"From beginning to end, I never once trusted you."
Aizen spread his arms slightly, not showing the slightest tension even with blades pointed at him.
"From the moment you fought the original White Hollow, I had already begun to suspect you."
"And afterward—Barragan's death confirmed my thoughts once again."
Shimo didn't interrupt.
He simply listened.
He was genuinely curious about Aizen's planning.
Ever since he had stepped into the 'board,' the progression of the entire game had changed drastically.
"Then I crushed the insects hiding in the Central 46's underground chamber."
Aizen's smile was strangely calm.
"I imagine you don't object to that, do you?"
Yamamoto's spiritual pressure surged—he looked ready to attack.
"The Head Captain's temper remains as fiery as ever," Aizen said lightly. "Just like your Zanpakutō."
Shimo stepped forward, releasing his spiritual pressure to push between the two, cutting off the impending clash.
"And then?"
"My original intention was to fake my own death," Aizen continued. "But things went differently."
"Your existence… was a needle stuck in my throat."
He spoke leisurely.
"Fortunately, after some study, I created the perfect corpse puppet."
"Tōsen's 'body'—I doubt even you could distinguish it."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
Aizen never lacked faith in his own research.
"In the traces left behind, everything pointed toward Gin."
"Ninth Division and Third Division turned against each other."
"All of Seireitei was drowning in suspicion and doubt."
At this point, the entire conspiracy had been unmasked—laid bare before the eyes of everyone present.
Only now did everyone finally understand everything that had happened these past days.
"So you're confessing because you already know you have no escape left?" Yamamoto slammed his staff against the ground.
A Captain-Commander-level spiritual pressure washed over Sōkyoku Hill.
"It's over, Aizen," Shunsui said as he stepped forward.
"Over?"
Aizen's gaze remained tranquil.
"I don't think so."
"On the contrary… the real confrontation is only beginning."
Everyone froze.
Even now—did Aizen still have a path?
Just as confusion began spreading—
Yoruichi's pupils shrank first.
"Move, Soi Fon!"
In a flash, the two vanished from Aizen's side using Shunpo.
Shimo also sensed something.
He looked up.
A massive golden pillar of light descended from the sky in an instant.
Aizen and the others were swallowed whole.
At the same time—the clear blue sky shattered like glass.
A massive crack ripped open the space.
Enormous white claws emerged from the tear.
Countless gigantic black-bodied, white-masked monsters forced their way out, roaring in twisted voices.
"W-what…?"
"Gillians?!"
Every Captain except Shimo blanched.
"How many Gillians are there?!"
Even the Shinigami rushing toward Sōkyoku Hill froze, staring in horror at the sky.
A gaping black crack.
A swarm of Hollows screaming.
A distortion that made even experienced warriors tremble.
Within the golden pillar, the ground beneath Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen shattered, lifting them toward the sky.
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes.
"They're escaping after all."
All the Captains recognized it.
No one stepped forward.
They all understood—the moment the light pillar descended, they had already lost their chance to interfere.
This technique was "Negación," a rescue beam used by Hollows.
Once enveloped, the barrier inside and outside became two separate worlds, completely unable to interact.
Aizen lowered his gaze, looking down at everyone.
His eyes finally stopped on Shimo.
Shimo looked back with calm indifference.
"I must admit, Shimo," Aizen said, voice soft but carrying weight,
"your existence brought an unexpected ripple to this rotten Soul Society."
"Unlike those stubborn fools obsessed with 'justice,' your presence brings new possibilities to this world."
"You are… the most troublesome element."
"I eagerly await our next meeting."
Yamamoto's expression sharpened.
"So you truly intend to fall—consorting with Hollows?"
"Aizen!"
He had always valued Aizen as a gentle, mild-mannered subordinate.
Now he realized—it had all been a facade.
"Head Captain," Aizen replied, eyes narrowing. "It is you who has been too arrogant."
"From the very start, no one has stood upon the heavens..."
"Not you, not I, nor even gods."
"However, that intolerable vacuum has come to an end."
He slowly removed his glasses.
"Henceforth... I shall stand upon the heavens.."
His hand clenched lightly—his black frames shattered, dissolving into spirit particles.
