Buzz—
A transparent barrier like a city wall formed in an instant!
Boom!!
The torrent of golden chains slammed into Aizen with a thunderous roar!
But...
Aizen simply smiled and calmly watched the chains crashing against him without moving an inch.
Clearly—
He had full confidence in his technique.
And rightly so.
Midoriko's chains couldn't shake Danku at all.
Seeing this, Midoriko decisively withdrew her chains, not wanting to waste any more magic power. But her brows knit together more tightly.
This guy...
He's really troublesome...
Aizen quietly dispelled Danku, then slowly rose into the air, looking down at Midoriko.
"If that's all you've got, you'd better surrender."
As soon as the words fell, Aizen raised his head slightly, still smiling, and softly recited,
"Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy. Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep. Crawling queen of iron. Eternally self-destructing doll of mud. Unite. Repulse. Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!."
"Hadō No. 90 — Kurohitsugi!"
Buzz—
The moment the chant ended, the space around Midoriko began to distort!
A rectangular black structure, like a dark coffin, immediately enclosed her!
Bang—
Without any warning, she was swallowed in darkness!
Ssshh—
Immediately after, countless sharp shadow blades pierced through the entire black coffin!
"Midoriko!!"
Nelliel's eyes widened in alarm. Without hesitation, she raised her spear and charged forward!
Boom!!
Her spear struck the black coffin with explosive force!
Emerald-green energy, fused with spiritual pressure and magic power, surged violently onto the black coffin!
But...
Even with that, the black coffin only shook slightly.
Seeing this, Nelliel gritted her teeth, clearly unwilling to hold anything back.
But...
Aizen didn't even glance at her, making no move to stop her.
A fully chanted Kurohitsugi was not something so easily broken.
Until—
Crack—
A faint, crisp sound rang out.
Barely audible, but...
Aizen heard it clearly.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he looked in Nelliel's direction.
But...
The sound didn't come from her.
Could it be...
Nelliel, who was closest, heard it more clearly. Her eyes lit up with a hint of joy as she turned her gaze toward where her spear had struck.
But...
A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes.
No...
Was that a crack?
Before she could fully grasp it, the cracking sounds intensified.
Nelliel's expression changed. She quickly withdrew her spear and leapt back.
Soon—
The black coffin became covered with dense cracks like shattered glass, and began to break apart rapidly!
Crack crack crack—
The sound never ceased.
Then— Boom!!
The Kurohitsugi exploded from within with a violent burst of power!
Black fragments flew through the air, carried away by the surging currents!
Nelliel raised her arms to shield herself from the gust, then looked back toward the source.
Standing within the debris, Midoriko—dressed in her shrine maiden robes—remained completely unharmed, her expression calm. A golden aura enveloped her body.
"This is..."
Nelliel stared at her in shock. A chill ran through her heart.
Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly, examining Midoriko's state.
"This is... different from before."
It felt like...
Like the release of a Zanpakutō?
Midoriko quietly looked at Aizen, then took a step forward, her lips moving slightly.
"Wild Soul, Open!"
Boom!!
The golden aura surged outward, and her seemingly delicate body suddenly burst with overwhelming power the moment she spoke!
Midoriko clenched her fist and stepped forward!
A deafening explosion echoed through the air!
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a strong gust brushed past Aizen's neck!
His pupils contracted slightly. He caught a glimpse of Midoriko appearing beside him in a flash!
So fast.
Aizen quietly exhaled in his mind.
But...
What truly concerned him wasn't just her speed.
That faint glow on her palm...
If he got hit by that, it could be very bad.
Thinking this, Aizen narrowed his eyes and instantly used Shunpo, leaving only a residual image in place. Midoriko's attack missed completely.
The next second.
Aizen reappeared ten meters away.
"I'm not the best at flash step," he said, eyes gleaming.
"But this much is enough."
As he spoke, Aizen began analyzing the situation.
When a witch enters a certain state, her physical abilities are dramatically enhanced.
And that power... the one that resonates directly with the soul...
Clearly—
Close-range combat wasn't wise.
And...
Until the Hōgyoku's transformation was complete.
All he could do was...
With that in mind, Aizen held his Zanpakutō horizontally in front of him.
"I'll have to rely on you again..."
The smile slowly faded from Aizen's face as he gently swung his sword.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
Click—
The sound was as clear as glass breaking.
Here it comes!
Midoriko narrowed her eyes, focusing on Aizen's movements, trying to discern the ability behind his Zanpakutō.
But...
"Nothing happened?"
She blinked in surprise.
"Oh?"
Suddenly—
Aizen's voice rang out, "You think so?"
Midoriko's eyes snapped wide. She turned her head swiftly, and Aizen's figure immediately came into view.
Without hesitation, she infused her talisman with soul energy and shot it forth!
Ssshh—
The talisman pierced straight through Aizen's body, and a burning scent wafted into the air!
His eyes widened, as if in disbelief, and then.
Splash!
He fell into the sea.
"?"
A trace of doubt flickered in Midoriko's eyes.
"Just now..."
"Was that it?"
It ended that easily?
Is this the strength of Hueco Mundo's ruler?!
"Huh?"
Far away.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Aizen-sama... just like that…"
"Dead?"
On the other side.
Ulquiorra Cifer showed little reaction, unlike Grimmjow.
In fact, neither Barragan Luisenbarn, Coyote Starrk, nor Tier Harribel reacted much either.
No...
Something's not right!
Midoriko frowned, a sharp alertness flashing in her gaze.
At that moment.
Nelliel's voice rang out.
"Watch out!"
(To be continued.)