Chapter 169.1 : Hōgyoku!
Fifteen reward options were presented, but Uchiha Ran could only select among five, as dictated by the gold list.
Yet, he couldn't bring himself to discard any.
"What!"
The pointer hovered over seven areas before settling on the Hōgyoku.
A blue-black gem materialized before Uchiha Ran.
"Master," a voice echoed in Uchiha Ran's mind.
His eyes gleamed, recognizing the consciousness of Hōgyoku reaching out to him.
The Hōgyoku in the Shinigami world seemed devoid of such abilities or intelligence.
"Is this Golden List's doing?" Uchiha Ran held Hōgyoku in his hand, thoroughly satisfied. This Hōgyoku had acknowledged him entirely as its master, born because of him.
Should he perish, Hōgyoku would cease to exist as well, transforming into a black hole akin to a star's demise, consuming endlessly until an entire world was obliterated.
What impeccable craftsmanship!
It wasn't merely a trump card but akin to a sovereign card!
As for Hōgyoku's intellect, it could be likened to the artificial intelligence of Iron Man's Jarvis in the Marvel universe.
It wasn't as prone to backlash as Ikaros, for instance.
"Let's see what you can do for me now," Uchiha Ran said, placing Hōgyoku between his brows. He pressed lightly while commanding mentally, "Transform into my power, enhancing only my strength without altering my form."
Uchiha Ran hadn't forgotten the changes Aizen brought about with Hōgyoku.
In the initial fused state, Aizen maintained his Shinigami appearance but became immensely stronger than before.
His offensive capabilities increased exponentially, able to topple foes like the "Baraggan Louisenbairn" with a single strike.
Defensively, he could endure assaults like sword cremations and Getsuga Tenshō with minimal injury.
His regenerative abilities were so potent that even internal wounds healed rapidly as Hōgyoku instinctively shielded its host.
At that point, Kisuke believed killing Aizen was nearly impossible.
Aizen himself surpassed the combined strength of the Espada.
In the ninja world, this power stood between the Six Paths level and the Peak Sage, exceeding Aizen's first form.
In Aizen's second fused state, he abandoned "Complete Hypnosis" tactics, relying entirely on Hōgyoku's power. Clad in milky-white Reiatsu, his abilities far outstripped his previous state, rendering him nearly impervious to Hadō spells of level 90 or higher.
This should have reached the Peak Sage level.
Aizen had entered his third fusion state, where the Hōgyoku had seamlessly integrated into his being. Though his form was enveloped in an aura of formidable Reiatsu, his face remained visible, a testament to his growing power. His might, though not yet transcendent beyond the realm of Shinigami, hovered at the pinnacle of spiritual prowess. A qualitative transformation seemed just within reach.
The sheer intensity of his Reiatsu could reduce ordinary humans to naught but ash, a power likened to those who had consumed the Chakra fruits, akin to the Ōtsutsuki. This level of strength echoed across the cosmos, akin to the explosive force of a newborn star.
Advancing into his fourth fusion state, Aizen's power transcended even the higher echelons of Shinigami existence. Even without the Hōgyoku physically present within him, it was as if it called out to him, beckoning its return.
His forehead now bore a peculiar eye-like aperture, while his countenance took on an unsettling hue. Three pairs of colossal butterfly wings sprouted from his back, and the cavity at his chest now housed the Hōgyoku, pulsating with ethereal energy.
His right hand melded seamlessly with his Zanpakutō, marking a departure from conventional Shinigami traits.
Metaphorically, he had shed the chrysalis of his previous state to emerge as a formidable butterfly, symbolizing a profound metamorphosis—a rebirth of sorts.
This newfound power transcended mortal comprehension, echoing the might of the Ōtsutsuki within this realm.
Yet, there existed a final fusion state—a convergence beyond the limits of Shinigami existence. Here, Aizen's power not only surpassed the confines of Shinigami dominion but transcended it entirely. His forehead bore yet another eye-like orifice, his visage now obscured by a veil of darkness.
The once-familiar contours of his face now split, revealing a void of obsidian on either side. Three apertures adorned his torso, with the Hōgyoku nestled within the uppermost orifice, while his Zanpakutō melded seamlessly with his right hand.
His six expansive butterfly wings now bore skeletal structures along their ridges, devoid of any semblance of Shinigami lineage, their appearance ethereal and surreal.
In this state, he attained true immortality—a being akin to the earthbound immortals of legend! (Earth Immortal, Heaven Immortal, True Immortal, Golden Immortal…)
In the realm of Shinigami, he achieved a status akin to that of a Transcendent Being, detached from the mortal coil.
Realm and combat prowess intertwined—a principle mirrored across realms.
In worlds of immortal cultivation, longevity knows no bounds, yet the focus invariably shifts to martial prowess.
Consider, in worlds where emperors wield godlike power, their lifespans but fleeting moments in the annals of time.
Uchiha Ran, at his current juncture, attained the zenith of mortal existence, his martial might rivaling that of the most exalted earthbound immortals.
Even without the fusion granted by the Hōgyoku, his prowess could rival that of Aizen in his fourth stage!