"?!"
"There's another twist?!"
"So back then, inside the Soul King's Palace, so many things happened in such a short time!"
"Seriously—if this ranking video hadn't exposed it, not a single one of us would've been able to see any of these scenes…"
Inside the junk shop.
Tessai Tsukabishi stared wide-eyed, his face lit up with excitement and shock as he spoke.
No way…
Twist after twist, one after another!
Everyone had already decided the Soul King was about to die!
And yet—
With absolutely no warning beforehand…
The Soul King's right arm appeared!!!
Now…
With it acting as a substitute…
That Shinigami world that was about to collapse from losing its "keystone" was immediately repaired instead!
At the very least, for a short while…
That unbearable, high-frequency vibration…
Finally calmed down for a bit, no longer tormenting everyone!!!
"Yeah…"
Kisuke Urahara took off his hat.
He adjusted the messy hair that had been pressed out of place when he'd stumbled earlier.
Then, with a complicated expression, he sighed:
"Even though the footage only shows a massive phantom silhouette of the Soul King's right arm…"
"It still doesn't clearly reveal who, exactly, offered up their life—who stepped forward at that moment and made a tragic sacrifice…"
"But… if I had to guess…"
"It was probably Jushiro Ukitake!!!"
Urahara's tone was firm.
As one of the few who knew the various rumors surrounding the Soul King…
He naturally understood—
The Soul King's left arm governed "progress."
As for the right arm, it possessed the power of "stillness."
And as for Jushiro Ukitake…
Urahara also knew something about his childhood.
Ukitake had once been critically ill.
When he was three years old, he'd nearly died.
In the end, his parents brought him to a shrine dedicated to a lone, great deity—
And he was granted power that could allow him to become a substitute for the Soul King.
Because of that…
Ukitake's illness was "halted."
But he also paid a price—his hair turned completely white.
So, based on all of that…
Urahara was now certain.
The one who became the substitute for the Soul King's right arm in the footage…
Was Jushiro Ukitake!
At that moment…
He was burning through his own life.
Using it to maintain the form of the Soul King's right arm, sustaining it without end!
There was no doubt about it—
He had made an enormous sacrifice!!!
"Hm?"
Hearing that…
Yoruichi Shihōin frowned, speaking uneasily:
"If that's the case, then time is extremely limited. Things still aren't looking good."
Who could guarantee…
How long someone like Ukitake—whose body was that frail—could keep holding on?
And besides…
Unless Ichigo Kurosaki "powered up" again…
Then against The Almighty…
From where things stood now…
They were almost completely helpless!!!
— — —
After that…
Under the anxious gaze of the crowd…
The video fast-forwarded and returned to the Soul King's bedchamber.
And this time…
It finally revealed something that let the audience breathe—at least for the moment!
A black shadow coiled and writhed!
After crawling up from the ground of Seireitei to the Soul King's bedchamber…
It adhered—right in front of Yhwach's astonished eyes—
To the sealing crystal.
To the two fractured pieces of the sealing crystal.
Sure enough, that action immediately made the world stop shaking!
At the same time, it prevented Yhwach from killing the Soul King in that moment!
"Tsk tsk tsk…"
"Looks like things have stabilized for now!"
"Captain Aizen… did you see it? The instant the Soul King's right arm appeared—Yhwach's expression!"
"It was obviously panic and surprise!"
"That proves it—maybe his so-called Almighty power… isn't truly all-powerful after all!!!"
Inside Las Noches.
Gin Ichimaru's voice rang out.
His tone was as frivolous and teasing as ever.
But…
When he said those words…
Gin's expression was deadly serious.
He truly had been watching every subtle change!!!
"Is that so…"
Upon the throne.
Sosuke Aizen responded without expression:
"I believe it's because there are forces—or things—that belong to the Soul King."
"Which means The Almighty cannot predict future scenes connected to them."
As he said that…
Aizen's mouth curled, a confident smile lifting the corner of his lips.
In that calm, effortless tone, he continued:
"No matter what, as long as we've proven that his Schrift power does have a weakness…"
"Then it means that even in that later state—when he becomes the dark Soul King—Yhwach… is not invincible."
Even someone as formidable as Aizen…
Still couldn't see the future right now.
He had no way of knowing how, in the ultimate battle, Soul King Yhwach would be defeated.
