While fighting Baraggan, Shin was also paying attention to the changing situation across the entire battlefield.
Ayon was defeated by Lisa and Kensei, and now the two were dealing with Apache and her companions.
Tier was clearly at a disadvantage under the siege of Toshiro and three others, and shouldn't be able to hold out for much longer.
Starrk was effortlessly fighting two Visoreds alone.
Hiyori had defeated Fura and was currently fighting Wonderweiss equally.
Shinji had released his Zanpakuto, Sakanade, and Aizen was still adjusting to its ability.
What made Shin inwardly laugh was that Gin and Rangiku were also engaged in a back-and-forth fight.
'You don't want to hurt your wife, do you? Ichimaru, you're giving her a whole ocean of space.'
...
Rangiku's body was swaying slightly, she had only healed her superficial wounds.
"Your injuries aren't fully healed yet. Why are you running toward Aizen?"
Haineko, in its Shikai form, had turned into dust and swirled around Rangiku.
"Why ask the obvious? It's because of you. I can finally ask you face-to-face. Why... why are you following Aizen?"
"Why did you betray Kira, who trusted you so much?"
At this point, Rangiku became emotional.
"Are you serious when you say that? Trusted me and suffered betrayal—are you really talking about Izuru?"
Gin's expression became serious, a rare sight, and then he let out a sigh.
"Sigh... why did you have to appear in front of Aizen?"
Gin slowly walked up to Rangiku and gently touched the silver necklace on her chest.
Rangiku lost consciousness in a flash of dull light and Gin gently placed her on the ground.
Hafuri!
This is a combination of Hadō and Bakudō that causes the target to fall unconscious and temporarily suppresses their Reiatsu signature.
Gin glanced at Aizen in the distance. He had already grasped the method to break through Kyōka Suigetsu. If Shin couldn't defeat Aizen before Rangiku recovered, he would risk everything to launch a sneak attack on Aizen.
This was his last chance!
—
"Die, Aizen!"
Shinji slashed past Aizen with a single strike, their backs now facing each other.
Aizen said faintly, "It was merely an illusion perceived by the naked eye."
He had already figured out Shinji's Shikai ability.
It visually inverts the direction the enemy sees and the direction they are actually struck, whether it be up and down, left and right, or front and back.
"Compared to my ability to dominate all five senses, your power is worlds apart."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a jet of blood erupted from Shinji's abdomen, leaving him instantly and gravely wounded.
Crack!
Suddenly, the sky behind Aizen shattered like a mirror.
"Hah!"
Ichigo emerged from the void, unleashing three consecutive Getsuga Tenshos, the black Reiatsu tightly enveloping Aizen.
However, in the next instant, the black Reiatsu exploded outward, revealing a massive white shield that had materialized behind Aizen.
Million Escudo!
This was a shield formed by 1,000,000 layers of Reiatsu released from Aizen's nape, designed to completely block surprise attacks from the rear. However, it required pre-setting and could not be deployed at random.
"It's been a long time, Ichigo."
It turned out that after Ichigo and the others defeated Ulquiorra, they had tried to rush back to the Human World, but were delayed by Kaname, who had returned from Soul Society.
Finally, with the help of Zaraki and others who had defeated the remaining Arrancars, he was the first to pass through the Garganta and arrive in the Human World.
Ichigo gasped, astonished that three sneak attacks from behind had failed to injure Aizen in the slightest.
Aizen said, "Let me guess what you're thinking. Are you regretting not using your Hollowfication?"
Ichigo froze, because Aizen was exactly right. He knew he needed a decisive, one-hit victory, but he was afraid of failing the Hollowfication and falling into that state of uncontrollable rage again, causing him to miss this crucial opportunity.
"Come and attack me. I will show you just how naive and ridiculous your thoughts are."
Hearing Aizen's contemptuous mockery, Ichigo activated his Hollowfication.
"Getsuga... Tensho!"
The black Getsuga Tensho struck Aizen, and a glimmer of hope sparked in Ichigo's heart. But the sight that followed nearly broke him.
The black Getsuga Tensho vanished, leaving only a shallow gash on Aizen's body, which immediately began healing at incredible speed. This meant that even if he had used his Hollowfication earlier and landed all his sneak attacks, it would still have been impossible to defeat Aizen.
Aizen tore open the cloth covering his chest, revealing the Hōgyoku clearly embedded between his sternum and abdomen.
The next moment, milky white, solidified Reiatsu surged from the Hōgyoku, gradually enveloping Aizen's entire body, much like a chrysalis during an insect's metamorphosis.
Hōgyoku Second Fusion State!
Just then, the Captains and Visoreds who had concluded their respective battles arrived at Ichigo's side.
