Chapter 363

2-in-1 chapter:

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So strong.

Stronger than he’d imagined.

Kyoraku stood with both swords in hand, his face tense as he stared at the identical figure not far in front of him.

Even though he had already witnessed the strength of the Reigai in the Human World, standing face-to-face with his own copy still gave him a headache.

Why did his own Zanpakutō’s abilities have to be this annoying?

Shadow games, bluff games… Wouldn’t it be easier if it just had one ability? Why go through the trouble of having so many?

It was exhausting.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, his figure flickered, appearing several meters away.

The copy of Kyoraku leapt from the shadow, slashing through empty air.

Watching himself dodge, the fake Kyoraku adjusted his straw hat and smiled.

“My, my… As expected of me—so familiar with Katen Kyōkotsu’s abilities.”

Hearing his own voice and tone come from this imitation, Kyoraku couldn’t help feeling a bit disturbed.

He suddenly recalled how his junior had once described the Reigai version of Ukitake.

It really was… disgusting.

On the other side of the battlefield, the other captains had also confronted their own copies.

When creating these Reigai, Inaba had subconsciously employed the power of a fragment of the Soul King.

Because of this, the Reigai’s spiritual pressure far exceeded that of the originals.

Their bodies had been specially developed spiritual vessels made specifically for the Vanguard Project—needless to say, their durability and strength were exceptional.

From the moment they were born, they were pure weapons of war.

Eliminating and replacing their originals was their primary mission in this first phase.

Not far from the others, Ukitake stood opposite his own copy.

Staring at the pale, sickly white-haired man in front of him, he gave a helpless smile.

“I thought my copy had already been destroyed by Kaelith. How did they make another one so quickly…”

The fake Ukitake smiled.

“Captains are precious military assets. Of course there are backups.”

Ukitake frowned. “If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to create more of the powerful captains instead of replicating everyone?”

“For example… why not make all Reigai using Kyoraku as the template? A dozen Kyorakus—or even more—would be far more effective.”

The fake Ukitake shook his head.

“That’s not possible.”

“To maintain control over the Reigai, a direct reiryoku signal connection between the creator and the modified soul is required.”

“If it’s a lieutenant or someone weaker, it’s feasible to manage two or even more copies at once.”

“But for captain-level combatants, there can only be one copy active at a time.”

“Otherwise, unstable signals could cause the Reigai to break free from control.”

Ukitake nodded slowly in understanding.

Then he hesitated for a moment and asked, “Is it really okay for you to tell me all this so directly?”

The fake Ukitake chuckled.

“To defeat you under fair conditions, when both sides share equal intel—that’s the only way I can truly become you.”

“Well then, it’s time to fight.”

“Ready, Ukitake Jūshirō?”

“I’ve been ready for quite some time now,” Ukitake answered calmly.

They locked eyes for a second.

Then, simultaneously drawing Sōgyo no Kotowari, they rushed at each other.

Elsewhere on the battlefield—Yoruichi Shihōin, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Retsu Unohana…

Just like Ukitake, even those who had already been killed once by Kaelith were now appearing once again.

Powerful spiritual pressures collided across the battlefield, dazzling light flaring up as they clashed, sending shockwaves in all directions.

Atop a distant rooftop, Aizen stood quietly, watching the chaos below.

He had been waiting here for a while—but his own Reigai had yet to appear.

Strange.

According to Kaelith, Inaba had successfully created a copy of him.

In a situation this chaotic, it would make the most sense to send in that version of him. After all, Kyōka Suigetsu’s abilities were perfect for wreaking havoc.

He had even dropped everything and come here specifically to handle his own replica personally.

Even if it was just a copy of himself, Aizen would never accept being defeated by someone else.

Suddenly, his brows furrowed slightly, as if something had come to mind.

After a brief pause, Aizen’s figure blurred as he flash-stepped away in a particular direction.

….......................................

.............

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Kaelith’s silhouette darted through the gaps between buildings, his white haori fluttering like a flag, giving off an ethereal, almost otherworldly aura.

Beside him, a dark shadow kept pace.

