Chapter 48 Single Zephyr

The graduation test was underway, but Zephyr, as an experienced mentor, had no intention of using his full strength. Suppressing his power to the level of a Vice Admiral, he prepared himself for the onslaught of his strongest student. Despite being weaker than Aizen, who was nearing Admiral-level strength, Zephyr remained composed, though inwardly impressed.

"He's grown so fast," Zephyr thought, a mix of admiration and surprise flashing across his face. But that thought was cut short when he felt a sudden, dangerous surge of energy.

In an instant, a terrifying slash tore through the air, splitting the training ground cleanly in two. The blue energy of Reiatsu fused with a razor-sharp sword slash, carving a deep gash into the earth and roaring straight toward Zephyr.

"I can't block this," Zephyr realized, leaping to safety just in time.

The sword energy didn't stop there. It blasted through the training ground's fences, carving a path of destruction into the forest behind them. Trees splintered and were uprooted, the aftermath resembling the devastation of a hurricane. Dust and debris filled the air, shrouding the scene in an eerie, silencing fog.

As the dust settled, a gaping trench over a meter wide stretched across the ground, leaving everyone speechless.

"So, this is the power of a great swordsman," Zephyr muttered, his voice tinged with awe. Despite hearing from Garp about Aizen's ascension to this realm and his victory over the likes of the World Destroyer, witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.

"This… this is incredible," Gion whispered from the sidelines, her voice barely audible over her astonishment. Her gaze lingered on the scene, then shifted to Aizen. Finally, her sister Tsuru's praise for him made perfect sense.

Zephyr broke the silence with a wry smile. "Not bad, boy, but remember—this is a test. That attack may be impressive, but it won't earn you points unless it lands."

Aizen, calm and composed, sheathed his blade slightly. "I'm not interested in scores, Teacher. I just wanted to test my strength."

His words were simple, yet they carried an air of absolute confidence. Aizen wasn't here to prove himself to anyone—his only concern was gauging his power and, more importantly, whether he could overcome Zephyr.

With no warning, Aizen vanished.

Zephyr's instincts kicked in. "Fast!"

Aizen's sudden burst of speed caught everyone off guard, even the normally unshakable Zephyr. The older Marine braced himself, covering his arm with Armament Haki as Aizen reappeared and swung his sword down in a flash.

The sharp edge of the Zanpakutō met Zephyr's Haki-clad arm with a resounding **clang**. Sparks flew as their power clashed, and for a moment, it seemed like a stalemate.

But Aizen wasn't done.

"Hadō No. 4: White Lightning!"

His left hand shot up, crackling with energy, and a bolt of pure white lightning roared toward Zephyr's neck.

Reacting on instinct, Zephyr dropped into a crouch and leapt backward, narrowly evading the strike.

"Hadō No. 31: Red Flame Cannon!"

The second Zephyr landed, Aizen followed up with a massive surge of fire. The roaring flames engulfed the area, forcing Zephyr to cross his arms, now fully coated in Haki, to block the attack.

**Boom!**

The flames exploded, sending shockwaves across the field. Zephyr stumbled slightly but managed to hold his ground.

"What destructive power," Zephyr muttered, his voice low but filled with acknowledgment.

But Aizen didn't give him a moment to recover. He raised his hand again, reciting an incantation with precision and speed.

"The proud son of heaven, the iron wall, the dragon's stride, the lion's roar, the tiger's fury—Bakudō No. 81: Splitting Void!"

As Zephyr's fist, enhanced with Armament Haki, bore down on him like a black meteor, a massive, translucent barrier materialized in front of Aizen.

**Boom!**

Zephyr's fist collided with the barrier, creating a thunderous explosion. But when the dust cleared, the wall remained intact, unscathed.

"What... impossible!" Zephyr's eyes widened in disbelief.

He stared at the untouched barrier, his mind racing. Even though he had restrained his strength to Vice Admiral levels, it was still nothing to scoff at. A full-strength punch from someone of his caliber was no joke—yet Aizen had blocked it effortlessly.

The other students watching from the sidelines were equally dumbfounded. Polusalino and Sakazuki exchanged uneasy glances. For the first time, the realization truly sank in: Aizen wasn't just a peer; he was a force far beyond their reach.

Zephyr exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "You've grown too fast, Aizen. You're already standing at the threshold of Admiral-level strength. But..." His voice trailed off as his fists tightened, his Haki flaring up once more.

"You're not an Admiral yet. Let's see if you can truly close the gap!"