After the two pieces of Hogyoku merged, unprecedentedly powerful energy radiated from the complete Hogyoku's body…
After Yuta jumped into the endless sea of knowledge, the surroundings transformed into layers of overlapping scripture-an ocean of insight enveloping him entirely.
Countless forms of knowledge materialized before his eyes. Every movement of his thoughts shattered and restructured the information into exactly what he wanted to see.
"Let's take a look at the Kido above number 90 first."
Books began forming one after another in front of Yuta's eyes.
[You read the book "Hado" and successfully understood the "Black Coffin" of "Breaking Way."]
[You understood the ninety-first chapter of "Hado": "Thousand-Handed Bright Sky Killing Cannons."]
[You successfully understood the ninety-sixth chapter of "Hado": "Cremation with One Knife."]
[You successfully understood the ninety-ninth chapter: "Five Dragons Transformed into Destruction."]
...
He moved on to the Binding Way.
[You reviewed the Book Box of Binding Way and successfully understood the ninety-ninth of Binding Way...]
Yuta had now acquired knowledge of every Kido spell.
While scanning through it, he came across techniques that existed independent of the formal Kido system.
Ruli Breaking Way: Three Forms-Iron Wind Killing Ground.
Urahara's Path-an elite Kido known only by members of the Royal Guard.
Yuta absorbed these techniques as well.
However, even with his capacity for comprehension, he found that relying on only two eyes wasn't fast enough to match the speed at which he could understand.
In the next moment-
With just one thought, blue spirit particles erupted from his body in streams, forming into spiritual light curtains surrounding him.
Dozens of eyes manifested on these curtains at once.
Instantly, hundreds of eyes opened across the array of lights-watching and reading simultaneously.
Now the speed of reading finally kept pace with Yuta's understanding.
[You successfully understood Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Bankai: Zanka no Tachi.]
[You successfully understood Unohana Retsu's Bankai and its complete form.]
[You successfully understood Aizen Sosuke's Shikai: Kyoka Suigetsu.]
[You successfully understood Kuchiki Byakuya's Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.]
[You successfully understood Shutara Senjumaru's Bankai: Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami no Tsuji.]
...
At the same time Yuta reached clarity on the concept of Bankai-
In another location, Aizen Sosuke absorbed Urahara Kisuke's Hogyoku into his own, and as the fusion completed, the Hogyoku erupted in blinding brilliance.
It was as if someone had replaced an old lightbulb with one entirely new-its radiance far beyond what it once was.
Immense spiritual pressure poured out from the completed orb, forcing Tosen Kaname to fall back repeatedly.
He couldn't see the spectacle unfolding before him-but he felt every ounce of oppressive energy in great detail. Even as someone at Captain level, he found it difficult to remain nearby.
Tosen said, "Congratulations to Lord Aizen on successfully completing the Hogyoku. Our path to justice has become clear."
Holding the Hogyoku in his hand, Aizen Sosuke showed no smile and no expression of triumph. He simply replied-
"Yes, but what if we fail?"
Tosen was stunned. "How could we? With Lord Aizen's supreme power and the completed Hogyoku, you've surpassed the limits of the Soul Reaper's soul. I don't understand how the captains of the Gotei 13 could even be considered your opponents."
Brushing back his hair, Aizen smiled faintly and said, "Those captains are not my opponents."
"The opponent I'm interested in... is Yuta."
"If he's the one who prevails in the end... perhaps that's acceptable. Because the world he imagines may be better than the one we're trying to build."
He turned to gaze out into the night where light had broken through the parting storm clouds. At that moment, the sky above the Soul Society was clear-no darkness remained overhead.
Tosen stared at Aizen in silence. It was the first time he had heard his superior speak with genuine admiration for another person.
Even the Commander-General Yamamoto had not been spoken of in this way.
What did this soul reaper named Yuta say to Lord Aizen in the Great Spirit Book Corridor that left him so impressed?
What kind of power did he possess that made even Aizen Sosuke look forward to meeting him again?
...
Elsewhere-
Soi Fon was pursuing her target using Shunpo to its limit. Her feathered haori flared behind her, and the two ringed braids at the back of her head snapped through the wind as she closed in decisively on her mark-like some unerring bee aiming at its final sting.
Her target wore the black uniform of the Onmitsukidō, marking him as one of their own-now turned.
In just one step, Soi Fon appeared before him. The cold glint of her Zanpakutō reflected her intent-one strike was enough.
Pshhh!
Her blade slashed across the target's abdomen. Blood burst forth as Egawa Kūzō, Ninth Seat of the Onmitsukidō, collapsed into a pool of rainwater and crimson.
He made no move to cover his wound. He already knew the truth: when Soi Fon pursued someone, escape was impossible.
Relaxing his shoulders, he removed his black mask and took in the clean air after the rain.
"The Captain's blade is as cold and decisive as ever," he said bitterly. "Even if the one she kills is her former subordinate, there is no hesitation."
Soi Fon stood over him without emotion. She raised her sword level with his chest and prepared to finish him off.
"For those who violate the law, even the most proud life will be marked by disgrace," she said. "Your shame ends here."
Egawa coughed blood from the edge of his lips-but he smiled.
"As soldiers of punishment, we were turned into weapons from the beginning. No emotions. No hesitation. Only obedience to orders."
"There's no space for love, family, or friendship."
"Even reproduction was mechanical-used only to create the next generation to serve until death. Our world is cold and lightless."
"But I fell in love with someone I wasn't supposed to."
"She was just a civilian woman who nursed my wounds. Her smile stayed with me. I went to visit her often-but I couldn't confess. I wasn't brave enough."
"Eventually she married into nobility…"
He grit his teeth as fury came to the surface.
"But that nobleman... he killed her when he grew tired of her."
"So I took my revenge."
"I killed him-and now I pay the price."
His head tilted toward Soi Fon once again.
"I don't regret what I did. Kill me, Captain."
As Egawa closed his eyes, Soi Fon's grip on her blade tightened. Her expression tensed-jaw clenched hard enough to grind her teeth together.
Why?
Why did people so easily abandon the codes they once swore by?
First Shihoin Yoruichi…
Now him…
Whoosh!
She brought her sword down-but at the last instant, another figure dashed in from the side, intercepting the blow and spiriting her away with overwhelming speed into the trees beyond.
For a moment, Soi Fon didn't resist at any level. Her thoughts were frozen completely. Her body trembled even before impact with the ground.
"You… you're… Yoruichi!"
Boom!
They crashed. A crater opened from where they fell.
"Oh? Long time no see… Sui Feng," Yoruichi said with calm composure.
Before she finished speaking, the figure of Soi Fon had already disappeared, and Yoruichi vanished in the same instant. Their Shunpo clashed mid-air, gusts of wind surging as their feet crossed paths. After initial testing blows, they separated again.
Sui-Feng spoke flatly, "I haven't seen you for so long, and your skills don't seem to have improved much."
"I could say the same-you seem to have regressed," Yoruichi replied with her arms crossed, wearing a confident smile.
"You, from the Shihoin family known for their 'God-given Weapons,' betrayed the Soul Society back then. Now that you've returned-what's your purpose? Are you planning anything?"
Yoruichi shrugged. "Can't someone come back without ulterior motives? Been a while-I just wanted to see if the scenery had changed."
"You really think I'd believe that?"
"You talk quite a bit. Is it because you're excited to finally meet your long-lost senior? Or are you venting years of frustration? Feeling the pressure of inheriting my position as Commander of the Stealth Force?" Yoruichi said softly.
Zaifeng gripped her Zanpakutō tightly. "Don't provoke me. I'm no longer in your shadow. I command the Stealth Corps and the Punishment Force now."
She turned her blade and drove it into the ground. "Your era is over!"
At that signal, numerous stealth guards emerged from the surroundings and closed in around Yoruichi.
Sui-Feng addressed her with confidence: "You should know-when I issue this order, the martial execution begins. Anyone showing hostility to the commander becomes a target. Even you, as the former commander, are no exception."
"You gave up that title... You've left yourself no escape. Surrender peacefully."
Before she could finish, the entire unit was downed-defeated instantly.
In that moment, Yoruichi seemed to appear in dozens of places at once, incapacitating each soldier with flawless execution.
"I may have stepped down from the commander title," she said calmly, "but I kept the other one."
Sui-Feng narrowed her eyes. "Shunshin... Yoruichi."
She reached down and removed her captain's haori, revealing the tactical uniform beneath-black sleeves on her arms, open thigh panels for movement, and strong, well-trained muscles beneath exposed skin. It was the combat uniform once worn by the former commander.
"The commander's combat uniform… feels nostalgic," Yoruichi remarked.
Sui-Feng crouched low. "Let's settle this-as warriors. Let's see who proves stronger."
She disappeared, reappearing behind Yoruichi mid-strike. The Zanpakutō dissolved into its Shikai form-gold and needle-like, fitting over her middle finger.
"Sting, Suzumebachi!"
Though Yoruichi dodged in time, the butterfly-shaped mark was already on her abdomen. Blood trickled from the wound.
Wiping away the blood at her lip, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes. "Didn't expect your speed to have increased this much already."
Sui-Feng looked down at her from the tree branch above. "Did you think I wouldn't surpass you after over a hundred years of training? Don't be arrogant."
"This is the price for abandoning your position-death."
"You should remember Suzumebachi's ability. Two strikes, guaranteed kill. The first attack leaves the 'Hornet's Crest' death mark. Back then, it wasn't complete. Now it is."
"If I strike your abdomen again-you'll die."
"You might have used Shunpo in the past to delay the effect, but now even that won't save you. As long as I haven't released my Shikai, the mark remains."
Sui-Feng vanished again, resuming her attack with impossible speed.
More crests appeared on Yoruichi's body as her evasion options narrowed. The number of hits increased-so did the urgency in her movement.
Sui-Feng said softly, "You see now? I've surpassed you."
"If you understand that much... then give up your life."
Spiritual pressure surged from Sui-Feng's body-winds whipping around them as Kidō formed at her back and shoulders.
"Surprised?"
"This is my first technique using both Hakuda and Kidō."
"You should feel honored-this move is lethal."
"I only just mastered it. You'll be the first to see it in battle."
"Doesn't even have a name..."
Yoruichi wiped her mouth again, then said, "No. It does have one."
Lightning surged from her shoulders with crashing force, Reiatsu illuminating the darkness around them.
"It's called Shunkō."
"I haven't used this against you-because it's too dangerous."
Sui-Feng's expression faltered. Sweat broke out across her face as she clenched her fists, Kidō concentrating into her strikes-but Yoruichi's figure disappeared from view.
When she returned to sight, the Reiatsu in Sui-Feng's own hand was gone-neutralized.
Counter-Kidō-equal energy clashes designed to disrupt spell constructs.
And Yoruichi had done it faster and cleaner than she could respond to.
Sui-Feng grit her teeth. "I've trained for centuries! I've surpassed you! Why-why are you standing so calmly in front of me?!"
"Why do you keep overpowering me?!"
"Answer me, Yoruichi!"
She moved to attack again-but Yoruichi's fist, crackling with thunder, stopped just before her face. One final step, and it would have ended it.
Frozen, Sui-Feng's expression fell into despair. She gripped her uniform in both hands and dropped to her knees.
"...Why?"
"Why didn't you take me with you?"
"...Yoruichi..."
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