Over a million years ago, the five noble ancestors betrayed the Soul King, using the Soul King's power to divide life and death, creating the three realms.
However, the five noble ancestors were not the Soul King after all. Although they divided the three realms, these three realms were fundamentally unstable and could collapse at any moment.
At the critical juncture, the Head Guard of the Royal Guard forged the Soul King into a "linchpin" to stabilize the three realms under the will of the Soul King.
To protect the Soul King, the Head Guard of the Royal Guard then established the "Soul King Palace".
There are two ways to join the Zero Squad and become a member guarding the Soul King. The first is to create something that does not exist in the world of souls, and be recognized by the will of the Soul King as "creating history in the world of souls". One can then receive an invitation and bear the Soul King's power to replace one's own bones with "King Keys" condensed from the Soul King's power, thereby ascending to become a member of the Zero Squad and gaining even greater strength than before.
It can be said that all members of the Zero Squad possess "the bones of the Soul King".
Currently, the Zero Squad has four official members and one reserve member.
Ichibē Hyōsube, the Head Guard, named everything in the world of souls.
Shutara Senjumaru, inventor of the Shinigami Shihakusho.
Ōetsu Nimaiya created the Zanpakutō, with all Zanpakutō originating from those he forged.
Tenjirō Kirinji created the “The Art of The Pulse: Trail of Shadows", able to condense his Reishi into healing hot springs, and his blood-colored Reishi can instantly revive those on the verge of death.
The final reserve member is the current Captain of the 12th Division, Kirio Hikifune, who created "Temporary Souls" and a method to fully integrate the Reishi from "Temporary Souls" through cooking to increase her own Reishi.
The reason Kirio Hikifune is a "reserve" is because her research is not yet complete.
Once Kirio Hikifune perfects the cuisine to fully integrate Reishi from "Temporary Souls", she can immediately join the Zero Squad as the true fifth member.
The second situation is when a Soul Reaper's strength reaches a certain level, they will receive an invitation from the Zero Squad, and if they agree, they can become a member.
Currently, only two people have received such treatment.
The first was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, whose Reiatsu has reached the limit of Soul Reapers, and whose Bankai can even break through that limit to reach a higher realm.
The second was the 7th Kenpachi, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. His Zanpakutō's Bankai ability was so powerful that the Central 46 Chambers have prohibited him from releasing it in the Seireitei or its vicinity.
However, both Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi declined to become members of the Zero Squad.
Now, Ailin had become the third Captain to receive an invitation from the Zero Squad due to his immense power.
"The Zero Squad, huh?"
If it was before Ailin's breakthrough, he might have considered joining the Zero Squad to replicate the Zanpakutō of those members. But now that Ailin had awakened to the essence of the "sword", he had no need to be constrained by the Soul King Palace for something that already belonged to him.
"Forget it, Head Captain Yamamoto, I have no interest in becoming a member of the Zero Squad, so please decline on my behalf."
Knowing the reason Yamamoto summoned him, Ailin shook his head and directly refused the Zero Squad's invitation.
"Are you sure, Captain Ailin? You should know that after becoming a member of the Zero Squad, your strength will increase tremendously, surpassing even myself with ease."
"My current strength is already strong enough." Ailin smiled, without mentioning that his strength had already surpassed Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's. "For me, as long as my strength is sufficient, that's enough. And now, I feel my strength is sufficient."
The truth was, Zanpakutō were constantly being created in his innate boundary field, enhancing his Reiatsu.
Ailin didn't really care about the increase brought by the "bones of the Soul King". What he needed to do now was to master the experiences of the new weapons appearing in his Unlimited Blade Works, using them to further evolve his strength.
Moreover, the "swords" collected by Ailin's innate boundary field of Unlimited Blade Works were only from the world of Soul Reapers. The "swords" from other worlds still needed to be forged by Ailin himself.
"If that's the case, then I'll decline on your behalf."
"Yeah, thanks Head Captain, I'll take my leave then."
***
"Huh? Why are there so few people in the squad today?"
That day, some members of the 11th Division felt that the number of people in the squad seemed much fewer.
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Observant members noticed that almost all the members who came to the squad that day had only joined the 11th Division within the past ten years, the "newcomers".
"Where are the veteran members? How come none of them showed up today?"
As the newcomers puzzled over this, a yawning veteran member entered the barracks.
"Sir Yamaguchi, why are there so few people in the squad today?"
Seeing this elite Soul Reaper of the 11th Division named "Yamaguchi", several newcomers immediately surrounded him, inquiring about the reason for the absence of the veteran members.
"Ah?"
Suddenly surrounded, Yamaguchi's drowsiness was immediately shaken off. After hearing their question, he slapped his thigh regretfully.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Today is the day Captain Zaraki challenges Captain Ailin... Come on, everyone who wants to watch should follow me to Rukongai."
"What? Captain Zaraki is challenging Captain Ailin?" The newcomers were all very puzzled. What was going on here?
However, with Yamaguchi's explanation, they learned that above Captain Zaraki in the 11th Division, there was actually a "Captain Ailin".
Every ten years, Captain Zaraki would challenge Captain Ailin. So far, Captain Zaraki had challenged Captain Ailin five times, but each time, Captain Zaraki was defeated by Captain Ailin.
"No way? There's someone even stronger than Captain Zaraki?"
"Heheh, you rookies have little experience, huh?" As Yamaguchi led these newcomers towards Rukongai, he explained Ailin's strength to them. "Captain Zaraki is indeed strong, but Captain Ailin, he's the 'invincible' one."
Seeing the puzzled looks on the newcomers' faces, Yamaguchi smiled slightly. He had once been one of them. But after witnessing the battle between Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin once, one could truly feel the gap between them.
"Luckily, we're not too late, Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin haven't started fighting yet."
When they arrived at the Zaraki district, Yamaguchi immediately spotted where the 11th Division members had gathered.
"Sir Yamaguchi, didn't you say we were coming to watch Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin's battle?"
"Where are Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin? I don't see them."
Upon hearing the newcomers' words, the nearby Soul Reapers burst into laughter.
"What's so funny? Did I say something funny?"
"No, what you said wasn't funny, it's just that you won't be able to see Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin's battle in a moment."
An elder Soul Reaper explained to the newcomers, then pointed to some figures a few miles away, saying, "Perhaps the only ones who can see Captain Zaraki and Captain Ailin's battle are those few over there."
Following the direction the elders pointed, the newcomers soon discovered that those standing ahead were the strongest seated officers of the 11th Division.
Third Seat Yachiru Kusajishi,
Fourth Seat Kiganjo,
Fifth Seat Ikkaku Madarame,
Sixth Seat Gosuke,
Seventh Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa.
Boom!
A golden Reiatsu surged into the sky, the violent winds it kicked up reaching the squad members, causing their Shihakushō to flap loudly.
"It's starting!"
Everyone in the 11th Division knew that this Reiatsu was Captain Zaraki's true Reiatsu after removing the eyepatch that suppressed it. In the battle against Captain Ailin, Captain Zaraki immediately released his seal.
However, what puzzled the veteran members was that even though Captain Zaraki had released his Reiatsu this time, they still could not sense Captain Ailin's Reiatsu.
***
Whooosh…
The winds howled as Zaraki tore off the eyepatch suppressing his Reiatsu, and a towering golden Reiatsu pillar erupted from his body, the immense Reiatsu surging into the skies.
"Hahahahaha, let's fight, Ailin!"
After speaking, Zaraki drew the Zanpakutō from his waist, transforming into a blur as he charged towards Ailin.
Due to his incredible speed, a massive tornado formed behind Zaraki from the shredded air.
Ailin flashed away, avoiding Zaraki's strike which cut through the empty space, but—
Boom!
The tremendous sword pressure directly slashed a deep trench into the ground in front of Zaraki.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Next, the berserk Zaraki became a force of destruction, each sword swing creating immense devastation to the ground after being avoided by Ailin.
"Hey, hey, Ailin, what's with you this year? Draw your sword and face me in battle!"
Zaraki highly anticipated this battle against Ailin every ten years. In these years, besides Ailin, no one else could resist his sword.
Even among the other Captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, few caught Zaraki's eye. But this time, Ailin's behavior infuriated Zaraki.
This guy was merely dodging Zaraki's attacks - what was the point? What joy was there in such a battle?
Swish!
Ailin avoided another of Zaraki's attacks, flashing several times to reappear a hundred meters in front of Zaraki.
"Alright, Zaraki, since you want me to draw my sword, don't regret it later. Because, I seem to have quite a few swords..." As he spoke, Ailin stretched out his left hand, raising it slightly, and instantly, eight golden spatial ripples appeared above his head.
One Zanpakutō after another emerged from these golden spatial ripples, pointing towards Zaraki's location.
The King's Treasury!
Swish!
With a casual wave of his raised left hand, one of the Zanpakutō from the golden spatial ripples transformed into a golden lightning bolt, instantly shooting towards Zaraki.
"Haah!"
Facing this incoming Zanpakutō, Zaraki roared and slashed down with the sword in his hand.
Clang!
Sizzle sizzle...
Zaraki's Zanpakutō collided with the one Ailin shot out, sparks flying from their friction.
Then, under Zaraki's attack, this sword was knocked away, shooting towards the ground beside him.
Boom!
The Zanpakutō slammed into the ground, erupting with tremendous force, blasting a ten-meter deep crater, cracks radiating outwards from the impact point.
Swish!
Three more golden lightning bolts assaulted Zaraki. He swung his sword, deflecting the first, then locking blades with the second for an instant before knocking it away, the third grazing his waist and drawing a spray of blood.
Boom! Boom!
At this moment, Zaraki and Ailin's situations had been reversed from the beginning.
Each Zanpakutō transformed into a golden lightning bolt struck with power no less than a Captain-level attack.
Zaraki swung his Zanpakutō, deflecting and batting away the incoming Zanpakutō, blasting craters all around himself.
Then, these Zanpakutō would dissipate into golden particles before being automatically retrieved into Ailin's innate boundary field, re-emerging from the spatial gates opened by the King's Treasury to attack Zaraki again.
For a time, between Ailin and Zaraki, golden lightning exploded, assaulting from Ailin's side towards Zaraki, who deflected these incoming Zanpakutō, bombarding the surrounding area again and again.
"Not bad, the metamorphosed King's Treasury is dozens of times stronger than its previous projections. Even an ordinary Captain would not last long under such attacks. However, with Zaraki, I can test the extent to which ordinary Zanpakutō can reach after being enhanced by the King's Treasury."
This was Ailin's first time using his Zanpakutō's Shikai ability since its power was elevated, and the effect greatly satisfied him. But this was not the King's Treasury's limit.
Following Ailin's thoughts, dozens more golden spatial ripples appeared behind him. Then, one Zanpakutō after another from these golden spatial ripples transformed into golden lightning bolts, raining down on Zaraki like a storm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Hahahahaha..."
Faced with these attacks, ordinary people would likely have been terrified. But Zaraki's laughter only grew merrier.
Compared to an opponent he could never cut, clashing with these Zanpakutō felt pretty good.
However, Zaraki was not one to take a beating without retaliating. So, after Ailin increased his attacking Zanpakutō, Zaraki began hacking through the raining Zanpakutō to charge at his opponent.
However, under the torrential assault of these dozens of Zanpakutō, Zaraki's advance was not very fast.