Destroying the Sōkyoku

The next morning.

Inside the secret training base, an enormous surge of reiatsu suddenly erupted, shaking loose a constant shower of rubble from the surrounding rock walls.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni opened his eyes and looked toward the center of the training ground.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood there, his Shihakushō now transformed into tight black clothing, an entirely black longsword in his hand.

Across from him, the manifested Zangetsu slowly faded away.

"He did it."

Yoruichi looked at Ichigo, a smile appearing on her face.

"This is my Bankai?"

Ichigo looked down at the sword in his hand, clearly finding it hard to believe.

His original huge sword was gone, replaced by a seemingly ordinary black longsword.

"Don't judge it by appearances."

Yoruichi walked over to him and reminded him, "Your Bankai compressed an enormous amount of power into this sword and your Shihakushō. The real improvement is your speed."

Ichigo raised his head.

"Is it enough to beat Byakuya Kuchiki?"

"You won't know until you fight him."

Yoruichi turned toward the training ground's exit.

"It's almost noon."

Yoriichi stood and hung Hekyō at his waist.

Orihime and Chad also finished training and hurried over.

"Let's go."

Sōkyoku Hill.

Rukia Kuchiki was bound to the execution scaffold and slowly raised into the air.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the front of the execution grounds, holding his cane. Behind him stood Byakuya Kuchiki, Gin Ichimaru, Shunsui Kyōraku, and the others.

The entire execution ground was frighteningly quiet.

"Condemned prisoner Rukia Kuchiki."

Yamamoto looked up at the scaffold and asked gravely, "Do you have any last words before your execution?"

Rukia fell silent for a moment.

"I have only one request."

She lowered her head and looked at the people below.

"Please pardon the Ryoka who entered the Seireitei and let them return safely to the World of the Living."

Yamamoto did not hesitate.

"Once the execution is over, I will grant your request."

"Thank you, Captain-Commander."

Rukia slowly closed her eyes.

At the last moment, she still could not help looking toward Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Brother..."

Byakuya Kuchiki stood where he was, his face expressionless.

He did not answer.

Rukia withdrew her gaze.

Perhaps this was for the best.

At least her death would no longer bring trouble to the Kuchiki Clan.

Yamamoto raised his cane and struck it heavily against the ground.

"Kidō Corps, release the Sōkyoku."

The thick ropes rapidly fell away. Flames enveloped the enormous Sōkyoku spear, which then transformed into a gigantic bird of fire that blotted out the sky.

Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu.

It possessed the combined power of a million Zanpakuto, enough to completely vaporize Rukia's spiritual body in an instant.

Shunsui Kyōraku lowered his woven hat slightly, his gaze sweeping into the distance.

"Why isn't Ukitake here yet?"

Standing behind him, Nanao Ise said quietly, "Captain, this isn't the time to worry about others."

"I know."

Shunsui Kyōraku rested his hand on his sword hilt.

Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu spread its wings, let out a piercing cry, and dived toward Rukia.

A scorching wave of air instantly swept across the execution grounds.

Rukia closed her eyes and waited for the final moment.

Boom!

A thunderous crash rang out.

The pain she had expected never came.

Rukia opened her eyes.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood in front of the scaffold, holding his sword aloft with one hand and stopping Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu head-on.

"Hey."

Ichigo looked back at her with a grin. "I came to save you."

Rukia's eyes widened.

"Ichigo?"

"You idiot! Who told you to come here!"

She struggled to free herself from her restraints, her eyes full of anxiety.

"You can't possibly win! Why did you insist on coming here to die!"

Another figure landed atop the scaffold right after him.

Yoriichi stood beside Ichigo and looked up at Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu.

"Captain, it's them."

Nanao Ise recognized Yoriichi at once.

Shunsui Kyōraku let out a relieved breath.

"Young Yoriichi, you finally made it."

Below Sōkyoku Hill, Orihime looked up worriedly.

"Will Tsugikuni-kun and Kurosaki-kun be all right?"

"Have faith in them."

Chad spoke in a low voice.

Yoriichi had told them to wait at the foot of the hill. Too many captains were gathered here; following him up would only put them in danger.

