Clang!!!
Sombravida's greatsword collided with Kyōka Suigetsu once more.
His movements were no longer precise.
Under complete hypnosis, every attack was guesswork.
Every strike was misaligned.
Still, he pressed forward.
He had only one objective left—
Buy time.
For Nel.
Aizen regarded him calmly.
"Sombravida-kun… is that Hollow your partner?"
"No comment!"
Sombravida forced out the last of his reiatsu. It flared brightly—
Yet before Aizen's pressure, it was like a candle in a storm.
Aizen deflected another strike effortlessly.
"Let us negotiate," he said lightly.
"Return Tōsen's Zanpakutō. I will spare her."
Sombravida's golden eyes were ice.
"You expect me to trust you?"
Aizen smiled faintly.
"How long do you think she can survive?"
As if on cue—
Gin appeared before Nel.
Shinso extended.
Clang!
Emerald spear barely intercepted it.
Nel was strong—but not captain level.
Against Gin's true speed, defeat was inevitable.
Sombravida's jaw tightened.
"How long can that injured subordinate of yours stand?" he spat.
Behind Aizen—
Tōsen, one arm missing, had risen to one knee.
His wounds were severe—
But stabilized.
Sombravida understood instantly.
Kyōka Suigetsu had distorted his perception of time.
He had been losing far longer than he realized.
Aizen's voice sounded behind him.
"I do not believe I explained my Zanpakutō properly."
A cold blade pierced through Sombravida's back—
Out his chest.
Blood sprayed.
"Kyōka Suigetsu grants complete hypnosis.
Once you witness its release, your five senses belong to me. Permanently."
The blade twisted.
Sombravida collapsed.
Nel screamed.
"Lord Sombravida!!"
Sombravida coughed blood.
"Run…!"
He hurled his greatsword toward Gin—
Cero followed—
Forcing Gin to Shunpō back.
Sombravida's body hit the sand.
Reiatsu nearly gone.
Nel did not run.
She charged Aizen.
Spear thrust—
Blocked instantly.
Aizen grabbed her by the skull—
Slammed her into the ground.
She coughed violently.
Sombravida watched helplessly.
"Idiot… why didn't you run…"
Nel's voice trembled.
"You said we were family!"
Sombravida's gaze softened.
Then hardened.
"Nel… accept my final command."
He raised his right claw—
Gripped his mask.
"No matter what happens… live."
Crack.
He tore it off.
Blood cascaded down his face.
He shoved the mask into his mouth.
Boom!!!
Reiatsu erupted violently.
It surged—
Past low Vasto Lorde—
Past mid—
Briefly touching high-tier Vasto Lorde levels.
But it was unstable.
Wild.
Leaking.
Aizen narrowed his eyes.
"Absorbing one's own mask to induce forced reiatsu escalation…
How reckless."
He analyzed instantly.
"One minute at peak.
Then collapse."
Sombravida stepped forward.
Blood running down his exposed face.
Golden eyes unwavering.
"Even if I'm doomed… I'll drag you with me."
He created a Garganta instantly—
Shoved Nel inside.
"Live."
She screamed his name—
Then vanished.
Sombravida closed the rift.
Turned.
And attacked.
He moved faster than before—
Beyond perception.
His blade descended.
Clang!!!
Aizen blocked.
Under hypnosis—
Sombravida still missed vital points.
"I told you," Aizen said calmly.
"You cannot wound me under my illusion."
The next instant—
Kyōka Suigetsu pierced Sombravida's chest again.
Sombravida coughed violently.
Aizen leaned closer.
"You were exceptional.
Your reiatsu will serve the Hōgyoku well."
The gem glowed.
Sombravida's leaking power began funneling into it.
Aizen intended to harvest everything.
Sombravida laughed weakly.
"I've been preparing for you… for decades."
Aizen's eyes narrowed.
Sombravida's left hand suddenly tightened around the blade—
Blood poured—
But regeneration locked his grip.
He anchored Kyōka Suigetsu in place.
Aizen attempted to withdraw—
It would not budge.
Sombravida's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The flaw… is touching the blade before release."
His right claw ignited—
All remaining reiatsu compressed into a single Shattering Slash.
He swung.
Aizen abandoned the sword.
Shunpō backward.
BOOM!!!
The desert split.
Mountains cleaved.
Shockwaves rippled across Hueco Mundo.
When the light faded—
Aizen stood, grievously burned.
His upper garments destroyed.
Half his torso scorched.
Blood flowed from his throat.
Before him—
Sombravida collapsed.
Reiatsu imploding.
The Hōgyoku hovered dimly.
It had flared instinctively—
Shielding Aizen at the moment of fatal impact.
Its light was now faint.
Exhausted.
Sombravida's power drained catastrophically—
Dropping—
Vasto Lorde.
Adjuchas.
Gillian.
Gin appeared behind him.
Shinso extended silently.
Thud.
The blade pierced clean through Sombravida's torso.
Reiatsu dispersed completely.
Gin stepped forward calmly—
Severed Sombravida's arm—
Recovered Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Close one," he murmured.
Sombravida's vision blurred.
He leaned toward Gin.
Whispered—
"You… should have aimed at him."
Gin's eyes widened slightly.
Sombravida fell.
Silence.
Aizen approached slowly.
"Gin… gather the remaining reiatsu."
Gin bent down.
Collected the dim Hōgyoku.
Behind him—
Sombravida's body began dissolving.
Black spirit particles lifted into the white sky.
Golden eyes dimmed.
Closed.
Ace Sombravida, fallen.
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL to gain access to 40+ chapters