NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Ideals
Aizen's POV:
The moon hung like a perfect alabaster disk above the Seireitei, its light casting long shadows across the immaculate grounds of the Fifth Division barracks.
I stood at my office window, observing the quiet nighttime activities of Soul Society with detached interest.
Even at this late hour, the occasional Hell Butterfly flitted through the air, carrying messages between divisions. The eternal machinery of Soul Society's bureaucracy never truly ceased.
Behind me, stacks of completed paperwork sat in meticulous order on my desk.
Lieutenant Hinamori had offered to stay late to assist, but I had gently dismissed her, citing concern for her well-being.
Her devotion was both useful and somewhat tiresome in its predictability, though I maintained the perfect facade of the caring captain she so desperately needed.
"Such a diligent lieutenant," I murmured to the empty room, adjusting my glasses with practiced precision.
The unnecessary spectacles were perhaps the most overt element of my disguise, yet Soul Society's finest minds never questioned why a powerful shinigami would require such a human crutch.
Four hundred and sixty-seven years of existence had taught me the power of carefully cultivated appearances.
The mild-mannered, scholarly Captain Aizen inspired neither suspicion nor scrutiny - merely respect and occasional admiration for my intellectual contributions.
If only they knew the contempt I held for the entire system.
I moved to my desk and opened a hidden compartment, extracting a small notebook filled with observations on the Omniversal Observation System.
The unexpected connection to three beings from separate realities had proven to be an intriguing development in my long-term plans.
Particularly the white-haired boy with the transformation device.
Samael Morningstar. Twenty years old mentally, though appearing younger physically. Possessor of technology capable of traversing dimensional barriers.
Currently establishing himself in a world of powerful beings while maintaining the appearance of cooperation with authority figures.
I smiled faintly as I reviewed my notes. The parallels between us were not insignificant, though his methods seemed less refined than my own centuries-honed approach.
Still, there was potential there.
His understanding of dimensional barriers could prove valuable when the time came to transcend the limitations Soul Society had imposed upon existence itself.
The other two participants were similarly interesting in their own ways.
Princess Azula - young, ambitious, ruthless, though somewhat constrained by her attachment to conventional power structures.
And Light Yagami - brilliant but inexperienced, his moral absolutism both a strength and a fundamental weakness.
I closed the notebook and returned it to its hiding place. The Omniversal Observation System had not revealed its purpose or origins, but I had theories.
Any force capable of connecting beings across dimensional barriers must possess power beyond conventional understanding. Perhaps even beyond that of the Soul King himself.
A soft knock at my door interrupted my contemplation.
"Enter," I called, seamlessly shifting into the persona of the gentle captain.
The door slid open to reveal Third Seat Aoga, looking apologetic for the late intrusion. "Forgive me, Captain Aizen. A message has arrived from Captain Ukitake.
The Thirteenth Division's patrol in the World of the Living has reported unusual Hollow activity in Karakura Town."
"Karakura Town?" I repeated, feigning mild interest while carefully concealing my satisfaction. Events were proceeding as anticipated. "Has Captain Ukitake requested assistance?"
"No, sir. It was merely an informational report. Lieutenant Shiba is handling the situation."
"I see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Aoga. You may return to your duties."
After he departed, I allowed myself a moment of genuine pleasure. Karakura Town - the focal point I had selected decades ago for my plans.
Soon, Rukia Kuchiki would be deployed there, carrying the Hōgyoku hidden within her gigai. The elaborate chess game I had orchestrated was approaching a critical phase.
I moved to another section of my office, where a seemingly innocuous bookshelf concealed my private research materials.
Behind several scholarly texts on kidō theory sat my observations on Kisuke Urahara's creation.
The Hōgyoku - a device of extraordinary potential, yet its creator had lacked the vision to utilize it properly.
Unlike Urahara, I would not hesitate to harness its full power.
My thoughts drifted to the Hollowfication experiments from a century ago. Those had been merely preliminary steps - necessary failures that provided critical data.
The Visored were living proof of concept, though they remained unaware of their role in my research.
"Soon," I whispered, running my fingers along the spine of a book containing my notes on the Hōgyoku.
"The boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow will be transcended, and with them, the artificial limitations imposed by the Soul King."
The true nature of existence remained hidden from almost every being in Soul Society.
They accepted their roles within a system designed to maintain an equilibrium that served only to perpetuate the Soul King's dominion.
Even the Captain-Commander, for all his millennia of experience, remained blind to the fundamental truth: that their entire reality was built upon arbitrary divisions of power.
