Chapter 300: Arrogance

Aizen's smile froze.

Anyone would believe that Aizen's Zanpakuto ability was to influence the surrounding spiritual particles in the air, refracting endless colors and illusions to construct what the eye sees.

Because this is not vastly different from controlling one of the five senses—vision. The result is the same: seeing something incorrectly.

What you see is not necessarily the truth.

But this is merely one category of controlling the sense of sight.

What Aizen said was true, but not entirely. He omitted about eighty percent of the truth, which would make any enemy believe it was real.

This was what Aizen had always claimed his Zanpakuto's Shikai ability was in the Seireitei, and he had never told anyone the full truth.

So this was intriguing.

How did H'el know?

Did he figure it out just by sensing it?

Aizen's wide, smiling face cracked a bigger smile. His eyes behind his black-framed glasses flickered with dangerous intent: "Are you so sensitive to yourself that you can even detect being controlled by Kyoka Suigetsu? Such a terrifying degree of precision."

Aizen marveled as he casually swung his Zanpakuto down. Holding Kyoka Suigetsu in his right hand with the tip pointing to the ground, his black-framed glasses flashed dangerously. It was as if he had the entire world behind him, and he stepped forward against the wind that blew through his brown hair.

The wind rustled his Shinigami attire, making him look like a lone figure on a vast prairie, walking toward H'el with a sword in hand.

It was at this moment that Aizen finally understood.

H'el had the same potential to reach the pinnacle as he did.

He might be the friend, companion, and intellectual equal Aizen had been searching for—someone to share discussions on equal footing.

Perhaps he could experience the passionate camaraderie, friendship, and life-and-death bonds typical of Shinigami.

Or maybe, as depicted in novels, comics, and movies, he was destined to be a rival—a fated enemy who understood him better than anyone else.

After H'el revealed the true ability of his Zanpakuto's Shikai, Aizen suddenly realized it was nothing but a wistful illusion.

People always have some unattainable desires that make them the most beautiful.

"So, how do you intend to dispel Kyoka Suigetsu's influence?"

Aizen's steps on the grass were solid, his smile unwavering, and his black-framed glasses flickered with a dangerous light.

His spiritual pressure, tangible like a physical form, radiated with each step.

The surrounding air seemed to thicken, unable to flow.

Aizen became the most striking presence in the world, the natural surroundings seemingly cowering in fear of him. The wind ceased to flow, and the wild grass that had been continuously pressed down by the wind no longer dared to stand tall, pinned firmly to the ground.

It was as if he had become one with the heavens and the earth, and they moved with him as he approached H'el.

In this moment, anyone looking would see only Aizen, radiating overwhelming spiritual pressure, advancing with an unstoppable force.

H'el's body couldn't help but feel a heavy pressure in his chest. It took more spiritual energy than usual to counteract the immense pressure that felt like the weight of the sky bearing down on him.

"What a terrifying presence, enough to make the heavens and earth lose their color." H'el said with a calm gaze and a smile at the corner of his mouth. "I have not been able to dispel the influence of Kyoka Suigetsu. Your Kyoka Suigetsu continues to affect me."

"I noticed. Kyoka Suigetsu does affect you. You appear to be the same as others, but you are far different," Aizen remarked, admiring H'el's powerful control over himself and his spiritual energy. This level of control over spiritual energy was unmatched in the entire Soul Society.

Though his tone was calm and unremarkable, Aizen's advancing spiritual pressure felt as if it could collapse the heavens, freezing time and space, giving H'el the sensation of being an ordinary person cast in concrete.

Even though H'el had used spiritual energy to create a protective layer on his skin, he still felt the instinctive trembling of his weak soul.

However, H'el was able to control and eliminate these instinctive tremors.

The spiritual pressure of a Captain and that of an ordinary Soul Reaper were worlds apart, incomparable.

Just this spiritual pressure alone would be enough to immobilize people like Unahara and Masaki Seino, leaving them at Aizen's mercy.

"Kyoka Suigetsu indeed still affects me, and you can still control my five senses. I merely know when Kyoka Suigetsu is influencing which sense of mine, and nothing more," H'el responded, his tone becoming increasingly calm, as if everything were natural and not surprising or astonishing.

Of course, for H'el, there was nothing particularly surprising about this.

What he was capable of doing was simply beyond what others could imagine, which is why they felt shocked and amazed.

Merely stating the fact that he could perceive the effects of Kyoka Suigetsu without any hesitation, without fear of being targeted, was either the height of arrogance or the height of confidence in believing he wouldn't be defeated. Believing that even under the influence of Kyoka Suigetsu, it wouldn't be an obstacle for him.

He was the first to see through the power of Kyoka Suigetsu and the first to remain unafraid.

Aizen softly sighed, "Merely that, truly arrogant."

Even he himself needed to hide his true thoughts within the Seireitei, deceitfully interacting with other nobles and divisions, cautiously collecting souls with potential as Soul Reapers bit by bit.

Aizen felt that H'el was the most arrogant person he had ever seen.

More arrogant and unconcerned than any noble who had existed since the dawn of time.

This arrogance was not about his attitude towards Kyoka Suigetsu, nor his attitude towards Aizen's authority as a Soul Reaper, nor his ignorance in facing someone with stronger spiritual pressure than him.

It was never because of his strong power manifested through his precise control over spiritual energy.

He seemed to be from another dimension, originally overlooking the changes in the world from a high place, then entering here and facing someone like Aizen.

No matter how powerful, it couldn't shake him.

"Release your Shikai and let me see why you can maintain such a lofty attitude, looking down upon everything," Aizen said.

"Arrogance? That's just what you think."

H'el's expression was calm as he raised his Asauchi, pointing the blade tip at the approaching Aizen, and chanted: "The universe is everything in all directions; time is all that has come and gone———"

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