"So terrifying?" Shiba Isshin and Ishida Ryūken were startled.
They hadn't expected Soul Society's environment to be so fertile. Not only had it produced Aizen, but it had also raised someone even more terrifying than him. Was this Uehara Shiroha really so fearsome?
The nobles of Soul Society were truly blessed. Fortunately, these two were no longer in Soul Society.
The two old men had little concern for Soul Society or the position of the Soul King. These two men, both deeply in love and frustrated by past losses, just wanted to save their children. The days of having wives might be over for them, but at least their children had to be protected.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, a black crack suddenly opened in the sky. Aizen stepped forward through the garganta. Behind him were the ever-smiling Ichimaru Gin and the blindfolded Tōsen Kaname.
Aizen spoke in a calm tone: "The strongest point of the Gotei 13 is that they have thirteen captains who can each stand on their own. The combat power of each captain is impressive. But as I mentioned before, four captains are trapped in Hueco Mundo. Now the remaining combat power of the Gotei 13 is only half of what it should be. Moreover, they have no way to fight freely in Karakura Town. The advantage is mine! Losing is impossible. All we have to do is destroy Karakura Town and then capture Soul Society. This is too easy! They are truly vulnerable!"
In truth, he wasn't saying this to the Gotei 13 or the Espada. He was saying it to Ichigo Kurosaki in Hueco Mundo. While speaking, Tōsen Kaname had been using a specialized communication kidō to transmit the sound to Hueco Mundo, intending to further stimulate Ichigo Kurosaki's potential.
After all, Ichigo Kurosaki possessed the most perfect hollowfication. Aizen wouldn't let go of such a valuable "resource." As long as Ichigo's maximum potential was developed, Aizen planned to devour it and turn it into part of his own power.
...
In Hueco Mundo, upon hearing these words, Ishida Uryū, Sado Yasutora, and Kurosaki Ichigo all paled.
They hadn't expected that Aizen had already begun his invasion of Karakura Town. If war broke out, even if Aizen eventually lost, Karakura Town would be destroyed. The combined strength of the Espada and Aizen was too overwhelming, and the Shinigami captains would need to fight at full power.
For the Shinigami and Arrancar, this was just another battle. For the residents of Karakura Town, it would be a complete disaster. The Reiatsu emitted by the Shinigami and Espada alone would be enough to level the entire town.
Just as their anxiety peaked, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice echoed from above:
"You don't need to worry. We knew the battle of Karakura Town was inevitable. Before this, the Gotei 13 and Urahara Kisuke took countermeasures. If we used ordinary means, we could only send Shinigami captains to the battlefield, but they couldn't fight with their full strength. Their Reiatsu is too powerful and would destroy everything.
"So Urahara specially designed four pillars with a radius of one soul mile in Karakura Town. Each pillar occupies a corner, forming a space barrier connecting the real world and Soul Society. The technical level of this device is average with many defects, and it was very troublesome to set up.
"I made numerous improvements with the Research and Development Bureau, expending considerable effort to create a space barrier covering all of Karakura Town. Then we constructed an exact replica of Karakura Town on the outskirts of Rukongai. With the spatial power of the pillars, we exchanged the real Karakura Town with our replica in Rukongai.
"This way, the battlefield shifted from Karakura Town to Rukongai. Now, the Shinigami captains can fight with all their strength without affecting the residents of Karakura Town. This is the power of science."
Although Mayuri was slightly irritated about working with Urahara Kisuke, he had to admit the device was quite useful. Besides, this wasn't Kurotsuchi Mayuri's specialty, so he reluctantly used it as a reference.
"That shopkeeper actually cooperated with the Gotei 13?" Rukia, who was receiving treatment, was momentarily stunned. Then her anxious mood also relaxed. With Teacher Shiroha and Brother Byakuya fighting in Hueco Mundo, Rukia felt somewhat reassured.
After hearing Kurotsuchi Mayuri's explanation, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others finally calmed down temporarily. However, even if Karakura Town was safe for the moment, as long as Aizen remained at large, the threat would persist.
This time, Ichigo Kurosaki made up his mind: "Whether it means unleashing my instincts or changing myself, I have to protect my friends and Karakura Town no matter what! This is my duty."
...
At the same time, Aizen in the sky also discovered something unusual. Something seemed wrong with the concentration of Reishi in the surroundings.
At that moment, Head Captain Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and a group of captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13 appeared using shunpo, gathering together.
The Captain-Commander stood firm, his face as calm as still water: "Finally caught up!"
"Oh, Lord Aizen, it seems the plan has changed!" Gin Ichimaru looked slightly surprised. "What should we do now?"
"It doesn't matter. Everything is proceeding as planned." After saying this, Aizen looked down at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and said:
"Caught up? You think I don't know that you used the space barrier to relocate Karakura Town? But this doesn't affect my plan. I just need to eliminate you first, and then go to Soul Society to destroy the Ōken that requires Karakura Town to create. I've simply changed the order—your demise will come sooner rather than later. All you'll catch up with is your funeral."
He didn't take their resistance seriously. In his mind, all of this was part of his plan. He was fully prepared. Aizen intended to use the Gotei 13's trap to complete his own scheme.
To him, the Shinigami captains before him posed no threat at all. Apart from himself, he believed there were only one and a half beings who could challenge him—one was Uehara Shiroha, and the half was Urahara Kisuke.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, his white beard fluttering, slammed his cane down, intimidating without showing anger: "Traitor Aizen Sōsuke, surrender! You have no escape."
"No escape?" Aizen chuckled. "How ridiculous! I don't know why you harbor such an illusion. Your confidence is mere delusion. Come forth! Starrk, Baraggan, Harribel! And my palace is in your hands, Ulquiorra!"
As his words faded, several horizontal black cracks appeared in the sky. The top three Espada and their Fracción emerged from the torn sky. Their heavy, oppressive, and ominous Reiatsu enveloped the replicated Karakura Town like a dark cloud.
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