Chapter 47: Well Then, Thank You
The reason the captains reacted this way was entirely due to the spiritual particle fluctuations around them.
At this moment, the spiritual particle fluctuations around the Sōkyoku execution platform were identical to the spiritual pulse that had erupted earlier at the First Division headquarters.
Boom!
A golden pillar of light shot into the sky. Soi Fon, Byakuya Kuchiki, and the others scattered in all directions. Only Yamamoto Genryūsai and Kyōraku Shunsui remained still. The two exchanged a glance, both understanding what the other intended. Yamamoto shattered the wooden staff in his hand, drawing Ryūjin Jakka and thrusting it into the ground. Kyōraku did the same.
They did this to suppress the spiritual particle fluctuations beneath the mountain, preventing a spiritual explosion from shooting straight into the sky. If that happened, all the vice-captains present would die.
Thud!
The execution platform built on the mountain’s edge instantly shattered. The Sōkyoku’s rack collapsed first, sending large chunks of stone tumbling into the forest below.
The Apostle’s Eye in midair relayed this scene back to Su Xiao’s vision. He was currently deep in the forest at the mountain’s base.
“It worked. You have half an hour—no, at most twenty minutes. That old man is a monster, and he has his prized disciple Kyōraku Shunsui with him. Twenty minutes is the limit.”
Su Xiao spoke from within the forest. The ground beneath his feet was covered in a vast array of alchemical formations—an energy circuit hub. The spiritual particle explosion on the execution platform earlier had been triggered by him. Unfortunately, due to the short preparation time, the explosion had been suppressed by Yamamoto Genryūsai.
Su Xiao had never expected this spiritual explosion to kill captain-level Shinigami. His real goal was to stall Yamamoto and Kyōraku Shunsui. These two wouldn’t abandon the vice-captains to their deaths.
The spiritual explosion had barely ignited before it fizzled out. But just as Yamamoto and Kyōraku suppressed it, a layer of plasma net expanded outward. Outside the net stood Bubu Wang, his face twisted in pain. Both the high-purity spiritual particle sphere and the plasma net had been set up by him inside the mountain.
Forty-eight negative-ion plasma superconducting devices hung motionless in midair, forming a plasma sphere twenty meters in diameter, trapping Yamamoto and Kyōraku inside. Even with their immense combat power, they couldn’t break through the plasma net quickly. The negative-ion plasma superconducting devices were the Bana Dwarf Clan’s foundation for standing in the void.
The rank of the Bleach world couldn’t compare to the void at all. Some aggressive races in the void could easily flatten the Bleach world. Even the final boss, Yhwach, couldn’t stop them. Yhwach was only omnipotent within the Bleach world. If he faced those races roaming the void, his omniscience and omnipotence would have limited effect—this was a difference in world rank.
As for the Demon Clan, one of the top races in the void, their combat power was on an entirely different level. The old monsters of the Demon Clan were far more terrifying than Yhwach, let alone the spellcasters of Arcane Eternal Star, who could even strip the spiritual particles from the Bleach world, causing its rule system to collapse.
After the execution platform completely collapsed, the plasma sphere floated into midair. It only twisted occasionally, and the flames inside couldn’t spread out.
With the platform gone, spiritual particle turbulence filled the air. To avoid being caught in it, the Shinigami descended into the forest below. Rukia, protected by Hana-chan, was unharmed.
Hana-chan burst out of the spiritual turbulence and landed in the forest. After extensive investigation, she had discovered the secret of the Central 46 Chamber that morning: all forty sages and six judges inside were dead.
Upon discovering this shocking change, Hana-chan remained calm because she had already pieced everything together. She realized that the previous spiritual pulse had nothing to do with Aizen’s murder—they were two separate incidents.
Whether it was Sajin Komamura’s death or the stolen Zanpakutō, neither was related to Aizen’s death. These events were like smoke bombs, even causing the captains to momentarily overlook Aizen’s murder.
Thus, Hana-chan separated the two matters. She attributed Sajin Komamura’s death, the stolen Zanpakutō, and the spiritual pulse to Su Xiao. As for Aizen’s murder and the Central 46 Chamber’s upheaval, those might be connected.
Combined with the strange feeling from “Aizen’s corpse,” Hana-chan found the “dead Aizen” suspicious. Aizen’s death was like a fuse, pulling everything into the open.
After investigating these matters, Unohana Retsu didn’t make them public. She suspected that such things couldn’t be done by one or two people, so she believed there was a traitor within the Gotei 13. The intruders who had broken into the Seireitei were actually more trustworthy because their goal was simple: to save Rukia Kuchiki.
Three figures burst out of the forest, heading straight for Hana-chan.
“Ichigo?”
Rukia Kuchiki, standing behind Hana-chan, was stunned. She hadn’t expected Kurosaki Ichigo to appear at this moment.
“Rukia, are you okay?”
A male Shinigami beside Kurosaki Ichigo spoke. He had red hair wrapped in bandages.
“Renji, what’s going on here?”
Kurosaki Ichigo flexed his numb arm. He had been about to pull off a “hero saves the beauty” move but had taken a spiritual bomb to the face and been blasted back.
“This isn’t the time to discuss that. We need to find a way to take Rukia. She… is hard to handle.”
The Kurosaki team consisted of three people. Besides Renji Abarai, there was a dark-skinned woman—Yoruichi Shihōin, the twenty-second head of the Shihōin family. She knew how strong Unohana Retsu was.
“Oh my, how lively. Captain Unohana, should I interpret your actions as an open rebellion against the Seireitei?”
Gin Ichimaru stood on a tree branch, smiling. He hadn’t been exposed yet, so he was still nominally on the Seireitei’s side.
As the situation developed to this point, the contractors watching from a distance were baffled. They couldn’t understand what was happening.
Just as Unohana Retsu, Kurosaki Ichigo, Gin Ichimaru, and the others were in a standoff, two more figures rushed out of the forest—Soi Fon and Byakuya Kuchiki.
There were seven people present. Aside from Gin Ichimaru and Unohana Retsu, no one understood the current situation, so no one made a move.
“Forget all that. First, save Rukia.”
Kurosaki Ichigo raised his hand to grip the hilt of the sword on his shoulder. The bandages wrapped around Zangetsu unraveled.
“Ichigo, calm down.”
Yoruichi knew this strange standoff was wrong. She felt like someone was manipulating everything.
“Kurosaki Ichigo, how long are you going to stand there? As agreed, I’ve already created an opportunity for you to save Rukia Kuchiki.”
A familiar voice reached Hana-chan. The gentle smile she had maintained faded.
Su Xiao leaned against an ancient tree, Bubu Wang crouching beside him.
Kurosaki Ichigo looked at Su Xiao in confusion, but after seeing Bubu Wang beside him, he understood.
“Well then, thank you.”
“Ichigo!”
Yoruichi Shihōin moved to cover Kurosaki Ichigo’s mouth, but it was too late. Kurosaki Ichigo didn’t recognize Su Xiao, but he recognized Bubu Wang, who had helped him many times before.
Hearing Kurosaki Ichigo’s “Well then, thank you,” Renji Abarai beside him took several steps back, staring at Kurosaki Ichigo in disbelief, as if asking, “Do you really know what that guy did in the Seireitei?!”
“No need to thank me. After all, we’re partners.”
As Su Xiao spoke, he patted Bubu Wang’s head. By now, Kurosaki Ichigo also sensed something was wrong. Several pairs of eyes turned to him.