While chaos and carnage unfolded outside, Aizen remained unfazed, his calculated demeanor unshaken. As the golden rays of the setting sun illuminated the battlefield, all that could be seen were shattered dreams and broken souls. Manipulating Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen had turned the fears of the Golden Lion's crew against them, projecting horrors that brought even the most hardened pirates to their knees.
A twisted symphony of screams echoed through the battlefield as the Golden Lion Pirates succumbed to the overwhelming might of Kyōka Suigetsu. The carnage was absolute, and those who remained standing were only alive by Aizen's whim.
Raising his palm with eerie calm, Aizen summoned his next move. His voice, as smooth as silk, carried a quiet power that silenced even the crashing waves.
"Hadō no Kyūjū: Kurohitsugi."
The air grew heavy, and a massive black coffin materialized, swallowing the Golden Lion's colossal ship and its surviving crew whole. The eerie hum of slicing energy filled the air, accompanied by the muffled screams of those trapped within.
When the Black Coffin dissipated, all that remained was an unrecognizable wreckage of the once-mighty vessel. The ocean's surface was littered with debris and lifeless bodies. The blood-streaked waters bore testimony to Aizen's ruthlessness.
Marines stood frozen, struggling to reconcile what they had just witnessed.
"Vice Admiral Aizen just wiped out an entire crew of infamous pirates... in mere moments…" one Marine whispered in disbelief, his voice trembling.
Aizen turned to his subordinates, his expression unreadable. "Deal with the remnants. I'll handle the Golden Lion."
With that, he disappeared, Golden Lion's battered and seemingly lifeless body in tow.
---
Deep within the prison's lowest level, Aizen carelessly dropped the Golden Lion's body onto the cold floor. The once-mighty pirate, feared across the seas, now lay powerless and broken.
"It's time to stop pretending, Golden Lion. I know you've regained consciousness. You recover faster than I expected." Aizen's voice was calm, but his words carried an ominous edge.
Golden Lion's eyes fluttered open, his Haki-fueled presence reduced to a faint shadow of its former glory. His once-proud aura had been shattered by the horrors of Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion.
"You brought me here instead of killing me. What do you want, boy?" Golden Lion's voice was raspy but defiant, though the weariness in his eyes betrayed his true state.
Aizen remained silent, his piercing gaze fixed on his prey.
"You think you're clever, don't you?" Golden Lion muttered. "Your power… it doesn't just affect me. It affects everyone who sees it. The horrors they saw—they weren't real, were they?"
A faint smile played on Aizen's lips, but he offered no confirmation. The silence itself was an answer.
Golden Lion exhaled sharply, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. "If you wanted to kill me, you would've done it already. You need something, don't you?"
Aizen finally spoke. "Correct. You're valuable… for an experiment."
From his pocket, Aizen produced a small, glowing blue sphere—the Hōgyoku fragment. It pulsed faintly, emitting an otherworldly energy.
"Recover," Aizen commanded, holding the Hōgyoku aloft.
A wave of energy surged from the fragment, enveloping Golden Lion. His battered body began to heal at an unnatural pace, and even his mind—ravaged by Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion—started to mend.
Golden Lion's eyes widened in shock as his strength slowly returned. "What... What is this power? Even my brain is recovering..."
Aizen's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Do not mistake this for kindness. This is merely the beginning. You're a critical piece of a much larger puzzle."
Golden Lion clenched his fists, testing his regained strength, but a cold shiver ran down his spine as Aizen's words struck him.
"If you think you can resist, you're welcome to try," Aizen continued, his tone dripping with quiet menace. "But you should know… as long as you've witnessed Kyōka Suigetsu, you're under my control. Always."
Golden Lion's defiance faltered. The memory of that endless, suffocating darkness was enough to crush whatever resolve he had left. For the first time in his life, the legendary pirate felt genuine fear.
"What is your power truly?" Golden Lion muttered, his voice hollow. "Complete control of the senses...?"
Aizen's smile widened. "You're beginning to understand."
The once-proud Golden Lion fell silent, his spirit subdued. In this moment, it was clear to him—and to anyone who witnessed Aizen's rise—that this was no ordinary Marine. This was a man whose ambitions transcended the limits of humanity itself.