Game Master

The souls of East 62nd District had disappeared, so they needed to pass through the eastern gate, Seiryu Gate.

The gatekeeper of Seiryu Gate was named Wei Wan. Gaoyu took a look and saw that he had a Soul Ability, too.

His Soul Ability was Deeply Trapped Illusionist. It allowed him to place himself in a hypnotic illusion.

Useful. Although it made him fall into an illusion himself, it could still come in handy when needed.

Hmm, another potential friend!

But he definitely didn't have time to befriend Wei Wan now. After passing through Seiryu Gate, their squad of Soul Reapers continued swiftly eastward.

The journey from the Fifth Division to East 62nd District was a long one. They might not even make it in a single day.

And since they might have to fight once they reached the 62nd District's Flower Wither, they needed to stop and rest somewhere along the way.

Once night had nearly fallen, they pitched tents out in the wilderness. By then, Gaoyu had grown even more cautious.

Last time, it had been Kensei Muguruma who was attacked by Aizen and the others while they were camped. Gaoyu figured it would be the same this time.

But last time, Aizen had gone to such lengths to deal with Kisuke Urahara and several Captain-level Soul Reapers. This time, was it just for him?

That was way over the top, wasn't it?

Gaoyu clicked his tongue, then called out to Toru Tanimoto.

"Tanimoto, are we on watch at this hour?"

Of course, not everyone in the squad could rest. Someone always had to patrol outside.

Toru Tanimoto waved a hand. "No. You're paired with Fujita."

The Vice-Captain and four seated officers had been split into three teams to take turns keeping watch: the Fourth Seat and Ninth Seat together, the Fifth Seat and Sixth Seat together, and Gin Ichimaru alone.

Naturally, that only accounted for the seated officers. They also had to bring along some Soul Reapers.

Gaoyu's partner on watch was Satoru Fujita, the Fifth Division's Fourth Seat. Gaoyu was a little disappointed; he wasn't too fond of Fujita's ability.

Fujita's Soul Ability was Sleep When You Want. It let him fall asleep instantly whenever he wanted to.

Damn, what was the use of that ability?!

I don't have insomnia!

Someone who did might desperately need it, though.

But...

He really wasn't in the mood to win anyone's favor tonight. He needed to keep a careful eye on his surroundings and make sure he didn't end up dead for no reason.

By the bonfire in front of the tents, Gaoyu sat before the blazing flames, already prepared to use Black Sun.

For several months, Gaoyu had poured roughly half his Spiritual Power into Black Sun almost every day. After all that continual infusion, Black Sun's power had become quite considerable.

However, he could only use it once.

If only he could permanently acquire Destruction Death Ray.

Gaoyu looked toward the tents, where Toru Tanimoto was. Tanimoto already thought highly of him, but his favorability hadn't reached eighty yet.

Of course, apart from Black Sun, he also had an attack skill called Fireball Jutsu, though he had no idea how much destructive power it had.

During this time, he had basically obtained every Soul Ability in the squad. They were all one-use abilities, but he might find a use for them someday.

For instance, right now. As Gaoyu looked over the skills he had learned, he suddenly froze.

He noticed that Game Master was glowing.

That meant the ability was currently in a state where it could be activated.

A game?

He wasn't playing a game right now.

Gaoyu sat by the bonfire, frowning. Then, all at once, an idea struck him!

A game?!

That was right. He might not be playing an actual game, but...

Wasn't he caught up in a game set up by Aizen?!

What was a game?

If the organizer thought it was a game and the participants thought it was a game, then damn it, it was a game!

Aizen had clearly set up this whole chessboard as a game, and Gaoyu himself thought of it as the little game Aizen had arranged.

So didn't that mean this operation really was a game?

That settled it!

Suppressing his excitement, Gaoyu immediately activated Game Master.

In an instant, he felt everything around him change.

Everything seemed brand-new. Gaoyu looked at the Soul Reapers around him. They hadn't changed, but when he glanced toward Toru Tanimoto, he saw a red figure inside the tent!

?

Oh, no!

Was it Tanimoto, or someone near him?

What did red mean?

Gaoyu's mind was in a jumble for a moment, but perhaps because Game Master was working on him, he soon managed to sort things out.

He sighed softly, then stood up.

Watching Gaoyu head toward the tent, Satoru Fujita said, "Gaoyu, it's not time to switch shifts yet!"

"I know. I just need to take care of something."

Gaoyu walked up to the tent and said softly, "Tanimoto, are you in there?"

Before long, Tanimoto's voice came from inside.

"I'm here. Gaoyu? What is it?"

Gaoyu lifted the tent flap and went inside.

He saw seven or eight Soul Reapers in the tent. Most notably, a Soul Reaper beside Tanimoto was glowing red.

Gaoyu sighed and said to him, "Kawai? Oh, no. What should I call you now?"

After several months of friendly interaction, Gaoyu knew every Soul Reaper in the Fifth Division and could call each of them by name.

Kawai was a young man who had joined the division after Gaoyu. He had only been in the Fifth Division for three years, and he looked fair and clean-cut. At Gaoyu's words, he looked confused.

Tanimoto was puzzled. He looked at Kawai beside him, then at Gaoyu. "Gaoyu, what are you talking about?"

But in an instant, Kawai drew his Zanpakuto and slashed fiercely at Toru Tanimoto!

The strike was unbelievably fast, and Toru Tanimoto had never imagined that a fellow squad member beside him would attack him!

But just as the blade was about to pierce his Chain of Fate, Gaoyu moved.

With a single Flash Step, Gaoyu appeared in front of Kawai, his Zanpakuto already swinging.

In an instant, the blade swept across Kawai's throat!

Pfft!

A torrent of blood burst from Kawai's throat, splattering across the tent!

"?!"

Tanimoto gasped for breath. Staring at Kawai, who had just died right in front of him, he hurriedly asked between breaths,

"W-what... what happened?!"

Gaoyu didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Kawai's "corpse."

The next moment, Kawai gave him a sinister smile!