Fighting Aizen Again (6)

The Reiatsu was stronger, more intense, and more terrifying than ever before! It was like a purple pillar of light piercing through the heavens and earth, shooting straight into the sky, as if it would tear the entire sky apart!

That light illuminated the entire battlefield! It illuminated every shocked face!

Within that purple pillar of light, Aizen's body began to undergo strange changes!

His flesh and blood, his bones, his Reiatsu, everything about him, dissolved, reformed, and sublimated in that light!

His entire being merged into that purple Reiatsu, as if undergoing some indescribable, transcendent transformation!

A few seconds later--

The light slowly faded.

Aizen's figure reappeared before everyone's eyes.

But his demeanor was completely different from before.

He hovered in mid-air, with three pairs of enormous, butterfly-like purple wings growing behind him! The wings were as thin as gauze, with faint golden light flowing around their edges. With each flap, they scattered countless tiny Reishi particles, a breathtakingly beautiful sight!

The huge hole in his chest was still there. But in that hole, a cross-shaped support made of purple light had appeared! The support firmly supported the edge of the hole, and in the very center of the support, there was a fist-sized, empty indentation, which was the place where the Hōgyoku would be inlaid!

Aizen lowered his head, looking at his newfound appearance, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He raised his head, his purple eyes looking down at Gin Ichimaru below, a hint of smugness in his voice as if saying, "You see?": "I won, Gin."

He paused, his smile deepening, "The Hōgyoku you stole... whether it's inside me or not, it belongs to me."

Gin Ichimaru's pupils contracted slightly! He could clearly feel that the Hōgyoku in his hand, which had been behaving peacefully, was now trembling violently! It was resisting his grip, it was struggling frantically, it wanted to go back!

Gin Ichimaru gritted his teeth, gripping the Hōgyoku tightly with his fingers, using all his strength to try and keep it!

But that power was too great.

The Hōgyoku, as if drawn by some invisible force, was slowly slipping through his fingers!

Aizen's figure vanished into thin air in an instant!

The next moment, he appeared in front of Gin Ichimaru and Liu Hao!

The distance was no more than three feet!

He raised his hand, the Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand soaring high, and slashed down fiercely towards Gin Ichimaru's head!

This strike was swift and ruthless, carrying the power to destroy everything!

Gin Ichimaru's pupils contracted sharply! He tried to dodge, but the blade was too fast! So fast that he had no time to react! His body seemed frozen in place, and he could only watch helplessly as the deadly blade drew ever closer!

However--

Just as the blade was about to touch Gin Ichimaru's head—

A figure appeared before him like a ghost!

A slender hand, yet possessing terrifying power, rose, its five fingers spread wide—

He firmly caught Aizen's descending blade!

Clang--!

A deafening clang of metal clashing!

That blade, powerful enough to split the heavens and the earth, was held firmly in that hand! It didn't budge an inch!

Everyone was stunned.

Their gazes fell upon the owner of that hand—

It was a woman.

A woman dressed in a magnificent Mysterious Robe, surrounded by iridescent light. Her face was exquisitely beautiful yet cold and aloof, her eyes like the deep night sky, sparkling with countless stars. She exuded Reiatsu that was of the same origin as Liu Hao's, but even deeper and more powerful.

Imperial Princess.

The materialization of Liu Hao's Zanpakuto is an existence that appeared after Liu Hao completely unleashed his Zanpakuto.

Liu Hao himself remained standing not far away, his hands resting on the now completely black Imperial Sword. But the faded, flowing-colored Mysterious Robe on his body was beginning to shine brightly again!

He raised his head, and his eyes, echoing those of the Imperial Princess, shone with the same breathtaking light.

He spoke, his voice calm and resolute. "Aizen... let's begin our second battle."

He paused, a faint smile playing on his lips, "I'm ready too."

Aizen turned his head to look at him. A hint of undisguised surprise flashed in his purple eyes. He looked at Liu Hao's revitalized appearance, and at the Imperial Princess blocking his way, his tone carrying a faint, playful tone, as if saying, "What else can you do?": "In your current state... how are you going to continue fighting me?"

However, he had barely finished speaking—

An extremely terrifying Reiatsu suddenly erupted from the Imperial Princess!

The strength, intensity, and vastness of that Reiatsu far exceeded Aizen's imagination! It was a power capable of changing the very fabric of the world, a pressure that could instill fear even in the gods!

Aizen's pupils contracted violently!

He felt his right hand, which was holding the knife, tremble slightly under the impact of this Reiatsu!

Danger!

His instinct kicked in, and he frantically warned them!

Without the slightest hesitation, he pushed off with his foot and instantly retreated!

And just as he retreated—

Gin Ichimaru Hōgyoku that Gin Ichimaru was clutching tightly in his hand suddenly transformed into several streams of purple light, flying out from between his fingers!

Those streaks of light, like birds returning to their nests, shot towards the empty hollow in Aizen's chest!

Puff--!

The flowing light merged into the depression, Hōgyoku was re-set in Aizen's chest!

The purple light instantly shone brightly alongside the three pairs of wings behind Aizen, illuminating the entire night sky!

Aizen hovered in mid-air, looking down at the Hōgyoku that had been restored to its original position on his chest, his smile growing even wider.

He raised his head, looking down at Liu Hao Imperial Princess, his voice carrying a faint hint of anticipation, as if saying, "This is just the beginning": "Interesting."

He gently moved his wrist; a faint Reiatsu still lingered on the blade where the Imperial Princess had held it. "Then let's begin."

The Imperial Princess quietly walked behind Liu Hao, her slender and long hand gently pressing on his back. A warm current, seemingly containing endless vitality, emanated from her palm, spreading along Liu Hao's spine and gradually permeating every corner of his body.

After a moment, the Imperial Princess raised her head, her eyes, as bright as stars, gleaming with a gentle yet resolute light. Her voice was soft and melodious, like a clear mountain spring flowing through the air. "See you later."

Liu Hao turned his head slightly to look at the Imperial Princess behind him, a faint smile playing on his lips, tinged with gratitude and tacit understanding. He nodded gently, saying nothing, but his eyes said it all: Go, I know, I've always known.

The Imperial Princess smiled too.

That smile was breathtakingly beautiful, yet it carried a faint, farewell-like meaning.

Then--

Her body began to change.

The hem of her Mysterious Robe was the first to turn into fine dust. Like fireflies on a summer night, the dust emitted a faint seven-colored light and slowly drifted away in the air. Next, her hands, her arms, her body, her face, her entire body, little by little, turned into countless tiny, shimmering dust particles.

The dust did not dissipate, but instead seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, slowly yet firmly drifting towards the completely black Imperial Sword in Liu Hao's hand.

They merged into the Imperial Sword, like birds returning to their nests, like rivers flowing into the sea.

With each grain of dust that merged into the sword, the black seal on the Imperial Sword trembled slightly. The black patterns that Griffith had set before his death, covering almost the entire blade, began to show fine cracks.

Click--click--click--

The cracks became more numerous and denser, spreading outwards like a spider web.

Finally--

Bang!!

With a crisp crack, the black patterns shattered completely! Countless tiny black fragments scattered and flew into the air, vanishing without a trace!

The Imperial Sword has been restored to its original form.

The sword's blade was no longer a deathly black, but instead shimmered with dazzling seven-colored light! That light flowed under the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful, yet containing a terrifying power capable of destroying the world!

Liu Hao slowly straightened up.

He no longer needed to lean on the Imperial Sword for support. He stood there, his back straight, his spine like a pine tree, surrounded by a faint yet chilling Reiatsu.

He raised his head, looking at Aizen suspended in mid-air, a faint, confident smile playing on his lips, "After learning Bankai, I compressed and sealed away all my Reiatsu."

His voice was calm and clear, each word seemingly striking the hearts of everyone present. "And the key to breaking the seal... I left it within the Imperial Princess."

Aizen listened quietly, a complex light flickering in his purple eyes. His expression grew serious.

He spoke, his voice still composed, yet carrying a hint of barely concealed... apprehension. "Oh?"

Liu Hao looked at him, his smile growing even wider, "The Reiatsu you sensed from the Imperial Princess just now... was merely a power of the same origin as the one I sealed."

He paused, his gaze deepening. "So, you should know... even if you've transcended the power of Soul Reaper and Hollows, you still need to be cautious when facing my power."

He tilted his head slightly, a gesture identical to Aizen's. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have let Gin Ichimaru go."

Aizen silent.

He did not refute it.

Because what Liu Hao said was true.

Just a moment ago, the Reiatsu that erupted from the Imperial Princess did indeed make him feel... danger. That danger did not come from the strength of the power, but from an instinctive awe of a higher level of existence.

That was a threat he couldn't ignore, even after fusing with the Hōgyoku and crossing the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows.

That's why he chose to back down.

Aizen's face darkened. A chilling killing intent flashed in his purple eyes. "So what?"

His voice, no longer composed, carried a faint, ruthless edge, as if saying, "You think you can win like this?": "Defeat you... and they will all fall under my blade."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hao chuckled softly. There was no mockery, no contempt in his laughter, only a calm composure, as if saying, "Then let's see." "The question is... will I be defeated by your blade?"

The moment the words fell--

An astonishing change has occurred in Liu Hao!

An indescribable Reiatsu erupted from his body!

The Reiatsu was far stronger, more intense, and more terrifying than ever before! It was like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years, finally awakening and erupting magma powerful enough to destroy the world!

That Reiatsu wasn't directed at anyone, nor was it intended to oppress anyone. It simply existed purely and simply.

But its mere existence was enough to make everyone around it feel an indescribable heaviness.

