The Spear that Pierces Death  

Hum…

A faint wave of spiritual pressure emanated from Ailin's Reigai.

This instantly triggered a rejection reaction within the Kōtotsu. A vortex formed around him.

Seeing the vortex, an idea flashed in Ailin's Reigai's mind. He moved against the current, retreating a short distance before being ejected.

He reappeared within the Dangai and, without hesitation, walked towards the Senkaimon.

Based on his original's memories, he knew that the real Sōsuke Aizen had been released. His purpose was to bring revolution to the Seireitei.

The original Ailin had no interest in Aizen before he had fused with the Hōgyoku.

While Ailin's Reigai yearned to battle the Hōgyoku-enhanced Aizen, he knew his original wouldn't give him that chance.

However, he was still satisfied with the opportunity to eliminate the current Aizen.

He would test his strength, see how much effort it would take to defeat him.

…

Crack!

The space above Karakura Town shattered like glass.

Ailin's Reigai emerged from the Dangai.

He spread his spiritual sense and quickly located Aizen's Mod Soul.

Not only that, but he also sensed the presence of Urahara, Tessai, Yoruichi, and the Visored.

Several of the Visored seemed to be heavily injured.

Had Aizen's Mod Soul attacked them?

Ailin's Reigai vanished in a flash of Shunpo, reappearing above them.

"Chains of Heaven!"

Golden spatial ripples appeared behind him, and five golden chains shot out, swiftly binding Aizen's Mod Soul.

Clank! Clank!

Aizen's Mod Soul, completely restrained, was dragged into the air.

To avoid injuring Urahara and the others, Ailin's Reigai had chosen to subdue Aizen before engaging him.

However, to his surprise, Aizen, instead of panicking, burst into laughter, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"I've been waiting for you, Captain Ailin!"

Boom!

"This…?"

Sensing the surge of spiritual pressure from Aizen, Ailin's Reigai instantly understood.

It seemed Inaba had used his spiritual pressure when creating Aizen's Mod Soul.

Therefore, while the Reigai was Aizen's, the memories within the Soul Candy pill belonged to his original.

However, due to the limitations of the Reigai, this "Aizen" couldn't access Unlimited Blade Works. He could only use Sōsuke Aizen's Zanpakutō through "Empathy."

Ailin's Reigai dispelled the Chains of Heaven.

They shared the same memories, the same desire to stand above all others.

Even in defeat, they wanted to be the most dazzling presence.

If that was the case…

"It seems you wish to dance. I'll grant you that opportunity. Use all your strength to entertain me."

With those words, dozens of golden spatial ripples appeared behind Ailin's Reigai, painting the night sky gold.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Golden lightning bolts, like a torrential downpour, bombarded Aizen's Mod Soul.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Facing Ailin's overwhelming assault, Kyōka Suigetsu's ability was rendered practically useless.

Even if it could affect Ailin's Reigai, the sheer density of the attacks made it impossible to differentiate friend from foe.

In this situation, swordsmanship was far more effective than illusion.

Aizen's Mod Soul deflected the incoming Zanpakutō while charging towards Ailin's Reigai, pushing against the torrent of lightning.

Their clash generated powerful shockwaves that pulverized everything in their vicinity.

Seeing Urahara and the others struggling to contain the shockwaves, Ailin's Reigai realized his mistake.

They were in the World of the Living!

If his battle caused widespread destruction, what difference was there between him and the Zero Division?

A golden spatial ripple appeared beside him, and the hilt of a Zanpakutō emerged.

He drew the Zanpakutō and began to chant its release command.

"The heavens are the Lord's glory!"

"The skies are the work of God!"

"…"

"Bankai - Holy Banner!"

"My Lord is here!"

Hum…

Ailin's Reigai tossed the banner into the air. It unfurled, radiating a golden light that enveloped Karakura Town.

Holy Banner's creation had been inspired by Joan of Arc's Noble Phantasm from the "Fate" world.

As long as the banner flew, her soldiers would never be defeated.

The battle between Ailin's Reigai and Aizen's Reigai would undoubtedly cause significant damage.

But that level of destruction couldn't penetrate Holy Banner's defense.

Under its golden light, everything in Karakura Town gained a defense equal to the banner itself.

The shockwaves from their battle now resembled harmless ripples, unable to harm the town.

As Aizen's Mod Soul continued to advance, a golden spatial ripple appeared beside Ailin's Reigai, revealing the hilt of another Zanpakutō.

He drew the Zanpakutō. Red spiritual pressure erupted from its blade.

The Zanpakutō transformed into a red spear.

Ailin's Reigai spun the spear, then raised it high above his head.

"Bankai—"

With a shout, red spiritual pressure exploded from the spear.

"Pierce—Death-Piercing Spear!"

Boom!

The spear transformed into a streak of red light, tearing through the air towards Aizen's Mod Soul.

By the time Aizen sensed the attack, he was completely locked on, unable to escape.

He instantly released his Zanpakutō.

"Bakudō #81 - Dankū!"

"Dankū!"

"Dankū!"

He unleashed three Dankū, the strongest defensive Kidō spell, in rapid succession.

Dankū could completely block any Hadō below level ninety.

The reason it couldn't block higher-level Hadō wasn't due to its defensive capabilities, but because most Hadō above level ninety were wide-range attacks.

Dankū could only defend against attacks from a single direction.

If one's mastery of Dankū reached a higher level, transforming it into "Shihō Dankū," a technique that could defend against attacks from all directions, its defensive capabilities would increase, allowing it to completely block any Hadō below level ninety-five.

Boom!

The first Dankū, blocking the Death-Piercing Spear, shattered instantly.

The second Dankū lasted less than a second.

The third Dankū held for a full second before shattering like glass.

The three Dankū had bought Aizen a moment to breathe. As soon as they were destroyed, he unleashed another three.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Ailin's Reigai's attack shattered five Dankū before finally expending its energy against the sixth.

While the sixth Dankū successfully blocked the attack, it was now covered in cracks.

As the red spear spun through the air, returning to the ground, the sixth Dankū finally shattered.

Urahara, Tessai, and Hachigen watched in awe.

Shinji Hirako and the other Visored, their Kidō mastery limited to what they had learned at the Shin'ō Academy, and currently bathed in Holy Banner's golden light, couldn't fully grasp the power of Ailin's Reigai's attack.

While they knew it was strong, they didn't understand just how strong.

But Urahara, Tessai, and Hachigen, all Kidō masters, understood the implications of that clash.

Their Kidō mastery ranked among the top five in the Soul Society, including Aizen and Unohana.

Their understanding of Kidō allowed them to truly appreciate the power displayed by both Aizen's and Ailin's Reigai.

To release multiple level eighty-one Bakudō without incantations, even Hachigen couldn't achieve such a feat.

It meant that Aizen's Mod Soul's Kidō mastery was no less than that of Urahara and Tessai.

And Ailin's Reigai's power was even more terrifying.

While Aizen's Dankū had been released without incantations, judging by his ability to unleash three in rapid succession, his mastery of the technique was undeniable.

Even without a full incantation, those Dankū possessed at least eighty percent of their full defensive power.

Eight layers of Dankū could completely block any Hadō below level ninety.

Aizen had once used a single incantationless Dankū to completely block Tessai's Hadō #88, Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō.