A Chasm-like Gap

"Oh? Are you planning to be my opponent this time?"

Kurosaki Masaki narrowed her eyes slightly, her icy gaze passing over Aizen and landing directly on the indifferent Ross beside him. A faint, hidden regret flashed deep within her eyes.

In truth, Ross was the one she wanted to kill most.

Unfortunately, with Aizen stepping in to interfere, she probably had no reason to attack Ross this time.

On second thought, perhaps this was a kind of relief.

After all, fear of that man still lingered deep within her shattered heart.

That dread etched into her bones had long been gnawing away at her will like a parasitic disease.

If Ross had not ordered her to act freely this time, she would have needed tremendous courage even to stand before him.

The despair and fear that man had given her were simply too profound, too enduring.

"Come. Let me witness the true strength of the legendary Espada of True King's Palace."

Holding his sword in one hand, Aizen gracefully made a gesture of invitation.

Before his words had even faded, his figure vanished into thin air amid that elegance.

A Flash Step pushed to the absolute limit!

There was not even time for the air to produce a sonic boom before Aizen appeared like a ghost in Kurosaki Masaki's blind spot behind her left side.

Illusion sliced through the air, carrying an edge sharp enough to sever space and wrapped in overwhelming Spiritual Pressure as it mercilessly slashed toward the woman's neck.

Acting now was both his own choice and what he considered the best opportunity to reveal his strength.

Moreover, the enemy before him was a perfect vessel that united the powers of Quincy, Hollow, and Shinigami.

As a researcher and a seeker of such power, he desperately wanted