[DING!]
[The answer to this question will now be displayed on screen!]
As the mysterious voice echoed across all three realms, the golden screen began to shimmer and display images that left countless viewers speechless.
The scene opened on a modern urban landscape, but one that had been utterly devastated. Broken walls and ruins stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling the aftermath of an apocalyptic war.
In the center of this destruction stood two figures locked in combat.
Aizen Sōsuke, his body now fused with the Hōgyoku and radiating immense power, faced off against Kurosaki Ichigo, who wore a terrifying Hollow mask while gripping his Zanpakutō with desperate determination.
Ichigo strained with everything he had, trying to overwhelm Aizen's defense, but the transcendent being effortlessly blocked the attack without even appearing to take it seriously.
Seeing such a scene, countless viewers were absolutely stunned!
[Hitsugaya Tōshirō]: That's Aizen! He's in the Human World? When is this scene taking place?
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: The man fighting him is Kurosaki Ichigo!?
[Zaraki Kenpachi]: Oh, so that's Ichigo Kurosaki? What the hell is on his face? And his spiritual pressure seems completely different from before! I can barely recognize him.
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: There's no mistake. That mask is familiar, and his unique Shihakushō design confirms it.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Ah, this... that does seem to be me, but this mask and these patterns don't look like any of my previous masks... And when did this happen? I don't have any memory of this at all!
[Aizen Sōsuke]: Indeed, this scene is neither the present nor the past...
[Hitsugaya Tōshirō]: Are you kidding me? Is this Three Realms Projection just making things up? Could it be that Aizen is deceiving us using Kyōka Suigetsu?
[Unohana Retsu]: Using Kyōka Suigetsu on so many people simultaneously across multiple realm? That seems highly unlikely...
[Urahara Kisuke]: Ah... it suddenly occurred to me, could this be a scene from the future? Is this Three Realms Projection really that powerful?
[Kurotsuchi Mayuri]: If that's the case, it's not impossible... After all, this Three Realms Projection is indeed powerful enough. I've been studying it extensively but haven't made any progress.
Everyone slowly began to realize that this Three Realms Projection was truly incredible!
[Kyōraku Shunsui]: In the future, Ichigo Kurosaki will be able to fight Aizen face-to-face? That's quite remarkable.
[Aizen Sōsuke]: Oh, Kurosaki Ichigo... not bad at all.
Aizen found it difficult to believe that the Three Realms Projection could actually predict the future. However, because of the previous incident where it had stripped away his spiritual pressure, he had no choice but to acknowledge that the projection possessed extraordinary powers.
[Urahara Kisuke]: This is Kurosaki-kun in his Hollowfied state, right? I wonder just how powerful his Hollow abilities have become.
In the displayed scene, Aizen looked at Ichigo Kurosaki with obvious admiration, showing no intention of delivering a killing blow. This made Ichigo feel deeply uneasy.
To those who didn't understand the context, it might have appeared as though they were having a casual, friendly conversation about life...
Aizen even smiled faintly as he spoke to Ichigo: "What a shame, Kurosaki Ichigo. You've lost your final opportunity to kill me. That was my last moment of weakness..."
Kurosaki Ichigo naturally refused to accept this: "So what? At least I succeeded in wounding you!"
Aizen's left shoulder bore what appeared to be a small cut, but he seemed completely unconcerned. "Oh, can this truly be considered a wound?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the injury that had been deep enough to expose bone began glowing with blue light and healed instantly!
Kurosaki Ichigo was shocked. "Is this... High-Speed Regeneration [Chōsoku Saisei]?"
He had thought such abilities were unique to Hollows.
Aizen touched the spot where his wound had been and sensed Kurosaki Ichigo's spiritual pressure lingering there. "Oh, is this your reiatsu?"
"Excellent, such remarkable growth..."
"Just as I expected!!"
Sensing Ichigo's spiritual energy, Aizen's expression showed what could only be described as genuine enjoyment!
Then, he opened his white garments with his hands, revealing his body to Ichigo. Within his flawless physique, a dazzling purple crystal was embedded where a heart should be.
Ichigo was horrified. "That... is that the Hōgyoku?"
