"Ah..."
I could hear Izuru Kira's startled voice.
Sorry for the surprise. To make up for it, I'm going to punch and shatter this guy's glasses right now! And after that—
"Hang in there just a little longer. I'll treat your wounds properly soon."
Even through the mask, did my kind words reach him? I felt a sense of relief radiating from Izuru Kira. And then, there was the other one.
"I see. That form... this is the first time I have seen it in person."
Even through my mask, the expression Sosuke Aizen wore as he smirked was truly terrifying. His eyes were wide, displaying a mix of ecstasy and shock.
"So, this was your goal after all, wasn't it?"
"Heh heh... I am glad you are so intelligent."
"Oh? It's not like I was invited to the Spiritual Arts Academy as a special guest lecturer so many times just for show, you know? Did you forget?"
I met Sosuke Aizen's arrogant attitude with an equally composed one of my own.
'Don't back down! Don't be intimidated! I have to take control of the pace here!'
I kept repeating those affirmations to myself.
"Haaaaaaah!!"
"Kh... Guh...!!"
I threw a punch reinforced with spiritual pressure at Sosuke Aizen with all my might. He managed to catch it with his Zanpakuto, however. Even so, we were locked in a stalemate between my fist and his blade. Hollowification was definitely worth the effort.
"!!"
"Tch!"
I fired a Cero at point-blank range. The power of a Cero in a Hollowified state is quite different from when I'm just a Soul Reaper, isn't it?
"Guh...!"
"Not finished yet!"
His reactions are fast. He released spiritual pressure like a suit of armor to block it. But I'm not done! Take this follow-up punch!!
"Bakudo Number Seventy-Nine: Kuyoshibari!"
"Kh! !!"
In retaliation, Sosuke Aizen manifested nine black orbs to seal my movements.
["Was that about me?"]
No, it wasn't.
I fired another Cero with all my strength at those black orbs, forcibly negating them through sheer spiritual violence. As expected, the advantage of Cero is that it can be fired instantaneously.
"Ho...!!"
Sosuke Aizen let out a voice of surprise at me forcibly erasing his spell. Now, while I have the chance—
"Mut..."
"There, there. You did a great job. You're safe now."
Oh, come on! He noticed already!
I used the moment Sosuke Aizen was forced onto the defensive to close in on Izuru Kira and use Kaido... but he noticed far faster than I calculated. He realized almost instantly!! But this is a rare opportunity! I have to at least heal these fatal wounds...!
"Marvelous. When and how did you acquire the power of Hollowification? Was it that day you went on a mission with your peers? And that level of mastery, that technique—how long did you spend refining it? More than anything, the courage to ignore me and go save someone else in this situation is truly magnificent."
I thought he would, but it seemed Sosuke Aizen didn't pursue me. How strange. Normally, this would be a perfect opening... I was even prepared to be cut once or twice... Is he testing the waters?
"Sorry, Izuru Kira, this is my limit for now. You can manage the rest on your own, right?"
"Yes..."
Still, I'm grateful for this time. I managed to heal him to the point where he could survive if he continued recovering on his own. I stopped my treatment and turned back to Sosuke Aizen.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not telling you. Besides, it's my turn next, isn't it?"
"Your turn for what?"
"It was my turn to answer next. Have you forgotten already?"
"Ah, I see. Now that you mention it, that's true."
When I chuckled under my mask, Sosuke Aizen responded with a smile.
"What should I answer first? For example... how about the 'true' ability of that Zanpakuto—Kyoka Suigetsu?"
"Oh, how disappointing. That is not the answer I wish to hear. You heard about it from Yoruichi Shihoin, didn't you? An answer obtained from someone else is not worth listening to."
His expression shifted, looking as though he had lost interest.
"Yoruichi Shihoin? Oh, I only cross-referenced my answer with hers... I noticed it. Long before that."
"Oh?"
His eyebrow twitched. It seems I've caught his interest.
"I'll say it again. How many times do you think I invited you as a special guest lecturer during my time at the Academy? How many times do you think I saw Kyoka Suigetsu release its Shikai?"
"How strange. I intended to show the same illusion every time."
"They certainly looked the same, but there were very slight differences in the diffuse reflection. That's how I noticed. I realized that this ability was a lie. It's an ability that shows the opponent some kind of convenient illusion. Though, I didn't think it went as far as Complete Hypnosis."
Every time I invited Sosuke Aizen as a guest lecturer, I kept searching for discrepancies whenever he released his Shikai. It was the violence of repeated trials. Or rather, it was like playing a game of 'spot the difference' for years.
["They used to have those 'Spot the Difference' games at the back of old magazines!"]
"Hehe... Still, ahahaha! Captain Aizen, acting all 'I am omniscient and omnipotent,' yet you didn't even notice a simple mistake like that... You're unexpectedly cute, aren't you?"
"..."
A blue vein popped on Sosuke Aizen's forehead for a split second. I caught a glimpse of his irritation.
"And that behavior... by any chance, was that your real face? It suits you quite well. You look exactly like someone plotting something in the shadows... it makes me want to punch you with everything I've got."
"I see. You noticed my ability and built your deductions from there... Pestering Central 46 with petitions and forcing me into the position of General Superintendent to seal my movements—all of that was the result of you viewing me as a threat, then?"
No. If anything, it was mostly just to annoy you. Well, it's not wrong, but it would be frustrating to just admit it. Let's go all out here.
"Not at all. I just thought an elite like Captain Aizen could handle that much work without a problem."
I'm going to provoke him!
["Whoa! You're really going for it, Milord!! B-but are you going to be okay!?"]
I mean, he's almost certainly coming to kill me now anyway, right!? In that case, I have to fight back desperately or I'll be killed! So if I can make him even a little angry and lead him to make a mistake, it's a win, right?
"Ah, but for you to say such a thing... I'm so sorry. I suppose there were things even Captain Aizen couldn't do. I only assigned a little extra work... It's a pity; I seems I misjudged you."
"You really... Why must you insist on getting under my skin at every turn!!"
["Ah, he's totally snapped, Milord!!"]
Well, anyone would snap after being buried in that much work.
But still... yikes, what incredible spiritual pressure! With his anger and spiritual pressure erupting simultaneously, he looks like the incarnation of wrath itself. He lunged at me as if to vent all the accumulated complaints and frustrations he's been holding back.
"Do you have any idea how much useless time I had to spend because of your unnecessary suggestions!? Can you even imagine it!?"
"Guh... uuu...!!"
Sosuke Aizen swung his Zanpakuto. Though he seemed to be giving in to his rage, his mind apparently remained calm. His attacks were incredibly precise, leaving no openings. Just as I thought light was streaking like threads, another slash would come flying in the next moment. I increased my spiritual pressure and even activated a pseudo-Shunko to improve my overall capabilities, but even then, I was barely managing to defend myself.
"What is wrong? You have put me through so much trouble. Show me more of that power."
"Guuuuuh!!"
This is bad. My arm was cut. Even with my defense up, this happened!? The wound isn't deep, but it isn't shallow either. It's an attack that steadily chips away at your combat strength... normally.
"High-Speed Regeneration, I presume?"
Seeing my arm heal instantly, Sosuke Aizen frowned slightly. High-Speed Regeneration is a standard ability for a normal Hollow. As the name suggests, it's an ability that heals wounds at an incredible speed, making the Fourth Division unnecessary.
Unfortunately, that ability is usually lost when one becomes an Arrancar. Since this is the current time, Sosuke Aizen should already know that. In that case, perhaps his surprise comes from a misunderstanding, thinking that a Soul Reaper gains High-Speed Regeneration upon Hollowification?
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this is—Kaido!"
"Tch!! How troublesome!!"
I swung my healed arm like a pendulum and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick using the centrifugal force. Sosuke Aizen braced his Zanpakuto to block the kick, but I didn't care. I kicked the blade with everything I had.
"...Ugh!"
"To think you would do that..."
Since I kicked a blade, I took some damage myself. However, I couldn't afford to care. More than anything, the attack of kicking the sword itself seemed to catch Sosuke Aizen off guard.
"Thanks for the compliment!"
The moment his movements slowed slightly, I grabbed the collar of his Shihakusho. I moved to shoulder-throw him in one go—
"A throw!?"
He realized! Well, of course he would. But it's too late! I'll slam him into the ground and pin him right here—!!
"Guaaaah!?"
"Oops, that was close."
I feel an intense pain in my back...!! Was I cut!? During the throw!? No, he must have jammed his Zanpakuto between us. Did he use his body weight to press the blade into me!? Daaaamn!! To think he could do that in that split second...!!
"Being thrown with the strength and speed of Hollowification sounded a bit painful. Forgive my lack of grace, but I chose to decline."
The unexpected pain broke my throwing stance, and I fell to my knees. Warm blood began to flow from my back, dripping onto the ground and creating red stains. Yet, Sosuke Aizen moved with a light leap, escaping the throw and my crumbling posture.
"Now then, I believe it is about my turn?"
Ah, maybe because he cut me and saw blood, his frustration seems to have cooled a bit. His previous rage was nowhere to be seen, replaced once again by his calm mask. That relaxed attitude is really getting on my nerves. I've already healed the wound, but my back still stings...
"Your turn...?"
"That is right. You have taught me a great deal."
Another question session? And did I teach him something?
"Sometimes, crossing blades directly can be a good thing. What those battle-crazed fools say about 'understanding each other through combat' isn't entirely nonsense."
...Ah! My combat data during Hollowification!! Ugh... so he was collecting data during that fight just now... Which means Sosuke Aizen still hasn't shown the depths of his true strength...? This is really getting depressing...
["Daaaamn... if only I were there...!!"]
I had voluntarily surrendered my Zanpakuto back then, but if I hadn't, it probably would have been taken anyway. Did he just want to know how much of a boost Hollowification provided?
"Though I did not learn the most vital part... Well, it is an answer that will soon be unnecessary anyway. It does not matter."
The most vital part...? But it will be unnecessary? Normally, you'd think he was looking for a hint related to Hollowification. But if it's becoming unnecessary, that means...
"Now, it is my turn to answer. What do you wish to ask?"
"...I see! Rukia Kuchiki!!"
I reflexively shouted at almost the exact same time Sosuke Aizen asked.
"I am surprised. How on earth did you arrive at that answer?"
"..."
I mean, what am I supposed to say to that!?
"Silence? Well, fine. That is correct. I was targeting her. But that, too, is almost over—"
As he spoke, Sosuke Aizen glanced upward—toward the heavens. What did he see?
"It is almost time."
"Time...?"
"The time of the execution, of course."
...Whaaaaaaat!?
"Why!? Her execution was supposed to be...!!"
"After you were captured, Central 46 issued a new order. It stated that Yukawa was the cause of this chaos. Now that the mastermind has been caught, there is no further need for delay. For the prestige of the Seireitei, the execution of Rukia Kuchiki is to proceed immediately."
They issued the order after they caught me!?
"What...!?"
"Of course, a grand announcement has been made regarding your capture as well—that the mastermind behind the uprising, Yukawa, will be executed following a trial by Central 46. Now, this is a dilemma. Rukia Kuchiki or Airi Yukawa—I wonder which one you should choose?"
Damn it! He looks so happy saying that...!! But that means they're happening at the same time...!?
Don't tell me, Sosuke Aizen! Are you trying to wrap everything up all at once today!?
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]