The promised three days have passed.
It was less of a promise and more of a declaration of war—closer to a sentence—but regardless, the three days were up.
Whether they had actually heeded the warning or not, the Seireitei as seen from the sky was unusually, almost unnervingly, quiet.
I narrowed my eyes as I looked down at the Seireitei beneath my feet.
"I suppose they didn't all leave after all."
Well, in a sense, that was to be expected.
These aren't the kind of people who would abandon the Seireitei, a place they've protected for over a thousand years, just because it was deemed dangerous.
"Perhaps it would have been better to explain the full situation."
My motto has always been dialogue, not control.
In that regard, this declaration of war was a complete reversal of my principles.
"Most humans are reluctant to accept change, after all. Especially when that change is brought about by such radical means."
At the familiar voice, I turned around to see Aizen, his glasses gone, rolling the Hogyoku atop his hand as he approached.
He was so composed it was hard to believe he was a man about to start a war.
Then again, with a lineup this absurdly stacked, he could afford to be leisurely.
"What about the chaos that will follow?"
At my words, Aizen chuckled and shook his head.
"Change always leaves chaos in its wake. We are the typhoon. We are not those who look back at the trail we leave behind."
"Right. So, are the preparations complete?"
"Everything has been finalized."
"I see."
I looked at Aizen for a moment, hearing the conviction in his voice, before raising my head to gaze at the sky.
Far above, at the very edge of the atmosphere, the Soul King Palace was visible within the distant vault of the heavens.
I'm finally coming to see you.
I can finally set you free.
Quietly swallowing the whirlwind of emotions within me, I turned back around.
Sosuke Aizen, Yachiru Unohana, and Kisuke Urahara.
These figures, whose names alone carried immense weight, were waiting for my signal.
"Let's go. I'll see you all on the other side."
At that single sentence, the three people waiting vanished like the wind.
Soon, a storm of blood would blow down below. However, I couldn't help them. I wouldn't have the luxury for that.
"...Sigh."
Taking a deep breath, I soared into the sky.
I pierced through the clouds, broke through the seventy-two layers of barriers, and arrived at the now-familiar entrance to the Soul King Palace, Omotesando.
Standing there at the gateway was the warden, the Ghost God General, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
He stood in a full combat stance, as if he had known I was coming.
"Oh? I was wondering what kind of guest would visit the palace, but it turns out it wasn't a guest, but an assassin?"
"It seems Jomon foresaw this and told you in advance. Though, with how obvious the preparations were down below, it would be stranger if you weren't prepared."
"Hah! Just as Lord Jomon said, you're a man who sees through everything. I felt it even when I saw you from down there. So, with that in mind, wouldn't you consider backing off just this once for the sake of our history in the Seireitei? Huh? There's no need to shed blood, right?"
Kuruyashiki tried to lighten the atmosphere with his sly voice and humorous gestures.
Unfortunately, things had gone too far to back out now.
It wasn't that I was doing this out of mere inertia; it was that I had already made up my mind and set things in motion, and I would not stop.
Realizing this, Kuruyashiki looked at me, forced a smile, and then let out a deep sigh while scratching his head.
"Ah, man.... This is my first job as a gatekeeper, and it looks like I'm going to get wrecked right from the start."
"A Kenpachi usually enjoys the fight. You're a bit different."
"What a hurtful thing to say. Of course I enjoy fighting. It's just that getting obliterated without being able to do a damn thing isn't exactly what I'd call a fight. You know that better than anyone, so don't play dumb."
"Then will you step aside? Neither of us needs to spill blood."
"Hah!"
At my proposal, Kuruyashiki scoffed and drew the Zanpakuto from his waist.
With a harsh sound that seemed to tear through the wind, the blade emerged—though it only went as far as the guard; there was no actual blade.
"You've already released it?"
"Yeah! I'm not a man with enough leisure to recite an incantation against someone like you!! Bite them to death! Gagaku Kairo!!"
The moment Kuruyashiki swung the sword, thousands of hidden monstrous creatures lunged toward me.
Had his Zanpakuto's ability grown stronger since he joined Squad 0? Or perhaps he had been training continuously.
But... it was far too weak to hold me back.
"Vajra."
With a thunderous roar that felt like the heavens were being torn apart, lightning rained down in every direction, instantly sweeping away the creatures of Gagaku Kairo that had been lunging at me.
"Heh... To think the difference would be this vast."
Kuruyashiki fell with a bitter smile, and I walked past his collapsed form, heading toward the Great Inner Sanctum of the Soul King Palace.
Because I was coming to take the life of the Soul King, the members of Squad 0 stood in my way to protect him.
And among them was Tsunayashiro Jomon, a man who could be considered my very first disciple.
"Master. It's not too late. Please, sheath your sword and turn back."
"I came to the Soul King Palace precisely because it's too late. It is time for a change."
When I spoke with a bitter smile, Jomon, who looked like he wanted to say something more, bit his lip and lowered his head.
He must know well. No, because it was Jomon, he couldn't help but know.
The original sin of the Soul Reapers, his own sins... the one who closed their eyes while embracing all of it was the Soul King, and the one who sealed him was Jomon.
"The Soul King... would not have wanted this."
"I know. If it were him, he would have said, 'This is a fate I accepted for myself, so I don't need anyone's help,' and rejected my assistance. He was always a man who did whatever he pleased."
The Soul King had been like that since our first meeting.
Visiting out of the blue, talking about things being invisible or what not, suddenly trying to kill me, then at some point dropping formalities, dumping a burden on me under the guise of being a disciple, only saying what he wanted to say before leaving.
Making selfish requests until the very end, and then dying as he pleased before I could even say a word.
"He was like a storm. A man who moved knowing exactly what he was doing and what he had to do."
The same man who did the same thing I am doing now.
After muttering that, I smirked and lightly shook the Vajra in my hand.
"So I'm going to be a storm just like him. Since he pushed everything onto me as he pleased, I'll perform my atonement as I please."
"What do you mean..."
At my words, Jomon's expression became clouded, as if he were on the verge of grasping something but couldn't quite catch it.
Of course, the other four members besides Jomon were flaring their Spiritual Pressure as they glared at me.
"Standing here in opposition like this must be mentally exhausting. You can understand later; for now, let's settle the situation."
As I spoke, I gripped one end of the Vajra tightly.
Lightning began to spark wildly in every direction, tearing through the surrounding atmosphere.
"It might sting a little. Try to endure as best you can."
Bankai.
*
While Shimon Meio had invaded the Soul King Palace, the Seireitei had to face a sudden, unexpected attack.
In the south, Squads 10 and 6; in the northwest, Squad 13; and in the northeast, Squads 8 and 5. All three locations were hit simultaneously.
"Dear me... this is quite the predicament.... To think that you, of all people, would side with the enemy...."
Kyoraku, who was guarding the northeast, gave a bitter smile and used the flat of his Zanpakuto to slightly lift his hat, which had slumped down.
Through the gaps in the hat, which had been unsightly sliced vertically, the figure he saw was none other than the Captain of Squad 4.
"Is it because your husband is the culprit?"
No, it was the former Captain of Squad 4, Yachiru Unohana.
At Kyoraku's words, Unohana quietly closed her eyes and shook her head.
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained it in this situation. However, let me say this much. He is not moving to bring the world to an end or to kill everyone."
"Oops.... Is it useless to say such things to someone who is already so blinded by love? Haha."
"You are free to think whatever you like. You will understand on your own as time passes. For now..."
As Unohana's form blurred, Kyoraku gasped and turned his head.
Kyoraku's eyes widened at the sight of Unohana, who had approached him in the blink of an eye.
"Focus on this battle."
"Whoa!?"
Kyoraku parried the thrust of Unohana's sword aimed at his shoulder using the flat of his own blade.
CLANG!!
Though he managed to block it instinctively, his posture was unstable, and the force of the strike vibrated through his shoulder.
Ting, tap-tap. After retreating a few light steps, Kyoraku felt a dull ache in his left shoulder and broke out in a cold sweat.
'A single thrust did this much.... This won't be an easy fight.'
After a moment of thought, Kyoraku shrugged his shoulders as if nothing were wrong and posed a question.
"It's a difficult thing to ask in this situation, but is there any room to settle this through conversation—?"
"Regrettably, there is none."
"I figured as much. Sigh.... I really have no luck with women."
The moment they were about to clash swords again.
———!!!
"What...!?"
"—It was faster than I expected."
With a thunderous roar, the sky split open.