Chapter 73

In his ears...

The sounds of battle grew ever fiercer, blade-light flashing, light-swords crisscrossing.

Not long after.

The protagonist's group fell into a crushing disadvantage.

Inoue Orihime was gravely wounded and unconscious, her "Shun Shun Rikka" dropped to the side, ignored by all.

Shi Tianyu's body was covered in blade wounds, already at the point of his oil and lamp running dry!

"Dammit!"

"Monster, she's a monster!"

"If that's how it is… Scatter-Spirit Gloves, activate!"

Shi Tianyu's furious roar echoed through the air.

A crushing pressure surged skyward, his combat power multiplied several times over!

Scatter-Spirit Gloves.

Once used, he would lose every last shred of his Quincy ability, in exchange for a fleeting, resplendently overwhelming burst of combat power…

Shi Tianyu had gone all-out!

However.

The next instant.

"Bankai."

"All Things End."

Unohana Retsu's gentle voice vanished, replaced by something low and hoarse; her gaze turned ice-cold, as if she had become the most primal, most terrifying killing machine!

A sharp, pungent stench of blood surged into the heavens, and the entire sky seemed stained the color of blood.

But in the blink of an eye…

Shi Tianyu, who had just gone all-out, lay on the ground drenched in blood, his whole body twitching faintly.

Flesh and blood had melted and evaporated away by nearly half, exposing ghastly white bone.

If Sister Hua hadn't held back, Shi Tianyu right now would have been reduced entirely to a snow-white skeleton!

Kuchiki Senya's lips curved slightly upward.

Sister Hua's Bankai—All Things End.

Her Zanpakuto's blade and the surrounding environment would seep out a wide expanse of blood, the blade transforming into blood-blades that could extend and bend…

Anything cut by those blood-blades would have its flesh evaporate and melt away, with no chance of recovery.

Through her own terrifying regenerative ability, Unohana Retsu could heal herself—draining the enemy while sustaining herself, seizing an absolute advantage!

Bankai—All Things End.

It was also one of the most fearsome one-on-one divine techniques in the entire Bleach World!

"Captain Senya, the Division requires these two Ryoka to be detained."

"As for the debts they owe you, once the interrogation is complete, we'll have them pay it back."

Unohana Retsu's Bankai vanished, and she returned to her image of a gentle big sister.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she showed Kuchiki Senya a soft, warm smile.

Awe-inspiring killing intent, blood-soaked fury piercing the heavens…

A harmless, gentle big sister-next-door…

Such an extreme contrast.

Left a whole squad of elite Shinigami slack-jawed, rooted to the spot in a daze...

Kuchiki Senya, for his part, just waved a hand dismissively.

In the Second Division.

The covert mobile squad tasked with guarding the Wine Pool and Meat Grove quietly appeared, two debt contracts in hand.

Inoue Orihime and Shi Tianyu, while still unconscious, had their fingerprints pressed onto the contracts by Kuchiki Senya's subordinates.

If they thought they could default on the debt, or secretly rejoice that once they reached the World of the Living they wouldn't have to pay it back…

Then they were thinking far too simply.

After all, the Kuchiki Clan possessed a colossal, continent-spanning business empire across both Soul Society and the World of the Living!

"Captain Senya, if you have the time, feel free to drop by the Fourth Division." Unohana Retsu's smile remained warm and gentle.

However.

Deep within those gentle eyes of hers, there flickered a fierce, burning longing.

Kuchiki Senya smiled faintly. "We'll see when I'm free."

With his physical condition pushed to the absolute limit, Kuchiki Senya's own perception had reached a terrifying degree.

Unohana Retsu's little movements could not escape his eyes.

Originally.

Sister Hua—once called the most ferocious, most evil arch-villainess—had long since reformed her temperament, going many years without killing.

Her hunger for battle had also been forcibly suppressed to the lowest possible ebb.

However.

After today's Bankai, the battle-hungry factor lurking within her body had been awakened once more, craving a fight against a strong opponent.

Among the other captains of the Gotei 13, some were simply not strong enough, others were opponents Sister Hua had long since crossed blades with—Kenpachi Zaraki, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Now.

She had set her sights on him.

"It's not 'when I have time'—I definitely will." Unohana Retsu's tone was gentle. "If you come, there'll be an unexpected reward!"

What kind of reward?

Are you serious?

Before anyone could ask further, Unohana Retsu, along with a group of elite Shinigami, took Shi Tianyu and Inoue Orihime and left directly.

Heading to the Seireitei prison.

……

At this moment.

The Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

A terrified scream suddenly rang out. Haineko, whose hair was tied into a bun, stared up at the sky in utter horror.

Her whole body trembled slightly from immense fear and fury.

Deep in her eyes, a fierce incomprehension and hatred shone through.

On the towering, snow-white wall.

Fresh bloodstains covered it everywhere, and a familiar body was pinned to the wall by a Zanpakutō, appearing utterly lifeless.

Square-framed glasses lay shattered on the hard floor.

A thick stench of blood rushed in, the scene utterly tragic……

"Cap… Captain Aizen?"

"Captain Aizen!"

……

Not long after.

More and more Shinigami gathered here.

The news of Aizen's death, like a monstrous wave, spread through Soul Society at terrifying speed!

In the captain-class officials' meeting room of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

All the captains had gathered, save for the absence of Aizen and Kuchiki Senya.

In the room.

The atmosphere was extremely solemn.

The captain of the Fifth Division, Aizen Sosuke, was killed at the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' headquarters—and pinned to the wall!

This is a provocation against the entire Thirteen Court Guard Squads!

This is a price that absolutely cannot be tolerated!

The mastermind behind this must be found!

No matter the cost!