With that, even if he were to lose control, he couldn't break free from the Chains of Heaven. Coupled with the fully chanted Bakudō #99, he would be restrained.
Then, Ailin closed his eyes and using Jinzen (Sword Meditation), he plunged his mind into his inner world.
…
Rumbling…
Thick clouds gathered in the crimson sky. Blue lightning darted through their depths. On the ground, golden light bathed the landscape, hills and mountains alike, transforming everything into a gilded world, as if forged entirely of gold. Countless Zanpakutō were embedded in the golden earth, like soldiers standing at attention, rows upon rows.
This was Ailin's inner world, the true manifestation of Unlimited Blade Works.
But now, another color had appeared within this gilded realm. Blackish-red, the color of Hollow power, a harbinger of ill omen. This blackish-red began to spread rapidly, devouring the gold, claiming its territory.
When Ailin's figure appeared in this realm, the golden light began to spread outwards with renewed intensity, seemingly wanting to obliterate the blackish-red. However, Ailin quickly took control, suppressing the golden surge and instead contracting its reach to form a distinct boundary, using the Sword Hill as the demarcation point. On his side, gold shone bright and majestic. Across from him was the eerie, unfathomable blackish-red.
At the center of the blackish-red territory, the Reigai-Ailin, who had entered his inner world, was now completely transformed. Although his features were still recognizable, his body was now a pale grey, as if drained of life. His Shihakushō had shifted into a white garb with black lines, resembling an Espada's uniform, while his golden armor was now a corrupted blackish-red, radiating an ominous energy.
The Reigai-Ailin, no, the transformed Reigai-Ailin, was no longer simply a Reigai. Having merged with the Hōgyoku, he had become a Hollowed version of Ailin. Perhaps it was more fitting to call him "Hollowed Lin" or "White Lin."
BOOM!
After completing his transformation, Hollowed Lin unleashed a torrent of blackish-red spiritual pressure that shattered the clouds above, revealing the crimson sky. He then lifted his head and stared at Ailin.
"I see, your first step has gone smoothly."
Ailin flashed and appeared beside Hollowed Lin. When his feet landed on the blackish-red ground, golden light began spreading out from his feet that rapidly devoured it.
The Reigai's spiritual pressure, stolen from the captains and lieutenants, was inherently the same as theirs. Thus, after merging with the Hōgyoku and transforming into Hollowed Lin, he had easily permeated Ailin's inner world.
However, even with the Hōgyoku, Hollowed Lin was no match for Ailin. The blackish-red invasion had only succeeded because Ailin had deliberately suppressed his own spiritual pressure, whicn in turn, allowed the Hollow's power to seep into his domain. Now Ailin's presence was like a blazing sun, driving back the Hollow's darkness.
Seeing this, Ailin shook his head and restrained his spiritual pressure to allow the golden light to spread only three meters from his feet. He wanted to let the Hollow power permeate him so he could experience its strength, instead of simply destroying it.
"Ah, yes, it's been quite smooth," Hollowed Lin replied. "But I'm only at the first stage of fusion with the Hōgyoku. I'm far from being your equal."
"Then what's your plan?"
"Hahahaha," Hollowed Lin grinned, and blue lightning at the corner of his eyes crackled. "What's a plan for? The fastest way to fuse with the Hōgyoku is for me to experience the fear of death. The Hōgyoku will do the rest."
He gestured towards the sky, and countless blackish-red Zanpakutō flew out of the ground towards Ailin like a storm.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
"Futile!"
Ailin didn't flinch. The Zanpakutō were stopped before they reached him.
"My essence is 'sword'. Any blade is within my power. And this is my inner world, my power made manifest. Using my own strength against me is pointless."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
As he spoke, the Zanpakutō plummeted to the ground, embedding themselves in the earth.
"If you want to experience fear, discard these trinkets, and engage in a true fight. Only then can you truly experience the abyss."
Before the last word left his lips, Ailin had already appeared beside Hollowed Lin. He extended his right hand and rested it on his face.
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of sonic booms echoed in Ailin's inner world as Ailin propelled Hollowed Lin for thousands of meters, before slamming him into the earth.
BOOM!
A three-meter-square crater was carved in the ground, and shockwaves rippled outwards as Hollowed Lin was sent flying.
"Pah!"
