Striking and blocking, being parried and counterattacking—the two exchanged lethal strikes intended to kill, yet not a single blow carried even a shred of murderous intent.
To the eyes of those who could perceive even a glimpse of our battle, this would likely appear to be nothing more than an intensely passionate duel.
That is the nature of throwing killer techniques without malice.
However, to those capable of truly understanding and reading the flow, this would seem like something far more bizarre than a simple fight.
For what resided within the lethal strikes the Soul King and I hurled at each other was not hatred, but respect and mourning, gratitude and acknowledgment.
By nature, lethal techniques are meant to carry negative emotions, whether one likes it or not.
It is a natural law. Where in this world is there a madman who seeks to kill someone they do not even dislike?
"That damn barrier of yours is just as ridiculously sturdy as ever."
"Hardly something to say while shattering it with a single punch."
"Hahaha! I broke it with my fists a million years ago; I have to at least maintain that standard. Besides, you're the one who's impressive—fighting me on equal footing after being sealed for a million years."
"I, too, have not merely been asleep for a million years."
I smirked at the Soul King's words and lightly extended my fist toward him.
To put it in modern terms, it was a casual jab thrown without even taking a proper stance.
Yet, that image of a fist—surpassing sound and nearing the speed of light—stretched out like a rubber band and struck the void.
The world, perceiving my fist a moment too late, began to tear apart, pulverizing everything in front of me.
―――!!!
A shockwave exceeding the realm of sound crushed and shattered the transparent barrier surrounding the Soul King... No, it crushed the very world itself.
But the Soul King did not falter. With a light gesture, he erased the shockwave and swung the edge of his palm toward me.
The world that followed the Soul King's will attempted to cleave itself apart and rend my body to pieces with that single motion.
Of course, unlike in the past, I now existed fully above the world, and so the attack was rendered moot.
"You have grown."
"Humans are beings that grow, after all."
"Do you still refer to yourself as a human?"
"There can be no God above humanity. Because absolute good does not exist."
"Humanity could exist only because there was a God. This is an undeniable fact."
"I admit it. However, if humans hadn't existed, the world would have remained dead forever. This is also a fact."
The one who contributed the most to the creation of the Three Worlds was none other than the Soul King.
But without the four humans—Jomon, Shiryu, Myoren, and Rasatsu—the world would still be in a state of stasis.
A world without change is no different from being dead.
No, if I hadn't been there, there wouldn't have been any talk of 'change'; the world might have been completely annihilated at the hands of the rampaging Soul King.
"...Ah. I see. So that's why there were five, including me."
Five, because I was the human who brought change to the world and stopped the Soul King's descent into madness.
At this realization—delayed by a million years—I let out a soft chuckle and scratched my head. For the first time, the Soul King smiled.
It was nothing more than a slight upward curve of the lips on an otherwise expressionless face, but because he usually possessed no expression at all, it was all the more striking.
"I acknowledge it."
"Don't tell me... did you know a million years ago that a future like this would come?"
The Soul King closed his eyes and shook his head.
Closing one's eyes during a fight was no different from a death wish, but since I had no intention of attacking right then, I waited quietly for his answer.
"As I said a million years ago, your future was not reflected in my eyes. Therefore, what I believed in was not an invisible future, but your—humanity's—potential."
And that answer was strikingly similar to the values I held.
The Eulogy of Humanity. The values and enlightenment I had established over the long ages.
"Sudden enlightenment and practice at birth? That's too much of a cheat, isn't it?"
"It happened because I possessed these eyes."
"Then are you fighting me now to see my potential as well?"
"Had that been the case, I would have accepted death without a fight."
"Ah, I guess that's true. It feels a bit odd to ask after starting the fight myself, but why are we fighting right now?"
At that, the Soul King hesitated for a moment before looking at me intently with those characteristic cruciform eyes.
"I wanted to watch over the world a little longer. Even while knowing it was greed."
"You've become quite human over these million years."
"Perhaps it is thanks to the parts of my godhood being cut away. They were removed, and the remaining space was filled with your power."
"That makes sense. So, how does it feel to be even partially human?"
"It is not bad. Though, it does not only have good points. It is a bit... unpleasant to realize that I was sealed for a million years, unable to do anything."
I cackled at the sight of him venting his honest feelings like a real human. The Soul King stared blankly at me as I burst into laughter.
"I find it more surprising that you only find it 'unpleasant.' Anyway, since you've officially become a human, let me teach you something good."
"What is it?"
"In times like these, you don't say it's 'unpleasant.' You say it fucking sucks. Let me ask you again: how do you feel right now?"
When I asked with a grin, the Soul King blinked at me.
But soon, with a faint smile, he reached out his hand toward me.
"...It fucking sucks."
"Then let all that shitty feeling out today before you go."
With those final words, we resumed our battle.
*
"...It has stopped for a moment."
"Phew... I can finally breathe again."
Among the four gathered at the 1st Division barracks, Urahara and Yoruichi let out sighs as they looked up at the now-tranquil sky.
Though they didn't show it outwardly, Genryusai and Yhwach were also feeling inward relief.
"So, can you do it if we unify the entirety of the Royal Guard?"
"...I cannot say for certain. But theoretically, it is entirely possible. However, since the objective has changed from one part of the Royal Guard to the whole, it is impossible with just a single Spirit Restraint."
Urahara said this while looking at Yhwach.
Yhwach, having listened to Urahara's explanation from the future, let out a soft huff and nodded.
"You are asking me to coat the Spirit Restraint with the Quincy's Blut Vene. That would certainly increase the strength of the barrier."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"Protecting my people as their King is a natural duty. If I do not, Quincies and Soul Reapers alike will all die together."
"Then shall we begin the preparations immediately?"
"No, there is no need. I have 'already' prepared it from the future."
Urahara poked his head outside and looked up at the sky at Yhwach's words, letting out a dry laugh.
Was it because he was fast? No, it was because he had vaguely deduced the nature of the power Yhwach possessed.
A power far too immense for a mortal to hold.
Unreasonable in every sense of the word.
"Future Transformation... It truly is an irrational power."
"Hmph. Enough flattery. Is this preparation sufficient?"
"Yes. With this, we should be able to block it successfully."
Urahara breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped back inside the building.
After briefly looking at Yhwach, Urahara hesitated before giving up and walking toward Yoruichi.
Watching them, Yhwach let out a low sigh.
"My Schrift is 'A.' 'The Almighty.' I foresee all futures, steal all powers, and bestow them. To foresee all futures means I can also interfere with them."
"Pardon? So suddenly..."
Urahara was inwardly flustered, but he soon caught a clue from the word 'all' and let out an exclamation.
"You saw a future where I asked you that question."
"Yes. And this is the answer to the question that came with it. My interference through The Almighty is, simply put, 'Destiny.' Moving a grain of sand, or pulling and severing the threads named fate. However, there are a few whose futures I cannot interfere with."
"Is that the Soul King and the Nether King?"
"No. They are beings who carve their own fate with their own hands. Of course, since such beings are limited to the Soul King and the Nether King, referring to those two is not incorrect."
Yhwach finished his explanation and fell silent for a moment.
His dual pupils flickered rapidly, reading through the futures that were suddenly pouring down like a waterfall—when all at once, they snapped shut.
No, the futures had not vanished.
It was because those two had started moving again, making it impossible to interfere further.
And if they were moving again, it meant the battle had resumed.
"Ha. Has it finally begun?"
As soon as Yhwach finished speaking, a monstrous Spiritual Pressure crushed them once more.
This time, it was far more immense and overwhelming than before.
The sheer force was so absolute that even those fighting outside ground to a halt.
Crack... Creeeak...
A sound like glass being stepped on or a thin floor of ice collapsing echoed right beside their ears.
Everyone present instinctively realized something was happening, and at the moment everyone looked up toward the heavens—
"...Seeing it in person, its majesty is truly nonsensical."
"Is this what the end of the world looks like?"
"Wh-What is that?!"
"Was this why His Majesty told us to stay together..."
The sky collapsed.
And the Royal Guard began to fall.