— — — — — —
After a long silence, Kirinji clicked his tongue and scratched his pompadour. "For just one guy, we're mobilizing the entire team? Isn't that a bit much?"
"Sure, Old Man Yama lost to the kid, but that was just because their zanpakutō types clashed, right? The old man couldn't use his flames. Losing under those conditions is normal."
Hikifune Kirio spoke with a troubled look.
She didn't outright say Ichibe was overreacting, but the meaning was obvious enough.
Sending all of the Royal Guard, risking Aizen ambushing them, just to deal with Yagami… Ichibe Hyōsube really seemed to be overdoing it.
"No. I don't see it that way."
The Blade God, Ōetsu Nimaiya, cut everyone off. His expression was unusually serious as he looked around the group.
"You all know this: every Asauchi in Soul Society was made by me."
That was the reason he was qualified to be in the Royal Guard.
Only those who created something that had never existed in Soul Society's history—people who reshaped the world itself—were summoned by the Soul King and made members of the Royal Guard.
Every single one of them had created something that once did not exist.
And Nimaiya Ōetsu had created the zanpakutō.
He was the first to forge one, and the one who forged them all.
No one knew zanpakutō better than he did. And no one understood Ryo's abnormality more clearly.
"A zanpakutō I didn't forge can't awaken its true name. It can't even reach shikai."
Ōetsu's voice turned heavy. "And yet… that man used the fake blade Aizen made and awakened it effortlessly."
At his words, everyone except Ichibe turned pale—Shutara, Kirinji, and Hikifune all reacting at once.
Seeing this, Ōetsu continued grimly. "Engrave this into your heads. From the moment that man called Ryo Yagami obtained a zanpakutō, he broke one of the Soul King's absolute laws."
"He's outside the rules. A being beyond the system."
"Don't use our common sense to define him. He's something that shouldn't exist."
His eyes darkened.
"I'm warning you now. That man is not some small-time player. If any of you die, don't say I didn't warn you."
"That's exactly the situation," Ichibe said calmly, arms folded. "After hearing Ōetsu's confirmation, I personally met with Yamamoto and reorganized all our information on Ryo Yagami."
"Once everything was laid out, it became clear: the current chaos in Soul Society was caused by that man—directly or indirectly."
His eyes chilled. "Yamamoto's change, Aizen's rapidly growing ambition, Yhwach's impatient advance… all of it began with him."
"So do you understand now?"
Ichibe swept his gaze over the room.
"Ryo Yagami must be eliminated first. His existence is an evil greater than Aizen Sōsuke… greater even than Yhwach. He is the most wicked."
Everyone finally grasped the full weight of the situation.
Aizen sought to replace the Soul King. Yhwach sought to destroy the world. Those were evils that could not be tolerated.
But the one who provoked them—who orchestrated from the shadows—Ryo Yagami, was evil beyond even that.
The proof was already there: Ryo had nudged Yamamoto and Aizen into an alliance, creating the silent tension now dividing the Gotei 13 and the Royal Guard.
With Yhwach held off by Yamamoto for the moment, sending the entire Royal Guard to erase Ryo wasn't excessive. It was necessary. Even if Aizen was lurking somewhere, waiting for his chance.
"Since everyone understands, let's begin." Ichibe exhaled and narrowed his eyes.
"You four go first. Tell the Visoreds the truth—that Yamamoto betrayed them—and then corner Yagami together."
His tone grew even heavier. "I'll join you shortly."
The four Royal Guard members didn't answer. They simply vanished with grim faces.
Once they were gone, Ichibe stared into the dense forest beside him. "Still not coming out? Or do you really think you can hide from me?"
"Oh my, oh my."
A man's amused voice drifted out.
A brown-haired man in white robes stepped from the trees, a zanpakutō at his waist, smiling pleasantly.
"Nice to finally meet you, Leader of the Royal Guard."
Ichibe fixed his gaze on the man's face. "So it really was me you were aiming for from the beginning… Aizen Sōsuke."
Aizen's smile deepened slightly.
---
Seireitei — 13th Division
"Ryo?"
Having barely recovered from the terror gnawing her heart, Rukia stared at the man before her in shock.
"No way. I'm not scared of you. Why would you show up?"
"…" Ryo paused.
"What kind of pickup line is that supposed to be?"
What did her not being scared of him have to do with him showing up?
"Of course it matters." Rukia pointed at Äs Nödt, whose hand Ryo was currently gripping. "His ability manifests the fear inside me. If I'm not afraid of you, you shouldn't be able to appear in front of me… huh?"
Only now did she realize something was off.
She blinked, then reached out and rubbed Ryo's cheek.
Then rubbed it again.
Her face flushed bright red.
"It… it's really you?"
"Obviously." Ryo gave a small smirk. "Though what's up with you?"
"I… I…" Rukia couldn't even form a sentence.
Meanwhile, the long-ignored Äs Nödt snapped. "You bastards! How long are you going to ignore me?!"
Blue reishi burst from him like boiling steam.
The pressure forced Rukia back a step—right into Ryo.
"Careful—his ability induces fea—"
Slash.
Rukia froze, her mouth half open.
Äs Nödt had been split clean in two.
That… that was it?
This man who had completely overwhelmed both her and Captain Ukitake—just died? In one hit?
Sure, she'd seen Ryo clash with Captain-Commander Yamamoto before, but those two moved too fast for her to understand anything besides "wow, that's hot."
But comparing her own strength to Äs Nödt's…
That swing must've been the equivalent of at least a hundred of her.
One hundred Rukias.
Her brain simply shut down.
"Careful of what?"
Ryo asked absentmindedly, shaking the blood off "Lilith," the blade he'd used.*
*(The zanpakuto linked to Algol)
"You... one hit... your sword.."
"Oh, that?" Ryo lifted the zanpakutō and grinned. "Just for show. I'm pretending to be a Shinigami, after all."
That wasn't what she was asking at all… Rukia complained internally.
"Ryo Yagami…?"
Ukitake Jushiro, having shaken off his own fear, spoke gravely. "I see. If you're here, that means you've reached an agreement with the Captain-Commander, haven't you?"
What agreement?! Why would the Captain-Commander team up with him?
What king allies with the rebel?!!!
Rukia's mind was already fried.
Ryo wrapped an arm around her waist and chuckled. "Agreement? I think you're misunderstanding something."
Ukitake's face stiffened.
Then Ryo said calmly. "What do Aizen and Yamamoto's agreements have to do with me?"
Ukitake's pupils shrank. He seemed to grasp something horrifying.
"Rukia—run!"
Before he finished the sentence, Ryo's hand reached for his head, filling Ukitake's vision.
"The Soul King's right hand… I'll be taking it."
.
.
.