Hollowed Lin spat out a mouthful of blood.
As Ailin had predicted, fear now filled his eyes. He'd known the gap between their power was vast, but the reality far exceeded his expectations.
He was clad in the armor formed by Nichirin, now a blackish-red due to his Hollowfication, but its protective properties were undiminished. Nichirin's ability, "Sunwheel, become armor," transformed the blade into a protective layer fused with his body, drastically increasing his defense.
Any attack, even conceptual ones, would only inflict a tenth of their usual damage. Moreover, after merging with the Hōgyoku and becoming a Hollow, he possessed Hierro, the hardened skin unique to Hollows.
Even attacks reduced to a tenth of their power shouldn't have been able to breach his defenses. Yet, a single blow from Ailin had left him severely injured.
Ailin released his grip, and Hollowed Lin, with a nimble flip, retreated to a safe distance, panting heavily.
Terror coursed through him. His Hollow regeneration swiftly mended his wounds. Fueled by his fear, his fusion with the Hōgyoku accelerated.
Boom!
A blackish-red spiritual pressure erupted from Hollowed Lin. A dark aura spread around his blackish-red armor. He had broken past the limits of a Shinigami and ascended to a new realm.
As the Hollow's power increased, Ailin's inner world reacted. The blackish-red energy continued to spread, clashing against Ailin's golden light, but with some resistance now. Unlike the previous invasion, which Ailin had allowed, this clash showed his inner world could now resist the encroaching Hollow energy.
"Roar!"
Hollowed Lin raised a finger and a blackish-red Cero began forming at its tip.
This was the ultimate attack of a Gillian-class Hollow: a Cero!
BOOM!
Hollowed Lin unleashed the Cero. It's intense destructive power shot towards Ailin.
Ailin raised his left hand.
BOOM!
The Cero slammed into Ailin's palm, and, instead of exploding, it began to compress, inward towards the center of his hand. All the explosive force that should have been unleashed, was now entirely contained within Ailin's palm as a visible sphere.
With a gentle squeeze, the sphere was crushed into nothing.
"Not bad. You've grown stronger. But it's still not enough."
After saying this, Ailin appeared in front of Hollowed Lin and kicked him towards the sky.
Boom!
Hollowed Lin was sent flying into the sky.
Afterwards, Ailin's figure flashed a few times, and he placed his hands in his pockets, letting the biting wind blow his captain's haori.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Behind Ailin, Hollowed Lin's body began distorting as if struck a hundred times from all directions, before finally crashing into the ground, forming another crater.
…
Outside of Ailin's inner world, a white shell appeared on Ailin's body, composed of Hollow reiatsu. His spiritual pressure began to fluctuate subtly, and a few traces of blackish-red reiatsu began to emanate from his body, which was immediately absorbed by the Chains of Heaven binding him, causing their golden links to glow with a dark red hue.
Clatter…
The Chains of Heaven quivered. While Ailin remained motionless, Enkidu's expression turned serious. The Chains were a restraining tool. Those who could wield spiritual pressure, could easily resist their restraints.
But, with Ailin's addition of the Kazeshini's "Death Wind Rope" ability to the chains, they were now a limiter of spiritual pressure. Anyone bound by it could only use half of their strength. However, Ailin was different, even bound, he could fight at his full strength. He had used this method himself to train for decades.
Now, with the intrusion of Hollow power, a new kind of energy, one that he hadn't previously considered, this limiter was working too effectively.
Buzz…
Spatial ripples shimmered behind Ailin, blackish-red in color, as if a portal to hell was opening. One Zanpakutō after another emerged, pointed at Enkidu.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Instantly, the blades turned into blackish-red lightning bolts that rained down on Enkidu.
Enkidu lowered her body and slammed her right hand into the earth while shouting her command: "Chains of Heaven!"
Clatter!
Golden chains pierced from the ground, intercepting the blackish-red swords.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as the golden chains clashed against the blackish-red blades. But the blades from Hollowed Lin, the manifestation of Ailin's own power, were too many and overwhelmed her defenses.
Enkidu hadn't expected to be pushed this far, she was no longer under the protection of Unlimited Blade Works, nor was she receiving Ailin's spiritual energy to sustain her.
Her skills would now be tested to its limit.
The blackish-red spatial ripples suddenly expanded, revealing hundreds of new swords.