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From where the dust billowed, a powerful Reiatsu storm suddenly erupted, scattering the thick smoke like a gale.
Aizen's figure reappeared before him.
Surprisingly, nearly half of his body was shattered beyond recognition.
The arrogant and self-assured expression he once had after his evolution was gone.
It was replaced by a numb expression of someone who had suffered a severe blow, giving Aozaki Reiji the feeling that "he had been broken."
"To think… to think you've pushed me to such an extent."
Aizen clutched his chest, trying with all his might to stand up.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't perform that simple action.
Is it all over?
Could it be… that he had failed?
"Sōusuke… my steed, are you still alive? You were motionless just now, I thought you had died!"
Aozaki Reiji sat leisurely beside him, propping his chin with one hand, and said with a light chuckle.
Aizen glared at him fiercely but said nothing.
Although he had lost this battle and, in the "King and Steed" relationship, should be in the subordinate position of the steed.
But Aozaki Reiji's words sounded too strange.
However, after all these years, this guy's habit of saying strange things hasn't changed at all!
…And he's still as irritating as before.
Aizen's mouth twitched, almost fainting from Aozaki Reiji's flippancy.
He used to get angry when he heard such words.
But to maintain the dignified air expected of someone called "Lord," he usually responded with a smile.
But now, he no longer wanted to maintain this facade.
"You possess such immense power, yet you willingly hide it. I truly underestimated you, Reiji!"
Aizen gritted his teeth, enunciating each word.
He stared intently at Aozaki Reiji, trying to struggle to his feet once more.
However, his battered body still struggled to break free from the heavy pressure of life.
In fact, his body was already in tatters, and the injuries were almost at the limit of what his regenerative abilities could repair!
He was not in the fifth fusion stage now, but the third fusion stage.
Although his regenerative abilities were greatly enhanced, he had not evolved an immortal body.
Aozaki Reiji scratched his head indifferently, humbly saying:
"My current strength isn't strong enough yet! Naturally, I can't be too flashy!"
His current strength was naturally invincible in the eyes of ordinary people, but there were many transcendent beings in "Shinigami."
Like Ichibei Hyosube and Yhwach, those were old foxes who played with rules. How could mere strong Reiatsu be enough to fight them?
"Such terrifying power and you're still not satisfied? You truly are an insatiable fellow!"
A peculiar glint flickered in Aizen's eyes.
He gazed at Aozaki Reiji, exhaling a mouthful of murky air, still smelling of blood:
"It seems this world is full of surprises, not as dull and boring as I imagined."
"I originally thought everything was under control, but now I find that you are the one who hid the deepest."
"Aozaki Reiji, beneath that carefree facade, what terrifying ambition and desire do you truly hide!"
Aizen murmured softly, his gaze fixed on the man before him like a torch.
At this moment, an unspeakable complex emotion surged within Aizen's heart…
It was both an acknowledgment of Aozaki Reiji and satisfaction with his own correct judgment from back then.
"Reiji, indeed you, like me, are a special existence… and you are a lonelier fellow than I am."
Aizen's lips curved slightly, and a subtle hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes.
In reality, Aizen harbored two greatest wishes deep within his heart.
One was to change this world, which had long since become rotten beyond repair.
Precisely because he was too intelligent and had seen through too many truths.
Therefore, he was filled with disdain and contempt for the current world, which was rife with depravity and corruption.
The second was to find an equally special existence who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
His talent was too high, and for a long time, he couldn't find anyone similar to himself.
This intelligent person, prone to overthinking, inevitably began to doubt his own existence as a Shinigami.
For a long time, he had never given up on searching for that figure similar to him—a kindred spirit who could understand him and was "different" like him.
Only then could it be proven that he was not alone in this world, and certainly not a unique, anomalous monster in this world.
All this time, he had always felt lonely.
No one could keep up with his pace, nor could anyone understand his deepest thoughts and aspirations.
However, when he met Aozaki Reiji, this feeling suddenly changed.
Aozaki Reiji displayed astonishing talent and immense ambition.
This made him realize that this person was truly a kindred spirit who could stand beside him.
"What do you intend to do next? Kill me?" Aizen asked.
"I should still pose a threat to you, shouldn't I? After all, I know too much about you."
Hearing this, Aozaki Reiji merely waved his hand, a smile appearing on his face:
"Do you remember when we first met? You didn't kill me then, so I can let you go today too."
Aizen blinked, his thoughts drifting back to the past.
Their first encounter was on that tranquil night in the Kagarashi District of East Rukongai.
At that time, the moonlight poured like water onto the earth, illuminating the entire lake, creating ripples of silver.
He looked down at the man with Shinigami potential sitting on the grass and slowly extended his hand.
His target was the man's Souls.
The man's expression seemed extraordinarily flustered, even to an observant person, it was clear he was overacting a bit.
But the man's eyes were unusually calm, as if he were just a clumsy actor performing according to a predetermined script.
This contradictory display made Aizen very curious and also aroused a certain desire deep within him.
Aizen reached a conclusion almost instantly.
Deep down, this man did not value his own life at all.
It was a kind of madness, a madness born of fear, and that fear stemmed from a loneliness identical to his own.
Aizen saw it, he seemed so out of place in this world.
But this man showed no special qualities at the time, why did he have this feeling?
Aizen did not understand.
But with just that one glance, Aizen, as if by some strange impulse, let the man go and took him under his wing.
Even now, Aizen was unsure if he regretted his decision back then.
He sighed and shook his head helplessly.
Aozaki Reiji chuckled softly, like a long-time friend, and said earnestly:
"Sōusuke, have you forgotten your great ideal, do you no longer wish to change this world?"
"I want to ascend to that supreme throne, but to be honest, I'm not good at what comes after reaching the top."
"So, when that time comes, you can help me manage this world."
"How about we create a beautiful world that we both like?"
Aozaki Reiji extended the olive branch Aizen had offered him, back to him.
Aizen was silent for a long time and did not answer directly, instead raising his head and asking in return:
"Reiji, do you still feel lonely now?"
"Almost never, but when I sleep alone in bed, I occasionally feel empty."
"But this feeling is also different from before, at least it doesn't make one feel afraid."
Aozaki Reiji gently shook his head, saying calmly:
"What about you?"
"I seem… to not feel it anymore either." Aizen let out a long breath, his voice almost inaudible.
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