One hundred years of continuous battle with the Soul King.
During that time, Tsunayashiro had meticulously recorded every single clash, watching the world unravel further with every blow struck.
As he watched the world crumble day by day, he felt as though he might lose his mind, fearing that the looming void would eventually consume even him. Yet, he gritted his teeth and persevered with his research.
The Soul King was the lynchpin required to maintain this world. He had to be kept alive; he had to be captured.
Driven by that judgment, Tsunayashiro continued his research incessantly, keeping death—which he feared so much—right by his side in a situation where no one would have blamed him for going mad.
At the end of that road, he perfected the technique for the Ouken (Royal Key) to seal the Soul King, and crafted thirteen seals intended to bind his master—the one he feared might become a threat to the world.
Stopper. Time. Imperial Seal. Underworld. Triple-Prism Flash. Six-Rod Light Restraint. Hundred-Step Railing. Locking Bondage. Five Pillars of Iron. Nine Sunlight Traps. Void. Leap. Seal.
In truth, if even one component failed, he wouldn't be able to stop his master. Each ritual, on its own, was a sealing technique of the lowest efficiency.
'But if I can just stack them all…'
He was confident. Combined, they would become a barrier stronger than any wall that rejected the Soul King's will.
…And yet.
'Why is he not resisting…?'
His master made no attempt to fight back, even though he clearly possessed the power to do so.
No matter how much Tsunayashiro racked his brains, he could not fathom the man's intentions.
That made it even more terrifying.
That made it all the more necessary to be certain.
"Lord Hyosube."
So, Tsunayashiro called upon Ichibe Hyosube.
If his research was correct, the card known as Ichibe Hyosube would be the most lethal dagger to use against both his master and the Soul King.
Fortunately, Ichibe had nodded at Tsunayashiro's request, and thus, he stood here now.
Tsunayashiro kept his mouth shut tight as he watched his master—no, the man who was once his master—accept the Thirteen-fold Eternal Seal without the slightest resistance.
"Hu-hahat! So this was your reason for calling me!"
Ichibe Hyosube let out a hearty laugh as he looked at Tsunayashiro, who nodded back. This would work. This was enough.
'Every card is in play.'
Swallowing hard, he looked at the Forerunner.
The Forerunner, who had maintained a lethargic expression until now, stiffened his face upon seeing Ichibe Hyosube.
"…You damn monk."
His expression soured, and his voice was thick with distaste. To anyone watching, he looked like a man who had been caught in a predicament, and Tsunayashiro cheered inwardly.
'It worked…!'
Now, the world would finally be at peace.
Some might ask if peace built upon sacrifice is meaningless?
To them, he would counter: A world that collapses without sacrifice is the true meaninglessness.
"Call me Dharma, as you did before, O Forerunner."
At Ichibe's words, the Forerunner let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
…Wait. He shook his head?
"Forerunner, my ass. Not when you've got me tied up like a criminal with all these ornaments."
*Clang.* Tsunayashiro gasped as he watched the Forerunner lazily wave his chain-bound arms while he spoke.
However, Ichibe Hyosube and the other three ancestors didn't seem particularly concerned.
"So, what are you here for?"
'I have to end this quickly…!'
"You ask the obvious!"
Tsunayashiro looked at Ichibe. Ichibe Hyosube, noticing the gaze, stopped what he was about to say and gripped his brush.
"I came here… for the sake of peace."
With those words, Ichibe Hyosube drew his brush.
All the 'black' of the universe began to converge toward him.
Just as spirit particles once gathered toward the Soul King.
"Be stained in black."
Ichimonji.
Fully releasing the power of his brush, Ichibe Hyosube slashed downward toward the Forerunner.
*SHIIING!!*
A black line, stretching from the edge of the sky to the edge of the earth and beyond the horizon, bifurcated the world.
Standing at the center, the Forerunner was dyed black from head to toe, appearing as nothing more than a shadow.
The Forerunner did not move until the world Ichibe had cleaved began to return to its original state.
Just in case there was even a one-in-a-million chance of failure, the final Kido was unleashed upon the blackened Forerunner.
"Bakudo #99, Part 2. Bankin."
The ultimate binding of Bankin consists of three movements: First Song: Halting Fabric, Second Song: Hundred Lotus, and Final Song: Bankin Taiho.
Having lost his 'name' due to Ichibe Hyosube's Ichimonji, the Forerunner was crushed by a massive pillar, vanishing beneath the earth.
It was a pillar of such immense mass that the unstable world, already shaken by the Soul King, trembled violently.
No matter if it was the Forerunner who stood side-by-side with the Soul King—stripped of his name and robbed of his power, he could never withstand this.
*Ruuuuuumble――…*
Literally, the heavens and the earth shook.
There was no way he could endure.
Tsunayashiro held this conviction firmly, yet he bit his lip as he noticed his left hand trembling uncontrollably.
Clearly, everything was going according to plan. Yet, swept by an inexplicable sense of dread, Tsunayashiro frowned deeply and stared at the upright monument of Bankin Taiho.
Even after the thick clouds of dust—large enough to obscure the entire seal—had settled, Bankin Taiho remained motionless and perfectly still.
"…Is it over?"
At Shihoin's words, his tension almost snapped, but Tsunayashiro did not relax. He stepped toward the Great Seal.
'There's nothing more I can do, but at the very least, I must make the binding more robust.'
He decided to supplement the gaps in the Kido with rituals and sorcery.
With that thought, he wrapped the pillar with hand-braided sacred ropes and poured everything he had researched—from forbidden rituals to sealing incantations—into the site.
Watching this, Shihoin approached and snatched Tsunayashiro's wrist.
"What are you doing, Shihoin Rasatsu?"
"This is enough. Anything more is an insult."
"I would rather aim for absolute perfection than regret it later. Let go."
*Grip…*
Far from letting go, Shihoin tightened her grip at Tsunayashiro's words. Wincing at the pain, Tsunayashiro tried to shake her off, but Shihoin increased her strength as if she had no intention of releasing him.
"…Shihoin Rasatsu. You agreed to this plan as well, didn't you?"
"What I agreed to… was suppressing Master so he wouldn't go on a rampage! But this is…!"
"Don't be a child, Shihoin Rasatsu!!"
"Shut up!! Don't say my name so lightly!!"
It reached the point where the sound of shifting bone could be heard before Tsunayashiro finally gritted his teeth and relaxed his arm. Only then did Shihoin release her hold and step back.
"That name was given to me by my benefactor and master…! Do not speak it so casually…!!"
"Hah. Regretting it now? Or are you making excuses like 'I didn't want it to be like this'? Don't you realize that's nothing but hypocrisy? Or are you pretending not to know while you know full well?"
At his words, Shihoin clenched her fists and trembled before hanging her head low.
Tsunayashiro clicked his tongue. Shiba remained with his head bowed to the ground, and Kuchiki quietly approached to hug Shihoin.
"Hahat, she is still but a child. It is not strange for her to struggle to understand her own heart. Do not scold her so harshly, Tsuna."
"…Lord Hyosube."
"Well, either way, is today not a grand day? Though there were sacrifices, the world has reclaimed its peace. Why don't we discuss the matters to come? Even if we spend all our time sharing such things, it won't be enough."
Tsunayashiro nodded at Ichibe's advice.
As Ichibe said, the balance of spirit particles had been shattered, and they were on the brink of total collapse.
There was no time to waste in devising a countermeasure.
"You are correct――"
*Ruuuuuumble――…*
"!!"
*Crack, craaaack…*
The monument of Bankin Taiho, which had been motionless, began to shake violently.
"Impossible…! How…!! We sealed the Great Pillar and the entire surrounding foundation together! How could he possibly…!!"
[What do you mean 'how'?]
"Gah…!"
At the sound of the voice echoing from below, the five of them, including Tsunayashiro, gasped and stared at the spot where the Forerunner was sealed.
Moments later, Bankin Taiho lurched violently and began to slowly rise.
"What…!?"
"It can't… be."
"Hah, this is truly monstrous…"
"Eeeeek…!"
*GRRRRRRRRRRIND!!!*
"You just have to lift the whole foundation along with it."
True to his words, the Forerunner reappeared, lifting the entire foundation and the massive pillar of Bankin Taiho atop his shoulders.
"Now, let me ask you once more, you brats."
Did you truly think it was over?
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