The Shinigami remained in disbelief. Some even suspected this bull-headed Zangetsu was still attempting to deceive Ichigo Kurosaki!
He wants us to believe that White Ichigo and Zangetsu are Ichigo Kurosaki's allies? We cannot accept this at all!
After witnessing Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual space, Aizen also fell silent.
Is the powerful form Ichigo Kurosaki displays achieved through this spiritual world? Now that I think about it, it seems I've never had any in-depth communication with my Zanpakuto! I didn't try every possible method to understand my Zanpakuto's mind like Ichigo Kurosaki did.
Although I've always wanted to transcend Shinigami, haven't I fully developed the power of Shinigami? Can the Zanpakuto spirit within my body make me stronger through internal conflict, similar to what Ichigo Kurosaki accomplished?
When he considered this, Aizen slightly escaped the negative emotions of being repeatedly overwhelmed by Ichigo Kurosaki! He vaguely perceived a new direction again.
Excellent! I definitely still have a chance to defeat Ichigo Kurosaki. Whether it's my current self or my future self, I must never abandon my self-confidence and composure. Don't forget that my original intention is to transcend Shinigami!
Aizen, who had been extremely uneasy because of Ichigo Kurosaki, regained his composure once more. He wanted to carefully observe this final duel—to see what outcome awaited the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and himself, and what techniques both sides would employ to end this conflict.
While everyone remained confused, in the projection:
[The bull-headed Zangetsu continued his emotional confession to Kurosaki Ichigo, slowly and with deep feeling.
"Ichigo, remember what I told you before?"
"What I want to protect is never the same as what you want to protect."
"Ichigo, you are the one I want to protect!"
Hearing this, Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes flickered with surprise once again.
"You... what do you mean by this!?"
The bull-headed Zangetsu released the blade in his hand, his body swept away by the current, gradually disappearing within Kurosaki Ichigo's spiritual space.
"My meaning is transmitted to your heart along with this blade, along with the techniques you wish to learn..."
The bull-headed Zangetsu's words gradually grew quieter.
The poetic, beautiful scene almost made people forget the previous vigorous battle. At this moment, Kurosaki Ichigo's power finally completed its recharge successfully again!]
At this time, comments rapidly floated by:
Damn, they confessed. If they kissed, it would be a masterpiece.
However, Ichigo Kurosaki, who's slow to understand emotions, may never comprehend their feelings for him!
Ichigo Kurosaki may still not believe that White Ichigo simply wants to protect him!
Ichigo, if you use this technique, you'll be banned.
Ichigo, you'll never see me again.
Witnessing this scene, everyone was touched by the projection and left completely stunned.
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: The person he always wanted to protect was Ichigo Kurosaki? What a joke! He was always trying to teach Ichigo Kurosaki harsh lessons. Is this what you call protection?
[Tier Harribel]: Could it be that this fellow with the bull horns has lost control of his mind due to the fusion of powers from multiple sources?
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: What is he... talking about...?
The audience, already deeply confused, felt even more bewildered at this moment.
Although the bull-headed Zangetsu, White Ichigo, Old Man Zangetsu and others had repeatedly hinted they existed to protect Ichigo Kurosaki, the audience—including Ichigo Kurosaki himself—still couldn't wrap their minds around it.
Whether it's Hollow power or Quincy power... it seems neither would protect Ichigo Kurosaki? It appears White Ichigo wanted to harm Ichigo Kurosaki before, even occupying his mind. He nearly went berserk and turned Ichigo into a walking corpse. Is this what he calls protection!?
This young Yhwach is the same existence as the middle-aged Yhwach, but why does he want to protect a Shinigami? What's the relationship between Ichigo Kurosaki and Yhwach? They're not related at all, right? Ichigo Kurosaki and his father are both descendants of Soul Society nobles! They couldn't possibly be connected to Quincy.
At this moment, someone in Soul Society made a bold speculation.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who had conducted extensive research on Zanpakuto, slowly analyzed:
"Wait a moment. We may have started from the wrong premise."
"What if there are no actual souls of Zangetsu or White Ichigo in Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual space?"
"This might simply be the manifestation of his Zanpakuto!"
"Although I don't know which entity in his mind represents his Zanpakuto's spirit, the power of Zangetsu and White Ichigo undoubtedly sides with Kurosaki Ichigo—they just present themselves in different forms."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi's speculation was remarkably close to reality!
