The turmoil on the Planet Shinigami gradually subsided into calm.
Rukia, Renji, Uryu, and other members of the Shinigami main cast looked with complex expressions at the figure standing in the center of the Soul King Palace's main hall, encased in a large crystal-like structure.
Even in this state, Ichigo's eyes still radiated intense resentment. Even the usually stoic Byakuya couldn't help but turn his face away, unable to bear meeting Ichigo's gaze.
It was true that Ichigo had helped them a lot in the past. But compared to the entire world, they had chosen to compromise.
However, they could no longer call him 'Kurosaki Ichigo' now.
"All members of the Zero Division, pay respects to the Soul King-sama." While the main cast was still conflicted, Ichibe'e had already led the other four members of the Zero Division to bow in submission to the new Soul King.
"Meddlesome mutts," Aizen disdainfully left these words behind, leading his few remaining subordinates away.
…
On the other side, Lott sent Shiranui Mai and Kagura Chizuru back to the Planet King of Fighters.
"By the way, I'll give this to you." As he prepared to leave, Lott handed an object to Shiranui Mai.
"What's this? A badge?" The reluctance in Shiranui Mai's eyes was joined by curiosity.
"Genos gave it to me just now. He said it contains Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Zanka no Tachi." Lott's tone was calm, but to Shiranui Mai and Kagura Chizuru, it was like a tidal wave.
What is Zanka no Tachi? Anyone in the group who used fire knew about it.
According to Genos, after the Thousand-Year Blood War began, the Sternritter under Yhwach used these badges to steal the Bankai of the Gotei 13's Captains.
Among them, Yamamoto's Bankai was stolen by Yhwach. Then, while Cell was absorbing Yhwach, Genos managed to pick it up.
When Genos handed this thing to him, Lott remembered that Zanka no Tachi had indeed been stolen by Yhwach in the original work. It's just that Yhwach never used it once.
It was unknown whether he couldn't control Zanka no Tachi or because he awakened The Almighty shortly after and had no need to use it.
"G-give it to me?" Shiranui Mai's face was still full of disbelief. She was also one of the martial artists in the Planet King of Fighters who used fire-based abilities, though her fame was far less than Kyo and Iori.
Now, she actually obtained a top-tier fire-based ability from the chat group. This... this sudden, immense fortune was so overwhelming it made Shiranui Mai dizzy.
"What use do I have for it?" Little things like Mew or Pecharunt could be kept as pets in the backyard.
For Lott, it was neither pleasing to the eye nor useful. If Lott hadn't suddenly remembered that Shiranui Mai also used fire, he wouldn't have even bothered taking it when Genos offered it to him.
"Wh-why give it to me..." Shiranui Mai still felt it was unreal.
"Because I quite like you." Lott didn't hide it at all. After all, which arcade-playing youth from his previous life didn't have those kinds of thoughts about Shiranui Mai when they were young?
Shiranui Mai's heart, beneath her impressive 'combat weapon', beat wildly. She suddenly hooked her arms around Lott's neck, standing on her tiptoes. The meaning was self-evident.
Kagura Chizuru beside them felt very awkward. Although the Shiranui School had been in decline for a long time, and there wasn't a single person at the dojo entrance now, she was still here!
'Couldn't this pair of adulterous dogs be a bit more discreet?! This dog Lott was already starting to feel her up!'
Kagura Chizuru's heart was beating extremely fast at this moment, her brain constantly reminding her to leave quickly. Otherwise, this shameless pair would start performing right in front of her. But the heels of her long boots seemed rooted to the ground, and she couldn't move a single step.
Shiranui Mai, who had gone limp all over, noticed her friend who didn't know whether to stay or go. A wicked smile suddenly appeared on her face.
Using the last bit of her strength, she pulled Kagura Chizuru towards them, right into the middle. Kagura Chizuru let out a gasp. Then she felt a coolness on her pencil pants under her shrine maiden robes.
"D-don't turn on the live stream..." The pure white shrine maiden pleaded with a sob, voicing her last bit of stubbornness.
She didn't want to experience social death in front of the entire universe again. But this time, she could rest assured.
Even though he was very confident in his own 'combat prowess', Lott had no hobby of performing for others.
…
Although many things happened, the Planet Shinigami and the Planet King of Fighters had returned to peace. Yhwach was dead, the Sternritter were almost completely wiped out. And Aizen wasn't in the mood to cause trouble for now, silently returning to Hueco Mundo with his remaining subordinates.
It's just that Ichigo had been made into the new Soul King. This could be considered another ending route from the original work.
After all, that fat monk Ichibe'e's attitude towards Ichigo vs Yhwach in the original work was to sit on the sidelines. Whoever died, he would turn into the new Soul King to maintain the balance of the three realms.
The outcome for the Planet King of Fighters was slightly better than the Planet Shinigami's side. Although they also lost their protagonist, the people on this planet gained benefits. Even though it seemed 99% likely that Shiranui Mai couldn't unleash the full power of Zanka no Tachi, at least Lott gave it to her.
Even if she could only use ten percent of its power, it would be enough to suppress those troublesome Hakkesshu members or those future lunatics called 'Those from the Past'.
As for Kagura Chizuru... Lott directly had Genos, who was preparing to leave by spaceship, make another trip to the Gotei 13. He seized the Divine Eight Mirror Sword passed down through the Ise Family and gave it to Kagura Chizuru.
That thing was supposedly a ceremonial sword that couldn't harm people, but it possessed astonishing power to negate enemies with 'god' attributes. Simply put, it was the most suitable weapon against enemies like Orochi.
Well, Lott never took without giving. He wasn't scum like Tomoya Aki who made girls work for him without giving anything.
However, when Genos presented the seized Divine Eight Mirror Sword to Lott, and Lott prepared to give it to Kagura Chizuru as 'payment', Chizuru Kagula covered her slightly swollen lower abdomen and whispered, "No need."
It was only then Lott remembered, 'Damn it, I forgot to wear protection earlier!'
It's mainly because being able to get it on with Shiranui Mai, whom he had yearned for in his previous life, got Lott unusually excited.
In the heat of the moment, he threw the most important matter to the back of his mind. After all, Lott hadn't expected Shiranui Mai to be so wild as to drag her friend into it.
Lott pinched his chin, wondering if it would be too beastly to ask Kagura Chizuru to take medicine now or have an abortion in the future.
"Don't worry, Chizuru isn't the same as before. I'll be by her side to teach her," Shiranui Mai wrapped her arms around Lott's neck from behind and whispered, "And we don't even know if she'll get pregnant yet."
'Uh... I guess that's the only way.' After just doing that to someone, asking them to have an abortion... even a scoundrel like Lott felt that was too scummy.