Starting with Kengan beating up the Pirate King

Chapter 254 Aizen is Evolving

The inner palace of the Spirit King is the main hall of the Spirit King Palace, suspended above the sea of ​​clouds at the end of the main approach.

This four-story pagoda, constructed entirely of glazed tiles and spirit jade, had bells hanging silently from its eaves. Only the uppermost hall was perpetually shrouded in an aura of nothingness that transcended all things. That was the eternal resting place of the Spirit King.

After annihilating the Zero Squad, no one could stop Guan Yi's advance. He took a step forward, his figure piercing through the protective barrier inside the Spirit King's palace, appearing directly in the top-floor hall, his gaze falling on the huge crystal embedded in the center of the hall.

Inside the crystal was the remains of the Spirit King, his limbs severed and his heart gouged out. His pale body was covered with the marks of time, and not a trace of life could be detected.

"He's dead."

Guan Yi raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the cold surface of the crystal. An uncontrolled force spread up his fingertips, instantly confirming the Spirit King's state—not only had his physical body perished, but even the Spirit King's thoughts and brain had long since vanished into nothingness and returned to chaos.

Yhwach's argument that "his father, the Spirit King, hated the endless prison and thus raised me as his successor to seek liberation" is a self-deceiving lie from beginning to end.

Perhaps the Spirit King glimpsed the future millions of years in the moments before he was made into a wedge, and foresaw the day he would be freed. But in those long years, he certainly did not and could not interfere with the course of anything.

However, Guan Yi, who possessed the power of a Spirit King, knew better than anyone that even if the ancestors of the five noble families all possessed the power of Ichibei of the Hyōjubu or even higher, they would never be able to imprison the Spirit King in this way if he did not wish to.

This is a peculiar life form that he cannot fully comprehend. It is definitely not human. It was born with a mission, and it is a great being that used itself as fuel, burning itself out to bring about the birth and existence of the Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo.

Of course, in the Soul King's mind, this might not even qualify as a sacrifice. Help him escape, then replace him with that Yhwach guy?
They were all doing it willingly, so why should Guan Yi do anything unnecessary? Besides, when Yhwach was killed by him, his power was not enough to replace the Soul King.

Therefore, Guan Yi simply lowered his head, and strands of fine, pale white spiritual energy burst forth from his fingertips, drilling into the crystal like gossamer threads, dismantling the remaining primordial power within the Spirit King's broken body strand by strand.

This is indeed the Six Treasures Immortal Thief, but Guan Yi does not intend to devour the Spirit King's body and the residual power within it. He merely copies the Spirit King's 'power code' to perfect his control over power.

Although according to his speculation, the conditions for completely conquering the Bleach world should be defeating Hollows (Aizen), defeating Shinigami (Captain-Commander Yamamoto or Ichibei Hyosube), and defeating Quincy (Yhwach), he only has Aizen left to fight.

Moreover, given his current strength, he couldn't imagine any possibility of Aizen defeating him. But as the saying goes, the last mile is the hardest, and the more certain he was to win, the more cautious he became.

We can't afford to make a mistake like this!

Only after understanding the power of the rules that the Spirit King used to construct the Three Realms, and pushing his own strength up a little further, did Guan Yi withdraw his arm and turn to go to the lowest level of the Spirit King's inner palace.

Here are small huts filled with sealing power, originally intended to house all things that could affect the balance of the three realms that have been created over millions of years, or to reclaim and sever the flesh and blood of the Spirit King.

However, now, a large room has been set aside to house the explorers captured by the Zero Division—perhaps because the Zero Division wanted to learn more from the explorers' interactions with each other, they did not separate them into different prisons.

When Guan Yi arrived, the explorers were all in good spirits and still in the mood to make bets.

A minority, represented by Guo Yan and Ouyang Yu, are betting that "Guan Yi, who possesses the golden secret runes, can save us," while the majority, represented by Xie Chen, the Perfect Reality Technique user, are betting that "the Great King can save us."

Of course, there must have been pessimists among them, but they didn't show it; they were just praying that they could make it to the end of this round of exploration of the secret realm.

Guan Yi listened outside for half a minute, and then his voice rang in Guo Yan's ears: "Let's bet bigger!"

Guo Yan's body trembled almost imperceptibly, a hint of shock flashing in her eyes, which was quickly replaced by relaxation and a smile. She said calmly, "How about this, Xie Chen, if Guan Yi comes to rescue us, after we get out, you will all become Guan Yi's subordinates and assistants, just like me. Do you dare?"

Xie Chen was taken aback, then chuckled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? He saved my life. I'd call him 'Dad' if I could, let alone be his subordinate!"

