Seeing Me Now, You Are Like an Ant Gazing at the Heavens

BOOM!!!

On the 14th floor of the building, a white arm covered in cracks pushed aside the construction debris, and Aizen, disheveled, stood up.

His brows furrowed, his anger barely contained.

Aizen is the most arrogant guy in the Bleach World. He firmly believes that he is the only true god who can surpass everything and reside high in the heavens.

He's only in a certain position when he's alone, but he's always putting on airs in front of others; otherwise, he wouldn't always be prepared with oil on his hair.

However, Aizen was not a shallow person who didn't know his limits. When faced with the immense power displayed by Shazo, he was able to endure it for a while.

Not long ago, he was suffocated underground by Shazo and left in a sorry state, but he still managed to crawl out and calmly tidy his hair and clothes.

However, it's going too far to deliberately turn the blade and slap someone hard in the face when a blow that could easily decapitate them is enough.

Add to that the crisp, loud "smack," and what's the difference between that and slapping someone in public?

Even though Aizen knew that his evolution required pressure and negative emotions from both the outside world and himself as catalysts, slapping himself in public was just too undignified.

Especially the red mark on his face, its color so bright and striking, was clearly visible even from a thousand meters away.

Seeing Aizen trembling with rage, Shazo deliberately laughed loudly, trying to provoke him as much as possible.

Shazo even went so far as to humiliate him, saying, "Captain Aizen, your strength is nothing compared to your words. I haven't seen you use the Illusion ability either. Are you afraid, or are you unable to?"

Ignoring Shazo's almost pointless provocation, Aizen smiled again and explained, "Zanpakuto are reflections of Death God's soul, and their abilities are solidifications of the Death God's Zanpakuto characteristics."

"If you go any further than the Captain-Commander, the Death God soul characteristics solidified in your Zanpakuto will no longer exist, and Illusion will become meaningless."

"Just like the various skills and characteristics of microorganisms, they are meaningless to fish that have completed evolution."

Aizen Zanpakuto, Illusion, and arrogantly declared, "Having completed my evolution, I no longer need Zanpakuto."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Zanpakuto merged into Aizen's body inch by inch, completely recovering the soul characteristics that had been separated when he became Death God.

Just as the Illusion completely disappeared from his right hand, Aizen's Spiritual Pressure surged again, forming a Spiritual Pressure storm that soared into the sky.

Aizen's body changed once again.

First, there was his forehead, with a slit between his eyes. Beneath the deep, dark, and invisible slit, it seemed to hide an immature eye.

As the crack widened, his once striking eyebrows disappeared, and his skin became even whiter, as if it had been coated with a thick layer of white powder.

The Aizen hair grew longer and darker, and its texture became extremely smooth, obediently hanging down the back of the head.

He clearly followed the example of the Japan gods, discarding his original male characteristics and transforming into a sexless celestial being.

But these are just minor changes; the real major changes lie in his physical body.

A huge circular hole appeared in Aizen's chest, and the previously vanished Hōgyoku was re-formed and embedded in the center of the hole.

Behind him unfolded three pairs of enormous white butterfly wings, which slowly flapped against the air and Spirit Particles.

Shazo sighed contentedly, "Aizen, you have finally transcended the realm of Death God, climbed to the edge of the world's well, and are just one step away from leaping out."

Can we continue?

Aizen didn't answer. He stared blankly at Shazo, his usually calm eyes now revealing unconcealed astonishment.

Shazo patiently gave him time to process the shock.

After all, a tadpole that could only stay submerged in the water needs time to process the light it perceives when it emerges from the water as a frog and sees the bright well opening.

Aizen's promotion was too rapid, leaving him little time to adapt.

But Aizen is Aizen after all. In just a dozen breaths, he began to adapt to his new power and his fear of Shazo.

He closed his eyes and said with deep emotion, "Shazo Zuo, you are truly great and benevolent."

Aizen bowed deeply and said, "Please forgive my past rudeness. I was so shallow back then that I dared to look down on someone as great as you."

"And you—you actually didn't crush me, who was as weak as an insect at the time—I'm so grateful."

"Rest assured, I still have the strength to go further. I will definitely be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with you and then challenge you!"

"I won't just leave like this—uh, uh!"

The flat blade of the Heaven-Measuring Ruler pierced through Aizen's body, with half of the blade protruding from his chest.

