The sky split open as blue-white lightning howled down from the heavens, enveloping the Sōkyoku—the infamous execution weapon of the Soul Society—in a maelstrom of spiritual energy. The spear, a divine construct once sealed away due to its uncontrollable might, trembled under the assault. Its true name was Sōkyoku no Ō, the King of Annihilation. It was said to possess the destructive power of over a million Zanpakutō when fully unleashed, manifesting as a colossal phoenix of flame that could erase a Shinigami's very soul in an instant.
And yet—this god-slaying weapon was being repelled.
Aoki, the one whose very presence disrupted the foundation of Soul Society, had not merely withstood its wrath. He had fought it—and struck it down.
In its released form, Sōkyoku had transformed into a majestic phoenix of incandescent energy, meant to pierce through Aoki's existence like it had once nearly done to Rukia Kuchiki. But the spectacle played out differently this time. As the flaming bird screamed toward him, Aoki met it with a single devastating strike—his fist cloaked in blue lightning. The blow didn't just stop the creature—it shattered it.
Fragments of burning reiryoku scattered across the execution grounds like falling embers.
"Is this all?" Aoki's voice was low, yet it carried to every corner of the arena. "Is this the might of the Sōkyoku—the weapon that claims the power of a million Zanpakutō?"
The spectators were frozen. Even Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, standing nearby with his weathered hands gripping the staff-sheathed Ryūjin Jakka, stared silently at Aoki, his ancient eyes narrowing.
"…What is this man?" Yamamoto murmured.
Even Unohana Retsu, silent until now, furrowed her brow. The execution grounds had become a war zone—and Aoki stood at its center like a storm given form.
Zaraki Kenpachi cackled in the distance. "This is gettin' good."
And then—
A familiar voice rang out, incantationless and sharp.
"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi."
Darkness surged. The obsidian sarcophagus, wrought from black lightning and sharpened space, engulfed the remains of Sōkyoku. With a thunderous crack, the black coffin collapsed—and where once the phoenix loomed, now nothing remained. A weapon that could annihilate even the Captain-Commander's reiatsu had been broken—first by Aoki's physical strike, then obliterated by his Kidō.
Kyōraku Shunsui, who had instinctively rested his hand on Katen Kyōkotsu, muttered, "Did he really just cast Kurohitsugi… without chanting?"
Ukitake Jūshirō stood beside him, his expression hard to read. The two Captains had once believed no one could rival Yamamoto in raw power. But now…
Ichigo Kurosaki, breaking the restraints that had bound Rukia, landed nearby. Tossing her over to Renji Abarai with a shout, he turned, clutching Zangetsu.
"Thanks," he said, nodding at Aoki.
But their moment of coordination was short-lived. A wave of spiritual pressure swept across the battlefield as three Vice-Captains—Marechiyo Ōmaeda of the Second, Kiyone Kotetsu of the Fourth, and Chōjirō Sasakibe of the First—stepped forward to intercept Ichigo.
"Bakudō #58: Kakushitsuijaku! Target locked."
"Strike, Hyōrinmaru no Kumo!"
"Rip, Enrai Rengeki!
"Overwhelm, Goshiki Atama!"
The three unleashed their Zanpakutō in unison, flooding the area with intense but uneven pressure.
Ichigo gritted his teeth. Just as he began to swing, Aoki appeared between him and the vice-captains in a flicker of white lightning. Without even drawing a weapon, he struck down Ōmaeda with a single open-handed blow, caught Kiyone's wrist mid-strike, and with a slight movement, disabled Sasakibe's stance.
But when his hand almost landed against Kiyone's chest, he paused—and gently pushed her aside.
She stumbled, stunned. "Why…?"
Aoki didn't answer. He simply turned to Ichigo.
"You ready now?" he asked, his voice tight.
Ichigo nodded. "I was born ready."
But the battlefield descended into chaos again. Byakuya Kuchiki arrived, his expression steel-hard. He moved to strike Ichigo—only for Yoruichi Shihōin to intercept him with a flash step so fast it left shadows. She threw Ichigo a glance and then, in a flash, disappeared—taking Zihō (a corrupted version of the name "Zanpakutō") with her.
Then the sky burned.
A sea of flames erupted as Yamamoto finally spoke the words that released the ancient fire:
"Reduce all creation to ash—Ryūjin Jakka!"
The temperature skyrocketed. Buildings ignited. Air shimmered and distorted. Soul Society itself seemed to recoil as the oldest, most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō in history erupted with killing intent.
The flames curled around Aoki—and yet he did not burn.
Ukitake stared. "He's not even flinching…"
Kyōraku frowned. "I don't want to fight the old man. But this guy… he's not ordinary."
Then Aoki moved.
A sound like a thunderclap roared across the Seireitei. Spiritual energy exploded around him—white-blue arcs of electricity wrapping around his frame like armor. His muscles tensed, his eyes flared.
Even Yamamoto's expression shifted.
"That technique…" he muttered. "Shunkō?"
Yoruichi's signature art—the fusion of Hakuda and Kidō—was considered lost to most. It wrapped the user in compressed Kidō energy, amplifying speed and power to terrifying levels. But this version—Aoki's version—was something else. Refined, focused, weaponized.
"You taught him that, didn't you, Yoruichi?" Yamamoto murmured under his breath.
BOOM!
Aoki vanished and reappeared before Yamamoto in less than a breath. A single palm thrust collided with the Captain-Commander's flaming blade—and didn't yield.
The flames wavered.
The earth cracked.
Kyōraku drew Katen Kyōkotsu. "He's forcing Genryūsai to go all-out."
Ukitake followed, twin swords drawn. "He's not just strong… he's monstrous."
Outside, deep within the Central 46 Chambers, Unohana Retsu and Kiyone Kotetsu activated a forbidden Kidō—Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra. Their voices echoed across the Seireitei.
"Everything was Aizen's doing!"
Ukitake reeled. "Aizen…?"
At the same time, in the execution square, Gin Ichimaru's blade Shinsō shot forward like a silver streak—piercing through the wounded body of Byakuya, who had leapt in front of Rukia.
Blood sprayed.
The Hōgyoku had been removed.
Kūkaku Shiba's arrival was marked by a roar of Kidō: Hadō #63: Raikōhō! The massive lightning blast tore through the sky, buying just enough time for Yoruichi and Zihō to flank Aizen.
One held a blade to his throat.
The other gripped Kyōka Suigetsu by the hilt—preventing its activation.
And yet—still—Aizen smiled.
Then, in the silence, a voice echoed:
"Hadō #99: Goryū Tenmetsu—Five Dragons of Destruction."
And from the heavens, they came—five colossal dragons made of pure destructive energy, descending upon the battlefield like the judgment of the gods.