“Me too.” A young man next to him curled his lip and said, “King Guan has obtained a golden secret rune, which is impressive, but Xie Chen also hid his record of obtaining a red secret rune. How much difference can there be? Governor Wang is different. He has obtained countless golden secret runes!”

"I'm betting too!"

"Me too!"

"Guo Yan, what will you do if you lose?"

Guo Yan paused, then chuckled and said, "Guan Yi, isn't this a huge gamble?"

"Not too big, just right." Guan Yi smiled as he passed through the barrier and entered the room: "My dear sons and daughters, I'm sorry to have startled you." After all, they were classmates, and who wouldn't want to be the other's father?

"..."

"!!!" "You fucking..."

After all, they were elites who had at least obtained purple runes. After a brief moment of shock and disorientation, they quickly extended a warm greeting to Guan Yi.

……

Unlike the joyful laughter at the Spirit King Palace, Kisuke Urahara, who was on his way, had a very serious expression.

Upon receiving news of Aizen's massive invasion of Seireitei with Arrancar, he immediately prepared the Transcendental Gate and contacted the Visoreds.

However, due to the suddenness of the event and fearing that delay might lead to unforeseen changes, he could only leave Ryuseisai to maintain the Transcendental Gate, while he, Yoruichi, and Ichigo Kurosaki, who had recently been training his Shinigami powers at Urahara Shop, entered the Dankai together and headed to Seireitei.

In the Dankai, Kisuke Urahara repeatedly warned Ichigo Kurosaki about the dangers of their journey.

"Later, Yoruichi and I may not have the strength to protect you, Kurosaki-san. You actually have nothing to do with this war. It's not too late to turn back now."

“No.” Ichigo Kurosaki shook his head. “Didn’t you say that Aizen’s experiment caused my father to remain in the human world and my mother to be tainted by Hollow powers? Although in that respect, I should thank Aizen, but…”

"I can help, can't I? I've never been hit by Aizen's Shikai!"

"I see... then get ready!"

hum-

A blinding light suddenly burst forth before the three of them, and they finally crossed the barrier and arrived at Seireitei. Kisuke Urahara quietly clutched an invention in his pocket—a technological product he had developed using the inspiration he received from Seki, a technology that might be able to break the illusion of Kyoka Suigetsu.

If this thing works, that would be great. We should try to avoid letting Ichigo, who hasn't even mastered Bankai, risk facing Aizen directly.

"This is……"

The next moment, he and Yoruichi were stunned for a few seconds by the sight before them.

As far as the eye could see, thick smoke billowed upwards, obscuring the entire sky and preventing even the sun's rays from penetrating. Ash and blood mist floated in the air, stinging people's faces as they fell.

From the time Kisuke Urahara received the news to the time he arrived at this place, only a dozen minutes had passed. The Seireitei, which once symbolized order and protection, was now reduced to ruins, barely clinging to life in the flames. Broken Zanpakuto, blood-stained haori, and congealed bloodstains were scattered in every corner!
The battle was far more brutal than he had anticipated. Urahara Kisuke had not expected it and could not understand it. In his view, Aizen, who preferred to plan carefully before acting, was probably using the attack on Seireitei as a pretext to plot something else.

But what Urahara Kisuke saw before him told him that this seemed to be a bloody battle with no regard for the cost.
Why? What does Aizen want to do?
"Cough-cough-"

Kurosaki Ichigo, standing beside him, stared wide-eyed in shock at the battlefield before him, then suddenly let out two soft coughs.

"So dry, so hot... Is it because of this war, or is this the kind of environment the Grim Reapers usually live in?"

Dry? Hot? Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi cast their gazes into the distance, towards the center of Seireitei, where the First Division was located.

The Captain-Commander... has Bankai?!
In that direction, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, holding a broken blade that looked as if it had been charred, frowned slightly as he gazed at the writhing, regenerating black charcoal ahead.

"How pathetic! Aizen Sousuke, how many times do you want me to kill you before you're satisfied?!"

"It'll be soon." The black charcoal wriggled, regenerating Aizen's calm and collected face. "It'll be soon. The Hogyoku is already responding to my call."

The captain gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, his brow furrowing even more. This was the third time...

The first time, he could be killed with just Shikai; the second time, he was reduced to ashes with Bankai; but this third time, the temperature of the Zanka no Tachi allowed him to maintain his human form and recover so quickly.

His resistance to fire is increasing.

No, their overall quality is improving.

Aizen Sousuke, this brat isn't using Kyoka Suigetsu; he's just using that thing embedded in his chest to tough out my flames.

He's using my flames...to evolve?
"Don't be so arrogant, brat. Next time, I'll end your pathetic life completely. Remnant Flame Katana, South—Firefire Ten Trillion Death Burial Formation—"

(End of this chapter)