Evolution

Flesh and blood splattered everywhere!

In an instant, Sōsuke Aizen's hand blade, condensed with Spiritual Power, sliced straight through the area around Shinji Hirako's heart like an incomparably sharp blade.

It cut through his ribs and lung, scattering blood and flesh across the ground.

Shinji Hirako's eyes widened. Nearly a third of his left lung had been shredded, leaving him completely unable to resist.

He fell limply from the sky.

"Shinji Hirako!"

Hiyori Sarugaki was the most anxious. Her Shunpo never stopped as she rushed through the air to catch the severely wounded Shinji Hirako.

Kisuke Urahara maintained his stance with his cane raised. The strike that had forced Aizen to turn aside earlier had come from his Zanpakutō. Though it appeared unremarkable, it could easily shatter Aizen's exoskeleton.

That was why Aizen had not taken it head-on.

Having prevented Aizen from delivering the killing blow to Shinji Hirako, Kisuke Urahara frowned instead. He wanted to go support Shinji Hirako.

But at the very moment he was about to use Shunpo, he sensed Aizen's faintly smiling gaze in midair. His heart tightened as he keenly felt that something was wrong.

Hiyori Sarugaki, however, did not have as many schemes running through her head as Kisuke Urahara. She caught Shinji Hirako's body in midair and landed atop another building.

"Shinji, you bald bastard, are you okay?"

Before Hiyori Sarugaki could finish her anxious question, she was interrupted.

Not by someone's words, but in the most literal sense.

A ghastly pale right hand suddenly pierced through Hiyori Sarugaki's back.

The hand's white exoskeleton dripped with blood, making it look especially horrifying.

And the owner of that hand was obvious—it was Sōsuke Aizen.

Kisuke Urahara's eyes widened as he was the first to react.

"It's Aizen!"

"Kyoka Suigetsu!!?"

Sōsuke Aizen lifted Hiyori Sarugaki's