418. DEICIDE 20

Aizen attempts to frighten Ichigo with words - and fails.

Summary: Repeating Ichigo's words "Finish this in an instant", Aizen claims to understand Ichigo's "lack of reiatsu", that he hasn't "parted" with it, but instead "thrown it away." Although he does not know how, he postulates that Ichigo converted all his reiatsu into physical power for his spiritual body; be it arm strength, leg strength, grip strength, throw strength, or running speed, all his physical abilities have received rapid growth in exchange for discarding his reiatsu, as he as given up trying to compete with Aizen's. Aizen is undaunted, however, advising Ichigo to forsake all hope, that despite his new physical prowess, he will still be unable to reach him. He then warps behind Ichigo in an attempt to strike him. The two clash, and a mountain in the distance is instantly obliterated. Aizen comments on his ability to shape the earth with a single swing of his sword, that even he didn't expect his power to grow that much, and thanks Ichigo, for now he can test his power transcending Hollow and Shinigami to his heart's content. After another parry, Aizen comments on the similarity of their zanpakutō's agglutination with their arms as an evolutionary discovery, that perhaps that is the proper form they should take. However, he says he understands the dimensions of their evolutions are different, and that if he wished it, he could destroy Ichigo's in a single blow, and prepares a backswing, only for Ichigo to stop it barehanded as the earth around them shatters. Aizen is stunned; he could understand if Ichigo was to dodge it, even if Ichigo shouldn't be fast enough to do so, but for Ichigo to stop his strike is simply ridiculous to him. Ichigo asks what Aizen is so surprised by: Is it really that hard to believe he could stop Aizen's sword? Is he scared of what is before his eyes, of something happening that he cannot understand? Aizen pulls back, telling Ichigo not to speak so triumphantly, that he managed to momentarily exceed his own physical strength and nothing more. Aizen decides to unleash a full incantation of Hadō #90 Kurohitsugi, so as to prevent any further miracles by crushing him to atoms. Aizen lauds over his perfect casting with his power transcending Hollow and Shinigami, to create a torrent of gravity capable of warping space time, such that a being like Ichigo cannot even begin to comprehend. Ichigo allows the spell to surround him only to shatter it with the swing of his arm. At it crumbles, he notes that Aizen didn't notice, that he is stronger than him right now, and that the mountain was obliterated not by Aizen's sword but by his, before rushing in to strike.

Characters in order of appearance:


 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Sōsuke Aizen