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[Anime] Ch 279: Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu
🕑 Added 2025-06-04 16:14:34 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
The moment Aizen Sosuke laid eyes on the eerie, ghostly flame in Midoriko's palm, his hand—gripping his Zanpakuto—paused ever so slightly.
Just like with Tier Harribel earlier… That same unsettling sensation crept over him.
It wasn't fear in the ordinary sense—No.
It was a shiver that started deep in his soul and surged all the way to the top of his head.
Someone could make him feel like this?
"Ah, it had been so long."
Realizing what was happening to his own body, Aizen fell quiet for a beat—then, unexpectedly, he chuckled.
But this time, his smile wasn't fake.
It was real—genuine, honest.
Only power that could truly threaten him could make him feel this excited.
"A force that targets the soul, huh…"
That kind of power was the natural enemy of both Shinigami and Hollows.
Truly, Delightful.
Aizen tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto, already itching to test things out.
"Careful now. I'm coming."
In the blink of an eye— Aizen's figure vanished from the sky!
Midoriko's eyes widened. She could feel the gust of wind surging in from behind her!
Vmm—!
Without warning, a golden barrier shimmered into existence behind her.
Clang!
A sharp metallic clang rang out—Aizen's Zanpakuto struck the barrier mid-swing.
He paused slightly, eyes narrowing.
From the barrier, several golden talismans marked with ancient runes shot out toward him.
Aizen narrowed his gaze, instantly using Shunpo to retreat a safe distance before lifting his hand.
"Hadō #63: Raikōhō (Fiery Lightning Howl)."
The instant the words left his lips—
A beam of golden lightning exploded from his palm.
BOOM!!
The roar of the blast echoed through the heavens!
The talismans were obliterated on impact. The beam didn't stop there—it slammed directly into Midoriko's barrier with brutal force!
Vmm—!
The golden shield quaked violently, struggling to hold.
Midoriko's brow furrowed. She quickly raised her hand, reinforcing the barrier with more power.
Then the lightning gradually faded. The trembling of the barrier eased and finally came to a stop.
Seeing this, Midoriko let out a breath of relief.
But her gaze toward Aizen had changed.
She already knew from how the other Espada treated him, that he wasn't someone ordinary.
But only by facing him directly did she truly understand how strong he was.
Her eyes dropped to the Zanpakuto in his hand.
At a glance, it looked plain. Unremarkable. Like any other sword.
But she had learned how Zanpakuto worked.
Shikai… and Bankai…
And Aizen? He hadn't even used his sword yet.
"Whew…"
Midoriko exhaled slowly, eyes steady with resolve.
She and Aizen were not on the same level.
But it wasn't hopeless.
With her soul-targeting abilities, she should still be able to hold her own.
With that in mind, she tightened her grip on the golden chain in her hand and stared Aizen down.
"Oh?"
Aizen noticed her stance, pausing with amusement before flashing a smile.
"Now that's... a good look."
That smug tone, that air of superiority.
Midoriko's eyes narrowed. Her voice dropped cold and sharp:
"Bind."
Clatter-clatter-clang—!
The golden chain in her hand suddenly sprang to life as if it had a will of its own, shooting forward toward Aizen.
Clang! Clang!
Aizen shifted ever so slightly, casually batting away each chain strike with graceful flicks of his Zanpakuto.
It looked effortless.
Then with another casual flick of his Zanpakutō, he spoke softly: "Shatter… Kyōka Suigetsu."
Midoriko narrowed her eyes, locking her gaze on Aizen's every move, trying to understand his Zanpakutō's ability.
But…
"Nothing happened?"
She blinked, confused.
"Oh? You really think so?"
A voice rang out suddenly.
Midoriko's eyes snapped wide as she instinctively spun around—and there he was.
Aizen.
Right behind her.
She didn't hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, eerie, glowing talismans shot forward without warning.
Shhkkk—
The paper charms pierced Aizen's body, burning energy hissing as the air filled with the scent of scorched flesh.
