Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 257: Standing at the Summit

Amidst the swirling dust, a powerful storm of Reiatsu suddenly erupted, tearing through the thick smoke like a raging gale.

Aizen's figure reemerged.

What was shocking, however, was the state he was in—nearly half of his body was shattered and mangled beyond recognition.

The arrogance he once displayed after his evolution had completely vanished.

Instead, his face was blank with numbness, the aftermath of his grievous injuries. To Masatsuki Aozaki, he looked like a broken toy that had been played with too roughly.

"I can't believe it... I can't believe you've pushed me this far."

Clutching his chest, Aizen struggled with all his might to stand.

Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't complete this basic action.

Was it over?

Had he... already lost?

"Sōsuke... my loyal steed, are you still alive? You weren't moving just now—I almost thought you were dead!"

Masatsuki Aozaki sat beside him in a relaxed manner, propping his chin on one hand as he chuckled softly.

Aizen shot him a sharp glare but remained silent.

Even though he had lost this battle, meaning he was now in the position of the so-called "mount" in their dynamic of king and steed, Masatsuki's words still sounded bizarre.

Then again, this guy had always had a habit of saying strange things.

...And he was just as infuriating as ever.

Aizen's mouth twitched. He nearly passed out—not from his injuries, but from sheer frustration.

In the past, when he heard remarks like this, he would get irritated.

But to maintain his image as the esteemed "Aizen-sama," he would always respond with a composed smile.

Now, though, he no longer cared to keep up the act.

"You possess such overwhelming power, yet you willingly keep it hidden... I truly underestimated you, Masatsuki!"

Aizen gritted his teeth, forcing each word out as he fixed his gaze on Masatsuki Aozaki, attempting once more to rise.

But his ravaged body refused to obey.

It was as if the sheer weight of his existence was pressing down on him, making even the act of standing impossible.

In truth, his body had already been pushed to its limit. The injuries he had sustained were reaching the point where even his formidable regenerative abilities could no longer keep up.

This wasn't his Fifth Fusion State—only his Third.

While his recovery had been greatly enhanced, he had yet to achieve true immortality.

Masatsuki Aozaki scratched his head nonchalantly and said with a modest smile,

"My current strength still isn't strong enough! Naturally, I can't afford to be too arrogant!"

To most people, his power would seem absolute—invincible.

But in the world of Bleach, there were plenty of beings who defied conventional logic.

Ichibe Hyosube, Yhwach—monsters who played with the very fabric of existence itself.

No matter how strong one's Reiatsu was, brute force alone would never be enough to challenge beings like them.

"Are you still not satisfied with such terrifying power? You really are insatiable."

A strange glint flickered in Aizen's eyes.

He exhaled slowly, the lingering scent of blood still in the air, as he gazed at Masatsuki Aozaki. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"It seems the world is full of surprises—far from the dull, predictable place I once thought it to be."

"I believed I had everything under control, yet now I see that you were the one hiding the deepest."

"Masatsuki Aozaki, beneath that carefree façade of yours... just how terrifying are the ambitions and desires you keep buried?"

Aizen murmured softly, his piercing gaze fixed on the man before him.

At that moment, a wave of complex emotions surged within him—

A sense of recognition toward Masatsuki Aozaki, coupled with a quiet satisfaction that his initial judgment had been correct.

"Masatsuki... as expected, you're just like me—a unique existence. But you are even lonelier than I am."

Aizen's lips curled into a faint smirk, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.

Deep within his heart, Aizen had always harbored two desires.

The first was to reshape this world—one that had long since rotted away.

He was simply too perceptive, too intelligent. He had seen through too many of its truths.

And what he saw disgusted him.

This world, teeming with corruption and decay, was unworthy of his respect.

The second was to find someone—someone like himself.

His talents were too great, his mind too sharp. No one had ever stood at his level.

He was a man who thought too much, and in time, he had begun to question his very existence as a Shinigami.

For years, he had searched.

Searched for another who could understand him.

Someone just as "different" as he was.

Only then could he prove—to himself, to the universe—that he was not alone.

That he was not some anomaly, an aberration in this world.

For as long as he could remember, he had felt utterly alone.

No one could keep up with him.

No one could grasp the depths of his mind, his ambitions.

But then, he met Masatsuki Aozaki—

And suddenly, that feeling began to shift.

Masatsuki Aozaki possessed extraordinary talent, an unfathomable ambition.

And in that moment, Aizen realized—this man was his equal.

...

"What do you plan to do next?" Aizen asked.

"Kill me?"

"I should still be a threat to you, shouldn't I? After all, I know too much about you."

At his words, Masatsuki Aozaki simply waved a hand, a smile playing on his lips.

"Do you remember when we first met?" he asked.

"You didn't kill me back then. So today, I'll return the favor."

Aizen blinked.

His mind drifted back to the past...

Their first encounter had been on a quiet night in the Kagarashi District of East Rukongai.

The moonlight had cascaded down like flowing water, illuminating the lake's surface in rippling silver.

He had stood above, looking down at the man seated on the grass—a man with the potential of a Shinigami.

Slowly, he had extended his hand.

His target had been the man's soul.

The man had appeared flustered, his expression exaggerated—so much so that even a casual observer could tell he was overacting.

And yet, his eyes had been unnaturally calm.

Like a poor actor following a script, playing a role with deliberate care.

The contradiction intrigued Aizen.

It stirred something deep within him.

Almost instantly, he had reached a conclusion.

This man did not value his own life.

It was madness—born not from recklessness, but from fear.

A fear that mirrored his own.

Aizen had recognized it immediately—

Masatsuki Aozaki did not belong to this world.

But at the time, there had been nothing overtly special about him.

Why, then, had Aizen felt so drawn to him?

He hadn't understood.

And yet, with nothing but a single glance, he had made his decision.

He had let the man live.

Taken him under his wing.

Even now, Aizen wasn't certain if he regretted that choice.

He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head in resignation.

Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled, his tone almost nostalgic—like an old friend speaking from the heart.

"Sōsuke, have you forgotten your grand ideals?"

"Have you given up on changing the world?"

"...I will claim the supreme throne. That is my path. But truth be told, ruling from the top isn't my forte."

"So when the time comes, you can handle the rest."

"Let's create a world we both find beautiful. How about that?"

Masatsuki Aozaki returned the olive branch that Aizen had once extended to him.

Aizen remained silent for a long time.

Then, instead of answering, he lifted his head and asked,

"Masatsuki... do you still feel lonely?"

"Not often," Masatsuki replied.

"But when I sleep alone, sometimes the bed feels a little empty."

"It's different from before, though. At the very least, it doesn't scare me anymore."

He gave a slight shake of his head, his voice calm.

"And you?"

"...I don't seem to feel it anymore either," Aizen murmured.

His breath was long and steady, his voice so quiet it was almost lost to the wind.