Reinforcements Arrive Again

Swords flashed, blood splattered.

Liu Hao and Aizen, two figures, clashed wildly across the ruins, each collision unleashing blinding sparks and violent shockwaves. Their battle had been raging for an unknown amount of time; in this isolated battlefield, time seemed to have lost its meaning.

You slash, I slash.

You slash, I chop.

The most primitive form of combat, the purest clash of wills.

Liu Hao's flowing, Mysterious Robe remained intact. The seven-colored light shimmered under the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful. But Liu Hao's breathing had become increasingly heavy. Sweat streamed down his forehead. His knuckles turned white from gripping the Imperial Sword so tightly.

Aizen's body was covered in countless wounds. His white haori was soaked in blood and tattered. But the Hōgyoku on his chest shone with an increasingly bright blue light, and the pale purple light patterns spread wildly, quickly sealing and healing every wound.

Finally--

The two of them simultaneously stepped back, creating distance between themselves.

They stood at opposite ends of the ruins, more than ten feet apart, both panting heavily.

Liu Hao leaned on the Imperial Sword with both hands, its tip planted in the ground to support his body. His chest heaved violently, sweat trickling down his cheeks and dripping onto the gravel at his feet. The iridescent Mysterious Robe he wore had dimmed considerably, becoming somewhat transparent.

Aizen was also panting. His breathing was rapid and erratic, and the Hōgyoku on his chest was flashing wildly. The purple light patterns spread across his body like living things, quickly sealing his wounds. He raised his head and looked at Liu Hao, the calm smile still on his lips, but there was now an undisguised... weariness in that smile.

"It seems..." Aizen, his voice hoarse and low, yet still carrying that unhurried air, "We... have all reached our limits."

Liu Hao looked up at him, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Yes... I've reached my limit."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange change occurred in Aizen's body.

White substances began to emerge from the wounds sealed by the Hōgyoku! These substances, like living things, surged out of the wounds, covering his skin and gradually forming a thin, pale white film!

That thin film, resembling Hierro, was more delicate, smoother, and more... eerie than Hierro.

Liu Hao's pupils contracted slightly. He watched as the white substance spread and covered Aizen's body, and as Aizen's aura began to undergo a fundamental change, his voice low and solemn. "Oh... so it's starting to evolve?"

Aizen looked down at the white substance spreading across his body, his smile deepening. That smile carried an indescribable sense of relief and satisfaction, as if saying, "I've finally waited for this": "Yes."

He raised his head and met Liu Hao's gaze, his deep eyes flashing with an unprecedented light. "Because as the Soul Reaper, I have reached my limit."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "However, it's quite remarkable that you've pushed me to this extent, Liu Hao."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hao chuckled softly. There was a faint, almost self-deprecating tone in his smile, "Is that so?"

He lowered his head, glanced at the completely black Imperial Sword in his hand, then at the faded, almost transparent, flowing-colored Mysterious Robe he wore, and gently shook his head.

"However, I don't think it's good enough." He raised his head, looking at Aizen again, his eyes flashing with resentment. "After all... I didn't defeat you."

Aizen looked at him, a slight glint in his eyes. In that glint was admiration, regret, and a hint of something indescribable—a respect as if looking at a worthy opponent... "Yes."

He nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalance, as if saying, "This is fate": "It seems you cannot do it."

The moment the words left his mouth, a blinding red light suddenly shone from behind Aizen!

The light was incredibly fast, so fast that Aizen didn't even have time to react!

Pfft--!

A red light pierced through Aizen's body!

It pierces through the back and exits through the chest!

Aizen's body stiffened abruptly! He lowered his head, looking at the red light emanating from his chest, which was still trembling slightly.

An undisguised shock flashed in his eyes.

He slowly turned his head and looked in the direction from which the light was coming.

In the distance, atop a low building, a familiar figure stood quietly.

Kisuke Urahara.

He wore his signature green striped hat, one hand holding the brim, the other holding his cane. The tip of the cane was pointing directly at Aizen, the red light still lingering.

Kisuke Urahara's voice drifted from afar, carrying a faint, almost nostalgic tone. "It's been a long time, Aizen."

