Fighting Aizen Again (I)

"Alright." Liu Hao sighed helplessly, a faint look of relief appearing on his tired face, as if to say, "Since you've said so."

He still leaned on the now completely blackened Imperial Sword, supporting his swaying body, and looked up at Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, his tone carrying a rare hint of respect. "For now, there's no need for the Captain-Commander to intervene... After all, we're all still standing here."

Upon hearing this, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes, which had witnessed a thousand years of vicissitudes, narrowed slightly, and his gaze fell on Liu Hao with piercing intensity.

He gazed silently at Liu Hao's faded, flowing Mysterious Robes, at the Imperial Sword completely covered in black patterns, and at his weary yet still upright spine. His aged yet majestic voice slowly resounded. "Then let me see... your hidden strength."

His words trailed off, as if carrying an indescribable expectation, or as if issuing an unquestionable command.

And at this very moment—

The storm of Reiatsu that had been erupting wildly in the distance suddenly subsided.

Sōsuke Aizen's figure slowly emerged from the gradually dissipating Reiatsu.

His entire body was completely covered by that pale white substance. The substance clung to his body like armor tailor-made for him, reflecting a cold, eerie luster in the moonlight. His face was covered by the white substance, leaving only his eyes visible, and those eyes were now flashing with an unprecedented, deep, and eerie light.

His steps were unhurried, each step carrying an indescribable elegance that seemed to transcend the mundane. He walked to the edge of the ruins, his gaze sweeping over Kisuke Urahara and Liu Hao, finally settling on Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

"Oh?" His voice, though faint, came from his throat covered in the white substance, yet remained crystal clear. "Is the Captain-Commander also going to join the fray against me?"

He tilted his head slightly, the movement still elegant and composed, yet carrying an indescribable contempt, as if saying "it's nothing special": "If it were the old me, perhaps I would have found it troublesome. Now..."

He paused, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. Even beneath the white substance covering his face, a faint smile could still be discerned, "It doesn't matter. Perfect... let me personally eliminate you, the one who represents the thousand-year history of Soul Society."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto listened quietly, his aged face expressionless. He simply spoke, his voice authoritative yet calm. "If you want me to intervene, you'll need to deal with these brats in front of you."

Upon hearing this, Aizen's gaze returned to Kisuke Urahara and Liu Hao. A complex light flashed in his eyes, a light that contained scrutiny, amusement, and an indescribable interest, as if he were looking at interesting toys.

He slowly pulled a bracelet off his wrist.

The bracelet was entirely silver-white, shimmering faintly in the moonlight. He gently shook the bracelet in his hand, his tone carrying a calmness that sounded like stating a fact, "If your opponent wasn't me... no, I should say, if I hadn't already tamed the Hōgyoku... the battle would have been over long ago."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "But... unfortunately, the Hōgyoku I created is unlike the half-finished product you created that Liu Hao took away; it has exceeded your comprehension."

His gaze fell on Kisuke Urahara, his tone carrying a faint hint of sarcasm, as if saying, "You're too naive": "The techniques you created to fight me are useless against me now."

Kisuke Urahara listened quietly, his expression unchanged. He simply raised his cane slowly, and then—

Click.

With a soft crack, the top of the cane split open, revealing a hidden blade.

Benihime, the Zanpakuto that had accompanied him for countless years, was slowly pulled from his cane.

The blade reflected a cool light under the moonlight, with faint red patterns flowing along its edge.

Aizen watched him draw his sword, his smile deepening. "After your techniques fail, you're left with nothing but strength?"

He slightly raised the Kyōka Suigetsu sword in his hand, its tip pointing towards Kisuke Urahara: "No problem... Come on."

The moment the words left his mouth, Kisuke Urahara action!

His figure transformed into a black streak of light, rushing towards Aizen! He raised the Benihime high, and with a sharp whooshing sound, slashed down fiercely towards Aizen's head!

However, just as his blade was about to touch Aizen—

Another figure suddenly appeared behind Aizen!

Isshin Kurosaki!

He appeared out of nowhere, his Zanpakuto raised high, and slashed down fiercely from behind Aizen!

A pincer attack!

Both swords slashed at Aizen simultaneously!

However, despite the sudden attack from both sides, Aizen showed no sign of panic.

He simply raised his right hand slightly—

Clang--!

He firmly parried Kisuke Urahara's sword! Blade against blade, sparks flew!

At the same time, he gently lifted his left foot—

Clang--!

Isshin Kurosaki's sword was blocked by his foot! The blade struck his foot without leaving even a scratch!

A faint smile appeared on Aizen's lips.

With a sudden burst of strength from his right hand, he deflected Kisuke Urahara's sword!

With a powerful kick of his left foot, he sent Isshin Kurosaki's sword flying!

Then--

His movements were incredibly fast!

He kicked Isshin Kurosaki hard in the chest!

Bang--!

Isshin Kurosaki was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string!

With a single, powerful slash, he aimed for Kisuke Urahara!

Kisuke Urahara raised his sword to defend, but the force of the sword was too great for him to withstand!

Boom--!

He was sent flying backward by the blow, tumbling several times in the air before finally regaining his footing!

However, at the very moment the two were thrown backwards—

At the same time, they pulled out a chain!

The chain in Isshin Kurosaki's hand was precisely fastened to Aizen's ankle, which had just been kicked away!

The chain in Kisuke Urahara was also precisely fastened to Aizen's wrist holding the sword!

The two of them exerted force simultaneously, pulling taut!

Aizen's body was firmly fixed in place by these two chains, unable to move!

He glanced down at the chains on his ankles and wrists, a calm smile still playing on his lips, "What are you doing?"

He had barely finished speaking—

A figure suddenly fell from the sky!

Yoruichi Shihōin!

Her hands and feet were adorned with strangely shaped, metallic devices! These devices were entirely black, reflecting a cold, eerie light under the moonlight, and were densely covered with intricate patterns—clearly specially made equipment!

She crashed down on Aizen, who was bound by chains, like a falling meteor!

Her foot, clad in that specially made iron armor, stomped hard on Aizen's chest!

Bang--!

A dull, resounding crash, like the sound of leather being struck!

Aizen was stomped to the ground by this kick! His body smashed through the rubble beneath his feet and embedded itself deeply in the crater!

Smoke and dust filled the air, and gravel flew everywhere!

Yoruichi Shihōin landed on him, looking down at Aizen whom she had trampled under her feet, a smug smile playing on her lips, "How about that? It worked, didn't it?"

However, she had barely finished speaking—

Aizen, who was being trampled under her feet, trembled slightly.

He lay on the ground, and from his throat, covered in a white substance, he uttered two words: "Bastard..."

Those two words, though light and airy, carried an indescribable, almost irritating, coldness.

Yoruichi Shihōin's pupils contracted slightly. She could clearly feel a terrifying power surging from the person beneath her feet!

But she did not back down.

She straddled Aizen, her armored fists raining down like a storm!

"Oh--Oh--Oh--!"

Every punch carries the power to split mountains and shatter rocks!

Each punch landed heavily on Aizen's body, which was covered in white Hierro!

Bang bang--!

The dull, relentless bombardment continued! Each strike caused Aizen's body to tremble slightly, deepening the crater beneath him!

Yoruichi Shihōin unleashed all her power, all her anger, and all her... resentment!

Finally--

She stopped punching, panting heavily.

She lowered her head and looked at Aizen, whom she was relentlessly attacking.

Aizen's body was covered with countless cracks! The cracks spread out from the white Hierro on his body like a spider web, almost covering his entire body!

A hint of joy flashed in Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes. "How was it? It worked, didn't it...?"

However, she hadn't finished speaking—

In the distance, Kisuke Urahara's startled cry rang out, "Yoruichi! Get out of the way!!"

Yoruichi Shihōin's body suddenly stiffened!

She felt a terrifying force surging wildly from beneath her!

Without any hesitation, she pushed off with her feet and suddenly retreated!

But--

It's too late.

A flash of light suddenly appeared beneath her!

The blade flashed with unbelievable speed, so fast that she didn't have time to completely dodge it!

Laugh--!

A flash of light, and the specially made iron armor on Yoruichi Shihōin's left foot shattered! Metal fragments flew everywhere!

Yoruichi Shihōin staggered backward, landing next to Kisuke Urahara. She looked down at her shattered armor, her eyes gleaming with disbelief.

Aizen slowly stood up from the pit.

The numerous cracks on his body were healing at a visible speed! The white substance was gushing out from the cracks, quickly filling and repairing each one!

In the blink of an eye, his body was completely healed, as if he had never been attacked.

He lightly brushed the dust off his clothes, looked up at Kisuke Urahara and the other two, his smile widening, "What's wrong?"

His voice remained calm, yet carried an indescribable contempt, as if saying, "Is this all you've got?": "Is your attack over?"

He slowly emerged from the pit, each step carrying an indescribable majesty, like a king surveying his territory. "You'd better act quickly... Before I can dismantle your final offensive, I will break down each of your attacks one by one."

He walked to the edge of the ruins, looking down at Kisuke Urahara and the other two, his tone becoming even more meaningful. "You devised many methods to defeat me... That's proof of your hard work and strength. And..."

He paused, then his smile deepened, "That also represents the magnitude of your hopes."

He raised the Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand, its tip pointing at the three of them. "Now, what I must do... is to completely dismantle your offensive. Continue your attacks, Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Isshin Kurosaki."

His gaze swept past the three men and landed on Liu Hao, who still stood leaning on his sword in the distance. His tone carried a hint of mockery. "Let Liu Hao see... how powerless his chosen man is before me."

Kisuke Urahara frowned slightly. He glanced sideways at Yoruichi Shihōin, who was squatting beside him, his gaze lingering on her shattered armor, especially her left foot, which was completely broken. His tone carried a hint of helplessness. "Ugh, this is really troublesome..."

He paused, his tone becoming even more helpless. "This is... specially made armor designed to withstand Hierro... and it was destroyed so easily?"

Upon hearing this, Yoruichi Shihōin abruptly turned her head, glaring at Kisuke Urahara with eyes practically spitting fire. "Huh? What? It's like you're making it all my fault!!"

Seeing her like this, Kisuke Urahara's helpless expression instantly turned into a fawning smile, "No way! I didn't mean that."

Yoruichi Shihōin stared intently at him, her tone full of dissatisfaction. "You've already said it! You're trying to say that it's all because I wasn't focused, right? Listen! Basically, it's because you didn't do a solid job! Your carelessness during the production stage is the real reason!!"

Kisuke Urahara quickly waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing a child. "Okay, okay, I know!"

Aizen watched their bickering silently, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. His gaze fell on Yoruichi Shihōin's feet, which, despite their shattered armor, remained intact. His tone carried an undisguised admiration. "I see... You managed to get away with my attack without a scratch."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "Indeed, quite special."

Upon hearing this, Yoruichi Shihōin's face lit up with a smug smile. She lifted her foot, its armor shattered, and gently shook it. "You mean my foot?"

Aizen didn't answer, but simply continued walking forward. His steps were unhurried, as if he were strolling leisurely. "There's nothing to argue about. Debating anything is pointless."

He paused, his tone becoming even more ethereal. "If one strike can negate something... then just three more swings of the sword, and that 'special' will disappear as well."

Kisuke Urahara's expression turned serious. He stared intently at Aizen's every move, his voice low and wary. "It's coming..."

Yoruichi Shihōin's smile faded, and she became serious. She leaned forward slightly, assuming a ready-to-attack stance. "I know."

Kisuke Urahara his head slightly to look at her. "Is it alright?"

Yoruichi Shihōin spoke with a serious tone, but still stubbornly replied, "Who are you talking to? Just don't use your left foot to attack."

However, the instant she finished speaking—

Aizen's figure disappeared.

The next moment, he was already standing beside Yoruichi Shihōin!

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

A single slash!

Yoruichi Shihōin's pupils suddenly contracted! Before she could even think, her body instinctively raised her arm to defend herself!

Clang--!

A deafening clang of metal clashing!

That powerful strike, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, slashed fiercely at her raised arm!

The immense impact sent Yoruichi Shihōin flying backward like a kite with a broken string!

She tumbled several times in the air before finally regaining her balance and landing on the ground, staggering back a few steps.

She looked up at Aizen, her eyes gleaming with disbelief.

Aizen stood still, flicking the Kyōka Suigetsu sword in his hand without a trace of blood staining its blade. He looked at Yoruichi Shihōin, his smile growing even wider.