"Brother, when did you create your own Kidō?"
After witnessing the power of the Kidō Forbidden Technique—Golden Light Curse, Aizen subconsciously asked Aiyan.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it a little.
And what happened next was indeed worthy of that trace of regret in his heart.
"I created it casually... while I was playing with Kuchiki Ginrei."
Aiyan casually glanced at him and replied lightly.
Aizen said nothing, only gave a polite, slightly bitter smile—and then turned his head away.
Obviously, that was a blow from Versailles.
Aside from manipulating his enemies and subordinates, his brother also had a perfectly healthy little hobby—
Titles like "Hair Wax Master" and "Shinigami King" weren't given for nothing. They weren't blown over by the wind.
What he couldn't stand most… was someone pretending better than him.
And being the one getting shown up.
If it were someone else, he could still fight back.
But Aiyan wasn't just anyone.
He was his brother—whose Versailles abilities were on par with his Shinigami talent.
That alone made Aizen's chest feel stuffy, with nowhere to vent.
"As expected of Lord Aiyan."
"Others are still stuck trying to master a Kidō in the 80s… but you've already casually created a Kidō on the level of 90 or higher."
"You're also a Gotei captain—yet compared to you, the rest are like fireflies before the moonlight."
Perhaps because he couldn't see people's expressions, Tōsen Kaname failed to notice the glint in Aizen's eyes as he quietly turned his gaze toward him.
Got it. I'll remember this.
Tōsen Kaname's words were too sharp—even though he never mentioned "Aizen Sōsuke" by name, the compliments could all be applied to Aizen… and hit their mark directly.
For example, when Tōsen said "others still stuck cultivating 80s-level Kidō"—well, Aizen just so happened to be one of them.
Because in Aizen's standards, any Hadō below 90, if abandoning chant didn't match full chant in power, it was worthless.
And currently, his Hadō below 90—when abandoned—only had about two-thirds the strength of full chant.
As for the other comment—
That "compared to Aiyan, the others are like fireflies"?
Well, as Gotei Lieutenant and de facto captain… that included Aizen himself.
In terms of Kidō technique: Aiyan developed "Abandoned Chant"; he improved "Full Chant."
In Kidō power: Aiyan could spam triple Black Coffin, each with two-thirds the power of full chant.
Meanwhile, Aizen could only use one Black Coffin, and its full chant power… wasn't even as strong as Aiyan's abandoned chant.
What else could he be, if not a firefly?
Of course, this didn't mean Aizen was narrow-minded.
Normally, he'd laugh this kind of thing off.
He had just taken the initiative to stand next to Aiyan…
Only to be Versailles'd right in the face.
But soon enough, Tōsen Kaname made up for it in time.
Just as Aizen recovered, Aiyan looked up ahead—
Toward the Gotei team buildings shrouded in the night.
There was no need to use Reiatsu perception.
Even with the night as cover, one could see multiple silhouettes fast approaching the Senzaikyū.
Tōsen Kaname heard the movement as well.
He turned his head, and saw—
Of the ten golden chains binding Kuchiki Ginrei, one had already shattered, leaving nine.
And with one chain gone, the overall sealing strength was reduced.
The remaining nine began to unravel even faster.
"It seems... it's time to end the show at the Senzaikyū."
Aiyan gave Kuchiki Ginrei—who was now struggling wildly—one last look.
Then, he turned his gaze away.
"Next stop—Kuchiki Clan."
Aizen raised his hand, pointing one finger toward the vast sky above Soul Society.
From the fingertip, cyan light curled out like flames—
Then expanded outward, enveloping Kuchiki Ginrei, who had broken free from three chains…
The head of Hirako Shinji, not far away…
And the three of them.
"This is... the Kidō Forbidden Technique..."
Tōsen Kaname's body suddenly trembled.
Even though he couldn't see, his Reiatsu perception clearly felt the technique Aiyan was using, and the changes occurring around him.
But before he could finish his sentence—
His face changed drastically.
Then… his voice stopped.
Not because he didn't want to speak—
But because time within the scope of the cyan light had completely stopped.
His movements—and even his thoughts—were frozen.
Aizen muttered softly.
His voice was slowed down, yet—
He hadn't been frozen.
His Reiatsu was powerful enough to resist even temporal halt.
From the moment the cyan glow spread out…
To soaring into the sky…
To tearing open a rift in the black curtain above Seireitei…
The entire process took less than three seconds.
Once the light vanished—
Seireitei was once again submerged in darkness.
In the massive Senzaikyū—
All the prisoners in the deep cells…
All the guard Shinigami blown away by Kuchiki Ginrei's Bankai…
Only one trace remained—
The three silhouettes of Aiyan, Aizen, and Tōsen Kaname.
And Hirako Shinji's severed head…
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
As soon as the three departed using space transfer—
Ghostly figures surged into the Confession Palace from all directions.
In just a blink, the battlefield was already filled with Shinigami from multiple divisions.
There were seated officers, Lieutenant—
"Judging from the Reiatsu traces… there were three intruders."
Captain of the 3rd Division—
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō knelt halfway down, his fingertips pressed to the ground. His spiritual awareness scanned the palace, quickly locking onto the residual Reiatsu.
As he analyzed further, his expression darkened.
Muguruma Kensei's surprised voice echoed from nearby.
He too had recognized one of the signatures—
It belonged to Hirako Shinji.
Every Shinigami's Reiatsu was like a fingerprint or an iris—similar, but never identical.
"What the hell was Hirako doing at the Senzaikyū in the middle of the night?"
"Was he trying to break someone out?"
Love Aikawa's grin stiffened slightly.
But in the ears of the other captains and Lieutenant who knew Hirako well…
It was like a bombshell.
Their expressions changed.
"Check on Kyūshin Prison immediately!"
Kensei's expression twisted in horror.
He remembered the argument he'd had with Hirako in the captain's meeting not long ago—
Back then, Hirako's words were all about protecting Kōga.
"Kensei—you think Hirako tried to break Kōga out?"
"Impossible... Absolutely impossible!"
"Even if he believed Kōga was innocent, he wouldn't be reckless enough to pull something ."
Love Aikawa—who had just been joking—now looked ashen. Not a trace of his usual grin remained.
"...It's not impossible."
A heavy voice rang out.
The newly promoted Deputy Chief of Kidō Corps—
All the Gotei captains and lieutenants present turned toward him.