"Clap, clap, clap!!!"
Applause-like.
Suddenly, like a ghost, raising every Shinigami's hackles!
When eyes turned to the source,
Three all-too-familiar figures, somehow in the empty corridor, approaching with faint smirks!
In that instant,
Indescribable fear dragged all into a claustrophobic abyss, immense pressure suffocating!
Now,
Every Shinigami felt this!
Because… the central figure was the "autopsied" dead Aizen!
"How…"
"Did I… hallucinate?!"
"Aizen… wasn't he just… autopsied by Captain Unohana?"
Including captains.
Elite Shinigami became children, speech faltering, eyes terrified!
Worse!
Some glanced back at the cloth-covered corpse—suddenly flat and empty!
The body…
The "Aizen" Zaraki killed under all eyes… vanished!!!
Boom!
Double shock!
Intense dizziness like a tidal wave!
Soi Fon, Byakuya, Zaraki, Hitsugaya…
Captains who attacked Aizen.
Paled, froze, mouths agape!
Even captains couldn't withstand "truth" exposure's impact, let alone lieutenants and seats!
Some weak-willed collapsed, limbs convulsing, like seeing a ghost!
The brief joy of handling the traitor, crushing the plot—instantly replaced by apocalyptic fear!
The mastermind.
Whether faking "death" or now appearing unguarded—all in Aizen's control!
As in his century of deeds!
"AIZEN!!!"
"How did you do it? How did you fool everyone!!!" Kyōraku recovered first, suppressing heart-piercing fear, demanding.
Even he, usually carefree, mentally broke! Flushing!
Aizen, yet to provoke, calmly replied:
"Captain Kyōraku…"
"First, correction: I never intended to deceive. You and I merely saw different scenes…"
Matter-of-fact tone.
As if obvious, silencing Kyōraku's rage!
"Different scenes? What do you mean! What are you plotting!!!" Soi Fon roared.
Her anger.
Partly from deception, natural rage at truth.
Partly spiritual pressure perception failure!
Upon Aizen's appearance. As Onmitsukidō commander, Soi Fon detected no pressure!
Meaning,
Had Aizen any killing intent, he could've taken any life effortlessly!
This shamed Soi Fon more than deception!
For her pride—ultimate humiliation!
"Amusing, angry already…"
Facing Soi Fon's glare, Aizen glanced coldly, then ignored.
As if the famed commander was transparent air!
This silent act.
More lethal than words, breaking Soi Fon's pride again!
"If unwilling to answer…" Rage rising, Suzumebachi reappeared on Soi Fon's wrist!
Crouching, hostile.
As Soi Fon prepared to sting, a gentle hand pressed her shoulder!
"?!"
Meeting her gaze.
Unohana shook head, advising: "Captain Soi Fon, without understanding Aizen's ability, we must not act rashly…"
"Or we fall into his trap!"
Then,
Unohana shifted gaze.
To Aizen's flanks.
Just as Soi Fon moved, Tōsen and Gin's hands were on hilts!
If she neared.
Two blades would bisect her!
"Gin…"
"Why become this! Why Aizen's accomplice!" In the crowd, Matsumoto Rangiku sighed, eyes complex and forlorn.
She suddenly realized,
She no longer understood this childhood friend, memories of eating persimmons in Rukongai flashing!
Alas, things change,
Matsumoto never imagined opposing Gin!
"Ya~ Matsumoto Lieutenant, I've always been this way. You just never knew…" Gin smiled, unfazed by hostile glares, unchanged.
His casual demeanor.
Naturally fueled rage and hate!
Ukitake couldn't hold back: "Aizen…"
"You haven't explained! All this! The vanished corpse! How?!"
No longer pale.
Flushed.
Ukitake angry, disappointed, still hoping to turn Aizen back!
Alas…
His one-sided delusion!
"Want the answer?"
Facing myriad wary, hostile gazes.
Aizen calmly spoke, drawing Kyōka Suigetsu from its sheath.
"What's he doing?!!!"
Seeing this.
Every Shinigami instinctively stepped back, distancing from Aizen!
Aizen's intimidation deeply ingrained!
"My Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu…"
Left hand on hilt, right stroking blade, Aizen elegantly held it vertically, tip down!
"Before, I told you Kyōka Suigetsu is flow-type, using mist and water refraction to confuse, making enemies kill each other…"
"Right?"
Lips curving meaningfully, voice emotionless:
"In truth, that was a lie…"
"Kyōka Suigetsu's true ability is absolute hypnosis dominating the five senses! Making enemies perceive anything per my will!"
Indifferent gaze swept.
Taking in shocked expressions, Aizen's smile deepened: "Unclear?"
"Simply: make a fly seem a soaring dragon, a swamp a blooming field!"
"Like… the scene you're about to see!"
Words ceased.
Aizen's smile faded, eyes flashing cold.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu!"