Gin Ichimaru stood not far away, his perpetually squinting eyes now fully open. He looked at Liu Hao, his eyes flashing with disbelief. His hand involuntarily tightened its grip on the Kamishini no Yari, an instinctive, reactive response to facing a truly powerful opponent.

Rangiku Matsumoto leaned against him, her face pale and her breathing rapid. She couldn't even look Liu Hao in the eye, and could only lower her head, feeling the suffocating pressure out of the corner of her eye.

In the distance, Four Beast Gate Block.

The Soul Reaper and Visored members protected by the barrier also felt that terrifying Reiatsu.

Shinji Hirako's pupils contracted sharply, and he murmured, "Just who... is this guy...?"

Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted his straw hat and said with a wry smile, "It seems our previous worries were completely unnecessary."

Soi Fon gritted her teeth and remained silent, but her eyes gleamed with a mixture of resentment and admiration.

And that Reiatsu continued to rise.

It's getting stronger, more intense, and more suffocating.

Just as everyone felt they were about to be crushed by the Reiatsu and unable to breathe—

Laugh--!

A soft sound.

That immense Reiatsu was like a taut string that had been stretched to its limit, suddenly snapping!

Then--

It disappeared.

It didn't dissipate, it didn't weaken, but it truly and completely disappeared.

No one could sense any Reiatsu emanating from Liu Hao anymore.

He stood there quietly, as if he were just an ordinary person, a mortal without any power.

But it was precisely this feeling of "emptiness" that amplified the fear in everyone's hearts.

That is not the emptiness of losing power, but rather the return to simplicity after power has reached a certain extreme... nothingness.

As Liu Hao's Reiatsu continued to rise—no, to "disappear"—the Imperial Sword in his hand was also undergoing astonishing changes.

The fragments of seals that had just shattered on the sword had completely disappeared. In their place, a more and more dazzling and intense seven-colored light was shining!

The light flowed, leaped, and swirled across the sword, like a grand dance of light. With each turn, the sword became more transparent, purer, and more... as if it were no longer a physical entity, but rather an existence formed from pure light!

Finally, at the moment when the light reached its peak—

The entire Imperial Sword seemed to come alive.

It was no longer a weapon in Liu Hao's hand, but had become one with him, a part of his body, and an extension of his will.

Liu Hao raised his head and looked at Aizen. His eyes shimmered with a seven-colored light that shared the same origin as the Imperial Sword.

The faint smile still lingered on his lips.

And not far away, amidst the ruins.

Isshin Kurosaki leaned against a broken rock, his face pale and his breathing weak. But his eyes were still wide open, staring at the proud figure standing in the distance.

He spoke, his voice hoarse and weak, each word seemingly uttered with all his strength. "Ichigo... can you sense the Reiatsu emanating from Liu Hao?"

Ichigo Kurosaki knelt beside his father, one hand on his shoulder, the other gripping Zangetsu tightly. His gaze was also fixed on Liu Hao.

Hearing his father's question, he paused slightly, then nodded. "Sure."

His voice held an undisguised astonishment. "Wow, that's amazing... At first, I thought only Aizen's Reiatsu was monstrous. I never imagined that Liu Shu's Reiatsu could rival his."

He paused, his gaze becoming more focused. "However, I can sense... Liu Shu seems to be holding back, not unleashing his full power."

Upon hearing this, a complex emotion flashed in Isshin Kurosaki's weary eyes. He turned his gaze back to Liu Hao, looking at the proud figure standing there, and murmured, "Is that so? He even restrained his Reiatsu..."

He paused, a bitter smile appearing on his pale face, "He really is like a monster."

Ichigo Kurosaki frowned slightly. He looked down at his father, his eyes filled with confusion. "What's wrong? Can't you feel it?"

Isshin Kurosaki sighed softly. In that sigh, there was relief, bitterness, and a faint trace of the helplessness of a father unable to protect his son. "Sigh..."

He paused, his tone becoming even lower. "Our levels are no longer on the same level. Therefore, we can no longer sense Aizen and Liu Hao's Reiatsu."

Ichigo Kurosaki was suddenly startled!

His eyes widened, his voice trembling with barely concealed shock. "Then me?!"

Isshin Kurosaki looked at him, his eyes flashing with complex emotions—gratification, pride, and a hint of worry. "You can sense their Reiatsu... that proves you're on the same level as them."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "However, your strength is still too immature; you cannot be on par with them."

He took a deep breath and continued, "However, Liu Hao said... your power is still growing. Sooner or later, you will be able to surpass them and become a higher being."

Ichigo Kurosaki listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the proud figure standing in the distance.

He looked at Liu Hao, looked at Aizen, and felt the two terrifying powers that he could clearly perceive but could not fully understand. An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

That emotion contained awe, longing, and a faint... self-doubt.

Is it really possible?

He asked himself the question silently in his heart.

[Those two are incredibly powerful, like monsters... Can I really surpass them?]