LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 185 – From Today Onwards, I Am Aizen!
Ailin, with his Zanpakutō secured at his waist, settled before his desk. He rested his hand on the hilt, his eyes fluttering closed as he began the synchronization.
"Synchronization, commence—"
Blue reiatsu tendrils snaked from his clone's hand, reaching towards the Zanpakutō at his waist. Within a few breaths, Ailin and the Zanpakutō became one.
"Sharing growth experiences..."
A whisper escaped his lips as the memories held within the Zanpakutō flooded his mind. This was not a mere replica forged within Unlimited Blade Works, but the genuine Kyōka Suigetsu, once wielded by Sōsuke Aizen himself.
In Unlimited Blade Works, after defeated Aizen and sealed him on the sword hill, Ailin had retrieved his Zanpakutō and entrusted it to his clone. Now, he immersed himself in the memories it contained, absorbing and digesting them until he finally opened his eyes.
"So, that's how far Aizen has gone..."
Kyōka Suigetsu's memories revealed the extent of Aizen's schemes within Hueco Mundo. Despite his reiatsu reaching the limits of a Shinigami thanks to the Hōgyoku, Aizen felt his creation was incomplete. He had successfully achieved "Hollowfication of Shinigami," but the reverse, "Shinigami Hollowfication," remained elusive. This incompleteness, he believed, could potentially hinder his future growth if he were to break through the Shinigami limit with the current Hōgyoku.
Therefore, Aizen had shifted his focus to the Shinigami Hollowfication experiments. Over the years, he had dispatched nearly a hundred Gillian-class Menos Grande with self-awareness into Soul Society, instructing them to attack Shinigami and possess their bodies, hoping to unravel the secrets of Shinigami Hollowfication.
Among these Hollows was a familiar name from Ailin's memory – the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie.
However, the results of these experiments had been disappointing. This was the reason Aizen had sought to eliminate Ailin – to remove any obstacles and conduct his experiments on a larger scale.
Kyōka Suigetsu's memories also revealed Aizen's elaborate scheme to frame Ailin. Had everything gone according to plan, Ailin might have been forced to leave the Seireitei, no longer interfering with Aizen's experiments.
But Aizen had overestimated himself and underestimated Ailin.
Ailin's Bankai, Unlimited Blade Works, had transported Aizen to a separate dimension, their battle hidden from the outside world. All of Aizen's carefully laid plans had become useless.
With Kyōka Suigetsu's memories and his own knowledge of the future, Ailin released his grip on the Zanpakutō, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.
From this moment onwards, he was the true mastermind, the enigmatic and charismatic villain, Sōsuke Aizen!
He turned his attention to the intelligence reports on his desk, effortlessly extracting the hidden messages within. These reports were provided by Shinigami who secretly served Aizen, their loyalty the foundation of his plan to hypnotize the entire Gotei 13.
"Oh?"
A report from a noble family's illegitimate child caught Ailin's attention and his eyebrows raised in surprise.
It detailed a group of high-ranking nobles plotting to seize the Shiba clan's ancestral "treasure." They had sent nearly a hundred young women to enroll in the Shin'ō Academy alongside Kaien Shiba, hoping to determine whether he was from the main or branch family.
If Kaien was from a branch family like Isshin Shiba, unaware of the treasure, they would consider it an early investment. Perhaps, in a few centuries, their family would gain a captain-level powerhouse.
However, if Kaien was from the main family, they would locate his residence and eliminate him before he grew too powerful. Then, they would seize the Shiba clan's treasure and establish themselves as the new "Great Noble House."
The report in Ailin's hand revealed that their plan was showing results.
A woman disguised as a Rukongai resident had spent six years studying at the Shin'ō Academy and several more years deliberately getting close to Kaien Shiba after joining the Thirteenth Division. She had successfully established a romantic relationship with him.
Her name was – Miyako.
"Interesting."
Ailin smiled.
From Kyōka Suigetsu's memories, Ailin knew that Aizen, while harboring the ambition to replace the Soul King and secretly accessing the Great Spirit Book Gallery for forbidden knowledge, was primarily interested in the Shiba clan's "Fireworks Cannon" capable of transporting individuals directly to the Soul King Palace.
Ailin suspected that Aizen, having confirmed Kaien's lineage as a member of the main Shiba family, had received information from Miyako about her plan to betray Kaien. He had then dispatched Aaroniero Arruruerie to attack Miyako, hoping to win Kaien's favor.
