Chapter 63: Legendary Scene — Hair-Slick Ascension
What had just occurred was profoundly eerie. The Omniscience authority had indeed transmitted data to the outside—specifically to the Silver Sea—and, incredibly, it had retrieved information back from those boundless depths.
Sensing Mo Yu's confusion, the Omniscience authority seemed to be communicating something, but the information was cryptic and complex, involving metaphysical concepts that were hard to grasp. Roughly speaking, it told Mo Yu: The Silver Sea encompasses everything and contains all possibilities!
Mo Yu had a defining trait: if he couldn't understand something immediately, he'd set it aside and focus on what he could control. With the final medical report of the Soul King's remains in hand, Mo Yu studied it and indeed found traces of the World Bubble's self-evolution. These findings gave him quite a pleasant surprise. He decisively reached out with the Hand of God, preparing to "tinker" with the Soul King's body.
The events in the Soul King Palace take time to describe, but in reality, they happened in a flash. Back in the Seireitei, the world-shaking battle had reached its absolute zenith.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto might not have understood science, but his development of the Zanka no Tachi's Bankai modes fit the laws of nature perfectly, simulating the terrifying power of a star. His ultimate move, Tenchi Kaijin, carried the sheer power of a solar prominence ejection!
A solar flare involves a star suddenly ejecting high-energy matter, forming pillars of fire thousands of kilometers long; the resulting radiation can disrupt electronics across entire planets. Yamamoto's strike hadn't reached that cosmic scale, but its core principle was identical!
He took flames that had been gathered, compressed, and controlled to the extreme and, in a fraction of a second, triggered a directional, absolute explosion. This was no longer a "Finishing Move" for a person; it was an "Annihilation Strike" for a world.
But by fate, Yamamoto's Tenchi Kaijin met its perfect opposite: the Heavenly Fist!
Devouring, endless devouring—like a black hole, it hungered for everything it touched. This vicious "punch-intent" also trended toward the extreme. Buildings within its range disintegrated into torrents of Reishi to be swallowed by the void. Even the Soul Reapers felt their very spiritual power vibrating as if being gnawed upon by an invisible predator.
The explosion and the devouring formed two polar opposites. Their collision at point-blank range created a cataclysmic transformation!
The world was dominated by two forces: the immeasurable light and heat of Zanka no Tachi became an eternal day, while the black-hole-like Heavenly Fist became a boundless night. Day and night collided countless times in a single second. The Seireitei was tossed into a fast-forwarded temporal torrent—blinding white one moment, absolute pitch-black the next. The entire city groaned and trembled, galloping toward total annihilation!
Such a collision of ultimates shouldn't have lasted long. However, amidst the chaos, a youthful and an elderly laugh rang out simultaneously, growing more intense. Along with the laughter, the clashing forces actually surged even higher, erupting endlessly against all logic!
Observers like Aizen were horrified, unable to comprehend the situation. But someone did understand!
A muscular martial artist burst into tears: "Both have gambled their souls and resolve! They are burning their Purity to gain power for a final duel between life and death! This battle... it's too magnificent!"
Another spectator gasped: "This Purity... this world-shaking war is so potent! Even if I die from the shockwave, I'll die satisfied!"
Just as the destruction was about to swallow everything, a figure descended from the heavens into the very center of the cataclysm!
"My, my... you two. Give it a rest!"
Suddenly, a Reiatsu strong enough to shock the entire world flashed for a split second. A palm appeared, growing until it blotted out the sun!
This was the genuine Soul King's Divine Palm, for this move could only be executed by bones and blood reconstructed by the Soul King's own power.
The god-like hand pressed down and gripped the center of the destruction, then gave a sharp squeeze!
The palm vanished. The cycle of eternal day and night, the impending annihilation—all disappeared. Ichibe Hyosube stood in the center, a barrier between Ichigo Kurosaki and Yamamoto.
Neither fighter was in good shape. Yamamoto's rugged, aged body was covered in missing chunks of flesh, as if chewed by a beast; his left arm was gone. Ichigo was even worse—he was a mass of shredded meat that was nearly "well-done," held in a humanoid shape only by the sheer force of Reishi Recomposition.
