Chapter 88

Just as the sword was about to pierce Rukia's body, Xuanxin appeared in front of her and swung his sword. Aizen's lips curled up slightly when he saw this, and then he raised his sword to block.

Yoruichi also took this opportunity to save Rukia, who had been abandoned by Aizen.

At this moment, Aizen looked at Xuanxin and said:

"Teacher Xuanxin, you always treat everyone the same, but this kind of indiscriminate treatment will only drag you down from your pedestal into the mire."

"Shattered, like a mirage, Kyōka Suigetsu."

This time, Xuanxin had no chance to dodge and witnessed the entire process of the Kyōka Suigetsu's liberation.

Seeing this, everyone, including Kisuke Urahara, tensed up.

Immediately, Xuanxin retreated back into the crowd, not daring to linger any longer.

At that moment, several more Menos Grande emerged from behind Aizen. Aizen smiled, then removed his glasses and said:

"Teacher Xuanxin, the second half has begun."

Upon hearing this, Xuanxin glanced at the people around him, and they all nodded. This time, they launched an attack together.

Yoruichi and Xuanxin, relying on their tacit understanding as a couple, directly engaged Aizen in battle, while Gin Ichimaru, Ichigo, and Rangiku began dealing with the surrounding Menos Grande.

Meanwhile, Kaname Tōsen faced off against Sister Hana and Byakuya, while Kisuke Urahara was constructing some strange magic behind the group.

Aizen was fortunate enough to prevent Xuanxin from launching a full-scale attack due to the illusion of Kyōka Suigetsu, fearing it might harm his companions. However, Kaname Tōsen was truly in dire straits.

Having already exhausted most of his Reiatsu with Gin Ichimaru, he now faces Sister Hana, who is itching to fight, and Byakuya, who is frustrated because he struggled to rescue a piece of wood.

At first, Byakuya warned Sister Hana to be careful of Kaname Tōsen's attacks, but as Sister Hana revealed her stunning smile, Byakuya realized that perhaps it was Kaname Tōsen.

Sister Hana was toying with Kaname Tōsen as if she were a child, and Kaname Tōsen could only try his best to parry Sister Hana's attacks. But slowly, he saw more and more wounds on his body, while Sister Hana didn't even get his haori stained with blood.

Seeing that the disparity in strength was too great, Kaname Tōsen no choice but to activate his Bankai, attempting to win through the mechanism. Sister Hana, on the other hand, did not dodge at all, allowing Kaname Tōsen imprison her and Byakuya together in Bankai.

Then, Kaname Tōsen launched the first attack on Byakuya. As expected, Byakuya's fighting power was greatly reduced after losing his five senses, and he was even stabbed several times by Kaname Tōsen.

These few sword strikes gave Kaname Tōsen the courage to continue attacking Byakuya a few more times before turning his gaze to Sister Hana, who was standing motionless in place.

Soon, Kaname Tōsen appeared behind Sister Hana and triumphantly swung his sword at Sister Hana back.

But what he felt was not the sensation of metal touching flesh; instead, he was met with Sister Hana's even sharper blade.

"Is that all? I'm truly disappointed. But Lord Xuanxin needs help more than I do; I really have no mood to play with the children."

After saying that, Sister Hana gripped the blade with her left hand and called out a name that neither Byakuya nor Kaname Tōsen had ever heard before.

"The Bankai Minazuki"

Thick blood quickly flowed from Sister Hana's hand and spread rapidly outwards. As the blood submerged Byakuya noticed that his wounds were disappearing.

However, Kaname Tōsen discovered that the blood was not only impacting his Bankai, but was also corroding his flesh.

Just as he was desperately dodging, waves of blood carrying sword energy rushed towards Kaname Tōsen. Despite Kaname Tōsen's best efforts, he was still unable to stop himself and was sent flying. Soon, the wounds were corroded by the red blood, revealing the stark white bones.

Meanwhile, Rangiku was outside the arena, noticed that the black cage holding Sister Hana and Byakuya was starting to crack, as if something was about to spill out.

"Oh no, retreat quickly!" Rangiku shouted suddenly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Kaname Tōsen's Bankai finally gave way, and red liquid burst out of the cage.

The red liquid quickly covered the entire area, and when it reached everyone's feet...

Ichigo and the others discovered that although the liquid was somewhat viscous and even corroded their clothes, it was also healing them.

But when they turned their gaze toward the Menos Grande, they found that the Hollows were still being corroded, revealing large amounts of white bones, before collapsing helplessly into the sea of blood, to be further corroded.

As for Kaname Tōsen, he was barely clinging to life and had been swept to a slightly higher rock, where there was probably no hope of saving him.

Under the healing power of Sister Hana's Bankai, Orihime and the others who had been unconscious also woke up, sitting blankly on the rocks staring at the crimson-covered ground.

"At this moment... Kisuke Urahara- san, what are you doing here?" Orihime asked.

"Shh, don't talk, just watch the show," Kisuke Urahara whispered.

Seeing that his side had gained the upper hand, Xuanxin glanced at Yoruichi. Yoruichi understood Xuanxin's meaning and quickly came to the side of the group, leading them to the edge of the battlefield.

At this moment, Xuanxin stood silently in the crimson blood, looking at Aizen floating in mid-air, and said, "Come on, now it's just you and me left here."

Aizen smiled and said, "Is that really so? It seems that Teacher's Wife Unohana's power is still intact."

Upon hearing this, Xuanxin neither admitted nor refuted it. Aizen then fell silent, simply pointing a finger, and a black cube rose up around Xuanxin.

"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi"

However, the moment the Kurohitsugi rose, Aizen began chanting the next Kidō.

Seeing this, Orihime asked, "What is he doing? Doesn't he intend to shatter his own Kidō?"

Upon hearing Orihime's question, Ichigo and the others also looked at the captains beside them. Just as Yoruichi was about to take this opportunity to continue Xuanxin, Kisuke Urahara spoke first:

"Because this Kidō couldn't contain Xuanxin a hundred years ago," Kisuke Urahara said.

"What! What did you say...?"

Before Ichigo could even finish his questioning, the Kurohitsugi began to shatter. Seeing this, Aizen had no choice but to speed up his chanting.

[Has he progressed so quickly, Teacher Xuanxin? Or is this also thanks to the Hōgyoku?]

Sure enough, before he could finish chanting, Xuanxin reappeared in everyone's sight.

At this moment, standing behind Xuanxin was a six-armed Vidyaraja, slightly taller than Xuanxin. The fourth sword in the Vidyaraja's hand was also nearing completion. Moreover, the Vidyaraja was now even more lifelike.

Even Xuanxin's Shinigami armor began to change at this moment. Golden patterns started to appear on the armor, and the black color on the hem and cuffs began to fade.

[Bankai: Six Paths and Five Wheels, Kurikara]

At this point, Aizen didn't have time to continue chanting, so he had to forcibly release the incomplete Senju Kōten Taihō.

Xuanxin also slashed directly at the sky in response to the Kidō. Seeing this, Aizen frantically activated Kyōka Suigetsu to try to interfere with Xuanxin's attack, but Xuanxin's sword only deviated by a tiny bit.

Seeing this, Aizen abruptly retreated, narrowly dodging the attack. He thought to himself, "What's going on? The hypnosis worked before. Could it be...?"

At this moment, Xuanxin stood on the ground and looked at Aizen, saying, "Although I cannot yet fully see through your illusions, illusions are ultimately just a fleeting dream."

Seeing that his hypnosis was not very effective, Aizen rushed down and engaged Xuanxin in battle.

The Reiatsu of the two collided continuously in the air, producing a series of terrifying explosions that even reached the Seireitei.

After a few rounds, both Xuanxin and Aizen had some wounds, but Sister Hana quickly healed Xuanxin's wounds.

Meanwhile, Aizen's ally Kaname Tōsen, could only eke out a living on the rocks.

Upon noticing this, a resolute glint flashed in Aizen's eyes, and he attacked Xuanxin once more, this time with even greater ferocity and openness.

[Now!]

Aizen exposed Xuanxin's weakness and then suddenly activated Kyōka Suigetsu. Xuanxin, affected by Kyōka Suigetsu, hesitated for a moment.

In that very instant, Aizen's plan succeeded.

After a flash of light, the two retreated rapidly, creating distance between them. When the smoke cleared, Aizen was seen to be in even worse condition than before, with his left hand even severed by Xuanxin and left on the spot.

But at this moment, a long-lost smile appeared on his face. Aizen, panting heavily, raised his right hand, and everyone looked closely and saw that he was holding Aizen 'Xuanxin bracelet in his hand.

"Teacher Xuanxin, it seems I've won again this time."

Upon seeing this, Kisuke Urahara's expression changed drastically, and he immediately began to prepare to activate the Kidō he had already constructed to activate the backup plan he had left on the pendant.

But just as Kisuke Urahara began to circulate his Reiatsu, Yoruichi grabbed his shoulder.

Yoruichi reached to her chest and pulled out an identical pendant between her two breasts, saying:

"Not necessarily, Sōsuke Aizen. Why don't you take a look at the pendant on your hand?"

"What did you say?"

Immediately, Aizen exerted force with his right hand, crushing the pendant, but he did not see the light he wanted to see among the fragments.

"Why! Why is the Hōgyoku with you! Shouldn't it be...?"

Seeing Aizen's expression, which was the first time he had shown such an expression, Xuanxin said, "That's right, it's just as you thought, but I also believe that Yoruichi will protect the Hōgyoku."

Upon hearing this, Aizen regained his composure and muttered to himself, "So, he believed it. That's truly unbelievable."

Looking at Kaname Tōsen lying on the verge of death beside him, and then at the Seireitei in the distance where the fighting was gradually subsiding, Aizen knew that his chances of survival were slim.

Aizen looked at the sky and said, "Since that's the case, you've won this time, but next time it won't be so easy, Teacher Xuanxin."

Seeing that Aizen was planning to retreat, Xuanxin knew that if he let Aizen leave, Aizen would return with an even stronger enemy next time.

With that thought in mind, Xuanxin immediately brought his twin swords together, preparing to deliver the final blow to Aizen.

"No, there won't be a next time, Aizen."

Reiatsu began to gather on Xuanxin's body at an astonishing speed. When the light gathered to a near-liquid state, Xuanxin suddenly swung the sword forward.

[The Six Realms and Five Wheels: The Kurikara Great Celestial Phenomenon]

The astonishing sword energy shot straight towards Aizen, tearing the sky apart as yellow pillars of light began to fall.

Standing still, Aizen looked at the sword Aizen so close to his face. His eyes narrowed, and he quickly stretched out his right hand and slapped it directly into his chest.

"Boom"

Soon, a deafening crash reached everyone's ears.

When the light and dust dissipated, Aizen was seen standing there, his clothes tattered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth; his previous high spirits were gone.

Even the Negación that fell from the sky showed cracks, but what truly attracted everyone was the sphere that shimmered with an eerie light, still bearing blood on Aizen's chest.

Kisuke Urahara recognized the object at a glance; it was the same as the Hōgyoku. It seemed that this was the thing that saved Aizen's life.

Seeing this, Xuanxin sighed and thought to himself, "It seems that this is the end for today."

At this moment, the Negación, carrying Aizen, Kaname Tōsen was barely clinging to life, and Kūgo Kūgo Ginjō who was being used as a punching bag, slowly rose into the sky.

Aizen looked at Xuanxin standing above the sea of blood and said, "Teacher Xuanxin... you won this time. But next time, I promise I won't lose again."

After saying this, the three of them completely disappeared from Soul Society.

Xuanxin then sheathed his twin swords and looked wearily at the crowd, saying, "Go, everyone, rush to Seireitei and clear all the streets."

Xuanxin then led everyone toward Seireitei, finally bringing this century-long Muken to a formal end.

Chapter 88

The commotion emanating from Sōkyoku Hill caused everyone to temporarily halt their attack.

Soon, three golden beams of light suddenly descended from the sky.

Two of the streaks landed on the distant Sōkyoku Hill, while another landed in the Seireitei.

Lying on the ground of Seireitei, Kūgo Ginjō finally felt a sense of peace as he looked at the yellow pillars of light surrounding him.

When Aizen found Kūgo Ginjō in the World of the Living, Aizen told him that by following him, he could create a new world, and that he and Aizen would become gods in that world.

However, to Ginjo, these were merely plausible excuses. What truly tempted him was the opportunity to take revenge on the Gotei 13.

But... he was met only by attacks from several captains of the Gotei 13.