The sudden darkness engulfing Karakura Town inevitably unsettled the remaining Shinigami.
Fortunately, their own senses had not been stripped away. They retained their sight, hearing, smell, and spiritual perception.
From their perspective, Tōsen Kaname had released his Resurrección, plunged Karakura Town into total darkness—
And then vanished without a trace.
They had been watching the battle intently, yet none of them had detected how he disappeared.
Only when Szayelaporro appeared did their attention shift again.
A violent surge of spiritual pressure erupted above Karakura Town.
It carried with it a fear that refused to dissipate—
As though what was about to happen would lead to unimaginable consequences.
"Szayelaporro Granz…"
Jūshirō Ukitake coughed lightly, ignoring the dark blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His gaze grew unusually deep.
"I've heard of him. He once invaded Soul Society."
That statement immediately drew attention.
"He invaded Soul Society?"
Ukitake hesitated briefly before continuing.
"That was over two hundred years ago."
"At the time, Szayelaporro was already a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow. He led Loka Paramia—an Adjuchas-type Arrancar—and dozens of giant Hollows in an assault on Soul Society."
Shock spread across the gathered Shinigami.
"Two hundred years ago… and he was already that strong?"
"Can Captain Shimo really defeat them?"
"Judging from Captain Shimo's expression… perhaps our worries are unnecessary."
Anxiety gripped their hearts.
"Captain Ukitake…"
Ōmaeda Marechiyo wiped the blood from his face, trying to appear steady.
"Who was it that repelled Szayelaporro back then?"
Ukitake looked at him for a long moment without speaking.
Just as unease crept into Ōmaeda's chest, Ukitake finally answered.
"Eleventh Division Captain… Kenpachi Zaraki."
The name alone plunged the area into silence.
Ukitake lowered his gaze, glancing toward the red-haired figure seated among the ruins—Ashido.
The air grew heavier.
---
Meanwhile—
Shimo studied Szayelaporro and the massive bone-like flower bud formed by his four wings.
Earlier, Ichigo Kurosaki had been restraining him.
Now—
Ichigo had been forced into a desperate struggle.
Szayelaporro had released a puppet—an exact replica of Ichigo.
The duplicate possessed identical combat power.
It could Hollowfy.
It could unleash Getsuga Tenshō.
Ichigo, who relied on direct and overwhelming combat, found himself unable to gain the upper hand.
Unless…
He triggered another power-up.
Unfortunately, without being pushed to the brink of death, Ichigo's "cheat" wouldn't activate so easily.
Spiritual pressure swelled violently.
Black liquid seeped from the seams of the bone-like bud.
The scene became increasingly grotesque.
As Szayelaporro finished speaking, the darkness shrouding Karakura Town gradually dissipated—
Drawn entirely into the flower behind him.
The sky cleared.
But the gloom in everyone's hearts deepened.
"Heh…"
Szayelaporro's dark lips curled into a twisted grin.
"Shinigami… do you believe in the power of fate?"
Shimo frowned slightly. Something about Szayelaporro felt… off.
"I do. And?"
Szayelaporro blinked.
"You do?"
Shimo nodded matter-of-factly.
"Do you think my existence is merely coincidence?"
For a moment, Szayelaporro was speechless.
Only when violent fluctuations erupted from the bud behind him did he recover.
"Whether you believe it or not—"
"I hope you can survive his attack."
"Come forth, my greatest masterpiece!"
He threw his arms wide toward the sky.
The four-winged bud burst open.
And a familiar figure stepped forward.
When the black liquid dripped away—
Shimo's expression twitched.
"..."
Familiar wasn't enough to describe it.
From Shimo's perspective, in terms of presence and aesthetic—
This might be the strongest "version" imaginable.
A white captain's haori draped over black Shinigami robes.
An expensive scabbard—gifted by the Kuchiki clan—hung at the waist.
A tall, composed frame.
A handsome face bearing a dangerous, distorted smile.
"Kyoraku… Shimo?!"
Shock rippled through the remaining Shinigami.
"What is going on?! Why is Captain Shimo inside that thing?!"
"It must be Szayelaporro's ability—but that spiritual pressure… it's nearly identical!"
Ukitake and the others felt dread tighten around their hearts.
The disappearance of darkness brought no relief.
Instead—
A colder chill settled in.
The overwhelming spiritual pressure of "Kyoraku Shimo" descended like a celestial dome.
Boom!!
The entire Fake Karakura Town trembled under its weight.
"Shimo-kun… can you feel it?"
The replica's lips curved upward.
"This power… comes entirely from you."
"Through fate's selection, I have obtained strength rivaling that of a god."
Shimo observed him carefully.
"Externally, the spiritual pressure is almost identical."
"But the essence… is fundamentally different."
He sighed lightly.
"So what should I call you?"
"Tōsen?"
"Or Mantikor?"
The figure froze.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
-----------------------------------///
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