[BLEACH] Stygian Depths: A Chronicler Encounters

[The Burden of the Discipulus]

[Legion]

A dark hall, vast and eternal, echoed with the frustrated words of a man clad in black, his voice trembling with both rage and fear. The air was thick with authority, the weight of centuries pressing down on every word. The faint flicker of an unseen fire cast ominous shadows on the stone walls.

"'Your hand that I hold shall never leave thy sight,'" the man recited, his tone laced with anguish. "Those were the words I spoke to him. And yet, you know very well, Lillith, that the infans is unable to control his power. And you—sir, why did you remove the claustra visus from him? Do you want him to die—or take the entire world with him?"

The man's voice cracked under the strain of his accusations, directed toward the unseen figure in charge. He pounded a clenched fist against the armrest of his chair, the sound reverberating through the chamber.

From the shadows, a softer, commanding voice emerged, weaving through the room like smoke. "Old friend, ignosce mihi if my actions seem cruel, but your child is abnormal. Such an aberration must be tempered. The claiming approaches, and he must be prepared for the trials that come. His growth, however painful, is necessary. Only by facing adversity will he define himself."

The man in black shook his head in frustration but did not respond. The faint outline of a throne loomed in the darkness, and the figure seated upon it leaned forward slightly, the subtle motion carrying the weight of an empire.

[First Cycle – Kokutō's Torment]

The clash of blades and the crackle of energy filled the First Circle, a symphony of battle that echoed through the oppressive air. Aarowan stood unmoving, a smirk curling his lips as his hand moved with subtle grace.

"Reapers," he called out, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Would you not try your hand against my discipulus? Or will you continue wasting my time?"

Chains of Hell slithered like serpents around Kokutō, their metallic whispers filling the space as they wrapped around his limbs. Aarowan gestured slightly, and Kokutō's body jerked as if controlled by invisible strings. Without warning, Kokutō lunged forward, his sword swinging with brutal force toward the Reapers.

Each strike was relentless, carrying a power that seemed to surpass Kokutō's physical limits. But with each movement, his body paid the price—his arms trembled, blood seeped from his hands, and his legs wavered under the strain of an unseen gravity.

"Stop this!" Ichigo shouted, his eyes blazing with fury. But his focus was not on Aarowan—it was on Kokutō, whose every movement seemed to cry out for help.

Suì-Fēng, her eyes narrowed with suspicion, leaped forward, her blade aimed at Kokutō's chains. But Aarowan intercepted her with a single step, his speed leaving an afterimage in the air.

Ichigo gritted his teeth. "I need a plan…"

[Legion – The Father's Plea]

In the hall of shadows, the man in black spoke again, his voice softer now, edged with desperation. "My lord, I beg of you—please let my son grow before burdening him with students of his own. His path is already too fraught with danger."

A faint voice emerged from the far end of the hall, authoritative yet tempered with familiarity. "Amicus meus, your concerns are valid, but I must disagree. The abnormality of your child is both his curse and his potential salvation. He must face these challenges head-on if he is to survive the coming trials."

The man in black clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "And if he fails?"

The voice from the throne did not waver. "Then he will fall, as all unworthy do. But I believe that in his fall, he may yet find his strength."

[First Cycle – The Chains React]

"Getsuga Tenshō!"

Ichigo's roar filled the battlefield as a wave of spiritual energy surged toward Kokutō's chains. But before it could strike, the chains shifted, moving with unnatural precision. They twisted and recoiled as if alive, throwing Kokutō directly into the path of the attack.

"Kokutō!" Ichigo shouted, his voice breaking with regret.

With an almost inhuman effort, Kokutō managed to evade the brunt of the attack, but the damage was severe. His left arm hung limp, burned and sliced by the force of the Getsuga. Blood dripped onto the charred ground, pooling beneath his feet.

Suì-Fēng turned her furious gaze to Aarowan. "Do you care nothing for your own student?"

Aarowan shrugged, his smirk unshaken. "An educator must know the limits of his pupil. Only through dolor can strength be forged."

Ichigo's grip on Zangetsu tightened. "You're nothing but a monster!"

[Legion – Empusa's Warning]

In another corner of the hall, a voice emerged from the shadows, low and reverent. It was Empusa, words carefully measured. "Born pure, defiled, and reborn again only to become defined. This… child needs no love, only judgment."

The man in black turned sharply to face her. "Empusa, you speak as if his fate is sealed. Do you truly believe there is no salvation for him?"

Empusa hesitated, then bowed head slightly. "Ignosce mihi, but my loyalty lies with the lord. If he believes this path is right, then so shall I."

The man in black sighed, his frustration palpable. "And yet, I fear his judgment."

[First Cycle – The Reason to Fight]

Aarowan's voice rang out, smooth and confident. "Let us find a reason to be stuck between despair and defiance, discipulus. Let your chains guide you."

Kokutō's body trembled, his chains rattling louder now. His eyes met Ichigo's, and for a fleeting moment, a spark of understanding passed between them.

Ichigo raised Zangetsu, his stance firm. "If you want to stop this, Kokutō, you have to fight back. Don't let him control you!"

Aarowan laughed, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Do you think it's so simple, Kurosaki? Disciplina mea is not so easily unraveled. Now, let us see if you truly have what it takes to save him—or yourself."

As the battle resumed, the mirrored dome reflected the chaos within. Blades clashed, chains rattled, and spiritual energy crackled through the air, each strike pushing Kokutō closer to the brink of awakening—or destruction.

The First Circle bore witness to the struggle, its oppressive silence broken only by the symphony of combat. In the distance, the faint hum of Hell's heartbeat grew louder, as if anticipating the outcome of this deadly lesson.