XX-level Hokage

"Get rid of these troublesome ants." From the sky came Barragan's hoarse, decaying command.

Stark, Yammy, and their countless subordinates, like Death itself granted a pardon, charged down with unparalleled force towards the Deaths below who had long since lost the strength to fight.

The shadow of death once again loomed over the entire town of Karakura.

However, just as that devastating attack was about to strike, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

"What a magnificent performance!"

A lazy yet playful voice suddenly rang out from high above.

Everyone looked up sharply and saw that the woman who had remained detached since the start of the war, as if watching a play, was slowly sitting up from the recliner made of ghostly material.

She stretched, her posture suggesting she had just woken up, rather than witnessing a devastating war that would determine the fate of the three realms.

"However, the warm-up should be over," Mashiro murmured softly, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of every powerful figure present, "Then, the main event is finally about to begin."

Mashiro stretched out her hand. "Choose, Zero."

The Zanpakuto in her hand had been drawn at some point. "Blue - Sea of ​​Time."

As she began to chant softly, a deep blue spiritual pressure, like the deepest ocean, spread outwards from her center in all directions!

That wasn't just spiritual pressure, but an absolute law... powerful enough to disrupt time!

Stark and Yammy, who were at the forefront, became incredibly slow the moment their bodies touched that azure area, as if they were mosquitoes trapped in amber!

"What?! My body..." For the first time, Stark's usually sleepy face showed a look of surprise.

On Barragán's face, an unprecedented solemnity also appeared! He knew clearly that his proud "power of aging" would also be controlled by that strange blue fluctuation.

“In my Sea of ​​Time,” Mashiro’s voice was calm yet full of majesty, as if proclaiming the truth of the world, “Time will no longer be linear, but rather… a chaotic void.”

She slowly raised the Zanpakuto in her hand. "Shiranui."

A pale blue light emanated from the blade. "Now, the game is over."

Her figure split into three in mid-air.

One appeared before Stark. One appeared before Yammy.

The last one appeared silently behind Barragán.

Three crisp, almost simultaneous sounds of blades piercing flesh became the final sounds on this battlefield.

Chapter 255: Everything

Within the realm of the Sea of ​​Time, everything fell into absolute stillness.

It is not simply a matter of speed being taken away, but a more fundamental stagnation of the laws governing "existence" itself.

For the first time, the languid look on Koyatai Stark's face, which was always sleepy, was completely replaced by an emotion called "horror." He discovered that his proud "Infinite Cero" and ultra-fast "Sonic Spin" were like mosquitoes frozen in amber in this azure field, unable to mobilize even the smallest spiritual particle.

Yammy Rialgona's enormous body, which was swelling with rage, also froze in mid-air. His fist, powerful enough to shatter mountains, was now unable to move even a single finger.

The most terrified of all was Barragan Ruizenbond, the 20th Espada, who had experienced Mashiro's attack firsthand.

“In my Sea of ​​Time,” Mashiro’s voice was calm yet full of majesty, as if proclaiming the truth of the world, “Time will no longer be linear, but rather… a chaotic void.”

Her figure split into three in mid-air.

Each figure was identical to the original, radiating the same unfathomable spiritual pressure, and the Zanpakuto "Zero White" in their hands also changed shape accordingly.

It was no longer the azure blue symbolizing the laws of time, but had transformed into a dazzling yet destructive pale blue light. "Shiranui."

As Mashiro uttered her emotionless whisper, the three figures moved simultaneously. It was neither Instant Step nor Sora Tensei.

Their movements seemed to transcend the concepts of space and distance, appearing silently in front of the three Espada in an instant.

The first figure appeared before Stark. Facing the Espada, whom even the captains of the Gotei 13 were helpless against, Mashiro didn't even give him a chance to draw his twin pistols. She simply calmly and gently touched the Shiranui, which emitted a pale blue light, to Stark's chest.

There were no violent explosions, no flashy moves.

Only a faint, almost imperceptible, ripple-like blue light spread out.

A hint of relief flashed in Stark's eyes, which always held a touch of languor. He seemed to see himself and Lilynette meeting again in that eternal white desert.

Then, his body, along with his centuries-long loneliness, transformed into specks of spiritual energy and dissipated into the Sea of ​​Time.

A second figure appeared before Yammy. Facing this man, whose unbridled fury was enough to make him the "Espada 0" after his release, Mashiro, like Yammy, showed no mercy.

He had a chance to throw his next punch.

The tip of Shiranui's blade lightly grazed Yammy's enormous, monstrous body.

For the first time, a trace of "calm" appeared in Yammy's eyes, which were always filled with anger and destructive desire. His enormous body, which was large enough to blot out the sky, collapsed and disintegrated silently, like a sand sculpture being weathered.

The last figure appeared behind Barragán.

Facing this former king of Hueco Mundo, this terrifying being who manipulated the laws of "aging" at will, Mashiro simply placed the hilt of "Shiranui" lightly against his back.

"Your time has come to an end."

With Mashiro's final judgment, the arrogance that once graced Barragana's unicorn-like face was finally replaced by utter terror. His proud "Respira," capable of reducing all things to decay, appeared so utterly vulnerable before the more fundamental law of "Shiranui," which governs "existence" itself.

His body, starting from where the hilt of the knife touched him, quickly turned into the most primal, black dust.

Three crisp, almost simultaneous sounds of blades piercing flesh became the final sounds on this battlefield.

When the three figures of Shinpaku merged back into one, and when the "Sea of ​​Time" that covered the entire battlefield slowly receded, the three Espada who reigned supreme at the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo, along with their terrifying power that was enough to make even the Gotei 13 tremble, had... completely vanished from the sky.

It was as if they had never existed.

The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence once again.

Below, the exhausted Grim Reapers and Masked Army watched in disbelief at the miraculous scene before them. The enemy they had fought so hard to defeat had been... effortlessly and completely wiped out by Mashiro in a manner that was almost "erased".

This overwhelming power, beyond everyone's comprehension, stirred a deeper sense of awe in them than when they faced Aizen.

Mashiro sheathed her Zanpakuto. Her face, which always held a hint of amusement, remained expressionless. She simply gazed calmly down at the scene below.

The battlefield was scarred and riddled with wounds, and those "like-minded" individuals—some severely wounded, some on the verge of death, and some bewildered.

Her gaze finally settled on the orange-haired boy who lay quietly amidst the ruins, having lost all his power.

"It's truly...enviable," she murmured softly, her voice carrying a complex emotion that no one could understand. Then, the "Zero White" in her hand changed shape once more.

This time, the blade radiated a pure, vibrant emerald green light, like the first buds of spring, brimming with life. "Green - Pure Crystal Body."

Mashiro's figure slowly descended from the sky, first arriving beside Ichigo Kurosaki. "Ichigo..." Rukia looked at her, her eyes filled with wariness and a hint of pleading.

Mashiro ignored her, simply lowering herself and gently placing her pale hand on Ichigo's chest, where his heart had stopped beating. Emerald light, like the gentlest spring rain, slowly seeped into Ichigo's body.

"My Pure Crystal Body," Makoto's voice was calm yet full of power, "can transform the surrounding area into crystal by guiding the scattered spiritual energy."

As for me, I can use the spiritual energy from the vitrified area to resist attacks or...heal.

To everyone's astonishment, Ichigo's previously cold body miraculously regained a trace of warmth, and his weak heart, which had stopped beating, began to beat again with a "thump".

Although his dissipated death god power was not restored, his life was forcibly pulled back from the brink of death by Mashiro.

Then, Mashiro stood up and walked to the other side, to the strongest Shinigami lying in the deep pit, missing his left arm and barely clinging to life. "Captain-Commander," Mashiro's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Mashiro, his aged eyes filled with a complexity he hadn't seen in a thousand years. Mashiro didn't say anything, but simply placed the hand that emitted an emerald green light on his chest.

A vast amount of spiritual energy, brimming with vitality, instantly surged into his body, stabilizing his body which was on the verge of collapse due to the backlash from the forbidden technique.

Finally, Mashiro arrived at the ruins where Gin Ichimaru lay. She looked at the man who always wore a fox-like smile, but whose face was now as pale as paper, and a glint of light that no one could understand flashed in her eyes.

“I promised you, and I will keep my promise,” Mashiro said softly. A verdant light also enveloped Gin Ichimaru's body. Having done all this, Mashiro prepared to turn and leave.

It seemed that, to her, saving these three important figures who could influence the fate of the Three Realms was nothing more than... a trivial matter. "Wait!"

A familiar voice, tinged with a commanding tone, called out to her.

Yoruichi Shihouin had appeared behind her unnoticed, her golden eyes fixed intently on Mashiro. Behind her were Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Kurosaki, both also heavily injured.

“Since we’re going to save them,” Yoruichi’s tone left no room for argument, “then…save them all.”

Mashiro turned around and looked at Yoruichi's eyes, which were filled with "request" and "threat," and then at the two men not far away who were also looking at her with complicated expressions.

Finally, she sighed helplessly. "I really can't do anything with you." The emerald green light shone again.

As the first rays of true sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone upon this war-torn land, the Battle of Karakura Town finally came to an end.

Its final, true curtain.

All the injured are out of danger.

Chapter 256: Mashiro and Aizen (Part 1)

As the first true rays of dawn pierced through the clouds and shone upon this war-torn land, the Battle of Karakura Town finally came to its final and true curtain.

All the wounded are out of danger. All the enemies have turned to dust.

As Kisuke Urahara reopened the portal, the surviving Shinigami and Visoreds, dragging their exhausted bodies and carrying a mixture of relief at surviving a catastrophe and unspeakable heaviness, returned to the Tokishiro world one after another.

The sky above Seireitei remained as clear as ever, as if it had never been touched by the flames of war.

However, when everyone stepped onto the familiar land and saw the still orderly streets and barracks, a feeling of being in another world welled up in their hearts.

A feeling of unreality.

The horrific scene in the pseudo-Karakura Town, Aizen's power to overturn the three realms, and Mashiro's godlike absolute strength that could easily erase everything... all of these were like the deepest imprints, deeply engraved in the souls of everyone.

The Fourth Division's general medical facility was now overflowing with people. It had become the busiest place in the entire Seireitei.

With Retsuko Tamago personally in charge, her usually gentle and smiling face now held an undeniable seriousness.

The members of the Fourth Division moved tirelessly between the wards like a swarm of bees, the air filled with the unique smell of disinfectant mixed with spiritual energy.

The most seriously injured were placed in the deepest intensive care unit.

Kurosaki Ichigo lay quietly on the hospital bed. He had awakened from his coma, but his orange eyes, which always burned with an indomitable flame, were now empty and blank. He could clearly feel that the once surging ocean of spiritual pressure within his body had completely dried up, leaving no trace.

He lost all his Shinigami powers and reverted to... an ordinary boy, even weaker than an average person. Rukia Kuchiki and Orihime Inoue stayed by his side without leaving his side.

Rukia looked at him with unyielding self-reproach in her eyes, while Orihime Inoue, under the guidance of Retsu Unohana, carefully used her "Rejection of All Things" power to repair the spiritual energy channels in Ichigo's body that were on the verge of collapse due to the "Final Getsuga Pass."

In the next ward, Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni lay quietly. He had lost his left arm, and his body had suffered a huge backlash from forcibly using forbidden techniques.

Although Mashiro's incredible healing abilities saved his life, the weariness that came from the depths of his soul could not be easily erased.

This strongest Shinigami, who had protected the Soul Society for a thousand years, was now like a volcano about to go out, falling into silence. However, only half a day had passed.

Under the shocked gazes of Retsu Unohana and all the members of the Fourth Division, Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly sat up from his sickbed. "Captain-Commander, your injuries are still serious." Isane Kotetsu rushed forward, trying to dissuade him.

"It's alright." Yamamoto Genryuchi Shigekuni's voice was still as old and loud as ever. He used his only remaining right arm to support his body, which was as strong as steel.