Aizen said with a half-smile, "It's a pity, though, that this isn't the real Soul King Palace."
Shin naturally knew that the Soul King Palace before them was merely a trap set by the Royal Guard. The true Soul King Palace had been hidden by Ichibe.
"That's right, the real Soul King Palace is up there." Shin glanced at the high sky, which appeared to be empty.
"However, this disguise will soon be unveiled."
...
Below, Senjumaru had already been crumpled into a ball by Pernida.
Seeing how pathetic the so-called Royal Guard was, Gerard displayed a contemptuous smile and mocked, "How weak. Can this level truly be considered superior to the entire Gotei 13?"
"Have we even encountered a decent opponent so far?"
Lille, carrying his sniper rifle, slowly walked toward the several Zero Division Riden. He glanced at the Arrancar fighting on the Riden, then opened fire immediately.
Bang!
Following five gunshots, the Riden, which were already mostly destroyed, were blasted into two halves and began falling from the sky.
"The path is now clear. Please proceed, Your Majesty." Lille turned and knelt respectfully before Yhwach.
However, Yhwach did not move, his sharp gaze fixed straight ahead.
Just then, the surrounding scenery began peeling away, strip by strip, like a curtain being drawn back.
"What's going on? This isn't the Soul King Palace!?" Lille scrambled to his feet.
"This is the fake Soul King Palace prepared specifically to welcome you. The real Soul King Palace is over there, hidden by the monk."
Senjumaru, who had been crumpled into a ball and looked utterly dead, was now standing nearby, completely unharmed.
In the distant high sky, the true Soul King Palace revealed itself.
A massive character for "Hidden" seemed to be plastered across the entire palace.
The "Monk" mentioned by Senjumaru—Ichibe—was sitting cross-legged in the void.
"The cage has been prepared for you."
As soon as his voice fell, a cage made of trees, shaped like a birdcage, enveloped the members of the Wandenreich.
Meanwhile, the Arrancar, who had been scattered across the five Zero Division Riden, had converged and were also surrounded by an identical tree cage.
"Having to set up two wombs simultaneously has utterly exhausted me."
Kirio, who had been missing until now, suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"What the hell is this thing?" Askin broke out in a cold sweat.
On the other side.
Kaname and the others were caught off guard by the sudden situation. They tried attacking with various methods, but the speed of destruction could not keep up with the speed of the cage's regeneration.
"It's useless. These trees were created by absorbing my Reiatsu, and now that they've grown, the cluster of trees can absorb Reishi-based attacks as nourishment."
"In other words, no matter how you attack, you cannot destroy it. With your abilities, don't even think about escaping this Cage of Life."
Kirio's voice was not loud, but everyone inside both cages heard it clearly.
Everyone ceased their attacks, secretly pondering how to break free.
Ichibe looked toward Kaname. "Arrancar, where is Aizen? Did he not come with you?"
Kaname replied calmly, "Aizen-sama's intervention is not required."
"Hmm... Never mind. Aizen will show up eventually."
Ichibe glanced around, speaking as if he didn't care.
Inside the Wandenreich's Cage of Life.
"Yo!"
Ōetsu appeared, carrying a tank of unknown liquid and striking an exaggerated pose with one finger pointed skyward.
"I am the foremost creator of Zanpakutō: Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, and finally Four, Three, Nimaiya Ōetsu."
After this hip-hop-style introduction, he drew the Zanpakutō from the tank.
"You small fry, shut your mouths and come at me. The Royal Guard's fight begins now."
Ōetsu arrogantly provoked the four members of the Schutzstaffel, his voice returning to normal.
"Royal Guard Second Officer, Divine General of the South, and Ruler of Grain, Hikifune Kirio." Kirio swung herself into the cage using a vine.
"Royal Guard Fourth Officer, Divine General of the North, and Great Weave Guard, Shutara Senjumaru."
The two announced their identities and stood together behind Ōetsu.
Gerard was the first to lose patience, rushing toward Ōetsu and slashing his sword at his waist.
Ōetsu dodged with a backbend. Gerard attempted to swing his sword again, but in the next second, he simply collapsed.
Seeing Gerard fall, Askin looked incredulous. "No way?"
However, reality proved otherwise: a stream of blood shot out from Gerard's body like a fountain, flowing ceaselessly.
"Who do you think I am? My Zanpakutō kills in a single strike." Ōetsu stated, his tone devoid of emotion.
"You must have used some strange spell, right? That broken sword, soaking in jelly with a wobbly blade, couldn't possibly kill Gerard."
Lille refused to believe Ōetsu's words, aiming and firing his gun at him.
But the bullets exploded in two places on the branches of the cage behind Ōetsu.
"What did you just do?" Lille was slightly stunned.
"What do you mean? I didn't do anything just now. I just struck this pose and sliced your bullets in half, that's all." Ōetsu held the Zanpakutō vertically in front of him.
Lille, refusing to be deterred, fired several more shots, but Ōetsu blocked them all.
In the next second, Ōetsu instantly appeared before Lille and critically wounded him with just one strike, causing blood to gush out uncontrollably.
Ōetsu stepped over Lille and attacked Pernida and Askin.
Just as Pernida was about to activate its ability, it was pierced through the "head" by the flying Zanpakutō.
Ōetsu followed immediately, retrieved his Zanpakutō, and slashed at Askin nearby.
Askin's pupils contracted. He swiftly tried to flash backward, but it was too late, and he was struck by the Zanpakutō.
"That was a good reaction, jumping back precisely with the speed of my swing, but it was useless."
Having said that, Ōetsu stepped forward and delivered another strike.
"This Sayafushi is a failed product. Because the blade is too sharp, it's impossible to create a sheath to contain it. That's why it had to stay in the Soul King Palace. Thanks to you guys breaking in, it finally got a chance to appear."
Ōetsu rested the Zanpakutō on his shoulder, looking at the last three members of the Wandenreich.
—
Meanwhile.
"Guests, Royal Guard First Officer, Divine General of the East, and Hot Spring Demon, I am Kirinji Tenjirō."
Tenjirō appeared, holding a long-handled sword shaped like an oar.
Grimmjow looked around him, then said, "What? Is it just you? Aren't you looking down on us too much?"