Setsuna took a step forward, his voice clear and calm. "Iwasaki Hideki is lying. That Hell Butterfly is a special tracking butterfly of the Kasumioji Clan. Its wings have a hidden pattern of their clan's crest. It only needs Reiatsu stimulation to appear. Please verify this on the spot, judge."
A judge took the Hell Butterfly and infused it with Reiatsu. The Kasumioji Clan's vine pattern indeed appeared on the butterfly's wings.
Hideki's face turned pale, but Taishi said calmly, "That precisely indicates the issue. If Chiaki Setsuna stole the Hell Butterfly from me, then slipped it to Iwasaki-kun, it makes perfect sense."
Setsuna said, "'If'? In a court of law, can hypotheticals be used for conviction?"
Taishi smiled faintly. "Unfounded suspicion is enough."
A wise sage spoke solemnly, "Since neither of you can prove the ultimate ownership of this Hell Butterfly, then we'll rely on the witness testimony. Chiaki Setsuna, do you have anything to add?"
The Shin'o Academy's teachers and students couldn't help but erupt in protest, 'Such clear evidence, brushed aside by a flippant 'unfounded suspicion'?'
'Were these people truly 'wise sages', not 'fools'?'
A student couldn't hold back and angrily shouted, "Are you all out of your minds? Why not continue investigating along the Hell Butterfly's trail?"
"Outrageous! This courtroom is no place for your nonsense!" A wise sage thundered. "Guards, throw him out!"
Taishi once again showed a look of triumph. There were wise sages from the Kasumioji Clan's background within the Central 46. Last time, the evidence was simply too conclusive, so that sage couldn't show favoritism.
But this time was different. Not only had he reversed the situation through Hideki, but he had also bribed several wise sages in advance, and even asked that lord from the Tsunayashiro Clan to put in a good word for him.
Taishi sneered inwardly: 'The witness, the judges… they're all on my side. What do you have to fight me with?'
Setsuna was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "In that case, I have nothing more to say."
Seeing this, Taishi laughed heartily. "Haha, it seems this was all just a farce orchestrated by Chiaki Setsuna himself. He colluded with a Menos Grande, set a trap, and now that it's exposed, he has nothing to say. I request the Central 46 immediately arrest this criminal!"
Setsuna, however, smiled slightly. That smile carried a kind of unsettling composure. "To prove my innocence... then I have no choice but to... temporarily incarcerate myself."
As he spoke, he formed hand seals and softly chanted, "Bakudo #63, Sajo Sabaku!"
Golden spirit particle chains materialized out of thin air, firmly binding his own hands behind his back.
This sudden move stunned everyone.
'What was he doing? Imprisoning himself?'
Yet the next moment, panic flooded the courtroom like a tide.
"Oh no! That Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande hasn't been restrained yet!"
"Quick! Use the Sekkiseki restraints!"
Before the words finished, Szayelaporro in the witness stand burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha, the taste of freedom!"
The temporary restraints binding him shattered instantly. He transformed into an afterimage, charging into the center of the courtroom.
Those eyes that had once seemed docile now flashed with bloodthirsty light. His slender fingers lightly waved. The nearest guards were torn to shreds by an invisible force.
Blood splattered onto the high dome like flung ink.
"Ah—"
"Help!"
"Guards! Call the guards!"
The courtroom descended into utter chaos.
Wise sages tumbled from their seats in terror. Judges scrambled toward the exit, shoving each other. Nobles pushed and trampled over one another. The high and mighty figures of usual times now displayed utterly disgraceful appearances.
Taishi's face turned deathly pale, his whole body trembling as he cowered behind the defendant's stand.
What kind of development was this? He hadn't anticipated things turning out like this at all.
But a sliver of hope remained in his heart: 'This Menos Grande had cooperated with my great-grandfather, after all. They had an alliance. Surely... surely it wouldn't kill me... right?'
Just then, he saw Szayelaporro change direction mid-air, flying straight toward the bound Setsuna.
Taishi's heart leapt with joy: 'Right! This idiot bound his own hands, thinking he could control the situation? What proud beings Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande are. Defeated and captured by a Shinigami, now breaking free… the first to take revenge would undoubtedly be him.'
"Kill him!" Taishi couldn't help but whisper.
Szayelaporro, shrouded in terrifying Reiatsu, lunged at Setsuna.
However, Setsuna merely raised his eyelids, giving him a faint glance.
Just that single glance. Szayelaporro seemed seized by an invisible giant hand around his throat. All killing intent, all frenzy instantly froze.
Those who noticed this scene were incredulous, 'He had actually frightened a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande with just a look?'
Szayelaporro let out a roar of fury, abruptly turning, charging toward Taishi like a startled beast.
"Wait! I was the one who contacted you! Don't you remember?" Taishi screamed in terror. "My great-grandfather and you were allies! We had an agreement… Ah!"
Hearing Taishi's self-exposure, the fleeing nobles erupted in uproar once more.
"What? He really did collude with a Menos Grande!"
"That idiot fool! A Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande… is that something he could use?"
However, their curses were meaningless to Taishi now. Because he had already been torn to shreds by Szayelaporro.
Blood rained down like a shower. This horrifying scene again assaulted the nobles' fragile nerves. They stampeded toward the exit like madmen.
But just when they thought they were finally about to escape this hell, they despairingly discovered the doors were sealed by an invisible barrier.
Szayelaporro sneered. "With the strength of you weaklings, you think you can break my seal? Let me inform you, I've also shielded this space. Waiting for rescue from the Gotei 13? Even if all of you die, they might not even notice."
These words were like a final judgment, plunging all the nobles into abyssal despair.
Immediately after, Szayelaporro began the real massacre.
He flitted through the courtroom like a phantom. Each strike took several lives.
Wise sages cried and fled in all directions. Judges tried to organize defense. But before the absolute power of a Vasto Lorde-class, all resistance seemed pathetically laughable.
The Shin'o Academy's students quickly gathered around Setsuna, forming a protective circle with him at the center.
Szayelaporro clearly had countless opportunities to attack this densest gathering. Yet he always maintained a fearful distance, only daring to massacre those who were isolated farther away.
Hideki also tried to squeeze into this protective circle. But as soon as he approached, a red-haired student roughly shoved him away. "Get lost! Traitor!"
"I was forced!" Hideki cried. "Sato Taishi threatened my family! Please..."
No one paid attention to his pleas.
Hideki then looked at Setsuna. "Setsuna, I'm sorry. But you're such a good person. You'll forgive me, right?"
'Good person' Setsuna, currently preoccupied with controlling Szayelaporro to carry out the massacre, had no time for him.
The next second, Szayelaporro appeared behind him.
"No!"
Hideki's voice was forever frozen in a scream of terror.