Aizen vs. Liu Hao (2)

Gin Ichimaru stood at the edge of the ruins, his perpetually squinting eyes slightly opened, his gaze falling on Isshin Kurosaki lying on the ground.

A knowing smile played on his lips, and his tone was lighthearted, as if he were teasing an old friend. "Captain Shiba, you've really protected your son very well."

Upon hearing Isshin Kurosaki's face, which was pale from blood loss.

He pursed his lips and said in a weak but still somewhat stubborn voice, "After all, I'm just a teenager. The way of life in the World of the Living is different from that in Soul Society."

He paused, his gaze falling on his son beside him, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes—pride, worry, and a touch of guilt.

Gin Ichimaru nodded slightly, his smile fading and replaced by an indescribable, distant look, as if he were recalling something. He let out a long sigh, the sound echoing in the silent night sky, carrying an inexplicable heaviness.

He turned his gaze to Ichigo Kurosaki, a complex light flickering in his half-closed eyes. "Ichigo, in Soul Society... being strong is a good thing. But being too strong is not a good thing."

Upon hearing this, Ichigo Kurosaki turned around, his young face filled with confusion. "Why?"

Gin Ichimaru gently shook the Kamishini no Yari in his hand, the movement casual and lazy, yet carrying an indescribable depth, as if telling an ancient fable, "In the beginning, Liu Hao's strength might not have been able to match Aizen's. So he could only choose to hide, otherwise he would definitely have been targeted."

He paused, a bitter smile playing on his lips, "Think about it, even if Liu Hao hid himself, Aizen still targeted him. So what about the others?"

Ichigo Kurosaki frowned even more deeply, and asked in confusion, "But even so, didn't Aizen still target us?"

Gin Ichimaru nodded, his gesture carrying a hint of "you're right" in his approval. "Yes. Think about it..."

He took a step forward, his posture casual yet carrying an oppressive aura that compelled people to listen attentively. " Among the Gotei 13, Captain Yamamoto can keep them in check. After all, Old Man Yamamoto has lived for over a thousand years; his prestige and strength are undeniable, and no one dares to be too presumptuous under his nose."

He paused, his tone becoming more meaningful. "However, the Central 46 and those nobles won't be so easily suppressed."

A hint of confusion flashed in Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes.

Gin Ichimaru looked at him, his smile carrying a hint of patient instruction, as if he were teaching a student. "Especially those nobles... they'll use all sorts of methods to try and control Liu Hao. If they can't control him, they'll try to destroy him."

His voice grew even deeper. "Finally, Liu Hao was killed."

Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils contracted slightly. Almost instinctively, he asked, "Why?!"

Gin Ichimaru looked at him, his half-closed eyes gleaming with a worldly-wise light. "Because of... profit."

He paused, then said, word by word, "An uncontrollable powerhouse, a powerhouse capable of overturning the existing order at any time... if not used by them, will become an obstacle to their pursuit of profit."

He gently shook his head, a gesture carrying a faint hint of helplessness, as if saying, "That's human nature." "Aizen understood this very thing. That's why he was so obsessed with becoming stronger, even wanting to become the Soul King himself, thereby changing the rules of this world."

He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "However, in Liu Hao's words... he took the wrong path. Otherwise, he wouldn't only have Kaname Tōsen following him."

Ichigo Kurosaki listened quietly, his confusion gradually replaced by a thoughtful expression. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice low. "Now that he's broken the seal, his exposed strength... won't that make people wary?"

Upon hearing this, Gin Ichimaru's smile deepened. He nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation, as if saying, "You've hit the nail on the head": "Perhaps."

He paused, his smile growing even more enigmatic, "Perhaps he already possesses... the power to overturn a table."

He said the words "flip the table" casually, yet with an indescribable certainty, as if saying, "This is the final answer."

