Aizen stared at the lingering halo in his hand.
This light was completely different from the golden Ripple Joseph Joestar had demonstrated.
It was deeper, fiercer. As purple hues flowed through it, it seemed to devour the surrounding light.
Yet at its core, it burst forth with a brilliance capable of scorching the soul.
"I see."
He looked at the purple-gold current resting docilely in his palm, a satisfied curve forming at his lips.
Human Ripple relied on breathing in oxygen.
It generated energy fluctuations akin to the sun within the blood.
But Shinigami were not human.
Their bodies were made of highly concentrated spirit particles.
What they breathed was not oxygen, but spirit particles.
And this was the change produced by combining Ripple with his own spiritual pressure.
The greatest difference was that, if Joseph's Ripple was "sun-like energy,"
then what he held in his hand now was "spiritual sun energy."
As he pondered, Aizen slowly clenched his fist.
The dazzling purple-gold radiance instantly drew in, finally dispersing into wisps of smoke between his fingers.
The hall returned to silence and gloom.
Yet the lingering scorching sensation remained in the air for a long time.
Ripple was useful, but it did not suit Aizen's habits.
So he considered whether he could develop it into a more convenient form of Kido.
That would require designing a suitable incantation.
After all, an incantation was both the ritual of Kido and its vessel.
It was also the bridge through which the power of sorcery transformed from formless into tangible.
Aizen closed his eyes and sat upon the black throne, sinking into thought.
Time continued to pass through the vast, silent white hall.
Who knew how long it had been.
When his eyes beneath his lenses opened again,
he extended one hand, palm