In the sky, where the cold wind howled fiercely.
Ulquiorra's cold, weighty words fell upon the field, sending a chill through the onlookers of Las Noches.
Aizen paid no heed to how the others in Las Noches felt after hearing Ulquiorra's words. He slowly stepped through the air and arrived beside Gin.
Seeing Aizen approach him at an unhurried pace, Gin's pale face curved into a faint smile. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, "Captain Aizen, you really made me bear the burden of a difficult battle..."
Hearing this, Aizen's lips curled into a smile. His deep eyes studied Gin intently as he softly said, "Because only your abilities, Gin, could allow Ulquiorra to evolve to this level, so... your efforts were not in vain..."
Gin Ichimaru revealed a bitter smile at that. His eyes narrowed as he looked quietly at Aizen and rasped, "As expected... all of this had long been within your plans..."
Aizen smiled faintly, glancing at him as he softly said, "To me, it was merely a prediction. Still, the outcome exceeded my expectations. It is quite satisfying."
As he spoke, his gaze slowly shifted toward Ulquiorra, who stood silently in the distance behind him.
Gin followed Aizen's gaze, and his eyes tightened slightly as he murmured hoarsely, "A Hollow that has evolved to this level... even in Hueco Mundo, that has never happened before, has it...? Such power..."
As though he had thought of something, a sharp gleam flickered in Gin's narrowed eyes.
Yet Aizen acted as though he had not heard him. A glint flashed through his deep eyes as he said with a soft laugh, "Do not underestimate those people in the Soul Society... Over countless millennia... there will always be some exceptional beings..."
At that point, he seemed to lose