Akira's words left Ichimaru Gin silent.
He questioned himself—if he continued his undercover mission, what were his real chances of ever killing Aizen?
Aizen was already an immensely powerful figure, his intellect sharp and layered, bordering on flawless. And beyond that, Gin knew Aizen's ultimate goal: to claim the Hōgyoku. Once he possessed it, his strength would grow exponentially—beyond reckoning.
Which meant Gin's window of opportunity was shrinking by the second.
In that light… wouldn't it be wiser to align himself with the stronger force that shared his objective?
"If you've made up your mind," Akira said, "then kill Tōsen Kaname with your own hands."
He kicked the half-dead Tōsen into the center of the road and watched Gin closely. The former captain's expression flickered—uncertainty, calculation, maybe even grief—but Akira gave him time. He knew the future, after all. Beneath Gin's lazy grin and sly theatrics lay someone capable of profound loyalty. If Gin chose to swear allegiance, betrayal wouldn't be a concern.
And a subordinate as cunning and capable as Ichimaru Gin? Invaluable.
"You… you bastard…" Tōsen groaned, glaring at Gin with raw hatred.
He'd never imagined Gin would betray him. Just moments ago, he'd pinned his last hope on Gin escaping to warn Aizen—to alert him to Akira's existence. This man wasn't just devastating in open combat; he wielded a strange, terrifying lightning that seemed to erupt from thin air.
But that plan was ashes now.
"Seems I've got no way out," Gin murmured, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "And to be honest… your offer's awfully tempting."
Slowly, he raised Shinsō, its tip hovering just above Tōsen's forehead.
Then, without hesitation—he struck.
Schk!
The blade pierced flesh and bone, driving Tōsen's head into the ground. His body went limp—lifeless.
"Very well. You've made a wise decision."
Akira snapped his fingers.
A bolt of lightning tore from the sky, incinerating Tōsen's corpse in an instant—reducing it to drifting ash.
Gin's breath caught. Was that Kidō?
No… It bore no resemblance to any spell he'd ever seen.
Only one conclusion made sense: Akira held far too many secrets.
"Lord Akira," Gin said smoothly, already slipping into his new role, "what are my next orders?"
"Return to Aizen," Akira instructed. "Continue playing the loyal subordinate. Stay undercover. We'll coordinate when the time is right."
"Return to Aizen…?" Gin hesitated. A flicker of concern crossed his face. With Tōsen dead, rejoining Aizen wouldn't be simple. That door had seemed sealed shut.
But Akira saw right through him—and smirked.
"Just tell him you barely escaped while I killed Tōsen Kaname."
Gin shook his head. "Lord Akira… Aizen's a master schemer. I doubt he'll be so easily deceived."
"Of course I know that," Akira said coolly. "I understand Aizen better than you ever could."
Gin's lazy smile didn't waver, but his eyes—sharp beneath that ever-present squint—narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"And don't worry," Akira continued, voice low. "Aizen won't suspect you… do you know why? Because he's already aware you're playing a double game."
Gin's breath hitched. "…What?"
Akira met his gaze without flinching. "He's known from the start. He kept you close not because he trusted you—but because he was curious. Curious to see how you'd try to kill him."
A beat of silence. Then Gin let out a dry chuckle, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.
Akira knew Aizen wouldn't move against Gin—not yet. To Aizen, betrayal wasn't a threat. It was entertainment. A man who saw the world as a stage needed actors, even treacherous ones. After all, wasn't that why he'd orchestrated Ichigo's rise? Not out of necessity, but boredom. A god with no rivals craves challenges—even fabricated ones.
Gin exhaled slowly. "Alright… fine." He gave a faint nod. "I'll play along. For now."
"Smart choice," Akira said. "But remember—if you're going to deceive Aizen, don't make it obvious. Subtlety is the only armor you've got."
Before Gin could respond, golden light erupted in Akira's hand—Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory, humming with restrained power.
"Eh… eh?!" Gin's smirk vanished. His instincts screamed. "Wait, what are you—?"
"I'll hold back," Akira assured him. "Just enough that you'll walk away with only minor injuries."
And then he swung.
BOOM!
---
By sunrise, Seireitei remained quiet—undisturbed, unaware.
Tōsen Kaname's disappearance had left no body, no reiatsu trail, no alarm. Less than a day had passed; in Soul Society's slow-turning gears, that was nothing.
When Gin limped back to Las Noches, bruised and bloodied but upright, Aizen didn't ask a single question. He didn't even glance up from his book.
But Akira knew better.
He's already three steps ahead. Plotting something worse than before.
Seated in his private courtyard, Akira stared at the horizon, voice barely above a whisper:
"If that's true… then today's survival bonus better be worth it."
He'd just weathered an ambush by two captain-class fighters—no small feat, even for him. Tōsen had been little more than a speed bump. But Gin? Gin was dangerous. Calculating. Fast. And yet, Akira had overpowered him without breaking a sweat.
…Which was the problem.
Forcing Gin to return so soon—so damaged—was a gamble. Aizen wouldn't miss the implications. Suspicion would crystallize into strategy. And Aizen's strategies turned gods into pawns.
As night fell, the familiar chime echoed in Akira's mind:
[Congratulations, Host! You have survived another day.]
[Lottery Reward Unlocked.]
He tapped [Draw] without hesitation.
The system window flickered—then displayed the prize.
For the first time in weeks, genuine surprise flickered across Akira's face.
Happy new year 🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