Kaname Tōsen stood at the edge of the rooftop, his posture tense as he 'gazed' into the distance, lips pressed tightly together, his entire body taut with anticipation.
"Tōsen, are you nervous?"
A calm voice came from beside him. It was Aizen. His presence, as always, felt both soothing and unsettling.
"Yes… I'm very nervous, Aizen-sama."
There was no hesitation in Tōsen's reply, no attempt to conceal his unease. He answered directly, a rarity for someone as composed as he was.
His hand clenched and unclenched repeatedly, fingers drifting to rest on his sword's hilt as if seeking reassurance.
"Aizen-sama, Seiya's progress has been remarkable — that much is clear to all of us. But even so…"
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed in the distance.
A burst of light and heat erupted skyward, the shockwave creating a lingering hum that reverberated through the air like the aftereffects of a dust explosion.
The impact was no small matter, and considering it was late at night, such a commotion would typically attract immediate attention.
However, this was no ordinary location.
This was a carefully selected battlefield — secluded, remote, and far enough from the patrol routes to avoid interference.
Aizen, ever composed, held his zanpakutō in a reverse grip as he gazed at the distant blast with a serene expression.
"Tōsen, I've told you before… Seiya is not like you. Don't project your thoughts onto him."
"But Aizen-sama!"
Tōsen's voice grew more urgent, his usually restrained demeanor cracking under the weight of his concern. His brows furrowed, and his tone hardened into something close to a plea.
"Seiya's growth, while impressive, does not put him on par with a captain-level combatant!"
He gritted his teeth.
"Combat experience and skill aside, his spiritual pressure hasn't reached that level. He was classified as Sixth Class. Even now, at most, he's reached Fourth Class."
"He's talented — far more so than most. But against Kiganjō…"
Aizen gently adjusted his glasses, his tranquil smile unwavering.
"What you're trying to say, Tōsen, is that it's impossible for him to win?"
Tōsen nodded sharply, clenching his fists.
"Yes! It's simply impossible!"
Aizen chuckled softly, his voice calm and patient.
"You seem to misunderstand one crucial point."
Aizen took a step forward, brushing dust from his sleeve as he began to explain with his usual measured tone.
"I never once said Seiya needs to defeat Kiganjō."
Tōsen froze, his mind racing to process the statement.
"I never even implied that he should win. My instructions were simple: challenge Kiganjō. Nothing more, nothing less."
Tōsen's lips parted, but no words came out. He was at a loss.
"…???"
He felt his thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind, completely disoriented.
Aizen, as though sensing his confusion, chuckled again and shifted his gaze back toward the distant battlefield.
"Yes, that's correct."
Aizen's smile deepened as he watched the clash unfold.
"Victory isn't the goal here. That was never the point."
A Few Minutes Earlier
Seiya Arima was well aware of Aizen's expectations. Every instruction, every piece of advice — all of it had led to this moment.
Unlike before, Seiya wasn't caught off guard.
This time, he was prepared.
He understood Kiganjō's hesitation to fully unleash his power — captains were forbidden from using Bankai within Seireitei unless granted explicit permission. The looming shadow of Yamamoto's authority ensured that captains tread carefully.
For Seiya, this was a rare window of opportunity.
This time, he wouldn't hold back.
Chains wrapped around his wrists as he unleashed his zanpakutō. The fine, slender blade shimmered as the delicate chain coiled and uncoiled like a serpent.
The labyrinth of possibilities unfolded before him.
Each scenario, each path to victory, materialized and dissolved in an endless loop of outcomes.
It wasn't just intuition.
It was calculation.
"Ouroboros, devour yourself."
Present
Back on the rooftop, Aizen spoke again, his voice low but resolute.
"The key is to survive. Seiya doesn't need to defeat Kiganjō — he only needs to endure long enough."
Tōsen remained silent, absorbing Aizen's words.
"But if he manages to push Kiganjō to his limit…"
Aizen's smile became inscrutable, his gaze distant.
"Then that will speak volumes about Seiya's potential."
Far below, in the heart of the labyrinth, Seiya stood amidst the chaos.
His chains twisted and tightened, winding around his wrist like the ticking hands of a clock.
In that endless maze of possibilities, he found it.
The one thread — the single timeline — that would lead him out of the loop.
A node in time.
A break in the cycle.
The key to ending the Möbius loop.
As Seiya grasped it, his eyes glowed with determination.
"Let's end this."
The twisting chains tightened.
Time condensed.
And the loop began to collapse.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates