As this happens, the humans look on as well and wonder what's happening.
Aizen suddenly emerges with a new, winged form, his existence now utterly alien, and he states that this is his victory and that, whether the Hōgyoku that Gin stole was within him or not, it is already his.
The Hōgyoku in Gin's hand begins to glow, pulsing with Aizen's will, prompting Gin to wonder what is happening. As Aizen draws near with the center of his chest radiating light, Gin turns to face him, a final, weary resolve settling in his eyes.
Gin then has another flashback of him remembering Aizen's companions as the Shinigami he saw leaving the area where he found Rangiku.
He watched on as Aizen gave the Hōgyoku back to the Shinigami, and Gin realized Aizen must be the leader. He then resolves to do something to Aizen. In the present time, Gin is slashed vertically across the chest by Aizen, the blade cutting him deep, the wound instantly lethal.
Aizen grabs Gin's wrist before he can take the Hōgyoku; he effortlessly rips off his arm and stabs him through the chest. Looking down at Gin, Aizen says that fear was necessary for the evolution of the Hōgyoku.
He thanks Gin for helping him get this far. He has now become something much more powerful than a Shinigami and Hollow.
Gin's fear could have been eliminated at any moment, but Aizen needed it to help the Hōgyoku evolve. Aizen then thanks Gin for his efforts.
Meanwhile, the humans in Karakura Town... still running... wonder if Gin and Aizen have finished each other off, but they are suddenly interrupted when Gin is thrown through a building, collapsing in a heap of broken stone and shattered body. They then see Aizen walk into view, his new form monstrous and terrifying; Keigo wonders what he is when Aizen's Reiatsu paralyzes them as he approaches Gin. The sheer weight of the pressure felt like being submerged in freezing water.
Just before Aizen could deal with them, Ichigo arrived with his unconscious father slung on his shoulder. He looks different from before with a chain wrapped around his arm, his shihakushō tattered and torn.
Ichigo promptly thanks his unconscious father and puts him down. Ichigo's friends notice that Ichigo's appearance is significantly altered. His hair seems longer, and he looks a bit taller. Also, his right arm seems to have a black glove on it, which mostly covers his hand and forearm.
Also, Tensa Zangetsu has changed as its guard has become more pronounced and seemingly messy looking, almost taped together. Its chain has also increased in length to encompass the whole of Ichigo's right arm, which also has the sleeve of his shihakushō removed.
Ichigo then looks into the distance, closes his eyes, and remarks that his sisters are alright. Ichigo then takes notice of all his friends, although he trips up on Zennosuke Kurumadani's name, calling him "Imoyama-san," annoying Zennosuke.
Ichigo calmly tells them to stay there, and he will deal with Aizen. Tatsuki then comments to herself that she can't sense Ichigo's Reiatsu, whereas Aizen's is overwhelming. The lack of Ichigo's spiritual energy felt profoundly unsettling, like staring into a silent abyss.
Aizen is shown to be puzzled too, as he asks if he really is Ichigo, to which Ichigo asks what he means. Aizen then remarks that he is disheartened because he cannot sense any Reiatsu from him. He then goes on to say that he gave Ichigo one last chance to evolve and face him, but he failed.
Ichigo calmly ignores him and looks at a crying Rangiku and a half-dead Gin. Gin remembers Ichigo's many faces of fear in his eyes, but looking at them now, he quips them as "strong."
Silently, he resolves that Ichigo will finish what he could not and eventually defeat Aizen.
Aizen then remarks how unfortunate Ichigo's lack of evolution is; however, he is interrupted by Ichigo, who tells Aizen that he wishes to fight elsewhere. Aizen states that it doesn't matter because only a being that can actually fight him should make that proposal.
He sneers and goes on to say that Ichigo couldn't possibly do any damage to him.
Suddenly, Ichigo grabs Aizen's face, the touch shocking Aizen to his core, forcibly pushing him over a few miles, and throws him into the ground... all with minimal effort.
The latter grips his visibly bruised face in disbelief, the raw, physical force something he could not comprehend, and the spiritual shame of being pushed and thrown by a 'mere human' alone was more painful than the blow. Ichigo then tells Aizen to get ready and that he will "end this in a single instant."
Aizen claims to understand Ichigo's "lack of Reiatsu," that he hasn't "parted" with it, but instead "thrown it away."
Although Aizen does not know how, he guessed that Ichigo converted all his Reiatsu into physical power for his spiritual body; be it arm strength, leg strength, grip strength, throw strength, or running speed, all his physical abilities have received rapid growth in exchange for discarding his Reiatsu, as he has given up trying to compete with Aizen's.
Aizen is undaunted, however, advising Ichigo to forsake all hope... that despite his new physical prowess, he will still be unable to reach him. He then warps behind Ichigo in an attempt to strike him.
The two clash, the sound a singular, deafening CRACK that fractured the air, and a mountain in the distance is instantly obliterated, turning to dust. Aizen comments on his ability to shape the earth with a single swing of his sword, that even he didn't expect his power to grow that much; he thanks Ichigo for now he can test his power transcending Hollow and Shinigami to his heart's content.
Then the two begin trading blows, the destruction of the surrounding area increasing with every strike, and they eventually clash their Zanpakutōs against each other.
...