Not a Mob: Psycho

"You...you wretched beast...!" hissed Aizen, his legs and body trembling as he stood shakily a few meters from Ohta, the latter smiling menacingly as blood leaked from his scalp, parting at his nose and dripping from his eyebrows.
"What's the matter?" asked Ohta. "You believed you had what it took to become a God, but when the odds aren't stacked in your favor, you can't even stand tall against a single human..."
Clenching his teeth, Aizen resisted the pain radiating from his crotch and charged toward Ohta, nearly catching him off guard as he slid across the ground without any initial movement.
Dodging Aizen's initial spear-like punch, Ohta attempted to grab his arm and perform a shoulder throw but was thwarted by a sharp impact to the back of his head. Aizen had headbutted him in the brief interval when he turned. Then, using the brief moment he was stunned, the furious, hazel-haired man put Ohta in a chokehold, screaming, "Die...!"
Fortunately for Ohta, he managed to tuck his chin before Aizen could get a good hold on his neck. When Aizen shouted, he grabbed the man's arm and threw his head back with as much force as he could muster, causing a sharp pain to radiate through his skull but succeeding in bashing Aizen's nose, forcing him to let go.
Intending to take advantage of Aizen's shock, Ohta turned around only to receive a devastating kick to his side, causing him to stumble. However, due to the adrenaline coursing through his veins, he was able to bounce back instantly, retaliating with a fierce series of strikes that kept Aizen on the backfoot but ultimately failed to break through his guard.
When Ohta invariably had to pull away to catch his breath, Aizen charged forward with similar passion, landing a lightning-fast jab square in the former's face before following it up with a veritable flurry of swift, precise strikes. Ohta managed to get up his guard, weaving, sidestepping, and ducking under some of Aizen's attacks, but the majority found purchase, stacking up damage and draining his stamina.
"Just die already...!" screamed Aizen, throwing his full body weight behind a decisive right straight. Ohta attempted to meet the punch head-on with his forehead, but Aizen anticipated his move, retracting his fist at the last moment before transitioning into a devastating knee strike as he grabbed the sides of Ohta's head.
Though he managed to get his hands under him to protect his face, Ohta soon found himself pinned to the ground after Aizen stepped back, pulling him by his Usekh. Then, like an executioner, he attempted to drop his elbow on the back of Ohta's neck, intending to cripple him. Instead, he found himself gritting his teeth as Ohta abruptly lunged forward, tackling him off his feet and causing him to land heavily on his back.
After rolling around for several seconds in a struggle for dominance, Ohta and Aizen were exhausted and breathing heavily. Blood flowed freely from their wounds, particularly the former, as they traded brutal blows with the ferocity of wild animals. When everything was said and done, it was Aizen who managed to get the upper hand, locking Ohta in a variation of a rear-naked choke as he exhaled a crazed chuckle, straining the muscles of his arms in an attempt to squeeze the life out of his opponent.
Spurred by Ohta's thrashing, Aizen's grip tightened as he screamed, "You did well, Yamada Ohta! This isn't how I imagined our climactic battle, but it was surprisingly fun! Now die...!"
Giving up on pulling Aizen's arms away from his neck, Ohta surprised his grinning opponent by abruptly reaching up, grabbing his head, and trying to stab him in the eyes with his thumbs. Aizen shook his head from side to side to avoid being blinded, but the more he struggled, the less pressure he could exert on Ohta's neck.
Demonstrating his desperation was far more 'extreme' than Aizen's, Ohta temporarily gave up on gouging the man's eyes out and instead closed his fingers around the former's ears, tearing and twisting without mercy. An ordinary person would have released him right then and there, but Aizen managed to fight through the pain, a loud, whining groan emanating from his throat as he closed his eyes, gnashed his teeth, and tightened his grip.
Stating the obvious, Anpu remarked, ("You're dying...") prompting Ohta to internally scream, ("No fucking shit...!") as he reached up to grab Aizen's hair, violently pulling it as he arched his back in a vain attempt to alleviate the pressure around his neck.
