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[Yoruichi Affection +1, gained 4800 EXP, current Affection: 39]
[Soi Fon Affection +1, gained 5120 EXP, current Affection: 49]
Current EXP: 204747.
How long has it been?!
How long has it been since he gained such a large amount of EXP?
Ishikawa looked at the surging EXP, and the slight regret that had just surfaced in his heart instantly vanished without a trace.
Leaving Yoruichi aside for now, Soi Fon, whose affection for him had remained at '8 points' for over a decade, finally saw an increase at this moment.
As expected, to increase her affection, he still needed to work through Yoruichi…
Thinking about it, the last time her affection for him increased was also because of Yoruichi.
"Hachiun Hane, give me the sword!"
Ishikawa reached out, looking quite spirited. As long as he had enough EXP and could ensure he wouldn't be instantly killed, even Aizen, Ishikawa was confident he could hold him off alive!
"Coming right up!!"
Hachiun Hane's somewhat agitated and excited voice came from a distance. Ichigo and the others turned to look, only to see a young man in black work clothes, barefoot, running over with a sword.
"Does successfully ambushing me make you happy?"
Aizen didn't stop him. He just looked at Ishikawa and slowly said, "Or is it just this that already satisfies you?"
Taking the long sword Hachiun Hane threw to him, Ishikawa stood with the sword held horizontally. He didn't answer Aizen, but instead asked Soi Fon and Yoruichi behind him, "How is it? Can you still fight?"
Although there was a lot of EXP…
The enemy in front of him was Aizen after all, so it was better to be cautious.
To Ishikawa's question, Yoruichi and Soi Fon's replies were simple and direct; at this moment, they both stood up from the ground.
Soi Fon's gaze towards Ishikawa was somewhat strange, because the lightning on Ishikawa's body was so similar to the lightning on Yoruichi-sama's body. The only difference was that Ishikawa's shoulder garments did not explode due to the highly concentrated Kido being focused on his back.
However, she didn't know…
Ishikawa's current physical strength was already so great that he could completely integrate the highly concentrated Raikōhō into his body without any burden.
Normally, the method of using Shunko is to concentrate highly condensed Kido on the back and shoulders, and then, at the moment of attack, make it burst and inject it into one's hands and feet to increase the lethality of the attack.
But Ishikawa's Shunko…
Due to a fundamental error, he went wild in the direction of directly integrating Kido into his body. He no longer needed to inject Kido into his hands and feet; instead, every move and every stance he made could unleash terrifying destructive power.
Ishikawa glanced at Yoruichi out of the corner of his eye, frowning slightly.
Not perfected yet?
When he previously ambushed Aizen, Yoruichi clearly seemed to want to use another technique, but after he appeared, she stopped that technique.
The current situation was clearly not suitable for holding back, which indicated that Yoruichi's technique might not be fully mastered or perfected yet.
"Satisfied?"
Ishikawa smiled slightly, the tip of the long sword in his right hand casually resting on the ground. With his left index finger, he pulled open the clothing just below his neck, revealing the Soul Binding area: "To satisfy me, you should at least let me return the cut you gave me in front of the Central 46 back then, right?"
"Is that so?"
Aizen stepped towards the three, saying as he walked, "Actually, I've always been waiting for you to come here."
"Do you still remember what I once said?"
Aizen finished speaking without waiting for Ishikawa to reply, and continued on his own, "When I was in the Fourth Division, I once told you that we two were similar in some ways."
"From every perspective, there's no way I'm similar to you—" Ishikawa said. "Whether it's age, appearance, or personality."
He would absolutely, absolutely not admit to having any similarities with Aizen. Who knew if, once that got out, he might also be treated like Aizen…
Moreover, although Ishikawa had always been learning from Aizen, he had never thought of learning his ideology!
"What I meant by similar was not what you are referring to, but if you believe that, it doesn't matter—" Aizen shook his head. "The reason I waited for you here is actually to have you resolve some doubts for me. I've always wondered why you were so certain that the Central 46 had been completely annihilated by me, even to the point of allowing Unohana Retsu and others to intervene in the investigation, assuming your own failure."
Because he 'saw' it…
Ishikawa subconsciously replied in his mind, his smile unchanged: "Sorry, in my Everything Store, answering questions also costs money; if you have any doubts, please pay first, and then I can solve your problem. However… your request, personally, I don't really want to take it!"
"At least…"
Ishikawa bent forward, his surrounding Reiatsu and lightning erupting completely at this instant.
Hum!
An incredibly heavy pressure instantly enveloped the entire area.
Reiatsu and lightning were both channeled into the long sword in Ishikawa's hand at this moment, causing the sword itself to emit a golden-blue mixed color.
"Before I return this cut!"
Boom!!
The moment the words fell, Ishikawa abruptly vanished from his original spot, with only a fading streak of lightning remaining where he had stood.
There was no deafening thunder, nor was there rampant Reiatsu; he simply disappeared silently before everyone.
Aizen's brow furrowed slightly, and his Kyōka Suigetsu was held horizontally above his head.
Clang—!
A crisp clashing sound rang out as two blades met, and Ishikawa and Aizen faced each other across their swords.
Time seemed to stand still at that instant, and then…
A roar echoed, and a shockwave spread outwards in layers, centered on the two.
Under this impact, the ground was actually cut down by a layer, yet the ground where Aizen stood was completely undamaged, forming a circular raised area with a diameter of about five meters, like a fighting arena.
Pfft~
The sound of blood splattering came out, and a bone-deep wound appeared from Ishikawa's shoulders to his chest.
This scene caused Hanatarō and Ichigo, who were observing, as well as Hachiun Hane standing beside them, to all change their expressions drastically.
As expected, he's very strong!
A thought flashed through Ishikawa's mind.
Add points!!
Almost at the instant blood emerged from the wound, he added 20,000 EXP to his Physique.
At the same time.
Ishikawa's free left hand pointed downwards, and he softly chanted:
"Bakudo No. 61: Rikujokoro."
Six light fragments instantly formed, appearing almost immediately around Aizen, confining him to his spot.
Aizen watched the large wound on Ishikawa's shoulders and chest. Under his gaze, the blood outside the wound stopped flowing almost instantly, and the cut itself became shallower from deep, completely healing in less than a second!
It's like this again.
He had witnessed this situation once before, in front of the Central 46.
At that time, Ishikawa, after being pierced through the Soul Binding by him and unable to use any Reiatsu, had his pierced wound recover instantly.
However, because Commander Yamamoto arrived too quickly, he had no time to study it, but one thing he could be sure of… that was definitely not the super-fast regeneration of a Hollow, nor was it the body's self-healing!
It felt more like the time at the wound's location accelerated instantly, allowing a wound that would normally take a long time to recover to heal in an instant.
As expected, very interesting!
A glint of light flashed under Aizen's glasses. If Ishikawa could see it, he would find this gaze remarkably similar to Urahara Kisuke's.
However, at this moment, Ishikawa was not paying attention to Aizen's gaze towards him.
Almost simultaneously with unleashing Rikujokoro, he pressed his right hand's long sword downwards, using the leverage to leap into the air, while his left hand slapped horizontally downwards:
"Bakudo #62: Hyapporankan."
"Bakudō #63. Sajō Sabaku."
"Bakudo #75: Gochūtekkan."
Three Bakudo were released almost simultaneously; Ishikawa used all of his abilities as soon as he made his move!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Rushing sounds echoed one after another. Light rods, chains, iron pillars… appeared out of thin air, all striking towards Aizen.
And at this very moment, Yoruichi and Soi Fon, one from the left and one from the right, simultaneously attacked Aizen.
Ishikawa's expression was focused, his Reiatsu Imprint operating frantically. The surrounding Reishi seemed to fall into a funnel, rushing into Ishikawa's body, replenishing his consumed Reiatsu, keeping his own Reiatsu at peak condition at all times.