He paused, a hint of undisguised teasing in his voice. "It's rare that you'd dress like this?"

Aizen looked at the gaping wound in his chest, at the white substance gushing out, and a faint smile played on his lips. His voice remained calm, revealing no anger or panic at being ambushed. "Anything still evolving is ugly."

Kisuke Urahara chuckled softly, a complex expression in his smile, "I never said you were ugly."

He paused, his gaze falling on the Hōgyoku shimmering with a deep blue light on Aizen's chest, his tone becoming serious. "Before, Liu Hao said... you would fuse with the Hōgyoku. At the time, I didn't believe it; I thought it was impossible."

He shook his head slightly, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. "I didn't realize how wrong I was until I saw it with my own eyes."

Upon hearing this, Aizen chuckled softly. His laughter was gentle and composed, yet carried an indescribable, almost corrective tone. "This isn't called fusion."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "Please summarize it as... taming, okay?"

He looked at Kisuke Urahara, his tone carrying a hint of gentle patience, as if he were instructing a junior. "It's different from the Hōgyoku that you couldn't fully control back then..."

Kisuke Urahara's brow twitched slightly. A complex light flashed in his eyes. "I couldn't completely control it... that's true. At that time."

Upon hearing Aizen, Aizen's smile deepened, "Back then?"

He tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, as if saying, "You still won't admit defeat": "It sounds like you just won't admit defeat. No, actually, it doesn't matter if you don't admit defeat, because..."

The moment he finished speaking, he vanished.

It wasn't Shunpo, nor was Sonído; it was pure, extreme speed. Even with his body pierced through, even while evolving, his speed remained unbelievably fast!

The next moment, he was already standing in front of Kisuke Urahara!

The Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand was raised high, and then—

A single slash pierced through Kisuke Urahara's chest!

Kisuke Urahara's body stiffened abruptly. He looked down at the blade protruding from his chest, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

Aizen stood before him, inches away, his smile gentle and composed, "Because... you have forever lost the chance to control the Hōgyoku."

However, the instant his words fell—

Kisuke Urahara's body suddenly swelled and exploded!

Bang--!

It shattered into countless fragments, scattering in all directions!

Aizen's pupils contracted slightly. A scene flashed through his mind—a scene that had appeared in Yammy's battle log.

The prop that Kisuke Urahara showed to Yammy: a portable Gigai.

A lifelike, remotely controllable humanoid Substitute!

At the same time, a voice drifted from behind him. "Six Rods Light Restraint."

Aizen's body stiffened abruptly as six golden light shards flew in from all directions, instantly piercing his body and immobilizing him!

He turned his head slightly and glanced behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Kisuke Urahara had appeared behind him without him noticing, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. The movement was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

A complex light flashed in Aizen's eyes. "That's right... there was such an item in Yammy's battle logs."

He paused, his tone carrying a faint hint of self-reflection. "I originally thought that this was a prop that wouldn't be used anymore... so I didn't notice it."

He exerted a little force, trying to break free from the Six Rods Light Restraint: "But do you think you can trap me with this level of Bakudō?"

Kisuke Urahara didn't answer his question. He simply adjusted his hat, his voice calm and resolute. "This level of Bakudō?"

He paused, his tone becoming even more serious. "What do you mean by 'this level'?"

The moment he finished speaking, he swung his arm sharply. "Bakudō Sixty-Three, Sajō Sabaku!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several thick chains radiating golden light suddenly flew out from the void! As if they were alive, they frantically wrapped around Aizen's body, binding him tightly from head to toe!

Aizen's body was tightly bound by those golden chains, unable to move!

However, Kisuke Urahara's attack was not over yet.

His voice rang out again, carrying a solemnity as if chanting an ancient incantation. "Bakudō Seventy-Nine, Nine Luminaries Binding!"

As soon as he finished speaking, eight jet-black, star-like points of light appeared out of thin air around Aizen's body, completely surrounding him! The eight points of light slowly rotated, emitting a cold, eerie glow, firmly locking Aizen in the center!

At the same time, a ninth equally black spot of light suddenly appeared in the center of Aizen's chest, directly above the Hōgyoku!

Three Bakudō, layered upon layer!

Six Rods Light Restraint imprisoned his movements, Sajō Sabaku his body, and Nine Luminaries Binding sealed his core!

Aizen was firmly bound by these three Bakudō and was unable to move for a moment!

An undisguised shock flashed in his eyes.

Kisuke Urahara stood behind him, still adjusting his hat, his voice calm as still water. "It's not over yet."

He took a deep breath and began to chant the highest-level, world-destroying Hadō: "At the edge of a thousand hands, the supreme hand cannot reach the darkness, the archer of the heavens cannot illuminate..."

His voice grew louder and faster, each syllable echoing like thunder across the battlefield. "The path of radiant light, the wind that ignites the spark, gather together without hesitation, follow my command..."

Countless dazzling rays of light began to appear around him! These rays swirled and condensed around him, transforming into sharp arrows of light!

"Light Bullet·Eight Body·Nine Articles·Tian Jing·Ji Bao·Big Wheel..."

The light arrows multiplied and grew denser, hovering around him in a dense array, illuminating the entire battlefield as bright as day!

"The gray turret, bow drawn towards the distance, vanished in a pristine glow..."

Kisuke Urahara suddenly pointed his hand forward!

"Hadō #91, Senju Kōten Taihō!!"

The moment the words fell, countless blinding rays of light transformed into enormous pillars of light, shooting towards the trapped Aizen from all directions!

Boom!

A deafening explosion instantly engulfed Aizen's figure!

A blinding light shot into the sky, illuminating half the night sky as if it were daytime! A violent shockwave spread wildly in all directions, blasting away the surrounding ruins once again! A huge mushroom cloud rose into the air, obscuring the moon!

The light, the explosion, the shockwave lasted for several seconds before slowly subsiding.

Kisuke Urahara lowered his arm, turned around, and walked to Liu Hao's side.

He looked at Liu Hao's exhausted appearance, at his faded, flowing Mysterious Robe and the jet-black Imperial Sword, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "How are you?"

Liu Hao leaned on the Imperial Sword, its tip deeply embedded in the ground, supporting his body. He gasped for breath, sweat blurring his vision. He raised his head, glanced at Kisuke Urahara, and said in a hoarse, exhausted voice, "I'm alright."

He paused, his gaze falling on the now completely black Imperial Sword in his hand. "I now need to break my own seal."

He looked up and said, "Call the others out, and let them hold out for a while longer."

Kisuke Urahara looked at him, giving him a meaningful glance. His eyes, hidden in the shadow of his hat, gleamed with a complex, indescribable light.

There was a moment of silence.

Then he nodded slightly. "Okay."

He turned around and looked at the plume of smoke and dust from the explosion that was slowly dissipating in the air.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a figure is slowly emerging.

When the smoke and dust completely dissipated--

Sōsuke Aizen appeared in everyone's sight.

But at this moment, he is completely different from before.

His entire body was covered with a pale white substance, like Hierro! The substance clung tightly to his body, reflecting a cold light in the moonlight, like a suit of armor tailor-made for him.

Half of his face was covered by the same white substance, starting from his left eye and extending to the corner of his mouth, revealing only the right half of his face, which still retained a human appearance. In that exposed right eye, an unprecedented, deep, and eerie light flickered.

And in the very center of his chest, the Hōgyoku) was emitting a deep and beautiful light, as if it were one with his entire being.

Aizen slowly stretched his body, the white Hierro rippling slightly with his movements. He looked down at his new posture, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

He looked up at Kisuke Urahara and Liu Hao, a faint hint of smugness in his smile, as if saying, "Did you see that?": "Not bad."

His voice became somewhat ethereal, as if coming from a distant place, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity. "Unfortunately... if I were the person before I tamed the Hōgyoku, perhaps I would have already lost."

Kisuke Urahara's pupils contracted slightly.

In that very instant--

Behind him came Aizen's leisurely voice. "Too late..."

Kisuke Urahara suddenly turned around!

But it was too late.

Aizen had appeared behind him without him noticing, and an arm covered in white Hierro lashed out—

Laugh--!

Kisuke Urahara's shoulder was slashed open by the sharp blade on that arm, leaving a deep wound! Blood splattered everywhere!

Kisuke Urahara staggered back a few steps, clutching the wound on his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with disbelief. He looked at Aizen, his voice hoarse and low. "Mr. Aizen... it seems you really..."

He paused, his tone growing more somber. "After obtaining the power of the Hōgyoku, they began to relax..."

Upon hearing this, Aizen chuckled softly. His laughter was gentle and composed, yet carried an indescribable meaning, as if saying, "Don't you understand?": "Don't you understand?"

He raised his hand, looking at his arm covered in white Hierro, his tone carrying a calmness as if stating a truth. "After my body was able to tame the Hōgyoku... it began to far surpass..."

He paused, his smile growing even more meaningful, "Originally, in the Soul Society, my abilities were already unmatched."

He raised his head, Kisuke Urahara's gaze, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Now, even Kidō of level ninety and above no longer need to be avoided."

Kisuke Urahara listened quietly, his shock slowly fading, replaced by a faint, meaningful smile.

He adjusted his hat, his voice calm and firm. "You're wrong."

Aizen's brow twitched slightly.

Kisuke Urahara continued, his tone becoming even more somber. "When I said 'lax,' I didn't mean you weren't avoiding the Kidō."

His gaze fell on Aizen's wrists.

There, two golden halos are slowly emerging!

Aizen lowered his head, looking at his wrist, his pupils suddenly contracting!

"This is..."

Kisuke Urahara, as if saying, "You finally figured it out": "... Blockade."

He adjusted his hat, the shadow of the brim obscuring his eyes, revealing only a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, "I've sealed off the Reiatsu outlets that every Soul Reaper has on their hands..."

He paused, his tone becoming even more meaningful. "You will... be burned away from within by your own Reiatsu."

An undisguised shock flashed in Aizen's eyes!

He could clearly feel the Reiatsu within his body surging, expanding, and compressing wildly! The Reiatsu that should have flowed smoothly out of the openings in his hands was now tightly blocked, with nowhere to go but to surge wildly within his body!

His body began to tremble violently!

A violent, out-of-control Reiatsu storm began to erupt from his body!

The Reiatsu storm grew stronger and stronger, completely enveloping his entire body!

Aizen struggled and roared in the storm, and for the first time, his calm smile completely vanished!

Just then--

A massive, Arrancar head hurtled in from afar and slammed into Kisuke Urahara and Liu Hao!

Bang--!

Rocks flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!

Kisuke Urahara and Liu Hao both looked down at the same time, their pupils slightly contracting.

They recognized that head.

Wonderweiss, the Visored specially created by Aizen to seal Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka!

At this moment, its head was severed at the neck, and blue blood was still flowing from the cut. Its empty eye sockets stared straight at the sky, devoid of any life.

The two of them simultaneously looked up in the direction from which the head had been thrown.

A figure was slowly walking towards them.

The pace was slow and unhurried, yet it carried an indescribable majesty, like that of a king surveying his territory.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, Captain -Captain-Commander the Gotei 13.

He was still wearing that pristine white Captain's Haori, with the Ryūjin Jakka tucked into his waistband, and his face always bearing that serious expression. He slowly walked up to the two of them, his gaze sweeping over Liu Hao and Kisuke Urahara, then over the raging Reiatsu storm in the distance, finally settling on Wonderweiss's head.

His voice, aged and dignified, carried a faint hint of disdain, as if saying, "How did you get into this mess?": "Looks like you've run into trouble."

He paused, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on his serious face, "Do you need this old man... to lend a hand?"

Liu Hao lowered his head, looking at the skull of Wonderweiss on the ground, his lips twitching slightly. He raised his head, looking at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Old Man Yama, aren't you afraid of blowing this up and killing us by throwing it over here?"

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto raised an eyebrow, a gesture that carried a hint of disdain, as if to say, "You're too cowardly." "That little flame could kill you?"

He paused, his tone becoming even more disdainful. "That only proves... you've been slacking off."