In an open space in the distance.
Shin was steadily pushing Kaname back.
"Captain Tōsen, if you don't use your Bankai soon, you won't get another chance."
"Hmph! Since you're so arrogant, let me show you."
Shin wanted Kaname to use his Bankai to test his skills.
"Bankai: Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi!"
Kaname raised his Zanpakutō, pressing his left hand against the ring on the hilt. The ring gradually grew larger, splitting into nine and distributing themselves in various directions, forming a giant black ovoid barrier.
Instantly, Shin lost his sight, hearing, and smell. He couldn't even sense Kaname's Reiatsu.
Judgment!
A giant flaming eye appeared above Shin's head. He could see Kaname's location again.
"I've finished my test, it's over."
Great Blade of Crimson!
Shin summoned his flaming katana and slashed at Kaname. Kaname quickly blocked with his Zanpakutō. He couldn't understand why Shin could pinpoint his location. Was it that burning eye?
Boom!
Amidst a massive explosion, Kaname was sent flying by the blow, his uniform torn and burnt, collapsing to the ground. The black barrier also vanished with his fall.
Shin didn't kill Kaname, he still had a use for him.
On the other side, Zaraki and Sajin were locked in a fierce battle.
Sajin's mask was shattered, revealing his wolf head.
Just then, a burst of Reiatsu erupted from Sōkyoku Hill.
"Is it starting?"
Shin spread his wings of flame and flew towards Sōkyoku. "Captain Kenpachi, I'm heading off first."
...
Sōkyoku Hill.
Shin did not reveal himself, concealing his Reiatsu and observing from the shadows.
Under Yamamoto's orders, Rukia was sent to the execution stand.
Only Captains from the 1st, 6th, 8th, and 12th Divisions were present.
Lieutenant Renji of the 6th Division was also absent, presumably dealt with by Byakuya.
"Release Sōkyoku!"
Sōkyoku consists of a spear and an execution stand. During execution, it will pierce the guilty.
The executioners began to form hand seals as instructed, and all the ropes sealing Sōkyoku snapped, blue Reiatsu soaring into the sky.
At this moment, all the Shinigami in Seireitei felt the oppressive pressure emanating from Sōkyoku.
Crimson Reiatsu enveloped the Sōkyoku spear, gradually spreading and slowly forming a giant flaming bird in the air.
'I wonder if Kurosaki can make it in time, otherwise I'll have to step in and save Rukia myself.'
Shin looked at the firebird, the execution scene was indeed spectacular.
"Sōkyoku, the Phoenix King, this is the true form of the Sōkyoku Spear. And the ultimate executor of the extreme penalty." Yamamoto slowly explained.
Rukia gazed at the giant flaming bird, all her fear vanishing. Memories of her past flashed through her mind, and she felt no regret.
The giant bird slowly opened its eyes, flapped its fiery wings, and flew towards Rukia.
Rukia closed her eyes. "Farewell..."
However, the imagined pain didn't come for a long time. Rukia opened her eyes to see Ichigo standing in front of her, his Zanpakutō preventing the giant bird from advancing any further.
"Ichigo!"
Ichigo grinned. "Yo! Rukia, I'm here to save you."
He had finally completed his Bankai training and arrived at this critical moment.
"Idiot! Why did you come? I've already made up my mind, I don't need saving, hurry and leave!" Rukia shouted.
"Is that... a Ryoka?"
"He actually blocked the power of Sōkyoku, which possesses the power of a million Zanpakutō?!" The lieutenants below were stunned.
The flaming giant bird, however, cried out to the sky, slowly retreating to prepare for a second attack.
"Did it pull back to create distance for a second strike? Then bring it on!" Ichigo knew no fear at this moment.
"You'll die this time! Ichigo, get out of the way!" Rukia screamed, watching Ichigo charge towards the flaming bird.
Just as the man and the bird were about to collide, two ropes from below bound the bird's head.
Jūshirō, with two subordinates, arrived below the execution stand, holding giant shield-like devices, and the ropes extended from these devices.
Shunsui also rushed to help. "You kept me waiting."
"Sorry. Unsealing it took quite some time."
Byakuya recognized the device; it was a Divine Tool of the Shihōin clan.
As the two inserted their Zanpakutō into the shields, energy was transmitted from the ropes to the giant bird. The flaming bird instantly disintegrated, turning into balls of flame that fell from the sky.
"I don't know what's going on, but it's perfect."
Ichigo seized the opportunity to leap onto the execution stand, rotating Zangetsu, his Reiatsu erupting, then he plunged Zangetsu into the stand.
Boom—
The execution stand exploded violently, and Rukia was freed.
The captains and lieutenants below were all stunned.
"The execution stand... it's destroyed!"
Jūshirō looked at the familiar young face, somewhat taken aback.
Yamamoto half-closed his eyes, his expression unreadable.
"Ichigo, what are you going to do now? There's no escaping in this situation." Rukia asked.
Ichigo replied confidently, "Of course, first I'll defeat all my opponents, then we'll escape. You're not alone, Nohara, Ishida, Inoue, Chad, they're all here."
However, he didn't know where Shin had gone, he should have arrived by now.
At this moment, Renji, after healing, also arrived at the execution grounds and cut down the executioners.
Upon seeing him, Ichigo threw Rukia to him, telling him to take her and leave. Several lieutenants tried to intervene but were quickly knocked down by Ichigo.
Shin shook his head at this. He wasn't sure about the others, but Chōjirō of the 1st Division definitely went easy on him.
Byakuya instantly moved close, slashing at Ichigo with his sword.
Ichigo reacted this time, blocking with Zangetsu.
"I can clearly see your movements now, Kuchiki Byakuya!"
The two engaged in battle once again since the Human World.
—
Meanwhile, Jūshirō and Shunsui led Yamamoto away from Sōkyoku Hill, fighting there would affect innocents.
"Old man Yama finally left, I really didn't want to fight him." Shin breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he now had Captain-Commander level strength, he wasn't confident he could defeat Yamamoto, and Yamamoto wouldn't just stand there and let him attack.
If the two were to truly fight, it would be a disaster for the entire Soul Society. Not to mention, Aizen, the 'fisherman,' was still lurking in the shadows.
"Aizen, it's about time you showed up. I'm getting a bit bored waiting."