Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The firebird hovered high in the sky, casually beating its wings, yet each movement seemed to stir the reishi of the entire Soul Society.
Every motion carried an overwhelming presence, as though it possessed the power to destroy heaven and earth.
This firebird was none other than the released form of the Sōkyoku, the Kōō-ō.
"Kōō-ō! The Sōkyoku Halberd has revealed its true form. It is the ultimate executioner of the sentence!"
"Once it pierces the sinner's body, the execution will be complete."
As Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni spoke, the flames surrounding the Kōō-ō intensified. The heat became so overwhelming that it felt as if the air itself was being completely evaporated.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The crackling of the flames echoed throughout the execution grounds, bringing with it an ever-growing sense of oppression. It sounded like a death hymn from the depths of hell.
Terrifying spiritual pressure spread from the Kōō-ō.
The giant firebird flapped its wings and descended toward Rukia Kuchiki on the execution platform.
Once the Kōō-ō reached her, Rukia would be reduced to nothing beneath its overwhelming heat and spiritual pressure.
"It's all over."
Rukia slowly closed her eyes.
She knew that in the next moment, she would disappear from the world without leaving behind even the slightest trace.
Surprisingly, her heart remained completely still.
There was no fear.
No panic.
No resentment.
No complaints.
Only a faint sense of regret.
She would never have the chance to avenge Kuchiki Byakuya.
Around the execution grounds, every captain watched solemnly.
This execution served as both a witness and a warning.
The Thirteen Court Guard Squads were governed by strict laws. Anyone who violated those laws, regardless of status, would face severe punishment within the Seireitei.
Kyōraku Shunsui quietly glanced around.
Had Ukitake Jūshirō still not arrived?
Swish!
The sound of air being cut apart suddenly rang out.
A figure appeared.
Ukitake Jūshirō had arrived, carrying a divine artifact and preparing to destroy the Sōkyoku.
Kyōraku Shunsui immediately became alert, ready to support him.
"So Ukitake Jūshirō really intends to destroy the Sōkyoku. He even brought that out."
Far above, hidden by Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen observed everything from the void.
His expression remained calm.
Even as his plans seemed close to failure, there was not the slightest panic in his eyes.
He had already found another method to extract the Hōgyoku.
Even if the Sōkyoku execution failed, it no longer mattered.
However, just as Ukitake Jūshirō was about to use the divine artifact to destroy the Sōkyoku, a sudden change occurred.
A vortex appeared directly in front of Rukia.
The atmosphere froze.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Shock and tension spread instantly.
They all recognized that vortex.
It was the same spatial vortex Ryūjin Uchiha had used when leaving the Seireitei.
Was Ryūjin returning?
The memory of him facing the entire Seireitei alone immediately surfaced in everyone's minds.
No one could remain calm.
Even Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's expression became grave.
Buzz!
A figure stepped out of the vortex.
Everyone's pupils shrank.
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the execution grounds, as though a mountain had fallen from the sky.
Ryūjin Uchiha had arrived.
It really was Ryūjin Uchiha.
Expressions changed instantly.
"Damn it, it's Ryūjin Uchiha. What is he doing here?"
"Is he planning to interfere with the execution? Ridiculous!"
"Does he think the Soul Society belongs to him?"
Angry voices erupted among the captains.
Their gazes locked onto Ryūjin.
"Captain Ryūjin Uchiha?"
Even Rukia was stunned.
Although she had remained imprisoned inside the Repentance Cell, she had not been completely isolated from information.
During the investigation into Kuchiki Byakuya's death, she had been questioned several times.
As a result, she was aware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding Byakuya's death.
Her final wish had been for the Captain Commander to discover the truth.
Yet no matter how suspicious things seemed, Ryūjin remained the primary suspect.
Why had he suddenly appeared before her now?
"In the end, you still came, Ryūjin Uchiha."
Aizen quietly sighed.
He had anticipated this possibility long ago.
Now that it had happened, he was not particularly surprised.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Kōō-ō ignored Ryūjin completely and continued charging toward Rukia.
In the blink of an eye, it reached him.
To everyone's astonishment, Ryūjin did not move aside.
He simply raised one hand.
He intended to stop the Kōō-ō.
The entire audience was stunned.
Was he insane?
That was the Kōō-ō.
It possessed the power of a million zanpakutō.
And he intended to stop it with his bare hand?
"He's seeking death!"
"Even Ryūjin can't stop the Kōō-ō!"
"His arrogance will kill him!"
Several captains spoke through gritted teeth.
Then the impossible happened.
Boom!
A terrifying force exploded from Ryūjin's hand.
It surged forward like a massive tidal wave and slammed directly into the Kōō-ō.
The giant firebird was blasted backward as though it were nothing more than a small boat caught in a storm.
