Aizen's pupils contracted sharply as he scrutinized Kyoya once more.
Only now did he realize that Kyoya didn't carry his Zanpakuto.
No, not just the Zanpakuto, but even the Zanpakuto's scabbard is missing.
'When had this happened?'
Not just Aizen, but Yamamoto, Kyoraku Shunsui, and others also noticed Kyoya's peculiar state at this moment.
"Since when...?"
Quickly, Kyoraku's mind flashed back to his encounters with Kyoya over the years.
It was during the Hollowfication incident, specifically, after Kyoya emerged from seclusion in the 11th Division's Captain's quarters for a few days, that the Zanpakuto at his waist had vanished.
This detail brought to mind a certain figure among the captains who had served for over 150 years: the 8th Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi.
No one had ever seen that man's Zanpakuto.
But Kyoya was different.
Though there were no records of Kyoya's Zanpakuto in the Seireitei, it was widely acknowledged by many Shinigami as the [Strongest Light-Type Zanpakuto]. Only a Zanpakuto of the Strongest Series could fully command its elemental attribute.
Kyoya had demonstrated both Shikai and Bankai within the Seireitei.
After his Bankai, his Zanpakuto would dissolve into light and merge with his body.
'In other words, had Kyoya been maintaining his Bankai state for over a year?'
Realizing this, Kyoraku couldn't help but inhale sharply.
A Shinigami's Reiatsu was not infinite.
While releasing a Zanpakuto could amplify a Shinigami's Reiatsu by three to ten times, it also consumed a significant amount of their own Reiatsu.
As far as Kyoraku knew, only Azashiro's Bankai could be sustained indefinitely.
Now, it seemed Kyoya's Bankai also belonged to the 'Permanent Bankai' type.
Moreover-
Kyoraku tucked his hands into his sleeves, gripping the hilt of his Zanpakuto through the fabric.
If he recalled correctly, even before the Hollowfication incident, Kyoya's Reiatsu had already reached the 2nd-class Reiryoku, and within that tier, its intensity was considerable.
As a Strongest Series Zanpakuto, the Bankai's boost to the user's Reiatsu was at its peak… 9 to 10 times.
With Kyoya's previous Reiatsu, his Bankai should have either elevated him directly to the 1st-class Reiryoku or at least brought him to the pinnacle of the 2nd-class.
The reason Kyoraku couldn't perceive Kyoya's true spiritual pressure was likely because Kyoya's mastery over his Reiatsu far surpassed Kyoraku's own Reikaku.
"I see..."
Aizen no longer had the mental capacity to focus on the others' reactions.
He suddenly realized that Kyoya's displayed strength far exceeded what others had perceived.
Of course, Aizen also felt a sense of relief that he was confronting Kyoya at this stage.
To uncover Kyoya's true capabilities, even if it meant revealing more of his own abilities, was an acceptable trade-off for Aizen.
He simply hadn't wanted to expose himself to Yamamoto's scrutiny before achieving his goals.
But that didn't mean he couldn't demonstrate the strength befitting a 'Captain'.
Holding his Zanpakuto upside down, Aizen recited its release incantation:
"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu!"
In an instant, thick mist enveloped the space between Aizen and Kyoya.
Even Yamamoto and the others couldn't sense anything within that fog.
"An impressive ability."
Without relying on [Light Perception] or Observation Haki, Kyoya's own Reikaku were disrupted by Aizen.
His vision was limited to a radius of three meters, and his ears could no longer pick up any sounds.
'Then let's see just how wide the gap is between my pure Reiatsu and Aizen's!'
Kyoya mused inwardly, deciding not to reveal more than necessary to Aizen at this stage.
Even if he couldn't perceive Aizen, that didn't mean Kyoya couldn't counterattack.
Raising his left hand, a sphere of golden light materialized in his palm.
Then, under Kyoya's control, the light erupted violently.
"Rain of Light-"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-
Countless thin laser beams erupted from the basketball-sized sphere of light in Kyoya's palm, blanketing the entire 1st Division's training ground… everywhere except where Kyoya himself stood.
Wave after wave of laser rain bombarded the area like artillery fire, piercing the ground and leaving behind countless thumb-sized craters.
Faced with Kyoya's full-screen attack, even Aizen found himself in a difficult position.
He had already used Kyoka Suigetsu's ability to distort Kyoya's senses, making him believe he was shrouded in thick fog… unable to see clearly or detect Aizen's Reiatsu.
His original plan had been to manipulate Kyoya's senses and stage a mock battle, but he never expected that, even without being able to perceive his opponent, Kyoya would simply saturate the entire area with attacks.
"Bakudo #39, Enkosen!"
Aizen raised his right hand, and a surge of Reiatsu rapidly formed in front of him, spinning into a circular shield taller than a person.
The moment the shield materialized, countless laser beams struck it, shattering Aizen's defensive barrier in an instant.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Aizen was surprised by the destructive power of Kyoya's lasers.
Though Enkosen was only a #39 Bakudo, Aizen's mastery of Kido meant that even without incantation, its defensive power should have been enough to withstand spells below #60.
Yet, against Kyoya's attack, it was obliterated instantly.
Clearly, the power behind Kyoya's lasers was no less than that of a Hado #63, Raikoho.
Only something of that magnitude could have destroyed Aizen's Enkosen so effortlessly.
Clang, clang, clang-!
Boom, boom, boom-
With lasers raining down relentlessly, Aizen no longer had time to cast another defensive Kido.
Instead, he swung his Zanpakuto, deflecting the incoming beams one after another, sending them crashing into the ground behind him in a series of explosions.
"Too passive..."
Aizen's usual smile faded.
Against Kyoya's indiscriminate, wide-range assault… brute force with no finesse, even closing the distance was proving difficult.
As he continued deflecting the attacks, Aizen began chanting another Kido.
"Bakudo #81, Danku!"
With his low incantation, a transparent barrier materialized before him.
Boom, boom, boom-
In an instant, countless lasers struck the massive, seven-meter-tall, four-meter-wide barrier, unleashing a deafening barrage of explosions.
However, unlike before, where the lasers had shattered Enkosen instantly, they now failed to break through the translucent shield.
Danku was arguably the strongest defensive Kido in a Shinigami's arsenal, capable of perfectly blocking any Hado below #90.
The reason it was said to only 'perfectly' defend against Hado below #90 wasn't because higher-numbered Kidou could break it, but because #90 and above often had massive area-of-effect attacks that struck from multiple directions.
Danku, being a single-directional barrier, couldn't fully negate such techniques.
Kyoya's lasers were dense and powerful, but this wasn't his ultimate technique, [Yasakani no Magatama].
Instead, it was simply a concentrated burst of Reiatsu… strong, but not enough to breach Danku.
That said, Aizen's Danku wasn't at full power either, as he had cast it without the full incantation.
While it can still block Kyoya's attacks, under his continuous bombardment, the transparent barrier begins to crack.
Clearly, in no more than five seconds, the Danku cast by Aizen will be shattered by Kyoya's assault.
"Bakudo #62, Hyapporankan!"
A blue light flickered at Sosuke Aizen's fingertips.
With a low chant, the blue light instantly condensed into over a dozen hexagonal rods, which Aizen hurled toward Kyoya.
One after another, the rods pierced Kyoya's body, pinning him to the ground after sending him flying backward. At a glance, it appeared as though Kyoya had been completely restrained by Aizen's Kido.
"Bakudo #63, Sajo Sabaku!"
Without pause, Aizen continued casting.
Three glowing yellow chains materialized midair, coiling toward Kyoya.
"My apologies, Captain Kyoya."
With Kyoya restrained, the sphere of light that had been firing the laser beams dispersed. Aizen slowly approached and stopped in front of him.
"This battle... is my victory."
"Your victory?"
Seeing Aizen standing before him, Kyoya grinned.
"Lieutenant Aizen, if you hadn't come this close, I might have conceded defeat."
"But since you've stepped right in front of me, giving up now would be far too disrespectful to you."
As he spoke, golden light began radiating from Kyoya's body… to Aizen's shock.
Whoosh-
In an instant, Kyoya's golden form scattered into dozens of streaks of light, only to reform behind Aizen.
This was Kyoya's second greatest asset, aside from his Steel Balloon Physique, Elementalization!
The speed of light is the fastest phenomenon in the known world.
Thus, as the User of the Pika Pika no Mi, Kyoya's elementalization speed is unmatched among all Logia-type users.
With just a thought, his body can shift into whatever form he desires.
While other Logia users can be vulnerable to Haki-infused attacks after elementalization, Kyoya, much like Borsalino, rarely takes damage unless he allows it.
Whether it's Hyapporankan or Sajo Sabaku, the moment Kyoya transforms into light, he can break free effortlessly.
"Captain Aizen... have you ever been punched at the speed of light?"
Alongside Kyoya's voice, a golden-glowing hand pressed toward Aizen's back.
Aizen's expression shifted.
Kyoya's attack speed far exceeded his expectations.
Instinctively, Aizen raised his Zanpakuto to block.
The next moment, Kyoya's radiant palm slammed into Aizen's Zanpakuto.
Boom!
The sheer force sent Aizen hurtling backward like a pebble, creating multiple sonic booms in midair before he finally stabilized himself.
"Such immense power..."
Aizen murmured, staring at his slightly trembling hand in genuine surprise.
This wasn't an act.
He was genuinely startled by Kyoya's strength.
In Aizen's estimation, across the entire Seireitei, perhaps only Zaraki, that beast-like man, could match Kyoya in raw physical power.
While Aizen had honed his Reiatsu, Zanjutsu, Hoho, Hakuda, and Kido to the limits of what a Shinigami could achieve, he never believed his body could rival Zaraki's.
"Of course, speed is weight, Lieutenant Aizen. Haven't you heard?"
Kyoya's voice echoed beside Aizen's ear once more.
Amidst the golden radiance, Kyoya's finger now rested against Aizen's back.
"Lieutenant Aizen... you lose."
"Haha, Captain Kyoya truly lives up to the title of Strongest Shinigami."
Aizen's face stiffened briefly before settling back into his trademark smile.
Even if Kyoya's attack wouldn't necessarily defeat him, Aizen knew that continuing would only force him into a humiliating position.
This battle had gone far enough.
After all, Aizen was confident that the strength he'd displayed was more than sufficient to secure his position as Captain of the 5th Division.
If even this wasn't enough to pass the Captain Assessment, then he wouldn't mind lying low a little longer.
Anyway, for now, no one in the 5th Division posed a threat to him.
Even without the Captain's title, he was still the 5th Division's Acting Captain.
"What a shame. I'm still too weak to give Captain Kyoya a satisfying fight."
Kyoya gave Aizen a strange look.
'Was this guy taking his role too seriously?'
'He'd even pulled out the 'Couldn't satisfy you' line.'
'Should I pay tribute to him and cut Aizen in half to cooperate with him?' (T/N: It seemed to be talking about Saitama vs Boros.)