Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō-Chapter 197: Good Idea

Soul Society – A Mysterious Underground Base in Seireitei

Countless surveillance screens were neatly arranged, forming a dense sea of glowing monitors.

Standing before them was a man clad in a white haori, his gaze fixed intently on the images before him.

"Aizen-sama, is this the so-called major breakthrough in your experiment?"

With a soft rustle, a man wearing a camellia armband quietly approached from behind. Despite addressing Aizen with honorifics, his tone lacked the slightest hint of respect.

However, the moment his eyes landed on the screen, his expression changed to one of shock.

Displayed on the monitor was a figure clad in black battle armor, wearing a horned mask, with long hair flowing wildly over its shoulders.

Its form was humanoid, yet a gaping hollow hole loomed in its chest, ominously filled with an unknown white mass.

"An artificial Menos... They actually pulled it off!"

The man with the armband muttered in disbelief.

Aizen, unfazed by his subordinate's astonishment, merely adjusted his glasses with a faint, enigmatic smile.

"To be honest, even I didn't expect Hollow White to be completed this quickly. Thanks to a certain someone's assistance, the experiment's progress has been greatly accelerated..."

As if recalling that person, his smile became more genuine, carrying a rare sense of amusement.

"It is a modified Hollow, created using a Shinigami's soul as a base. In my design, it possesses the ability to infect and transfer, inducing Hollowfication merely by inflicting damage."

"In terms of Reiatsu, it has indeed reached the level of a Vasto Lorde, but its actual combat capabilities remain untested."

Aizen's gaze flickered as he turned slightly.

"Kōga-kun, I wonder... would you be interested in helping me assess its strength?"

You want me to be your test subject?

Kōga Kuchiki scoffed, shaking his head in disdain.

"You expect me to waste my power on something like this? Sorry, but I'm not interested in playing around with a half-baked prototype."

"For someone like me—who has already mastered Bankai—this level of Reiatsu is no match for me. What if I accidentally destroy your precious experiment?"

He smirked, then casually shrugged.

"Why don't you find someone else? Tōsen should do. Isn't he at Lieutenant level now?"

"Tōsen's strength is still insufficient to handle a Vasto Lorde," Aizen replied flatly.

"For years, our Hollowfication experiments have been nearly paralyzed due to the Gotei 13's surveillance. But now, at this critical juncture, the research must continue."

Kōga Kuchiki spread his hands in mock apology.

"Yeah... still not interested. And I definitely don't need some half-finished Hollowfication either."

But then, as if struck by a thought, a slow grin crept onto his face.

"That said... I just might have a better idea."

...

"Reiatsu of this level... is that Masatsuki-sama? He seems even stronger than before!"

Cold sweat dripped from the foreheads of the Adjuchas-class Arrancars, their bodies trembling under the overwhelming pressure.

Inside the room...

Banshō, Senran, and their sisters gradually faded away, vanishing into thin air.

Masatsuki Aozaki remained motionless, lying flat on the bed, before slowly opening his eyes.

His Reiatsu had once again broken through—thanks to an unknown amount of intense "exercise" throughout the night.

"First-Class Spiritual Power!"

The corner of Masatsuki Aozaki's mouth lifted into a smirk, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

First-Class Spiritual Power—the pinnacle of Reiatsu.

It wasn't yet the absolute peak of a Shinigami, but it was the closest step to reaching it.

At this level, if he could continue pushing his Reiatsu further, the apex of the Shinigami realm would be within reach.

Masatsuki Aozaki had only been able to touch this threshold briefly when using Bankai.

Among the Gotei 13, only Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Aizen Sōsuke, and Unohana Retsu could naturally reach First-Class Reiatsu without even releasing their Zanpakutō.

Even his senior Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, and the old man Kuchiki Ginrei barely reached this level after activating their Shikai.

But compared to Yamamoto and Aizen, they were worlds apart.

Those two were Shinigami at the peak, their base Reiatsu already rivaling a normal First-Class Shinigami in Shikai or Bankai.

For them, releasing their Zanpakutō wasn't about increasing Reiatsu—it was purely an expansion of their abilities!

...

"But honestly, the difference between me and the peak of a Shinigami doesn't seem that big anymore." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Masatsuki Aozaki stroked his chin, deep in thought.

"Shikai and Bankai both consume Reiatsu at an accelerated rate. But with the Hōgyoku supporting me, I can fully release my Zanpakutō for extended periods without worrying about depletion!"

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Masatsuki Aozaki sprang off the bed, his face filled with undeniable excitement.

Overcome with emotion, he even grabbed Banshō and Senran in their Zanpakutō form and kissed them—not caring if their sharp edges might cut him.

"So... does this mean I'm already invincible?"

His eyes widened, his voice trembling with exhilaration.

Once upon a time, he had been too weak, forced to tread carefully, constantly worrying about who to avoid and who not to provoke.

The top-tier powerhouses—those standing at the very peak—had been untouchable to him.

But now...

Now, he himself was standing at the summit!

Aizen? Yamamoto?

Hmph.

Bring it on!

Let them come and see for themselves how sharp his blade had become!

Like an overjoyed child, Masatsuki Aozaki rolled across the bed, pure elation washing over him.

For the first time, he felt an unparalleled sense of freedom—

Like a bird soaring through the endless sky.

Like a fish leaping freely in the boundless ocean.

This... this was true liberation!

"Old man Yamamoto, you've always looked down on me—lording your status and power over me, tormenting me at every turn. But now, the tables have turned!"

Masatsuki Aozaki clenched his fists, his eyes burning with rage and defiance.

The image of Yamamoto's arrogant, condescending face surfaced in his mind over and over again.

At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to rush back and beat that old man senseless—to finally put him in his place!

...

Just as Masatsuki Aozaki was fantasizing about punching Yamamoto and kicking Aizen, his door creaked open slightly.

Standing outside, Harribel hesitated at the threshold, clearly uncertain.

She had lingered there for quite some time before finally stepping into the room.

The moment Masatsuki Aozaki saw her, he immediately dropped his arrogant and smug demeanor, transforming into a gentle, refined gentleman in an instant.

Clearing his throat, he softened his voice, speaking with unexpected grace:

"Harribel? What a surprise. It's late—shouldn't you be resting? What brings you here?"

Harribel hesitated for a moment before speaking softly:

"Actually... it's Loly and Menoly. Your Reiatsu is too strong... they couldn't handle the pressure and... fainted."

...

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