When purchasing materials through a points platform in a small place like Donglai, they're usually dispatched from the nearest city. After all, small cities don't have the same comprehensive inventory of materials as larger metropolitan areas.
However, Azrael had already verified when he purchased the [Full Soul] (Red) that the shipping location was very close to Donglai, otherwise, he would have had to consider alternative materials entirely.
"It's like going back to the pre-liberation era. Only 520 points left again."
The [Full Soul] sold for 14,900 points, which rapidly depleted all of Azrael's newly acquired resources in a single purchase.
Ding Dong.
The doorbell suddenly chimed, catching Azrael off guard. "So fast?"
It hadn't been long since he'd purchased the materials, and he estimated it would take at least an hour or two for standard delivery.
However, Gold-level materials weren't delivered by ordinary courier services like Cuckoo Chicken.
Within the same city, they were delivered by a Lore Cardian of lower rank, while cross-city deliveries required a Lore Cardian of equivalent rank for security purposes.
Emerald-level materials and above could only be collected in person due to their immense value.
Confused by the unexpected timing, Azrael opened the door.
"Senior Sister!" Seeing the tall, expressionless figure at his doorway, Azrael froze momentarily before his face lit up. "So soon?"
Alice exhaled quietly at the sight of the unharmed young man before her, offering only a few concise words, "Not far."
"What happened?" Azrael ushered in his senior sister, whom he hadn't seen in over ten days, noting the subtle tension in her usually stoic demeanor.
"A new Gold-level secret realm has appeared in Donglai, and it's proving problematic," Alice explained, her piercing gaze fixed on Azrael. "I'm somewhat concerned that complications might arise, so I wanted you to take charge of the situation."
"Where is it?" Azrael asked, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.
"I'll handle the cleanup myself."
"Actually," Azrael said, looking slightly embarrassed, "I'm about to create new cards. If the new cards can't handle this secret realm, you might indeed need to intervene."
"Right now..."
"Senior Sister, please have some tea first."
Azrael genuinely didn't want to appear overly dependent on Alice's assistance. Honestly, he felt he hadn't contributed anything meaningful to Alice, a Diamond-level Lore Cardian, in their relationship.
If anything, he might have provided some emotional support at best.
But nothing substantial. Alice had always helped him unconditionally and selflessly.
"I can only promise to care for you more attentively in the future," Azrael thought to himself, feeling a growing responsibility toward the seemingly isolated Alice.
The two chatted casually over tea, though Azrael carried most of the conversation. Fortunately, perhaps influenced by his Spider-Man persona's natural wit, he had developed a talent for engaging dialogue that lasted until the materials finally arrived.
After signing for the final component, Azrael turned to Alice with solemn determination. "Senior Sister, I'm going to create the cards now."
"I'll leave the situation in your capable hands for the time being."
Alice's slender, pale fingers lifted the teacup to her rose-colored lips as she took a delicate sip. "Hmm."
In his second-floor study, Azrael took a deep breath as he examined the three materials laid out before him.
Since he had intentionally modified Bleach's storyline, Aizen's narrative would inevitably differ slightly from the original canon.
"I hope everything proceeds smoothly," he murmured, sketching a man with short brown hair and black-framed glasses on a blank card.
Though the man wore a gentle, scholarly smile, beneath Azrael's shadowing technique, he seemed to harbor sinister intentions lurking just beneath the surface.
[Please begin writing your story.]
My name is Aizen Sosuke, and I was born a genius.
This isn't arrogance, it's an irrefutable fact.
My current objective is to enter the Shinō Academy and become a Shinigami.
After all, this frail body...
I don't particularly care for it.
The examination concluded as expected, my talent far surpassed these mundane individuals around me.
I successfully gained admission to the Shinō Academy.
How ridiculous.
How pathetic.
Is there truly no one capable of standing on my level?
Classes began, and I learned surprising news: hundreds of years ago, a student at the Academy was promoted to the third seat in the Fifth Division shortly after enrollment.
He is the current Captain of the Fifth Division, Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
I decided to visit the Fifth Division to determine whether Captain Tsugikuni truly possesses the genius reputation claims suggest.
I followed proper protocols and demonstrated my abilities during the graduation ceremony.
By the time I entered the Shinō Academy, I had already achieved Shikai with my Zanpakutō.
Kyōka Suigetsu.
What a remarkably useful ability.
Unfortunately, it's merely useful.
As anticipated, after displaying my Zanpakutō's Shikai, I qualified for the Fifth Division and became the third seat.
If fate truly exists, this would be genuinely intriguing.
The current Captain of the Fifth Division is indeed Yoriichi Tsugikuni, with a tedious man named Shinji Hirako serving as Vice-Captain.
His Zanpakutō abilities are as boring as his personality.
Fortunately, Yoriichi Tsugikuni does live up to his renowned genius reputation.
Powerful yet gentle, his Zanpakutō bears striking similarities to the Captain-Commander's blade.
However, there are distinct differences. If the Captain-Commander's Zanpakutō represents the sun's all-destroying flame, then Captain Yoriichi's Zanpakutō embodies the sun's nurturing, protective warmth.
Alas, that's all there is to it.
They are all Shinigami, merely Shinigami.
What I seek to witness, what I aspire to achieve, transcends the limitations of ordinary Shinigami.
Recently, I've been invited to serve as a special instructor at the Shinō Academy, and I've participated in several graduation ceremonies.
As a result, there aren't many Shinigami in the Seireitei who haven't witnessed my Shikai.
What I publicly claim is that my Zanpakutō is water-based, capable of disrupting enemies' mental states by creating chaotic reflections through mist and water, forcing them into a form of hypnotic self-destruction.
But in reality...
It's complete hypnosis controlled through all five senses.
The Zanpakutō's power proved as useful as I anticipated. After several experiments, I successfully manipulated those useless members of Central 46 like mere toys.
Perhaps in the eyes of those Shinigami, I'm just a mild-mannered Third Seat.
But actually, compared to something as trivial as a Zanpakutō...
I have far more trust in my own Reiatsu.
Battles between Shinigami are fundamentally battles of Reiatsu.
If I so desired, even the Captain of the Kidō Corps might need replacement.
It's time to begin the true experiment.
Seeking power that transcends Shinigami limitations, I used the souls of hundreds of Shinigami to create an artifact called the Hōgyoku.
Unfortunately, it failed.
However, I discovered fragments of the Soul King.
The Soul King... something that should never have existed.
I didn't succeed. Perhaps my recent activities caught the Captain's attention, and he arrived just as I made my move.
However, since the Captain had also witnessed my Shikai, I managed to cover everything up without creating even the slightest ripple.
Later, a young man named Ichimaru Gin approached me, claiming he wanted to follow me.
Interesting, but I don't need companions, I only need chess pieces.
With my assistance, Ichimaru Gin eliminated the Fourth Seat of the Fifth Division.
I heard that Urahara Kisuke, Captain of the Twelfth Division, is also researching the Hōgyoku, and his version is apparently more advanced than mine.
I want to obtain it.
Vice-Captain Shinji Hirako maintains a good relationship with him.
In that case...
It just so happens that I recently acquired some Hollow souls and can experiment with whether Shinigami can undergo Hollowfication.
I had Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen take action, Tōsen is my newly acquired chess piece.
Shinji Hirako and the others successfully underwent Hollowfication and survived.
This path is indeed feasible.
At the critical moment, Urahara Kisuke arrived, but unfortunately, Tessai Tsukabishi, the Kidō Corps Captain, also appeared.
I wasn't confident I could eliminate them both without alerting the Captain-Commander, so I was forced to retreat.
The recent disturbance has grown quite loud. Perhaps it's time to activate the contingency plans we've established within Central 46.
Under my direction, Urahara Kisuke and the others were sentenced to execution.
Unfortunately, the black cat from the Shihōin family rescued them.
Although everything occurred unexpectedly, no one seems to suspect me, and I've successfully assumed the position of Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division.
In the coming days, I might be able to focus on Hueco Mundo.
The boundary between Shinigami and Hollows doesn't appear to be truly unbreakable.
One day, I will stand in the heavens.
Having completed his envisioned story, Azrael exhaled in relief.
He had deliberately chosen to write only about this version of Aizen's creation. It wasn't that he was unwilling to continue, but Aizen's subsequent power levels would undoubtedly exceed Gold rank expectations.
After his defection and ascension as ruler of Hueco Mundo, Aizen would certainly be stronger than Gold level.
Not to mention Aizen after fusing with the Hōgyoku.
Looking at the card floating before him, which remained steady without shimmering, Azrael felt no disappointment whatsoever.
He stored the card in his mental space and carefully examined its detailed information.
[Fifth Division Vice-Captain: Aizen Sosuke]
Rank: Gold
Quality: Red
Category: Creature
Skills:
[Kidō Mastery]: Capable of using all Kidō sequences, with power remaining largely undiminished even when incantations are abandoned.
[Zanpakutō: Shikai: Kyōka Suigetsu]: Controls an opponent's five senses, causing them to completely believe the appearance, form, quality, texture, and even scent of a specific object matches the wielder's desires, inducing the deepest, most complete hypnosis.
Abilities:
[Perfect Hair Styling]: Aizen can use his right hand to style his hair into any desired configuration whenever he wishes.
[I Am an Inventor]: Thanks to Aizen's exceptional intelligence and thirst for power, he occasionally creates useful item cards.
[Bleach is a Battle of Reiatsu]: A natural genius, Aizen possesses immense Reiatsu, allowing him to directly suppress opponents through spiritual pressure and significantly enhance his Kidō techniques.
[Master of Disguise]: Aizen's years of deception make it extremely difficult for others to discern his true strength.
Introduction:Gods are merely skilled deceivers masquerading as humans.
Advancement: Gold Rank [Fifth Division Vice-Captain: Aizen Sosuke] → Emerald Rank [Lord of Hueco Mundo: Aizen Sosuke] → Diamond Rank [Throne of Heaven: Aizen Sosuke]
Note: Advancing to [Throne of Heaven: Aizen Sosuke] requires the item card [Perfect Hōgyoku].
Bond Effects:
When appearing alongside [Ichimaru Gin] series cards, the effect [Traitor? Traitor.] can be activated. When appearing alongside [Fifth Division Captain: Yoriichi Tsugikuni] series cards, the effect [Rescue Squad] can be activated.
"It's approximately as powerful as I expected." After reviewing the information, Azrael's heart finally settled.
He wasn't surprised that the upper advancement limit was only Diamond rank, after all, [Soul King's Revival] was merely Master level.
"But this useful item card trait..." Azrael frowned as he examined the ability [I Am an Inventor]. "It's far too vague."
"And 'sometimes'? When exactly?"
He felt Aizen's trait was as ambiguous as Shiraori's [Superior's Gaze].
With a resigned sigh, Azrael summoned the villain from his childhood memories.
Due to his story's modifications where Aizen never became Captain, the brown-haired man wore the standard black Shinigami uniform instead of a Captain's haori.
"Please provide your guidance moving forward," Aizen said with a gentle smile, appearing every bit the kindly mentor figure.
Azrael examined Aizen from head to toe, unable to suppress a muttered comment, "No wonder the legendary betrayed student Hinamori Momo reacted as she did."
To a young woman, Aizen's appearance was genuinely deceptive, especially after decades of constant interaction and carefully cultivated trust.
"I say, drop the pretense with me," Azrael said, running his hand through his hair in demonstration. "Can you show me this ability?"
However, he lacked proper styling products, and his messy black hair simply fell limply through his fingers.
Seeing this, the brown-haired man sighed and adjusted his black-framed glasses. "Now isn't the appropriate time for such demonstrations."
Azrael pursed his lips. "Just teasing. Let's go."
Leading Aizen downstairs, he addressed Alice, who was quietly reading a book. "Senior Sister, it's complete."
"We should depart now."
Alice looked up at Aizen standing behind Azrael and tilted her head slightly before closing her book and nodding in acknowledgment.
As a Diamond-level Lore Cardian, she could naturally sense the dangerous power concealed behind the seemingly innocuous card that followed her junior.
After storing Aizen away, a spectral soldier emerged from the shadows and instantly transported both of them toward the secret realm entrance.
"Director Godfrey, do you truly believe President Azrael's senior sister is coming?"
Inside the temporary fortifications, Diesel paced nervously within the simple command area, his anxiety clearly visible despite his attempts to maintain composure.
Godfrey's expression remained grim as he responded, "President Azrael's senior sister has already agreed to assist. We simply need to wait."
Just as Diesel opened his mouth to voice further concerns, two figures materialized at the camp's entrance.
Seeing them approach, Diesel immediately brightened. "President Azrael!"
Azrael simply waved, stepping aside to make introductions. "This is my senior sister, Alice."
"Diamond-level Lore Cardian."
Upon hearing this confirmation, Diesel was momentarily speechless. He had never imagined Azrael could actually summon a Diamond-level Lore Cardian for assistance. "Master Alice, we're truly grateful for your help during this crisis."
Godfrey couldn't help but wince at the awkward formality.
Alice merely nodded indifferently at both middle-aged men's reactions.
"So, will Master Alice take action immediately?" Diesel asked tentatively, studying the tall woman's impassive expression.
But Azrael interjected, "Don't worry. My new cards are already complete. Let's test them first."
Both Diesel and Godfrey exchanged startled, incredulous looks.
In such a brief timeframe, had the young man before them truly created an entirely new card?
After all, Azrael had made this claim, and since he was determined to attempt the challenge himself, neither man intended to continue dissuading him.
Besides, even if he failed, they had a Diamond-level Lore Cardian standing by to assist.
With their pessimistic expectations regarding Azrael's chances, they watched as a plain-looking man with short brown hair materialized beside him.
...
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