Hearing White Zetsu's question, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Aizen's mouth. He spoke softly.
"A free wedding garment?"
"You're mistaken, Zetsu. If that senior wants to gain even the slightest benefit from the war I set in motion, the price he'll have to pay will make him regret it."
As he spoke, a glint flashed in his deep-set eyes.
Sensing the indifference hidden in Aizen's words, White Zetsu didn't pursue the matter any further.
Just then.
Aizen slowly rose to his feet and looked at White Zetsu.
"Would you like to see the results of the experiments I conducted using your body?"
Hearing Aizen's question, White Zetsu hesitated before replying softly.
"If it's convenient for you, I'm certainly very curious."
Aizen smiled faintly.
"Then let's go. The experiment is still in its early stages, but the results so far are promising."
With that, he extended his pale hand and gently tugged at the space before him.
The air rippled slowly, and a pitch-black void appeared.
Aizen spoke softly.
"Follow me."
Then he stepped inside and vanished into the darkness.
Hearing him, a barely perceptible excitement flickered in White Zetsu's eyes. He, too, slowly stepped into the black void.
The darkness rippled closed and disappeared, as if it had never existed.
Meanwhile.
In another quiet place within the vast, silent palace.
The bone-white walls reflected blurry silhouettes.
"Tap!" "Tap!" "Tap!"...
Crisp footsteps echoed through the empty palace. Two figures walked down a long, spacious corridor.
One of them was extremely thin, with long red hair and bangs that covered one eye. In his exposed eye, several concentric rings in his pupil gave him a strange appearance.
The other was petite and slender, with short, ear-length dark blue hair and a delicate, pale face. She looked so fragile