The Dawn of the Bloodstained Horizon

The eternal night of Hueco Mundo stretched endlessly across the barren sands, its silence broken only by the distant howls of Hollows lurking in the depths. But inside Las Noches, the colossal fortress standing as the throne of the new order, the air was heavy with an impending storm.

The gathering of the Arrancar army, the presence of the Espada, and the unrelenting ambition of those at the top—this was the moment Aizen had been waiting for. And yet, unlike the canon timeline, this time he wasn't alone in his grand orchestration.

By his side stood his most trusted generals: Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen, Natoro Yamakatsoro, and his son, Raizen. Kirio Hikifune, a former member of the Zero Division, watched from the shadows, still playing a critical role in this twisted alliance.

Aizen gazed out from the highest tower of Las Noches, his eyes reflecting the moonlight as he spoke in a calm, calculated tone. "The Soul Reapers believe they have the upper hand. They assume that by moving Karakura Town into Soul Society, they have secured their safety. But they are blind to the truth."

Gin, as always, smirked. "It's always fun watchin' 'em squirm. But I gotta ask, Aizen-taichou, when do we start?"

Aizen closed his eyes briefly. "Now."

Natoro let out a deep chuckle. "It's about time. These 'heroes' of Soul Society have grown complacent, clinging to their outdated notions of justice. But war will force them to evolve—or die."

Raizen scoffed, crossing his arms. "They won't even see it coming."

Aizen turned his gaze toward the Espada, his highest-ranking warriors, who awaited his command. Starkk, Barragan, Harribel, Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, Grimmjow, and the others stood assembled, each of them a force capable of challenging Soul Society's best.

Aizen's lips curled into a small smile. "The time has come. We will take Karakura Town, and from its ruins, we will forge a throne fit for a god."

The Invasion of Karakura

Like in canon, the town had been replaced with a replica in Soul Society, a clever trick by Kisuke Urahara to protect the real inhabitants. But even knowing this, the battle was unavoidable.

The Gotei 13 Captains stood ready to defend their world, unaware that among their enemies was not just Aizen, but also a renegade captain and his son—two beings who had evolved beyond the limitations of a normal Shinigami.

As the battle erupted, Natoro faced off against an old rival—Shunsui Kyōraku, the Captain-Commander of the First Division.

Shunsui sighed, adjusting his straw hat as he unsheathed his twin blades. "Natoro… it's been a long time. You've made quite the mess for us."

Natoro smirked, drawing Kuroyami no Kensei from its sheath. "Mess? I'd call it evolution."

Their clash was instant—Kyōraku's dual-wielded Zanpakutō striking against Natoro's darkened steel, each exchange creating powerful shockwaves that sent debris flying. The ground beneath them cracked from the sheer pressure of their spiritual energy.

Shunsui activated Katen Kyōkotsu's game-based abilities, forcing Natoro into a dangerous duel of shadows, where the rules of engagement shifted unpredictably. But Natoro was no ordinary opponent. With his own Shikai's ability to manipulate darkness and distort reality, he countered Shunsui's moves with lethal precision.

Meanwhile, Raizen took on Tōshirō Hitsugaya, the youngest captain, whose ice-cold demeanor hid a boiling rage at the destruction caused by Aizen's forces.

Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes. "You're just a kid. Do you really think you can fight on this battlefield?"

Raizen's smirk widened as he drew his Zanpakutō. "Kid? Watch your mouth, old man. You're about to learn what a 'child' can do."

The battlefield erupted into a storm of ice and shadow, as Raizen's dark abilities clashed with Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru. With each exchange, Raizen pushed Hitsugaya back, his Shikai's powers devouring the light around them, forcing the ice captain into a desperate struggle to keep up.

The Collapse of the Espada

One by one, just as in canon, the Espada began to fall.

Barragan Louisenbairn, the self-proclaimed God-King of Hueco Mundo, met his end by his own power, decayed from within by Hachigen's Kido strategy.

Watching Barragan's demise, Natoro couldn't help but laugh. "A 'god' brought to his knees by his own arrogance. Fitting."

Kirio, standing nearby, folded her arms. "Aizen's patience with failure is nonexistent. The moment they proved inadequate, they were already dead."

With each Espada that fell, the battle reached its crescendo. But while the captains and lieutenants of Soul Society believed they were winning, Aizen had already begun his true transformation.

The Hōgyoku, the ultimate source of power, reacted to Aizen's will, reshaping him into something beyond a mere Shinigami or Hollow.

But this time, Aizen did not ascend alone.

The Ascension of Natoro and Raizen

As the Hōgyoku pulsated, it responded not only to Aizen but also to the two beings whose desires for power burned just as intensely.

Aizen turned toward them, his expression unreadable. "The Hōgyoku acknowledges your ambitions. Let it guide you to your next evolution."

The dark energy that erupted from the Hōgyoku engulfed Natoro and Raizen, sending them both into an excruciating yet divine metamorphosis.

Natoro felt his spiritual body twist and contort, his Zanpakutō fusing deeper into his soul. His skin darkened with cracks of burning energy, and his eyes glowed with an eerie luminescence. When the transformation ended, he stood taller, his presence alone warping the air around him.

Raizen screamed as his own transformation took hold. His body expanded with raw power, his spiritual pressure thick and suffocating. When he emerged, he looked almost primal, a being of unfiltered destruction.

Natoro clenched his fists, his voice reverberating with newfound power. "This… this is intoxicating."

Raizen grinned, his hands glowing with dark energy. "Now, let's see who dares to stand in our way."

Aizen observed them with approval. "Perfect."

Ichigo's Return

As in canon, Ichigo Kurosaki returned from the Dangai, his power now at a level beyond what anyone had expected.

From across the battlefield, Natoro felt the shift in the air.

"This… this is unlike anything we've faced before," he murmured.

Raizen's grin faltered. "What the hell is that?"

Even Aizen seemed intrigued. "It appears Ichigo Kurosaki has surpassed all expectations. This will be… interesting."

The final battle for supremacy was set—Ichigo versus Aizen, Natoro, and Raizen, a clash that would decide the fate of all worlds.

But what none of them knew was that the Hōgyoku had its own will, and the true game was only beginning.