This time, the blow landed from Aizen Sōsuke's right pectoral down to his lower left abdomen. Compared to the previous strike, Ailin's two sword cuts formed a symmetrical "X" across Aizen's torso.
"Against Black Lily, you don't stand a chance, Aizen."
"Tch!"
With a wave of his hand, Ailin unleashed a flurry of blows. In a flash, countless blades danced across Aizen's body from the neck down, leaving a crimson mist in their wake.
"Agh!"
Aizen cried out in agony. In the next moment, the lower half of his body dissolved into a bloody spray.
"See? I can kill you any time I please."
"Damn… Damn you!"
Aizen, now only a torso, roared in fury. His high-speed regeneration, fueled by the Hogyoku's spiritual pressure, kicked into overdrive. The crimson mist coalesced around him and his lower body began to reform. The wounds inflicted by Ailin were closing rapidly. However, the Hollow shell encasing him began to crack, revealing his true face beneath.
"Impossible!"
"The Hogyoku… This was supposed to be our ultimate form…"
Terror gripped Aizen as he felt the Hogyoku, once fully merged with him, now rejecting him, forcing him out of his six-winged, black-faced transformation. Even fully merged with the Hogyoku, he had been no match for Ailin. Now, having regressed, his power significantly diminished, victory was even less likely. And having lost the possibility of complete fusion with the Hogyoku, he was no longer worthy of being Ailin's opponent.
Would Captain Ailin even spare him now?
"Aizen, it seems the Hogyoku understands you better than you thought," Ailin remarked, observing Aizen's regression.
"Hmm?" Aizen's head snapped up at Ailin.
"Captain Ailin, what do you mean?"
"The Hogyoku understands you better than you thought?"
"The Hogyoku, which has just rejected my complete fusion, understands me?"
"Isn't that precisely the case?"
While Aizen's composure was clearly shaken, Ailin didn't mind elaborating. Perhaps this would even push Aizen to become stronger.
"Aizen, in your last two fusions with the Hogyoku, haven't you forgotten your initial objective?"
"Your evolutions, triggered by Captain-Commander Yamamoto's attacks and Gin's near-fatal blow, were perfectly executed. Your spiritual pressure increased significantly."
"However, in your battle against Ichigo Kurosaki, your two evolutions, particularly the last one, were utterly misguided."
Aizen felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him. Ailin's words struck a chord. How could he have forgotten?
His initial evolutions had always focused on increasing his spiritual pressure. Whether facing defeat against Captain-Commander Yamamoto or narrowly escaping Gin Ichimaru's assassination attempt, his spiritual pressure had grown exponentially with each evolution.
However, during his fight with Ichigo Kurosaki, his evolution had veered off course. Driven by fear, by Ichigo's unexpected strength, his last two transformations had prioritized combat abilities over spiritual pressure. Integrating Kyōka Suigetsu into his body and transforming into his six-winged form were both manifestations of this misguided pursuit. His desire for greater fighting prowess had led him astray.
Aizen fell silent, no longer resisting the Hogyoku's rejection.
Crack. Crack…
Shatter…
Within moments, the Hollow shell encasing him crumbled completely.
"You're right, Captain Ailin. My path of evolution was flawed. I lost this battle against the Soul Society. Even if I had created the Ōken in my previous state, I wouldn't have been able to kill the Soul King, to become the new Soul King."
"I concede."
"I'm willing to return to the Soul Society with you, to face judgment and punishment." Aizen's composure seemed to have returned.
"However, Captain Ailin, my pursuit of your power will not cease!"
"While I've regressed from my complete fusion with the Hogyoku, this has also given me the opportunity to find the correct path of evolution, to achieve an even greater fusion, to ascend to a higher plane of existence. And then, I will challenge you again."
"I look forward to it."
Seeing Aizen's concession, the Black Lilly Blade in Ailin's hand dissolved into golden particles, returning to his King's Treasury.
"Bakudō #63 – Sajō Sabaku!"
Ailin raised his index finger as he chanted the incantation. Blue spiritual pressure coalesced at his fingertips that transformed into a black chain that shot towards Aizen, binding him completely. Ailin held the other end of the chain.
He then flew towards Ichigo Kurosaki's location while dragging Aizen behind him.
"Uncle."
"Byakuya? What are you doing in Hueco Mundo?"
"Uncle, there's been an incident in the Soul Society…"
"Is that so? Do you need me to return with you to deal with it?"
Byakuya Kuchiki nodded, momentarily stunned by Ailin's casual tone.
"Yes, Uncle. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated."
Before witnessing Ailin's true power, Byakuya had been concerned about his ability to deal with the Reigai while simultaneously suppressing the other Reigai captains. However, having observed Ailin's fight against Aizen, Byakuya was now certain that the Reigai-Ailin wouldn't stand a chance.
With his uncle's support, the presence of the other captains was less critical. From what Ichigo Kurosaki had told him, the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants who had fought Aizen in the World of the Living were all gravely injured. Even after Captain Unohana's healing, their spiritual pressure was significantly depleted from maintaining the time-distortion barrier for Ichigo's training. In their current state, they would be no match for the Reigai captains.
"Ichigo, I'll leave Aizen to you."
Ailin tossed the chain binding Aizen to Ichigo. "Byakuya and I will return to the Soul Society to assess the situation."
…
Not long after Ailin and Byakuya departed, Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin emerged from a Garganta beside Ichigo.
"Ichigo…" Urahara's face, for once, displayed a hint of guilt as he sensed Ichigo's weakened spiritual pressure.
"I'm sorry, Ichigo. We arrived too late."
However…
He glanced at the bound Aizen as a puzzled expression crossed his face. If he remembered correctly, Ichigo Kurosaki didn't know Kidō. The spell currently restraining Aizen was Bakudō #63, Sajō Sabaku. And judging by the spiritual pressure emanating from Aizen, breaking free from such a low-level Kidō would be trivial.
Why would Aizen willingly remain bound?
Could he be under the influence of Kyōka Suigetsu?
Suddenly wary, Urahara stopped Yoruichi and channeled his own spiritual pressure, activating the Kidō seals he had placed within the Hogyoku during its creation.
Crackle… Crackle… Crackle…
"Ugh…"
Cross-shaped wooden restraints erupted from Aizen's chest, piercing his body. The Sajō Sabaku binding him shattered under their force.
"Mr. Urahara, what are you doing?" Ichigo asked, alarmed by Aizen's sudden predicament.
"Ah, my apologies, Ichigo."
"The situation seemed… too improbable. I suspected I might be under the influence of Kyōka Suigetsu."
"But it seems my suspicions were unfounded."
Oberving the now restrained Aizen, Urahara couldn't help but feel curious. Even now, Aizen showed no signs of resistance. What had transpired during his absence?
"Ichigo, did you defeat Aizen?"
"No." Ichigo shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Urahara. While I managed to bisect him during our fight, he regenerated almost instantly. Captain Ailin was the one who ultimately defeated him."
"I see."
"But this is… strange."
Urahara looked at Aizen, now encased in a cage of thorns created by the Kidō seals. "Knowing Aizen, even in defeat, he wouldn't simply surrender like this."
"I asked him the same thing. He said his previous evolutions were flawed, and he needed to re-merge with the Hogyoku to achieve his final, and most perfect, form."
Urahara looked at the restrained Aizen, a hint of envy in his eyes. Even he had to admit that Aizen Sōsuke had traveled further down this path than he himself had. Upon sensing the Soul King's will, Urahara had hesitated. The Visored's fate had given him pause. He couldn't bear the thought of failing after ascending to a higher level of existence.
Aizen, however, had no such attachments. Bonds, subordinates… they were all expendable to him. It was this detachment that allowed him to gamble everything on the Hogyoku, to pursue his goal with unwavering conviction.
Their respective outcomes reflected their choices. Urahara, having stopped, had protected what he held dear. Aizen, having continued, despite being sealed by Urahara, remained on the path of evolution.
Even Urahara didn't know how long his Kidō seals would hold. But he knew that once Aizen completed his final evolution, these seals would be nothing more than flimsy restraints, easily broken.
"Let's return to the Soul Society, Ichigo…"
"Okay."
…
A golden ripple shimmered in the air. Ailin and Byakuya Kuchiki stepped out.
Byakuya's eyes widened as he recognized his surroundings. His uncle's power… it could even do this?
They stood in the courtyard of Ailin and Haruko Kuchiki's residence.
Unlimited Blade Works, Ailin's innate ability, was also his domain. After copying the Royal Seal and integrating its spatial manipulation into Unlimited Blade Works, Ailin's Shikai had transcended mere projection, becoming the King's Treasury.
The domain itself had expanded several times over. Each Zanpakutō within served as a spatial anchor. Within the domain, Ailin could sense these anchors, scattered across various worlds, and choose whether to recall them, dissolving them into spiritual particles. He could also use them as focal points to open portals near their locations.
He had brought Byakuya into Unlimited Blade Works, opened a portal near Alice in the Soul Society, and instantly transported them from Hueco Mundo to the Seireitei.
"Lord Ailin."s
Beneath the golden osmanthus tree, Alice and another girl in white armor bowed respectfully.
"Good work, Alice and Lily."
These two girls were the Zanpakutō Ailin had left to protect Haruko Kuchiki. Alice's true form was the Golden Osmanthus Sword, a sacred weapon. Lily was Avalon, one of Ailin's most powerful Zanpakutō, a manifestation of Arturia's spirit.
"It wasn't any trouble, Lord Ailin."
Alice looked towards the Reigai-Ailin hovering above the Seireitei and said to Ailin, "After I released Golden Osmanthus Sword, we weren't attacked. Perhaps… his presence served as a deterrent."
"I see. Continue protecting Haruko. I'll go deal with him."
Ailin nodded at the two girls, then vanished.
The next instant, he stood before the Reigai-Ailin in the sky.
"It's been decades since you last requested access to the King's Treasury."
"I didn't expect it would take us this long to finally meet."
"So, have you considered my proposal?"
Reigai-Ailin's eyes snapped open. Blue lightning crackled within them.