The arrows of the Quincy are not so easy to catch.
Ichigo Kurosaki, who was standing nearby, looked at his father showing off his power and the middle-aged man who resembled Ishida Uryū with utter confusion.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
He couldn't help but ask these three soul-searching questions.
Ichigo really didn't expect that his usually unreliable and goofy father was actually a Shinigami.
Could it be that the other party was also a substitute Shinigami like him? Was this thing like a priest's role, a family heirloom?
...
"The plan has begun!" When Shiba Isshin appeared, Yoruichi Shihōin's heart tightened.
She knew that Urahara Kisuke was going to take action.
However, the pressure from Aizen was too intense.
First, the opponent's strength was far beyond their expectations. Even without Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen's power surpassed that of an ordinary captain. With Kyōka Suigetsu, even the Captain-Commander could do nothing against him. Now Aizen had melded with the Hōgyoku, becoming even more terrifying and unpredictable.
Such an enemy was not easy to deal with.
Yoruichi couldn't help but doubt whether Urahara's plan could succeed.
However, when she saw Uehara Shiroha with his calm expression, the uneasiness in her heart vanished, and her eyes softened.
With this man here, even if the sky fell, it wouldn't matter. This sense of security was second to none!
At this time, Uehara Shiroha was admiring the battle.
As a former captain, Shiba Isshin still had some skills. Though not extraordinary, they were enough to handle ordinary captains—at the very least, he could defeat Kensei Muguruma. What's more, he had a captain-level Quincy supporting him.
So he fought Aizen to a stalemate.
Of course, this was mainly because Aizen seemed a little vulnerable at this stage. After a series of battles, the opponent was already exhausted and had reached his limit. However, this limit was only the limit of a Shinigami.
From this, the Hōgyoku understood Aizen's intentions and began evolving to a higher level.
In the present-day replica of Karakura Town, Shiba Isshin, now in his Shinigami form, looked at Aizen with torn clothes and asked in confusion:
"Your movements are getting slower and slower. What's going on? Have you reached your limit?"
This was good news. This was also why they chose to take action at this time. However, he would never let his guard down. This terrible man had planned for so long; he would never fall easily. Isshin was convinced of this.
Even appearing at a disadvantage, Aizen's tone remained unhurried and calm:
"Yes, it looks that way! Now that we've reached the limit, we might as well surpass it. The limit of the Shinigami ends here, and it's time for you to witness a whole new power. The name Hōgyoku is fitting indeed. This is the power to disintegrate the barrier between mortals and gods."
As he spoke, the Hōgyoku on his chest released a white foreign substance that slowly wrapped around his body.
The Hōgyoku awakens!
At that moment, Aizen sensed the presence of an old acquaintance. A red light fell from the sky and pierced through his shoulder. He ignored the injury and looked back to see Urahara Kisuke appear before him.
Aizen whispered: "You're finally here!"
He respected the other's intelligence. He knew that Urahara would not give up and would definitely take action. But just like that night, Urahara Kisuke's plans and actions were all within his expectations. In the end, the other's efforts would only make him stronger.
"Long time no see, Aizen!" Urahara, wearing his green striped hat, looked at Aizen with complicated eyes.
The path that Aizen took was once the one he himself had considered. But he had given up on it. This decision couldn't be called wrong, but it still left him with regrets. And now, it was time for him to correct his mistakes.
Hollowification was a mistake, and the Hōgyoku was a mistake among mistakes.
Regardless of whether Uehara Shiroha took action or not, he would end it all.
"It's been a hundred years since we last met, right?" While accepting the transformation of the Hōgyoku, Aizen greeted Urahara who had just appeared.
The last time they met was the night of the Hollowification. At that time, he had used Shinji Hirako and others to conduct Hollowification experiments. Because the incident was too significant, someone had to be held responsible. So, he took advantage of Urahara's kindness and made him bear all the blame.
In terms of intelligence alone, Aizen admitted that Urahara might surpass him. But the other's weaknesses were too obvious and too easy to exploit. Therefore, last time, he had easily forced Urahara into a desperate situation.
This time would be no exception. He would use Urahara's power and plan to complete the final evolution. In this way, he would move one step closer to the world where Uehara Shiroha existed.
The strange power emerging within his body was the best proof of that.