Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 303 ⥤ Aizen, You’re Going Too Far

Parallel Aizen's eyes widened, shock rising in his pure white pupils.

Just moments ago, he had used Kyōka Suigetsu to toy with the Soul Society's Shinigami, making them kill each other while claiming an effortless victory.

But in the blink of an eye, the same technique was turned against him. Even more astonishing — he, who had transcended the barrier between Shinigami and Hollows, couldn't even detect when the other's Kyōka Suigetsu was activated.

A chilling sensation crept from the depths of his heart as he contemplated the gap between them.

Looking at the two nearly identical pillars of Reiatsu, Urahara's expression darkened. The situation had become far graver than anticipated.

The Aizen from another world wielded strength that utterly surpassed their world's Aizen, despite the latter's multiple evolutions. They existed in entirely different dimensions of power.

Throughout the battle, Parallel Aizen had shown signs of unraveling — becoming hysterical, his expression twisting, his features contorting — stripped of all his former dignity.

This was undoubtedly the other Aizen's doing. He fought with the casual ease of an adult toying with a child. With mere flicks of his spirit blade and a single activation of Kyōka Suigetsu, he had seized complete control of the battlefield.

A strange notion crept into Urahara's mind.

Perhaps their Aizen's breakdown was temporary — once he overcame this phase and truly grasped his power, he would become just like his counterpart.

Urahara drew a deep breath, his expression growing more severe.

Without question, a frenzied Aizen was far easier to handle than a composed one. Though Aizen had confessed to being outmatched, Urahara felt no relief — only heightened vigilance.

An arrogant enemy posed little threat; the truly frightening opponent was one who could reflect and maintain their clarity of mind.

Their hopes now rested with Ichigo. Should either Aizen achieve total victory, the consequences would be beyond imagination.

Click!

A camera shutter echoed across the empty wasteland.

All eyes turned to Akira, who was frantically snapping photos, his camera flash strobing through the air.

Aizen: "..."

This guy was acting up again.

Parallel Aizen glared in fury, enraged that someone would dare record his current state with a Denreishinki. He instantly unleashed a Fragor in retaliation — a purple sphere materializing before Akira, radiating terrifying pressure.

Yamamoto moved to intervene, but someone was faster.

Akira released his camera with one hand, spread his fingers, and simply grasped the Fragor. With a crystalline shattering sound, brilliant purple particles cascaded like sand through his fingers.

The onlookers were stunned. While Aizen's use of Kyōka Suigetsu had been impressive, this display was far more spectacular — a pure demonstration of raw power.

Parallel Aizen's eyes widened in disbelief.

The earlier Kurohitsugi might have been comprehensible, but now he had evolved into a true transcendent being. His Fragor far surpassed the previous Hadō.

Yet he still couldn't harm this self-proclaimed disciple of Shigekuni Yamamoto.

How could a mere Shinigami surpass me? How could that stubborn old fool Yamamoto train such a disciple?

That's it — it must be Kyōka Suigetsu!

Parallel Aizen whirled toward his counterpart, roaring, "It's Kyōka Suigetsu again!"

Aizen lazily raised his hand, effortlessly forming a Danku barrier to block the other's Reiatsu blast.

"I've only used Kyōka Suigetsu once since this battle began. Though I hate to admit it, that's the truth. That man's power far exceeds both of ours."

Parallel Aizen stood frozen, bewilderment crossing his grotesque face.

No one knows oneself better than oneself. Despite his near-madness, he could still recognize the truth in his counterpart's words.

How could that brutish fellow surpass the Aizen before him? It was inconceivable!

Parallel Aizen snapped. While he could accept being surpassed by another version of himself, being weaker than someone who seemed to lack intelligence was incomprehensible.

"This is impossible! This cannot be!"

His butterfly wings spread wide — skulls on the wing bones opened their mouths while giant eyes snapped open. Electronic-like roars erupted as visible sound waves rippled outward in all directions.

Aizen observed calmly as Reiatsu surged forth, flowing majestically across the heavens and blanketing the city ruins.

In the next instant, he transcended space-time itself, materializing before Parallel Aizen. His spirit blade gleamed with moonlight-white radiance as he raised his right hand and... Struck.

Splat—

Parallel Aizen's vaunted Reiatsu defense and physical prowess meant nothing against Aizen's slash. His chest cavity burst open, blood fountaining outward. His supposedly indestructible body was nearly cleaved in two.

When Aizen became serious, the true gap between them became clear.

Though intense pain twisted Parallel Aizen's features, he hadn't surrendered — his eyes still burned with fierce determination.

As Aizen moved to withdraw his spirit blade for another strike, he found it unexpectedly trapped in his opponent's flesh.

"This ends here, Aizen."

⤫ Hadō #99: Goryūtenmetsu ⥤ Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction! ⤬

Parallel Aizen raised one hand skyward. His abyss-like Reiatsu eruption silenced the entire city as strange, heavy black-purple energy emerged, completely engulfing both their bodies.

Hum—

Space twisted violently as deep patterns scattered through the black-purple energy. Reiatsu poured forth endlessly, flowing unbound.

The next moment, world-shattering roars echoed beneath the heavens as the black-purple torrent transformed into fearsome dragons, their cold gazes falling upon the world below.

Deafening cracks followed as everything in the torrent's path vanished into nothingness. Nothing remained as far as the eye could see.

The Tenkai Kecchu collapsed, no longer able to maintain itself. The real Karakura Town began its descent from Soul Society, about to reappear above the ruins in the living world.

The Shinigami watched the phantom in the sky, their expressions tight with anxiety.

If Karakura Town were caught in the crossfire between the two Aizens, it would share the fake city's fate. All humans within would become souls, drawn into Soul Society.

At the crucial moment, the torrent vanished, and two figures materialized on the wasteland.

Parallel Aizen was a grotesque sight — his body covered in wounds, massive gashes crisscrossing his form, blood staining him crimson. His butterfly wings had been completely destroyed, his limbs mangled.

In contrast, the other Aizen bore only a light dusting of debris on his Shinigami robes.

"Don't you understand yet?" He regarded his counterpart with pity, "Though our paths are the same, I have reached the end. The gap between us cannot be bridged by merely unleashing potential. You know nothing of the Hōgyoku's power."

His words were met with an eerily calm smile.

Parallel Aizen rose unsteadily, his broken body visibly mending itself.

"Of course I understand. I should thank you — your existence proves this path is correct." Despite his thorough defeat, he had regained his composure, seeming unmoved by his countless injuries.

He lifted his Zanpakutō, its fractured blade crumbling into Reishi that dispersed through the air.

"Look, Kyōka Suigetsu is disappearing." Parallel Aizen's lips curved upward, "You've seen this before — you know what it means. My desire for power, channeled through the Hōgyoku's ability, is materializing once again. Another evolution begins..."

Unlike his counterpart from the original timeline who had broken under Ichigo's might, this Parallel Aizen grew more determined upon witnessing his other self's power.

This determination rendered Urahara's sealing Kidō, Fūsatsu Kakei, ineffective within his body.

As he spoke, his outer shell steadily peeled away, revealing his original form while his Zanpakutō faded from existence.

Aizen observed with keen interest, cataloging every detail.

Their evolution paths had diverged significantly. Under a certain husky's influence, Aizen's Hōgyoku had achieved far greater perfection. He had enhanced it further with advanced techniques — Quincy powers, Soul King fragments, Hell's phosphorus, and more.

Parallel Aizen stretched out his right hand, feeling Reiatsu surge through his body and soul as his confidence returned. Though he might not match his opponent's power, he would no longer be so helpless.

"The battle is just beginning." He looked across at his opponent, his Zanpakutō shattering and dispersing into countless Reishi between his fingers, "The outcome is yet unknown."

Aizen shook his head with a regretful smile.

"No, it's already over."

At these words, an indescribable fear descended upon everyone's hearts.

All eyes fixed upon Aizen in shock, none comprehending what had happened. Akira watched expectantly, Denreishinki at the ready.

Reiatsu erupted like the collapse of heaven, warping the surrounding space-time and freezing Karakura Town's descent from Soul Society.

Six mirror-like wings materialized behind him, each bearing eyes with black sclera and golden irises. A crevice opened on his forehead, revealing a pure black eye, while faint purple patterns spread from his eye corners to his temples.

Most striking was his chest, where an abyss-like crevice appeared. Light and shadow flowed within, revealing the perfect Hōgyoku encircled by four diamond-shaped crystals.

{T/N: This is the fusion of Hōgyoku with Kyōka Suigetsu, you can see the image on Aizen's Wiki. It's from the Brave Souls game, not official canon. And by the way, its our Aizen transforming.}

"This is..." Parallel Aizen's eyes widened in disbelief, "What?! Answer me quickly!"

Aizen extended his right hand, fingers spread wide as Reishi flowed like an endless nebula in his palm.

"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"

Parallel Aizen froze before regaining his composure, "I'm curious about your purpose. Could it be that even a being like you must submit to that thing?"

Aizen shook his head, "How could that be possible? In our world, the Soul King is dead, replaced by a new one who merely maintains the stability of the Sangai. The Soul King is nothing more than an indispensable tool. We completed the revolution in ways you cannot imagine."

Parallel Aizen frowned, "Did you kill all the Shinigami in Soul Society?"

Aizen laughed, "You're being too extreme. How could something like that happen? Everyone you know lives, without exception — even the Espada. We simply achieved revolution through more moderate means. But discussion is pointless. When this is over, why not visit our world? You'll see for yourself."

Parallel Aizen yielded without resistance.

He allowed Aizen to place his hand on the Hōgyoku in his chest. As terrible Reiatsu erupted, Bakudō #99: Part 1. Kin manifested without incantation, sealing away all his Reiatsu.

With his power now gone, the Fūsatsu Kakei within Parallel Aizen's body activated, causing cross-shaped spikes to burst from his form and seal him completely.

When this was done, Aizen turned his penetrating gaze upon the others.

Every Shinigami and Arrancar who met his eyes felt their innermost secrets laid bare, while an unspeakable dread grew within their hearts.

Just then, as the tension reached its peak, space itself shattered and a vaguely familiar figure emerged from the darkness.

Aizen regarded the distant youth with surprise and evident delight — as if he'd discovered an invaluable research specimen.

The transformation was remarkable, like watching a chicken suddenly become a duck.

Once merely equal to an ordinary Shinigami Captain, his time in the Dangai had elevated him to a truly transcendent being.

Ichigo stared anxiously at Aizen's transformed state. Had this monster achieved such evolution during his absence?

Though he'd felt certain before, the overwhelming Reiatsu now made him doubt. Could he truly face such an opponent?

Instinctively, Ichigo looked to Isshin for support, only to find his father unconscious, his power depleted. He would have to face this alone.

Now, he alone stood between everyone and destruction.

Through gritted teeth, Ichigo spoke, "Aizen..."

"There's no need for concern." Aizen's lips curved into a smile as he replied softly, "I'm not your opponent."

The seemingly harmless Akira appeared before them, grinning as he pointed to himself with his thumb.

"Actually, that would be me!"

Ichigo: "?"

⤫⤬⤫

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