As for Yoruichi, she had left on her own before they entered the execution grounds to look for Second Division Captain Soi Fon.

On the scaffold, Rukia was still shouting.

"Ichigo! Why did you come here!"

"You know perfectly well that you can't beat my brother! This time, you'll definitely be killed!"

"I was already prepared to die! I don't need you to save me! Leave this place now!"

Ichigo forced Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu back, then turned to her.

"You're too loud."

"I came to take you away. I'm not going back without you."

Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu circled through the air, the flames on its body swelling once again.

Ichigo rested Zangetsu on his shoulder.

"Charging up for a second strike?"

"Bring it on."

"Ichigo, stop!"

Rukia's face went pale, and she shouted urgently, "You can't block it again! This time, you'll be completely crushed, soul and all!"

Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu let out a long cry and charged at the two of them again.

Just then, a figure in white landed at the edge of the execution grounds.

"Sorry, I was delayed on the way."

Jūshirō Ukitake planted a shield bearing the Shihoin family crest in front of him.

Shunsui Kyōraku immediately drew his swords.

"Ukitake, now."

Their reiatsu rose simultaneously.

"Flower winds fall into disarray, the flower god cries; heavenly winds fall into disarray, the heavenly demon laughs. Katen Kyōkotsu."

"All waves, become my shield. All lightning, become my blade. Sōgyo no Kotowari!"

Both streams of power poured into the shield at once. Enormous ropes shot into the air, temporarily trapping Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu.

Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu struggled wildly, its fierce flames battering its surroundings.

Yoriichi took a step forward.

"There's no need for all that trouble."

He drew the dark gray Hekyō.

Holding the sword in both hands, Yoriichi calmly swung it down.

"Twelfth Form, Flame Heaven: Severing Destruction."

A golden-red slash descended from the blade, instantly piercing through Kōkō Gonryō Rikyu.

The gigantic bird of fire stopped moving.

The next moment, its enormous body split down the middle and, before everyone's eyes, dissolved into countless particles of reishi and vanished completely.

Sōkyoku Hill fell deathly silent.

Shunsui Kyōraku looked at the swords in his hands and remained silent for several seconds.

"After all that preparation, we couldn't match one casual swing from young Yoriichi."

Ukitake said quietly, "Young people these days really are frightening."

Boom!

A terrifying weight of reiatsu suddenly bore down.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto opened his eyes and glared at the three of them.

"Shunsui Kyōraku! Jūshirō Ukitake!"

"You dare openly defy the execution order and obstruct the carrying out of justice! How will you answer for your crimes!"

His gaze shifted to Yoriichi.

"And you, Ryoka! You dared destroy the Sōkyoku! Your crime is unforgivable!"

Shunsui Kyōraku lowered his two swords to his sides, his expression unusually serious.

"Captain-Commander, this execution itself is full of suspicious circumstances."

"We simply refuse to rashly carry out an unjust sentence."

Yoriichi sheathed his sword.

"I'm only doing what I believe is right."

Yamamoto's reiatsu rose again.

Meanwhile, Ichigo had already slashed through Rukia's shackles.

The execution scaffold broke apart with a crash.

Byakuya Kuchiki finally moved.

He drew Senbonzakura, his icy gaze falling on Ichigo.

"Ryoka Ichigo Kurosaki, you dare trespass on the execution grounds and destroy an instrument of capital punishment."

"Today, I will execute you here."

Ichigo shielded Rukia behind him and raised Tensa Zangetsu.

"I'm going to beat you right here and take Rukia away."

Just then, Renji Abarai rushed up Sōkyoku Hill.

"Rukia!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe immediately blocked his path. His movements appeared fierce, but he deliberately aimed his Zanpakuto half a foot wide.

Renji rolled with the opening and charged straight past him.

Watching this, Shunsui Kyōraku could not help saying, "Senior Chōjirō, that performance was far too half-hearted."

Ukitake nodded slightly.

"Indeed."

Chōjirō Sasakibe remained expressionless, as though he had heard nothing.

Not far away, Gin Ichimaru still wore his narrow-eyed look.

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