Chapter 193
It had to be said that Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's flames were immensely powerful, turning the battlefield into a blazing inferno that looked like a vision of hell itself. Even though he had been engulfed by Wonderweiss Margera's flames, Yamamoto-soutaichō easily destroyed him using only his bare hands. However, to prevent the uncontrolled release of flames from Wonderweiss's body from harming both allies and enemies alike, he suppressed them with his own body and simultaneously unleashed Hadō no 96: Ittō Kasō.
Yet, what brought despair was that the Ittō Kasō performed by Yamamoto-soutaichō only left faint gray burn marks on Aizen Sōsuke's face and failed to kill him.
It was then that Kurosaki Ichigo seized the chance and launched an attack of his own.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Blood burst from Aizen's left shoulder as Ichigo's blade tore into him.
But Ichigo did not stop there. He immediately chained another Getsuga Tenshō into his assault.
With a single casual sweep of his hand, Aizen blocked it. The clashing energy shattered the ground beneath his feet and splintered the remains of nearby buildings.
Ichigo's eyes widened in shock as he realized the wound on Aizen's shoulder was regenerating rapidly.
"This… is this high-speed regeneration?"
With a faint smile, Aizen replied, "Do you think I am a Hollow? This is simply the Hōgyoku's instinct to protect its master."
When Aizen opened his shirt, Ichigo saw the purple-black orb embedded in his chest. It radiated infinite energy, mending his wounds instantaneously.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, you are impressive. Guiding you to this point has been worth the effort."
Ichigo frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"It is simple. I have known everything about you since the moment you were born," Aizen said calmly, his expression unshaken.
"Impossible!" Ichigo roared, swinging his blade with all his strength toward him.
But Aizen stopped the strike with one hand as though it were nothing. "It is only natural that you cannot understand. That is not your fault. Most people are the same. From the beginning, there is no absolute 'truth' nor 'lie.' There are only 'facts.' Humans merely accept the facts that benefit them as 'truths' in order to survive."
At that moment, Kurosaki Isshin appeared beside his son and placed a hand protectively before him.
"You talk too much, Aizen," Isshin said with a smirk before engaging him in combat.
Ichigo, meanwhile, clashed with Ichimaru Gin nearby.
Isshin exchanged rapid blows with Aizen, his eyes sharp and observing. "What's wrong? Your movements are losing precision. Is your limit finally catching up to you?"
"Yes," Aizen replied without hesitation. "It seems my body has reached a transitional point. As a Shinigami, the Hōgyoku gradually reshapes itself to understand my will. My soul is about to be reorganized."
"What?" Isshin's eyes narrowed at the revelation.
Calmly, Aizen continued explaining the Hōgyoku's ability: it absorbed the hearts and wills of those nearby and gave them physical form. However, this ability carried limitations-if the user lacked the necessary power, the materialization could not be completed.
The explanation echoed the established "Reiatsu Theory." For example, one might wish for the fall of a meteor to destroy the realms, but without sufficient reiatsu, such a manifestation was impossible.
As Aizen spoke, the Hōgyoku's power began to surge more violently. The energy spread outward from his chest like threads of light, gradually encasing his body.
"Hogyoku… what an appropriate name," he said with satisfaction. "The power to clear every obstacle on the path to godhood."
In that instant, a piercing strike tore into Aizen's shoulder.
"Finally here, Urahara Kisuke?" Aizen remarked, glancing back.
On a rooftop stood Urahara, wearing his striped bucket hat, geta sandals, and black cloak. "Long time no see, Aizen-san. Though I must say, your appearance has changed quite a bit."
"In evolution, ugliness is inevitable," Aizen replied coldly.
"It looks like you've merged completely with the Hōgyoku," Urahara observed.
"This is not mere fusion," Aizen corrected. "You could call it submission. The Hōgyoku you could never control now obeys me."
Urahara's eyes narrowed slightly. "Could never control? Are you saying that now as an excuse?"
"At that time, I lacked full control. But now it bends to me willingly."
"Still unwilling to admit defeat, I see," Urahara said lightly. "But in the end, it doesn't matter."
The next instant, Aizen's blade thrust through Urahara's chest. Yet Urahara's body dissolved instantly into mist before reappearing behind him.
"Bakudō no 61: Rikujōkōrō!"
Six rods of light smashed into Aizen, pinning him in place.
"Do you think techniques of this level can restrain me?" Aizen asked mockingly.
Urahara ignored him and pressed on with incantations, layering more spells.
"Bakudō no 63: Sajō Sabaku!"
Massive spiritual chains swirled and wrapped tightly over Aizen's body, coiling like steel and binding him layer after layer until he was encased completely.
Dark spiritual energy erupted, forming nine pillars that sealed every direction-up, down, front, back, left, right-even the center itself.
Urahara began the lengthy incantation for a high-level Hadō:
"The end of a thousand hands, the hand that cannot touch the darkness, the bow whose shaft reaches the heavens…"
"The road of light, the wind that stirs the flames, gather and follow my word without confusion…"
"Hikaridama! Hakutai! Kyūshi! Tenkyo! Sokutaku! Ūrin! Kōrō…"
"Draw the bow to its farthest, the arrow flies beyond the light---"
"Hadō no 91: Senju Kōten Taihō!"
Glittering spheres of energy formed and floated at Urahara's command before surging toward Aizen and exploding in violent succession, their force like a storm tearing apart the heavens themselves.
Ichigo stood frozen as he watched the massive detonation engulf Aizen. "Did… did he kill him?"
The smoke rose high into the air. As it began to clear, Aizen appeared behind Urahara, completely unscathed. One swift strike of his hand as a blade cut into Urahara.
"You were right," Aizen said evenly. "I have grown lax. But it is because I no longer need to be cautious. Not even a level 90 Hadō can injure me."
Sharp, branch-like protrusions emerged from his evolving body. His clothing had dissolved entirely, replaced by a white carapace-like shell enveloping his form and even covering half of his face.
"What I mean by lax," Aizen said, his voice cold and quiet, "is that you should have known I would never face you twice without preparation."
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