The Battle of Sōkyoku Hill (I)

On the Sōkyoku Hill, a giant firebird spread its wings, scorching the entire sky, which was dyed red by the sunset, into a dazzling golden color.

Rukia was slowly hoisted up by the Reishi chains and placed in the center of the rack. Her white Sin Robes fluttered in the scorching wind, and deep red marks were left on her wrists by the stone pillar buckles, but she did not struggle.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood before the group of captains, his hands clasped together, leaning on a cane formed from Ryūjin Jakka. His voice was not loud, but each word was like a red-hot nail, firmly driven into the air distorted by the heat of the flames.

"The Shellbreaker King is the true form of the Sōkyoku Spear. It is the ultimate executor of execution. When it pierces through the sinner, the execution will come to an end."

The captains and Lieutenant present had different expressions. The Sōkyoku, as the ultimate punishment for grave Soul Reaper since the establishment of the Gotei 13, had always been used only as a deterrent and had never been actually used.

Yamamoto raised his eyes, his pupils, weathered by a thousand years of time, revealing no emotion, but his voice carried an extra layer of profound weight.

"This is the first time it has been used. I will take this opportunity, while the Shellbreaker King is gradually awakening, to explain the origin of this item to you all."

He took a step forward, his cane striking the stone slab with a dull thud.

"The Shellbreaker King is an alien creature that fell into this place from the Dangai long before the Gotei 13 was established."

"A demon that expands uncontrollably after touching the Soul Society's Reishi. It can absorb the surrounding Reishi without limit to construct its own body and turn them all into weapons. Moreover, it is an inanimate object, so there is no such thing as death, making it extremely troublesome."

Every flap of the giant firebird's wings caused Sōkyoku Hill to tremble. Waves of heat spread outwards in layers, forcing even the captains standing at a distance to raise their arms to shield themselves from the scorching wind.

"Back then, after I and the creator of the Zanpakuto, Ōetsu Nimaiya, defeated it together, we forged the Sōkyoku Asauchi. We used the blade as a shell to restrict the Reishi it could use, and that's how we were able to quell the situation."

The Sōkyoku Hill was formed during that battle.

His voice deepened, so deep that every word seemed to have been pulled directly from that chaotic battlefield a thousand years ago.

"The Shell -Shellbreaker King that has been brought forth by the Kidō Corps is a projection of the original Shellbreaker King's power, capable of replicating a certain degree of the original's attack. I originally created this as an instrument of torture so that the Grim Soul Reaper, who has committed grave crimes, would deeply understand—on what a magnificent cause his attempt to destroy peace and order was built upon!"

Yamamoto's gaze swept across the faces of every captain present.

"Captains and Lieutenant present, observe this attack closely, and through it, glimpse the chaotic era of a thousand years ago, and once again understand the responsibility you all bear on your shoulders!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

These words seemed to be addressed to everyone present, but only Yamamoto knew that they were spoken to only one person—the one lurking in the shadows, plotting to destroy everything.

"Who would have thought that my great achievements and good intentions would be exploited by villains!"

The Shellbreaker King raised its head, its eyes, formed of flames, slowly opening—filled only with pure, burning energy. It stared at the white figure in the center of the rack, and in that single glance, Rukia's tears evaporated.

At this time, below the Sōkyoku Hill

Yexing Hu was crouching on a section of ancient tree trunk eroded by the wind, waiting for the right moment to strike. His fingers unconsciously tapped the hilt of Jiku'a's sword, his eyes fixed on the giant, fiery bird that blotted out the sky on the Sōkyoku Scaffold.

A memory that never belonged to him was suddenly poured in without warning.

It was a desolate battlefield. The sky was dark red, and the ground was cracked into countless floating islands. Lava gushed out from the cracks, distorting the air with heat. The howls of demons came from all directions, and countless figures filled the horizon.

A warrior stood in the center of the battlefield, with a giant, curved horn on his head, three eyes, and six pairs of wings spread behind him. He held a greatsword taller than a man. His figure was tall and ferocious, with bulging muscles and veins running from his arms to his fingertips. With each swing of his sword, a group of demons were swept into pieces.

He charged alone into the heart of the demon army, like a meteorite crashing into the sea, his aura revealing an ancient and pure will.

The warrior slaughtered his way through the entire demon army; those once invincible demons were like paper before him, and every time his greatsword fell, hordes of enemies fell.

But warriors are always wounded. In one battle, the enemy ambushed him from behind, and a huge demon took advantage of the moment he swung his sword to smash his head with all its might.

With a sharp crack, the curved horn broke off at its base, tumbled through the air a few times, and crashed onto the battlefield. The warrior staggered, seemingly ready to continue fighting, but his memory ended with the breaking of the horn.

Hu opened his eyes, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest, and a fighting spirit that didn't belong to him still surging through his veins.

He could feel his fingertips trembling with excitement. He felt an undeniable closeness to that soldier, as if the soldier's blood was flowing through his veins.

He raised his head and looked in the direction from which his memories drifted.

Shellbreaker King.

That enormous firebird carried the aura of the warrior from Amber's memory.

Hu's brows furrowed. "What exactly was that memory...?"

