Chapter 1523 - 46: Where’s the Protagonist We Agreed On

Chapter 1523: Chapter 46: Where’s the Protagonist We Agreed On

9:30 in the morning, Jingling Court, Double Punishment Execution Platform.

The Double Punishment Execution Platform is composed of a spear and a cross, both tens of meters high. The spear is the unreleased Double Punishment, and upon release, it transforms into a massive flaming bird called ’Ruin Kingbird,’ possessing destructive power equivalent to the sum of a million Zanpakutō.

Double Punishment sounds mighty, but in reality, it is not. It can only be used as an execution tool, as the released Double Punishment is not sturdy and can be destroyed with preparation.

Rather than saying Double Punishment is the most powerful Zanpakutō in Soul Society, it’s better to say it’s a symbol of authority. Any Soul Reaper daring to breach the rules of Jingling Court will die under Double Punishment.

Rukia stands below the execution platform, with several Palace of Penitence guards behind her. Not far away are several Captain or Deputy Captain-level Soul Reapers.

As a member of the Kuchiki family, even as an adopted daughter, Rukia’s execution is not a trivial matter, so Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni attended personally.

The execution will be conducted promptly at ten, and releasing Double Punishment is a priority before the execution begins.

Not many Captain-level Soul Reapers are present, only Head Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai, Second Squad Captain Soi Fon, and Eighth Squad Captain Jing Le Chunsui. Other squads sent deputy captains instead, and some even chose not to attend.

Soi Fon scans the surroundings, her Shinigami Clothing wrapped with large bandages, her injuries still subtly aching. Yet, as the leader of the Secret Mobile Team, she must be present.

Few captains appear, which is entirely reasonable as the First Squad’s station was just leveled, leaving them with much to handle.

As the execution is about to commence, everything seems calm. However, surrounding the execution platform, over a hundred Contractors hide in the shadows; they might have joined different camps, but their current objective is singular, and that is Rukia Kuchiki.

Of course, for the Jingling Court camp’s Fourth-tier Contractors, whether to snatch or destroy the Hōgyoku, it’s a mission beyond their tier.

The power among present Contractors can be divided into two factions: the protagonist team + Urahara Kisuke camp, and the Jingling Court faction.

These two factions were not initially antagonistic, but at this stage, they have become adversaries.

The protagonist team + Urahara Kisuke camp’s main task is to ensure Rukia Kuchiki stays alive and successfully rescue her, which is the basic condition for completing the main task. If they can preserve the Hōgyoku within Rukia, they will greatly benefit, increasing the main task’s reward fivefold.

As for the Jingling Court faction, their main task is straightforward: after the execution starts and until the Hōgyoku is removed from Rukia, successfully kill Rukia Kuchiki or ensure the execution is completed smoothly. During other times, attacking Rukia Kuchiki is forbidden.

One faction wants Rukia to live, while the other seeks her death. The latter Jingling Court faction initially holds an advantage with a safe environment and numerous beneficial tasks.

Of course, both Contractor factions are aware of Aizen’s existence, thus they don’t dare to be too active or widely interfere with Aizen’s plans, as that would be courting death.

Because of this, the story event smoothly progresses to this execution stage. If this wasn’t a large open world, other Contractors would have turned everything upside down already.

According to Aizen’s plan, Rukia Kuchiki will be executed by Double Punishment, with Double Punishment’s high temperature instantly vaporizing Rukia and perfectly extracting the Hōgyoku.

Aizen’s plan might have been realized, but unfortunately, someone has noticed clues and made corresponding arrangements. Today’s execution of Rukia will be interrupted 90% of the time due to issues within the Guard Court Thirteen Teams.

Is Aizen’s plan doomed to fail? Of course not; having prepared for many years, he naturally has a backup plan.

Contractors familiar with Soul Reaper development progress know Aizen’s backup plan is their chance, because in Aizen’s backup plan, Rukia will be out of the Soul Reapers’ sight for 10-20 minutes, presenting both Contractor factions with an opportunity, whether to kill Rukia or ensure her survival.

Under the Double Punishment Execution Platform, the execution continues, reaching the stage to release Double Punishment, with numerous Contractors observing and waiting for the chance.

Just as Rukia Kuchiki’s execution is about to start, a person arrives on the scene—Kuchiki Bai Zai.

Half an hour later, Double Punishment is released, a giant Fire Phoenix flapping wings in the air, its heat continuously spreading around; this is Double Punishment’s released form, Ruin Kingbird.

Rukia Kuchiki’s arms extend horizontally, two Killing Stones float above her arms, maximally suppressing her spiritual pressure.

The Fire Phoenix lunges at Rukia Kuchiki, its massive beak aiming straight for her chest.

A Mechanical Eye floats in the air; it’s Su Xiao’s detection equipment, Eye of the Apostle, through which he watches the situation on the execution platform.

Just before Double Punishment’s beak strikes Rukia Kuchiki, a figure stands in front of Rukia. Flames rise, and the witnessing Contractors are not surprised because this is the result of not significantly interfering with the storyline events; it’s the outcome of mutual understanding. According to the storyline’s development, the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki will block Double Punishment.

"Finally, it’s starting."

A young Contractor crouching half a kilometer from the execution platform speaks as he prepares to move, while his teammate grabs his clothes.

"Seems...not quite right."

A perception-type Contractor wearing sunglasses presses a hand to the ground.

"Not right, that’s not Ichigo Kurosaki."

"It’s not Ichigo Kurosaki blocking Double Punishment?"

"How could that be? Everyone hasn’t interfered heavily..." The boy speaks, seemingly realizing something, and urgently asks, "Is it that guy?"

"That madman..."

The perception-type Contractor stomps the ground in frustration.

The Contractors’ reaction stems from the fact that it’s not the hero Ichigo Kurosaki who blocked Double Punishment, but the captain of the Fourth Division, Uzohara Retsu.

Sister Hua floats in the air, a Zanpakutō in its sheath protecting her. If the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki can block Double Punishment, then it is needless to say that the far stronger Uzohara Retsu certainly can.

The execution is forcibly halted, with Soi Fon and Kuchiki Bai Zai looking at Sister Hua, clearly a bit bewildered. Not only them, even Yamamoto Genryūsai seems a tad surprised.

"Ukitake, state your reason for such action."

Old man Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s Withered Wood Staff taps the ground, fine cracks appearing on the staff, and terrifying spiritual pressure spreads.

"Head Captain, the judgement for executing Rukia is not reasonable."

Sister Hua speaks calmly, seemingly relaxed despite the tense atmosphere.

"This is a direct judgement from Central 46 Chambers, whether reasonable or not won’t be determined by your words."

Yamamoto Genryuusai is not easily deceived by Uzohara Retsu; it’s his stubborn nature.

"Head Captain, I can provide direct evidence..."

Uzohara Retsu’s words pause halfway as she turns and grabs Rukia. In Rukia’s surprised state, a large creature resembling a ray envelops her.

"No way, here we go again!"

Soi Fon bites her teeth, leaping up with full force, trying to distance herself from the ground.