Yhwach wasn't about to sit idle. He didn't choose to attack Aizen directly, but instead summoned a massive holy bow and unleashed a barrage of arrows at the transparent barrier in front of him.
If he could break the seal, all of his spiritual power would return instantly.
Boom!
Dozens of massive blue arrows struck the same point in rapid succession.
Shards fell from the barrier, resembling the shattered remains of the Six Light Prisons, but as they fell, a more disturbing sight emerged.
The barrier was dozens of meters thick, with layers of light shimmering across its surface.
Yhwach's attack, however, had only penetrated a few centimeters deep.
If he could repeat the same attack a hundred or so times, the barrier would shatter completely.
But Aizen wasn't going to just stand by and watch Yhwach break through.
In an instant, more white mist rolled in under the moonlight.
"Accept your destiny, Yhwach. Your only destiny is to become my power," Aizen said with a chilling calmness.
"Kyōka Suigetsu – Mirror Flower, Water Moon ."
As Aizen's voice echoed, a dozen figures emerged from the rolling white mist.
Each wore the long white hooded cloak of the Sternritter, with distinctive characteristics that made them easily recognizable. They exuded an imposing aura.
Upon seeing these figures, Yhwach was momentarily stunned and nearly took a step back. Then the first blond man among them raised his large sword and shouted angrily:
"Your Majesty, it's time for you to pay with your life!"
These figures were the fallen members of the Sternritter, the very ones whose powers had been reclaimed by Yhwach.
"Your Majesty, it hurts!"
"Why did you kill us!?"
"Traitor! You are the traitor of Quincy!"
"Die! Die!"
In a frenzy, the enraged Sternritter attacked Yhwach like demons unleashed.
Yhwach raised his hands, and countless small holy arrows erupted.
In this storm-like attack, every member of the Sternritter was obliterated, swept away like dust!
Yhwach exhaled slowly, his gaze turning cold and emotionless.
"I don't know what to say; dying for me should be your honor," he mused.
But at that moment, the white mist swirled, and shadows reemerged one by one, staring directly at Yhwach.
Utilizing The Almighty's full power consumes a significant amount of spiritual energy, but Yhwach had no other choice.
Suddenly, countless golden eyes opened once more, piercing through the fog.
However, it was Aizen's sinister laughter that greeted him.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a massive seal shattered, and when the dust settled, only Aizen stood there, his smile resembling that of a god under the moonlight.
Yhwach had vanished. In his place stood a luminous white pearl and a golden eye that still glowed faintly.
This battle was effectively over from the moment Yhwach stepped into Hueco Mundo's Las Noches.
There were no surprises!
Under Aizen's meticulous planning, Yhwach—the son of the Soul King, who was expected to kill Captain-Commander Yamamoto and wreak havoc upon the Soul Society—was trapped and ultimately destroyed by the hunter he couldn't escape from.
Aizen waved his hand gently, and the Hōgyoku, glowing with golden eyes, sank into his body.
In that instant, a cross-shaped pattern briefly flashed across Aizen's eyes, and his Reiatsu burst out with overwhelming force, creating a sharp screeching sound as if the very fabric of space was on the verge of shattering.
All the Hollows in Hueco Mundo, whether they were Menos Grande or Arrancar, quaked in fear, cowering on the ground.
The Soul King's son was gone, but it would take some time for Aizen to fully assimilate the Almighty.
For now, the Soul Society had a momentary reprieve.
Aizen raised his finger, and a dark rift appeared in the air. As he entered, streams of spiritual energy flowed into Hueco Mundo, quickly forming a simple yet elegant new domain.
Aizen stepped through the rift, and it closed behind him with a soft, final thud.
Soul Society.
Behind the barracks of the First Division, the usually drowsy Kyoraku Shunsui suddenly perked up.
He noticed that within the cell, Ichimaru Gin, stripped of his Zanpakutō and bound from head to toe, was squinting at him with a sly grin.
"What's up? Decided to start talking?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked, tipping his hat back with a playful smirk.
But Ichimaru Gin's response was more cryptic. He chuckled and said, "No, actually, I've decided it's time for me to die."
Kyoraku Shunsui raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I thought the process took a while—like seven days to a month after the Central 46 trial before execution, right?"
"Good memory," Ichimaru Gin replied, his grin widening.
Kyoraku Shunsui shrugged. "Well, have you thought it through? I mean, it's better to be stuck in endless hell than to face execution. Who knows, you might eventually get out."
Ichimaru Gin didn't reply. He just gave a faint smile and said, "Captain Kyoraku, maybe you should drink a bit more during this time."
Meanwhile, in Marvel world...
In a cozy bedroom, Loki was sitting beside his mother, Frigga. He had been back in Asgard for about ten days.
"Loki, you don't need to stay with me all the time. You have your own life to live," Frigga said gently, her eyes filled with maternal warmth.
"Besides," she continued, "with the Reality Stone now in the hands of the Ancient One, the dark elves won't be coming."
Loki acted like he didn't hear her and instead changed the subject with a smile. "By the way, where's Thor? Haven't seen him around much lately."
Though his attitude had changed since his return, Loki still felt some distance between himself, Thor, and Odin. He wasn't planning to mend things right away; he'd deal with it later.
Frigga sighed, realizing that Loki's past deceptions were hard to forget. "Your father is taking Thor to the world below Yggdrasil. He's been busy making preparations for the journey."
Loki abruptly stood up, his eyes wide with surprise, and blurted out:
"Is he crazy!?"
"No, are they both crazy!?"
"Thor will die!"
At this moment, Loki's suppressed emotions burst forth. As a prince of Asgard, he knew the ancient tales all too well.
Odin, the Allfather, sacrificed one of his eyes and then hung upside down from the World Tree for nine days and nine nights to acquire greater power, creating the powerful runes in the process. It was an extremely dangerous endeavor, and even Odin almost perished.
To Loki, Thor's actions seemed even more reckless, as if he stood no chance of surviving, even on the first try.
While Loki was in a state of distress, Frigga, on the other hand, remained composed. Despite her internal turmoil, she said:
"As an Aesir, and Odin's son, Thor has made his choice. We must respect his decision. We don't have the right to interfere with his fate."
Loki's face turned pale as he struggled to stay seated. He covered his face with his hands, exclaiming:
"Fate! Damn fate, again!"
After venting his frustration, Loki stormed out of the room and soon found Odin and Thor.
At this point, Thor was immersed in a pool of golden divine energy, completely naked. When he saw Loki approaching, he gave him a familiar grin and invited him to join him in the pool.
How can I relax with such an idiot? Loki thought, his expression betraying no emotion. He glanced at Odin and asked:
"Is there anything I can do?"
Odin's usual stern demeanor had softened, and he gave Loki a rare, gentle smile.
"Go on, join your brother," Odin said. "Having you here is the best support you can give him."
It was the first time Loki had ever heard such kind words from Odin. Though his eyes softened, he kept up his indifferent facade and walked toward the pool.
Thor was visibly thrilled to have Loki there, but just as he was about to say something, a new image appeared in front of them.
It wasn't a complex scene; instead, it showed a man with a sinister smile, holding a twin-bladed weapon and surrounded by swirling green energy.
[Personal Bio Video!]
[Marvel EU World: "A God of Mischief Who Longs to Be Loved and Self-Love, Loki's Biography!"]
****
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/aayume