Gritting his teeth hard enough to cause his gums to bleed, Aizen resisted the pain from his scalp, determined to choke the life out of Ohta. He very nearly succeeded, but just as Ohta's struggles began to cease, a familiar figure appeared next to them, veiled in a pastel blue aura that contrasted their otherwise black surroundings.
For a brief moment, Ohta and Aizen ceased their struggles, staring at the new arrival in shock. Even Anpu and his green-skinned counterpart had looks of disbelief as, for the duration of the Trial, the domain of Anubis's Judgment was 'supposed' to be inviolable.
"Kurosaki Ichigo..." muttered Aizen, prompting the orange-haired youth to ask, "What's going on here...?" with a neutral mask that belied his extreme confusion. He had just spent the past 2000 hours unlocking a power that would allow him to strike down Aizen in his 'transcendent' form, but when he arrived, he found his greatest enemy and rival fighting each other like a pair of street toughs...
Since he could not speak, Ohta stared daggers at Ichigo while slapping Aizen's arm. He was barely clinging to consciousness at this point, so if the mindless ginger just kept staring at him, there was a good chance he would wake up in a hospital bed long after the fight had concluded.
Realizing that Ohta was asking for his help, Ichigo muttered, "Right..." before casually stabbing Aizen in the forearm with the shadowy black blade fused to his right hand.
As Aizen screamed and released his grip on Ohta, the green-skinned man across from Anpu declared, "The sanctity of the Trail has been violated. A penalty shall be applied to all parties..." in a hoarse, incredibly aged voice.
Immediately after the man had finished speaking, a symbol resembling a four-tiered Bishop from chess appeared on the foreheads of Ohta, Aizen, and Ichigo, glowing like a brand. In the latter's case, however, it failed to penetrate the aura veiling his body, ultimately disappearing as the space around them returned to normal.
"What is this...?" muttered Aizen, reaching up to touch his forehead as the Hogyoku in his chest gradually regained its light. He could tell that Ohta's power was no longer in effect, but his Reiatsu hadn't returned to him.
Before Aizen could make sense of the situation, red lights resembling the sharp ends of stakes erupted from his chest, forming the shape of a cross as a burning sensation permeated his body.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah...!"
As Aizen reeled back, unable to remain standing due to the pain he was experiencing, Kisuke appeared out of thin air, remarking, "Looks like it's finally activated. Though, if I'm being honest, I never expected things to play out quite like this..."
Recognizing the voice of his most hated enemy, Aizen shouted, "Urahara Kisuke! What have you done!? What manner of Kido is this...!?"
"It's very clearly a seal..." replied Kisuke, shifting his gaze to Ohta or, more accurately, the symbol burned into his forehead as he explained, "I knew from the beginning that if you fused with the Hogyoku, it would be nearly impossible to kill you. Thus, during your metamorphosis, back when you were at your most vulnerable, I placed a Kido specially developed to seal the Hogyoku inside of you..."
Returning his gaze to Aizen, Kisuke seemed 'disappointed' as he added, "Never did I suspect that you would be rendered 'human' by Ohta-kun's power..."
"Human...?" parroted Aizen, disbelief marring his face before he shouted, "What are you talking about!? So long as the Hogyoku is embedded within me, I'll continue to grow and evolve without limitation! If you think I'll be defeated and sealed away this easily-"
Before Aizen could finish speaking, cross-shaped stakes of glowing red energy erupted from his back, drastically increasing his pain. He felt like he was simultaneously burning and being twisted apart from within, and he wasn't far off. Kisuke's seal was designed to scatter and constantly redirect the flow of energy in his body, so as the Hogyoku did its best to restore his Reiatsu, Aizen's muscles, nerves, and bones twisted within his flesh, contorting him painfully as a bone-colored mass erupted from the base of his feet, stretching, twisting, and compressing his body more than ten meters before forming a trio of interlinked crosses that hovered in the sky.
("Holy fucking shit...") thought Ohta, ignoring the burning sensation from his forehead as he stared at the brutal scene with wide eyes. He had no sympathy for Aizen, but watching someone having their body twisted and stretched like playdough was jarring. If Aizen managed to survive due to the Hogyoku's influence, he would be in a truly incomprehensible amount of pain...
"Do me a favor..." said Ohta, covering his right nostril to snort out a clot of blood before joking, "If you ever have to seal me away, don't use such an 'extreme' method..."
"I'm certain that won't be necessary," mused Kisuke, regaining his usual 'mysterious' smile as he looked at the Djed symbol on Ohta's forehead and added, "Rather, as far as I can tell, it appears you've done a number on yourself. I'm guessing that seal is a side-effect of utilizing a power you weren't prepared for...?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta, seeing no reason to explain things in detail. He also didn't blame Ichigo for intervening as, if the orange-haired youth hadn't arrived, he'd likely be dead with most of his power absorbed by Aizen. If that had happened, there was a decent chance that nothing could have stopped his ascent...
Shifting his gaze to Ichigo, Ohta remarked, ("Well, almost nothing. This brat got a hell of a lot stronger in a very short period. I can't even sense his power anymore...")
Though most of his power had been sealed away, Ohta could at least 'feel' the Reiatsu radiating from Kisuke's body. When he looked at Ichigo, however, he felt nothing, almost like he was staring off into empty space or gazing up at the sky of Hueco Mundo.
Raising his brows, Ichigo asked, "Are you good? Need help standing...?"
"I've been better, and no," replied Ohta, forcing himself to his feet despite his body's protests. Most of the ribs on the left side of his body were at least fractured, and he had broken three fingers in his desperate attempts to get Aizen to release him. However, with his options being walking back with his head raised and being carried, he would endure.
"So, what's with the weird ass chain...?" asked Ohta, referring to the thin black chain wrapped around Ichigo's right arm, stemming from the black bandages encompassing his fist, preventing him from releasing the blade affixed to his hand.
"Ah..."
Staring down at his Zanpakuto with a forlorn expression, Ichigo revealed, "You're not the only one who went to great lengths to prevent Aizen from triumphing. I fused with my Zanpakuto in preparation for one final attack. Once I end my transformation and return to normal, I'm told my Shinigami powers will disappear completely..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta briefly shifted his gaze to Kisuke, prompting the pale-haired blonde to smile and shake his head, mouthing the words, 'This is for the best.'
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Ohta returned his half-lidded gaze to Ichigo, shrugging his shoulders as he said, "Well, it's not like this is the first time you've lost your power. It might take a while, but I'm sure you'll get them back somehow. Until then, you should focus on your family and finishing High School..."
Seeing no reason to stick around with the mysterious candy store uncle and brooding teenager, Ohta slipped his hands into his pockets and began walking in the direction Rukia and the others should be. Not being able to teleport or use Shunpo was inconvenient, but Ohta pretended not to care as he kept calling out to Anpu and Susu in his mind, only to be greeted by silence...
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(A/N: There are no true victors in war...)

Shortly after Ohta separated from Kisuke and Ichigo, a chill ran up his spine when a familiar voice remarked, "I can't believe someone like you managed to defeat and seal away Aizen. You're one monstrous kid..."
Materializing from the interior of a building, Gin, wearing a black cloak, blocked Ohta's path with his inordinately short Zanpakuto hanging lazily from his right hand.
Opening his usually squinted eyes to reveal stark blue irises, Gin teased, "You look nervous..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta responded with a firm, challenging, "Just get it over with..."
"Hmmmm..."
Bending his elbow, Gin maintained his creepy smile as he tapped his right shoulder with the back of his Zanpakuto, ostensibly considering whether or not to kill Ohta. When he didn't, even after several tens of seconds had passed, the latter snorted and began walking, strolling past Gin without a word.
Waiting until Ohta had taken several steps past him, Gin said, "After this, I'll be heading west. Do us both a favor by telling anyone who asks that I was betrayed by Aizen and used as a sacrifice to destroy the Kototsu..."
Before Ohta could retort or ask any questions, Gin abruptly disappeared, ending the conversation. His swift departure initially confused Ohta, but things became much clearer when nearly every officer-level Shinigami in the Gotei 13 showed up...
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[Thirty-Five Days Later, December 4th, 2001]
Standing at the edge of a koi pond, Ohta, wearing a loose black yukata, a lavender sash, and a haori that was white on the outside and lavender on the inside, remarked, "I could get used to this..." while tossing handfuls of feed to the oversized fish.
Though he had been vested a title and land as a reward for his services, Ohta entrusted the care of his comparably homely estate to the Shihouin Clan while he 'recovered' in Yoruichi's private compound, complete with a courtyard the size of a national park.
Interrupting Ohta's idle reverie, Soifon, wearing the ninja-like attire of a generic Onmitsukidō member, appeared next to him on one knee, head bowed in respect as she said, "Ohta-dono, you asked to be notified when Kurosaki Ichigo awoke. Shall I arrange for your journey to the world of the living...?"
As it had been over a month since Ichigo fell unconscious, Ohta couldn't help muttering, "It's about damn time..." before shifting his gaze to Soifon and asking, "Has Rukia been informed?"
Without raising her head, Soifon replied, "I sent a messenger to inform Captain Kuchiki before coming here. She should receive authorization to travel to the world of the living within the hour."
Nodding in approval, Ohta responded with a curt, "Go ahead and make the preparations..." before returning his attention to the koi pond. Soifon disappeared the moment he did so, once again leaving him 'alone' in the oversized courtyard. In reality, there were at least thirty members of the Onmitsukado's Special Escort Unit watching over and keeping tabs on him at any given moment. After all, while nothing had been made 'official,' he was almost universally regarded as Yoruichi's Consort...
A few minutes after Soifon's departure, a familiar warmth and softness pressed against Ohta's back as a pair of brown arms wrapped around his chest and shoulders.
"I just heard the news. When are we leaving?" asked Yoruichi, rubbing her cheek against Ohta's as she dangled from his back.
"What do you mean by we?" asked Ohta. "You know you can't travel to the Human World in your current state..."
"I'll just go without a Limiter," argued Yoruichi. "I'm good at suppressing my Reiatsu, so Old Man Yama shouldn't have any problems with it. Or are you worried about something happening to me during a day trip~?"
Licking the side of Ohta's face, Yoruichi huskily mused, "For someone who claims not to care about kids, you sure do fret a lot..."
"..."
Though he wanted to retort by pointing out he had only 'resonated' with her to expedite the removal of the seal hidden beneath his bangs, Ohta wisely remained silent. He needed to overcome four increasingly difficult trials to have it removed completely, and the first was facing one of his greatest fears by becoming a father. Rukia and Orihime weren't really in a position to become mothers, so by process of elimination and after much discussion, he put a bun in Yoruichi's oven...
"There you go, being all silent and mysterious..." mused Yoruichi, releasing her hold on Ohta's body so he could turn around to face her. When he did, he naturally slipped his hands into the openings in the side of her hakama, grasping her voluminous ass and planting a kiss on her lips before pulling away to say, "You and Rukia were the ones who told me I needed to start acting more dignified..."
"You say with your hands on my ass..." mused Yoruichi, snapping her teeth playfully as Ohta came in for another kiss. She didn't mind public displays of affection, but the Elders would nag her if their subordinates within the Special Escort Unit reported that she and Ohta were 'fooling around' while she was supposed to be on duty. She wouldn't have cared in the past, but the political climate of the Seireitei wasn't the best right now...
Releasing his hold on Yoruichi's ass, albeit after giving it a final squeeze, Ohta asserted, "I'll be fine. Momo and Lisa are bound to follow if Rukia travels to the Human World. With Beecat lurking in the shadows, that's three Captain-level Shinigami and a Lieutenant serving as my escort. Any would-be assassins would have to go through them to get to me..."
Furrowing her brows slightly, Yoruichi whispered, "Just remember, you're basically the lynchpin between three of the Great Noble Clans. Anyone outside our circle of trust should be regarded as an enemy. Never let your guard down..."
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Yoruichi half-turned, stretching her arms over her head as she said, "Well, guess I'll return to my post. Say hi to Rukia and Orihime for me. And be sure to message me if you decide to spend the night or stay at the hotel for an extended period. The old farts will complain if you aren't monitored."
