

Ichigo survives the blast, but it destroys the upper half of his Shikakushō and singes his left arm he used to block the blast. One of the Hollow skulls fires a small spiritual energy blast which has a devastating impact that can be felt all the way in Karakura Town, and creates a large crater where it hit. After which, Aizen states that he now sees the Hōgyoku will not truly allow him to lag behind a Human.

The diamond shape on Aizen's forehead opens up and develops into something similar to a horizontal third eye, as Aizen transforms again into what looks like a Hybrid Arrancar creature with multiple wing-like appendages, which have Hollow skulls attached to the ends. He then becomes enraged and yells at Ichigo to abandon his Human arrogance. Aizen's wound begins to heal as he asks Ichigo if he liked that he had stopped his sword or if he is happy that he destroyed his Kidō and if he is happy he injured his body. Ichigo then asks Aizen the same question. Ichigo tells him that it's a strange feeling: when he put distance between them Aizen asked him why and now it is Aizen who is creating the distance. Ichigo lands a strike across Aizen's torso, but Aizen instantly backs away in a flash of light from him to a nearby cliff. The Hōgyoku forces another transformation onto Aizen.