"Although we don't understand where Kurosaki Ichigo's Hollow power or Quincy power originates... since they've become part of Kurosaki Ichigo's body, everything they do should be to protect him!"
"That's why Zangetsu and the bull-headed monster can merge into one!"
Indeed, Ichigo Kurosaki had been wrong all along! "Zangetsu" and "White Ichigo"—all of them represent Kurosaki Ichigo's own power! Kurosaki Ichigo isn't gaining advantages through external forces, but constantly discovering his inner strength and developing it to the extreme!
After hearing Mayuri Kurotsuchi's analysis, countless Shinigami fell into deep contemplation.
It seems to make sense!?
They asked one after another:
"Why does ordinary Kurosaki Ichigo possess so much power?"
"Aizen gave him Hollow power through White, implanting it in Ichigo Kurosaki at birth..."
"Why did Aizen take interest in him?"
"This Kurosaki Ichigo is only about 17 years old, right?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi could only shrug his shoulders.
"These questions may need to be directed to his father!"
Kyoraku Shunsui pondered:
"Originally, his father Isshin Shiba was already a very powerful Shinigami captain. But compared to Aizen and Yhwach... Kurosaki Isshin falls far short, right? So how are they connected? How did these powers enter Kurosaki Ichigo's body?"
They were all at a loss currently, able only to continue watching the next scene.
Is Kurosaki Ichigo going to unleash his full strength? Can he defeat Aizen, who now stands at the apex, merged with the Hogyoku?
In the projection:
[After the flashback, Ichigo Kurosaki stared at Aizen with sharp eyes. He muttered to himself with deep emotion:
"The so-called Final Getsuga is to become the Getsuga myself."
"After using this technique, I will lose all my Shinigami powers!"
But for his friends, Ichigo Kurosaki risked everything! He would use this technique completely!
BUZZ!!!
Azure spiritual pressure waves rushed straight into the heavens! More dazzling than the purple light when Aizen evolved previously!
After the spiritual pressure burst, Ichigo Kurosaki appeared before everyone with long black hair and black materialized spiritual pressure wrapped around his body.
He no longer needed a Shinigami uniform—his appearance was covered with gray spiritual pressure bandages. His eyes had also transformed into deep black and red orbs!]
This scene once again surprised everyone.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Ah, is this Kurosaki Ichigo? His hair is longer than before. What form is this!?
[Madarame Ikkaku]: How can hair grow longer just like that? Does a truly strong person need to strengthen their hair?
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: I feel like I'm growing further and further from Kurosaki Ichigo. He seems to exist in a different dimension than me. I can't even sense his presence.
[Ukitake Jushiro]: This Final Getsuga Tensho he mentioned... isn't it a super technique that can only be used once in a lifetime? The price is truly too high!
[Kurosaki Isshin]: Yes, let's see if he can defeat Aizen at this moment!
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Captain Shiba Isshin, is this your family's unique skill? It's too terrifying!
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: By the way, is there a possibility that Lord Aizen has been activating Kyoka Suigetsu all this time, and this is all an illusion he created?
[Tier Harribel]: That's right! Just like when the Shinigami fought together before, they only struck their own allies.
At this moment, the Arrancars seemed to grasp their last straw.
That's right! This may be Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu!
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: Impossible, I absolutely cannot believe such a scene.
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: Aizen has long lost his overwhelming advantage. He's at a disadvantage against Kurosaki Ichigo. This shows their spiritual pressure exists in different dimensions. In that case, no matter how powerful the illusion ability, it wouldn't be effective, right?
[Byakuya Kuchiki]: Even though Ichigo Kurosaki has reached such a state, you still think he's deceived by illusions? Don't delude yourselves!
In the Seireitei, after hearing discussion about Kyoka Suigetsu, Captain-Commander Yamamoto also frowned.
"But regarding Kyoka Suigetsu... it's difficult to say. Even though I have confidence in destroying Aizen, I still cannot escape his illusions. Unless Ichigo Kurosaki's power can far surpass his, I wouldn't dare claim Ichigo Kurosaki is unaffected by Kyoka Suigetsu."
"Besides, if all these scenes are merely the Three Realms Projection's poor taste, designed to deceive us viewers, then there's nothing we can do."
At this moment, the Shinigami fell speechless, able only to pray desperately that this wasn't false! It must be a real scene of completely defeating Aizen!
Otherwise, they would truly be disappointed, falling from the mountain peak to the valley floor. This feeling was the most painful!