"Bakudo…"
Just as Ishikawa was about to add more binding power, his expression suddenly changed.
The next second, he plunged down without hesitation.
But his target was not Aizen, but…
Yoruichi and Soi Fon, who were simultaneously attacking Aizen.
Finger thrusts and fists arrived in an instant.
Soi Fon's eyes lit up. Ishikawa's Bakudo had bought her a lot of time. As long as Suzumebachi's second-tier instant kill could hit, she could definitely end this battle with it.
Closer!
A killing intent flashed in Soi Fon's eyes. If her previous desire to kill Aizen was only because of Yoruichi.
Then, judging by the conversation between Ishikawa and Aizen just now, killing Aizen now, besides Yoruichi's sake, also involved her duty as the Commander of the Onmitsukidō.
It worked.
Looking at Aizen, who remained motionless, Soi Fon's middle finger darted towards him.
Snap—
But just as her finger was about to pierce Aizen, a hand suddenly gripped her wrist. The immense force from the hand made it impossible for her to move an inch.
This is…
"Ishikawa, you…"
Looking at the person gripping her wrist, Soi Fon's face sank!
"Look closely, who is the person you're about to attack!"
Ishikawa's voice made Soi Fon freeze.
You all?
Soi Fon looked up and realized that Ishikawa's other hand had also blocked an attack.
That was…
The Aizen in her vision gradually changed, replaced by a figure she knew all too well.
Yoru…Lady Yoruichi?
And her finger was currently at Yoruichi's shoulder.
On the other side, Yoruichi's fist was also smashing towards her chest.
"How could this be…?"
Soi Fon's pupils constricted. Before she could figure out what had happened, her vision suddenly turned red!
Blood spurted from Ishikawa's back as if it were free.
"Oh?"
At the same time, Aizen's slightly puzzled voice came: "It seems you haven't been idle these past few days. It's just a pity that no matter how conspicuous a speck of dust becomes, it remains just a speck of dust."
"Ishikawa~!"
Soi Fon's expression changed.
"Is it Kyōka Suigetsu's ability?"
Unlike Soi Fon's confusion, Yoruichi frowned. While using the arm Ishikawa was gripping to support him, she looked at Aizen, who had appeared out of nowhere behind Ishikawa.
Although she had heard about Aizen's ability from Urahara Kisuke, she had never directly confronted Aizen. Even though she had always been on guard, she was still affected by Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, and she didn't even realize it…
In that instant, just as Soi Fon saw her as Aizen, Soi Fon was also Aizen in Yoruichi's eyes.
Two people who knew each other extremely well didn't realize they were attacking each other.
Thinking of this, Yoruichi couldn't help but look at Ishikawa, who seemed to have lost consciousness in her arms, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Then how did this kid see through it?
"Are you still going to keep up the act?"
As he spoke, Aizen, who was behind Ishikawa, raised his Zanpakuto and struck down.
Seeing this, Yoruichi's expression darkened. With a twist of her hand, she tried to pull Ishikawa out of the attack range. After witnessing that strike up close, Yoruichi was certain that Ishikawa must have been severely injured, and in such a state, he was no longer suitable to continue fighting!
But as soon as she reached out and pulled, she felt a resistance in her hand.
With a whoosh, the Onmitsukidō black uniform on Ishikawa's back and shoulders suddenly burst into flames. Azure flames surged wildly from his shoulders and back, like fiery wings.
At the same time!
The lightning that had been concealed within Ishikawa's body also erupted completely at this moment.
Fire and lightning combined, two completely different energies, at this instant, were both injected into Ishikawa's Zanpakuto, causing a series of explosive sounds to emanate from the long blade, and even the blade's surface let out a faint whine, unable to bear the strain.
The next moment, Ishikawa, who had been bent over, distorted violently. The long blade, amidst deafening explosions, carved a lightning bolt mixed with fire and thunder through the air.
