join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Every 500 powerstones = free membership | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
Although Szayelaporro disliked his current state, he knew better than anyone how powerful he was at the moment.
He had conducted numerous studies on Ishikawa's strength, even collecting various data on him at close range.
While he couldn't sense Ishikawa's aura, he wasn't surprised by this.
Because this Shinigami named Ishikawa possessed a unique trait of concealment—or rather, sealing energy fluctuations. Using his blood as a base for inscriptions, he could even completely seal the Hōgyoku's energy from leaking out.
Inability to judge Reiatsu intensity didn't mean he couldn't determine his strength.
Szayelaporro had conducted countless simulations and studies based on the data he collected on Ishikawa, researching many methods to counter his Reiatsu and restrict his Cero.
Even if Ishikawa's strength exceeded his expectations, he was confident and certain he could easily eliminate him.
From every perspective...
Turning Ishikawa into his ultimate research material wouldn't be difficult for him in his current state.
However...
What on earth happened?
Szayelaporro turned his head with difficulty, looking at the Zanpakuto in Ishikawa's hand.
Crack~
Under his gaze, the white-hilted, grey-bladed Zanpakuto gradually disintegrated, finally turning back into Reishi and scattering.
What happened to him?
Szayelaporro's eyes were filled with confusion and disbelief.
He wanted to question, to delve deeper, and he also desperately wanted to… roar, asking him why he didn't give him a chance to display his full strength.
But he could no longer do any of that.
As Szayelaporro turned his head, a crimson line appeared down the center of his body, deepening from faint to vivid, and finally...
Squelch—
Blood splattered, and his body, severed into two, fell onto the ruins, then rapidly disintegrated, completely turning into Reishi and merging into the endless Reishi of Hueco Mundo.
Ishikawa glanced at the spot where Szayelaporro disappeared and shook his head slightly.
Actually, before he arrived, he had been looking forward to a battle with Szayelaporro. However, when Szayelaporro stood before him, he didn't feel like he could fight freely, but rather… a feeling of being easily defeated.
This feeling was extremely peculiar...
Ishikawa didn't trust this inexplicable feeling at all, as underestimating an enemy was a major taboo in his eyes.
So, with that last strike, Ishikawa unhesitatingly used all his power before Cero, and the result...
Easily defeated.
This surprised Ishikawa somewhat, and he became even more uncertain about his current strength. However, after that one strike, Ishikawa suddenly confirmed something.
That is...
Although the increase in his Reiatsu's intensity was limited after his Spirit Body was reorganized, the density of his Reiatsu itself surged.
Soul-Spirit Combination Exchange!
Ishikawa only now realized that his process of reorganizing his Spirit Body had inadvertently achieved the same thing as Aizen: the Spirit Body reorganization process itself was a form of alternative Soul-Spirit Combination Exchange.
Although the Reiatsu intensity between him and Szayelaporro wasn't vastly different, the dimensional gap made Szayelaporro utterly defenseless before him.
Thinking of this, a thought suddenly arose in Ishikawa's mind.
How would he fare against Aizen now?
Hmm...
Forget it...
Ishikawa shook his head. Confidence was good, but overconfidence was arrogance, and Aizen himself was the biggest example.
With that thought, he turned to look at Kurotsuchi Mayuri in the laboratory.
From Ishikawa's arrival to Szayelaporro's death, everything happened within mere tens of seconds, causing a strange look to appear in Kurotsuchi Mayuri's eyes in the laboratory.
His gaze towards Ishikawa was filled with a desire for investigation, making Ishikawa feel as if he wanted to dissect him immediately...
However, Kurotsuchi Mayuri then met Ishikawa's gaze and shook his head, sighing inexplicably:
"Alas, why did you have to meddle?"
Meddle?
Ishikawa frowned, looking at Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who stood in the center of the laboratory without moving, and suddenly realized something.
But before he could react, the surrounding space began to warp abruptly.
In just an instant, everything in Ishikawa's vision became blurry, and an inexplicable spatial fluctuation filled the entire area.
This is...
"I used the materials here to create an enhanced version of the Transfer-World Barrier Pillar..."
Ishikawa didn't hear the rest of the sentence, because his surroundings had already changed.
