Multiverse Skill System

Page 299

"This is going to be troublesome."

The darkness stopped before Yi Shuihan, unable to advance any further, blocked by an invisible force.

"You're still a bit too inexperienced when it comes to the power of time."

Compared to Barragan, whose control over the power of time was purely accidental and who could only use it but was not even immune to it, Yi Shuihan's understanding of the power of time was far superior. It was as if Barragan was a soldier with a gun but didn't know how the gun was made, while Yi Shuihan had a gun, knew how it was made, and could make his own.

"An unexpected bonus: perhaps I can also control the aging process."

For the first time, a slight smile appeared on Yi Shuihan's face. In fact, if Barragan hadn't taken the initiative to help, he probably wouldn't have thought of using Barragan to comprehend the power of time and thus further improve his application of the power of time.

Time aging is actually time acceleration, which makes things experience hundreds or even thousands of years in a short moment, thus causing enormous damage.

Having already frightened everyone, Yi Shuihan did something that baffled everyone present: he deliberately reached his hand into the giant black curtain, which was clearly suicidal to the others.

The truth is that Yi Shuihan wasn't courting death; he simply wanted to experience this power firsthand to gain a deeper understanding of it.

Therefore, Yi Shuihan removed the protection he had placed on his body, allowing Barragan's power to harm him.

"One second is equivalent to more than 1000 years, and it is also corrosive."

In just a moment, Yi Shuihan judged the effect of Barragan's power based on his body's reaction.

Unlike the Grim Reaper and the Void, Yi Shuihan's lifespan is calculated in tens of thousands of years. So even if thousands of years have passed, it doesn't really matter to him. Therefore, when he took his hand out after 3 seconds and the body remained unchanged, Barragan was completely stunned.

Barragan is a Hollow who is extremely confident in his own power. Even Aizen is not entirely convinced of his abilities. He feels that Aizen is only able to overpower him because of Kyoka Suigetsu. If it were a real head-on battle, he would have the upper hand more often.

Now, seeing his power fail for the first time, the blow to Barragan was enormous. At this moment, Yi Shuihan became an invincible existence in his eyes. He felt no hostility whatsoever, only deep fear.

"Your power is interesting. Interested in following me?"

Yi Shuihan said to Bailergang.

"Trying to recruit my subordinates right in front of me? That's going a bit too far!"

Aizen finally lost his composure. He felt that if he didn't do something, he might end up all alone.

Like Barragan, Aizen was very confident in his Zanpakuto, so even though Yi Shuihan could ignore Barragan's power, he didn't think he would fail. Even if he couldn't be Yi Shuihan's opponent in a short time, Yi Shuihan definitely couldn't do anything to him.

"Bylergan, what do you think? Following me is much more promising than following Aizen. If you perform well, it's possible that you'll advance further, or even several steps."

Ignoring Aizen, Yi Shuihan spoke to Barragan again.

"One step further."

Barragan's expression shifted slightly; he was somewhat tempted, because Yi Shuihan had actually been able to withstand his power head-on, and he didn't doubt Yi Shuihan's words at all.

For Barragan, his strength is basically fixed, and it is virtually impossible for him to advance further. He can only rely on the passage of time to automatically increase his spiritual pressure, which does not greatly help his overall strength. Even Aizen would not dare to say that he could advance further; he only suppresses him with his strength to prevent him from easily rebelling.

In comparison, while Aizen was also a subordinate, he couldn't offer Aizen any benefits, and Aizen's strength wasn't particularly impressive to Aizen. Yi Shuihan, on the other hand, was much better. Aizen not only promised to help Aizen improve his strength, but Aizen's strength also won Aizen's respect. Aizen's heart was tipped towards Yi Shuihan.

However, it wouldn't be right to just agree like that. Barragan glanced at Aizen out of the corner of his eye, and finally fell silent. He was still somewhat wary of Aizen.

"I can lend you the Hogyoku, as long as you can see my Shikai. What do you say?"

Aizen made this condition, though he was just trying it out and didn't really think Yi Shuihan would agree to it.

"can."

Unexpectedly, Yi Shuihan agreed to Aizen's conditions.

Those Espada who knew Aizen's abilities looked at Yi Shuihan strangely, wondering if he was stupid.

Aiolia and the others also knew about Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu, but they didn't feel anything was wrong. They had unconditional trust in Yi Shuihan, and since the Saint Seiya system doesn't rely heavily on the five senses, they weren't as wary of Kyoka Suigetsu as they were of Shinigami or Hollows.

Shatter, you mirage!

Aizen's Zanpakuto shattered.

Yi Shuihan could feel a strange fluctuation spreading from his eyes toward his body, trying to affect his five senses. Moreover, this power did not appear after Aizen's Zanpakuto shattered, but began the moment Yi Shuihan saw Aizen's sword.

"Just as I thought, that blue light was the hypnotic ritual, it was really well hidden."

