Chapter 28: Let's Be Friends
The battle scenes were far too abstract. Aizen didn't even know how to describe them. Ultimately, even as a master of schemes, he couldn't help but stroke his chin with a hint of bewilderment, whispering in his heart:
"This 'Purity' they keep shouting about... what exactly is it?"
As the ultimate "Striver," Aizen understood deeply that no power comes from nowhere. Even the miraculous "explosive power-ups" fueled by bonds and hot-blooded emotions were essentially just intense feelings prying open latent potential. These martial artists were different. They shouted for Purity, and then, physical power was birthed out of thin air, blessing them and allowing them to erupt with strength that surpassed their own limits.
To realize his ambitions, Aizen's hunger for power had no end. Naturally, he was intensely interested in this so-called Purity. However, that interest was coupled with extreme wariness; Aizen hadn't forgotten the sensation from the day before.
Purity was like a living thing, slithering through the words of the fighters, swaying within the hearts of others, asserting its own existence.
It was an incredibly eerie feeling.
Aizen decided he needed more observation.
The two martial artists fought until they were drenched in blood and exhausted, finally stopping with visible reluctance.
"Hmph. You got lucky today. If the Chief Justice hadn't issued a ceasefire notice, I would have blasted you into dust."
"I'll return those words to you in full. You're the one who kept your life. Next time we meet, you might not be so fortunate."
Trading a few more parting threats, they turned and left.
From Aizen's observation, the reason these two hadn't followed their soul-deep hunger to the death was partly that they weren't sure they could finish each other off, and partly due to a certain "binding force" restraining them.
Aizen turned his gaze toward the distance. At that very moment, an extremely cold, peerlessly savage Reiatsu had surged forth.
It was a sky-towering pressure. Though wordless, Aizen could vaguely sense the will transmitted through it:
"This is the hour of ceasefire. If you insist on war, you shall face... ME!"
Aizen felt that Karakura Town had truly become fascinating. Unexpected developments were arriving one after another.
Maintaining his signature gentle smile, Aizen used Shunpo, vanishing in a blink and heading toward the source of that cold Reiatsu.
There, he witnessed another interesting scene. Two other martial artists were fighting, but they had lost themselves to the battle—or rather, they were completely dominated by their Hollow instincts, hysterically trying to devour one another.
Suddenly, a biting cold wind swept through. A ferocious figure with extremely rugged muscles appeared in the gale. Looking at the two fighting beasts, the figure spoke in a muffled, heavy tone:
"To fall into beastly instinct and ignore my ceasefire ruling... you are not qualified martial artists. As defective rejects, I, in the name of the Supreme Chief Justice of the Fighting World, the Demon Muscle Man, sentence you to death by blasting."
Declaring its will like a divine verdict, the Demon Muscle Man transformed into a juggernaut and charged into the fray.
What followed could no longer be called a fight; it was a one-sided ravaging.
One martial artist was hoisted into the air by the Demon Muscle Man, gripped by the thighs, and ripped in half on the spot. The other fighter continued to attack, but his strikes landed on those overdeveloped muscles with zero effect.
"Your Purity is too low. This strength can't even tickle me!"
With a god-speed punch, that fighter was instantly "re-classed" into a headless martial artist.
After the two died, their remains began to disintegrate into Reishi, just like a Hollow's. However, unlike the usual cycle of souls returning to the heavens and earth, this Reishi was completely devoured by the Demon Muscle Man.
After consuming the two, the Demon Muscle Man's muscles seemed to swell just a tiny bit more.
Throughout the process, Aizen watched from a distance. As a professional mastermind, his stealth skills were profound even without using Kyoka Suigetsu. He looked at the Demon Muscle Man with a confused expression.
He wasn't confused about why the figure could devour Hollows. He was confused about something else.
He had seen the Demon Muscle Man yesterday, but he hadn't paid much attention then, focusing instead on Ichigo. Now that he looked closely, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. Yet, searching his memories, he couldn't recall anyone with such exaggerated muscles.
