"To be precise, it doesn't just seem possible — it truly can be done."
"You should've heard about it during your time at the Shin'ō Academy. Aizen and I were both assassinated by the Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki families."
"The reason was Kuchiki Ginrei and Tsunayashiro Tokinada. They believed that Aizen and I carried fragments of the Soul King within us. But in truth, we were just ordinary Shinigami — not those lucky enough to hold fragments of the Soul King."
Seeing Matsumoto Rangiku appear uneasy, Aiyan spoke calmly, simultaneously releasing various sensory abilities — Reiatsu perception, clairvoyance, clairaudience, color, spiritual pressure — all layered, covering her completely.
Using the Kidō sensory Bakudō he developed himself, he could clearly sense the state of the Hōgyoku within Matsumoto Rangiku's body.
It was similar to the one Aizen held — perhaps even stronger.
The fingertip of the Soul King was merging with half of the Soul King's Soul Sleep.
While that power was constantly acting upon Rangiku, it was also fusing with her in a gradual, steady rhythm.
If before, Rangiku had simply been a vessel for storing the Soul King's fingertip, unable to wield any of its power — then now, through Aiyan's modifications, she had begun to truly wield it, the Soul King's fingertip and the Soul Sleep were fusing within her, forming an immense pressure.
In other words, she now possessed a Hōgyoku of her own.
And once all three merged, Matsumoto Rangiku would become Hōgyoku.
But — it would be Aiyan's Hōgyoku.
"So, I'm the lucky one you were referring to, Captain Aiyan?"
Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes flickered with realization as Aiyan spoke of past assassinations.
No wonder she'd felt like her cultivation had encountered no bottlenecks recently.
Her Reiatsu soared like madness.
Kidō, zanjutsu, hakuda — all mastered in an instant.
Her talent had been shocking even to the Shin'ō Academy, where she was ranked third.
And third — Matsumoto Rangiku.
"In my eyes, yes. But others may not see it that way," Aiyan said cryptically.
Rangiku's expression subtly shifted.
A girl with her beauty had survived growing up in the chaotic 80th District of Rukongai. Of course she understood the old truth: "A commoner is innocent — but having treasure invites guilt."
Even someone like Aiyan had been hunted by the four noble families because of suspected Soul King fragments — what hope would she have?
"Can I entrust it to you?"
"If it stays with me, it'll just gather dust. But in your hands — it can serve its true purpose."
After a brief silence, Matsumoto Rangiku spoke solemnly.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment she voiced this heartfelt trust, the fusion of the Hōgyoku within her quickened significantly.
Almost as if — upon recognizing her sincerity toward Aiyan, the Hōgyoku itself responded, accelerating the integration.
"The Hōgyoku — that's what's inside you now."
"From a minor perspective, it allows one to break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow, letting you train and grow without bottlenecks. From a broader view, it fulfills any wish. Say, for example, you wish for someone to break that boundary — then it will happen. Of course, only if it's within Hōgyoku's capability."
"But I don't need such a thing. With my own power, I can break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow. I only created it casually."
Aiyan sensed the deepening fusion of Rangiku's Hōgyoku, a faint smile glimmering in his eyes as he explained its power. Rangiku was stunned by his words — and even more by the dismissiveness in his tone.
Aiyan believed that his Zanpakutō, his Reiatsu, and his mastery of zanjutsu-hakuda-kidō were so heaven-defying that he could shatter that boundary himself.
There was no need to rely on this "cheat item."
The reason he created the Hōgyoku in Rangiku — was simply for contingencies.
A backup plug-in — in case the built-in ones weren't enough.
"If I had wanted to take it for myself, you wouldn't have made it out of the 80th District alive — much less arrived at Seireitei. Let alone possess the other half of the Hōgyoku… the Soul King's Soul Sleep."
"Since fate favors you, I may as well lend you a hand — and see how high you can climb."
"As for the future… that's in your hands. But before you reach the peak of Shinigami and break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow — never let anyone see Hōgyoku. Not anyone."
Aiyan's words made Rangiku tremble.
That attitude — treating the Hōgyoku as trivial. That noble spirit — choosing to elevate others with what could've made him a god.
She already admired Aiyan.
But now, admiration deepened into something more. Reverence. Devotion.
"Why… are you so kind to me?"
Her heart stirred. She'd always been strong, direct. She wasn't pretending, wasn't shy. She looked him in the eye and asked.
"I once heard from Captain Jūshirō… that at the Shin'ō Academy, a teacher once asked a girl what kind of Shinigami she wanted to be in the future."
"She didn't flinch — she answered right in front of everyone."
"She said: 'I want to be the Lieutenant of the Fifth Division.'"
"That's not what I said."
"I said I wanted to be the Lieutenant of Aiyan Sōsuke. Not just of the Fifth Division."
Rangiku's eyes gleamed as she spoke proudly, pleased that Aiyan remembered.
"Rangiku," Aiyan's gaze softened. "Come here."
She stepped forward at his beckon, arriving in front of him in only a few strides.
"Bakudō Forbidden Technique · Hasshiki Fūin."
Aiyan placed his palm gently on her Shinigami uniform. Rangiku trembled faintly, but didn't shrink back — instead, she leaned in closer.
As Reiatsu surged from him, a complex seal quickly formed and was implanted into her body.
"I sealed the Hōgyoku inside you."
"This blocks all spiritual detection — and also lets some of its power leak through the gaps, helping your growth continue steadily."
"If any Shinigami is disloyal to you — if they try to take the Hōgyoku — they'll have to break my seal. If they do, I'll know immediately. One portion of my Reiatsu is inside the Hōgyoku. In a critical moment, it will protect you and prevent your Hōgyoku from being stolen."
"So, you can hold onto the Hōgyoku in peace. You don't have to be afraid. That same assassination that happened to Aizen and me — it won't happen to you."
Aiyan slowly pulled his hand back and explained.
"Captain Aiyan, I'll be your bravest woman."
Rangiku, overwhelmed by his care and concern, collapsed slightly — kneeling before him and resting her head on his lap.
She couldn't suppress the emotion inside her.
But realizing how bold her words sounded, she quickly added:
"—Your most loyal Lieutenant!"
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