Finished with what she had to say, Yoruichi directed a parting wink at Ohta before disappearing with Shunpo. Ohta felt his power plummet as the distance between them increased, but at least he wasn't powerless like a few weeks prior. Rather, even with an approximated 2.7% of his total power, increasing as Yoruichi brought their child to term, he was still more powerful than most Lieutenants...
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Seeing Ohta enter the 12th Division's Interdimensional Transportation Terminal alongside Soifon, a smile blossomed across Rukia's face as she teased, "You look more like a 'Lord' each time I see you. That outfit suits you." in response to the former's traditional Shihouin Clan attire.
"I could say the same to you..." responded Ohta, referencing Rukia's stylish white haori, possessing a pale-turquoise inlay and the kanji for Go(5) on the back.
Shifting his gaze to the two women standing near the entrance to the fixed Senkaimon, Yadomaru Lisa and Hinamori Momo, Ohta avoided staring at the former's exposed midriff as he said, "I'll be in your girls' care during our trip to the Human World."
Though the bespectacled, ponytailed Lisa responded with a curt nod, Momo, having cut her usually bunned hair into a somewhat messy bob, bowed respectfully and replied, "It is our honor, Yamada-dono..."
"If you say so..." replied Ohta, returning his gaze to Rukia, suppressing the urge to heft her by her ass and kiss her as he asked, "How busy are things back at the Squad 5 barracks? I'm thinking of staying in the Human World until the end of Winter Break."
Nodding in approval, Rukia stated, "That's good. You know Orihime gets lonely easily, so you should spend more time together. As for my Squad, tensions have started to relax, but it will be some time before Lisa and I gain everyone's confidence. Momo has been a tremendous help in that regard, but we shouldn't be gone for more than a few days to avoid our subordinates thinking we are slacking off while they patrol and adhere to the Gotei's post-war training regimen."
"Right..." responded Ohta.
Though the Gotei had managed to fill every vacant Captain position thanks to the Visored, the ease at which Aizen had defeated even the Captain-Commander compelled the newly established Central 46 to implement post-war restructuring policies. This included having Captains actively groom their successors. Now, each Squad had two Lieutenants, one responsible for the usual administrative duties and the other charged with mastering their Bankais to revitalize the Gotei's war potential.
"Don't look so glum," said Rukia, lightly punching Ohta's left bicep as she added, "The stronger the Gotei becomes, the less likely you'll have to take action in the future. There's also talk about adapting some of the Human World's technologies and innovations for use in the Seireitei and the central Rukon Districts, so we might be able to watch movies from across dimensions in the future."
"That would certainly be an improvement..." replied Ohta. As much as he 'enjoyed' roaming around Yoruichi's courtyard and overfeeding koi fish, he missed modern conveniences. He was also seriously contemplating going to the US or popularizing MMA in Japan after failing to bestow Aizen the beatdown he so desperately deserved. Doing so wouldn't just improve his skills, but if he became recognized as the greatest fighter in the world, it would help him accumulate some of the 'faith' Anpu mentioned he would need to gain access to his full potential...
"That's enough chatter," said Rukia, grabbing Ohta's hand and pulling him along as she added, "Orihime is presumably waiting for us on the other side. I'm sure you also have matters to discuss with Ichigo, so let's get a move on."
"Yeah, yeah..." replied Ohta, allowing himself to be dragged over to the fixed Senkaimon, waiting for Momo to open it before stepping through with the otherwise all-female group. When they reached the exit on the other side, they found not just Orihime but Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizuiro, and Karin waiting for them. Ohta was aware that Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro had fully awakened as High-Spec Humans after their brief stint in the Soul Society. Still, he didn't expect to encounter them in his living room. Fortunately, they at least had enough sense not to invite his Doppelganger...
Preempting even Orihime, Karin shouted, "It's about time you showed up!" before bouncing to her feet and nearly tripping since she was still getting used to her Gigai. It had only been around two weeks since she acquired it, so her synchronization rate was only around 70%.
Extending his hand, Ohta prevented Karin's tumble with a telekinetic hold, causing a smile to develop across her face as she said, "Nice catch. How close are you to regaining your powers?"
