"...speak of."
Not far from Komamura, Kaname Tosen stood quietly, his visor reflecting a cold white light under the sun.
Although blind, his sharp Spiritual Pressure perception remained locked onto Kenpachi Zaraki's every move.
"Komamura, do not be swayed by his arrogance."
"Kenpachi Zaraki is nothing but a beast who only knows how to slaughter according to his instincts. Under his sword, there is no justice or peace to—"
"Such a cancer that hinders justice must be purged."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his Zanpakuto, Suzumushi, preparing to coordinate with Sajin Komamura to execute Kenpachi.
However, in the exact moment Kaname Tosen prepared to release his Zanpakuto, he suddenly stopped.
The blind Captain tilted his head up slightly, as if hearing some kind of calling from the distant horizon.
His fingers, tightly gripping the hilt, loosened slightly.
The Spiritual Pressure that had already gathered on the blade unexpectedly receded like the tide in an instant.
"Kaname?"
Sajin Komamura, who was in the midst of a fierce battle, immediately noticed his close friend's strange behavior.
He turned his massive wolf head in confusion, looking toward Kaname Tosen.
"What is wrong with you? Kaname! With a formidable enemy right in front of us, why are you retracting your Spiritual Pressure?!"
Kaname Tosen did not answer.
He merely raised his Zanpakuto slowly above his head, assuming a posture as if welcoming some divine descent.
'The time has come... Lord Aizen,' Kaname Tosen whispered silently in his heart.
Crack—!
A crisp shattering sound echoed from the sky.
Sajin Komamura and Kenpachi Zaraki's movements halted simultaneously. Under their astonished gazes, the sky was mercilessly torn apart.
Pairs of skeletal Menos hands peeled back the clouds, followed immediately by a pillar of golden-yellow light crashing down, perfectly enveloping Kaname Tosen's entire body within it.
"This... This is!!"
Sajin Komamura widened his beastly eyes, staring at the scene before him in disbelief.
"A Menos's Negacion?! Why is it falling on you?!"
The so-called Negacion was a light of absolute isolation projected from Hueco Mundo to other worlds by Menos in order to save their kin.
Once enveloped by this light, the space inside would be completely separated from the outside world.
No matter how powerful a physical attack or Kido Spiritual Pressure was, it could not affect the existence inside the Negacion; it was an absolute defense belonging to another dimension.
Kenpachi rested his Zanpakuto on his shoulder and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Hey, hey, blind guy, are you trying to run away? Our deathmatch isn't over yet! Get the hell out of that damn pillar of light!"
Kaname Tosen did not answer. He merely stood silently within the Negacion, allowing that irresistible force to pull him upward toward the Garganta in the sky.
"Kaname! Answer me!!!"
Sajin Komamura let out a wolf howl mixed with shock and fury.
He took a sudden step forward, desperately reaching his large, furry hand toward Kaname Tosen's direction.
"What on earth are you doing?! That is the light of a Menos! Have you aligned yourself with those monsters?!"
"What about the justice you pursued?! Answer me, Kaname Tosen!!!"
Komamura's hand swung down heavily, and the giant blade of Tengen Myo'o behind him smashed against the light curtain of the Negacion, only to be forcefully stopped in midair.
No matter how much force he applied, it could not advance a single inch.
Separated by that layer of golden-yellow light, Kaname Tosen finally lowered his head.
He sensed his close friend outside the pillar of light, screaming himself hoarse at him.
"Komamura..."
Kaname Tosen's lips moved slightly, but in the end, he still did not speak those words out loud.
He could not explain it to Komamura.
Because the justice in Komamura's eyes was to maintain the Gotei 13, to protect this hypocritical Soul Society built upon lies and the rule of corrupt nobles.
And the justice that he, Kaname Tosen, pursued was to destroy this flawed world and follow that lord who could bring true peace and revolution...
Even if this path was covered in blood, even if it meant turning against his colleagues...
Their paths were destined to be parallel from the very beginning, never to intersect.
A tear.
Kaname Tosen remained silent, allowing the power of the Negacion to pull him higher and higher.