Kujō Nozomi’s body was tucked inside the shadow, only her head poking out. As Kaelith moved, she bounced along with his movements—up and down, back and forth.

She looked a bit like a headless yokai from folklore.

Every now and then, Kaelith would glance at her.

It was kind of amusing—like bringing along a very good-looking pet.

Now that she had escaped, Inaba would no doubt spare no effort trying to retrieve her.

Kaelith had no intention of letting her get caught and forced to fuse with Inaba.

It wasn’t that he feared their fusion would make them stronger—he just didn’t want to witness a beautiful girl merging with an old man.

If there had to be a fusion, it ought to be with him.

The girl’s gaze was firm as she looked straight ahead.

She had already made up her mind.

If it came to the worst-case scenario, she was prepared to perish alongside Inaba—she would never let him destroy everything.

Sensing Kaelith’s gaze, she turned to him.

“Captain Kaelith, please focus on the road. Don’t keep looking at me.”

“With a major battle ahead, you should be in peak condition—don’t let your mind wander.”

Kaelith waved his hand dismissively.

“Stop nagging, stop nagging. I get enough of that from Sōsuke already.”

“Relax. This is part of my battle prep.”

“Looking at a pretty girl before a fight—it’s good for the body!”

“…?”

Nozomi gave him a confused look.

She suspected he was lying—but had no proof.

After all, whether before or after her split, she had never been in any real battle.

Inaba, on the other hand, had spent years honing his strength through constant combat. Compared to how he was during the Vanguard Project, he had grown far more powerful.

Suddenly, she noticed Kaelith stop in his tracks.

“Captain Kaelith?”

He didn’t respond.

Instead, he silently stared forward.

From behind the slanted rooftop, a figure slowly emerged.

Wearing a standard Shihakushō uniform, tousled brown hair falling to his shoulders, and a lieutenant’s badge strapped to his arm—

Aizen Sōsuke.

He met Kaelith’s eyes and smiled faintly.

“As expected. With your instincts, it’s only natural you’d see through my disguise so easily.”

In this body’s memory, he had never seen Kaelith wear such a calm expression.

Not that the memory was real—it was artificially reconstructed from the original’s reiryoku signature, under the influence of a Soul King fragment.

Looking at him, Kaelith grinned.

“As expected from Sōsuke’s copy. I must say—your thoughtfulness is commendable.”

“To come all the way here and wait along the route just to deliver yourself to me… how touching.”

As he spoke, he placed his hand on the hilt of his blade.

Seeing this, the fake Aizen shook his head.

“I don’t intend to fight you.”

“At least—not yet.”

"Kaelith, I came here to talk to you."

Upon hearing this, Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

To talk with him...

If this had been the real Sōsuke, he’d probably have bolted the moment those words came out.

That guy rarely ever wanted to just “talk.” If he did, it almost always meant Kaelith had done something wrong—and Sōsuke had come to settle accounts.

Come to think of it, maybe these replicas had some merit. At least compared to the real Sōsuke, this one seemed to understand Kaelith’s unmatched brilliance a bit better.

Kaelith folded his arms.

"Alright. Since you’re being so sincere, I’ll humor you. Let’s hear what you’ve got to say."

Under his gaze, the replica Sōsuke paused for a couple of seconds, then began speaking slowly.

"Kaelith, in your view, what’s the difference between a replica and the original?"

Kaelith’s face fell instantly.

So much for a real conversation—it was just another pointless philosophical tangent.

He replied without hesitation.

"The difference is simple. The original is the original. A replica is a replica."

The replica Sōsuke chuckled lightly and shook his head.

"That’s just a difference in name. In reality—whether it’s techniques, abilities, or intellect—I’m no different from Sōsuke Aizen."

"While the other replicas are still out there blindly following Inaba’s orders and fighting the originals to the death, I’ve already broken free from some of that influence. That’s how I was able to come here."

"Your bond with Sōsuke Aizen comes down to three things."

"First, the camaraderie of your days at the Shinō Academy."

"Second, the partnership you forged as comrades-in-arms."

"Third, the trust built from shared secrets, mutual support, and growing together."

"But in truth, I can fulfill all of those roles as well."

