Fairy Tail: Shinigami - Chapter 258: All I want.

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[Sosuke Aizen. POV.]

The power Adam wielded was nothing short of impressive, that much I could admit. I watched as his confidence briefly shattered when my voice met his ears. He seemed… baffled. As well he should be. The very fabric of his understanding had just been unraveled.

It is said, by many, that the most unbreakable prison is one that appears impossible to escape from. But in my eyes, that’s a naive thought. True, an imposing cage might discourage some, making them surrender to their fate. But for beings like Adam, with strength and will beyond comprehension, no cage, no matter how resilient, would ever suffice.

No… the best prison, the most sinister cage, is not one you cannot break out of, but one you don’t want to leave. A world tailored to you, a paradise so intimate and flawless that it beguiles the mind, keeping the prisoner content, docile, blissfully unaware that they are even ensnared.

That is the essence of my Bankai.

It doesn’t just create illusions like Kyoka Suigetsu’s Shikai. My Bankai crafts a reality, an entire world sculpted to perfection for its victim. It delves deep into the psyche of its target, understands their deepest desires, their fears, their hopes, and then shapes a reality so tantalizing that the victim is more than willing to accept it. Why would they question it? Why would they seek to escape from a world that gives them everything they’ve ever longed for?

As the reality of my Bankai took its hold, I observed Adam. He stood still, almost like a statue, his once fierce eyes now glazed and distant. While I’ve had the privilege of watching many be ensnared by the trap of my Shikai, the sight of someone as powerful as Adam being rendered so utterly passive by my Bankai was… exhilarating.

He had been the first to force me into using my Bankai.

I could keep him in this state indefinitely. Let him live a thousand lifetimes within a paradise of my creation. But time was not a luxury I had. Urahara was still a looming threat, and the longer I took here, the less control I would have over the overall situation.

Adam, in his immobilized state, was the ideal sacrifice to the Hogyoku. While his power was immense, it was his essence, that fragment of the Soul King, that made him an invaluable offering.

Walking slowly toward him, I couldn’t help but talk, “You know, Adam, in another world, another time, we could have been allies, perhaps even friends. But destiny has a cruel sense of humor.”

Pausing for a moment to admire his frozen form, I continued, “Your essence, your very soul, will be the key to unlocking the Hogyoku’s full potential. And once I have that power, not even the Zero Squad will stand in my way.”

Reaching out, I touched his forehead, feeling the overwhelming spiritual pressure beneath the skin. The sensation was like touching a live wire, the power raw and untamed.

With a deep breath, I began to channel his energy, siphoning it off, preparing to offer it to the Hogyoku.

As I did, I felt the Hogyoku respond, pulsating with excitement, aware of the feast it was about to receive. The very atmosphere of Hueco Mundo trembled in anticipation.

Soon, very soon, everything would change.

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[Adam C. POV.]

A strange weight settled on me as the power of my Bankai receded. Everything seemed to return to normal, or as normal as it could be in this forsaken desert. Yet, the silence around me felt… oppressive.

Empty.

I could’ve sworn I just saw Aizen. A fleeting image, a momentary glance, but he was gone. Vaporized by the abyss? Or…

Maybe I was just overthinking things.

No reiatsu could be felt in the nearby grounds, save for mine. It was as if the world had been vacuumed clean of every hint of spiritual energy, just as Abyssal Void would’ve done.

The distant echoes of battle were fading, hinting at the conclusion of the skirmishes elsewhere. All of my comrades were winning.

Yet… something was off. It was too quiet, too…perfect. A sensation akin to déjà vu pricked at the edge of my consciousness, leaving me unsettled. The very atmosphere felt layered, hiding things that I couldn’t quite decipher. The victory I felt was clouded by a nagging feeling at the back of my mind, like an itch I couldn’t scratch.

Perhaps it was the fact that defeating Aizen had been… a little too easy?

Then again, he had taken the full might of Abyssal Void, which was a very powerful technique.

I let out a weary sigh, the weight of the battles bearing down on me. I had survived. I had faced one of the most formidable foes in all of existence, and I had emerged… victorious…

Regardless of how… strange this victory felt, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Either way, I was going home.

Dropping to the ground, a slow smile crept onto my lips, the fine sand cold against my skin. A myriad of emotions flooded through me – relief, exhaustion, elation, and yet, a tinge of that unsettling doubt.

Just what… was wrong with me? I had won and I felt… as if I had lost?

As I closed my eyes, I took solace in the thought of returning to familiar grounds, to the place I belonged. Whatever doubts and uncertainties loomed over the horizon, they would be dealt with in due time.

For now, all I wanted was to bask in this moment, to feel the tranquility that came after the storm.

However, deep within, the embers of doubt still smoldered, casting shadows on what should have been a moment of pure, unbridled relief.

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Data.

Aizen’s Bankai.

Aizen cannot ensnare someone with his Bankai if they are already under Kyoka Suigetsu’s spell. Once a person has seen his Shikai release, they become immune to his Bankai. However, if they haven’t seen the release, then the Bankai ritual is straightforward: Aizen presents his Zanpakutō before the victim and they will become fixated on their own reflection on the blade’s surface, before being swallowed to a fake world, where everything is just as the target wants it.

Primary Abilities:

Perfect Illusory World: Aizen’s Bankai has the power to trap its target within an ideal, tailored reality. This realm is so flawlessly constructed to fit the victim’s desires, fears, or expectations that it becomes nearly indistinguishable from actual reality.

Perpetual Stasis: Within this illusory realm, the victim, while aware and conscious, finds themselves immobilized. This paralysis is not just physical but extends to the victim’s ability to use spiritual energy or other inherent powers.

Inescapable Illusion: The illusion is maintained not just by Aizen’s will but by the victim’s subconscious desire to remain in the ideal world. This dual-bind makes it incredibly challenging for the victim to recognize the illusion, let alone break free from it.

Feedback Loop: The more the victim believes in the illusion, the stronger it becomes. This establishes a feedback loop that solidifies the faux reality.