Despite this, their eyes burned with a battle intent so hot it was terrifying, locking onto each other with unwavering focus!
However, the Monk's presence was like a wall reaching from heaven to earth. His suffocating Reiatsu was concentrated into the surrounding space, pinning both of them down. If Mo Yu were still watching the battlefield, he would have noticed that this version of the Monk was significantly stronger than the one in the original manga.
Most of the Captains, nearly all Lieutenants, and various seated officers rushed to the scene. Seeing the carnage, they cried out in worry: "Captain-Commander! Are you alright!?"
The Monk ignored them. He swept his gaze toward the distance and spoke:
"Hey, you lot over there... especially that trio that's been making a mess of Hueco Mundo lately. The little guy in the lead—Aizen or Red-zen or whatever your name is—aren't you going to come out?"
As the mediator of the Three Worlds, Ichibe had kept an eye on Hueco Mundo. He had noticed Aizen's machinations long ago, but as he often said, in a million years, Aizen wasn't the first "unique" individual to pop up.
At the mention of Aizen, many Captains looked aghast. In the next instant, Aizen appeared beside Ichigo via Shunpo, followed closely by Kaname Tosen and Gin Ichimaru.
"To be noticed by the Captain of the Royal Guard... I suppose I should feel honored?" Aizen said smoothly. "However, if possible, I would prefer you used my full name."
Then, even more people appeared. The Visoreds, Kisuke Urahara, and Yoruichi Shihoin took their places behind Ichigo. The other martial artists followed.
The two sides faced each other, centered around Ichigo and Yamamoto. A tense atmosphere naturally formed. The Monk didn't care. He glanced around and said casually:
"I'm too lazy to talk about your grievances. In summary: By the name of the Zero Division, I am taking Ichigo Kurosaki with me. Aizen, you and your group will answer for disrupting Hueco Mundo, interfering with the order of the Three Worlds, and assassinating Central 46. You'll spend a thousand years in Muken. As for the rest of you, go back to whatever you were doing. Disperse..."
With an arrogant yet matter-of-fact declaration of his will, the Monk reached out to grab Ichigo!
But in the next instant, his hand caught only air!
"Ichibe Hyosube of the Zero Division... you are too arrogant."
The Monk's eyes flickered with surprise. He turned to see a graceful silhouette standing not far away, having whisked Ichigo to safety.
Ukitake suddenly shouted: "Rukia! What are you doing!? Are you defying the Zero Division?"
The silhouette was indeed Rukia Kuchiki. She looked at Ukitake, who had always been kind to her, with an indifferent expression:
"Not just him, Captain Ukitake... but you as well. You should know... from the beginning, no one has ever stood at the top of the heavens forever..."
Aizen, standing nearby, gave Rukia a subtle look. He felt the style of these lines was... remarkably familiar.
The Monk, too lazy for words, reached out again, his terrifying Reiatsu extending toward her!
But in that split second, a pillar of light slammed down, completely enveloping Rukia and the others. The Monk's Reiatsu could not penetrate it.
Ichibe was not unfamiliar with the power contained in that light. His pupils shrank. At that moment, he also received a mental distress signal from the other members of the Zero Division back in the palace.
The light began to retract, pulling everyone centered around Rukia upward. Renji suddenly burst forward, shouting toward the sky:
"Rukia! Are you betraying the Soul Society!?"
Rukia looked down at her childhood friend and said flatly:
"No. I have never betrayed anyone. Because from today, the unbearable vacancy of the Throne of Heaven ends. The coming era..."
In the next instant, Rukia reached up and tore off the hairband that symbolized her status as a refined lady, crushing it in her hand. In a flurry of dust, her muscles swelled violently:
"...will be led by Me, the Supreme Chief Justice of the Fighting World and the Two-Winged Angel of Heaven Media: The Demon Muscle Man! I shall ascend to the side of the Throne, thoroughly purge the Three Worlds, and create a brand-new era belonging to Martial Artists and Muscle-Men!"
"Farewell, Renji, Brother, and everyone of the Soul Society. Let us meet again in the New Era...!"
The light retracted completely. Rukia and the others vanished!
In the distance, still hanging on his execution stand, Uryu Ishida watched the series of anomalies, wondering what the hell was going on.
End of Chapter
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