Aizen would then personally intervene and manipulate Kaien, potentially recruiting him as a powerful subordinate.
However, Aizen might have underestimated Kaien's feelings for Miyako and overestimated his strength after losing control, leading to Kaien's demise at the hands of Aaroniero Arruruerie.
Perhaps it was Kaien's death that caused Aizen to abandon the idea of using the Fireworks Cannon and instead research a method to create the "Royal Key" within the lower realm.
"Miyako, a pawn of the nobles... I'll need to keep an eye on her. Kaien came to the Seireitei and became a Shinigami because of my suggestion. If I have the opportunity, I should warn him.
But if I remember correctly, it was several years after Miyako and Kaien married that Aaroniero Arruruerie attacked. Did Miyako truly fall in love with Kaien and lie about his lineage to protect him...
Or did Kaien hide his true identity from Miyako until years after their marriage? I need to investigate this thoroughly.
After all, the truth will determine how I deal with both Kaien and Miyako... Hmm, according to my conversation with the Soul King's will, I need to create a candidate capable of killing him...
As the creator of the three realms, betrayed by his subordinates and willingly becoming the lynchpin to stabilize the world, suicide is not an option for him. And to kill the Soul King, one needs an existence of equal stature.
Yhwach, with only the power of the Quincy, can destroy parts of the Soul King's body, but he cannot kill him completely.
Only Ichigo Kurosaki, wielding the combined power of Quincy, Fullbring, Hollow, and Shinigami, can truly kill the Soul King.
In other words, the Hollowfication experiments must continue. At the very least, I need to cultivate the 'Vasto Lorde'."
Shaking his head, Ailin contemplated his future plans, solidifying his course of action. Suddenly, he closed the intelligence report and turned his gaze towards the shadows.
"Tōsen, what brings you here?"
The figure kneeling in the shadows was none other than Kaname Tōsen, captain of the Ninth Division.
"Captain Aizen, as you instructed, I have dispatched fourteen Shinigami to remain hidden between the Fifth Division and the Kuchiki Manor. Once the Captain of the Eleventh Division makes his move, we can quickly escalate the situation..."
"Stop it, Tōsen."
"Captain Aizen, why?" Tōsen was confused.
"Are you questioning me, Tōsen?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Tōsen's forehead beaded with cold sweat as he lowered his head in submission. Ailin nodded in satisfaction.
His clone had successfully replaced Aizen. Under the influence of Kyōka Suigetsu, no one would suspect a thing.
However, Tōsen was different. His loyalty to Aizen was genuine.
Therefore, Ailin had to ensure that his reiatsu matched Aizen's perfectly, his tone, actions, and demeanor flawless. Otherwise, Tōsen would instantly realize he was not the man he served.
This, however, posed no challenge for Ailin.
He suppressed his own reiatsu and opened a miniature spatial channel, allowing Aizen's reiatsu to flow from Unlimited Blade Works. Tōsen, unable to see, couldn't distinguish between the real Aizen and the clone.
Or rather, Tōsen would sooner doubt himself than Aizen.
"Tōsen, you must understand that our ambitions extend far beyond the Seireitei. Just now, I reached an understanding with Captain Ailin of the Eleventh Division. We will avoid the Eleventh Division and the Kuchiki family.
In return for our sincerity, Captain Ailin has agreed to turn a blind eye to our actions, as long as we fulfill those two conditions."
"Lord Aizen, could this be a trap?" Tōsen questioned, then quickly apologized for his transgression. "I apologize, Lord Aizen. I overstepped my boundaries."
"No, Tōsen, your suspicions are reasonable. But... this is the way of the nobles, is it not?"
Ailin's words silenced Tōsen. He thought of his friend, her life unjustly taken.
Yes, this was the way of the nobles. They could commit heinous crimes and face no consequences.
The "justice" of the Seireitei had long been tarnished by the influence of the nobles. If not for this injustice, would he have followed Aizen in pursuit of true justice?
"Yes, this is... the way of the nobles..."
"You may leave, Tōsen. Those arrangements can be canceled."
"Yes, Lord Aizen."
"Oh, and one more thing. Please arrange for more 'casualties' among the Shinigami. My experiments have reached a critical stage, and I require more test subjects."
"Yes, Lord Aizen."
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