When Hachigen shouted his warning, the Visored still didn't understand.
But the moment Shigure's words left his mouth, their breathing stopped.
Their minds went blank.
They couldn't even process those few words.
Until the earth-shaking roar arrived. Until the terrifying pressure hit them.
Their hearts jumped as they looked up.
Condensed spiritual pressure transformed into black-purple torrents. Endless cracking sounds echoed from all directions.
The ground shook violently. Sand and stones flew. Massive chasms split open instantly.
The abandoned factory buildings exploded under the extreme force.
Purple spiritual pressure in the sky became five massive dragons.
They dominated from above, crushing the Visored below with overwhelming pressure.
"Pff!!"
Under this absolute oppression, all eight collapsed.
Not one could remain standing.
This gravity torrent ignored their strength, forcing them to the ground.
Immense pressure crushed their bodies. Their souls felt torn apart.
Finally, they understood terror.
Hiyori desperately tried to undergo Hollowfication.
But she couldn't even raise her hand. Breathing became nearly impossible.
"Impossible!"
"His spiritual pressure was supposed to be restricted! How can it reach this level?!"
"A ninety-nine level Kidō... cast without incantation?!"
"Damn... can't even release spiritual pressure..."
The buildings had collapsed into ruins. They lay buried beneath the debris.
Suffocating dizziness. Intense pain. They nearly passed out.
Then all oppression stopped.
Gasping sounds emerged from the ruins.
Shigure stood calmly in the center, speaking peacefully:
"From the beginning, you got something wrong."
"You thought meeting you meant I'd cooperate against Aizen."
"But now, under my spiritual pressure, you can't even stand or breathe."
"Even so, do you still plan to question my purpose?"
Silence fell beneath the ruins. Even breathing sounds vanished.
After a moment, they slowly rose from the debris.
Their arrogant expressions were gone. Shock and gravity replaced them.
Shinji hunched over, wiping blood from his mouth.
"So this is... the power that suppressed three Captains alone..."
"No wonder Aizen retreated from Soul Society."
Shinji lowered his head with self-mocking laughter.
Everyone's expressions grew heavy.
They'd found his battle record suspicious. A newcomer rising in months, facing Aizen directly?
Impossible.
But now they knew. Their thinking was completely wrong.
Even in Hollowfication, they might not withstand that pressure.
Worse yet, Shigure hadn't even drawn his Zanpakutō.
This was just his surface-level strength.
And he hadn't tried to kill them.
That alone proved he wasn't with Aizen.
In this situation, if he served Aizen, he could have finished them easily.
After silent moments, Shinji suddenly bowed.
"Sorry."
Two light words, nearly blown away by wind. Yet they felt exceptionally heavy.
The others lowered their heads. Only Hiyori's eyes still showed defiance.
But even she didn't dare speak now.
Watching Shinji's posture, Shigure raised his eyes slightly. No response. After a moment, he turned around.
He raised his hand. With a thought, he connected to Soul Society's Senkaimon.
The massive gate appeared instantly. Brown doors opened, revealing white light.
Shigure turned his head slightly, glancing at them.
"Next time we meet will be when fighting Aizen. I hope you won't disappoint me like today."
He turned back and walked steadily into the Senkaimon.
The doors closed. Completely vanished.
Deathly silence fell. Only then did Hiyori lower her proud head.
"We completely failed... Shinji."
Meanwhile...
Shigure traveled alone through the return passage.
The Visored's actions barely disturbed him.
He'd never planned to cooperate anyway. It would only tie his hands.
Besides, their strength couldn't help much.
Moments later, he reached the Senkaimon's end.
The doors opened to the Seireitei.
But Shigure immediately noticed Rukia Kuchiki waiting there.
Her expression looked anxious. She'd obviously waited long.
Seeing Shigure, joy flashed in her eyes. She hurried forward.
"Captain Segawa! You're back!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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