Chapter 165: Aizen vs Visored
Hirako Shinji, who returned to the battlefield once more, faced Aizen alone. Before he could catch his breath, he heard the other man say, "Are you planning to hold out until Kurosaki Ichigo returns?"
"It seems that boy is worthy of your trust."
"You wouldn't understand. After all, you're the type who doesn't even trust your own companions!" Hirako retorted immediately.
"Trust is the same thing as dependence. We don't need it at all."
"Besides... companions? Only the weak need to huddle together for warmth. The path we walk is destined to be lonely. Only those who can keep moving forward can be called companions."
Aizen spread his hands and continued, "What about you, Hirako Shinji? Do your so-called companions truly give you the hope you expect?"
"Tch!" Hirako sneered sarcastically. "You brought a large group of subordinates down here to spout nonsense at me. Obviously you used rhetoric to convince your underlings to believe in you."
"No, I never made them believe in me." After hearing Hirako Shinji's words, Aizen closed his eyes slightly and said softly, "For them, I simply said to come along with me."
"I've never said anything like 'believe my words' or 'just follow me.' On the contrary, I often advise them not to trust anyone easily, including... including myself!"
"However, it's quite sad that there are very few strong people who can persevere alone. The survival method for many creatures is to believe in and blindly follow excellent individuals. Those who are trusted often feel overwhelmed, so they pursue those of higher standing. And those of higher standing also need to seek more trustworthy and even higher-level powerhouses."
"And thus all kings were born! And thus... all gods!"
"As for you, Hirako Shinji, do you need to trust me? If there's a chance in the future, I'll slowly tell you who the god you should trust is!"
"Then... you can confirm it yourself."
"Now, I need to make you understand that trusting someone too much is not the correct path. Gin! Kaname!"
After Aizen's lengthy speech, Hirako Shinji's heart obviously wavered. His will to fight was far less firm than before. At this moment, Aizen suddenly called out the names of Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname.
"Yes, Captain Aizen!"
"Your orders, Captain Aizen?"
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname stepped forward and responded.
"Let our Captain Hirako witness how unreliable it is to trust others. So... go and kill Kurosaki Ichigo!"
"Understood!"
The two responded simultaneously, and their figures vanished from the battlefield.
"Wait! Aizen!" Hirako Shinji tried to stop Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname, but found that Aizen had appeared before him at some point.
"Wrong answer, Hirako Shinji!"
In Hirako Shinji's line of sight, he didn't see Aizen draw his sword at all. Yet the opponent's Zanpakuto had already slashed toward him. Hirako hastily raised his scabbard to block the blow, sweat forming on his forehead as he found himself unable to counterattack effectively.
"Damn it, Aizen!"
At this moment, the other Visored members also released their Zanpakuto simultaneously and attacked Aizen directly. Facing the critical moment with blades attacking from all directions, Aizen's figure flashed among the crowd like a ghost, dodging attacks from various tricky angles.
"Good cooperation, but... far too slow!"
While speaking, Aizen's figure suddenly appeared outside the encirclement. Before anyone could process what happened, Aizen casually flicked the blade in his hand. As blood slid down the steel, all the masked warriors who had come to besiege him found bloodstains cut across their left shoulders by Aizen.
The gap in strength is far too great. Not only because of Kyōka Suigetsu, but also the gap in raw power.
At this time, Fiander was watching the battle from a distance, thinking to himself. It was like an adult playing with a group of children.
Although Fiander hadn't made a move, his consciousness remained constantly focused on the Captain-Commander of Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai, who stood as stable as a mountain and remained motionless.
He knew in his heart that if he didn't act, the key to this battle rested with only two people: Kurosaki Ichigo and Yamamoto Genryūsai.
Because everything Aizen could do now, the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society's thousand-year history could also easily accomplish. Perhaps the peaceful years had smoothed the old man's edges, resulting in his killing intent now being far weaker than it was a thousand years ago.
So, what choice will you make now, Yamamoto Genryūsai? Will it be the same as in the original plot—use the time while the captains fight Aizen to secretly arrange flames that destroy everything, attempting to perish together with Aizen? Or will you save Kurosaki Ichigo from being killed by Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin?
What will you do?
While Fiander was observing Genryūsai, the old man was also watching Fiander.
In human appearance, with no Reiatsu leakage and no evil aura of a Hollow. Even the Arrancar's exclusive mask and hollow hole couldn't be seen. What was this boy's origin?
Although he hadn't seen the other party make a move, judging from his ability to bypass Aizen and issue orders to those powerful Espada, the other party's identity must not be simple.
Looking back at the battlefield, the wounds the masked warriors received from Aizen weren't serious. But one by one they simultaneously drew their blades and pointed them at Aizen, placing their hands on their faces.
At this moment, Hirako exhaled slowly, drew his Zanpakuto, and chanted toward Aizen, "Collapse: Sakanade!"
At that instant, in Aizen's sight, Hirako Shinji and the other masked warriors appeared to be standing upside down in the air in very strange poses.
"As long as you don't have time to activate Kyōka Suigetsu, you can't achieve Complete Hypnosis, Aizen!"
"So... welcome to the inverted world!"
Holding his Zanpakuto, Hirako pressed toward Aizen with all eight members.
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