Yamamoto's strike was ruthless.
The white-hot flames spread across a vast area, engulfing Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen alike—forcing even Zaraki Kenpachi to click his tongue and retreat.
Aizen immediately understood—
Gin and Tōsen would never withstand this attack.
That wouldn't do.
He still had use for them.
With a flick of his finger, black Kidō surged forth, instantly wrapping around the two.
Darkness spread rapidly, sealing them before the flames arrived—
Two black rectangular prisms stood beside Aizen.
"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi — Dual Incantation."
Instead of using Kurohitsugi for destruction, Aizen had repurposed it—
Weakening its destructive properties while strengthening its structural Reiatsu.
It now functioned like a true coffin—
A shield.
He hadn't used Dankū—
Because even he didn't believe it could withstand Yamamoto's Inferno: City-Burning Strike.
At minimum, it required a Kidō above #90.
And Kurohitsugi was the one he could manipulate most freely—even modifying it mid-cast.
The white flames swallowed everything.
They burned violently—
Relentlessly.
This was city-burning flame—
Until all was reduced to nothing—
It would not extinguish.
"Tch… What did that old man even do in there?"
Watching the barrier turn red-hot, Urahara could feel the heat through the flow of Reiatsu alone.
Touch it now—
And you'd be cooked instantly.
"You're slipping, shopkeeper," Ichigo teased. "Should've brought that other guy from your shop."
Even Ichigo knew—
That man was a true Kidō master.
Urahara gave a helpless grin.
"It's not that I didn't want to… Someone has to watch the kids."
"Kisuke… what's happening inside?"
A lazy yet serious voice came from behind.
It was Kyōraku Shunsui, supported by Lisa.
Urahara glanced at him—then at his posture.
"…Why are you holding your stomach? That's not where you were injured."
"No idea," Urahara replied. "But the old man's definitely furious."
Kyōraku narrowed his eyes.
"You didn't sneak anything in there? Surveillance bugs or something?"
Urahara laughed awkwardly.
"I did… but they all got incinerated."
Yamamoto's Bankai showed no mercy.
Everything weak—
Was ash.
"And you?" Urahara asked. "Still coming here in that condition?"
Kyōraku stared at the barrier.
"…I'm worried."
"That even the old man… can't defeat Aizen."
"If it comes to it… I'll give him his final act."
In truth—
Kyōraku's injuries weren't severe.
His cautious nature ensured that even under Kyōka Suigetsu, he preserved his condition.
The weak act—
Was just to get Lisa's attention.
And Lisa, having seen through him—
Had punched him in the stomach.
"…Best not use that unless absolutely necessary," Urahara said.
"If Aizen's Reiatsu can negate it… it'll be meaningless."
After all—
He had already nullified Soi Fon's Nigeki Kessatsu.
Kyōraku said nothing.
He simply stared at the barrier.
Inside the Flames
Within the inferno—
Two Kurohitsugi coffins resisted the flames.
Around Aizen—
A vacuum formed.
The flames bent around him, unable to touch him.
Aizen stood still.
Watching—
The two Hōgyoku in his palm.
At the moment he had been thinking of countering Yamamoto's attack—
The Hōgyoku had resonated.
It responded to his will.
Under its guidance, Mirror of Absolute Clarity solidified the surrounding space into mirrors—
Then shattered them completely.
With nothing left to burn—
A vacuum was created.
Aizen smiled faintly.
So—
His path was correct.
The fusion of the Hōgyoku —
Was possible.
He rolled the two orbs in his hand like polishing stones.
But now—
They gave no response.
Fusion would take time.
A cold glint appeared in his eyes.
He could not remain in Soul Society.
He needed time—
And his tools.
He crushed a white device in his sleeve—
And began chanting.
Five black dragons coiled around him.
"Five Dragon Rotation Destruction."
The black dragons swam through the sea of fire.
At that moment—
Kurohitsugi dispersed.
Gin and Tōsen immediately followed the dragons' path—
Breaking through the flames.
Aizen glanced back.
The battlefield—
Was shrinking.
The barrier was limited.
And Yamamoto's flames occupied half of it.
There was no room left.
And Yamamoto—
Gave no time to breathe.
Flames reignited on his blade.
He was preparing—
To seal them in again.
Aizen moved instantly.
Shunpo—
He appeared before Yamamoto.
Their blades clashed.
Steel rang.
Even Yamamoto was slightly surprised—
Aizen's swordsmanship was this refined.
Other Battlefields
Gin and Tōsen reengaged their opponents.
But this time—
They immediately fell into disadvantage.
Tōsen was already weakened.
Facing Kenpachi—
He could only struggle.
But Gin—
Realized something terrifying.
His sword techniques—
Were no longer effective.
No Step.
No Step: Rapid Blades.
No Step: Net of Slashes.
His speed was beyond sight—
Yet Unohana matched every strike—
With blood blades formed from her blood pool.
A chilling thought crossed Gin's mind.
She had already—
Seen through his techniques.
And could replicate them.
This was the first Kenpachi.
Unohana Retsu.
"Yachiru."
The title of one who had mastered countless sword styles.
Anything she saw—
She could reproduce.
Her combat style was simple:
Learn.
Surpass.
Execute.
Her previous opponent—Tsunayoshi—
Had been different.
His flame-based swordsmanship couldn't be replicated easily.
But Gin?
A sword focused on extension—
Was trivial.
She grew bored.
So this was the famed hundred-meter blade?
Disappointing.
Gin hesitated.
Should he use his final trump card?
Kamishini no Yari's true ability—poison.
A fragment left inside the enemy—
A lethal toxin.
Even capable of killing gods.
But—
He had intended that for Aizen.
And against Unohana—
Who could heal by replacing blood—
Would it even work?
That moment of hesitation—
Was fatal.
Unohana closed the distance.
A hidden blade shot from her sleeve—
Piercing his chest.
"Your hesitation… gave me the chance," she said calmly.
This battle shouldn't have ended so quickly.
But that lapse—
Slowed Gin's blade.
And for Unohana—
That was enough.
To her—
If she had the chance to use a hidden weapon—
It meant only one thing.
Her opponent—
Was weak.
Kenpachi vs Tōsen
Compared to Gin—
Tōsen's defeat was even more abrupt.
New to Hollow powers—
Unfamiliar.
Against a ferocious Kenpachi—
He was overwhelmed.
Forced—
He released:
Suzumushi: Enma Kōrogi.
But this time—
The black dome was smaller.
Only enclosing Kenpachi.
He had no intention of winning.
Only—
To stall.
As long as Kenpachi's senses were sealed—
Time could be dragged out.
But he overlooked one thing—
Why had Kenpachi been fighting just fine inside Kyōka Suigetsu all this time?
Because—
He didn't rely on senses.
A jagged blade pierced the black dome.
Golden Reiatsu burst through.
Before Tōsen could react—
The strike had already landed.
Kenpachi showed no mercy.
One slash—
Tōsen collapsed.
Kenpachi spat.
"…What a letdown."
He had expected a real fight.
Instead—
This?
"Pathetic."
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