[Special Ranking]
[Legendary Figure, The Blacksmith from the Soul King's Palace]
[Blade God, Ōetsu Nimaiya]
The sudden subtitles captured everyone's attention.
"Nimaiya?"
"Blade God?"
"The Blacksmith from the Soul King's Palace?"
The unfamiliar name and titles left the Arrancars, mid-infighting, in stunned silence, their faces etched with confusion.
Ōetsu Nimaiya… who the hell was that? Never heard of him!
But…
"Blade God" sounded insanely cool! Could he be another hidden founding captain of the Gotei 13?
Please, no more! They couldn't take it!
Why did Shinigami love playing these identity-hiding games? Couldn't they just be straightforward?
What a bunch of freaks!
Still reeling from Unohana's terrifying strength, the Arrancars' hearts hadn't fully recovered, still shrouded in the dread of her blood-soaked aura.
Thus, they instinctively assumed Nimaiya, also titled a "Legendary Figure," was on par with the First Kenpachi!
As for "Blacksmith from the Soul King's Palace," they had no clue what it meant.
Aizen had never mentioned anything about the Soul King's Palace or Team Zero.
The Arrancars were completely in the dark!
They could only pray this "Blade God" wasn't a Shinigami, or they'd be doomed!
---
Not just Hueco Mundo—the same reaction rippled through every corner of the Gotei 13, even more intensely!
Fifth Division Barracks
"This is…"
As the new subtitles appeared, the moment "Soul King's Palace" entered his view, Aizen's eyes gleamed with intense light, his breathing quickening.
"It's real! Gin, I knew it! They've always existed!!!"
Gone was his usual calm, all-seeing demeanor. The sudden confirmation of his long-sought secret nearly overwhelmed Aizen!
He dropped his mask of indifference, his refined face breaking into a genuine smile for the first time in centuries!
His extreme reaction startled Gin Ichimaru.
"Aizen… lost his composure?!"
Gin's pupils dilated, a flicker of shock in his eyes.
In nearly a century by Aizen's side, he'd never seen him so unhinged!
"Lord Aizen… 'they' refers to Team Zero, right?" Tōsen Kaname asked respectfully from behind.
Unlike the ignorant Arrancars, as Aizen's most loyal follower, Tōsen knew more secrets.
Their plan was to conquer the Soul Society, create the Ōken, and storm the Soul King's Palace—a goal unchanged from the start!
Thus, Tōsen had long known of Team Zero's existence!
"Correct. Team Zero's existence has been a controversial rumor for centuries. In most people's minds, the Gotei 13 is the sole authority!"
Aizen adjusted his glasses, his wise eyes regaining their calm, as if nothing had happened.
"But… Team Zero not only exists, their strength surpasses the Gotei 13! They're also known as the 'Royal Guard'!"
His eyes burned with anticipation, as if envisioning a future clash with Team Zero.
"Their purpose is to protect the so-called 'Soul King,' right?" Gin asked casually, squinting.
The Soul King was too ethereal for him to care about.
Storming the Soul King's Palace? Defeating Team Zero?
Sorry, before that, he'd already have found a way to kill Aizen!
"Exactly…"
Aizen nodded noncommittally. "Defeat them, and the Soul King's Palace becomes defenseless, leaving the Soul King unprotected!"
His indifferent words brimmed with ambition.
Aizen, with power at the Shinigami's pinnacle, refused to remain a pawn in a world ruled by the Soul King!
No matter the cost—centuries of scheming, abandoning emotions, constant deception—if he could replace the Soul King, it was worth it!
The ranking subtitles only fueled Aizen's resolve!
Despite knowing a traitor lurked nearby, he calmly revealed his thoughts.
Why? Because Aizen was confident he could control everything!
Once he uncovered how Gin planned to kill him, Aizen would eliminate him without hesitation!
He believed only he was enough to claim the throne!
---
First Division Barracks
Like Aizen, the two old men were caught off guard.
"Ōetsu Nimaiya…"
"To think I'd see this ancient name again after so many years. I'm increasingly unable to predict the future…" The Captain-Commander's voice carried a hint of weariness.
If Unohana could deduce the future from details, how could the even older, world-weary Captain-Commander not do the same?
But his millennium-old pride refused to acknowledge his future death!
"Captain-Commander, this is trouble!"
Chōjirō Sasakibe sweated profusely. "The Soul King's Palace is a taboo secret sealed for a thousand years! Its sudden exposure will bring countless unknown risks!"
"So what?"
The Captain-Commander shrugged. "Hasn't the future already been exposed? Can we stop it from happening?"
"We can't!"
At first, with his stubborn temperament, he'd have dismissed the rankings.
But after so many rounds, learning of future calamities, including his own death, the Captain-Commander was mentally exhausted.
If even he would fall, the Soul King's Palace being invaded was no surprise!
"But…"
Chōjirō started to protest but, sensing his captain's melancholy, swallowed his words.
"Chōjirō, just keep watching…"
"Nimaiya's appearance isn't random. Perhaps he single-handedly stops the invasion of the Soul King's Palace!"
The Captain-Commander spoke gravely.
He had no doubts about Nimaiya's strength.
As one of the Soul Society's oldest beings, Nimaiya created the Zanpakutō! Every blade in the Gotei 13 was forged by his hands!
In the Captain-Commander's ancient memories, a young Yamamoto had once been defeated by Nimaiya's Zanpakutō, Sayafushi!
Thus, he firmly believed that even if he fell, Team Zero—Nimaiya or others—would rise to the occasion!
---
Wandenreich, Silbern
"Ōetsu Nimaiya…"
"A member of the legendary Team Zero? 'Blade God' is quite a bold title!"
Unlike Aizen and the Captain-Commander's emotional swings, the Sternritter in Silbern reacted with deep hostility upon seeing the subtitles!
In their revenge plan, beyond destroying the Gotei 13, they aimed to follow Yhwach to conquer the Soul King's Palace!
Like Aizen, they knew of Team Zero's existence but not their numbers or abilities!
"The morale of our forces was just shaken, so this ranking of Team Zero is timely…"
On the palace's highest platform, Haschwalth's stern face softened slightly.
The First Kenpachi's ranking, with her terrifying swordsmanship and blood-soaked Bankai, had rattled the haughty Sternritter.
Coupled with Kyōraku's Bankai killing Gerard in a previous ranking, Silbern's morale was at an all-time low.
Some even questioned whether their thousand-year revenge plan was feasible.
But with Team Zero's appearance, the Sternritter realized the Soul King's Palace wasn't so distant! Defeating Team Zero would make it within reach!
Now was the perfect time to observe!
From the crowd, Gerard Valkyrie mocked first, "Blade God? Arrogant! Let's see if he can withstand my Sword of Victory!"
"Tch…"
"I refuse to believe a mere Shinigami captain could kill me! I'm certain I'll shine in a clash with Team Zero!" Lille Barro said darkly.
Being one-shotted by Kyōraku had humiliated him, earning mockery from his peers.
But as the Schutzstaffel's leader, Lille was confident he'd dominate in the Soul King's Palace!
---
Meanwhile, in the Soul King's Palace
Above the Soul Society's canopy, hidden behind seventy-two barriers and accessible only with the Ōken, the spiritual density was suffocating.
Even vice-captain-level Shinigami would struggle to breathe upon entering.
Amid the ocean-like spiritual air, five Zero Division palaces floated, one emitting cheers:
"Wooow—!!!"
"Nimaiya, congrats! You're the first of us to make the list!"
"Yeah, the 'Blade God' title's about to echo through the three worlds!"
"Idiots! Being first means I'm the weakest! What's there to celebrate? I'm not honored!"
In the Phoenix Palace's hall, five figures sat together, eyes fixed on the transparent screen.
Among them, a man with punk curls and a light-colored vest, his eyes gleaming with anticipation behind sunglasses, was the star of this ranking.
The master of the Phoenix Palace and forger of all Zanpakutōs.
The Blade God, Ōetsu Nimaiya!
Seeing himself listed, Nimaiya felt a mix of surprise and excitement.
In his mind, his greatest pride was his swordsmanship and blade-forging skills!
With over two thousand years of practice, he was sure he'd shine in the ranking!
---------------------------------------------------
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