As the traction of the Negación gradually intensified, the figures of the people below in Soifon's line of sight shrank, looking just like ants.
The hysterical shouts gradually returned to nothingness, drowned out by the air currents of the high altitude.
Why did Muramasa come out at this time?
Does that mean Kōga Kuchiki's seal has also been lifted?
It was not until this moment that Soifon had the mind to turn her attention to Muramasa and the group of Zanpakutō spirits standing in mid-air.
Except for the Captain-Commander, who had closed his heart in time, almost all the named Zanpakutō had materialized and betrayed the Shinigami.
Including Ichigo Kurosaki's Zangetsu.
In a sense, thanks to Muramasa's appearance, they didn't need to call out the Prince of Extinguishing Fire to suppress the Captain-Commander's Ryūjin Jakka.
From this moment on, the direction of the plot began to run wild toward an unpredictable future.
As Soifon pondered, the Garganta before her eyes closed, and her vision returned to the interior of Las Noches, dominated by black and white hues.
The long-absent panel flickered, and the System missions, which hadn't triggered in a long time, completed their settlement at this moment.
[Mission Triggered: The One Standing in the Heavens]
[Mission Completed]
[Reward Obtained: Oken Strengthening]
Suddenly, all sounds fell silent.
Thump—
The first thing Soifon heard was the sound of her own slow heartbeat.
The flow of time seemed to slow down. In Soifon's eyes, the trajectory of the drifting wind and sand in Hueco Mundo became slow motion, every grain distinct.
It was as if countless tiny particles emitting golden light were rushing through Soifon's blood vessels, seeping into every inch of her skin, flesh, and bones.
This was the power belonging to the Soul King. Every member of the Zero Division who ascended to the Royal Palace would undergo such a baptism.
The boundaries of her own soul were being broken by some higher-dimensional power, and her Reiatsu, which had been stagnant for a long time, began to grow again.
Hum—
At the same time, the [Kikaigai] hidden deep in her clothes vibrated gently, and a piece of information was silently transmitted into her Spirit Body.
[The passage to the Royal Palace has been opened for you.]
Have I already become a [Transcendent]?
Hiss...
And what is this about opening the passage to the Royal Palace? If she went up now, wouldn't she be turned into a Soul King candidate by the Monk?
However, it seems she isn't quite qualified yet, so she is safe for the time being.
Her senses returned to normal. The strengthening Soifon just underwent seemed to take less than a second—so fast that Aizen and the others didn't even have time to notice before her strengthening had ended.
The night breeze of Las Noches brushed past, blowing the braids at the side of her shoulders.
"Welcome back, Captain Soifon," Aizen said, his voice as gentle as ever. "How does it feel?"
Soifon walked forward. "It's alright..."
Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen followed half a step behind Aizen silently, like two silent shadows.
Azashiro Sōya lagged slightly behind. He tilted his head slightly, sizing up the cold, white palace buildings around him, seemingly a bit surprised. "It truly doesn't look like something savage barbarians like Hollows could build."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly traveled into the ears of the Arrancars waiting in attendance nearby.
They all showed expressions of anger to varying degrees, but out of fear of Sōsuke Aizen and Soifon standing in front, they dared not flare up.
Soifon withdrew her gaze from the distance and landed it on Azashiro Sōya's face.
After standing on a higher level, Soifon could more clearly perceive the condition of the Reiatsu within their bodies.
"Captain Azashiro," Soifon asked in puzzlement, "your Reiatsu isn't quite right. Is it exhaustion from the battle just now?"
Hearing this, Azashiro Sōya turned his head to glance at her, seemingly surprised by her eyesight.
"It wasn't the battle," Azashiro Sōya said somewhat helplessly. "It is because my Bankai has just merged with Las Noches. It still needs some time to recover its Reiatsu. I will be able to suppress these Arrancars very soon."
Once again, Azashiro Sōya displayed his disdain for the Arrancars.
"You bastard!"
Grimmjow's violent temper couldn't tolerate this; he postured as if to rush forward and throw hands with Azashiro Sōya.
Almost at the instant Grimmjow moved, Azashiro Sōya moved as well. The Reishi in parts of Las Noches seemed to begin faintly fluctuating in accordance with his will.
