At the presiding judge's sudden words, the Central 46 lords froze in shock.
"Your Honor, weren't you the one who summoned us?"
"Didn't you say a sinner was to be judged?"
"What is going on?"
"Why are the six Judges acting so strangely?"
"…"
Confusion rippled through the chamber.
Central 46, composed of forty sages and six judges, was Soul Society's supreme judiciary.
They had passed judgment on countless sinners, ruled over Seireitei itself.
But never had they faced something so bizarre.
Gin's smile curved faintly. Inwardly, a sliver of pity stirred.
These parasites called themselves rulers—yet before Aizen, they were nothing more than fleas, toyed with at will.
No one could oppose Aizen.
Not even him. All Gin could do was stay close, bide his time, and search for that man's fatal flaw.
Even the small joy he'd felt at Cole disrupting Aizen's plans had now faded.
That human, no matter how amusing, was just a clown before Aizen.
With Central 46 in his grasp, Aizen could rule Soul Society, order Rukia's capture with ease.
Even if Urahara and Shinji joined forces, they wouldn't dare fight the whole Seireitei.
As Gin's thoughts raced, the sages and judges finally turned on the intruders.
"Gin! Was this your doing?"
"Tosen Kaname, what are you scheming?"
"Aizen! Call the Head Captain at once—"
But Aizen didn't respond.
His smile gentle, his tone soft, he drew his zanpakuto.
"Shatter the heavens… Kyoka Suigetsu."
Reality cracked.
The chamber itself seemed to fracture.
An unseen wave of power swept through the hall.
When it faded, silence fell.
The sages and judges stared blankly, lips sealed.
Gin and Tosen exchanged grave glances.
They knew—Kyoka Suigetsu had claimed them all.
"As expected of Lord Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu," Tōsen murmured in awe.
Though blind, he felt it. The spiritual threads told him the entire court was bound.
Seireitei's core, the Central 46, had fallen to Aizen in an instant.
Still smiling, Aizen spoke to the entranced council.
"Rukia Kuchiki, guilty of giving her power to a human in the World of the Living, must be captured and tried at once."
Expressionless, they echoed him in unison.
"Rukia Kuchiki, guilty of giving her power to a human in the World of the Living, must be captured and tried…"
"Rukia Kuchiki… guilty…"
"Rukia Kuchiki…"
The mantra filled the chamber, voices hollow, minds enslaved.
Pushing up his glasses, Aizen turned, his voice as calm as ever.
"Urahara Kisuke… what will you do now?"
…
Soon, every captain in Seireitei received the decree.
"Rukia Kuchiki!?"
Kyōraku Shunsui sighed at the message carried by a Hell Butterfly.
"Honestly… who fed Central 46 this nonsense? Those fossils couldn't know what's happening in the Living World…"
"Rukia…"
Ukitake Jūshirō cradled a black Hell Butterfly, staggering as a cough wracked his chest.
"Cough… cough…"
Elsewhere, Komamura Sajin slammed his fist on his desk, fury in his eyes.
"To make a human a Shinigami… those nobles will be the death of us! If the World of the Living collapses, what then!?"
Byakuya, too, watched a Hell Butterfly vanish, brows furrowed tighter than usual.
"It couldn't be Soi Fong. Nor any stationed in Karakura. The Research Bureau couldn't have gathered this so precisely…"
But then—another Hell Butterfly alighted on his hand.
Its message froze him cold.
"Ichimaru Gin."
His voice was ice, a killing frost.
…
World of the Living, Vizard hideout.
Soi Fong, whispering with her master, stiffened as another Hell Butterfly arrived. Her brows knitted.
"Brat. Seireitei just sent me a new order. Want to hear it?"
Cole stood before the barrier, hand raised, voice steady in chant.
"Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, fluttering wings, bearer of man's name!
Upon the wall of blue flame, carve twin lotuses—await the abyssal fire in the distant sky!
Hado #73: Soren Sokatsui!"
Twin blue fireballs blazed down from the heavens.
"BOOOOM!!!"
The barrier shook violently.
The ground split, twin craters forming, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
"Well done, Cole!"
Tessai rushed forward, eyes blazing.
"In three days—you mastered seventy-level hado! When you die, you'll be the next Great Kido Chief for sure!"
Cole twitched. "Uncle Tessai… I'm only sixteen. Don't bury me yet."
Tessai waved it off. "Human lives are fleeting. A hundred years is a blink."
Cole grumbled. "Competing with immortals is insane… And fifteen whole minutes for Soren Sokatsui. Too slow."
Tessai's mouth twitched.
The Vizards watching, meanwhile, clenched their fists, fighting the urge to throttle him.
This human Shinigami… had no shame.
...…
...…
(End of Chapter)
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