I returned to the window, gazing up at the moon. In my long existence, I had observed how beings with finite lifespans clung to notions of purpose and meaning.
Even gods and spirits sought narratives to justify their existence.
Only by stepping outside these constructed frameworks could one see the truth - that power itself was the only reality, and those who controlled the framework controlled everything else.
The Omniversal Observation System had unintentionally confirmed my theories.
Multiple realities, each with their own rules and power structures, yet all potentially accessible with the right technology or ability.
Samael's device was proof that dimensional barriers were permeable. The implications aligned perfectly with my own research.
I sensed a subtle shift in the spiritual pressure of the room - an almost imperceptible disturbance in the air that preceded the materialization of the familiar blue rectangle.
I had been anticipating this connection, having noted a pattern in the System's activation timing.
[OMNIVERSAL OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
[PARTICIPANT: SŌSUKE AIZEN, AGE: 467]
[STATUS: CONNECTED]
[SESSION 6 INITIALIZING...]
The rectangle expanded into the now-familiar quadrants, revealing the other three participants.
Azula appeared to be in her private chambers, her posture regal despite the late hour in her world.
Light was at what appeared to be a desk, surrounded by books and papers.
Samael was in what looked like a private study within an ornate mansion - his new residence under the guardianship of the vigilante he had mentioned.
"Good evening," I greeted them with practiced cordiality, "or whatever time of day it happens to be in your respective realities."
"Sir Aizen," Azula acknowledged with a slight inclination of her head.
The formal address and subtle deference was interesting - she had begun treating me with increased respect since the revelation of my age.
"Another scheduled observation," Light noted, his expression carefully neutral. "Though the timing seems inconsistent with previous patterns."
Samael merely nodded in greeting, his attention seemingly divided between our connection and something in his environment.
I observed the tension in his posture - he was concerned about being discovered during our conversation.
A message appeared in the center of our display:
[SESSION 6 OBJECTIVE: PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS]
[PARTICIPANTS WILL DISCUSS CORE BELIEFS REGARDING AUTHORITY]
[FOCUS ON LEGITIMACY OF POWER STRUCTURES]
[HONESTY STRONGLY ENCOURAGED]
"How direct," I commented mildly. "Our observer appears to be taking a more structured approach to these discussions."
"Indeed," Light agreed. "And selecting increasingly provocative topics."
Azula's eyes narrowed slightly. "Legitimacy of power structures? An interesting choice of focus."
I smiled, adjusting my glasses in a gesture calculated to appear scholarly rather than calculating. "Perhaps I should begin, given my... extensive experience with hierarchical systems."
When no one objected, I continued, carefully measuring my words to reveal enough to appear cooperative while maintaining the facade of the thoughtful captain rather than the revolutionary I truly was.
"Soul Society operates under a strict hierarchical structure that has remained largely unchanged for millennia.
Authority derives from a combination of tradition, spiritual power, and noble lineage - a system that presents itself as divinely ordained and necessary for cosmic balance."
I paused, noting how the others listened with varying degrees of interest. Samael, in particular, seemed to be analyzing my every word.
"Yet one must question whether any system that resists evolution for thousands of years truly serves its stated purpose, or merely preserves power for those who already possess it.
True legitimacy, I would argue, must be rooted in effectiveness rather than tradition."
"Effectiveness in what sense?" Light pressed, his analytical mind immediately focusing on the central question.
"In achieving the system's purported goals," I replied smoothly.
"If a power structure claims to exist for the protection and advancement of all, yet consistently privileges certain groups while disadvantaging others, can it truly claim legitimacy?
Or is it merely self-perpetuating control disguised as cosmic necessity?"
Azula nodded, her expression thoughtful. "In the Fire Nation, power flows from the divine right of the royal bloodline.
The Fire Lord's authority is absolute because our ancestors were chosen by the spirits themselves to lead.
Yet even divine right must be backed by strength - a weak ruler invites challenge regardless of bloodline."
"So legitimacy requires both the appearance of right and the reality of might," I observed.
"Precisely," she confirmed. "My father understands this fundamental truth. Those who cannot maintain power do not deserve to wield it, regardless of their claims to legitimacy."
Light frowned slightly. "But surely there must be more to legitimate authority than merely the ability to maintain control through force.
A system that operates solely on might makes right is fundamentally unstable and prone to perpetual conflict."
"What alternative would you propose?" I asked, genuinely curious about his perspective.
