Squad 12, secret laboratory.
Inaba Kagerōza stared at the incoming information, his expression dark and utterly silent.
Good news: Kujō Nozomi had been found.
Bad news: She had been intercepted halfway by that damn Naraku Sora.
The most crucial puzzle piece of his complete life was missing.
*Damn it, the original plan was so perfect.*
Lure the captains to the Dangai to investigate, replace them with Reigai clones, and then use the power of the entire Gotei 13 to search for Kujō Nozomi and bring her back.
The first half had been executed flawlessly, but Naraku Sora had popped out of nowhere and completely shattered his perfect plan.
Now, he was stuck at the step involving Kujō Nozomi.
If he didn't eliminate Naraku Sora, it was highly likely he would never retrieve the other half of himself.
But here was the crux of the problem.
How could he possibly kill Naraku Sora, a monster who could crush an ordinary captain with a casual strike?
Inaba Kagerōza shifted his gaze to the safe, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.
Inside lay his final trump card, the key to turning the tide.
Just as he was debating whether to take it out and use it, a calm voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"You don't seem completely panicked by the shift in the situation."
"Could it be that you still have another trump card up your sleeve?"
In a laboratory that should have been occupied by him alone, the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar voice sent a chilling shudder down Inaba Kagerōza's spine, making his hair stand on end.
He whirled around, looking toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was a young man with short, slightly messy brown hair and black-rimmed glasses. A gentle smile graced his handsome face, and the squad insignia symbolizing his status rested on his left arm.
Inaba Kagerōza's pupils shrank as he recognized the man before him.
The lieutenant of Squad 5, Aizen Sōsuke.
He had a very deep impression of this man. Previously, when creating the corresponding Reigai clone, he had inexplicably encountered multiple failures.
It wasn't until Kagerōza adjusted the Reishi parameters recorded in the database back to a few years prior that he successfully created the corresponding Reigai clone.
Even now, he still didn't understand the exact cause of those failures.
He could only vaguely guess that it had something to do with Aizen's current Reishi state.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Inaba Kagerōza said, staring at Aizen with a guarded expression, showing no intention of admitting anything.
Aizen paid no mind to his denial, simply continuing at his own pace.
"Actually, before coming here, I was quite curious about where you found a Soul King fragment. But seeing you in person has answered that question."
"I originally thought I had found another researcher I could converse with as an equal."
"But as it turns out, I was overthinking it."
"The so-called Reigai doesn't hold much technical value. The truly miraculous element is the Soul King fragment."
Hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Inaba Kagerōza's eyes, and his facial features instantly contorted.
"Bastard, what do you know?"
"Reigai is a truly epoch-making technology! Just creating a clone with equal strength is enough to change the landscape of the Soul Society."
"Not to mention, these clones also possess the memories of the originals..."
Aizen lightly interrupted him. "But did you know?"
"If you had truly created a technology capable of changing the Soul Society's landscape or the current state of Soul Reapers, you would have received an invitation from the Zero Division."
"For example, the God of the Sword, Nimaiya Ōetsu, who created the Zanpakutō; the Great Weaver, Shutara Senjumaru, who tailored the Shishakushō and bound its concept to the Soul Reapers."
"And the captain of Squad 12, Kirio Hikifune, who developed Temporary Souls and Artificial Soul technology."
Inaba Kagerōza choked on his words, his face instantly flushing a deep red as he roared in fury.
"What do you know?!"
"That's only because I didn't report the Reigai technology!"
"As a researcher, my goal isn't to become a member of the so-called Zero Division. It's to make those who once discriminated against me regret it, and then destroy this ignorant world!"
Aizen nodded thoughtfully, casually adding another remark.
"But if you could become a member of the Zero Division, whether it be the nobles or the higher-ups of the Gotei 13, they would inevitably regret their actions."
"Mr. Inaba, as a researcher, your mind must be quite flexible. You couldn't possibly fail to understand such an obvious logic, could you?"
Inaba Kagerōza's face turned the color of bruised liver, his expression twisting into a vicious scowl.
*Why are this bastard's words so infuriating?*
He was even more detestable than Naraku Sora. Just looking at that self-righteous face was enough to make him sick!
Seemingly oblivious to Kagerōza's changing expressions, Aizen continued speaking.
"Yet, not only did you not do that, but you also plotted to use the power of the Reigai to destroy the Soul Society."
"Does that mean you are well aware that the actual value of the Reigai technology alone isn't enough to earn the recognition of the Zero Division, let alone the Soul King?"
At this moment, Inaba Kagerōza's expression became twisted to the extreme.
Aizen shook his head, a trace of disappointment flashing across his face.
He had originally wanted to see if Inaba Kagerōza, the man who had turned the Soul Society upside down, had any use.
If he met the criteria, Aizen might have tried to recruit him into the Department of Research and Development to work on soul-related studies.
But looking at him now, his only value was as a test subject.
Let alone comparing him to Urahara Kisuke or Kurotsuchi Mayuri, this guy might not even measure up to the rookie, Akon.
Developing the Reigai technology was purely a stroke of dumb luck.
The root of the Reigai's immense power had very little to do with Inaba Kagerōza himself.
Aizen quietly observed the contorted face of Inaba Kagerōza, a strange blue-purple light flashing in his eyes behind his glasses.
From his perspective...
In the center of Inaba Kagerōza's chest, right at the Soul Reaper's Chain of Fate, a light different from that of other Soul Reapers was flickering.
A familiar power coated his soul.
"The Soul King's Chain of Fate?" Aizen's lips curled up slightly, murmuring in a barely audible voice. "What a truly research-worthy location."
By now, Inaba Kagerōza's patience had completely run out.
"Aizen Sōsuke, I don't care how you found this place."
"But since you know my secret, I absolutely cannot let you leave here alive."
He abruptly drew the blade from his waist. As he raised it, he twisted his wrist, and a massive Reiatsu erupted from his body.
"Dance madly, Raikū!"
In a blinding flash of white light, his Zanpakutō warped and transformed into a double-edged staff with blades at both ends, gleaming sharply.
Inaba Kagerōza glared viciously at the figure before him.
"I will soon let you know that coming here alone was the worst mistake you've ever made in your life."
"Prepare to die!"
Seeing Inaba Kagerōza's surging aura, a hint of surprise flashed in Aizen's eyes.
As far as he knew, this man was merely the 7th Seat of Squad 12.
But judging by the Reiatsu he was currently unleashing, he was solidly at the captain level, perhaps even slightly stronger than an average captain.
Inaba Kagerōza hated Aizen to the core. The moment his release was complete, he swung his blade fiercely.
A massive spatial disk appeared behind Aizen without warning, and the Kidō stored within it instantly erupted.
Shakkahō, Sōkatsui, Raikōhō, Sōren Sōkatsui!
Four highly destructive Hadō spells merged into one. Catalyzed by the immense Reiatsu, a miraculous spiritual transformation occurred, warping the surrounding space.
Boom!!
A deafening explosion erupted. Raging flames surged into the sky like a bursting dam, wrapped in blinding lightning and whipping up a fierce gale that instantly swallowed Aizen whole.
The visible shockwaves of the explosion spread in all directions.
Terrifying cracks split the sturdy walls, and even the metal floor beneath their feet was left in ruins.
However, when the smoke and dust cleared, an unharmed figure still stood in the same spot.
A transparent barrier stood tall behind him, solidly blocking the entirety of the attack.
Inaba Kagerōza's expression instantly turned incredibly grim.
Bakudō #81, Dankū...
*Damn it, how could a mere lieutenant be so proficient with a Kidō of this level?*
"It seems you don't even know my true strength," Aizen said calmly, not a single ripple of emotion visible on his face.
"But even so, you still managed to create a Reigai with power nearly equal to my original strength."
"I don't care much for your technology anymore, but I have developed a slight interest in you as a person."
"Mr. Inaba, are you interested in participating in my research?"
Inaba Kagerōza's gaze darkened to the extreme.
If he still didn't realize he was no match for Aizen, he would truly be a fool.
Fortunately, it wasn't over yet. He still had his final trump card.
With a backhanded swing of his blade, his Reiatsu flared, and spatial disks appeared one after another in the laboratory, completely surrounding Aizen.
In an instant, a chaotic barrage of Kidō erupted, turning the area into a sea of fire.
Taking advantage of Aizen being temporarily pinned down by the Kidō, Inaba Kagerōza opened the console next to him and took out the final gem.
Unlike the other irregularly shaped Artificial Soul pills, this gem was completely crimson and transparent, as if flames were roaring within it.
Without a moment's hesitation, Inaba Kagerōza poured his Reiatsu into it.
If someone had been watching closely, they would have noticed his chest glowing brightly, a light so intense that even his Shishakushō couldn't conceal it.
The next second, a massive pillar of light erupted from the gem, instantly crushing the console beneath it.
A visible torrent of Reiatsu surged outward, reducing the laboratory to ruins in an instant as a wave of dust swept through the area.
When everything settled, Aizen looked at the figure standing amidst the rubble, took a deep breath, and his expression grew exceptionally solemn.
Just as he had guessed, Inaba Kagerōza's final trump card was indeed him.
The Head Captain of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Standing upon the scorched earth was an elderly man wreathed in terrifying heat, like a sun walking upon the earth...