'This is troublesome now.'
Shunsui frowned, contemplating a countermeasure.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
The black slash engulfed Tokinada, but his voice sounded from elsewhere.
"Hahahaha, it's useless, Ichigo!"
"Reap, Kazeshini!"
Shūhei spun his scythes, using the chains to control the attack toward Tokinada.
Seeing that it was Shūhei, Tokinada curled his lips into an amused smile.
"Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihikō!"
Countless sharp blades rained down, knocking Kazeshini's scythes away.
Tokinada asked, "Hisagi, how does it feel to see Tōsen's techniques again?"
Shūhei's expression darkened, and he remained silent.
"Speaking of which, you still don't know why Tōsen betrayed Soul Society, do you?"
"Right, Captain Komamura?"
Saying this, Tokinada looked toward Sajin.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Tokinada continued, "Tōsen's friend, Kakyō, was my wife."
"And speaking of that, Suzumushi was Kakyō's Zanpakutō."
"But that woman, a low-born from the Rukongai, dared to criticize me, so I killed her." Tokinada's face twisted with madness.
"It's laughable that Tōsen came demanding justice after he found out. I will never forget the sight of him, severely wounded by me, lying on the ground, clutching my foot and crying in agony."
As he spoke, Tokinada's face was filled with delight.
"Bastard!!!"
"Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
The enraged Sajin immediately activated his Bankai.
The massive black-armored warrior swung its sword down at Tokinada.
Tokinada flashed out of the way. "Tsk tsk, don't get so angry."
"Tōsen should actually thank me. If it weren't for me, perhaps he never would have taken the path of a Shinigami."
"Nonsense!"
Shūhei attacked again using Kazeshini.
"Hehehe."
Tokinada found great amusement in the sight of their fury.
Just as Kazeshini was about to strike Tokinada, numerous azure-colored vines appeared in the sky, wrapping around Kazeshini and climbing up the chains toward Shūhei's body.
The rest of the group, seeing the strange vines, quickly backed away. However, even the massive Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō could not escape.
Shūhei and Sajin felt their Reiatsu rapidly draining away. Conversely, the flower buds on the vines were blooming at a visible speed.
"Cut the vines quickly!" Shunsui noticed their precarious state and shouted urgently.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
The vines were severed, but the two men were nearly exhausted and collapsed weakly.
Taking advantage of the others' attack, Shunsui, who had been observing from the back for a while, walked over to face Tokinada.
He had finally discovered something unusual about Tokinada.
Ever since Tokinada released his Zanpakutō, blood had been constantly spilling from his mouth.
Shunsui voiced his conjecture, "Tokinada, that blade is consuming your life, isn't it?"
Tokinada calmly revealed the truth, speaking as if having his life consumed was a trivial matter.
"You noticed so quickly? You truly live up to your reputation. Should I give you a compliment?"
"Because the previous heads of the clan were all cowards afraid of death, no matter how powerful this blade is, it could only ever be used as decoration."
Ichigo asked, "You disregard your own life just to pursue pleasure?"
"What's the point of a life where you don't gamble your existence for pleasure?" Tokinada wiped the blood from the corners of his lips as he spoke.
Ichigo looked at this maniacal person—so twisted, so malicious, someone who took pleasure in trampling others. This was the first time he had ever encountered anyone like this.
"Hah!"
He activated his Hollowfication and charged forward.
Tokinada said, "How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? Under Kyoka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis, you cannot hit me."
Sure enough, Ichigo swung his blade through empty air again.
"Kurosaki, stand down for now." Shunsui said, seeing that Ichigo intended to attack again.
"Tokinada, your so-called artificial Soul King probably won't last much longer." Shunsui directed his gaze toward the black domain not far away.
Tokinada burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha, I admit that Shin is very strong. However, within the range of the Ōin's Reiatsu, the Soul King cannot be killed, and even his wounds will heal."
"Even if it is Shin, how long can he last against an existence that cannot be injured or killed?"
Shunsui's expression hardened. If what Tokinada said was true, Shin's situation would be far from optimistic.
Yoruichi and Soi Fon also showed expressions of worry.
"What a lively scene."
A voice interrupted their conversation.
Everyone looked toward the source of the sound.
Kisuke and Tessai.
Tokinada dropped his smile. "Urahara... Kisuke."
"Urahara, be careful of Tokinada's abilities..." Shunsui warned.
"Don't worry, Captain Kyoraku. I came prepared." Kisuke opened his small fan, covering half his face.
Tokinada asked, "Oh? By the sound of that, you're confident you can kill me?"
Kisuke chuckled: "Hmm... more or less."
"Hehe."
"Urahara, you were able to create something like the Hōgyoku, possessing such a brilliant mind. Why would you choose to serve such a Soul King?"
Without waiting for Kisuke's response, Tokinada turned to the others and said, "Shinigami, do you know what kind of existence the Soul King you uphold and obey truly is?"
Kisuke did not stop Tokinada from continuing. They were all Captains and Vice-Captains here, knowing wouldn't hurt.
"Your so-called Soul King is nothing more than a wedge."
"He was dismembered—his limbs and head cut off, his heart gouged out, and his internal organs minced—by the ancestors of the Five Noble Clans, then sealed in the Soul King Palace, put into a state of neither life nor death."
"That's where my Soul King fragments came from."
"Therefore, your Soul King is nothing but a torso."
"And I, Tokinada, have created a new Soul King today. He possesses self-awareness, will eventually form his own personality, and wields the same power as the Soul King."
"This is the true Soul King!"
Most of the Shinigami, who were unaware of the Soul King's true nature, fell into shock upon hearing Tokinada's words.
"If the Soul King disappears, Soul Society will shatter into pieces."
Kisuke grew serious. "More importantly, your so-called self-awareness is merely a manifestation of your own will."
Shunsui gave a slight smile. "I don't know what the Soul King is like, nor do I care. I only know that if we don't stop you today, Soul Society will descend into chaos."
His words pulled everyone back from their thoughts.
Tokinada said, "It looks like we'll have to settle this in a fight."
"Urahara, come. Let me see what gives you such confidence."