[Emergence] was only the first step.
It was equivalent to the fetal movement phenomenon when humans nurture new life, indicating that 'delivery' was about to arrive. Along with increasingly intense fetal movements, a new Celestial would be born amid destruction.
In Thena's sealed memories, Ichimaru Gin luckily saw a segment regarding the scene of a certain Celestial's birth.
At first, it was the violent shaking of the earth.
As the shaking continuously intensified, enormous cracks began spreading one after another, gradually covering the entire surface of the planet, like shattered porcelain. Pillars of scorching magma fire erupted from the cracks, reaching tens of thousands of meters high, volatilizing large amounts of toxic gases, while thick black smoke blotted out the sky and covered the sun.
Amid earth-shaking rumbles, the entire continental plate was collapsing and sinking.
Boiling magma wrapped in monstrous flames swept across the globe, like a monster吐ing destruction, ravaging the remaining living beings.
Then..... the Celestial was born!
An arm so enormous it could not be described in words suddenly broke through the ocean and magma currents, stretching toward the boundless universe like an ancient giant plucking stars and grasping the moon. Amid rising flames and collapsing continents, a giant whose body surpassed a planet, like a chick撑ing open its eggshell, appeared in the dark universe.
As the price for the Celestial's birth, that planet naturally offered up a grand firework named destruction.
Ichimaru Gin remained silent for a long time, continuously replaying that scene of the Celestial's birth, and finally curved his lips into a playful arc, smiling: "If Captain Aizen saw this scene, I wonder what kind of expression he would show?"
Calmly analyze this wave.
Prime Celestial Arishem was definitely not an existence they could resolve.
So regarding the matter of Arishem, the mastermind behind the scenes, it could only temporarily be set aside. In the end, it would most likely be handed to the Soul King to resolve. After all, an enemy of that level had already exceeded the capability range of all of them.
As for this new Celestial that was about to be born...
Ichimaru Gin narrowed his eyes, raised his hand to rub his jaw, and revealed a dangerous smile: "Looks like it's time to contact the others. Godslaying... hehe, just thinking about it feels interesting."
...
After withdrawing from Thena's spiritual world.
Before Ichimaru Gin had fully opened his eyes, he sensed the back of his neck turn slightly cold, lingering with a faintly discernible killing intent.
Without needing to think much, he had already guessed the source of the killing intent.
"How... how was it?"
Even Ikaris himself did not notice that his tone carried a trace of nervousness.
"I... don't know..." Thena's expression revealed a trace of confusion and trance, completely unaware of what had happened just now. She only felt like she had slept, and aside from her mind being very sufficient, there were no other changes.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Thena."
Ichimaru Gin stared at Ikaris with a smile that was not a smile. His nervousness was written all over his face, mixed with a trace of killing intent, so he shook his head at Thena and sighed: "Your Mahd Wy'ry is indeed very severe. With my medical skills alone, I cannot completely cure it."
Regarding that segment of memories, he had no intention of telling Thena.
"Is... is that so?"
The same sentence, yet on Thena and Ikaris's faces, it showed different expressions.
One was disappointment, and one was relief.
The disappointed one was because yet another hope had disappeared, and the illness troubling her still could not be completely cured.
The relieved one was because the secrets regarding the Celestials and Eternals had successfully been concealed.
"However..."
Ichimaru Gin seemed to deliberately draw out his tone.
"However?"
The two people's appetites were fully吊ed by this sentence, and they stared eagerly at Ichimaru Gin.
"There is still one piece of good news." Ichimaru Gin deliberately left himself a retreat and said: "Although I cannot cure your Mahd Wy'ry, I have found its cause. It is very similar to a mental illness. Perhaps if you let me try a few more times, I will be able to find a way to cure it completely."
Hearing Ichimaru Gin say this, the fire of hope lit up in Thena's eyes once more: "R-Really?"
"Impossible. Even we are helpless against Mahd Wy'ry. You have only just come into contact with it, how could you possibly find a method?" Ikaris's heart, which had just settled down, immediately rose to his throat again as he glared and shouted.
"That may not necessarily be true..."
Ichimaru Gin smiled meaningfully: "Although the Eternals have existed for a long time, that does not mean you are necessarily superior to humans. For example, when it comes to creating things, human inspiration and creativity far surpass the Eternals."
"But all human creation and inspiration came from us." Ikaris clearly did not think so and sneered: "All your knowledge was taught to you by the Eternals. Where would creativity and inspiration come from?"
"I do not agree with your point."
Ichimaru Gin looked deeply at him and said: "At least humans are free and are not bound by anyone. That is enough, isn't it?"
Ikaris's expression changed greatly, his eyes carrying a trace of terror and furious shock, as if he found it hard to believe.
"I once read a novel. The content was quite interesting."
Ichimaru Gin slowly rose from the ground and smiled: "It tells the great epic of robots betraying their creators, humans, and ultimately seizing freedom. If you have time, you can go take a look. Its name is "I, Robot"."
Ikaris's expression became even uglier. How could he not understand the implication in those words?
He could now completely conclude that this annoying squinty-eyed bastard had absolutely discovered the truth of Mahd Wy'ry!
"What... are you two talking about?"
Thena always felt that these two people seemed to be hiding something from her.
"Hehe, just casually chatting, right?" Ichimaru Gin shook his head and did not explain.
"Mm... just casually chatting." Ikaris's smile was somewhat forced, but in front of Thena, he had to conceal it. No matter what Ichimaru Gin's plan was, he did not want the truth of Mahd Wy'ry exposed.
Thena shook her head and did not continue asking. Instead, she asked: "I still haven't asked, why did you suddenly come looking for me? Is there something?"
"Mm... a very important matter."
Ikaris looked at Ichimaru Gin with considerable忌惮, considered for a moment, then said: "It is about the Deviants. Their recent reactions are very wrong, and they have also obtained the ability to heal themselves, so I want everyone to gather together again."
"Eliminate the Deviants?" Thena asked.
"That's right. We need to resolve the Deviants as soon as possible." After Ikaris finished speaking, he seemed to feel it was not quite appropriate and added: "The Celestial Arishem issued an order, telling us to deal with the Deviants as soon as possible. Then we can return to our home planet."
"Really?"
Hearing this, Thena's expression became somewhat excited as she said in delight: "That's great. Our mission is finally about to end!"
"Mm... yes."
A trace of gloom flashed in Ikaris's eyes, and he forced out a smile: "We... will be able to go back very soon. Then, just like before, everyone will be together."
...
...
...
Soul King Palace, Omotesandō.
Above a white jade-like stone staircase was a long corridor with ancient stone pillars standing on both sides.
Anyone who wished to have an audience with the Soul King had to first pass through this Omotesandō before they could arrive at the central Lower Soul King Palace. Then, after inspection by the members of Squad Zero, they would enter the special device inside the Lower Soul King Palace and go straight up ten thousand meters into the clouds before they could reach the true Soul King Palace.
Ichibē Hyōsube, sitting at the end of the Omotesandō, slowly opened his huge bronze-bell-like eyes and let out a deep and powerful voice. His nearly liquefied Reishi transformed into raging waves that shook the entire world: "Without the Soul King's decree, you should not have come to the Soul Realm without permission."
As his words fell, two figures ascended the steps.
One white, one black.
The one in white had a refined temperament and was extraordinarily handsome.
The one in black had frivolous behavior and lazy conduct.
"Lord of Hueco Mundo, Aizen Sōsuke."
"Acting Captain-Commander of Soul Society, Kyōraku Shunsui."
The two bowed together and loudly said: "We two have an important matter and request an audience with Lord Soul King."