Chapter 242 – 242 ⥤ Wish Fulfilled

In the deepest darkness of Soul Society.

In the infinite void of Muken, where time and space held no meaning.

A crisp bell chime rang out. A pure white figure walked slowly through the boundless world with a helpless expression, as if conversing with an invisible presence.

“I hadn’t expected Kagerōza’s spirit core would contain the Soul King’s power. Though the replica lost control at the crucial moment, thankfully his words didn’t affect Akira. Otherwise, I might have had to end this long vacation.”

The bell chimed again, echoing eerily through the empty void.

“No, there’s nothing good about the outside world.” Sōya shook his head, “Endless division paperwork, endless Captains’ Council, endless rebel factions and Hollows invading Soul Society… Just thinking about it gives me the chills. Since Captain Kisaragi is covering for me now, why not enjoy this hard-earned vacation? We have to trust him. Don’t you agree, sister…”

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2nd Division, courtyard.

Through the sea of black mist, a hundred-meter-tall black armored warrior swung his blade. The massive weapon, tens of meters long, plummeted like a meteor toward the lightning-wrapped figure on the rooftop.

Where the giant blade passed, thunderous explosions rang out. Space itself buckled under the strain, warping into twisted patterns.

Yoruichi struggled against the fine dust binding her limbs while attempting to counterattack with her Shunkō’s lightning.

But the sharp buzzing in her ears prevented her Reiatsu from focusing, rendering her usually powerful Shunkō weak and ineffective.

Seeing the blade howling down, her expression showed only despair.

BOOM!!

The violent impact cracked the ground. Surrounding buildings, as if caught in a raging hurricane, collapsed and were torn from their foundations. Dust swirled everywhere.

“Hmph, is that all!” Rangiku materialized from the dust, snatching up the black stone from the dirt, “This is what happens to despicable women who try to steal my man!”

She struck down several more times with her blade, carving deep gashes in the ground as if flogging a corpse.

Sajin and Kaname watching from the side could only shake their heads.

Indeed, a jealous woman was most fearsome.

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Gin stepped on a middle-aged man’s body and with one clean stroke, severed his head. The corpse crumbled like clay, melting into the cracked stone pavement.

The same battle strategy as before: others would draw attention while he delivered a fatal strike from the shadows.

Though this Shinigami was somewhat stronger than Kensei from the neighboring Division, he still met the same futile end.

“Tenth Division Captain Shiba Genroku has been beheaded. Most of the replica Captains have been dealt with, next…”

{T/N: This guy is an OG filler character. I don’t know if that’s his name, but I also don’t care. He was the guy who replaced that earth Bankai guy, like thousands of Chapters ago. You don’t remember it, neither do I. Deal.}

Before he could finish speaking, a flaming crescent-shaped sword pressure burst from the darkness, accompanied by an earth-shaking roar.

⤫ Getsuga Tenshō ⥤ Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer! ⤬

Gin flash-stepped away, watching as the sword pressure crashed into a nearby building, demolishing it completely.

Looking toward the source of the attack, a Shinigami wearing the standard uniform with a division badge on his shoulder emerged from the shadows. From where he stood, he couldn’t see the clay remains scattered on the ground.

“The next head of the Shiba branch family?” Gin searched his memory and instantly recognized the newcomer, “Isshin Shiba?”

The handsome young man gripped his Zanpakutō tightly, his eyes fixed on the youth who had killed his uncle, shock barely contained in his expression.

“Killing your comrades in broad daylight — has the Eleventh Division betrayed Soul Society?”

Gin was about to deny it and explain, but as the words reached his lips, his eyes shifted as a new idea formed.

Though it might cause trouble later with Lord Magistrate, he’d take full responsibility.

For Akira’s future, what was a small sacrifice like this?

Gin smiled at the still boyish-looking Isshin and said softly:

“Yes, that’s right.”

At this casual admission, Isshin’s expression darkened. He tightened his grip on his sword, his Reiatsu surging as heat erupted along the blade.

“Burn…”

⤫ Shikai: Engetsu ⥤ Initial Release: Scathing Moon! ⤬

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1st Division headquarters.

Chōjirō fed Sōton while anxiously watching Genryūsai, who was calmly roasting sweet potatoes.

“Captain-Commander, if we allow Captain Kisaragi to run wild like this, won’t the Eleventh Division—”

“Won’t what? Are you suggesting they might storm the First Division and force this old man to step down?” Genryūsai tapped Ryūjin Jakka’s hilt to lower the temperature and continued unconcernedly, “If that boy truly harbored such thoughts, this old man would gladly hand over the position of Captain-Commander.

Under that boy’s training, the Eleventh Division’s strength now surpasses the First Division. Their division maintains an excellent atmosphere — one of mutual trust balanced with healthy competition. The Shinigami there spend their days either completing duties or sparring.

If other divisions had even a third of the Eleventh Division’s spirit, the Gotei 13 would have nothing to fear. Chōjirō, wouldn’t you say this makes him a natural candidate for Captain-Commander?

If that boy truly led the Eleventh Division to attack, this old man would welcome them with open arms.”

Chōjirō fell silent.

Though the logic was sound, something felt off. The Captain-Commander’s thinking seemed different from before.

Strange.

Genryūsai extinguished Ryūjin Jakka’s flames, took out a roasted sweet potato, and casually tossed it to the eagerly waiting Sōton.

“Let’s wait patiently. This turmoil is, in its way, a test of his abilities. After this battle, others will surely understand that troublemaker’s strength better. And perhaps those restless fools will finally learn to behave themselves.”

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After dealing with Sōya, before Akira could provide support to other ongoing battles, he saw figure after figure emerging from the ruins.

“Kisuke, Mayuri, Zaraki, Rangiku, Gin, Kaname, Sasakibe…” One familiar figure after another appeared before him, leaving him bewildered, “What is this? An Eleventh Division general meeting?! And why are you here too, traitor Sōsuke?”

Just then, another figure stepped out.

His face was gaunt, his hair a mix of yellow and green, his expression gloomy. Reiatsu swirled around him — his presence alone marking him as Lieutenant-level at minimum.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” The man placed his right hand before him and spoke in a deep voice, “I am the Seventh Seat of the Twelfth Division, Kagerōza Inaba. The mastermind who orchestrated this grand performance. And the great being destined to bring destruction and doom to Soul Society!

After these series of battles, your Reiatsu must be completely depleted, Captain Kisaragi.”

A sinister smile spread across his face.

“It’s time for me to personally end this farce. Prepare to die!”

Hearing this, Akira’s expression froze for a moment. After checking his Reiatsu — which had fully recovered thanks to his Reiryoku Surge Trait — he nodded repeatedly in agreement:

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, everything you said is right. I can’t believe you calculated even this. I’ll acknowledge you as Soul Society’s greatest intellect — after myself, Sōsuke, Kisuke, and Mayuri!”

Kagerōza: “?”

Does this guy not know what fear is? Face-to-face with death, and he’s still talking tough?

He could barely accept the others, but what was a muscle-head like him doing running his mouth? Could muscles think now?

“Go Mad…”

⤫ Shikai: Raikū ⥤ Initial Release: Coming Void! ⤬

Kagerōza raised his blade, and as his wrist turned, powerful Reiatsu erupted from his body.

His Zanpakutō transformed in a flash of white light into a double-edged sword with blades at both ends, gleaming sharply.

“Accept your death as your friends watch!” Convinced he had his enemy cornered, he twirled his blade to the left, activating the Space Manipulation.

A massive circular space suddenly appeared behind Akira. Several stored Kidō blasts erupted from within the spatial disk, all converging on him.

BOOM!!

An explosion rang out as surging flames shot skyward, sweeping up fierce winds and stirring up dust clouds in all directions. The visible shock waves completely leveled the standing ruins.

For a 7th Seat to possess such power was truly terrifying.