The Shellbreaker King was now fully prepared.

The giant beak formed from flames was aimed at Rukia, the heat wave blowing her hair into disarray, and the cuffs of her Sin Robe were already beginning to scorch slightly.

Rukia slowly closed her eyes, awaiting death.

Just then, a dark shadow swept across the sky, blocking the path of the Shellbreaker King's charge.

Boom--!

The giant beak of the fiery bird slammed into the blade, and the shockwave exploded outwards from the point of impact.

The captains present all had their pupils contract simultaneously. Although the Shellbreaker King was only a projection, it had the power of a single blow from the real body. Among the captains, only a handful could withstand this attack head-on.

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood suspended in mid-air, wearing Yoruichi Shihōin's levitation cloak, its cape fluttering in the scorching wind. He carried Zangetsu on his back, Zangetsu broad blade positioned directly in front of the Shellbreaker King's massive beak.

"Yo, Rukia." He flashed his usual smile. "I've come to rescue you."

Rukia slowly opened her eyes and saw that head of orange hair, illuminated by the flames, looked like a short, burning flame.

Her lips moved slightly, and a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

"You idiot! Why did you come back again!"

You should know how formidable your older brother is now; you're no match for him at all!

He'll definitely kill you this time!

I'm mentally prepared; I don't need your rescue. Go back!

Ichigo glanced back at her, then looked away, focusing again on the giant firebird that was widening the distance between them. The Shellbreaker King wouldn't stop until it received the required command or exhausted its Reiatsu.

On the ground, Shunsui Kyōraku pushed his straw hat up a little and squinted at the orange-haired boy carrying a large sword in the air.

"Could that kid be that Ryoka?"

Nanao stood beside him, her notebook turned to a page. "Yes, the physical characteristics match the team's report. Orange hair, a huge Zanpakuto."

"I didn't expect them to be the ones to catch up first."

Shellbreaker King raised its head again, its giant beak formed of flames aimed at Ichigo and Rukia, and with a sudden flap of its wings, the entire sky was scorched into a blinding white.

Just as it was about to swoop down—a white figure rushed up the steps. Jūshirō Ukitake stood to the side of the Shellbreaker King, the Shihoin family's armor unfurled in his hands, and countless Reishi chains shot out from the void, binding the Shellbreaker King's wings.

"Shunsui, now is the time!"

Shunsui Kyōraku was already standing on the other side of the Shellbreaker King, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His expression was unusually restrained, devoid of his usual frivolity, and his Reiatsu slowly gathered around him.

Two Captain-level Reiatsu erupted simultaneously, Shellbreaker King in the middle. The Reishi chains tightened, and Kyōraku and Ukitake's blades simultaneously cut into the Core Spell of the Flame Giant Bird through their weaponry.

The Shellbreaker King let out a piercing shriek. Its body began to disintegrate from the inside out—flames peeled away layer by layer, the Core Spell was precisely sliced open by the blade, and the Reishi chains tore its wings apart, the fragments burning away in mid-air.

The entire fiery bird collapsed layer by layer from the outside in, like a dismantled pile of firewood.

"Now!"

Ichigo turned around, gripped Zangetsu with both hands, and slashed it down on the Sōkyoku Scaffold.

The blade sliced into the stone pillar, and the engravings burst forth with a blinding blue light upon contact before shattering. Layer upon layer of seals on the pillar exploded, sending shards of stone flying, and the rack was cut in two.

The Reishi chains all broke, Ichigo grabbed Rukia by the waist and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"Saying you shouldn't save me is so nagging. I reject all your opinions." He carried Rukia and landed on the Sōkyoku Scaffold. "This is the second time. This time it's for real, I've come to save you, Rukia."

The wind Rukia's loose hair. She lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before looking up at him.

Her eyes held the relief of surviving a disaster, the helplessness towards this reckless boy, and a thin layer of warmth that she refused to acknowledge, hidden deep within them.

"I'm not thanking you, Ichigo."

"Hmm." Ichigo grinned, a smile devoid of any malice.

The team leaders below reacted in various ways.

With her arms Fon Shaoling looked at the orange-haired boy standing on the giant rock carrying Zangetsu, and let out a long breath.

"Did we finally make it?"

Jūshirō Ukitake sheathed his armor, his gaze falling on the massive Zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand, and the Sōkyoku Scaffold behind him, now broken in two.

"They can even destroy the Sōkyoku Scaffold? They've gotten so much stronger since two days ago!"

Shunsui Kyōraku covered half his face with the edge of his straw hat, his tone returning to its usual languid manner.

"Are all kids these days so scary? They're growing up at an astonishing rate!"

Byakuya Kuchiki stood in the queue, his empty eyes staring at the orange-haired boy carrying Rukia on his shoulder, at that nonchalant face, his fingers tightening slightly inside his sleeve.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. This time, I will personally nip the source of the chaos in the Seireitei."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto leaned on his cane with his hands clasped together, his expression unwavering, but a glint of almost scrutinizing light flashed in his deep, still eyes.

"This level of Reiatsu is barely acceptable. At least it will allow me to survive in the upcoming battle."

Retsu Unohana stood behind the captains, her hands clasped in front of her. Her gaze wasn't on Ichigo Rukia; she was looking at the shadows below Sōkyoku Hill.

"So far, all developments are proceeding according to plan..."

Fon Shaoling, Retsu Unohana, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood in different positions, but their eyes were fixed on the entrance to the execution ground: Now... let's see what Aizen does next.

Kyōraku and Ukitake exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned their gaze to Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Kyōraku lowered his voice, just Ukitake to hear. "Next... is how to deal with that Old Man Yama."

Byakuya's fingers rested on the hilt of Senbonzakura, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"I must personally defeat Ichigo Kurosaki, the root of all this chaos."

"Ichigo, I'm asking you, what should we do next? Is there really a way to cleverly disappear under so many eyes?"

"Just run."

"How is that possible? There are so many captains standing below; there's no way they could have escaped."

"Then defeat them all and run away." Ichigo hoisted Zangetsu back onto his shoulder as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. "To save you, it wasn't just me. Ishida, Inoue, Chad all came, and Ganju, Hanatarō, and Koko all helped me a lot."

Although I don't know who Marechiyo Ōmaeda is, he has helped us a lot. I want to take all these guys who have helped me with me.

Just then, a staggering figure came up the steps.

Renji Abarai was wrapped in bandages, the blood on his forehead still wet, and his Shihakusho was so tattered that it could barely cover the huge wound on his chest inflicted by Senbonzakura.

He supported himself with the Zabimaru, each step he took was extremely heavy, but he made it up.

"You've come, Renji." Ichigo didn't turn around.

Rukia looked up and saw that Renji was still alive. "Renji!"

Renji looked up and saw Rukia standing there, glowing in the sunset. His eyes reddened slightly, then he grinned, "Rukia!"

"I knew you'd come, Renji!"

"Of course." Renji propped Zabimaru up on the ground to support his trembling body. "If I don't come, who will save Rukia?"

Ichigo smiled slightly, and without giving anyone time to react, he threw Rukia into the air towards Renji.

"Hello!"

Renji's pupils contracted sharply, and he almost instinctively lunged forward, catching Rukia with both hands. The impact caused his wound to reopen, and blood seeped from the gaps in his bandages, making him grimace in pain, but he still managed to catch her steadily.

"You bastard! What if you missed it!"

"Enough talk. Take Rukia and run." Ichigo turned around, hoisted Zangetsu onto his shoulder, and faced the 'watchful' Lieutenant.

Renji watched his retreating figure without saying another word. He pulled Rukia tighter, turned, and rushed down the stairs. "Don't die, Ichigo!"

Fon Shaoling raised her hand, pointing in the direction Renji had fled. "Chase him!"

She turned to the several Lieutenant and, with her fingers hidden in her sleeve, made a gesture to Marechiyo Ōmaeda that only Stealth Force could understand—disrupt the pursuing force.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda and led several Lieutenant in pursuit of Renji.

A figure blocked their path. Reiatsu exploded, and several Lieutenant were simultaneously forced back.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda stood at the very front, being the biggest in size. Ichigo probably wanted to take care of the one who looked the most durable first, so he punched Marechiyo Ōmaeda in the stomach.

The Liver-Blasting Fist struck Marechiyo Ōmaeda in the stomach. Marechiyo Ōmaeda's eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets, and he curled up like a shrimp, his vision filled with static and noise. He felt like he was about to meet his great-grandmother on the spot.

Before losing consciousness, Marechiyo Ōmaeda used his last bit of strength to grab Ichigo's sleeve, brought his lips to Ichigo's ear, and whispered, "You brat... you repay kindness with enmity..."

Ichigo looked at Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who was sprawled on the ground, with a puzzled expression. "What is he saying?"

Below the Sōkyoku Hill, at the entrance to the staircase leading to the execution platform, Sōsuke Aizen and Gin Ichimaru were about to step onto the stairs when a Summoned Swords of eerie blue flew in from the side. The blade grazed Aizen's earlobe and embedded itself in the stone wall behind him, the blade humming.

Aizen turned his head, his gaze slowly shifting from the Summoned Swords nailed to the stone wall to the direction from which the sword had flown. Amber stood on the giant rock beside the steps, Jiku'a hanging at her side, its scabbard gleaming a dark red in the setting sun.

There was no anger in his silver eyes, only a calm, focused concentration.

"Oh? Aren't you going to just teleport here and take my head, Ye Xing?" Aizen's tone was as casual as if he were talking about the weather. "I remember that's one of your specialties."

"Such unexpected tactics won't work on someone like you." Amber gripped Jiku'a tightly, her voice low, but each word landing firmly in the air tinged red by the sunset, "Sōsuke Aizen."

Aizen's lips curled into a slight smile. He raised his hand and pushed up his glasses; the lenses reflected the setting sun, completely obscuring his eyes.

"I am the captain, after all. Isn't it a bit disrespectful of you to call me by my first name like that? And—" He took a step forward, his hands still in his sleeves, his posture as relaxed as if he were taking a stroll, "This should be our first meeting, right, Ye Xing? Isn't it a bit too impolite to greet each other like this on our first meeting?"