next moment, a massive white claw suddenly emerged, then the crack was completely ripped open!
Enormous black-bodied, white-masked monsters poked their heads through.
"Wh... what?!"
"Menos Grande?!"
Soi Fon instinctively cried out in shock.
Except for Shigure, every captain present turned pale simultaneously.
"How... how many Gillian are there?"
This scene wasn't visible only here.
Those still distant and not yet arrived could see it clearly too.
Everyone stopped in their tracks, hearts filled with terror.
Watching that massive black crack and the terrifying Hollow swarm, distant observers had no idea what was happening.
At that moment, three golden beams of light enveloped Aizen's trio.
The ground beneath them suddenly cracked and rose, lifting them upward.
Byakuya Kuchiki's eyes sharpened as he spoke coldly: "They're escaping..."
Though they realized this, strangely, none of those present moved to stop them.
Because they all knew it was impossible to prevent now.
These three lights were called "Negación."
A technique Menos Grande used when rescuing companions.
Once enveloped by the light, the inside and outside of the barrier became two completely separate, isolated worlds.
Now, no one could stop the three from leaving.
Aizen lowered his head, his gaze slowly sweeping across the captains.
Finally, it settled on Shigure.
The two stared at each other across the distance, as if spiritual pressures and blades were clashing.
Shigure's expression remained composed as he watched Aizen, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
Aizen's face bore a faint smile as he spoke:
"I must admit, Segawa."
"You are by far the most surprising person in all of Soul Society."
"Unlike those corrupt, clumsy, worthless mediocrities, your brilliance has successfully become somewhat blinding to me."
"But at the same time, you are also the most troublesome enemy I've encountered."
"Unfortunately, our next meeting seems to be far in the future."
Aizen's eyes gleamed.
Beside him, Jūshirō Ukitake's expression grew grave as he looked at Aizen, speaking in a deep voice:
"What is this all for?!"
Aizen looked down at him, smile unchanged: "Of course... pursuing higher realms."
Hearing this, Ukitake's gaze grew complex.
"Have you fallen so far... Aizen?!"
For the past century, he and Aizen had always conversed pleasantly.
He'd even once thought Aizen was extremely similar to himself.
But now, Aizen's truest face was revealed.
Completely opposite to his own.
Hearing Ukitake's words, Aizen suddenly curved his lips.
"You speak of 'falling'? How interesting."
"Could it be that from the beginning, you placed yourself at heaven's peak?"
As Aizen spoke, he removed his glasses.
His expression returned to indifference.
"No one stands at heaven's peak from the beginning."
"Not you, not I, not even the gods."
Speaking, he applied slight pressure to his hand, and the black-framed glasses shattered directly, dispersing as spiritual particles.
"But this unbearably vacant period of the heavenly throne is about to end."
Aizen reached out, sweeping his drooping brown hair back.
With cold, arrogant eyes, he looked down at everyone below from his elevated position.
"From now on... I shall stand in the heavens!"
As his words fell, everyone present froze simultaneously.
Only Shigure continued gazing upward with the same indifference.
Aizen slowly turned around, speaking calmly:
"Farewell, Soul Reapers."
"And farewell... Segawa."
"Though you disrupted my plans, you've helped me find a new objective."
Finishing, Aizen stepped directly into the void's darkness.
Kaname Tōsen showed no hesitation either.
Only Gin Ichimaru, at the moment before stepping in, let his gaze linger deeply on Shigure.
Sensing Gin's stare, Shigure's eyes moved slightly.
From his earlier battle with Aizen, he'd already noticed Gin's attention.
However, at least for now, he wouldn't respond.
After all three entered, the Menos Grande also withdrew their massive forms.
The crack in the sky instantly closed.
Then began slowly dissipating until nothing remained.
Yet even now, the atmosphere remained extremely tense.
After all, this was Seireitei's greatest upheaval since that incident a century ago.
Three captain positions in the Gotei 13 had suddenly become vacant.
After a long while, Shunsui Kyōraku was the first to speak.
He lowered his head, adjusting his hat with a light chuckle:
"Seems like it's temporarily over."
Everyone understood his meaning by "temporarily."
Aizen's trio's escape certainly wouldn't be without follow-up plans.
So this matter was far from finished.
But at least for now, things had calmed down.
Ukitake exhaled lightly, then looked at Shigure with a faint smile finally appearing on his face.
"Segawa, you're still so reckless."
"When we saw your lightning from afar, we knew you must be fighting all three simultaneously."
"But no one could imagine you'd force them to this point."
Kyōraku also smiled:
"Single-handedly suppressing three captains... In my knowledge, only old man Yama could do such a thing."
"Segawa, your strength remains as unfathomable as ever."
These two had established excellent relationships with Shigure from his division entry.
So their eyes now filled with approval.
Shigure chuckled lightly, about to respond.
But then he saw Yoruichi Shihōin and Soi Fon approaching.
Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. Sleep early. The final chapter will probably be very late, no need to wait.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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