"Stop!"
Seeing that Rosse actually dared to ignore him like this, even striding straight past the defensive line toward the residence, Shihoin Soichiro was furious beyond measure and shouted sharply.
'Such arrogance!'
Even the former Captain-Commander had never treated the Shihoin family with such contempt.
Yet Rosse acted as if he had heard nothing. His steps did not pause in the slightest. He continued forward at the same steady pace.
"Bastard!"
At last unable to endure it, killing intent surged in Soichiro's eyes. He raised his blade and slashed toward Rosse's back.
But the instant his sword left its sheath, a cold, low voice rang out like a final judgment, "Bankai! Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
In an instant, the ground seemed to turn into an abyss. Countless giant blades shot up into the sky, then shattered into a storm of cherry blossom petals.
The sea of pink blossoms swallowed Shihoin Soichiro's figure at once, surrounding him completely and cutting off every possible path toward Rosse.
Within this cage of petals capable of shredding steel, Soichiro could only watch helplessly as Rosse's indifferent back grew farther and farther away.
He watched him cross the threshold without obstruction, step into the home he had sworn to defend, and trample the last shred of the Shihoin family's dignity.
"Shihoin Soichiro, you should wake up."
Kuchiki Byakuya's cold and merciless voice drifted down with the falling petals, bringing this farce to its end.
"I, Kuchiki Byakuya, in the name of the head of the Kuchiki family, declare that from today onward, the Shihoin family is struck from the rolls."
The next second, billions of cherry blossom petals contracted under Byakuya's control and completely engulfed the grieving old man.
As a noble, this was the most magnificent and dignified funeral he could offer.
———
An hour later, when Rosse stepped out of the Shihoin gates again, the battle outside had already ended completely.
Kuchiki Byakuya had not allowed the Sixth Division to enter the Shihoin residence. He only ordered his men to gather the bodies and clean the battlefield.
He understood clearly.
Since Rosse had entered the estate, no one inside could possibly have survived.
As for the Shihoin family's treasures, the Kuchiki family had never cared for such things.
Compared to material wealth and accumulated assets, the Kuchiki valued the training of people and the dignity of being nobles far more.
Killing the entire clan was because their principles clashed. But looting wealth would violate the noble image the Kuchiki recognized.
Those so called foundations of the Shihoin family, Kuchiki Byakuya would not even ask about.
Since the Shihoin had betrayed Rosse, it was only right that Rosse inherit their final legacy.
"Captain Rosse, thank you for your hard work today."
Kuchiki Byakuya gave a slight nod as Rosse emerged.
Rosse smiled faintly and nodded in return.
He was in a fairly good mood.
The Shihoin family truly had deep foundations. After all, they bore the reputation of the "Guard of the Heavenly Gifted Armaments(Tenshi Heisoban)." What they possessed most were all kinds of divine weapons.
And among those divine weapons, more or less, there were fragments of the Soul King.
After he refined them in an instant, the number of Soul King fragments he obtained should exceed the portion sealed inside Ukitake Jushiro.
Compared to the complete Hogyoku, it might even be more than double.
During the earlier battle, it was not that the Shihoin did not want to use those divine weapons. Unfortunately, each one had various harsh conditions for use.
With the strength and preparation of Soichiro and the others, they simply could not activate them in such haste.
But those so called harsh conditions meant nothing before Rosse.
With just a sweep of spiritual particles, they were directly refined into Soul King fragments.
As for these fragments, Rosse did not urgently need them for anything else. So he simply fused them all into Enrakyoten.
If he used Enrakyoten now, not only could he unleash two different Zanpakuto Bankai at the same time, he could also easily display applications and power far beyond the originals.
After all, the essence of Enrakyoten had already risen by more than a small margin.
"Captain Rosse, thank you so much!"
Abarai Renji saw Rosse come out of the Shihoin estate and quickly ran over. Without even caring that his own captain stood nearby, he bowed deeply.
"You have a grudge against the Shihoin?", Rosse glanced at him.
"Captain Rosse, this thanks is only for you helping Rukia!", Abarai Renji's expression turned serious.
He respected Rosse deeply, even more than he respected Kuchiki Byakuya.
Kuchiki Byakuya was his ultimate goal. Only by surpassing Byakuya could he prove that a stray dog like him had the right to touch a flower.
But Rosse had not only helped him grow stronger, he had also saved countless people from Rukongai who shared the same circumstances as him and Rukia.
And now, to save Rukia, he had not hesitated to wipe out the entire Shihoin family.
Such a man deserved his highest respect.
"If it's for Rukia, don't celebrate too early."
Rosse shook his head and did not explain further. He turned and walked toward Shiba Kukaru in the distance.
"What does that mean?"
Abarai Renji scratched his head, not quite understanding Rosse's meaning.
But seeing Rosse leave, he did not dare chase after him to ask.
When they had assembled earlier, he had heard Shiba Kukaru and the others analyze the situation. As long as the Shihoin family was destroyed, the other nobles would likely not dare oppose Rosse. At that point, Rukia would be safe.
"There is still a Shihoin alive in Central 46. And we just received word that Central 46 has completely sealed itself off. Only upper nobles, the heads of the Five Great Noble Houses, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto may enter, and even then entry requires prior application."
Kuchiki Byakuya glanced at Abarai Renji and revealed the news he had just learned.
Now, even the Kuchiki family could not contact their elders inside Central 46.
This situation was already highly abnormal.
Clearly, Central 46 intended to resist to the very end.
Yet even Kuchiki Byakuya could not understand what gave Central 46 the confidence to stand firm. Were they not afraid that the families behind all its members would be purged?
And why had the Kuchiki elders inside also cut off contact with the family?
What exactly was happening in there?
Kuchiki Byakuya's face showed no expression, but his heart had already grown heavy.
He had a feeling that in Soul Society, it was not only the open struggle for the position of Captain-Commander. Beneath the surface, there might be a powerful undercurrent quietly surging.
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