"Bakudō #81, Dankū!"
With Aizen's skill, it was naturally impossible for him to be defeated so easily. Although he was shocked, it did not hinder his actions.
At the critical moment, he immediately cast a powerful defensive Kidō.
A tremendously sturdy barrier instantly appeared above Aizen's head.
Every bolt of lightning unleashed by Ryūjin was completely blocked by Dankū.
However, Ryūjin had far too many methods at his disposal, making it difficult even for Aizen to respond to everything.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
While Aizen was occupied defending against Ryūjin's Chidori Current, countless branches suddenly burst from Ryūjin's body.
Dense, sharp, and incredibly sturdy wooden branches shot outward in all directions.
"Not good!"
Aizen's expression changed as he immediately used Shunpo to evade, but he was already too late.
Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed through the battlefield.
Several streams of blood erupted from Aizen's body once again.
By the time Aizen appeared several meters away using Shunpo, his body was covered in blood, with multiple deep wounds visible across him.
Blood flowed from every injury, dyeing his haori completely red.
Had it not been for Aizen's extraordinary speed, he would have long since been skewered by Ryūjin's wooden branches.
"Aizen was actually injured like this!"
"How is that possible? Aizen suffered such serious injuries so quickly!"
Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin stood frozen in disbelief.
Even now, neither of them could understand why Aizen had not used Kyōka Suigetsu against Uchiha Ryūjin.
Or had Aizen already used Kyōka Suigetsu, yet Ryūjin still managed to injure him?
That should have been impossible.
"You can actually see through my Kyōka Suigetsu."
Ignoring the wounds covering his body, Aizen looked at Ryūjin with visible shock.
"I must admit, this is the first time I've encountered something like this."
Ryūjin shrugged.
"Yeah right. Everyone slips eventually."
"He actually saw through Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu!"
Tōsen Kaname and Ichimaru Gin found it almost impossible to believe.
"Kyōka Suigetsu, that's Aizen's perfect hypnosis ability?"
"That's great. Captain Ryūjin can see through it!"
Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, and the other Shinigami all revealed expressions of excitement.
Ever since learning about Aizen's terrifying ability, they had been left with no way to counter it.
The fact that Captain Ryūjin could see through perfect hypnosis was undoubtedly good news.
"So that's the problem."
Aizen's voice sounded again as understanding appeared in his eyes.
"I reviewed my plan countless times and found no flaws. Logically, it should have been impossible for you to see through it."
"It seems you already knew the true ability of my zanpakutō from the very beginning, didn't you?"
Only that explanation made sense.
Otherwise, Ryūjin should never have discovered the flaws in Aizen's scheme.
His plan had been nearly flawless from beginning to end.
When Uchiha Ryūjin fought against the Seireitei, he had displayed several abilities besides Hakuda.
One of them had left an especially deep impression on Aizen.
Ryūjin's eyes.
Those eyes possessed the ability to instantly rob someone of consciousness.
Although Aizen did not understand the exact principle, he assumed it was some form of mental manipulation, an illusion-type ability.
Perhaps that was the reason Ryūjin had seen through Kyōka Suigetsu.
Only that explanation seemed reasonable.
"When I released my zanpakutō in Hueco Mundo, did you already become suspicious?"
Aizen stared directly at Ryūjin.
Ryūjin merely shrugged.
"You can spend your time thinking about it later."
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure appeared behind Aizen like a ghost.
It was Soi Fon.
Her blade rested directly against Aizen's neck.
"Don't move."
While Soi Fon restrained Aizen, Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō simultaneously subdued Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname.
Throughout the entire process, Aizen's group offered no resistance.
They behaved as though they had already accepted everything.
"It's over, Aizen."
Soi Fon's voice was icy.
"Over?"
Aizen adjusted his glasses.
"Why does it feel as though everything has only just begun?"
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname also remained completely composed.
Neither showed the slightest trace of panic.
Their confidence immediately filled the captains with unease.
Did Aizen still have another plan?
At that moment, everyone suddenly sensed strange fluctuations within the surrounding reishi.
The disturbance was enormous.
It resembled dark clouds gathering before a storm.
The fluctuations spread rapidly from the sky above.
"Something's wrong!"
Soi Fon's expression changed.
Without hesitation, she released Aizen and used Shunpo to retreat.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō reacted just as quickly.
The captains all raised their heads toward the sky.
Golden lights flashed overhead.
No one could identify them.
But it was obvious that this was Aizen's doing.
"It seems our time is up."
Aizen lightly dusted off his clothes.
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname silently walked to his side.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The golden light descended instantly.
Three pillars of light enveloped Aizen, Ichimaru Gin, and Tōsen Kaname.
Their bodies slowly rose upward within the beams.
"They're escaping!"
Sajin Komamura's expression changed drastically.
The other captains were equally furious.
After committing such crimes against the Soul Society, Aizen intended to simply leave?
Just as they prepared to stop them, a massive crack suddenly tore open across the sky.
It looked as though the heavens themselves had been sliced apart.
A gigantic claw emerged from the rift and violently pulled it wider.
One after another, enormous monsters appeared.
Their bodies were black, their faces hidden behind white masks.
Their massive forms twisted unnaturally as overwhelming spiritual pressure spread throughout the area.
They were Adjuchas.
Menos Grande Adjuchas.
"Those are Menos Grande!"
"There are so many of them!"
The captains stared in shock.
The Soul Society was a place fundamentally hostile to Hollows.
Even the Hollows of Hueco Mundo had never invaded this place.
Yet now, countless Menos Grande had appeared in the sky above them.
"This is Negación."
"It is the technique Menos use to rescue their own."
"Once someone is enveloped by that light, the inside and outside become completely separate worlds."
"As things stand, nobody can stop them from leaving."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni spoke heavily as he looked toward the ascending figures.
The captains clenched their fists in anger.
But they all understood.
Negación was a power they could not interfere with.
Standing within the void, Aizen looked down upon everyone below.
His gaze ignored the other captains.
It settled solely upon Ryūjin.
"Uchiha Ryūjin, you are the first person to force me into such a state."
"This has never happened before."
"I admit that you have left a very deep impression on me."
"You have also given me a tremendous surprise."
"More importantly, you are the first opponent who requires my complete attention."
"Having an opponent like you makes the road ahead far more interesting."
"Uchiha Ryūjin, I look forward to our next meeting."
"I hope you continue to surprise me."
A faint light shone in Aizen's eyes.
For the first time, he openly acknowledged Ryūjin as an equal.
Ryūjin met his gaze.
"Aizen, I'm looking forward to it too."
No one anticipated that day more than Ryūjin.
At that moment, Ukitake Jūshirō stepped forward.
His face was filled with confusion and anger.
"Aizen... why?"
For over a century, Aizen had been his close friend.
They had trusted one another completely.
This betrayal was impossible for Ukitake to accept.
Aizen looked down at him.
"Naturally, it is to pursue a higher realm."
"A higher realm?"
Ukitake's voice trembled.
"Aizen, have you already fallen?"
"Fallen?"
Aizen smiled faintly.
"That is an interesting choice of words."
"Did you place yourself at the summit from the very beginning?"
He reached up and removed his glasses.
In an instant, his entire demeanor changed.
The gentle and elegant captain disappeared.
What replaced him was an overwhelming coldness and superiority.
"No one stands at the summit from the beginning."
"Not you."
"Not me."
"Even God is no exception."
He tightened his grip.
Crack.
The glasses shattered in his hand.
They dissolved into reishi and vanished into the wind.
"But the unbearable vacancy upon the throne of heaven is finally coming to an end."
Aizen brushed back his hair.
His eyes looked down upon everyone with complete indifference.
"From this moment onward..."
"I shall stand in the heavens."
By then, Aizen and the others had reached the top of the pillars of light.
"Farewell, fellow Shinigami."
"Farewell, Uchiha Ryūjin."
Without hesitation, Aizen stepped into the Garganta opened by the Menos Grande.
Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname followed immediately.
The three vanished into the darkness.
The Garganta slowly closed.
The golden light disappeared.
The barren hill returned to silence, as though nothing had happened.
Yet every Shinigami present felt an unbearable weight pressing upon them.
Three captains had betrayed the Soul Society and allied themselves with Hueco Mundo.
It was an unprecedented humiliation.
And that was not the worst part.
Aizen's elaborate scheme involving Rukia Kuchiki undoubtedly concealed an even greater conspiracy.
No one knew what his true objective was.
But everyone understood that it must be something incredibly important.
The only consolation was Ryūjin's return.
And the fact that he had completely suppressed Aizen.
"Captain Kyōraku, you will oversee the aftermath."
"Captain Unohana Retsu, the Fourth Division will treat all wounded personnel."
"Captain Soi Fon, you are responsible for surveillance operations."
"All remaining captains, report immediately to the First Division barracks for a meeting."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni immediately issued his orders.