"I don't want to argue over any sophistry with you. Just say whatever you want while you still can, because..."
Bang—!
Yamamoto's figure flashed, landing in front of Aizen.
"...Your life is about to end!"
Aizen revealed an eerie smile: "Sophistry? Yamamoto Genryusai, it's precisely because you always underestimate the power of language like this... that you... misheard my words."
"In this regard... you are far inferior to Toshiro-kun. When he fought me in Hueco Mundo, he instantly understood the hidden meaning in my words!"
"What do you mean by that?" Yamamoto couldn't help but frown.
"I told you earlier, [Extinguir] was specifically crafted to seal Ryujin Jakka. But the so-called 'seal' is meant to lock the flames inside the sword so they cannot be produced. However..."
"Is it only the flames on the sword that have been sealed? What about the flames of Ennetsu Jigoku that you used earlier to deal with me..."
"...where have they been sealed?" Aizen asked indifferently in return.
Hearing Aizen's words, Yamamoto's heart tightened. Then, realizing something, he instantly turned to look at Wonderweiss's shattered body.
"It seems you've figured it out, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Yes, all the power you released earlier has been sealed inside Wonderweiss's body. And moreover..."
"You should be very clear about what terrible consequences would occur if that power were to burst out instantly, indiscriminately," Aizen said with great interest, looking at Yamamoto.
As its master, Yamamoto naturally knew what terrifying scenes would occur if that power were to burst out recklessly.
The earlier technique, Ennetsu Jigoku, had been carefully prepared by Yamamoto to deal with Aizen. Once the power hidden within those dozens of towering fire pillars was released, it would be enough to incinerate an area several times the size of Karakura Town.
Previously, Yamamoto had dared to use this technique only because he himself was controlling it, and because the barrier enveloping the entire battlefield was blocking it.
But if Yamamoto's own control were lost, and that power were to burst out recklessly, it would definitely break through the barrier and then completely destroy several towns surrounding 'Karakura Town'.
And the millions of humans living in those towns would turn to ash.
Thinking of this terrifying consequence, Yamamoto's whole body trembled. Then, without hesitation, he pounced on the shattered limbs of Wonderweiss in the distance.
And so...
Boom!!!
An earth-shattering explosion sounded.
Then, the terrifying shockwave spread in all directions with devastating force, finally stopping only after destroying about a quarter of the replica of Karakura Town.
After everything finally calmed down again, Aizen walked leisurely towards the crater at the center of the explosion.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
In the crater at the center of the explosion, Yamamoto, covered in wounds and drenched in blood, lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
"To still be alive after directly enduring such a powerful explosion... truly worthy of being the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13," Aizen said, standing on the edge of the crater, looking down at Yamamoto.
Then Aizen looked around at the tragic scene after the explosion and said: "Only a quarter of the area destroyed? Come to think of it... if you hadn't used your own body to block the power of the explosion, probably more than just this, even the surrounding towns would have turned to ash, wouldn't they?"
"Much obliged, Yamamoto Genryusai. Thank you... for protecting my world!"
Aizen had a compassionate expression, as if the explosion hadn't happened because of him, and his words seemed to regard the entire world as his own, hence his hypocritical thanks to Yamamoto.
Hearing Aizen's 'words of thanks', Yamamoto was so furious he almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
"Aizen... you... bastard..." Yamamoto said weakly, his face pale.
Step, step, step...
Aizen leaped down into the crater and walked towards Yamamoto.
"Yamamoto Genryusai..."
Aizen walked up to Yamamoto, then drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it at him: "Although I would like to spare your life and let you witness me crushing all obstacles and ascending to the 'Throne of Heaven', unfortunately, you are too great a threat. So..."
"...to show respect for you, who is equivalent to the history of Soul Society... let my sword see you off!"
Having said that, Aizen was about to act and kill Yamamoto.
Clap!
But just as Aizen was about to act, Yamamoto suddenly reached out and grabbed Aizen's ankle without warning.
"Don't make me say it twice, boy! You're too naive!!"
Yamamoto roared: "Hado #96... Itto Kaso!!!"
Boom!!!
A huge, crimson red, sword-shaped flame shot into the sky. The terrifying power exploded, ravaging once more the already heavily damaged surrounding buildings.
Whoosh!
A figure rushed out from the explosion range of [Itto Kaso] in a miserable state.
"Huff, huff, huff... The cracks appeared on Yamamoto's burnt arm just now... was that the forbidden technique that can only be activated using one's own burnt body as a medium... the Hado #96… [Itto Kaso]?" Aizen said with some shock.
"Yamamoto Genryusai... I seem to have underestimated him. I didn't expect that after falling into my trap, he could immediately think to turn it back on me... and then abandon his burnt body, turning it into a weapon."
"As expected of the one called the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years... Yamamoto Genryusai truly lives up to his reputation... Hmm?"
Just then, Aizen seemed to suddenly sense an attack containing terrifying power coming from behind him. Then, without hesitation, Aizen dodged to the side.
Stab—!
A bright spray of blood bloomed from Aizen's body.
Although Aizen had tried his best to dodge, a Kenatsu containing terrifying power still landed on Aizen's left shoulder, nearly severing his entire arm.
Only then did Aizen have a chance to look at the newcomer.
"Oh? Isn't this Toshiro-kun? You appeared here... Could it be... you finally hardened your heart and killed your Gotei 13 Shinigami companions and those half-baked Arrancar?" Aizen said with some surprise.
Yes, the newcomer was Toshiro. And like Aizen at this moment, Toshiro looked somewhat miserable as well.
"Hmph! I'm not like you, someone who would kill their own companions," Toshiro said coldly.
As he said, Toshiro would indeed not kill his companions.
The reason Toshiro was able to break free from the Gotei 13 Shinigami and Vizard blocking him and get there was that, as a last resort, he had injured them and then frozen them with ice, restricting their movement.
Although this all sounded simple, just defeating a large group of Captain-level, Lieutenant-level, and Beyond-Captain-level attackers while they were ganging up on him was already no easy task.
Moreover, he had to carefully control the temperature of the ice, using ice that was cold enough to freeze them but not so cold that it would kill them, to restrict their movement.
After all, it was one thing for Beyond-Captain-level fighters like Kyoraku, but those Captain-level and Lieutenant-level fighters had very 'fragile' bodies. The ice Toshiro casually created could freeze and injure them to death.
And during this process, Toshiro also had to control the ice-cold power within the ice, preventing it from eroding their bodies. Otherwise, once eroded by the ice-cold power, they would definitely shatter into countless ice particles, just like Toshiro's former enemies, dead beyond dead.
In short, the entire process of subduing them was a very troublesome matter. And because Toshiro had to be cautious during the fight, afraid of accidentally injuring them, while they attacked ruthlessly, afraid of not killing him.
So in the end, even though Toshiro's strength was immense, he was still left in a miserable state, looking even worse than Aizen, who had taken an Itto Kaso to the face.