Listening closely, the sound of clashing metal echoed from within the Black Coffin, like a massive machine in operation.
Countless gears turned and ground against each other.
Aizen was somewhat surprised. Although an incantation-abandoned Black Coffin only retained a third of its full power, the strength of a Kidō spell usually depended on the Soul Reaper's Reiatsu.
Even if an ordinary squad member possessed astonishing Kidō talent, perfectly mastered every detail, and achieved a textbook-perfect release, the resulting destruction could never surpass an incantation-abandoned Kidō casually cast by a Soul Reaper Captain.
And he possessed immense Reiatsu while having perfectly mastered Kidō—a combination of two formidable strengths.
So even a casually cast Black Coffin was enough to instantly kill a Soul Reaper Captain like Muguruma Kensei.
Yet, such an attack didn't seem to inflict any effective damage on a certain thick-skinned fellow.
At this rate, perhaps Naraku Sora could already withstand Ryūjin Jakka with his bare body.
Thinking of this, Aizen suddenly frowned. If he remembered correctly, this guy had once recommended a plan for the future Quincy war.
Yamamoto Shigekuni's Hollowfication.
When it was first proposed, he had rejected it without a second thought.
Setting aside whether Yamamoto could accept this method of increasing his power...
Just the thought of a completely uncontrollable Yamamoto during the Hollowfication experiment was enough to cause a massive headache.
Even though he had long since specifically researched countermeasures against Yamamoto and used the Hōgyoku to create a Menos Grande capable of sealing Ryūjin Jakka.
But Hollowfication and a normal state were two entirely different concepts.
Even now, Aizen still didn't know where Yamamoto's true limits lay.
Was the strength displayed during the Hell rebellion truly the entirety of Yamamoto Shigekuni's power?
However, judging by the strength Naraku Sora was displaying, this plan might actually be feasible?
Naraku Sora threw a punch, shattering the Black Coffin, and walked out completely unscathed. He tilted his head back, glanced at the deep-in-thought Aizen, and let out a disdainful snort.
"Mere Sōsuke, nothing more than this."
Aizen: "..."
Being despised by a guy who only thought with his muscles was truly an ultimate insult that was hard to describe in words.
Ignoring the man's ugly mug, Aizen forced himself to calm down and said in a deep voice, "By the way, there is something I feel you need to know."
"What?"
"I wiped out Central 46."
"Oh."
"?"
Looking at the man's indifferent expression, Aizen felt a subtle shift in his own mindset.
"Did you not hear what I just said?"
Naraku Sora replied loudly, "What are you talking about? I'm not Old Man Yama; I'm not old and hard of hearing."
"You just wiped out Central 46, do you want me to give you an award?"
Aizen suddenly felt that there was definitely something wrong with one of them.
First, he ruled himself out.
However, since this guy didn't seem to care about the Central 46 issue, there was no need for him to keep dwelling on it.
Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Naraku Sora say, "Actually, even if you hadn't done it, I was planning to take this opportunity to visit the assembly hall."
"Those old geezers just hog the seats of power without doing any real work, relying on their little bit of authority to throw their weight around all day long."
"When the Hell rebellion broke out earlier, they even wanted to mobilize half of the Gotei 13's members and Captains to protect them."
"As the highest judicial authority, not only do they fail to play an effective role at critical moments, but they also hold everyone back."
"How can the Soul Society be run well with parasites like that?"
Naraku Sora had suffered under Central 46 for a long time.
If he hadn't taken the conservative Yamamoto into consideration, he would have used a few 'little tricks' to solve these troubles a long time ago.
Now that there was such a great opportunity with the Reigai clones causing chaos, how could he easily let it slip by?
Speaking of which, he really had to thank Kagerōza.
If that scientist hadn't trapped Yamamoto in the Dangai, it really would have been a bit inconvenient to make a move.
After all, the underground assembly hall was right next to the Gotei 13 headquarters, and the Squad 1 barracks were directly connected to the headquarters.
Aizen looked at Naraku Sora with a subtle gaze.
His thoughts happened to coincide with this guy's, and he suddenly felt a sense of being assimilated.
This was not a good thing.
"We can deal with the mess of Central 46 later," Aizen stiffly changed the subject. "Before coming here, I took some time to study the Dangai. The Kōryū is showing anomalies, and the Kōtotsu was destroyed by a peculiar power."
"They shouldn't be able to return in the short term."
"Additionally, I found some interesting things in the assembly hall's database."
"The inspiration for the 'Reigai' technology came from a proposal by Azashiro Sōya, named the Spearhead Plan."
"Later, Central 46 realized this plan was too extreme, so they abolished all related research and ordered the destruction of all data."
"Before that, the person in charge of researching Reigai was named Yushima Ōko."
"All signs indicate that Yushima Ōko is the predecessor of Inaba Kagerōza."
Naraku Sora nodded thoughtfully.
It was similar to the plot in his memory. There might be some deviations in the specific details, but the mastermind behind the scenes definitely hadn't changed.
Moreover, Inaba Kagerōza's goal was inevitably still Kujō Nozomi.
Once the fusion was complete, he wouldn't lack anything.
But it was better if this kind of thing didn't happen.
The meaning of his coming to this world was to change those tragic endings. If nothing changed, wouldn't his trip be in vain?
It all depended on whether Komamura and the others were capable enough. If they could find Kujō Nozomi before Kagerōza did, everything would be fine.
If the other party beat them to it—
Then he would just have the invincible Aizen-emon think of a way to see if they could be separated again.
Just as he was pondering this, Aizen suddenly became alert, scanning the surroundings before fixing his gaze on the certain someone who was trying to think.