"What?!"
"He pushed back the Kōō-ō!"
"That was the Kōō-ō!"
Shocked cries filled the execution grounds.
Had Ryūjin's strength reached such an unbelievable level?
Screech!
The Kōō-ō let out a furious cry.
Its flames became even more violent.
The giant bird charged once again.
The temperature around the execution grounds rose drastically.
Everyone felt as if their skin were burning.
The Kōō-ō had become enraged.
Yet Ryūjin merely raised his hand again.
His expression remained indifferent.
As though none of this mattered.
The Kōō-ō crashed against his palm.
It could not move forward.
No matter how violently it struggled.
No matter how fiercely it attacked.
It remained trapped before Ryūjin's single hand.
Unable to advance even an inch.
The sight was so shocking that every Shinigami present stood speechless.
"Ryūjin Uchiha!"
Captain Commander Yamamoto slowly raised his head.
His gaze was sharp as lightning.
His voice carried suppressed fury.
"Do you truly believe this old man can do nothing to you?"
Although Yamamoto had been restrained during their previous battle, and even forced back by one of Ryūjin's attacks, no one had lost faith in him.
For a thousand years, the Captain Commander had never revealed his full strength.
Nobody knew where his limits truly lay.
One thing was certain.
His true power was not limited to what he had displayed against Ryūjin.
Battles were complicated.
Losing an exchange did not determine everything.
"Captain Commander, you've misunderstood."
Ryūjin stood in the sky, one hand holding back the Sōkyoku.
"I'm not here to challenge the Seireitei."
"I've uncovered something."
"As I've said before, Rukia Kuchiki is only a pawn. She shouldn't die here."
Murmurs spread throughout the execution grounds.
His words seemed disconnected.
Yet nobody believed Ryūjin would risk entering the Seireitei again merely to tell lies.
Yamamoto, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya fell silent.
Months earlier, Ryūjin had claimed Rukia was being manipulated.
Now he had returned and said the exact same thing.
Could he truly have discovered something?
Was Rukia really being framed?
Given Ryūjin's strength and status, they did not believe he would make such accusations without reason.
"Captain Commander, you'll understand soon enough."
Ryūjin's voice remained indifferent.
"But if this oversized bird keeps screaming in my face, I'll destroy it."
After a brief silence, Yamamoto looked toward his lieutenant.
"Sasakibe."
Chōjirō Sasakibe immediately understood.
He moved to deactivate the Sōkyoku.
The struggling Kōō-ō vanished.
It returned to its original halberd form.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, if you cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, you will not leave the Seireitei today."
Yamamoto's voice was cold.
Aizen adjusted his glasses.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, since you've entered the Soul Society to save Rukia Kuchiki, you must have uncovered quite a bit."
A trace of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
"I'm beginning to look forward to what you've discovered."
"Captain Commander, remain patient."
Ryūjin descended from the sky step by step.
Every Shinigami became tense.
Several captains rested their hands upon their zanpakutō.
Even standing there without doing anything, Ryūjin placed immense pressure on everyone.
"There is one thing that should interest all of you."
He stopped before the captains.
Then he spoke.
"Captain Aizen Sōsuke is not dead."
The entire execution ground fell silent.
"What?"
Kyōraku Shunsui immediately frowned.
"We saw Captain Aizen's corpse ourselves."
Unohana Retsu stepped forward.
"I personally performed Captain Aizen's autopsy. There was no mistake. That was his body."
Ryūjin nodded.
"Captain Unohana, I have no doubt in your abilities."
"Then how do you explain your claim?" Unohana asked.
Ryūjin ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at the assembled captains.
"The death of Kuchiki Byakuya contains many inconsistencies."
"I believe all of you have noticed them."
"What if someone could place Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, and several captains under an illusion?"
"What if they saw things that never happened?"
The captains fell silent.
If that were true, many things could indeed be explained.
But a larger question remained.
Who had done it?
And why?
"Ryūjin Uchiha, is this all you came to say? Baseless speculation?"
Yamamoto's voice carried obvious dissatisfaction.
"Of course not."
Ryūjin chuckled.
Then his gaze shifted.
"Aizen."
"How long are you going to keep watching?"
"Do I really need to drag you out myself?"
The captains immediately became alarmed.
Was Aizen truly nearby?
Everyone began searching.
Yet nobody sensed anything.
Just as many began doubting Ryūjin's words, a familiar voice echoed throughout the execution grounds.
"Ryūjin Uchiha, you've actually seen through my plan."
"There has never been someone capable of doing that before."
The voice carried genuine surprise.
A figure slowly appeared before everyone.
The captains froze.
Because the person standing there was none other than the supposedly dead Aizen Sōsuke.