"Aozaki-sama, what's going on?"
The Ishida father and son looked completely bewildered. Clearly, they hadn't yet processed what was happening. They glanced uncertainly at Masatsuki Aozaki, whose face was dark with irritation.
Then they turned their attention to the sudden appearance of Gin Ichimaru—only to see him swiftly draw his Zanpakutō and activate its Shikai in one fluid motion.
There was no mistaking it—that Zanpakutō was Shinsō.
If the man before them wasn't the real Captain Gin Ichimaru, then how could he possess the exact same Shikai?
Gin Ichimaru gripped the short dagger tightly, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"Just as I thought. A cheap trick like this could never fool you."
"But I didn't expect you to see through the soul itself."
"Looks like our intel was incomplete."
"You really are full of surprises."
The situation was still unclear, but Candice stepped up beside Masatsuki Aozaki, keeping a wary eye on Gin Ichimaru as she asked,
"Hey, Masatsuki, what the hell is going on?"
"You idiot. Can't you train your sensory and observation skills a bit more instead of wasting all your time goofing off?"
Masatsuki Aozaki snapped, clearly annoyed.
"Look at Bambietta—she picked up on the oddity right away."
The mention of Bambietta made irritation swell in Candice's chest.
Even if they were now technically sisters, she still hated being compared to that woman. Scowling, she shouted,
"Ugh, enough already—I get it!"
But just then, Candice's pupils suddenly contracted.
As she raised her hand to stop Gin Ichimaru from advancing, he abruptly swung his blade. The katana extended at lightning speed.
Whoosh!!!
Candice was a split second slow, but she still managed to block the strike with her Reishi lightsaber.
Gin Ichimaru remained where he stood, shaking his head with a sigh.
"What kind of secrets are you hiding? How is it that even a random Quincy can block my attack so easily?"
"These are just little secrets between lovers. No need for you to worry about them,"
Masatsuki Aozaki replied with a calm smile.
"I've got a rough idea of what's going on. There's nothing to talk about—just take him down."
Masatsuki's voice was icy and resolute, exuding absolute confidence in the situation.
Candice didn't fully understand what was happening, but the moment she heard Masatsuki's order, she charged forward without hesitation.
Her eyes gleamed with a savage, bloodthirsty light.
"Eat lightning, punk!"
She shouted coldly. The spirit bow in her hand flared with dazzling blue light.
Lightning coiled around her spirit arrow, crackling with an intense, ominous energy.
As she pulled the bowstring taut, a blazing lightning bolt burst forth like a rampaging dragon, surging toward Gin Ichimaru with earth-shattering force!
"The Thunderbolt: Heavenly Dragon Flash!"
This was one of Candice's own original techniques—immensely powerful and devastating.
At the same time, Bambietta sprang into action.
"The Explode!"
Bright red light flickered at her fingertips, blazing like fire. She raised her hand, fingers shaped like a gun, and aimed straight at Gin Ichimaru.
In the next instant, countless Reishi orbs shot out from her fingertips, dense as a hail of bullets.
Each orb was packed with overwhelming energy—if even one hit, it would cause massive damage, nearly impossible to defend against.
To outsiders, trying to kill someone based on suspicion without concrete evidence might seem reckless. But Candice and Bambietta didn't care.
For them, Masatsuki Aozaki's command was all they needed.
Even if they killed the wrong person—so what?
It's not like they were saints to begin with.
...
While the chaotic fight broke out between the three, Masatsuki Aozaki turned away and walked back to Masaki Kurosaki. He crouched beside her, gently patting her shoulder and speaking softly.
"Hey, little one, time to wake up."
With that, he slowly placed his palm over her chest—as if grasping something—and then suddenly yanked his hand back.
A massive swirl of pitch-black Reishi burst out from Masaki's body.
Without Aaroniero's soul suppressing it, the Reishi had become docile, far easier to handle. Masatsuki separated them effortlessly. Even Sōken Ishida and Ryūken Ishida could probably have managed it.
He studied the dark Reishi carefully, then gave a casual wave of his hand.
Amazingly, the heavy mass of spiritual energy vanished into thin air!
...
"No fair, Masatsuki-nii is so mean… even if he saved me… still, it's not like I'd say no. I graduated today—so I can get married now!"
Eyes still closed, Masaki Kurosaki murmured, her voice filled with shy anticipation.
But in the very next moment, she shot upright, a wide smile lighting up her face.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself face-to-face with Masatsuki Aozaki. Behind him, her Uncle Sōken and Brother Ryūken were both staring at her with puzzled looks.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she lowered her head, clearly flustered.
"You little rascal, what kind of dream were you having just now?"
Masatsuki's lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Hehe…"
Masaki scratched her head bashfully, her face glowing with a radiant grin—clearly not denying anything.
"Speaking of your graduation, I was planning to come celebrate with you tomorrow."
"But since I'm already here, why not start today?"
"Let's have a proper celebration. What kind of present do you want?"
Masatsuki could sense the Reiatsu behind him—Gin Ichimaru's—growing fainter by the second.
He smiled softly and reached out to gently ruffle Masaki's hair.
Masaki put her hands on her hips, beaming with excitement, her eyes gleaming with playful anticipation.
"Hehe, I want to eat the food Masatsuki-nii makes! And don't think I've forgotten what you promised me either!"
...
Swish! Swish!
Two sharp sounds sliced through the air as Candice and Bambietta appeared behind Masatsuki like lightning.
He turned and asked calmly,
"All done?"
"Yep! That fake's been reduced to ashes—dead beyond dead."
Candice nodded enthusiastically, clapping her hands with satisfaction. She was clearly pleased with how it turned out.
The two of them had taken down Gin Ichimaru in less than ten seconds!
Masatsuki gently brushed her hair aside, then fell silent for a moment.
As memories slowly resurfaced, the picture in his mind became clearer.
He now had a general idea of what had happened.
That thing from earlier—it had to be a Reigai.
A puppet, created by collecting residual Reishi from Shinigami, shaping it into a modified Gikongan, and inserting it into a specially made vessel.
Fortunately, the power a Reigai can exert is limited by the vessel it's placed in.
The stronger the original individual, the more demanding the materials required to craft a suitable container.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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