The Unstoppable Power of Sosuke Aizen in Bleach

Highlights

Aizen was already incredibly powerful before fusing with the Hogyoku, with monstrous Reiatsu and proficiency in combat skills, Kido, Shunpo, and Hakuda.

Fusing with the Hogyoku greatly augmented Aizen's strength, granting him superior physical prowess, the ability to heal rapidly, and the power to conjure illusions, among various other abilities.

Despite being incarcerated and deprived of his powers, Aizen retained his regenerative abilities and extended lifespan, potentially growing even more powerful. This rendered him a formidable adversary during the Quincy Blood War.

Sosuke Aizen, a being who surpassed the boundaries separating Shinigami and Hollows, was the central figure in the conflict that led Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies to Soul Society in the anime series Bleach. Known for his cold, calculating nature and his ability to deceive effortlessly, Aizen was undeniably powerful and struck fear into the hearts of many. Initially disguising himself as a harmless scholar, he soon revealed his true self - a manipulative and ruthless individual willing to do whatever it took to attain the ultimate power he desired.

In the earlier stages of Bleach, before the Thousand Year Blood War Arc, Aizen was widely regarded as one of the strongest characters in the series. Even without the fusion with the Hogyoku, he possessed immense strength as a Captain level Shinigami. However, upon merging with the Hogyoku, his power multiplied as he progressed through multiple stages of evolution, significantly boosting his Reiatsu (spiritual pressure) and regenerative abilities, among other things. After his defeat and subsequent imprisonment in the Muken, where he was stripped of his Hogyoku-induced powers, it is said that Aizen became even stronger than before. This raises questions about the true extent of his abilities and why he instills such fear in the Gotei 13, the Soul Society's thirteen court guard squads.

Prior To His Evolution

Aizen possessed exceptional combat skills as a Shinigami, displaying proficiency in all areas. Even before he obtained the Hogyoku, he was already a formidable warrior. His extraordinary Reiatsu surpassed that of a typical Captain level Shinigami, instilling fear in those who encountered him. Aizen confidently claimed to be stronger than all the Espada combined, effortlessly defeating them in the Battle of Fake Karakura Town.

Furthermore, Aizen was highly skilled in Kido, being one of the top practitioners in the Gotei 13. He could cast high-level Hado spells up to #90 without the need for incantation, effortlessly unleashing the most powerful offensive spell, Hado #99. Aizen's knowledge of various Kido techniques allowed him to create effective barriers in combat, providing protection for himself and his allies.

In addition to his mastery of Kido, Aizen excelled in both Shunpo and Hakuda. His immense speed left opponents shocked and unable to react, while his extraordinary strength allowed him to block a sword strike from an injured Ichigo using only his bare hand.

In addition, he possesses exceptional swordsmanship skills, capable of effortlessly defeating multiple opponents of high-ranking positions such as Captain or Lieutenant, using only his sealed Zanpakuto. Remarkably, some of these Shinigami adversaries had already unleashed their Shikai or Bankai, yet Aizen defeated them effortlessly without displaying any signs of distress. Furthermore, his Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, possesses the ability to bewilder and disorient opponents with powerful illusions. These illusions can be maintained for prolonged periods until Aizen chooses to deactivate them, exemplified by his utilization of this technique against the Visored.

Moreover, one of Aizen's most notable attributes is his exceptional intellect. He excels as a manipulator and strategist, swiftly evaluating situations and devising effective approaches to resolve them. Displaying an exceptional ability to foresee his opponents' moves, he is consistently cautious and calculated during battle, skillfully avoiding any vulnerability that his adversaries may exploit. Simultaneously, he launches relentless and efficient attacks, leaving no room for his opponents to counterattack.

Fused With The Hogyoku

After embedding the Hogyoku in his chest before the Battle of Fake Karakura Town, Aizen underwent a series of fusions that he saw as a form of evolution, allowing him to surpass the limitations of both Shinigami and Hollows. With each stage, his Reiatsu, speed, physical strength, and resilience grew exponentially. He could create craters with his attacks, effortlessly defeat Shinigami of Captain level without using his Shikai, and endure numerous injuries that would have been fatal to a regular Shinigami.

Additionally, Aizen gained the ability to regenerate and attain a degree of immortality. He withstood multiple point-blank attacks from Ichigo Kurosaki, Isshin Kurosaki, Gin Ichimaru, Yoruichi Shihoin, and Kisuke Urahara, emerging virtually unharmed as his regeneration factor swiftly healed minor and major wounds within minutes. Furthermore, his speed reached levels that even Captain level Shinigami were unable to keep up with. Aizen's Reiatsu grew to such immense levels that most individuals were unable to sense it unless they were on par with him or if he purposely lowered it to showcase its power. Moreover, he could dissolve anything he came into contact with using his Reiatsu, turning physical contact with him into a perilous endeavor for most.

The latter stages of his fusion witnessed him acquiring the capacity to dematerialize and subsequently reassemble his physical form, reminiscent of teleportation, although the exact mechanics remained unexplained. His wings initially resembled those of a butterfly, but morphed into a more pointed shape as he continued to engage in combat. Aizen's ultimate transformation bore a resemblance to a Hollow, sporting three gaping holes in his chest, claw-like feet, and six wings adorned with skulls along their edges. His Zanpakuto melded with his arm, enabling him to unleash potent energy blasts from his wings that possessed enough force to reshape the surrounding terrain during his clash with Ichigo.

Stronger Than Ever Before

Despite being deprived of his abilities and sealed by Kisuke Urahara, Aizen maintained his ability to regenerate and his long lifespan, even after being sentenced to spend 20,000 years in the Muken. During his imprisonment, he was restrained by a suppressing device that suppressed his power, and compelled to endure his punishment while seated in a chair designed to suppress Reiatsu. This illustrates how he not only retained his powers, but also managed to enhance them by merging with the Hogyoku.

Urahara was amazed by this, leading him to believe that Aizen had become even more powerful since being fused with the Hogyoku. This increase in power was evident during the Quincy Blood War, where Aizen demonstrated the ability to dissolve anything directed at him using his Reiatsu, similar to his Hogyoku form. It wouldn't be surprising to see him easily defeat most of the Gotei 13 members on his own without any resistance. This, along with other factors, is why Aizen was chosen as one of the Wandenreich's 5 Special War Powers. Very few individuals in Soul Society possessed a Reiatsu level comparable to his, with only a few exceptions.

"BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 – The Separation" can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.