Only Sajin Komamura's desperate, furious roars were left echoing through the ruins, lingering for a long time.
On the other end, at the battlefield where Soya Azashiro was located.
Fallen leaves danced in the air, and Reishi surged.
"My, my, what a headache-inducing ability."
Shunsui Kyoraku straightened the bamboo hat on his head. His signature flashy haori had already been slashed with several cuts during their recent clash.
He swung Katen Kyokotsu, unleashing two pitch-black blade beams that slashed toward both sides of Soya Azashiro's waist.
Jushiro Ukitake followed closely behind, flipping Sogyo no Kotowari in his hands and using the red chain connecting the blades to try and seal off Soya Azashiro's retreat.
However, facing the pincer attack of two top-tier Captains, Soya Azashiro's expression remained as calm as water.
Tapping his toes lightly against the ground, his body retreated several steps backward like a weightless feather.
This was not the use of Shunpo; it was simply the atmospheric Reishi assimilated by Uro Zakuro clearing the path for him.
Not only did it make his speed several times faster than an ordinary Soul Reaper, but it could also deflect the opponent's attacks. Even if his body was actually struck by a Zanpakuto, he could remain completely unharmed through Reishi conversion.
Boom—!
Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake's attacks both missed. Their twin blades slashed out a cross-shaped wave of Spiritual Pressure in the air, blasting the stone wall behind him to pieces.
"Hmm."
Shunsui Kyoraku furrowed his brows tightly, his hands gripping his twin blades involuntarily tightening.
"Not only can he merge Reishi into the air, but he can even create sharp blades out of thin air in our blind spots... This kind of ability is practically born for group battles."
"Cough, cough... Shunsui, be careful! His body is also partially converted into Reishi. Any of our attacks could be neutralized by him, while his attacks can appear from any inconceivable angle," Ukitake reminded him with a light cough.
Just as the two had yet to figure out how to deal with this troublesome Kido Kenpachi.
Soya Azashiro suddenly felt something and looked up, muttering.
"Is it time?"
Buzz!!
Following that, a golden-yellow light descended from the sky without any warning, instantly enveloping Soya Azashiro within it.
"That's... a Menos's Negacion?!"
Shunsui Kyoraku abruptly looked up. Seeing the densely packed Gillian in the Garganta, his expression instantly darkened.
"Things have gotten seriously out of hand... Jushiro."
Ukitake's face was also filled with shock. "Menos are actually receiving him? Soya Azashiro... just what kind of conspiracy are you plotting?!"
Bathed in the golden-yellow pillar of light, Soya Azashiro revealed a complex smile.
"Plotting a conspiracy... You misunderstand. I can only be considered a collaborator."
"Captain Kyoraku, Captain Ukitake, you both know that I once tried to change this corrupt Seireitei in my own way... but I failed, so I exiled myself to Muken."
"And now, there is another, even more insanely arrogant man attempting to shatter this hypocrisy in his own way."
"I am simply very curious to see what the ending will be like."
He raised his hand and pointed toward Sokyoku Hill in the distance.
"The twilight of the Seireitei has arrived, you two. If you remain immersed in past glories, you will be completely drowned by the tides of the new era."
After saying these meaningful words, Soya Azashiro closed his eyes, allowing the Negacion to carry him into that endless void.
"Wait, explain yourself clearly!" Ukitake still wanted to say something.
"It's no use, Jushiro." Shunsui Kyoraku pressed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Once enveloped by the Negacion, space has already been severed. Right now... there is nothing we can do."
Ukitake, with a gloomy expression, returned Sogyo no Kotowari to his waist, his gaze looking toward the direction of Sokyoku Hill.
Over there, golden light was also descending from the sky.
"Aizen..." he muttered the name in disbelief. "To think all of this was his doing?!"
Although Kyoraku also found it hard to believe, he did not dare delay any longer. "Let's go! To Sokyoku Hill!"
Thinking of the previous release of Ryujin Jakka, a great sense of unease swelled in their hearts.
The two immediately sprinted toward the core of all the conspiracies at the fastest speed of their lives.