[At this moment, Master Lan, who had been busy on the excavator all day, resumed his screen-peeping routine.]
[Do I really need to explain further?]
As expected.
As expected, Aizen was observing Karakura Town—and had come to the World of the Living in person.
The ability of the black cloak—a form of spiritual masking—was indeed practical. However, with Kanbaru's current Reiatsu reserves, even such cloaking couldn't hide from his senses.
Kanbaru glanced at Xubai, and a new entry popped up.
[Needless to say—the highest masterpiece among Aizen's experimental subjects.]
[However, the Xubai fusion remains unstable. Mental deterioration results in instinctual, berserk behavior.]
[Wait a second—what is that?]
[Here it comes. The Menos Grande has its own ranged attack—SPIT!]
A blood-colored beam of energy scorched the air, ripping through space like a void was punched open.
That was Xubai's Cero, a raw, unstable one that could pierce through Hell itself.
BOOM!
The ground beneath was vaporized into oblivion!
From within that blood-red brilliance, Xubai shot out like a missile.
"What speed… What a terrifying specimen," Tōsen Kaname muttered, expression tense.
Despite his own strength, he couldn't fully perceive Xubai's movements through his Reiatsu senses.
How long could Kurosaki Kanbaru hold out against such a monster?
Clang!
A bone-white blade clashed with a sword formed of Reishi.
To everyone's shock—Kanbaru blocked it!
"He blocked it?"
Tōsen frowned.
He couldn't see, but his spiritual perception painted the scene clearly.
"Yes, and not just blocked it."
With a faint smile, Aizen gently pushed his glasses upward.
"Nani?!"
Tōsen re-scanned the battlefield, and this time, he was visibly shaken.
It wasn't merely a parry—Kanbaru had cut Xubai in return!
Xubai, already a monster among monsters, was being pushed back.
This hybrid Quincy—Kurosaki Kanbaru—was clearly far more than just a fluke.
To deflect and counter one of Aizen's most powerful Vasto Lorde-based fusions? Unthinkable.
"It seems Xubai is still immature," Aizen remarked, calm and critical. "His Reiatsu hasn't reached its limit, and the loss of intellect is a glaring weakness."
"Keep watching, Captain Aizen," Tōsen said indifferently. "Xubai's power doesn't end there. He was designed to destroy. That hybrid Quincy, even if he has captain-class Reiatsu, won't last."
Aizen nodded faintly. He didn't disagree.
Just then—
Tōsen's head tilted slightly. "That pure-blood Quincy… Kurosaki Masaki. She's arrived. Let me handle her."
His Zanpakutō stirred from its sheath.
But Aizen raised a hand. "No need. Her presence is accounted for. She plays her part in this symphony."
"Next," Aizen's gaze sparkled, "let us witness a feast of red and white."
As Kurosaki Masaki darted toward the battle, Aizen smiled thinly.
Now… things were getting interesting.
"But…" Tōsen began.
"I said, it's fine." Aizen's eyes, though calm and smiling, carried a terrifying chill that silenced further protest.
Tōsen looked down and said nothing more.
BOOM!
Sparks erupted as the bone blade and Reishi sword clashed again and again!
Each time Xubai swung, Kanbaru stepped back just slightly—always calculating—and returned a counterstroke.
Within minutes, Xubai's body was covered in wounds, which only fueled his mindless rage.
"ROAAARRR!!!"
Xubai bellowed, and his blood-colored Reiatsu surged—boiling the air into visible steam.
Then—he vanished!
A berserk assault erupted—slashes, bites, and pure chaos!
Xubai's fighting style had completely devolved into suicide charges.
And under this overwhelming barrage…
Kanbaru's body seemed to finally wear down. He transitioned to full defense—until a particularly brutal strike sent him flying.
"Almost time," Kanbaru panted, seeming exhausted—but his eyes were sharp and cold.
Exhausted?
Out of energy?
A ruse.
Kanbaru, fully entered into the Hengji Fusion State, had his Reiatsu boosted to a terrifying level.
At this stage, the mindless and still-immature Xubai wasn't even in his league.
But to fool Aizen—to bait him into false confidence—Kanbaru had to play it safe. Hold back. Fake fatigue.
Because if Aizen even suspected Kanbaru had fully fused with the Hōgyoku…
It would be over.
Aizen, with his terrifying foresight, would deduce everything instantly. He would never allow someone else to become master of the Hōgyoku.
And when that realization came, the Gotei 13 would be mobilized.
Kanbaru would become public enemy number one.
Especially to one man.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni—the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years.
The others might be manageable.
But Yamamoto's Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka, in Bankai, could incinerate the world. Its heat was akin to the solar core.
A single slash could erase you from existence.
Kanbaru? No way he could withstand that.
Not yet.
Maybe once he reached Final Bengliū Fusion, then yes—he could take a hit from Ryūjin Jakka barehanded.
And if he attained Fusion Stage: Bengwu? He might even survive a few slashes.
But right now?
Not a chance.
Still, Kanbaru wasn't without options.
"The Hōgyoku isn't with me," he muttered, smirking faintly.
He extended his senses… and picked up the faint but undeniable fluctuations in Aizen's Reiatsu.
Bingo.
"The Hōgyoku… it's in Soul Society."
Thanks to foresight…
Aizen, this time, I've predicted your prediction.
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