Light's world, from what I had gathered, operated under systems of governance quite different from either Soul Society or Azula's feudal monarchy. More like the modern human realm.
"Authority derives its legitimacy from justice," Light stated with conviction.
"A system that consistently fails to deliver justice - that allows criminals to escape consequences while innocent people suffer - has no true claim to legitimacy regardless of its longevity or stability."
"And who defines justice?" I inquired, knowing the question would provoke deeper reflection.
Light hesitated momentarily before responding. "Ideally, justice would be objective - a universal standard of right and wrong.
In practice, it's often defined by those with power, which creates an inherent conflict of interest."
"Hence the circular problem," I noted. "Those with power define justice in ways that legitimize their continued authority, while using that authority to enforce their definition of justice."
It was at this point that Samael, who had been observing our philosophical exchange with evident interest but minimal contribution, finally spoke.
His voice carried a conviction that suggested he had given this matter considerable thought.
"To me, justice is what I want it to be," he stated, drawing surprised looks from the others. "That may sound like 'might makes right' in different words, but there is a crucial distinction."
He leaned forward slightly, his red eyes intense. "I believe in the essential goodness of beings in their natural state.
It is time and circumstance that corrupt this essence, layering it with behaviors that obscure their true nature.
I have strived to maintain my own essence as purely as possible, which grants me a unique perspective - the ability to understand various viewpoints without being consumed by them."
His words were intriguing - not what I had expected from our previous interactions. There was an idealism there that seemed at odds with his calculated positioning in his world.
"The greatest desire of all sentient beings," Samael continued, "is absolute peace.
Each of us here has ambitions, but the underlying foundation of it all is that the status quo doesn't bring us peace of mind.
This peace has four essential corners: survival, connection, understanding, and certainty."
"Elaborate," Azula requested, her interest visibly piqued.
"Survival is self-explanatory - the necessities to sustain oneself without suffering.
Connection refers to companionship - friendship, brotherhood, marriage, the bonds that give life meaning.
Understanding is the desire to comprehend existence itself, to know the optimal path to preserve pleasures and avoid devastation.
And certainty is the assurance that, having found this path, one will not stray from it or have it broken by outside forces."
I studied him carefully as he spoke. There was something almost messianic in his tone - a vision that extended beyond mere political reform or personal advancement.
"In essence," he continued, "what drives all beings is emotion. Will itself is driven by it - the love of something. None can deny this fundamental truth.
My goal is to create a world where each person has their own path to peace, and where I can maintain these paths indefinitely, allowing people to evolve and experience the various pleasures existence can offer."
"A rather ambitious goal," I observed mildly, though I was genuinely intrigued by the scope of his vision. "Some might call it utopian."
"Perhaps," Samael acknowledged. "But it requires only one thing: the ability to identify and remove the rot in people's hearts -
the corruption that makes them desire the ruination of others, that causes them to betray, kill, and steal.
If this rot can be excised, people can have their desires fulfilled in ways that harm no one else."
"You speak of creating paradise on earth," Light said, his expression a mixture of skepticism and fascination.
"I speak of creating a paradise for the entire universe," Samael corrected, "and I know I can do it."
The conviction in his voice was remarkable - not the blind faith of a zealot, but the calm certainty of someone who had calculated the variables and determined the outcome was achievable.
It reminded me, in some ways, of my own certainty regarding the path I had chosen.
"An admirable goal," I commented, "though one wonders about the methodology. Identifying and removing 'rot' from hearts suggests a level of intervention in free will that many would find problematic."
"Is it truly free will when one's decisions are corrupted by trauma, indoctrination - things that are simply false, or biological imbalance?" Samael countered.
"True freedom comes from understanding one's authentic desires, unclouded by these distortions."
Azula's expression had grown calculating. "And who would determine what constitutes 'rot' versus legitimate desire? Who would administrate this paradise?"
"I would," Samael stated simply. "Not from arrogance, but from necessity. The task requires a singular vision and the power to implement it consistently across all existence."
The directness of his answer was surprising.
Most with such ambitions would couch them in more palatable terms - speaking of councils or shared governance rather than admitting to the desire for absolute authority.
"You propose to become the arbiter of all existence," Light observed, his tone carefully neutral. "A position traditionally reserved for gods."
"Labels are irrelevant," Samael replied. "What matters is the outcome - a universe where every being experiences their own version of fulfillment without causing harm to others.
If achieving that requires transcending conventional limitations of authority, then so be it."
