The black coffin faded away, and Kōe landed back on the crossbeam. The ten Quincies in the distance had vanished without a trace, dead as could be.
As for the nine people nearby, including Knott Vohtz, although their bodies were covered in bone-deep gashes and they had been reduced to bloody messes, their faintly rising and falling chests proved they were still alive.
Because Kōe had just focused on unleashing a complete [Hadō #91・Senjū Kōtentaihō], the [Hadō #90・Kurohitsugi] he cast only possessed half the power of a fully incanted version. Furthermore, there were too many people inside the black coffin, and the arrows from the outside had further diminished its strength. Ultimately, Vohtz and the others surviving could be considered a stroke of good luck.
"[Bakudō #63・Sajō Sabaku]!"
A massive, snake-like chain erupted from Kōe's palm, binding the nine injured Quincies, along with the two who had been pinned to the ground by Hyapporankan, into a single bundle and dragging them over to him.
These people were his spoils of war. Capturing ten fewer was slightly imperfect, but these individuals were only mid-to-high-level Quincies anyway. For the truly big fish, he would have to rely on Hirako, Yoruichi, and the others.
After recasting [Original Bakudō・Bell Prison], Kōe simply sat cross-legged on top of the bell and waited. In the meantime, another fifteen or twenty wounded Quincies arrived in scattered groups, only to be casually trapped in place by his Bakudō.
About an hour later, four captains, including Hirako Shinji, arrived before him, followed by the eight lieutenants who had led the frontal assault forces.
"Reporting to Lord Ao! The Star Extermination Troop has suppressed the outer and middle city districts. All personnel are currently on standby in the middle city, awaiting your orders, Lord Ao!"
Kōe raised a hand, signaling the kneeling Squad 2 lieutenant to wait, because at that moment, Ushōda Hachigen was transmitting a message to him from the outside via Kidō. "Squad 4 Captain Unohana Retsu has arrived with her team. Please give your orders, Lord Ao!"
"Let them in. The Star Extermination Troop is currently in the middle city and requires their medical treatment. As for Captain Unohana, have her come directly to the inner city plaza!"
Having made arrangements for Unohana through Kidō, Kōe then addressed the Squad 2 lieutenant below. "Captain Unohana has arrived. Go and gather all the wounded, including the Quincies, to facilitate Squad 4's treatment. Further orders will be relayed by the other captains!"
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving their orders, the eight lieutenants left the plaza and headed toward the middle city. From atop the bell, Kōe shifted his gaze to Hirako and the others, pressing on, "Tell me about these two people in front of you."
The surroundings suddenly fell silent. Standing right in the center, Hirako Shinji looked left and right. Seeing that no one else was going to speak, he replied with a reluctant expression, "The guy is named Konrad, and the woman is... what was it again?"
"Amaki Mie!" Aikawa Love muttered a reminder from the side.
"Right, it's Amaki! Listening to those Quincies chattering, it seems these two are their Holy King and Holy Queen!"
"I wasn't asking for their identities!" Kōe pointed at the man and woman on the ground, barking angrily, "I want to know why they ended up looking like this!"
The two people at Hirako's feet were currently gasping for air, exhaling more than they inhaled. Although they were still alive, they were likely not far from death's door.
He had kept these Quincies alive because they were of great use to him. Now look at this—the big fish he had waited so long for were about to become dead fish. How could he possibly accept this?!
Faced with Kōe's questioning, Hirako rubbed his forehead, unsure of how to explain. Off to the far side, Yoruichi's head was bowed so low it nearly touched her chest, as she repeatedly chanted in her mind, *'Don't ask me, don't ask me!'*
Seeing their guilty demeanors, Kōe figured that since things had already come to this, he couldn't be bothered to press the issue further. Fortunately, Unohana was about to arrive. He could only hope that she could work her medical miracles and save whoever she could.
"Forget it. You four, take your respective teams and go clean up the battlefield," Kōe sighed softly, issuing orders to Hirako and the other three captains. "Each of you will take a direction. Start from the middle city and work your way outward. Search every single corner thoroughly. I will not allow a single one to slip through the net!"
