"This is an attempt to break into the Soul King's Palace?"
Sensing unusual activity from the palace, Daniel quickly deduced what was going on. Although the Soul King's Palace is heavily guarded, if one is resourceful there are always methods to bypass its defenses—even without a "Royal Key." In fact, Tsunayashiro's group even planned to use a Dimensional Transfer Pillar combined with Kidō techniques to relocate the entire Soul King's Palace to a place called "Kao Gu."
In truth, this method was originally devised by Kisuke Urahara. Based on alchemical principles, it's an equivalent exchange. Just as they once traded a fake Karakura Town for the real thing in order to foil Aizen, achieving such a goal requires a comparable substitute. The false Soul King's Palace was created precisely for that purpose.
Tsunayashiro's plan to construct a fake Soul King's Palace was meant to fulfill this objective. Daniel, too, could achieve something similar. However, after careful consideration he decided against it—firstly, because although "Kao Gu" appears extremely secret, in Daniel's estimation it isn't secret enough to fool Kisuke Urahara.
"Then it's settled," Daniel murmured.
After Ichibee Hyosube had been knocked unconscious, the dark "ant" marks on Aizen's body began to fade. Aizen, now standing once more, regarded the now inhumanly dismembered Ichibee Hyosube with a mix of melancholy and admiration—after all, Hyosube was the oldest Shinigami in the Soul Society.
"This isn't something trivial—I gave it everything I had this time."
Aizen's words were not mere affectation. Although his victory over Ichibee Hyosube seemed almost effortless now (all those elaborate preparations that had been made earlier had ultimately paved the way for a swift victory), it was precisely those measures that enabled him to overcome the ancient warrior so readily.
Of course, part of the credit must go to the monk's overconfidence—and his miscalculation of the Surgical Fruit's abilities.
"They seem to be almost here. While we still have time, don't you want to get a good look at the Soul King?"
"That's true," Aizen agreed.
Earlier, although Aizen had caught a glimpse of the Soul King, the presence of Ichibee Hyosube had prevented him from observing in detail. Now, with no one to hinder him, he was free to study the Soul King as long as he wished.
"It appears he hasn't completely perished – he's in a state somewhere between life and death. Is he a 'vegetative state' case… or is he like Schrödinger's cat?"
Once Ichibee Hyosube fainted, the hidden barrier he'd set up automatically vanished. Upon entering the grand hall of the Soul King's Palace, both Daniel and Aizen stared in curiosity at the young man encased in crystal—a figure whose body was preserved within the seal.
"But is this truly the Soul King, or merely his body?"
Under normal circumstances, no one would doubt the Soul King's identity. However, Daniel had witnessed ancient matters firsthand. With power on the scale of the Soul King, it would be trivial to do something akin to what the ancient one did. Who's to say he didn't simply leave behind his physical form while his soul departed?
If it were him, Daniel thought, he'd almost certainly choose that route.
"Truly, a god is a god. Even the slightest leakage of divine power for ordinary mortals is an unimaginable blessing."
Long ago, the progenitors of the Kamataiji clan ground the Soul King's body to dust and scattered it across the world – thus giving rise to the group known as the Perfect Realization practitioners.
As for the Soul King's left arm (and his right arm), if they were not the true manifestations of the Soul King's overwhelming power, why would they be so feeble? And consider the Soul King's heart—it is potent enough to trigger miracles.
"Study it first; I have matters to attend to on my end."
After a cursory examination of the Soul King, Daniel decided to leave. The Soul King was not to be trifled with—after all, he had no intention of destroying the world. Yet now he had secured the Soul King's left arm and his heart; that was more than enough. The critical question now was what exactly did Ichibee Hyosube know?
"Clearly, there's something wrong with the Soul King's power. I always wondered why the ancestors of the Kamataiji clan ground the Soul King's body and scattered it, rather than absorbing its power to become the Soul King themselves. But perhaps this is a case of 'the mantis catches the cicada while the oriole waits in ambush.'"
Given the ambition of the Kamataiji clan's forefather, if he could, he would have no qualms about becoming the ruler of the Soul Society. The reason he never succeeded wasn't due to lack of desire, but rather inability.
A truly omniscient and omnipotent Soul King, before being reduced to a mere wedge, left one contingency: whoever inherited the Soul King's power would inevitably become a wedge. Thus, neither the ancient Kamataiji forefather nor Ichibee Hyosube ever coveted the Soul King's power.
Even so, the Kamataiji clan could, in theory, become the ruling force in the Soul Society. They might not become the sole Soul King, but they could form a council with the other four great families. After all, the progenitors of the other four families never had the same unbridled ambition as the Kamataiji forefather. He could use the council to govern the Soul Society.
The original system of the Zero Division was established jointly by the five great families. In a sense, they were the first members of the Zero Division. Sadly, however, the Kamataiji clan's forefather overlooked the seemingly insignificant Ichibee Hyosube—a man who, unbeknownst to many, possessed tremendous ambition.
Under his design, he singlehandedly doomed the progenitors of the five great families. From then on, the Zero Division fell into his hands and its selection criteria changed accordingly.
When the Zero Division was first established, one had to create something the Soul Society didn't already possess to be promoted. In fact, the Zero Division was originally founded to guard the Soul King's existence – and also to prevent others from ever glimpsing him.
"Yet another mastermind behind the scenes…"
Compared to the ever-ambitious Kamataiji forefather, Ichibee Hyosube was truly the dangerous one. When the five great families fell, hardly anyone would have suspected that it was his doing.
Daniel wasn't surprised at all. Although the four great families nowadays seem lofty and irreplaceable, a closer look reveals that the five great families are slowly declining – the fact that they are now referred to as four great families is evidence enough. Of course, that's partly due to the passage of time, but also because the monk has been pulling the strings behind the scenes. After all, when the five great families became four, he played a pivotal role.
Having followed the Soul King for so long, the five great families possessed considerable heritage. There were aspects even Ichibee Hyosube could not ignore – for instance, the final "Crescent Moon Dash" of the Shib family's legacy, which, even when facing the monk, was far from a guaranteed win.
Then there's the Four-Flower Court, famed for their "Heaven-Sent Weapons." They still retain a good number of relics from the Soul King's era.
The Hakkyōken and Yan Luo Jingdian are among the weapons passed down from that age.
"Are they here?"
When Daniel saw a huge golden portal materialize at the entrance to the Soul King's Palace, he immediately understood that Kisuke Urahara's group was on the move. He then ended his secret investigation into Ichibee Hyosube. In truth, by this point there were hardly any secrets left to uncover.
Daniel quickly headed into the Soul King's Palace. Next up would be Aizen's battle against the Shinigami. Whether it's Aizen or the Shinigami, matters aren't easily settled – there is only one outcome: it will be decided by raw power.
"This is what it comes down to…"
At the entrance of the Soul King's Palace, in front of the portal and led by Kisuke Urahara, the Shinigami who entered immediately dropped to one knee – all of them were vice-captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
"By the way, I should mention: the spiritual particle density here is far beyond what you can normally endure. Anyone below captain level should head back."
"Are you kidding me? It's just a matter of spiritual density!"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya bellowed as he gripped his Zanpakutō to steady himself. Even though he had reached Bankai, maneuvering in the Soul King's Palace was still a struggle.
"Looks like the fight here is intense…"
Harumi Kyoraku surveyed the battle-scarred halls of the Soul King's Palace with an unusually grave expression. Although he didn't want to believe it, from the looks of it the entire Zero Division was in ruins.
"Aizen."
Futaguchi Jushiro's expression was mixed as he regarded the scene. As a man who bore the Soul King's right arm within him, entering the Soul King's Palace stirred complicated feelings in him. Under normal circumstances, he might never have set foot here – but now he owed his survival to Aizen.
"Let's go. He's probably waiting for us," Daniel said.
The captains made no further comment, ignoring the fallen vice-captains as they strode straight toward the deeper reaches of the Soul King's Palace. In this environment of crushing spiritual density, even if the vice-captains could press on, their fighting capabilities would be severely diminished.
"Ichigo hasn't shown up… Could it be he's still mastering his final Crescent Moon Dash? It seems Aizen is determined to fight Ichigo head-on…"
From a distance, Daniel—standing among the Shinigami captains advancing through the palace—muttered quietly. As his gaze scanned the horizon, he noted the absence of Kurosaki Ichigo and Shibakubo.
Deep inside, Daniel couldn't help but think: if Aizen were truly my masterpiece, I'd love to see him clash with Ichigo one day – but that's a matter for another time.
"Look, it's Shudora!"
Before long, the group spotted a heavily injured Shudora Senjūmaru lying on the floor. Immediately, Kyoraku Harumi rushed over to administer emergency treatment. Kisuke Urahara and the others pressed on without pausing.
"Ah, Aizen…"
"Urahara…"
Inside the grand hall of the Soul King's Palace, as soon as Aizen and Urahara locked eyes, their gazes became rivals. In comparison, Captain Yamamoto seemed almost ignored – though he didn't mind, letting Aizen and Urahara spar in silence.
"Bow down before this, Urahara. I am disappointed," Aizen sneered.
"Aizen, what exactly is it you want to do?"
If Urahara had even a slight inkling of Aizen's intentions before, now he was utterly in the dark.
[Insert the newest "6 9 Shu Yi Ba Kan" meme here.]
"Nothing much – I merely want to see the Soul King," Aizen replied coolly.
"Do you mean you're willing to destroy the entire Zero Division just for a glimpse of the Soul King?" Urahara's face was etched with disbelief as his gaze shifted to Daniel, who had been silently watching.
"Who would have thought you'd show up here… that's quite unexpected."
Seeing Daniel emerge in the Soul King's Palace, Urahara immediately pressed his cap down—a habit of his that seemed to help him think.
At that moment, Urahara finally understood why Aizen's actions had become so unpredictable.
"I'm merely curious about what the Soul King is really like. I came to have a look – our issues are none of my business."
Having acquired what he sought, Daniel had no interest in further brawling with the Shinigami.
"And what do you think my goal is? Do you suppose I wish to become the Soul King and rule the Soul Society? Even if something you despise, I wouldn't care."
Aizen's words left Urahara speechless. So it turns out that after causing so much chaos – even toppling the Zero Division – all Aizen wanted was to catch a glimpse of the Soul King.
Urahara's skepticism about Aizen's motivations was known only to him; clearly, the others found it hard to believe that Aizen's intentions could be so simple.
"Whatever your goal, today I will make you pay the price," Tōshirō Hitsugaya roared furiously at Aizen. His objective was pure: revenge for Orihime Inoue.
"Price? You think you're worthy of paying a price? Very well – since this is the end, let me show you what your strength really is."
With that, Aizen strode off unopposed. No one dared stop him; after all, in the Soul King's Palace no one wished to start a full-scale brawl with Aizen.
"Come on, all of you, join me!"
In the plaza before the palace's entrance, Aizen stood alone facing a Shinigami captain.
"Bankai, Great Crimson Lotus Ice Wheel—Aizen, prepare to die!"
Without waiting for any reaction, Tōshirō Hitsugaya immediately activated his Bankai. In an instant, the ambient temperature plummeted.
"You're too hasty, Captain Hitsugaya. Break Technique No. 4: White Thunder," Aizen retorted, placing his left index finger against the tip of Hitsugaya's blade and laughing softly. With a swift fourth Break Technique, he pierced Hitsugaya's body. In that very moment, Hitsugaya's Bankai form began to collapse, and he crumpled to the ground.
Even if earlier the gap between Aizen and Hitsugaya had seemed roughly even, now – after Aizen's sixth Hōgyoku evolution – the difference was staggering.
"This is truly incredible – like swirling petals in disarray, the flower god wails, the heavenly winds laugh, and the mad bones of a raging sky…" A series of poetic incantations flowed from Aizen as he prepared his next move.
"Let my shield be formed from the shattered remnants of everything, and let my blade be forged from every bolt of lightning – Twin Fish Principle!"
"Annihilate all who dare oppose, like stinging wasps!"
"Pierce him, let the sacred spirit strike!"
"Awaken, Red Princess!"
Hitsugaya's defeat came astonishingly fast – so fast it defied belief. In the next moment, after Kyoraku Harumi liberated his Zanpakutō, the other Shinigami quickly followed suit. Even Kisuke Urahara joined in. The only ones remaining inactive were Captain Yamamoto.
"It seems a Shinigami can wield another's Zanpakutō as if it were his own – Harumi is quite something."
Among Shinigami, only three wield dual Zanpakutō – including Kurosaki Ichigo – but this is not due to some special dual-wielding trait. Rather, these three are unique. Under normal circumstances, a Shinigami only possesses one Zanpakutō; those who wield two have extra power hidden within them.
Ichigo draws power from his Extinction Master abilities; Futaguchi Jushiro carries the Soul King's right arm within him; and as for Kyoraku Harumi, his second Zanpakutō is the Hakkyōken.
As for Hisasaki Shūhei's Zanpakutō, though it appears as two blades, it's not truly separate – they're connected by chains.
"Two strikes for a kill, Captain Shiru – you've grossly underestimated me," Aizen declared confidently as he effortlessly withstood the combined assault from several captains. Even though he sensed that these Shinigami were trying to create an opening for Captain Shiru's second strike, he didn't care; in fact, he even allowed Captain Shiru to land his follow-up attack on purpose.
"What? I didn't provoke you – why are you attacking me?"
Before long, as Kyoraku Harumi attempted a surprise from the shadows, Daniel couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. Apparently, watching a fight was not considered a mistake.
"Hey, little brother, since we're all idle, why not play a game?"
Kyoraku Harumi said playfully with a mischievous grin.
"Not interested. If you wish to play, I know just the place for you to take your time," Daniel replied dryly.
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