"..."
Through gaps in the lightning curtain, Kisuke Urahara endured the stinging pain in his soul with difficulty, gazing at Shigure in the distance with shock.
He'd always known Shigure was strong.
From when he first witnessed that thunder dragon in the World of the Living, he'd known.
But until now, he'd never understood just how strong Shigure had become.
Only now was he beginning to see some clues.
Just then, Shigure's voice suddenly reached him: "Urahara-san, can you hold on?"
Hearing this, Urahara paused, then smiled wryly:
"Segawa, saying that makes it hard for me to ask you for help..."
He naturally knew Shigure's words weren't concern, but simply telling him he was still handling things with ease.
The moment those words fell, spiritual pressure suddenly descended. A figure quickly appeared beside Aizen.
The instant he appeared, exaggerated amazement escaped his lips:
"My my, even the lightning she absorbed and released has this level of power...?"
"The final product turned out so impressive. What a surprise."
This person was naturally Gin Ichimaru.
He still kept his hands tucked in wide sleeves, wearing that eerie smile.
Simultaneously, he inconspicuously glanced toward Shigure, narrow golden pupils flickering slightly.
Aizen glanced over with a light chuckle:
"That's only natural, Gin."
"After all, she's the supreme masterpiece that accompanied the Hōgyoku for so long. This 'Thunder-Guiding' represents complete mastery over his Zanpakutō's lightning power."
He turned again to look at Shigure:
"Though that's not particularly useful against you."
"However, now I don't need to rely on her to target you. The Hōgyoku's will has sensed my desire."
"Your wind blades reach extremes in range and speed, but lack greatly in force."
"This pale purple shell covering my body is a spiritual pressure layer far exceeding Arrancar Hierro in hardness. It has completely fixed my interior and exterior."
"And this... is my first step in breaking the Soul Reaper's limits."
Aizen's eyes flickered slightly as he raised his blade.
"Then, let me say this one final time..."
"Continue, Segawa."
His gaze held no joy or anger, no contempt or confidence—only water-like calm.
He would neither underestimate Shigure's power nor fear it.
This was the mindset the Hōgyoku brought him.
Only evolution.
However, hearing these words, Shigure didn't respond.
Aizen raised his eyes slightly: "What's wrong, Segawa... are you becoming hesitant about the coming battle, or perhaps..."
"CRASH!!!"
Just as Aizen's words reached halfway, sudden change erupted!
A brilliant white sword light instantly burst from behind him, like a death storm destroying everything, completely piercing through Aizen's chest!!!
The purple shell around his entire body instantly shattered!
"Pfft!"
Aizen's expression changed as he violently coughed up blood, his body freezing completely.
Urahara in the distance and all the captains and lieutenants on the ground who witnessed this scene had their minds go completely blank!
Their breathing stopped entirely. They couldn't even comprehend the situation!
Because the one who struck Aizen wasn't Segawa Shigure or anyone else, but...
Gin Ichimaru, who had been following behind Aizen all along!
His blade began rapidly retracting, gripped in his hand as a short sword.
Aizen's body remained rigid as he slowly turned to look at Gin.
Gin's expression showed no change, still wearing that eerie smile. Seeing Aizen look over, he spoke:
"Seems I bet on the right horse..."
"Only when facing Segawa would Captain Aizen not use Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis..."
"After all, touching your blade isn't easy."
"Just getting this answer took me decades... waiting for a chance to kill you took even longer."
"I really must thank Segawa for creating this opportunity..."
He raised his hand again, pressing his fingertip against Aizen's back.
He lowered his head slightly: "Captain Aizen, you'd better say something quickly before dying..."
"Though no matter how fast... what must die will die."
Aizen gritted his teeth slightly. He suddenly felt his cells being slowly decomposed!
He stared intently at Gin: "Gin... you bastard...!"
Gin raised his head slightly, but before Aizen could finish, he spoke coldly:
"Shoot to kill... Kamishini no Yari!"
BOOM!!
At such close range, his Bankai's spiritual pressure and impact force instantly exploded. White light surged forward, completely blasting Aizen's body apart in an instant!
Gin slightly opened his golden eyes, reaching forward to quickly grasp the floating Hōgyoku.
Simultaneously, Aizen toppled forward, half-kneeling as his pupils showed instant dimness.
His spiritual pressure had weakened to barely detectable levels.
The many captains and lieutenants on the ground showed expressions of disbelief, while Urahara remained grim-faced.
Gin lowered his head, gripping the Hōgyoku tightly.
"Is it over...?"
A moment later, he looked up toward Shigure, but saw his expression remained calm and stern, unmoved.
After a slight pause, Gin smiled at him:
"Segawa, even if I stole your achievement... there's no need for that expression, right?"
"After all, our antagonism has ended."
Hearing this, Shigure calmly looked toward Gin, his gaze indifferent:
"If you think this level could kill him... you're far too naive."
As his words fell, Gin immediately froze.
Because at this moment, Aizen, whose spiritual pressure had been weak, suddenly erupted with brilliant purple light!
His spiritual pressure actually... climbed to a new level!!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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