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When Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni unleashed his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, its overwhelming power spread like scorching magma, instantly consuming the entire battlefield.
At the outset of the battle, Aaron activated his "Detection Loop" early to observe the fluctuations in his opponent's Reiatsu.
As Yamamoto pushed himself to his peak state, his Reiatsu surged steadily.
In mere moments, it neared 300,000.
Although a Reiatsu level of 300,000 would be enough to shake most combatants to their core, for Aaron—whose Reiatsu exceeded 400,000—it was insignificant.
Initially, he had intended to engage Yamamoto in a direct fight, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Aaron gazed at Yamamoto, who had fully activated his Bankai, and, without hesitation, used "Taotie" to mimic Kyōka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis.
He was intrigued—if his Reiatsu could completely suppress Yamamoto, what kind of illusion could he create? How much would it affect the venerable Captain-Commander?
With a flicker, Aaron's figure vanished, leaving behind an afterimage as he reappeared high in the sky.
Below, Yamamoto was locked in combat against an illusory opponent, his blade cutting through nothing but empty air. Aaron shook his head in amusement.
Judging from the current situation, his Reiatsu had utterly overwhelmed Yamamoto.
Even the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 was now ensnared in his illusion, unable to break free.
Still, despite his victory being all but certain, Aaron couldn't help but observe Yamamoto's sheer power and the destruction he could unleash with a mere swing of his sword.
However, his experiment had now reached its conclusion.
There was no need to prolong this fight any further.
At this moment, Aaron and "Taotie" had already absorbed enough energy.
He cast one final look at Yamamoto, who was executing masterful sword strikes against nothingness, and dispelled the illusion he had crafted.
A sharp, crystalline sound echoed through the battlefield, shattering even the space itself.
Yamamoto's eyes widened in shock as he realized he had been caught in an illusion. Looking up at Aaron, who hovered above him, a rare glint of disbelief flickered across his gaze.
Then, from the heavens, a massive black sword shadow descended upon him, striking him with devastating precision.
In an instant, Yamamoto collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
Just as Aaron prepared to deliver the final blow, he saw Yamamoto slowly rise to his feet.
Now, he looked far older, wearier—his once-imposing figure weighed down by exhaustion.
Their eyes met once more before they both vanished, clashing again at incomprehensible speed.
This time, Aaron held nothing back.
A surge of raw Reiatsu erupted from him, accompanied by a cacophony of howling and sonic booms.
Yamamoto, ablaze with his Bankai's unrelenting flames, ignored his grievous wounds. With the resolve of one prepared to die, he transformed into a raging inferno and hurled himself at Aaron.
A deafening explosion shattered the battlefield, distorting even the very fabric of space.
Yamamoto was once again sent flying, his flames gradually extinguishing.
Behind him, a black Senkaimon gate appeared. Before anyone could react, his heavily injured figure was pulled through it, vanishing in an instant.
Aaron hesitated briefly before flickering forward in pursuit.
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Moments later, he reemerged above the Sōkyoku Hill.
A powerful force halted Yamamoto's backward momentum, allowing him to stabilize himself midair.
The spectators on the ground watched in shock, noticing that Ōetsu Nimaiya's presence had vanished from the sky.
A moment later, their breath hitched as they saw Yamamoto hurtling back through the black gate, crashing to the ground.
"Captain!"
"Master Captain!"
"Teacher Yamamoto!"
Cries of alarm rang out as the stunned onlookers took in the sight.
None of them could have imagined events unfolding this way.
As Kyōraku Shunsui and the others rushed forward to assist their fallen leader, an overwhelming presence seeped through the gate—an oppressive Reiatsu that seemed to smother the entire battlefield.
Then, Aaron stepped through.
Compared to the battered and bloodied Yamamoto, Aaron stood completely unscathed.
The implications were clear. Not only had Yamamoto lost, but he had been utterly crushed.
The once-rowdy battlefield fell into an eerie silence. Everyone could only stare, paralyzed by fear, as Aaron's piercing gaze swept across them.
Then, in an instant, he vanished, reappearing beside Yamamoto with his blade poised to strike.
A sharp clang echoed through the air.
Though not loud, it carried the weight of finality—like a hammer shattering the last vestige of dignity held by the Gotei 13.
Aaron turned to see Ōetsu Nimaiya standing before him, blocking his attack.
"Enough," Nimaiya said, his expression complex. "You've already won."
With his intervention, Yamamoto, who had been held upright only by sheer will, finally collapsed from midair.
Seeing this, Kyōraku and the others hurried forward, frantically tending to their grievously wounded leader.
Aaron chuckled lightly and mused, "If I had lost today, what would you have done?"
Nimaiya glanced at Yamamoto, who was now being supported by his subordinates, and sighed.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "That's a difficult question to answer. But I don't believe such a thing would ever happen to you."
"Since the moment you entered Soul Society, you have been invincible."
"Yamamoto… he was simply too devoted to the Soul Society. Deep down, he has always carried guilt toward you."
Aaron shifted his gaze to Yoruichi and Ichigo, who stood among the crowd, offering them a small nod.
Then, looking back at Nimaiya, he smirked at himself and replied, "I see. In that case, I'm leaving with Ichigo and the others."
"Teacher! Master Yamamoto!"
"Captain! Hold on!"
"Contact Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division!"
"Everyone, stay alert! Protect the Captain!"
Kyōraku and the others had already formed a defensive perimeter around the critically injured Yamamoto, their voices filled with urgency.
At that moment, Aaron and Nimaiya descended slowly to the ground.
The remaining captains instinctively drew their Zanpakutō, their bodies tense as they faced Aaron, fearing he might strike again.
Just then, Inoue Orihime and the others arrived, rushing to the scene.
Aaron cast a final glance at the gathered captains before turning to Ichigo and his companions. "Let's go. We're returning to Karakura Town."
Moments later, a Senkaimon appeared beside them.
Unohana Retsu arrived on the scene, seated upon a giant manta-ray-like creature formed from her Minazuki.
She watched Aaron disappear through the gate, her expression clouded with an unshakable sense of loss.
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