"Kyōka Suigetsu? Isn't it just a water-type Zanpakutō?"
"Sousuke, your true ability... I can't say I know it clearly."
Kenma's voice carried an inexplicable meaning, causing Aizen's smile to become even colder.
"Aren't you lying too, Senior?"
"You understand me to this extent, yet now you say you don't know Kyōka Suigetsu's ability. Do you think I'd believe that, Senior?"
Kenma spread his hands. "Believe it or not."
"Since you've put it that way, Senior, I'll believe you this once."
Aizen's uncharacteristic statement stunned the two people beside him, who glanced at him sideways.
Even Kenma was somewhat surprised.
'What scheme is Aizen... trying to pull now?'
"Sousuke, for you to think that way, it's really..."
Kenma was halfway through his sentence when a white light shot toward his face, brimming with killing intent.
Clang!
Shisui, holding the Amanosakahoko, stood in front of Kenma and blocked the sudden attack, a crisp sound of colliding blades ringing out.
Kenma, as if the attack hadn't even happened, didn't pause in his speech, his voice still in that same heavy, calm tone.
"...flattering to me, your senior."
As he spoke, his expression unchanging, he glanced at the white light. It was an extending sharp blade.
And at the end of the blade's hilt was the silver-haired youth by Aizen's side, the one who resembled a serpent or a fox. Ichimaru Gin.
Seeing his surprise attack blocked, Ichimaru Gin immediately retracted his blade.
He raised his face to look at Aizen beside him, his squinted eyes curving even more, just like a venomous snake rearing up and flicking its tongue.
"My apologies, Vice-Captain Aizen. It seems my surprise attack failed."
"It's fine, Gin."
"After all, it was Shisui, a genius on par with you. It's normal to be blocked."
Aizen glanced at him, then returned his gaze to Kenma's group not far away.
The faint smile was still on his face.
"Senior, are you alright?"
"I apologize to you on Gin's behalf. I hope you can forgive him."
"He was merely following my instructions, executing the order to kill you."
Kenma's brow twitched. He had to admire Aizen's ability to say the most ruthless, cruel things in such a casual tone.
"What a terrifying young man."
"Sousuke, it seems this boy by your side is a bit too lively."
Kenma slowly extended his hand.
"How about handing him over to me?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Senior. Gin is an excellent subordinate of mine. I have no intention of abandoning him." Aizen pushed up his glasses.
"Is that so? What a pity." Kenma sighed.
"Sousuke, if possible, I'd rather not face you right now."
"How about... we pretend we never met today?"
"That won't do, Senior. Isn't that asking me to lie?"
Aizen chuckled softly.
"Just a moment ago, Senior, you scolded me harshly for lying."
"Rest assured. Just killing you, Senior, won't take much effort."
As the two talked, the atmosphere between them dropped to a freezing point.
The air seemed to be filled with lead, heavy with a murderous aura. Even breathing became difficult.
An unknown amount of time passed. It felt like an instant, yet it felt like a long standoff.
As if by some tacit understanding, Kenma and Aizen's voices rang out at the same time.
"Do it, Shisui, Toji!"
"Kill him, Gin, Kaname!"
Bang! Bang!
The roars of two battles erupted at almost the same instant.
The two men beside Kenma and Aizen were no longer where they stood. The four figures appeared in the middle of the destroyed street.
"Shisui, could you please just let me kill you?"
Ichimaru Gin's Zanpakutō and Shisui's Amanosakahoko clashed again, creating a crisp sound and sending sparks flying.
After the initial clash, the two separated.
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, full of ominous presence, stared at Ichimaru Gin's eyes.
He was shocked to find that Ichimaru Gin wasn't squinting right now, but had his eyes completely closed.
"Ichimaru Gin, you know about my dōjutsu?"
"I don't."
Ichimaru Gin swung his blade. Shinsō, in his hands, was sometimes long, sometimes short, coordinating with his attack rhythm.
"It's just that your eyes look very special. Although I don't know what the ability is, I can just... not look, and at the same time, be on guard so you don't succeed, right?"
Shisui's figure flickered, parrying Ichimaru Gin's attacks while simultaneously searching for an opening.
Their academic performances back in the Academy, perhaps with some reservations, had always been on par.
But now, with both sides fighting mercilessly, a all-out deathmatch, they were surprisingly evenly matched.
For a time, their battle fell into a stalemate.
On the other side, Fushiguro Toji looked at the man who had drawn his sword to block him, his gaze falling on the man's sunglasses, a sarcastic smile on his lips.
"Blind man, isn't your killing intent a bit too strong?"
"A mere ruffian... has no value to remain in this world."
Tōsen Kaname felt the immense strength coming from the other's three-section staff. His expression couldn't help but change, but his tone remained harsh.
"I can feel it. There is no justice in your attacks, only selfish nature."
"You are completely a fallen beast. Since that's the case, I will be the one to execute you."
As Tōsen Kaname dodged and defended against the powerful, heavy attacks, his other hand swung toward his enemy.
"Hadō #54, Haien."
A bright purple, disc-shaped flame was thrown by him, flying rapidly toward Fushiguro Toji's body.
The hairs on Toji's body stood on end. A wave of intense heat washed over him.
Sensing the danger, his figure retreated repeatedly, dodging the fatal blow.
"What a dangerous move."
The high heat scorched his skin. The smell of singed hair hung in the air, filling his nostrils. Toji felt a wave of relief.
The Shinigami opposite him had all sorts of strange powers and formidable Kidō.
Against these high-level Kidō attacks, Toji, having no spiritual pressure, would die on contact. He couldn't block them and could only choose to dodge.
Every battle was like dancing on a blade's edge—exciting and terrifying. The slightest mistake, and he'd die without a burial place.
Tōsen Kaname also took the opportunity to widen the distance between them.
Beneath his sunglasses, his brow furrowed deeply.
'Strange. I actually can't sense your spiritual pressure.'
He couldn't see his opponent, nor could he sense his spiritual pressure. He could only fight by using his hearing to perceive the opponent.
Fortunately, he was long accustomed to the darkness and could cope just fine using only his hearing.
'No spiritual pressure, yet such a strong physique...'
From the exchange just now, Tōsen Kaname had already probed him out. The opponent's strength was, without a doubt, far above his own.
If he continued to fight in close combat, he would not gain an advantage.
'In that case, I will use Kidō attacks to completely crush you!'
"Hadō #73, Sōren Sōkatsui."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]