Rebellion of Kōga  

In the Kuchiki residence, Sōjun Kuchiki's corpse was surrounded by white flower petals as one Shinigami after another arrived at the memorial hall to bow and pay their respects.

Beside the memorial hall, Haruko Kuchiki knelt in white mourning attire, returning the bows to each Shinigami who had come to mourn her elder brother.

Ailin was doing the same. However, Ailin's kneeling position was slightly behind Haruko Kuchiki.

Some of the people who came to mourn Sōjun Kuchiki looked at Ailin rather strangely. However, Ailin paid them no mind.

Although Ailin's expression was blank, his heart had already bloomed with joy. He struck it rich! Many prominent figures that Ailin had never interacted with before had come to mourn Sōjun Kuchiki this time.

What pleasantly surprised Ailin even more was that 5th Division Vice Captain Sōsuke Aizen who came with Shinji Hirako to mourn Sōjun Kuchiki was actually not a body double.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe had also attended Sōjun Kuchiki's funeral together.

The current 11th Division Captain, Sōya Kenpachi, had also made an appearance. (The Kenpachi 200 years ago was still Sōya Kenpachi)

Sōgyo no Kotowari; Ryūjin Jakka; Suzumebachi... Even 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana's Minazuki and 12th Division Captain Kirio Hikifune were present.

Apart from these top-tier Zanpakutōs, Ailin also copied several thousand other Zanpakutōs in passing. It would probably take a very long time to fully materialize these Zanpakutōs. Naturally, after materializing these Zanpakutōs, the increase in Ailin's strength went without saying.

Of course, most importantly, having forged these few thousand Zanpakutōs, what kind of "swords" were needed for some abilities would be recorded in Ailin's Unlimited Blade Works.

With so many "formulas" at his disposal now, the variety and strength of weapons Ailin could manufacture would greatly enhance. One could say this trip to help the Kuchikis was more rewarding than Ailin's centuries of arduous cultivation.

At noon, after everyone who intended to come pay their final respects to Sōjun Kuchiki had done so, the Kuchiki servants carried Sōjun Kuchiki's coffin onto a pyre built in the courtyard that Ginrei Kuchiki personally lit ablaze with a torch.

In the raging flames, particles of Reishi floated out from Sōjun Kuchiki's body, dispersing in Soul Society under everyone's blessings...

... While the Kuchiki family was holding a funeral ceremony for their eldest son on one side, on the other side in 9th Division, Kōga was being escorted by 9th Division members to the Central 46 Compound to receive judgement.

Clank, clang, clank...

As the huge doors opened, the shackled Kōga was escorted inside by two 9th Division Shinigamis. Raising his head, he observed the institution representing Soul Society's highest authority.

The Central 46 Compound's judgement chamber was a sealed space akin to the size of a basketball court. Here, the lowest, empty area was where the defendant would stand to receive judgement. Surrounding the square on all sides in ascending stair-like rows were the judging benches. The higher the status, the higher the positions of the benches.

At the very top were five approximately ten-meter long, arc-shaped extravagant judgment benches arranged in a semicircle that belonged to Soul Society's five great noble families. Symbolizing their supreme power.

However, currently among those five benches, only three were occupied. The benches representing the Shihōin and Shiba families were vacant.

Beneath them were Soul Society's twelve high-ranking noble families separated into two levels with six benches on each level. Clearly, even among the upper nobility there was still stratification.

On the lowest three rows with ten benches each sat representatives of Soul Society's lower nobility. This constituted the "Central 46" formed by Soul Society's forty-six noble clans.

"Defendant Kōga, with conclusive evidence that you violated Soul Society's ban and forcefully released your Zanpakutō without permission, we, the Central 46, are gathered to try you."

"The defendant Kōga is lawless with no moral integrity, violating Soul Society's most stringent ban. His Zanpakutō shall be confiscated and the defendant himself exiled from Soul Society and consigned to the expeditionary force in Hueco Mundo, never to return to Soul Society in his lifetime."

"Enforce immediately!"

Perched high up, these noble clan members of Central 46 delivered their verdict on Kōga in cold and heartless speech, instantly deciding the latter half of this Shinigami's life in a flash despite his formidable power.

Without his Zanpakutō, Kōga posed virtually no threat to Soul Society. And with the Reiatsu of a Captain-class, Kōga could kill more Hollows in the expeditionary force.

As for encountering stronger Hollows...without a Zanpakutō how Kōga would deal with them wasn't part of their consideration. He was merely an ordinary Shinigami. If not for that fearsome Zanpakutō of his, would someone like him even be worth their second glance?

"Hahahaha, hahahaha..."

Hearing these nobles' verdict on him, Kōga's reaction wasn't what the nobles had expected.

"He's laughing loudly?"

"Perhaps he cannot accept our judgment and has gone mad from the inability to do so."

"Gone mad? What a pity."

"No matter. With the Shinō Academy's graduation nearing, send him and those who fail to enter the 13 Court Guard Squads to the expeditionary force then. Delaying a few days won't make much difference."

Seeing Kōga's reaction, the nobles didn't take it to heart. Their goal today had already been accomplished!

"You people truly understand nothing about true power..."

Just as the nobles wanted the 9th Division members to imprison Kōga, an icy voice echoed throughout the Central 46 judgement chamber.

"Nothing but a group of powerless ants. What exactly gave you the delusion that you could judge a dragon?"

Boom!

An overwhelming Reiatsu erupted from Kōga's body. Like surging tidal waves, his Reiatsu submerged all those clan elders of Central 46 within.

"Insolence..."

"Arrogance..."

Those elders were all the patriarchs of their respective clans. Perhaps they didn't have much personal strength but they were extremely versed in wielding authority. Hence, apart from those thirteen Captains, they looked down upon all other Shinigamis.

Unfortunately, the one before them now was Kōga who only respected strength. No matter how they rebuked him, their Reiatsu couldn't lie.

Under Kōga's massive Reiatsu, those elders couldn't help clutching their own throats, gasping for air. Panic crept into some of their eyes.

Without bothering about Central 46's ugly state, Kōga summoned his Zanpakutō when the two Shinigamis restraining him attacked.

"Muramasa!"

He hollered hotly. Only to Kōga's surprise, Muramasa did not appear.