Bankai—Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Yaksha
As previously mentioned, Seiya's Bankai was called Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon.
This name symbolized the eight distinct abilities it possessed.
From what was currently known:
Tenbu wielded the power to predict and deduce the future. Gandharva controlled the environment and could construct new spaces.
And now—
Seiya had fully developed yet another ability.
Words alone could not serve as proof.
At times like this, only actions could validate one's claims.
Seiya lightly drew his blade and reversed his grip on it.
"Well—seeing it with your own eyes should be the most straightforward way to understand."
"It might be a bit surprising, but it was bound to happen eventually."
"So… I hope you two will watch closely."
Bankai.
Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Yaksha.
Gulp—
Like a stone sinking into a lake.
With an almost imperceptible sound, Seiya's Zanpakutō dissolved into the air.
At the same time, thin, wispy streams of energy began to float around him.
These streams twisted as they drifted, resembling a gas denser than air.
Then, they condensed beside Seiya.
And then—
A hazy figure started to emerge.
A familiar Captain's haori, a lean face, and that signature faint smile…
Standing right next to Seiya was—an exact copy of him.
Both Seiyas tilted their heads slightly, sizing each other up.
Then, in unison, they turned to look at Aizen.
"So, can you tell the difference?" x2
"..."
A brief silence.
It was difficult to say whether it was surprise or shock.
Because this scene—
It wasn't exactly unfamiliar.
When Seiya had previously used Sāgara Ryū's power, he had displayed a similar ability to create clones.
And now, his Bankai seemed to have the same function?
It was difficult to judge.
Logically speaking, a Bankai should be an enhanced version of a Shikai's ability.
But with limited knowledge and experience—
Tōsen could not immediately draw any conclusions. He hesitated before speaking.
"Is this… merely an illusion?"
"No, it's entirely different."
Before Seiya could answer, Aizen rubbed his chin, an intrigued expression on his face.
"It's not an illusion."
"The Reiatsu feels solid, with no trace of hollowness… A mere projection wouldn't feel this real."
"And at this distance, I doubt any deception could fool my eyes."
Coming from a man who had deceived Yhwach himself, such words carried weight.
"Considering Seiya's previous abilities…"
"If he could already divide his Reiatsu before, achieving this level of duplication shouldn't be impossible."
Aizen's gaze sharpened as he pondered.
"Which means, this ability likely involves distributing his Reiatsu to create clones?"
—As expected of Aizen.
He skipped straight to the essence of the matter.
Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon: Yaksha.
Its true meaning could be interpreted in many ways.
In Buddhist scriptures, Yaksha were a type of divine spirit.
Broadly speaking, Yaksha were gods that devoured demons, associated with speed, agility, stealth, and ferocity.
—Though in modern times, they were often portrayed as malevolent beings, associated with evil and the supernatural.
But in Buddhist doctrine—
Yaksha were often enlightened and became guardian deities.
Some, like the Eight Great Yaksha Generals, were even tasked with maintaining balance in the mortal world.
Following this interpretation—
Seiya's Bankai was a specialized ability focused on creating clones.
The Seiya on the left crossed his arms, raising one hand to tap his temple.
"To be honest, even I'm not entirely sure how to explain this ability."
The Seiya on the right examined his clothes with curiosity, checking every detail.
"This feeling is just too strange… I can sense two consciousnesses interacting."
The two Seiyas locked eyes and exchanged identical smiles.
"I can feel the existence of my other self."
"I can fully perceive his thoughts."
"I can be him—"
"And he can be me—"
"Perhaps…"
"We were always one and the same."
In unison, both raised their right hands.
A visible current of spiritual energy swirled around them, illuminating the entire monitoring room.
"Our Reiatsu levels, combat instincts, and abilities are completely identical."
"And because our minds are perfectly synchronized, in battle, our coordination is greater than the sum of our parts."
A deceptive clone?
Perhaps it was more than that.
If the clone possessed the same power and memories as the original—
Then who could tell which one was the true Seiya?
"And there's something unique about this ability."
Both Seiyas spoke at the same time.
"Even if the Bankai is undone, the clone and its consciousness remain imprinted in my mind." x2
"I can constantly feel the other me. Even if we're far apart, we can communicate and process information seamlessly." x2
A power beyond mere technique—one that persisted in reality.
A guardian deity born from the division of soul and flesh, memory and power.
This was the true essence of Yaksha.
For Seiya, this was the "mortal realm" he sought to protect.
Tōsen was visibly struggling to comprehend what he was witnessing.
Even with his knowledge, he couldn't fully grasp what was happening.
He could only look to Aizen for an answer.
As for Aizen—
He adjusted his posture slightly, his eyes flashing with an unusual light.
His concern for Seiya was genuine.
But at the same time, the curiosity of a researcher was beginning to take over.
To say he wasn't fascinated would be a lie.
After all, abilities like this—
Were so rare that even witnessing one was a privilege.
"…It's perfect."
His admiration was not without reason.
It was grounded in both reality and analysis.
"A clone that retains the original's full memory and power—perfectly coordinated in battle."
"This isn't mere deception… No, in essence, it's another person entirely."
"Is this truly something a Zanpakutō alone can achieve? Truly remarkable, Seiya."
No matter how much he had prepared himself—
The power of Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon never failed to impress Aizen.
Three abilities had been revealed so far, and they were already beyond extraordinary.
And yet—five more remained.
Perhaps—
The reason Aizen had once stopped Seiya from fully calling upon his Bankai was out of fear of its unknown potential.
The truth of that decision had long since faded into obscurity.
But regardless of the past—
This power alone was enough for Aizen to reconsider his stance.
This ability was worth testing.
Because when one truly thought about it—
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
From a historical perspective, Aizen had begun his Hollowfication experiments over fifty years ago.
Initially, he had only been able to induce partial Hollow transformations in Shinigami, forcing them to undergo a slow and painful corruption.
But now—
He had advanced to the point where he could fully Hollowfy a Shinigami, seamlessly merging them into something completely new.
The methods, the process, the intricate steps required—
Aizen had mastered them all.
Decades of refinement had given him absolute confidence.
There were no more technical barriers.
So then—what else could still excite him?
The answer was simple.
A strong enough test subject.
Even White, his most successful creation, had originated from a low-ranking Shinigami.
Although it possessed unique abilities like Metastacia—
It was still an imperfect creation.
If possible, Aizen would never settle for mediocrity.
And now—
Seiya had volunteered himself.
Aizen could no longer ignore the possibility—
This might be his only chance to Hollowfy a high-ranking Captain.
His researcher's blood boiled.
A faint but undeniable shift appeared in Aizen's gaze.
"If your ability is truly this refined… then perhaps, it's worth attempting."
He never hesitated unnecessarily.
With his decision made, Aizen stood.
Tōsen turned his head, clearly agitated.
"Aizen-sama, but—"
"Tōsen."
Aizen's voice remained calm.
"Before rejecting it outright, why not confirm the subject's opinion first?"
With a composed expression, he asked—
"Seiya. Why go this far?"
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Powerstones?
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