While Grimmjow and the others faced Ikomikidomoe, Kyoraku and Nanao were confronting Tokinada, who carried his zanpaku-to in shikai form.
Looking at the zanpaku-to that Tokinada carried, Nanao shivered from a strange chill.
It has no blade?
No, that’s not right.
I feel an ominous spiritual pressure…
There really is a zanpaku-to in front of that hilt.
If that were the case, why couldn’t she see it? Based on the earlier flash, was it in fact a zanpaku-to that manipulated light? In that case, she could believe the reason why they couldn’t see the blade body was because he was using the refraction of light, but that wouldn’t explain why the wound on Tokinada’s abdomen had disappeared.
As Nanao’s doubts piled up, Kyoraku looked at Tokinada with calm eyes as he said, “It seems that isn’t any normal zanpaku-to. Do you feel like telling us what its ability is?”
“You really think that I would?”
“I don’t suppose you would.”
Tokinada of course continued to smile, looking down upon them and simply remarking, “Don’t worry, you’ll probably know soon enough.”
While still holding the hilt of the missing zanpaku-to, Toki-nada then said, “In exchange for your life, Shunsui Kyoraku.”
“You sure are deranged. I’d like to settle this as peaceably as possible though.”
“Did you already release the Pinky Promise? You want peace at a time like this?”
“Of course I do. There’s nothing better than settling things through litigation. If you end up dying, the upper-class aristocratic dignitaries will be up in arms about it.”
When Tokinada appeared dubious, Kyoraku, who was an upper-class aristocrat himself, smiled cynically. “After all, it would be the trial of the head of the Tsunayashiro family—the head of the Four Great Noble Clans. We cannot allow for the one in a million or even one in a billion chance of being wrong. We do have to protect the Soul Society’s million-year history.”
“…”
“Please have no fear. We will have an aboveboard, proper trial. We will bring the truth to light, even if it takes a million years.”
“Kuh!” As Kyoraku spoke these words in a courteous, formal way, Tokinada blurted out in laughter, “Kha ha ha ha! So that’s what it’s come to! You plan to strip me of my wings with such nonsense, Kyoraku?!”
“The Four Great Noble Clans have their wings stripped the moment they are born. Since in exchange for great power, they themselves become the linchpin that supports the Soul Society of their own volition…or rather they offer their bodies to become the supporting pillar that holds up the three worlds.”
Kyoraku’s words were mixed with sarcasm.
To Nanao, Kyoraku seemed to be speaking about the responsibility that he took as an aristocrat, but Tokinada seemed to understand what was really meant by the words. Complex emotions crossed his face as he smiled and fixed a stare on Kyoraku.
“Should you really say that, as the descendant of those who only accepted the benefits without sullying their own hands?”
“I can say it. At the very least, there are those who agree with me, even those who are in your position.”
“What?”
In that instant, Tokinada felt a chill behind him and reflexively leapt to the side. Because of this motion, the attack on him was somewhat mitigated, but he was still sent flying as a result of the roundhouse kick Yoruichi had landed from behind.
“Guh…”
“The conversation’s gone on for too long. See, my foot just slipped.”
Another Soul Reaper was waiting where Tokinada had been sent flying.
“Bankai…Tekken Tachikaze!”
“Uh!”
From beside Tokinada, who was attempting to stand up, Muguruma’s fist and his fist-hilt shaped zanpaku-to stabbed deep into Tokinada's body. Then, a chain of destructive blasts exploded between Muguruma’s fist and Tokinada, shredding his organs as he was flung the other way.
“Oh, that was a clean hit. Pretty good teamwork for the short lead-in.”
At Yoruichi’s aloof words, Muguruma regarded Tokinada guardedly. “Is he dead?”
“Best if we don’t get careless. The guy tried to drive his sword into my foot armor more than once even in that state.”
“Oh! So it really is an invisible blade then, huh?”
They doubted that was its only ability, but at the very least, it gave merit to their caution if it was invisible.
“Well, I felt like I could see the blade for a moment. Any-way, we can’t give him the opportunity to use its ability…”
Though Yoruichi had started to run in order to pursue him, she suddenly stopped.
“What…?”
The foot armor that had been cut by the invisible blade had become abnormally heavy.
In the few moments that she hesitated to observe this, Tokinada chuckled, and he stood up.
“Dear me…didn’t I tell you that I am terrible when it comes to fights?”
The only thing about him that was torn apart was his kimono. They could not detect a single scratch on him at all.
“You’re…unscathed?”
Muguruma’s eyebrows knit together—he was sure he had felt something hit his hand.
The group, who knew they did not have the time to use Kaido, firmed their guard as Tokinada gripped the bladeless zanpaku-to in front of them and broke into a merciless smile.
“So, please do die quickly.”
Then, slowly, he readied the zanpaku-to’s hilt as he made a contradictory request. “And make sure you suffer as comically as possible.”
The statement was contradictory and twisted.
When they heard him say that, Kyoraku and the others shuddered with a sudden chill.
It was not just them.
Ikomikidomoe’s fight had ended, and the Quincies and Arrancars that were watching Hikone head toward the skies also felt the sensation. Even Madarame and Yumichika, battle-seasoned as they were, felt the strange chill and turned their eyes to their surroundings. With the exception of Kenpachi, who was focused on Hikone coming toward him, all of the invaders felt the impending danger and tension vibrating in their bodies.
In the next moment, Kyoraku felt the beastlike spiritual pressure that seethed from behind him. He took Nanao’s hand and leapt to the side. In that instant, something as large as a bear passed through the place the two had just been.
It was a strange sphere, about three meters in diameter that resembled nothing so much as a gigantic mouthful of fangs.
When Kyoraku saw that, his eyes opened wide.
“That’s…”
He had a clear memory of that strange object.
There wasn’t just one of them.