Haah… finally caught up. Looks like I'm not too late—time to settle the score properly.
On his way here, Aoyama had already seen Sōkyoku destroyed. He feared that Aizen Sōsuke might have already escaped into Hueco Mundo, which would make revenge far more difficult.
But fortunately, that wasn't the case. Aizen and his followers were still here. The only problem was that the Hōgyoku was now fully in Aizen's hands… and standing here as well was the Commander-General, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. That made Aoyama's heart pound uneasily.
Clad in a pure white bony exoskeleton, Aoyama's form resembled some kind of dinosaur-like Hollow, yet it was still mixed with Shinigami reiatsu—a truly strange sight.
Yamamoto furrowed his brows. He hadn't even drawn his Zanpakutō, and yet he radiated an aura of invincibility.
The other Gotei 13 captains all narrowed their eyes the instant they saw Aoyama's figure. Their expressions hardened, suspicion turning toward Aizen. They believed this monster was simply one of Aizen's backup plans.
Ichimaru Gin wore his trademark false smile, his narrowed eyes glinting with danger.
Kaname Tōsen stood motionless, holding his blade in one hand. Even when faced with the glares of the other captains—voices of his own former comrades—he did not waver.
Aoyama released a massive burst of reiatsu, baring his fangs in a savage grin.
"Aizen, aren't you going to say something? No? Then don't blame me for cutting you down right here!"
With a powerful stomp, he launched forward like a human cannonball.
Yet Aizen's face didn't shift in the slightest. Toying with the Hōgyoku in his palm, he let out a quiet sigh, speaking in that same calm, almost regretful tone.
"Wouldn't it be better to simply live? Even though you've been turned into this… thing, you could still keep on living. I gave you that chance, yet you've chosen not to treasure it."
"You really are a fool. I had even considered letting you glimpse the beauty of the world above the clouds. But in the end, you're nothing more than a brainless brute. If you insist on running to your death, then I'll show you just how vast the gulf between Shinigami truly is."
"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi!" (Black Coffin)
In mid-flight, Aoyama was instantly swallowed by an overwhelming force. Darkness engulfed his vision, and in the next second, countless blades tore into his body all at once, exploding with devastating impact.
—Outside—
Gin clapped lightly. "As expected of Aizen-sama. To abandon the chant and still unleash such a high-level Hadō at full strength… remarkable."
Aizen simply waved a hand, expression calm. "Gin, no need to be so impressed. That was nothing. After all, the enemy we face now… is the strongest Shinigami of the past thousand years. Don't you agree, Commander-General?"
The "strongest Shinigami in a thousand years"… Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, commander of the 13 Court Guard Squads. A man whose power could annihilate Soul Society itself, wielder of the most ancient Zanpakutō.
Even standing still, his mere presence was enough to make all tremble. His power required no words of explanation.
Yamamoto's voice was heavy and commanding:
"To have walked this path… You planned this long ago, didn't you, Aizen? You have committed countless unforgivable crimes. I, Yamamoto Genryūsai, shall see you imprisoned for a thousand years, until your sins are burned away."
The dark coffin shattered. Aoyama, bloodied and battered, fell to the ground in a heap. The white Hollow armor cracked and vanished, revealing his original appearance beneath.
At once, realization dawned on the other captains.
No wonder he had charged at Aizen with such rage. No wonder he had attacked on sight. At first, they had assumed it was some staged trick of Aizen's—but now they saw the truth.
The names of the former captains who once fled Soul Society resurfaced in their minds. Among them were Hirako Shinji and the others.
After that brief clash, all of them realized: Aizen and his allies were far stronger than they appeared. Then, massive Hollows tore open space itself, their immense reiatsu flooding outward. They cast down a glowing membrane barrier—the Negación.
Within that column of light, Aizen's group was lifted beyond reach, as though into another world. No outside attack could touch them—unless one possessed the power to shatter a world itself.
Yamamoto growled:
"That is the Negación, a barrier used when Hollows retrieve their kin. Once within, even I cannot reach them."
"Then… we can only watch Aizen leave?!"
"Damn it! He deceived us all—and now he just walks away freely?!"
Inside the Negación, Aizen smiled faintly. Removing his glasses, he tossed them aside. With a smooth motion, he raked his hand through his hair, styling it back.
"My friends… farewell. The next time we meet, I will already stand above the clouds…"
Aoyama winced, body wracked with pain. "Tch… what a high-level Hadō…" But when he saw Aizen about to leave, safely within the Negación, he roared and sprang to his feet, leaping skyward.
"Don't you dare run, bastard! Get back down here!!"
The other captains blinked in confusion. Hadn't the Commander-General just said it was impossible? Did this newcomer not understand?
And yet… watching Aoyama charge upward, blade raised as he swung at Aizen through the barrier, a few captains couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
Aizen sneered, the Negación not even trembling beneath the strike. "Pathetic. I gave you such power, and all you can do is swing wildly. Just like the so-called 'ability' of your Zanpakutō—summoning that mindless beast. As its master, you are equally brai—"
"Come forth!! Behemoth! Tear this damned barrier apart!!"
"ROOOAAARRR!!!"
The colossal ancient titan appeared—Behemoth. Its overwhelming presence crushed the air, its twin massive tusks gleaming with lethal power.
With a shake of its massive head, Behemoth thrust its tusks against the Negación. The ground quaked as the barrier shuddered violently, cracks spreading where the beast had struck.