Chapter 54 A Fragment Of Hōgyoku

"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."

Aizen's calm voice resonated through the dimly lit room, the blade in his hand dissolving into a shimmering haze of smoke before seamlessly reforming. His expression betrayed nothing as he sheathed the weapon and returned to his seat, his presence commanding yet unsettlingly serene.

"Let's not linger on trivialities. It's time to inspect the prison," Aizen said, his tone devoid of emotion.

The officers in the room nodded in unison, their faces calm and compliant. It was as if the earlier declaration had never been uttered, nor the display of his power witnessed. They followed Aizen without hesitation, their minds entirely under the sway of his Kyōka Suigetsu's perfect hypnosis.

Aizen allowed a faint smile to tug at the corners of his mouth. The seeds of his plan were sown, and the results were flawless.

The group departed for the prison, leaving the bustling base behind. Aizen's mind churned with calculations and contingencies, his steps purposeful. Controlling the prison's core personnel was the cornerstone of his strategy. The isolation of this system within the branch ensured minimal external interference. The higher-ups wouldn't scrutinize routine prison operations—especially under his watchful authority.

Upon arrival, Aizen wasted no time. Utilizing Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnotic control, he gathered the prison staff and jailers, ensuring their complete submission. With the groundwork laid, he dismissed his entourage and descended alone to the prison's deepest level, where only the most dangerous captives were held.

The third level resembled a colossal crater, carved into the earth like the impact site of a meteor. Dim torchlight flickered against jagged walls, casting ominous shadows. A single cell stood at the heart of the pit, containing a figure of raw menace.

"An interesting occupant," Aizen mused as his gaze fell upon the towering pirate imprisoned below. "Neia, the saber-toothed tiger of the ancient Zoan. A bounty of 400 million... awakened abilities... impervious skin."

The pirate stirred, sensing the young Vice Admiral's approach. "You don't look like a jailer here to feed me. What do you want, Marine?" Neia's deep voice reverberated with suspicion, his eyes narrowing at Aizen.

"I'm here to grant you power," Aizen said, his voice smooth and cold, betraying no urgency or fear.

Before Neia could respond, Aizen reached into his coat and revealed a small gemstone, glimmering with an otherworldly blue light. The fragmented Hōgyoku pulsed faintly, as if alive, its mysterious energy radiating a quiet intensity.

"Power?" Neia growled, his instincts prickling at the unnatural energy emanating from the object. "What kind of trick are you playing, Marine?"

Aizen's smile was faint, his calm demeanor unshaken. "Not a trick. A transformation."

Without further preamble, Aizen raised his blade and, with surgical precision, drove it into Neia's chest. The pirate roared in pain, his massive frame collapsing to the ground as blood spilled freely. He gasped, coughing up crimson streaks as his life ebbed.

"Damn you... What—what have you done?" Neia wheezed, his voice fading as darkness encroached upon his vision.

Aizen crouched beside the fallen pirate, observing the dying man with clinical detachment. "You are the first of many experiments. Consider yourself chosen."

He placed the fragmented Hōgyoku into Neia's gaping wound, his eyes gleaming with cold curiosity. The gem began to dissolve, its ethereal glow merging with Neia's body, seeping into his very being.

Neia's screams filled the chamber as his body convulsed violently. His flesh warped and shifted, muscles bulging unnaturally as veins of dark energy coursed beneath his skin. The transformation was grotesque yet mesmerizing, a symphony of destruction and rebirth orchestrated by Aizen's hands.

Aizen rose, adjusting his glasses with the same composure he had maintained throughout. "Let us see if you can become something greater. A perfect Hollow... or merely another failure."

As the screams faded, replaced by an ominous silence, Aizen turned and began ascending the stairs, his white coat billowing behind him. A faint smirk played on his lips as he whispered, "The age of transformation begins."