On the other hand, Ailin also wanted to see if Aizen could still reach his peak with his intervention.
If Aizen managed to survive his battle with Ichigo Kurosaki and continued to evolve, Ailin wouldn't mind holding back Kisuke Urahara, Isshin Kurosaki, and Yoruichi Shihōin, waiting for Aizen to reach his peak before engaging in a final showdown with him.
Ailin's clone returned to the 5th Division, continuing to impersonate Aizen and using the Hōgyoku to increase his reiatsu.
Although it was only half of the Hōgyoku, it was still quite effective in enhancing Ailin's reiatsu until the clone reached the limits of a Shinigami.
However, the limit of this Hōgyoku was precisely that - the limits of a Shinigami.
Even Aizen, its creator, couldn't use the power of this half-formed Hōgyoku to break through those limits.
Nevertheless, Ailin was quite satisfied with this.
The reiatsu of a Shinigami at their limits... he would need to create at least ten "strongest" level Zanpakutō to achieve such an increase in his own reiatsu.
So far, including the weapons Ailin had personally created, there were only a little over thirty Zanpakutō of the "strongest" level.
Combined with the vast number of other Zanpakutō, Ailin's current reiatsu had already taken the first step beyond the limits of a Shinigami.
Using Aizen as a comparison, he was now at the level of Aizen after being ambushed by Gin Ichimaru and merging completely with the Hōgyoku.
The gap in reiatsu between the limits of a Shinigami and the Soul King was immense. In order to quantify this difference, Ailin divided this stage into three steps.
The first step was the limits of a Shinigami. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Zaraki in his complete form were both at this stage.
After releasing their Zanpakutō, Yamamoto and Zaraki could temporarily surpass the limits of a Shinigami, possessing power far exceeding that of other Shinigami.
Retsu Unohana's Zanpakutō ability was somewhat weaker. After activating Bankai, it couldn’t push her beyond the limits of a Shinigami’s reiatsu.
Aizen after his initial fusion with the Hōgyoku, as well as the members of the Royal Guard, were also at this stage.
Although they were incredibly strong, surpassing the limits of a Shinigami, they were still a long way from reaching the first step.
The members of the Royal Guard, after completely releasing their seals and activating their full Bankai, could reach the first step.
The four Sternritter who had been resurrected by Auswählen were also at this stage.
Yhwach, after regaining his power, was also at this stage.
Ailin's current normal state had also reached this stage.
The second step was Yhwach after activating the first Auswählen. Absorbing the reiatsu of almost ninety percent of the Quincy, Yhwach had successfully ascended to the second step.
The third step was Yhwach after regaining all of his power and fully restoring his "Almighty" ability.
Ichibei Hyōsube, the founder of the Royal Guard, was also at this stage.
However, due to the conflicting nature of their abilities, Ichibei Hyōsube was ultimately defeated by Yhwach and killed.
Ascending one more step would reach the pinnacle of the Bleach world - the Soul King.
Yhwach had only reached this level after absorbing most of the Soul King's fragmented body.
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He was the second person in this world to reach the top after the Soul King.
However, perhaps because he hadn't absorbed the Soul King's most important components, the Soul King's Key and the Soul King's Heart, Yhwach's foundation in this realm was far weaker than the Soul King's. In the end, he was slain by Ichigo Kurosaki with the combined efforts of everyone.
Perhaps when the main storyline began, after Ailin's left arm returned, his reiatsu would ascend another step, reaching the level of Yhwach after Auswählen.
...
While his clone was using the Hōgyoku to enhance his reiatsu, Ailin's main body had already left the Kuchiki Manor and headed towards Rukongai.
After a few flashes, Ailin appeared above a certain district in Rukongai.
He raised his index finger above his head, and a black circle formed at his fingertip, composed of Kidō incantations.
At the same time, Ailin chanted the Kidō spell.
"Heart of the South, Eye of the North, Fingertip of the West, Toe of the East… Gather in the wind, disperse in the rain…
Bakudō #58 - Kakushitsuijaku!”
White light erupted from the black circle above Ailin’s head.
His reiatsu spread along with the expanding light.
Then, one reiatsu signature after another emerged within Ailin's perception, scattered throughout Rukongai.
Unfamiliar, familiar, strong, weak...
Heavy, murderous, fiery, cold...
Suddenly, Ailin’s eyes lit up.
