Within moments, Kaname Tōsen's wounds had completely healed.
"High-speed regeneration?" Hitsugaya Toshiro was surprised. He hadn't anticipated Tōsen gaining a Hollow's regenerative abilities after his transformation. The healing, however, had come at a cost. Tōsen's spiritual pressure had noticeably diminished.
"Ah, what a convenient ability," Tōsen remarked, flexing his newly restored limbs. While his spiritual pressure was depleted, he could still fight at full strength. "With enough spiritual pressure, I'm effectively immortal."
"Captain Tōsen, you should save that boast for the academy students," Hitsugaya retorted. "Even the highest level of regeneration can't restore a shattered head. And healing internal injuries consumes a significant amount of spiritual pressure. I won't make the same mistake again. From now on, I'll focus my attacks on your head and other vital points. Let's see how many times you can regenerate."
Hitsugaya swung his Zanpakutō, and countless ice shards materialized and shot towards Tōsen. "Sennen Hyōrō!"
He followed close behind the icy projectiles.
"Kuroyuri!" Tōsen unleashed the same attack he'd used against Komamura. Green rings of energy pulsed outwards, engulfing the ice shards and the figure behind them.
BOOM!
The ice shards shattered, and the figure behind them dissolved, revealing its true nature – a mere illusion of ice, a decoy created by Hitsugaya's mastery of Hyōrinmaru.
The real Hitsugaya stood before Tōsen.
"Just as I suspected. Captain Tōsen, your newfound sight has dulled your spiritual awareness. You're at least three times slower than you were when blind. Hollowfication… has weakened you."
"Hyōten Hyakkasō!"
He unleashed the same attack he'd used moments ago, but this time, Tōsen couldn't fully evade. The cold froze his feet.
"Zekku!"
Hyōten Hyakkasō and Zekku formed a combination attack. Having frozen his opponent, Hitsugaya followed up with a devastating blow, shattering the ice, and anything trapped within.
BOOM!
Tōsen was grievously injured. Even he began to question his transformation. He had gained sight, his spiritual pressure and attack power had increased, yet… had he become weaker? Before gaining sight, he hadn't considered himself inferior to Hitsugaya. Now, in a matter of minutes, he had been severely injured twice. Had he made the wrong choice?
Doubt flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by conviction.
"No! My choice was not wrong! Kakyō! That Soul Society doesn't deserve your justice!"
Green spiritual pressure enveloped him, healing his wounds. He rose into the air, facing Hitsugaya.
"Captain Hitsugaya, you are correct. My senses have dulled. But even so, I am still stronger than before!"
"Bankai – Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi!"
BOOM!
Even Sōsuke Aizen glanced at the sudden surge of spiritual pressure. He had personally overseen Tōsen's Hollowfication and knew his abilities better than anyone.
After Tōsen's transformation, his Zanpakutō, Suzumushi, had become the only one in Soul Society capable of both Bankai and Resurrección. However, these were mutually exclusive transformations.
Bankai was the ultimate manifestation of a Zanpakutō's power, while Resurrección released a Hollow's true form, sealed within their blade. They were opposing forces, one internal, the other external. Using one prevented the use of the other.
Yet, here was Tōsen, in his Hollow form, releasing his Zanpakutō's Bankai…
BOOM!
Tōsen's spiritual pressure surged, surpassing the limits of a captain, reaching the realm of a Shinigami at their peak. He roared, and darkness erupted from him, spreading rapidly, forming a massive, elliptical, black barrier, a hundred meters long and fifty meters high, engulfing Hitsugaya. Strange patterns and curved lines adorned its surface.
"Hitsugaya!" The Shinigami cried out in alarm. They hadn't anticipated this sudden shift in the battle. Hitsugaya, moments before holding the clear advantage, was now trapped within Tōsen's Bankai.
Having been informed of Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen's abilities, they knew the danger. Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi deprived its victims of all senses except touch. Komamura's Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, its massive form exceeding the barrier's range, had been the perfect counter. Unfortunately, Tōsen, perhaps aware of this, had chosen to use his Resurrección against Komamura.
Against Hitsugaya, however, his Hollow form had proved insufficient. Driven by his inner conflict, he had broken the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow, using his Resurrección form as a vessel to unleash Suzumushi's Bankai.
Seeing Hitsugaya trapped, the other captains moved to break the barrier, but—
"Bankai - Kamishini no Yari!"
A cold voice echoed, and a flash of white light streaked across the battlefield.
Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Soi Fon, and Chōjirō Sasakibe cried out as blood sprayed from their bodies as they fell from the sky.
"My, my. As expected of Gotei 13 captains. Even caught off guard, you managed to avoid any fatal blows…"
"Gin Ichimaru!" Yamamoto roared, seeing his subordinates fall.
BOOM!
His spiritual pressure exploded outwards. "All things in creation, turn to ash! Ryūjin Jakka!"
He appeared before Gin with his Zanpakutō wreathed in flames. A massive explosion engulfed Gin.
Gin emerged from the flames, his body scorched, but alive.
"My apologies, Captain Aizen. An enraged Captain-Commander Yamamoto is beyond my capabilities."
"It's alright, Gin. Soldiers face soldiers, captains face captains, and kings… face kings. Retreat. I'll handle Captain-Commander Yamamoto myself."
"Yes, Captain Aizen." Gin didn't hesitate. He used Shunpo to put distance between himself and the two combatants.
While his spiritual pressure, enhanced by the Hōgyoku, had reached the limits of a Shinigami, he was still a novice at this level. Aizen and Yamamoto, however, had existed at this peak for centuries. Moreover, Aizen, having absorbed the complete Hōgyoku, was still evolving, his power growing exponentially.
"Sōsuke Aizen!" Yamamoto turned his attention to his former subordinate, momentarily ignoring Gin. Compared to Aizen, Gin was a minor nuisance.
BOOM!
He unleashed his power without restraint. Unsure whether he was under Kyōka Suigetsu's influence, he couldn't risk using targeted attacks. He had to attack indiscriminately. Every Zanpakutō's ability had a range. Kyōraku's Katen Kyōkotsu required his opponent to be within his spiritual pressure. Byakuya's Senbonzakura's blades dissolved outside his range. Similarly, Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis required visual contact within Aizen's spiritual pressure range. Beyond that range, the ability was inactive.
And when it came to spiritual pressure range, Yamamoto was unmatched.
"Captain Ailin, I entrust the Gotei 13 to you."
"Understood, Captain-Commander. Rest assured, not a single one will be harmed while I'm here."
Golden ripples appeared beside the fallen Shinigami. A hand reached out from each ripple, pulling them into the King's Treasury. Ailin deposited them a safe distance away, outside the replica Karakura Town.
"Ennetsu Jigoku!" Having removed his subordinates from the battlefield, Yamamoto unleashed his full power.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Pillars of fire erupted from the ground, transforming the replica Karakura Town into a blazing inferno. Rock melted into magma, the air itself shimmered from the intense heat.
Aizen, dodging the fiery pillars, was impressed. "Truly worthy of the title 'Strongest Shinigami.' If I hadn't prepared for this, I might have already lost." He called out a name. "Wonderweiss!"
"Raaaaaar!" A hulking, brutish Arrancar, impaled through the abdomen, looked up and roared. An immense spiritual pressure exploded outwards.
"Wait a minute. Didn't I already defeat him?" Kyōraku Shunsui, sensing the familiar spiritual pressure, was startled. He was certain he had killed that Arrancar. How could he still be alive, let alone radiating such power?
As Wonderweiss's spiritual pressure surged, the flames of Ennetsu Jigoku converged on him, drawn into his body.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Wonderweiss was created specifically to counter you. I removed everything that might hinder his ability, leaving only the capacity to absorb flames. Perhaps I interfered too much, for he has lost his intelligence, his consciousness, even his sanity. He possesses only animalistic instincts. But his ability remains. Tell me, Captain-Commander, how effective is Ryūjin Jakka without its flames?"
BOOM!
As Aizen finished speaking, Wonderweiss, having absorbed the flames of Ryūjin Jakka, unleashed his newfound power.