"That was really dangerous..."
"..."
The figures of Gin and Tosen appeared on the other side of Sokyoku Hill.
Looking at the huge chasm that had appeared where they were just standing, Gin knew such power would be dangerous even for him if he were hit.
"Getsuga… Tensho!"
Turning his gaze to Ichigo, he was now in front of Miyako, swinging his sword at Aizen, who was holding the Hogyoku.
Black Reiatsu coiled around Ichigo's Zanpakuto, transforming into a huge black crescent slash that shot towards Aizen.
Seeing this scene, Ichigo's gaze darkened.
Facing this attack from Ichigo, which was enough to severely injure other Captains, Aizen simply extended his left hand, opened his five fingers, and directly caught Ichigo's slash.
If he were seeing such a scene for the first time, Ichigo would probably question his life.
But having fought Kyoya earlier, who had done something similar, Ichigo was only shocked by Aizen's strength, not the act itself.
Without hesitation, Ichigo knew that Aizen's strength was simply not something he could contend with in his current state.
Therefore, he didn't tangle with Aizen any further. He directly grabbed the still dazed Miyako and fled using Shunpo.
Whoosh!
Mid-air, the figures of Ichigo and Miyako appeared. A streak of blood light appeared on Ichigo's back.
Aizen's eyes shifted. He crushed the Getsuga Tensho, then slowly drew the Zanpakuto at his waist and swung it down towards Ichigo's direction-
Swoosh-
Ichigo had sufficient awareness of this point.
'Currently, the only one who could save me and Miyako-nee was Kyoya-senpai.'
Intense pain made Ichigo's face contort slightly, but he still didn't hesitate, continuing to carry Miyako and flee towards Kyoya's direction.
The difference in strength between him and Aizen was too great.
However, while Ichigo wanted to escape, someone didn't want him to!
"Hahahahaha!"
White Reiatsu flowed from Ichigo's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, forming a Hollow's mask that covered his face and caused him to let out cheerful electronic laughter.
The strongest substitute fighter in the Bleach World… White Zangetsu is online!
"Yah!"
Upon appearing, White Zangetsu immediately Miyako towards Kyoya!
Yesterday, he was beaten up by Kyoya and was already feeling unhappy.
And now Aizen's actions made White Zangetsu see him as a punching bag.
However, unlike the complete Hollowfication yesterday, this time, White Zangetsu's mask only covered half of Ichigo's face. This allowed Ichigo, although losing control of his body, to still watch White Zangetsu's battle through his own eyes.
"Hahaha, Ichigo, this is not how you use Zangetsu!"
"Did you forget what that guy said before?"
"Retreat will only bring aging, cowardice will surely bring death!"
"No matter who the enemy is, just slash at them!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Amidst the manic laughter, White Zangetsu grabbed the chain behind Tensa Zangetsu's hilt and spun it wildly like a propeller.
"Getsuga… Tensho!"
Leaping high, White Zangetsu's Reiatsu coiled around Tensa Zangetsu in a black-red color, then released a spiral black-red slash that seemed to engulf Aizen.
Seeing the changes on Ichigo, a smile appeared at the corner of Aizen's mouth.
The moment Ichigo appeared, Aizen had sensed the Reiatsu of one of his test subjects on him.
To some extent, Ichigo could barely be considered his creation.
One could say Ichigo was a natural [Transcendent].
Moreover, unlike himself, who needed to create the Hogyoku to obtain Hollow power to break through, Ichigo was born with both Hollow and Shinigami Reiatsu.
Although Aizen didn't know why Ichigo, who possessed both Shinigami and Hollow Reiatsu, only had 2nd-Class Reiryoku even after Bankai, it didn't prevent him from being optimistic about Ichigo's future.
'If not for me, perhaps you could stand in the heavens in the future.'
'But unfortunately, even if you complete your final evolution, you can only gaze upon my figure from below.'
"Bakudo #81, Danku!"
With Aizen's low chant, a pale yellow light screen appeared in front of him.
This is a defensive Kido claimed to be able to block Hado below #90.
