Ichibē Hyōsube grinned, revealing a set of pristine, neatly aligned teeth. "Masatsuki Aozaki, I have lived far longer than you can possibly
Ichibē Hyōsube grinned, revealing a set of pristine, neatly aligned teeth.
"Masatsuki Aozaki, I have lived far longer than you can possibly imagine," he said, his voice carrying the weight of endless years.
"For humans in the World of the Living, a Shinigami’s lifespan—lasting thousands of years—is already long enough to be considered unbearable."
"But I have lived for over a million years. Do you understand what that truly ans?"
"For all those eons, I have witnessed countless souls pass through the cycle of life and death."
"Most of them were mundane, repetitive... but so were truly extraordinary."
"Like your Master, Shigekuni Yamamoto, and my fellow comrades in the Zero Division."
"But even these remarkable individuals are nothing more than fleeting ripples in the vast river of history."
"However—" Ichibē Hyōsube’s eyes sharpened, locking onto Masatsuki Aozaki with an intense, unshakable focus.
"You are different."
"You are not so insignificant ripple—you are a towering wave. No... you are the river itself."
His words carried a tone of awe and respect.
Masatsuki Aozaki frowned slightly, falling into deep thought.
A river? The only being in this world that could truly be called a river was the Soul King.
Was he being compared to the Soul King?
This monk... was he already considering him as a candidate for the wedge that stabilizes the world?
Masatsuki Aozaki took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the flicker of hostility that had stirred within him at Hyōsube’s words. With a composed smile, he replied,
"I see. Go on."
"Ah... oh."
Hyōsube blinked in surprise, montarily taken aback.
For so reason, he had suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. It was enough to make him montarily lose focus.
Snapping back to reality, he raised his hand and gave a slight wave.
"In short, my point is simple."
"Masatsuki Aozaki, the power you wield is beyond my comprehension. Even I cannot fully grasp it."
"Your existence alone presents an undeniable threat to His Majesty, the Soul King."
"Yamamoto has likely already told you—my duty, above all else, is to protect the Soul King. That is my sole mission."
"And so, as the leader of the Zero Division, I must ask you directly—"
"Masatsuki Aozaki, do you harbor disloyalty toward the Soul King? Do you bear any rebellious intent? Have you taken any actions to harm His Majesty?"
The mont those words left Hyōsube’s lips—
His pupils suddenly turned stark white, and a suffocating aura surged from his body.
It was as if an ancient demon had crawled out of the depths of hell.
His cold, terrifying gaze locked onto the man before him, scrutinizing every fiber of his being.
If it had been anyone with weaker resolve, they would have crumbled under this overwhelming pressure, their fear forcing them to spill every secret hidden in their hearts.
But Masatsuki Aozaki remained standing, unshaken. He t Hyōsube’s eyes, unwavering and silent.
He felt no need to hide anything.
Would Hyōsube really care if soone sought to beco the Soul King?
Unlikely.
If anything, the more candidates, the better for him.
After all, Hyōsube’s sole concern was the Soul King’s protection—nothing more, nothing less.
To him, it didn’t matter who the Soul King was.
Besides, even if Masatsuki Aozaki tried to conceal his ambitions, it would be pointless.
When soone’s power is great enough to pose a threat, their thoughts beco irrelevant.
Their very existence is the threat.
And from the way Hyōsube was looking at him now, it was clear—
Masatsuki Aozaki had been acknowledged as such.
Masatsuki Aozaki turned to Hyōsube Ichibē, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "It’s only natural. I intend to overthrow that exalted king, to stand atop the heavens, seated upon the throne overlooking all beings." He openly displayed his grand ambition, as if aiming to encompass everything in existence.
Though he remained still, his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action at any mont. Despite his understanding of the monk before him, he refused to rely on the unpredictable whims of others. Only his own fists provided the first assurance.
Hyōsube Ichibē, however, appeared oblivious to the looming danger. He sat serenely, a chilling smile curling his lips. "Do you not wish to destroy this world? Or perhaps you harbor so mad desire to return it to chaos?"
Masatsuki snorted derisively, a mocking laugh escaping him. "Are you insane? Why would I want to destroy the world? Isn’t it better to spend ti with those lonely woman? Why waste ti destroying the world?"
Ichibē’s smile deepened. He parted his lips as if to speak, but rely shook his head in resignation. "I see... Nonetheless, your attempt to overthrow His Majesty the Soul King cannot be ignored by , a royal agent..."
As he spoke, Ichibē’s smile faded, and he slowly rose to his feet. "To replace that supre being requires more than re words. Allow to see if you possess the qualities of a king."
His expression darkened, and a powerful aura erupted from him, filling the space with an oppressive force. He extended his hand toward Masatsuki’s shoulder.
Yet, with a swift movent, Masatsuki sidestepped, retreating several paces to evade the grasp effortlessly.
"Hmm!?" Ichibē glanced at his empty hand, surprise flickering across his face. In the next instant, his eyes sharpened, widening with intimidating intensity. He lunged forward like a predatory tiger, closing the distance between them with astonishing speed, both hands reaching out.
Masatsuki chose not to retreat further. Instead, he surged forward, closing the gap in a blink. A massive palm aid for him, but he raised his hand, intercepting the attack with precision.
With a muffled impact, veins bulged on Ichibē’s right hand as he staggered back several steps, involuntarily. He looked down at his trembling, cracked arm, eyes filled with astonishnt and disbelief. As one who had transford his body into the Ōken, fortified by the Soul King’s power, he should have been invulnerable. Yet, a seemingly simple palm strike from Masatsuki had nearly rendered his right arm useless.
Undeterred, Masatsuki withdrew his slender hand slightly before launching a powerful punch. This strike, imbued with imnse force, hurtled rcilessly toward Ichibē, connecting with resounding impact.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake
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