"I'm getting closer each day..." replied Ohta, fixing Karin's posture as he shifted his gaze to Ichigo, staring in their direction with a frown. The last vestiges of his Reiatsu had disappeared shortly after awakening from his month-long coma, so he was the only person among those gathered who couldn't see the group of Ohta, Rukia, Soifon, Lisa, and Momo.
Transitioning to his Gigai, prompting Rukia to do the same, Ohta raised his hand and teased, "Long time no see, Strawberry-kun. Did you get enough beauty sleep?"
Forcing a smile, Ichigo muttered, "Something like that..." before rising to his feet and asking, "Mind if we talk somewhere?"
"That's the reason I came," replied Ohta, adding, "Well, one of them..." as he shifted his gaze to Orihime, punctuating his statement with a wink. His actions earned him a slightly annoyed look from Tatsuki, but as she was presently dating his Doppelganger, she didn't have much room to speak about his and Orihime's relationship. Not in public, at least...
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(A/N: I've decided to extend this volume to around 120 chapters since I know the battle against Aizen left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Though, compared to the literal shit Aizen had to cough up, I imagine it wasn't too bad o3o...)

"Please, be advised! We're detecting that a Senkaimon has just been opened!" cried a member of the 12th Division. "The energy signature matches that of former-Captain Ichimaru's Zanpakuto!"
"Then it is time," said Yamamoto, looking at Ohta with his distinctive red eyes and adding, "You have earned the right to face Aizen on your terms. However, should you fail, we will have no choice but to destroy Karakura Town to buy some time..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "I don't care what you do after I die. Before that, don't intervene..."
Rising to his feet, Ohta half-turned to stare back at Rukia and Orihime. Rangiku was also present as part of the Soul Society Protection Squad. However, as their relationship was ultimately casual, she stood off to the side with the healed but still fatigued Toshiro.
Speaking before Ohta could, Rukia adopted a smile and said, "Give him hell."
"And make sure to return," appended Orihime, adopting a smile of her own as she added, "We'll be waiting."
Nodding solemnly, Ohta didn't bother to respond before teleporting away, reappearing high above Karakura Town. Several seconds later, the entire town and 'most' of its residents became veiled in bluish-white light before vanishing, swapping places with the ruins in the Human World.
"This is it..." muttered Ohta, his words directed at Anpu.
("Just this once, you will have access to all of our power,") replied Anpu. ("However, should you triumph, I expect you to take a more active role in the world you will have saved. You need not become a tyrant, but I will not tolerate you bowing your head to a system of authority that needed your power to endure...")
"Sure," replied Ohta. "Just don't blame me for not being 'protective' when you spend most of your day lazing about and sleeping. I have no desire to rule. I only want to live as I please..."
("That's all I've ever wanted for you...") replied Anpu. At the same time, a tremendous amount of power began to surge through Ohta's body as the tattoo-like markings around his wrist expanded rapidly, crawling up his arms and forming an Ankh-shaped scale on his back. More notably, the cloak around his body vanished, the pendant around his neck becoming a blue and gold Usekh as a Nemes-style headdress materialized around his head, framing his pointed ears. Golden bracers covered his forearms and forelegs, and, last but not least, a shendyt-style cloth formed from golden scales and blue cloth materialized around his waist, the completed outfit making him look like a furry-eared Pharoah.
("This the penultimate stage of our union, Sabaki(Judgment),") revealed Anpu. ("However, as you are not ready for this kind of power, it will cause permanant damage to your Soul if you maintain it for an extended period. That woman, Inoue Orihime, may be able to heal you, but you should not become dependent on her power unless you intend to claim her...")
"I'll keep that in mind..." muttered Ohta, casually extending his left hand, producing a black trail in its wake. As abnormal as it sounded, he felt as though all his mental, spiritual, and physical energies had disappeared or, more accurately, fused into something else entirely...
("You stand upon the precipice of Divinity, but you are unable to cross over due to a lack of faith,") explained Anpu. ("If you wish to make this power your own, gather followers and appoint Apostles. Only then can you transcend limitations to become a God...")
"Sounds like a pain in the ass..." replied Ohta, clenching his hand into a fist and causing visible cracks in the surrounding space. He genuinely had no desire to stand over others, but he would be damned if he allowed others to stand over him...