Perhaps today was Aizen's lucky day, for his confusion didn't last long. Under his gaze, the Demon Muscle Man suddenly shifted. The muscles compressed, and in the blink of an eye, the three-meter-tall muscular giant transformed into a small, elegant, and dignified young lady.
At that moment, Aizen's face wore the expression of the "Old Man on a Subway looking at his phone" meme. He finally understood why Byakuya Kuchiki had been so out of sorts yesterday, muttering "Impossible, this is absolutely impossible."
Looking at the restored Rukia Kuchiki, Aizen felt a rare sense of having made a mistake. "Before I sent Rukia to the World of the Living as a pawn to approach Ichigo, I should have investigated more deeply. I didn't expect her to hide a 'Demon Muscle Man' transformation skill. This strange ability will pollute the Kurosaki family's bloodline."
Having admitted his error, Aizen felt a rare surge of killing intent—the urge to eliminate Rukia before she could "pollute" his experiment's gene pool. However, he didn't act, because Rukia seemed to sense something. She suddenly transformed back into the Demon Muscle Man and departed at the speed of Sonído.
Aizen followed. He saw a Hollow squeezing through a spatial rift.
Hueco Mundo, the Soul Society, and the World of the Living were originally one. Divided by the power of the Soul King, the barriers were often unstable. Hollows breaking into the human world was normal; usually, they were quickly hunted by the stationed Soul Reapers.
Rukia, though she had become "weird," was still hunting Hollows. Under Aizen's gaze, she charged at the monster, shouting the strange slogan: "Let me see your Purity!" She unleashed a series of flashy but low-damage combos, ending with a gaudy Finisher.
To Aizen's shock, the Hollow—after being pummeled by the combo—actually turned into a human!
The humanized Hollow lay on the ground with hollow eyes, mechanically repeating: "I am a martial artist... I am a martial artist..."
Aizen now knew where the town's martial artists came from. Every Hollow that entered Karakura Town was being forcibly "re-classed" by Rukia and brainwashed with a new persona.
Having discovered the truth, Aizen didn't strike. He simply gazed at Rukia, his eyes deep with thought. No power comes from nothing; Rukia's power must have its own logic, though he hadn't cracked it yet.
Rukia seemed busy; she soon left via god-speed Sonído. Aizen didn't chase. He flicked his finger, placing a tracker on her with a minor trick, and turned to leave.
Aizen was not an impulsive man. On the contrary, he was a master of patience and long-term planning. This style had caused him to miss opportunities over the eons, but it had also allowed him to grow and remain hidden while marching toward his goals. Even a man like Urahara had only found vague outlines of his existence after decades of searching.
Having gathered enough intelligence, Aizen walked back toward his meeting point with Byakuya, thinking of how to use this information.
Perhaps today was Aizen's "Day of Surprises." On his way back, he met someone he didn't expect.
Ichigo Kurosaki blocked Aizen's path, his expression solemn and heavy.
"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. Sixteen years old. I live in Karakura Town, 3rd Street. Unmarried. Occupation: Student and Martial Artist. Except when fighting strong foes, I go home by 8 PM at the latest. I don't smoke or drink. I ensure at least eight hours of sleep every day, never leaving fatigue for the next morning. Even Soul Reapers praise me for being so healthy I barely seem human..."
(Aizen had been observing Ichigo since the moment of his birth. He knew Ichigo better than the boy's own father did.)
Aizen had imagined many scenarios for their first meeting. He had looked forward to it, for that meeting would signify that his grand layout was fully revealed.
But those scenarios never included being stopped on the street by Ichigo for a self-introduction. The introduction was meaningless, as Aizen knew him best, but his professional acting skills kept his thoughts hidden. He maintained his warm smile:
"Hello, Ichigo Kurosaki. Is there something I can help you with?"
Aizen watched as Ichigo took a deep breath and said loudly:
"I want to conquer the world. Someone told me you could help me, so I've come to find you... I want to be your friend!"
End of Chapter
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium