After emerging from the underground passage, Amamiya Miyako stretched slightly, then raised a hand to stop Abarai Renji.
"Renji, don't head straight to Sōkyoku Hill just yet," Miyako said firmly.
Renji's eyes widened. "What?! Why not?!"
Miyako sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Yare yare… don't forget, Renji. Right now, you're considered an escaped prisoner. If Kuchiki Byakuya spots you, you'll be forced into a fight you can't afford."
Renji clenched his fists. "Even if it's Captain Kuchiki, I'll—"
"Don't lose your cool, baka," Miyako cut him off sharply. His voice carried a weight of reason that silenced Renji. "Leave aside whether you can even beat Kuchiki Byakuya. Even if, by some miracle, you won… there are still so many Captains gathered on Sōkyoku Hill. How do you expect to save Rukia like that?"
Renji's expression twisted, frustration clear in his features. Just hearing Byakuya's name made him lose composure.
"…Tch. Fine. I get it. I'll wait here," Renji muttered reluctantly.
Miyako nodded. "Good. And don't forget what I told you yesterday. Even if every Captain is distracted, there's one person who will definitely appear. You need to be ready for that."
Renji still found it hard to believe the truth Miyako had revealed the night before, but Miyako's calm reasoning finally got through to him. He swallowed his anger and decided he would wait, only rushing in when the moment was right.
Seeing him calm down, Miyako gave him a small wave. "Ja, I'll be going ahead."
On the path to Sōkyoku Hill, Miyako soon met Ukitake Jūshirō, who was accompanied by Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu.
"Phew… Miyako-kun, good thing you showed up," Ukitake said with a weak smile, visibly relieved. Then he turned to his subordinates. "Sentarō, Kiyone… don't follow us from here. What's about to happen will be too dangerous, and I won't be able to protect you."
"Captain Ukitake!" Sentarō immediately shouted. "I want to fight by your side!"
Before he could say more, Kiyone grabbed his sleeve, pulling him back with a sharp glare. "Baka! Didn't you hear Captain Ukitake? If we go, we'll only drag them down. We can't get in the way of Captain Ukitake and Vice-Captain Amamiya!"
Sentarō froze, silenced by her words, though his fists trembled with frustration.
"Kiyone-chan, Sentarō-san," Miyako said gently, "trust me and Captain Ukitake, ne? Also, if you see Renji come running up later… don't stop him. He's our ally."
The two nodded reluctantly.
With that, Miyako and Ukitake continued on toward Sōkyoku Hill, where the decisive moment awaited them.
On the way, Miyako asked quietly, "Captain, do you have it?"
Ukitake gave a slight nod. "Yes. It's hidden beneath my haori. Kyōraku also agreed to the plan, so there's nothing to worry about." His expression darkened. "I did try to persuade Byakuya, but… he won't listen. He's completely committed to Rukia's execution."
Miyako's eyes narrowed. "Kuchiki Byakuya will be handled by the one destined to oppose him. We just need to fulfill our duty."
"…I suppose you're right," Ukitake murmured.
At Sōkyoku Hill, things were already in motion. Without Renji interfering, Byakuya had arrived early, standing stern and silent as the execution neared. Ukitake and Miyako were among the last to appear.
"Captain Ukitake," Miyako said quietly, surveying the assembled forces. "It looks like most Captains were delayed by other matters. Only the Second, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and our Thirteenth Division are here."
"Mm. That's actually for the best," Ukitake admitted, relief flickering in his expression. If it had only been him and Kyōraku facing the full force of the Gotei 13, there would have been no chance.
Rukia, bound high above on the execution platform, turned her head slightly. Her eyes met Miyako's and Ukitake's, filled with quiet worry.
Both men gave her a firm nod, silent reassurance that she was not alone.
Byakuya's brow furrowed as he noticed their subtle exchange, but with the execution seconds away, he paid it no mind.
"Then let the execution begin," Yamamoto Genryūsai's deep voice commanded. "Release… Sōkyoku!"
The personnel of the Palace of Penitence released the restraints of the Sōkyoku. With a low rumble, three white cubes rose from beneath the execution platform, carrying Kuchiki Rukia high into the air.
On the opposite side, the Sōkyoku spear revealed its terrifying true form. Flames erupted, swallowing the massive halberd until it became a blinding inferno. From within the blaze, the legendary Hōō—Firebird—emerged, its wings stretching wide as it let out an ear-piercing cry.
"Unbelievable…" someone whispered from Sōkyoku Hill, their eyes widening in awe at the monstrous spiritual pressure radiating from the phoenix.
As the fiery bird fully manifested, Ukitake Jūshirō finally made his move.
"Now, Shunsui!" he shouted.
Every gaze snapped toward him. Calm but determined, Ukitake swiftly drew out the Tenshi Heisō—the Heavenly Armaments entrusted to the Shihōin Clan.
"Heh… been waiting for you, Jūshirō," Kyōraku Shunsui grinned, stepping to his old friend's side with a leisurely smile, though his eyes were sharp.
From nearby, Suì-Fēng's expression hardened as her eyes caught the Shihōin family crest etched onto the weapon.
"Ōmaeda! Stop them, now! They're going to destroy the Sōkyoku!"
Ōmaeda Marechiyo, however, froze in confusion, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He hesitated, taking only a single step before—
Fwip!
An arrow of condensed reiryoku slammed into the ground in front of him, cutting off his advance.
"Oi, sorry about this." Amamiya Miyako lowered his bow calmly, his twin blades fused into the elegant weapon. His tone was firm, yet polite. "But our Captain's got important business. Could you wait a moment, Ōmaeda-san?"
Nanao Ise immediately understood her Captain's intentions and moved beside Miyako, hand resting on her Zanpakutō. She didn't know the full plan, but she trusted Shunsui—and Miyako.
The Tenshi Heisō split open, unleashing hidden ropes of spiritual steel that shot forward, binding tightly around the fiery wings of the Sōkyoku's bird form. Ukitake and Shunsui exchanged a knowing glance, then in perfect unison plunged their Zanpakutō into the armaments.
BOOOOM!
A deafening roar shook the heavens as the great firebird shattered, scattering embers across the sky. The oppressive weight of its reiatsu vanished in an instant, leaving only stunned silence in its wake.
All across the hill, Shinigami lowered their heads, shielding their eyes from the burst of light.
"Now, Renji!" Miyako shouted suddenly, already sensing the familiar reiatsu rushing closer.
"BANKAI! Hihio Zabimaru!"
From the distance, Abarai Renji's blade erupted into its monstrous Bankai form, a titanic skeletal serpent charging toward the execution platform with destructive force.
But Kuchiki Byakuya had been waiting. With effortless grace, he appeared before the rampaging serpent, his hand calmly resting on Senbonzakura's hilt. One swift draw—
Clang!
—And the colossal fangs of Zabimaru were stopped cold.
"What?!" Renji's eyes widened in disbelief. His Bankai—halted so easily.
"Renji… what are you doing?" Byakuya's voice was like steel, utterly composed. "Do not shame yourself further."
The two clashed, blades striking again and again, as Vice-Captain challenged Captain.
"Tch… Kurosaki Ichigo still isn't here…" Miyako muttered under his breath, irritation flashing across his face. "Yare yare… guess it's up to me."
He raised his bow again, spiritual energy condensing rapidly into three luminous arrows. With sharp precision, he fired at the white cubes binding Rukia.
Crack—Crack—CRASH!
The bindings shattered, and Rukia began to fall, her body plummeting from the sky.
Without hesitation, Miyako released his Shikai, his blades returning to their twin form. He launched himself upward with a powerful leap, closing the distance in an instant.
"Miyako-kun…" Rukia's voice trembled as her eyes locked onto his. She reached out her hand, desperation and hope mixing in her gaze.
"I've got you!" Miyako stretched out his own hand, catching hers firmly. With a hard pull, he drew her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. The wind roared past as they fell together.
The ground rushed closer. Miyako freed one hand, palm glowing with kido energy.
"Bakudō #37: Tsuriboshi!"
A massive blue net of spiritual energy formed below, stretching wide like a protective bed. Their bodies landed softly within the glowing cushion, safely breaking the fall.
Rukia gasped, eyes wide, then tears welled at the corners. She had known of their plan… but to see Miyako—and even Captain Ukitake—risk so much in front of the entire Gotei 13… it shook her heart.
"Don't cry, Rukia-chan," Miyako said gently, giving her a faint smile. "This isn't just my wish—it's everyone's. That's why… no matter what happens, we'll protect you."
His eyes sharpened, turning back toward the Captains, who were regaining their composure. Slowly, his hand moved back to the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
"What comes next…" Miyako whispered, reiatsu flaring around him, "is the real battle."