novelraw Chapter 307 - 400 Internee
Chapter 307 - 400 Internee
With Rukia positioned at the top of the scaffold, fire flares up at the base of the Sokyoku and begins coiling around the length of it in streams of intense, red-hot flame, the heat washing over the hill. This leads 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Omaeda to express shock at this being the release of the Sokyoku as it levitates into the air and begins turning to point its blade directly at Rukia.
While 2nd Division Captain Sui-Feng realizes it is changing shape and Shunsui admits his surprise, the fire engulfing the Sokyoku morphs and condenses around it to form Kikoo, a massive, terrifying phoenix of pure spiritual flame that hovers in front of Rukia while Yamamoto identifies it as the true form of the Sokyoku and the executioner of the ultimate punishment.
Yamamoto concludes that the execution will be over when Kikoo pierces Rukia’s body, and as the captains look on with varying reactions, Rukia mentally states that she is not afraid because she has led a good life and was blessed.
"If you made such an expression, then no one will be able to bear it, especially the one who grew up with you."
Suddenly an untimely voice, soft yet cutting through the ambient roar of the phoenix, sounded and startled everyone below, including Rukia, who flinched.
"Is this boy one of the Ryoka?"
Captain Shunsui asked while adjusting his straw hat, looking at the figure of Eero sitting on the top corner of the execution stand, utterly relaxed.
"His appearance doesn’t match with one of the Ryoka, nor his attires matches the shinigami from soul society," Nanao standing beside Kyoraku replied while shaking her head in confusion, her glasses glinting.
"Look, the Kikoo isn’t moving, how did he do that?"
Marechiyo spoke in shock, pointing at the massive, frozen phoenix in the sky, its wings stilled mid-beat. All the captains were shocked, even Captain Yamamoto raised his head and glanced at the Kikoo and then glanced at the direction of Eero, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous intensity.
"Who are you, kid? Your description doesn’t match with one of Ryoka’s. Identify yourself," Yamamoto asked, his voice a commanding rumble, looking at him with a sharp gaze.
Eero glanced at the Captain Yamamoto below and then looked at the other captain’s surprised and doubtful expression. He smiled and then glanced at Byakuya and replied,
"I was one of the new internees in Gotei thirteen, but I was declared dead after being attacked in the living world, Captain Byakuya knows me very well,"
Yamamoto and other captains were surprised, they turned and glanced at Byakuya,
Byakuya nodded, his expression a mask of annoyance, looking at the Head Captain Yamamoto, and other captains replied, "He is telling the truth; he was indeed from Gotei Thirteen and was declared dead on a mission."
"Then why is a dead brat like you intervening in the Soul Society’s affairs? Have you forgotten the rules here?" Head Captain Yamamoto asked, his voice low and laced with lethal threat, looking at Eero with a sharp gaze.
Eero wanted to say something; suddenly a few figures appeared below and beside him on the execution stand, their arrival explosive and loud.
"Yo, how are you doing, Rukia?" An instantly familiar sound fell into everyone’s ears while the few figures below moved, creating chaos.
A long cable attached to a metal rod is launched into the air and wraps itself around the neck of Kikōō. With the pole embedding itself in the ground on the other side of Kikoo,
Isane is shocked to see Ukitake, who suddenly appeared with his subordinates, having launched it from the Shihōin Shield as he, Sentaro, and Kiyone stand nearby, panting.
Just then Shunsui leaps to the rod alongside Nanao to drive it further into the ground and comments on how long Ukitake made them wait; Isane is further stunned by his involvement as Yamamoto turns around in surprise, his composure finally broken.
"Ohh, it seems there was a little delay in your arrival, but it seems now everything is going as usual." Eero spoke playfully, looking at the bound Kikoo in front of him, and then glanced at the Ichigo beside him, whose face was a mixture of concern and righteous fury.
"What are you two doing here, hurry up run away, you don’t have to risk your life in order to save me."
Rukia suddenly spoke chokingly while crying, her voice cracking with despair. Her heart completely sank after seeing Ichigo’s arrival... a noble, yet foolish sacrifice.
Eero glanced at her and then shook his head, a single sigh escaping his lips. He raised his hand, and suddenly a cracking noise spread, loud and sharp, and the three cubes binding Rukia started cracking up, fissures spreading across their surface.
Boom!
With a loud burst sound, smoke and sawdust speed around revealing a half broken execution stand, the air filled with the scent of dust and burning wood.
"What are you doing?" Rukia’s surprised voice sounded while she found herself floating toward Ichigo, the broken restraints useless.
Ichigo caught her, his eyes wide in astonishment, then glanced at Eero, his brow furrowed, unable to understand what he was doing.
Eero glanced at him and replied, "Take care of her, I have to deal with something," his voice utterly calm amid the chaos.
After speaking, his figure flashed and disappeared, leaving behind both of them speechless, Rukia clutched in Ichigo’s arms.
On the other hand, Shunsui and Ukitake’s figures also flashed, and they ran away from the Head Captain Yamamoto, knowing the storm that was coming.
While the Eero figure flashed and appeared on the other empty area behind the cliff, the air thin and cold, while the old man figure was already standing in front of him, his posture radiating immense, barely contained power.
"It seems I messed up, can you tell me why you chased me instead of your both students." Eero sighed, a weary note in his voice, and then asked, looking at the Head Captain Yamamoto standing in front of me.
"No one can outrun me, I will deal with both of them later, but you are unknown and more dangerous then them right now, others can’t see it but you can’t hide it from the eyes of this old man,"
Yamamoto replied, his voice a low, gravelly threat, and then a heavy pressure spread toward the surrounding, crushing and overwhelming, making the very stone of the cliff tremble.
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