Hirako and the other three gave slight nods. Taking a synchronized step back, they immediately used Shunpo to vanish from the plaza, leaving only Yoruichi and Urahara standing by on standby.
"You two can stop hanging your heads as well. I'm leaving the inner city to you—consider it your punishment!" Hearing this, Yoruichi looked as if a massive burden had been lifted. She immediately grabbed Urahara and bolted.
Kōe watched the two of them run off. To think he could even bluff Yoruichi—it seemed his roleplay as the mysterious 'Ao' was a resounding success! It was just a pity that the occasion wasn't right; otherwise, using Ao's identity to tease Yoruichi would have been incredibly amusing.
Just as Kōe tilted his head, pondering how he might tease Yoruichi the next time he got the chance, a gentle, melodious voice suddenly rang out beside his ear. "Lord Ao? Lord Ao!"
"Ah? Hana—! ...Captain!" Kōe turned his head and saw Unohana's familiar face, nearly letting his nickname for her slip out.
Unohana's brows furrowed slightly. Her name was indeed Unohana, but for the other party to abbreviate it to a mere 'Hana'... to be frank, this man before her was acting rather presumptuous!
"May I ask why Lord Ao has summoned me?"
Kōe could hear the displeasure in Unohana's tone. Forcibly suppressing the urge to explain himself, he pointed down at Konrad and Amaki. "Those two down there—take a look and see if they can still be saved."
"And these people as well," Kōe added, tossing the bundled-up Vohtz and the others down from behind him. "Save whoever you can among them, too."
"Come forth, Minazuki." Following Unohana's soft chant, the Zanpakutō at her waist began to swell like an inflating balloon, ultimately transforming into a green, single-eyed creature that resembled a manta ray. This was Unohana Retsu's Shikai—Minazuki. As long as a person still had a single breath left in them, it could swallow them whole to heal their wounds.
Minazuki first glided over to Vohtz and the others. After giving them a sniff, it swallowed all eleven of them in a single gulp. It then moved over to Konrad and Amaki, curling its tongue to scoop Konrad into its mouth, leaving Amaki alone on the outside.
"That woman is already beyond saving. As for the rest, once we return to the Seireitei, they will fully recover after a period of convalescence in the Squad 4 barracks." Unohana stroked Minazuki's smooth forehead and continued, "Does Lord Ao have any further instructions? If not, I shall return to the Seireitei first."
"Has the 'Clipping the Legs and Weaving the Net' operation been completed now?"
"Not yet. The Captain-Commander sent me here. It seems the 'Forging the Prison and Exterminating the Stars' phase has proceeded quite smoothly." Knowing that her business here was concluded, Unohana lightly leaped onto Minazuki's back. "However, Lord Ao should still keep an eye on the time. It is already evening outside, and Captain Kuruyashiki and his team will be returning in just one day."
With those words, Minazuki kicked off with its three short, stubby legs and flapped its wing-like fins, carrying Unohana away from the Star Cross Fortress.
After Unohana's departure, the Star Cross Fortress became bustling once more. Under the leadership of the four captains, the able-bodied Shinigami began a thorough search of the middle and outer city districts. Compared to the actual conquest of the Star Cross Fortress, this meticulous sweep ended up taking even more time.
The final results proved that Quincies truly possessed their own pride. Throughout the entire Star Cross Fortress, there were living Quincies and dead Quincies, but not a single one remained free!
"So they really aren't here, huh?" Kōe muttered softly to himself as he listened to the four captains' reports.
Since that was the case, there was no need to linger here any longer. With a wave of Kōe's right hand, the giant silver lock in the sky was the first to undo itself. Sensing the shift, Tsukabishi Tessai and Ushōda Hachigen also subsequently released their Kidō.
The black sarcophagus that had completely encased the Star Cross Fortress finally vanished. Sunlight spilled in recklessly from the east, slightly blinding to the eyes.
When they arrived, the night was heavy and the stars were scattered; as they left, the morning glow filled the sky. This long night was finally over.
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