Byakuya and Rukia were working like a well-oiled machine; they were complementing each other just right. It felt quite nice.
When Byakuya would get attacked, Rukia would make a wall of ice to block the strikes, and since she could make ice like 100x stronger than steel, she was doing wonderfully for defense.
Having Danku infused into her very essence meant that she could imbue it with every attack she made, including her Bankai. Yes, some of her ice was imbued with Danku, so even if it was a very thin layer, it could tank a lot of damage.
This was one of the perks that Sora had placed into her body. This was like her fourth time using Bankai in the span of four hours. She should have been drained. She shouldn't have even been able to fight anymore, and yet... she could still go.
Her Reiryoku pool was still relatively full.
The hard part was fighting against someone like Gin. The man was quite tricky, especially in his Hollowfied form. His strikes were like 10x faster than they were under normal circumstances. This would be a very hard-fought battle, yet she was here for it.
"Rukia!" Byakuya's commanding voice could be heard. Rukia saw the attack coming toward her.
"On it." Using her Zanpakuto, she would create a wall of ice in front of her.
Shinso would slam into the wall, but it didn't even manage to create a single dent.
This was proving harder than he thought it would.
Rukia's growth in power was simply massive. Going from her strength to this level in the span of a few months... she went from being like a third seat, low Lieutenant level, to mid to high Captain level. This growth should not be possible.
Though something about her growth seemed odd. Even if she had Captain-level Reiatsu, her Reiatsu didn't feel like it.
As if someone had purified it, as if making sure she was safe from harm.
Meanwhile—
A blinding pulse of golden-white light illuminated the battlefield as Sora stepped forward, his body glowing with divine elegance.
He had decided to stop holding back. This was his chance. Ichigo was right there. If they wanted to win, it was now.
And thus, Vollständig: Evolutio Aeternum.
The air distorted from the sudden rise in pressure. Everything—everything—felt heavier.
Ichigo and Uryu both looked over as the light washed over them, and then—
WHIRRRRRR.
The sound of Sora's wheel above his head spinning like crazy could be heard. Then Ichigo and Uryu had a wheel above their heads.
Sora's wheel spun.
That was six spins. It should take him two more to adapt to it.
Sora raised his hand. "Adaptations shared are twice as fast. Welcome to the Adaptation Zone."
A circle of runes glowed beneath them, expanding like ripples across the Royal Palace floor.
Immediately, Uryu's eyes sharpened. His movements became smoother, more precise. He knew where Aizen's next attack would land—before it even launched.
Ichigo's blade sparked.
They could all feel it. They were stronger.
Alongside... heh, was that the future?
Oh well, who cared.
Once they got used to it, they rushed at Aizen.
Aizen met them with that same calm smile.
Reiatsu exploded from his body in an oppressive wave, cracking the stone beneath his feet, ripping towers in the distance clean in half.
"So," Aizen murmured, drawing his blade. "You've decided to make this interesting."
CLASH.
Sora's fire-scythe met Aizen's blade. Yes, he was getting fancy with it. Do not judge him.
The impact of their clash caused a localized shockwave. Reishi flared. Sora's adaptation wheel spun faster.
Seven spins...
One more.
From above—BOOM!—Uryu's storm of Elementarschöpfung: Glühende Nadeln (Glowing Needles) rained down, altering midair trajectory as they homed in on Aizen's blind spots.
Ichigo, now perfectly synchronized with his inner Hollow, blurred past—BZZZT-BOOM!—Horn of Salvation burning brighter than ever.
They fought in perfect sync—as if they knew everything the other would do before they even did it.
This was peak teamwork, not even a single flaw in their perfect work.
Truly, something divine.
And Aizen?
He was grinning.
"Fascinating," he said, parrying Sora's adaptive blade that morphed from wind to flame to lightning in the span of three seconds. "This feeling... it's been so long."
Sora's wings flared as he broke off and fired a storm of elemental spears, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
"I am not done with you yet." Sora began using a spell he had just made up on the spot. Well, to be fair, he needed a valid excuse as to why he could do that.
So this spell shall do.
Angriffsharmonie: Himmlisches Meteor.
Dozens of elementally-infused weapons fell like comets, trailing fire, ice, lightning, and wind.
Uryu's arrows wove between them.
Ichigo's Getsuga charged up alongside them.
This was war.
And Aizen?
Still smiling.
"Good," he whispered, raising his blade once more.
"Show me how high you can climb... before I bring you back down."
Uryu would switch with Ichigo.
Ichigo would slash at Aizen... the man would attempt to block the strike, but Ichigo's sword cut straight through.
SLASH
Then...
KABOOM
Sora, Ichigo, and Uryu backed off.
"Did you get him?" S
"I made contact." I
"Keep your eyes on the target." U
"Ah yes, let us look at the guy who can hypnotize you if you look at him... very smart of you, Uryu." S
"SHUT UP." U
"Pftt." I
"You too, Ichigo." U
From the smoke, Aizen would come out unscathed.
"Your efforts are—" Before the yap could continue... a crack would form on the Hogyoku.
...
Oh... that confirmed it for Aizen. Ichigo was Sora's way of dealing with him.
Well, if that was the case...