A gentle voice came from behind Sakura Matou and Illya.
Ichigo Kurosaki's pupils contracted sharply.
He saw a figure who had appeared behind Sakura Matou at some point. The man wore glasses and a gentle smile, and held an ordinary silver-white longsword, presumably a Zanpakuto.
It was none other than the long-awaited Sōsuke Aizen.
Aizen raised his leg and delivered a simple front kick.
But the kick carried tremendous force.
It struck Ichigo Kurosaki squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward like a kite with its string cut. He slammed heavily into a tree trunk in the park.
"Pfft-!"
He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Ichigo!"
Rukia's shout came from a distance.
Nel and Mordred stopped fighting at the same time and turned toward Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Ichigo!"
"Master!"
Nel and Medusa both rushed over in an instant.
Mordred suddenly realized someone had been lying in wait to reap the spoils. She shot forward as well, running toward Ichigo Kurosaki, while Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had already vanished from where he stood.
"Captain-Commander, please don't come any closer. Otherwise, I can hardly guarantee these two children's safety. My apologies, but the threat you pose truly leaves me feeling unsafe."
Aizen stood behind Sakura Matou, abruptly placing one hand on her neck while holding his Zanpakuto across Illya's throat.
Sakura Matou's eyes were vacant, and she remained motionless, clearly under something's control.
Illya, meanwhile, looked somewhat pale, her eyes harboring an icy sharpness that made her want to hiss.
"Miss Matou."
Aizen's voice was gentle. "Please don't move. Command Spells still take time to take effect."
Sakura Matou remained silent, as though Kyōka Suigetsu had completely hypnotized her.
Of course, Aizen thought so too. After all, subduing a human mage with his Kyōka Suigetsu was far too easy. He would