Aizen vs. Liu Hao (Part Three)
Just as Aizen was about to leave, a chilling killing intent suddenly attacked from behind!
He didn't have time to think, or even to turn around—
Laugh--!
A sword slashed fiercely into his back!
Wherever the sword passed, crimson Reishi blood splattered everywhere!
Of the five remaining purple butterfly wings on Aizen's back, another one was forcibly severed by Liu Hao! The broken wing drifted helplessly through the air, scattering countless tiny Reishi particles like withered petals!
A wave of excruciating pain washed over him, causing Aizen's body to tremble violently! He gritted his teeth, enduring the piercing pain, and his Reiatsu exploded wildly beneath his feet, causing him to vanish from his spot in an instant!
The next moment, he was already dozens of feet away!
He hovered in mid-air, panting heavily, his purple eyes fixed on Liu Hao in the distance, burning with unprecedented anger and... disbelief!
Liu Hao stood quietly in place, holding the Imperial Sword that shimmered with seven-colored light in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he were watching an amusing performance.
That smile stung Aizen's pride.
He, Sōsuke Aizen, having fused with the Hōgyoku, crossed the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows, reaching a height that countless people dream of—yet this man before him, like a child being toyed with, had his wings cut off time and time again, and was repeatedly manipulated at his mercy?!
His chest heaved violently, and the Hōgyoku embedded in his chest flashed wildly with purple light, as if responding to his inner anger and resentment!
He spoke, but his voice was no longer calm and collected; it was now a near-mad scream, "Bastard... bastard...!!"
His hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, purple blood seeping from between his fingers. "How could this be... how could this be!!"
He raised his head, his purple eyes burning with rage. "You're just a mere Grim Soul Reaper... how could you possibly surpass me?!"
His voice echoed in the night sky, carrying an almost manic question!
However, just as his roar ended—
Click.
A very faint, almost imperceptible cracking sound came from his body.
Aizen's body stiffened abruptly.
His head involuntarily tilted to the side, as if something was awakening inside him.
Right in the center of his forehead, his skin suddenly split open! A strange, vertical eye snapped open from the crack!
That eye had no pupil, only a pure, abyss-like blackness. It spun wildly in its socket, sweeping around uncontrollably, and wherever its gaze fell, space itself seemed to distort slightly!
Immediately afterwards--
Click... Click... Click...
More cracking sounds emanated from Aizen's body!
Starting from the vertical eye on his forehead, fine cracks spread outwards like a spider web! Those cracks covered his forehead, his cheeks, his neck, and his entire body!
In the blink of an eye, Aizen's entire body was covered with dense cracks! He stood there like a porcelain statue about to shatter, as if it might break into countless fragments at any moment!
Then--
A blinding purple light suddenly shone from the Hōgyoku on Aizen's chest!
The light grew brighter and more intense, like a miniature sun burning on his chest! It instantly engulfed Aizen completely, forming a massive, heaven-and-earth-piercing purple pillar of light!
The beam of light shot straight into the sky, as if to tear the night sky apart! It illuminated the entire battlefield, every shocked face, and every inch of the ruins soaked in blood!
Everyone looked up at the towering purple pillar of light, feeling the terrifying power it contained, enough to destroy everything, and an indescribable shock and fear welled up in their hearts!
From within the pillar of light, a series of deep, rhythmic pulsations, like a heartbeat, could be heard.
Thump... thump... thump...
Each sound seemed to strike a chord in everyone's heart!
Then--
Click.
Another crisp sound.
A fine crack appeared on the purple beam of light.
Click... Click... Click...
The cracks multiplied and became increasingly dense, covering the entire pillar of light like a spider web!
Finally--
Bang--!
A deafening roar!
The enormous purple pillar of light shattered with a deafening roar!
Countless purple lights scattered and flew everywhere, like fireflies slowly drifting down from the night sky!
And within that shattered light—
Sōsuke Aizen reappeared in everyone's sight.
But at this moment, he is completely different from before.
The vertical crack in the center of his forehead still remained, but the wildly spinning eye had stopped moving. It sat there quietly, like a black gem, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.
His face was no longer the composed and handsome one it once was; instead, it had turned into a pure, abyss-like black! That black was not skin, nor a mask, but an indescribable existence, as if formed from pure darkness!
His original facial skin—the face that once smiled serenely—was now torn apart from the center like shed snakeskin, hanging limply on either side of his blackened face! The sight was eerie and terrifying, as if he were emerging from a cocoon from his old face!
Three enormous holes pierced through his body, appearing on his upper body! The edges of these holes were smooth, and the insides were empty, with only a faint purple light flowing within them! The Hōgyoku was embedded in the very center of the uppermost hole, emitting a deep and eerie light!
His right hand had become completely fused with his Zanpakuto! The blade extended from his arm, gleaming with a cold light, as if he himself were a living Zanpakuto!
Behind him, the wings that Liu Hao had once severed had now been completely reborn! No, not only reborn—they had become even larger, more ferocious, and more terrifying!
Six enormous, butterfly-like purple wings slowly unfurled behind him! On the spine of each wing grew a hideous skull! Eerie purple flames burned in the empty eye sockets of those skulls, as if they were about to open their mouths and spew out the power to destroy everything!
Aizen hovered in mid-air, his six wings outstretched, surrounded by skulls, and enveloped in a deep purple, almost living Reiatsu. He looked down at his new form, his dark eyes flashing with a complex and unfathomable light.
He spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet carrying an indescribable, almost conversational quality. "I understand..."
He paused, his voice growing deeper. "So you still can't forgive me, do you? The Hōgyoku..."
He raised his head, his dark eyes looking at Liu Hao in the distance. "I actually... lost to a Soul Reaper!!"
The moment the words fell--
A wing behind him suddenly stretched out!
The wings, like a giant purple python, instantly covered a distance of tens of feet, heading straight for Liu Hao! And the skull on the wing's spine suddenly opened its hideous maw!
Within its mouth, purple light frantically gathered and compressed! The light grew brighter and more intense, instantly condensing into a gigantic purple sphere with a diameter exceeding one meter!
Radiant Break – Aizen's ultimate Cero after the fusion of the Hōgyoku!
With a sudden flick of its wrist, the giant purple orb of light hurtled towards Liu Hao like a falling meteor!
Wherever the sphere of light passed, the air was completely ionized, and space itself seemed to be torn apart with countless fine cracks! The terrifying power it contained was enough to level the entire area!
Faced with this ultimate blow that could destroy everything, Liu Hao simply stood still.
He didn't even move a step.
He simply extended his left hand.
That hand, with its five fingers spread, suddenly condensed a dazzling seven-colored light in its palm! The light was as intense as the blazing sun, instantly forming a barrier in its palm that shimmered with a seven-colored halo!
The purple Radiant Break violently into the seven-colored barrier!
Boom--!
A deafening roar!
The violent shockwave spread wildly in all directions, blasting away the surrounding ruins once again! The light was so blinding that it was impossible to look directly at it, as if two suns were colliding in the night sky!
However--
The Radiant Break that could destroy everything was actually caught by Liu Hao with one hand!
It hovered above his palm, spinning wildly, trying to break free from the seven-colored barrier! But every struggle was suppressed by the seven-colored light, unable to break free, let alone explode!
Aizen's pupils contracted violently!
He watched as Liu Hao caught his Radiant Break with one hand, watched that ultimate blow, powerful enough to destroy a city, struggle futilely like a trapped beast amidst the seven-colored light, and a chilling feeling welled up in his heart!
Liu Hao raised his head, looked at him, and a faint, slightly amused smile appeared on his lips, "Evolved again?"
He paused, his smile becoming even more meaningful, "Not bad."
The moment he finished speaking, his left hand clenched tightly!
The purple Radiant Break he held in his palm shattered the instant his five fingers closed! It didn't explode, nor did it dissipate; rather, it was crushed by his force, like fragile glass!
Countless purple specks of light scattered and vanished from between his fingers!
A flicker of barely concealed horror flashed in Aizen's eyes!
But he gave Liu Hao no chance to catch his breath. He suddenly raised his right hand, which was fused with his Zanpakuto, the tip of the blade aimed at Liu Hao, and with his lips slightly parted, uttered a few words: "Hadō #99 - Five Dragon Destruction!"
The moment he finished speaking, five enormous, dragon-like yellow lightning bolts shot out from the tip of his blade! The five electric dragons the Roar as they charged toward Liu Hao, tearing apart the very space in their wake!
This is the highest level of Hadō, the ultimate Kidō capable of destroying everything!
Faced with the five the Roar electric dragons charging towards him, Liu Hao simply smiled slightly.
His figure vanished from the spot in an instant!
It wasn't Shunpo, nor Sonído, but a true and complete disappearance!
The next moment, he appeared behind Aizen!
He raised the Imperial Sword high in his hand, and then—swung it out fiercely!
Aizen's pupils contracted again! But his reaction was already incredibly fast!
He slightly shifted his body to the side, and the incoming sword blade grazed past him!
At the same time, he stretched out his left hand, suddenly lunged forward, spread his five fingers, and fiercely grabbed Liu Hao's sword blade!
The sword's edge was held in his palm!
Red blood seeped from between his fingers, but he held on tightly and wouldn't let go!
He turned his head, his dark eyes meeting Liu Hao's. A faint, smug smile played on his lips, "Now... do you still have the confidence to defeat me?"
He paused, then his smile deepened, "You?"
Liu Hao stood there quietly, the Imperial Sword in his hand gripped tightly by Aizen, yet he showed no panic. He simply looked at Aizen, his face expressionless, as if what was being held was not his weapon, but something insignificant.
He spoke, his voice as calm as still water. "Oh? Just because you've evolved again?"
Upon hearing this, Aizen's smile deepened. He nodded slightly, his tone carrying an indescribable confidence, as if saying, "Don't you understand?": "Of course."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "You are indeed very strong... strong enough to constantly surprise me, strong enough to force me to evolve time and time again."
He tightened his grip on Liu Hao's sword, the purple light spreading from his palm, attempting to erode the seven-colored radiance on the Imperial Sword: "But you should know... I've been evolving. And what you've done is merely accelerate my evolution."
The moment he finished speaking, the six enormous wings behind him suddenly extended!
Like six giant purple pythons, they instantly surrounded Liu Hao! The six skulls on their wings simultaneously opened their ferocious maws, from which purple light gathered wildly!
Six purple beams of light simultaneously shot out from the six skulls!
The six beams of light converged, merged, and compressed in mid-air, instantly forming two enormous, halo-like white rings! These rings hovered above Liu Hao's head, radiating a terrifying power capable of destroying everything!
Ultimate Radiant Break – Aizen's strongest attack after the fusion of the Hōgyoku!
Within that ring, an invisible yet overwhelming force surged wildly, attempting to fix Liu Hao within it and render him unable to move!
Aizen looked at him, his smile deepening, "Now, what can you do?"
Liu Hao was enveloped by the two white rings and felt the terrifying force that was trying to bind him, but his face showed no panic.
He simply looked at Aizen quietly, his eyes gleaming with a faint pity, as if he were looking at an ignorant child.
He spoke, his voice so calm it was as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary fact. "Sigh..."
He sighed softly, a hint of disappointment in his voice, as if saying, "That's all you can do."
The moment the words fell--
He moved.
His hand, gripping the Imperial Sword, suddenly jerked violently!
The sword blade that Aizen gripping tightly suddenly erupted with an extremely dazzling seven-colored light! The light was so strong, so intense, and so terrifying that it instantly shook Aizen's palm away!
The sword's edge had slipped from his control!
At the same time, the two white rings surrounding Liu Hao shattered suddenly under the impact of the seven-colored light! Not disintegrated, not vanished, but shattered like fragile glass!
Boom--!
The violent shockwave spread wildly in all directions! Aizen's six wings that were surrounding Liu Hao were shaken backward by the shockwave, and the skulls on them let out a shrill scream!
Aizen himself was so shaken by this force that he staggered backward several steps in the air, almost losing his balance!
He steadied himself, raised his head, and looked at Liu Hao, his dark eyes flashing with unprecedented horror!
Liu Hao stood quietly in place, his hands resting on the Imperial Sword, which had been fully unleashed. Seven-colored light flowed across the sword as if it were alive, illuminating his calm and resolute face.
He spoke, his voice calm and clear, each word striking Aizen's heart. "Then... let Captain Aizen see if I can defeat you."
He paused, gripping the sword hilt tightly with both hands. The seven-colored light intensified, enveloping his entire body. "Bankai..."