In the women's dormitory, Whisper had already settled in completely.
Even though she had only just met her three roommates, they bonded surprisingly fast. Within a few hours, the initial awkwardness vanished, and the four of them were already sitting side by side on the same bed, each holding an iPad, watching the newest episode of Bleach with absolute focus.
The room was silent, save for the sound coming from the series.
- "Leave an arm behind… and then retreat."
When Alex's voice, portraying Sosuke Aizen, echoed from the screen with that unnaturally calm yet crushing tone, all four girls held their breath at the same time. A collective shiver ran through the room.
- Whisper… - one of the roommates asked, a girl with glasses, slowly turning her head - is Director Alex like that off-camera too?
Whisper blinked, snapping back to reality, and replied quickly, almost on instinct:
- Of course not! He's super easygoing in everyday life. Really nice, actually. It's just that when he's acting… it's like he turns into a completely different person.
As she said it, however, a thought slipped out before she could stop it.
"It's just that… he's a little too dangerous."
But if she were honest with herself, Whisper knew her irritation had nothing to do with Alex looking "dangerous" on screen.
She was irritated because he didn't look dangerous with her.
…
…
On the screen, Renji Abarai's expression changed drastically the moment he heard those words. His body reacted faster than his mind, instinctively stepping back.
Too late.
A flash cut through the air.
In the next instant, the audience saw Renji's shihakushō tear open across his chest. The black fabric split violently, revealing a deep gash that sliced straight across his torso. Blood spilled freely, the vivid red standing out in shocking contrast against his pale skin.
- Haah… haah… haah…
Renji struggled to breathe, each breath uneven as he fought through the searing pain. Even so, his fingers remained locked tightly around the hilt of his Zanpakutō. He stepped in front of Rukia Kuchiki, shielding her with his own body like a human wall.
- Oh? - Aizen remarked with a faint smile. - You managed to avoid my attack. You've grown, Abarai. That genuinely pleases me.
His tone was gentle. Almost too gentle.
- But if possible… I would really prefer that you not be so stubborn.
At that moment, a strange glint flashed across the lenses of Aizen's black-framed glasses, as if something dangerous were awakening behind that serene expression.
- Stepping over ants without crushing them… is an extremely difficult thing to control.
…
…
Outside the screen, the viewers were already covered in goosebumps.
In the academy's men's dormitory, Peter's roommates felt their scalps tingle.
- Holy shit… that line is insane.
- Aizen is the king of aura!
- I've never seen someone farm this much aura in my life, my god!
- He says the cruelest things with the politest voice imaginable!
- I'm writing that line down and using it tomorrow during freshman introductions!
- You trying to get yourself beaten to death?
There was no room for debate: the two episodes released that week were, without question, a personal showcase for Sosuke Aizen.
It wasn't just his overwhelming strength that stunned people, but the flawless blend of elegance, composure, and cruelty. Every line felt meticulously crafted-meant to crush his opponent while elevating the character to an almost unreachable level.
…
…
- As your former superior, I wouldn't want to see you die either, Abarai - Aizen said casually, as if discussing the weather.
Hearing that, Renji clenched his teeth and snapped back, nearly shouting:
- You didn't want to see me die!? Then why did you kill Hinamori!?
Faced with the accusation, Aizen softened his expression slightly. The smile didn't vanish, but a clear trace of contempt surfaced at the corner of his lips.
- Heh… without me, she wouldn't have been able to survive. Don't you think killing her was, in fact, an act of mercy?
A chill ran down Renji's spine. His grip tightened, fingers nearly digging into the handle of his Zanpakutō.
- Now I understand… - he said, his voice thick with hatred. - You're no longer the Captain Aizen I knew!
He stepped even further in front of Rukia, determined not to give up a single inch.
- Even if I die, I'll never hand Rukia over to you!
- …So I'm no longer the Sosuke Aizen you knew? - Aizen repeated thoughtfully.
For a brief moment, he fell silent. Then a smile filled with mockery spread across his face.
- What a shame. Because the Sosuke Aizen you thought you knew… never existed to begin with.
Renji's expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he raised his sword and shouted:
- Roar, Zabimaru!
The Zanpakutō transformed at once, becoming a long, segmented blade, sinuous like a massive serpent, spiraling through the air toward Aizen.
- Shikai? - Aizen murmured, lifting his gaze slightly.
His left hand, the one not holding his sword, rose with absolute calm.
Before the stunned eyes of countless viewers, Aizen caught Zabimaru's blade with a single hand, stopping it completely.
- With your body in its current condition, that Shikai can't even buy you time.
In the next instant, he twisted his wrist slightly.
Rip.
The sound was like cloth being torn apart.
Zabimaru shattered into multiple segments, broken apart completely.
- With… his hand!?
Even after Aizen had defeated Peter in Bankai state, many viewers already understood how terrifying his strength was. Still, witnessing this left them utterly speechless.
He had destroyed Renji's finishing move… using nothing but his bare hands.
And that wasn't the end.
In the very next second after Zabimaru was destroyed, another brutal slash tore open Renji's back. Blood burst forth, splattering across the ground.
Thud.
Renji dropped to his knees.
On the other side of the screen, viewers felt their hearts clench.
- Among the three of you, you were always the hardest to deal with, Abarai - Aizen said, walking slowly toward him. - That's exactly why I kept Hinamori and Kira by my side… and made sure to send you off to another division early.
He stopped.
- I'll say this one last time.
The smile on his face faded completely, replaced by a murderous intent so clear it felt as if it were piercing straight through the screen.
- Step away from Rukia Kuchiki… and retreat.
- I-I… I refuse… - Renji replied hoarsely, lifting his head and forcing a disdainful smile. - Bastard!
- Is that so? - Aizen sighed, disappointed. - What a shame.
The moment his words ended, Kyōka Suigetsu came down.
Just as the tension among the viewers reached its absolute peak-
A black blade shot in from the side, intercepting the strike.
Sparks exploded into the air.
Everyone recognized it instantly.
That sword was-
Tensa Zangetsu.