Then he saw Naraku Sora grin at him.
Aizen's face instantly darkened, guessing the source of his ominous premonition.
"According to my research on Aikawa Love's Reigai, the reason these clones possess strength matching their originals is because the power of the Spirit King exists within their modified souls."
"If nothing unexpected happens, a Spirit King fragment also exists within Inaba Kagerōza's soul."
"And it's a relatively important piece at that."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora revealed a matter-of-fact expression.
The Spirit King was simply too great. Not only did he have to act as the linchpin of the three realms, but he also had to satisfy the ambitions and desires of all kinds of villains.
The Tsunayashiro family, Yhwach, Inaba Kagerōza...
He almost forgot, there was also a certain hair-gelled guy who tried to stand at the top of the heavens.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Aizen beside him.
Aizen: "?"
What was wrong with this bastard today?
Why were his eyes filled with a malice he couldn't understand?
He took a deep breath and fiercely added a few more strokes to the notebook in his heart.
North Rukongai, District 3.
A green-haired girl wearing a black Shihakushō was running for her life under the setting sun.
Behind her was a group of Soul Reapers also wearing black Shihakushō, but the difference was that their eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
Among them were even Soul Reapers wearing white haori.
The air was filled with a chaotic, viscous Reiatsu, forcing the girl to burst forth with even greater power every time she used Flash Step.
Kujō Nozomi bit her lower lip tightly, her face full of unwillingness.
She had finally managed to escape from Inaba Kagerōza's clutches and was originally planning to head to the World of the Living to seek help from the Soul Reapers stationed in the city.
But as soon as she arrived in the Rukongai, she was discovered by nearby Reigai.
Left with no choice, she could only flee for her life.
A single Reigai might not be her match, but once she was delayed, the situation would become terrible.
Kujō Nozomi could clearly sense the Captain-level Reiatsu coming from behind.
In her current state, she was absolutely no match for them.
But if she was caught and taken back by the Reigai, she would inevitably fuse with Kagerōza again. When that time came, once he gained full power, the Soul Society would face a destructive end.
Thinking of this, a flash of determination crossed the girl's eyes.
If it really came to the final moment, even if it meant sacrificing herself, she absolutely could not let Kagerōza's ambitions succeed.
Her Flash Steps became increasingly sluggish, and the pursuers behind her were getting closer and closer.
Seeing that some Reigai had already surrounded her from the front, a look of despair appeared on Kujō Nozomi's pale face.
*Is this the end?*
*I'm really so unwilling.*
*I was just a little bit away from escaping to the World of the Living...*
"It's over, Kujō Nozomi."
The Reigai closed in. The leader was a white-haired man who looked very strong. He had a very muscular build and wore a white haori, giving off an intense sense of oppression.
Unsurprisingly, he was a Captain-level Soul Reaper.
The man raised his right hand, preparing to release a Bakudō to forcefully capture her.
However, at this critical moment, a muffled roar suddenly echoed from outside the encirclement.
Like the roar of a wild beast.
"Roar, Tenken!"
A profound red light suddenly erupted, and a giant blade tens of meters long materialized out of thin air. With a devastating momentum, it suddenly slashed downward.
Fierce winds billowed and erupted, and the shockwave swept out recklessly, instantly scattering the surrounding formation.
"Damn it, you again!"
The white-haired man dodged sideways, obvious anger appearing on his face.
"I should be the one saying that to you."
Komamura Sajin let out a muffled, resonant voice. "I clearly chopped your head off already, so why have you appeared again?"
Hearing this, an eerie light flashed in Muguruma Kensei's eyes, and his smile carried a hint of mockery.
"You simply don't understand the greatness of that lord. So-called death is never the end for him."
"Komamura Sajin, I can fail countless times, but you only have one life."
Komamura Sajin's expression was solemn as his furry paws tightened around his Zanpakutō.
"If I can defeat you once, I can defeat you countless times."
"A true powerhouse is not built on the number of times they can resurrect..."
*Squellch—*
A severe pain from his chest caused Komamura Sajin's expression to change drastically. A gleaming blade had pierced right through his chest.
Turning his head to look behind him, a figure he couldn't be more familiar with stood at the edge of his vision, eyes narrowed, a somewhat sinister smile on his face.
"Gin's clone?"
Kujō Nozomi looked at the ambushed reinforcements, and the hope that had finally sprouted in her heart was extinguished once again.
It really was over this time.
Seeming to see through the girl's thoughts, Komamura Sajin grinned, revealing an ugly smile.
"Rest assured, this is far from over."
Kujō Nozomi remained silent, seemingly having fallen into despair.
At that moment, a blazing red Reiatsu transformed into a pillar of light, shooting up into the sky, accompanied by a deafening roar.
"Bankai—"
"Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
Looking at the black-armored warrior towering into the clouds, Muguruma Kensei shook his head.
Did he think a Bankai could turn the tables? They had more than one Captain-level Soul Reaper on their side.
Just as he thought Komamura Sajin was preparing for a desperate final struggle—
An aura hot to the extreme, like a blazing sun rising into the sky, violently erupted from the direction of the Seireitei. A terrifying, scalp-numbing Reiatsu transformed into an unparalleled pillar of light, shooting straight into the heavens!
Muguruma Kensei's expression instantly stiffened, his neck creaking like rusty gears as he turned it.
Komamura Sajin grinned and mocked, "You didn't think Bankai was only used for fighting enemies, did you?"
On the other side, Ichimaru Gin's expression also turned extremely ugly, because he had already recognized whose Reiatsu that was...