Seeing this scene, everyone in Soul Society was equally shocked.
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Ichigo almost killed Aizen?
[Ichimaru Gin]: Not bad, just a few hundred million points short!
[Kaname Tōsen]: It's obvious that Aizen-sama was merely testing Ichigo Kurosaki and wasn't fighting seriously at all.
[Hitsugaya Tōshirō]: Ichimaru Gin! Kaname Tōsen! Don't get so cocky—do you really think Aizen is invincible?
[Matsumoto Rangiku]: This scene looks so realistic, it really does appear to be a vision of the future...
[Ukitake Jūshirō]: Damn it, did Aizen actually fuse the Hōgyoku into his body? This is terrible...
[Unohana Retsu]: I'm very surprised by Aizen's regenerative abilities. And Ichigo Kurosaki's spiritual pressure seems incredibly strong at this point if he can battle Aizen directly.
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Ah... the Hōgyoku that was once inside my body has become part of Aizen's being?
[Urahara Kisuke]: The Hōgyoku can actually be developed for such purposes?
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: By the way, didn't the Three Realms Projection originally say it would reveal Aizen's greatest masterpiece? Isn't the answer supposed to be the Hōgyoku?
Everyone was confused at this point, having almost forgotten the video's original theme.
[Aizen Sōsuke]: It appears this must be a scene from the future. Yes, Urahara Kisuke, you don't understand the Hōgyoku's true purpose at all. My power at this moment far exceeds your imagination!
[Zaraki Kenpachi]: Haha! I'm quite interested in testing that!
[Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni]: Hmph, I am still here. Showing off your strength in front of me is nothing but empty posturing.
[Aizen Sōsuke]: Don't worry, Captain-Commander Yamamoto. We will have our battle sooner or later.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Wait a minute, what is Aizen talking about in this scene? What does he mean when he says my growth is all within his expectations?
[Aizen Sōsuke]: Yes, the version of me in this scene truly speaks my mind. Kurosaki Ichigo, I genuinely look forward to you growing stronger! Though the future you in this scene seems somewhat... inadequate.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Hey... what are you saying? I don't understand any of this!
[Urahara Kisuke]: Kurosaki-kun, please continue watching patiently. It seems these future scenes contain crucial information.
The scene continued playing, and as Aizen looked at the confused Kurosaki Ichigo, he began recounting the past as if summarizing someone's entire life:
"You met Rukia Kuchiki, and after your battle with Uryū Ishida, you further awakened your Shinigami powers..."
"You learned to release your Zanpakutō during your fight with Abarai Renji."
"When you battled Zaraki Kenpachi, you gained the opportunity to learn Bankai."
"During your conflict with Kuchiki Byakuya, you first entered the realm of Hollowfication."
"When fighting Grimmjow, you became able to skillfully utilize your Hollow abilities."
"Your battle with Ulquiorra granted you even greater strength..."
Aizen spoke as though he were reciting the biography of Ichigo Kurosaki's entire existence.
In the chat group, countless people couldn't help but voice their shock:
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: Hey, what are you talking about? The more I listen, the less I understand!
Ichigo Kurosaki was utterly bewildered, his mental state mirroring his future self in the projection—slowly beginning to break down!!
[Kuchiki Rukia]: Wait... it sounds like Aizen has been... watching Ichigo's entire journey?
[Abarai Renji]: What does he mean "when you fought me, you learned to release your Zanpakutō"? Was he expecting that?
[Zaraki Kenpachi]: And my fight with him was supposed to help him learn Bankai? What the hell does that mean?
[Kuchiki Byakuya]: He speaks as though... as though Ichigo's entire development was orchestrated...
[Urahara Kisuke]: This is becoming increasingly disturbing. If Aizen has been manipulating events from the beginning...
[Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni]: Aizen... just how far back do your schemes extend?
[Aizen Sōsuke]: Oh my, it seems the future version of myself is being quite revelatory. How fascinating.
[Kurosaki Ichigo]: This is insane! Are you saying every fight I've been in, every time I've gotten stronger... was all part of your plan?!
The revelation was beginning to dawn on everyone—could it be that Kurosaki Ichigo himself was the masterpiece Aizen had been crafting all along?
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