His eyes widened in disbelief—then, thud. He collapsed into the sea, lifeless.
"...???"
Midoriko stared, stunned. "That's it…?"
"It's over… just like that?"
That was way too easy.
This guy was supposed to be the ruler of Hueco Mundo?
"Huh?!"
Off in the distance, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's eyes practically popped out of his head.
"No way! Aizen-Sama… he just died?!"
Across the battlefield, however, Ulquiorra Cifer stood motionless, unshaken.
And not just him.
Baraggan Louisenbairn, Coyote Starrk, even Tier Harribel—none of them looked the least bit surprised or emotional.
---
No.
Something was wrong.
Midoriko's brows furrowed. Her instincts screamed at her.
That's when she heard Nel's voice shout:
"Watch out!"
Nel's cry tore through the tension like a knife. Midoriko's hair stood on end as an icy chill ran down her spine.
She twisted her body on reflex—only to find Aizen's blade already swinging down toward her face.
Shhk!
A sickening sound rang out as the blade cut through flesh.
But strangely, there was no blood. Just two bloodstained paper dolls drifting gently to the ground.
"A decoy?"
Aizen raised an eyebrow, withdrawing Kyōka Suigetsu as he eyed the falling papers with interest.
"Now that's a fascinating ability system…"
So different from the Shinigami.
A hundred meters away, Midoriko reappeared, drenched in cold sweat. She took a deep breath, eyes locked on the red tint spreading across the sea.
"Confused?"
Aizen's voice echoed again—everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Her eyes sharpened. Something in the air had changed.
She leapt backward—just in time.
Aizen's form flickered back into sight.
Midoriko didn't hesitate—three talismans flew from her hand, glowing gold and wrapping around Aizen's limbs like chains.
They didn't pass through him like an illusion.
They bound him.
Physically.
Just like a real body.
But Midoriko wasn't fooled. After everything she'd seen, she knew better than to believe Aizen was that easy to trap.
Still—She had to try!
While he was bound, she conjured a deep violet flame in her palm and hurled it at him.
Fwoosh—
The fire hit him dead-on.
"Aaaaarghhh!!"
A scream ripped through the air as Aizen's flesh blackened and peeled away like burning bark.
Midoriko suddenly pulled back—something was off.
That scream… was too perfect.
It felt scripted. Like he was acting.
And sure enough, the charred "Aizen" suddenly snapped his head up—his mouth twisted into a horrifying grin.
"Your ability… it's quite the spectacle."
A low whisper rolled out as the scorched figure casually patted out the lingering flames.
Midoriko's eyes went wide.
Wait.... Wasn't he a spiritual being?
Shouldn't her powers have torn through him?
Why… didn't they work?!
As the thoughts raced through her head—
CRACK!
The sea erupted violently. The sky beneath her feet shattered like glass as seawater surged upward—threatening to drag her down into a watery abyss.
Midoriko's heart pounded.
No way—
Aizen was controlling Ingvild's ocean?!
That couldn't be right!
But the rush of water, the salty pressure—everything felt terrifyingly real.
She struggled against the current, searching desperately for Ingvild Leviathan.
If anyone could reclaim control over the sea, it was her.
But Ingvild looked just as shaken.
"Wh-what…? Why can't I control it?!"
Ingvild stared at the churning ocean, completely baffled.
From the other side, Midoriko caught this and her expression twisted in shock.
She knew Ingvild's powers well. She owned the sea.
And now? Before she could think further—
"Hadō #33—Sōkatsui (Pale Fire Crash)!"
A blazing fireball tore through the air toward her.
Midoriko dodged instinctively.
But then the fireball curved in mid-air.
"What?!"
Midoriko blinked. She quickly raised a barrier—
BOOM!
The impact slammed her back, forcing her across the battlefield. The shield barely held, but the searing heat still licked at her skin.
Sweat trickled down her forehead.
But what worried her most was how strange Aizen's powers were.
"Tch…"
She clenched her jaw.
Just what the hell was happening?!
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