Seeing the combined assault from Hirako and the others, Aizen's brow twitched slightly.
He hadn't expected these former "useless captains" to produce something this formidable.
Very well… I'll take you a bit more seriously, Captain Hirako.
"Bakudō #81—Modified: Eightfold Dankū!"
Originally, Dankū was a single-direction defensive Kidō. But under Aizen's modification, it formed a structure resembling the Hōgyoku —a multi-faceted sphere composed of countless planes, completely enclosing him.
In the next instant—
The meteor, slashes, fists, and Kidō blasts all crashed against it.
For a moment, the sky above Sōkyoku Hill bloomed like a crimson flower.
Hirako wasn't satisfied even after releasing Senju Kōten Taihō. Gripping Sakanade, he thrust straight into the center of the explosion.
Rose made the same choice—burning his last strength, he fired another Cero.
They intended to drown Aizen completely in their attacks.
Kensei and Love had already lost their rationality, attacking purely on instinct.
Rose, too, had reached his limit—this counterattack was his final act of will.
Only when Hirako reached Aizen's position did he understand—
Why the others had kept attacking the same spot even after losing control.
Sakanade struck—
An invisible barrier.
Their attacks… hadn't even broken Aizen's defense.
Before his doubt could linger—
Aizen's voice sounded nearby.
"Hadō #78: Zangerin."
A golden crescent flashed.
In an instant—
It cut through all four of them.
The blast dispersed the smoke, revealing Aizen standing completely unharmed within their encirclement—
While Hirako and the others were severed at the waist.
Their Hollowfication collapsed.
Fragments of Hollow masks scattered as their upper and lower bodies separated.
White, thread-like substance extended from their wounds, barely reconnecting them—
High-Speed Regeneration was still at work.
Four heavy thuds echoed as they hit the ground.
They survived—
But only barely.
With Rose's ability gone, Gin and Tōsen regained consciousness.
Gin glanced at Aizen—and immediately understood.
Shinsō extended.
A blade shot forward toward the fallen Visored.
Kill them.
That was Aizen's command.
Hirako and the others had interfered too many times—Aizen had no intention of letting them live.
And yet—
Tsunayoshi didn't move.
Arms still crossed, expression unchanged.
This was their agreement.
Revenge belonged to the Visored.
If they died—
He would only use his flames to lay them to rest.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
The remaining Visored appeared, blocking Gin's strike.
Led by Lisa Yadōmaru , they all donned their masks—ready to fight to the death.
Aizen's smile widened.
Eliminating them all at once was ideal.
After all—
These were people immune to Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Dragon's Tail Gate, Tiger's Fang Gate, Turtle Shell Gate, Phoenix Wing Gate—
Four Beasts Barrier!"
Hachigen Ushōda summoned massive constructs embodying the Four Sacred Beasts—
A white wall, a great shield, a tortoise barrier, and a crimson ring—
Forming a cubic barrier that sealed Aizen and his group within.
His strongest Kidō—
Four Beasts Barrier.
But Hirako saw Aizen's smile before the barrier closed.
He understood Aizen.
That smile meant—
He was about to kill them all.
And Lisa and the others couldn't stop him.
"Lisa… cough… take them… retreat…" Hirako said weakly.
"What are you saying, baldy?!" Hiyori snapped, furious. "You can risk your life, but we can't?! I'm going to make that bastard Aizen pay!"
But Lisa was calm.
She understood both Hiyori's anger—
And Hirako's pain.
For years, the Visored had survived on hatred alone.
And now—
At the moment of revenge—
They were being told to retreat.
"…Is there really no other way?" Lisa asked.
Hirako smiled bitterly.
Their combined attack had been their strongest.
And it hadn't even scratched Aizen.
Against that modified Kidō—
They had no chance.
Struggling, Hirako forced himself upright.
"Lisa… take Kensei and the others… I'll stay behind."
"What are you—your body—"
Hiyori suddenly froze.
She understood.
Bankai—Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari.
A technique that inverted friend and foe in the enemy's perception.
Hirako planned to stay—
To force Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen to kill each other.
He wouldn't survive.
But if he could take one—or even two—with him—
It would be worth it.
Hiyori fell silent.
She lifted Rose onto her shoulder.
Lisa picked up Love. Mashiro took Kensei.
"…We're leaving," Lisa said.
Boom!
Hachigen's barrier shattered.
Aizen and the others stepped out.
"Where do you think you're going?" Aizen asked pleasantly. "Shall I see you off?"
"Go!" Hirako shouted, eyes locked on Aizen.
If Aizen moved—
He would give everything to stop him.
Even his life.
Aizen chuckled.
"Captain Hirako… your life isn't worth much."
Just as he prepared to give the order—
A new Reiatsu erupted outside Sōkyoku Hill.
Thick. Sticky. Filled with killing intent and bloodlust.
Aizen recognized it immediately.
He had felt it days ago—
At Squad 4's barracks.
A massive flaming hand descended from the sky.
Jōkaku Enjō.
Gin's eyes sharpened.
Shinsō extended instantly—stretching into a hundred-meter blade—
And split the flaming hand in two.
"So you've come again, Head Captain Yamamoto," Aizen said with a smile.
"Of course," Yamamoto replied coldly. "The safety of Soul Society is the duty of the Gotei 13. This is our responsibility."
The meaning was clear.
The Visored were no longer part of Soul Society.
Tsunayoshi was an outsider.
When it came to defending Soul Society—
It would be the Gotei 13 who stood.
Hirako looked at Yamamoto deeply.
He had always thought the old man was nothing but a ruthless warrior.
Yet now—
He was personally covering their retreat.
"…Let's go," Hirako said softly.
And with that, he allowed himself to be carried away.
"Not bad… You've got some strength. Fight me properly next time."
A rough, excited voice rang out.
Hirako looked up—
Kenpachi Zaraki.
Beside him—
Unohana Retsu.
Kenpachi grinned, thrilled at the prospect of battle.
To him, this was paradise—
Ryoka, Visored, Aizen—
So many worthy opponents.
Life would no longer be boring.
But Unohana…
Was different.
Her hair was completely loose.
Her blade dripped with blood.
She had already entered—
Bankai: Minazuki.
She had used it to heal Kenpachi.
But Minazuki was a bloodthirsty blade—
Each use amplified her killing instinct.
If she didn't satisfy that urge—
She couldn't suppress it.
Now—
She was holding it back with everything she had.
Lest she turn on everyone around her.
With Yamamoto, Unohana, and Kenpachi—
Three figures stood together.
This—
Was the Gotei 13's answer.
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