Aizen vs. Liu Hao (VIII)
Aizen's eyes sharpened. It was his past plan, his past choice, his past pride.
"So you used the Hollowfication Experiment to lure out Kisuke Urahara. You deliberately created trouble, putting the Captains in danger and forcing Kisuke Urahara to use the Hōgyoku to heal them. Just as you predicted, Kisuke Urahara took out the Hōgyoku. You arrogantly thought that after setting up the Central 46's trial, you could smoothly inherit all the legacy he left behind. You planned everything perfectly, except for Yoruichi Shihōin. That woman known as the 'Flash Goddess' intervened Kisuke Urahara. Your plan failed at the last minute."
A flicker of annoyance flashed in Aizen's eyes. It was a rare failure, a rare miscalculation, a rare unexpected turn of events for him.
"Later, you released experimental Hollows into the World of the Living, hoping to Kisuke Urahara out again. Your plan was simple... to create chaos, create crisis, and create a situation where Kisuke Urahara couldn't stand idly by. But you didn't expect that Isshin Kurosaki's appearance would disrupt your plan. And when that Hollow chose Masaki Kurosaki as its host, you suddenly found everything interesting."
Liu Hao's tone carried a hint of amusement.
"So you chose to observe all of this. A Quincy descendant was chosen by a Hollowfication experimental subject, which piqued your interest. You paused the experiment and began to secretly observe this drama that you had unintentionally directed."
After all, Hollowfication Experiments conducted by the Captains a century ago, and the innocent disappearance of Isshin Kurosaki, if the Seireitei the reasons, it would easily lead them to suspect you. You need time, you need to prepare, and you need to wait.
The birth of Ichigo Kurosaki shows you a new possibility... What kind of monster will a being who has merged the powers of a Soul Reaper, Quincy, and a Hollow grow into?
Liu Hao's voice deepened.
"Until you discovered that before leaving Soul Society, Kisuke Urahara hid the Hōgyoku in the soul of young Rukia, you finally understood Kisuke Urahara's intention. He hid the Hōgyoku in the most inconspicuous place, on the person least likely to be suspected, and outside the scope of Soul Society's legal protection."
You have to admit, this move was indeed brilliant. So you begin searching for Rukia, wanting to find the girl who carries the Hōgyoku. But when you discover Rukia is with Ichigo Kurosaki, your curiosity only grows stronger.
"You want to see what kind of surprise that Quincy who fused with your experimental Quincy and the descendant of a Soul Reaper, and that girl who carries the Hōgyoku, will bring you."
Aizen's eyes became unfocused. The years of waiting, the years of observation, the years of planning—scenes flashed before his eyes.
"At the same time, you were also preparing to retrieve the Hōgyoku stored inside Rukia. So you orchestrated everything that followed... Rukia's execution, and Kisuke Urahara, as you wished, sent Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to Soul Society to rescue her."
You used Gin Ichimaru as an inside man and Momo Hinamori as bait, plunging the entire Soul Society into chaos. You watched those young people struggle on your chessboard, watched them fight desperately for so-called friendship and beliefs, watched them step by step walk into the trap you set. You felt that everything was under your control.
Liu Hao's tone suddenly changed, becoming sharp.
"However, the situation, which was originally under your control, exceeded your expectations when it came to obtaining the Hōgyoku. You didn't expect me to take the Hōgyoku from Rukia's body beforehand and place it on Momo Hinamori, who had always been by your side. And all of this was caused by your simple desire to observe my reaction."
Aizen's face turned pale. He recalled that day under the double pressure, when he thought he was finally about to obtain the Hōgyoku, only to find that Hōgyoku was gone. He remembered his shock and anger at that moment, and the fear of things spiraling out of control for the first time. He remembered Liu Hao's perpetually calm face, and those eyes that seemed to see through everything.
Liu Hao looked at him and slowly said, "Sōsuke Aizen, you are a genius, but your genius has also become your shackles. You believe in your wisdom, your plans, and your judgment. But you forget that this world is vast, so vast that there are too many things you cannot predict. You forget that the human heart is complex, so complex that there are too many emotions you cannot understand. You forget that power is limitless, so limitless that there are too many heights you cannot reach."
Aizen's face was as cold and solemn as a thousand-year-old ice. His gaze was fixed on Liu Hao, his eyes unwavering, but instead burning with an even more intense flame.
He spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful, each word clear as the clash of metal. "Liu Hao, everything you've said sounds reasonable, but it doesn't prove anything. You say I was guided by the Hōgyoku, that my will was influenced by the fragments of the Soul King."
"Then let me ask you, if it truly is the Soul King's will guiding me, why has the Zero Division never contacted me? Why has the Soul King himself never given any instructions? If the Soul King truly wants to return, if there truly is some will influencing this world, then as the supreme being of Soul Society, why has the Soul King never spoken? Why has he never interfered in anything?"
Aizen's voice carried a hint of mockery and accusation.
As Liu Hao listened to Aizen's questioning, his smile deepened. His smile carried a sense of understanding, insight, and a composure as if he had seen through all the secrets of the world.
He spoke slowly, his voice calm and gentle, as if he were lecturing a confused student. "Sōsuke Aizen, you asked a very good question. This is indeed a question worth pondering. But your question itself is based on a flawed assumption."
As I said, those fragments of the Soul King began their evolution the moment they separated from Soul King. They detached themselves from the Soul King's body and Soul King will, becoming independent entities. And over the long years, these fragments gradually developed their own will... or rather, instinct."
Liu Hao paused, his gaze growing even deeper. His voice seemed to transcend time and space, recounting an ancient secret. "What is the instinct of these fragments? It is to return. It is to want to return to the Soul King's side and re-merge with the original body."
Or, in some cases, it might be a desire to replace the Soul King. Think about it: what would a fragment that fell from a god want after countless years of evolution? It wouldn't want to remain a fragment forever; it wants to be whole, to become a new god. This is the most primal instinct of all life... to survive, to grow, to transcend."