Now, both the Seireitei and the Rukongai had grown accustomed to the rule of the Four Great Noble Families.
Revealing the betrayal of the Four Great Noble Families' founders would indeed significantly damage their prestige.
However, as beneficiaries of the 'nobility system', the other noble families would not undermine their own foundation by opposing the very system that allowed them to continue harvesting resources from the three worlds for their own sustenance.
At most, they would only use this to question the legitimacy of the Four Great Noble Families, gradually pulling them down from their pedestal to make their own families the new great nobles.
But regardless, the 'nobility system' was an institution the nobles would defend to the death.
It was their foundation for existence!
The 'truth' revealed by the Shiba Clan could not damage the foundation of the nobility system.
"Everyone ready?"
"Ready."
"Then, let's go!"
Boom-
Amidst the roar, a spherical Reishi Shell, three meters in diameter, shot out from the firework cannon, tearing through one sonic barrier cloud after another in the sky as it hurtled towards the Seireitei-
...
"It has begun!"
Outside the four main gates of the Seireitei, the members of the Revolutionary Army preparing to enter the Seireitei looked up at the Reishi Shell bombarding the Seireitei, smiles appearing on their faces.
The Seireitei was surrounded by Sekkiseki and the barrier. To invade the Seireitei, besides entering through the four main gates, one would have to either break the towering Sekkiseki Walls or shatter the barrier enveloping the Seireitei.
Neither of these could be easily accomplished by ordinary people.
Even within the Revolutionary Army, probably only Kyoya possessed such ability.
Although Kyoya and Kukaku hadn't said anything about this simulated war between the Revolutionary Army and the Gotei 13, everyone knew what Kyoya's true purpose was in persuading Yamamoto.
The tacit understanding among comrades meant that even if you didn't say it, I knew what I should do.
The barrier's defensive capabilities were strong.
But it wasn't without weaknesses.
When the barrier was attacked, it would draw energy from other parts of the barrier to strengthen the defense at the point of impact.
As a result, the defense in other areas would naturally become weaker.
If an attack was launched at that moment, as long as its intensity reached a certain level, it could directly break the barrier.
At each of the Seireitei's gates, there were Captain-level figures.
At the White Gate were Kisaragi Shusuke and Sarugaki Hiyori.
At the Black Gate direction were Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika.
At the Blue Stream Gate were Kano Ashido, Ichinose Maki, and Kuchiki Rukia.
At the Vermilion Gate were Hitsugaya Toshiro and Abarai Renji.
Plus Kukaku and her brother in the shell with Ichigo and the others, the seven Army Commanders of the Revolutionary Army, along with some of the Deputy Commanders, were all prepared to invade the Seireitei.
Boom!
Under everyone's gaze, the blue Reishi Shell collided with the Seireitei's barrier.
The invisible barrier revealed blue halos in the air.
It was visible that large amounts of Reishi were converging from other locations of this semi-transparent blue barrier towards the point where the shell impacted, blocking the shell outside the barrier.
"Now!"
At that instant, the Revolutionary Army's Army Commanders at the Seireitei's four gates also bared their fangs.
"Sever, Raika!"
Shusuke raised his hook-like Zanpakuto high, a flash of firelight passed through his eyes.
"Raienkyu!"
His violent Reiatsu, under his Zanpakuto's ability, transformed into a massive fireball that Kisaragi Shusuke launched, smashing against the now-visible barrier.
"Split and Deviate, Ruriiro Kujaku!"
The Zanpakuto in Yumichika's hand transformed into emerald-like branches spreading out.
Under Yumichika's control, they pierced the barrier, beginning to absorb the spiritual particles within the barrier to damage this layer of the barrier.
"Hey, Yumichika, no matter how many times I see it, your ability feels so terrifying."
Seeing the barrier begin to show gaps under Yumichika's Zanpakuto ability, Ikkaku couldn't help but tease.
"If it were me, I probably couldn't break this barrier without Bankai."
Ikkaku's words weren't self-deprecation but fact.
His Zanpakuto, Hozukimaru, in its Shikai state, transforms into a three-section staff connected by chains, which can combine into a long spear.
