As the five enormous dragons surged into the heavens, a devastating surge of spiritual pressure followed in their wake, compressing the air and flattening the terrain. The immense crater left behind had no visible bottom, and what should have been solid rock was now nothing but fine dust scattered by the storm of destruction.
Amidst the devastation, Aoki walked toward the massive pit with calm, measured steps. It was he who had released Goryū Tenmetsu—"Five Dragons of Destruction"—the forbidden Hadō #99 spell, performed without an incantation.
"Hey, hey, hey… isn't this too insane?" muttered Kyoraku Shunsui, adjusting his straw hat. He'd seen Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni entangled by Aoki earlier, which had left him speechless. But this—this was beyond anything expected. Across the field, Aizen stood tall, unscathed, his face calm but eyes narrowed with intrigue.
"That's truly unexpected," Aizen mused, his voice smooth. "You really are the most interesting anomaly."
In truth, Aizen had sensed Aoki's terrifying spiritual pressure over six months ago. The origin point was Karakura Town. Despite extensive research, Aizen had failed to uncover Aoki's true identity. He'd simply labeled him a potential threat—an unknown with spiritual pressure rivaling the Captains.
The incident with the Gemini Spear of Death had been one of Aizen's subtle tests. Merely probing.
Yet Aoki remained unshaken. He looked directly at Aizen and replied coldly, "Your biggest mistake was targeting me. I had no intention of involving myself in your schemes. But now… I've changed my mind."
Before he could finish, a sudden rupture tore through the sky, and three golden columns of light descended, enveloping Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen.
"My apologies," Aizen said from within the light, his voice echoing with cruel amusement. "The time has come. Just when I was beginning to enjoy our little exchange, Aoki. I eagerly await our next meeting. Then, I'll engage with you seriously."
The three figures began ascending within the beams of light. As the Gotei 13 braced for pursuit, Yamamoto raised his hand and said, "Stop. That's Negación. The Hollow counter-barrier, used to rescue their own. It seals off the interior from our world. We've been unable to touch Aizen since its activation."
Captain Ukitake's expression darkened as he whispered, "Aizen… consorting with the Menos Grande?"
Aizen's disdainful smile answered, "Consorting? Ukitake, you're still naive. No one is born standing in the sky—not you, not me, not even gods. But that unbearable void ends here. From now on, I will stand at the summit."
As Aizen stepped into the palm of the colossal Hollow, Aoki's narrowed eyes betrayed his first true flicker of emotion since his resurrection in this world.
He had misjudged. He had wanted no part in this world's conflicts, believing himself only a bystander. But fate had other plans.
"Standing in the sky?" Aoki echoed quietly, as if testing the words. Something stirred in him—a resonance.
With a sudden motion, Aoki raised his right hand in a sword-drawing stance and slashed downward.
Clang!!!
The resulting sound was deafening. A burst of crimson energy erupted, and the previously impenetrable Negación barrier was cleaved apart.
In Aoki's hand, a dark red Zanpakutō materialized, its blade shimmering with a chilling aura.
"That Zanpakutō…" Yamamoto murmured, astonished. "How…?"
Despite the rupture, Aizen and his companions managed to vanish into the dimensional corridor—an improvised Garganta. Under normal circumstances, it would lead to Hueco Mundo or the World of the Living. The tear sealed behind them.
For a brief moment, Aoki and Aizen locked eyes across the collapsing dimension.
It was over. Aizen had obtained the Hōgyoku and escaped. Soul Society had suffered a bitter loss.
The Fourth Division, led by Unohana Retsu, was already tending to the wounded. Amid the chaos, she approached Aoki, standing beside him with an enigmatic smile.
"He got away. Aren't you disappointed?" she asked softly.
"There won't be a next time," Aoki said flatly. "The next time we meet… he dies."
Aoki had indeed underestimated Aizen. He'd known about the Captain's schemes, but never expected Aizen to act against him personally. That betrayal rankled deeply.
The cleanup was agonizingly slow. With so many injured, the Fourth Division was stretched to its limit. And yet… no one dared approach Aoki with blame.
He stood apart, lost in thought. He had once seen himself as a footnote—an outsider to this world. But now, his arrival had clearly altered history. He wasn't a bystander anymore. He was a catalyst.
In his hand, his Zanpakutō remained, its dark red hue pulsing faintly. Aoki had read records about Zanpakutō—spiritual weapons forged from a Shinigami's soul. All Soul Reapers' Zanpakutōs were crafted by Nimaiya Ōetsu, one of the Royal Guard.
But Aoki's blade felt… different.
He had been a Hollow, once. Arrancar gained Zanpakutō through the act of shattering their masks and regaining humanoid form. But Aoki had evolved beyond that—he had filled his Hollow hole with his own will, not a Hōgyoku.
It had cost him a conventional Zanpakutō. Or so he thought.
Now, that belief shattered with the emergence of this weapon. As he held it, a name echoed in his soul.
"Cang Lan…" he whispered.
———
Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions were expected to arrive soon. In recognition of his contribution, Yamamoto formally granted Ichigo the rank of "Shinigami Representative," legitimizing his actions within Soul Society.
Elsewhere, as a Hell Butterfly fluttered before him, Aoki stepped into the First Division's assembly hall for the first time.
The Gotei 13 was reeling. Three Captains—Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tōsen—had defected. Their seats were empty.
Aoki had been summoned because of this.
"Third Seat Aoki of the Fourth Division," Yamamoto announced, his voice stern but calm. "In light of your extraordinary performance and unparalleled strength, we now call a vote on your promotion to Captain. Speak now if you object."
He tapped the floor with Ryūjin Jakka, the oldest and most powerful Zanpakutō in Soul Society. Silence followed.
All Captains had witnessed Aoki's strength. In combat prowess alone, he was more than worthy of a Captain's haori.
With no objections, Yamamoto struck the floor again.
"Then I declare—Aoki shall assume the position of Captain of the Fifth Division."