"Hina… Hinamori?!"
Hitsugaya stared wide-eyed at Hinamori, who had emerged from Central 46.
How… how could this be!? Hinamori was inside Central 46!?
It was one thing that Yoshio was here—why was Hinamori here too?
Hitsugaya went momentarily speechless. A bad feeling rose in his gut.
Looking at Hinamori, he sensed a faint guilt in her eyes.
"Captain Yoshio, Captain Hitsugaya—please, both of you go inside. Lieutenant Matsumoto and I will wait outside."
Hinamori didn't meet Hitsugaya's gaze. She lowered her head and spoke gently while looking toward Yoshio.
"Wait! Hinamori, what are you doing here?!" Hitsugaya shouted. "Is Aizen here too?"
Hinamori had called him "Captain Hitsugaya," but he wasn't happy—only confused, and slow to process her words.
"Yoshio, what's going on?" Hitsugaya asked in a low voice, seeing Hinamori fall silent.
"You'll understand once you go in," Yoshio said gently. "Look at Central 46, and everything will be clear."
"…Fine. Then Hinamori and I will wait outside," Rangiku said, glancing at Yoshio.
Hearing this, Hitsugaya drew a deep breath.
Looking at Yoshio, he couldn't help feeling that something about him seemed unfamiliar.
The next moment, he and Yoshio entered Central 46 together.
The instant he stepped inside, Hitsugaya's eyes widened.
He…
What was he seeing?
Before him was a twisted spiral staircase dividing the entire space into several layers.
This was an enclosed, cold, somewhat dim space with forty-six seats spread across multiple levels.
Those forty-six seats were the judges' benches—once solemn and silent—yet now, that once-sacred place was drenched in blood.
Under the dim light, the vivid red looked especially deep…
And in their seats, their moment of death was frozen in time.
Their expressions had not changed since the instant they died: some wore terror, some rage, and some looked as if they didn't even understand what had happened.
Their bodies—once symbols of authority and law in Soul Society—had become marks of death, already showing signs of decay. A rusty stench mixed with the reek of rotting flesh, nauseating enough to make one vomit.
The whole room felt suffocating, as if the souls of the dead of Central 46 still wandered this sealed place.
Those who once judged others had now been judged—and had been killed by force.
"…"
Hitsugaya was speechless.
He stared at the corpses in disbelief, then looked at Yoshio in disbelief.
"Central 46… why… why is it like this?"
"Yoshio…"
He looked at Yoshio again.
He had suspected Yoshio might be hiding something, but he never imagined it would come to this…
Never imagined he would witness something so terrifying.
"Was it… you?"
"That's right," Yoshio said quietly.
"Why?!" Hitsugaya roared. "Even if it was for Rukia, you didn't have to resort to such despicable means!"
"…What are you saying, Hitsugaya-kun?" Yoshio replied calmly. "I was only carrying out Central 46's orders."
"What… did you say?" Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "They ordered you to do this!?"
"My heart truly aches for you, Captain."
Before Yoshio could speak further, a silhouette appeared from the shadows above. She sneered.
"You thought he killed Central 46 for me? So killing Central 46 to save me is 'despicable' to you?"
At the sound, Hitsugaya turned—and his pupils dilated again.
Because the one who emerged was—
Rukia.
No… not Rukia!
Hitsugaya forced himself to calm down and look carefully. She looked almost exactly like Rukia, but her skin was pale, and her eyes were completely different.
There was no fake mask on her face, but her eyes were unmistakably wrong.
"Number 103 Arrancar… Rukia?" Hitsugaya said quietly.
"…Caught on?" Dark Rukia leaned on the railing and looked down. "Captain Yoshio, what do we do next?"
"Yoshio!"
Hitsugaya immediately distanced himself, hand on Hyōrinmaru's hilt.
"What is this!? No—are you really Yoshio!?"
"As you can see," Yoshio said. "This is the real Yoshio."
In that moment, indifference surfaced in his eyes.
The coldness in that expression startled Hitsugaya, and he drew Hyōrinmaru at once.
"Sit upon the frozen heavens… Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
Hitsugaya shouted and activated Bankai instantly.
Boom!
Fierce spiritual pressure and extreme cold erupted.
Eyes wide, he demanded, "You're not Yoshio! Who are you!? And Hinamori—what did you do to her!?"
"I feel like I said something like this before, Hitsugaya-kun."
Yoshio watched him use Bankai without changing expression. He only said:
"Even if something happens that you can't understand, don't deny it. Instead, accept everything that has already happened—the incomprehensible things, and all the errors."
"Only then can you grow into a strong person."
"Enough! Don't speak Yoshio's words!" Hitsugaya's heart skipped.
Those were indeed Yoshio's words—which meant…
Was he truly Yoshio?
But why?!
Why?!!!!!!
Hitsugaya felt like his chest would burst. He let out a roar and slashed at Yoshio—
"Sorry…"
As Hitsugaya charged, Yoshio said gently, "Looks like you didn't understand last time's lesson."
In an instant, Yoshio's body appeared behind Hitsugaya.
W-What…?
Hitsugaya stared blankly at the empty space before him, frozen in place.
So fast…
He had always known Yoshio was stronger than him, but—
How could he not even see the other's movement?
"Try to accept it. First accept pain, suffering, and every trial."
Yoshio whispered behind him. "Then become stronger. Otherwise, you won't even get another chance to question me like this."
Pshk!
In a single instant, the ice wings behind Hitsugaya shattered.
A huge, bloody blade appeared through Hitsugaya's chest, as if a chainsaw had plunged into his body and twisted violently.
Blood sprayed out, scattering a grotesque flower of crimson across the strange world.
Fresh blood flowed over the ice Hyōrinmaru created, staining it a deep, vivid red.
Thud.
Hitsugaya went limp and collapsed into a pool of blood.
"You really are cold and ruthless."
Dark Rukia sat on the railing like a beautiful young woman watching two suitors fight over her.
She said, "We've known each other for years. Did you really have to be this cruel? If you used a little more force, he'd be dead."
"The road to becoming strong is always painful," Yoshio said gently. "I'm just…"
"…Helping him cut away unnecessary emotions."
"Really? Yet you still summoned Matsumoto."
"That's not what I meant." Yoshio smiled. "This was Captain Ichimaru's idea. Captain versus Captain, Lieutenant versus Lieutenant—how perfect, right?"
"…Outside, the fight seems to be over. Aizen isn't here. What next?" Dark Rukia asked quietly.
"…We're going to Kuchiki. It's time to extract the Hōgyoku from her body."
But then the door suddenly opened again.
"…So it really is Captain Yoshio."
Unohana Retsu and Kotetsu Isane entered. Both were shocked by what they saw—especially Isane.
Unohana was certainly learned, but even for her, seeing something like this was exceedingly rare.
"Oh?" Yoshio didn't look surprised at all. "So you found out. Then there's no need to talk here."
"When Soul Society was in such chaos, why weren't you there? Even if you're stationed in the Human World, would Captain Yoshio normally leave Kuchiki Rukia alone?"
"I'm glad you think so." Yoshio smiled. "But… don't be so tense."
Seeing Unohana about to draw her blade, Yoshio said, "This is bad. Captain Hitsugaya is severely wounded. If he isn't treated soon, his life is in danger."
"Giving up a Captain just to stop me isn't a worthwhile trade."
"…" Unohana fell silent, staring at Yoshio's relaxed expression.
But he was right. The most important thing right now wasn't fighting him—it was treating Hitsugaya.
"Are we really doing nothing?" Dark Rukia asked, surprised. "Can't we kill them while we have the chance?"
"It's fine. The objective is achieved. It's time to rendezvous with Captain Aizen."
Yoshio walked past Unohana without hesitation and headed for the door.
Unohana's expression was dark, but she did not stop him.
Seeing that, a bored Dark Rukia appeared beside Yoshio, and the two left Central 46.
"How… how could this happen?"
Only then did Kotetsu Isane come back to herself. Terror and disbelief shone in her eyes as she sank to the ground.
She could barely speak. "How did this happen? Captain Yoshio, he…"
The Fourth Division's Shinigami had always had a good relationship with Yoshio.
Before he became a Captain, he often visited the Fourth Division to chat, even teaching them how to fight.
After his promotion, because he treated the Tenth Division well, Isane's opinion of him was high, and many in the Fourth Division held favorable impressions of Captain Yoshio.
But now…
Now he…
"Isane, Lieutenant Matsumoto is outside. She seems injured too—go help her." Unohana said. "I… must treat Captain Hitsugaya, and also inform the Captains and Lieutenants of what happened here."
…
Let's rewind a few minutes.
Rangiku Matsumoto followed Hinamori Momo away from Central 46, walking farther and farther.
But the more they walked, the more uneasy Rangiku became.
"Hinamori, can't we just wait outside?" Rangiku asked.
"This is… an order from Central 46. You are not to approach," Hinamori said softly.
"Huh? Central 46 is really boring," Rangiku blurted. "I'm not going to eavesdrop."
"Um…"
"Hinamori…" Rangiku suddenly asked again. "What are you and Captain doing here? Did Central 46 summon you for something?"
"Yes. It's an order from Central 46—to take you somewhere far away."
Hinamori slowly turned back, drew her Zanpakutō, and said, "Then… please carry out the execution."
"…," Rangiku's expression turned serious as she looked at Hinamori with her blade drawn. "Don't mess with me, Hinamori."
"I'm not joking. This truly is Central 46's order," Hinamori said in a low voice. "Lieutenant Matsumoto—begin the attack!"
Realizing Hinamori meant it, Rangiku stepped back at once and drew her own Zanpakutō.
"Are you out of your mind? You're really going to attack?"
"I told you—this is Central 46's order."
Hinamori's blade had already slashed where Rangiku stood. Rangiku dodged, but Hinamori kept pursuing.
"Fine. If you're not in your right mind, then I've got no choice…"
Rangiku swung her Zanpakutō and fought her.
Under Yoshio's guidance, Hinamori had grown stronger, even mastering Bankai.
But Rangiku had long acted together with Yamiko, and even before Yamiko directly fused with Oken, fragments of soul were often transferred into Rangiku's soul.
Like Baelz, Rangiku's talent and strength had also been enhanced by the distribution of those soul fragments.
Even facing a much stronger Hinamori, Rangiku still held on.
"Tobiume—bloom!"
As Hinamori released her Zanpakutō, a rain of fireballs poured down upon Rangiku.
"You… even released your Zanpakutō."
Forced to respond in kind, Rangiku said, "Alright—if that's how it is…"
"Growl, Haineko!"
In an instant her blade became smoke, and with a swing of her hilt, slashes formed in the smoke.
In the blink of an eye, the fireballs rushing toward them exploded, and thunderous detonations tore the two apart.
Just as Rangiku was about to press the attack, the air around her suddenly turned cold, and her body trembled.
This is…
Is this Captain Hitsugaya's ability after activating Bankai?
How—how did he use Bankai?
He was with Captain Yoshio… wait, could it be…?
A frightening thought surfaced in Rangiku's mind—
And at that moment, Hinamori tore through the exploding fireballs and appeared before her!
"Evening Flame."
Hinamori whispered, and blazing fire ignited on her Zanpakutō.
Boom!
Flames surged from the blade and drew down a massive fireball from the sky.
As the sun seemed about to set, the enormous fireball struck Rangiku head-on.
Not good!
Rangiku felt a terrible premonition.
She had been distracted by Hitsugaya's Bankai and Yoshio's presence—being distracted in an even fight was fatal.
She could only pull Haineko back to defend herself, but it was already too late.
The fireball had already landed, triggering a violent explosion.
The blast's flames mercilessly swallowed Rangiku, carving out a gigantic crater.
Rangiku's body was thrown down by the explosion.
Yet Hinamori—who had also been caught in it—was uninjured.
Then Yoshio arrived.
"Let's go. Captain Aizen should be waiting."
"You're a bit late," Dark Rukia said. "Unohana was about to use Tenteikūra."
"Don't worry," Hinamori said. "Captain Aizen said someone would help intercept them."
"…Hm?" Dark Rukia asked, puzzled. "So there are other reinforcements?"
"They may not help us," Yoshio said as he slowly raised his head and looked toward Sōkyoku Hill. "There are always troublemakers. But whether they'll truly help—no one can say."
…
At this moment, Soul Society was in an uproar.
Kurosaki Ichigo fought Zaraki Kenpachi and, after mastering Bankai, ultimately defeated him.
Meanwhile, Abarai Renji battled Kuchiki Byakuya. He didn't expect to win—he believed Ichigo would return with even greater power, so he was only buying time.
If the two worked together, they could surely defeat Byakuya and rescue Rukia.
But he never expected Ichigo would be held back by Kenpachi, leaving Renji to face Byakuya alone.
