Chương 182: Ailin’s Fury

"Therefore, I suspect that Captain Ailin was the one who stole the Ōken," Kyoraku concluded. "Judging by the casualties suffered by the Ninth Division during that incident, if there is something within the Muken that Captain Ailin desires, the sacrifice of those Eleventh Division members was likely intentional."

An explosion of reiatsu erupted from Yamamoto, his anger palpable. This was the first time he had heard of Kyoraku's suspicions.

"Kyoraku, why did you keep this from me?" Yamamoto demanded.

If he had known that Ailin was responsible for the theft of the Ōken, he would have apprehended him and imprisoned him within the Muken long ago. This would have prevented countless problems.

Looking back on the major incidents of the past century, almost every one of them had some connection to Ailin.

"Old man, it was just a suspicion. I had no concrete evidence to prove that Captain Ailin was the culprit," Kyoraku explained helplessly. "Besides, judging by the outcome of that incident, both Captain Ailin and Captain Muguruma successfully retrieved the Ōken and ensured its safety.

If I had acted against Captain Ailin based on mere speculation, what would the other captains think?"

"Hmph!" Yamamoto grunted, suppressing his reiatsu.

Kyoraku was right. Without evidence, he couldn't justify apprehending Ailin based on mere suspicion.

His grunt was a final expression of his frustration.

"And the second suspect?"

"The second…" Kyoraku hesitated before continuing, "is Captain Sōsuke Aizen of the Fifth Division."

"During the captain proficiency test, Captain Aizen claimed that his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, was a water-type Zanpakutō. Upon release, it would create a mist that would confuse enemies, causing them to attack each other.

However, according to information I obtained from other sources, Kyōka Suigetsu is not a water-type Zanpakutō, but an illusion-type Zanpakutō.

If this information is accurate, then Captain Aizen poses a far greater threat to the Seireitei than Captain Ailin."

"Hmm? Sōsuke Aizen?"

Yamamoto's haori fluttered as his reiatsu surged, sparks igniting from his beard as it swayed.

"Explain."

Yamamoto had made a decision. If Kyoraku's information proved that Aizen posed a greater threat than Ailin, he wouldn't repeat the same mistake. He would eliminate Aizen before he could become too powerful.

Evidence or not…

Everything was for the sake of the Seireitei!

"Sigh…" Kyoraku let out a deep sigh.

This was why he was hesitant to share information with Yamamoto.

"The reliability of this information is still uncertain," Kyoraku cautioned, preparing Yamamoto for what he was about to reveal.

He then proceeded to share everything he had learned from Ailin about Kyōka Suigetsu's abilities.

"Kyōka Suigetsu is the strongest illusion-type Zanpakutō. Its ability is known as 'complete hypnosis'. Anyone who witnesses its release will have their five senses permanently controlled by Aizen.

Everything you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch will be manipulated by him. For example, he could control your senses, old man, making you see me as him…"

After explaining the extent of Kyōka Suigetsu's power, Kyoraku continued, "In short, it is an extremely dangerous ability.

And according to my source, every Shinigami within the Seireitei has already witnessed Kyōka Suigetsu's release. This means that Aizen could, at any moment, hypnotize everyone within the Seireitei."

A deep frown creased Yamamoto's forehead. Such an ability was a formidable threat.

Without a way to determine whether the "Sōsuke Aizen" they saw was the real one, it was impossible to act against him.

If Aizen were to escape, or even simply manipulate their senses to make everyone appear as him, Yamamoto would be unable to attack him within the Seireitei.

His own power was too destructive.

If Ailin and Aizen were willing to fight him within the Muken, Yamamoto was confident in his ability to defeat them, perhaps even kill them.

But it was clear that neither Ailin nor Aizen would willingly enter the Muken to face him.

And using his full power to deal with them would likely result in the destruction of the Seireitei before he could eliminate them.

Yamamoto sighed. Both Ailin and Aizen were formidable adversaries, each posing unique challenges.

"I understand, Kyoraku," Yamamoto said. "Keep a close eye on these two. If you obtain any concrete evidence, bring it to me immediately. I will deal with them personally."

"Yes, old man."

After leaving the First Division, Kyoraku looked up at the setting sun and then down at his own shadow.

If Ailin or Aizen ever committed unforgivable acts against the Seireitei, he would have to stand alongside Yamamoto and fight against them…

He could no longer afford to be complacent.

…

Boom!

A golden streak of light crashed into the ground, creating a crater three meters wide.

This was the Muken, a place where even the slightest damage was amplified several times over in the outside world.

As the dust settled, the figure at the bottom of the crater was revealed.

Baishin had been forced out of his Bankai state, his body broken and mangled, with only his head remaining intact.

The blood bubbling from his nostrils indicated that he was still alive, capable of enduring another blow. But the lifelessness in his eyes suggested that he no longer wished to live.

After enduring a day of relentless torture at Ailin's hands, Baishin had lost all will to fight.

He only wished for Ailin to end his suffering.

Ailin appeared beside Baishin, his presence causing Baishin's broken body to tremble with fear.

"The thirty-second time," Ailin announced.

A flicker of relief appeared in Baishin's eyes upon hearing the number. It was finally over.

Ailin drew his Zanpakutō and swung it down.

The splattering blood danced in the air, as if celebrating Baishin's release from his torment.

Ailin caught the object that had been flung into the air by the impact and turned to leave.

As he walked away from the crater, a quiet chant escaped his lips.

"Hadō #96: Ittō Kasō!"

"Triple!"

Three pillars of flames erupted from the ground, each forming a massive blade that soared over twenty meters high.

Boom!

The second blade emerged from beneath the first, even larger and more radiant, its length exceeding fifty meters.

Boom!

And then, a third blade, surpassing the previous two in size and intensity, burst forth from the flames.

The space within the Muken distorted under the immense heat and pressure.

The final blade was over ten meters wide and a hundred meters tall, illuminating the darkness of the Muken like a miniature sun.

Baishin's body, despite its fusion with his Zanpakutō, was reduced to a skeleton within seconds. And then, the skeleton crumbled into ash, disappearing into the distorted space.

…

The day after the attack, Ailin emerged from the underground prison, carrying the head of the perpetrator. His presence commanded respect and instilled fear in all who crossed his path.

He presented Baishin's head before the thirty-two fallen members of the Eleventh Division, then crushed it before their eyes, offering a final act of vengeance.

Later that night, Ailin stood alone on the roof of the Kuchiki Manor. Everyone assumed he was mourning the loss of his subordinates, but they were unaware of the true source of his fury.

While he mourned those who had died at Baishin's hands, it was not their deaths that had enraged him.

As someone who had wielded Kyōka Suigetsu, Ailin was intimately familiar with the lingering traces of reiatsu within Baishin's body.

It was the reiatsu of Aizen's Zanpakutō.

Baishin's desire to challenge Azashiro was understandable. However, over a century had passed since Azashiro's imprisonment and Ailin's ascension to the position of captain.

Why would Baishin choose this time to return and attack the Eleventh Division?