Instead of answering Byakuya's question, Kunou sent out more talismans to block more advancing Shinigami and it's not because she didn't want to answer, but because she honestly didn't have any idea what to say.
Aizen, in everyone's eyes, was still a criminal, but compared to him, the man standing in front of them is an unforgivable existence that they won't hesitate to lay their lives in order to slay him, "You're making a mistake here, young lady." Byakuya added with his killing intent the highest it had ever been.
Ophis, Lilith, Aizen, and the man in question, Yhwach just ignored their surroundings full of action and killing intent. The 'twins' didn't let down their arms and summoned a jet-black snake that slithered its way towards Yhwach's head. It crawled around his head for a few moments before opening its mouth and biting the blindfold on his face.
There wasn't any reaction for a second until a few irregular lines of purple light appeared on the blindfold's black cloth before it started burning with purple flame.
Soon enough, the flame engulfed the blindfold completely, and the restriction was placed on Yhwach. As the blindfold turned into ashes, Yhwach's closed eyes immediately opened, revealing a set of eyes with two pupils each.
'Just two? So he hasn't recovered at all.' Aizen thought to himself.
But contrary to his calm demeanor, the group of Shinigami only further panicked and pushed forward to the point of hurting both Tanis and Kunou.
Soifon, one of the Shinigami who didn't move, gritted her teeth. As much as she doesn't like seeing these kids get hurt, she doesn't have the justification nor the authority to stop their assault. She hurriedly turned to Mayuri and Kyouraku, the only two others who stayed their hands in addition to those who came from Hell, to figure out what they should do.
While Mayuri remained unmoving and continued his passive stance and observation of the general trend, Kyouraku sighed to himself and slammed his Zanpakuto on the ground, creating a loud noise akin to a small explosion.
"Cease this!"
The group of Shinigami immediately stopped moving with some of them turning in his direction. Of course, this doesn't mean they agree with him, "Why?" The Captain of the 10th Division, Toushirou asked with a glare.
"I know you hate him and I do too, truly." Kyouraku returned the glare, "But do you really think this is the time for this? The world is about to end, but when did the Gotei 13 carry this much emotional baggage?"
Every Shinigami who heard that was stunned.
Nevertheless, Kyouraku's demeanor only got heavier, "Have you forgotten that you're soldiers who vowed to protect this world? Stop acting childish. You are not children. Stop swinging your blades dictated solely by your feelings! You are weapons! Follow my orders!"
Finally, all members of the Gotei 13 turned to him, and with an ashamed expression, they all pulled back.
'As expected of the man who replaced him.' Aizen smiled while watching this unfold. And now things have become quiet, he turned to Yhwach who had been staring at the giant beyond the fractured space with a surprised expression, "What do you think?"
Yhwach didn't answer immediately and instead, returned a question, "Is that perhaps Hyousube Ichibei?"
"We've guessed as much." Mayuri, already aware of his freedom, approached, "If those eyes are the same as yours, then he could probably manipulate the future like you do. Frankly speaking, I don't see any chance of us winning as unlike you, this monster is immortal."
The other Shinigami were shocked at Mayuri's casualness but he also ignored them, "Maybe if it's you, you'll be able to render that ability useless. Isn't this why Urahara Kisuke freed you?"
"K-Kisuke freed him!?" Shinji exclaimed and like everyone else, he couldn't follow what was happening anymore.
However, Yhwach stayed silent, seemingly failing to hear what Mayuri just said.
Mayuri and Aizen found this reaction a bit strange and they certainly didn't have the patience for him to come out of his stupor. Aizen thought that raining down his Reiatsu on him would wake him up but before he could do so, Yhwach suddenly grabbed his own head and bent his back, "Fuhahahahaha!!!" He suddenly blew up into laughter.
"What is it now?" Tanis muttered loudly. She was tired and she didn't really want these strange uncles entertaining themselves in times like these.
Yhwach only finished his hearty but also eerie laughter a few seconds later and added, "Even I didn't manage to instill such fear in him. Urahara Kisuke... How did you do it?"
This time, it was Aizen who was surprised, "Fear? That monk who can't die?"
Yhwach finally managed to gather his bearings and faced the Gotei 13, "Rejoice, my friends in the afterlife. This is your chance to break the chains that this man has shackled all of you for almost eternity. Hyousube Ichibei has become blind."
.
.
.
The ever so powerful being, 'Hyousube Ichibei'. He always thought that as long as he achieved, even a partial form, he would be unstoppable, at least in the current realm. His desire to return to how he was countless eons ago allowed him to persevere through the erosion of time. With little steps, he finally managed to see the light at the end of the tunnel. His finish line is right in front of him.
Never would he have thought that he'd stumble on the last obstacle even though that obstacle had been eradicated down to his soul.
'Why!? Why can't I see!?'
Ichibei screamed internally. For some reason, his ability to see and manipulate the past and the future had disappeared, 'WHY!!!???'
His overwhelming strength didn't disappear. In fact, he even got stronger when he absorbed the monster he was fighting against, aka, Kisuke. He had enough power to destroy the entirety of Soul Society if he wished to. But if he did, his chance of completing himself would also go with it.
It didn't make it better that multiple pests were bothering him right now and he's so close to just smashing everything apart. His rage is boiling. Sadly for him, Yhwach was able to see through him. His rage was only a tough exterior and deep beneath was his debilitating fear of not knowing anything.
It was only for a short time that he tasted such omniscience, yet it was too unbearable to have it gone.