"Masatsuki, long time no see."
Sōsuke Aizen rose from his throne, took a few steps forward, and stood at the top of the steps, gazing down at his former right-hand man. His voice was soft, almost casual.
"Oh my, what's this, Aizen-sama? You even changed your hairstyle? I must say, this new look is much more stylish than before~"
Masatsuki Aozaki waved his hand teasingly as he looked at the smiling Aizen in the distance.
"But honestly, I thought you called me here for a fair duel. Turns out, there are so many people waiting for me instead…"
With Aizen's strength, taking down Harribel and the others would have been effortless. Yet, he deliberately gave them the chance to call for help, making it clear that his true target was Masatsuki.
"…This is just a little entertainment. If you can't even handle this trash, what makes you think you're qualified to stand on the same level as me?"
Aizen let out a light chuckle, spreading his arms as he spoke slowly and deliberately. He paid no mind to the ugly expression on Baraggan's face.
"Hmph, it seems you still don't understand my strength. Aren't you afraid I'll call my Master over?"
Masatsuki Aozaki smirked and looked up, his gaze locking onto the Ceros fired by the Arrancars.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Baraggan only sneered.
A simultaneous release of Ceros from so many Adjuchas-class Arrancars had enough power to instantly kill an ordinary Captain-class Shinigami.
Did this insignificant Shinigami really think everyone was a monster like Aizen?
…Huh?
Under Baraggan's astonished gaze, Masatsuki Aozaki didn't flinch or dodge as the barrage of Ceros came at him.
A glowing green Reishi barrier materialized before him, effortlessly blocking the attacks.
El Escudo!
"You really pulled it off."
On the throne, aside from Aizen, the other four narrowed their eyes.
They had seen this ability before, but its original wielder was not Masatsuki Aozaki.
"…Quite a crowd. But you're not the only one who can call for backup."
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled faintly. With a casual wave of his hand, a fiery red figure emerged behind him.
"I'll leave it to you."
His tone was calm and unconcerned.
The woman in the red kimono nodded. In an instant, her Zanpakutō radiated a fierce and overwhelming presence.
Ryūjin Jakka leaped into the air and charged forward.
With each step, she covered several meters with ease. Her expression was light, almost playful, as she swung her Zanpakutō with effortless grace—like a dancer performing an ancient ritual.
Boom!
Scarlet flames coiled around her blade, their heat distorting the very air.
Ryūjin Jakka frowned slightly, and in an instant, the temperature plummeted.
She vaulted into the air and landed right in the midst of the Arrancars. By the time her feet touched the ground, her flaming longsword had already pierced deep into the earth before her.
"Ennetsu Jigoku (Hell of Scorching Flames)!"
The ground erupted as pillars of fire burst forth, engulfing the Arrancars along with their Zanpakutō. Their Hierro, strong enough to withstand Zanpakutō strikes, crumbled into ash in an instant.
"What kind of ability is that?!"
Szayelaporro exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the woman who burned as brightly as the sun.
She had appeared out of nowhere.
"Masatsuki Aozaki, I will kill you!"
Baraggan raised his battle axe and roared in fury.
These Arrancars were once his subordinates.
They used to address him as "Your Majesty." How many would survive this battle?
Sensing the overwhelming threat, they immediately chose to release their Zanpakutō.
"Sip, Fornicarás!"
"Rot, Arrogante!"
With two low growls, Szayelaporro's lower body morphed into writhing tentacles, while four wings sprouted from his back. Baraggan, on the other hand, transformed into a skeletal form.
Seeing this, Kaname Tōsen and Kōga Kuchiki also drew their Zanpakutō…
...
With a blur of movement, Masatsuki Aozaki appeared atop the steps leading to the King's Throne, completely ignoring the guards below who attempted to block him.
As a Shinigami in the third fusion state of the Hōgyoku, even the most powerful Shinigami or Hollow could barely last a few moves against him without a unique ability.
These "small fry" weren't even worth his attention.
Boom!
Szayelaporro and Baraggan's heads were slammed into the ground, the sheer force distorting their features.
Baraggan, in particular, was in a dire state—cracks spread across his skeletal head, making it look as if it could shatter at any moment, like brittle porcelain.
"So, your 'Respira' is useless?"
Everything around Baraggan continued to decay, yet as he pressed his hands to the ground, struggling to rise, he found it futile.
The power he prided himself on—the ability to rot and age anything it touched—had absolutely no effect. He hadn't even managed to decay a single hair on Masatsuki.
This was the third person to completely resist his "Respira." The first two were Sōsuke Aizen and Szayelaporro.
Aging and decay had been his absolute power ever since he became an Arrancar.
Only those two had ever nullified it through sheer Reiatsu, and now a third had appeared!
The humiliation burned deep.
As a ruler who had dominated Hueco Mundo for millennia, to be repeatedly disgraced like this…
"Your subordinates are too weak."
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled, turning his gaze to the one man who had remained calm from start to finish.
"This is only the beginning."
Aizen chuckled lightly, then turned to his side.
"Kōga, this is a perfect opportunity. Won't you demonstrate your loyalty to me?"
"I…"
Kōga Kuchiki's expression was conflicted.
Aizen's gaze locked onto him as he asked,
"Can you still turn back?"
Kōga's face stiffened, and after a long pause, he let out a deep sigh.
Masatsuki Aozaki shook his head, feigning disappointment. His expression was one of regret, yet the smile never left his face.
"Kōga, I never thought you would truly betray us. If Ginrei-sama and Lady Kuchiki knew… they'd be very disappointed, wouldn't they?"
"They won't find out."
Gritting his teeth, Kōga raised a hand to his face and dragged his fingers downward.
"This is all your fault, Masatsuki Aozaki! You have power but refuse to—"
As he spoke, a white mask with curved horns suddenly appeared over his face.
"Oh? So he gave you Hollow powers?"
Masatsuki Aozaki's eyes flickered with mild surprise as he looked at the familiar mask.
That ability belonged to Ichigo Kurosaki… and now, it had fallen into Kōga Kuchiki's hands.
"But you're as selfish as ever. I wasn't wrong about you."
With a sudden burst of strength, Masatsuki crushed the heads of the two Arrancars beneath his grasp.
"Maybe it's because I'm selfish too."
To Masatsuki, the only one among them with any real value was Szayelaporro.
But one ambitious, mad scientist was enough—Mayuri Kurotsuchi already filled that role.
Szayelaporro wasn't the type to remain obedient. There was no reason to keep him alive.
...
The moment Kōga Kuchiki charged forward, Masatsuki Aozaki stood up.
In the next instant—
Masatsuki was behind him.
When he reappeared, he was holding a severed head with a white, horned mask, its surface beginning to crumble.
Kōga's body, now missing its head, slumped to the ground.
His movements were so swift that Kōga hadn't even had time to scream.
Feeling the sudden drop in Reiatsu, Kaname Tōsen frowned.
This man was even more ruthless than he had imagined.
Many in the Seireitei knew that Masatsuki and Kōga had been close friends.
Yet, Masatsuki had killed him without hesitation—one clean strike, leaving no room for mercy.
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled indifferently.
He had always been good to those who treated him well.
But betrayal?
Betrayal meant death.
There was no other ending.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake