"Black... Kurosaki-kun, you have a little too much."
Inoue Orihime's cheeks flushed as she trembled slightly.
"Is it? Sorry." Ichigo laughed awkwardly and loosened his grip.
"Lower it a little more!" shouted Rukia from beside him.
"I know! I've already reduced it!"
Over Rukongai, a transparent light-blue cannonball sliced through the air. Inside sat five figures and a black cat—Kurosaki Ichigo, Inoue Orihime, Sado Yasutora, Ishida Uryu, and Shiba Ganju. The cat, of course, was Shihouin Yoruichi in her feline form. Each of them had a hand pressed against the spirit bead core while Yoruichi crouched atop the glowing sphere, maintaining the protective barrier through the flow of spiritual power. It was the only way to breach the barrier of the Soul Society and enter Seireitei—to rescue Rukia Kuchiki.
"Hey, look outside!" Sado's deep voice broke the silence.
"This is Seireitei!"
The sphere shot higher, gliding over the shining walls of the Court of Pure Souls.
Inside Seireitei, the alarm rang.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Every captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads looked skyward.
"Emergency alert! Intruders have entered Seireitei! All divisions to defensive positions!"
The order echoed through the city of white stone. A wave of tension swept across the Court of Pure Souls.
At that moment, the captains assembled.
Aizen Sosuke adjusted his glasses, his calm expression unreadable. "Intruders?"
Zaraki Kenpachi grinned. "Could it be those ryoka?"
Ichimaru Gin's eyes narrowed in a crescent smile, silent and knowing.
The divisions moved swiftly. Kenpachi, Captain of the Eleventh Division, left the chamber without hesitation.
"Ken-chan!"
A pink-haired girl leapt from a balcony and landed on his back. Kusajishi Yachiru, his lieutenant, beamed. "Is it enemies? Can we fight them?"
Kenpachi's grin widened, his scarred face twisting in excitement. "Ryoka, huh? Maybe the same brat who survived my fight before. Either way, I'll cut them down."
Elsewhere, Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni slammed his cane against the floor. "Enough. Captains, return to your posts. Maintain defensive formations. I'll discuss Ichimaru's matter later."
The captains dispersed. Only Aizen and Gin remained, standing back-to-back.
"The alarm went off at a convenient time," Aizen murmured.
Gin tilted his head, voice smooth and mocking. "Not sure what you mean, Captain."
"You think this charade fools me? Don't underestimate me." Aizen walked out, leaving Hitsugaya Toshiro watching Gin in silence.
High above Seireitei, a bright light flared.
"I'm going to hit it!" Ishida shouted.
"It's inevitable!" Yoruichi commanded. "Pour all your energy into it!"
The barrier of Seireitei's soul membrane blazed with golden and black lightning as the sphere struck it.
"It stopped!" Orihime cried.
Aizen's calm voice carried from below. "It hasn't vanished. The contact point remains—meaning that sphere's composition is dense with spirit energy."
Under the team's combined focus, the spiritual bead core pulsed against the barrier. The air trembled. Then, with a deafening roar, the membrane shattered.
The sphere burst apart, scattering four rays of light across Seireitei.
Kenpachi's eyes gleamed. "The strongest among them... who will it be?"
Before the squads could move, the sky erupted again. Two massive vortices—one black, one white—twisted into existence.
"What is this?" Kenpachi growled. "Some new ryoka trick?"
From within the swirling light, two vast screens appeared, one black, one white, mirroring the vortices.
Ding. A mechanical voice echoed across the heavens. "Live broadcast system activated. Loading participants."
Captains and lieutenants exchanged stunned looks. Even Aizen glanced upward, intrigued.
"What kind of power is this?" he murmured. "Impossible... the ryoka can't do this."
The voice continued. "All personnel loaded. Participants may speak freely and join the quiz event. Three responses per round. Rewards vary based on accuracy. During broadcast, all movement is restricted. Absolute safety guaranteed."
All around Seireitei, confusion spread. The ryoka team, scattered but unharmed, found themselves frozen in place.
"Hey!" Ichigo shouted. "What's going on? Is this some trap you Soul Reapers set?!"
"Ichigo!" Rukia's voice echoed in his mind. "Why can I hear you so clearly?"
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime cried. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" Ichigo answered. "Just... what the hell is this?"
Back in the First Division hall, Yamamoto watched the glowing text streaming across the air.
"This force suppresses even reiatsu... astonishing."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's grin spread wide. "Such an advanced mechanism! Truly fascinating. I must study it!"
Byakuya Kuchiki folded his arms, his tone icy. "Hmph. Kurosaki Ichigo continues to rush toward death without hesitation."