40 Judgement

Boom!

The deafening sound echoed through the desolate land, creating visible ripples that spread in all directions.

"Bakudo #39: Enkosen!"

Nanao Ise stood beside Tokikaze and quickly used Bakudo #39, blocking all the incoming shockwaves.

On the other hand, the nobles from Ukitake Clan were caught off guard! They were sent flying, falling from the sky like dumplings into the ground, creating large craters.

The terrifying explosion formed a towering blaze, illuminating the entire desolate land.

It was safe to say that Ukitake Jushiro had depleted his Reiatsu from his last attack.

When the light dissipated, the swirling dust revealed the aftermath of the battlefield.

Ukitake Jushiro was pale as paper with blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. He could barely stand by supporting himself with Sogyo no Kotowari that he thrust to the ground. His Captain haori was also stained with blood.

On the other side, the shadow remained standing, albeit slightly dimmer in color.

Numerous eyes still lingered on its skin, with more than half of them closed.

Judging from the Reiatsu, although it was not dead, it was not in much better shape than Ukitake Jushiro, possibly lacking the strength to fight.

Seeing him in this state, Tokikaze actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that he came all the way here, he wouldn't get anything if it were killed by Ukitake Jushiro.

Until now, he still hadn't gotten the mission reward from handling Kuragawa Clan's case.

He most likely had to wait until they were put on trial before the mission could be considered completed.

This was Tokikaze's exploration and attempt at self-discipline missions.

When this mission was over and he returned to the Ninth Division's barracks, he should know the result.

"Cough, cough!"

Ukitake Jushiro coughed non-stop, his already pale face losing even more color.

"Captain Tokikaze, I have no more strength to continue the fight."

"I'll have to leave my elder brother to you..."

After using his last ounce of Reiatsu, Ukitake Jushiro was now extremely weak.

Although he still had Kamikake as his trump card last moment.

As a disciple of Yamamoto Genryusai, Ukitake Jushiro perfectly upheld his will vow to protect the Soul Society with everything he had.

Unless someone threatened the Soul Society, he would not release this power, even if he would die because of it.

"I guess I have no choice."

Tokikaze stood beside Ukitake Jushiro, looking ahead, focusing on the shadow.

"But who made this my responsibility?"

He raised his right hand, a faint Reiatsu glowing in his palm: "Hado #73: Soren Sokatsui."

Tokikaze started with a high-level Kido, showing no signs of carelessness.

A blue explosion turned into a bright light in the sky, heading straight for the distant shadow.

Faced with such an attack, the shadow's face contorted. It desperately used its remaining Reiatsu to put up a thin shield in front of it.

Boom!

The thunderous explosion echoed as the blue flames engulfed everything in its path, burning the shield and gradually wearing it down.

"No, I am meant to become the Soul King!"

The shadow roared with its hoarse voice like a vengeful ghost.

"Tsunayashiro Tokikaze, you're a traitor to the nobles..."

Obviously, as a noble, Ukitake Jushiro's elder brother knew Tokikaze.

"Tsunayashiro Clan will be ashamed of you. Your actions will down the hall of shame, engraved in the historical monument, and passed down forever."

The shadow clearly resented Tokikaze. If Tokikaze hadn't shown up, the victory would undoubtedly belong to him.

The sickly Ukitake Jushiro was no match for him after all.

"Traitor?"

Tokikaze raised an eyebrow, lightly unsheathed his Zanpakuto with his thumb. A clear sound of the blade being unsheathed resounded, spreading with the wind, gradually fading until it covered the entire desolate land.

"Even the current head of the Tsunayashiro Clan wouldn't dare say such things."

"You're a mere lower-class noble, and you're not even the head of the Clan, so where does that confidence come from?"

Tokikaze retorted indifferently.

The cold permeated on the ground before rushing up the spine and reaching into the soul, despite the continued fusion of Soul King's power, the cold remained unrelieved.

A gentle breeze arose, blowing around the shadow. The remaining black patterns seemed to crumble like weathered sand, scattering bit by bit, carried away by the wind.

"This, this..."

The shadow said with a shuddering voice, "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"This is my power, and mine alone!"

Everyone could see as the eyes on its body were closed. The patterns attached to the shadow, under the gentle breeze, peeled away layer by layer.

After being deprived of the remnants of Soul King's power, its Reiatsu once again plummeted.

Having tasted standing at the top and then falling into the abyss again was a torture akin to hell for most people.

The shadow let out a howl resembling a defeated dog, and after the black patterns faded away, its face showed a twisted expression.

However, this appearance, somewhat similar to Ukitake Jushiro, made Tokikaze feel uneasy.

They were clearly brothers, yet their personalities were so different.

"Let's put this to an end." Tokikaze said as he unsheathed Arashigane. A majestic Reiatsu raging in the desolate land, "As the Captain of Ninth Division, I shall judge you for your crimes."

"For slaughtering Ryudoji Clan due to personal whims, your crime deserves execution..."

Tokikaze's Zanpakuto gleamed.

The gusts of wind in the sky suddenly condensed, forming a gigantic wind blade tens of meters long as it sliced the the culprit behind this incident!

When the raging wind subsided, not even a piece of clothing was left behind. Ukitake Jushiro's elder brother completely disappeared from the Soul Society.

His Reishi returned into the air, giving him no chance to even go to hell.

...

At the edge of the desolate land, two figures stood, butheir appearance was concealed by Kido.

Under the cape, a pair of slightly narrowed eyes looked towards the distant sky where the fierce wind dissipated in an instant. A surprised expression appeared on their faces, and a teasing tone sounded:

"Oh my, how terrifying!"

Ichimaru Gin grinned, "Although it's only Shikai, it sure is a scary one."

He glanced sideways, continuing with a smirk:

"Captain Aizen, should we continue the plan?"

"The gift we prepared might not satisfy Captain Tokikaze..."