The complete destruction of Seireitei.
In exchange for that devastation, all of the power that had been reaped was now exhausted by Seiya.
As he watched the orb of reishi shoot out, then vanish into the sky—as if piercing into the world's shadow—this former Fifth Division Captain couldn't help but show a weary expression.
His lips had gone dry, and he instinctively licked them.
—Pathetic.
"All I wanted was to throw out the gathered reishi…"
Yet even his own reserves were nearly squeezed dry.
He'd been mentally prepared, sure, but to truly experience the toll—it was more than he had anticipated.
The Eightfold Method.
It was a system Seiya created to counter the Wandenreich, a method for massive reishi deployment.
But until now, it had existed only in theory.
Only in actual use did Seiya understand the indescribable burden…
Like trying to push a mountain with the strength of a child—it was a fool's dream.
Like a mortal trying to throw a lead ball equal to their weight—if you didn't brace every muscle, you couldn't hope to lift it.
He had poured nearly everything into it—years of planning, power, strategy—all now exhausted.
Whether it succeeded or not… that was no longer up to him.
He adjusted his breathing, recovered his focus.
With the remaining tendrils of sensory perception, Seiya tracked the current state of affairs.
In the distance, the Gotei 13 was preparing to launch an attack.
Elsewhere, Aizen had retrieved the remaining half of the Hōgyoku.
The wounded and shocked Rukia Kuchiki—her chest pierced—couldn't believe such a thing had been hidden within her.
While she remained stunned, Aizen's eyes shifted away from her and locked onto the glowing orb at his fingertips.
"So this is the remaining half of the Hōgyoku… I see. It truly is beautiful."
An object he had longed for day and night was finally in his hand.
Even for someone so composed, it was difficult to suppress the swell of emotion.
He turned his gaze back to Rukia and smiled down like a predator, confident and cold.
"Well done, Rukia Kuchiki."
"For someone so ordinary, you exceeded expectations."
"And now… goodbye."
Granting mercy to the weak was the same as granting release.
So Aizen let go.
Let gravity take its course—letting her fall rapidly from the heights of Soul Society.
"...?!"
She tried to speak, but the rushing wind filled her mouth and nose—her face twisted in terror.
To conceal the Hōgyoku, and to carry out a full execution, Rukia had been placed in a gigai.
A human shell.
Falling from a height of a hundred meters—there was no chance of survival.
"Rukia!"
Ichigo Kurosaki and Byakuya Kuchiki were already prepared to leap forward—
But someone outpaced them both.
In the blink of an eye, Rukia was caught in someone's arms.
Seiya.
"Dangerous, that was~"
Wearing a tired but amused look, Seiya gently placed the shocked Rukia down on a patch of rubble.
"Sorry. Seireitei's been reduced to a mess. There's not many good places left to land."
Rukia stared at him, stunned.
"Captain Arima…"
She almost said it reflexively.
But quickly, she caught herself—realizing the current divide between them.
Seiya had cast aside his duties to the Gotei 13.
That title no longer applied.
But if so… why would he do this?
"Confused?"
He spoke her thoughts aloud.
That same peaceful, steady smile on his face.
He rubbed the back of his head and muttered,
"I've always hated this part of myself."
At this point, the original story's trajectory could only serve as loose reference.
Too many things had deviated.
Aizen trying to kill Rukia, Ichigo and Byakuya being unable to act in time, and his own shifting mindset…
None of it was as predicted.
"Saving you was just a reflex. Don't think too much of it."
And more importantly—
"What I think doesn't matter. What matters is you and Byakuya's feelings."
He hesitated, then gently patted her shoulder with a smile.
"Live on, Rukia Kuchiki."
"Next time you feel like dying, at least hesitate a little. Think of this moment…"
"Your life—was saved by me, Seiya."
With that, he had nothing more to say.
He looked upward.
From above, Aizen watched silently, offering no comment on Seiya's actions.
The former captain remained "easygoing"—not bound by egotism or bruised pride.
Aizen simply glanced Seiya's way, then gave silent approval.
As Seiya turned to leave—
A familiar, troublesome voice called out.
"Wait! Captain Arima!"
Ah. The troublesome one.
"…."
By all logic, he should've walked away.
But—
People are emotional creatures.
Even knowing the risks, Seiya couldn't help but turn halfway.
He saw her standing there.
Breathless. Disheveled.
Small. Slender.
Long hair. Soft features.
It was someone he knew all too well.
Hinamori Momo, Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, had come.
Her purpose was clear.
Their eyes met, and though no words were spoken, her resolve ignited.
"Captain Arima!"
"I… I know you're not our captain anymore…"
"No! There's got to be a misunderstanding!"
Her voice was firm. Her heart refused doubt.
"You were threatened, right? Deceived?!"
"…."
"Look at me! This mark on my face—we were helping the wounded just now!"
"…."
"You taught us that! The Fifth Division is supposed to support others!"
"…."
"If even you turn against that—then what's left for us?!"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I know the real Captain Arima would never do something like this!"
Pressing her trembling hands to her chest, she called out with everything she had:
"You are the spirit of the Fifth Division! Please—please don't fall to evil!"
She collapsed to her knees, body trembling.
From the rubble, other Fifth Division members emerged.
Each face familiar.
All battered, but present.
All echoing her words.
"There's got to be a mistake, Captain Arima!"
"You saved people! That's not what a traitor does!"
"Come back! Teach us again, please!"
Words carried weight.
But even before those words could reach Seiya—
Hinamori had broken.
Tears ran freely, hands shaking, voice trembling.
'If you're going to leave…'
'Please don't… please don't…'
'Leave me behind…'
Pride. Duty.
But also—
Love. Grief.
Her whispered truth, laid bare.
As for Seiya—
He didn't know what to say.
Or what to do.
He did feel guilt.
Not toward Hinamori directly.
But toward the entire Fifth Division.
These were people who had followed him in earnest.
But here, beneath the eyes of the Gotei 13, any overt connection would only bring danger to them.
So—
He sighed.
Then muttered,
"That's enough already."
"You guys…"
"…are just too easy to fool."
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Powerstones?
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