Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

However, over the years, this guy's habit of saying strange things hasn't changed at all!

...And it's just as infuriating as ever.

Aizen's lips twitched; he almost fainted from anger at Aozaki Mayuki's erratic behavior.

He used to get angry when he heard things like that.

However, in order to maintain the air of sophistication expected of an "adult," they would usually respond with a smile.

But now, he no longer wants to maintain this pretense.

"You possess such immense power, yet you willingly conceal it. I truly underestimated you, Mayuki!"

Aizen gritted his teeth and said each word clearly.

He stared intently at Aozaki Mayuki, struggling to stand up again.

However, his battered body still could not escape the heavy burden of life.

In fact, his body was already battered and bruised, and the injuries he had suffered were almost at the limit of his body's ability to repair them!

He is not in the fifth fusion stage now, but in the third fusion stage.

Although it greatly enhanced its own regenerative abilities, it did not evolve into immortality.

Aozaki Mayuki scratched her head nonchalantly and said modestly:

"My current strength is not strong enough! So I can't be too flamboyant!"

His current strength is undoubtedly invincible in the eyes of ordinary people, but there are quite a few beings in "Bleach" who transcend the laws of nature.

People like Hyosube Ichibei and Yhwach are old hands who play by the rules. A little spiritual pressure isn't enough to defeat them.

"Such terrifying power and you're still not satisfied? You're truly a greedy fellow!"

A strange light flickered in Aizen's eyes.

He stared at Aozaki Mayuki, exhaling a breath of foul air, the smell of blood still lingering:

"It seems the world is full of surprises and not as boring as I imagined."

"I thought I had everything under control, but now I realize you were the one who was hiding the deepest secret."

"Aozaki Mayuki, beneath that nonchalant facade, just how terrifying are your ambitions and desires!"

Aizen murmured softly, his gaze fixed intently on the man before him.

At this moment, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within Aizen...

It is both an affirmation of Aozaki Mayuki and a satisfaction with the correct judgment she made back then.

“Matsuki, as expected, you are a special existence just like me... and you are an even lonelier person than me.”

Aizen's lips curled slightly, a hint of barely perceptible pleasure flashing in his eyes.

In reality, Aizen harbored two greatest wishes deep in his heart.

One is to change this already corrupt and decadent world.

It was precisely because he was so intelligent that he saw through too many truths.

Therefore, I feel disdain and contempt for the world that is filled with decadence and corruption.

The second is to find a being that can rival it and is equally special.

His talent was so great that he couldn't find anyone similar to himself for a long time.

This intelligent man, who was prone to overthinking, inevitably began to doubt his own existence as the Grim Reaper.

For a long time, he never gave up searching for that figure who resembled him.

—A kindred spirit who can understand him and is just as "different" as he is.

Only in this way can one prove that they are not alone in this world, nor are they a unique, monstrous being.

He had always felt lonely.

No one can keep up with him or understand his innermost thoughts and pursuits.

However, when he met Aozaki Mayuki, that feeling suddenly changed.

Aozaki Mayuki displayed astonishing talent and immense ambition.

This made him realize that this person was a true kindred spirit who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

"What do you plan to do next? Kill me?" Aizen asked.

"I should be considered a threat to you, right? After all, I know too much about you."

Upon hearing this, Aozaki Mayuki simply waved her hand, a slight smile appearing on her face:

"Do you remember when we first met? You didn't kill me then, so I can let you go today too."

Aizen blinked, his thoughts drifting back to the past.

Their first encounter was on a quiet night in the Flower Withering District of East Rukongai.

At that time, the moonlight shone like water on the earth, illuminating the entire lake surface and creating silvery ripples.

He looked down at the man with the potential to become a grim reaper sitting on the grass and slowly reached out his hand.

His goal was the man's soul.

The man looked extremely flustered, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he was exaggerating.

But the man's eyes were unusually calm, as if he were just a poorly performing actor acting according to a predetermined script.

This contradictory behavior aroused Aizen's curiosity and also stirred up a certain desire deep within him.

Aizen reached a conclusion almost instantly.

Deep down, this man didn't value his own life at all.

It was a kind of madness, a madness born of fear, a fear stemming from a loneliness that mirrored one's own.

Aizen realized that he seemed so out of place in this world.

But the man couldn't see anything special about it at the time, so why did he have this feeling?

Aizen didn't understand.

But with just that one glance, Aizen inexplicably let the man go and took him under his command.

Even now, Aizen is unsure whether he regrets his decision.

He sighed and shook his head helplessly.

Aozaki Mayuki chuckled softly, as if speaking to a longtime friend, and said earnestly:

"Sousuke, have you forgotten your lofty ideals and no longer wish to change the world?"

"I want to ascend that supreme throne, but to be honest, I'm not good at what happens after I'm at the top."

"Then you will be in charge of managing this world for me."

"How about we create a wonderful world that we all love?"

Aozaki Mayuki returned the olive branch that Aizen had offered.

Aizen remained silent for a long time without giving a direct answer. Instead, he raised his head and asked in return:

"True Moon, do you still feel lonely now?"

"Almost never, but when I'm sleeping alone in bed, I sometimes feel a sense of emptiness."

"However, this feeling is not quite the same as before; at least it doesn't make people feel scared."

Aozaki Mayuki gently shook her head and said calmly:

"how about you?"

"I seem to... not be able to feel it anymore either." Aizen let out a long sigh, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Chapter 258 Happiness

The virtual circle, the virtual night palace.

On this tranquil land, the silvery moonlight, like a veil, spills down, illuminating every corner.

However, the scene before them was impossible to ignore.

Countless collapsed and broken walls seem to tell the story of an incredibly brutal war that once took place here.

Traces of being scorched by the sun's fire, as well as marks from being bombarded by Cero and Kido, can be seen everywhere.

These ruins bear witness to that harrowing battle and foreshadow the hardships this palace has endured.

Kaname Tosen led a large number of Adjuchas Arrancars, as well as Harribel and Ulquiorra, to work on the restoration of Las Noches.

Their busy figures moved through every corner, striving to restore this once-glorious palace to its former splendor.

On a broken tower, Aizen Sousuke stood quietly in his room, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

There, Aozaki Mayuki was flirting with a female Arrancar, drawing sidelong glances from those around them.

Aizen watched this scene and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

Just a few days and nights ago, he had a life-or-death struggle with that guy.

Now, not only has she handed over the palace she had only recently occupied, but she has also become that man's nominal "companion."

Aizen didn't have much dissatisfaction about becoming that man's comrade.

After all, they are the same kind of people.

Aizen was quite tolerant of his own kind.

However, when Aizen recalled Aozaki Mayuki's theory of "king and mount," he couldn't help but sigh softly.

This metaphor made him feel a strange sense of helplessness and resentment.

It's perfectly normal for a relationship of domination and subordination to exist between two people.

After all, he was just a loser, while Aozaki Mayuki was the undisputed winner.

It's hard to believe that the man has reached the same level as me so quickly, and even surpassed me!