The peace summit was proceeding with an unusual smoothness; it was clear the gathered factions genuinely wanted peace, and so they faced no difficulty in agreeing on joint decisions.
But...
Suddenly everyone felt a surge of transcendent power envelop the entire academy building.
"This… time-stop ability!" Azazel gasped as he saw all the weaker people in the hall frozen in place—their time had been stopped.
"Hmm… it seems the weaker people who don't possess special abilities have had their time stopped," Sirzechs remarked, staring at Rias and Suna, who were frozen in place, while Issei—clearly weaker than the two—was unharmed and a red glove with green jewels had appeared on his hand.
It wasn't only Issei; Xenovia and Irina also had their sacred swords appear in their hands, protecting them from the time-stop ability.
"If I remember correctly, one of Rias Gremory's servants owns a Sacred Gear called Forbidden Balor View, which has the power to stop the time of humans and things," Ren said, narrowing his eyes at Sirzechs, his aura burning fiercely. "Could Devils have planned to gather the other factions here and wipe them out?"
At Ren's words all eyes turned to Sirzechs, who could only purse his lips in annoyance at Ren's accusation.
Although Ren knew this was a terrorist attack by the Khaos Brigade—who had kidnapped and were controlling Gasper—he shamelessly blamed Sirzechs, since the other side had been looking at him with hostile, malicious intent ever since they first saw him.
This was just a minor irritation to be avenged later.
"I admit this is the ability of one of Rias's servants, but this attack is neither from my faction nor my followers," Sirzechs explained calmly to everyone despite their stares. "And the proof is outside…"
Sirzechs pointed out the window, where everyone saw a gigantic barrier surrounding the entire academy and hundreds of magic circles from which hundreds of beings of various races poured out—not limited to Devils alone.
"That emblem…!" Michael said sharply, his golden eyes widening. "They're from the Khaos Brigade!"
Voices inside the hall rose between anger and astonishment as everyone began sensing dozens of powerful auras intersecting outside. Some were demonic, some fallen angelic, and even spirits belonging to cursed humans.
"They've surrounded the building from all sides… it seems they used the meeting to gather the faction leaders in one place," Azazel said seriously, glancing instinctively and imperceptibly at Vali, who sat calmly in his seat.
"It seems we must postpone the conference for a bit to deal with these insects," Suì-Fēng said coldly, rising from her seat to watch the scene outside.
"That is… a Garganta!" Suì-Fēng was stunned for a moment upon seeing Garganta, for Hollows were known as solitary wolves and were rarely seen moving together, let alone coordinating a terrorist attack with other races.
But the form that emerged from the Garganta shocked her even more.
The figure that came out of the Garganta was not the usual ugly, repulsive Hollow form; rather, it was a humanoid with long blond hair and gray eyes, wearing a very small Hollow mask that covered only his right eye. He wore human white clothing and carried a simply styled sword at his waist.
"A Hollow with a Zanpakutō…" Suì-Fēng was astonished at the sight before them. Although Aizen's collaboration with Hollows and his research into granting Shinigami Hollow powers—and vice versa—were known, this was the first time she had seen a Hollow possessing Shinigami power, and it shook her knowledge to the core.
'Findorr Calius… Arrancar #24…' Ren thought calmly as he observed the other side; he was able to identify him easily thanks to memories of his past life that had become perfectly clear to him because of his six eyes.
'I didn't expect Aizen to participate in such a terrorist attack even if he only sent a failed specimen—maybe he wanted to see what it could do,' Ren still thought in surprise that Aizen had been involved in such a low-level attack.
"Captain, I will go out to deal with the pests," Ren said.
As he spoke, his modern clothes transformed into a black shihakusho with a simply styled sword at his waist. The only thing that remained the same was his blindfold, which hid his six eyes.
Suì-Fēng gave a slight nod and placed her hand on the hilt of her short sword.
"Understood. Do not underestimate them. We don't have the luxury of time in this situation."
Ren lifted his head slightly, a calm smile forming on his face.
"Don't worry. I'll make them wish they had never opened a Garganta in the first place."
The next moment, his voice vanished from the hall entirely. There was no light or trace of movement—he simply disappeared, as if time itself refused to record the moment of his exit.
Outside, the air was saturated with combative energy of every kind: explosions, spells, and the screams of creatures intertwined in a chaotic, aimless battle. The barrier around the academy looked like a cage of twisted light, interwoven with symbols from different magical tongues.