But…
Surely it would require many sides working together.
Different abilities—
Including his own Kyoka Suigetsu, along with other special powers, or tools.
And then…
Finally, dual Zangetsu would deliver the decisive finishing blow.
Only that…
Seemed to offer any hope of victory!!!
— — —
After that…
The video jumped again.
It skipped the middle part of the struggle.
Now…
The location clearly hadn't changed.
It was still inside the Soul King's bedchamber.
But…
In the ruined palace, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others were gone—every last one of them!
Only one figure remained.
Only one.
Yhwach alone.
Under dim light, his black cloak and coat fluttered.
His aura was overwhelming.
His gaze was cold, indifferent—
Fixed straight ahead.
On that enormous black shadow covering the crystal.
Then, in the tone of a victor…
He spoke, coldly issuing a death sentence:
"Soul King's right arm!!!"
"As one who sees through the future… is there truly none of the Soul King's will within you? Why do you still resist?"
"If that's the case…"
"Then I will destroy you—along with that arm—completely!!!"
The moment those words carried out through the transparent screen…
Yhwach, relying on his power, held the advantage.
Before everyone's eyes…
He began to devour the Soul King's right arm—
Little by little… swallowing it whole!!!
That scene…
Declared it completely.
The second battle that took place within the Soul King's bedchamber—
Between Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist and savior…
And Yhwach…
Ended in total defeat for Ichigo!!!
And at the same time…
After devouring the Soul King's right arm—
Along with the Soul King's remaining body and power within that shattered crystal—
Yhwach's power swelled violently!
He became the new dark Soul King—
Even more invincible than before!!!
That entire sequence—
All those exposed fragments—
Brought absolute despair.
The atmosphere of watching…
Sank into its lowest point yet, smothered by a suffocating oppression.
And the viewers…
Once again felt it—
That choking pressure…
Brought by Soul King Yhwach!!!
"Ha!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
"His Majesty is wise… The Almighty really is unbeatable! Everything is within His Majesty's control!!!"
Inside the Ice Crystal Palace.
Gerard Valkyrie threw his head back and laughed wildly, thrilled beyond measure.
His grin was full of smug delight.
Earlier, dual Zangetsu's performance in battle—
That near-invincible dominance—
Had once made him feel deeply shaken… and afraid!
He'd even believed that if it were him—
Even if he relied on the Schrift "The Miracle" to resurrect endlessly and grow stronger again and again—
He still wouldn't be enough to withstand dual Zangetsu's blade.
At most, he'd only be fit to serve as a whetstone—
A tool to sharpen Zangetsu's edge even further!
And if even Gerard Valkyrie felt that way…
Then needless to say, the other pure-blood Quincy—
Or the powerful members of the Sternritter—
Were even worse off.
Each and every one of them…
Whenever they looked at Ichigo's back, hands gripping his swords…
Felt that crushing pressure.
It was like standing before the Soul King himself—
Not a shred of courage in their hearts to fight dual Zangetsu at all!
And deep down, from the bottom of their souls…
They feared that Ichigo alone—
Wielding that god-tier Zanpakuto—
Could sweep through the Wandenreich and slaughter every pure-blood Quincy!
Thankfully…
As that earlier fragment played—
After they personally witnessed the process of Yhwach evolving into the dark Soul King…
Everyone's shaken hearts settled back into calm.
The fear they held toward dual Zangetsu was finally driven away!
With the Soul King's power…
And The Almighty…
Soul King Yhwach at this moment…
Was truly invincible!
And the entire Shinigami world…
Was fated to be ruled by their pure-blood Quincy!!!
"Next…"
"We'll see, in the final battle, how His Majesty—after becoming the Soul King—completely kills Ichigo Kurosaki and Sosuke Aizen!"
Lille Barro's eyes flickered violently.
Deep within his gaze was a powerful anticipation.
Even now…
Dual Zangetsu still hadn't been "neutralized."
But Lille Barro firmly believed—
Against an Ichigo who was not yet the Soul King…
The Almighty would foresee every future.
Even if it was…
The "neutralization" of dual Zangetsu—so long as it was seen in advance—
That power would become ineffective against Soul King Yhwach!
In fact…
The opposite might happen.
There was a very real chance that this Zanpakuto—
Would be snapped in two!!!
Completely ruined!
No longer a threat!!!
— — —
After that…
The scene shifted.
A new fragment played.
And this time, it arrived at an entirely new location.
Tap, tap, tap…
Rapid footsteps rang out.
On a long, endless staircase…
Ichigo Kurosaki and Orihime Inoue—the protagonist and his wife—
Could be seen running forward without stopping.
Only…
There were no other outsiders at their side now.
Only the lovers—
Leaning on each other, fighting side by side!
"Ichigo…"
In the real world.
Inside the high school campus.
Watching all of this unfold…
Orihime Inoue herself felt her beautiful eyes tremble.
From the bottom of her heart…
She felt happy—filled with courage.
"That's wonderful!"
"I never imagined that at the very end, I wouldn't drag you down!"
"I stayed by your side the whole time—always behind you, supporting you as your backup!"
Even though…
It was obvious she could feel it—
At the end of the direction they were running…
Beyond that tall, sealed gate…
A terrifying pressure was continuously surging out.
The overwhelming aura…
Of Soul King Yhwach.
But…
Orihime wasn't afraid at all!
With her husband protecting her from the front, she only felt happiness!
And as this scene played…
It instantly made her relationship with Ichigo—
No longer limited to "just confessed."
In the blink of an eye, they became intimate—
Their feelings rapidly heating up!!!
"Orihime…"
"Don't be afraid!!!"
Ichigo turned his head.
Beneath his orange hair, his handsome face spread into a confident grin.
He reached out first and took Orihime's hands in his.
Then, in a gentle voice, he said:
"To be able to see with my own eyes…"
"The future you—at the most dangerous moment—staying behind alone, advancing and retreating with me…"
"I'm deeply moved by that."
"And I won't betray these feelings…"
His eyes turned firm.
Ichigo—and his future self—were both filled with fighting spirit.
Even though…
In the previous two battles…
He had been knocked down by Yhwach, who held the advantage!
Still…
As for what came next—
The footage of the third battle that was about to play—
Ichigo was full of anticipation instead!
He truly believed that dual Zangetsu's power still hadn't been fully unleashed!
Maybe…
Just maybe, next—
Once they pushed open that gate—
The "neutralization" of dual Zangetsu would finally appear?
In any case…
This wasn't the most hopeless moment yet!
The true dead end…
Had not arrived!!!
— — —
After that…
The ranking video continued.
Sure enough…
Once the gates of Wahrwelt—the Sanctuary—were pushed open…
Through the camera, the audience immediately saw it.
At the end of the corridor…
On a throne shaped like a gigantic cross…
Sat the dark Soul King Yhwach, leaning forward as he sat!
At this moment…
With the power of The Almighty…
He had clearly foreseen this scene long ago.
And he had deliberately stayed here…
Waiting for Ichigo—
And his wife—to arrive!!!
"Tch…"
"After becoming the dark Soul King, Yhwach's appearance has gotten even more bizarre!"
"This time, you can't even see his face at all…"
Inside the First Division.
Kenpachi Zaraki only needed a single glance—
Before he started frowning nonstop, speaking with a disgusted face.
Yes.
In the footage…
Soul King Yhwach's thick black hair fell loose and draped downward.
It almost completely covered half his face.
The audience could no longer clearly see his facial expression or shifts in demeanor.
However…
The moment he saw Ichigo barge in—
A voice carrying terrifying pressure sounded out:
"Ichigo Kurosaki…"
"Perfect timing. I've been waiting for this moment… for a very long time…"
"And once again…"
"A conversation between father and son makes me feel delighted!!!"
Facing the camera—
And countless viewers—
Soul King Yhwach spoke in that exact tone again, repeating his claim from the past:
That Ichigo…
Was his "dark son."
And that he himself…
Was Ichigo's true father!
Of course…
That claim was immediately rejected.
Ichigo furiously refuted it.
And then—
Dual Zangetsu rose again!
After his aura erupted, Ichigo—burning with rage—swung toward the holy cross throne…
And unleashed a slash—
A crescent wave of destruction, unprecedented in scale and sheer size!!!
That scene—
While delivering a visually shocking impact—
Also completely tore open the curtain on the third act of battle…
The final act…
The prologue to the ultimate decisive war!!!
(End of Chapter)
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