This is…
Yoruichi's pupils constricted. She instantly abandoned the idea of dodging with Ishikawa, and instead grabbed Soi Fon, who was still in a state of lingering fear, retreating to the suspension bridge. After picking up Ichigo and the other two… she didn't retreat but advanced, rushing directly towards the Repentance Palace.
And this series of actions was completed in an instant.
The name "Flash God" was truly deserved.
The next second!
Boom! Boom! Boom! —!
The ear-splitting explosion formed a massive impact vortex that roared outwards, collapsing the suspension bridge and disintegrating the ground in its path!
With a rattling sound, the nearly hundred-meter-long suspension bridge leading to the Repentance Palace instantly turned into debris!
Only the Repentance Palace, forged from Sakki-ishi, still stood there. Its barrier decomposed the incredibly violent Reishi vortex around it, like an invisible shield, intercepting all the impact outside.
This scene caused everyone Yoruichi had brought into the Repentance Palace to change their expressions dramatically.
Looking out, the area outside the Repentance Palace was completely shrouded in smoke.
"What kind of move was that?"
Soi Fon's voice was filled with disbelief. She had always thought she knew Ishikawa better than anyone, but today she realized… Ishikawa's strength was completely different from what she remembered!
"Shunko and… Shunko?"
Yoruichi's tone was somewhat uncertain, then she said with a strange look, "But one thing's for sure, that kid is a madman!!"
Madman?
Soi Fon looked towards the front of the Repentance Palace with some confusion.
As a breeze blew, the smoke gradually dispersed, revealing the two figures confronting each other within.
One of them was Aizen. Although he was still immaculate, the ground beneath him, which had been perfectly intact, had completely collapsed. The area where the two stood, the entire open space in front of the Repentance Palace, had formed a massive depression, as if it were a gladiatorial arena that had been forbidden long ago.
Aizen wore a look of surprise on his face, gazing at Ishikawa in the distance.
At this moment, Ishikawa was covered in blood, but as everyone watched, his injuries were rapidly healing!
But what was most striking was not his injuries… but his current state.
The thunder rumbling around him was the same as before.
However, behind his back and on his shoulders, there appeared high-concentration Kido, similar to Soi Fon and Yoruichi's. Azure flames swayed wildly behind him like a pair of wings!
These flames continuously exploded, emitting loud bangs, injecting the flames into his body, which was filled with lightning.
Bang, bang, bang—
A series of explosions erupted from within Ishikawa's body, and with each explosion, fresh blood spurted from his pores.
"Madman!!"
Yoruichi had thought that Ishikawa completely integrating the highly concentrated Kido into his body and using Shunko in doing so was already a very crazy act, but she never expected… that this kid would be so crazy. But in some ways, he was also a true genius.
Originally, although Ishikawa's Shunko was called Shunko, it was completely different from her and Soi Fon's Shunko.
Because their paths were different, she hadn't taught him her Shunko to avoid affecting him.
But after seeing her and Soi Fon use Shunko, Ishikawa directly mastered this technique.
Now, while using the Shunko he created, Ishikawa was also simultaneously using the Shunko she had created, condensing "Hado #73: Sōren Sōkatsui" in the form of wings on his back and shoulders, and then injecting the highly concentrated Sōren Sōkatsui into his body through continuous explosions.
Finally, he forcibly fused two energies of completely different natures within his body using his physique.
Just how strong is this kid's body!?
…
This has gotten out of hand!!
Ishikawa's cheek twitched. The technique he was currently using was, as Yoruichi said, the simultaneous application of two Shunko.
He had used a similar technique during his fight with Zaraki, but that involved fusing both Kido into his body, and they were both lightning-attribute Raikōhō and Byakurai!
He had originally thought that using the Shunko he learned from Yoruichi would help reduce the burden on his body.
But he never expected…
Two different attributes could produce such terrifying effects, making his current physique unable to bear it, forcing him to continuously add points to his physique just to keep going!
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