Chapter 615 - 615 A Hundred Years of Resentment

"This time... thank you, Captain Kyoraku." Aikawa bowed to Kyoraku.

Although he didn't have much fondness for people from Soul Society, if Kyoraku hadn't intervened, he and Otoribashi would have both died at Starrk's hands. Regardless, Kyoraku had saved their lives.

"Well, anyway... it's good that you're safe." Kyoraku stood with his back to Aikawa, looking expressionlessly at Starrk's body below.

"Come to think of it... you haven't changed at all. You still like to interfere in other people's fights. To be honest, that's a very bad habit."

After thanking him, Aikawa unhesitatingly expressed his personal dislike for Kyoraku.

Clearly, although Kyoraku had saved them, his sneaky ambush of Starrk still didn't sit well with Aikawa.

"The so-called 'great deeds ignore minor details'. Sticking to the rules and abandoning victory... that's what small fries do. As a Captain, I don't care about such trivial matters." Kyoraku waved his hand with his back to Aikawa, looking completely unconcerned.

However, the complex expression with which Kyoraku looked at Starrk's body showed that his feelings were not as light as his words suggested.

Kyoraku had met someone so similar to himself for the first time. And judging by Starrk's behavior, he wasn't an irredeemably evil person.

Yet due to their different positions, they had been forced to fight each other to the death.

Moreover, facing Starrk, Kyoraku, who was often called a sneaky old schemer, had for the first time felt the desire for an honorable, head-on fight.

But for certain reasons, Kyoraku couldn't use his Bankai to fight Starrk at full power and had to resort to despicable means like ambushes.

To be honest, Kyoraku didn't feel good about it. But some things, no matter how painful, must be done.

Finally, Kyoraku put away that trace of sadness and said indifferently: "Don't try to be a good child... Whether it's doing favors for others or owing favors, once the war begins... it's all sin."

…

"The Espada are all wiped out? Good grief, I went to the trouble of finding them to be Espada, and they're defeated so easily. It seems their strength ultimately isn't worthy of being my subordinates." Aizen frowned slightly as he looked at the defeated and slain Starrk.

Then Aizen said to Gin, who was fighting Shinji, "Gin, that's enough. Come back for now."

Clang!

Hearing Aizen's command, Gin forced Shinji back with a slash and returned to Aizen's side.

"Hey! What's the matter?" Shinji asked.

"Nothing. It's just that now... it's time to settle this," Aizen said calmly.

Shinji asked in confusion: "What do you mea..."

But Aizen ignored Shinji completely. Standing proudly in the void, he looked around at everyone on the battlefield and said proudly: "Well then... let the battle begin. From now on, I alone will take on all of you. Everyone in the Gotei 13, and... you few half-baked Arrancar... all of you attack!"

At the end, Aizen glanced disdainfully at the Vizard.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hearing Aizen's provocative words, before the Gotei 13 Shinigami could react, the Vizard couldn't contain themselves first, gathering one by one beside Shinji.

"Aizen..." Hiyori looked at Aizen with a face full of resentment.

"Don't get close to him casually!!" Seeing Hiyori's angry expression, Shinji feared she might impulsively approach Aizen.

"With Aizen's strength, if you get close casually, you'll be killed instantly!" Shinji warned.

"I know that very well," Hiyori said through gritted teeth.

"Idiot, I'm not talking to you... Don't just stand there gritting your teeth, Hiyori." Shinji looked at Hiyori with a worried expression.

"As expected of Captain Hirako..." Aizen suddenly spoke. "You really do care about your subordinates as always. However..."

"...saying that getting close casually will get one killed is really funny! The way you say it... makes it sound like if you don't get close, you won't be killed." Aizen scoffed disdainfully.

"But the truth is, whether you get close casually, get close cautiously, or don't get close at all, the result is the same. Because the result I speak of is not something that will happen in the future, but... a tragic fact already predetermined for you."

Hearing Aizen's contemptuous words, the Vizard became furious, unable to hold back and about to charge at Aizen.

"Don't fall for it! This is Aizen's provocation!!" Shinji warned loudly.

But a dangerous smile tugged at the corner of Aizen's mouth: "What is there to be afraid of? Weren't you all already dead... on that night a hundred and ten years ago?"

"Aizen!!!"

Aizen's words undoubtedly touched the Vizard's reverse scale. So the impulsive Hiyori couldn't hold back first. Shouting, she charged at Aizen!

"Hiyori!" Shinji tried to stop Hiyori, but she wouldn't listen.

Whoosh!

Just as Hiyori was about to reach Aizen, a blade suddenly pierced through her body from behind.

Looking closely, it was Gin, not far away, who had suddenly attacked, using his Shikai. His extended Zanpakuto blade had pierced straight through Hiyori's body.

"One down..." Gin said with a squint and a smile.

Squelch-

With that, Gin's Zanpakuto blade shortened again, withdrawing from Hiyori's body and returning to its normal size.

Hiyori could no longer stand. Her small body fell weakly towards the ground below.

"Hiyori!!!"

Shinji shouted, quickly chasing after the falling Hiyori.

Whoosh!

Shinji caught Hiyori in his arms and gently placed her on the roof of a building.

"Hiyori! Hiyori! Are you alright!!" Shinji called out in a panic.

"I'm... sorry... Shinji... I knew... Aizen was using a provocation... but I just... couldn't swallow my pride..."

Hiyori said intermittently, spitting blood.

"Hiyori! Don't talk anymore!" To prevent Hiyori's condition from worsening, Shinji quickly stopped her from speaking.

"Can someone... can someone save Hiyori!!" Shinji looked around the field and shouted helplessly.

"Let me take a look, Hirako Shinji-san." Unohana's figure flashed, appearing beside Shinji.

"Unohana Retsu-san!" Shinji said with surprise. "Please, save Hiyori!"

"Yes." Unohana nodded and immediately began to apply Kaido to Hiyori.

"Unohana-san... I'll leave Hiyori in your care for now."

Shinji entrusted Hiyori to Unohana, then stood up. His expression turned ice-cold, filled with murderous intent, as he looked at Aizen in the sky.