Chapter 0041: Until Despair

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"Captain Aizen, why are you here?"

Hitsugaya Toshiro exclaimed, a mix of shock and anger in his voice. At that moment, his keen eyes caught sight of the figure lying in a pool of blood behind Aizen.

In a flash step, he dashed to the figure and saw Hinamori Momo lying in the blood, his pupils contracting violently.

Aizen turned his head slightly, smiling as he said, "Sorry you had to see something unpleasant. In hindsight, I should have cut her into pieces."

"Aizen—!"

Hitsugaya Toshiro drew his zanpakuto and roared, "I'm going to kill you!"

"I advise you not to bluff," Aizen smiled at him. "It will only make you look weak."

Hitsugaya Toshiro's spiritual pressure surged instantly.

"Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"

Azure ice crystals emerged, forming wings that gathered behind Hitsugaya Toshiro. Holding his ice blade, he roared and charged at Aizen!

At the same time, Aizen, still smiling, sheathed his sword.

With a swift motion—splash!

Hitsugaya Toshiro's hands flew off in an eruption of blood.

"How weak."

Aizen remarked, half-smiling, half-sighing. "Losing your composure over such a minor provocation—I overestimated you, Captain Hitsugaya."

Hitsugaya Toshiro's pupils contracted as he collapsed to the ground.

At that moment, Gin Ichimaru, who had been pretending to be uninvolved, suddenly chuckled, "Captain Aizen, it seems we've been discovered again."

From the passage behind them, Unohana Retsu walked in with an incredulous Kotetsu Isane.

"You've deceived everyone, Aizen Sosuke."

Aizen allowed Unohana Retsu to pass by him to heal Hitsugaya Toshiro and Hinamori Momo, pushing his glasses up as he said, "From the beginning, this world has been built on deception. You, and I, are no different."

As Unohana Retsu used healing techniques to treat the two, she glanced at the slaughtered Central 46 and calmly asked, "Not planning to hide anymore?"

"That's right, there's no need."

Aizen turned his back, speaking calmly, "Gin, you may begin."

At his words, Gin Ichimaru released countless bandages, using a spatial transfer kido to move to Sokyoku Hill.

Seeing this, Unohana Retsu sighed softly and said to Kotetsu Isane, "Isane, notify everyone."

Kotetsu Isane nodded, looking at where Aizen had disappeared, and quickly issued a wide-area announcement using kido:

"Attention all Shinigami, Ryoka, and Quincy: Former 5th Division Captain Aizen Sosuke and former 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru have betrayed Soul Society and are currently moving to Sokyoku Hill. All divisions, coordinate to apprehend them!"

"Repeat the notification!"

"..."

At Sokyoku Hill, the heavily burned Yamamoto Genryusai suddenly looked up at the sky.

"Aizen? Gin Ichimaru?"

Behind him, Su Jin appeared, smirking.

"What are you looking at?"

In an instant, Su Jin's hand pierced through Yamamoto Genryusai's right chest.

Yamamoto Genryusai grabbed Su Jin's arm and roared, "Did you think I'd leave an opening?"

Roaring, he unleashed:

"Zanka no Tachi, North—Taimatsu!"

A terrifying spiritual pressure gathered on his blade, aiming to slice Su Jin in half.

The strike was fierce, like a mighty torrent pressing down on Su Jin.

With a single swing, Yamamoto Genryusai cleaved the air.

He widened his eyes in shock.

Twenty meters behind him, Su Jin smirked and said, "Utsusemi!"

Using the same technique Yamamoto Genryusai had just employed, Su Jin successfully deceived him.

"You've wasted a millennium, Yamamoto Genryusai!"

"Arrogant!"

Fooled by his own technique, Yamamoto Genryusai, the strongest Shinigami, was furious.

"First Style: Fushibi!"

Slash!

A near-fatal blow appeared on Yamamoto Genryusai's chest.

"Damn it!" Yamamoto Genryusai began healing himself with kido, ready to go down fighting.

At this moment, Su Jin sidestepped to avoid Kyoraku Shunsui's thrust.

"Ah, discovered."

Kyoraku Shunsui chuckled bitterly.

Su Jin counterattacked with an air strike, a powerful slash that almost split Kyoraku Shunsui in half.

Behind him, Ukitake Jushiro suddenly appeared, casting 'Rikujokoro' to bind Su Jin.

In the instant Su Jin was bound, Ukitake Jushiro shouted, "Everyone, attack!"

Captain Soi Fon and Yoruichi Shihoin simultaneously appeared, using their Shunko to attack Su Jin's limbs with full force.

Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki, temporarily ceasing his battle due to Aizen's betrayal, arrived and unleashed Senbonzakura around Su Jin.

Above, Komamura Sajin's Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo'o, wielded its massive blade and struck down at Su Jin!

Despite the multi-directional assault, Su Jin sneered.

"How laughable."

With a casual movement, Su Jin shattered the Rikujokoro, causing Ukitake Jushiro to cough up blood.

Then, his hands moved with blinding speed, grabbing Soi Fon and Yoruichi Shihoin by the necks, almost snapping them.

He lifted his head, his horned forehead smashing into Komamura Sajin's descending blade, shattering it.

Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura arrived too late to attack.

With a single Shunpo, Su Jin appeared behind Byakuya Kuchiki, kicking him into the ground with a resounding crash.

In under three seconds, the six attacking captains were severely injured.

At that moment, a premonition of danger filled Su Jin's mind.

In his left hand, Soi Fon was replaced by Yamamoto Genryusai.

"Utsusemi's chain move, successful!"

Yamamoto Genryusai roared, thrusting Zanka no Tachi at Su Jin's chest.

Clang!

As the blade struck, the sound of metal echoed through the sky.

Yamamoto Genryusai widened his eyes in shock.

Su Jin smirked, "Did you think I didn't notice the spatial fluctuations?"

"It's not over!"

Yamamoto Genryusai roared, "Zanka no Tachi, East—Kyokujitsujin!"

The 15 million-degree Celsius blade, containing Yamamoto Genryusai's full spiritual pressure, surged towards Su Jin's chest!

Then.

The flames were dominated!

The terrifying heat of Zanka no Tachi was instantly subdued by Su Jin!

Su Jin sneered, "Playing with fire before the fire god, how foolish!"

For the first time, Yamamoto Genryusai despaired.

He realized he never stood a chance against Su Jin.

As Su Jin said, before the fire god, even the most powerful flame-based zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, could only submit.

No, wait, there's still a chance. At least, he could drag Su Jin down with him!

Even if Su Jin was strong, they weren't on different dimensions. If he self-destructed, Su Jin would be injured or killed!

With that in mind, Yamamoto Genryusai's eyes filled with resolve!

But then, a light chuckle echoed:

"Consider stopping, Su Jin. Our goal is achieved."

Yamamoto Genryusai turned sharply, seeing Aizen Sosuke standing before Rukia Kuchiki, holding a gem encased in a multi-faceted crystal.

From Rukia Kuchiki's abdomen, a tree was withering away.

Aizen remarked in surprise, "So this technique doesn't harm the host?"

"Su Jin, hahaha, come fight me!"

Kenpachi Zaraki, disdainful of ambushing Su Jin, charged in with a roar and laughter.

"Ah, still a straggler?"

Aizen waved his Kyoka Suigetsu.

Splash!

Kenpachi Zaraki looked in confusion at Yamamoto Genryusai, whom he had just slashed.

Why wasn't it Su Jin?

Aizen calmly said, "Time's up."

Su Jin raised an eyebrow, and Nemu Kurotsuchi appeared beside him.

"So quickly?" Su Jin whispered, knowing Aizen's scheduled rendezvous time had arrived.

Zzzip—!

The sky of Soul Society was torn open.

Hollow faces appeared from within.

The inversion film descended!

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