Arima Shinya was crouched low to the ground, completely silent, staring intently at the space behind him.
There, amid the mound of dirt, was a fist-sized stone partially buried — the same object Tōsen had tried to use to "attack him by surprise," hurling it in his direction.
There was no murderous intent, nor any trace of spiritual pressure.
He had merely grabbed it firmly and thrown it, just enough for Arima to hear the sharp sound of wind around it…
But that alone was enough to break all the balance he had established.
And that was Arima Shinya's weakness.
— Shinya-kun, your ability is a bit too focused. —
Indeed, this was the purest truth.
The ability of his Zanpakutō, capable of creating a Möbius ring and a labyrinth, had as its essence the analysis of the current situation between the two opponents — a structure of complex predictions and deductions based on precise conditions.
In other words…
It was an extremely fragile experimental environment.
Not to the point of distorting from any minor interference, but under the clear influence of an external force, Arima's predictions became practically useless — fragile, even.
He himself understood this problem perfectly.
In the end, it was a limitation coming from himself…
Simply a deficiency in his own "values."
If he possessed enough spiritual pressure, Arima Shinya could adjust the parameters, expanding the analysis not only to the two combatants but also including the surrounding environment.
That is —
In theory, if he had enough spiritual energy, Arima could even simulate a complete scenario encompassing the entire world.
Of course, this was nothing more than a theoretical idea.
Currently, even predicting three seconds ahead based solely on direct confrontation was already his limit…
Simulate the entire world, understand its gears and movements?
Better give up and go to sleep… at least in dreams, anything is possible.
Observing as Arima coughed and sheathed his Zanpakutō, Aizen stepped forward, his voice carrying a hint of reflection.
— Yes, there is also another rather obvious point — he said. —
— This Zanpakutō consumes an absurd amount of spiritual energy. —
— Shinya-kun, you are already capable of exerting fifth-level spiritual pressure.
This level, even among seated officers, is exceptional. —
— However, even so, just using this ability twice leaves you in a state of near exhaustion. —
— This level of consumption is alarming. If it isn't a personal problem, then it means that the nature of the Zanpakutō itself is like this. —
Following that logic…
— Shinya-kun, you need to adjust your strategy. —
Aizen stroked his chin thoughtfully before continuing calmly:
— This ability should not be used right at the start of a battle.
It should be reserved for moments of stalemate — or when a final decision is necessary. —
— From what we see now, unless you solve the high spiritual energy consumption problem, it's better to continue with conservative tactics. —
Indeed, Aizen was a surprisingly responsible individual.
His observations not only summarized what Arima had already noticed himself, but also brought even more precise conclusions and evaluations.
It seemed that once Aizen started speaking, he would not stop:
— An ability with restrictions, demanding immense spiritual energy…
That means, Shinya-kun, your Zanpakutō is not suitable for group battles.
It is better suited for direct duels, one-on-one. —
— As long as the environment is safe and the information on both sides is clear, your ability can reach its maximum potential. —
Tōsen, standing beside him, murmured softly:
— An ability specialized in individual battles… indeed, it is rare. —
Few words — but sharp enough to hit the exact point.
Aizen smiled slightly and nodded, but soon changed his tone.
— Despite its problems, there is no denying: Shinya-kun's ability has a vast field of application. —
— By collecting sufficient information, maintaining an ideal physical state, and ensuring an environment free of interference…
With these three factors combined, Shinya-kun, you become someone who never loses. —
Aizen's eyes reflected an enigmatic gleam. He looked at the young man before him and, with a calm smile, said:
— Shinya-kun, you are a hero who walks the narrow path — a lone wolf made for direct combat. —
— Wonderful… without exaggeration, this ability surpasses all my expectations.
You possess a unique power. No doubt — it is worthy of being my student. —
It was, literally, a mixture of strengths and weaknesses.
But for Arima Shinya, that result was no surprise.
He was only impressed by Aizen's analytical depth…
It was the first time the man had seen his Zanpakutō, the first time he had witnessed its ability in action — and yet, he was able to clearly identify the difference between its strengths and weaknesses.
After all the analysis, Aizen offered him a precise — almost perfect — definition.
Yes… until his spiritual energy broke a certain limit, the ideal scenario for Arima would be direct combat, one-on-one, without external factors.
What an incredible analytical ability…
A man so powerful and yet so cold.
Will I really be able to reach him one day? — thought Arima, a slight weight in his chest.
Hope seemed distant.
As he reflected, he noticed Aizen extending his hand.
His smile, as always, was calm and gentle.
— Alright, today's training ends here. Shinya-kun, rest well when you return, and don't let these things affect your mood tomorrow. —
Arima sighed, nodded, and expressed his thanks, leaning on his hand to rise.
Just as he had predicted before coming, that day had been incredibly fruitful.
And, as always, he returned to his routine — silent, contemplative.
Three days later.
The group gathered again, resuming their tasks. But this time, Aizen seemed different — his brow furrowed, visibly under pressure.
When Arima asked, he got straight to the problem.
Even after devouring so many souls, the Hōgyoku still showed no signs of evolution.
— So far, it has already devoured three hundred and seventy-nine spirits —
— including ninety-eight registered shinigami, and more than one hundred and thirty spiritual civilians with potential… —
In other words, Aizen had not fed the Hōgyoku any "spiritual trash" —
he was seeking quality, not quantity.
— Even a common Hollow, after devouring so many souls, should have already shown some reaction… — he murmured, confused.
Arima remained silent.
If he remembered correctly, the Hōgyoku's problem at that stage was no longer quantity.
It needed something unique, something extremely special…
"When will we cross paths with that cursed pair of lovers?" he thought, but did not dwell on it.
By now, Arima Shinya was beginning to get used to the Shinigami way of acting.
They had time — plenty of time.
Everything advanced at its own pace, with patience and precision, until fate shaped itself.
And so, a month later, while accompanying Aizen on another mission, in one of the most remote areas of the Districts of the Indigent…
Arima Shinya spotted a familiar face.
—
(End of Chapter)
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