Actually, it was no wonder the Shinigami had such thoughts. After all, they had been crushed by Aizen before... Whether in raw power or Zanpakuto abilities, they fell far short of Aizen.
Once before, they thought they could severely injure Aizen, only to discover it was Aizen's illusion? After fierce operations, only Hinamori Momo was wounded? This was PTSD!
So the Shinigami, once bitten by a snake and afraid of rope for ten years, watched the following battle scenes with unease once again...
But afterward, the Three Realms Projection seemed intent on clearing everyone's concerns about Kyoka Suigetsu.
BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!
The black spiritual pressure emanating from Ichigo Kurosaki seemed more than merely spectacular on screen. His momentum suddenly soared! It even overflowed from the screen and struck the audience!
THUD! THUD!
Many audience members who could barely stand even fell to the ground. Among the Shinigami, only a few veteran captains like Kyoraku Shunsui could continue maintaining balance.
But they all had to release their spiritual pressure and use full strength to compete with the Three Realms Projection's power!
The other Arrancars and Quincy faced similar situations. Even those who could kneel and tremble were considered quite strong. More people fell directly to the ground or fainted on the spot.
The Three Realms Projection screen shook violently, causing space distortion.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
They were even prepared for the possibility of the screen breaking...
At this moment, it seemed as if destructive power was about to descend upon the Three Realms! Like the apocalypse itself!
Even powerhouses like Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Yhwach, and Aizen had to sit upright. They had to utilize all their skills to maintain relatively decent postures.
Their facial expressions showed extreme shock!
Is this Kurosaki Ichigo's Final Getsuga Tensho? Even the Three Realms Projection struggles to play smoothly?
If nothing unexpected occurred, the next battle seemed to lack suspense...
For these top-tier fighters who understood combat, they could even perceive that Kurosaki Ichigo's power at this moment—this black spiritual pressure so dense it became tangible—definitely touched the Soul King level!
Although they didn't know his upper limit, he was definitely among this world's strongest! Any powerhouse fighting Mugetsu Ichigo must take him seriously!
It wasn't until much later that the scene barely calmed, allowing the audience to support themselves and continue watching.
The chat group continued causing upheaval.
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]: You Arrancars, do you still dare claim this is Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu? Can Kyoka Suigetsu produce such effects?
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: That's right, the Three Realms Projection has proven to us this is genuine footage!
Even Aizen's fanatical followers had to admit this was truly Kurosaki Ichigo's power! A power even Aizen had to fear!
Aizen in the projection showed even greater shock upon seeing Ichigo Mugetsu! He began muttering incoherently:
["Once again, I can't sense anything."
"Just like the two-dimensional world cannot interfere with three-dimensional existence."
"Unless the three-dimensional world consciously lowers its level, other beings cannot interfere."
"Just like Shinigami and Hollows—both exist at lower levels and cannot sense my spiritual pressure."
"Has the current Kurosaki Ichigo become such a being?"
"He can actually evolve to a higher dimension than me?"
Before Kurosaki Ichigo, Aizen had to admit he was two-dimensional!
Realizing this, Aizen screamed hysterically.
"Impossible! How could such a thing happen?"
"A mere human..."
"How could he surpass me!?"
This embarrassment made it difficult for anyone to believe this was Aizen!
But at this moment, Ichigo Kurosaki maintained a neutral expression, gazing quietly at Aizen.
The black spiritual pressure in his hand slowly formed a blade, containing world-destroying power.
This was his current state—he no longer needed a physical Zanpakuto! Man and sword had become one!
The next attack must destroy Aizen! And simultaneously destroy the Hogyoku!]
After witnessing Aizen completely lose his composure, the audience's surprise continued rising.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: Aizen-sama said such things...
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: I thought it was just slight improvement, but I didn't expect an entire dimensional upgrade!
[Ichimaru Gin]: Your strength really improved just a little bit!
[Gerard Valkyrie]: It seems Aizen has completely lost his mind. His mad roaring is truly different!
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: That's right—he's angry and afraid now. Such a mentality would never have appeared in him previously.
The Shinigami were already amazed at this point. No matter how many adjectives existed, they couldn't describe how powerful Ichigo Kurosaki was at this moment.
Completely at a loss for words! The ultimate peak of overwhelming power!
As for Aizen and Hueco Mundo members, they had long disappeared from the chat group. After all, even the Aizen in the projection had admitted his inferiority...
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