Aizen vs. Liu Hao (10)

The Hōgyoku sensed that it was about to face the same fate as the other Hōgyoku, so it began to rebel frantically, desperately trying to make Aizen evolve again. It wanted to unleash all its power, to push Aizen to a higher level, to make Aizen strong enough to fight against Liu Hao and protect its own existence.

Aizen felt an immense power surge from the Hōgyoku in his chest, flowing into his body and soul. This power was so strong, so violent, so uncontrollable, that even Aizen himself was caught off guard. His body began to change; his Reiryoku surged, and his cultivation level began to loosen. He felt himself being pushed to a completely new height, a height he had never reached before.

But at that moment, the Imperial Guards moved.

His figure vanished from his spot in an instant, appearing before Aizen the next second. His speed was unbelievable, seemingly defying time itself, leaving no room for reaction. The Imperial Guard held his Tang Dao high, its blade gleaming with a cold, icy light. The sword light seemed to emanate from another world, carrying an irresistible pressure and an inescapable destiny.

The Tang Dao was swung down from top to bottom.

Aizen's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately activated his power, attempting to use Light-Form Movement to dodge the attack. That was his strongest movement ability, allowing him to move at the speed of light, to appear anywhere instantly, and to evade any attack. Light began to flicker around his body, a sign that Light-Form Movement was activating.

However, after a flash of light, Aizen found himself still in the same spot.

He did not move.

It did not move an inch.

Aizen's heart sank to the bottom. He didn't understand what was happening. His Light-Form Movement had never failed before; it was an ability he was very proud of. But now, that ability had failed. He was frozen in place, unable to move, unable to dodge, unable to resist.

He just watched helplessly as the Tang Dao in the Imperial Guard's hand fell.

The blade sliced through the air without making a sound. It seemed to cut through space itself, the flow of time, and the arrangement of fate. The blade entered Aizen's head and traveled down along the midline of his body.

Aizen felt a chill run down his spine, a chill that spread throughout his entire body, from his head to his brow, from his brow to the bridge of his nose, from the bridge of his nose to his lips, from his lips to his chin, from his chin to his throat, from his throat to his chest, from his chest to his abdomen, and from his abdomen to his legs.

In that instant, time seemed to stand still. In that instant, Aizen saw his past. He saw that genius boy, that Loneliness researcher, that ambitious schemer, that madman who wanted to become a god. He saw his own life, his own choices, and his own destiny.

Then, his body split open from the middle.

It was split in two from top to bottom.

There was no splattering blood, no screams or wails, only an almost peaceful separation. Aizen's body split in two, falling to either side. His eyes were still open, lingering with the shock and resentment of that moment. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

His body fell to the ground with a dull thud.

The entire space fell silent once more.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Kisuke Urahara's hat. His fingers stopped trembling, as if he had transcended shock and reached a state of clarity. He looked at Aizen lying on the ground, at the once invincible, once masterful strategist, once self-proclaimed god-like genius, now lying on the ground like an ordinary corpse, and an indescribable complex emotion welled up in his heart.

On the Imperial Throne, Liu Hao remained calmly seated. He looked at Aizen's "corpse," a faint smile playing on his lips. That smile contained neither the joy of victory nor contempt for the enemy, but only a calmness as if he had long anticipated all of this.

Just then, the body on the ground that had been split in two suddenly began to change.

The change came silently, yet with tremendous force. Aizen's body, split in two, seemed to be drawn together by some power, slowly moving towards the center. The instant the two halves touched, there was no blood, no wounds, no trace of healing, only a near-perfect fusion. That fusion was like the blending of water and water, the overlapping of light and light, the rebirth of life itself.

Everyone held their breath, watching this scene unfold. Kisuke Urahara's eyes narrowed slightly beneath the brim of his hat, a complex light flickering within them. The Imperial Guard remained expressionless, only his grip on his Tang Dao tightened slightly. On the Imperial Throne, Liu Hao remained calmly seated, a faint smile even playing on his lips, as if he had anticipated all of this.

A moment later, Aizen's body was fully restored. He returned to the appearance of a normal person, completely intact, as if the attack had never happened. His skin was as smooth as ever, his breathing as steady as ever, and his expression as calm as ever. The only difference was that the spot on his chest where the Hōgyoku had once been embedded was now empty. The Hōgyoku had disappeared.

Aizen slowly stood up. His movements were slow and gentle, yet they carried an unprecedented confidence. He raised his head, looked at Liu Hao, and a smile appeared on his face. That smile was different from his usual composed smile; it was an almost frenzied excitement, a ecstatic joy at finally getting what he wanted.

"Liu Hao," Aizen said with a smile, his voice brimming with barely suppressed smugness, "So what if you could destroy Kisuke Urahara's Hōgyoku? That was just an incomplete Hōgyoku. But the one inside me is the real Hōgyoku, the perfect Hōgyoku, the one that can allow me to Hōgyoku. You see—"

As he spoke, Aizen raised his Zanpakuto. It was an elegantly designed sword, Kyōka Suigetsu, a terrifying existence that had once plunged countless people into illusion. But at this moment, the sword was undergoing an astonishing transformation. Starting from the tip, the blade began to dissipate segment by segment, like melting ice and snow, like evaporating dew, like a vanishing phantom. The speed of dissipation was neither too fast nor too slow, just enough for everyone to clearly see the process.

Aizen watched as his Zanpakuto in his hand, his smile deepening. His eyes gleamed with fanaticism, and his voice rose in intensity. "The Hōgyoku has determined that I no longer need Zanpakuto. Kyōka Suigetsu, this companion that has been with me for hundreds of years, has fulfilled its purpose."

From this day forward, my own strength is the greatest! I need no more weapons, no more tools, no more external assistance. For I myself am God!