Liu Ziyun vs. Aizen (Part One)

Aizen looked at Liu Ziyun, his brown eyes no longer displaying the composure and confidence of before, but instead filled with a deep, almost philosophical contemplation. In his mind, the implanted memories were colliding, merging, and separating from the real memories.

He was re-examining every "encounter," every "conversation," and every "encounter" with Liu Ziyun. Those scenes that he thought were real and that made him lower his guard against Liu Ziyun were actually just lies carefully woven by this man.

"You shouldn't just want me to give up targeting you while we're talking, right?" Aizen's voice remained calm, but with a subtle hint of seriousness.

Liu Ziyun nodded, his smile unchanged, but a sly glint flashed in his eyes, like a chess player's satisfaction after his opponent finally understood the game.

"Yes," his voice was calm and direct, without boasting or smugness, simply stating a fact, "I also used my knife to subconsciously make you feel that I'm just a minor character and won't affect your plans."

He paused, his gaze deepening. "However, as you came into contact with the Hōgyoku, and even fused with Hōgyoku, your strength continuously increased, and you gradually broke free from the subconscious influence I had placed on you. That's why you made some arrangements against me in your subsequent actions."

Aizen was silent for a moment. His mind raced through every action he had taken recently related to Liu Ziyun —the leeway he had subconsciously left for this man, the "just in case" arrangements he had instinctively made. He had always thought it was out of caution, out of precaution against the unknown. But now he knew—it wasn't caution; it was his subconscious breaking free of its shackles, his instinct whispering in his ear, "This man is dangerous."

"Now you're telling me your abilities like this," Aizen's voice held a hint of inquiry, "And for what reason?"

Liu Ziyun's lips curled up slightly, a smile that carried a hint of self-mockery, a touch of relief, and a long-suppressed desire that could finally be released.

"Warlike," his voice grew low and hoarse, "It's never just the 11th Division's nature. Me too."

Blood vessels began to appear in his eyes, forming a dense network like a spider web, turning his eyes bloodshot, like a wild beast that had finally broken free of its cage.

"But," his voice held a hint of regret and helplessness, "No one allowed me to have a truly satisfying battle. It's really a shame."

His voice grew lower and hoarser, each word seemingly squeezed from the depths of his throat, carrying a long-suppressed, almost frantic desire.

"Originally, I didn't want to confront you directly, but—" His voice trembled slightly, not with fear, but with excitement, "I simply couldn't bear the thought of fighting someone without giving it my all."

He raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring directly at Aizen, the light in them sending chills down one's spine—not the light of reason, but the light of instinct, primal, beast-like.

"This obsessive pursuit of instinct," his voice tinged with both pain and relief, "Has been relentlessly eroding my soul for nearly two hundred years since I came to the Soul Society."

He began to release Reiatsu from his body.

That power wasn't the calm, composed release of before, but a violent, long-suppressed outburst, like a volcanic eruption. Reiatsu surged from his body, sweeping outwards and tearing the surrounding air, distorting and deforming it. The ground began to crack, pebbles began to bounce, and fine cracks appeared on the distant Stone Pillars under the impact of that Reiatsu.

The Reiatsu is still rising.

It grew stronger and stronger, so strong that even the Soul Reaper in the distance involuntarily took several steps back. Their faces were filled with shock and disbelief—they had seen Liu Ziyun release Reiatsu before, but they had never seen him release it so unreservedly. The intensity of that Reiatsu far exceeded that of Aizen's earlier release, and even surpassed that of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.

The captains of the Gotei 13 felt the pressure, and their expressions turned serious. Shunsui Kyōraku placed his hand on the hilt of Katen Kyōkotsu, Jūshirō Ukitake's Sōgyo no Kotowari trembled slightly at his waist, and even the usually calm Byakuya Kuchiki couldn't help but furrow his brow.

The members of the Visored also felt that pressure. Shinji Hirako's smile froze on his face, Hiyori Sarugaki's eyes flashed with horror, and Kensei Muguruma clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"This guy," Shinji Hirako's voice was tinged with disbelief, "Just how much strength has he been hiding?"

Aizen smiled, but it wasn't a mocking or contemptuous smile. Instead, it was a genuine, heartfelt excitement that one feels when facing a worthy opponent. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his brown eyes burned with the same fervent fighting spirit as Liu Ziyun.

"You should know the power of my Zanpakuto," his voice carried a hint of provocation and confidence, "You healed your eyes, so you think you have the ability to break it?"

Liu Ziyun didn't answer. He just stared, his eyes red, a near-mad smile spreading across his face, and then—

His figure vanished from the spot.

The speed of Shunpo was astonishing, so fast that it left no afterimage, as if he had never existed. In the next instant, he appeared in front of Aizen, his Life-Taker Tulu whistling sharply as it slashed fiercely toward Aizen's head.