However, such an attack was nothing more than a tickle to a certain someone — it couldn’t even compare to Yama-jii’s punches.

When the dust settled, an unscathed figure stood amid the ruins, grinning maliciously at the familiar faces before him.

“Alright, greetings are done.” Akira grinned, “Now it’s my turn.”

Kagerōza’s expression darkened.

He had calculated a normal Captain’s Reiatsu value and multiplied it by a hundred to gauge this opponent’s strength. Yet even after all that calculation, he was still wrong.

Was this man truly a Shinigami? How could he still have energy left after so many battles?!

“Good thing I still have backup plans.”

As Kagerōza secretly rejoiced, he ordered his Reigai to launch an all-out attack on Akira.

The Reigai he brought weren’t just from the 11th Division — he had many more hidden cards to play.

Like Kōga Kuchiki, the infamous Shinigami Killer who once brought chaos to Soul Society!

And Marenoshin Ōmaeda, the 2nd Division Lieutenant renowned for his Kidō mastery, particularly in multiple Bakudō, whose raw power rivaled an average Captain!

As the Reigai unleashed their power, their Reiatsu crashed down like a tidal wave, washing over the ruins and making the air thick and heavy.

Feeling the approaching battle, Akira’s blood began to boil with long-absent excitement. His eyes glowed as his fighting spirit blazed like wildfire.

What a rare opportunity!

⤫ Kūkyō: Sankyoku no Mai ⥤ Empty State: Dance of Three Speeds ⤬

Before the enemy could attack, he transformed into a shooting star, launching forward with such force that he left a massive crater in the ground. He appeared among the crowd like a demon.

⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Ikkotsu ⥤ Origin Style: Single Bone! ⤬

A single punch struck Kōga’s head, the impact instantly making it explode — killing him beyond death.

The Kuchiki genius who once could fight multiple rounds with him had become mere cannon fodder before Akira.

Like Kensei Muguruma, he wouldn’t waste time with his opponents.

“Use Bakudō to restrain him, then attack together!”

Akira looked toward the source of the voice, but the speaker had already flash-stepped elsewhere.

But it didn’t matter. He knew that voice all too well. Once this was over, he’d make sure to multiply Kisuke’s workload tenfold.

Watching the increasingly heated battle, Kagerōza’s expression twisted in horror. His trump cards, in which he had placed such high hopes, were crumbling like clay before that overwhelming momentum.

Captain-class Shinigami or Lieutenants — it made no difference. None survived Akira’s second punch. Wherever he passed, bodies littered the ground, without even a cry of anguish.

Kagerōza realized the situation was lost. While that brute was distracted, this was his best chance to escape.

If he could merge with his other half, there might still be hope for a comeback!

However, at that moment, the space before the ruins shattered, and a deep, dark passage extended from within. Several figures emerged.

Kisuke, who had just returned from the Dangai, witnessed a spine-chilling scene.

A muscular demon had its right arm around “his” neck, a triumphant grin spreading across its face. Despite his “hnghhhh” plea for mercy, his neck was ruthlessly snapped with a crack.

Hiss—

He instinctively touched his own neck. Though he knew it wasn’t really him, the phantom pain made his scalp tingle.

What on earth had happened?! How had it come to this, Captain?!

After dispatching the traitor who had tried to sneak attack with Benihime, Akira immediately locked onto his next target.

Under Aizen’s twitching gaze, Akira’s body tensed like a drawn bowstring. His right fist shot out like a cannonball, utterly obliterating a figure that looked exactly like himself.

When it was done, Akira showed a satisfied smile, as if a long-held wish had finally been fulfilled.

What on earth was going through this guy’s head?!

After quietly marking down this grudge, Aizen surveyed the battlefield-like ruins. He instantly analyzed the course of events and their cause, then locked onto the strange thin man who had already fled the scene.

“So he’s the mastermind behind all this?”

As he ran, Kagerōza felt an inexplicable chill in his heart, making him shudder involuntarily — as if he’d been marked by a natural predator…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep