"Strange Soul, open!"
Midoriko's calm yet resolute voice echoed beneath the pale sky of Hueco Mundo.
Buzz—
Her mind instantly sharpened, as if it had entered a hyper-accelerated state.
A faint light-blue soul mark appeared on her forehead. Her pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and the world before her eyes changed completely.
The previously distorted space was now filled with spiderweb-like spiritual energy veins, each flickering with an eerie blue light.
These were the nodes of reality manipulated by illusions.
What was even more shocking was that she could now see countless translucent silk threads extending from Aizen's body, entangling around her senses—eyes, ears, nose, mouth—like strings controlling a puppet.
"So… that's how it is…"
Midoriko finally understood the source of her unease.
When she attacked Aizen, it wasn't that she truly struck him—those threads were transmitting a false "hit" signal.
As she looked around, the threads of perception fabricated false images.
Even the salty smell of seawater was a fabrication, created by the illusion-bound threads around her sense of smell.
"Oh?" Aizen pushed up his cracked glasses slightly. "Looks like you've found an interesting way to deal with the problem."
Midoriko ignored his tone. Her mind, enhanced by the Strange Soul, was analyzing at lightning speed.
She discovered that the threads controlling her five senses weren't perfect.
Whenever Aizen had to sustain multiple illusions at once, some of the threads would subtly desynchronize.
Just like now—his movements on the left side of her vision lagged behind those on the right by 0.3 seconds.
"A temporal gap... that's the flaw."
Without hesitation, Midoriko lunged right. The ghostly flame in her palm condensed into a whip, which she lashed out with full force.
This attack no longer relied on her sight. It was purely guided by the trajectory of spiritual resonance.
Crack—
The flaming whip sliced through a dozen visual threads.
The spiritual path connecting Kyōka Suigetsu to her vision abruptly snapped.
In an instant, the "Aizen" on the right flickered like a broken projection. The illusion shattered, revealing that no one was actually there.
Seeing this.
Aizen went silent, then glanced at Kyōka Suigetsu in his hand.
"I see..."
He adjusted his glasses again. A strange smirk formed at the corner of his mouth.
He never imagined Kyōka Suigetsu had such a flaw.
But...
To interfere directly with spiritual threads and decipher Kyōka Suigetsu...
Who could even accomplish that?
This shrine maiden...
Really did give him an unexpected surprise.
And...
Also gave him another idea.
Spiritual interference...
"Left!"
On the other side.
Midoriko, unaware of Aizen's internal thoughts, turned sharply and threw three talismans. Golden chains shot toward the real Aizen who had just reappeared after his flash step.
Aizen watched the golden chains approach. He remained motionless, allowing them to wrap around his limbs.
Fwoosh—
It wasn't over yet.
A ghostly flame appeared on Midoriko's palm, and the energy quickly flowed along the chain until it reached Aizen's body.
Ssshh—
His face showed no expression, but the ghost flame burned away his left sleeve into ashes.
This time...
It must've worked, right?
Midoriko narrowed her eyes as she stared at the unmoving Aizen.
Meanwhile—
Aizen, feeling the pain of his soul burning, let his gaze flicker.
"So this is... what it feels like to have your soul scorched…"
He reached toward the black flame, and his body began to grow translucent.
His spiritual form... was fading.
"Aizen-sama…"
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez watched in disbelief. "Are we... actually at a disadvantage?"
Ulquiorra Cifer remained stoic. His voice was cold and steady. "Don't underestimate Aizen-sama's strength."
"But…"
Grimmjow wanted to say more, but just then Aizen calmly said,
"Your ability does indeed counter illusions."
And not just illusions.
Zanpakutō that rely on intricate spiritual control likely become much less effective against someone like this shrine maiden.
"But..."
Aizen suddenly took off his cracked glasses.
A terrifying burst of spiritual pressure erupted, tearing a pitch-black rift into the pale sky of Hueco Mundo.
He brushed his hair back with one hand. His aura shifted, becoming far more serious.
"That alone... isn't enough."
As the words fell—
The black flame clinging to his body fell away.
His formerly translucent form solidified again.
Even...
His spiritual pressure had become even stronger than before.
Though not yet complete...
Right now, he had no choice but to borrow a portion of the Hōgyoku's power.
He hadn't expected someone this troublesome to appear among the intruders at Las Noches.
Exhale—
Aizen let out a breath. "You should be proud. You've forced me to reveal this much."
Midoriko: "…"
What a damn arrogant guy.
Still...
"You're not the only one with power boosts."
With that.
Midoriko's aura began to surge rapidly.
Harmonious Soul. Strange Soul. Wild Soul. Lucky Soul.
Four souls converging into one.
Four Soul Mode, activate!!
Boom!!
Golden aura erupted from Midoriko like a supernova. Her hair rose in the energy storm. The entire false sky of Las Noches trembled under the sheer force of her spiritual release.
But—
Clap!
Aizen calmly clapped. "Not bad. I didn't expect you to reach this stage."
"But…"
"That's all it is."
He watched her spiritual pressure rise toward its peak, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Although the Hōgyoku hadn't fully awakened yet...
The longer this drags out, the greater his advantage becomes.
Of course—
Midoriko had no idea about that.
She clenched her fists, feeling the surging power coursing through her body, and fixed her gaze on Aizen.
"Enough talk!"
Boom—
The air exploded as a golden trail streaked through the sky.
In an instant, she was right in front of Aizen!
With her current power in Four Soul Mode.
She had truly reached the Maou class!
But...
This power couldn't be sustained for long.
She had to end it quickly!!
(To be continued.)