Becoming That White Shadow

Why go this far?

—Just hearing those words made Seiya feel strangely conflicted.

What was this, some kind of forbidden secret? (Tactical backstep.)

There were many explanations one could give.

To lay the groundwork for the future?

To repay Aizen for his mentorship?

To ensure his own participation in a plan that would reshape the Three Realms?

Seiya had his own calculations, weighing the benefits and risks.

But even if he wanted to put it into words, he struggled to find where to begin.

After a long moment of contemplation, Seiya's gaze flickered before he spoke his own conclusion.

"If I had to explain it… you could say this is something I also want to experience."

"The realm of Hollows—beyond the limits of a Shinigami…"

"What kind of landscape exists on that side?"

Seiya turned slightly, meeting the gaze of his other self.

For a brief moment, his expression turned distant, as if envisioning that world within his mind.

"If I hadn't awakened Yaksha, I wouldn't have had the qualifications to consider this."

After all, in terms of Reiatsu classification, Seiya was only at the peak of Second-Class Spirit Level.

Compared to Aizen—who had already reached the pinnacle and was searching for the path to transcendence—he still wasn't on the same level.

However—

Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon gave him the means to shortcut the process.

"My soul has already been divided…"

"This is my other half, a new beginning for me."

"With this as my foundation, I want to attempt something that seems like a complete fantasy."

Raising his right hand, he lightly tapped the air in front of him, a faint smile forming on his lips.

If it weren't himself—

If it were someone else—Seiya wasn't sure if he could be this ruthless.

Because this was akin to pushing someone straight into the fire.

But in this situation, Seiya felt no burden at all.

The risks of Hollowfication, the potential mental collapse—he would experience them through their shared consciousness.

But for Seiya, such struggles were manageable.

Opportunities were rare—and letting them slip away was the mark of a fool.

And Seiya was no fool.

With shared understanding, words were unnecessary.

Taking a steady breath, the Fifth Division Captain spoke in an even tone.

"I want to witness a world I cannot see as I am now. That's why, for me, this is also an important opportunity."

Because, looking at the entire Three Realms—

Only Aizen had the ability to guide Seiya safely into Hollowfication.

This was the core of Seiya's reasoning, refined after much thought.

When he turned back, both Aizen and Tōsen looked visibly surprised.

Realizing his slight lapse in composure, Seiya chuckled.

"Well, I said a lot, but really, it's just insignificant nonsense… Just a whim, I suppose."

A casual dismissal.

But after years of working together, both Aizen and Tōsen understood Seiya's personality all too well.

"And actually, there's another idea that just came to mind. It's not fully formed yet, but I think it's worth testing."

Aizen gave a knowing nod.

"I see. In that case, I won't press further."

Mutual respect had always been the foundation of Aizen's inner circle—both in the past and now.

Seeing this, Tōsen—who had seemed ready to argue further—remained silent.

With a heavy sigh, he turned away and began operating the control panel.

Aizen also stepped aside, preparing for the experiment.

The tension that had lingered in the room suddenly dissipated.

Just as Seiya exhaled slightly in relief, Tōsen spoke again.

"Seiya, I don't know what you're truly planning."

"But no matter what—remember this."

"We are comrades. We trust each other."

With that, Tōsen resumed his work without waiting for a response.

But Seiya understood.

After all, Tōsen had always been like this.

Never saying everything outright—always leaving part of his message unspoken, expecting the listener to grasp it on their own.

What a frustrating guy.

But still—he appreciated it.

Seiya smiled and lightly patted Tōsen's shoulder.

"Thanks, I'll remember that, Tōsen."

Fifty years of friendship.

Not as deep as the old men from Yamamoto's generation, but still—

Real.

How many true friends could one have in a lifetime?

Much less those who knew your soul?

Seiya glanced at his other self.

No words were needed.

His clone simply smiled and said:

"No problem. Don't worry."

—He had been about to ask if his other self was nervous.

But then he realized—

Wouldn't he himself already know the answer?

This different perspective of thinking as two but being one was still unfamiliar.

"It's fine, you'll get used to it."

"Uh… Haha. Thanks."

Thanking himself.

What a bizarre feeling.

But now that he thought about it—

Was I always this considerate? No wonder I'm so popular.

With that fleeting thought, Seiya briefly reviewed the powers of his Zanpakutō.

Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon had already proven itself to be overwhelmingly powerful.

Lowering his gaze, he glanced at his waist—his Zanpakutō had returned to its sealed state.

Yet—his Yaksha clone still remained active.

Noticing this, even Seiya felt a bit awed.

Even just these three revealed aspects were worth continued exploration.

And five more remained.

Asura—depicted in scriptures as a brutal warrior, skilled in battle yet prone to jealousy and failure.

Garuda—a divine golden-winged bird, said to consume dragons, but in some texts, it burned to ashes, leaving behind only a heart of pure lapis lazuli.

Kinnara—a celestial musician with a single horn, skilled in song and dance, whose name translates to "not quite human."

Mahoraga—a serpent-headed being, said to be deaf and ignorant, yet through devotion, attains wisdom and enlightenment.

And finally—

Ryūbu—second only to Tenbu, a being that commanded vast legions across generations.

Though called "dragon," it differed from worldly dragons—

In Buddhist lore, Ryūbu referred to water-dwelling spirits—often translated as Nāga.

Born of water, their power was revered across cultures.

Its importance was second only to Tenbu—hence its presence in Eight Aspects of the Heavenly Dragon.

What powers did these five remaining aspects hold?

As Seiya pondered, Aizen completed the preparations.

Without needing instruction, Seiya's Yaksha clone stepped forward, walking into the darkness of the corridor…

Tōsen and Seiya followed.

It took nearly an hour of walking.

The Ninth Division was structured like a prison, designed to contain criminals—thus, it had ample hidden space for secret projects.

This was why Aizen chose this place as his base.

Eventually, the three arrived in a spacious underground chamber.

The layout was simple—but familiar.

After all, they had seen it countless times on the monitors.

This was the designated Hollowfication experiment chamber.

Objectively speaking, conducting these inside Seireitei was reckless.

But Aizen's confidence made him bold.

Besides, with his advancements in Urahara's research, his ability to conceal experiments was leagues ahead of its time.

As the three entered a vast, empty containment area, Aizen glanced at both Seiyas.

Then, he quietly spoke.

"In a way, this is your last chance to back out."

"Seiya, though I feel it's unnecessary—out of consideration…"

"Are you certain you wish to experience this unstable power firsthand?"

Aizen's tone was calm, yet unmistakably serious.

Hōgyoku was still incomplete—the other half remained with Urahara.

Even its best results so far—

Were a mindless White, and a flawed Metastacia.

Aizen had no guarantees about what Seiya would become.

A mindless beast?

A slave to uncontrollable desires?

The results were unknown—but the excitement was undeniable.

As for Seiya—

After a moment of genuine contemplation, both Seiyas grinned.

"Someone has to try first, right, Aizen-sensei?"

"I see…"

Aizen nodded.

His gaze sharpened as he spoke with utmost solemnity.

"Then, allow me to use your own words, Seiya."

"I respect those who are willing to be the first to try something new…"

"No matter the outcome, your actions will be our first step forward."

Aizen revealed his most treasured artifact—

The Hōgyoku.

Seiya stepped forward.

And wished.

"Let me replace White."

"Let me take its abilities."

"Let me become…

…that white shadow."

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Powerstones?

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