(T/N: Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone!Thanks for the support!! it really helps a lot!)
There was no drawing of lots for the final match — Aizen Sōsuke and Komamura Sajin stepped directly onto the stage.
"I've been looking forward to this match for a long time," Aizen said with a smile.
"Same here. Let me show you the results of my training!" Komamura placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The final match of the Live Blade Tournament had been delayed due to the Tsunayashiro clan's massacre.
During that delay, Komamura didn't idle — he worked hard to develop new techniques.
He took Aizen seriously, knowing he couldn't win using only techniques he'd already revealed.
Perhaps it was instinct from his Wolfman Clan blood, but something told him that Aizen had held back in his fight with Shiba Isshin.
Clang—!
His long blade was drawn, and the flash of steel came instantly.
Komamura wasn't one to just unleash Flowlight recklessly. He could also focus its power precisely onto his Reiatsu Blade.
The blade pierced straight through Aizen's heart — or so it seemed. No blood spilled.
Komamura's pupils contracted. He spun around immediately.
Somehow, Aizen had already appeared behind him.
Komamura quickly thrust his palm forward, Reiatsu condensed between his hands.
Windchase: Palm Pressure!
A blast of wind surged toward Aizen.
But it passed through Aizen's figure harmlessly.
Komamura's eyes scanned the area. He noticed faint mist in the air.
He looked up — and saw another Aizen overhead.
"Using the moisture in the air for mirror reflection… You've already released your Shikai?" Komamura said grimly.
He hadn't even noticed when Aizen had activated it. That was bad news.
Once a Shinigami reached a certain level of mastery over their Zanpakutō, they no longer needed to chant the release phrase aloud.
Clearly, Aizen had reached that point.
"In that case…" Komamura dropped the idea of gaining an early advantage before either side released their Zanpakutō. He raised his sword.
"Roar, Tenken!"
The right arm of Tenken Myō'ō appeared overhead.
Komamura swung his blade — the massive arm mirrored his motion.
A far larger storm of bladed wind than ever before swept across the multiple images of Aizen.
Windchase: Blade Pressure!
From within the storm, another Aizen appeared.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen."
This new Aizen used Kidō to shield himself from the storm.
"The range is wide… but the power's a bit lacking," he calmly assessed.
The circular shield in front of him blocked the incoming blade-storm with ease.
Despite the storm's fearsome appearance — spanning nearly half a football field — its power was too spread out. A mid-to-low tier, chantless Bakudō was enough to block it.
"Got you!"
Komamura shouted.
That move was never meant to finish Aizen — it was just to flush out his real body!
Aizen's Zanpakutō was deeply deceptive.
The mirrored images created from water vapor not only confused sight — they emitted Reiatsu as well, making them indistinguishable by spiritual sense.
It was impossible to locate him using vision or perception — a serious handicap in battle.
"Oh?" Aizen chuckled. "So that was your plan — to flush me out using that move?"
Komamura dropped into a combat stance, left hand pressing the back of his blade as he infused it with Reiatsu.
Overhead, Tenken Myō'ō's giant right arm also raised its sword toward Aizen.
At the same time, the chaotic winds around them reversed and rushed back in, converging into the massive blade.
The vortex wrapped around the weapon, compressing tighter and tighter.
Then Komamura charged forward with incredible speed, thrusting out with everything he had.
Windchase: Shun Strike!
Tenken Myō'ō followed with a synchronized stab.
The massive blade, encased in terrifying wind pressure, lunged forward like a dragon's fang — aiming straight for Aizen.
"This move is nearly on par with Isshin's attacks," Aizen noted, raising a hand.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū."
"Pride of Heaven, iron-walled fortress, dragons, lions, tigers, wolves—
sever the heavens and earth before collapse."
Using a post-chant casting technique, Aizen released one of the strongest defensive spells — Dankū!
An impenetrable wall of Reishi materialized between the dragon's fang and Aizen.
Zzzzzhhh!
The sound of the massive blade grinding against the wall pierced the air.
But even with all its power, the storm-wrapped blade couldn't break through.
Aizen waved his sword — a jet of water surged forth.
The stream split into water cannons mid-air and struck the side of the giant blade, knocking it away.
He glanced at the prayer beads around his wrist. With this Divine Armament, mimicking a water-based Zanpakutō was far easier.
"As expected… That wasn't enough to break through Dankū." Komamura's brows furrowed.
Aizen could cast Dankū using post-chant techniques, maintaining full power with rapid casting. Breaking through that defense head-on was almost impossible.
"Got anything else? Because if that's all, you won't be able to beat me."
Aizen said it casually — but it goaded Komamura immediately.
"Then let me show you a move I just mastered these past two weeks!" Komamura's eyes blazed with intensity.
"Dankū only defends from one direction. This one… can't be blocked that way!"
He swiftly rotated Tenken.
The massive blade spun in midair.
Gasps echoed from the audience.
"Komamura's ultimate move is coming!"
Ōmaeda Kishinosuke stared at the stage with anticipation, not wanting to miss a single detail.
In the previous round, Komamura had used a giant tornado to defeat Yadōmaru Lisa.
Many were waiting to see it again.
"Aizen's expression hasn't changed… Could he have a way to counter it?" Obana Jirō murmured, uneasy.
"Wait… this looks different," Kishinosuke frowned in confusion.
On the other side of the stands, Shiba Isshin and the others were equally stunned.
"Komamura… combined Crimson Tide with Windchase?!"
Isshin's jaw dropped.
He himself had combined fire and lightning through his Zanpakutō's elemental affinity — which made it easier.
But Komamura's fusion of these two techniques was far harder to control than Getsuga Tenshō.
"Sensei's Kidō-sword style is incredibly powerful. If you can fuse them… the strength multiplies exponentially.
But fusing those moves is extremely difficult — and dangerous. One mistake and the move can backfire."
Yadōmaru Lisa watched with envy. Her spiritual body wasn't yet strong enough to perform such a feat.
"The Wolfman Clan is built tough. Maybe Komamura can really pull it off," Isshin muttered.
On the stage, a blazing storm howled.
Aizen stood calmly within it, like a candle in the wind.
"Haaah!"
Flames erupted on both Komamura's blade and Tenken Myō'ō's sword above.
The Kidō Corps Shinigami maintaining the Reishi Barrier around the audience felt waves of heat slam against them.
"This barrier needs better heat insulation…" Ushada Hakugen wiped sweat from his brow. He saw room for improvement.
After last round's incident, they had modified the cylindrical Reishi Barrier to cover the top — no longer could attacks rain down from the sky.
The flaming storm swirled, engulfing the entire stage — every inch except where Komamura stood.
His fur was soaked in sweat — then dried again by the blazing air.
He felt like he was standing inside a furnace.
The temperature was so extreme, it warped the very air.
But that was fine — his Crimson Tide Storm blanketed the entire stage.
Aizen had nowhere left to run!
After some time, Komamura guessed that Aizen must be down for the count.
He rotated the massive blade counterclockwise, using Reiatsu to disperse the flames.
But even with his power, it took great effort to dispel something this vast.
The flames slowly faded. The audience could finally see what was happening.
All eyes locked on the arena.
Komamura noticed the shock on the audience's faces — and a flash of pride stirred within him.
As a member of the Wolfman Clan, moments like this were rare.
His position gave him a clear view of the student seating, where he spotted Isshin and the others.
They were just as stunned.
That made the victory even sweeter.
But the next moment, Komamura realized — their eyes weren't on him.
"They're looking… behind me!"
Panic surged through him.
He turned — and saw Aizen, completely unharmed.
"A very impressive move. I had to dodge it."
Aizen smiled lightly.
"You got into the safe zone?! How?!" Komamura was shaken — then a thought struck him.
"Mirror reflection?!"
"When," Aizen said with a faint smile,
"did you start believing… I hadn't used Kyōka Suigetsu?"
Komamura's face darkened. He felt utterly helpless.
Another flash of the blade — his strike once again missed its mark.
Aizen had once again used mirror reflection to disrupt Komamura's attack.
"Your strikes are strong. Looks like I need something stronger to finish this."
He raised his hand.
"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi!"
A jet-black box rose from the ground, instantly engulfing Komamura.
As the coffin-like shape stood tall upon the stage, the minds of the spectators went blank.
Chantless Hadō #90!
Even the captains showed rare astonishment.
"That's… a true Kidō genius!!!" Kyōraku Shunsui gasped.
"Chantless Black Coffin!" Ukitake Jūshirō stood from his seat in shock.
"This guy Aizen is unbelievable!" Yoruichi felt like a rising star had just crushed the old guard.
"…" Kuchiki Sōjun remained silent.
He had always been called the genius of the Kuchiki clan — especially in Kidō. But compared to Aizen, he now felt unworthy of the title.
"I'm getting too old… time to retire." The vice-captain of the 5th Division sighed.
He had already made up his mind — the future of the 5th would go to this young man.
"What a shame…" Kenpachi sighed. This genius was already locked in for the 5th Division.
If Aizen's sword talent matched his Kidō talent, Kenpachi would have stolen him without hesitation.
"Young people these days are getting more and more incredible," Unohana Retsu smiled.
"Ah… I'm so jealous of Nanatsuki! He has so many talented disciples!" Hikifune Kirio beamed.
She had considered taking a disciple before going to the Royal Palace — but hadn't found anyone suitable.
"Isn't your standard way too high?" Urahara Kisuke teased.
"Besides research skills, you also want someone with excellent cooking ability. The only one in all of Soul Society who meets your criteria is Katori Nanatsuki!"
Urahara couldn't help but feel that her recruitment standards were tailor-made for Nanatsuki.
But Nanatsuki was already a captain-level powerhouse — far beyond the need for a master.
"To be able to release high-level Kidō chantlessly while still a student… might be the most powerful student in Shin'o Academy history," said Headmaster Kotetsu in awe.
"Aizen and Kurohitsugi are a perfect match. He picked it up with incredible ease," Nanatsuki commented.
(T/N: So no one is gonna comment on how the hell he got that Kido in the first place???)
He had been there when Aizen first learned Kurohitsugi.
Even then, he was shocked.
Aizen had an innate affinity for the spell — mastering it rapidly, even to chantless release.
Even Yamamoto couldn't help but smile.
With this performance, it wouldn't be long before the 5th Division had a new captain.
On the stage, the Black Coffin dispersed.
Komamura Sajin lay collapsed on the ground.
"I-It's… over…" Referee Danmu said in disbelief.
"We just witnessed a spectacular battle!"
"Whether it was Komamura's Flame Storm or Aizen'sKurohitsugi, both were breathtaking!"
"But Komamura was just one step behind — he couldn't defeat Aizen."
"Let us congratulate Aizen Sōsuke — this year's Live Blade Tournament Champion!"