The Ukitake Family's Entanglement of Love and Hate, Jushiro's Excessive Pride

Rumble!

A blast of golden lightning descended from the heavens, striking with perfect accuracy near the ancient building. The explosion shattered the silence.

Like a spear piercing heaven and earth, it tore apart the barren land.

The air seemed scorched, thick with the stench of burning.

The all-out strike directly blasted the ancient building into ruins. Countless tiles, rubble, and clouds of dust scattered in every direction, burying the people conducting the ritual.

"You certainly know how to pick your timing, Captain Ukitake."

Su Feng's tone was exceedingly hostile, heavy with the smell of gunpowder.

"You were nowhere to be seen before every member of the Ryūdōji Clan died, yet you came to clean up after the ritual was already complete?"

The one who had suddenly appeared and launched a Kido spell without a word was the current captain of the Thirteenth Division, the pride of the Ukitake Clan—Jushiro Ukitake.

"Cough, cough... Captain Su Feng, please do not misunderstand."

The sickly Jushiro Ukitake coughed twice, a strained smile appearing on his honest face.

"I merely came to atone..."

Buzz—

In the distance, spiritual pressure erupted. Dust surged and scattered.

The scene within was revealed. Several dozen figures stood where they were, their leader covered in black patterns. Countless eyes even clung to his haori, making him look horrifying and grotesque.

"Brother, you have violated the rules of the Ukitake Clan."

Jushiro Ukitake's expression grew more serious. "Using the flesh and souls of nobles to worship Mimihagi-sama is an absolute taboo."

"You were the one who told me that rule."

Yet all he received in response was mad laughter and a twisted face beyond recognition.

"Hahahaha!"

"You are still as pretentious as ever, Jushiro Ukitake."

"What Mimihagi-sama is left in the shrine now? There is nothing but a trace of the Soul King's Power!"

The black figure wore a savage expression as he let out an enraged roar. "Mimihagi-sama was eaten by you centuries ago!"

"You monopolized Mimihagi-sama's power, and now you come here pretending to be a good person."

"How disgusting!!"

As his emotions churned, the tangible black spiritual pressure around him grew increasingly solid, turning into clumps of shadows that writhed without end.

"What happened back then was not something I could control."

Jushiro Ukitake shook his head and said helplessly, "Mimihagi-sama chose me as its vessel."

"My parents only wanted me to keep living."

As Su Feng listened to the conversation between the two brothers and combined it with what he knew, he roughly understood what had happened.

When Jushiro Ukitake was three years old, he had contracted an extremely severe lung disease. Even the doctors of the Shin'ō Reijutsuin Medical Division at the time had been unable to treat him. Unwilling to give up, his parents had tried to pray to Mimihagi through a ritual.

Fortunately, Mimihagi responded to the ritual and chose Jushiro Ukitake as its vessel, pouring nearly all of its power into his internal organs.

What remained in the shrine was merely a portion of the Soul King's Power left behind through countless years.

The true Soul King's Right Arm had long since fused with Jushiro Ukitake.

As for how his brother had learned these secrets, that was unknown.

Perhaps it had been recorded in the family archives, or perhaps their parents had told him.

However.

Su Feng did not care about any of that.

What intrigued him was Jushiro Ukitake himself.

What kind of lung disease could leave him looking so sickly even after merging with the Soul King's Right Arm?

The Soul King's Left Arm governed evolution, while the Right Arm governed stasis.

Across the Three Worlds, it could be considered one of the highest forms of power.

Yet even so, it had been unable to keep Jushiro Ukitake healthy.

By that logic, the lung disease clinging to him was the strongest thing of all. Judging by its rank alone, it might even surpass the Soul King's Power!

Terrifying indeed.

Su Feng secretly marveled.

"No matter!" the black shadow roared. "I have already obtained the Soul King's Power. All I need to do is kill you, and I can reclaim Mimihagi-sama's power!"

"Then I can even ascend to the Soul King Palace and become the one supreme existence in the Three Worlds!"

As expected.

The ambitions of schemers in this world were often astonishingly alike.

"Your mind has been blinded by folly."

Jushiro Ukitake's face turned cold as he drew his Zanpakuto from his waist and faced the nobles.

"Brother, you have completely fallen."

"I will end this mistake and preserve the stability of Soul Society."

"Let all waves become my shield, let all lightning become my blade."

Azure spiritual pressure surged around him, flowing over the blade in his hand like water.

"Sogyo no Kotowari!"

As his words fell, the blade in his hand split into two. Branch-like extensions spread from the backs of the blades like fish fins, while ropes connected the ends of their hilts. Five talismans hung from the ropes, swaying continuously.

Sogyo no Kotowari, one of Soul Society's exceedingly rare paired Zanpakuto.

Facing his brother, who had seized the remaining Soul King's Power, Jushiro Ukitake had brought out his full strength without hesitation.

If not for his poor health, Su Feng had every reason to suspect that he would have released his Bankai immediately.

Just as Aizen had said, the captain of the Thirteenth Division was far too proud.

He was so eager to erase the Ukitake Clan's stain that his actions had become somewhat unlike his usual character.

Su Feng could not say much about Jushiro Ukitake.

But from certain things he had done, it was not difficult to tell that this seemingly gentle captain was also someone who could not tolerate even the slightest flaw.

Or rather, his gentleness was reserved only for the Gotei 13.

The fact that he had proposed using the Substitute Shinigami Badge to monitor Substitute Shinigami—and advocated killing them outright should they offer any resistance—was enough to reveal a thing or two.

Beneath that gentle exterior hid an equally cold heart.

"Then die!"

The black shadow roared, raising and slamming down his right hand. The black patterns on his body sank directly into the ground, transforming into countless shadows that rushed toward Jushiro Ukitake.

Black patterns also surged through the sky, forming snake-like shapes that locked onto Jushiro Ukitake and shot toward him.

The battle was about to begin.

Jushiro Ukitake used Shunpo, leaving an afterimage behind as he charged into the shadows with determined eyes. His figure twisted and darted through them, his haori fluttering.

Even as countless shadows formed an inescapable net, even as Jushiro Ukitake coughed up blood again and again, they still could not touch so much as the corner of his clothes.

The strength of a veteran captain was fully displayed!

"Captain, are we really just going to watch?"

Nanao Ise cautiously reminded him, "Captain Ukitake's body may not be able to endure such intense combat. I am worried..."

Su Feng waved a hand and replied indifferently, "It is fine. We can act after both sides have suffered."

"Our opponent is not that simple, and Jushiro Ukitake is not as strong as he seems."

"In the end, this prey will still belong to me..."

Dear readers, please do not stockpile chapters during the new book period. Follow-up reading is extremely important for a new book and concerns its future fate. Once it is released, I will also increase the update frequency. My sincere thanks in advance.

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