Chapter 756, Aizen's Desperate Gamble

At the same time that Yi Shuihan was tricked, Aiolia and the others were also tricked. Although they had closed their eyes just before Aizen recited the release incantation, the Shinigami's information was ultimately inaccurate, and they did not know the true hypnotic ritual of Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu. Therefore, Aiolia and the others were promptly tricked.

Well, it's really not a big deal. As the Saints of Athena, they will soon break through to the Seventh Sense. When they put on their Gold Cloths, Aizen's Zanpakuto will have no effect on them at all.

Even now, if Aizen were to actually kill them, in that life-or-death moment, they might unleash their inner power and completely comprehend the ability to fight through their sixth sense, abandoning their five senses.

Speaking of Aizen's complete hypnosis, it's still a level below Shaka's. Shaka can directly deprive his opponent of all six senses, while Aizen only affects the five senses.

Shaka's eyes are still closed, so Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu has no effect. Even if he had his eyes open, Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu would still be ineffective.

Yi Shuihan suddenly took a step to his left, a move that seemed inexplicable to others. But at that moment, Aizen's words startled everyone.

"How did you know?"

"You saw it! You're standing so close, and you're using such a childish attack method. Did you think I couldn't see it?"

Yi Shuihan turned her head, but it was towards the upper right. In the eyes of Aiolia and the Espada, there was nothing there.

Aizen, who was out of sight of others, suddenly disappeared and appeared in the direction Yi Shuihan was looking.

"You're completely unaffected."

Aizen stared at Yi Shuihan in shock, as if he were truly terrified.

"Stop playing, okay? It's so much fun!"

Yi Shuihan reached behind him and grabbed, and then everyone saw Aizen, who was in shock, disappear and reappear behind Yi Shuihan, his Zanpakuto in a stabbing stance, but Yi Shuihan caught the blade.

Seeing this series of unexpected events, Aiolia and the others were dumbfounded, secretly cursing Aizen's treachery.

The Espada and the others felt a chill run down their spines; they were also afraid of Aizen's unpredictable appearances and disappearances.

Just when everyone thought that Aizen was finally real, Yi Shuihan turned his head again and simply looked at the empty ceiling.

"Isn't it?"

Everyone was taken aback at first, then realized that Aizen might be there. Looking at Aizen holding the sword again, they couldn't tell that it was fake.

Yi Shuihan released his grip, and the sword immediately fell to the ground due to the lack of gravity. The Aizen who seemed so real to them also vanished as a phantom.

"It seems you really are unaffected."

Aizen's voice came from the ceiling, but only Yi Shuihan could clearly see Aizen's presence.

"What do you think?" Yi Shuihan asked rhetorically, extending his hand. "You've already seen the Shikai, so give me the Hogyoku!"

Aizen's expression darkened, his eyes flashing. He was extremely unwilling to give the Hogyoku to Yi Shuihan, but if he didn't, a great battle would inevitably break out, and he had no confidence in defeating Yi Shuihan.

"You borrowed the Bengyu simply to heal her, and I can help you heal her."

This means that Aizen has already given in, preferring to spend more time restoring the energy of the Hogyoku rather than going to war with Yi Shuihan completely.

"Give it to me, or I'll take it myself."

If Aizen had said that from the beginning, Yi Shuihan might have considered it. But now that things have come to this point, Aizen has no choice.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Aizen unleashed his spiritual pressure for the first time, a spiritual pressure far stronger than that of an ordinary Shinigami captain, making it difficult for the Espada who had not yet released their Zanpakuto to breathe.

Under Aizen's spiritual pressure, the ground began to tremble and rumble.

"kill him."

Yi Shuihan originally thought Aizen was about to unleash his ultimate attack, but instead Aizen suddenly uttered a sentence and then used Shunpo to move far away from Yi Shuihan.

As expected of the Espada, who had been trained by Aizen for a long time, they hesitated for only a breath before releasing their blades.

"Hunt him, wolves."

"Rot away, Skeleton Emperor!"

"Conquer him, Queen Mermaid!"

"Let's seal it off, Black-Clad Polisher."

"..."

Powerful spiritual pressure surged into the sky, the pillars of spiritual pressure piercing through the ceiling, instantly turning the room into an open-air space.

Death's stronghold

"This is... the spiritual pressure of a Espada!"

"Who is fighting them, forcing them to this point? This level of spiritual pressure... they've all released their attacks, haven't they?"

"All captains and vice-captains of the Grim Reapers, listen to my command and accompany me to Las Noches."

Old man Yamamoto made a decisive choice to go to the scene, showing the momentum of a final showdown.

The scene then shifts to Hueco Mundo.

Yi Shuihan looked at the nine Espada who had already released their blades without changing his expression, showing no sign of tension.

"If you really want to be my enemy, you will die."

As soon as the word "death" was uttered, Yi Shuihan's figure vanished from the spot, and then Yi Shuihan reappeared beside the nine Ten Blades at the same time.

"Bang bang bang..."

Nine Espada were instantly knocked down and unable to get up, but they were not all dead.

It's not that Yi Shuihan lacked the ability to kill them; it's just that he held back, after all, he wanted to leave the Grim Reapers something to do.

The battle was over before it even began, and it ended so abruptly.

"So, I'll ask you one last time, will you lend me the Hogyoku or not?"

The emotionless voice shook Aizen to his core, and the immense pressure made him feel powerless.

"How could this be? I am Aizen, the king who will stand in the heavens."

Roaring in his heart, Aizen suddenly took out the Hogyoku and pressed it hard against his chest.

With no other options, Aizen chose to fuse with the Hogyoku, even though he knew that the fusion might lead to some unexpected problems.

The Hogyoku and Aizen merged into one, and Aizen immediately felt the power of the Hogyoku. Aizen, who desperately craved power, received a response from the Hogyoku, and his body began to evolve to a higher level.

In a short moment, Aizen's strength increased dramatically. If he was only around Bronze 7 before, he is now Bronze 8 and is still growing rapidly. He will soon reach Bronze 9.

Chapter 757, The Power of the Hogyoku

The power of the Hogyoku is immense. It can absorb and materialize the hearts of things around it, and protect the host's body from death and destruction. When the host's abilities reach their limit or their life is threatened, the Hogyoku can allow the host to endlessly evolve to the next realm.

It can be said that with the Hogyoku, there is the possibility of infinite evolution. Of course, the Hogyoku is not invincible. The Hogyoku itself needs corresponding energy, that is, soul, to function. Moreover, if the owner of the Hogyoku is not determined, the Hogyoku will not be able to exert its effect.

In the original work, Aizen lost confidence after being defeated by Ichigo Kurosaki, which caused his evolution to stop, and he was then sealed away by Kisuke Urahara and Ichigo Kurosaki.

Aizen's aura finally stabilized at the peak of Bronze 8-star, and he was about to break through to the level of 9-star. At this time, Aizen was almost the same as the first form of the Hogyoku mode in Yi Shuihan's memory. He still maintained the Shinigami state, except that the Hogyoku that was flashing with blue-black light could be seen on his chest.

His strength had increased tenfold compared to before, giving Aizen renewed confidence in facing Yi Shuihan, and he regained his arrogant and aloof demeanor.

"You'd better be able to take out the Hogyoku, otherwise I'll have no choice but to kill you."

Yi Shuihan actually had the ability to stop Aizen from merging with the Hogyoku. Putting aside everything else, he could simply freeze time and take the Hogyoku away the moment Aizen took it out.

The reason he didn't do that was because Yi Shuihan himself wanted to see just how much of a role the Bengyu could play.

As Aizen evolved, Yi Shuihan was also paying attention to the changes in the Hogyoku. In his perception, Aizen was getting stronger, but the aura of the Hogyoku was getting weaker, probably because it had consumed a lot of energy.

Based on the ratio of energy consumed by the Hogyoku to Aizen's increased strength, roughly half of the energy was completely converted into power by Aizen. As for the other half, there is no clue as to how it was obtained; it is estimated that it was lost during the conversion process.

Don't underestimate this half conversion rate; in fact, it's quite remarkable. After all, it completely skips the step of slowly converting energy into strength. And originally, it would have been virtually impossible for Aizen to continue progressing to this level! This result is no worse than the empowerment.

"It seems that in the original work, Aizen's failure was not only due to his own doubts about his strength caused by Kurosaki Ichigo, but also because the energy of the Hogyoku was consumed too much due to his repeated evolutions."

Based on the residual energy that Yi Shuihan sensed in the Hogyoku, he estimated that if nothing unexpected happened, Aizen might have a one-third chance of advancing to Silver rank once the Hogyoku was completely depleted of energy, but more likely he would remain at the peak of Bronze 9-star.

If Aizen wanted to become a Silver Saint, he would probably have to slaughter all the Shinigami and Hollows in his original world.

From this perspective, while the Hogyoku's power is immense, it is also a major energy consumer. Moreover, it is only in worlds like Bleach that the Heavenly Dao is not manifest. If Aizen were to appear in the prehistoric world and try to use the Hogyoku to devour souls and become stronger, he might be purified by divine punishment in no time.

Therefore, the Hogyoku system is still inferior to the Yi Shui Han system.

"You still can't see through him?"

Aizen was quite satisfied with his current power. He was initially dismissive of Yi Shuihan's words and planned to get revenge immediately. However, after sensing Yi Shuihan's aura, he discovered that it was exactly the same as before he fused with the Hogyoku, which made him waver.

However, since things had come to this point, Aizen had no choice but to fight. Besides, he wasn't without a backup plan. He believed that if his power was insufficient, the Hogyoku would help him continue to evolve until he could eventually defeat Yi Shuihan.

Aizen hadn't even made a move yet, but Kaname Tosen had already done so.

"Swastika"

The spiritual pressure released by the Zanpakuto transformed into a massive ellipsoidal barrier that instantly enveloped Yi Shuihan.