The Throne Awaits Us

The power of "Stillness" vanished completely from the battlefield of Karakura Town.

The situation that had briefly been reversed by "Stillness" shifted again as blood sprayed wildly from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's chest, which had originally been pierced through. The power of Kyōka Suigetsu returned to normal as well, and the situation... once more fell into a state of absolute disadvantage for the Thirteen Divisions.

Meanwhile, Kyōraku Shunsui continued to stare blankly at Ukitake Jūshirō, who had been pierced through in the distance. His face still showed... disbelief as he muttered.

"How... how could this be? Ukitake... is the Soul King's Right Arm. How could he have lost so easily?"

The next moment, Chiba Makoto appeared before Kyōraku Shunsui and spoke in a cold, calm tone.

"'Stillness'? What a boring power. Let alone a mere Ukitake Jūshirō, even the Soul King himself could never hinder a world that keeps moving forward."

"The Thirteen Divisions' defeat will be a foregone conclusion—a conclusion no one can change or obstruct."

Upon hearing that, the shock and confusion in Kyōraku Shunsui's eyes... slowly gave way to resolve. He stared at Chiba Makoto and said.

"A foregone conclusion? Not necessarily. If you want to destroy the Thirteen Divisions, then beat me at my game first."

Seemingly bored out of his mind, Chiba Makoto lightly tapped his mask, then asked, "So, you want to play a game with two people at once?"

"Two people?"

Kyōraku Shunsui froze at those words, then instinctively looked toward Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni had already collapsed in a pool of blood, his life or death unknown. His spiritual pressure had weakened to a level Kyōraku Shunsui had never sensed before.

In his place stood Aizen Sōsuke, dressed in a strange white haori formed from solidified spiritual pressure.

Meeting Kyōraku Shunsui's