Chapter 664 The Show-Offs' Cooperation

Rukongai, District 6.

Not only had Otoribashi Rojuro and Love Aikawa, who had been sent as reinforcements by Yamamoto, fallen one after another, but also the already Hollowfied Kensei and Mashiro.

Hollow mask fragments had appeared on their bodies to varying degrees. Some were curled up on the ground in pain, clutching their faces. Others had completely lost consciousness, their Reiatsu violently oscillating between Hollowfication and Shinigamification.

At this moment, the only one still barely maintaining combat capability was Captain Shinji of the 5th Division.

But his condition wasn't much better. Half of his face had already been covered by a pale Hollow mask, its edges still spreading across his skin, consuming the last remnants of his sanity.

He knelt on one knee, one hand desperately bracing against the ground, the other gripping the hilt of his Zanpakuto, his knuckles cracking audibly from the strain.

And standing before him now was his own Lieutenant... Aizen Sosuke.

"The Hollowfication experiments are proceeding very smoothly."

Aizen smiled as he watched Shinji, Sarugaki Hiyori, and the others struggling in agony.

Just then, Gin also walked unhurriedly under the moonlight.

His face still had its usual harmless smile. "Lieutenant Aizen, the preparations on that side are also ready... Oh, my apologies. After tonight, I should be addressing you as Captain Aizen."

Hearing Gin's voice, Aizen smiled faintly. He didn't correct Ichimaru's teasing, simply saying in his usual gentle tone, "Perfect timing. The data collection here is also complete. There's no need for these people to live any longer."

Hearing this exchange, Shinji, whose body was being eroded by Hollowfication, raised his head with difficulty.

Beneath the half-mask, his eyes glared fixedly at Aizen. He gasped and asked intermittently, "Th-that side? Wh-what are you talking about?"

"You have no need to know."

Aizen drew his blade. Its edge glinted coldly under the moonlight, reflecting his emotionless eyes.

"Goodbye, Captain Hirako. You all have been truly excellent experimental subjects."

The moment Aizen raised his blade to finish off the defenseless victims before him—

He instinctively felt a sharp killing intent from behind.

Aizen spun and swung his blade, tracing a sharp arc behind him.

But even so, his opponent had seized the initiative. The blade cut off the armband on his left arm that symbolized his position as Lieutenant of the 5th Division.

"Oh my, oh my... It seems we have another interesting guest."

Aizen turned around and studied the unexpected visitor before him.

The one who had arrived was the only other man besides Makoto who could truly make Aizen feel wary.

The Captain of the 12th Division... Urahara Kisuke.

At this moment, Kisuke was draped in a black cloak. Standing behind him was the leader of the Kido Corps, Grand Kido Chief, Tsukabishi Tessai.

Seeing Shinji and the others collapsed behind them, both showed expressions of gravity and anger.

"This is getting a bit tricky, Captain Aizen."

Gin changed his address for Aizen, and asked with a smile, "Should we let them go? Would that affect things on that side?"

Aizen chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Proceed as planned. This level of interference won't affect that person."

With that, he calmly sheathed his Zanpakuto, not even glancing at Kisuke again, and prepared to leave with Tosen and Gin.

Seeing the three of them trying to retreat unscathed, Tessai was furious. He attacked without hesitation.

"Hado #88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho!"

A violent lightning cannon shot from his palm, the blue-white light illuminating the entire area as bright as day.

But Aizen simply raised his left hand without even looking back, and casually uttered a single sentence.

"Bakudo #81, Danku."

A semi-transparent barrier of Reishi appeared behind him. The #88 Kido, powerful enough to level a hill, slammed into the barrier and, as if hitting an insurmountable wall, exploded into countless fragments of lightning before silently dissipating in the night wind.

Seeing this, Kisuke and Tessai stared in shock, realizing that Aizen had been holding back all along.

A Lieutenant could use a shortened Danku to block a #88 Kido.

This wasn't something a Lieutenant could do. Even most Captains couldn't.

"Ugh, aaaah!"

Just then, Shinji and the others let out agonizing screams. The Hollowfication process was accelerating.

The sound snapped Kisuke's attention back.

There was no time to worry about Aizen and his group now. They had to take Shinji and the others back for emergency treatment immediately. Otherwise, these people would really die.

During the emergency evacuation of Shinji and the others, a heavy stone weighed on Kisuke's mind.

'Who exactly was the 'that person' Aizen had mentioned?'

Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, but each was quickly dismissed.

Tessai, seeing his worried expression, knew this wasn't the time for discussion.

There were too many victims. They had to evacuate immediately.

Judging that it was impossible to carry so many people by hand in time, Tessai decisively decided to use a forbidden-level spatial transfer technique to teleport everyone to the 12th Division's barracks.

But the moment they arrived at the 12th Division's barracks, Kisuke and Tessai froze.

The 2nd Division's Onmitsukido was already waiting for them here.

Those covert operatives in black combat uniforms emerged from the shadows on all sides, surrounding the entire barracks.

Facing Kisuke, a fellow comrade, the Onmitsukido showed no mercy. Sharp multi-bladed daggers were pressed against both sides of his neck.

"Captain of the 12th Division, Urahara Kisuke, and Grand Kido Chief, Tsukabishi Tessai... Central 46 has issued a compulsory arrest warrant for you. Please come with us."

As soon as this was said, both Kisuke and Tessai's expressions changed dramatically.

Wasn't this too coincidental? They had just returned to the 12th Division, and the Onmitsukido was already waiting for them.

It was as if someone had known in advance that they would appear at this time and place.

Kisuke's pupils contracted slightly.

From Aizen's experiment, to Shinji's Hollowfication, to his emergency rescue, to Central 46 issuing the arrest warrant—

It was all like a carefully orchestrated script, and he was just an actor following it.

And after Kisuke, along with the Hollowfied Shinji and the others, were forcibly escorted by the Onmitsukido to Central 46, less than a minute passed.

Above the Seireitei, a massive black fissure split open without warning.

A Garganta!

The size of the Garganta far exceeded any recorded Hollow Invasion.

Makoto was the first to step out, followed closely by Psykos, Nel, Harribel, Beam, Yu, Ulquiorra, Starrk, and Pochi, who was wagging his tail at his feet.

He stood in midair, looking down at the brightly lit Seireitei below, and calmly assigned tasks to his subordinates: "Psykos, you're in charge of retrieving the Soul King's fragments. Nel and Harribel will assist you. The Tsunayashiro Clan doesn't have many strong fighters, so it shouldn't be a problem for you."

"Yes!"

Psykos quickly responded.