Chapter 157 – Instant Kill

Chapter 157 – Instant Kill

Kugo Ginjo held the potential to become a "Soul King candidate." If anything were to happen to the current Soul King, certain measures could be taken to install Ginjo as the new "Soul King."

However, these matters were beyond Ailin's current knowledge.

Therefore, he directly questioned Ukitake, "Captain Ukitake, since you've discovered that Ginjo was framed, why do you still want me to kill him? Wouldn't it be better to keep him alive and gradually expose the person behind all this?"

"Well..." Ukitake hesitated before slowly explaining, "Captain Ailin, while we've uncovered evidence of Ginjo being framed, his lack of trust in Soul Society is another reason why I seek his execution.

After Ginjo killed those Shinigami, despite my suspicions, I didn't access his records at the Research and Development Institute. Instead, I dispatched a Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living to inquire about the situation.

However, Ginjo didn't offer any explanation and directly attacked and killed our member. This is a violation of Soul Society's laws, and Ginjo must face punishment.

Furthermore, considering they didn't kill Ginjo, there might be something about him that they covet. By eliminating Ginjo, we can eradicate any potential threats to Soul Society.

Of course, we could also place him under surveillance and protection. However, the individuals targeting Ginjo might not be ordinary captain-level opponents. Soul Society cannot afford to assign multiple captains to protect a Substitute Shinigami."

"I see." Ailin understood Ukitake's reasoning. It was indeed a valid concern. "I understand. I'll bring Ginjo's body back when the time comes."

"Thank you, Captain Ailin."

After ending the call, Ailin headed towards Yukio's mansion without hesitation.

***

Ailin didn't conceal his reiatsu. Sensing his approach, Yukio used her ability to transport Tsukishima and Giriko into her game space, leaving Ginjo alone in the mansion to await Ailin's arrival.

Swoosh!

The sound of wind breaking announced Ailin's arrival in the mansion's garden.

"Teacher Ailin." Ginjo, with one hand in his pocket and the other waving towards Ailin, greeted him.

"Ginjo. I've received a response from Soul Society."

"Oh? And what did they say, Teacher Ailin?"

Although Ginjo maintained a smile, his left hand, tucked into his pocket, discreetly grasped the Substitute Shinigami Badge.

"Captain Ukitake and Captain Kurotsuchi of the 12th Division confirmed that your monitoring data has always been kept within the Research and Development Institute and hasn't been accessed by anyone else."

"Oh? So, the Shinigami of Soul Society believe I'm lying?"

The smile on Ginjo's face faded. As expected, it would come to this in the end.

"No." Ailin shook his head. "While we didn't find any evidence of your monitoring records being accessed, we did identify the Shinigami who attacked you. Through them, we discovered another faction has been monitoring you, seemingly with ulterior motives."

"Oh?" Ginjo raised an eyebrow, only half-believing Ailin's words. "So, does that mean I'm innocent?"

"No." Ailin's expression turned serious. "Ginjo, while killing those Shinigami who were part of another faction hidden within Soul Society could be considered self-defense, and Soul Society won't pursue the matter... The death of the Shinigami who came to investigate the truth cannot be excused. Ginjo, will you resist or accept arrest and return with me to Soul Society to face judgment?"

"Hahaha, Teacher Ailin, so it comes down to a fight after all?" Ginjo laughed after hearing Ailin's words. He took out the Substitute Shinigami Badge and pressed it against his chest.

Boom!

With a soft sound, Ginjo transformed, wearing a shihakushō. As his body slowly fell, he drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it towards Ailin.

"Teacher Ailin, I won't go back with you. Regardless of which faction those Shinigami belonged to, the fact that they sent a group to attack me proves they're also Shinigami, right?

I don't know how many factions exist within Soul Society, but... I refuse to pay for your mistakes!"

"Bankai – Cross of Scaffold!"

Boom!

Immense reiatsu erupted from Ginjo as his Zanpakuto transformed into a massive double-edged sword.

"Let's fight, Teacher Ailin! Having achieved Bankai, I should be on the same level as the captains of the Gotei 13, right?"

"Let's see who's stronger – a wild Shinigami like me or a genuine Shinigami like you!" With that, Ginjo dashed towards Ailin, leaving an afterimage in his wake.

Boom!

Ailin vanished and reappeared before Ginjo, extending his right index finger and placing it against Ginjo's forehead.

"See, the distance between us is meaningless. A flick of my finger is all it takes to shatter your skull."

"Like this—"

Ailin retracted his finger, pressed his thumb against its tip, and flicked it forward.

Boom!

Ginjo was propelled through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

Ailin descended slowly, landing at the edge of the crater.

Ginjo lay sprawled at the bottom, his hair disheveled, his forehead swollen, his shihakushō in tatters, and his exposed skin covered in wounds.

Seeing Ginjo had lost the ability to resist, Ailin pointed his hand towards him and chanted, "Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!"

He traced a triangle in the air, golden light connecting the points. Sharp fangs protruded from each corner.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

The three fangs shot towards Ginjo at the bottom of the crater, aiming for his arms and abdomen.

Just as the Bakudō was about to bind Ginjo, black pixels spread across his body, engulfing him completely.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

The golden fangs pierced through empty space and dissipated into reishi under Ailin's control.

"A spatial ability?"

Ailin's heart skipped a beat. Following the trail of fear, he moved through the mansion.

...

Within Yukio's game space, Tsukishima and Giriko were tending to Ginjo's wounds.

"Ginjo, Ginjo..."

To their relief, although Ginjo's injuries appeared severe, the most significant damage was from Ailin's knee strike to his abdomen.

The head injury wasn't as serious. However, under Ailin's flick, Ginjo had been knocked unconscious.

This outcome brought some comfort to Tsukishima and Giriko.

Tsukishima, having practically raised Ginjo, held paternal feelings towards him. He would do anything Ginjo desired. Giriko followed Ginjo in pursuit of greater power.

Ginjo's Zanpakuto could absorb the Fullbring abilities of others and share them with his fellow Fullbringers.

Giriko's goal was to enhance his own strength, which was why he chose to follow Ginjo.

However, he never imagined that within days of finding Ginjo, the powerful Fullbringer would be rendered helpless before that Shinigami.

"How is this possible?"

Tsukishima and Giriko suddenly heard Yukio's surprised voice. They turned to see him frantically pressing buttons on his game console.

"What's wrong, Yukio?"

"That Shinigami has discovered my game space and is attempting to invade it."

"Quickly wake Ginjo! I can't hold him off for long."

Hearing Yukio's words, Tsukishima fell silent for a moment. Then, he opened the book in his hand and retrieved a bookmark from within its pages.

"Hum..."

Under a blue aura of reiatsu, the bookmark transformed into a long sword. Tsukishima then plunged the blade into Ginjo's left arm.

"Argh!"

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