…Now, I can only describe it as despair.

"So this is the power of Dark Kōfūin—capable of taking another Shinigami's Zanpakutō?"

"By slaying the Shinigami, severing the soul bond between them and their Zanpakutō, then using the power of the Kōfūin to erase everything and restore it to a sealed state..."

"And finally, with the help of a new master, overwrite the sealed blade with the soul essence of that Shinigami… effectively making it their own."

The moment Aizen held Muramasa in his hand, he calmly dissected the process. Through perception alone, he analyzed the complete mechanism of Kōfūin's Zanpakutō-capturing ability.

Even he couldn't help but marvel.

Zanpakutō were born from the essence of their master's soul. In other words, everything Kōfūin could do stemmed from Aiyan's own soul.

From light to darkness.

From suppression to erasure.

From rebirth to gifting.

All of it—Aiyan's creation.

…

Boom—!

As Aizen slightly gripped the handle, Reiatsu surged into the blade. In the next instant, Muramasa erupted into radiant stardust, swirling around Aizen like a storm of light.

Then—

It all began.

"Looks like the transfer is complete."

Aiyan stood there, watching with genuine curiosity.

This was the first time he had captured another Shinigami's Zanpakutō.

And the first time… he gave one away.

Naturally, he was interested in the process.

After a moment, the stars of Reiatsu faded.

"Well? How is it?"

Aiyan looked over and asked with a faint smile.

"…Kyōka Suigetsu beat the newborn Muramasa to the ground."

"Muramasa refused to submit… so he was beaten again."

"…Still refused."

Aizen's expression was subtle—slightly odd, as though he wasn't sure whether to laugh or frown.

Clearly—

He'd just witnessed two Zanpakutō fighting it out in his inner world.

"Hahahaha! That makes perfect sense."

"Like master, like blade."

"Kōga was arrogant on the outside, insecure on the inside. He thirsted for power and control—wanted to see the noble Shinigami bow before him."

"So, he gave birth to Muramasa—a Zanpakutō capable of hypnotizing Shinigami. One that bowed to his will."

Aiyan chuckled freely.

"But you…"

"You were born in the dirt, but your heart defies the heavens. You disdain Shinigami from your bones. And so, Kyōka Suigetsu was born."

"A Zanpakutō that accepts only submission. That bows to none."

"Now that I've reset Muramasa to factory state," Aiyan continued, "and had you imprint your soul onto him again… of course his personality changed."

"He still refuses to bow to Kyōka Suigetsu, even knowing Kyōka is the strongest illusion-type."

"But it doesn't matter now."

"From today forward, there is no strongest or second place between the two."

"Kyōka Suigetsu and Muramasa—both are your Zanpakutō. Both are you."

"Two blades, one soul."

Just like Zangetsu and White Ichigo inside Kurosaki Ichigo… both separate, and yet whole.

"Kyōka Suigetsu in my hands… is the strongest."

"Muramasa in my hands… is also the strongest."

"Illusion… is twin blades. There's no comparison anymore."

Aizen nodded slightly.

That was the truth.

They were both his Zanpakutō.

There was no 'rank'—just different names.

"Lord Aizen…"

"If I may be so bold…"

Tōsen Kaname suddenly stepped forward, unable to hold back his awe any longer.

Though blind, his Reiatsu perception was sharper than most. And with nothing hidden from his ears, he understood perfectly what had transpired.

Aiyan captured Muramasa.

Aizen received his second Zanpakutō.

Now… he held in his hands the twin blades of the strongest Illusion-type ever born in Soul Society.

And Tōsen…

He wanted to see it.

To witness its Shikai.

"Would you grant me the honor… to witness your release?"

Aizen looked toward him with that same serene smile.

"…Of course."

But what he said next sent a chill down the spine.

"Shatter—Kyōka Suigetsu."

"Whisper—Demon Blade, Muramasa."

The moment he uttered the release commands—

A torrent of divine Reiatsu erupted from his body.

Boom—!

A colossal pillar of Reiatsu shot toward the sky like a beacon of godhood.

And as the light engulfed the land, the two Zanpakutō at his waist vanished.

In their place—

Two new blades emerged in each of his hands.

Shikai Form.

Kyōka Suigetsu looked nearly the same—curved blade, pale green hilt.

But Muramasa… had changed entirely.

A straight-edged blade, its hilt wrapped in deep violet.

The aura it gave off was chilling, yet majestic.

Nothing like what it had been in Kōga's hands.

"What do you think?"

Aizen asked calmly, holding Muramasa in his left and Kyōka Suigetsu in his right.

"…If your presence before was terrifying…"

"…Now, I can only describe it as despair."

Tōsen Kaname shuddered as he spoke.

Though his eyes were blind, his soul felt as though it had plummeted into a chasm of black void, never to climb out again.

But then…

He turned his attention.

Toward Aiyan.

He hadn't moved.

Hadn't even drawn his blade.

No pressure.

No aura.

Yet—

Facing him made Kaname feel even worse.

Despair beyond terror.

A dread so deep, you couldn't even lift your sword to resist.

What Tōsen didn't know… was that as Aizen spoke to him…

He had quietly entered Tōsen Kaname's inner world.

That—

Was the new ability born from Shikai of the Illusion-type Twin Blades.

Absolute access.

Silently invading any Shinigami's mental space.

And in that spiritual world—

Aizen said nothing.

He simply glanced at Suzumushi, Tōsen's Zanpakutō spirit.

And turned to leave.

But what happened next…

Was terrifying.

Suzumushi—

Without hesitation—

Kneeled down in reverence.

Kneeling not to Tōsen Kaname.

But to Aizen.

As if it had always been his Zanpakutō.

A single glance.

A single presence.

That was enough to force a Zanpakutō to kneel.

And Tōsen… remained oblivious.

That… is a king.

Same Zanpakutō.

Same Muramasa.

But in Aizen's hands and in Kōga's…

They were not the same, Not even close.