Ichibei Hyosube grinned, revealing a set of clean, white teeth: "Aozaki Reiji, I have lived in this world for far too long, longer than you can possibly imagine."
He spoke slowly, his voice seemingly traversing endless years.
"For the Human World's inhabitants, a Shinigami's lifespan of several millennia is already long enough to be tiresome."
"But I have lived for a million years. Can you comprehend what a million years signifies?"
"In these long million years, I have witnessed the cycle of life and death for countless individuals."
"Most of it was repetitive and uninteresting, but there were also many who were truly astounding."
"For instance, your teacher, Yamamoto Genryusai, and my Zero Division colleagues."
"However, even these exceptional individuals are merely insignificant ripples in the boundless river of history."
"But I have never encountered anyone like you, someone as special as you!"
Ichibei Hyosube's gaze sharpened, focusing intently on Aozaki Reiji.
"You are not one of those tiny ripples; instead, you are a colossal wave, or perhaps even the 'river' itself."
His words were filled with awe and admiration.
Upon hearing this, Aozaki Reiji couldn't help but frown, falling into deep thought.
He pondered Ichibei Hyosube's metaphor.
He was actually compared to a river; in this world, only the Soul King could be called a river, right?
Could he truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the Soul King?
This old monk, he's probably already considering him as one of the candidates to be the wedge that stabilizes the world, isn't he!?
Aozaki Reiji took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent he felt towards Ichibei Hyosube, and forced a smile onto his face, saying: "I understand. Please continue."
"Ah... Oh."
Ichibei Hyosube paused for a moment, then nodded.
For some reason, he had suddenly felt a chill down his spine just now, which caused him to lose focus.
Regaining his composure, he raised a hand and gently waved it.
"In short, my meaning is very simple."
"Aozaki Reiji, the power you possess is truly difficult for me to comprehend, and I cannot understand it."
"Your existence will undoubtedly pose a significant threat to the Soul King."
"Yamamoto should have already told you that for me, the Soul King is the most important, and protecting the Soul King is my mission."
"Therefore... Aozaki Reiji, I, as the leader of the Zero Division, ask you now."
"Do you... harbor disloyalty towards the Soul King, do you have rebellious intentions, or have you already made attempts to harm the Soul King?"
The moment Ichibei Hyosube finished speaking.
His pupils suddenly turned completely white, and a chilling aura erupted from his body.
He looked like a demon that had crawled out from the depths of hell.
Those cold and terrifying eyes stared intently at the calm and composed man before him.
If it were someone else with slightly weaker psychological fortitude, facing such pressure, they would surely tremble all over and then obediently reveal all their secrets.
But Aozaki Reiji remained standing there quietly, watching Ichibei Hyosube without moving.
He felt that he had nothing to hide.
Would Ichibei Hyosube mind if someone wanted to become the Soul King?
Presumably, he wouldn't mind.
Rather, for Ichibei Hyosube, the more such people there were, the better.
After all, his belief was to protect the Soul King, but that was all; besides that, he didn't care about anything else.
Who was the Soul King made no difference to him!
Moreover, even if Aozaki Reiji tried to conceal his thoughts, it would be futile.
When a person possesses enough power to pose a threat to others, there's no need to care about what their true inner thoughts are.
Because his very existence is a threat!
Now it seemed that in Ichibei Hyosube's eyes, his own existence was likewise a threat to the Soul King.
Aozaki Reiji turned to look at Ichibei Hyosube, the corners of his mouth curving slightly into a faint smile: "This is only natural. I will overthrow that high and mighty king, stand atop the heavens, and sit on the throne that overlooks all beings."
He unreservedly displayed his soaring ambition, as if he wanted to bring all things in this world under his control.
As soon as he finished speaking, although he made no movement, his muscles were already tensed, ready to spring into action at any moment, prepared to enter battle.
Despite having some understanding of the old monk before him, he would never place his hopes on the elusive and unpredictable thoughts of others.
Only his own fist was the most solid reliance.
At this moment, Ichibei Hyosube seemed unaware of the danger, still sitting calmly, a chillingly strange smile on his lips.
"Don't you want to destroy this world? Or do you harbor crazy thoughts like returning the world to chaos?"
Aozaki Reiji scoffed disdainfully, sneering mockingly: "Are you crazy! Why would I, with nothing better to do, go and destroy the world? Wouldn't it be better to spend more time with those lonely sisters? Why destroy the world when there's nothing else to do?"
The smile on Ichibei Hyosube's face deepened.
He opened his mouth slightly, as if to say something, but in the end, he only shook his head helplessly.
"So that's it... However, you attempt to overthrow the rule of the Soul King, and as a Royal Special Forces member, how can I stand by and do nothing..."
As Ichibei Hyosube spoke, he dropped the smile from his face and slowly stood up.
"To replace that supreme being isn't just a matter of talk. Let me see if you have the qualifications to be a king."
Ichibei Hyosube's expression darkened, and his aura suddenly erupted, a powerful sense of oppression sweeping across the entire area.
He reached out, trying to grab Aozaki Reiji's shoulder.
However, Aozaki Reiji's figure flickered, and he quickly retreated several steps, easily dodging the attack.
"Hmm!?"
Ichibei Hyosube looked at his empty hand, a hint of surprise on his face.
But in the very next second, his eyes suddenly sharpened, widening with an imposing presence.
Following that, his entire being lunged forward like a pouncing tiger.
With astonishing Shunpo, he dashed towards Aozaki Reiji, his hands reaching out simultaneously.
Shunpo!
Aozaki Reiji didn't choose to continue retreating; instead, he directly stepped forward and charged, arriving before the old monk in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, a massive palm came rushing towards him.
Aozaki Reiji's hand quickly rose, his open palm accurately blocking the giant palm.
Thud!
With a muffled thud, the veins on Ichibei Hyosube's right hand instantly bulged, and his body involuntarily staggered back several steps.
He looked down at his trembling, cracked arm, his eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.
As an existence who had transformed his own body into a Royal Key, his body, strengthened by the Soul King's power, should have been indestructible.
However, after taking a seemingly ordinary palm strike from Aozaki Reiji, his right arm was nearly rendered useless.
Aozaki Reiji's movements didn't stop. He slightly retracted his comparatively smaller palm, then clenched his fist and struck out forcefully.
This punch carried unparalleled might, mercilessly slamming into Ichibei Hyosube's body.
The continuing forward momentum of the punch carried immense force, heavily striking Ichibei Hyosube's body.