Chapter 749

If the ordinary form of Kenpachi Zaraki was a great threat to Aizen, then this form of Kenpachi Zaraki was now something Aizen could eliminate at will.

For Aizen, eliminating this mindless Kenpachi Zaraki was far easier than eliminating the one with reason and beastly instinct.

Watching Kenpachi Zaraki's appearance, Aizen smiled slightly; since Kenpachi Zaraki was so arrogant, he would surely make him destroy some people, thereby increasing the fear among the Ishgallians.

But when Aizen prepared to use his Kido: Sōkyoku to control Kenpachi Zaraki, an unexpected event occurred—under Aizen's control, Kenpachi Zaraki should have attacked the Ishgallians and the ninja.

Yet it seemed to have no effect; Kenpachi Zaraki still charged at Aizen, leaving Aizen somewhat surprised.

At this moment, a voice of surprise emerged from within Kenpachi Zaraki's monstrous body.

"I never expected this technique to have such an effect—did it even negate the loss of reason caused by my Zanpakutō? What a terrifying effect."

"So now, Aizen, are you ready?"

Hearing Kenpachi Zaraki's words, Aizen's face darkened with anger—he had never imagined his prized ability, Sōkyoku, had been broken by the Ishgallians.

This was utterly unacceptable to Aizen, for in his view, Sōkyoku was nearly impossible to break unless someone could restore the five senses stolen from its victims.

Generally, the only way to counter Aizen's Sōkyoku was to overwhelm it with an unimaginably terrifying spiritual pressure.

But Kenpachi Zaraki's actions defied Aizen's understanding: first, the Ishgallian technique protected his sanity from being eroded, then, through the near-infinite spiritual pressure of his Bankai, he shattered Aizen's Sōkyoku.

Once he understood this, Aizen's expression turned grim; if he could still handle Kenpachi Zaraki without Bankai, he now had no way at all to oppose him.

This left Aizen deeply unsettled—while Kenpachi Zaraki's current assault might not be fatal before his next evolution, Aizen felt a profound unease: without Bankai, he had no idea what he could rely on next.

Although Aizen's power ranked among the top in the Shinigami, he had one major flaw: his Sōkyoku had never awakened its Bankai.

If others possessed Aizen's level of power, they would have long since unlocked their Bankai, for their strength was already sufficient.

But Aizen was different—he needed a stronger Sōkyoku. Though its current ability was already formidable, compared to others' Bankai, Sōkyoku fell far short.

"If that's the case, then let me show you what true power really is."

Under immense pressure, Aizen seemed to find what he had sought within himself—something Sōkyoku itself had been pursuing: the deprivation of the five senses was never Sōkyoku's greatest ability.

Sōkyoku's greatest ability was always tied to its name: its true power was to create an illusion of the enemy, an illusion identical in every way to the enemy's own abilities.

As long as the enemy's power did not exceed Fan Chou, Sōkyoku could perfectly replicate everything about them—though it was an ability that consumed immense spiritual pressure.

But for Aizen, whose spiritual pressure was nearly infinite, this might be the perfect solution.

After understanding Sōkyoku's true power, Aizen smiled as he gazed at the still formidable Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Thank you very much, Captain Kenpachi—you've shown me what true Sōkyoku truly is, its real power, its true Bankai!"

"Manifest, Sōkyoku!"

"Bankai!"

In Aizen's hand, the blade Sōkyoku flickered with light, and clusters of water-like substance appeared before everyone.

Watching Aizen's actions, Yhwach seemed to realize something, his face turning grim—he was the one who highly valued Aizen, and thus knew perfectly what Sōkyoku's final form truly was.

This transformation darkened Yhwach's expression; he could not understand why Aizen had awakened his true Bankai at this moment.

"This is terrifying—how could he awaken Sōkyoku now? This shouldn't be possible."

As Yhwach murmured to himself, the water masses created by Sōkyoku slowly shifted form, revealing the figures of Kenpachi Zaraki, Naruto, Yhwach, and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.