Whoosh!
As Shigure's calm words fell, wind stirred around him.
But nothing else seemed to happen.
However, Aizen across from him suddenly stiffened slightly.
A thick air wall suddenly appeared around him like a barrier, instantly sealing him within!
At the same time, invisible wind chains manifested around his limbs, completely binding his hands and feet in an instant!
The moment he realized his movement was sealed, Aizen finally remembered.
During their previous battle, when facing Shigure's descending thunder dragon, he'd been surrounded by this same invisible barrier!
A flash of understanding passed through Aizen's eyes.
He finally got it—back then, he'd been completely distracted by the thunder dragon's magnificent display, which diverted his attention from the barrier around him!
Now, encountering this technique again, he realized the power that sealed his flash step wasn't from the thunder dragon at all, but from this wind-type Shikai!
Aizen looked up, spiritual pressure surging.
CLANG!
The moment his spiritual pressure exploded, the wind chains around his limbs shattered immediately.
Air currents surged, making his clothes flutter loudly.
But facing this spiritual pressure impact, the surrounding barrier walls showed no change—completely motionless.
Aizen narrowed his eyes, surprised at how solid it was. He prepared to raise his sword to destroy the barrier.
But at that instant, Shigure vanished!
Simultaneously, invisible wind shackles appeared on Aizen's hands again, locking them firmly!
"!!"
Aizen's eyes flashed as he prepared to break free with spiritual pressure.
But then Shigure's figure appeared less than a meter away, slashing directly at him!
His blade surged with rapidly dancing white air currents, accompanied by sharp hissing sounds.
So he wants to seal my movements and inflict damage...
Aizen quickly assessed the situation.
CLANG!
Aizen raised his hand, forcibly breaking the invisible shackles and blocking Shigure's slash.
Their spiritual pressure collision stirred up another massive storm.
Blades pressed together, Aizen looked up at Shigure coldly:
"I never expected your fighting style to become so unsightly after using this wind release."
"But it's useless."
"No matter how many tricks you use, I can still see your sword clearly."
His other hand broke free from the wind shackles.
Shigure's face showed a faint smile.
"Are you certain... you can really 'see clearly'?"
As his words fell, something strange happened!
Shigure's blocked blade suddenly passed directly through Aizen's Zanpakutō, slashing down and striking Aizen's chest!
SPLURT!
Bright red blood splattered, scattered by the fierce wind!
Aizen's pupils contracted sharply, breathing and thoughts momentarily stopping.
Even so, his instincts drove him to slash down, destroying the sealing wind walls.
He quickly used flash step to distance himself.
Only then did he return to normal breathing, looking at Shigure's Zanpakutō.
What happened...?! His blade... passed directly through...?! A wind-manipulating Zanpakutō has such a bizarre ability...?
For the first time, Aizen couldn't understand Shigure's attack.
Shigure straightened up, slowly lowering his sword before turning to look over.
His face showed a half-smile:
"Why distance yourself, Aizen?"
"Is the current situation beyond your expectations, so you decided to observe?"
"Or did this injury make you fear my power, so you don't dare fight close-range?"
After a moment, Aizen looked up.
But he wasn't angry—he chuckled softly:
"Segawa, your words are interesting, and your Zanpakutō equally so. When I was cut, I did decide to observe carefully."
"But... you say I fear because of injury?"
Aizen pulled open his clothes, revealing the wounded skin.
The wound was rapidly healing, blood flow stopping instantly.
He smiled at Shigure:
"Can this degree even be called an injury?"
Shigure focused his gaze. He could easily see beneath the healing wound—a pearl emitting faint purple light, merged with Aizen's body in a cross shape.
Seeing Shigure's gaze, Aizen released his hand, still smiling:
"It seems you've noticed, Segawa."
"I've successfully mastered the Hōgyoku and fused with it."
"The reason I possess such healing power is precisely because... the Hōgyoku's instinct drives it to protect its master."
The wound on Aizen's chest had completely healed.
He smiled as he raised his sword, pointing it at Shigure:
"For someone like me, the wounds you can inflict are far too shallow."
"Well then, let's continue."
"I'm beginning to... gradually see through your Zanpakutō."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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