Chapter 197
At this moment, Aizen Sōsuke had evolved into the Hōgyoku's fourth form.
In the first form, Aizen had simply fused the Hōgyoku into his chest, allowing it to consciously heal his injuries.
In the second form, his entire body had been encased in a white shell. Any cuts he sustained revealed a purple-black interior resembling the Hōgyoku itself, with no blood spilling forth.
In the third form, Aizen's head had already transformed further, and his eyes had inverted colors, displaying black sclera with white pupils.
Now, in this fourth form, Aizen had emerged from his cocoon-like state. His appearance resembled a fluttering moth, six pairs of white wings spread from his back, and an unopened eye visible between his eyebrows.
In this form, the Hōgyoku had completely acknowledged Aizen as its master. Even if it were removed from his body, it would no longer respond to anyone else. His power had ascended beyond comparison, surpassing previous dimensions entirely.
The moment he appeared, the overwhelming spiritual pressure that had spiked so high before suddenly vanished into nothingness.
To the onlookers, the suffocating weight once radiated by Aizen was gone. Now, nothing could be felt from him at all, as though he no longer existed within their perception.
Hirako Shinji couldn't help but show a stunned expression. Had Aizen truly reached a level beyond them all? The thought of such strength was incomprehensible to him.
Then Aizen commanded Ichimaru Gin to open the gate through the Dangai and enter the Precipice World. Creating the ōken required being within Soul Society, so that the completed key could directly grant passage to the Soul King's Palace.
Standing inside the Dangai with Gin, Aizen looked at the shifting walls of the passage that resembled flowing ointment and spoke quietly.
"Dangai... it's been a long time."
At that moment, an attack came from behind them.
Seeing the technique, Gin narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Ignore it, Captain Aizen. Kidō formulas are not reiatsu itself. They're theoretical constructs and can't be countered with spiritual pressure."
Before Gin's words finished, the Kidō unraveled and detonated a few meters short of Aizen. Gin hadn't even seen clearly how it had been dealt with.
"What is there to fear, Gin?" Aizen remarked, his tone calm. "The so-called rules exist only for those who can do nothing but cling to them."
He resumed walking toward the gate, Gin following behind.
When they passed through, they emerged in the Rukongai district. Grass stretched beneath their feet and trees surrounded them.
"It seems we landed a little off-target," Gin observed.
"Most likely my mistake. Captain Aizen's interference with the coordinates caused them to deviate, didn't it?"
"I suppose so," Aizen replied easily. "No matter. Let's walk the rest of the way, Gin." His tone was amused as he continued toward the true Karakura Town.
...
Back in Karakura Town, Kurosaki Ichigo hung his head low. His body trembled with fear. Could he truly stand against Aizen Sōsuke? This man had swatted aside every opponent without effort, and now his power had ascended even further. How could Ichigo possibly defeat him?
"Let's move, Ichigo," Kurosaki Isshin said from ahead of him.
"No… impossible," Ichigo muttered. His grip remained tight on Zangetsu, yet his fear was plain.
Isshin looked up at the dark sky.
"If you won't step forward, will you just cry? Think about why you bear that name, Ichigo. If you stand frozen here, what will happen to Karakura Town?"
Ichigo clenched his jaw, but his body refused to move.
Then another voice cut in.
"Don't worry. I'll deal with Aizen."
Hideki Yuta stepped onto the street beside them, his presence steady.
"Yuta-san?" Ichigo's eyes widened with shock.
"You stay here," Yuta said plainly. "The fight between Aizen and me will end quickly."
Without hesitation, he tore open a garganta and stepped inside, vanishing from sight.
...
In Soul Society's fabricated Karakura Town, Aizen and Gin stepped onto the streets. Weeds underfoot gave way to modern buildings as the illusion stabilized.
"This scenery doesn't belong in Soul Society," Aizen remarked calmly. "But this will be the last time we see it."
...
Asano Keigo ran frantic along an empty road. He had noticed something was wrong the moment he woke up. Everyone else lay unconscious on the street, and even the traffic lights above had frozen. Panic welled in him until tears spilled.
"What is going on? Is this the end of the world? Am I dreaming?"
He slapped himself hard across the face. The pain confirmed he wasn't dreaming.
Then he saw a figure ahead carrying two unconscious girls into the school grounds.
"Arisawa!" Keigo shouted in relief when he recognized Tatsuki. "You're here! Thank god! Have you seen what's going on? Everyone's asleep-I thought I was the only one left alive! I was terrified! It feels like the end of the world! By the way, have you seen Mizuiro? I haven't found him yet-"
Before he could continue rambling, Tatsuki silenced him with a firm punch to the head.
"I already scouted the area," she said shortly. "From the marker at 837 onward, the town disappears. Beyond that is grassland and further still are mountains."
Keigo's eyes bulged in shock.
"What?! The whole town moved? Everyone's unconscious and the town isn't even here anymore? Don't tell me the world's ending for real!"
Tatsuki thought back to the two figures she'd seen before, both carrying zanpakutō. She was certain this unnatural situation was tied to the Shinigami.
But if it was Hideki Yuta's doing, then only he could resolve it.
"Let's stay calm and focus on what we can do," Tatsuki said.
Before she could say more, footsteps echoed crisply at the end of the street.
Two figures emerged: Aizen Sōsuke and Ichimaru Gin.
Tatsuki froze the moment their presence washed over her. The suffocating pressure from Gin's narrowed gaze left her sweating profusely, her knees nearly buckling fully beneath her. She collapsed forward, unable to resist the weight suppressing her. If they came any closer, she would be forced onto her knees without choice.
Yet what unsettled her most was Aizen. With six white wings spread behind him, she could feel absolutely nothing from him at all, as though he were nothing more than an empty void standing in human form.
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