Chapter 1242 Stabilization

Falling from the Royal Palace, Kirio implored Kisuke, "Just leave me behind, will you?"

"You know I can't do that.", Kisuke replied while scanning his surroundings to check the integrity of the space.

Kirio stared at Kisuke's serious face for a few seconds before sighing, "It was only years ago that I've carried you in my arms. I didn't think the role would ever be reversed."

"Really? Not even the slightest possibility?"

"Of course. Especially the moment I heard about you dying in the Quincy Invasion." Kirio softly chuckled, "I mourned for you and Yoruichi, you know?"

"Must be a shock to hear that I'm alive then." Kisuke finished his quick scan and found out that the Garganta was being devoured by the Dimensional Gap-like space, 'As expected. She intends to replace the weak foundation. But the rate of replacement is not enough to stop the collapse of the worlds.'

While entertaining this question, various roars that didn't come from Flanna started filling up the entire space.

"W-what?" Kirio panicked and looked around, "What's happening?" But when she looked back up, she saw that Kisuke was grinning.

"I see... This is what she meant when she said she won't be doing this alone, huh? And here I thought she didn't like them. I guess she really has been working hard." Kisuke muttered to himself.

In the next second, various rips in space appeared all around them, revealing the kaleidoscopic sight beyond that.

That wasn't all, however, as various beings of different sizes and appearances began emerging from them while letting out large roars as if they were chanting in unison.

"Those are... Dragons?" Kirio murmured and thought that they were going to attack them seeing how hostile they were acting. But contrary to her expectations, they all ignored them and continued flying upwards towards the Royal Palace they just left.

"They are going to be the ones who'll stabilize the worlds." Kisuke briefly answered her confusion.

Indeed, only a minute had elapsed and the shaking of space stopped, signifying the stop of the collapse.

But when Kisuke thought he'd get a bit of a breather, he suddenly felt a huge amount of Reiatsu fluctuations below, "What now?"

Clueless, Kirio asked, "Something else? Your life is too busy."

"You're just too free after getting into the Zero Division."

"That's the life of a guard where no one except crazy people trespass."

"You mistook capable people with mental asylum patients."

Kirio sighed, "What's the difference really? Both don't think normally."

Kisuke gave her a smirk before reorienting themselves head first, "Then I'll show you truly stupid people drunk on their power. Let's make haste."

Creating a foothold, Kisuke launched himself downwards while holding Kirio tightly. It only took them a few more minutes before the Soul Society came into their sights and what greeted them was the entire Seireitei in shambles with various buildings on fire, demolished, or completely wiped away.

Kirio immediately understood the situation since she already received prior secret reports on the current state of the Seireitei, "I stand corrected. Those guys are the real deal."

The only untouched section of the Seireitei was the 1st Division jurisdiction and the land occupied by the academy beside it. Since that's where most of the Shinigami defending themselves gathered, they made their way towards it.

Kisuke's target was the busted roof that he left earlier but as he got near it, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes when he saw Hollows wearing a differently designed Shihakushou fighting against the Shinigami of the Gotei 13, "You didn't stop this?"

Kirio was also disturbed at this sight and felt a little guilty about it, "You know Hyousube-san's policy. Unless they touch or threaten the Royal Palace, he'll ignore it. In his eyes, it's just a change of administration. All part of the passage of time."

"I wanted to ask you if he's always been like that, but I guess you can't answer that as the newest member of the Zero Division."

Kirio gritted her teeth and said, "That's true... And maybe that's the reason why the oldest of us, Ouetsu, betrayed Hyousube."

Kisuke landed on the roof of the 1st Division Barracks and all around him were Shinigami of multiple Divisions surrounding him with their Zanpakuto pulled out.

But before he could do anything, an elderly man with white hair combed back and a large white mustache walked out while waving his hand, "Stand down. Let them through. Return to your posts and strengthen our defenses."

The surrounding Shinigami immediately pulled back and saluted. But just as they turned their backs, several men wearing all black from head to toe silently appeared behind one of the Shinigami present before beheading him.

While the elderly man only watched stoically, the rest of the Shinigami were obviously bothered and shocked, "What are you all doing!? We're in a state of emergency! Don't pity the traitor and move!"

The Shinigami scrambled away at his voice and Kisuke, with Kirio in his arms, landed beside him, "It's been a while Okikiba-san. Is the situation really so dire that you had to eliminate him in front of everyone?"

Okikiba didn't answer immediately and received the phone that one of the members of the Onmitsukidou picked up from the dead body. While examining its contents, he replied, "Even the Captain Commander didn't expect that they'll suddenly mount an attack. They only stopped when the world was on the verge of collapse but also soon resumed their assault the moment it was safe. The nobles didn't want to waste this chance when most of the fighting force of the Gotei 13 was not present."

Genshirou Okikiba finished examining the phone and confirmed that the dead Shinigami indeed sent information to the opposing nobles, "Though I must say, it's foolish of them to use the infrastructure that Captain Kurotsuichi built and think it would be safe from eavesdropping."

"Nah... They just don't care." Kisuke immediately refuted his words, "These guys are disposable pawns. If they could gather information with just a tiny price of a life, then they'd gladly do it. As you've said, they don't want to miss this chance."

Okikiba also thought about this but didn't want to admit it since he's also a noble. Sighing, Okikiba started walking away, "This way, Urahara-san. They're expecting you." Although he noticed Kirio, he didn't say anything about her.