Coreal
patreon
[Anime] Ch 280: It Really Should End Here
🕑 Added 2025-06-06 13:56:49 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
After some time...
Midoriko lay on the ground, clearly defeated after being toyed with by Aizen until her magic ran out.
Even when she used Devillization—her power akin to that of a Satan—Aizen, empowered by the Hōgyoku, still toyed with her effortlessly.
"You've done well, all things considered."
Aizen's tone was calm as ever, even as he offered what sounded like praise.
But to Midoriko's ears, those words only stung with mockery.
"Oh, is that your victory speech?" she shot back with a sneer.
Aizen shook his head. "It's admiration for the courage of the weak."
The weak, huh…
"Tch."
He really knew how to piss people off with just a few words.
But… he wasn't wrong.
Right now, standing before Sōsuke Aizen—she was weak.
And there was nothing she could say to deny it.
Aizen looked at her with mild interest, then slowly raised his Zanpakutō.
Kyōka Suigetsu shimmered with ominous violet patterns—now fully synchronized with the Hōgyoku.
"We've played long enough. This game… should come to a close."
After experiencing Midoriko's energy and the nature of her powers firsthand, he couldn't wait to see what came next.
Whether she'd become a Shinigami… a Hollow… or something else entirely—
An Arrancar?
Who knew?
What would happen when her unique energy—so different from Reishi—and her soul-based abilities reached their next stage?
Abilities that could interfere directly with the soul… even manipulate it on a fundamental level.
Oh man...
It thrilled him.
It brought back the same feeling of excitement he'd had when he first discovered the Hōgyoku.
And so he wasn't going to wait any longer.
With a sudden Shunpo, Aizen appeared right in front of Midoriko, blade raised high above his head.
Without hesitation—he swung it down.
"Midoriko!!"
Nelliel's eyes widened in horror as she launched herself toward Aizen.
But—
Ulquiorra Cifer stepped in her path.
"I won't allow you to interrupt Lord Aizen's moment."
...
With no interference, a cold wind blew across the edge of Kyōka Suigetsu's blade.
Midoriko's black hair fluttered in the breeze. She raised her chin slightly, staring at the edge of Aizen's sword—not with fear.
Not with panic.
Not even the slightest emotion crossed her eyes.
"Had she… given up?"
That was Aizen's first thought.
But something felt off.
A strange feeling tugged at the edge of his mind.
Why? Why did he feel this way?
And then—His eyes narrowed.
The corner of Midoriko's lips was lifted—just a bit.
Was she… smiling?
Seeing that faint smirk, Aizen suddenly felt uneasy.
His grip on Kyōka Suigetsu tightened instinctively.
Why… was she still smiling?
What had he overlooked?
But he was sure—he hadn't missed anything.
So then was she bluffing?
As he debated with himself—
CLANG—!
A sharp metallic clang echoed through Hueco Mundo.
The blade that should've sliced through her soul—was stopped.
Caught effortlessly between two slender fingers.
"We really should end it here."
A calm voice—smooth, unhurried, but laced with a quiet authority—cut through the air.
Aizen's eyes snapped down.
The tip of Kyōka Suigetsu was caught between two fingers—belonging to someone he didn't sense approaching.
Someone who, just seconds ago, didn't exist in his perception.
"…How?"
Aizen's brow furrowed, genuinely startled.
"Lynn-Sama!" Midoriko said softly as she knew Lynn was watching the fight from the Devil Piece.
Then she snapped, "Lynn-sama, don't look at his sword..."
"Late."
"You've already fallen under my illusion." Aizen said with a gentle smile.
"I see it," Lynn said quietly. "The illusion. The angles. The false layering."
He stopped an arm's length from Aizen, looking him dead in the eye.
"I don't need to use any of my immunity skills," he continued.
"Because I don't process reality the same way you do."
Aizen felt pinned in place, unable to move, as he watched Lynn reach forward—slowly, deliberately, as if mocking him—and press a hand to his chest.
The Hōgyoku pulsed once.
Then it slid free, like it had been waiting for him.
Lynn held it in his palm—calm, quiet.
Aizen's hand reflexively moved to the now-empty space in his chest.
"…I'm this weak?" he muttered.
Lynn finally looked up, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"Of course not," he said. "You're incredibly strong—Super Devil level, the kind of power that stands at the top in any world. It's just... you happened to meet me."
Aizen fell silent for a moment, then narrowed his eyes at Lynn.
"Well then… what do you want from me? I assume you're not here to kill me."
"Yup," Lynn said with a casual nod, returning the Hōgyoku to him without hesitation.
"Sōsuke Aizen, I'm here to give you a job."
.
.
.