Retsu Unohana stood quietly to the side, her gentle eyes fixed on the figure in the air fiercely battling Aizen. Hearing Aizen Gin Ichimaru's words, she nodded slightly, a faint acknowledgment as if saying, "Yes, that's right."

Her voice was soft and calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "He now possesses the power to overturn the table, so he fears no schemes or tricks."

She paused, a faint, complex emotion flickering in her gentle eyes, as if she were worried about something. "I just don't know what kind of trouble those people from the Seireitei will cause."

Her voice grew lower. "Hopefully, they won't do anything too foolish."

As Retsu Unohana finished speaking, everyone simultaneously raised their heads, their gazes fixed on the two figures locked in fierce combat in the air.

In the night sky, Liu Hao and Aizen stood facing each other.

The moonlight shone on the two people, outlining two completely different yet equally unsettling silhouettes.

The three pairs of purple butterfly wings behind Aizen fluttered gently, scattering countless tiny Reishi particles, making him appear like a god descended to earth.

His face still wore that composed smile, but in his purple eyes, there was a hint of undisguised... gravity.

Liu Hao stood opposite him, surrounded by a faint seven-colored light. His face no longer showed the previous weariness, but rather an indescribable sense of relief, as if he could finally let go...

The two had just finished a fierce exchange and were now facing each other from a distance.

Aizen spoke first, his voice still calm and composed, yet carrying an undisguised... probing tone. "Not bad. To be able to fight me for so long without being at a disadvantage."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hao's lips curled into a mocking smile. That smile lacked its previous weariness and seriousness, carrying only a faint, dismissive contempt, as if saying, "You're too naive": "Not at a disadvantage?"

He paused, his mocking smile deepening. "Aizen, have you misunderstood something?"

He slowly raised the Imperial Sword in his hand, its seven-colored light swirling under the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful. "I was just warming up with you... getting used to the power I haven't unleashed in a long time."

The moment he finished speaking, he moved.

With a mere flick of his Imperial Sword, a crescent-shaped sword aura shot forth from its blade! The sword aura was condensed to its extreme, its edges shimmering with dazzling seven-colored light, and its speed was unbelievable as it flew straight toward Aizen!

Aizen's pupils contracted slightly! Without any hesitation, he shifted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the direct impact of the sword energy!

The sword energy whistled past him, severing several remaining stone pillars behind him and leaving a long-lasting seven-colored streak in the night sky!

However, just as he dodged the sword energy—

Liu Hao's figure had already appeared in front of him!

He raised the Imperial Sword high in his hand, then slashed down fiercely!

Aizen's reaction was incredibly fast! He abruptly raised the Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand, firmly blocking the fatal slash!

Clang--!

Swords clashed, sparks flying!

The two were standing very close, their eyes meeting!

Aizen gritted his teeth, a calm smile still playing on his lips, but his purple eyes flashed with an unprecedented seriousness. "You should know... an attack of this magnitude can't do anything to me, right?"

As he spoke, he suddenly exerted force with his Zanpakuto, sending Liu Hao flying!

Liu Hao's body was sent flying backward by the enormous reaction force!

However, just as he was being sent flying backward, he swung the Imperial Sword in his hand once more!

Another crescent-shaped sword beam hurtled towards Aizen!

At the same time, he pushed off the ground with both feet, as if stepping on invisible steps, forcefully stopping his backward flight! Then, like a black lightning bolt, he charged towards Aizen once again, following the sword light he had unleashed!

Aizen casually swung his Zanpakuto, cleaving the incoming sword beam in two! The shattered beam transformed into countless tiny specks of light, scattering in all directions!

He was preparing to retaliate and slash at Liu Hao, who was charging towards him.

However, at that moment, Liu Hao, who was rushing towards him, suddenly disappeared from his sight!

It wasn't Shunpo, nor Sonído, but a true and complete disappearance!

Aizen's eyes widened in surprise!

His instincts screamed a warning, but his eyes couldn't catch any trace of Liu Hao!

Just then, a voice drifted from behind him. "Yes, that level of attack really can't do anything to you."

Aizen's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Did you think... that's all the attacks I can unleash?" Before he could finish speaking, a hand had already grabbed one of his wings from behind!

Aizen tried to turn around abruptly, but it was too late!

Liu Hao stood behind him, his Imperial Sword raised high, and then—

He cleaved down hard!

Laugh--!

The sound of a sword piercing flesh was dull and grating!

One of Aizen's purple wings was severed from its root by Liu Hao's sword!

The severed wing spun a few times in the air, scattering countless points of Reishi light, before slowly drifting down!

At the same time, a deep, gruesome wound appeared on Aizen's back, running diagonally from his left shoulder to his right waist! Red blood gushed out of the wound!

The immense impact caused Aizen to stagger forward several steps! He lost his footing and nearly fell from the air!

He steadied himself abruptly, turned around, and stared intently at Liu Hao with his purple eyes!

In that gaze, there was disbelief, anger, and a hint of barely concealed... fear!

Liu Hao stood not far behind him, holding the severed purple wing in his hand. He looked down at the wing in his hand, a faint, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips.

Then, he casually tossed the wing to the ground.

He looked up, Aizen's gaze, his smile deepening, "What? Can't accept it?"

Aizen didn't answer. He just stared intently at Liu Hao, his purple eyes flashing with a complex and unfathomable light. His breathing became rapid, and the spot on his chest where the Hōgyoku was embedded was flashing intensely!

Liu Hao gave him no chance to catch his breath. He raised the Imperial Sword in his hand again and unleashed another sword aura at Aizen!

The sword energy whistled past, heading straight for Aizen's face!

However, just as the sword energy was about to strike Aizen—

Aizen's figure vanished from the spot in an instant!

A glint flashed in Liu Hao's eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around abruptly and slashed backward with the Imperial Sword in his hand!

Clang--!

Swords clashed!

Aizen appeared behind him as expected, his Kyōka Suigetsu sword aimed fiercely at his back! But Liu Hao's incredibly precise backstab blocked it perfectly!

The two were once again very close!

Liu Hao looked at him, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if to say, "I knew it all along."

Looking at that smile, Aizen felt an indescribable anger rise within him!

He, Sōsuke Aizen, having fused with the Hōgyoku and crossed the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows to reach unprecedented heights, was actually being toyed with like this by the man before him?!

He increased the pressure on his hands, his Reiatsu surging wildly, attempting to overwhelm Liu Hao with pure power!

Liu Hao felt the increasing pressure, but he only smiled slightly.

Using Aizen's force, he took a step back, creating distance between himself and Aizen!

At the same time, he swung the Imperial Sword in his hand again, unleashing another burst of sword energy!

This time, Aizen didn't choose to shatter the sword energy. He simply turned slightly to the side, letting the sword energy whistle past him! His gaze remained fixed on Liu Hao, not daring to relax for a moment!

Liu Hao looked at him, his smile growing even wider. He charged at Aizen again, raising the Imperial Sword high in his hand, and then—

He slashed down fiercely!

Aizen Zanpakuto, preparing to block the attack!

However, just as his blade was about to make contact with Liu Hao's sword—

Liu Hao's figure disappeared from his sight once again!

Aizen's pupils contracted again!

But this time, he was prepared!

Without any hesitation, he Zanpakuto horizontally!

This strike was swift and ruthless, almost completely covering the space behind him!

Really--

Liu Hao appeared behind him!

The sweeping blade struck Liu Hao hard!

He sliced Liu Hao in two at the waist!

However--

Aizen didn't feel any physical contact when he cut into something.

The "Liu Hao" who was cut in two vanished like a bubble the moment the blade passed by, turning into countless tiny specks of light!

It's an afterimage!

Aizen's expression became more solemn than ever before!

Without any hesitation, he unleashed a burst of Reiatsu beneath his feet, preparing to instantly leave the spot!

But--

It's too late.