Shiraha, after invoking Observation Haki and Time Acceleration, perceived what she had suspected all along—Aizen had already released Kyōka Suigetsu.
Her ice-blue eyes opened slowly, calm and cold. She exhaled softly, her voice carrying both clarity and disdain.
"Captain Aizen, you've tried to use Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis on me. But it won't be that simple."
She had known from the moment she opened her eyes that Aizen would inevitably test her with his Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Yet Shiraha wanted to challenge the impossible—to foresee the instant Aizen's blade was released, to perceive the moment Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion began.
After all, it was impossible to fight forever with closed eyes simply to avoid its hypnosis.
Fortunately, she had succeeded.
Even if she hadn't, it no longer mattered. From now on, Shiraha would rely entirely on her Observation Haki to sense everything around her without ever needing to open her eyes.
"Shiraha," Aizen said with quiet amusement, "it seems my assumption was correct. You do possess an ability capable of predicting the release of my Kyōka Suigetsu. Is this what you gained from the Hōgyoku once held by Urahara Kisuke? Fascinating."
Long before Shiraha had fully synchronized with the Hōgyoku, Aizen had harbored vague suspicions.
Now that Shiraha appeared before him, fully aware of the risk of hypnosis yet confident enough to face him directly, Aizen understood that she must possess some countermeasure against his Kyōka Suigetsu—a perception or immunity beyond illusion.
"Ah, Captain Shiraha's abilities truly are terrifying," Gin said with his foxlike smile, folding his hands behind his head. "To predict the release of Kyōka Suigetsu… that's not something even a Captain should be capable of."
Though Shiraha's power differed from what Gin had imagined, the essence remained the same—an awareness that rendered Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis useless.
As long as Shiraha closed her eyes before Aizen's release, she could not be drawn into the illusion.
"Captain Ichimaru flatters me," Shiraha replied lightly.
Then, a mechanical chime echoed in her mind.
Sign-in quest: Defeat Ulquiorra atop the dome of Las Noches.
Reward: Dior Template Progress +10%.
"Ulquiorra?" Shiraha's gaze slid to Aizen's right, a faint smile curving her lips.
Since acquiring her Zanpakutō, she had used Time Acceleration but had yet to employ its power over aging and reversal. Ulquiorra would make a suitable opponent.
Completing this task would push her template progress to twenty percent—enough to unlock her next exclusive ability. Her strength would rise again.
"Shiraha," Aizen said suddenly, his tone curious. "Did you attain Bankai through the Hōgyoku's power?"
His eyes fell to the white Zanpakutō at her waist. Before merging with the Hōgyoku, it had resembled a plain stick sword. But afterward, her Reiatsu had exploded—equal to Shunsui and Ukitake—and even the blade's form had changed.
It was hard not to wonder if Shiraha had achieved Bankai, or something close to it.
"That was Shinigami's Bankai just now?" Ulquiorra asked, his usually placid eyes flickering with faint surprise.
He had heard of Bankai, but never witnessed it. If that surge of Reiatsu truly came from her Bankai, it would explain everything.
"Well, Captain Shiraha's talent is remarkable," Gin added, feigning awe. "Is it true then? Have you really mastered Bankai?"
If she had, how terrifying would its abilities be? Shiraha's previous Shikai alone had been strong enough to deflect Yamamoto Genryūsai's flames—so what would her Bankai bring?
"Captain Aizen, you jest," Shiraha said calmly. "That wasn't Bankai. I merely perfected my Shikai. Until now, it existed only in a half-released state."
If she truly possessed Bankai, Aizen would have already been cut down. She wouldn't be standing here exchanging words.
"Shikai?" Aizen's composed mask faltered for a fraction of a second. His eyes narrowed, a spark of genuine shock flickering within.
If Shiraha wasn't lying, then her former power—the one capable of matching captains—had been half a Shikai. Now that she'd completed it, her strength was beyond reason.
"Impossible," murmured Tōsen Kaname. "If that was only half Shikai, then what of the Shiraha who defeated a Bankai-wielding captain?"
Gin's eyes gleamed. "So the ability that blocked all attacks wasn't your true Shikai, Captain Shiraha? I recall you saying your blade was always in its released state."
"That's right," Shiraha replied smoothly. "I once believed that my Zanpakutō's constant release gave it the power to negate attacks. Only after using the Hōgyoku did I understand my Shikai completely."
It was a lie, of course. The earlier ability had merely disguised her no-lower-limit spell—Power of Stop. The Zanpakutō she now wielded was her true Shikai.
"I wonder, Captain Shiraha," Gin continued, smiling slyly, "would you be willing to demonstrate your Shikai's ability?"
"Certainly," Shiraha said, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword. "Captain Ichimaru, why not assist me in testing it?"
Gin's grin stiffened. A flicker of unease crossed his face. A century ago, he had been called a prodigy alongside Byakuya Kuchiki. If Shiraha's blade could reverse age, a single cut might reduce him to a child.
He quickly waved his hand. "Ah, best not. I wouldn't last a second, Captain Shiraha."
Shiraha laughed softly. "Then perhaps Captain Aizen will allow Ulquiorra, the Fourth Espada, to spar with me instead. It would be… instructive."
Aizen's smile deepened. "Very well. Ulquiorra, since Shiraha requests it, you may proceed."
"Understood, Lord Aizen."
Ulquiorra stepped forward from Aizen's right side, his emerald eyes fixed on Shiraha. The air around them grew still, heavy with anticipation.
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