However, what responded to Toshiro was a flying kick.
Facing Aizen's kick, Toshiro immediately retreated, then launched another attack.
As Toshiro and Aizen clashed, Gin, not far away, smiled with narrowed eyes. "Ara ara, things have gotten a bit troublesome. That genius Hitsugaya... we were ready to leave, yet he actively chased us down."
Beside him, Tosen frowned slightly. "It's fine. Aizen-sama will handle him."
"Is that so?" Gin said noncommittantly.
"By the way, Kaname, aren't you going to help Captain Aizen?" Gin asked.
"Unnecessary. Since Aizen-sama has already taken action, we shouldn't disturb him. Moreover, judging by our strength, we are no match for Hitsugaya Toshiro. Acting rashly would only cause trouble for Aizen-sama," Tosen said somewhat reluctantly.
Over a decade ago in Hueco Mundo, witnessing Toshiro defeat Baraggan and fiercely battle Aizen, Tosen knew Toshiro's strength far surpassed his own and Gin's. Even after more than ten years and significant personal improvement, he still couldn't compare to Toshiro from back then, let alone the current Toshiro. With Toshiro's talent, his progress over more than a decade would undoubtedly be far greater.
Tosen couldn't help but resent his own weakness for being unable to assist Aizen, forcing Aizen to act personally, feeling a sense of powerlessness.
While all Captains were undoubtedly talented and brilliant individuals, Tosen had to admit there existed monsters like Toshiro whose talent was beyond his comprehension.
At that moment, Gin spoke with a complex expression. "Hitsugaya Toshiro... you can't possibly be Aizen-sama's match. However..."
'I still hope you won't die here. Otherwise, Rangiku would be sad.'
Of course, Gin didn't voice this last part aloud.
In Gin's view, no matter how strong Toshiro was, as long as he couldn't break Kyoka Suigetsu's hypnosis ability, he had no hope of victory. Yet, Gin didn't wish for anything bad to happen to Toshiro. Because in Gin's heart, Rangiku was more important than anything else, and Toshiro and Rangiku were very good friends. If something happened to Toshiro, Rangiku would surely be heartbroken.
Back in the battlefield where Toshiro and Aizen fought...
Although they had exchanged blows for a while, the combat wasn't intense… it was rather measured. Both intended to probe the other's true strength, not going all out, so for a time, their exchange seemed quite calm.
After another exchange, they separated, facing each other.
'It seems I need to show some real skill to gauge Aizen's true power,' Toshiro thought.
After so many exchanges, Aizen remained composed and unfathomable.
Thinking this, Toshiro stopped holding back and ceased his leisurely probing.
Shunkuho!
Toshiro's figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared to Aizen's left. A sword strike imbued with boundless frigid intent slashed towards Aizen.
Just one strike, yet it seemed to seal off all escape routes, giving a feeling of inescapability.
A glint flashed in Aizen's eyes. He responded with an ordinary-looking yet infinitely adaptive sword strike to meet Toshiro's attack.
Clang!
After a brief clash, the blades separated. Immediately, Toshiro unleashed a sky-blotting curtain of sword lights enveloping Aizen.
Aizen had no choice but to treat this seriously, defending against Toshiro's assault with full focus.
Neither used other abilities, only engaging in a swordsmanship duel.
Exquisite, peerless sword techniques flowed from their hands, dazzling the onlookers like Isshin, Masaki, Gin and Tosen, leaving them dazzled and unable to keep up.
Yet, even with Toshiro unleashing his tenth-dan swordsmanship to the fullest, he still couldn't gain the upper hand over Aizen. Of course, Aizen couldn't gain an advantage over Toshiro either.
'As expected. It seems Aizen has indeed reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, the tenth dan,' Toshiro inwardly sighed.
Over a decade ago in Hueco Mundo, during their battle, Toshiro, then only at the ninth dan, was easily suppressed by Aizen in swordsmanship. Back then, Toshiro had suspected Aizen, like Unohana and Yamamoto, had reached the highest realm of swordsmanship.
Now that Toshiro himself had stepped into the tenth dan, the pinnacle, yet still couldn't overcome Aizen in swordsmanship, it undeniably proved Aizen's swordsmanship was also at the tenth dan, the highest realm.
Moreover, having entered this level far earlier than Toshiro, Aizen even held a slight, subtle advantage in their swordsmanship duel.
Seeing he couldn't prevail against Aizen in swordsmanship, Toshiro immediately changed tactics. He began utilizing his speed to its fullest, coordinating it with his swordsmanship to assault Aizen.
Multiple afterimages of Toshiro appeared in the air. Due to his extreme speed, each figure seemed incredibly real, making it impossible to distinguish the real one from the fakes. No, not impossible… it was because the speed was too fast to process in time.
Then, countless Toshiro figures launched assaults on Aizen from all directions.
Aizen frowned, unleashing his swordsmanship with all his might to block Toshiro's sky-blanketing, rain-like, dense attacks.
Unfortunately, although Toshiro's overall strength might not match Aizen's, the speed he prided himself on was indeed faster than Aizen's.
Thus, under Toshiro's overwhelming barrage of sword lights, Aizen found himself hard-pressed, nearly hit several times.
"Truly worthy of being the Soul Society's most talented Shinigami. Truly troublesome," Aizen suddenly praised in a hoarse, disguised voice.
Compared to his original magnetic voice, this disguised one sounded rather grating.
"Hmph! Seems my attacks aren't fast enough yet," Toshiro snorted, seeing Aizen still managing to speak while defending.
With that, Toshiro increased his speed further, making Aizen's defense even more arduous.
"Impressive strength. In that case, I'll show some real ability," Aizen said.
Then, a sword strike infused with powerful spiritual pressure directly cleaved through Toshiro's sky-full of sword lights.
Boom!
An air-splitting sound erupted as Aizen's Zanpakuto, wrapped in intense wind pressure, utterly destroyed Toshiro's overwhelming barrage of sword lights.