Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223 - 223: Anticipation

Sōsuke Aizen reached out with a slightly trembling hand and slowly shut off the flashing electronic screen.

As the only source of light disappeared, the laboratory was instantly swallowed by darkness, shrouded in an oppressive, almost tangible force.

He remained still, taking slow, deep breaths, trying to steady his emotions.

Seconds stretched into minutes. Finally, once he regained his composure, he reached forward and gently lifted the glass cover, his gaze locking onto the growing mass of black coal-like material.

Stepping forward, he moved with deliberate grace, shedding his black robe and draping the captain's haori over his shoulders. With practiced care, he smoothed out his disheveled hair.

For a brief moment, an overwhelming sharpness radiated from him—like a blade on the verge of being unsheathed, impossible to look at directly.

Standing before the mirror, Aizen studied his reflection.

At a glance, he appeared to be nothing more than a refined, kind, and approachable man.

But only a select few understood the depth of cunning and calculation lurking behind that facade.

Kōga Kuchiki pushed open the door and stepped inside, freezing in place the moment he saw him.

Aizen stood upright, an unusually radiant smile spread across his face.

Typically, his lips carried a gentle, practiced curve—an effortless mask meant to obscure his true emotions.

But this?

This was different.

Aizen rarely, if ever, displayed such an unguarded expression.

Kōga couldn't help but feel uneasy.

It wasn't that the smile was hideous—it was simply unsettling, far worse than the polished, artificial one he usually wore.

What had happened to make this man so elated that he failed to control even his own expression?

At that moment, Aizen looked like an excited child, staring at a long-coveted toy, his face brimming with anticipation.

Kōga didn't react immediately. He merely led the Ox-headed Vasto Lorde inside, closing the door carefully behind them.

He meticulously checked the lock, ensuring no one could enter unannounced.

Then, moving without a sound, he stepped behind Aizen, shrugging off his blood-soaked black robe with one hand while pressing the other against his wounded shoulder.

The Tsunayashiro estate wasn't far from the laboratory—barely thirty miles—but to avoid the ever-watchful surveillance of the Gotei 13's monitoring insects, he had to take a roundabout route, skirting the outskirts before finally arriving.

By now, the wound on his shoulder had begun to scab over, but even the slightest movement threatened to tear it open again. A thin stream of crimson trickled down his arm.

He retrieved a medical kit from the metal case. Returning to the estate was not an option, so for now, these rudimentary tools would have to suffice.

As a seasoned warrior, Kōga had endured far worse. A wound like this was nothing—he had survived much graver injuries. In under a minute, he had bandaged himself up.

Once finished, he changed into a clean Shihakushō, securing the Sixth Division's camellia armband over his shoulder and covering it with a red windflower sash, ensuring no signs of injury remained visible.

He scrutinized his reflection in the mirror. Outwardly, there was nothing amiss, though his complexion was noticeably pale, lacking its usual warmth.

Without hesitation, he discarded his bloodstained garments, tossing them into the incinerator.

Given the nature of their experiments, a facility for disposing of biological waste was essential.

Once that was taken care of, he methodically swept through the laboratory, erasing any potential traces of his presence.

Not a single clue could be left behind.

Because the Kōga Kuchiki who walked out of this room...

Would be a different man entirely. _{free\we,bnovel.c o(m)}

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