Other than that, it doesn't possess any special abilities.
Hozukimaru is truly just a direct-attack type Zanpakuto.
That Ikkaku managed to train it to Bankai was a testament to his extraordinary talent.
However, judging by appearance alone, Hozukimaru could be considered the 'most domineering' Zanpakuto among the Shinigami.
"Shine, Nijigasumi!"
At the Blue Stream Gate, the one who acted was Ichinose.
As the former member of the 11th Division who had followed Kyoya the longest, Ichinose had served positions from Lieutenant down to 5th Seat.
But it had to be admitted that Ichinose was truly very diligent.
After leaving the Seireitei, not only did Ichinose make breakthroughs in swordsmanship, but he also completed the training for his Zanpakuto's Bankai, making his strength not inferior among the several Deputy Commanders of the Revolutionary Army.
Especially since Ichinose's Zanpakuto, Nijigasumi, like Kyoya's Zanpakuto, was a light-based type.
With the same type of ability, many of Kyoya's techniques could also be performed by Ichinose through Nijigasumi.
Although the power and effects couldn't reach Kyoya's level, even as a 'budget version', it was enough to greatly enhance Ichinose's strength.
Raising his Zanpakuto high, colorful haze gathered on Ichinose's Zanpakuto, finally slashed out by him-
"Saigyoku Nijigasumi-"
This was a move where Ichinose fused his light with a slash. Even without Bankai, judging by its current attack power, it was a technique that reached Captain-level.
Boom-
The haze shot out, striking the barrier and erupting with a huge roar.
After the dust settled, the barrier had been torn open with a large gap by Ichinose's attack.
"Let's go!"
Whoosh, whoosh-
Ashido and Rukia didn't hesitate, closely following behind Ichinose, using Shunpo to cross into the barrier.
"Army Commander Hitsugaya, let me handle this!"
At the Vermilion Gate, after seeing the shell bombard the Seireitei's barrier, just as Hitsugaya was placing his hand on the hilt of the sword on his back, Renji spoke up.
"Very well."
Hitsugaya looked up at the barrier where Reishi were massively converging towards the top, estimated the strength of the barrier in front of him, and didn't refuse Renji's request.
Hitsugaya was very satisfied with his Lieutenant, Abarai Renji.
Although Renji didn't have outstanding talent in Kido and was prone to acting emotionally in handling official matters, it was undeniable that Abarai Renji was probably the strongest among the many Lieutenants.
He was the only person with Reiatsu within the Revolutionary Army who had comprehended the [Secret Technique] of the Rokushiki.
His strength was so great that even if he wasn't a match for the several Army Commanders, he wasn't far behind.
Once Renji completed his Bankai Training, it wouldn't be surprising if an [Eighth Division] was added to the Revolutionary Army.
Renji drew the Zanpakuto at his waist, swept his left hand over the blade, and called out his Zanpakuto's name-
"Howl, Zabimaru!"
Red light bloomed on Renji's Zanpakuto. When the light faded, the Zanpakuto in his hand had transformed into a saw-toothed blade with serrated edges.
Clatter clatter clatter-
These serrations, under Renji's Reiatsu, rapidly extended, coiling around him like a python.
Each serrated blade gleamed with white Reiatsu.
"Higa Zekko-"
As Renji swung the hilt in his hand, Zabimaru shot out like a giant python, dozens of blades flying off the serrations, striking the barrier like the fangs of a venomous snake.
Boom boom boom-
...
Boom-
The sound of the Reishi Shell colliding with the barrier reverberated throughout the entire Seireitei.
Not only the Shinigami of the Gotei 13, but even the nobles and ordinary people looked up at the sky.
Then, they saw several black cracks appearing where the barrier and the Reishi Shell collided.
"What is that?"
"It looks like something fell from the sky."
"Is it a meteor?"
"Don't be ridiculous? Would a meteor fall over the Seireitei?"
Many people, upon seeing the sparks from the collision between the blue spiritual particle sphere and the barrier in the sky, still wondered if a meteor had fallen from the sky.
But the Shinigami's expressions turned extremely grim.
Especially the Captain-level Shinigami.
