Aizen felt a surge of irritation. He pressed again: "What do you really want?"
"I told you, I don't want anything. You can consider my strength equivalent to the Soul King. If the Soul King had consciousness, what would it do? Probably nothing."
"I just want to find amusement."
"Aizen, I understand you. You want to escape loneliness. Of course, that loneliness comes from your strength. But undeniably, Kyoka Suigetsu is a major factor!"
"Kyoka Suigetsu makes you feel like everyone around you is on a different level. You can't see the same things they do. That's why you wanted to become a god."
"But rejoice! Now a true god has appeared before you. This god grants you an opportunity!"
"Aizen, I can change your Zanpakuto into the genuine water-based blade you claimed it was, Kyoka Suigetsu!"
"Would you then choose to live an ordinary life?" Sora asked seriously. "I think Hinamori Momo is a good woman."
"Do you truly wish to stand above the heavens and break her heart?"
"This..." Hearing Sora's words, Aizen hesitated!
He felt genuine affection for Momo.
After all, could a great mastermind be woken up in the middle of the night by someone feeling a little uneasy, only to stay and chat until they fell asleep?
And for that mastermind to be someone like Aizen?
Yet, Momo had done that! What did that imply? Was she just the Soul Society's ultimate emotional support?
Of course not. It meant Aizen had feelings too!
So, when faced with something he had occasionally fantasized about, Aizen actually considered it seriously!
It was an immensely difficult decision.
But after struggling with it, Aizen suddenly felt something was off.
He sensed something amiss.
"..."
Aizen looked at Sora with a hint of realization, wondering if he was correct.
But in reality, Aizen's guess was spot on.
Sora was seeking amusement, and there were very amusing ways to find it!
"You wouldn't..." Aizen started to ask.
At that moment, Sora smiled: "Congratulations, you guessed right. Yes, I intended to do this from the start. I never planned to give you a choice!"
Unbeknownst to Aizen, Sora was once again holding the Hogyoku: "Hogyoku, modify his Zanpakuto!"
"Change Aizen's Zanpakuto ability into what he claimed it was!"
'Of course, I'm merciful. I won't alter his Bankai. He'll have to train for a proper Bankai. After all, Hirako Shinji already has a Bankai like that. If Hirako had the same Bankai as Aizen, he'd be disgusted!'
'For Hirako's sake, and as my mercy... well then, let's begin!'
With Sora's words, an invisible, immense force flowed over Aizen.
Then, Aizen could clearly sense it: his Kyoka Suigetsu had changed!
The ability to freely manipulate the five senses of others was gone!
"..."
Aizen's expression was shaken.
'Was this truly something the Hogyoku could do?' He was deeply puzzled!
But now, a new, pressing issue presented itself to Aizen!
If Sora did this, wouldn't his arrangements in the Soul Society be discovered immediately?
Just then, as if hearing Aizen's thoughts, Sora smiled and said: "Those are your problems!"
"Aizen, how to separate your current self from your old self… that's the test I'm giving you!"
"Of course, since I'm giving you a test, I'll also give you a chance to pass it!"
"Slice!"
The sound of a blade cutting flesh.
Aizen looked down in shock. He was already covered in wounds!
Simultaneously, Sora's Kyoka Suigetsu was released, and everyone's gazes fell upon him.
Sora said coldly: "Take this clown who doesn't know his place away!"
"Yes!" The others, who had witnessed the entire battle, were still shocked by Aizen's displayed strength, but now they could only take him away!
However, just as Unohana was about to leave, Sora spoke again.
"Wait, I didn't say you could leave. You're staying!"
"Yes!" Unohana could only smile wryly.
Meanwhile, the severely injured Aizen was carried away by Zaraki.
Slung over Zaraki's shoulder, Aizen was numb. He didn't know what had transpired between him and Sora within the Kyoka Suigetsu's illusion.
Suddenly, Aizen recalled Sora's words.
There was a chance to pass the test, but there were also difficulties.
When information was lacking, that was one of the difficulties!
'Sigh!' Aizen sighed inwardly.
'What a mischievous Soul King!'
But regardless of Aizen's internal lament, he was destined never to become the Aizen who commanded the elements with his hair gel.
Perhaps this counted as a happy ending of sorts?