Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 533 Bane: Double pupils are already the invincible path, why borrow the Spirit King's bone?

A surge of spiritual energy emanated from the seal.

The area wasn't large; it was like a greeting.

This change greatly shocked Kiryu, who immediately knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Greetings, Spirit King!"

The monk with the eye didn't actually have much respect for the Spirit King. After all, although he wasn't as noble as the Spirit King, he was still a special being who had survived from that ancient era, even though his title of "True Name Monk" was bestowed upon him by the Spirit King.

But in reality, he didn't have much of an opinion about who the Spirit King was; he just wanted to 'protect' the Spirit King.

Or perhaps, it's about safeguarding this cycle of the three realms, a stable world.

In reality, Bane was skeptical of the so-called "title bestowed by the Spirit King" as the Eye Monk.

When the Spirit King was born, there were very few true "life" beings in the Three Realms. There were probably only a few people like the progenitors of the five noble families and Ichibei of the Hyosu-be clan.

In this situation, where does the concept of a 'monk' even come from?

Perhaps it was because too much time had passed and all history had been buried in the unrecordable past, that Hyosube Ichibei made it up for some reason, such as when he was competing with the five noble families for some interests.

Of course, Bane only had suspicions and no evidence worth investigating. It wasn't worth investigating such a thing.

Perhaps the Spirit King saw into the distant future back then? And from that future, he gave him a name?

In short, the monk Yan was not blindly loyal and respectful to King Ling, and Nimaiya Oetsu and Kirinji Tenjiro may have been influenced in a similar way.

After all, anyone who has guarded the Spirit King, who is like a wedge, for thousands or tens of thousands of years, would have their respect gradually eroded, even if they originally had enough respect in their hearts.

As for Hikifune Kiryu, because she arrived late, at least for now, she still maintained enough respect for the Spirit King.

In particular, she discovered that the Spirit King seemed to have "come alive".

However, the Spirit King did not respond to her respect, as if he did not pay any attention to her at all.

Those eyes, which had only regained their sparkle after countless years, gazed quietly at Bane.

Bane merely nodded slightly as a greeting, without saying anything.

He believed that with the power of the Spirit King, even if he had been made into a wedge, he could still change anything if he wanted to, and he could also communicate with him if he wanted to.

However, the two stared at each other for a long time, but nothing happened.

There was no further interaction, and just as Kiryuu couldn't help but want to look up to see what was going on, the spiritual energy emanating from the Spirit King gradually dissipated.

His gaze changed slightly at that moment, as if he were smiling at Bane with his eyes.

Immediately, the light in his eyes vanished, as if nothing had ever happened, and he had always been nothing more than a wedge to stabilize the Three Realms.

"Bane?" Kiryuu sensed the dissipation of the spiritual energy, hesitated for a moment, and then called out softly.

Bane said softly, "The Spirit King has already left, there's no need for further formalities."

Kiryuu breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and said, "Although I've only seen Lord Spirit King once before, I never imagined he still possessed his own consciousness?"

"He has always retained his own consciousness, from ancient times to the present," Bane nodded.

If he remembered correctly, although the Soul King was made into a wedge, his will had always been influencing the operation and trajectory of the world.

It seems that in the original story, Ichigo Kurosaki was able to get to this point and kill Yhwach, which was somewhat guided and influenced by the Soul King.

Thinking about it this way, is there a related factor that explains why I'm here today?

Perhaps so, but Bane doesn't mind.

Bane had already understood the meaning behind the Spirit King's brief "awakening" just now.

The Soul King guided Ichigo Kurosaki here because he saw a sustainable future and his own liberation.

The Spirit King awoke at this moment, and in that brief, silent eye contact with him, he must have also seen a sustainable future and his own liberation.

Or perhaps, the Spirit King had been waiting for this moment since the very first time he stepped into this world.

Seeing Bane staring at the Soul King with a thoughtful look, as if he were pondering something, Kiryu Hikifune fell silent.

After a while, it seemed that Bane had reached some conclusion and answer, and stopped thinking about it. Instead, he wandered around the empty hall and even approached the Spirit King's seal with great interest, observing it for a while.

"This seal is impressive. Tsk, as expected, it couldn't possibly be something left behind by the five noble ancestors. It must be the Spirit King's own arrangement," Bane said, pointing directly to the core of the seal after observing it.

Upon hearing this, Kiryu asked with some curiosity, "Why? How did you figure that out?"

"This barrier has an extremely complex internal structure. If one's power is insufficient, then it would require gathering all the 'sources' of power possessed by the Spirit King to break it. Even Yhwach couldn't open this thing, so how could the progenitors of the five noble families have created it?" Bane laughed and teased.

The ancestors of the five noble families were also considered "special life forms," ​​but in essence, they were worlds apart from the Spirit King and were not even in the same "level."

They are at most the progenitors of the concept of "death god," while the Spirit King represents the concept of "creator."

The Soul King's barrier, as it stands, can be described in terms of current power levels as requiring the combined power of five categories—Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy, Fullbringers, and humans—to break.

Or perhaps, this is the key.

By combining these five powers into one, one can break the seal without much strength.

If these five powers are not gathered, even Yhwach at his peak cannot open it, let alone the five great noble progenitors.

Although they are ancient, the power they possess is absolutely not as great as Yhwach's at his peak.

Therefore, considering the Soul King's will, it is clearly not a coincidence that Ichigo Kurosaki was standing here in the original story.

Because he is truly a unified entity that combines these five powers, a unique being throughout history.

His father was a Shinigami, his mother was a Quincy, he possessed Hollow powers, and after losing his Shinigami powers, he mastered Fullbring. He was also a human.

Everything's ready!

Indeed, Yhwach couldn't break the seal at all; he had to rely on Ichigo Kurosaki's power to kill the Soul King sealed inside.

This also shows how big the gap is between Yhwach and the Soul King. Even if he walked up to the Soul King, without this so-called 'key', he couldn't hurt a hair on the Soul King's head.

As for why he was able to stab the Soul King directly in the original story, Bane thinks that either it was a performance aimed at Ichigo Kurosaki, or the Soul King did it willingly, but Yhwach himself didn't realize it.

"Yohabach can't be opened?" After a moment of surprise, Kiryu asked with a hint of delight, "Even if he does manage to defeat the Eye Monk, it will all be for nothing in the end."

As he said this, Kiryu suddenly stopped, turned sharply to Bane, and said, "He can't open it, but you can?"

"Who do you take me for?" Bane glanced at Kiryuki with disdain.

Although there was no answer, the meaning was already quite clear.

"So you'll help him break this seal?" Kiryu asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, it was just a quick thing," Bane nodded calmly.

Kiryuu wanted to complain that Bane was crazy for doing this for Yhwach, but then he remembered the eye contact between the Soul King and Bane after the Soul King awoke, which seemed to be the Soul King's will.

These two supreme beings, who possess equal status, have clearly reached a certain consensus.

Since it is the will of the Soul King, she, as a member of the Zero Division, has no room to say anything more.

I don't understand it at all.

Before long, Bane and Kiryu wandered to the window of the main hall again, opened the window that hadn't been opened for who knows how many years, and looked outside.

The fierce battle in the distance continued. Shutara Senjumaru's Bankai had been unleashed, engulfing several Quincy.

Yamamoto Genryusai's raging flames ravaged the Spirit King Palace, and the various experts of the Gotei 13 were also participating in the battle.

Aizen seems to have evolved into another form. His previous pure white appearance has turned black, but it is different from the monster-like appearance that Bane remembered. No one knows what kind of change has occurred. Anyway, he is still fighting with the miracle giant that Gerald Valkyrie has transformed into.

However, apart from a few powerful captains, the rest were basically suppressed or even on the verge of defeat. Overall, the Quincy were still the stronger force.

Of course, it's also because many Shinigami dare not activate their Bankai, lest they not only fail to enhance themselves but also provide ammunition to the enemy.

"This is bad," Kiryuu said, his expression hardening as he watched the scene unfold. "I have to go help."

"No need, this situation will resolve itself soon," Bane said calmly.

"Why?" Kiryu couldn't help but ask.

"In my opinion, that guy, the Eye Monk, is no match for Yhwach, but if Yhwach wants to beat him, he really needs to go all out," Bane said calmly.

Before Yhwach activated his Sanctification and absorbed the Quincy's power into himself, he definitely wouldn't be able to defeat the Eye Monk.

If we could win, we wouldn't still be unable to get to the fourth floor.

Yhwach is an extremely ruthless man. For the sake of victory, he will not care about the sacrifice of his subordinates. When it is time for farewell, he will not hesitate.

Clearly, Kiryu Hikifune, who knew nothing about Yhwach, didn't understand Bane's words at all. Just as she was wondering what was going on, Bane's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "Here it comes."

Before he could finish speaking, the barrier of the Eye Monk on the third level of the inner palace was forcibly shattered. The intense spiritual pressure generated by Yhwach's battle with the Eye Monk instantly swept through the entire Spirit King Palace, attracting the attention of many people.

Especially Yamamoto Genryusai, whose eyes flashed with anger, looking like an enemy meeting with intense hatred, and who was about to unleash his Bankai and burn the Spirit King Palace to ashes.

At that very moment, Yhwach initiated the Sanctification!

Aside from a very few Quincy, the rest of the Sternritter's expressions changed drastically, and even the Miracle Warriors fighting Aizen stopped what they were doing.

All the Quincy chosen by Apostle Yhwach had their power return to Yhwach's body, while they themselves were reduced to withered bones and died on the spot.

"What is this!?" Kiryu exclaimed in surprise.

But no one explained anything to her. Bane was leaning against the window, watching with great interest as Yhwach, who had been blasted out and was now hovering on one side of the inner palace, frantically absorbing the Quincy's power.

The moment the monk Hyosube Ichibei stepped out of the shattered barrier, Yhwach moved!

Yhwach, who was just inside the barrier being brutally beaten by Hyosube Ichibei, seemed to have become a different person this time. He severely injured Hyosube Ichibei with a single blow, sending him back to the third level of the inner palace. Then, with the swagger of a king, he arrogantly stepped back into the barrier space.

A moment later, though no one witnessed it, everyone noticed that the monk's spiritual pressure suddenly erupted, as if it were being amplified.

But in just three or five breaths, the raging spiritual pressure rapidly subsided, and in a short while, the monk's spiritual pressure vanished as if it had never existed.

This undoubtedly represents his defeat.

At the same time, Yhwach's footsteps could be heard on the fourth-floor staircase.

Bane and Kiryu both looked in that direction and saw Yhwach ascending to the fourth level of the inner palace with an imposing air. When Bane saw his face clearly, he couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "Double pupils are already the invincible path, why bother borrowing the Spirit King's bone?"

At this moment, Yhwach has opened his eyes again, becoming all-knowing and all-powerful!

And this was the opening of his eyes at his peak after the Holy Separation!

Honestly, in his current state, Yhwach is no match for Bane, who is second only to him, or even Aizen, who is not fully evolved.

In the Three Realms, as long as he doesn't provoke Bane, no one can deal with him.

But in the end, he still came before Bane, before the Spirit King.

(End of this chapter)