Tap.
The footsteps of the group paused. Soifon looked at the irascible Grimmjow, her expression displeased. "Stop."
But words seemed unable to stop them; the attacks of the two were poised to strike.
The next moment, a terrifying Reiatsu centered on Soifon crushed towards Grimmjow and Azashiro Sōya.
The air seemed to become viscous, light twisted, and even the hard white stone floor of Las Noches beneath their feet seemed to emit a groan of being overwhelmed.
"Ugh..."
A muffled groan escaped Grimmjow's throat, veins bulging on his forehead. He tried to resist this pressure, but his knees bent slightly uncontrollably.
Azashiro Sōya's hand, raised halfway, also froze in mid-air.
The surrounding Arrancars could only barely resist, and a strange silence was maintained in the air.
Under this Reiatsu, only Sōsuke Aizen could still move freely.
"Captain Soifon..." Aizen stepped forward to play the peacemaker. "The lesson has been made; stop there. Please withdraw your divine power."
Las Noches, the Council Chamber on the highest floor.
Aizen and Soifon sat opposite each other on the two sides of the long table. In the middle were Azashiro Sōya, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, the news that their Zanpakutō had been hypnotized by Muramasa and rebelled had not yet been made known to the Arrancars of Las Noches.
"Regarding the blade Muramasa, do Captain Soifon and Mr. Azashiro have any intelligence?"
"As far as I know, his owner, Kōga Kuchiki, should have been sealed in Karakura Town long ago."
After Aizen stated his own intelligence, he looked at the two veterans present.
"I don't know much, but the blade Muramasa is indeed very dangerous. However, solving it is simple: just go to Karakura Town and kill Kōga Kuchiki."
Azashiro Kenpachi leaned back against his chair, casually informing everyone of the location where Kōga Kuchiki was sealed.
"My intelligence isn't much either. Muramasa can devour the power of Hollows, which is why he could open a Garganta and teleport here."
Soifon spoke, raising her eyes to look at Aizen opposite her.
The council chamber fell into a brief silence.
"Um..."
"May I ask, what is the next step of our plan? Captain Aizen, Captain Soifon?"
Gin Ichimaru, who had not spoken a word since the beginning of the rebellion, raised his hand.
Actually, Gin Ichimaru had wanted to ask for a long time—why defect?
Coming to Las Noches to manage Menos Grande... such a thankless reason was only used to satisfy Azashiro Sōya's bizarre ideals. Gin Ichimaru didn't believe that Aizen and Soifon shared such thoughts.
If it was to secretly strengthen the Hōgyoku, wouldn't it be better to continue lurking in the Seireitei and developing slowly while waiting for the right moment?
Why did they have to stand in the heavens...
Gin Ichimaru felt numb.
"Captain Aizen, didn't you tell him?"
Sitting opposite, Soifon tilted her head, ignoring Gin Ichimaru's resentful gaze.
"I thought Captain Soifon had already told Gin."
Aizen shrugged, spreading his hands with an innocent look.
Soifon crossed her hands on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hands, and began to explain:
"To be precise, Captain Aizen's goal and mine are not consistent."
"The reason I joined you is to defeat the Wandenreich."
"The King of the Quincies is not yet dead. In a few years, he will make a comeback."
"The current Seireitei is too comfortable. Even with the addition of Hueco Mundo's power, we cannot defeat Yhwach."
Speaking to this point, Soifon paused for a moment to give the other three some time to digest.
Hiss...
What King of the Quincies? What Wandenreich? Never heard of it!
But, surely Soifon wouldn't still be joining hands with Aizen to deceive the three of them at this point?
By that logic, even if this reason was extremely outrageous, once all impossible possibilities were eliminated, this was the true reason Soifon defected along with Aizen.
Good... Soifon, at least you have some conscience and didn't betray Rangiku's trust.
Gin Ichimaru thought to himself.
Sitting opposite, Sōsuke Aizen's reason remained as unadorned as ever: he needed the pressure of battle to evolve.
Sometimes, Soifon really wanted to just open a Senkaimon and take him up to the Royal Palace; he'd be honest after getting schooled by the Monk.
____
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