Aizen Sousuke's Ideal

Aizen Sousuke returned to his room. Not long afterward, Urahara Kisuke suddenly came to find him.

After entering the room, Urahara Kisuke shut the door and locked it from the inside.

At that moment, only Urahara Kisuke and Aizen Sousuke were in the sealed room.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Urahara Kisuke stared at Aizen Sousuke with sharp eyes and coldly questioned him.

"What are you talking about, Urahara Kisuke?" Aizen Sousuke asked back with a bewildered expression.

Aizen Sousuke's expression caught Urahara Kisuke off guard. He moved closer, staring into Aizen Sousuke's gentle eyes as he spoke.

"I'm asking whether you're sure you want to betray Lord Aizen."

Aizen Sousuke maintained his bewildered expression and said, "I have not betrayed Lord Aizen. Lord Aizen's goal is precisely my goal. This is a path destined to be built upon countless sacrifices. Whether it is you, me, or Lord Aizen, any of us may become a sacrifice upon this road. Do you understand Lord Aizen's ultimate purpose?" At that point, Aizen Sousuke suddenly asked.

"I understand. This world is in an extremely unbalanced state. Everything is tilted toward humans, especially Soul Masters. To become a god, one must take the lives of at least nine powerful Soul Beasts, as well as a Peak Douluo as a sacrifice.

"The God Realm hopes that someone will become a god and inherit a position, yet the birth of a god is inevitably accompanied by the sacrifices of countless Soul Beasts and Soul Masters.

"Especially Soul Beasts. They live for tens of thousands of years only to become a Soul Master's soul ring, a stepping stone for humans and gods.

"Humans can hunt Soul Beasts to obtain soul rings, but when Soul Beasts kill humans, they can only gain a little food and nothing else.

"Lord Aizen's ultimate goal should be to put an end to the fearless sacrifices that continue to arise for all eternity."

Aizen Sousuke nodded. "That's right. Since we were summoned here, it means we must walk this path. Even if everyone doubts us, this is the mission of our lives. I have never abandoned this path. Are you planning to stop me?"

Urahara Kisuke did not immediately answer Aizen Sousuke. He first took a deep breath, then fixed his gaze on this man who made him feel danger.

"Stop you? No. What I hope is that you won't do anything foolish. I can see your talent, your abilities, and your determination to ascend the throne. But right now, Lord Aizen is the candidate for king, not you."

Aizen Sousuke gently shook his head and gave Urahara Kisuke a faint glance, his eyes concealing deep regret.

"I have never said such a thing. If you remain suspicious of me, then watch me from the side and keep your blade sharpened at all times. But you must understand that such a great vision cannot be achieved so easily. The only one who can surely walk this road to its end is someone who has experienced despair, fear, love, sorrow, sacrifice, loneliness, anger, betrayal, trust, madness, intoxication, time, destruction... and everything else. I do not possess these emotions, but I will still walk this path."

At that moment, Urahara Kisuke seemed to understand Aizen Sousuke's purpose.

To Aizen Sousuke, good and evil, betrayal and loyalty, were all insignificant things.

If it was for the greater good, he would not hesitate to become a villain. Even if everyone regarded his actions as utterly treasonous, he would still persist on his own path without the slightest hesitation, carrying his cause through to the end.

Aizen Sousuke was willing to continue following Lord Aizen now only because Lord Aizen was more qualified than him to become king.

Once Lord Aizen lost the qualifications to become king, Aizen Sousuke would undoubtedly replace him without hesitation.

Aizen Sousuke continued, "The world as it is now is itself built upon sin. But I do not intend to do as Lord Aizen hopes. I want the gods—the beings at the pinnacle of this world, the symbols of Soul Masters, and the greatest villains of all—to fall from the heavens."

Seeing Urahara Kisuke frown slightly, Aizen smiled calmly and continued.

"Do you know how gods came into being?"

"In the age of chaos, all life was equal. Then someone began disguising themselves, using every kind of method to make themselves stronger faster than others. They continuously expanded their gains, becoming the strongest existence. Then, to consolidate their position, they established rules, restricted the rest of life, and destroyed the boundless great path to godhood until only a single path remained."

"You know what I will do, but do you know why I am doing it?"

"At first, I considered many methods, but none of those that could succeed existed. Later, I realized that if one wishes to bring down the gods, one must begin with the gods themselves. This is the only method available to us, who now have no choice but to abide by the rules."

As Urahara Kisuke listened, he pondered Aizen Sousuke's words. The doubts in his heart gradually faded.

Aizen Sousuke continued, "I believe that one day, I will reach the other shore of truth, replace it, and stand in the heavens by my own will rather than as a sacrifice controlled by another's desires."

"Oh, right. Is there anything else you wish to say, Urahara Kisuke, as the first person to hear my ideal?"

In that instant, Lord Aizen flashed through Urahara Kisuke's mind. He looked at Aizen Sousuke with an exceedingly resolute gaze and said, "When you betray us, when you begin sabotaging Lord Aizen's plans, when your actions run contrary to what you have said today, I will do everything in my power to stop you!"

Aizen Sousuke looked at Urahara Kisuke in disappointment.

"Is that so? Indeed, perhaps one day, my actions will be questioned by all of you. When that time comes, I certainly will not be able to return to your side again."

Urahara Kisuke nodded. "Yes. No matter how great your goal may be, no matter how righteous your desire to break the world's shackles may be, if you betray us, then you will be denying Lord Aizen's justice. When that day comes, everything you have said now will no longer be an expression of loyalty, but mere deception—deception of all our comrades. Everything you do will be a complete betrayal of us. It will be equivalent to personally denying the meaning of your own existence."

Aizen Sousuke did not argue. Instead, he asked, "Do you think Lord Aizen would forgive me if he knew everything I have done?"

Urahara Kisuke shook his head. "No. Lord Aizen would absolutely never forgive you. That is precisely why I am stopping you here and now. I hope you can turn back, so that we can fight side by side and grant this world's order fairness and justice."

Aizen Sousuke sighed and said dejectedly, "Is that so? Then if, one day in the future, I truly betray all of you and become your enemy, I suppose I will lose my only true friend."

Urahara Kisuke frowned tightly and said in a deep voice, "I hope that day never comes!"

Aizen Sousuke shook his head. "No, I cannot promise that, Urahara Kisuke. If I betray all of you in the future, then when that time comes, I hope you will step forward and stop me with your own hands."

After saying that, Aizen Sousuke closed his eyes and did not speak another word.

Urahara Kisuke did not linger either and left the room.

As though nothing had happened.