I Will Stand Atop The Heavens

— — — — — — 

A massive golden pillar of light burst from the heavens, piercing the sky like a divine lance.

It was Negación—a technique used by Hollows to protect allies by calling upon the power of Hueco Mundo.

Once under its influence, you were essentially in Hueco Mundo itself. Trying to strike through it was like trying to grasp something across an uncrossable void.

The light engulfed them all.

Aizen Sōsuke. Gin Ichimaru. Kaname Tōsen. Ryo Yagami. And Nemu Kurotsuchi.

In a single instant, all five vanished within the veil of the Negación.

"Ugh...!"

Genryūsai Yamamoto coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yet even in his battered state, he looked warily at Ryo, who now floated gently in the air.

"That's it?"

His voice was strained, filled with disbelief.

For the first time in over a thousand years, the strongest Shinigami had tasted defeat.

Bitterness. Pain. Rage. They churned in his heart like a storm.

Only now were the vice-captains rushing onto the scene—only to freeze, stunned by the devastation before them.

Inside the shimmering gold light, Gin glanced down at Rangiku Matsumoto and the others, then smiled lazily.

"Ryo-sama, Aizen-sama… why not just finish them all off in one go?"

"No time," Ryo replied without even looking at him.

His eyes were fixed on Division One's headquarters.

On the rooftop stood the full force of the Royal Guard—Zero Division. Five members, all watching them intently, each one radiating oppressive Reiatsu and covered in gear crafted by the Soul King himself.

Gin's smile twitched.

"They've all shown up, huh?" Ryo said calmly.

Aizen smiled. "We've lost our reason to keep fighting."

They didn't need to say it out loud, but Gin understood: striking now would just hand the victory to someone else. They'd only be doing the Royal Guard's job for them.

Still looking down at the battlefield, Gin smirked again.

"Come to think of it, most of the Captains were taken down by you, Ryo-san."

Ryo glanced sideways at him. "Ha?"

Gin immediately shut up. The last thing he wanted was for Ryo to slice him up in Hueco Mundo for talking too much.

On the ground, Ukitake Jūshiro had finally managed to stand. Bloodied but upright, he fixed Aizen with a conflicted gaze.

"You've fallen so far, Aizen… Have you truly gone rogue?"

"'Gone rogue'? That's a laugh," Aizen replied, removing his glasses with a casual flick.

"No one stood at the top to begin with."

"Neither you, nor me, nor the Gods."

"But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky ends now."

He crushed his glasses in his hand, brushing his hair back in one sweeping motion. Cold, regal, and distant, he looked down at the Shinigami like they were insects.

"From now on..."

"I will stand atop the heavens."

Ukitake's pupils shrank as the horrifying realization struck him.

He wants to replace the Soul King...!

. . .

And just then—bleeding, limping, and late as usual—Ichigo arrived on the scene. He looked up at the people floating in the sky, utterly speechless.

On the ground, Orihime and Rukia, who was being helped up by Rangiku, looked skyward. All eyes were locked on Ryo.

Aizen turned slightly toward Ryo, letting out a quiet chuckle.

"Nothing you want to say to them?"

Ryo raised an eyebrow. His gaze settled on Orihime as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Now that you mention it… I never did show you what I really look like, huh?"

As he spoke, the divine shell around him crumbled into fragments, disappearing like stardust.

And finally—his true form was revealed.

Black hair. Dark eyes. Handsome and proud, standing tall above the earth like a sovereign.

Orihime's eyes widened, her gaze locking onto his face.

Rukia frowned. Her expression was puzzled, her thoughts unclear. To this moment, she still didn't know why Ryo had saved her life.

And then, Ryo's black eyes swept over the people below. His voice was cold, resolute.

"Listen well, Soul Society."

"This world you've built on lies—its end is coming."

"The false gods will fall, and the gaze of true divinity will descend from the true heavens."

"Wait for it."

"Wait for the moment of revolution."

Aizen didn't say a word. He simply smiled, watching the confused masses below like an amused god peering into a zoo.

He chuckled softly. "Ryo, you're being dramatic. They're just lower beings in the end."

Ryo smirked and shook his head.

"Guess hanging around you too long has made me a bit of an edgelord. I even got some of your arrogance."

"Ooh, Congrats. A true king carries himself like one," Aizen replied calmly.

Their words faded as the Negación slowly vanished from the sky.

— — —

Sōkyoku Hill.

The battlefield was covered in the wounded.

Unohana and Isane arrived at the scene, immediately jumping into action.

"Captain Kyōraku, please don't move."

"Captain Ukitake, can you support yourself for a bit?"

"I'll manage… cough cough…"

"Captain Byakuya, how are you holding up?"

"Five broken ribs. I'll live."

"Good. I'll start by healing Captain Yamamoto."

Unohana turned, noticing Ichigo standing frozen in the middle of the chaos.

"Excuse me, ryoka boy. Mind stepping aside?"

"Huh? Oh—right!" Ichigo quickly backed off under the weight of her gentle-but-deadly smile.

She walked over to Yamamoto, who was already receiving healing from Orihime. Unohana didn't interrupt—she simply stood there and spoke.

"What a disaster. And to think… you even called in the Royal Guard. That's… surprising."

Before the battle, Yamamoto had heeded her advice and requested backup from Zero Division—something nearly unthinkable.

But even now, they hadn't lifted a finger.

The implications were chilling. Even Unohana, with all her experience, felt uneasy.

Yamamoto didn't respond. His eyes remained fierce, unreadable.

Seeing this, Unohana's lips curled up slightly.

He's still got fire left in him, at least.

She chuckled softly. "So? What's it feel like, losing to the monster I helped create?"

Ryo's swordsmanship came directly from Unohana. Calling him her successor wouldn't be far off. It was because of her that Ryo Yagami could fight Yamamoto evenly—and win.

Yamamoto's reply was barely a whisper.

"If only… if only he were a Shinigami."

He stared silently toward the sky, toward the place where Ryo had disappeared.

Unohana's eyes narrowed. She let out a faint sigh.

"…Yeah. If only."

An old man needed space to wrestle with regret. She wouldn't take that from him.

Instead, she looked over at Orihime and smiled kindly.

"That's some incredible healing. What's your name?"

"Orihime Inoue," she answered quickly.

Just then, Yamamoto turned to Orihime and asked sharply: "Why didn't you leave with that man?"

Orihime flinched, nervous. "…Ryo said if you died, all the rats would come crawling out."

It was a jab at the Royal Guard and Yhwach—who only dared to stay in the shadows while Yamamoto still stood.

"Hmph!"

Twin streams of flame shot from Yamamoto's nostrils.

"So he sees me as his guard dog, huh?!"

Orihime didn't reply, just shrank back a little and continued healing him.

But her thoughts were elsewhere—on Ryo's final words to her.

{"You'll take my place. Use your eyes to really see Soul Society and the human world."}

She didn't understand completely. But maybe she was beginning to.

Then Yamamoto looked down at his left hand—already showing signs of healing.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Girl… I owe you one."

Soul Society still needed his strength to maintain order. This one restored hand meant everything.

"…Huh?" Orihime blinked. Then her eyes widened in realization.

So this was the reason Ryo made her stay behind?

Even this… he had already planned?

Orihime's heart twisted with an emotion she couldn't name.

.

.

.