"Bankai."
"It is the second stage of a Zanpakutō's release, following Shikai. The final form of a Zanpakutō."
"It allows for a deeper, more comprehensive release and use of a Zanpakutō's abilities."
"Among the thousands of Shinigami in each era, those capable of achieving Bankai are exceedingly rare."
"And once a Shinigami achieves Bankai, their name becomes immortalized, recorded in history as part of the Soul Society's legacy… a feat worthy of lasting renown."
"Additionally,"
"Mastering Bankai is normally one of the prerequisites for becoming a Captain."
Guided by the power of Kyōka Suigetsu, Seiya and Tōsen followed Aizen to a remote, desolate location that same night.
This was a barren area far removed from the residential districts. Though technically still part of Rukongai, it was so remote and deserted that no one would ever notice anything happening here.
"Once a Shinigami achieves Bankai, their spiritual pressure and combat ability undergo a qualitative leap."
"These are just things I've heard from others, so I can't make any guarantees about the specifics… but it's said that, depending on the individual, combat ability in Bankai can be five to ten times greater than in Shikai."
As Aizen spoke, he continued adjusting his position until he was standing ten meters away from the two of them.
"Now, to achieve Bankai, you must meet two conditions."
"Let's break it down simply."
Aizen raised his right hand, smiling faintly as he held up one finger.
"First."
"You must attain Third-Class Reiatsu. As the saying goes, 'a tall building is built on a solid foundation.' Without a stable base, no amount of material will be enough to construct anything meaningful."
Hearing this, Tōsen's head lowered slightly, and his expression became unusually serious.
Such a seemingly light statement bore heavy pressure for him.
After all, cultivating Reiatsu wasn't something that could be achieved overnight.
Tōsen had already been training tirelessly, sacrificing sleep and rest, yet he had only barely touched the edges of Fourth-Class Reiatsu.
Training was never simple—it was like gazing up at a towering peak. From a distance, the summit seemed close, but when one climbed, the weight of the "distance" became crushingly clear.
No matter how much effort he poured in, no matter how hard he struggled, it felt like he was stuck in place, making no real progress.
Even when he looked back to see how far he'd come, the peak remained out of reach.
What could he possibly do to keep up with Aizen and Seiya?
Tōsen couldn't avoid feeling a growing sense of doubt.
"Second."
Aizen's calm voice pulled Tōsen out of his thoughts and back into the present.
"To achieve Bankai, you must materialize your Zanpakutō spirit and make it submit to you."
"It's not an insurmountable task, yet many are stuck at this step. After all, the essence of a Zanpakutō is a reflection of its wielder's inner self."
"And so, there are those who fail because they cannot confront their own true nature, unwilling to acknowledge the sides of themselves they've hidden away."
"Which leads to complete failure at the final hurdle."
The ability to reconcile with oneself.
The strength to conquer everything.
When these two elements merge, the resulting power is the ultimate art of the Shinigami: the essence of Bankai.
For a moment, Aizen's face displayed an unusual expression of sentiment, as if recalling something from the past.
But in the next instant, he regained his composure and spoke in a steady tone.
"That's the general idea. Now, allow me to share some personal insights."
"Even as the final form, Bankai cannot entirely break away from Shikai. That might sound a bit vague, so let me elaborate further."
"Bankai represents a deeper evolution of Shikai. While some aspects may shift, it remains rooted in the same core concept as its Shikai."
In other words:
"No Zanpakutō's Shikai and Bankai are completely unrelated."
This summary might sound strange to others, but Seiya could more or less grasp its meaning.
A simple example—even in the case of someone as distinct as Sui-Feng, the difference between her Shikai and Bankai lies primarily in the shift from "two strikes to kill" to "one strike to kill."
As for whether it remained stealthy or not… perhaps it no longer mattered as much to the wielder?
"Do you both understand the gist of what I've said?"
This wasn't merely a lecture to fill in blanks.
It was also an opportunity to organize and reinforce ideas.
What seemed "self-evident" to Seiya might be groundbreaking secrets to Tōsen.
After all, the world of Shinigami was shrouded in mystery and the unknown. Seiya, having spent time under Shunsui Kyōraku, deeply understood the weight of such knowledge.
In truth, it wasn't hard to draw a straightforward conclusion:
"Shinigami who achieve Bankai are, by nature, elites among elites."
Tōsen, prompted by Aizen's questioning gaze, quickly responded, his emotions a mixture of excitement and resolve.
"Lord Aizen, I've memorized everything!"
As a subordinate, Tōsen's reaction was satisfactory. Aizen nodded approvingly and shifted his attention.
"And you, Seiya?"
"…Huh? Me? Oh, yes! I've got it too!"
Seeing Seiya, who seemed to have just snapped out of his thoughts, Aizen sighed softly.
"Seiya…"
Before Aizen could finish, Seiya had already put on an apologetic expression and spoke sincerely.
"Sorry, Lord Aizen. I didn't mean to zone out. It's just that…"
"Was it because of something I said?"
Aizen's lips twitched slightly, his gaze dropping as if lost in thought.
"Seiya, it's true that I'm not particularly fond of my Bankai, and I rarely feel inclined to discuss it with others."
"To some, my reluctance might come across as dismissive."
"But I must admit, I truly don't enjoy this topic."
Seiya hesitated, carefully choosing his words.
"N-no, that's not it…"
The problem wasn't Aizen.
It was on Seiya's side.
Seiya slapped his cheeks lightly, his expression turning perplexed.
"To be honest, when you were explaining, I actually… communicated with my Zanpakutō."
His Zanpakutō spirit had cooperated readily, seemingly eager to reveal its name.
But—
Seiya recalled the strange experience within his inner world.
Sāgara Ryū had hopped onto his shoulder, tugging at his ear with tiny hands, repeatedly shouting:
"Can't you hear me? Hey, hey, hey!"
"My true name is ████!"
"What's with that look on your face? Can't you hear me? My name is ████!"
Seiya spoke blankly:
"I can't hear its name."
"Because…"
It was stained black.
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Powerstones?
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