"In fact, the Soul King is nothing more than a puppet of the noble clans." Aizen Sōsuke declared with absolute certainty.
Masatsuki Aozaki put on a flawless performance, gasping in exaggerated shock. "What!?"
Aizen continued, his tone resolute. "The Soul King has been a puppet of the nobles for over a million years."
"This is the truth I uncovered after deciphering the Tsunayashiro Clan's ancient inscriptions."
He nodded solemnly, then lowered his voice.
"According to the Tsunayashiro Clan's hidden history, their ancestors ambushed the Soul King and sealed him within a crystal."
"They feared that, despite his lack of resistance, the Soul King might one day break free and annihilate them."
"So they severed his limbs, hollowed out his insides, stripped away his power, and scattered it across the world."
"Piece by piece, they weakened the Soul King's strength, all to create a 'king' who would be easy to control."
"But even after being reduced to nothing more than a mutilated husk, the Soul King did not die. Instead, he was trapped in an endless paradox—neither truly alive nor dead."
"The ancestors of the Five Noble Clans then used the Soul King's omnipotent power as a keystone to divide the once-chaotic world into three realms—Soul Society, the World of the Living, and Hueco Mundo."
"This... is the real history!"
Masatsuki Aozaki remained calm beneath the surface, but outwardly, he appeared utterly stunned.
Swallowing hard, he hesitated for a mont before speaking. "So the Tsunayashiro Clan's madness traces all the way back to their ancestor... They really had the audacity to do sothing like this?"
Aizen smirked. "Are you feeling sympathy for the Soul King?"
Masatsuki waved a dismissive hand. "Why would I? The Soul King doesn't deserve pity. If anything, he brought this upon himself."
"Oh?" Aizen's interest piqued. "And why do you think that?"
His fascination with Masatsuki only deepened. Their views on the Soul King aligned far too well.
"If I rember correctly, the Soul King possesses omniscience and omnipotence. How could he not have foreseen the Tsunayashiro Clan's betrayal?"
Masatsuki chuckled mockingly.
"He allowed it to happen. That's the only reason their ancestors succeeded in sealing him away."
"It was his choice—there's nothing to pity."
"You're absolutely right," Aizen murmured. "Everyone must take responsibility for their own choices."
Masatsuki leaned against the glass wall, arms crossed. "So, what the 'jewel' is missing... is the power scattered from the Soul King?"
"Precisely. The Soul King's fragnts are scattered throughout the world," Aizen confird. "I've discovered traces of them within certain souls. These fragnts are the foundation for completing the Hōgyoku."
"Hmm..." Masatsuki glanced around before casually asking, "So, do you already have a way to locate these fragnts?"
Aizen chuckled. "You could say that."
Masatsuki Aozaki tensed up instantly at Aizen's words, but the latter continued as if he hadn't noticed.
"Do you rember what I said? The Tsunayashiro Clan wants to create a 'king' they can control?"
"They're not just thinking about it—they're already taking action."
"The Tsunayashiro Clan is attempting to gather fragnts of the Soul King to create a weaker version of him."
"To achieve this, they have spent years researching and have finally identified a group in the World of the Living known as the 'Fullbringers.'"
"Fullbringers are superhumans who can extract the souls from objects and enhance them with their own Reiryoku."
"This ability cos from the fragnts of the Soul King within them."
"Our next target is them."
"Hah!?" Masatsuki Aozaki scoffed impatiently.
"You can't be serious. Do you have any idea how many people live in the World of the Living? Even if they have supernatural abilities, trying to find them is like searching for a needle in a haystack."
"No, you don't need to concern yourself with the Fullbringers in the World of the Living. I'll handle that investigation personally when the ti cos."
Aizen shook his head.
"Your task is to watch for Shinigami in Seireitei who possess special abilities."
"Soul King fragnts don't only appear in humans. The fragnts we've recovered before were found in both Shinigami and Rukongai residents."
"The chances of finding fragnts within the Souls in Soul Society are low—but not impossible."
"You work in the 2nd Division. The Onmitsukidō's influence extends throughout Seireitei. That makes you the most suitable person for this task."
"But I'm just a glorified prison guard," Masatsuki Aozaki said, feigning a miserable expression in an attempt to back out.
Aizen smirked coldly. "Don't think I'm unaware of your relationship with Captain Shihōin."
Masatsuki Aozaki raised an eyebrow. "Didn't take you for soone interested in gossip."
Aizen chuckled. "I don't need to pay special attention. With the way you and Shihōin run rampant in Seireitei, there's hardly anyone who doesn't know about the 'Black and White Duo.'"
"I have a nickna now?" Masatsuki muttered, glancing down at his hands and pulling his collar slightly to inspect his chest.
Hmm, pretty pale. Guess Yoruichi's the 'Black' one.
"Fine, since it's for our future, I'll handle this. Just don't forget your end of the deal."
"Naturally."
Aizen gave a small nod before turning his gaze to the large Reishi-based computer.
"All data on the experintal souls is stored there. I'll grant you access—feel free to look through it. You might find sothing useful for your task."
Masatsuki Aozaki walked over to the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced ease.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared on the screen, but he couldn't recall where he had seen them before.
"This guy looks familiar..."
Aizen narrowed his eyes at the display and sneered.
"That was a freshman from Shin'ō Academy last year. If I recall correctly, he was in your class. He had remarkable potential—and a Soul King fragnt within him. His existence was invaluable to my research."
The screen flickered, and a slideshow of soul data began playing.
Many of the faces were unfamiliar to Masatsuki. So, however, he had seen before—souls he had personally extracted.
Their expressions were twisted in agony, their furious gazes seeming to pierce through the screen, as if demanding vengeance—trying to drag him down to Hell with them.
Masatsuki Aozaki remained impassive, flipping through the records without hesitation, ignoring the sorrow and rage etched onto their faces.
He had long accepted the path he walked—a road paved with blood, leading toward a throne built upon bones.
Aizen stood beside him, silently watching both Masatsuki and the massive display, lost in his own thoughts.
Perhaps, in that mont, he too recalled the countless acts he had committed over the years.
But like Masatsuki, his heart remained still—neither sorrowful nor joyful.
...
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the tal floor outside, a rhythmic click, click, click, reminiscent of an ancient clock ticking.
As the unseen clock's hands seemingly ca to a stop, the laboratory door slid open.
A man with tanned skin, clad in a Shihakushō, his naturally wavy purple hair cut to shoulder length, stepped inside.
"Tōsen..." Aizen turned his head.
"Aizen-sama," the brown-haired man responded.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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