"Aizen!"
"Gin!"
Every captain's expression turned grim. Cole had warned them of betrayal, but they hadn't believed him. Now it was undeniable.
Three captains betraying at once — Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen — shook the very foundation of Soul Society. The impact rivaled the Hollowfication incident of a century ago.
Komamura stared at his old friend in disbelief. "Tōsen… this must be a mistake, right?"
They had once sworn to uphold justice together, before joining the Seireitei. For years, Tōsen had stood for justice. For him to betray now… it was unthinkable.
But Tōsen's reply was cold. Drawing his zanpakuto, he declared:
"Komamura. The Seireitei has rotted. There is no justice left to protect. Its rightful fate is destruction."
"Nake, Suzumushi!"
The blade hummed with the insect-like whine of his shikai. Komamura's heart clenched. He could deny it no longer.
Soi Fong's eyes sharpened as she drew her blade. "You think betrayal means survival?"
"Jinteki Shakusetsu! Stab!"
Her blade shrank into deadly black-and-gold stingers, gleaming like a queen bee's.
Byakuya stepped forward, his zanpakuto scattering into endless petals.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Gin smiled faintly. "Shoot to kill, Shinso."
Silver light clashed with falling blossoms, steel ringing on steel.
Shunsui sighed, raising his dual blades.
"Honestly… one after another, running off to betray. Do none of you think about the rest of us, faithfully doing our jobs?"
He recited softly:
"Flowers fall, gods weep. Heaven laughs, demons mock. Katen Kyōkotsu!"
His zanpakuto split into a long and short blade, dangerous energy emanating from his body.
One after another, Hitsugaya, Ukitake, and Mayuri drew their weapons, standing ready.
Cole knocked Zaraki back with a swing of his golden staff. "Oi, sword freak! Your enemies are over there. Stop bothering me and go fight them!"
Zaraki sneered at Gin and Tōsen. "Why would I waste my time with those weaklings? You're the only one worth fighting!"
Cole pointed at Unohana. "Then fight her. She's stronger than me."
Zaraki twitched, uneasy. For reasons he couldn't explain, the sight of Unohana unnerved him.
Cole exhaled. "Guess I have no choice…"
He slammed his staff into the ground.
"Grow! Grow! Grow! Grow!"
The golden rod expanded skyward, stretching taller and thicker until it became a colossal pillar. Captains gasped as it pierced the clouds and struck the barrier above the Seireitei. The entire city shook.
Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Kuukaku Shiba lit her pipe, preparing her cannon. "Remember — control your reiatsu or you'll be blown apart when you hit the barrier."
"Wait, Kuukaku!" Yoruichi squinted at the Seireitei. "Do you see that? A golden pillar?"
Kuukaku scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. The old fossils wouldn't allow new construction…" But when she looked, her pipe slipped from her lips. "What in the—!? It's like the Seireitei's being skewered!"
Ichigo's eyes widened with recognition. "That's Cole's zanpakuto!"
Uryū muttered, "His weapon didn't used to grow like that…"
Chad rumbled, "Feels like it weighs tens of millions of tons now."
Orihime clasped her hands. "At least Cole's safe…"
Rukia frowned. "No… he must be facing a powerful enemy. Otherwise he wouldn't push his zanpakuto this far."
Back in the Seireitei, Cole hefted the golden pillar and roared:
"Kenpachi! Get lost already — to the edge of the world!!"
The pillar swept like a storm, scattering buildings and shinigami alike.
Hitsugaya raised his blade, face tense. "Size doesn't mean strength. A zanpakuto that big—"
Before he finished, the pillar slammed him flat against it, blood spurting from his nose.
"What… impossible…"
Shunsui leapt aside, shaking his head. "Tōshirō, normally you'd be right. But when it's this damn big, strength comes with it!"
The pillar spun, carving swaths of destruction, until Zaraki stepped forward, reiatsu blazing gold.
With a roar, he met the end of the colossal weapon head-on.
"Now this… this is worth fighting!!"
The impact hurled both Zaraki and Hitsugaya into the distance, crashing into the western gates with thunderous explosions.
Kuukaku blinked at the two bodies falling from the sky. "Was that… Zaraki and Hitsugaya!?"
She swallowed hard and turned to Yoruichi. "Hey… are you sure that human kid is in danger? Because I think it's the captains who need saving."
Inside the First Division, Cole swung again, slamming down toward the flames.
"You two hiding inside! Tired of playing hide and seek!?"
The golden staff smashed down, parting Yamamoto's inferno and splitting the barracks in two.
Gasps erupted. Even the Head Captain was caught in the strike.
Soi Fong whispered, "Did he just… attack the Head Captain too?"
But beneath the pillar, flames still blazed. Two figures stood shoulder to shoulder, blades raised, forcing the golden column back inch by inch.
Sparks screamed as it rebounded. Cole's eyes widened. "What the hell…?"
He recalled the staff to his hand, smirking.
Yamamoto lowered Ryūjin Jakka, sweat on his brow. "A fine zanpakuto. Even I felt its weight."
Aizen's calm voice followed. "If you had bankai, even I would need to take you seriously."
Cole glared. "Don't act like you're impressed. If it were so easy, why did it take both of you to block me?"
Reiatsu surged. Yamamoto's gaze sharpened. Aizen's smile faded.
Shunsui's voice cut through the tension. "Aizen-taichō… why betray us? You're already a captain."
Every eye turned to Aizen.
His voice was calm, cold, certain.
"Shunsui… don't you long to see the world beyond this one? To behold the true face of the Soul King? We offer our lives to him — yet do not even know what he is."
He raised his hand. A crystal-blue orb shimmered in his palm.
"This… is the first step to the throne of heaven."
(End of Chapter)
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