Sizzle, hiss.
Something invisible was being reduced to ash.
This was a literal hell of Spiritual Pressure, a place where even the bonding of spirit particles in the air could not maintain their existence. It was a realm of the abnormal.
In the center of this extra-dimensional vortex, two figures stood.
One was a monster. His body was wrapped in a seamless white garment, and several pairs of eerie wings sprouted from his back. He was the former Captain of Squad 5 and the Great Traitor of the Soul Society—Sosuke Aizen.
The other was a Soul Reaper. A young man with orange hair, dressed in a black coat that looked like a fusion of Japanese and Western styles. He was the hero of humanity carrying the fate of the world—Ichigo Kurosaki.
The two faced each other at an intersection near the commercial district of the real Karakura Town. Despite the environment being equivalent to a demonic realm at the particle level, to an outside observer, the streets were silent and still. It was a peaceful scene that felt entirely out of place for the climax of a Great War.
Anyone watching would have understood: this was the silence before the storm.
"Magnificent," the White King said, breaking the silence.
"I offer my respect to your courage, Ichigo Kurosaki. You learned your destiny, you accepted it, and you overcame it."
"..."
"It was not an easy wall to climb. The despair must have been immense. And yet, you achieved it."
The Great Evil narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"Exactly as I expected."
Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. "Tch. So it really was all in the palm of your hand."
With a small click of his tongue, the youth accepted reality. His decision to keep fighting after learning the truth, his training in the Dangai—it had all been part of this man's plan.
"So, I'm still just your toy."
He had already resolved himself to that. Now, he just had to cut through that arrogance. But as Ichigo steeled his heart, Aizen let his shoulders slump in a show of disappointment.
"What are you saying? Do you truly believe my 'palm' is so small?"
"What?"
Ichigo started to ask for clarification, but the words died in his throat as he realized Aizen was gone.
"So, you met her."
Suddenly, the man was right in front of him, his left hand reaching toward Ichigo's chest.
"!"
Ichigo immediately put distance between them.
When did he move? It wasn't a Flash Step or a Sonido; it was a form of spatial displacement that the human eye couldn't track. Ichigo frowned at the sheer variety of his enemy's techniques.
Aizen ignored him, staying perfectly composed. He toyed with a lingering, faint pink light on his fingers. "So this is her spiritual pressure," he said, observing it with delight. "Fascinating. I've never felt an aura quite like this. I must thank you for assisting in her apotheosis."
"..."
Was that a provocation? Thinking of the girl who had tried so hard to hide her monstrous form, Ichigo projected his silent rage into his spiritual pressure.
Aizen closed his eyes, looking satisfied.
"I see. Looking at you now, I believe I understand her intent."
When he opened his eyes, the Demon King's spiritual pressure skyrocketed.
Spiritual pressure at the transcendent level doesn't manifest in surface-level effects. The air doesn't creak, the ground doesn't crack, and physical matter fails to even perceive the presence correctly. But to someone standing on that same plane, the truth was clear: the surrounding spiritual bodies were being shredded at the particle level, as if by radiation.
"We're moving, Aizen."
Ichigo knew this battle would be a disaster on a scale never seen before. To protect his sisters, his friends, and his town, he issued the challenge.
"As you wish. Feel free to put as much distance between us as you need to feel confident in your ability to protect this town from me."
"Follow me. I'm ending this."
Ichigo ignored the infuriating commentary and kicked off the earth. He headed for the uninhabited wilderness beyond the distant mountains.
Having chosen the very edge of the spirit realm as their final stage, the two legends finally clashed.
***
It was a battle of myths.
The earth, shattered by the pressure of their blades, turned to dust under the weight of their transcendent power. In the midst of a natural disaster where the terrain was constantly being rewritten, the two primary causes of the chaos traded blows.
On one side was technique refined to the absolute limit. On the other was a raw, wild instinct that followed with terrifying intuition. Every time their blades met, space itself warped, bringing the world closer to collapse.
『—!!』
A simultaneous diagonal slash tore a bottomless cross into the ground below. Ichigo and Aizen took a brief moment to breathe, standing on opposite cliffs of the newly formed canyon.
"I see. So this is the combat of transcendents. To split the heavens, sweep the earth, and destroy the three realms with a single thought. It's no wonder some would mistake themselves for 'God.'"
"Yeah... I can't use this kind of power against anyone but you."
Aizen, having ascended to a new rank through his fusion with the Hogyoku, looked impressed by his own power. Ichigo—who had reached a different dimension of strength through his fusion with Zangetsu and the release of White's seal—was also surprised by his own Reiatsu.
He was actually keeping up with Aizen. He might even be surpassing him.
But Ichigo's heart was filled with a hollowness regarding Zangetsu, and a desperate, "back against the wall" intensity. He had achieved a sort of detached perspective, knowing the astronomical price he would have to pay.
Win or lose, my story ends here—
"It's a pity, though," Aizen said.
"About what?"
Facing Ichigo's hollow resolve, the Demon King wore a look of unmistakable glee. He showed no surprise or sense of injustice that a human who had been a mere insect moments ago was now his equal. If anything, he welcomed it.
Even for Aizen, there should have been some shock, yet he remained perfectly composed.
"A Soul Reaper's spiritual pressure is normally honed through the four combat arts. Between me, who has a foundation built on mastering all four, and you, who is simply drawing out innate talent, there is a gap in skill wider than the ocean."
So that's his edge. Ichigo was slightly annoyed by the reminder of the handicap he'd known from the start.
"So what? Are you saying I can't beat you?"
"Good grief, what an impatient child. Our battle hasn't even reached the stage where we discuss victory or defeat."
Aizen laughed.
"Don't you see? At this rate, you aren't even worthy of being my stepping stone..."
"—You're nothing but a dull blade."
"!"
Suddenly, Aizen's blade appeared before his eyes. Ichigo suppressed his shock—was it that spatial movement again?—and moved to parry it.
But in a fluid motion, Aizen's sword slid along the edge of Tensa Zangetsu and pierced Ichigo's shoulder.
"Gah! What!?"
"If you haven't realized it yet, let me enlighten you, Ichigo Kurosaki. Your current spiritual pressure exceeds my own. It is a staggering level of growth, unimaginable compared to the spineless boy I saw earlier."
"Gah—AAAGH!"
Aizen twisted the tip of the blade, sending a spray of blood into the air. Despite the agonizing pain, Ichigo managed to reform his stance and lunged back at Aizen in a fury.
But.
"Handling raw violence of this level is simple. I can parry your reckless swings with swordsmanship..."
"Tch! Damn it!"
"I can evade your childish flailing with movement..."
"YOU BASTARD!"
He couldn't land a hit. No matter how many times he swung, his blade only grazed Aizen's skin.
"I can shatter your wide-open form with hand-to-hand combat..."
"Agh!?"
"...And finally."
Staggered by a series of blows that slipped through his defense, Ichigo was swallowed by a void of pitch-black energy.
—Way of Destruction 90: Kurohitsugi—
"I can crush your immobilized body with Kido."
"GAH—!"
Gravity of terrifying density slammed into his body. His bones creaked and cracked. When the darkness finally cleared, Ichigo was on one knee.
"This is how a Soul Reaper fights."
"Damn... it..."
He was too strong. Aizen possessed a refined, unified combat style that integrated offense and defense far beyond any enemy Ichigo had ever faced. This wasn't something a few months of training could overcome.
Ichigo finally understood why Sosuke Aizen had reached for the Hogyoku—for that external "doping" substance.
This man had truly pushed his Soul Reaper arts to their absolute limit. He had allowed no compromise for centuries, and his talent was a well deep enough to accommodate that effort. Once he reached the limit, Aizen simply didn't have the option to "stop moving forward."
"And even these arts—these four pillars that easily neutralized your massive power—are already relics of the past to me. They are no longer 'warfare'; they have become 'dance.'"
Aizen opened his arms, showcasing his monstrous form.
A true super-soul that was neither Soul Reaper nor Hollow. The Demon King explained that the source of his power was no longer "technique" used by the weak, but the simple "rank" of his spiritual body.
He was about to begin his ascent into the higher ranks of existence.
"Stand up, Ichigo Kurosaki."
Aizen's minor scratches healed instantly as he walked forward.
"Surely you are carrying the weight of many things you must protect."
The monster continued to provoke him, forcing the youth to realize where his power truly came from.
"It is impossible to cut me with such a hollow blade."
The Demon King pointed the tip of his sword directly at the kneeling hero's forehead.
"Do not be afraid, boy. Do not falter, hero of man."
"..."
If Ichigo moved a finger, the blade would pierce him. Aizen's sermon was a challenge to overcome this crisis.
Ichigo listened, looking up at his enemy. He felt like he saw something he had lost deep within Aizen's eyes.
"You are an infant. A child who holds a blade forged only from gifted talent. You must sharpen your sword with courage, with resolve... with the power of the heart."
Those words echoed in Ichigo's mind, making his eyes widen. Aizen's cold smirk deepened at the reaction.
"Only then will you finally reach my expectations..."
"—and become the final trial that tests me."
***
It was a strange feeling.
Aizen's vicious spiritual pressure and the dull ache in his limbs no longer sparked panic or fear in Ichigo's hollow chest.
Courage and resolve. The power of the heart.
Those were the words he had heard from everyone he'd fought—ally and enemy alike. Zangetsu, Byakuya, Ulquiorra. Those words defined their strength and their way of life.
Ichigo had been saved by that power many times. During his training with the white Zangetsu, he had exerted a power far beyond his normal limits when he fought for the sake of those he had to protect.
With a single thought, one could be weak or invincible. True strength didn't come from spirit energy or instinct; it came from the heart. Every time Ichigo had defeated a powerful foe, it had been through that strength and nothing else.
From the very beginning, the only power that had ever led Ichigo Kurosaki to victory was the sword he swung to protect his friends.
Don't tell me things I already know.
His mind cleared.
A fire lit in his empty heart.
The price of fusing with Zangetsu, the void in his chest—it was all consumed by a flame of courage.
"..."
Ichigo opened his eyes. The clear blue light within them provided the answer to every question he'd been asked.
"That's it, Ichigo Kurosaki. That's the look I wanted to see!"
Aizen laughed—the laugh of a predator that had finally found its ultimate prey. This was the moment he recognized his "experimental animal" as a formidable enemy worthy of being devoured.
"Is that so...?"
If he wanted a fight, Ichigo wouldn't hold back. Clad in an aura of blue and black spirit energy, he spoke.
"Then let me show you... something even better."
Sosuke Aizen was blown back by a surge of spiritual pressure that sent the blade at Ichigo's forehead flying.
"!"
The canyon beneath them was gouged deeper by the shockwave. Lightning and fire erupted from the spiritual energy. In an instant, the scenery changed once more, and the two landed on the edge of a new precipice.
Aizen took a formal stance. This was the final ritual—the trial to cast aside his "dance." This was why Ichigo Kurosaki, the manufactured hero, existed.
The hero moved.
He infused his black blade with a massive amount of spiritual pressure and unleashed a flying slash with a single swing.
"Oh? The color of your Getsuga has changed."
"It's not just the color."
"!"
Aizen braced himself to crush the attack head-on. But then, he sensed a second Getsuga Tensho approaching from his right flank.
When did he fire that? He wondered. He used a Flash Step to evade the pincer maneuver, quickly expanding his spiritual sensing to track Ichigo's location.
"Where are you looking?"
"What...!"
The presence was directly behind him. Before he could turn, a flash of purple lightning struck, cutting deep into his right shoulder.
It was an exact reversal of the strike Aizen had landed earlier.
"What's the matter? I guess even you make that stupid, surprised face when someone catches you off guard."
Aizen stood frozen for a second, processing the provocation. Then, a smile of genuine joy spread across his face.
There was anger, yes. But the thrill of finally facing a true "divine" trial was enough to consume even Sosuke Aizen's pride.
But seeing that smile, Ichigo drew out even more power.
"Get ready, Aizen... because we're just getting started!!"
"!?"
Clatter. The sword fell from Ichigo's grip.
Before Aizen could even frown at the strange move, Ichigo grabbed the chain at the hilt and began to swing the body of Tensa Zangetsu around.
"What is this childish trick—"
"Why don't you test that 'trick' with your own blade!?"
Ichigo used a Flash Step to gain height and threw the black blade, letting it spin in a wide arc. The centrifugal force added a terrifying momentum to the god-speed strike.
"!!"
Aizen reflexively tried to parry with his own blade. But the power behind the thrown sword far exceeded his expectations.
"Gah!"
The impact vibrated through his arm. Then, a storm of spiritual pressure followed, engulfing both Aizen and his Kyoka Suigetsu. Though his Hogyoku-fueled instincts healed the damage instantly, the fact remained that he had been wounded by a mere byproduct of the attack.
And Ichigo wasn't finished with a single throw.
"Not done yet!"
—GETSUGA TENSHO—
"Wait!"
Sensing Ichigo's intent, Aizen immediately swung his sword in defense. At that same moment, Ichigo released a colossal Getsuga from the entirety of his blade—including the extended chain.
The two attacks collided. Twin blades of spiritual energy struggled for dominance, creating a vortex like a spiritual hurricane.
"Impossible...!"
The stalemate didn't last. Using the explosion from the collapsing clash, Aizen leaped back into the air.
He had been overpowered. His "invincible" swordsmanship had failed.
Landing on a newly formed cliff, Aizen stared at Ichigo in disbelief. He had expected this based on the fragments of Momo's words, but witnessing it was another thing entirely.
"Your power increased in a flash. And that chain-blade... so that is your next evolution..."
Was his previous hesitation an illusion? Even with the power of the Hogyoku, Ichigo Kurosaki had surpassed every strong opponent Aizen had ever observed. He was truly the strongest. Having overcome countless despairs, the boy had become a blade that could undoubtedly kill him.
"Who knows? But one thing's for sure..."
Ichigo ignored the praise, shifting into a deep stance.
"—Inside the man you thought was your stepping stone, there was a blade hidden specifically to kill you!!"
With a roar, Ichigo drew out the secret power the "Goddess" had released.
"Yeah! You're right, Aizen!"
"!"
His limbs creaked under the weight of the massive energy. He forced them to move, charging at his enemy.
"I don't have your skill! I don't have your techniques! All I can do is swing a blade someone gave me like a kid! That's it!"
Ichigo's body began to rupture, unable to contain the swelling spiritual pressure. But he didn't stop.
"But I have Zangetsu! I have White! I have her! I have people who are lending me their strength!"
The excess power recoiled onto his own body, but the hero forced his bloodied arms to raise his blade.
"And with that power, I'm going to kill you! I'm going to protect everything! Every single thing!!"
Ichigo brought down his ultimate strike, fueled by his overflowing Reiatsu.
"IT'S OVER!! AIZEN!!"
—GETSUGA TENSHO—
***
The rising dust formed a massive thundercloud above the Soul Society.
Ichigo stared at the ground, which was being weathered into dust by the spiritual pressure. His breath came in ragged gasps as he collapsed, unable to move due to the backlash of his released power.
He had pushed himself too far. Blood flowed from every part of his body.
Still, thanks to Zangetsu and the masked woman's protection, he had avoided fatal self-destruction. All he had to do now was deliver the final blow to the dying Aizen's chest. That would destroy the Hogyoku.
And then, this long, long war would be over.
"...I knew it."
A voice echoed through the wasteland, plunging his hope back into despair.
"No... way..."
Ichigo spun toward the dust cloud and froze.
It was impossible. That Getsuga Tensho had been his strongest attack—a self-destructive strike in his semi-fused state capable of erasing over a thousand meters of the earth's crust. It was an attack so powerful it had been sealed for his own protection; another one would surely kill him.
Aizen stood in the dust, and the Demon King revealed the crushing truth.
"...I knew she had given you a version of 'White' that was stronger than my own specifications... all so you could defeat me in this battle."
"What!?"
It was the secret the girl had revealed on the riverbank—the move twenty years in the making designed to kill Aizen. A power so great it would have destroyed Ichigo if it hadn't been sealed by her "protection."
How the hell does he know that?
"Did you never wonder? Why Momo Hinamori, a girl who could see the future, would believe me so easily and join me? Why she would blindly carry out every evil deed I ordered without resistance?"
Ichigo gasped as the realization hit him.
He had seen a similar fate with Zangetsu and the others—entities that knew him better than he knew himself. He had assumed Momo's future-sight had its own "will" and had refused to cooperate because of a lack of synchronization.
But if that wasn't it... then the power itself...
"Are you saying... it wasn't perfect...?"
Ichigo forced his broken body into a combat stance, his face grim. He had unknowingly fallen into the trap of blind faith. A power that sees the future... that isn't something a human should have. There had to be a price. There had to be a limit.
"Truly strange, Ichigo Kurosaki. The fear you felt for me before was based not just on my spiritual pressure, but on my intellect—on my ability to hold your entire life in the palm of my hand."
"..."
Aizen laughed at the youth's frustration.
"Do you truly believe that I—I, of all people—would fall behind the clumsy plan of a little girl who happens to know the future?"
Ichigo stood stunned.
Why didn't I see it? Time paradoxes were common tropes even in children's literature. The moment someone knows the future, the world has already diverged onto a different path.
And the true villain, who had analyzed that future faster than anyone and used it for his own ambition...
...was Sosuke Aizen.
"Now, two final points. Let us talk about my 'Hogyoku,' which you so desperately want to destroy."
Aizen began to speak from within the smoke.
"The Hogyoku I gave Momo was a stepping stone—a way to elevate a 'certain transcendent' inside her to the realm where they belonged. Thanks to the stimulation provided by Urahara, Toshiro, and yourself, that plan exceeded my expectations."
His voice grew low with delight.
"That Hogyoku was built from countless clones of her own soul. My purpose was not just because those clones had the highest spiritual affinity with Momo herself. It was to create a vessel capable of allowing that 'God' to descend fully—something her single, meager soul could never have achieved."
"What... are you talking about...?"
Ichigo shuddered at the insanity of the plan. He pictured the girl he had met in the old Karakura Town. The mysterious wings, the peach-colored nebula...
He had thought she looked like a fairy or a celestial maiden. Perhaps that was her true nature.
Aizen continued. "And one more thing."
『—The final experiment of all Hogyoku research.』
Aizen's voice shifted. Ichigo heard a sickening, wet sound coming from the smoke. Something horrible was happening in there.
『You, who possess only power granted by another's whim, should understand better than anyone the pride one should feel for their own abilities.』
"What... what are you doing!?"
『The first Hogyoku was nurtured by consuming the souls of countless, unremarkable Soul Reapers. Do you truly think I would desire such a vulgar, Hollow-like evolution? Do you believe I would ever accept power created by a pathetic opportunist like Kisuke Urahara as my own?』
A chill ran through Ichigo's soul.
I have to stop him. I have to stop whatever is happening in there. But his soul, exhausted from his ultimate move, couldn't move fast enough.
As the curtain of dust was swept away, the truth was revealed.
『...At last.』
"—We have become a single life."
A pure white angel of death emerged from the vanishing smoke.
"What... the hell is that!?"
Ichigo's limbs shook. His blade wavered. The monster before him radiated a spiritual pressure on a completely different scale, turning the very bedrock around him into ash just by standing there.
『My thanks, Ichigo Kurosaki. Thanks to you, I have stepped onto the true high ground.』
It was a beautiful, powerful figure with white hair and white skin. A pair of grotesque wings fluttered on his back, each containing eight holes that radiated spiritual pressure like eyes. Sosuke Aizen, looking like a living alabaster statue, looked down at Ichigo with a transcendent smirk.
『The time has come.』
"—Now, let me devour you."
***
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