In the end, the Light Empire was defeated in its battle against the Seireitei.
Yhwach, with part of his power sealed away, was ultimately defeated by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and had no choice but to enter a thousand-year period of hiding.
In terms of potential, Yhwach surpassed Ichibei Hyosube, who in turn surpassed Ailin.
After all, as long as people continued to exist in this world, Yhwach could continue growing until he reached the Spirit King's level.
Meanwhile, the amount of "black" and "swords" in the world was fixed. There was only so much black, and only so many swords.
However, because Ailin possessed information about "swords" from other worlds, no one could say for certain what level he would ultimately reach.
Suppressing the urge to absorb the power of these swords into his body, Ailin appeared atop Sword Hill in the next instant.
And standing on Sword Hill was another "Ailin."
It was a clone formed from the left arm Ailin had severed decades ago.
After Ailin released Aizen, he did not reclaim this clone. Instead, he left it within Unlimited Blade Works to continue training and drawing swords.
Over the past twenty years, this clone of Ailin's had likewise broken through the limits of a Soul Reaper.
Even if it were sent outside, only Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto after Bankai and Zaraki could threaten it in the entire Seireitei.
The clone and Ailin shared the same mind. Thus, the moment Zaraki released his Zanpakuto, Ailin's clone had already drawn Nozarashi.
Now that Ailin's true body had entered Unlimited Blade Works, his clone's expression hardened.
"Bankai—"
With Ailin's clone's roar, golden spiritual pressure completely enveloped him.
The immense spiritual pressure became a tangible shockwave that blasted outward from Ailin's clone.
When the golden spiritual pressure dispersed, Ailin's clone's skin had