Aizen's reiatsu showed no fluctuations. Clearly, his control over it was masterful. Even the act of releasing his Shikai was understated and calm.
"This is....Kyōka Suigetsu?"
Ren marvelled at the sight of the Zanpakutō in Aizen's hand. Its blade reflected the moonlight streaming in from the window, exuding a mysterious yet elegant aura.
Oddly enough, he didn't feel any noticeable changes. He couldn't even tell if he was currently under hypnosis.
Thinking about it, Ren instinctively glanced at his personal menu and, for the first time, noticed the advantage of having a spatial system.
In his personal status interface, a new negative condition had appeared.
Negative Status: Complete Hypnosis.
Description: The Explorer is now fully hypnotized by Aizen Sōsuke's Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu. Your five senses are under its control.
Note: Anyone who has witnessed Kyōka Suigetsu's release will forever remain its prisoner. Once you are ensnared, any subsequent release of the Zanpakutō can trigger illusions at Aizen's will.
Note: This condition can only be actively removed by the wielder of Kyōka Suigetsu.
"I won't demonstrate the specifics of my Zanpakutō's abilities—there's no need since it's just the two of us here. What I wish to show you, Ren-kun, is the process of release and to help you grasp the fundamentals of achieving your own Shikai."
As he spoke, Aizen held Kyōka Suigetsu horizontally before his face. The moonlight glimmered off the blade, illuminating his sharp features.
"Ren-kun, you've been unable to release your Zanpakutō. What do you think is your greatest obstacle?"
Ren pondered for a moment before deciding to roughly explain his situation to Aizen. "I've seen....Hell..."
After listening to Ren's account, Aizen furrowed his brow slightly. It was the first time he'd encountered such a peculiar phenomenon within someone's soul.
"You're saying that the entity which resembles your Zanpakutō rejected you and forcibly expelled you?"
Ren nodded. "It roared once, and I was swept away by a violent wind, unable to resist."
He had attempted countless times afterwards, but strangely, he could no longer return to that purgatorial space. Each attempt at resonance only brought him to an endless void of darkness.
"This might stem from a subconscious rejection," Aizen speculated. "Normally, a Zanpakutō is a part of one's soul—a reflection of one's inner self. Being rejected isn't the Zanpakutō resisting you; rather, it's likely you resisting the power it represents."
Ren was puzzled. He pointed to himself. "Me? Resisting power?"
He found Aizen's analysis absurd. As a martial arts enthusiast, his lifelong pursuit was the pinnacle of strength. Why would he reject the chance to gain power?
Aizen nodded with a thoughtful expression. "You mentioned growing up in Rukongai. Did you experience any psychological trauma as a child? For instance....perhaps you accidentally killed someone important to you?"
Ren shook his head emphatically. Unlike the long, drawn-out lifespans of most in Soul Society, his life had only spanned twenty years. Since his earliest memories, he'd been training under his master.
His master had instilled in him the qualities of a warrior and the principles of a decent human being. Ren had always controlled his strength well, never using it to oppress the weak.
As for accidentally killing someone? That was out of the question. The people he killed were deliberate targets—he never took a life by mistake.
"Then this is strange…" Aizen mused. "Perhaps, just perhaps, something similar happened, but you've suppressed the memory to prevent yourself from going mad?"
Ren shook his head again. "Impossible. I trust my own memory, Sōsuke. Instead of speculating, can you think of a way to help me reach my inner world again?"
"To achieve deep resonance, I might be able to help. Ren-kun, you may be too tense, too impatient. This prevents your mind from relaxing enough for resonance. Have you ever heard of hypnotherapy?"
Aizen's suggestion sounded bizarre, and Ren couldn't help but feel like he was talking to a patient talking to a psychologist. The idea that Aizen considered him some psychologically scarred oddity was both amusing and frustrating.
Hypnotherapy? Seriously? I'm already hypnotized by you!
Wait. Hypnosis?
A sudden realization struck Ren, and his eyes lit up. He understood Aizen's intent. In a way, Aizen's abilities were uniquely suited to aiding him.
Aizen was a genius. His understanding of the principles behind awakening a Zanpakutō was genuine. If he used hypnosis to guide Ren into resonance, it might truly work.
"Do you know hypnosis, Sōsuke?" Ren asked, feigning ignorance. He couldn't exactly say, I know the true power of Kyōka Suigetsu, so just hypnotize me already!
"A little. Now, Ren-kun, assume a resonance stance and try to relax."
Aizen sat cross-legged across from him, Kyōka Suigetsu resting horizontally on his lap.
Without hesitation, Ren positioned himself, placing his hands over the Asauchi before him.
"Fix your gaze on my Zanpakutō. I'll sway it gently. Relax your mind…"
Aizen guided him step by step with an air of meticulous patience. "Yes, just like that. Now close your eyes and imagine yourself entering your soul's inner world…"
The rest of Aizen's words faded into silence as Ren found himself drawn back into the depths of his soul.
He stood once more before the abyss, taking a step forward and feeling the sensation of weightlessness engulf him.
Hypnosis really works! He marvelled.
Before long, he returned to the purgatorial realm and stood before the cage once more.
The crimson gates creaked open, and the black-clad demon inside locked eyes with him in a silent yet intense stare-off.
Its gaze carried a kaleidoscope of emotions—rage, despair, mockery, solitude, and a faint, almost imperceptible....longing.
In the next moment, a violent gale erupted. Before Ren could even utter a word to inquire about the demon's name, he was blown away once more.
"Ren-kun! Ren-kun! Ren Hoshino! Wake up!"
The familiar voice rang in his head. When Ren opened his eyes, he found himself drenched in sweat, lying on the bed. Beside him, Aizen was vigorously shaking him awake.
"Sōsuke? What happened?"
Ren felt a throbbing headache. As he sat up, he glanced out the window. Dawn seemed to be breaking, though it felt like only minutes had passed since Aizen had hypnotized him and he had been swept out of that mysterious realm.
"I'm not entirely sure."
Aizen's expression was uncharacteristically puzzled. "After I put you under hypnosis, you quickly fell asleep. At first, your reiatsu was calm and stable, but then it became unnaturally violent. There was even a faint aura of purple-black reiatsu emanating from you."
This hypnosis session had gone far beyond Aizen's understanding of souls. Although he was the guide in the process, he couldn't perceive what Ren was experiencing.
Relying on his extensive knowledge of the Shikai awakening process, Aizen had guided Ren to communicate with the depths of his soul. Based on his analysis, even if Ren failed to awaken his Zanpakutō, the worst-case scenario would be the Zanpakutō refusing to reveal its name. At most, Ren would wake up after some time, unaffected.
But reality didn't follow theory. After Ren entered that strange state, he remained unresponsive for far longer than anticipated. This deviation from expectations unsettled even someone as composed as Aizen.
It wasn't that he particularly cared about Ren's well-being. The problem was that their experiment was, in a sense, forbidden. If anything were to happen to Ren in the dormitory, the secrets Aizen carried might come to light, jeopardizing his greater plans.
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[T/N] - Enjoy the Extra Chapter.
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P.S. - The next few chapters are gonna be epic!