"It seems I've emerged in a location slightly different from where I intended."
'It is undoubtedly Sokyoku Hill, but a bit removed... so to speak.'
Aizen reached this conclusion after observing his surroundings for only a moment. He judged this based on the landscape, the surrounding vegetation, the geology, and even the quality of the Reishi—comparable, perhaps, to the scent of the air. Most of all, the pillar of flame visible in the distance spoke eloquently of where he was.
"Ryujin Jakka... I see. That is the cause."
He gazed at the raging fire with an air of someone out on a casual stroll. He had planned to teleport directly to the summit of Sokyoku Hill, but he had ended up slightly off-target. That fire was likely the reason. It was not particularly surprising if the power of the oldest and strongest fire-type Zanpakuto had some influence even on space itself. Whether it was a shift in phase or an unnatural warping of space, he didn't know the exact cause, but he was satisfied with that general explanation.
Furthermore, the fact that Ryujin Jakka was being used meant that the execution was not proceeding as scheduled. It was a self-evident truth that someone was interfering. And it had to be a powerful Soul Reaper. Otherwise, it would be unthinkable for Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto to release his Shikai.
"But first, I must confirm the current situation."
Aizen, who had been far away until just moments ago, did not know the details of what was happening here. To determine his next move, he hurried toward the scene—toward the stage where the hellfire danced wildly.
"This way! The footing is poor, so don't trip!"
Leading the way, Sajin Komamura continued to check the ground and their surroundings, calling out warnings to those following him.
"Thank you very much!"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it!"
Komamura cut off their polite thanks with a curt "Unnecessary." This wasn't the first time; they had already gone through this exchange several times. To an onlooker, his behavior—offering a warning and then abruptly ending the conversation—might have seemed rude.
But the truth was a bit different. If he didn't keep worrying about the others, he would have surrendered to his inner emotions and sprinted ahead at full speed. He was desperately enduring his racing, impatient feelings by replacing them with concern for others.
"Captain... if it's too much, please don't push yourself... We can..."
"Don't say it, Tetsuzaemon!"
Only Tetsuzaemon Iba, as expected of a Lieutenant, took Komamura's feelings into consideration and spoke up.
"If you say any more, I feel as though I might just run off..."
Gritting his teeth so hard they seemed to creak, he desperately suppressed the emotions deep in his heart, repeating his inner monologue once more.
'For Lord Genryusai to use Ryujin Jakka... just what is happening...?!'
If the Captain-Commander himself had released his Zanpakuto, it meant, conversely, that an emergency had occurred that was serious enough to require its release. At this moment, the thoughts of Sosuke Aizen and Sajin Komamura were, ironically, in perfect agreement.
And then—
"Oh?"
"Hm!?"
Was it coincidence or fate? Did they subconsciously converge because their hearts were in the same state? Or was it only natural, since they were both heading for the same destination despite different starting points?
Aizen and Komamura's group encountered each other and came to a halt.
"Aizen!"
"It has been a while, Captain Komamura."
"You were alive! I heard from the Fourth Division that there was a slight possibility your death was faked, but... no, wait!"
Aizen instantly donned his mask of the good-natured Sosuke Aizen, greeting him as if nothing were wrong. His behavior was so perfectly normal that Komamura had to desperately suppress the emotions surging within him.
"Are you truly... Aizen?"
Komamura knew nothing of the true intent lurking behind this incident. At most, he thought, 'Something is wrong. I should be cautious and verify things.' If that were his only feeling, he might have trusted the man unconditionally. However, he was currently leading many others. The meeting with someone who was willing to risk her life for a friend, combined with the way he had been suppressing his own heart to look out for his subordinates along the way, had made Komamura's thinking one step more suspicious.
"It is likely because I am not wearing my glasses. They say one's impression changes when you lose something you usually wear or suddenly change your hairstyle."
"In that case, what happened to your glasses?"
"I ran into a bit of trouble. They were broken."
"Trouble, you say..."
It was just as Komamura frowned at Aizen's uncharacteristic phrasing.
"Captain Komamura, is something... Ah! Captain Aizen...!!"
"Hello, Hinamori. And... are these your friends?"
"Eek!!"
"Check...!"
Despite trying to be careful, they had apparently been moving too fast. Momo Hinamori caught up and peeked in to see what was happening, and Aizen offered a gentle smile to her and Orihime Inoue's group. But Hinamori and the others reacted with suspicion and fear, like frogs glared at by a snake.
Seeing this, Komamura made a decision.
"Actually, Aizen. Captain Airi Yukawa entrusted her Zanpakuto to me."
"...And what of it?"
"Her Zanpakuto speaks to me through my own. Aizen, it says that you are—"
He never finished his sentence. Aizen drew his Zanpakuto and swung to cut Komamura down. However, the other man had anticipated this to some extent. Though he avoided a fatal blow, he suffered wounds on both arms that were far from shallow.
"—Guh!! As I thought, Aizen...!!"
"Captain!!"
"To think she would use her Zanpakuto to send a message... as I suspected, that woman cannot be underestimated."
While Iba shouted, the perpetrator of this tragedy showed no sign of concern. Instead, he spoke venomously while looking toward a distant direction—the location of the Central 46 Assembly Hall.
"I'm sorry, but you are mistaken! My previous statement was merely a test for you!!"
"Oh, that is surprising."
The Zanpakuto entrusted to him by Airi Yukawa, Nubatama, had been taken back to the barracks by Komamura and was being kept under strict guard in the Captain's office. Therefore, even if Nubatama truly possessed the ability to relay information through another's blade, it would be impossible to know under current circumstances. It was all due to Komamura's quick thinking—a lie spat out on the spot based on Hinamori's reaction and his own intuition.
"I didn't expect you were capable of such cleverness."
"You bastard!! What do you think you're doing to the Captain!?"
"Tetsuzaemon!!"
Furious at his Captain being wounded and insulted, Iba drew his blade and charged. However, a mysterious interference cut into his assault.
"Kyaaa!"
"Dwaaa!?"
"What the hell!?"
Those who crashed into Iba became a tangled mess, turning into a clump of bodies.
"Ow, ow, ow... Wh-what happened...?"
The first to emerge from the pile was Rukia Kuchiki. It seemed that while Kiyone Kotetsu and the others were fleeing with her, they had collided with Iba due to a lack of attention. It was a blunder of historic proportions, shocking even Aizen and Komamura into silence.
"Miss Kuchiki!"
"Hm, Hinamori? Then this place is!?"
"Don't get close!! Get away!!"
Aizen crept up behind Rukia as she looked around to grasp the situation. Hinamori and Komamura shouted, but it was too late.
"Well, well. I see. I never believed in things like luck, but perhaps it isn't something to be scoffed at."
"What... Captain Aizen...!? U-ugh!!"
He placed a hand on her shoulder, chuckling to himself. Even without such a strange accident, it would have been easy for Aizen to find her. He had the confidence and the means to capture her no matter where she fled or how far she went. But even he had never expected such an unforeseen development. The hand gripping Rukia's shoulder tightened.
"Ow, ow, ow... Ah! Captain Aizen! I mean, what are you doing!? Let go of Kuchiki!"
"That hurts... Sentaro, look where you're going next time... wait, whaaa!? Why!?"
"Just hurry up and get off me!! How long do you plan on sitting on top of me!?"
A moment later, the other three woke up. While complaining of pain and bickering, they looked around like Rukia and were struck with shock.
"C-Captain Komamura!?"
"Why!? What happened!? What does this mean!?"
"You two from the Thirteenth Division! Explanations come later! I don't know the details, but Aizen is suspected of some kind of treason!! Aizen! Release her!! I will not tolerate such a cowardly act as taking a hostage!"
"Kuchiki!"
Komamura drew his Zanpakuto while shouting. Yasutora Sado stood beside him, his right arm transforming into its armored state.
"Y-Yes sir!"
"I don't know what's going on, but... Captain Aizen! We're taking Kuchiki back!!"
"Ouch..."
Following them, Kiyone Kotetsu, Sentaro Kotsubaki, and Tetsuzaemon Iba lined up to surround Aizen. During this, Aizen remained silent with his head down. The one who noticed the danger was Hinamori, who had not joined the encirclement.
"...!! No! Run awa—"
"Bakudo Number Seventy-Five, Gojutekkan."
Her scream-like shout was drowned out by the sound of massive pillars falling from the sky.
"Ah... ah..."
"Guh..."
"Ugh..."
Gojutekkan is a powerful Bakudo that strikes five pillars into the target, pinning all five limbs to the ground. None of the five people could react to this Kido, which was fired instantly without an incantation. Each of them was crushed under the weight of the pillars.
"Pseudo-Incantation..."
It was an advanced Kido technique that produced the same effect as reciting an incantation multiple times by pouring in spiritual pressure. Through this pseudo-incantation, he had produced the effect of activating Gojutekkan ten times at once. Even if she knew the technique, it was no wonder Hinamori was terrified by the sheer magnitude of the effect.
"I overdid it—"
Aizen muttered while surrounded by a mountain of pillars. As if his voice had reached them, several of the pillars began to crack with sharp snapping sounds.
"Bankai! Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh!!"
"—Or perhaps not."
A giant clad in armor emerged from within, blowing away the mountain of pillars as if they were a pile of building blocks. A close look revealed Komamura at its feet, mirroring the giant's stance. Summoning a giant and controlling it in synchronization with one's own movements—this was the ability of Komamura's Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh. He used that immense power to forcibly repel the Gojutekkan.
No, if we're talking about brute force, one more person must not be forgotten.
"Guh... Hmph!!"
Not to be outdone by Komamura, Yasutora Sado appeared, throwing aside the iron pillars. It seemed he had broken through Gojutekkan with pure physical strength. In reality, it was likely due to the ability manifested in his right arm, but it looked like nothing but the result of pure muscle.
"What incredible strength..."
Uryu Ishida, who was standing a short distance away because he had lost his fighting strength, couldn't be blamed for muttering those words.
"Aizen! Prepare yourself!!"
"—!!"
Before the attacks from Komamura's Bankai and Sado's right arm could reach him—
"Hado Number Ninety, Kurohitsugi."
Aizen activated another Kido. The technique, which surrounds and crushes the target with a torrent of gravity, created a scene that looked exactly like being trapped in a black coffin. But it was only for a moment; the lid of the coffin opened immediately.
"Ga... ha..."
"Guh..."
The two men collapsed, coughing up blood as if their entire bodies had been crushed.
"N-Not yet..."
"...Ugh... damn it..."
"You are certainly resilient. Just go to sleep already."
Aizen sighed and drew his Zanpakuto as Komamura and the other reached out for him persistently even after taking the Kurohitsugi.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"
"Miss Hinamori!"
"That's a good strike. As I thought, if Airi Yukawa were here, she might have done a bit better."
To prevent him from acting, Hinamori, who had been focused on guarding Orihime and the others, finally moved. It was a move that should have taken him by surprise to some extent, but such a thing could never work against Aizen.
"Now, as expected... it's a pity."
"Agh...!"
He easily brushed aside her full-force strike and kicked her in the face as if cutting off any lingering attachment. Then, he turned his gaze toward the remaining Orihime and Uryu.
"I don't know if you heard it from Yoruichi Shihoin or from Airi Yukawa, but surely you have heard about me? Do not resist an opponent you cannot win against. That is fine; that is the wise choice for the weak."
"What...!"
Since you can never win, I will let you go. The moment he said that, Orihime called out Tsubaki.
"Tsubaki! I refuse!"
"...Hm?"
The blow she launched was weak from Aizen's perspective. He could have dealt with it in any number of ways with a single thought, yet he dodged it while watching with interest.
"I won't let you have... Miss Kuchiki...!"
She shouted with determination, but her words didn't reach Aizen's ears. He simply remained silent, thinking deeply about something, and eventually reached a conclusion.
"It is interesting, but I am a bit busy right now."
"Ah!"
By the time she shouted, it was too late. Aizen gave a faint smile at Orihime's reaction, grabbed Rukia, and vanished. Aizen's form disappeared, and although she could feel his spiritual pressure receding, there was nothing Orihime—who lacked movement techniques—could do. If there was anything she could do now, it was—
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"
—to cry out.
While experiencing the sensation of her own world crumbling beneath her feet, tormented by regret and frustration, a hand was gently placed on her shoulder.
"Miss... Hinamori...?"
"You can't, Orihime. Just crying isn't enough. We still have to do our best!"
Hinamori herself had been kicked by Aizen and suffered injuries that were far from shallow. Even so, she looked out for Orihime and spoke to her, causing the girl to wipe away her tears.
"Yes!"
"First, we must... everyone..."
The two remaining women used their abilities to treat the injured.
"..."
Uryu could only watch the scene. He, too, was filled with regret.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]