Just as Ohta was thinking about testing his new power on the remnants of the fake Karakura Town, an ungodly Reiatsu appeared several kilometers from his position.
Staring wide-eyed in the direction of the Reiatsu, Ohta muttered, "Is that Aizen? How the fuck did he get so powerful...?"
("It doesn't matter,") replied Anpu. ("This could be his Bankai or a power he awakened with the help of the Hogyoku. Either way, it doesn't change what we have to do...")
Recovering from his momentary stupor, Ohta muttered, "You're right..." as his expression changed from shock to resolution. Then, as Aizen's power was like a massive beacon within an otherwise empty void, he teleported over to the man, finding that his hair had grown longer and that the sclera of his eyes had turned purple, emphasizing his pale, lavender irises. More pressingly, the Hogyoku was embedded in his sternum...
Though Gin was also present, Ohta's gaze was firmly fixed on Aizen as the latter adopted a smile and mused, "Yamada Ohta...judging by your appearance, I assume you've had sufficient time to prepare? If not, I can return after I've defeated the remainder of the Gotei 13."
"Everything about you pisses me off..." replied Ohta, closing his eyes and appearing to drop his guard before abruptly activating Kūsho, expanding its influence to encompass nearly a hundred meters in an instant. Gin was forced to Shunpo away, but Aizen stood his ground, maintaining a relaxed smile as he held up his right hand, fused with the blade of his Zanpakuto.
"Outstanding," mused Aizen. "Unfortunately, I have already seen through and learned the true nature of this ability. Instead of destroying Reishi like Barragan's Respira, you deconstruct and displace it elsewhere..."
Waving his sword through the purple-black medium, Aizen created a trail of distorted space as he added, "In many ways, your power is comparable to that of the Kōtotsu, the Sweeper of the Dangai. Once mastered, you could manipulate more than space and gravity. Even time itself would not be beyond you..."
Pointing the tip of his Zanpakuto at Ohta, now glaring at him with crimson eyes, Aizen concluded, "It's a shame you lack ambition and were not born sooner. You very well could have been my foil..."
"Eat shit..." growled Ohta, surprising both himself and Aizen as a large volume of brown 'biomass' erupted from the latter's mouth, destroying his smug demeanor and forcing him to cough violently.
After a very brief moment of stupefaction, a toothy grin developed across Ohta's face as he pointed his right index finger toward Aizen and shouted, "Die...!" with a fervent gleam in his crimson eyes.
In response to Ohta's 'decree,' two inordinately tall and shadowy figures materialized, one behind him and the other behind Aizen. The one behind him resembled Anpu but had a more humanoid appearance and wore a lavish three-piece suit. The second ultimately took the form of a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, his ensemble consisting of golden bands, mummy wrappings around his legs, a distinctive Atef crown, and a golden crook and flail.
Speaking in an incredibly deep voice that resonated with the surrounding space, Anpu stated, "The Judgment of Anubis has been invoked. It is time to balance the scales..."
As Anpu's voice reverberated within their bones, a golden scale appeared between Ohta and Aizen. At this point, the latter expelled all the shit from his mouth, allowing him to growl, "I see...within this space, you aren't just able to break down and displace matter and energy; you can materialize it and create 'rules' that influence everything within..."
"Thanks for the explanation," retorted Ohta, uncertain if Aizen had hit the nail on the head or was talking out of his ass. He knew his psychic power responded to his will and depended heavily on his mental image, but this was much higher than simply willing a pencil to move or raising a massive laboratory out of the ground to crush it...
Before Ohta could ask Anpu for an explanation, the golden scale between him and Aizen plunged heavily on the latter's side. As it did so, Aizen felt tremendous pressure descend upon him, forcing him, wide-eyed, to take a knee. At the same time, Anpu declared, "In Death, all things are equal. Before the Final Judgment can commence, both sides must yield their power until the scales are balanced. When the Trial ends, the winner will take everything presented by the loser.."
Hearing Anpu's explanation, Aizen abruptly burst out laughing while Ohta stared up at him in disbelief. If he knew he had this kind of power...
("You don't,") asserted Anpu, adding, ("Not yet, at least. We are burning our souls to utilize this technique, so if you fail, we won't simply lose our power; we'll be erased from existence. No more reincarnations. No more second chances...")
("Now you're speaking my language...") internalized Ohta, a vicious, toothy grin developing across his face as he outwardly stated, "I yield everything but my capacity as a human..."
As a feeling akin to having his blood drained permeated Ohta's body, the pressure on Aizen abruptly skyrocketed, crushing him into the seemingly indestructible ground. The Hogyoku tried to compensate by increasing his power, but as this only increased pressure, it eventually began to do the opposite, draining Aizen's tremendous Reiatsu at a remarkable rate.
Realizing what was happening, Aizen groaned, "This is impossible..." as his eyes widened. He believed that he had subjugated the Hogyoku and gained insight into the 'will' slumbering within. However, at its core, the Hogyoku was a construct that responded to the will of 'everyone' around it. With Ohta willing to stake his existence, the Hogyoku couldn't help but recognize his 'conviction.'
Over a several-minute period, the brackish-purple 'domain' enveloping Ohta and Aizen had expanded to several kilometers to offset the latter's Reiatsu. Once it had stabilized, Aizen's hair returned to its original length, and the purple coloration of his sclera had completely vanished. Far more importantly, the Hogyoku had temporarily gone inert, becoming little more than an opal-hued sphere in his chest as he was momentarily rendered as powerless as an average human.
Rising to his feet, Aizen, bereft of his Zanpakuto, glared at Ohta as if the latter were his most despised enemy, growling, "How dare you...our battle could have shaken the very foundations of the Soul Society. I was on the cusp of transcending the limits of Shinigami and Hollows. If I had known you were going to do something-"
Interrupting Aizen's speech, Ohta abruptly lunged forward and attempted to tackle the glowering man. 'Unfortunately,' while Aizen had temporarily been reduced to the capabilities of a human, he was a master of Hakuda, the hand-to-hand combat arts of a Shinigami.
In response to Ohta's lunge, Aizen stepped back and pressed his hand to the back of the former's head, attempting to force him face-first into the ground. Fortunately, while he was a master of Hakuda, making him more than a match for any orthodox martial artist, he, like many other 'masters,' had never encountered a modern fighting style like MMA. Thus, while he succeeded in pushing Ohta down, the latter didn't crash face-first into the ground. Instead, he maintained the low angle, practically crawling on all fours as he persistently swept at Aizen's legs.
"Cease this pointlessness...!" shouted Aizen, backstepping to avoid Ohta's attempts at a takedown. For added measure, he kicked Ohta in the side of his face, but his actions only seemed to entertain the 'feral' youth, causing him to laugh out loud and exclaim, "Keep running, bitch...!"
"Kuh..."
Stepping back in timing with one of Ohta's lunges, Aizen intended to stomp the former's head, but that was a big mistake. He wasn't used to fighting at a human's standards, so while his reactions and control were exceptional, his mind was processing information too fast for his body to respond seamlessly. The moment he raised his foot, Ohta managed to move forward and rise between the gap between his legs. Aizen saw it coming a mile away, but he couldn't just 'negate' the momentum of his attack or Shunpo away like he would usually.
Knocking Aizen onto his back, Ohta's adrenaline surged even as the man rolled with the momentum of his takedown in an attempt to dislodge him or reverse their positions. He ended up being the one on the ground, but as he held firm to Aizen's leg, they ended up in a fairly awkward position where his head was tucked into Aizen's chest, compelling the previously proud and arrogant man to elbow the top of his head, shouting, "Unhand me, you mongrel...!"
"Not before I squeeze the life out of you...!" bellowed Ohta, punctuating his statement by grabbing Aizen's junk with his left hand and twisting it without mercy or hesitation. It wasn't a very 'sporting' technique, but in a fight to the death, manners and fairness meant jack shit. Besides, hearing Aizen squeal like a pig before frenziedly elbowing the top of his head was music to Ohta's ears...
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..
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(A/N: O_O...)

Chapter 96: Desperation