Across the entire battlefield, the only ones still engaged in combat were Shin, Soi Fon, and Shunsui.
Harribel had been overwhelmed by four opponents, suffering severe injuries and collapsing to the ground.
Mashiro was defeated by Wonderweiss after her Hollowfication wore off.
Love and Rōjūrō were defeated by Starrk, forcing the recovered Shunsui to step in and take their place.
The crowd that had gathered looked at the transformed Aizen, utterly astonished.
Sajin stared fixedly at Aizen, realizing he could not sense the magnitude of his Reiatsu whatsoever.
'Has the disparity grown to this extent?' Sajin tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō.
Finally, Aizen spoke, "This is the true power of the Hōgyoku. Kisuke believed the Hōgyoku was a substance capable of breaking the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows. In reality, the Hōgyoku only broke that boundary because that was the deepest wish in his heart."
"The Hōgyoku's true power is to actualize the desires within a person's heart, shaping reality according to their will."
"The only condition is that the person must inherently possess the capability to realize that wish."
Aizen glanced back at Ichigo and continued, "Based on my observations, the abilities of Orihime and Yasutora were both guided and manifested by the Hōgyoku."
Upon hearing this, Ichigo's pupils contracted slightly.
"From now on, you are all useless to me. This should end now." Aizen cast his gaze toward the distant black domain.
"Stop spouting nonsense, Aizen!"
"Bankai! Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"
"Ryūsenka!"
Tōshirō immediately activated his Bankai and charged toward Aizen.
"Hitsugaya, you are still so impulsive."
Aizen sighed, then raised his hand and lightly waved it.
To the horror of everyone present, Toshiro's left arm, along with the ice wing behind him, was severed instantly, sending him plummeting from the sky.
"Captain Hitsugaya!"
"Tenken!"
Sajin swung his Zanpakutō, and the Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō behind him synchronized the attack.
The other Visoreds simultaneously unleashed Ceros.
"Do you intend to win by sheer numbers? That is far too optimistic." Aizen stated calmly.
With another wave, the giant Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō's blade and right arm were cleanly severed, and Sajin suffered identical damage.
Meanwhile, the Ceros slammed into Aizen but failed to even pierce the solidified Reiatsu covering his body.
In this current state, Aizen could barely be harmed even by Kido spells ranked ninety or higher.
In a single moment, the Shinigami side had lost two key combatants.
Just then, another large Garganta opened up in the sky.
It was Zaraki and his party.
After crushing Kaname, they had rushed immediately to the Human World to provide support.
Unohana surveyed the battlefield and immediately ordered her subordinates to treat the injured personnel. She personally took charge of treating the gravely wounded Tōshirō and the others.
"Hahahaha!"
The Reiatsu emanating from Zaraki's body formed a massive skull that completely enveloped him. Laughing wildly, he charged toward Aizen, sensing the immense power Aizen now possessed.
Aizen sidestepped the attack. Zaraki's golden slash was intensely hot, obliterating several buildings below.
The remaining people also launched attacks against Aizen, but all were easily neutralized and sent flying by him.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"
Countless pink blades merged into a flow of deadly petals, surging toward Aizen. Yet, even under the intense barrage of blades, Aizen remained completely unscathed.
"While you cannot hurt me, this constant back-and-forth is irritating."
Following this, Aizen severely wounded the Visoreds with blinding speed.
In Ichigo's eyes, Aizen hadn't seemed to move at all, yet the blood pouring from the Visoreds proved that this perception was merely an illusion.
Seeing companion after companion struck down so easily, Ichigo's resolve wavered but the battle continued.
Aizen flashed behind Byakuya and brought his blade down. Byakuya was sliced in half, but the figure immediately dissolved into his Captain's haori.
"Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō: Utsusemi."
"An excellent technique." Aizen complimented.
"However, Captain Kuchiki, your current condition is far too poor."
A blade pierced through Byakuya's abdomen, and Aizen slowly withdrew his Zanpakutō.
After successive battles in Hueco Mundo, Byakuya's condition was significantly worse than his peak.
Ryōdan!
Zaraki, who had remained stationary until now, unleashed his strongest technique. He held deep disdain for fighting with superior numbers.
A massive golden slash descended from the sky toward Aizen, who responded by unleashing a slash of his own.
(End of Chapter)
New Book
Marvel: Infinite Stat Points
Transmigrating to Marvel, Lucas awakens two talents.
[Energy Absorption: Can absorb any energy and convert it into lifespan.]
[Stat Transfer: Lifespan can be converted into Physique, Perception, and Spirit.]
Additionally, every time all stats are maxed out, he can choose to upgrade to the next rank.
From an ordinary person to an extraordinary person, then a God and...
So, the quest for energy begins and he negotiates (blackmails) energy from Dimensional Lords.