The Changing Situation

A victorious smile spread across Aaroniero's face. Standing atop the waves, he spoke.

"Captain, you never expected this, did you? Even with the same Zanpakuto, in the hands of one who has devoured 33,650 Hollows, its power is far beyond anything Shiba Kaien from your memories could compare to."

As Aaroniero's voice fell, the tide that had submerged Ukitake Jūshirō gradually calmed, revealing his figure floating in the water as though he had fallen unconscious.

At that moment, seeing Ukitake Jūshirō seemingly devoid of any ability to resist, unmistakable greed appeared on Aaroniero's face.

In terms of value alone, even though Shiba Kaien had been a Vice-Captain born into one of the Four Great Noble Clans, he was not remotely comparable to Ukitake Jūshirō.

Beyond mere spiritual pressure and abilities, what mattered more was that once he devoured Ukitake Jūshirō and obtained all his memories, there would be almost no secrets left in the entire Soul Society for Aaroniero.

With that thought, Aaroniero understood that the chaos of the battlefield would not give him much time. Without hesitation, he lunged at Ukitake Jūshirō, intending to forcibly devour him.

However, consumed by desire and greed, Aaroniero failed to notice that the Zanpakuto in Ukitake Jūshirō's hands had yet to be released from Shikai.

Moreover, hidden behind Ukitake Jūshirō's figure lying in the water, the five tags on the chain linking the two blades of Sōgyo no Kotowari had all lit up completely.

Just as Aaroniero drew close enough, Ukitake Jūshirō's tightly shut eyes abruptly opened. He pointed the Sōgyo no Kotowari in his right hand at Aaroniero and said,

"Arrancar, die to your greed—die beneath Kaien's power!!"

In an instant, the five panels behind Ukitake Jūshirō, which had stored the power of Nijirika absorbed during the previous tidal assault, unleashed it