At this moment, Abarai Renji and Kurosaki Ichigo quickly discussed joining forces to deal with Aizen.
[Renji declared he would give his absolute best at this critical juncture—stopping Aizen as much as possible to provide Kurosaki Ichigo an opportunity to attack.
Under Abarai Renji's command:
SWISH!
Countless Zabimaru blade segments flew up from the ground, densely surrounding Aizen.
Seizing this crucial moment, Kurosaki Ichigo rushed forward rapidly, preparing to launch a fatal attack against Aizen.
Under Senyu's editing, exciting and passionate BGM resonated throughout the Three Realms Projection, even creating the illusion for audiences that Kurosaki Ichigo would succeed in his assault!
Unfortunately, before striking Aizen, the passionate BGM abruptly ceased.
CLANG!
Aizen remained supremely composed, blocking Kurosaki Ichigo's Zangetsu with a single finger!
That's correct! Just one finger!
This left Kurosaki Ichigo absolutely stunned! Could the distance between him and Aizen truly be so vast?
Then...
CRACK!
Even without his Zanpakutō breaking, the overwhelming force didn't diminish, directly injuring Kurosaki Ichigo!
Hiss, hiss, hiss... blood spurted from Kurosaki Ichigo's body.
Aizen observed Kurosaki Ichigo with a gentle smile at this moment, as if regarding him as his son.
He didn't kill Kurosaki Ichigo directly, simultaneously avoiding breaking his Bankai completely, lest he become unable to fight in the future.
He examined Kurosaki Ichigo carefully from head to toe, speaking with genuine interest:
"Oh, I thought I could bisect you with that technique..."]
After witnessing this scene, audiences experienced mixed emotions.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: As expected, Lord Aizen could have eliminated Ichigo Kurosaki long ago, but refrained from killing him because he wanted him to grow stronger.
[Coyote Starrk]: Indeed, after fighting extensively, he still hasn't properly killed a single Shinigami. Lord Aizen is remarkably gentle.
[Tier Harribel]: This attack was absolutely perfect! Not only did it make Ichigo Kurosaki realize the enormous gap between himself and Lord Aizen, inspiring continued progress, but it also inflicted no fatal damage! So compassionate!
[Gin Ichimaru]: Yes, this represents Captain Aizen's true intentions.
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: Ichigo Kurosaki is such a grudge-holder. I wonder if the Three Realms Projection arranged this deliberately—he previously used Mugetsu to cut Aizen in half and also interrupted the BGM scene... Did the original inspiration come from here?
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: This Kurosaki Ichigo... is truly vindictive!
[Gerard Valkyrie]: What a tedious battle. Just watching a high-level boss bully a weakling while deliberately not finishing him... Truly boring.
[Tosen Kaname]: Hmph, you know, wielding such tremendous power without killing a weak human requires even greater skill. It's more difficult to step over an ant without harming it.
[Jugram Haschwalth]: Indeed, this demands considerable acting ability...
Everyone was once again speechless regarding the parent-child battle between Kurosaki Ichigo and Aizen.
[In the projection:
SWISH!
Another Shinigami spurted blood! Abarai collapsed completely, utterly losing his combat capability.
Then, Aizen approached his prey—Kuchiki Rukia.
"Excellent, I can finally take you away."
Witnessing Aizen about to harm Kuchiki Rukia, Kurosaki Ichigo forced himself to stand despite his agony.
Aizen turned around, discovering that Kurosaki Ichigo could still rise, and was genuinely amazed! He observed the struggling Kurosaki Ichigo with paternal affection, deeply admiring his fighting spirit.
"How admirable—he's still conscious!"
"When your vitality exceeds your actual strength, it becomes a liability!"
"I advise against forcing yourself."
Aizen spoke increasingly gently and kindly, like a doctor caring for Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Your spine is currently only maintaining its connected state."
"No matter how desperately you attempt to rise, it's completely futile."
"This represents a natural law that cannot be violated."
"You've already expended all your resources—simply lie down and rest!"
"Your mission has been completed!"
Upon hearing Aizen's series of statements, Ichigo Kurosaki was instantly bewildered.
What mission? Why did Aizen speak of something else? I couldn't comprehend it at all... What was he discussing?
Aizen continued elaborating:
"I knew you would invade through West Rukongai, so I monitored that location in advance."
"The Shakonmaku was lowered timely, and personnel from the 3rd and 9th Divisions were ordered to guard it."
"I also sent Gin to meet you!"
"If the Shakonmaku appears with a captain defending it, then your only entry method into Soul Society would be Shiba Kūkaku's cannon!"
"This invasion method is quite dramatic and naturally attracts the Gotei 13's attention!"
"Even when captains were eliminated, there was no major upheaval."
"Thank you tremendously—it made my actions far more convenient!"
Kurosaki Ichigo: "???"
The more Kurosaki Ichigo listened, the more confused he became! How did it seem like this inexplicable Aizen had been using him? And it made his rebellion more convenient?
"How did you know we would emerge from West Rukongai?"
Seeing the perplexed Kurosaki Ichigo, Aizen appeared quite surprised. Kurosaki Ichigo seemed incapable of understanding his meaning. This wasn't normal...
Aizen continued questioning:
"Isn't it strange? Urahara Kisuke's Senkaimon can only reach West Rukongai!"
"Aren't you his subordinates?"
"Didn't Urahara Kisuke order you to retrieve Kuchiki Rukia?"
Aizen had always believed Urahara Kisuke would play a crucial role in Kurosaki Ichigo's development.
Kurosaki Ichigo maintained that shocked expression, as if completely unable to comprehend.
Kurosaki Ichigo, gradually realizing he had been manipulated into countless actions, felt a chill run through him at this moment!]
[Ichigo Kurosaki]: Wait, so I've been dancing to his tune this entire time?!
[Aizen Sosuke]: My dear Ichigo, you've exceeded all my expectations. Your growth has been remarkable.
[Urahara Kisuke]: Even I didn't fully grasp the extent of his manipulations...
[Renji Abarai]: So we were all just pieces on his chess board from the beginning.
[Rukia Kuchiki]: The way he planned everything... it's terrifying.
[Byakuya Kuchiki]: His strategic foresight spans years, perhaps decades.
[Kenpachi Zaraki]: All this talking! When do they stop analyzing and start real fighting?
[Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni]: The depth of his deception continues to astound even me.
[Kyoraku Shunsui]: He orchestrated Ichigo's entire rescue mission...
[Ukitake Jūshirō]: Such comprehensive manipulation of events and people.
[Gin Ichimaru]: Captain Aizen always was thorough in his preparations.
[Tosen Kaname]: Lord Aizen's guidance shaped them into exactly what they needed to become.
[Ulquiorra Cifer]: Lord Aizen's paternal pride is evident even while revealing his manipulations.
[Coyote Starrk]: The father teaching his son about the real world... in his own twisted way.
[Tier Harribel]: Lord Aizen's disappointment when Ichigo doesn't understand shows genuine care.
[Nnoitra Gilga]: This kid really thought he was acting independently? Pathetic.
[Yammy Llargo]: Humans are so easy to manipulate when you understand their nature.
[Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez]: At least now the kid knows he's been played from the start.
The revelation of Aizen's complete orchestration of events sent shockwaves through all audiences, as they realized the true extent of his century-long planning and manipulation.
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