Aozaki, on the other hand, displayed a hearty smile.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards, and his eyes revealed a hint of playfulness and confidence.
"What, are you scared? Do you want to live? If you want to live, then I happen to have a deal I want to discuss with you."
His voice carried an undeniable authority, as if everything was under his control.
"What deal?"
A desperate Kageroza regained his senses. He widened his eyes and asked eagerly.
His voice was filled with fear, but even more so with a desire to survive.
He knew that if he didn't agree to this deal, he might never have another chance to live.
"You hand over the Reigai technology, and I can consider sparing your life. How about it?" Aozaki asked.
His tone was as if he was discussing the most ordinary matter, without the slightest ripple, but this calmness sent shivers down one's spine.
Aozaki acted as unremarkable as a street vendor.
But in reality, for Kageroza, this was a life-and-death gamble.
However, upon hearing that he could live, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart.
But he quickly frowned again and asked suspiciously:
"Why should I believe you?"
His eyes were filled with wariness; it was difficult for him to easily trust the man in front of him.
After all, he had just gone through a fierce battle and was almost killed by the other party, so he naturally had to maintain a high level of vigilance.
Aozaki raised one hand, pointed to the sky, extended four fingers, and said solemnly:
"I can swear on the name of the Soul King."
His voice was full of solemnity and majesty, which couldn't help but move Kageroza.
For a Shinigami, swearing on the name of the Soul King was undoubtedly the most solemn oath.
Hearing this, Kageroza believed about seventy to eighty percent of his promise.
Which Shinigami would joke with the Soul King's name?
Moreover, it was impossible not to believe him now; the power over life and death was in the other party's hands.
If he were strong enough, why would he need to make such a choice?
At this moment, Kageroza seemed to have transformed back into the timid Yushima Ōko of the Ninth Division.
He once again deeply realized one thing.
Powerless people are powerless in everything they do.
He had no choice but to accept the deal proposed by Aozaki.
Aozaki quickly got what he wanted.
However, the moment he confirmed that the research data was fine, a palm pierced through Kageroza's heart.
He looked at Aozaki in disbelief, his body trembling as he said:
"You clearly said… you wouldn't kill me."
"I said 'consider'. Do you understand what 'consider' means?"
Aozaki looked at him and shook his head.
"So, after considering, I still think it's better for you to be dead."
His eyes were cold, as if he was looking at something insignificant.
Kageroza's eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe any of this. His voice was filled with despair and anger:
"Why… I want to know a reason!"
Aozaki smiled faintly, a hint of cruelty in his smile.
"Because this world without you is very important to that girl."
His voice was cold and ruthless, sending a chill down one's spine.
Kageroza's face turned pale; he knew his fate was sealed.
Aozaki glanced at him indifferently, without any extra emotion in his eyes.
He had already obtained this guy's technology, and there was no more value, so there was naturally no need for him to live.
Kageroza struggled to resist, but his strength had been exhausted.
Finally, he collapsed to the ground, his breath gradually fading.
Aozaki looked at his corpse, without a trace of pity or regret in his heart.
Yushima Ōko's successful development of Reigai undoubtedly demonstrated his outstanding talent and ability.
However, it was regrettable that Aozaki was never short of individuals with extraordinary talents by his side.
After all, the top three most outstanding talents in Soul Society were all gathered under his command.
His gaze slowly swept over the lifeless, dust-filled area, then he bent down to pick up the Soul Candy on the ground, casually crushing it with a gentle squeeze.
Then, he turned around and walked away.
Only shocking traces of destruction and a deathly silence remained.
Then, an invisible barrier rose from outside, refusing all external entry.
Time quietly passed, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a day went by.
Now, almost all Shinigami had learned.
Just today, a thrilling incident occurred in the Central District.
A large-scale invasion of Reigai took place, and Captain-Commander Aozaki personally led the Captain in a brave resistance.
The powerful Sword Pressure released by the Captain-Commander, like a towering sky, meticulously protected the Seireitei.
At the same time, many other Sword Pressures, remarkably similar to those of the Captain of various Squads, were intertwined within.
Initially, these Sword Pressures were formidable and exceptionally powerful, even enough to contend with the Captain of the Gotei 13, and gradually showed a tendency to suppress most of the Captain.
However, when the Captain-Commander's Sword Pressure emerged.
Whether it was the ordinary Squad members of various Squads, or the Vice-Captains or Captain, all the Sword Pressures instantly became as tiny and insignificant as fireflies under a bright moon.
In less than three minutes, those powerful Sword Pressures began to gradually weaken one by one, eventually disappearing completely from everyone's perception.
Although they didn't personally witness the Captain-Commander once again display his astonishing strength, saving the Seireitei from peril.
But with so many Captain-class Sword Pressures, even excluding the dozen or so true Captain of the Gotei 13, the remaining number of enemies was still vast.
One could imagine the intensity of this battle.
Even if it was slightly inferior to that thrilling battle of the Hell Gate, it was destined to become a legendary epic passed down through generations.
Compared to the Squad members who whispered privately, the Captain on site, having personally experienced all this, were even more profoundly impacted.
Their battle actually ended later than Aozaki's.
But because Aozaki's Sword Pressure successfully suppressed those Reigai Captains, it made it easy for them to shift their positions during the battle.
The moment they first felt Aozaki's Sword Pressure, they unhesitatingly gathered in the direction of this great general.
And the scene they witnessed astonished them—
Aozaki was actually able to easily shatter a Spirit Body Team Captain with a single slap!
Watching a face identical to their own being easily destroyed, the feeling was truly indescribable.
Each blow seemed to remind them that these Reigai Captains were not truly them, yet they couldn't ignore that strong sense of similarity.
This contradictory feeling made them feel incredibly complex.
In the past, although everyone knew that Aozaki was exceptionally strong.
But it wasn't until today that they had a more intuitive sense of this power.
Previously, people's impressions of him were nothing more than his Sword Pressure being able to suppress Captain, his Sword Pressure instantly killing Kuruyashiki who had just emerged from the Hell Gate, and his special ability to suppress the Garaku Corridor, and so on.
However, today, facing the Reigai Captains whose Sword Pressure surpassed their originals and whose abilities were identical to their originals.
This man did not use any flashy or clever moves, but ruthlessly suppressed everything with absolute power!