Until the moment it pierced through, no one noticed the movement of the Heaven-Measuring Ruler.

Even the Death God watching from the sidelines didn't see Shazo move.

In fact, Shazo didn't move at all. He was using the Zanpakuto for Heaven-Measuring Ruler Flying Sword Flying Sword normal operation for him.

Shazo said anxiously, "If you can continue, hurry up and don't waste time. We're all very busy people!"

Aizen stared in surprise at the Zanpakuto in his chest, asking incredulously, "Shazo, how come your Zanpakuto is still here?"

Shazo explained, "I have three things to say about this, listen carefully."

"When I was a naive beginner, I saw mountains as mountains and water as water."

When one's skill reaches its highest level, mountains are no longer seen as mountains, and water as no longer seen as water.

When one's skill reaches its peak, mountains are still mountains, and water is still water.

Aizen was completely stunned.

Since there was no East University in the World of the Living world of the Bleach World, this was the first time he had heard such a profound truth, and he was immediately captivated.

He murmured to himself, "Mountains, water—yes, no, or still—"

As he chanted this, the Illusion that had melted into his right arm suddenly reappeared out of thin air. No matter where he looked at it, it was exactly the same as the original one, yet there were also clearly visible differences.

Shazo clapped and exclaimed, "Excellent! Absolutely fantastic! Aizen, your Talent and comprehension are truly astonishing. I didn't choose the wrong person!"

"Since you've already figured out the path forward, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Aizen raised his head, his eyes now calm and composed. He slammed his fist on his chest, sending the Heaven-Measuring Ruler flying out of his body.

Then, gripping the Illusion tightly, he twisted his arm and flashed forward, Zanpakuto at Shazo.

Clang!!

The Illusion Slash landed on Shazo's index finger. The sharp Zanpakuto, combined with the terrifying Spiritual Pressure, couldn't cut through Shazo's skin, much like Son Goku fighting Trunks.

Shazo frowned slightly and said, "You've figured out your path, and your use of power is fine, but your growth rate is still insufficient."

"Even with your best efforts and my cooperation, you still can't cut my skin. This won't do."

"It seems the Hōgyoku isn't fully integrated yet. Let me help you."

Shazo flicked Illusion away with his index finger, then clenched his right fist and Hōgyoku Aizen precisely where he was standing, channeling all his power into the Hogyoku inside the hole.

Buzz!

The re-condensed Hōgyoku was struck so hard that it produced a piercing tremor and burst forth with a dazzling blue light.

Aizen stumbled and flew backward uncontrollably.

It wasn't his own power that was exerted, nor was it the aftereffect of Shazo's power; rather, it was the power of the Hōgyoku and dragged its master away from danger.

"Ha, I knew it, the Hōgyoku has a soul and some consciousness."

Swish!

Two figures rushed into the battlefield at high speed. Shazo glanced at them and recognized them as the green-hatted shopkeeper and the black-skinned Catwoman.

For the first time Kisuke Urahara disregarded his hat, letting it be blown away by the wind, and locked his gaze firmly on Aizen, who was flying backward, shouting, "Break apart, Benihime!!"

Before Aizen could deploy his Crimson Shield, countless red arrows of light burst forth from his Zanpakuto, Benihime, and shot precisely toward Aizen's limbs and neck.

Aizen, whose entire body was numb from Shazo's blows, was unable to resist and could only let the red light arrow pierce through his body.

But Aizen's smile didn't disappear. He calmly said, "So it's Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin. You're dreaming if you want to steal my Hōgyoku!"

"Shut up!" Kisuke Urahara shouted, "Bind her, Benihime!!"

Countless black ribbons flew out from the Zanpakuto again, weaving themselves into a net that, together with the red beam of light, bound Aizen like a dumpling.

In the blink of an eye, Kisuke Urahara twice in succession. His Spiritual Pressure plummeted, and he could no longer continue attacking.

All he could do was shout, "Yoruichi!!"

"Understood!" Yoruichi transformed into a black shadow and pounced on Aizen at an invisible speed. "What a long-winded man, so annoying!"

A powerful Spiritual Pressure gathered on her right fist, transforming into dazzling Inazuma of lightning that instantly increased her speed by another 30%.

As Yoruichi got closer to Aizen, she punched the Hōgyoku in the round hole with all her might.

