Hm?
Sensing a sudden and powerful surge of spiritual pressure behind him, Ukitake Jūshirō snapped his head around—his gaze locking onto Lan Yan.
Swish!
Golden light erupted from Lan Yan's palm. Within that radiant burst, a blade emerged—its form similar to a traditional Tang-style tachi, with a straight, uncurved edge. It dropped into his hand, gleaming.
"What?!"
Ukitake's pupils contracted. A storm of emotion swirled behind his usually calm expression.
"That's… a Zanpakutō!"
"How is that possible?!"
"He created it without an Asauchi… just using his own spiritual pressure?!"
The moment struck the noble-born students like lightning. Urahara Kisuke, Kuchiki Byakuya, and others turned pale with shock.
Because they knew exactly what this meant.
To forge a Zanpakutō without the aid of an Asauchi wasn't just rare—it was mythic.
Meanwhile, those from Rukongai—Tōsen Kaname, Komamura Sajin—looked on in confusion, unaware of the earthshaking implications.
"A Zanpakutō, huh…"
"Brother, you beat me to it again."
"But… you'd better come out too. Or do you intend to slow me down?"
"Let me fall behind?"
Aizen narrowed his eyes at the line of Asauchi, his mind racing.
He'd already felt it—the subtle wrongness in those blades. Taking one could lead to unseen consequences.
His instincts told him: don't.
But even so, he was getting irritated.
If his own Zanpakutō had no intention of showing up, then what was the point?
Just then—
Swish!
A violet light flared.
A brand-new Zanpakutō emerged from the glow and dropped gently into his palm.
As if it had heard his frustration.
As if it had chosen him—not the other way around.
He had decided, when he first enrolled, to showcase his real power. There was no need to hide anymore.
Well—perhaps some things would stay hidden.
His ability, for one.
But even with that kept secret, what he had revealed was enough to shake all of Soul Society.
"No surprise from the King of Flex."
"Thank the gods your Zanpakutō has some pride."
"Being your brother is no easy job."
Lan Yan watched Aizen follow suit, manifesting a Zanpakutō of his own without ever touching an Asauchi.
He couldn't help but feel impressed.
If his achievements were thanks to his cheat—every talent leveling up on autopilot—then Aizen's growth came from pure aptitude.
No matter how far Lan Yan advanced, Aizen always caught up eventually.
Never too far behind.
"I, Aizen, will never be inferior to anyone."
He raised his Zanpakutō, locking eyes with Lan Yan.
Both brothers—glasses glinting, eyes sharp—shared a rare smile.
This unspoken rivalry…
This endless chase…
Felt good.
"First Lan Yan. Then Aizen."
"These brothers…" Yoruichi whispered, almost in awe. "Monsters."
"I thought this kind of thing was just a myth…" Byakuya's grip on his blade tightened.
"Is something wrong?" Kusaka Shūsuke asked, noticing the frozen expressions on all the noble students.
"Oh, nothing much!" Kisuke said with forced casualness. "Just that… in the entire 2,000-year history of the Gotei 13, no one has ever manifested a Zanpakutō without using an Asauchi."
"What?" Tōsen and the others—who'd just received their blades—went pale.
"Kisuke!" Yoruichi snapped. "What do you mean 'nothing much'?!"
"Anyone who can create their own Zanpakutō without an Asauchi always ends up as a legendary figure in Soul Society."
"Not only are they powerful, but their Zanpakutō are equally terrifying."
"Wait… are you saying the two of them aren't just monsters themselves, but their Zanpakutō are monsters too?" Komamura asked, stunned.
"According to every historical record we have… yes," Ukitake said, his eyes never leaving the brothers.
Originally, he'd hoped to gauge their true strength through their choice of Asauchi.
Now, that was unnecessary.
No need to see their Shikai.
No need to evaluate their skills.
Just the fact that they had created their Zanpakutō from nothing—that alone told him all he needed to know.
Because the last Shinigami who had done that… was Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni himself.
And the Zanpakutō he created?
The oldest and most powerful fire-type blade in Soul Society.
"Even if their mastery of Zanjutsu and Kidō doesn't reach Yamamoto-sensei's level…"
"…With that level of talent and those Zanpakutō, their future accomplishments will surpass mine and Kyōraku's."
"No doubt about it."
"And when Yamamoto hears about this… I doubt he'll resist the urge to take them as disciples again."
Ukitake couldn't help smiling to himself.
Though a noble by birth, he had long pledged loyalty to the Gotei 13—and Yamamoto.
And now, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were about to welcome two once-in-an-era prodigies.
—"I, Aizen, will never be inferior to anyone."
—Your Zanpakutō heard this declaration.
—It snorted: A brother is still a brother.
—It now wishes to reveal its true name to you… the name of Soul Society's first and mightiest light-type Zanpakutō.
—It demands you remember it.
Even as Ukitake silently celebrated, Lan Yan's Zanpakutō suddenly spoke within his mind.
Then—
A name emerged from the depths of his soul.
The voice wasn't gentle.
It wasn't quiet.
It was a thunderclap.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the sky like divine retribution.
Golden light erupted from Lan Yan like a dam burst.
In seconds, radiant beams flooded the area, swirling around him—
Then, it shot upward in a single, towering pillar of light that pierced the heavens, connecting Shinō Academy directly to the skies above Seireitei.
BOOOOM!
The pillar didn't just shine—it roared, releasing a tidal wave of spiritual pressure.
Only Ukitake and Aizen managed to remain standing.
Everyone else—
Urahara Kisuke.
Shihouin Yoruichi.
Kuchiki Byakuya.
Even the nobles—
We were forced to retreat, blown back by the spiritual storm.
As for the freshly armed students who hadn't even begun formal training?
Tōsen, Komamura, Kusaka—they were lifted off their feet and sent flying like cannonballs, crashing into the walls like rag dolls.
"Lan Yan… you…"
"Did you hear a voice just now?"
Ukitake stared into the blinding light, his tone trembling with awe and anticipation.
His eyes fixed on Lan Yan's figure—bathed in golden brilliance, like a god descending to earth.