Scorching heat consumed the air, flames roaring until even the sky seemed aflame.
The First Division lay empty — every soldier had fled, terrified. Those who thought to aid the Head Captain nearly burned to ash themselves.
"What enemy could force him to fight so seriously? Even shikai is not enough…"
An elder shinigami stared skyward, trembling. He had not seen Yamamoto release his zanpakuto in centuries.
Kyōraku and the other captains arrived, gazing at the inferno.
Hitsugaya frowned. "Kyōraku-taichō, the flames formed a circle. How do we even reach him?"
Even Hyōrinmaru might not cut through that fire.
Kyōraku's brow furrowed. He turned to Ukitake. "Doesn't it feel… like the old man's not trying to kill the intruder, but avoid them?"
Ukitake's eyes darkened. "It's not his style." They both knew Yamamoto's temperament — to burn intruders to ash in a single strike.
Kenpachi hefted his blade, laughing. "Hah! Don't tell me that old bastard met an enemy he can't handle!"
Soi Fong snapped. "Don't talk nonsense. The Head Captain can't be beaten."
Gin appeared, smiling. "Oh, but what if he did, Captain Soi Fong?"
Unohana's calm voice silenced them all. "If that were true… he would have released his bankai."
The thought froze them. Even after centuries, none had ever seen Yamamoto's bankai. His shikai alone was invincible.
Komamura growled, glaring at the blazing First Division. "This chaos… it's that Cole's fault!"
Before anyone could respond, a voice came lazily from atop a wall:
"Komamura-taichō, still holding a grudge? Just because I broke two ribs the first time, and smashed your face the second?"
Gasps erupted. "Cole!"
Soi Fong's breath caught. He came? Here, before more than ten captains!?
Ikkaku and Yumichika flailed. "Kenpachi-taichō, Kyōraku-taichō, don't misunderstand! We're not with him — he forced us!"
Cole glared. "Say that again and I'll strip you both, hang you upside down in Eleventh Division, and let everyone admire the view."
They shivered violently.
Kyōraku ignored them, stroking his chin. "If you're here, boy… then who's in there?"
Cole's eyes narrowed. Through the fire, he alone saw them — three black-robed figures beside the flames. To the captains, invisible.
He turned toward the supposed Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen among them.
What the hell? Who are these nobodies?
To the captains, they looked exactly like Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen.
Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis…?
Cole jabbed a finger. "Kisuke said, if anyone invades First Division tonight, it'll be Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen!"
The words thundered through the crowd. Captains' eyes flicked sharply toward the three.
Komamura roared, charging Cole. "Lies! Tōsen would never betray the Seireitei!"
Cole sidestepped, swinging his golden staff. "Believe me or don't. But when it all goes wrong — that blood's on your hands."
Their weapons clashed. Komamura snarled, unleashing his bankai.
"Bankai! Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
The colossal armored guardian rose, blade crashing down toward Cole.
The captains frowned — reckless. With Yamamoto facing a true threat, Komamura added fuel to chaos.
Zaraki's eyes burned. Laughing wildly, he charged. "Move aside, Komamura! He's my opponent!"
Reiatsu exploded like a golden pillar. Cole's eyes widened. "What the—? Did he just level up mid-fight!?"
In two days, Zaraki's reiatsu had doubled past eight hundred thousand.
Cole cursed inwardly. In this world, you need cheats just to survive.
The clash shook the ground. Zaraki and Komamura's blows forced Cole to parry hard. Yet with a flick of his golden staff, he knocked Zaraki back, blood spurting from his lips.
"What… power…" Zaraki gasped. "This is no swordsmanship. The weight… it's like mountains crushing me…"
Komamura's giant swung again. Cole braced, one-handed, and held it still.
Shunsui's eyes flicked. Kisuke… where did you find this monster?
Zaraki laughed through blood. "Good! You hurt me! That makes me want more!" His reiatsu surged even higher, undying.
Cole's brow twitched. What is this cockroach?
Yachiru waved cheerfully. "Go on, lil' Cole! Play with Kenny!"
Cole's lips curled. Play? At this rate he'll unlock bankai just from fighting me.
"Oi, Soi Fong! Knock out 'Gin' for me. I've hated that smile for a while."
Her face flushed scarlet. "Do not call me so familiarly! We don't even know each other!"
The captains glanced at her. Don't know each other? You sound awfully familiar…
Cole winked. "If you don't, I'll tell everyone what you and Yoruichi…"
Her hands trembled on her zanpakuto. "You bastard…"
Gin's false body smirked. "Captain Soi Fong, surely you won't obey a ryoka… and attack me?"
Her glare sharpened.
And then — silver flashed.
Unohana's blade tore the flames apart. A gaping rift split the firestorm.
Captains stared in shock. Unohana's swing had severed the false Aizen's arm, blood raining down.
Shunsui's eyes widened. "Unohana-taichō, you—"
She shook her head. "That is not Aizen."
Her gaze cut to the other two. "Cole was right. Their bodies… wrong. Subtle details. Their physiology betrayed them."
Having studied countless corpses and healed even more lives, she saw what others could not.
At her words, Soi Fong and Byakuya struck. Their blades slashed through the false Gin and Tōsen, severing their arms.
The illusions shattered.
A sound like breaking mirrors rang in every mind. Mist lifted from their eyes.
And at last, the truth stood revealed.
The real Gin, grinning gently.
The real Tōsen, cold as stone.
And Aizen, calm, terrifying, gazing at them all.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]