The black-red spiral slash struck the Danku barrier, erupting in violent roaring.
Crack, crack-
The tremendous power even cracked the Danku's defense.
Then-
Boom!
The remaining slash directly shattered Danku and shot towards Aizen.
Kyoya, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow.
It was clear that Quincy Zangetsu had relaxed his suppression of White Zangetsu again, allowing White Zangetsu to exert greater power.
Otherwise, with the strength White Zangetsu displayed during their battle yesterday, it would have been impossible to release a slash capable of destroying Aizen's Danku.
Having his defensive Kido broken, even Aizen felt slightly surprised.
After all, as the strongest defensive Kido, Aizen had once used it to block the former Grand Kido Chief's Hado #88.
But Ichigo in this state could directly break Danku?
Thus, Aizen's expression finally turned serious!
Without a doubt, this black-red slash's power had surpassed the former Grand Kido Chief, Tessai Tsukabishi's, incantation-less Hado #88.
Swish-
Boom!
Raising his Zanpakuto, Aizen violently swung it forward-
A white slash flew out, colliding with the black-red slash, erupting in a huge roar.
The collision of the two slashes dyed the sky in black, red, and white.
"It was... blocked?"
Seeing his attack blocked by Aizen, even White Zangetsu was stunned.
One must know, White Zangetsu was a Vasto Lorde-class Menos created by Aizen.
As an existence at the pinnacle of Hollows, a Vasto Lorde's Reiatsu, in Shinigami terms, has the 1st-Class Reiryoku.
Even suppressed by Quincy Zangetsu, the current White Zangetsu could still exert the strength of an Adjuchas, which is 2st-Class Reiryoku.
Coupled with the fact that Hollow White was a Hollow created using the souls of countless Shinigami as material, his swordsmanship and combat instincts were maxed out.
It could be said that at the same Reiatsu level, White Zangetsu was nearly invincible.
However, yesterday he suffered a defeat at Kyoya's hands, and now his attack had little effect on Aizen. This situation almost made White Zangetsu crash.
But one point where White Zangetsu was better than Ichigo was that when he encountered something he couldn't understand, he didn't overthink it.
If one slash can't kill you, then I'll use two.
Let's see who falls first, you or me!
With this mindset, just as White Zangetsu was about to continue attacking, Ichigo finally snapped back to reality.
"You, what are you doing with my body?"
"Give my body back to me!"
Compared to the visible enemy Aizen, Ichigo was more vigilant, even fearful, of the White Zangetsu inside him that could seize control of his body.
Therefore, after reacting, Ichigo directly began contesting for control of his body again.
Hah... Huh... Hah...
Pressing his left hand against the half Hollow Mask on his face, Ichigo tore it off with force. After a scream, this Hollow Mask was directly ripped from his face by Ichigo.
Looking at the Hollow Mask that shattered and dispersed into Reishi in his hand, Ichigo had many doubts in his heart.
He didn't understand what that thing inside his body was.
When White Zangetsu controlled his body, Ichigo could feel everything of his flowing towards that guy, as if his very existence was being devoured by him.
He didn't dare imagine if he couldn't maintain his sense of self, whether his soul would eventually be completely devoured by that terrifying guy, causing him to lose control of this body.
"Don't worry, Ichigo."
At this moment, Kyoya's figure appeared beside Ichigo and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That guy might have a foul mouth, but if you understand what he's saying, then your strength will definitely become stronger!"
The closer the relationship between a Shinigami and their Zanpakuto, the more power the Shinigami can use from the Zanpakuto.
Previously, the one communicating with Ichigo was Quincy Zangetsu.
But Ichigo's true Zanpakuto is White Zangetsu.
The appearance of Quincy Zangetsu was primarily to suppress White Zangetsu's power.
And the method Quincy Zangetsu used to suppress Ichigo's Reiatsu was to prevent Ichigo from communicating with White Zangetsu, thus preventing Ichigo from using White Zangetsu's power.
The Zanpakuto in Ichigo's hand was merely an external manifestation of Quincy Zangetsu's own power.
Ichigo's Bankai, [Tensa Zangetsu], already made it very clear.
'Ten', naturally, is Quincy Zangetsu's self-proclamation.
He is the Quincy Progenitor, Yhwach, and also the son of the Soul King. Calling himself 'Heaven' or 'God' is no problem.
'Sa' means 'lock', 'seal', or 'chain'.
'Zangetsu', naturally, is Quincy Zangetsu.
The true meaning of this Bankai is to use Yhwach's power to seal White Zangetsu's power.
However, because of Ichigo's own perception, he always considered Quincy Zangetsu as his own power, his own Zanpakuto.
Therefore, ultimately, the 'lock' in Tensa Zangetsu became a 'connection'.
That is, Ichigo's Bankai is the connection and fusion of Quincy Zangetsu and White Zangetsu.
This is reflected when Quincy Zangetsu and White Zangetsu fuse into one person during Ichigo's training for the [Final Getsuga Tensho].
Every time Quincy Zangetsu lets White Zangetsu come out to fight Ichigo, it can be considered a way for Ichigo and White Zangetsu to communicate and understand each other. It is a method for him to relinquish the suppression of White Zangetsu's power and enhance Ichigo's strength.
The sooner Ichigo realizes White Zangetsu's identity, the sooner his strength can improve.
At that point, Ichigo wouldn't even need to undergo Hollowfication Training, and he could directly use White Zangetsu's power.
When it comes down to it, White Zangetsu is Ichigo's Zanpakuto. Even if his essence is 'Hollow', even the Hollow King Ikomikidomoe, after being made into a Zanpakuto, couldn't turn on its master. How could White Zangetsu, born from the power conceived by Kurosaki Masaki to protect Ichigo, possibly devour Ichigo?
In Kyoya's view, so-called 'Hollowfication' could be considered White Zangetsu's 'Bankai'.
It's just that Ichigo was very resistant to White Zangetsu, viewing him as a true 'Hollow'.
So when he first learned to use this power, he worried that prolonged use would lead to being devoured by White Zangetsu, and thus imposed a time limit on his own usage.
Three seconds, five seconds, eleven seconds...
The duration of Hollowfication changes based on the doubts in Ichigo's heart regarding White Zangetsu's true identity.
In Hueco Mundo, Ichigo fought in his Hollowfied state for several hours.
Even later, when the Hollow Mask on his face completely shattered, his eyes were still black, and he hadn't exited the Hollowfied state.
From this point, it could be considered that Ichigo had mastered White Zangetsu's 'Bankai'.
One could say that Ichigo in Bankai + Hollowfication had essentially performed Bankai twice, which is why his strength increased so much.
And Ichigo's true power liberation came after entering the Soul King Palace, when the God of the Sword, Nimaiya, forged both Quincy Zangetsu and White Zangetsu into Zanpakuto for him.
Without Quincy Zangetsu's hindrance, White Zangetsu's power completely became Ichigo's power. Additionally, even Quincy Zangetsu became a part of Ichigo's strength.
The Getsuga Jujisho was actually Getsuga Tensho released from both Zanpakuto.
Under Ichigo's Reiatsu at that time, even Yhwach was injured during their first meeting, and only after using The Almighty's power was he able to severely injure Ichigo.
The current Ichigo didn't yet understand the meaning behind Kyoya's words.
However, with Kyoya by his side, Ichigo's heart was somewhat at ease.
At least, from their performances, Ichigo believed Kyoya possessed strength at least on par with Aizen.
"Emergency notice, emergency notice..."
"Gotei 13, 5th Division's Captain, Aizen Sosuke, 3rd Division's Captain, Ichimaru Gin, and 9th Division's Captain, Tosen Kaname, have betrayed the Seireitei, slaughtered the nobles of the Central 46, their crimes are heinous!"
"All Captains, please proceed to Sokyoku Hill immediately to apprehend the criminals Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin, and Tosen Kaname!"
When Unohana's voice reached the ears of the many Shinigami in the Seireitei, all the Shinigami were shocked.
They never expected that Aizen, who was previously killed by the Ryoka, was not only alive but had also become a criminal who killed the Central 46.