Shin was somewhat curious. "Captain Kurotsuchi, is the Ōin really that terrifying? Are there no side effects?"
Mayuri sneered, "The Ōin is an entity that only the Soul King can control. If others use its power, they will naturally pay a price."
"It consumes the user's soul, which means it devours the user's life."
Shin suddenly understood.
No wonder no one had coveted the Ōin for thousands of years.
Those who don't care about the side effects can't activate it, or can't fully unleash it.
Those who have the power to use it completely either worry about the side effects or don't need it at all.
Yamamoto stepped forward. "Things have escalated into a terrible situation."
He would never allow Seireitei to suffer destruction.
"Captain Komamura, Captain Kurotsuchi, Nohara, you will join me in stopping the Reiatsu from spreading."
"The rest of you, go inside the Barrier to assist Captain Hitsugaya and stop Kusaka."
"Yes!"
Soi Fon, Yoruichi, and others immediately plunged into the purple-black barrier.
"Bankai: Kokujo Tengen Myo'o!"
"Bankai: Kinshara Butōdan!"
Two colossal figures were positioned in the east and west, blocking the barrier.
"All things in the universe, turn to ash!"
"Ryūjin Jakka!"
Flames instantly covered half of the barrier.
Shin couldn't slack off either. He went to the back of the barrier and unleashed flames to resist.
After being intercepted from four directions, the expansion of the barrier noticeably slowed by more than half.
—
Inside the Barrier.
A tall "castle" appeared on the ground, and Sojiro was on top of the ice tower at its very center.
He used the power of the Ōin to open a Garganta, and countless Hollows and Gillian emerged from it.
The battle between Shinigami and Hollows began.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
Byakuya released his Zanpakuto, and wherever Senbonzakura's blade passed, Hollows were annihilated.
The numerous lieutenants also exerted their full strength to clear the dense swarm of Hollows.
Soi Fon and Yoruichi activated Shunko and rushed towards the tall tower.
On top of the tall tower, the frozen Yin and Yang transformed into two floating "turrets," firing lightning balls and fireballs at the approaching people below.
Toshiro flew towards Yang, stabbing with his sword tip. Yang was enveloped in a cross-shaped ice block, then shattered into powder with the ice. But it instantly returned to its original state.
Soi Fon and Yoruichi also encountered the same situation.
At the same time, more Hollows appeared to obstruct everyone.
Just then, a massive golden Reiatsu erupted at the base of the "castle."
"Hahahahaha!"
"Is this guy the enemy?"
It was Zaraki, who had arrived late.
He split the "castle" in half with a single slash, then charged towards the ice tower.
Perhaps because he was expanding the Reiatsu barrier, Sojiro remained motionless on the ice tower.
Sojiro spewed a golden Reiatsu blast from his mouth, attacking Zaraki.
"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
A giant blue dragon blocked the attack and coiled around Sojiro, biting his neck.
Toshiro shouted, "Captain Zaraki, attack his forehead!"
The light of the Ōin was faintly visible on Sojiro's forehead.
Zaraki plunged his Zanpakuto into Sojiro's forehead, and then the ice dragon that Sojiro had transformed into shattered.
"Tch, so weak."
Zaraki slung his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, very displeased, and turned to leave.
Having made such a big fuss, he thought this enemy could give him a good fight.
Sojiro returned to his human form, leaning on his Zanpakuto, gasping for breath.
"Toshiro..."
"Kusaka, let's end this."
"Come on!"
Both gripped their Zanpakuto, adopting an offensive stance.
"Ah!"
The next moment, they moved, charging at each other. Blades grazed past, and both their eyes widened.
Sojiro recalled their past duel—
"Toshiro, I want Hyōrinmaru."
He had attacked Toshiro first, but ultimately lost.
Now, Sojiro's Hyōrinmaru was broken, and his chest was pierced.
He leaned against Toshiro, murmuring, "You truly are a genius, to be able to kill me twice."
"But I won't die. My... existence..."
Toshiro softly said, "Kusaka, we... will always be friends."
"If I..."
Sojiro's words were cut short as his body dissolved into Reishi and vanished into the air.
Toshiro's heart was heavy. "If only..."
With Sojiro's disappearance, the Ōin re-condensed in the air, only to suddenly vanish.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, it disappeared.
The purple-black barrier also gradually dissipated.
Everyone gathered around Toshiro.
Yumichika rubbed his eyes. "The Ōin... disappeared?"
Toshiro looked up at the sky with a solemn expression. "Yes."
He was the closest and saw it clearly, the Ōin had indeed vanished in an instant.
"Could it be... that the Ōin's power transported itself to another dimension?" Ikkaku boldly speculated.
Yumichika's lips twitched. "Ikkaku, the Ōin doesn't have its own consciousness."
Toshiro voiced his own conjecture, "No, there is indeed such a possibility. The Ōin's power made this space extremely unstable, allowing it to easily open the Garganta. It truly might have transferred to another space."
"However, we cannot rule out the possibility that someone used some means to steal it."
At this moment, the few people outside the barrier also arrived at the scene.
Hearing that the Ōin had disappeared, their expressions varied.
Thud!
Yamamoto set the tone for the matter, "The Ōin disappeared with Kusaka's death."
Mayuri was more concerned about the whereabouts of his experimental materials. "Captain Hitsugaya, did Kusaka say anything before he died?"
Toshiro was stunned, not understanding what Mayuri was saying.
At this point, Shin interjected, "Captain Kurotsuchi, what's the damage to the SRDI?"
"All research personnel are dead, and the buildings are destroyed. Most importantly, my research materials were stolen." Mayuri emphasized, his voice growing heavier.
"Research materials, you say?"
Toshiro also understood what Mayuri wanted to ask. "Kusaka wouldn't lie."
"Captain Hitsugaya, are you implying that you were responsible for the incident at the SRDI?" Mayuri's eyes gleamed menacingly.
To a scientist, research materials are his lifeblood. Even if it was only a portion, it would be enough to make him feel pain.
Toshiro felt a chill run down his spine from the stare. "How could that be? I was still in the Human World at that time. Nohara can testify for me."
Mayuri looked at Shin.
Shin nodded, "At that time, Captain Hitsugaya was indeed at my house."
In fact, he already had a guess in his heart.
Sojiro most likely didn't lie, because those experimental materials were useless to him. Until his death, he only used the Ōin and the power of two Arrancars.
Then, the third person who could use Hyōrinmaru's power could only be one person.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada!