"I must win in a single strike…"
Midoriko's expression was grave.
If this continues, who knows how far Aizen Sosuke will evolve.
Her control over the Shikon Mode was weakening.
"Haa…"
With that thought, Midoriko took a deep breath, fixed her gaze on Aizen Sosuke, and clenched her fists tightly.
She summoned all of her remaining strength!
Buzz—
Suddenly—
The dark flames and golden light fused together, forming a chaotic vortex. The atmosphere of Hueco Mundo roiled violently, creating a cloud hole over a kilometer wide.
Crackle—
Electric arcs danced across her body, her long black hair whipping wildly in the storm.
This move would exhaust all of her spiritual energy. But if it landed—
"It's useless."
Aizen's voice came from within the vortex.
Clad entirely in white bone armor, he walked straight through the energy storm. His right hand extended directly toward her forehead.
"!"
Midoriko's pupils shrank sharply!
She immediately retreated!
But—
Before she could fully pull away, she threw the condensed energy in her hands at Aizen without hesitation!
Boom—
A thunderous explosion shook the air!
A wave of searing heat surged toward Aizen Sosuke!
However—
Crack… crack…
Aizen calmly watched the white crystal armor on his body melt and fall off piece by piece.
Even surrounded by electric arcs, he was completely unfazed.
As the white crystal fragments fell, they seemed to strip away Midoriko's flames as well, doing no damage at all.
"Your soul has some interesting properties," Aizen mused, examining the faint ghostly flame in his palm. "What a pity…"
"That's all."
"Haa… Haa…"
In the distance, Midoriko gasped for breath. The golden aura around her had long vanished. The Shikon Mode was forcibly deactivated.
Her body floated unsteadily in the air, as though she could fall at any moment.
She sensed her own condition and gave a bitter smile.
Both her spiritual power and magic were nearly depleted.
At this point…
Just staying airborne was proving difficult.
On the other hand, Aizen Sosuke…
She looked at the still-intact white crystal armor—already melted and reformed. She bit her lip hard.
So this is the difference…
So overwhelming…
Damn it!!
Even with soul-specific attacks, she still—
Today, Midoriko understood one thing clearly.
When the difference in power is too great, no amount of special attack advantages matter.
If she could become a Maou like Katerea Leviathan…
Would the outcome have been different?
"You've done well to get this far."
Aizen's expression remained calm as he praised her, but—
To Midoriko, his words felt nothing but ironic.
"Is this the winner's declaration?"
She sneered.
Aizen shook his head. "No. It's respect… for the courage of the weak."
The weak…
"Tch."
This guy's words really pissed her off.
But…
Right now, she was undeniably weak before him.
She couldn't refute it…
Aizen looked down at Midoriko indifferently. He raised his Zanpakuto high.
Purple lines, resonating with the Hōgyoku, began to shimmer across the blade of Kyōka Suigetsu.
"We've played long enough. This game should end."
After witnessing Midoriko's soul-based energy firsthand, he couldn't help but be curious.
Would this witch become a Soul Reaper, a Hollow, or…
Something entirely new?
That power—so fundamentally different from reishi—and the ability to interfere with the soul itself, even at the lepton level…
Haa…
Truly fascinating…
It reignited the anticipation he once felt when he first discovered the Hōgyoku.
So—
He didn't want to wait anymore!
With that thought, Aizen appeared in front of Midoriko in an instant. He raised Kyōka Suigetsu high and swung it down without hesitation!
"Midoriko!!"
Nelliel's pupils widened in shock as she instinctively charged at Aizen.
But—
Ulquiorra Cifer's figure suddenly blocked her path.
"You may not interfere."
"Move!"
Nelliel didn't waste time. Her spear erupted with a brilliant emerald light!
Ulquiorra responded without delay, drawing his blade—
"Resurrección: Murciélago!"
Whoosh—
A pair of massive black wings unfurled, dark enough to blot out the sky.
His black form twisted, transforming into something more demonic, clawed limbs snapping out like whips.
His hair lengthened, the tear lines under his eyes deepened, giving him a haunting visage.
Boom!!
A terrifying spiritual pressure exploded from his body. A green energy blade formed in his hand as he rushed to meet Nelliel.
Bang!!
Blade and spear collided violently!
Hueco Mundo trembled.
Nelliel glared at Ulquiorra and unleashed her spiritual pressure in full, seeking to end his obstruction in one strike.
Boom!!
As expected.
Even in his Resurrección state, Ulquiorra only lasted a few seconds before being crushed by Nelliel's overwhelming pressure!
But—
Those few seconds… were enough!
Ulquiorra looked up toward Aizen.
A cold wind howled from the raised Kyōka Suigetsu.
Midoriko's black hair fluttered gently in the breeze.
She raised her chin slightly, eyes fixed calmly on the descending blade.
But…
There was no fear of death in her eyes.
Not even the slightest emotional ripple.
Abandoned? Broken?
Aizen tried to interpret her state… but…
Something felt off.
Why…
Why did he feel uneasy?
And then—
Aizen's expression froze.
This shrine maiden…
Was smiling?
The corners of Midoriko's lips curled faintly.
Seeing that subtle change, Aizen suddenly felt a chill.
His grip on Kyōka Suigetsu instinctively tightened.
Why was she still smiling?
Had he overlooked something?
But—
He was sure he hadn't.
So…
Was she bluffing?
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
Clang—!
The sharp ring of metal echoed across Hueco Mundo.
The blade that was meant to sever the soul.
Had been stopped.
Gently, effortlessly, by two slender fingers.
"Sigh, it's time to end this."
(To be continued.)