He swept his brown hair back.
An indifferent, supreme gaze descended on all of Soul Society.
"From today onward—I shall stand at the summit."
Everyone stared in shock.
Only Shimo remained unchanged, eyes quietly observing.
Aizen turned, stepping toward the dark tear in the sky.
"Farewell, Shinigami."
"Farewell, Shimo-kun."
"I look forward to the surprises you will bring me."
Shimo's voice replied calmly:
"A surprise?"
"I can give you one right now."
"I hope you find it satisfying."
"Sever the space… Akatsuki."
A crushing abyss of spiritual pressure swept across Sōkyoku Hill.
Ka…!
Shimo's left thumb nudged the hilt slightly—the pressure sharpened, condensing onto the blade.
Before everyone's horrified eyes, the space in front of Shimo cracked like a spiderweb—
CRACK!
The shattering echoed above the hill.
"You're already dead in the eyes of Soul Society."
"So there is no need for you to remain alive."
At these words, Aizen's head snapped around—and for the first time, a flicker of genuine shock surfaced on his composed face.
"Tōsen."
Gin's eyes opened slightly, blue irises trembling—
SPLAT—!!
The sound of a blade cutting flesh repeated again and again.
Blood sprayed wildly inside the Negación barrier.
Tōsen's expression filled with confusion and disbelief.
Pain tore through his body.
"L-Lord Aizen…"
Ka-click.
Akatsuki slid back into its sheath.
The spiritual pressure vanished.
Peace returned to Sōkyoku Hill.
But the minds of everyone present were in utter chaos.
"T-Tōsen… he…"
Soi Fon's voice trembled.
A Captain—cut down with a single strike.
And the most terrifying part—
They were separated by an entirely different world.
Not even Yamamoto could break through Negación.
But Shimo cut through it as if it were air.
Tōsen's massive body toppled backward.
His spiritual pressure flickered like a dying candle.
Within seconds—it disappeared completely.
The Ninth Division Captain, Tōsen Kaname, was dead.
Aizen was silent for a moment—then smiled faintly.
"That was… unexpected."
"I look forward to our future encounters even more, Shimo-kun."
He turned without hesitation and entered the darkness.
Gin lingered, his deep gaze fixed on Shimo for several seconds—then followed Aizen.
The Gillians dragged the floating stone platform into the tear.
The sky slowly stitched itself shut.
The heavy atmosphere hanging over Seireitei remained—but Sōkyoku Hill did not fall into silence.
Instead, every Captain wore a strange expression.
Shimo's actions defied all logic.
Killing a Captain was shocking enough—
But cutting through a different dimension to do it?
And ignoring Negación entirely?
Even Yamamoto couldn't do that.
After a long silence, Shunsui exhaled.
"It seems… things have settled down for the moment."
Everyone understood "for the moment."
Aizen and Gin leaving was merely one step in their plan.
Though riddled with holes, the damage to Soul Society was immense.
Still—it was stable, for now.
Shunsui turned to Shimo, face complicated.
He should stand with Shimo… and yet he couldn't help his curiosity.
"How did you cut through Negación…?"
Everyone looked at Shimo.
It was the one question in everyone's mind.
Shimo didn't hide it.
"My Zanpakutō's Shikai ability is 'Spatial Suspension.'"
"But that's not all."
He lifted his blade slightly.
"My Shikai's second ability is 'Spatial Severing.' Or simply—cutting space."
"Worlds are merely layers of space."
"Even if Negación separates us, the space it exists in is still within my reach."
He sighed lightly.
"It's unfortunate that Aizen's power far exceeds a normal Captain."
"I could only hit Tōsen. If he were weaker, that strike would've landed on Aizen."
Everyone's expressions twisted again.
Shunsui laughed dryly.
No matter how he tried to rationalize it—
The idea of someone cutting through a world to kill a Captain was simply absurd.
Thankfully—Shimo was not an enemy.
Every gaze on Shimo was filled with awe and confusion.
When had the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division became this kind of a monster?
----------------------------///
Advance Chapters on Patreon!
p(a)treon(.)com/HudaLin
-Remove the parenthesis to access patreon normally
Thanks for the Support!