Chapter 501: Aizen Enters the Fourth Form, Aizen's Experiment
"Yamata God Orochimaru? It seems there is still a big gap between us." Aizen said.
At that moment, Aizen did not look at Bullet but turned his gaze toward the central area of Mythical Beast Island.
In the void, two pairs of eyes met.
Aizen seemed to see a figure smiling and nodding at him.
In response, he smiled back.
Step, step, step.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Bullet watched as Aizen approached him at a leisurely pace.
Finally, Aizen stopped in front of him.
"Reverberation Devil Bullet, I acknowledge your strength," Aizen said.
The man adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting a dazzling light.
"Your efforts are not meaningless, at least," he continued, "They make me stronger!"
"For that, I am very grateful."
Moments earlier, facing Bullet's ultimate bomb, Aizen neither dodged nor used Kyōka Suigetsu to interfere with Bullet.
He simply felt the explosion's power quietly.
He even let go of his spiritual defenses.
In that extreme situation, he finally sensed the pressure of survival.
Hōgyoku's power began to activate, pushing him toward the next stage of evolution.
Aizen was now in the fourth stage of Hōgyoku, transcending the dimensions of Shinigami and Hollow.
His most critical spiritual attribute had entered the SS range.
His spiritual power had leaped forward once more.
The spiritual power of his Zanpakutō was transitioning and beginning to merge with him.
Yet, even at this point, Aizen remained unsatisfied.
Because the terrifying aura of Orochimaru nearby reminded him that he still had much to achieve.
Of course, Aizen was in no hurry.
He could take his time; there were other intriguing individuals to observe.
Aizen looked at Bullet with a gentle expression and said, "Your fighting spirit is remarkable."
Bullet opened his mouth at the man's words.
In the end, he said nothing.
But his previously slouched figure straightened, and he clenched his fists.
His eyes seemed to burn with fire, yet he refused to abandon the fight.
Fighting spirit surged through his body once again.
As long as he was alive, nothing could defeat him.
"Devil Form." Bullet declared.
A surge of Armament Haki enveloped Bullet. He still had power—his body!
Bullet's ability, Broken Elegy, involved trading his body for combat strength.
As long as he was willing, he could unleash considerable power even now.
As for the cost, he did not dwell on it.
Bullet, having awakened such an ability, possessed a disposition that aligned with it.
Fight, fight, do whatever it takes to be the strongest.
Now, Bullet raised his fist into the air.
A terrifying Conqueror's Haki Coating punch swung toward Aizen with resolve.
A faint aura of obliterating everything emanated from it.
What a splendid haki!
Aizen observed Bullet's attack and smiled slightly.
Unfortunately, it was time to end this.
Swish!
A flash of sword light passed, interrupting Bullet's impending explosion.
A vertical circle of sword light appeared across his body.
Struck by Aizen's blade, Bullet was defeated.
Not dead, but without the strength to fight further.
Truthfully, Aizen was not particularly interested in Bullet.
Beyond Haki, Bullet's unique nen system had caught Aizen's attention.
The fusion of spiritual power and nen.
Were they distinct or intertwined?
Aizen found this somewhat intriguing.
The same applied to the Gabaisho. Both had been imbued with spiritual power by Aizen.
One was a Shinigami, the other a Hollow.
This allowed for comparison.
Such experiments were a source of amusement for Aizen on his journey.
"Oh, dear viewers, in the Thousand-Year Forest Ridge, the battle between Aizen-sama and Contestant Bullet has finally concluded," Morgans announced.
"Even though Contestant Bullet used his earth-shattering, terrifying move, he still suffered a crushing defeat, which is truly disappointing."
At that moment, Orochimaru had returned to the research room due to the wind.
Morgans looked at Aizen in the footage. Despite being hit by Bullet's move, Aizen appeared unscathed.
Not even a speck of dust marred him, which astonished Morgans.
"Kuwahahaha, Aizen-sama's heroic presence truly fills me with admiration." Morgans said.
"Are we about to witness the rise of a new god?"
At that moment, as Morgans spoke, audiences worldwide froze.
Immediately after, many sensed a new historical turning point.
The strong individuals now regarded as gods earned their status through performance or achievements.
Could they truly be witnessing the birth of a new god?
Based on Aizen's performance in the short time since his appearance, the world held great confidence in him.
Of course, Aizen was not the only candidate.
There were other choices.
Even among today's demigods, many believed they would eventually ascend to godhood.
These were wild times.
Many previously obscure individuals had suddenly risen to prominence.
In just three years, from the initial rise of the Demon God Ryomen Sukuna to the emergence of gods and demigods across the sky, the world had transformed dramatically.
No one knew what the future held.
They only knew that the present was an extraordinarily magnificent era.
Or rather, it already was.
Many ambitious individuals aspired to become gods.
However, that goal remained too distant, even beyond the reach of the sea's ordinary top combatants.
Now, watching the dazzling man in the live broadcast, these people could only lament the world's unfairness.
While they still struggled, another figure had emerged with unparalleled, terrifying strength.
With such power, he was not far from true godhood!
"Human, it seems you have won. As per our agreement, I will grant you my blessing," the Thousand-Year Dragon King said.
At that moment, the Thousand-Year Dragon King looked at the man before it with a reserved and solemn expression.
Only when standing near this man did it feel an inexplicable fear.
On Mythical Beast Island, the Thousand-Year Dragon King was considered powerful.
With the strength of an intermediate Mythical King, its vitality was immense, especially in controlling trees.
Among Orochimaru's eight clones, the one controlling life was the most formidable. Though it appeared as wood, its essence was life.
After all, this was the core vitality of Yamata no Orochi, undeniably powerful.
Thus, under the study of Wood Orochimaru, even if the Thousand-Year Dragon King was not favored and behaved well, it remained extraordinarily strong.
At the very least, the Nine-Tails Firefox might not defeat it.
Yet, such a mighty Thousand-Year Dragon King could only muster a stiff smile at this moment.
There was no helping it; from its senses, the human before it was too dangerous.
It could not bear it! It could not bear it!
The priority was to send him away quickly.
"Does the Mythical beast grant a thousand-year protection and blessing?" Aizen asked.
Aizen looked at the Thousand-Year Dragon King before him and showed a gentle smile.
"Then I shall trouble you."
He wanted to see what changes this power would bring to him.
(End of this chapter)