Unlike Shazo's previous attempt to shatter the Hōgyoku, Yoruichi's method was to push, severing the connection between the Hōgyoku and Aizen's body with a single punch and sending the gem flying out at high speed.

Catching his breath, Kisuke Urahara [Shunpo] to precisely catch the Hōgyoku. He laughed triumphantly, "Aizen, the Hōgyoku isn't yours. It was created by me using the Soul Society's resources; it's the Soul Society's property!"

Aizen was tightly bound by black Spiritual Pressure belts, but he still smiled and said, "Kisuke Urahara- senpai, when did you become so vulgar?"

"When did the ownership of treasures become determined by reason?"

"As long as I am stronger than Seireitei, not only will the Hōgyoku be mine, but Seireitei itself will be mine."

Kisuke Urahara did not argue, but instead focused intently on applying the seal to the Hōgyoku.

After the sealing was completed, it was like throwing away a hot potato, and it was all handed over to Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Seeing that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had withdrawn his gaze, he laughed heartily and said, "Oh, oh, don't doubt me. I've changed now. I won't take things that don't belong to me anymore, haha."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto scoffed, "You have a criminal record, Urahara brat."

Aizen suddenly laughed, "You Death God are really something, interrupting my conversation with Lord Shazo."

"Honestly, how come you still don't realize your place? You still don't know what you can or can't do?"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto was in the lead, with Kenpachi Zaraki and Shunsui Kyōraku on the left and right, Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara, and the lightly injured vice-captains Momo Hinamori and Ōmaeda standing in the second row.

All the Death God Zanpakuto Aizen, shielding Tōshirō, who wielded the Hōgyoku, behind them.

In a remote corner of the battlefield, Gin Ichimaru sat there awkwardly and dejectedly, as far away from the Death God and the four remaining Arrancar.

He muttered to himself, "This is so embarrassing. Why doesn't anyone believe me anymore?"

"Oh dear, how come Captain Unohana is being ostracized too?"

Standing on the other side of the battlefield, Retsu Unohana was also alone, clearly rejected by the Death God.

Or perhaps she deliberately rejected the Death God?

Regardless, Sister Hua remained as gentle as ever, saying calmly, "Shazo's displayed strength is beyond expectations, so it's understandable that the Captain-Commander and the others are wary."

"But I trust Shazo, so I have to have my own stance."

Gin Ichimaru blinked, feeling as if something had been stuffed into his mouth, rendering him speechless.

Just then, Aizen appeared in front of Tōshirō.

For some unknown reason, Tōshirō suddenly lost his ability to move and could only watch helplessly as Aizen reached for the Hōgyoku.

"Stop!!" Tōshirō roared, unleashing all his Spiritual Pressure to regain control of his body.

Without a second thought, he raised Hyōrinmaru and stabbed at Aizen.

With a soft thud, Aizen was pierced through, but he smiled and twisted away, revealing Momo Hinamori had been brutally Hyōrinmaru.

Tōshirō instantly broke down, and the Hōgyoku he was tightly holding in his hand took the opportunity to break free of its restraints and flew towards Aizen, where he was taken into his chest.

The seal Kisuke Urahara has been destroyed without anyone noticing.

After this turn of events, the Hōgyoku seemed to realize the danger and no longer resisted Aizen's absorption. It even actively disintegrated its own existence and completely merged into Aizen's body.

Aizen threw his head back and let out a low roar. A bright light shone from the round hole in his chest, illuminating the world with dazzling five colors.

A powerful purple Spiritual Pressure erupted from Aizen's body, instantly blasting away the surrounding ground. Then, an impenetrable barrier of Spiritual Pressure completely obscured him.

A moment later, the Spiritual Pressure barrier collapsed on its own, and Aizen's appearance changed drastically once again.

Aizen's face turned black, and three holes appeared on his upper body, with the phantom of the Hōgyoku embedded in the top hole.

The six enormous butterfly wings transformed into dragon wings, with heads consisting only of mouths growing from the joints of the wings.

It could be said that he no longer possessed any of the characteristics of the Death God, but he also didn't have many of the characteristics of the Void.

Aizen said coldly and calmly, "Thank you, Lord Shazo Zuo. Thanks to your help, I was able to reach the final stage of evolution."

He opened his eyes, which were flashing with white light, looked coldly at Shazo, and then froze once again.

Shazo asked, "If you were to see me again in your current state of mind, would you feel like an ant seeing the blue sky?"