The dim room fell into complete silence.
Even the crackling lightning and colliding wind currents flowed soundlessly.
Shigure stared at Aizen for a moment before slowly lowering his eyes.
Silence.
He truly hadn't expected Aizen to already be this strong.
Even less had he expected him to suddenly raise this question at such a moment.
This was the first time in four years Shigure's identity had been exposed...
And by his strongest enemy all along—Aizen himself.
Days ago, Shigure refused Squad Zero's promotion precisely to avoid having his identity discovered by the monk Ichibē Hyōsube.
Because the power that monk possessed made him one of the two people Shigure currently feared most. The other was that Quincy progenitor.
But what Shigure never imagined was that the first to truly expose his identity... would be Aizen.
And in this place. While still sealed.
So when he'd just heard those words, lacking mental preparation, Shigure lost composure.
And that loss of composure let Aizen confirm his speculation.
Shigure kept his eyes lowered, understanding in his heart—this time, he'd truly lost to Aizen.
"Heh, no need for that expression. I have no interest in revealing such secrets to those mediocre masses."
"You can still continue living using this identity."
Seeing Shigure's silence, Aizen began speaking again unprompted.
Hearing this, Shigure raised his head, meeting Aizen's gaze directly. Strange light bloomed in Aizen's eyes.
He stared at Shigure, slowly smiling:
"However, I've become even more curious—what kind of scenery exists in that original world you came from...?"
"A modern metropolis with flowing traffic... or a secret realm in the clouds...?"
"Or perhaps... a completely unknown higher-dimensional civilization...?"
As Aizen spoke, his smile carried a trace of excitement.
This expression would never have appeared on his face before. After all, he'd exhausted everything in this world.
But facing the unknown that was Shigure, something in his heart seemed ignited once more.
Hearing these words, a faint smile began reappearing on Shigure's face. Then he said:
"Sorry, I didn't come here to chat idly with you about this, so..."
Halfway through Shigure's words, Aizen directly interrupted, smiling composedly:
"Of course I know. You came to reinforce my seal... correct?"
"Then, proceed."
"Letting me remain conscious would be quite troublesome for an existence like you, wouldn't it?"
"Besides, this seal isn't as solid as those outside imagine, right?"
Hearing this, Shigure nodded without denial, stating directly:
"Correct. So I'll reinforce it periodically."
Hearing this, Aizen's expression didn't change—clearly this was within his expectations too. He chuckled:
"Hehe, rare to hear definite words from you."
"However, if someday you too grow weary of this lowly world and false heavens..."
"Then, you're welcome to collaborate with me."
At the end, Aizen's gaze flickered. The smile on his face became especially mysterious.
Shigure's expression didn't change. He didn't answer, but lightly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"Snap."
The finger-snap fell. Pale white light instantly surged from the surrounding walls, directly enveloping Aizen.
Aizen smiled, slowly closing his eyes and lowering his head.
Once again falling into sealed slumber.
After confirming everything, Shigure slowly stood, looking down at the sealed Aizen. Moments later, his phantom form dispersed.
Simultaneously, on the Seireitei streets, Shigure—still walking steadily—withdrew his consciousness.
With this, external matters were finally concluded for him.
Though Aizen had seen through his identity, it wouldn't bring any real impact.
Moreover, just as Aizen said—he had no interest in exposing it.
Next, what Shigure needed to do, besides periodically reinforcing the seal, was strengthen himself through several matters.
First, naturally completing the system's consecutive check-in task—elevating his Hakuda skills to the extreme to obtain that unknown reward.
Second, communicating with Candle Dragon.
Shigure desperately wanted to accelerate his fusion with Candle Dragon. Like Aizen and Kyōka Suigetsu's current state—his Zanpakutō had begun disappearing.
However, Aizen reached that level through the Hōgyoku. Shigure was different.
So he knew this couldn't be rushed.
And this would be something he'd work toward for a long time to come.
Everything... was to prepare for that fated war.
Shigure deeply understood those enemies' strength. Naturally he wouldn't underestimate them.
Though he knew many check-in tasks still awaited him, that didn't conflict with fusing with Candle Dragon.
Once reaching that level, his strength would increase exponentially again...
Walking leisurely on the street toward the 5th Division, Shigure thought this.
"Hah..."
Exhaling lightly, Shigure unconsciously showed a faint smile.
Whether because external matters were resolved, or because his identity was finally known to someone—
Since becoming captain until now, Shigure had never felt this relaxed. As if a heavy burden suddenly lifted.
At this moment, above the Seireitei, clear skies no longer remained. The already dim sun was now obscured by gray clouds.
The cool breeze grew cold. Shigure walked slowly. At some point, a few snowflakes began falling from the sky.
The snowflakes increased. Soon they became heavy snow.
Shigure stopped, slightly raising his head to look up, letting snowflakes land on his face without dodging.
He squinted, chuckling as he murmured softly:
"It's snowing..."
"Soul Society's seasonal changes... always come so unexpectedly..."
"But then again, I've been here nearly four years. I should probably be used to these changes by now..."
Beneath the white snow, all things returned to silence.
A slender figure gradually walked away, leaving faint footprints.
[Next Chapter: Final Arc Begins!]
[Invisible Empire Thousand-Year Blood War Arc—Serialization Starts!]
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