41 Kōga Must Die  

Feeling the heat in front of his forehead, Kōga swallowed his saliva. The viciousness in his eyes had turned into fear.

Just now, if Ailin's sword had moved down a bit more, his head would have likely been blasted apart.

At the very last moment, Ailin still raised the Heaven Piercing Sword up a bit, sparing Kōga's life for now.

"3rd Seat Kōga, compared to now, I actually prefer your previous unruly and unyielding self. At the very least, killing that you would give me a sense of accomplishment. As for you now..."

Ailin shook his head, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes, "You really aren't worth me delivering the finishing blow. Treasure the last bit of your time. After you die, I'll bring your body back to 1st Division to report. Consider this my final mercy towards you!"

"Damn you!" Kōga was utterly humiliated.

He became famous at a young age and was invited to join 1st Division, the strongest division among the 13 Court Guard Squads, becoming one of their members.

After awakening his Zanpakuto, he perfectly completed many tricky missions, earning him the favor of many division members as he steadily rose to become 4th Seat of 1st Division.

Five years ago, after Captain Commander Yamamoto's disciple died, he took another step forward to become the Commander of the Detention Unit. When had someone so proud as him ever suffered such humiliation before?

"Pfft..."

In the end, Kōga spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes bulged wide as his body convulsed once before losing all signs of life. He didn't die by Ailin's sword. Instead, he was angered to death by Ailin's words.

Sensing Kōga's Reiatsu disappear, Ailin dismissed the Heaven Piercing Sword in his hand.

"Bakudō #4: Hainawa!"

A rope of Reiatsu bound Kōga Hoshino's corpse before Ailin picked it up and flickered towards 1st Division using Shunpo.

Kōga could have lived originally. But who told him to use his Bankai against Ailin, letting Muramasa invade Ailin's inner world?

Zanpakutos were forged by Ōetsu Nimaiya, who had already been promoted to the Royal Guard.

Through the cultivation method called "Jinzen", Shinigamis fuse their souls with the Asauchi to give birth to the "spirits" of their Zanpakutos.

As long as the Shinigami still lived, even if their Zanpakuto's "spirit" died, it would coalesce again after a period of time from the Shinigami.

Just like the Shinigamis of 7th Division and 9th Division whose Zanpakutos were controlled by Kōga.

Although all their Zanpakutos were destroyed by Ailin now, after a period of "Jinzen" cultivation, their Zanpakutos would be restored completely.

At most, they just wouldn't be able to use their Zanpakutos' abilities during the period their Zanpakutos hadn't recovered yet, greatly reducing their strength temporarily.

Muramasa had found out many secrets Ailin didn't want others knowing within his Reality Marble. If those secrets spread, Ailin would become targeted for extermination by the entire Soul Society.

So Muramasa had to die!

Kōga, who could revive Muramasa and possibly learn of Ailin's true abilities from Muramasa's mouth, also had to die!

On this point, even if Captain Commander Yamamoto said otherwise to his face, Ailin would not change his decision.

***

Within Ailin's Reality Marble, Muramasa was barely fending off over a dozen materialized Zanpakutos stronger than him. Without his instigation abilities having any effect, he could only become a sandbag for the others to toy with.

At a certain moment, Muramasa, who was being ganged up on, suddenly felt the source of his Reiryoku - cut off!

"Kōga..." Muramasa's pupils constricted violently.

A Zanpakuto's Reiatsu and Reiryoku originated from their Shinigami. Even the rebelling Zanpakutos were no exception to this.

When a Zanpakuto could no longer supplement its Reiatsu, only two possibilities existed. Either its master was dead! Or their consciousness was sealed away.

Ever since entering this Shinigami's inner world, Muramasa knew his master didn't stand any chance against him. But for Kōga to be defeated so quickly still wasn't something Muramasa expected.

As Muramasa suffered heavy injuries from several powerful Zanpakuto attacks due to his Reiryoku being cut off, what he hoped was that his master wasn't dead but merely sealed away instead.

***

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Even while carrying Kōga's corpse, Ailin's speed didn't seem affected much at all. In less than thirty seconds, Ailin had already arrived at 1st Division and entered the Captain's Assembly Hall.

"Captain Commander, the traitor Kōga Hoshino from Soul Society has been defeated. It's unfortunate I had no choice but to go all out due to 3rd Seat Kōga's formidable strength, resulting in me being unable to capture him alive. I seek the Captain Commander's forgiveness for this misstep."

Within the hall, Ailin gently placed Kōga's corpse right in the center before pleading guilty to Captain Commander Yamamoto. After all, no matter how one looked at it, Kōga Hoshino was still 1st Division's 3rd Seat.

Even if he betrayed Soul Society in the end, that didn't mean Captain Commander Yamamoto held no feelings towards him whatsoever.

Now that Kōga died by Ailin's hand, no one knew what Captain Commander Yamamoto's mood was like currently.

Of course, everyone understood that no matter how heartbroken the Captain Commander felt, he wouldn't punish Ailin over personal feelings.

Seeing Kōga's blood-drenched corpse, the Captains also sighed at the might behind Ailin's final blow. If it were them under that attack instead, not many dared to claim they could have survived either.

"Kōga was already so powerful that he could consecutively defeat the Captains of 9th Division and 7th Division. Him losing only because you held back and allowed him to stir up greater turmoil would have truly been your wrongdoing instead." These words came from 6th Division Captain Ginrei Kuchiki.

Ailin nodded gratefully at Ginrei Kuchiki.

Although he knew Old Man Yama wouldn't be malicious over personal feelings, Ailin would still be under the Captain Commander for a very long time. Having the boss less displeased with him was something Ailin was still very thankful for. This old fart sure knew how to handle things.

On the other hand, his own Captain, Yoruichi Shihōin, just watched Kōga's corpse with keen interest, not even bothering to stand up for him.

"Captain Kuchiki is right. Vice Captain Ailin, you have rendered great merits in suppressing this rebellion. Where is the wrong in that?"

Captain Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto opened his eyes a sliver, approving of Ailin's contributions this time.

In just five short years, 1st Division had lost two juniors the Captain Commander cared greatly for. If Captain Commander Yamamoto said he didn't feel somewhat sad, that would be a lie.

But when he saw Kōga's hideous corpse, the sadness in his heart all transformed into anger towards Kōga's lack of remorse right till his death.