Shinigami generally have remarkably high durability.
For ordinary humans, being impaled or suffering a massive gash would mean certain death.
But for Shinigami, even what would be fatal wounds can be healed with proper treatment.
For instance, in later years, a certain famous tank from the Fifth Division was stabbed multiple times yet returned from the hospital as lively as ever.
Aizen was well aware of this fact. When he used Kyōka Suigetsu to deceive Kiganjō, it was merely to disrupt the battlefield and expand their advantage.
But then, he realized something was amiss.
The moment Kiganjō exposed an opening, Satoru's aura suddenly shifted.
In an instant, the dangerous presence emanating from him made even Aizen instinctively turn his gaze.
Wide-eyed, Satoru locked onto the side of Kiganjō's Zanpakutō, his pupils fixed on his target.
Then, he threw a punch.
His fist struck the blade.
First strike!
Almost simultaneously, yet with a slight delay, his shadow—completely synchronized with him—delivered an identical attack.
Second strike!
Sōkotsu!!
BOOM!!!!!
A shockwave of white spiritual pressure erupted from Kiganjō, carving a streamlined explosion cloud that stretched kilometers behind him.
Under Aizen's astonished gaze, Kiganjō was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a distant mountain.
Massive chunks of debris, several meters in diameter, were sent flying in all directions, shrouded in dust.
Watching the white steam rising from Satoru's fist, Aizen seemed to recall something.
"...Is this the 'multi-layered stacking' you mentioned before?"
Satoru exhaled deeply, calming the turbulent spiritual pressure within him.
"The principle is similar, but I took a shortcut—using the Zanpakutō as the medium."
As he explained, he raised his hand to inspect it.
This time, he had deliberately held back some of his power, unlike the previous all-out strike.
Sure enough, the damage to his hand was far less severe—just muscle tears and minor fractures in two fingers.
Injuries of this degree wouldn't even require the Hell Springs. Captain Unohana could easily heal them.
The thought made Satoru realize he should probably invest time in learning Kaidō.
He couldn't always bring a team of Fourth Division medics to every battle.
With that in mind, he stretched his hand toward his Zanpakutō, still embedded in the ground in the distance.
Beneath the blade, his shadow twitched.
WHOOSH!!
The Zanpakutō tore free from the earth as if launched from a catapult, spinning through the air before landing neatly in Satoru's grip.
Holding the retrieved sword, he flicked it with a flourish, striking a pose.
"So, Sōsuke, how's that for a stylish sword recall?"
Aizen glanced at him but remained silent.
He considered telling Satoru that if he wanted to look cool, he could try not speaking for the rest of his life.
But knowing full well the impossibility of that, he decided not to waste his breath.
Using Shunpo, the two arrived above the crater where Kiganjō lay.
Aizen waved his hand, dispersing the dust.
His pupils contracted slightly at the sight before him.
Kiganjō lay in the crater, his face frozen in disbelief.
His eyes were fixed on his Zanpakutō.
A deep crack was slowly spreading across the blade.
Crack. Crack.
Kiganjō's hands trembled slightly.
He desperately channeled his spiritual pressure into his Zanpakutō, struggling to maintain its stability.
Aizen cast a deep glance at Satoru.
In Bankai state, once a Zanpakutō was destroyed, the damage was irreversible.
Not only would the sword be ruined, but the Shinigami's own power would also diminish.
Because of this, a Zanpakutō in Bankai was absurdly durable—
One of the hardest substances in the world, one might say.
And yet, this guy Satoru had shattered a Bankai with a single punch?
As if reading Aizen's thoughts, Satoru shook his head. "Before I threw that punch, our relentless attacks had already caused his sword to suffer metal fatigue."
"That last punch was just the final straw that broke the camel's back."
Aizen: "…"
Ignoring Satoru's shameless remark, he approached Kenpachi Kiganjō.
Perhaps his arrival disturbed Kiganjō's focus—
With an unstable grip, the blade snapped with a sharp crack, breaking cleanly in two.
Staring at his shattered sword, Kiganjō let out a wretched scream.
Watching his pitiful state, a flicker of disdain flashed in Aizen's eyes.
Even if he had gained his position through underhanded means, he was still a captain. Couldn't he at least maintain some dignity in a moment like this?
Just then, under Aizen's gaze, Kiganjō seemed to have a sudden realization.
His head jerked up, revealing a twisted grin.
"Fine. I won't run."
"Without my Bankai, even if I survive and return, I'll just be discarded like trash."
"So I'll make sure you two suffer the same pain as me!"
The moment his words fell, Kiganjō vanished from sight.
Aizen whipped his head around—
Just in time to see Kiganjō charging toward his laboratory at blinding speed.
At the same time, his spiritual pressure was skyrocketing.
Almost instantly, Aizen understood his intention.
This bastard was trying to destroy the lab!
If that happened, not only would his painstakingly built projects be ruined, but the lab's location would also be exposed.
The entire laboratory had been constructed by his own hands, filled with traces that unmistakably linked back to him. The Second Division would only need a cursory investigation to confirm his connection to this place!
The thought barely formed before Aizen gave chase without hesitation!
With his superior Shunpo, he closed the distance in an instant, slashing down and leaving a deep gash across Kiganjō's back—blood spraying violently!
Yet, driven by sheer willpower, Kiganjō ignored the injury entirely and kept rushing toward the lab.
In a flash, he was less than ten meters away!
His spiritual pressure had already peaked.
Just as he grinned, ready to detonate it—
An invisible force slammed down on him from above!
Thud!
An unseen blade pierced straight through Kiganjō's heart.
Under Aizen's slightly stunned gaze, Satoru landed beside Kiganjō.
"...You already took one hit. How come you still haven't learned your lesson?"
Retracting Limbo—ahem—retracting his invisible swordsman, he raised his blade, ready to finish Kiganjō off.
"Wait!"
Aizen rushed over.
While stopping Satoru, he rapidly cast several Kidō spells, sealing Kiganjō's last flicker of life.
Only after completing all this did he finally exhale in relief.
A perfect high-grade test subject… Such a rare find had been preserved at last.
Snapping back to reality, he raised his head.
His gaze fell upon Satoru standing beside him, watching him intently.
Then he looked further away at the laboratory, most of its contents already exposed.
Aizen's expression instantly grew complicated.
This is bad...
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