Originally, Gin Ichimaru had planned to kill Aizen before he could complete his fusion with the Hōgyoku.
But he hadn't anticipated that his target would merge with the mystical orb so quickly, transforming before he could execute his carefully laid plans.
To safeguard against this possibility, he had reluctantly arranged for Ichigo Kurosaki to serve as a backup option. The boy had potential, even if it remained largely untapped.
Hearing Gin dismiss his capabilities so thoroughly, Ichigo mustered what courage he could and responded:
"Even if what you said is true about my strength... what makes you think Aizen will have any use for you after he fully obtains the Hōgyoku's power? Can you guarantee your own safety won't be compromised?"
He spoke these words hoping to sow discord between the two villains, remembering how Aizen had personally executed Kaname Tōsen and had also attacked Tier Harribel without hesitation.
A leader who so casually disposed of his own allies couldn't possibly be trusted. Yet in his troubled state, Ichigo failed to realize he hadn't actually refuted Gin's assessment of his capabilities.
After feeling Aizen's overwhelmingly terrifying reiatsu, his confidence had indeed wavered significantly. Deep down, he doubted whether he could defeat Aizen in his current transformed state.
Ignoring Ichigo's transparent attempt at manipulation, Gin narrowed his fox-like eyes and responded in a cold, measured voice:
"You speak as though you've already accepted your own death, Ichigo Kurosaki. Have you truly abandoned the fight so easily?"
His tone sharpened as he continued, "That simply won't do. I cannot allow you to face Captain Aizen with such a half-hearted resolve!"
Gin could perceive that something was fundamentally wrong with Ichigo now—whether it was his physical condition, mental state, or spiritual power, the young man before him was completely different from the determined fighter he had encountered previously.
It seemed the boy had lost both his will to fight and his confidence in victory. This would not serve Gin's hidden purposes at all.
He decided he needed to rekindle Ichigo's fighting spirit and wake him from this stupor of fear.
In a swift motion, Gin swung his Zanpakutō, which had transformed into a short sword, and called out: "Bankai! Kamishini no Yari, Butō Renjin!"
In the fake Karakura Town, a devastating burst of reiatsu suddenly erupted. Upon feeling this spiritual pressure, Ichigo's body froze completely, as if even his thoughts had solidified in his mind.
"In that case, I'll send you off myself!" After releasing his Bankai, Gin aimed his God-Killing Spear directly at Ichigo's head, preparing to deliver what appeared to be a fatal blow.
Just then, Aizen, his form now whiter than pure snow, seemed to cross space instantaneously, appearing before the two of them. His voice remained unsettlingly calm as he inquired:
"Gin, what exactly are you planning to do?"
He had a suspicion about what Gin might be thinking, but wasn't entirely certain of his lieutenant's intentions. This attack could either be designed to save Ichigo by awakening his dormant power, or to kill him outright—simultaneously concealing Gin's true purpose either way.
It was a clever stratagem, consistent with Gin's habitual cunning. However, Aizen no longer considered such machinations relevant.
Neither Gin nor Ichigo could pose any genuine threat to him in his current state. Victory was now assured, regardless of their actions.
"I merely wanted to test his strength," Gin answered smoothly, his explanation perfectly plausible.
As he withdrew his extended Zanpakutō, he subtly tightened his grip on the hilt with his right hand while his left hand discreetly touched a strange crystal concealed in his clothing.
But after a moment of consideration, he relaxed his posture. The time wasn't right yet—he would need to be patient.
Aizen responded with casual indifference:
"It's time to end this meaningless charade. I will now proceed to the real Rukongai in Soul Society. There, I shall complete what remains unfinished."
His transformed eyes gazed into the distance as he continued, "There's no need to destroy the remaining Soul Condensation Pillars. We will attack the Soul King Palace afterwards, so it will be more efficient to create the Ōken directly in Soul Society."
He turned to his lieutenant. "Gin, open the Garganta."
"Wait... just a minute..." Looking at the increasingly inhuman Aizen before him, Ichigo struggled to find appropriate words. He desperately wanted to resist this monstrous power, but Aizen had taken that very power and made it his own, strengthening it beyond comprehension.
The more Ichigo sensed Aizen's overwhelming reiatsu, the more his desperation grew. The opponent was simply too powerful—victory seemed utterly impossible.
Though Ichigo desperately wanted to stop Aizen, he couldn't summon the courage to engage in what seemed like a hopeless battle.
Aizen glanced at Ichigo dismissively and shook his head:
"I no longer have any interest in you. Simply wait here until I return to consume your soul."
He had once held high expectations for Ichigo's potential, viewing him as an interesting specimen. But now it appeared the boy was just another mortal after all. Aizen felt a twinge of disappointment as he resolved to deal with Ichigo after completing his more important objectives.
At that moment, the milky white substance encasing Aizen's head began to crack and shatter, as if a layer of skin was being peeled away. This revealed his original facial features, though now bearing distinctly abnormal characteristics. The Hōgyoku on his chest had completely merged with his body and now emitted a faint purple luminescence.
Simultaneously, his eyeballs had transformed to a vivid purple color. With pupils that appeared almost transparent, his gaze had become profoundly alien and unsettling.
His hairstyle had also undergone a second transformation, changing from bangs that fell across his forehead to long, flowing locks that cascaded down his back.
These changes signified that his strength had increased dramatically yet again. The aura radiating from this evolved Aizen was even more mysterious and terrifying than before.
Witnessing this strange metamorphosis, both Ichigo and Gin's expressions changed markedly. Neither had expected that Aizen could continue evolving and growing stronger right before their eyes.
Could his power truly be limitless?
"Aizen-sama..." Gin said carefully, a note of caution in his voice.
Aizen examined his own transformed state with interest, then remarked:
"It seems the chrysalis phase has finally concluded. How fascinating. This transformation allows me to witness the final moments of Soul Society with my own eyes."