As the chants of many Shinigami fell, strips of binding Reiatsu and spiritual nails burst from the air, sealing the swinging arms of the berserk Kuchiki Ginrei, locking down the Zanpakutō in his grasp.
Even with his hands sealed, Kuchiki Ginrei's ferocity didn't lessen in the slightest. As he struggled wildly, he opened his mouth wide—condensing a scarlet Cero, blasting it in all directions.
The massive explosion swept across a range of hundreds of meters in an instant. Every garden, every stone statue, every column and flowing stream in its path was obliterated. Dozens of Kuchiki clan guards were caught up and blown away by the blast.
Kuchiki Sōjun avoided the aftermath of the Cero. His pale face was tinged with dread.
Just now, he had almost been killed by his father's Cero.
"Bakudō #99: Part Two – Bankin."
Luckily, the Kuchiki family had more than enough servants.
Though casualties had been heavy in the last wave, new Shinigami quickly stepped in, and the Bakudō #99: Bankin was completed with seamless coordination.
"Prologue: Halting Wrap."
In an instant, massive white cloth surged out like a giant python leaping from its den, wrapping around Kuchiki Ginrei's entire body—including his face and Hollow mask, locking everything down.
"Refrain: Serial Hundred Bolts."
Dozens of iron rods of condensed Reiatsu shot forward, stabbing through Kuchiki Ginrei's body and nailing him directly into the ground.
"Young master, should we continue?"
One of the Kuchiki stewards hesitated.
Kuchiki Sōjun took a sharp breath and shouted firmly.
He understood both his father's strength and his current Hollow state better than anyone.
It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
"Finale: Fully Prohibited Great Seal!"
The gathered Shinigami exchanged glances.
Given the current state of Kuchiki Ginrei, and the fact that Byakuya was still young, with Kōga branded a criminal, the next Clan Head would almost certainly be this "rebellious" Sōjun.
No one dared to object.
With a sound like the sky cracking, a giant spiritual slab etched with the Bankin seal dropped from above—crashing down on the immobilized Kuchiki Ginrei, pinning him beneath with a thunderous impact.
As Kuchiki Ginrei finally fell silent under the pressure of the seal, Sōjun breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately gave orders for the seal to be reinforced and the battlefield cleaned.
"Father, what's going on here?"
"And who is this guy sealed by Bakudō?"
"His Reiatsu… feels oddly familiar."
Byakuya Kuchiki had finally arrived, dragging his Zanpakutō with him.
The servants nearby lowered their heads, staying silent as if they hadn't heard anything.
"That's your grandfather."
Kuchiki Sōjun sighed heavily. He didn't hide the truth from Byakuya.
Something —regarding the Kuchiki Clan's "pillar"—could no longer be kept under wraps.
"Father… why would you rebel?"
The young Byakuya—still hot-blooded and brash, so unlike the cold and composed future head of the family—snapped immediately at what he saw.
The words blurted from his mouth.
"I didn't rebel. Your grandfather Hollowfied."
Kuchiki Sōjun nearly cursed from anger at his son's words.
Did he need to rebel?
If his health had been better, Kuchiki Ginrei would've practically begged him to take the clan head's position.
"Grandfather is a model Shinigami! He would never violate such a taboo!"
Byakuya's expression changed dramatically.
Even as a child, as the heir of the Kuchiki family, he understood all too well what Hollowfication meant.
Especially for someone like Ginrei.
"I suspect something more is at play."
Kuchiki Sōjun narrowed his eyes.
And just then, a terrifying, beast-like roar echoed through the air.
Startled, Byakuya and Sōjun both turned sharply to the side.
They saw the previously injured servants—the steward who had taken a Cero blast included—all start convulsing.
From their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, white Reiatsu substance began to ooze out.
Some Shinigami, upon releasing that white matter, instantly collapsed and dissipated into spirit particles—leaving behind only their worn Shihakushō.
But a few, stronger ones, managed to stay conscious.
Their faces were quickly consumed by the white Reiatsu… forming Hollow masks.
Just like the steward.
"Someone used the Kuchiki clan as a test field for a Hollowfication experiment!"
Chills ran through Kuchiki Sōjun's entire body.
If he had doubts before—now, he was certain.
This was a targeted Hollowfication experiment against the Kuchiki family.
Byakuya roared, unsheathing his Zanpakutō.
A familiar voice echoed from the darkness.
Others may not have recognized it…
…but how could Kuchiki Sōjun and Byakuya fail to?
The moment they heard it, their bodies stiffened.
Their expressions twisted in shock.
From the shadows emerged Aizen and Tōsen Kaname.
They weren't Aizen and Tōsen.
They were Kōga… and Hirako Shinji.
"Don't you love Hollow's feast, Kuchiki Sōjun?"
Aizen smiled devilishly.
"It was you! You did all this!?"
Kuchiki Sōjun's voice was cold. His eyes were like sharpened steel.
He could barely believe that the convicted prisoner, locked away in the Senzaikyū, had somehow escaped…
…but with Hirako Shinji's "presence" now here, it all made sense.
It had to be a jailbreak.
"You… made Grandfather Hollow?"
"Did you forget how well Grandfather treated you!?"
Byakuya roared in rage.
"Used me to elevate the Kuchiki name into the leading noble clan, and rewarded me with a lousy third seat in the Sixth Division."
"Even your useless father got the Lieutenant position."
"Do you know how I lived these fifty years!?"
Aizen mimicked Kōga's voice.
"I guarded your estate, helped with the Hollow experiments… and what did I get in return?"
"Labeled a criminal. Sentenced to blood burial. Silenced."
"Luckily, I had foresight. I won over Hirako Shinji early on, or else I'd be dead by Ginrei's blade right now."
"Since the Kuchiki clan shows no mercy, I'll show none in return."
"He loves Hollow so much, right? Thinks so highly of his clan?"
"Fine. Let him taste Hollow. Let all of the Kuchiki clan taste it."
An ice-cold fury swept through the air.
All those present—noble blood or not—felt the chill of murderous intent crawl over their skin.
"Why did you fall so far?"
"Why stand with such filth?"
"Did losing your captaincy strip you of your pride as a Shinigami, Hirako Shinji!?"
Sōjun shouted, his voice ringing like steel in the garden.
One Kōga was bad enough.
But now, even a former captain of the Fifth Division had joined him.
All he could do now was buy time—and pray that the rest of the Gotei 13 would arrive… before it was too late.
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