A new message appeared:
[DEEPER INQUIRY ACTIVATED]
[QUERY: DO PARTICIPANTS BELIEVE CURRENT AUTHORITY STRUCTURES IN THEIR WORLDS ARE LEGITIMATE?]
[PERSONAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED]
The directness of the question seemed to momentarily surprise Light and Azula, for indeed such an explicit challenge to existing power structures required careful navigation, even in this seemingly private forum.
"I'll address this directly," Azula stated with characteristic boldness.
"The Fire Nation's authority is entirely legitimate - we possess both the divine right to rule and the strength to enforce that right.
Other nations may dispute this, but their objections are merely the complaints of the weak against the strong."
Light's expression reflected his internal conflict. "The justice system in my world possesses theoretical legitimacy but frequently fails in practice.
Its foundations are sound, but its execution is deeply flawed, allowing too many loopholes for the truly guilty to escape consequences."
Both turned to me expectantly.
"Soul Society's authority structure presents an interesting case study," I began, carefully crafting my response to reveal philosophical disagreement without exposing my active rebellion.
"It claims legitimacy from multiple sources - tradition, divine mandate, practical necessity for maintaining cosmic balance.
Yet it systematically suppresses information about its own origins and the true nature of existence."
I adjusted my glasses thoughtfully. "One might reasonably question whether authority built upon selective ignorance - even among its highest-ranking members - can truly claim legitimacy.
A system that fears scrutiny of its foundations suggests fundamental insecurities about its right to rule."
"You speak as if you've glimpsed beyond these... selective omissions," Samael observed perceptively.
I smiled. "Let us say that centuries of existence provide opportunities for discovering truths that power structures prefer to keep hidden.
The longer one exists within a system, the more one notices its inconsistencies and self-serving narratives."
Samael offered his own assessment. "The authority structures in my current world maintain a facade of legitimacy that masks significant corruption and self-interest.
Power is concentrated in institutions that primarily serve their own perpetuation rather than their stated purposes.
The existence of 'heroes' operating outside these structures is both a symptom of this failure and an inadequate response to it."
"You speak like someone planning to change this dynamic," Azula noted with interest.
"Not merely planning," Samael corrected, "but actively working toward it. The current system fails to provide any of the four corners of peace I mentioned.
It ensures survival for some while allowing others to perish needlessly. It fragments connection through artificial divisions of class, race, and nationality.
It obscures understanding through deliberate misinformation. And it destroys certainty through arbitrary enforcement of rules that change to benefit those in power."
"A comprehensive indictment," I observed.
"An accurate one," Samael replied without hesitation.
A new message appeared:
[FINAL INQUIRY]
[QUERY: WHAT ALTERNATIVE AUTHORITY STRUCTURE WOULD PARTICIPANTS IMPLEMENT IF GIVEN COMPLETE FREEDOM TO REDESIGN THEIR WORLD?]
This question struck at the heart of our individual ambitions, requiring us to reveal something of our true visions.
I noted how each participant seemed to weigh their response carefully, balancing honesty against strategic revelation.
Azula spoke first. "I would maintain the essential structure of the Fire Nation's monarchy, but expand its dominion to encompass all nations under a unified imperial rule.
The current division of the world into separate kingdoms is inefficient and leads to unnecessary conflict.
A single, strong ruler with absolute authority would bring order and progress to all peoples."
Light's response was measured but passionate. "I envision a world where justice is swift, certain, and inescapable - where those who prey upon others face immediate consequences proportional to their crimes.
The current system's endless procedural delays and loopholes would be replaced with a more direct accountability.
Those who demonstrate consistent moral behavior would live in peace and security; those who choose to harm others would find no shelter from justice."
When attention turned to me, I offered a carefully constructed vision that contained elements of truth without revealing my complete plans.
"I would implement a system that transcends the artificial divisions currently separating different forms of existence.
Soul Society's rigid categorization of beings - Shinigami, Hollow, Human, Quincy - serves primarily to maintain power imbalances rather than cosmic necessity.
A truly legitimate authority would recognize that these distinctions are more fluid than absolute, and that beings should be judged by their actions and potential rather than their classification."
I paused, then added, "The concentration of decision-making in a remote, hidden authority - as exemplified by the Soul King and Central 46 -
would be replaced by a more transparent governance where power is earned through demonstrated wisdom rather than inherited position or arbitrary appointment."
This vision, while deliberately vague about specifics - especially since they know not what the other species are, something I have currently no intention on elaborating on -
contained enough truth to satisfy the System's request for honesty while maintaining the scholarly persona I projected to my fellow captains.
The true extent of my ambition - to remake reality itself and ascend to a position beyond the Soul King - remained carefully concealed.
Samael's response was the most extensive and revealing. "I would create a system unlike any that currently exists - one as I stated earlier is centered on the fulfillment of authentic desires without the corruption of external influences.
Each being would have their path to peace clearly illuminated, with obstacles removed and opportunities provided."
His eyes took on an almost luminous quality as he continued. "This would not be a traditional governance structure at all, but rather a fundamental recalibration of reality itself.
The artificial scarcities that drive conflict would be eliminated.
The biological and psychological distortions that lead to harmful behaviors would be corrected. The barriers to understanding - both physical and metaphysical - would be dissolved."
"And your role in this system?" I inquired, genuinely curious about how he envisioned his own position.
"I would serve as the architect and maintainer," he replied without hesitation.
"Not ruling in the conventional sense, but ensuring the integrity of the system itself - identifying new forms of corruption as they emerge and addressing them before they can spread.
My authority would derive not from tradition or force, but from my unique capacity to perceive and fulfill the authentic needs of all beings."
"You describe yourself almost as a living system rather than a ruler," Light observed.
"An apt description," Samael agreed. "Traditional rulership is about imposing one's will upon others. What I propose is fundamentally different - creating conditions where each being's true will can manifest without impediment."
"A paradise indeed," Azula remarked, her tone suggesting skepticism. "Though one wonders how beings accustomed to conflict and competition would adapt to such... perfection."
"The adaptation would be natural," Samael countered, "because it would align with their deepest nature.
The desire for conflict is itself a corruption - a response to perceived scarcity or threat. Remove these distortions, and beings naturally orient toward harmony and fulfillment."
A final message appeared:
[SESSION 6 COMPLETE]
[ANALYSIS: PHILOSOPHICAL ALIGNMENT PATTERNS IDENTIFIED]
[STRATEGIC COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT UPDATED]
[RECONNECTION WILL OCCUR AT NEXT SIGNIFICANT DECISION POINT]
The blue rectangle collapsed and vanished, leaving me alone once more in my quarters. I remained still for several moments, processing the implications of our exchange.
The philosophical discussion had been revealing in ways perhaps unintended by the System. Each participant had offered visions that provided insight into their fundamental character and ambitions.
Azula's desire for imperial expansion and centralized authority reflected her upbringing in a militaristic monarchy. Her vision was straightforward but limited by conventional thinking about power.
Light's obsession with justice verged on zealotry, suggesting a mind that could easily justify extreme measures in pursuit of idealistic goals. His concept of authority was fundamentally moralistic rather than pragmatic.
Samael's vision was perhaps the most intriguing - and potentially the most dangerous.
His conception of a universal paradise administered by a single being with the power to reshape reality itself revealed ambitions that dwarfed even my own considerable plans.
There was an almost religious quality to his conviction, yet it was paired with a strategic mind that recognized the need for careful positioning and incremental progress.
I extracted my hidden notebook once more, adding detailed observations about the conversation.
Samael's description of the "four corners of peace" and his belief in an uncorrupted essential nature suggested a philosophical framework more developed than I had initially assumed.
His willingness to openly declare his intention to become the arbiter of all existence indicated either supreme confidence or a calculated decision to reveal his true ambitions to potential allies.
The parallels to my own plans were unmistakable, though the scale and methodology differed significantly.
Where I sought to transcend the limitations imposed by Soul Society's structure, Samael apparently aimed to transcend the limitations of existence itself.
As I completed my notes, a Hell Butterfly drifted through my window - a message from Captain Ukitake confirming tomorrow's meeting regarding the Hollow situation in Karakura Town.
Perfect timing. Events in the World of the Living were accelerating precisely as I had arranged decades ago.
Soon, Rukia Kuchiki would encounter the human boy I had been monitoring since his birth - Ichigo Kurosaki, the culmination of one of my longest-running experiments.
The son of a Shinigami captain and a woman exposed to Hollowfication, possessing potential beyond anything Soul Society had seen in centuries.
I closed my notebook with a satisfied smile. On multiple fronts, my plans were progressing smoothly.
The philosophical insights gained from tonight's discussion would prove useful in refining my approach to the coming phases of my plan.
"The stage is set," I murmured to myself, gazing out at the moonlit Seireitei - this perfect, stagnant society that had no idea how thoroughly its foundations were about to be shaken.
"Let the performance begin."
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it?
I hope it wasn't confusing. I got a bit too philosophical there.
So yeah, do tell me how you found it and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)