The crimson fire serpent writhed, carrying waves of blistering heat as it devoured the already ravaged wound of the pig-faced Hollow!
Even under such a fierce attack, the creature still had strength left to resist. Like a beast driven mad, it twisted its own neck a full 180 degrees and bit down savagely on the fire serpent that had formed from the Red Fire Cannon. The immense bite force dimmed even the blazing glow of the Red Fire Cannon!
Watching this unfold, Asano Kiyoshi exhaled slightly and forced himself to his feet. His voice was hoarse as he began to chant:
"O sovereign! Mask of flesh and bone, fluttering wings of all things, crowned with the name of man! Scorched heat and turmoil, rolling south across the sea, take one step forward!"
As the incantation ended, the dimming Red Fire Cannon surged once more. The fire serpent lashed with searing waves, ripping open the pig-faced Hollow's abdomen. A part of it even shot into the creature's open mouth. Blood and burned flesh cried out amidst the rolling crimson heat. Its bone-white mask was now stained with its own blood.
This was the scene that Shiba Dō and the others arrived to witness.
On the battlefield, black as ink, a youth clad in a black-and-crimson robe stood, his face smeared with blood, his hair clumped together by sticky crimson fluid. Not far from him lay the massive, charred corpse of the Hollow, reeking of scorched meat. Beneath a towering red pavilion, a ring of white bones curled protectively around the boy—like devout worshippers in pilgrimage.
Every member of the 13th Division who saw this scene was filled with overwhelming shock. The image of the youth would be etched into their memories for a lifetime—forever unforgettable.
The first to react was Shiba Dō. He quickly issued commands:
"Call in the medical unit to treat the wounded! Send the cleanup squad to assess structural damage and remove the corpse! Notify the records unit and the 12th Division to report and summarize the situation. Combat units, search the surrounding area for any remaining enemies—eliminate them on sight!"
Under Shiba Dō's precise command, the members of the 13th Division sprang into action.
Asano Kiyoshi looked at the approaching Shiba Dō. The tension in his body finally gave out. His limbs weakened, his vision darkened, and he collapsed, completely unconscious. Just before he lost awareness, he felt himself being caught by a warm, soft embrace.
From the sky above, Aizen looked down at the scene of Shiba Dō holding the fallen Asano Kiyoshi. A flicker of interest glimmered in his eyes.
Gin Ichimaru's voice rang out, barely able to hide his amazement:
"What a genius… Able to perform post-cast incantation of Hadō mid-battle, combine Hadō and Bakudō in the heat of combat, and even simultaneously cast multiple Kido spells… That level of Kido control—tsk tsk—he's a monster! Wouldn't you agree, Aizen-sama?"
Aizen didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned to Tōsen Kaname:
"Start a separate record for Asano Kiyoshi. I'll dictate; you write."
Tōsen immediately nodded, pulled out pen and paper, and began to record using a specialized device.
Once Tōsen was ready, Aizen spoke calmly:
"File name: Asano Kiyoshi.Record: Possesses the strongest known reiryoku control in Soul Society to date. Mastery of Kido comparable to the Great Kidō Chief. Exceptional combat awareness and talent. Zanpakutō enhances Bakudō-type spells by approximately 20%, and has apparently yet to undergo Shikai."
Having said this, Aizen drew his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, and slashed the air open. Without a word to Gin or Tōsen, he stepped into the Dangai and vanished.
Gin looked down at the unconscious Asano Kiyoshi again. For the first time, he opened his eyes wide, seemingly trying to imprint the boy's face into memory. A hint of excitement—rare for him—crept across his snake-like features as he muttered:
"So this isn't even Shikai yet? A dual-form Asauchi? How interesting…"
Tōsen remained silent, but his slightly trembling hand betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Inside the Dangai, surrounded by violet rubble, Aizen allowed a rare smile to surface. Reflecting on the earlier battle, he murmured:
"Asano Kiyoshi… what an intriguing Zanpakutō."
Meanwhile, Asano Kiyoshi had no idea that Aizen had already deduced much of his Zanpakutō's abilities. Then again, he hadn't expected to keep them secret. Compared to these ancient monsters who had lived for centuries, his meager experience was laughable. He had already accepted that his capabilities would be seen through.
Lying in a hospital bed, Kiyoshi looked over at Captain Ukitake with a slightly helpless expression. He groaned:
"Ukitake-sensei, I really can't eat anymore. My body's pretty much healed. If you don't believe me, I'll get up and walk right now!"
But Kiyoshi's resistance was futile. Ukitake firmly pinned him to the bed and began pulling out various supplements and snacks from his seemingly endless storage. He stuffed them into Kiyoshi's hands and watched carefully as he ate at least half before leaving. On his way out, Ukitake said kindly:
"Kiyoshi, always remember: your health is the most important thing. Master Genryūsai and I both want you to stay strong and healthy. So—cough cough—make sure you eat well, okay?"
As Ukitake left, Kiyoshi's gaze grew complicated. Ukitake really was just as gentle as he remembered from the original timeline. But such a kind soul had suffered under chronic illness for centuries.
After watching his beloved teacher die helplessly, Kiyoshi could only grieve powerlessly on the sidelines. Under immense pressure, he could only stand behind his closest friends, unable to share their burden.
For someone as kind as Ukitake, that kind of despair was probably far more painful than any illness…
Recalling Ukitake's eventual death, Kiyoshi gazed out at the clear blue sky and suddenly thought—if it were possible, he wanted to change the fate of such gentle people, even if only a little...
Ukitake, the Head Captain, Kuchiki Hisana…
One familiar face after another appeared in his mind. Looking at the Soul Society, at the basket of fruit at his bedside brought by Grandma Retsu, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Shunsui, the old man, Ukitake and others—along with Unohana's personal healing—Kiyoshi felt something stir deep within him. Something indescribable.
The picture scroll within his mind began to reappear.
And this time, the area it unlocked was not limited to the Gate of the Underworld…