Chapter 361: Now, the Time has Come
Some indifferent words left Mazuru’s lips, his tone as calm as ever.
Only then did Shunsui truly grasp the intent behind Mazuru and Aizen’s actions.
It was arrogant—no, beyond arrogant. It was earth-shattering.
But considering Aizen had once wielded the power of the Hōgyoku and intended to rebel against the Soul King himself, such ambition was not exactly shocking. If anything, this level of madness felt expected.
For Aizen and Mazuru, slaughtering nobles was never an act of cruelty. It was procedure.
In the world of Soul Society, nobles held power and privilege that rivaled gods. They stood at the pinnacle of society, seemingly untouchable. Central 46, the ruling body made up primarily of nobles, acted as the highest judicial authority in Soul Society—its decrees supreme even over the Gotei 13. Only the Zero Division, mysterious and ancient protectors of the Spirit King, stood outside their jurisdiction.
But if Aizen dared to challenge the Soul King himself, then destroying Central 46 was child’s play.
Although Mazuru hadn’t directly attempted to overthrow the Soul King as Aizen had, his goals were strikingly similar. Aizen’s rebellion, in truth, had always aimed at the same thing Mazuru now pursued:
To dismantle the current order of the Three Realms.To destroy the corrupted foundation of the past.To replace the Soul King.To establish a new world.
And in that world, the old blood—nobles, institutions, ancient laws—had no place.
"Is that your goal?" Shunsui finally asked, voice heavy with conflicted emotions.
Mazuru didn’t hesitate.