Suddenly, the barrier tore at one point.
It wasn't due to a magical attack… but by something purer, more terrifying.
A wave of spiritual pressure swept through the area, shaking the ground itself.
"I must admit I'm glad you arrived; I've been in a foul mood for some time and you came to help me vent my anger upon you," Ren said, a fresh, pleasant smile spreading across his face as he drew the sword at his waist.
"Sakeru!... Yorugami no Mikazuki."
In the next instant, the dull black blade changed shape and color, transforming into a brilliant red shirasaya; its edge gleamed with a crimson deeper than the sunset, more vibrant than the color of blood itself.
The air around it trembled, and energy began to concentrate until the scene looked as if the night itself bowed before that crimson aura. The new sword shone with a quiet sheen; what emanated from it was not light but presence—a presence that strangled weak souls and made them tremble unconsciously.
"You'd better pray now… for the gods you believe in will not hear you after this moment."
As he spoke, white particles gathered on his face out of nothing and formed a terrifying mask that turned his power even darker and more evil.
The mask, fashioned of cracked white stone, bore curved horns etched with black designs like ancient tattoos. A mysterious circle occupied the center of the forehead, from which sharp lines ran toward a mouth twisted into a terrifying grin of pointed teeth. From its shattered eye sockets glowed an orange-red look like glowing embers.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Golden and black reiatsu gathered at the tip of the crimson blade and launched toward dozens and hundreds of Devils, angels and fallen angels, as well as Hollows and Findorr.
The sky erupted with a single streak of black-and-gold light, cleaving all in its path into nothingness. The sound of the blast did not come immediately—it was preceded by a tremendous wave of pressure that flung dust, rocks, and even the fires of battle violently backward.
The ground cracked for tens of meters, and the air itself seemed to split in two.
In an instant, half of the Khaos Brigade's army vanished from existence—they evaporated without a trace, as if swallowed by the wind.
Waves of energy rose from the collision like spiraling columns of light, while Ren stood in the eye of the storm with strange calm, his black cloak torn at the edges and his black hair flowing from beneath the terrifying mask.
"That… was not an ordinary Getsuga Tenshō…" Azazel murmured in astonishment as he watched from the window. "Its spiritual power alone is enough to destroy an entire city…"
In the past Azazel had faced Isshin and had seen the old man's Getsuga Tenshō, which had seemed like a kitchen knife's power in comparison to the sword-level power Ren unleashed.
Findorr, who stood away from the explosion's center, took two steps back, placing his hand on his sword; his face, clouded with astonishment, reflected nothing but a mixture of terror and suppressed arrogance.
"If I'm foolish enough to think a single wave will end our fight… then you've never fought an Arrancar before."
But Ren did not reply.
In fact, he did not move at all. He merely raised his head slightly, the orange glow of his eyes behind the mask intensifying.
Then he spoke in a low voice, as if an echo from the depths of hell:
"I did not say I was finished."
In the next instant dozens of Getsuga Tenshō appeared in the air behind Ren and launched at the enemies like black moons that devoured light.
"Getsuga Tenshō: Jūni Kizuki!"
The air buzzed with energy as golden-and-black waves rose from every direction, striking the foes relentlessly. The reiatsu clinging to each body made the ground tremble and the air splinter, while Ren's attacks fell like waterfalls of light and darkness, consuming everything in their path.
Findorr tried to parry some, but took another step back when one of the Getsuga Tenshō became a massive black moon that swallowed everything around it. The dark and angelic auras around him quickly faded under the relentless explosions.
Inside the academy, the eyes of those present froze with awe. Azazel, unable to believe what he saw, said in a tone trying to calm himself:
"I have never seen such power even in our legends… what this man is doing surpasses all bounds."
Ren remained motionless, like a living statue in the storm, his orange eyes glowing behind the mask and sending a silent warning: none would remain alive if they did not retreat.
And as the commotion rose, he smiled a deadly smile beneath the mask, then whispered calmly:
"This is only the beginning…"
As he spoke, Ren's gaze fixed on Sirzechs, who felt a numbness at the top of his head; the power Ren displayed exceeded all his expectations.
'This is his strength without awakening that power… I don't want to think how much stronger he will be if he awakens it…' Sirzechs thought, deciding he must gain Ren to his side at any cost—having him would be like possessing the ultimate pawn. If he could not win him over, he would have to destroy him before he became a greater threat than he already was.
...
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