Chapter 48: The Choice
As soon as Su Xiao appeared, Soi Fon wanted to rush toward him, but was blocked by Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Eh~"
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the surrounding crowd in confusion. Unfortunately, he was a powerhouse; his intelligence wasn't low, but he was clearly no match for schemers like Su Xiao and Aizen.
"I didn't expect these intruders to be Bai Ye's accomplices."
Gin Ichimaru immediately added fuel to the fire, releasing his spiritual pressure. After drawing the short sword at his waist, he unhurriedly charged toward Retsu Unohana.
The others present might still be confused, but Lady Flower's mind was as clear as a mirror. She quickly moved to stand before Renji Abarai. Among everyone there, Renji Abarai had the least suspicion, almost none at all.
"Take her and go over there."
As she spoke, Lady Flower lightly tossed Rukia Kuchiki, who was behind her, into the air. Renji Abarai quickly caught her, naturally holding her in a princess carry.
"This is..."
Renji Abarai clearly wasn't the intellectual type either. In his mind, only Su Xiao was the villain; everyone else should be on the same side. Why had they suddenly turned on each other?
"Don't hesitate. Their time might be limited."
The direction Lady Flower pointed was exactly where the plasma sphere was located. Although she had stopped the execution, she believed that Yamamoto Genryusai and the others would quickly resolve the current predicament. Only those two could do it.
The reason Lady Flower handed Rukia Kuchiki to Renji Abarai was twofold. First, she wanted to free her hands to deal with Su Xiao. In Lady Flower's mind, Su Xiao was the Seireitei's greatest threat. Second, Renji Abarai had a special relationship with Rukia. They had lived together in the Rukon District as children, and later entered the Shin'o Academy together as classmates. They were somewhat childhood friends. Based on Lady Flower's judgment, the only person present who could not possibly have ill intentions toward Rukia was Renji Abarai.
Renji Abarai looked around at everyone present. The situation was now somewhat clear. Soi Fon, Gin Ichimaru, and Byakuya Kuchiki wanted Rukia dead. Taking her to Yamamoto Genryusai's location might also lead to her death.
After only a brief consideration, Renji Abarai decided to follow his own instincts. Carrying Rukia Kuchiki, he quickly rushed into the forest.
Su Xiao watched Renji Abarai's retreating figure, a smile appearing on his face.
"No wonder Aizen 'trusts' you so much. Such an honest person..."
Before Su Xiao could finish his sentence, a long blade slashed across his neck.
"Surprisingly strong."
Under Lady Flower's astonished gaze, Su Xiao stood up. His body turned into a large number of leaves, gradually dissipating into the air. It was Aizen's hypnotic ability. He had been present all along.
Retsu Unohana immediately realized something. Just as she was about to turn and chase after someone, Gin Ichimaru blocked her path.
"Captain Unohana, how does it feel to be a traitor to the Seireitei?"
Gin Ichimaru smiled as he looked at Lady Flower. Lady Flower also revealed a gentle smile. As it turned out, people who always wore smiles were not to be trifled with.
Inside the forest, Renji Abarai quickly moved between the trees.
Clang~
A crisp sound rang out. Renji Abarai immediately stopped in his tracks.
"Captain... Tosen?"
Renji Abarai looked in surprise at the man blocking his path. It was Captain Kaname Tosen of the Ninth Division.
Tosen paid no attention to Renji Abarai at all. He swung his right arm forward, and a white silk ribbon spiraled around Renji Abarai, quickly rotating.
"This is..."
Before Renji Abarai could finish speaking, his vision blurred. Dazzling sunlight entered his eyes. He was no longer in the forest.
The item Tosen used was provided by Aizen. It had spatial properties, capable of teleporting specific people or objects over short to medium distances.
At the same time, Su Xiao, Aizen, and Gin Ichimaru were also enveloped by that same white silk ribbon.
Bright light flooded Renji Abarai's eyes, and he instinctively squinted.
"Welcome, Abarai."
Aizen's voice came from behind Renji Abarai.
Pfft!
Blood splattered. A long blade pierced through Renji Abarai's chest. His eyes widened, and unbearable pain filled his body.
With a scraping sound, the long blade sliced sideways. The blade cut out from Renji Abarai's side, also severing one of his arms. It was just incidental. The blade that had pierced Renji Abarai was simply too sharp.
"Aizen, when will you break the habit of liking to talk nonsense?"
Su Xiao kicked Renji Abarai aside. Rukia Kuchiki, who had been in Renji Abarai's arms, fell to the ground, her body covered in warm blood.
"Renji...?"
Rukia murmured. Su Xiao grabbed the back of Rukia's collar and tossed her toward Aizen.
"Let... her... go."
Renji Abarai, whose chest had been cut open, struggled to stand. Seeing this, Aizen smiled.
"Abarai-kun, you..."
Pfft~
A long blade pierced through Renji Abarai's throat. Just as Aizen was about to "reminisce" with Renji Abarai, the young man Renji was already dead.
A golden treasure chest fell to the ground. The reason Renji Abarai died so quickly was that, as soon as he was teleported here, Su Xiao, who was stronger than him, pierced his chest with a single strike, giving him no chance to react.
Witnessing all this, Gin Ichimaru smiled even more happily. He knew Aizen's hobby. Now that Aizen's plan had toyed with the Seireitei crowd, he clearly wanted to share his scheme with Renji Abarai. Unfortunately, there was someone present who really didn't like wasting words. Two strikes had finished Renji Abarai. Aizen clearly didn't know the truth that villains die from talking too much.
"He can't hear you anymore. Continue."
Su Xiao lightly flicked the blood off his long blade. Aizen smiled. His plan had successfully concluded. He wouldn't fall out with Su Xiao over such a trivial matter, especially since those captains would soon arrive.
Aizen took a finger-length stone rod from his bosom and began preparing to extract the Hogyoku from within Rukia. Seeing this, Su Xiao notified Bubu Wang to deactivate the [Negative Ion Plasma Superconducting Device]. The plasma fluid was precious, so it was best to conserve it.
As soon as the [Negative Ion Plasma Superconducting Device] was deactivated, a burst of flames shot up from a distance. Seeing those flames, Aizen knew time was short.
From the conclusion of the plan until now, Su Xiao, Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tosen had barely made any moves. This showed how meticulously Aizen had arranged the plan. The minor changes along the way had left the observing contractors completely baffled. None of them had expected Aizen to make even slight alterations to his plan.
Several dark green wooden spikes sprouted from the ground. Aizen's right arm turned into wood. His arm pierced into Rukia's chest without any resistance, eventually extracting a walnut-sized crystal.
Aizen's wooden arm gradually returned to normal. He looked at the Hogyoku in his hand.
"So it's such a small thing. Truly astonishing."
Aizen stared at the incomplete Hogyoku in his hand, as if savoring something. After a moment, he placed the Hogyoku into his bosom. As soon as Aizen obtained the Hogyoku, Su Xiao received a notification from the Reincarnation Paradise.
[Prompt: The Hunter has completed the Main Mission (Second Ring). Activate Main Mission (Third Ring)?]
[Warning: Main Mission (Third Ring) will involve the Fifth Rank Contractor Zone!]
[The Hunter may return to the Reincarnation Paradise after completing Main Mission (Second Ring). This is a normal state return with no penalty.]
[If the Hunter chooses to activate Main Mission (Third Ring), Main Mission (Third Ring) mission rewards ×3, and all obtained treasure chest income increased by 100%.]