The Soul King and the King of Hueco Mundo About to Become One

"Aoto, you really kept me in the dark!"

By this time, Aoto had returned to the Soul King Palace with Ukitake Jushiro and the others.

Within the inner halls of the Soul King Palace, after dismissing everyone else, Aoto began drinking with Ukitake Jushiro again.

Only after several rounds of wine did Ukitake Jushiro finally speak his first words since learning Aoto's true identity.

Hearing him, Aoto finally felt relieved... There was no need to imprison him anymore!

"There was nothing I could do about that!" Aoto said with a smile. "Before I reached this height, I'd always believed that I was merely one of the King of Hueco Mundo's incarnations..."