Looking up at the sky from the Seireitei, one could see flashes of light and rumbling sounds.
"What a fierce battle! The sounds could be heard even from the Heavenly Heights."
"I wonder how the Captain and the others are doing."
"Such a strong opponent, and the Captain is frail and sickly, I'm afraid..."
With a series of slaps, a hand landed on the back of the heads of the Thirteenth Division Squad Members. Kaien Shiba shouted, "Idiots, how could the Captain be in danger? Now we just need to clear out the remaining enemies and wait for the Captains to return in triumph."
"We're very sorry, we overthought things. The Vice-Captain was right to reprimand us. We'll go and eliminate the remaining enemies immediately!"
The three felt ashamed of their earlier suspicion of their Captain, bowing so low their foreheads almost touched the ground. After a brief reply, they quickly left to search for the hidden creatures.
"What's wrong? Have you started to have doubts too?"
"Of course I believe the Captain."
After the Squad Members left, Kaien Shiba also looked up at the sky. Although his tone was firm when answering his wife Shiba Miyako, an ominous premonition had already formed in his heart.
The attack more than ten years ago was incomplete, and the Court Guard Squads were well aware of the enemy's strength; now the enemy has even breached the Soul King Palace, and even the Zero Division, which is said to be stronger than the Gotei 13, is in need of reinforcements.
Kaien guessed that they might lose some of their Captains this time...
Whether sensing the conviction of his subordinates or not, Ukitake approached the Soul King's Inner Palace alone, stopping on a pile of ruins, and murmured softly, "Kaien, after this, the Thirteenth Division will truly depend on you and Miyako."
"Lord Mimihagi..."
Ukitake muttered incantations as he removed his Captain's Haori and Shihakusho, revealing a black aura behind him that quickly spread throughout his entire body...
When he was young, Ukitake contracted an incurable disease. His family took him to the shrine of the alien indigenous god Mimihagi and offered his lungs as a sacrifice so that Mimihagi could save his life.
What most people don't know is that Mimihagi is actually the Soul King's Right Arm, and Ukitake, through countless years of communication with Mimihagi, not only uncovered his secrets but also learned how to use his power...
This was a Sacrifice ritual in Ukitake Sacrifice all his internal organs to Mimihagi in exchange for power sufficient to replace the Soul King. This ritual was called 'Kamikake'.
When the black, one-eyed totem covers Ukitake's entire body, and the black Reiatsu polymer resembling an eyeball floats behind him, only a thin thread connects it to his back.
The moment the Kamikake was completed, everyone in the Soul King Palace felt as if their hearts had stopped beating... but upon closer inspection, they realized they hadn't stopped.
Located Soul King's Inner Palace, Zero, who was pondering countermeasures and trying to gain the world's recognition, opened his eyes instantly. He could clearly feel a power similar to that of the Soul King approaching.
"The Soul King? Impossible, he's clearly right here and can't move." Zero exclaimed in surprise, while constantly examining the human-pig inside the crystal.
As if seeing through his thoughts, the Soul King said, "That was my lost right arm, which possessed the ability to 'Stillness' all things in the world. The Captain sacrificed himself to activate that power."
"Your right hand? Can't you control it?"
"My right hand no longer carries my will; it has become another soul, capable of acting on its own."
Upon hearing the Soul King's explanation, Zero was astonished; even a mere severed hand could evolve into a powerful, autonomous being.
He also dedicated himself to fulfilling the Hōgyoku's purpose, finding fragments belonging to the Soul King in the World of the Living several times. It is said that the souls who possess these fragments are not weak, and if they become Soul Reaper after death, they can at least reach the rank of Vice-Captain.
Zero couldn't help but sigh, "The Soul King is truly terrifyingly powerful. Any fragment of unconsciousness can create a powerful being, and a limb that regains consciousness can even replace his original body and become the Soul King."
Could his severed limbs replace him as the Soul King? A thought flashed through Zero's mind: If his severed limbs could also evolve into an independent soul, and be weak enough to remain whole and participate in the cycle of reincarnation in this world, could he also be considered a being belonging to this world?
Severed limbs -- transformed into souls -- participated in reincarnation -- merged with the original body -- became Soul King!
Zero grew increasingly excited as he thought about it, and a bold plan took shape in his mind, with the specific steps becoming clearer and clearer...
Although he is not as strong as the Soul King, whose limbs can generate consciousness on their own when the main body is unprepared, it is not difficult for him to create a split soul body with Reishi Arts when prepared.
The Hōgyoku Power, capable of resurrecting the dead, evolving the weak, and fulfilling people's inner desires, makes accomplishing this small matter far too easy...
Just as Zero had figured out the general plan, a black, round-eyed Ukitake suddenly appeared behind him and stood in front of him... At this moment, the Ukitake resembled the incarnation of the Soul King.
When the Kamikake was completed, the 'human tragedy' unique to Kyōraku and Picaro had already been performed in its second act— the Pillow of Shame.
It wasn't just Picaro who got sick this time. Because Kyōraku had just injured Picaro, black spots appeared on Kyōraku's body as well, with poisonous blood gushing out from them, though slightly less than on Picaro.
"Hmph, tear him to pieces!"
