Hypnotherapy

Aizen's Reiatsu showed no fluctuations. Clearly, his control over his own Reiatsu was extremely strong, and even his Shikai was utterly unremarkable.

"So this is... Kyōka Suigetsu?"

Lu Li looked admiringly at the Zanpakuto in Aizen's hand. The blade reflected the moonlight beyond the window, carrying an air of mystery and elegance.

Yet he himself did not feel the slightest abnormality, nor did he know whether he was currently under hypnosis.

Thinking of this, Lu Li subconsciously glanced at his personal menu and, for the first time, discovered the benefits of the spatial system.

Because he saw an additional negative status on his personal details screen.

Negative Status: Complete Hypnosis. The Explorer is under the Complete Hypnosis of Sōsuke Aizen's Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu. Your five senses have been controlled.

Note: Anyone who has witnessed Kyōka Suigetsu's release will forever become its prisoner. Once one becomes Kyōka Suigetsu's prisoner, Aizen can cause them to perceive illusions whenever he releases his Zanpakuto.

Note: This status can be voluntarily removed by Kyōka Suigetsu's wielder.

"I won't demonstrate the Zanpakuto's specific abilities. After all, there are only the two of us here. What I want to show Lu-kun is the process of release and help you grasp the key to Shikai."

As Aizen spoke, he held Kyōka Suigetsu horizontally before his face. The blade reflected the moonlight, illuminating his features. "Lu-kun, what is the greatest problem you face right now in being unable to achieve Shikai?"

After pondering for a moment, Lu Li decided to roughly explain his situation to Aizen. "I saw Hell..."

After hearing his explanation, Aizen frowned slightly. It was the first time he had heard of someone having such a strange sight deep within their soul.

"Lu-kun, are you saying that the being you suspect to be your Zanpakuto rejected you and drove you out?"

Aizen asked.

Lu Li nodded. "It roared once, and I was blown away by the wind. I had no power to resist at all."

He had tried many more times afterward, but strangely, he could no longer reach that Hell. Every resonance showed him only endless darkness.

"This may be your subconscious resisting..."

Aizen analyzed, "Normally, a Zanpakuto is part of one's own soul. It can also be said to be a reflection of one's heart. You were driven out not because your Zanpakuto rejected you, but because you yourself are resisting this power."

Lu Li was a little confused. Pointing at himself, he asked, "Me? I'm resisting power?"

He felt that Aizen's analysis this time was rather absurd. He was a fanatical martial artist who pursued the pinnacle of strength. How could he possibly resist gaining power?

Aizen nodded, his brow slightly furrowed as he sensed that things were becoming troublesome. "Lu-kun, you said you grew up in the Rukongai District. Did you suffer any psychological trauma in childhood? For example... accidentally killing someone important to you?"

Lu Li immediately shook his head. Unlike Soul Society residents, whose slow growth gave them long lives, he had only lived twenty years in total. Ever since he could remember, he had trained under Master.

Master had taught him the qualities a martial artist should possess, as well as many principles of conduct. He had always controlled his strength well and had never relied on it to bully the weak.

As for accidentally killing someone, that was absolutely impossible. He had indeed killed people before, but never by accident. He had intended to kill them from the start.

"Then that is strange..."

Aizen pondered. "Or perhaps something similar did happen, but Lu-kun, in order to keep yourself from going mad, forgot those events?"

Lu Li shook his head. "Impossible. I trust my own memories. Sōsuke, just help me think of a way to reach the depths of my heart again."

"If you wish to achieve deep resonance, I can help you. Lu-kun, perhaps you are simply too anxious and not relaxed enough, which is why you cannot resonate. Have you heard of hypnotherapy?"

Aizen said.

Lu Li's expression turned strange. He felt as though Aizen was now a psychologist speaking to a patient. The other man clearly regarded him as some freak with psychological trauma.

What the hell kind of hypnotherapy? I'm already hypnotized by you, aren't I?

Wait, hypnosis?

Lu Li's eyes lit up. He understood Aizen's meaning. In a sense, Aizen's ability could truly be of great help to him.

Aizen was a genius. He understood the principles behind awakening a Zanpakuto and knew the secrets involved. If he used hypnosis to control Lu Li into resonating, perhaps Lu Li really could awaken his Zanpakuto!

"Sōsuke knows hypnosis too?"

Lu Li asked. He still had to keep acting. He could hardly say, I know Kyōka Suigetsu's true ability. Hurry up and hypnotize me.

"I know a little. Lu-kun, first assume the posture for resonance and relax."

Aizen sat cross-legged opposite Lu Li, gazing into his eyes with Kyōka Suigetsu resting horizontally across his knees.

Lu Li did not hesitate. Once seated, he placed his hand on the Asauchi.

"Next, keep your eyes on my Zanpakuto. I will sway it gently, and you must relax..."

Aizen put on an act as he guided Lu Li step by step. "Yes, just like that. Now close your eyes and imagine that you have entered your soul space..."

After that, Lu Li could no longer hear Aizen's voice. He found himself once more in the depths of his soul space, standing before the abyss.

As he stepped forward and the sensation of weightlessness came over him, Lu Li marveled that hypnosis actually worked!

Before long, he arrived in Hell again and walked up to the cage.

The dark crimson doors stood wide open. The black Demon God silently met Lu Li's gaze.

Those eyes held too many complicated emotions: anger, despair, mockery, loneliness, and a nearly imperceptible... longing.

The next instant, a violent wind surged forth. Before Lu Li could ask the Demon God's true name again, he was blown away.

"Lu-kun, Lu-kun, Lu Li, wake up!"

A familiar voice sounded by his ear. When Lu Li opened his eyes, he found himself lying in bed, drenched in sweat, while Aizen stood beside him, shaking him forcefully.

"Sōsuke? What happened?"

Lu Li felt a little headache. As he sat up, he glanced at the sky beyond the window. It seemed nearly dawn, yet he had clearly felt that only a few minutes had passed from the time Aizen hypnotized him until he was blown out.

"I'm not sure either."

Confusion also filled Aizen's eyes. "You fell asleep soon after I hypnotized you. At first, the fluctuations in your Reiatsu were fairly stable, but later they became unusually violent. You even began faintly emitting purple-black Reiatsu."

This hypnosis of Lu Li's had completely exceeded Aizen's understanding of souls. Though he was the one guiding the hypnosis, he could not see the scenes Lu Li saw.

Based on his understanding of Zanpakuto Shikai, he had guided Lu Li to communicate with the self deep within his soul. According to his theoretical analysis, even if Lu Li could not awaken his Zanpakuto, at most the Zanpakuto would refuse to reveal its true name. He should have awakened quickly.

Yet in reality, after entering that strange state, Lu Li had been unable to wake up. Even the usually composed Aizen had become somewhat flustered.

It was not that he was terribly worried about Lu Li. Rather, he and Lu Li were conducting a "forbidden" experiment. If anything happened to Lu Li in the dormitory, the secrets Aizen carried would no longer remain hidden, and that would affect his grand plan.