Though Renji had awakened the true Bankai of the strongest Zabimaru, he still had unavoidable limits against Kuchiki Byakuya.
In the end, Abarai Renji bled heavily and passed out on the spot.
Neither Ichigo nor Renji could stop Kuchiki Rukia from being sent to the execution platform.
The Captains who were still able to move gathered on Sōkyoku Hill.
"Captain Kuchiki, I understand your feelings," Ichimaru Gin smiled at Byakuya, who arrived last. "When your own sister is in trouble and your Lieutenant betrays you, it's natural to feel reluctant."
"Oh? I didn't know a commoner like you could understand what I'm thinking."
Byakuya didn't even glance at Gin. He stared straight ahead.
"Don't say that now," Kyōraku Shunsui sighed. "But… I have a strange feeling of unease."
"Hmph. We can deal with the traitors and the Ryōka after the execution," Soi Fon sneered.
They were all Captains—and though they weren't present, they had sensed the fierce spiritual pressure earlier.
They knew the fight between Byakuya and Renji—between Bankai users—was relatively rare and wouldn't end quickly.
Rukia's Hollowfication and the Lieutenant's betrayal were undeniably heavy blows to anyone.
Yet Byakuya acted as if it were nothing at all.
"It seems Captain Zaraki has been defeated." Gin, no longer teasing Byakuya, spoke to the others. "How frightening. To defeat the 'strongest Shinigami'… isn't that Ryōka a bit too strong?"
No one responded.
No one expected Zaraki Kenpachi to lose to that human.
If he'd lost to a Hollow, it wouldn't feel so bad—but this time…
He had clearly lost to a human.
Wasn't that human supposed to be dead? How did he gain such power in such a short time?
"Enough already! Didn't you say you killed him? He's still alive!" Kurotsuchi Mayuri mocked from the side.
He was clearly ridiculing Byakuya, but Byakuya remained unmoved. "To me, he is indeed as good as dead. Perhaps it is simply too difficult for a beast."
"To still be spouting nonsense at a time like this… honestly. By the way, are we the only ones left?"
At that moment, Soi Fon looked around and said, "Captain-Commander didn't come because he's guarding the First Division—but why isn't Captain Unohana here either?"
No one knew. But it didn't matter.
What mattered now was executing Rukia. Once she was dead, this incident would be over.
That was what everyone believed.
The Ryōka were clearly targeting Rukia. Kill her, and they'd have no target.
If they still refused to give up, it wouldn't be too late to eliminate them with full force.
At this point, the execution absolutely could not be delayed.
Delaying it would be the same as bowing to evil spirits.
So where would the Thirteenth Division stand?
The Captains remained silent as they watched Rukia, leaning between the twin halberds, seeming to accept her fate.
Rukia slowly closed her eyes as if waiting.
As time drew near, she looked down at the Captains—but didn't see the person she wanted to see.
She was a little disappointed, yet felt perhaps this was for the best.
If Captain Yoshio were here, he would surely try to stop the execution… and he might even clash with the other Captains, which would only bring him more trouble.
Rukia thought silently.
At last, the Sōkyoku activated, and Rukia walked forward without burden.
Goodbye, Renji. Ichigo. Captain Ukitake. Captain Hitsugaya. My brother. Captain Yoshio…
Sadly, only Kuchiki Byakuya was among them.
"Thank you for taking care of me all these years."
Rukia looked toward Byakuya at her side. He remained expressionless, without any emotional fluctuation, staring straight ahead.
Rukia's body rose into the air.
As Sōkyoku activated, its true form appeared.
A gigantic phoenix of fire appeared in the sky!
This was the Sōkyoku—the Execution King—an existence meant to execute Shinigami, possessing the power of millions of Zanpakutō!
The Sōkyoku's true power was terrifying.
In the manga, Ichigo seemed to block it easily, but only because he was Ichigo.
For any Captain, stopping that strike would be extremely difficult.
And the Sōkyoku wasn't even going all-out. At the moment it was about to injure the Shinigami, it could amplify its power dozens of times!
That strength was something an ordinary Shinigami could never endure.
Seeing the Execution King soar between heaven and earth, the Captains couldn't help but look stunned.
Many of them were seeing it for the first time.
Facing the Sōkyoku, even as the condemned, Rukia remained unbelievably calm.
This time she didn't close her eyes.
She stared straight at the phoenix radiating blazing flames.
The Sōkyoku poured endless light and heat and aimed its aura at her.
And then—
It charged.
Rukia watched it approach and felt an immense sense of relief, but then…
Boom!
A black shadow appeared before her, blocking the Sōkyoku's strike!
In that instant, scorching heat exploded outward. The air burned in a bright flare.
Within that glare, a black figure stood in front of Rukia, blocking her path.
?!
What?!
Rukia—who had already accepted death—stared wide-eyed at the figure that had suddenly appeared.
"Did you really think you were going to die?"
Ichigo, full of confidence, said, "It took me a while to beat that blindfolded guy, but I'm glad I made it."
"Idiot… idiot!"
Seeing Ichigo arrive, Rukia shouted instinctively. "The Sōkyoku is about to start its real attack! Get out of the way!"
"Just watch… I'll destroy it!" Ichigo looked up at the flaming phoenix. He had blocked the first strike, and now the Sōkyoku seemed ready to launch a second.
"Stop him!"
The Captains below also saw Ichigo and moved to stop him—
But someone blocked their way.
"Ukitake!?"
Seeing Ukitake appear, Kyōraku noticed not only that Ukitake had drawn his Zanpakutō, but that he also held something like a shield.
When he saw the Shihōin family crest engraved on it, Kyōraku's pupils widened.
"You're planning to destroy the Sōkyoku!?"
"This is all I can do," Ukitake said in a low voice. "Kyōraku, don't stop me."
Boom—!
Suddenly, several more Ceros rained down.
Angra Mainyu appeared high in the sky, firing countless Ceros straight down to block the incoming Shinigami.
"Hurry," Angra Mainyu said from the air, blocking the Sōkyoku for Ichigo and holding back the Captains. "Rescue Rukia. Go!"
"Alright!" Ichigo answered instantly, preparing to destroy the execution platform and free Rukia—
But at that moment, new people appeared.
Surtr slowly emerged.
After stepping out from the shadows, she said nothing and immediately began chanting some kind of spell.
In an instant, an unknown mystical power spread.
The sky above Sōkyoku Hill suddenly darkened—noon became night in a heartbeat.
This power, stealing the sky and controlling the sun, was only the beginning.
Flames burst from her hand as if the whole world were burning.
And around her, people vanished one after another.
In the world before Angra Mainyu—only Surtr remained.
"…A Quincy," Angra Mainyu said in a low voice. "Did you come to cause trouble too?"
"Long time no see," Surtr greeted him first, her tone flat and joyless.
They had indeed met before. Angra Mainyu and Coyote Starrk had explored the Wandenreich together, and Angra had deliberately met Surtr to learn her abilities.
So it wasn't wrong for her to say "long time no see."
"Don't get close," Angra said. "We are hostile."
"Are you still wondering why I'm standing before you?"
Surtr looked up at Angra floating in the air. "We are enemies. So I will fight you. That's all."
"…" Angra frowned. "Such a simple reason. It doesn't sound like a Shinigami or Quincy. It sounds more like one of us Hollows."
Angra descended slowly. "What is this? Is this your ability?"
"Yes," Surtr answered honestly. "My power is Twilight Fire, which can create Ragnarok."
"This is Ragnarok?"
Angra looked up. The sky burned with flame, and the earth was stained a dark red, truly like Ragnarok.
"When Ragnarok arrives, everyone will face their predetermined fate," Surtr said quietly. "Who will be killed, who will kill whom, and who will survive—everything is decided and divided in advance. Each battlefield is separate."
"Therefore, within my Ragnarok battlefield, everyone will encounter their fated enemy."
"So you're my fated enemy, Quincy," Angra said calmly. "You really think you can match me?"
"Before, I couldn't. But now…"
Surtr raised her palm toward the sky.
In the next instant, flames poured down.
With a scream, the Sōkyoku descended from the blazing heavens. Its body twisted as if pulled, drawn toward Surtr, and then dispersed into feathers.
Those feathers quickly fused in Surtr's hand, finally transforming into a flaming greatsword.
"This is the final step to completing Surtr's Fire."
"This greatsword, forged from the Sōkyoku—the symbol of judgment upon death—will be used to burn the world in Ragnarok!"
Surtr pointed the sword at Angra. "His Majesty's order prioritizes killing you over killing Aizen Sōsuke!"