Boom!
The massive ice pillars, controlled by Toshiro Hitsugaya, converged on Tier Harribel. Despite her attempts to attack and evade, the pillars closed in, relentless and unyielding, as if she were trapped within an icy cage.
Boom!
The pillars merged into a single, towering column of ice that encased Harribel, the Tercera Espada, freezing her solid.
…
Swoosh!
Rangiku Matsumoto pulled Momo Hinamori aside and avoided Mila Rose's attack. "What's wrong, Momo? This isn't the time to be distracted."
As lieutenants of the Fifth and Tenth Divisions, Rangiku and Momo had faced Harribel's three Fracción – Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci – while Hitsugaya confronted Harribel. The fight had been a stalemate, but Momo's momentary lapse in concentration had nearly cost her dearly.
"I'm fine, Rangiku. Don't worry, I'm completely focused now."
Momo's determination surprised Rangiku. What had come over her? She had been distracted ever since Aizen's arrival, nearly injured moments ago. Why this sudden change?
Momo glanced at Aizen, trapped within Yamamoto's flames. Decades ago, when she had joined the Fifth Division, she had received much kindness from "Captain Aizen." He had even promoted her to lieutenant. However, she had noticed subtle differences in his behavior after Captain Ailin became their new captain.
Aizen's confession to Yamamoto, revealing his decades-long imprisonment by Ailin, had clarified everything. The gentle and kind "Captain Aizen" she remembered had been Ailin all along. That explained the changes she had sensed, the familiarity she had felt in Ailin's presence, the mistaken belief that Ailin was merely Aizen disguised by Kyōka Suigetsu.
She had been wrong. Ailin, with his ability to forge Zanpakutō, could wield any blade, including Aizen's. Aizen, however, whose Zanpakutō was Kyōka Suigetsu, couldn't wield Ailin's.
This realization severed any remaining attachment she held for Aizen. The imposter meant nothing to her. She was now truly Ailin's lieutenant. The fake Aizen held no sway over her.
"Not bad, you two."
Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci surrounded Rangiku and Momo. Sensing Harribel's Resurrección, they knew they had to end this quickly. It would be shameful to fail against mere lieutenants while their Espada had defeated a captain.
"But we've had enough. Let's finish this."
They unleashed their spiritual pressure and their left arms started glowing. Unlike other Arrancar, they didn't possess Zanpakutō and couldn't achieve Resurrección. However, the powerful Ayon, a composite being created from their combined spiritual pressure, was sealed within their left arms. Releasing Ayon was their equivalent of Resurrección.
Boom!
"Impossible! What is that monster?"
A fifty-meter-tall, monstrous figure materialized before Rangiku and Momo. Its immense spiritual pressure was undeniably captain-level.
"Run, Momo!"
Rangiku grabbed Momo and fled. This enemy was beyond their capabilities.
Boom!
Ayon slammed its fist into the ground, the buildings before it crumbling like foam. While it missed Rangiku and Momo, the resulting shockwave sent them crashing into a distant wall, blood spraying from their mouths.
"Just a glancing blow from the shockwave… If it had caught us…" Rangiku's eyes widened with fear. "Momo, where's Captain Ailin? Only he can save us now."
"I haven't seen him today. But I sensed his spiritual pressure earlier… over there." Momo pointed towards the setting sun, then froze.
A shadow fell over them, plunging them into darkness. Ayon had arrived. It raised its fist, ready to strike.
Boom!
The building beneath them crumbled under Ayon's devastating blow.
"Hmm?"
Ayon tilted its head. There was no blood on its fist, no bodies in the rubble.
"Looking for us?" A lazy voice called out from behind.
Ayon turned to see the two Shinigami standing behind a captain, long white bandages swirling around them. Green light emanated from small protrusions on the bandages, healing Rangiku and Momo's injuries.
Ayon roared and charged.
Buzz! Buzz!
Five golden ripples appeared above Ailin. Five Zanpakutō emerged, transforming into bolts of golden lightning that struck Ayon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ayon staggered backward, five gaping wounds appeared on its body.
It roared in pain and red spiritual pressure exploded. The wounds closed rapidly as dozens of eyes opened across its form, each focusing a red beam of energy. Cero. Unlike other Hollows, Ayon could fire dozens of Ceros simultaneously.
The red beams converged into a torrent of energy that surged towards Ailin. A golden ripple appeared before him. He drew a Zanpakutō and tossed it towards the oncoming attack.
"Bankai – Blazing Sky Seven-fold Ring!"
As he called out its name, the Zanpakutō transformed into a blooming red flower. Seven translucent barriers appeared before it.
Boom!
The Ceros struck the barriers, causing loud explosions through the replica Karakura Town. Flames erupted, incinerating everything around them.
Crack!
Crack!
Two of the seven barriers shattered, unable to withstand the barrage. However, this was the limit of the Ceros' power. The remaining five barriers held firm, mocking Ayon's futile attack.
Ayon roared again and red spiritual pressure enveloped its form. One arm swelled, becoming three times larger than the other. It lumbered its asymmetrical body towards Ailin,
Ailin dispelled the remaining barriers and snapped his fingers. Another ripple appeared, and he drew another Zanpakutō. Ayon's regeneration, while not as potent as Ulquiorra's, was still considerable. This Zanpakutō, however, was perfectly suited to counter such abilities.
He held the blade horizontally before him.
"Bankai – Bakusaiga!"
Boom!
Lightning exploded across the blade. This blade was excited to be wielded by Ailin, and it seemed eager to prove its worth.
"Azure Dragon Strike!"
The lightning converged, forming a massive, serpentine dragon that roared towards Ayon.
Ayon, undeterred, slammed its massive fist into the dragon.
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the replica Karakura Town, the shockwave reduced nearby buildings to rubble.
Crackle! Crackle!
Within the dust cloud, lightning crackled, accompanied by Ayon's screams.
As the dust settled, Ayon's body was revealed, wreathed in lightning. The electricity coursed through its form, causing devastating damage. Even its high-speed regeneration couldn't keep pace with the destruction.
Momo noticed that even the fragments of Ayon's body that had been blasted away continued to crackle with lightning until they were completely annihilated.
This was Bakusaiga's power. Anything it struck was continuously disintegrated by its lightning, a relentless assault that made it the bane of regenerative beings. Even Ulquiorra, with his ultra-speed regeneration, would be severely weakened by a single strike, and two or three would be fatal.
Within moments, the fifty-meter-tall Ayon was reduced to dust.
"Ayon!"
Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, and Apacci, horrified and enraged, charged towards Ailin.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three bolts of golden lightning struck them, pinning them to the ground.
"Damn… Harribel…"
As they fell, they looked towards Harribel, only to see her frozen within Hitsugaya's ice prison.
…
"Harribel's lost…"
Coyote Starrk sighed upon sensing her fading spiritual pressure. He was currently battling Shunsui Kyōraku.
"Of course. That's our Soul Society's most famous prodigy for you." Shunsui smiled.
"Oh? Is he stronger than you?"
"Well, I am older than Captain Hitsugaya. But at the rate he's progressing, he might surpass me within a century." Shunsui, having reached the limits of a Shinigami's power, couldn't underestimate Hitsugaya. After all, he was one of that man's disciples. In a century, he might even reach Captain-Commander Yamamoto's level.
"Are you the strongest captain after the old man, then?"