"I possess most of Sōsuke Aizen’s memories. To me, you are just the same—an academy peer, a like-minded comrade, a trusted friend."

"All of Sōsuke’s research—I can replicate it, even improve upon it, given a little time."

"Compared to the original, I can devote more focus and patience to your needs."

"You like having someone take care of your work? I can do that."

"You encounter a problem and want someone to analyze it and offer a plan? I can do that too."

"And unlike him, I can offer you a deeper sense of security."

"Your trust in Sōsuke Aizen stems from his unconditional trust in you. But trust—when you get down to it—is just blind faith built from past experience."

"Just because someone has never betrayed you before doesn’t mean they never will."

As Kaelith watched, the replica raised a hand and pointed to his head.

"Kaelith, I’m a modified soul. From the moment I was created, I came with one function ordinary Shinigami don’t have."

"I can be controlled through special reishi signals."

"While there are ways to reduce the impact of that control, its existence can’t be erased."

"I can give you the passcode that governs those signals."

"With that passcode, you won’t just be my partner. You’ll be my owner."

"Compared to your relationship with Sōsuke Aizen, which is built on trust, I offer something more tangible: full obedience. My life or death would rest in your hands."

"Surely that gives you a far stronger sense of security."

Staring at the man before him, whose appearance was identical to his longtime friend, Kaelith’s expression grew thoughtful.

"Let me guess. Next you’re going to suggest I join you in eliminating Sōsuke, and let you take his place?"

The replica shook his head.

"If you’d actually accept such a proposal, you wouldn’t be Kaelith."

"My request is simple."

"In this war with Inaba, you will, without question, emerge as the final victor."

"When that time comes, let me remain."

"Just like I said earlier—I can become completely yours. Whether it’s helping with research, analyzing intelligence, or providing strategic support, I’ll be at your disposal."

"As a transaction, this costs you nothing, and benefits you greatly."

Kaelith folded his arms and nodded.

"It’s true. On paper, that sounds incredibly tempting."

"A Sōsuke who’s completely under my control, won’t talk back, won’t come to lecture me, and does whatever I ask without question..."

"Ah, just thinking about it is almost too good."

He couldn’t help but grin at the thought.

The replica Sōsuke frowned slightly.

Something didn’t feel quite right.

He opened his mouth, trying to say more.

But before he could speak, Kaelith’s smile vanished—his expression turned ice cold.

"It’s perfect—except for one thing."

"A Sōsuke like that... isn’t Sōsuke at all."

As those words landed, and before the replica could even react, Kaelith stepped forward and lunged straight at him.

"Kaelith, wait—I—"

"Save your breath."

Kaelith’s right fist drew back like a taut bow, and with a savage tearing sound through the air, he struck forward.

The replica tried to evade, but within less than half a second, Kaelith’s speed spiked three times—each jump higher than the last.

The replica had no time to dodge. All he could do was raise his arms to block.

With a deafening impact, Kaelith’s punch landed.

The synthetic soul vessel—enhanced to withstand overwhelming reiryoku—shattered instantly. The replica’s arms exploded into fragments of flesh and blood.

Armless and badly shaken, the replica stumbled back.

Pain radiated from the stumps where his arms had been, but his face remained impassive.

The negotiation had failed.

There was no more room to maneuver.

As Kaelith advanced again, a flash of regret crossed the replica’s eyes.

So close.

He had shown every card he had, and still failed to earn this man’s trust.

Sōsuke Aizen… is that really the one you trust so deeply?

Even though I offered you more—far more.

He inhaled slowly, suppressing the fury rising in his chest. And yet, that fury came with something else—something hard to place.

He was angry. He had every right to be.

But underneath that, there was... peace.

The replica’s brow furrowed.

Why?

Why was he feeling this way?

He didn’t have time to figure it out. What he needed to do now—was run.

If he could push his spiritual pressure to the limit, even just temporarily matching Kaelith’s level—he might be able to activate Kyōka Suigetsu.

He hadn’t finished the thought when his eyes widened in shock.

Kaelith, charging straight at him, raised a hand to his face.

Fingers curled.

And then—

The Hollow mask appeared.

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