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Isshin muttered, "At this point, the only people who can still sense Aizen's power… must be the ones standing right next to him."
Aizen stepped calmly out of the swirling silver energy, his tone cool and amused. "Now that was a beautiful strike.""I think I've understood your attack now," he added lightly. "So… it's only fair I let you understand mine."
He swung his Zanpakutō. In an instant, a surge of purple energy rippled across the sky.
The next second, Isshin, Yoruichi, and Kisuke were blasted away by that overwhelming force, crashing to the ground, their fates unknown.
Ichigo's eyes widened in horror. "Dad! Urahara! Yoruichi!"
Aizen looked down at him, almost bored. "Open the Senkaimon. We're attacking Karakura Town in the Soul Society.""There's no need to destroy the pillars anymore. If we want to breach the Royal Palace, it's easier to forge the Royal Key right there."
Gin nodded silently, sheathing his sword and following after Aizen.
Ichigo stood frozen. "W–wait!"
As Aizen walked away, the white shell covering his body began to crack and fall apart. "Ah… looks like your cradle phase is over," he said softly, almost fondly. "What a blessing—I get to witness the end of Soul Society with my own eyes."
Gin turned, thrusting his Zanpakutō toward the air. "Shoot to kill, Shinso!"
A rift opened in front of them, a portal of pure distortion.
Aizen's long hair drifted in the wind, his eerie violet eyes glowing. "I'll leave you here for now, Ichigo. Once everything's over, I'll come back for you."
Then Aizen and Gin vanished into the void.
Aizen reappeared in the human world. At that moment, the bridge connecting humans and the Soul Society collapsed completely.
He strolled through an empty street when Gin suddenly returned.
Gin smiled that familiar snake-like smile. "I'm back, Captain Aizen."
Aizen didn't turn around. "Oh? You are. What about that woman?"
Gin's grin widened. "I killed her."
(Rangiku Matsumoto…)
Aizen paused, sensing for a moment. "Her spiritual pressure really is gone. I'm surprised. I thought you still had… some feelings for her."
"Feelings?" Gin chuckled. "Never had those."
"When we first met, didn't I tell you?"
"I'm a snake—cold-blooded, emotionless. I hunt with my tongue, and when I find something I like, I swallow it whole."
"That's just what I am."
Aizen smiled faintly. "You know, I'm starting to get bored of this cat-and-mouse game."
Gin tilted his head. "So what's next, after we kill those kids?"
Aizen said calmly, "Hang their corpses outside the city for everyone to see. Then I'll begin forging the Royal Key."
Gin reached for Aizen's sword hilt, smiling. "In that case, let me be the one to kill them."
A sudden flash of white light cut the air—Aizen's body froze as Gin's Shinso pierced straight through him.
Aizen's eyes went wide.
Gin smiled wider. "The only way to avoid your Kyoka Suigetsu's hypnosis… is to touch the blade before it activates.""I spent decades finding that out."
"Not a single member of the Gotei 13 knew."
"Everyone wanted to kill you, Captain Aizen, but I had to sit there pretending, keeping my calm. Talk about nerve-wracking."
As Gin withdrew his blade, blood sprayed from Aizen's chest.
Aizen staggered backward, clutching the wound.
Gin smirked. "But the only one who could ever kill you… was me."
Aizen coughed blood, glaring. "I knew, Gin. I knew your goal from the start.""I kept you close because I was curious to see how you'd try to take my life.""Unfortunately… it seems you overestimated yourself."
Gin shook his head. "Did I?"He pointed at his sword. "See this little notch here? I left something behind inside you just now."
Aizen's eyes widened. "What?"
Gin explained calmly, "Remember when I told you about my Bankai's ability? I lied."
"It doesn't extend that far, and it's not that fast either. But when it shoots out and retracts, the blade turns to dust for an instant."
"And hidden inside the blade… is a deadly poison that dissolves cells."
"You get it now, don't you?"
"When my sword pierced your chest just now, a tiny speck of that dust stayed behind—right in your heart."
Live Chat:
Jiraiya (Naruto world): "Wait, so Gin's sword leaves poison dust inside people?"
Byakuya (Bleach): "Poison… of course."
Pegasus Seiya: "He's talking too much! Finish the job already!"
Aizen (Bleach): "Funny thing, Gin—I don't have cells."
Ulquiorra: "Gin's about to die."
On Screen:
Aizen looked up weakly. "Gin…"
Gin frowned. "If you've still got breath to talk, you should be using it to save yourself.""But even if you hurry… the dying always die in the end."
He pressed a hand against Aizen's chest. "Shoot to kill, Shinso!"
Aizen's face twisted in fury. "You bastard, Gin—!"
Gin gave one last grin. "Guess dying with a hole in your chest suits you perfectly."
The hole in Aizen's chest grew wider and wider, tearing through his body.
Gin reached out and snatched the Hōgyoku from the air, gripping it tight before vanishing into the shadows.
Behind him, Aizen fell to the ground, roaring in rage. "Gin!"
From a nearby alley, Gin looked down at the orb in his hand. "It's over… finally."
But then Aizen's body convulsed. He slammed a hand into the ground, roaring like a beast as his spiritual pressure exploded outward.
Live Chat:
Kisame: "Man, Gin's an idiot. Should've finished him off!"
Itachi: "Always double-tap."
Toshiro Hitsugaya: "So Gin was undercover this whole time? He hid it well."
Urahara Kisuke: "You were careless, Gin. Ever since Aizen merged with the Hōgyoku, he's basically immortal."
Matsumoto Rangiku: "Gin… you really…"
On screen, Aizen's eyes glowed a blinding purple. He threw back his head and roared as terrifying energy burst from his chest wound, shooting straight into the sky.
Gin stared up in horror as a massive pillar of purple energy twisted upward—and within it, a figure emerged.
Aizen hovered in midair, hair now completely violet, with butterfly-like wings shimmering on his back. His presence was inhuman.
"I win, Gin," he said coldly. "Even without the Hōgyoku inside me, it belongs to me."
The orb in Gin's hand began to pulse violently. Aizen appeared before him in the blink of an eye and slashed—blood sprayed across the air.
Gin's eyes widened as Aizen's Zanpakutō pierced through his chest.
Aizen leaned close, whispering, "Evolution demands fear. The fear of losing everything pushes us forward.""Thank you, Gin. Because of you, I've finally transcended death itself."
"..."
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