XX-level Hokage

"It's been a long time, everyone." Aizen's voice echoed calmly in the sky, as if he were catching up with an old friend. "It seems that the Seireitei has come out in full force to welcome me."

"Aizen Kakusuke." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice, aged yet resonant, like the tolling of a judgment bell, "Your crimes of treason will be thoroughly settled here today with your blood!"

"Purge?" Aizen chuckled softly, a hint of sorrow and mockery in his smile. "Captain-Commander, even now, you still can't understand? The sole throne in the heavens and earth has been vacant for so long. What I did wasn't rebellion, but bringing the necessary change to this world that has stagnated for a thousand years."

His gaze swept over each of the captains below, and finally landed on the woman who had a playful smile on her face from beginning to end.

"You've come too, Mashiro-sensei." Aizen's tone was complicated. "To be honest, even now, your motives are still the most interesting variable in this game for me."

“I’m just here to watch the show, Aizen-kun.” Mashiro shrugged nonchalantly. “You continue your performance, don’t worry about me.”

Her answer remained nonchalant, yet it caused a barely perceptible glint to flash in Gin Ichimaru's narrowed eyes, who was standing beside Aizen.

A sharp glint.

But Mashiro didn't notice; her gaze was more focused on Barragan. Had he really been rescued? Although she hadn't deliberately killed him to balance the fighting power, she still hadn't expected Aizen to actually be able to save Barragan.

They really underestimated the Hogyoku.

It seems further words are futile. Aizen withdrew his gaze, opening his arms as if embracing the entire world. "Then, let it begin. Let this war decide the ruler of the new world."

Before he could finish speaking, the twentieth blade behind him, Barragan Ruisenbon, stepped forward.

"Before Lord Aizen reigns supreme, let us first eliminate these troublesome ants." Barragan's voice was hoarse and filled with a decaying aura. He scanned the Shinigami below, and his expression paused for a moment when he saw Mashiro.

If he hadn't been saved by Aizen, he would have been killed by Mashiro.

At his command, several of his subordinates—Fendor, Po, Abiramar, Charlotte, and Geo—rushed out instantly. Their target was the boundary pillars located at the four corners that supported the replica city!

"Don't even think about it!" Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered in a deep voice, "Kira, Matsumoto, Tsukasagi, Madara! Go and protect the Pillar!"

"Yes, sir!" The four adjutants (and the seat officer) instantly obeyed, transforming into four afterimages as they approached Barragan's subordinates. Meanwhile, the Second Division Captain, Soi Fon, looked at the high and mighty Barragan, a flash of impatience and killing intent crossing her eyes.

"Stop dawdling, it's infuriating!" she said coldly, her figure disappearing instantly. "Captain!" Vice-Captain Ōmaeda Nozomi exclaimed in surprise and quickly followed.

Soi Fon appeared like a ghost behind Barragan in an instant, her Zanpakuto "Suzumebachi," coated with deadly poison, aimed straight for the back of Barragan's neck! "Two-hit kill!"

However, just as Suzume was about to touch Barragan, Soi Fon's pupils suddenly contracted. She realized that her speed was actually decreasing at a certain rate.

It slows down rapidly in a way that is visible to the naked eye!

Chapter 236: The Final Battle in Karakura Town (Part Two)

“Too slow, Captain Death.” Barragan didn’t even turn around; he simply raised his hand slowly.

The swan-like wasp of Soi Fon finally stopped less than an inch from the back of his neck, unable to move forward an inch further. "This is...!"

“Before me, everything will grow old,” Barragán said hoarsely, slowly turning around, his bony fingers gently touching Soi Fon’s arm.

Alarm bells rang in Soi Fon's mind. Without hesitation, she abandoned her attack and leaped backward. But she was still a step too slow.

Barragan's fingertips gently touched the bone in her left arm. "Carcinone—"

With a crisp sound, Soi Fon's left arm, its hard bones, instantly cracked like a piece of rotten wood that had been weathered for a thousand years, before shattering with a bang!

"Ouch!" A sharp pain shot through her, causing even the battle-hardened Soi Fon to let out a muffled groan.

“This is the power of aging.” Looking at his bony finger, Bailer Gon’s eyes were filled with contempt for life. He gently pressed his hand against the wall of a tall building next to him.

The next moment, the huge building made of reinforced concrete silently and rapidly weathered and decayed, eventually turning into a handful of ashes and dissipating into the air.

This terrifying and incomprehensible power instilled a deep-seated tremor in all the Grim Reapers present. Meanwhile, on the other side…

The First Espada, Koyatai Stark, remained as languid as ever, even lying in mid-air as if this war that would decide the fate of the world had nothing to do with him.

"Hey, Stark! Get up right now! Lord Aizen is watching!" Lilynette, who was beside him, was kicking him angrily. "This is so troublesome," Stark replied weakly.

Oh dear, it seems we're the same type of person.

A similarly languid voice rang out, and Kyoraku Shunsui appeared before Stark at some point, adjusting his straw hat with that nonchalant smile on his face.

“You don’t seem very enthusiastic. How about we go somewhere else and have a drink? That way, we won’t bother the old man and the others.” Stark opened his eyes, looked at Kyoraku Shunsui in front of him, then at the tense atmosphere below, and finally sighed helplessly. “Okay…sounds more interesting than fighting.”

With that, he slowly stood up and, together with Lilynette, followed Kyoraku Shunsui and disappeared at the other end of the battlefield. With the departure of the two top combatants, the pressure on the central battlefield became even greater.

Barragan's absolute "aging" power left the captains helpless, while Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen continued to watch everything below with their usual detached, amusement.

Just then, Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni finally made his move.

"Step back, all of you." His aged yet powerful voice echoed in the ears of every Grim Reaper.

The camouflage of wood on his cane began to peel away, revealing a blade hidden beneath, burning with intense flames—"Ryujin Jakka" (Flowing Blade Like Fire). "Dealing with such a culprit is no longer necessary for you to interfere."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto unleashed his spiritual pressure without reservation!

That was not just spiritual pressure, but a flame as hot and violent as the sun, powerful enough to burn everything to ashes!

The temperature in the entire replica of Karakura Town instantly skyrocketed! The air ignited, the earth dried out, and the sky was dyed an apocalyptic crimson!

"The city walls were burned down (JokakuEnjo)!"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto plunged Ryujin Jakka into the ground, and a massive circular barrier of flames rose from the earth, instantly engulfing Aizen and Ichigo.

Maru-Gin, Tosen, and the other two were completely trapped inside!

That was no ordinary flame, but a karmic fire from hell, powerful enough to burn everything to ashes!

"Oh?" Looking at the fiery cage surrounding him, Aizen finally showed a hint of interest.

"It seems that you've finally gotten serious, sir. The battle has officially entered its most intense phase."

Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's "Burning City" was like a circular mountain range of flames rising from hell, completely imprisoning Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen in that apocalyptic purgatory.

The barrier of flames was thousands of feet high, isolating everything inside and outside.

From the outside, all one could see was the terrifying heatwave that shot into the sky, distorting the air, and the crimson clouds in the sky that were reflected as if stained with blood.

Inside the purgatory, Aizen Yosuke still wore that calm and gentle smile on his face. He looked around at the raging flames that seemed capable of burning away even the soul, and what he saw in his eyes was not fear, but a kind of... admiration.

“As expected of the strongest Shinigami who has protected Seireitei for a thousand years,” Aizen said softly. “The temperature and spiritual pressure of this flame have indeed reached the level of ‘rules.’ Any being within it will be completely incinerated and reduced to nothingness.”

"Oh dear, this is really a headache, Captain Aizen." Gin Ichimaru still had that squinty-eyed, grinning look on his face. He reached out as if to touch the barrier of flames, but then playfully withdrew his hand before feeling the scorching heat. "It feels like I'd be roasted alive if I got any closer."

Aizen ignored Gin Ichimaru's teasing. His gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of flames and look at the battlefield outside. He understood that Yamamoto Genryu Shigekuni's move was to use himself as a cage to temporarily trap the three strongest fighters, creating precious time for the other captains to annihilate the Espada.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield outside, the battle horns have sounded simultaneously at the four corners of the city! To the east, the boundary-transfer pillar.

Third Division Vice-Captain Kira Izuru, with a solemn expression, faced his enemy—Abilama Reda, one of Barragan's subordinates. "Sing again, Aguila!"

With the release of the Word of Power, Abirama's body underwent a dramatic change.

Huge, vulture-like wings suddenly unfurled from his back, making his body lighter and more explosive.

"Death! I'll turn you into mincemeat under my air attack!" Abiramar roared sharply. He flapped his wings and soared into the sky like a circling raptor, searching for his prey's weakness.

Kira Izuru gripped his uniquely shaped Zanpakuto, "Suke," which resembled a "student's sword," his brow furrowed.

He knew that his "Takusuke's" ability to "increase the weight of the object it hits" would be at a significant disadvantage when facing aerial enemies that could fly freely and were known for their speed.

Chapter 237: The Final Battle in Karakura Town (Part 3)

"Die!" Abiramar circled in the air, then, like a diving fighter jet, swooped down on Kira Izuru!

The hard wings, at high speed, transform into the sharpest blades of force!

Kira Izuru didn't take the attack head-on; instead, he used Shunpo (a technique that allows one to quickly and easily avoid Abirama's dive attack) with a "boom!"

Abiramar's wing slammed into the boundary pillar behind Kira Izuru, producing a dull thud. However, just as Abiramar was preparing to take off again and launch another attack, his expression suddenly changed.

"What?! This pillar... what's going on?!" He was shocked to discover that his wings, capable of easily cutting through steel, had struck the enormous pillar.

Behind the pillar, it seemed as if it were being drawn in by an invisible, heavy force, becoming...incredibly heavy!

"Takusuke's ability," Kira Izuru's slightly somber voice came from below, "is to double the weight of anything that gets hit." "What?!"

“And just now, my blade struck you.” Kira Izuru slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a calm yet deadly glint. “You…”

And even the pillar you struck now bears the weight of this desolate silence.

Abiramar was horrified to discover that his body had become as heavy as lead, making even flapping his wings incredibly difficult! To the west, the boundary-shifting pillar.

The vice-captain of the Ninth Division, Hisagi Shuhei, was also caught in a fierce battle. His opponent, Fendor Kerias, was casually smashing the mask on his face piece by piece with his hands.

With each piece he shattered, his spiritual pressure would surge exponentially!

"Ninety percent... I'm now equivalent to a vice-captain." Fendor's face wore a cruel smile. The weapon in his hand was like a lobster's claw, and each swing brought with it a powerful water pressure that tore through the air.

Saki Shuhei, wielding his Zanpakuto "Kaze-shi," which resembled a giant kusarigama, constantly dodged Fendor's attacks. "Damn it!" Shuhei gritted his teeth; he could feel that the opponent's spiritual pressure had completely surpassed his own.

He suddenly hurled the chain scythe in his hand, and the sharp, spinning blade of "Wind Death" drew a strange arc in the air, like the scythe of death, whistling towards Fendor's neck!

South side and north side.

Matsumoto Rangiku, Madarame Ikkaku, and Segawa Yumichika also engaged in fierce battles with their respective opponents.

Rangiku was facing Charlotte Krufon, an Arrancar, who was dressed flamboyantly and acted with extreme narcissism.

"Oh ho ho ho! The beautiful me will use my Queen Rose Beauty (ReinadeRosas) to utterly crush you, you lowly female!" Charlotte struck what she thought was a graceful pose, letting out a nauseating laugh.

"Seriously... why is my opponent such a disgusting guy!" Rangiku complained with a look of disgust, but the "Gray Cat" in her hand turned into a cloud of gray smoke without hesitation and swept towards Charlotte.

On the other side, facing the enormous Po Pava, which resembled a mountain of flesh, Madara let out an extremely excited and maniacal laugh from one corner.

Hahaha! That's more like it! It's only satisfying to fight against such a formidable opponent! "He bared his upper body, and the Hozuki Maru in his hand clashed with Bona's enormous fist time and time again in the most primal and savage way!"

The central battlefield.

While the lieutenants fought valiantly to protect the Pillars, the atmosphere on the largest battlefield in the heart of Karakura Town had reached its most tense point. Barragan and Harribel, the two Espada who reigned supreme at the pinnacle of Hueco Mundo, looked down upon the Shinigami captains before them.

"Hmph, that old man certainly knows how to amuse himself." Barragan looked at the towering fiery cage in the distance and let out a disdainful snort. "In that case, this battlefield will now be under my control."

His unicorn-like face carried an unquestionable arrogance.

"Kneel down, Death. Offer your loyalty before your new King."

"Wang?" A wild voice, filled with undisguised mockery, resounded throughout the hall. "I don't remember ever having a guy with such a skeletal frame!"

Kenpachi Zaraki hoisted his serrated Zanpakuto heavily onto his shoulder, his eyes burning with a bloodthirsty fighting spirit capable of incinerating everything. "I will personally remove your crown!"

Kuchiki Byakuya didn't speak, but his hand was already on the hilt of Senbonzakura's sword. Ukitake Jushiro and Inumura Sajin also assumed fighting stances.

Mashiro, looking at the tense scene before her, unexpectedly yawned. "Oh dear, it seems like I'm not involved in this anymore."

With a flicker of her body, she conjured a luxurious and comfortable recliner in mid-air using her demonic powers. Then, as if no one else was around, she lay down on the recliner, even producing a glass of juice and a pair of sunglasses.

"Go for it, everyone!" She swirled her juice glass, flashed a bright smile at her colleagues below, and said, "I'm right here cheering you on."

Her blatant slacking off left everyone present speechless, whether they were Shinigami or Arrancar. Soi Fon looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Byakuya Kuchiki's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. Even Aizen, watching from the sky through the gaps in the flames, saw this scene, and his gentle smile froze for a moment. However, there was one person who seemed completely unconcerned.