Chapter 23: 23
Chapter 27
The battlefield fell silent as Aizen released his overwhelming reiatsu. The violet energy coiled and danced around him like a storm given form, a stark contrast to the carnage that surrounded him. Every eye turned toward him, rebel and loyalist alike, drawn to the sheer force of his presence.
Aizen's voice echoed, calm yet commanding, carrying across the shattered landscape. "This fight is over. Yagura is defeated. If any among you still wish to fight, step forward." His piercing gaze swept across Yagura's remaining forces. "I will personally deal with you."
Yagura's men froze in place. Many clutched their weapons tightly, their knuckles white, while others staggered backward. The oppressive weight of Aizen's reiatsu left them trembling, their wills crushed beneath his indomitable presence.
One soldier dropped his blade. Then another. Soon, the clattering of weapons filled the air as Yagura's forces surrendered, too shaken to consider resistance.
---
The Rebel forces stood in cautious celebration, wary of the storm brewing between the two Shinigami at the center of it all. Anko, Zabuza, Haku, Mei, Ao, and the rest of the rebels gathered in a loose perimeter, their focus locked on the intense clash of wills unfolding.
Yagura, still bound and weakened by layers of kido, watched with narrowed eyes. His chakra cloak flickered faintly, but even the Three-Tails' influence could not overpower the reiatsu lacing his restraints.
Gin's piercing blue eyes burned with unrelenting hatred, his fox-like grin twisted with a deeper, darker resolve.
"It's time," Gin said, his voice low and laced with a dangerous edge.
Aizen's calm demeanor remained unshaken, his lone visible eye glinting with amusement. "Don't blame me if you die again," he said, his tone mocking yet certain.
Without another word, Gin launched his attack. His blade, now pulsating with reiatsu, slashed through the air with lethal precision.
Aizen met the strike with his own blade, the clash sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. The force of the impact caused an explosion of energy, the sheer intensity of it knocking Yagura and everyone nearby off their feet.
Gin gritted his teeth as he pushed against Aizen's blade, every muscle in his body straining under the pressure. Sparks flew as their swords clashed again and again, the raw power of their reiatsu distorting the very air around them.
Aizen's expression remained infuriatingly calm, his lone eye fixed on Gin with a mocking glint. "Still as weak as ever," he said softly, his words cutting deeper than any blade.
Gin growled, his grin faltering for just a moment before he redoubled his efforts, pouring more of his reiatsu into his blade.
And so, the battle between the former captain and his vengeful lieutenant raged on, a clash of hatred, power, and unyielding resolve.
---
Chapter 28
Gin's blade shone with pale violet energy as he twisted his wrist, aiming another strike at Aizen's unmoving figure.
Aizen blocked the incoming strike effortlessly, his own blade glinting under the pale light of the Mist Village outskirts.
The clash of their blades sent another shockwave rippling through the air. Zabuza shielded Haku from the debris while Anko stepped closer to Mei and Ao, all of them watching in a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"They're monsters," Ao muttered, his Byakugan activated as he struggled to track their movements. "Even at this distance, their aura is suffocating."
Gin took a step back, his blade retracting to its standard length. A sharp grin stretched across his face.
Aizen replies, his voice low but carrying through the battlefield, "you're the one struggling to keep up. Tell me, Gin, how many times must I kill you before you stay dead?"
With a burst of speed, Gin lunged forward again. His blade extended in a flash, splitting the air with a sound like thunder. This time, he activated Shinsō Sōryū, the spiraling energy trailing behind the elongated blade in a brilliant display of destruction.
Aizen's sword met it mid-air, the force of their collision shaking the ground beneath them. Gin pressed forward, pouring more reiatsu into his blade. His attacks were relentless, but each strike was met with an almost casual counter from Aizen.
Gin gripped Shinsō tight, his voice steady as he called out, "Bankai: Kamishini no Yari!"
The blade extended in an instant, faster than most could perceive. It pierced through the air toward Aizen with the power to level a town.
Aizen dodged the strike with precise footwork, his shunpo carrying him just out of range. "Impressive, Gin. But it's not enough."
Gin glared, he triggered Butō: Renjin, the blade extending and retracting in rapid succession, creating a wall of lethal strikes that seemed almost impossible to escape.
Aizen didn't move. Instead, he stood still, his lone eye locked on Gin. As the mass of blades closed in, Aizen raised his blade and released a surge of reiatsu that exploded outward, shattering the incoming strikes.
The battlefield was silent for a moment, the sheer display of power leaving everyone stunned.
"You see, Gin," Aizen said, stepping forward. "You've always been clever. Resourceful. But you lack one thing."
Gin's grin faltered "And what's that?"
"Power" Aizen
Before Gin could respond, Aizen appeared in front of him in an instant, his sword swinging down with devastating force. Gin blocked, but the sheer strength behind the blow sent him skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground to stay upright.
The spectators could only watch in stunned silence.
As their blades clashed again, the battlefield held its breath, the world narrowing down to the deadly dance of two titans locked in a battle of wills.