join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
East of Repentance Palace.
Two figures appeared outside the Tower, on top of a building.
"Mr. Ganju, the sound has disappeared."
Hanatarō turned to look in the direction they came from, a worried expression in his eyes: "Mr. Ichigo, he'll be alright, won't he?"
"Since we've already made it this far, we can only assume he's fine."
Ganju looked at the White Tower, which was now within reach, and said with a solemn tone, "Our mission is to rescue the Shinigami named Rukia. This isn't the time to be distracted."
As he spoke, Ganju pulled out a pre-prepared grappling hook from the pouch on his back and threw it directly towards the lower eaves of the White Tower.
…
"Is it over?"
Ishikawa looked up in the direction of Repentance Palace. The spiritual pressures of Ichigo and Zaraki disappeared almost simultaneously.
As expected, a mutual defeat?
Ishikawa wasn't particularly surprised by this. Firstly, because he already had knowledge of this battle's outcome in his memory, and secondly, because…
Unlike Zaraki, Ichigo, whose power was diverse, could always achieve explosive growth at critical moments, either by communing with his Zanpakuto or through other means.
Most importantly… the power brought by Ichigo's explosive growth could always transcend the results calculated by Zaraki's instincts.
Just based on this point, it was destined to be difficult for the two to determine a victor.
One was a self-seal performed by instinct, the other was a seal and suppression performed by the Zanpakuto…
To be honest, in Ishikawa's opinion, even if Ichigo, after mastering Bankai, were to fight Zaraki again, the outcome would probably not be much different from now.
"What exactly happened?"
Hisagi Shuuhei stood beside Ishikawa, following his gaze towards Repentance Palace: "There's actually someone among the Ryoka who can contend with a Captain?"
Who were the Captains of the Gotei 13?
They were the thirteen individuals who truly stood at the pinnacle of Soul Society. He never expected… that among the Ryoka, who Captain Ishikawa had easily dealt with, there would actually be one capable of matching a Captain!
Who exactly were these people? And why did they invade Seireitei?
"Hmm?"
Ishikawa frowned, withdrawing his gaze from Repentance Palace and turning to look in the direction of the Central 46.
"This Reiatsu is?"
"Captain Ishikawa…"
Hisagi Shuuhei, standing nearby, heard Ishikawa's murmur and asked with some confusion, "Did something happen?"
Ishikawa didn't reply, a flicker of light in his eyes at that moment.
He finally understood…
Why Ishida Uryū and Chad were able to reach his Squad Nine so easily.
The other Captains weren't slacking off; they were all secretly taking action.
With that thought, Ishikawa pushed the detection circuit, which he had simulated with Reiatsu Imprint, to its limit, staring intently at the distant location of the Central 46.
…
Outside the Central 46.
At this moment, the ten-layer barrier defending the Central 46 had already been fully opened.
Several figures stood outside the barrier, all staring intently at the end of the long pathway. Once they passed this pathway, they would arrive at the underground council chamber of the Central 46.
But…
This pathway was not opened by them; rather, it had already been fully opened before they arrived.
It was as if…
Someone knew of their arrival and deliberately opened the door to welcome them.
Kyōraku Shunsui frowned slightly, then turned to look at the others, asking for their opinions.
"Since we're already here, I will go in and investigate no matter what."
Ukitake said calmly. After speaking, he turned to look to the side.
Looking beside him, one could see Komamura Sajin, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Kuchiki Byakuya standing together.
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't speak. Instead, after glancing at Ukitake, he stepped directly into the Central 46.
Last night, after the Captains' meeting, Kyōraku Shunsui suddenly sought him out and brought a letter from Ukitake. It was precisely because of the contents of that letter that he was here.
Therefore, he had to confirm!
Seeing this, Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the other two.
Initially, he had not agreed with Ukitake's suggestion to gather the Captains and go to the Central 46 together.
Because if everything Yoruichi said was true, then there must be other Captains who were his companions. Rashly leaking this information could easily alert the enemy.
And Ukitake's reason for choosing to gather the Captains was precisely this point: without knowing the enemy's numbers, it was necessary to gather as much trustworthy power as possible to have a chance of subduing them.
Originally, their plan was to only bring Kuchiki Byakuya.
But entering the Central 46 without permission would inevitably be detected by the Seventh Division guarding the inner court. Rather than being delayed and having to explain then, it was better to tell the truth directly and have him join them.
As for Tōshirō Hitsugaya, it was due to the duties of the Tenth Division.
Among the Gotei 13, the Tenth Division was the only police force with special investigative powers. In special circumstances, they had the privilege to enter any area for investigation and evidence collection, and this area also included…
The Central 46!
The prerequisite was that there had to be a certain reason and suspicion!
So, after discussing it, Ukitake and Kyōraku finally decided to call Tōshirō Hitsugaya along.
This also led to…
A full five Captains of the Gotei 13 gathering here.
"This old man will also go."
Komamura Sajin said with a serious tone, "But no matter what the situation is inside, I will report it to Commander Yamamoto."
"I'll go too."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya frowned, as if thinking of something: "I must confirm whether Aizen has betrayed us, as you all claim!"
Kyōraku Shunsui smiled upon hearing this and strode along the pathway towards the underground council chamber.
Ukitake followed closely. Hitsugaya and Komamura Sajin exchanged glances, then also followed.
When the group passed through the barrier, they found Kuchiki Byakuya, who had entered first, standing with a cold expression outside the entrance to the council chamber, an incredibly dense killing intent faintly emanating from him.
Seeing this, the others immediately quickened their pace, arriving beside Kuchiki Byakuya, and looked inside the underground council chamber.
The scene that met their eyes caused everyone's expressions to sink.
Looking around, they saw the once high and mighty sages now lying in pools of blood that had congealed and turned black.
Among them…
There were not only the surviving sages and inquisitors, but also those sages and inquisitors who had been assassinated by Tosen and Inaba Kageroza.
The scene before them made everyone's faces look somewhat grim.
Because the bodies of these people, which they had searched for throughout the entire Central 46 under the leadership of Commander Yamamoto, were never found. They eventually assumed they had been destroyed by Tosen and the other, and ceased their investigation.
But now it seemed that someone had hidden something from all of them back then!
And most importantly, judging by the dried bloodstains and the degree of spiritual body dissipation, these people had clearly all died at the same time, including the sages and inquisitors who had appeared alive before them and were confirmed not to have been replaced.
How did the opponent manage to do it?
"Bankai: Kamishini no Yari!!"
And just then, a low murmur suddenly came from outside.
Buzz—
A whooshing sound, without warning, rang out.
A silver flash, instantaneous, with astonishing speed.
But the five people present were none of them simple individuals; almost at the moment they heard the word Bankai, they all reacted simultaneously.
Clang—!!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. Ukitake held two strangely shaped long swords across his chest, his Reiatsu erupting. Yet, even so, under the impact of that silver light, he still slid backward into the underground council chamber.
Kamishini no Yari!?
This Bankai is…
Everyone simultaneously looked outside the pathway, only to see a young man with a strange smile on his face standing outside the barrier.
Third Division Captain, Ichimaru Gin.
Upon noticing their gazes, Ichimaru Gin smiled and suddenly raised his hand, waving at them.
"Ichimaru Gin, you…"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya instinctively drew his Zanpakuto and rushed outwards.
But after only a few steps…
Bang!
A huge muffled thud sounded, and the outermost open barrier gate slammed shut.
This scene caused Hitsugaya's expression to change, and he retreated backward.
Almost as soon as he retreated into the underground council chamber, a series of thuds echoed, and the ten-layer barrier closed almost instantly.
"It seems… we've walked into a trap."
Kyōraku Shunsui pulled down his straw hat, his expression turning grim.
When Ishikawa invaded the Central 46 last time, he somehow forcibly destroyed the ten-layer barrier created to mimic the Soul King Palace's 72 barriers. Afterwards, under Commander Yamamoto's orders, the Kidō Corps gathered all their strength to repair the ten-layer barrier, and a group of Captains infused it with their Reiatsu.
The current barrier's defensive capabilities were even greater than before!
…
Have I found anything yet?
Ishikawa stared at the Central 46, his brows tightly furrowed, a hint of nervousness in his heart.
He truly hadn't expected those Captains to choose such a moment to act.
What exactly happened?
Several Captains, including Kuchiki Byakuya, had gathered there. Doesn't that mean there's no one to stop Ganju and Hanatarō from... huh?
Ishikawa's expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly turned to look in the direction of Repentance Palace.
Although Ichigo's Reiatsu had disappeared for a long time, the spiritual pressures of Ganju and the other had already entered Repentance Palace.
If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them should have already made contact with Kuchiki Rukia!
If things were to develop as he remembered, the one who would stop them from taking Rukia away should be Kuchiki Byakuya.
But at this moment…
Kuchiki Byakuya and the others had all gone to the Central 46.
Normally, there shouldn't be any Captain-level individuals there, so it wouldn't be difficult for the two to take Kuchiki Rukia away.
However…
Ganju's spiritual energy had rapidly weakened just now. This all happened in an instant, so quickly that even Ishikawa didn't sense any other presence. If it weren't for Ganju's weakening spiritual energy, he wouldn't have even noticed the sudden change in the direction of Repentance Palace.
"Damn it!!"
Ishikawa's expression changed: "Hisagi, do you trust me?"
"Huh?"
Hisagi was startled.
"If you trust me, immediately request backup! Something happened at Repentance Palace!"
After saying that, he didn't wait for Hisagi Shuuhei to reply. His entire being silently vanished from his original spot.
Shunpo was pushed to its limit by Ishikawa at this moment. In an instant, he had already left Squad Nine and rushed directly towards Repentance Palace.
But just as Ishikawa rushed out of Squad Nine, a layer of dark mist instantly formed, swallowing Ishikawa whole like a monster.
"Bankai: Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Koorogi!"
…
Meanwhile, outside Repentance Palace.
Hanatarō looked in horror at the figure on the rope bridge outside the deep prison.
It was a middle-aged man wearing a Captain's haori and glasses. He had a gentle and harmless smile on his face, and he walked slowly and lightly.
But neither Hanatarō, nor Kuchiki Rukia in her prisoner's uniform beside Hanatarō, felt at ease because of the man's smile. Instead, a fatal sense of dread surged from the depths of their souls!
Because…
Behind him, Ganju, who lay in a pool of blood, had been cut down by a single slash from the man, all while he wore that smile.
"A… Captain Aizen?"
Kuchiki Rukia looked at the man walking step by step and called out his name, then said urgently: "Don't… Captain Aizen, they are innocent… I will never leave this place, please…"
"Hehe—"
Aizen's soft chuckle interrupted Rukia's plea. He simply shook his head slightly: "You seem to have misunderstood something."
Kuchiki Rukia was startled. Before she could understand what Aizen meant, her vision suddenly blurred.
"I'm not interested in whether you want to escape."
Pffft—
The sound of flesh being pierced rang out, as a hand penetrated Kuchiki Rukia's chest.
"I'm not interested."
Hanatarō watched Aizen, who had suddenly appeared beside him and pierced Kuchiki Rukia's body with his hand, his pupils shrinking sharply.
The hand, covered in tree-bark-like Texture, was slowly withdrawn. Aizen's hand gradually returned to its normal state after completely leaving Kuchiki Rukia's spiritual body.
And between his thumb and index finger, there was now an object like a diamond.
"Hmm?"
Looking at the object in his hand, Aizen frowned slightly.
Although the Hōgyoku was as transparent and bright as a diamond, its surface had a constantly flowing dark red light.
That light was blood…
The blood wasn't floating on the surface; it had integrated into the Hōgyoku, making it look as if it were draped in a red veil.
Hanatarō, on the other hand, focused his attention on Kuchiki Rukia.
Rukia, whose chest had been pierced, saw the wound rapidly heal after the hand was withdrawn. In an instant, the black hole disappeared.
"Oh, the soul itself is completely intact?"
Aizen, seeing this, praised sincerely: "What exquisite technique." With that, he tossed Rukia aside like a rag, then looked at the Hōgyoku in his hand and chuckled: "Should I say, as expected of you? This is also a very fascinating sealing method."
There wasn't much blood on the Hōgyoku, but the blood, rotating in a certain pattern, perfectly concealed all of the Hōgyoku's Reiatsu, completely sealing it.
Is it a blood problem?
Aizen examined the Hōgyoku in his hand with interest.
Whose blood is this?
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr