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Aizen slowly raised his head, his gaze locking onto Su Li.
Shock, bewilderment, anger, disbelief—emotions churned through his eyes in a relentless tide.
Decades ago, during the captain's assessment, he had already witnessed this move. Even then, it had unsettled him. But facing it directly now was something else entirely. The pale blue beam was far more devastating than he had imagined, and blocking it had nearly destroyed his hand.
Aizen said nothing, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. This young man… was without doubt the most formidable opponent he had ever faced.
While Aizen studied him, Su Li's eyes lingered on Aizen's scorched arm. The damage was severe, but not fatal. His own current Soul Penetration was vastly stronger than forty years ago, yet it had only crippled Aizen's hand. That, more than anything, proved how dangerous this man truly was. Aizen was no ordinary foe—he stood in a class all his own.
They stared at each other in silence. Aizen's gaze carried wariness. Su Li's was calm, steady, unshaken.
The tension thickened.
Kurosaki Ichigo swallowed hard, unable to take his eyes off Aizen.
"He blocked it… like that?" he muttered, horror in his voice.
"This guy… is insane."
Renji, on the other hand, looked at Su Li with open admiration.
"Strong… too strong…" he breathed. "Su Li… Big Brother…"
The honorific slipped out unconsciously.
A soft groan came from nearby. Inoue Orihime rubbed her eyes and blinked, finally stirring.
Her gaze swept the area, then froze. A massive canine face loomed inches away—Kashiwamura Sajin's.
"Dog… Mr. Doggo…" she whispered, stiff as a board.
"I am a wolf," Sajin growled darkly. "Call me a dog again, and I'll kill you."
Orihime's lips clamped shut instantly.
Moments earlier, the hurricane had flung her from her position, tumbling her until she collided with Sajin and finally stopped.
"You. I saw your ability earlier—you can heal, right?" Sajin's voice was low, commanding.
Orihime nodded quickly.
"Heal me."
She hesitated only for a heartbeat before activating Shun Shun Rikka. Warm golden light wrapped around Sajin, mending his wounds.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Inoue… Orihime," she said softly.
"Then I owe you a favor." His tone was calm, but edged with gravity. Without another glance at her, he turned his attention back to the two figures locked in their silent standoff.
Orihime followed his gaze.
Aizen shifted his ZanpakutĹŤ to his right hand again, the same one seared and blackened from the earlier clash. The sleeve was gone, his bare arm scorched, steam rising from the burns. Blood dripped steadily to the ground. The image of the usually composed and refined Aizen in such a state made the surrounding captains' expressions harden.
Even after all his prior calculations and overestimations, Aizen now realized he had still underestimated Su Li. This injury—this humiliation—set his temper alight.
Killing this man was no longer a matter of strategy. It was necessity.
His blade lifted slowly, ready to strike.
Then—he paused.
Su Li stiffened at the same instant. Both had sensed it—several powerful reiatsu signatures racing toward Sōkyoku Hill. The other captains were coming.
"They're here," Aizen thought coldly.
"Almost time," Su Li murmured inwardly.
Their gazes met again. The thought was mutual.
One strike to decide everything.
Aizen vanished, reappearing in a flash before Su Li, blade slicing down with crushing spiritual pressure.
Su Li exhaled, coiling his strength, and drove his fist forward like a storm unleashed.
On the distant cliff, two figures appeared—Shihōin Yoruichi and Sui-Feng. Their pupils constricted as they felt the spiritual pressure boiling on the hill.
They saw the fist and blade about to collide.
"Su Li!!" Sui-Feng's voice rang out.
Yoruichi's face hardened.
The world fell silent for a heartbeat—
Then the explosion came.
BOOM!
A shockwave ripped through the hill, flinging Kurosaki Ichigo and the others skyward before they could react. Even Sajin was lifted off the ground, forcing his ZanpakutĹŤ into the earth to anchor himself. Orihime clung desperately to his haori, flapping in the air like a caught fish.
On the cliff, Yoruichi and Sui-Feng dug in, but the force gouged a ten-meter scar into the ground before them, shoving them back.
When the wind finally eased, all eyes turned toward the spot where Su Li and Aizen had stood.
A vast crater now marked the ground. From its center, a lone figure was hurled into the sky. Blood traced a perfect arc—a crimson parabola—against the flawless blue above.
For a moment, it was strangely beautiful.
Then the shock hit them.
They had all seen the number engraved on the figure's back.
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