Eightfold Method: Heaven and Earth Annihilation

Standing upon the earth, beneath the sky.

Surging blue light wreathed Seiya's body, flowing like a radiant, luminous river. In his eyes shimmered the serene brilliance of a still lake.

An overwhelming sensation of power elevated Seiya's spirit and mind to an incomprehensible state—a plane never before touched.

It was difficult to describe.

Without moving his head, without even turning his gaze, he could "see" everything in the air around him.

He could perceive squad members rushing to help the wounded, and the cries of the injured calling for aid.

It was as if the very air had become extensions of Seiya's consciousness, allowing him to touch the world as if it were his own skin.

Everything—

He could sense everything.

'As I thought… I wasn't wrong.'

Though no formal theory confirmed it, Seiya's and his master's years of study had pointed to a truth:

That the strength of spiritual pressure—Reiryoku—was rooted in the very weight of the soul.

Even among the living, such differences were vast.

If an ant were '1' in soul weight, then a typical spirit might measure in the hundreds.

And a Shinigami, one capable of training and growth, would measure on an entirely different scale altogether.

In Soul Society, where the strongest flourish, this weight defined one's standing.

Seiya knew now: with the spiritual energy of Seireitei dismantled and made his own, his soul had risen to a level beyond measure.

But that didn't come without cost.

His brow furrowed as he slowly raised and clenched his hand.

He was feeling too much.

Not just noise—no. What flooded into his senses now were countless, scattered glimmers. Like stars in the night sky, they emerged one by one in his mind.

They were the shapes of souls—the presence of life itself.

Seiya could feel them all.

And it was too much.

The sheer data carried by each soul overwhelmed him, disrupting his focus, clouding his clarity.

Sweat began to form on his forehead.

The veterans watching noticed the subtle change instantly.

From both factions, responses came.

Tōsen and Gin instinctively moved toward Seiya.

But Aizen raised a hand, stopping them.

"This is part of Seiya's plan. Please respect his choice."

His voice was calm, but Aizen was clearly watching closely.

He admired Seiya not for power alone—but for the will that chose to follow him.

Elsewhere—

Kyōraku tilted his hat low and spoke quietly.

"Captain Unohana, Yamamoto's side has been silent too long… he must be restrained."

"So I leave that side to you."

Unohana, calm and unreadable, silently released her Zanpakutō and descended to action.

"As for the rest of us…" Kyōraku's voice chilled.

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't recommend engaging Seiya in close combat…"

"But now… prepare your Kido."

"Be ready to attack at any moment."

Confused glances were exchanged.

Sui-Feng frowned. "Why now?"

Because, Kyōraku thought, time was running out.

"I'll keep it short."

"Seiya has absorbed all of Seireitei's Reishi. With that power… killing us would be effortless."

"But he hasn't. That tells me—he's after something."

Yoruichi, standing at the edge of the giant's hand, added grimly, "He has a goal."

"That's the only explanation."

Right or wrong—stopping him now had to be meaningful.

Even if… Seiya meant no harm?

Some wondered—but none voiced it.

Seireitei was gone. The sanctuary of the Shinigami—obliterated.

Seiya had turned against them.

And as silence fell again, it was Byakuya Kuchiki who spoke:

"Could Seiya be another illusion created by Kyōka Suigetsu?"

"Of course," Kyōraku replied with a faint smile, forced to mask unease. "But that's no excuse to do nothing."

"Our weapons are in their hands. We are the first line of defense."

"The Gotei 13… infiltrated. Our home… destroyed."

He chuckled bitterly.

"There's a limit to how much disgrace we can bear."

"And if some of us die…"

"Then so be it."

Anything less would be a betrayal of their duty.

No more words were needed.

The captains moved—each ready to act.

Ichigo tried to interject—but Yoruichi clapped a hand over his mouth.

"If you're not helping, then keep quiet."

She and Ichigo stepped aside, leaving the captains to face what was coming.

And Seiya?

He felt it all.

Every glance, every breath, every intention.

He sighed.

So it had come to this.

They would sacrifice their own to stop him. Just as he had planned.

'It's only natural… I've earned their hatred.'

Still—

He didn't have time to dwell.

The barrier trapping Yamamoto wouldn't last. With Unohana's aid, he'd soon break free.

The other captains, while not dangerous alone, could still disrupt him.

He needed to act fast.

He focused his senses. Extended them further.

Searching…

"Where are you hiding…?"

He murmured, as the ocean of blue Reishi slowed, then settled.

Quincy—the true masters of manipulating Reishi.

And if he asked: Who among them mastered it completely?

The answer was—

Yhwach.

The final boss of the Thousand-Year Blood War. The progenitor of all Quincy. The man who claimed omniscience and omnipotence.

Seiya's ultimate target.

"The Wandenreich… hid in Seireitei's shadows."

That truth had always been buried in the original story.

Without that clue, not even Yamamoto or Aizen could detect them.

The shadows—where Yhwach lurked—were impenetrable.

Seiya had tried everything. Simulations. Strategies. Countless theories.

But nothing worked.

He couldn't trust Mayuri, Kisuke, or even Aizen with that information—they were all unpredictable.

So he chose the one solution no one else would:

Tear Seireitei down.

Without structures, there could be no shadows.

No place left for the Wandenreich to hide.

He whispered Yhwach's name—and his eyes lit up.

He turned.

He'd found it.

His pupils quivered, almost splitting in two—like his very soul was reacting.

There it was—

A presence unlike the others.

A star among dust.

He smiled.

Found you.

He raised his left hand toward that "sun," as though lifting the world.

The remnants of Seireitei rumbled again, trembling.

To truly strike the Wandenreich, and leave no doubt—

Seiya summoned all the Reishi from the destroyed city into his palm.

It surged, thundered, roared—shaking the very heavens.

His pupils calmed.

His expression softened.

He was Seiya once more.

He exhaled deeply.

This was the end of it. His last card.

No allies. No reinforcements.

Only Seiya.

Only this battlefield.

Gazing into the void, he spoke with quiet finality:

"Eightfold Method: Heaven and Earth Annihilation."

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Powerstones?

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