Picaro felt a wave of weakness. Unwilling to give up and wait for death, he commanded all the spirits with red eyes, determined to kill Kyōraku before he died of his illness.
Seeing that Picaro had about three hundred spirits left to charge at him, Kyōraku immediately activated the third act – Severed Fish Abyss!
After Kyōraku's Bankai, the effective killing range suddenly turned into an abyss, and the spirits were continuously squeezed and crushed by the water of this abyss, and hundreds of spirits disappeared in an instant.
Picaro tried to swim upstream, but he couldn't reach the surface. So he gritted his teeth and used his Reiatsu to condense ten powerful spirits, each holding two 'small Devouring Fruits ', and charged towards Kyōraku.
Picaro still has a lot of Reiatsu left. If he only supplies these ten spirits, he can keep them alive in the 'Severed Fish Abyss' for the time being.
Realizing the danger, Kyōraku decisively withdrew 'Severed Fish Abyss', and the Reiatsu of his Bankai condensed into a wisp of white Reishi thread.
Kyōraku pinched it between his index and middle fingers and gently swung it, and the other end of the thread had already wrapped around Picaro's neck—Final Act: Thread-Cutting Scissors, Blood-Stained Throat!
Ten spirits rushed towards Kyōraku. Just as their attack began, Kyōraku yanked the silk thread in his hand, unleashing a powerful cutting force that instantly severed Picaro's head from his body... The spirits were also instantly rendered powerless and were about to dissipate.
There were no screams, or rather, he couldn't make a sound; only a pair of eyes, bloodshot red, filled with rage and madness.
Picaro's neck, which was gushing blood, suddenly emitted ten red Reiatsu orbs, which merged into ten dissipating spirits.
The spirit that was about to dissipate instantly solidified, and its Reiatsu ignited... That was the Hōgyoku Power that Zero had just bestowed upon it. Picaro, whose head was separated from his body, instantly knew that there was no hope of salvation. Before his consciousness dissipated, he forcibly divided this power again and gave it to the spirit.
The spirits' Reiatsu reached the initial stage of the Captain-level. Kyōraku, having used up his Bankai, was extremely weak and was instantly struck in the abdomen by a ping-pong ball-sized 'Devouring Fruit,' leaving a hole where blood stained the hem of his Shihakusho.
Kyōraku, who had already lost a lot of blood, was now pale and had purple lips. He had lost too much blood... In his dizziness, he instinctively swung his sword, annihilating the attacking spirit and slightly forcing back the other spirits.
"Even with your head severed from your body, you still choose to fight with all your might? You're trying to drag me down with you! You made the right choice... Goodbye, Little Nanao, Lisa Yadōmaru -chan..."
As the Picaro pounced again, Kyōraku's eyes darkened, and he collapsed, powerless. The spirits swarmed him... Just then, a woman in a black bodysuit rushed in at top speed...
Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai Tsukabishi had originally surrounded Baraggan, having already communicated about the enemy's capabilities.
However, Urahara believed that Yoruichi, who was skilled in close combat, was not suitable to fight Baraggan, so he sent her to support other places first... Sure enough, when she realized that Kyōraku's battle was about to end, Yoruichi came to his rescue.
The remaining store manager and employee exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying the same message: "Let's finish this quickly!"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto suffered a crushing defeat while fighting alone, and Urahara felt that he should not let Captain Ukitake had exhausted all his strength, fight alone as well. Therefore, he believed that he should eliminate one or two opponents as soon as possible to free up some of his forces to provide support.
"Condense!"
The usual comical Barrier was gone from Tessai Tsukabishi's face. He let out a deep shout, pulled out a small cube Barrier from his hand, and threw it towards Baraggan.
Baraggan raised his Death Great Axe and cleaved at the small cube. The Death Breath rushed towards it, but instead passed through the small cube's space, causing it to become unusually Slowing.
"This is... time..."
The astonished Baraggan was about to say something, but he was swallowed up by the Barrier and could no longer move... or rather, he moved very slowly, the scattered and elongated notes no longer forming language, making it impossible to understand what he was saying.
Tessai roared, "Urahara- san, hurry! With this guy's Reiatsu, the Barrier won't hold for long!"
"As expected of the Great Kidō Chief, excellent!"
After giving a word of praise, Urahara began chanting the Kidō. He naturally recognized this forbidden-level Space Kidō; Tessai Tsukabishi had used it to control Hirako and the others' Hollowfication, buying himself precious time for healing.
When he and his companion were tried by the Central 46, the charge was precisely the use of forbidden techniques.
"Hadō #90, Black Coffin!"
Urahara completed his incantation of the Black Coffin, and the giant coffin gradually took shape. As it covered the Barrier, Tessai Tsukabishi instantly withdrew the Barrier, allowing the endless blades within the Black Coffin to slay Baraggan.
After the Black Coffin completed its strike, it began to gradually shatter, but that wasn't the end of it. With a wave of his hand, Tessai unleashed another straight "Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō".
The seamless connection of their advanced Kidō symbolizes their power and tacit understanding.
But after a flash of light, Baraggan's voice, filled with boundless rage, rang out. "Unforgivable! How dare you ants raise your swords against the gods!?"