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The Three Realms were in shock.
The living world, Hueco Mundo, Soul Society—everyone who could see the transparent screen was stunned by Zaraki Kenpachi's overwhelming display of power.
The "King of Pure Sword Swings" had truly earned his title.
He also secured his eleventh-place ranking beyond any doubt.
But…
Just when everyone thought the ranking video had finally wrapped up—
The image slowly faded.When it appeared again… no new captions showed up.
As if hinting—
This round wasn't actually over yet?
"?!"
"What's going on? Based on the previous rounds, shouldn't the next ranking start now?"Gin Ichimaru frowned beneath his light-purple bangs, confusion twisting his fox-like smile.
It shouldn't be like this.
Zaraki Kenpachi's performance was already shocking enough.Surely nobody in the Three Realms still doubted his strength?
Especially after the reveal of Nozarashi—Kenpachi stole the spotlight and then some.
So why wasn't the next round beginning?
Gin couldn't figure it out.
Could the video… have glitched?
No way. Not with something this important.
Beside him, Tōsen—who had been stunned so many times he was basically mute—managed to speak, voice trembling:"Isn't it possible… that the ranking isn't finished yet? Kenpachi hasn't shown all his power."
"…What?!"
Gin's voice cracked as his expression twisted awkwardly.
"N-no way, right? Just his Shikai already made him a monster. Don't tell me… he awakens Bankai in the future?"
By the end, the fox-eyed man's voice shook.Even the narrow slits of his hidden eyes were filled with fear.
Oh no.
His Shikai was already terrifying—Who knew how strong Kenpachi's Bankai would be?
Could he… slice Soul Society in half with one swing?
…
Meanwhile, just as Gin was starting to go numb—
The screen flashed. Snowy static filled the image. A new scene was about to appear.
"BOOM!""BOOM!""BOOM!"
The picture wasn't even fully back yet, but explosions loud enough to tear apart eardrums echoed nonstop.
"…Huh? It really isn't over?!"
This time—
Not only Gin and Tōsen—
Even Aizen's expression shifted ever so slightly.
The visuals were still dark, but from the deafening explosions alone, anyone could tell another devastating battle was coming.
But wait—
Gremmy's meteor had almost wiped out the Seireitei.Could the future Soul Society face a second destruction?
And sure enough—
The moment the picture returned, all three of them froze.
The screen cleared.
What appeared first was a vast expanse of Western-style buildings—clearly different from the Seireitei.
But most of them were heavily damaged.
A battlefield.
"…Where is this? Why don't I remember anything like it?" Gin's pupils widened as the unfamiliar landscape threw him off completely.
Aizen stayed silent.
In the darkness of his eyes, a faint ripple of unease flashed by.
This was the second time.Ever since the appearance of the Sternritter, he had felt the situation slip further out of his control.
"Lord Aizen, could this be the Human World?" Tōsen offered from behind him.
After all, the Human World wasn't just Karakura Town. There were entire Western regions as well.
"It's possible… but unlikely." Aizen shook his head. "The Human World isn't stable like Hueco Mundo or Soul Society. If spiritual pressure that strong appears frequently, the world collapses. Captains aren't allowed to enter unless absolutely necessary—and even then, they have to seal most of their reiatsu."
Let alone fight a battle this intense.
"Then… is this the Quincy homeland?!"Gin suddenly brightened as another possibility struck him.
The Sternritter had been exposed, but no one knew where they were hiding.
If this fight was happening on their turf—
Everything would make sense.
"Whatever the case, keep watching. These clips never appear without reason."After those words, Aizen fell silent again, expression unreadable.
The camera began to pan sideways.
Everywhere inside the ruined city—devastation.
And then—
It stopped on two figures.
"…That's…"
When the two faces became clear, the entire Gotei 13 erupted.
On the left—
Under a noble's tall hat was a familiar, perfectly emotionless face.
Kuchiki Byakuya.His expression was dark and serious, his gaze locked forward.Whatever he was seeing must have been terrifying.
On the right—
Under drifting white bangs, Hitsugaya Tōshirō looked far more mature than he did in the third round's footage.
His right arm was encased in layered ice, massive wings of ice unfurled behind him, and his aura was far stronger than when he'd fought Harribel.
Both of them stared ahead, eyes wide—clearly shocked.
The strange scene sent the entire Soul Society buzzing.
6th Division
"?!"
"Captain… why did you suddenly show up? Isn't this supposed to be Captain Zaraki's ranking? And your pressure feels crazy strong!"
Renji was stunned yet again.
Even doing nothing but standing there, Byakuya radiated reiatsu far beyond a regular captain.
Renji had only felt something like this from Kyōraku, Unohana… and the Head Captain.
Could it be—
Future Byakuya had reached their level?
10th Division Barracks
Matsumoto Rangiku noticed the same thing."Captain Hitsugaya! Looks like that round wasn't the end. Your future self is way stronger than when you fought the Espada. That's fantastic news!"
She was the one who'd brought Hitsugaya back from Rukongai.Seeing him grow this powerful filled her with genuine joy.
"Yeah… I didn't see this coming."Tōshirō blinked, dazed.
He honestly had no idea he'd get this strong in the future.
"..."
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