Chapter 257: Bankai.

Chapter 257: Bankai.

If you wanna read ahead go to /cornbringer

Right now I'm on chapter 231 in Patreôn

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[Sosuke Aizen. POV.]

The sand under my feet shifted as I pushed myself to stand, my senses sharpening, focused entirely on the figure before me. The very air seemed to hum with tension, with both of us on guard, gauging each other's next moves. Adam's spiritual energy still resonated through the atmosphere, evidence of the immense power he had just demonstrated.

His Zanpakuto... was a force of nature, holding a power that could arguably rival, or perhaps even surpass the inferno of Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka. A dangerous thought, but an honest one.

If I hadn't honed my control over my spiritual energy throughout the years, if I had been even a fraction less precise, that technique would've been my end.

Watching him from across the distance, there was a clear message in his stance. He wasn't afraid. And why would he be? With a Zanpakuto like that, the world bent to his will.

Yet, as foreboding as that thought was, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Because the more I witnessed Adam's capabilities, the clearer the picture became. The raw spiritual pressure he exhibited, the unparalleled might of his Zanpakuto... It was all proving to be more than sufficient for what I had in mind for him.

Every clash so far, every display of power, was just further confirmation that Adam's soul would be the ideal catalyst for what I was looking for. The Hogyoku's true potential, its evolution, rested on souls of immense power. And in Adam, I saw more than just power, I saw the essence of the Soul King itself!

But it appeared that securing that outcome wasn't going to be as straightforward as I would've wanted to be. It was evident now that underestimating him even a little would be a fatal endeavor. Every move from here on had to be calculated, precise.

I couldn't let myself be caught by surprise. So far, I could deal with everything he was throwing at me, but that was only his Shikai.

I had no idea how powerful his Bankai was, meaning that I had to operate under the assumption that it was under my best interest to avoid being caught in its power.

There was always the Hogyoku, which I could use if things got complicated, however, using it without being connected to it completely wasn't ideal, seeing as it would drain a considerable amount of my own power to generate the result I wanted.

The smaller the wish, the less the amount of energy it required. There was a lot one could do with a well worded desire, a lot if one knew how to interact with the Hogyoku.

I smiled at the thought.

Perhaps I was getting in over my head, thinking this fight would push me to the point I would need to use the Hogyoku.

Not that it mattered, even if he forced me to use the Hogyoku to escape what could be certain death. My Bankai would seal his fate, though I would prefer it if it didn't come to that.

After all, there is a reason why I never use my Bankai. In most situations... it was more of a liability than anything else.

Again, I was getting in over my head, for reasons I didn't quite understand for the lack of more information, he had yet to show any signs of intending to use his Bankai.

"This was fun," Adam said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "But as much as I'm enjoying our clash, I'm ending it."

I was someone accustomed to sensing and manipulating spiritual energy, yet here, in this space, there was nothing to sense. No reiatsu, no time, no space. I felt... detached, disconnected from reality. Even Kyoka Suigetsu, my trusted Zanpakuto, was gone.

This was an environment where my senses were rendered useless. Every ounce of my being screamed at the unnaturalness of it all. It was, in every sense of the word, an antithesis to existence.

He was truly a terrifying individual.

To think his Zanpakuto would hold such an ability.

"In this void, you will meet your end, Sosuke Aizen," I heard Adam's voice echo throughout the void, in a way that couldn't be described as sound traveling, but more of a feeling reaching me.

You used your trump card, Adam, now it's my turn to do the same.

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[Adam C. POV]

As the aftereffects of my technique resonated, a certain stillness descended upon Hueco Mundo. The oppressive spiritual pressure that marked Aizen's presence had dissipated, leaving nothing behind.

I had won.

For all his skill, smarts, and plans, I had killed Aizen, earning my way back home.

With Aizen obliterated, my mission here was complete. Meaning my time here was finally over. Taking a deep breath, I deactivated my Bankai as my blade returned to its sealed state.

The battle had taken its toll on me, despite how short it had been, both physically and mentally, but there was no time to rest. From afar, I could feel the others were still out there, locked in combat with Aizen's army of Arrancar.

And while I had done my part, it was time to shift the focus and ensure our victory.

But just as I began to redirect my thoughts and energies, a cold, familiar voice shattered the stillness.

"Bankai."

My heart froze. That voice. It couldn't be...

Turning around, my eyes met the very much intact form of Aizen, standing amidst the white sand, his gaze locked onto me.

How?! How had he survived the Abyssal Void?!

Abyssal Void is a place where nothing could persist, he had been trapped inside for more than enough time to be destroyed into nothingness!

As my thoughts rushed through every possible explanation, I saw it... in his left hand, a small, brilliant orb, vibrating with power. The Hogyoku.

"Benikumo-kyo no eien no nemuri."