"Captain Aizen…"
"If we continue ignoring this, then Tōsen…"
"He's really going to be burned to death by those black flames!!!"
Ichimaru Gin's tone became urgent.
As he spoke—
the sea-like black flames spreading across the sky had already begun devouring everything.
In just a few seconds, the fire had expanded wildly.
It swallowed the entire battlefield.
Only moments ago, the Darkness Travel Technique barrier had just disappeared.
Yet now—
the sky above Karakura Town had once again been covered by darkness.
But this time, it wasn't merely a shadow.
It was a blazing sea of black flames.
Even brushing against it would cause instant incineration.
The terrifying Great Fire Annihilation burned across the sky.
Which meant—
Even if Tōsen had been in perfect condition, it would have been extremely difficult for him to block such a devastating attack.
And now?
His arm had been severed.
His spiritual pressure was weakened.
His fighting strength had dropped to less than half.
There was no chance he could escape.
Even though Gin kept urging him—
Even though Aizen clearly saw Tōsen facing certain death—
Aizen's expression did not change at all.
His handsome face remained cold and emotionless.
He showed no intention of intervening.
Instead, he spoke calmly.
"…There's no need to worry. Tōsen won't die."
Aizen raised his head and looked toward the sky.
His gaze was icy.
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"Why would you assume…"
"that I would confront someone whose power is approaching the peak of the Shinigami world…"
"…without preparing any contingency plans?"
Earlier, Aizen had briefly lost his composure.
But he was still the mastermind who had manipulated the entire Gotei 13 for hundreds of years.
His mentality was far from fragile.
Very quickly, he regained his calm.
Even though the flames of Great Fire Annihilation burned fiercely—
Aizen wasn't worried.
He didn't care whether Tōsen survived or not.
Even if Tōsen's identity as a traitor had already been exposed—
In Aizen's eyes, it was insignificant.
It would not affect the grand scheme.
It would not change the final outcome of his plans.
"You mean…"
"The Negación?"
Gin paused for a moment.
Then realization dawned on him.
With his intelligence, he immediately understood.
Aizen must have already prepared a backup plan.
No matter what danger appeared—
the Negación could be activated instantly.
Allowing him—or his subordinates—
to retreat safely back to Las Noches in Hueco Mundo.
"And as for Tōsen's identity being exposed…"
"With Kyōka Suigetsu, as long as we don't reveal ourselves, nothing will change."
Aizen said confidently.
Even if Tōsen were expelled from the Gotei 13…
Even if he lost his position as Captain of the 9th Division…
Someone else would simply take his place.
Perhaps a seated officer.
Perhaps someone newly promoted.
Even if Bai Chen himself became the new captain—
it wouldn't truly affect Aizen's plans.
At most, Aizen would simply become more cautious.
And avoid provoking Bai Chen until the right moment.
After all—
Aizen's real objective had always been the same.
To find the other half of the Hōgyoku created by Urahara Kisuke.
Only when that hidden Hōgyoku fused with the incomplete one he possessed—
would it become the true Hōgyoku.
Only then could he transcend the limits of a Shinigami…
and become something greater.
Compared to that ultimate goal—
Bai Chen was merely an unexpected variable.
And if necessary, Aizen was perfectly willing to temporarily abandon dealing with him.
Meanwhile—
High in the sky.
The black flames of Great Fire Annihilation roared like a raging ocean.
Tōsen Kaname had already been completely surrounded.
"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!!!"
"Bai Chen… you're actually trying to silence me by killing me!!!"
The entire world before Tōsen's eyes was filled with black flames.
Waves of terrifying heat rushed toward him.
His face twisted in fury.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
He looked like a madman.
When death truly approached—
Even someone who constantly preached about "justice" and "righteousness"…
could not remain calm.
At that moment, Tōsen revealed his ugliest side.
Fear.
Rage.
Desperation.
He raised his Zanpakutō with trembling hands—
trying to make one last futile struggle.
But suddenly—
Without any warning—
The clouds above the sky began to churn violently.
Then—
A beam of pale yellow light descended from the heavens.
It pierced through the sky above Karakura Town.
And locked directly onto Tōsen Kaname.
The injured captain was instantly enveloped in the light.
"What…?!"
"Is that… Negación?!"
The sudden development shocked everyone again.
Tōsen himself had already thought he was doomed.
But now—
in the moment of absolute despair—
he had grabbed a lifeline.
His already twisted expression became even more manic.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"Bai Chen… you didn't expect this, did you?!"
"The Negación has arrived!"
"Now that I'm inside this light…"
"No matter how strong you are, you won't be able to harm me at all!"
Tōsen laughed wildly.
The despair, fear, and hatred in his heart vanished instantly.
Inside the yellow beam—
he ignored the pain of his severed arm.
His confidence returned.
But hearing his arrogant laughter—
Bai Chen showed no surprise at all.
Instead—
A faint mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
He looked calmly at Tōsen.
"Tōsen Kaname…"
"Who told you…"
"…that once the Negación appears, you're guaranteed to survive?"
Bai Chen's voice was steady.
Because—
He had already predicted that the Negación would appear.
And long before it descended—
he had already prepared his countermeasure.
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