The Opponent I Chose
"Uh… Do I have to fight?"
The moment Aizen uttered the words "debut battle," Seiya felt a hint of hesitation.
After all, things were different now.
He had caught up to the elites standing at the top, and he had mastered a power that was truly his own.
But that also meant… if he truly went all out against a Captain, there would be no room for holding back.
Seiya wasn't strong enough to restrain himself against an opponent of that caliber.
If they fought, it would be a battle to the death.
Aizen, of course, understood his concerns perfectly.
With a calm smile, he turned slightly, his tone carrying a gentle reassurance.
"Seiya, I understand your hesitation completely."
"After all, this time is different from before. This is not a simple spar—it is a clash between instincts and conviction."
"Stopping midway will not be an option."
But,
Aizen's lips curled into an amused smirk as he adjusted his glasses.
"One only truly finds what they lack through direct confrontation."
"I will be watching over you. So don't concern yourself with unnecessary worries."
"Simply fight. Show me your full strength."
Seiya pressed his lips together, his expression complicated.
Aizen chuckled lightly.
"Of course, I could take action myself. But such a battle holds no meaning for me."
"So… are you certain you want to refuse, Seiya?"
"After all, this is a rare opportunity—an official battle against a Captain-level opponent."
With the conversation framed that way, refusing would only make him seem foolish.
Taking a deep breath, Seiya nodded.
"Alright. Leave it to me."
Aizen was right.
During times of peace, finding an opportunity to really fight a Captain was next to impossible.
But by standing beside Aizen…
Seiya would gain access to countless opportunities and challenges.
Seeing his agreement, Aizen smiled in satisfaction.
"That's the spirit."
"Truth be told, the main objective of this operation is to test your capabilities."
"Even if we fail to 'secure' the target, that would be an acceptable outcome."
Ah, I see.
So this wasn't just about gathering Hollowfication data—Aizen also wanted to measure his strength.
Considering the kind of person Aizen was, Seiya wasn't too surprised.
At least now I know what this is really about.
Aizen's expression remained relaxed as he glanced at Tōsen, who placed a reassuring hand on Seiya's shoulder.
No words were needed.
Aizen straightened his posture slightly, his tone shifting into something more authoritative.
"Let us review our objective once more."
"In order to obtain sufficient Hollowfication data, we must target Captain-class individuals."
"Thus, we shall consider the Thirteen Court Guard Squads our hypothetical enemy and eliminate unsuitable targets one by one."
Aizen's expression was pleasant, almost casual, as he continued.
"Of course, I am no tyrant. In moments like these, I prefer a more democratic approach."
"So, allow me to begin with my personal recommendations."
"The Captains of the First, Fourth, Eighth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Divisions—"
"I suggest we avoid selecting them for now."
"The gap in strength between Captains is significant."
"At our current level, taking on these individuals would be… challenging."
Only 'challenging'…?
Damn, Aizen really doesn't lack confidence, huh?
Seiya glanced over the names.
Yamamoto. Unohana. Kyoraku. Ukitake. Mayuri. Kenpachi.
He had expected the first four to be on the list.
They were all terrifyingly strong.
In fact, in the Thousand-Year Blood War, most of them had been classified as "Special Threats."
But Kenpachi…
Aizen already noticed his potential?
It made sense.
Most people only saw Zaraki as a brute—a reckless berserker.
But in reality, he had been suppressing himself since childhood.
He fought with self-imposed restraints, holding back to prolong the joy of battle.
And yet, despite that, he had still nearly killed Unohana the first time they fought.
Even without proper training, his instincts alone made him one of the most dangerous individuals in Soul Society.
…I thought his true strength was a well-kept secret.
Guess I underestimated Aizen.
Seiya shook his head, suppressing a chuckle.
Of course he figured it out.
After listing the names, Aizen added,
"Naturally, this list is only a guideline. If we proceed with this operation, we will need a precise strategy."
"After all, we are dealing with Captains. We must be careful."
"Rest assured, I will handle the planning. There is no need for you to worry about such details."
At that, Seiya felt a wave of relief.
If Aizen is handling the logistics, then we have nothing to worry about.
As expected, once he was done excluding the strongest Captains, Aizen moved on to the more feasible targets.
"On the other hand, there are several viable candidates for this experiment."
"The Captains of the Third, Seventh, and Ninth Divisions."
—Rōjūrō "Rose" Otoribashi.
—Sajin Komamura.
—Kensei Muguruma.
All three were heavily built.
Seiya almost wanted to laugh.
Aizen, why'd you pick the heavyweight division…?
But he understood the reasoning.
Aizen leaned forward slightly, adjusting his glasses.
"The Third Division is a support unit. While they are well-trained, they primarily act as a supplement to other squads."
"The Seventh Division serves as the Royal Guards of the Court. If we cause a disturbance, they will be the first to arrive—making them easy to lure in."
"The Ninth Division oversees the Central Prison. If we feign interest in its inmates, they will definitely respond."
Aizen's glasses reflected the light, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"In short, these three are the most accessible Captains."
"More importantly, their strength is manageable for you, Seiya."
His words were well-reasoned.
Aizen had clearly done his homework.
After laying out all the information, he turned to Seiya.
"Now then, Seiya—"
"Have you decided which Captain you wish to fight?"
Seiya fell silent.
He thought for only a moment.
Then, his lips curled into a confident smirk.
"I pick him."
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Powerstones?
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