They all knew that there were simply no meteors above the Seireitei.
If there were anything, it would only be the [Soul King Palace]!
But the Soul King Palace was where the members of the Zero Division resided.
If something were to fall from above the Seireitei, it could only be from the Soul King Palace.
But how was that possible?
Just as the Shinigami turned their gazes skyward, explosions sounded from the directions of the Seireitei's four main gates.
Boom boom boom boom-
Crack crack-
Boom!
As if coordinated, the barrier was attacked from four directions simultaneously.
Moreover, due to the weakened defense, the barrier was directly broken, creating four large holes.
Subsequently, the barrier resisting the Reishi Shell in the sky, having lost more Reishi providing defense, was directly shattered by the shell.
However, due to this sudden explosion, Ichigo couldn't stabilize the Reiatsu he was inputting into the Reishi Sphere, causing the Reishi Barrier to explode.
This sent everyone inside the sphere flying out, turning into several streaks of light scattered across various parts of the Seireitei.
Clang clang clang clang-
While the Shinigami were still stunned, an urgent transmission from the 1st Division reached their ears.
"Emergency notice, emergency notice, the Seireitei is under invasion by powerful Ryoka. All division members are to follow their respective Captains' lead to repel the Ryoka!"
"During this period, everyone is permitted to wear their Zanpakuto, permitted to release their Zanpakuto during combat, and permitted for Captains of each division to release Bankai!"
"Emergency notice..."
"Emergency notice..."
The same message played three times consecutively in the ears of the Gotei 13's Shinigami.
Instantly, all the Shinigami's expressions changed.
"Ryoka? It's actually a Ryoka invasion?"
"Even the 1st Division says they are powerful Ryoka..."
"Permitted to release Zanpakuto, permitted for Captains to use Bankai... Could these Ryoka have Captain-level figures?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"If there weren't Captain-level figures, why would Captains be permitted to use Bankai?"
A group of Shinigami chatted anxiously while quickly returning to their divisions to retrieve their Zanpakuto.
They weren't weak, but they weren't fools either.
The Seireitei forbade Shinigami from releasing their Zanpakuto and forbade Captains from using Bankai within the Seireitei precisely because the Captains' Bankai could cause severe damage to the Seireitei.
But now, the Seireitei's defenses were broken, and the 1st Division immediately lifted several restrictions limiting the Shinigami's combat power.
How could this not make everyone feel apprehensive?
Enemies that required Captains to use Bankai to deal with must necessarily be Captain-level figures.
Even the strongest Lieutenant couldn't reach the level where Captains needed to use Bankai against them.
This much, everyone knew.
However, although they thought this way, they wouldn't retreat.
As Shinigami, protecting the Seireitei was their duty.
Now that enemies had invaded the Seireitei, if they didn't dare to pick up their swords to protect it, they wouldn't be worthy of being called Shinigami!
…
"Troubled times indeed..."
In the 8th Division, Kyoraku looked at the streaks of starlight falling from the sky and the several powerful Reiatsus that had appeared within the Seireitei, and he couldn't help but sigh.
As the Captain of the intelligence division, Kyoraku naturally knew that Kyoya had met with Yamamoto not long ago.
Although he didn't know what they discussed, Kyoraku knew it must be related to today's Revolutionary Army invasion of the Seireitei.
'First, the unusual sentencing and repeatedly changed execution time for 3rd Seat Shiba, and now the joint invasion of the Seireitei by Ryoka and the Revolutionary Army...'
'Yama-jii, what exactly are you thinking?'
Suppressing his thoughts, Kyoraku picked up and put on his straw hat.
"Nanao-chan, let's go."
"To welcome our 'guests'!"
...
"Hahahaha, long time no see, everyone!"
After entering the Seireitei, Ikkaku and Yumichika didn't go to join the other Army Commanders but headed together towards the 11th Division.
But before long, the two of them were surrounded by over a dozen Shinigami.
"As expected, the 11th Division is still the fastest to react when encountering enemies."
Seeing familiar faces, smiles appeared on Ikkaku and Yumichika's faces.
"It's you?"
"Former 4th Seat Madarame and 5th Seat Ayasegawa!"