In the end, he could only leave behind an unfinished sentence:
"Mayuri, I..."
... ...
Human World, Karakura Town.
The wall of fire surrounding Aizen and the others had already disappeared.
After the giant monster named Furler appeared, it merely blew a breath at the Jōkaku Enjō surrounding the three of them, extinguishing the flames that had trapped Aizen.
The three officially joined the battlefield at this moment.
As for the Gotei 13...
Vice-Captains like Matsumoto Rangiku, Hisagi Shuuhei, Hinamori Momo, and Izaemon Sho were all severely wounded and receiving treatment from Kira Iziru, who had once spent some time in the Fourth Division.
Among the Captains, Ukitake was also severely wounded; his already weakened body, after suffering a severe injury of being pierced through the abdomen, directly fainted.
"Wonderweiss's appearance indicates that Lord Aizen is growing impatient."
Starrk, looking dejected, sighed: "It seems I should get serious too."
Upon hearing this, a grave look flashed in Kyōraku Shunsui's eyes.
After the intense battle earlier, he had already experienced the formidable power of this Espada.
Coupled with Aizen and the other two now freed, their advantageous situation suddenly reversed.
However...
The unfavorable situation that made Kyōraku Shunsui smile bitterly did not end there.
In the distant battlefield, an incomparably powerful Reiatsu suddenly erupted, drawing everyone's gaze in that direction.
They saw Ulquiorra, who had been suppressed by the combined efforts of Soi Fon and Komamura Sajin, suddenly enveloped by a black light. The powerful Reiatsu materialized, falling like raindrops.
When everything returned to calm, Ulquiorra, who reappeared in everyone's sight, had completely changed his appearance.
Originally, Ulquiorra in his Cero only had a pair of large black wings, a horned helmet, and black nails that had turned into long claws, with no significant change in his attire.
But the current Ulquiorra...
Displayed a completely different form.
His upper body clothing was gone, black liquid flowed from his eyes, making the tear streaks on his face even more complex, and his sclera were green, looking extremely eerie.
His abdomen to his legs, as well as his arms and back, were covered in black feathers, his long claws had transformed into bat-like claws, the tip of his tail had a bone-like object resembling a blade, and his feet were also like hands/claws.
Seeing this, everyone present, except Aizen, showed a strange look in their eyes.
"Why can he continue to change forms?"
Soi Fon's face turned incredibly grim, but not because of the strength Ulquiorra displayed after his Second Stage Cero, but because...
If he, ranked 4th among the Espada, could undergo a second Cero, could the others do the same?
If they could...
Just thinking about it filled Soi Fon with unease.
The strength of these Espada was already terrifying. If they all advanced further like the Ulquiorra before them, they would be utterly defenseless!
"Ha, can you also achieve a transformation like his?"
Kyōraku Shunsui retracted his gaze and looked at Starrk opposite him.
Rather than guessing, he was better at asking questions and then analyzing the opponent's expressions and actions during their reply for deeper insights.
"If you expect me to be like him, then I might disappoint you."
Starrk shook his head: "Whether others have hidden abilities, I don't know, but at least I don't possess that kind of ability."
Kyōraku Shunsui nodded and chuckled: "How could I be disappointed? I am only grateful right now!"
Judging by the reactions of the other Espada, as well as Ichimaru Gin and Kaname Tōsen by Aizen's side, what Starrk said should not be false.
But this did not make him feel relieved, because the Starrk before him, even if he couldn't do the same as that 4th Espada, still exerted far more pressure on him than the 4th Espada in his Second Stage Cero!
"Members of the Gotei 13."
Just then, Aizen's voice reached everyone's ears.
As if stepping down stairs, Aizen slowly descended from the void, looking at the temporary medical station set up between the buildings and smiling: "This battle, it's time for it to end."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
It made everyone involuntarily look at him. Although there was no powerful Reiatsu displayed, nor any terrifying killing intent, everyone present felt their minds shrouded in a shadow of death, and cold sweat instantly drenched their backs.
Only then did everyone clearly see Aizen's transformation.
His entire body was enveloped in milky white, materialized Reiatsu. In the center of his forehead was a crystalline pupil, and his short hair had turned into shoulder-length hair, constantly fluttering as he moved.
"This time, it really is time to end."
His words, like a declaration, made everyone's faces sink.
However...
Just then, a mocking voice suddenly sounded:
"Hey, are we leaving just as we arrived?"
Everyone looked towards the sound, only to see eight figures suddenly appear in mid-air.
These eight people, both male and female, were all dressed in Human World attire, and their bodies exuded an incredibly powerful Reiatsu.
Meeting Aizen's gaze, the blond man with the bob cut at the forefront waved his hand, revealing a strange smile:
"Long time no see, Aizen."
They are...
Komamura Sajin's face showed confusion, while Soi Fon beside him frowned.
On the other side, Hitsugaya Tōshirō was just as confused as Komamura Sajin, not knowing the identity of these eight suddenly appearing individuals.
"That is..."
Kaname Tōsen, behind Aizen, looked at the eight and let out a disdainful snort.
Ichimaru Gin, beside him, chuckled: "They are all familiar faces, aren't they?"
"Hirako Shinji..."
Captain Commander looked at the newcomers and said: "You really were hiding in the Human World."
"Long time no see."
Hirako Shinji smiled at Captain Commander, then turned to his companions and asked: "Does anyone want to say hello to the Thirteenth Division?"
"No!"
Hiyori, from the side, said decisively.
"I didn't ask you."
"You bald head..."
"Stop it... don't pull my hair..."
The originally tense atmosphere was immediately broken by their bickering.
The remaining Visored, looking accustomed to it, searched among the Gotei 13 and most shook their heads.
"No."
"Me neither."
"I... I haven't been in the Gotei 13."
... ...
Everyone gave their replies, except for the last girl, dressed in a sailor uniform and wearing glasses, who left the group and headed towards Kyōraku Shunsui.
"Hey, Lisa!"
Hiyori watched Lisa leave and immediately yelled, but before she could finish, she heard Hirako Shinji beside her say: "I'm going to say hello to the Commander."
Before his words faded, he had already vanished from his spot.
Aizen watched the Visored and the Gotei 13 gather, his face still bearing a faint smile. He didn't stop them, nor did he interrupt their reunion, but watched everything with a smile.
Numbers, in his eyes, were no longer an advantage.
No matter how many people stood in his way, they would ultimately fall powerlessly by the roadside.
The path before him would always be wide and unobstructed!
The reunion was brief. Strictly speaking, among the Visored, only Lisa was reuniting with her former Captain; the others had no interest in reminiscing, but rather stated their goal for coming here.
They disliked Shinigami, but their target was Aizen.
The enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend, but they can join forces when necessary.
"Waaahhh!"
Although Aizen did not interrupt, it didn't mean others wouldn't.
Wonderweiss, standing before the giant monster, let out another ear-piercing shriek, like the magnified cry of an infant.
The next second, an anomaly suddenly occurred.
The giant monster behind Wonderweiss slowly opened its mouth amidst his shrieks.
And in its mouth, a black shadow was continuously wriggling.
This scene immediately caught everyone's attention.
But when they clearly saw the composition of that shadow, everyone's faces sank.
Because that shadow, surging like a tide, was entirely composed of Gillian. As Furler's mouth opened, dense Gillians poured out like a flood, instantly filling every corner of the Karakura Town model.
"Roar, roar, roar, roar!"
Dense roars echoed in the void, lingering without cease.
"It seems the enemy can't wait any longer."
Hirako Shinji appeared before the Visored, placed a hand on his forehead, and the playful smile on his face gradually turned into killing intent:
"Let's go!"
Boom!
The eight Visored simultaneously pulled downwards, and Hollow-like masks appeared on their faces, with pillars of Reiatsu soaring into the sky.
On the other side, the Gotei 13 also adjusted themselves to their optimal state.
For a moment, the space within the entire Karakura Town model became incredibly distorted. The gathered powerful Reiatsu stirred up spiritual energy storms in the Human World, where Reishi was thin.
The power was so immense that it even affected other cities dozens of kilometers away, causing Hollows wandering in those cities to collapse.
The decisive battle was imminent!
But just then...
... ...
"...Damn it!!!"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Every 500 powerstones = free membership | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr