"Finished?"
Sensing that Furuoki's Otogawa Reiatsu had completely vanished from Soul Society, Tōsen Kaname still looked like he had just awoken from a dream.
This battle was entirely beyond his understanding of a Gotei captain—beyond his knowledge of what a Shinigami was.
The captains of the First Generation were completely different beings compared to any Gotei captain who came after.
"A hero as powerful as Furuoki Otagawa, who fought in the Quincy invasion a thousand years ago... and in the end, he was dealt with using just two sword strikes and a single finger?"
"Lord Aiyan..."
"You must already be near the top of the Shinigami world, right?"
Yamada Seinosuke slowly closed his eyes. It seemed only by doing that could he stop the shock surging from his heart from spilling into his eyes.
Thanks to having once served under Tsunayashiro Tokinada—
He had not only learned the hidden history of Soul Society, but also understood the power of the First Generation Gotei captains.
Setting aside the Royal Guard—
The true peak combat power of Seireitei was the First Generation Gotei.
And yet...
FuruokiOtagawa, wielder of the second-strongest heat-based Zanpakutō, Scorching Hell...
Faced Aiyan, who had only used Shikai—
And didn't even last three moves.
"What a terrifying power."
"In today's Gotei 13... only Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni could face you head-on."
"Brother."
Aizen looked deeply at Aiyan.
"Your right hand is the holy sword that severs all things. Your left hand, the black flame that devours everything."
"To witness the complete Shikai of Bright Kōfūin and Dark Kōfūin..."
"This coin toss was worth it."
He opened his hand and looked at the coin in his palm. Beneath the rim of his glasses, a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
Even though he had lost the coin toss to Aiyan, and with it the chance to fight Furuoki Otagawa and test his own strength, Aizen still felt the experience of watching Kōfūin's full Shikai was well worth the price.
"Lord Aiyan, you don't look pleased."
Seeing Aiyan descend from the sky, Yamada Seinosuke noticed he didn't look as satisfied as one might expect after slaying Furuoki Otagawa.
Tōsen Kaname frowned slightly.
He remembered Kōga from years ago—but because Yamada Seinosuke was present, he didn't bring it up.
"I regret being too harsh."
Aizen stepped forward and explained softly what Aiyan was likely thinking.
"I overestimated the Tenth Division Captain of the First Generation."
"I thought the final blow would only erase his body from the spiritual level."
"I didn't expect it to also destroy his Zanpakutō, Shikkoku no Ryōken."
Aiyan nodded slightly, his voice tinged with regret:
"His Zanpakutō was second only to Ryūjin Jakka among all heat-type blades, both in attack power and age."
"To destroy it like this is a bit of a waste."
"If I had preserved it... I wouldn't be able to use it myself, but if I gave it to someone else, it could've made up for Enma Kōrogi's lack of attack power."
From the start, Aiyan had planned to completely annihilate Furuoki...
But spare Shikkoku no Ryōken.
He had no choice.
He had overestimated the strength of the First Generation's Gotei captain—
And underestimated the growth rate of his own Reiatsu and Zanpakutō.
The evolved form of Kōfūin...
Even with only its full Shikai, it was enough to utterly crush Furuoki's Bankai.
In fact...
Had he not held back, he could have destroyed both man and blade in an instant.
"Lord Aiyan..."
Tōsen Kaname felt a stirring in his heart as he listened.
He hadn't expected that Aiyan's original intention had been to leave Shikkoku no Ryōken to him.
Although he missed the opportunity, he didn't feel resentment or disappointment.
Instead, he felt deeply moved.
"Yes. Seems like you'll have to wait for next time."
Aiyan turned to Tōsen Kaname.
"Thank you for your consideration, Lord Aiyan."
"Even without Shikkoku no Ryōken..."
"With the power of Hollowfication granted by Lord Aizen, I am already capable of defeating most captains in the Gotei today."
Tōsen Kaname half-knelt.
Though he had yet to completely defeat the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, he still held a blade that symbolized liberation—
Resurreccion.
As long as his Bankai merged with Resurreccion, he was confident in cutting down most who dared stand in Aiyan's way.
"Good. Keep your eyes open."
"Do not think of these Gotei captains as your opponents."
"At most, they are passing scenery along the path to the Heavenly Throne."
"Insignificant. Not worth getting stuck on. Don't let them become your ceiling."
Aiyan shook his head slowly.
Who were these so-called captains?
Kensei Muguruma — just a Reiatsu unit of measure.
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō — a battlefield commentator.
Even Hirako Shinji — Shikai to fight the boss, Bankai to clear the mobs.
If Yamamoto Genryūsai and Unohana Yachiru were evil monsters disguised as captains—
Then Shinji Hirako and Kensei Muguruma were clowns dressing up as captains for show.
Split fruit dates.
"I understand, Lord Aiyan."
Tōsen Kaname engraved every word into his heart.
"Lord Aiyan, the preparations are complete."
At that moment, Yamada Seinosuke returned.
While they had been speaking, he had finished rearranging the ruins of the Tsunayashiro estate.
There was no other choice.
Though they had already done so once, Aiyan's battle with Furuoki Otagawa had erased every trace again.
"Let's go."
"I think... our friends will enjoy this little gift."
Aiyan nodded.
At his words, Tōsen Kaname raised his right hand.
A white cloth unrolled and swirled around them, lifting sand and dust into the air.
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, the Sentan Hakuja vanished from the ruins with the four of them.
The barriers surrounding the battlefield shattered one by one—
A chaotic, violent Reiatsu filled the air.
It wasn't powerful, but it was enough to alert the patrolling Shinigami.
On their way—
The Shinigami heard the noise.
And just then—
In front of the only remaining trace of the Tsunayashiro mansion—a fallen dark gray banner—
A man in a black cloak stepped out from the air itself.
Urahara Kisuke.
"Only the dead remain."
"Aiyan..."
"Damn it. Still a step too late."
Urahara Kisuke scanned the area. His Reiatsu consciousness spread outward.
Whether through spiritual sense or spiritual pressure—
Aside from the chaotic mixture of Shinigami and Menos Grande Reiatsu still hanging in the air—
What lay scattered everywhere were remnants of clothing.
Some belonged to ordinary Shinigami.
Others—aristocratic robes, worn only by the main and branch members of the Tsunayashiro Clan.
"One step late... and every step will be behind."
"Truly..."
"Another step behind you, again."
His voice was calm—
But his expression was like still water, dark and cold.
Even someone as sharp and witty as Urahara Kisuke—
Felt a deep, mounting pressure at this moment.
He had only just been imprisoned by the Central 46 earlier today.
And now, a Hollow attack has occurred at the Tsunayashiro residence.
Not only the main branch, but all the offshoots were wiped out.
He could already picture the reaction Seireitei would have when they learned of this incident.
And without a doubt—
The charges were placed on Aiyan and his brother...
Would now be welded shut with iron.
"Why..."
Sensing the Shinigami patrols drawing closer, Urahara Kisuke knew he couldn't show himself.
He could only cloak himself with the invisibility cloth and hide in the shadows.
While waiting for the patrol to arrive—
He secretly observed the scene, hoping to find a clue...
Something he could use to regain control of the situation—
And win the next game.
Yes.
The first match against the Aiyan brothers—
He had already lost.
Completely and utterly.
Even he couldn't think of a move to turn the tide now.
All he could do… Was placed his hopes in the next round.
...
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