Yamamoto's body trembled violently, as he felt someone lightly tap his shoulder.
He turned his head and saw a familiar figure.
"This brat, why is he here?"
"Rei… Reiji!"
Yamamoto's eyes widened, staring in astonishment at his grinning young disciple.
He had never expected this young disciple, who should have been living a carefree life in the Soul King Palace, to appear here.
Had he sensed danger and slipped away early?
Even then, he shouldn't have come here; the timing was completely wrong!
In his agitated state, Yamamoto even forgot the pain in his body.
He hurriedly said, "I'll try to stall for time, you quickly take everyone else and leave here!"
That was Zanka no Tachi, a Zanpakuto capable of destroying the world!
He had used his Bankai earlier, thinking victory was assured, and couldn't help but show off for a while, trying out all of Zanka no Tachi's techniques.
This space was already beginning to collapse; in half a minute at most, it would be completely destroyed.
It didn't matter if he and Shunsui, who was running towards them from not far away, died.
After all, one was just a dying old man and the other a useless salted fish; it was fine if they died.
But Aozaki Reiji was stronger than him and had a chance to defeat Yhwach; as the future of the Soul Society, he absolutely could not die here!
However, Aozaki Reiji reached out and hoisted Yamamoto onto his shoulder, saying with a smile:
"Old man, you're already this old, why are you still spouting cool lines? Leave this kind of thing to the young ones."
His tone was relaxed, as if he didn't take the current crisis to heart.
Yamamoto was about to say something, to warn Aozaki Reiji not to overexert himself.
But as the words reached his lips, he saw Aozaki Reiji casually wave his hand, easily breaking the formation that Yamamoto couldn't budge.
As the formation disappeared, Zanka no Tachi gradually faded, and the surrounding scorching sensation rapidly dissipated.
He was instantly dumbfounded, only able to swallow the words he was about to speak.
"How was it? I didn't embarrass you, old man, did I?"
Aozaki Reiji asked proudly.
Seeing him effortlessly do what he couldn't, Yamamoto really wanted to praise him.
But as soon as he saw his face, he didn't feel like speaking, and even habitually wanted to punch him.
Yamamoto's old mouth slightly opened, and after a moment, he said in a muffled voice:
"...Not bad."
Boom!
Soon after, cracks appeared in the world, and the space had yet to shatter.
"Reiji!!!"
—A woman's joyful cry.
Turning his head, he saw Shunsui leading a group of people running over, and the one calling him was Kuna Mashiro from within the crowd.
"Reiji!"
"Reiji-kun!"
"Boss!"
"Captain!"
"Captain Reiji!"
Everyone surrounded Aozaki Reiji and Yamamoto, their joyful voices rising and falling.
They had all just seen Aozaki Reiji kill that unkillable giant, and apparently, he had also extinguished the Captain-Commander's stolen Bankai.
This was simply a miracle!
"Now is not the time to be happy."
The crisis was not yet over; Shunsui, Unohana, and Ichimaru Gin were the calmest.
"Let's figure out a way to leave here first."
"This shadow space won't last much longer."
"The Shinigami Research and Development Institute's techniques are also unusable."
One by one, they stated the current situation.
Aozaki Reiji glanced at everyone, waved his hand, and drew the Zanpakuto from his waist:
"Ame-no-Minaka."
… … … …
After Aozaki Reiji left, Yhwach sat alone in the great hall.
The surroundings were exceptionally quiet.
At this moment, the door slowly opened, and a bald man walked in from outside.
It was Ichibei Hyosube, who had "died" earlier.
His steps were light and unhurried.
Upon entering the hall, he showed no trace of the deference a subject should display when meeting their monarch.
Instead, he casually found a spot next to Yhwach, like an old friend, and sat down.
"Spirit King, that brat left without even saying goodbye?"
Ichibei Hyosube asked with a smile.
Yhwach nodded slightly, his tone concise and clear, answering with just four short words:
"Yes, he left."
"Well, well… it's good that he left. Otherwise, this old man would have had to teach that brat a lesson. His methods are too ruthless; a sparring match almost took this old man's life."
Ichibei Hyosube said jokingly.
Then, he said with emotion:
"Thankfully, that brat had some sense and didn't destroy this old man's Zero Division Palace. Otherwise, this old man wouldn't have been able to see Spirit King."
After speaking, he let out a hearty laugh, seemingly completely unbothered or angry about having just died once.
Yhwach looked at Ichibei Hyosube helplessly, shaking his head and saying:
"Who told you to provoke him?"
"Hahaha… After all, with such a big matter, it's a bit unsettling not to try it out personally!"
Ichibei Hyosube chuckled and scratched his head.
"How did it feel after the fight?"
Yhwach looked at Ichibei Hyosube, asking with his usual kindly smile.
"He has the potential of a the Soul King!"
"Is that so…"
Yhwach nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the answer.
Ichibei Hyosube complained:
"You already knew what I was going to say, why did you have to ask again!?"
Yhwach said indifferently:
"Because if I didn't ask, you wouldn't say, would you?"
"Hmm… I really can't do anything about you."
Ichibei Hyosube paused for a moment.
"But… he actually left this old man with no power to resist."
"Even setting aside Hōgyoku and your organs, that brat himself is undoubtedly a very terrifying entity."
Ichibei Hyosube paused, then sighed deeply, continuing:
"However, Spirit King, do you really want to choose him? I remember you used to say there were other ways, right?"
Yhwach chuckled, not hiding anything, and replied:
"Yes, actually, I originally intended to become human."
"Become human?"
Ichibei Hyosube stroked his chin, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
The great the Soul King actually wanted to become such a weak life form; no one would believe it if he said it out loud.
But he heard it, Spirit King's tone was very serious, not like a joke at all.
Yhwach caressed his throne, the huge crystal that confined his body, and slowly said:
"That's right, become human!"
"Humans are born from particles and bring life to the world."
"They are the cornerstone of the world, the most special existence among the Three Worlds, possessing the most possibilities."
"To fight against Hell, my current power is completely insufficient, or rather, it's precisely because it's me that I can't."
"I was born from the world and possess the world's power, but I also have to abide by the world's rules."
"Since the world's birth, Hell has always demanded from the world; it is an existence even more greedy than Hollows."
"If this continues, one day, this world will be completely devoured."
"But I can eliminate Hollows, yet I cannot eliminate Hell, because Hell devours the world…"
"It is a rule that has existed since the world's birth; it is the World's Principle!!"
"I, who represent the world, cannot interfere, nor should I interfere."
"Becoming human is to break free from this restraint."
"If there's a way, then why give up?" Ichibei Hyosube asked somewhat eagerly.
"Because humans are also within the world; even with great potential, there's no guarantee they can definitely fight against Hell."
Yhwach looked at him quietly, his gaze seemingly possessing the power to soothe hearts.
"Are you that certain he will succeed?"
Ichibei Hyosube gradually calmed down.
Yhwach shook his head:
"I can't be certain, but at least it's more hopeful than all the methods I've thought of."
"What kind of person is he, to inspire such confidence in you?"
"I don't know either, I just have a guess, perhaps… he is the Creator."
"The Creator? Are you kidding? That kid whose age isn't even a fraction of mine?"
"…"
Yhwach remained silent, simply gazing quietly at the setting sun in the distance, just like any ordinary middle-aged man in the world.