"Who are you? Why are you impersonating me?"
While Rukia was still bewildered, she was met by her doppelganger's shout. The Reigai Rukia drew her Zanpakutō, leveling it at her.
"Impersonating you?" Rukia was stunned. What did that even mean? She was the real Rukia.
However, Rukia was quick-witted. The moment her double spoke, she realized this was a conspiracy, one that could shake the Soul Society to its core. The familiar spiritual pressures she had sensed… they were all fake. The real captains and lieutenants were in the World of the Living, fighting Aizen's forces.
"Two Captain Rukias? What's going on?"
Drawn by the Reigai's shout, several Ninth Division Shinigami gathered outside the captain's office, staring at the two Rukias.
"Everyone, stand back! That one is an imposter! It's dangerous!" Rukia warned her subordinates.
"Indeed. This imposter can even mimic my spiritual pressure! Stay back, everyone. I'll apprehend her and we can interrogate her later." The Reigai Rukia responded smoothly.
She drew her Zanpakutō, gripping it with both hands. "Imposter, you might have replicated my spiritual pressure, but you forgot one crucial detail: a Shinigami's Zanpakutō is unique! Can you mimic that?"
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
A surge of icy spiritual pressure erupted from the Reigai, and her Zanpakutō transformed into its Shikai state.
Rukia paled. Aside from the few legendary Zanpakutō, all others were forged by Ōetsu Nimaiya as Asauchi, then imbued with a Shinigami's soul. The resulting Zanpakutō was unique, born and dying with its wielder.
Unlike Ryūjin Jakka or Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, passed down through generations, Sode no Shirayuki was born from Rukia's own soul, honed through countless hours of meditation. Its title, "the most beautiful Zanpakutō," was merely a playful nickname referring to its elegant Shikai form.
How could someone else wield her Zanpakutō?
"First Dance, White Moon!"
As Rukia stood frozen in shock, the Reigai attacked. She swung Sode no Shirayuki, creating a white circle of light in the air.
Rukia dodged by leaping into the air. However, she seemed to have forgotten her own Zanpakutō's ability. As she ascended, icy energy erupted from the white circle, forming a towering pillar of ice that encased her.
…
"Two Rukia's spiritual pressures…"
Within the Sixth Division barracks, Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, sensing the clash, rushed to the roof of their headquarters. They saw the ice pillar rising from the Ninth Division.
"Rukia."
Renji charged towards the Ninth Division. Byakuya stopped, sensing a familiar spiritual pressure approaching. While only a lieutenant, Renji had achieved Bankai. He could handle the situation.
…
"What's going on?"
Renji flashed across the rooftops, covering dozens of meters with each Shunpo. Which Rukia was the real one? The one who had released her Zanpakutō? Surely a Zanpakutō couldn't be replicated.
As he thought this, a familiar voice echoed.
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Renji barely managed to block the sudden attack.
Clang!
He was sent flying. The Zanpakutō that had struck him, segmented and serpentine, coiled in the air, ready to constrict him.
"My Zabimaru?"
Renji's eyes widened. Before he could react, he was ensnared.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
He broke free, but not without cost. Deep cuts covered his body, staining his Shihakushō crimson.
"Who are you? Why do you have my Zanpakutō?" He demanded, ignoring his wounds.
"Your Zanpakutō? What are you talking about, imposter? This is my Zanpakutō!"
A familiar, cocky voice responded. As the figure stepped into the moonlight, Renji was shocked. It was him.
"Impossible."
"Pathetically weak…" The Reigai Renji sneered, launching another attack. He had no intention of holding back.
Whirr!
Zabimaru lashed out.
"Roar, Zabimaru!"
Renji's spiritual pressure surged as he released his own Zanpakutō. The two Zabimaru clashed, sparks flying.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Damn!"
The imposter was his equal in strength. Weakened by his earlier injuries, Renji was forced to retreat.
…
"Hadō #4. Byakurai!"
Sensing the approaching spiritual pressure, Byakuya unleashed a bolt of lightning into the darkness.
"Bakudō #8. Seki!"
A cold male voice responded, and the lightning dissipated with a clap. As his doppelganger emerged from the shadows, Byakuya flashed forward.
Clang! Clang!
Two identical figures clashed in the darkness, sparks flying from their Zanpakutō. Senbonzakura against Senbonzakura. A stalemate.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Without a word, they charged again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Awakened by the commotion, several Sixth Division Shinigami watched helplessly. Two cherry-blossom auras clashed and exploded, the intensity rivaled any other fight in the Seireitei, despite neither having released their Zanpakutō.
"This… strength, speed, reflexes, swordsmanship… all equal to mine. How?"
Unlike Rukia and Renji, Byakuya remained calm. As he fought, he analyzed his opponent. They were mirror images.
No, not quite.
He parried another blow. The Reigai's attacks were more aggressive, creating a greater sense of pressure, but also more openings. Recognizing this, Byakuya fought defensively, waiting for his opportunity.
Finally, frustrated by Byakuya's impenetrable defense, the Reigai released his Zanpakutō.
"Scatter, Senbon…"
"Hadō #4. Byakurai!"
A cherry-blossom aura enveloped the Reigai's Zanpakutō, ready to unleash its countless blades. But at that moment, Byakuya's Byakurai struck.
Clang!
Caught off guard, the Reigai was forced to cancel his Shikai to defend.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
While the Reigai was distracted, Byakuya released his own Zanpakutō.
Boom!
A whirlwind of cherry-blossom blades engulfed the Reigai.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Blood sprayed. However, the Reigai's spiritual pressure increased, and a cloud of cherry-blossom petals shielded him, shattering Byakuya's blades.
Boom!
The petals dispersed and revealed the Reigai. Dozens of small cuts covered his body. His haori and Shihakushō torn and stained with blood. He had been injured.
The sky above the Sixth Division transformed into a sea of cherry-blossom blades as Senbonzakura clashed against Senbonzakura. Buildings crumbled, towers toppled. Even the Sixth Division Shinigami were caught in the crossfire.
"Everyone, evacuate! Request reinforcements from the Ninth and Twelfth Divisions!"
With Lieutenant Abarai absent, the Third Seat organized the retreat. They couldn't interfere in a captain-level battle. And if the captains fought at full power, they might not even survive the resulting spiritual pressure.
They knew most captains and lieutenants were in the World of the Living. Only the Ninth and Twelfth Division captains remained. They were their only hope. The other Reigai were too powerful. Sending anyone else would be a suicide mission.
"It seems I can't defeat you without resorting to more… drastic measures." The Reigai sneered, once the Sixth Division members had retreated.
"I hope you can still say that in a moment."
Byakuya felt a growing sense of dread. The spiritual pressures he had sensed earlier… they included other captains and lieutenants. And judging by his opponent, these imposters possessed strength equal to their originals. Those remaining in the Soul Society were in grave danger.
His best option was to escape, to wait for the others to return and eliminate these fakes. As for the one responsible… they would find him in the Twelfth Division.
It wasn't an accusation, but a logical deduction. The Twelfth Division, the SRDI, was known for its dangerous experiments. Almost ninety percent of the incidents in Soul Society over the past million years could be traced back to them.