At the same time—
inside the Darkness Barrier, several hundred meters above the battlefield.
Aizen and Gin Ichimaru, who had originally been standing in midair watching the ambush unfold, were caught off guard.
Because the Dark Travel Technique looked almost identical to Suzumushi's Bankai, both of them had paused for a brief moment in shock.
By the time the darkness spread toward them—
even though they sensed danger—
they had already reacted too late.
The expanding black barrier swallowed them whole.
Standing near the edge of the battlefield, the two of them were instantly enveloped.
And just like Tōsen Kaname—
their five senses were completely sealed.
Sight.
Hearing.
Smell.
Touch.
Even spiritual pressure perception was blocked.
Everything vanished.
They were plunged into absolute darkness.
Aizen's Situation
The entire world suddenly turned black.
Aizen had never experienced anything like this before.
Even though he stood at the pinnacle of Shinigami power—
for a brief moment, he still found it difficult to adapt.
The sudden loss of all five senses was profoundly unnatural.
After all—
for hundreds of years, Aizen had always been the one controlling others' senses through Kyōka Suigetsu.
Never once had he been the one caught inside someone else's illusion.
If not for his immense confidence in his own overwhelming Reiatsu, his reaction might have resembled Tōsen's earlier panic.
Perhaps even his mentality would have collapsed.
Inside the darkness, Aizen remained calm and began analyzing.
"Although I don't know how Bai Chen managed to replicate Suzumushi's Bankai…"
"This darkness barrier likely isn't permanent."
"With sufficient Reiatsu… it should be possible to break it."
A faint glint flashed through his hidden gaze.
But when he thought of Tōsen, a trace of concern surfaced.
Under these conditions—
Aizen could no longer control everything.
Because his five senses were sealed.
He had no idea what was happening to Tōsen.
Was he still alive?
Had Bai Chen discovered the ambush and killed him?
Or had Hollow White accidentally cut him down in the darkness?
Everything had become uncertain.
Every variable had become unknown.
And what made the situation even worse—
Aizen could not determine whether his own position had been exposed.
It was entirely possible that—
at this very moment—
Bai Chen was standing nearby in the darkness, watching him silently.
After considering all possibilities, Aizen made a decision.
He remained completely motionless.
Unless genuine danger appeared—
he would not move.
Suppressing his presence was the safest option.
Gin's Opportunity
Not far away—
Gin Ichimaru, who had instinctively retreated slightly when the darkness spread, was also thinking rapidly.
With his senses sealed and the world plunged into silence—
an extremely bold idea suddenly appeared in his mind.
"So Bai Chen had a trump card like this…"
"A technique that can cover the entire sky in an instant."
"This is far stronger than Suzumushi's Bankai."
Gin slowly narrowed his eyes.
His gaze turned toward the left front direction—the place where he remembered Aizen standing earlier.
"If everyone is in the same situation…"
"If all five senses are sealed…"
"Then Aizen should currently be in the exact same state as me."
For the first time—
Gin stopped calling him "Captain Aizen."
Instead—
he called him simply Aizen.
Inside the endless darkness, Gin removed the fox-like mask he had worn for nearly a century.
His true expression finally surfaced.
Cold.
Determined.
Filled with murderous intent.
The Gamble
The thought continued forming in his mind.
"If Aizen hasn't moved…"
"If he's still standing in the same place…"
"Then all I need is one strike."
Gin's heart began beating faster.
His eyes burned with dangerous excitement.
If Kamishini no Yari could pierce Aizen at close range—
even for a single instant—
then when the blade retracted, the hidden poison shard would remain inside Aizen's body.
That would be enough.
A single successful strike.
And the man he had waited a hundred years to kill—
would finally die.
The idea was reckless.
The probability of success was extremely low.
But—
inside this world where everyone's senses were sealed—
this was the only moment Aizen had ever been vulnerable.
A once-in-a-century opportunity.
If Gin dared to gamble—
he might succeed.
If he failed—
Aizen would kill him instantly.
But at this moment—
Gin's eyes flashed with madness.
Because this opportunity…
might never come again.
His hand slowly moved inside his sleeve.
And gently—
quietly—
rested on the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
Faced with such a heaven-sent chance—
even Gin Ichimaru couldn't help but feel tempted.
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