CHAPTER 83

As Akira eagerly anticipated the system prompt, it arrived right on schedule:

[Congratulations to Host for successfully surviving one day. You have earned a lottery reward!]

"Start the lottery!" Akira commanded without hesitation.

A massive roulette wheel spun in a dazzling light, gradually slowing down until it finally stopped. When Akira saw the reward, his eyes widened in shock.

"This is… Mangekyō Sharingan's ability!"

At last, his Three Tomoe Sharingan had evolved!

While the Three Tomoe Sharingan was formidable, it had its limitations—especially against adversaries of Aizen's caliber. Its hypnotic abilities were effective against weaker opponents, but against someone like Aizen, who possessed unparalleled spiritual pressure and mastery over illusions, its effect was nearly negligible.

Even attempting to cast Genjutsu on someone like Jūshirō Ukitake would, at best, cause only a momentary lapse in attention.

Akira knew he had to elevate his power—his Sharingan alone wasn't enough. He needed to combine deception, Aizen's brief moments of carelessness, and his own acting skills to even the odds. But now, with this new evolution, everything would change.

Suddenly, a burning sensation flared up in his eyes. He instinctively covered them as his vision blurred. His Three Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, accelerating faster and faster until it transformed into an intricate new pattern—his Mangekyō Sharingan had awakened!

When Akira opened his eyes again, he immediately perceived a shift in the world around him.

"In terms of dynamic vision and clarity… this is a monumental leap! It's an epic breakthrough!"

Drawing his Zanpakutō, he used its polished blade as a makeshift mirror, staring at his own reflection.

"It's… Uchiha Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan?"

After a moment of thought, Akira smirked.

"Not bad at all. As one of the strongest shinobi in the Naruto world, Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan is already top-tier."

And now, with it, he could wield its full potential—Amaterasu, Kagutsuchi, and the mighty Susanoo! Testing its abilities briefly, he found himself even more satisfied.

"Tomorrow… I will be unstoppable."

The Next Day – Sōkyoku Hill

Rukia Kuchiki stood bound on the execution scaffold as three massive pillars of stone emerged beneath her, lifting her into the sky.

Before her, the execution weapon—Sōkyoku—began gathering its devastating spiritual energy, preparing to strike.

Below, a vast assembly of Shinigami had formed a circle, surrounding the execution site.

"Captain, do you think Akira will come?" asked Chōjirō Sasakibe, the lieutenant of the First Division.

"There's no need to ask," Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni snorted, his voice firm. "That boy won't back down… and he certainly isn't afraid."

His sharp gaze scanned the gathered Shinigami, and irritation flared within him. Though the area was filled with black-clad figures, something was missing—something crucial.

A dozen white haoris—the symbol of Gotei 13's captains—were absent.

Those who should have been leading Soul Society's forces were nowhere to be found.

"This mess… all because of Akira's betrayal!"

Yamamoto had never imagined such a scenario. Nearly every captain had been severely injured because of Akira. In a single move, he had left the Gotei 13 crippled.

And now, he was coming back.

This had never happened before, and it was absolutely unimaginable. Ordinary people wouldn't even dare to think of such a thing, even in their dreams.

"Regardless of whether Akira arrives in time or not, the execution will not be stopped!"

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's voice was cold and unwavering. "The time has come—begin the execution!"

At his command, the Sōkyoku's spear flared with intense light, unleashing its true form.

A massive fiery entity soared into the sky—the Jōka Shōnō (Purifying Flame) in the shape of an enormous phoenix, the legendary executioner of Sōkyoku.

Gasps erupted from the onlooking Shinigami.

"So… this is the true form of the Sōkyoku?"

"It's incredible! Even standing at a distance, its power is overwhelming…"

"What terrifying strength! It's said to have the power of a million Zanpakutō combined!"

The sight was awe-inspiring—executions using the Sōkyoku were rare, and few had ever witnessed its full manifestation. Even among the Gotei 13, there was reverence for this legendary blade of judgment.

"This is the ultimate executor of capital punishment," a voice announced solemnly. "In moments, it will pierce the sinner's body, and the execution will be complete."

Hearing Yamamoto's declaration, Rukia's thoughts drifted as she remained bound to the execution scaffold.

Fear gripped her, but the sweat forming on her skin evaporated instantly in the overwhelming heat. Yet, amidst the terror, a strange sense of relief settled in her heart.

…Am I going to die?

Aki… he hasn't come. That's fine… at least he won't die here.

A part of her was grateful for Akira's earlier efforts to save her. She didn't want him to throw away his life for her sake. And yet, despite accepting her fate, deep inside, a desperate hope lingered—

He'll come. He'll come like a hero in the stories, appearing at the last moment to save the princess…

"Execution!"

Yamamoto's voice thundered across the execution grounds, and with a piercing cry, the Sōkyoku phoenix dove toward Rukia, its fiery form prepared to incinerate her.

"Did I say you could touch her?"

A voice, sharp as lightning and carrying the weight of the heavens, cut through the air.

Suddenly—

A massive bolt of lightning struck from above, crashing down with the roar of a tempest. The colossal energy beam slammed into the flaming executioner, halting its descent.

BOOOOOM!

A dazzling blue pillar of energy connected the sky and earth, enveloping the Sōkyoku's phoenix form, suppressing it with an overwhelming force.

The legendary executioner screeched in fury, thrashing against the onslaught—but then, a lone figure emerged amidst the chaos.

Small in comparison to the towering phoenix, yet radiating an aura so oppressive that even the Jōka Shōnō itself seemed to shudder.

The flames of the Sōkyoku, the embodiment of its destructive power, began to waver—as if something was devouring them.

"It's Akira!"

Gasps echoed across the execution grounds. The Shinigami, stunned, could hardly believe their eyes.

"H-he… what is he doing?!"

"No way… Is he trying to absorb the power of a million Zanpakutō?!"

"He's eating the Sōkyoku…! He's consuming its flames!"

"This is madness!"

Yamamoto's expression darkened as his eyes narrowed.

"Cease the Sōkyoku's release immediately!" he commanded.

"If we don't—he'll consume the entire thing!"

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