"Your Majesty..."
Haschwalth, kneeling on the ground, softly called his master's name.
The figure seated on the throne trembled slightly at this moment... the shadows surrounding him gathered toward him like clay oxen entering the sea, converging at this moment.
Until they lightly adhered to his body surface like some invisible substance.
Yhwach seemed to slowly awaken from deep slumber.
At this moment, slowly and deeply...
He opened his eyes.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Two pairs of bright red pupils rotated in their sockets, slightly twisting each other's shapes, presenting a bizarre and eerie sense of déjà vu.
"..."
The Schutzstaffel members waiting nearby didn't dare breathe.
The majesty and fear emanating from Yhwach not only gave people a life-threatening sense of danger, but even made it impossible to suppress bodily trembling...
The intangible thing called dread.
Like pervasive flowing water, it wrapped everyone from all directions, constantly kneading and pressing until it became an even more terrifying shape.
Even Lille Barro, who accompanied Yhwach most loyally, was now breaking out in cold sweat, unconsciously pressing his lips tight.
Breathing...
He couldn't even manage to breathe.
This level of pressure was not only the awe subordinates felt toward superiors, but also instinctive retreat and fear from biological nature.
Without doubt, the current Yhwach had completely become a 'creature' in another sense.
What exactly was he becoming?
Those present didn't know... at this moment they could only listen to the tyrant's boots stepping across the floor one by one, then gradually moving away.
"Come with me, my remaining children."
Rather than giving orders.
It was more like a kind of murmuring, talking to himself...
Yhwach's voice circled above the Invisible Empire's dawn, appearing together with the rising light.
However.
The tyrant seemed quite dissatisfied with this manifestation.
"The sun..."
What should have been something that brought warmth, upon appearing, caused countless shadows to dissipate and vanish without trace.
What a lovable thing?
But it would only bring the tyrant's impatience and irritation.
Like a rat in the sewers glimpsing the vastness of the sky in a moment of confusion...
Rather than sighing at the breadth and magnificence of the outside world.
It felt more hatred and disgust.
What meaning did truth, goodness, and beauty have? What benefit was there in bathing in sunlight?
The world should be the shape he knew, this world... should originally have been his toy.
The ancestor of the Quincy would ultimately rule the world.
This was not only Yhwach's destiny, but also the gift a father should give his offspring.
So, so...
Accept it with gratitude.
Yhwach silently raised his head to gaze at the sky, toward this Invisible Empire he had coexisted with for so long, so long that he had almost forgotten the length of time.
Yhwach ruthlessly pronounced judgment.
"This is enough. You have excellently completed your work."
Exhaling lightly, accompanied by the motion of slightly raising his right hand, Yhwach made a fist-clenching motion the next moment.
Whoosh...
Wild wind blew past, roaring and stirring up tremendous noise throughout the entire world that demanded attention.
Huh huh huh? What was His Majesty doing?!
Before Askin could voice his question, in just the next moment of confusion, they had already left their original position, now rapidly floating upward through the air.
"Uwah..."
"Silence."
Haschwalth said in a low voice without turning his head.
"His Majesty is clearing away his final attachments... If you don't want to perish together with this world, you need to stay calm at this time."
No no no, I completely can't understand you people's thinking!
"Yes, I understand..."
Inner grumbling didn't prevent verbal submission.
As a relatively normal person, Askin's personal beliefs were fully displayed at this moment.
The entire Invisible Empire was trending toward annihilation at this moment.
And the people led by Yhwach, like gazing at the sunset's dusk, just quietly, quietly...
Waited for everything to end, waited for everything so far to disappear.
Until after everyone left the Invisible Empire, the silent emperor slowly stood up.
"Let's go."
He walked at the very front.
"Let us depart to reclaim what is ours."
——
At the same time.
In a boiling palace atop the Soul King Palace.
Ōetsu, drenched in sweat, finished his work at this moment.
Although he was already an unprecedented master swordsmith who had created countless Zanpakutō so far...
Even so.
As long as one lived, there would always be times to gain new insights.
Such as... the current situation.
Looking at the two blades, one long and one short, positioned on the high platform in the distance, Ōetsu's face showed an outline close to sentiment.
How long had it been since he'd seen something so 'unexpected'?
Even trying to remember, he couldn't quite recall... so this was what the saying about new waves pushing old waves meant?
That was truly moving.
Wiping away the fine sweat from his forehead, Ōetsu seemed happy about this newborn Zanpakutō, his tone becoming elevated.
"Hey, Ichigo! Go quickly... that's your Zanpakutō, and also the true shape of your soul!"
Although he had already completed his inner transformation and achieved balance among three powers with Seiya's help.
Without proper guidance, this power was ultimately in an unstable state.
And to adjust it into a form convenient for control.
"Draw it out, using forging methods... re-seal the soul into the Zanpakutō. This is a stage you must experience."
After all, Ichigo's situation was extremely special.
Without this stage, no matter who looked at it, they would think he couldn't fully unleash his power.
Still somewhat bewildered, Ichigo nodded slightly. Although he had made corresponding mental preparations, after completely losing the voices of 'Yhwach' and Seiya...
The person involved was somewhat disappointed.
His mother's absence, his father's absence, made the youth's heart more willing to accept these two souls who had cared for him meticulously.
Perhaps...
Those two were his relatives in another sense.
So, were they now within these two Zanpakutō?
With some bewilderment and unease, Ichigo stepped forward slowly until he grasped these two long blades entirely in his hands.
The feeling of spiritual connection surged from his heart. Powers that had no barriers between them began to contact like milk blending with water, tightly meshing with each other...
Power began to emerge.
As if some condition for a chemical reaction had been met.
Under collision of 'intense' degree, the momentum and power rising from Ichigo instantly erupted, forming a level that even made Ōetsu sigh.
Really?
"Young people nowadays... are a bit too exaggerated~"
After handling all this, although he still wanted to give routine instructions about various things.
But before Ōetsu could speak, Ichigo's chest was already transmitting slight vibration signals.
Taking it out.
It was a miniature version of Mayuri.
This communication tool with such personal characteristics undoubtedly came from whose hand without needing emphasis.
Ichigo connected it without thinking, and at the same time...
A familiar and urgent voice came from the other side.
"Is this Ichigo? This is Akon... Yhwach has already begun his invasion. The captain asked me to confirm your location. Where are you now?"
"I'm at the Soul King Palace, coming down immediately."
Although there had been a previous proposal for everyone to gather below and jointly resist Yhwach.
It was ultimately rejected.
After all, the Soul King Palace wouldn't fall by itself... If everyone was busy below, who knew whether Yhwach would bypass Soul Society through some strange means.
Although the probability of this wasn't high, it was still necessary to be extremely careful.
"Going down?"
"Yeah, after all they're already urging from over there..."
Ōetsu wiped the sweat from his body, his expression quite sentimental.
"If you guys can successfully stop that bastard, we'll have escaped disaster... so Ichigo, do your best."
Although he spoke playfully, Ōetsu's expression was quite serious.
After just a moment of silence, he continued.
"Don't die no matter what."
On the battlefield, there was absolutely no sentiment.
If one was slightly careless, dying would be the best outcome... Although he wanted to remind him of this, seeing that serious yet quite confident face.
Ōetsu could only swallow his words back.
For this guy... it seemed unnecessary to be so detailed?
The next moment this thought appeared in his mind, Ichigo had already turned directly and run toward the bottom of the Soul King Palace.
Young people were great... thinking and then doing, this kind of action power was truly enviable.
"Don't talk like an old man."
Hearing the familiar voice, Ōetsu's originally somewhat sentimental expression was forcibly interrupted at this moment.
"Tsk... you guy, please read the atmosphere a little."
"No way!"
"You were quite obedient when you were with Seiya before."
"You're not that idiot! Why should I be polite to you?"
"You should maintain proper respect for your old father..."
"I don't buy that!"
So problem children were this hard to handle!
While Ōetsu was sighing, Shutara's voice came from behind.
"Has that blonde boy already left?"
"That's quite a rude way to put it~ Ichigo has a name."
"I don't care about such things."
People used to doing experiments were naturally indifferent to human relationships, and Shutara, as one of the earliest addicts, was naturally the same.
After just simple pleasantries, she directed the topic to her purpose.
"Let's keep it short. The monk has already made a decision."
After a pause, Shutara said in a deep voice.
"When Yhwach really comes up, if we as the first line of defense are breached... then you'll handle them."
The atmosphere became somewhat frozen. Ōetsu, who had maintained that frivolous appearance, had his expression stiffen for a moment.
Then he slightly lowered his head.
His gaze projected from behind his goggles, brewing slightly flickering light in his eyes.
"It's almost like you've determined that Ichigo and the others can't stop Yhwach?"
Shutara chuckled lightly, her tone carrying some teasing.
"You're not naive enough to think those people can stop Yhwach, are you?"
After a pause, she emphasized.
"You know, that's the bastard who has already regained his power and activated his Almighty state."
Ōetsu made a noncommittal shrugging motion.
They might have already reached conclusions in their hearts, but some things were just like this.
Without trying, anyone would hold onto wishful thinking.
"Although these words are somewhat unfair to those people below, that's how it is... helping to hold them back, even trying to solve that so-called Schutzstaffel, would already be a great help."
Ōetsu pondered for a moment, then laughed bitterly.
"You guy... always say things that make people angry."
"It's become second nature."
"So, getting to the point! The meaning of that previous statement... can I understand it as my Bankai has been lifted from restriction?"
"Of course. Are you happy? Having the chance to fight again after sealing your sword for so many years."
"How could I be~ Peaceful times are what I love most and have always pursued. If I could maintain this tranquility by sealing my sword... I'd rather never fight anyone my whole life."
That said.
Shutara couldn't help but sneer, directly turning her back at this moment.
"You can't suppress the smile on your face anymore, you idiot..."
...Oh?
Is that so?
Belatedly touching his own face.
The man known as the Sword God was indeed unconsciously grinning at this moment, showing a quite boastful, even proud smile.
As a member of Squad Zero.
Because their bodies had been modified by the Ōken, their life force was closely connected to the Soul King.
Powerful, mysterious, incomparable...
But also wearing shackles called 'constraints'.
As the ultimate means of Soul Reapers, when they wanted to use Bankai, it required their colleagues to pay the price of their lives.
Last time it was Shutara.
This time...
"Specifically naming me?"
That was truly something to look forward to!
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Powerstones?
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