Kurotsuki Renya brought Soi Fon and Sōsuke Aizen to the vast circular platform at the end of the Ōken pathway leading toward the Soul King Palace. Suspended above them loomed a colossal floating island, its sheer presence radiating an ancient, oppressive authority.
This island silent, sacred, and immovable was the domain of the man known as the "Monk Who Calls the Real Name".
Renya lifted his gaze toward it calmly.
"That's where he is…"
This was the territory of the leader of the Royal Guard Ichibē Hyōsube.
To proceed further toward the Soul King himself, this was the final threshold.
Renya turned slightly, glancing at Soi Fon and Aizen.
"The next battle won't resemble anything you've seen so far. Stay here."
Soi Fon did not argue. She simply nodded, though concern flickered in her eyes.
"…Understood. But Renya… don't underestimate him."
Aizen's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
"You trust me enough to leave her here? Aren't you worried I might take advantage of the situation?"
Soi Fon scoffed immediately.
"If you think you can, try it."
Renya didn't even look back as he answered.
"If you do, you'll never reach the Soul King. Not in this lifetime."
Aizen chuckled softly, satisfied.
"Then don't die. I'd like to see how far you can go… Kurotsuki Renya."
There was genuine anticipation in his voice now.
For the first time in centuries, Aizen had found someone who operated on a level that rivaled perhaps even surpassed his own understanding of power, evolution, and control.
Renya was not merely strong.
He was dangerous in concept.
"Protect yourselves."
Renya said quietly, producing a small coin and placing it into Soi Fon's hand.
"Keep that with you."
She nodded, closing her fingers around it.
Without another word, Renya stepped forward then vanished.
Royal Guard Domain
He reappeared atop the floating island.
At its center stood a massive temple ancient, imposing, and radiating authority.
Renya didn't hesitate.
He raised his hand.
Reishi gathered.
Lightning converged.
BOOM.
The entire structure exploded in a violent eruption of energy.
From the collapsing temple, a massive figure leapt forward, landing heavily before Renya.
"Oi! What kind of brat destroys someone else's home as a greeting?"
Standing before him was a towering bald monk with a thick beard, broad frame, and a massive rosary draped around his neck.
Ichibē Hyōsube.
Leader of the Royal Guard.
The man who names all things in Soul Society.
Renya smiled faintly.
"If you didn't come out, I'd have to force you anyway."
Ichibē stared at him, eyes narrowing.
"So you're the one who beat the others… Hmph. They've gotten soft."
Renya tilted his head slightly.
"I agree. Which is why I'll be taking their place."
A dangerous silence followed.
"I'll become the Soul King… and restructure everything."
Ichibē's grin widened.
"Big words. Guess I'll have to erase you before that happens."
He swung his massive calligraphy brush Ichimonji without warning.
Renya didn't dodge.
He raised his hand.
BOOM.
The impact thundered across the island.
Yet Renya stood unmoved.
Ichibē raised an eyebrow.
"You think that was just a physical strike?"
Renya answered calmly.
"No. It erased the name of my arm."
He flexed his fingers slightly.
"You reduced 'arm' to 'hand'… stripping away its power."
Ichibē's expression shifted.
"You understand my ability?"
Renya smiled faintly.
"That's not the interesting part."
He stepped forward.
"The interesting part… is that it doesn't matter."
Suddenly
Multiple arms burst from Renya's body, extending outward in rapid succession.
Each one struck forward with overwhelming force.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Shockwaves rippled across the air
but shattered instantly.
Ichibē had already countered them.
"I told you. Once a name is reduced, its power is permanently diminished."
He clenched his fist.
"No matter how many arms you create, they're still 'hands' now."
Renya exhaled lightly.
"…Then I'll just use something else."
Lightning surged.
The atmosphere distorted.
A pillar of thunder erupted forward
but before it could fully manifest
Ichibē was already in motion.
SWISH.
The brush swept across Renya's body again.
Silence followed.
Ichibē stood still.
"Now you've lost even more of your name."
His voice lowered.
"What can you possibly do now?"
Then
He raised his hand.
A massive spiritual palm formed in the sky.
"Senri Tsūten Shō."
The gigantic hand descended.
CRASH.
The island shook violently.
The ground shattered.
Where Renya had stood
there was nothing but crushed flesh.
Ichibē exhaled slowly.
"…Arrogant. You could've become something extraordinary."
"The strongest Shinigami? Not interested."
A voice echoed.
Ichibē's eyes snapped to the side.
Renya stood there completely unharmed.
"…Impossible."
Ichibē frowned.
"With your speed, you avoided it?"
Renya shrugged.
"That wasn't me."
He gestured.
A duplicate appeared in the distance identical in appearance.
"A construct created through my will. It can act, attack… even mimic abilities to a degree."
Ichibē narrowed his eyes.
"But it lacks your true power."
"Exactly."
Renya raised his hand.
"And that's all I needed."
The air shifted.
The Reishi composition of the entire battlefield began to distort.
Electric charge positive and negative was forcibly extracted from all surrounding particles.
The sky darkened.
The ground trembled.
Lightning condensed into form.
A massive humanoid figure emerged
A colossal being of pure electrical force.
A god of thunder.
Renya spoke calmly.
"Ten billion volts…"
The entity stabilized.
"…Raijin."
Then
It detonated.
BOOOOOOM.
The explosion tore through the island.
The Royal Guard domain trembled violently
and began to collapse from the sky.
The true battle had finally begun.
And even Ichibē Hyōsube…
…had been forced to take Renya seriously.
this book is officially COMPLETE on Patreon.
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD