Makoto, Welcome Back

For a moment, the cheers of the Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Divisions came to an abrupt halt as they stared blankly at Aizen Sōsuke in midair.

Even after his spiritual body had seemingly been utterly smashed into dust, he could actually... recover?!

This scene had clearly surpassed all so-called common sense, even far exceeding the limits of so-called "Super Regeneration."

The next moment, a resounding voice echoed from within the seemingly endless Wooden Giant Buddha.

"Is this the power of the 'Hogyoku,' Aizen?"

"That's right. Are you disappointed? What a pity—you can't kill me!" Aizen Sōsuke replied.

"Is that so?"

The Wooden Giant Buddha moved faintly once more, and the depleted portions of the ring formed by the myriad giant palms behind it rapidly replenished themselves at a visible rate.

"It seems Captain Aizen did not hide the 'Hogyoku' within his spiritual body, but fused it into his Zanpakuto. In other words, Aizen Sōsuke's true fatal weakness is his Zanpakuto, correct?"

"Then if I completely crush Captain Aizen's spiritual body once more and seal your Zanpakuto, will Captain Aizen's immortality still work?"

The moment those words were spoken, the spiritual pressure emanating from Aizen Sōsuke noticeably sank. His face darkened as though some sore point had been struck.

Seeing the giant palm ring behind the Wooden Giant Buddha about to fully recover, Aizen Sōsuke spoke with a trace of unwillingness in his voice.

"Chiba Makoto, this will never be the end. We have... plenty of time ahead of us. Let us see how long you can protect the Seireitei..."

As Aizen Sōsuke's words fell, he casually pulled a finger behind him, opening a Garganta at his back.

Aizen Sōsuke then slowly retreated into the Garganta, leaving behind a distant gaze and a final sentence.

"I look forward to our