"Found it!"
He dispelled the reiatsu maintaining the Bakudō, and the Kidō incantations in the air dissolved into reishi.
Ailin's figure flickered through the air, flying towards the location he had just sensed.
...
It was a remote location at the foot of a mountain, with only two dilapidated wooden huts standing side by side.
As Ailin arrived, he quickly noticed the unusual atmosphere surrounding the area.
A chilling aura emanated from one of the huts, spreading outwards.
This coldness might not be much for a Shinigami.
However, for ordinary souls living in Rukongai, it was no different from the depths of winter.
Ailin raised his index finger to his chest, then swept it downwards, chanting softly.
"Bakudō #26 – Kyokkō."
Instantly, a multicolored halo enveloped the other hut, concealing it from view.
Of course, Ailin's primary purpose in using Kyokkō here wasn't to hide the hut, but to use its barrier to shield the elderly woman inside from the chilling aura.
Although Kyokkō was only a concealment Bakudō, as the 26th Bakudō, its barrier also possessed a certain degree of defensive power.
At the very least, this level of coldness couldn't penetrate it.
After taking these precautions, Ailin landed in front of the dilapidated hut and gently knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Hmm, is that you, Granny?"
A drowsy, childish voice came from inside. Ailin replied, “No, I'm not your granny. I'm just a Shinigami passing by.”
"Huh?"
Startled by the unfamiliar voice, young Tōshirō Hitsugaya instantly jolted awake, his drowsiness vanishing.
Rubbing his eyes, he opened the door.
"Who are you?"
Suddenly, Tōshirō's eyes widened. His grandmother's hut had vanished?
Instantly alarmed, he rushed past Ailin, ignoring him, and ran towards where his grandmother's hut had been.
"Granny, Granny..."
"Thump..."
"Ah!"
Running at full speed, Tōshirō felt as if he had collided with something, a large bump forming on his forehead.
He reached out hesitantly, clearly sensing an invisible barrier blocking his path.
"What is this?"
“It’s Kidō, a type of barrier technique.”
Ailin appeared behind Tōshirō and reached out, his hand passing through the transparent space. Multicolored light flickered along his handprint, then dissipated into reishi.
As Ailin tore apart the Kyokkō barrier, the hidden hut appeared before Tōshirō.
“Granny, Granny…”
Seeing the familiar hut, Tōshirō, barefoot, rushed forward and pushed open the door.
“Is that… Tōshirō? What’s wrong?”
Following Tōshirō inside, Ailin saw an elderly woman huddled in a corner, wrapped tightly in her sleeping mat, shivering uncontrollably.
“This gentleman…”
Due to Ailin’s barrier blocking the chilling aura earlier, the woman's condition was slightly better than usual.
Seeing Ailin behind Tōshirō, she assumed he had gotten into trouble. She quickly knelt and kowtowed to Ailin.
“Kind sir, Tōshirō is a good boy. If he has offended you in any way, please forgive him this time. I, I beg you…”
The anxious woman was about to continue kowtowing, but Ailin appeared beside her in a flash and helped her up.
“Madam, you misunderstand. This child hasn’t offended me. However, I am here because of him.”
Turning to Tōshirō, Ailin said, “Your name is Tōshirō, right? Come in. Now that your granny is awake, I’ll speak to both of you together, so I don’t have to repeat myself.”
Tōshirō was puzzled but obediently entered the hut and knelt opposite his grandmother.
“Madam, have you been feeling cold at night since you took Tōshirō in?”
Tōshirō’s grandmother froze for a moment, then nodded.
“Indeed, kind sir. Ever since I took Tōshirō in, I’ve felt cold while sleeping. But it’s not just at night. Sometimes, I feel cold during the day as well…”
She didn't hide anything from Ailin.
Beside her, Tōshirō tilted his head in confusion. He hadn’t felt cold at all.
“Kind sir, is there something wrong?”
“Yes, but I arrived early enough. Your situation isn't serious yet.”
“Kind sir, please tell me what’s wrong with my granny and how to cure her!”
Although Tōshirō didn’t understand why his grandmother felt cold, he was certain that this "kind sir" had a way to cure her. He bowed deeply to Ailin, pleading for his help.
“There’s no need for treatment in your granny’s case.”
“She just needs you to leave for a while. With proper rest, her body will fully recover.”