Chapter 18
BLINKING in SURPRISE. MONARCH and SUCCESSOR
000
Flashback
Ichigo shifted, recalling something. "Yhwach-tousan .... From your tale about Original Yhwach, he seemed deeply affected by the Soul King. Why was that?"
"Original Yhwach saw the Soul King as his father. They share the same eyes, The Almighty. He wanted to end the pain that existed in this world due to his conditions." Yhwach-ossan recounted with uncharacteristic smile.
"That's why he sought to create a world without death—to escape that suffering."
Ichigo pondered this. "He sounds weary of everything. I can only imagine how he felt."
Paused, Ichigo wondered, "Father? What's the Soul King's real name?" Ichigo asked, he looked really interested to know more.
"Adyneus," Yhwach-tousan said, curtly.
"Why did they split Adyneus apart?" Ichigo asked, his curiousity piqued, "Wouldn't it be better to let him lead?"
"Because they fear his power," Yhwach-tousan spat, disdain dripping from his words.
"They?" Ichigo pressed, sensing the weight behind the answer.
"Infernal sinners! Those Original Five....," Yhwach-tousan replied, his voice laced with venom towards Shinigami.
"This is the story of Shinigami's sin from millions year ago. The Original Sin of Soul Society is a vile act committed by them. These Original Five Shinigami created the Soul King, shattering the world into its current state, separating life from death," he explained, bitterness evident.
"Long ago, the world existed without fear of death, life and death intertwined." Yhwach-tousans tone intensified.
"Like a miracle a being appeared. This being obliterated the Menos, transforming it into sands of reishi, a Quincy power. This individual known as Adyneus—standing above all, said to possess powers nearing omnipotence. While Adyneus eradicated Hollows, chaos ripples through the Universal Sea and the crashing waves of Primodial Seawater of Souls threatened to engulf the world. Among those who found my father's power frightening were five individuals, the founders of the Five Noble Houses: Tsunayashiro Tokiomi, Kuchiki Hisuihiko, Shihouin Chikayoshi, Shiba Aratamaru, and Ise Yua."
His disdain for the Shinigami was palpable, each word laced with contempt.
"Despite their differences, they agree to split the World. They envisioned a cycle to govern, a space for implementation, and a realm to throw the Hollows in one place. Other worlds could emerge, but their primary goal was to distinctly separate life from death. Achieving this required the power of a man who transcended all—namely my father. Tsunayashiro's ancestor plan are already in motion to mutilate my father, he was cut apart by Ise Founder using Shinken Hakkyoken－a Zanpakuto belonged to Ise, sealed and used as the World's lynchpin. Shiba's ancestor stood in the shadows of history, burdened by regret. That anguish twisted into resolve, birthing the Final Getsuga Tenshou—a desperate plan to ensure a future descendant would rise as the next Soul King."
Yhwach-tousan's eyes darkened as he shared this tale. Each word dripped with cold hatred.
"They deceived my father. The Shinigami thought themselves clever, weaving their lies. But guilt drove Shiba Aratamaru to create a legacy, hoping to atone for their sins through their blood－kin. It sickens me."
The tension in the room thickened. The weight of his Father－Adyneus betrayal hung heavy. Yhwach-tousan's expression hardened.
He loathed the Shinigami, and Shiba's arrogance infuriated him. They believed a single act could erase the past.
"It's infuriating," He continued, voice low.
"They think this Final Getsuga Tenshou could somehow cleanse their blood-stained hands."
"Yhwach-tousan," Ichigo asked, voice low, "You really despise them that much?"
"Absolutely," Yhwach-tousanreplied, his voice icy. A chill lingered in his tone, laced with bitter memories.
"My father's endless humiliation at the hands of the Shinigami fuels my hatred. The Shiba? They are the worst of them all for their hypocrisy, compared to Tsunayashiro's cowardice betrayal."
Ichigo's heart raced. "Yeah... I think I kinda understand why you despise them so much," he mumbled, "I don't think I like Shinigami either, especially Shiba..." a disappointment towards Shiba creeping into his words.
Flashback End
000
July 21th around noon.
Upon arriving in Naruki City, Quilge Opie adorned a round spectacles with casual clothes－a white turtleneck shirt, cream-colored coat, grey-colored pants and a brown beret on his head－from the Living World to avoid attentions.
He made his way to the Ishida manor, eager to meet his new charge, the Special War Potential, Kurosaki Ichigo. He knocked on the door, and Kurosaki Ichigo opened it, surprise flickering across his face at the sight of another Quincy, while Ishida Ryuuken was still away to accompany his son Uryuu at the Hospital. Upon seeing him, Ichigo recognized the stranger as a strong Quincy－this stranger radiating formidable strength is suspicious.
"Greetings, Kurosaki Ichigo. May I come in?" Quilge asked, his demeanor calm.
"Why should I let a stranger enter my current residence?" Ichigo retorted, his voice cold.
"I'm here to speak with you, Kurosaki Ichigo," Quilge replied steadily.
"About what?" Ichigo questioned, skepticism evident.
"To have a conversation," Quilge reiterated.
"You could pose a threat to me," Ichigo warned, his eyes narrowing.
"Isn't it better if I explain myself inside rather than discussing this at your doorstep?" Quilge countered.
"Very well. You may enter. But if I sense any harm toward me, I will retaliate, understood?" Ichigo warned sharply.
"Of course," Quilge said, stepping inside as Ichigo led him to the living room.
Ichigo agreed to talk with the visitor without hesitation. As they walked to the living room, he calculated the implications of this encounter.
Once seated on the sofa, Ichigo waited for Quilge to sit down. Kurosaki Ichigo sat across from the stranger. Ichigo summoned shadows that enveloped the room, creating a temporary realm hidden from outside eyes.
This move surprised Quilge Opie, who recognized the technique as akin to that of His Majesty.
A sense of pride swelled within him; the successor of Yhwach mirrored the monarch in more ways than one.
Your Highness is worthy, Quilge concluded.
The atmosphere shifted as Quilge began, "Greetings, I'm Quilge Opie, an Echt Quincy like yourself. It's an honor to meet you, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Ichigo's suspicion was palpable. "What do you want, Quilge Opie?"
Quilge responded, "I will share my purpose only with you, Your Highness. But Ishida Ryuuken or anyone else will not know of this encounter."
"Anything that happen here will remain unknown to no one but myself, If you wish to speak with me, you must accept that once I found your words unsatisfactory, I'll make you leave," Ichigo replied firmly.
"Very well, Your Highness." Quilge stated.
"Okay... speak, Quilge." Ichigo demands.
"Why do you call me Your Highness?"
"As His Majesty's successor, you are our Prince," Quilge explained.
"And?" Ichigo pressed.
"I'm here to offer you an employment," Quilge said.
"Employment?" Ichigo queried.
"Yes, you will work for us and receive monthly wages," Quilge clarified.
"And your affiliation?" Ichigo pressed.
"We belong to Wandenreich," Quilge answered.
"And what is your assignment? What job do you want me to do?" Ichigo inquired.
"To train you in Quincy matters, refine your powers, and assist with national affairs and paperwork for His Majesty," Quilge noted, "I will be your new instructor. If I recall correctly, Ishida Ryuuken only taught you the basics of Quincy, right?"
Ichigo confirmed "Yes, he did." Ichigo shifted, with suspicions on Quilge, as he ask, "Are you going to coerce me forcefully?"
"You misunderstand. I'm ordered not to coerce you, Your Highness. Your decision must be respected," Quilge replied with conviction.
"Yhwach's intent was to use Soul Society's hostility, Ichigo," Yhwach-tousan interjected through their mental connection.
"Your leader's order isn't to force me into your cause. It's to prevent me from aligning with the Shinigami and to make me perceived your cause in favorable approach" Ichigo stated, thinking the implications.
"Impressive insight! You truly stand out as Special War Potential, Your Highness!" Quilge praised, his pride evident in his tone.
"Special War Potential?" Ichigo wondered, "What is that, Mister Opie?"
"In Wandenreich, we focus on five individuals we call the Special War Potential. They are key players in determining the war's outcome. Each has a unique trait that marks them as an unknown variable. That's why we referred to you as such, Your Highness," Quilge explained with reverence.
"Ichigo..." Yhwach-tousan reached out to Ichigo through their mental link.
"Yhwach-tousan!" Ichigo's voice brightened with relief.
"I have a plan for Wandenreich and the Original Yhwach," Yhwach-tousan stated confidently.
"Sure, Father!" The bond between them deepened, Ichigo felt a rush of hope.
"I will guide you to have Original Yhwach's support for your own personal benefit Ichigo. Just follow my instructions," Yhwach-tousan assured him.
"Sounds like a cheat, since I have Yhwach-pedia inside me," Ichigo joked, lightening the mood.
Yhwach-tousan chuckled. "Quilge Opie's Spectacle is a communication device. Ask him to connect with Original Yhwach."
"Your Spectacle is a two-way communicator linked to Wandenreich, right? Can you connect to your leader, Quilge Opie?" Ichigo questioned.
"Yes, Your Highness," Quilge affirmed, his tone laced with calm professionalism.
Quilge Opie activated the device, reaching out to the Überwachungsarmee, instructing them to connect him to His Majesty.
Yhwach, intrigued by his son's desire to speak, awaited the conversation with an air of curiosity.
"Permission granted, Sternritter J," Yhwach stated firmly.
"It is connected, Your Highness," Quilge announced, handing another device to Kurosaki Ichigo, facilitating the long-anticipated father-son dialogue.
"Greetings…" Ichigo began, his tone steady.
"My son, born in the dark. It brings me joy to finally converse with you," Yhwach declared, his voice commanding and fatherly.
Ichigo countered, "You aimed to exploit the Shinigami's hostility towards me for your own advantage, Yhwach."
"Indeed, that was my intent, my son," Yhwach confirmed, a hint of pride in his voice.
Yhwach-tousan chimed in again, "Quilge Opie mentioned something about the Special War Potential. Ichigo, why don't you asked Original Yhwach, if Aizen Sousuke, Urahara Kisuke, and the Monk from Squad Zero were on that list."
Ichigo pressed, "Quilge referred to a specific group known as the Special War Potential, which includes five individuals—myself among them. Are Aizen, Urahara, and that Monk part of this list?"
"Yes, they are," Yhwach confirmed, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "But I wonder how you know of the Monk, my son."
"Mix truth with deception regarding your exchange with Adyneus long ago. Appear uncertain," Yhwach-tousan advised.
"During my encounter with a silver-haired Captain, I had a vision. A right hand emerged from his soul and introduced itself as Adyneus," Ichigo explained, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.
Yhwach's expression shifted, surprised to hear his father name mentioned by his son who emerged from darkness.
"Excellent, Ichigo. Keep Yhwach off balance," Yhwach-tousan encouraged through their bond.
"What did Adyneus convey, my son?" Yhwach inquired, curiosity piqued.
"Adyneus claimed he knew me from before the dawn of time. He foretold that I would be the one to end him, yet he would not evade his fate. And…" Ichigo sounds hesitated.
"Speak, my son…" Yhwach urged, intrigued by Ichigo's conversations with Adyneus.
"Adyneus revealed a vision of me ascending as the Soul King," Ichigo confessed, his vulnerability apparent. But this was a half-truth, it was true that the Monk wanted him as the Soul King's substitute, but it was not Adyneus who told him it was Yhwach-tousan.
Gasping in surprise Yhwach pressed, his interest intensifying, "Did you glimpse the Origin Universe?"
Ichigo responded, "I saw only a vast sea of Reishi and three swirling whirlpools. I witnessed the Monk's brutal mutilation of Adyneus."
"That's all you perceived?" Yhwach asked, astonished.
"The visions overwhelmed me. I lost consciousness afterward," Ichigo confessed, vulnerability and honesty edging his words, "And I.... I don't want to become the Soul King..... "
Yhwach listened, a flicker of surprise igniting within him as Ichigo confessed his fear of becoming the Soul King.
A feeling, foreign and tender, began to stir deep in his chest.
It was annoying. Disturbing. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
A connection, raw and powerful, began to grow in his heart.
"Ichigo," he began, voice steady yet soft, "you grasp the weight of Adyneus's shame. Your Quincy blood screams against such a fate. I have seen it all with my Almighty eyes. The destiny of Adyneus hinges on you."
This was new. All his existence, he viewed those around him as mere tools, extensions of his will.
Yet here was Ichigo, a boy filled with both strength and vulnerability.
He paused, weighing his next words carefully. "Once Adyneus crumbles, the Soul Society will crown you as Soul King. But you should know—I don't want that for you. In fact, I loathe the concept of the Soul King."
Yhwach found himself drawn to him in a way he didn't understand. It frightened him.
Yet, here was Ichigo, stirring a confusing tenderness in him, a connection he had not anticipated.
The sincerity in his tone was unfamiliar. "However, I will offer my support, my resources, anything you need with no restrictions. No consequences. No strings attached. Stand by me, Ichigo. Be my successor. Together, we will orchestrate the end of the Soul Society."
His gaze softened. Why did this boy awaken feelings he thought buried? Feelings he questioned.
The connection tugged at him, and he felt a strange need to protect Ichigo, though he knew his motives were tangled within ambition.
Was this care? A dangerous thought.
His voice resonated deeply, yet underneath that authority lay a hint of fatherly concern. Beside him, Quilge Opie watched with reverence, ready to embark on the path Yhwach outlined. But Yhwach's focus remained on Ichigo.
This boy unnerved him, awakening emotions he had long buried.
What did it mean to feel so strongly for someone who should only be a means to an end?
The realization struck hard. He wanted to be close to Ichigo, to understand him.
This emotion? It confused him deeply. It wasn't just a desire for power anymore.
It was something more tender.
Something that made him question everything he knew about himself.
Ichigo, calculating his options, felt Yhwach-tousan plan to gain Yhwach's support seems to work very well. A bit to well in his opinions. Well, I won't complaints about benefits, Ichigo concluded.
Ichigo stood firm, a hint of defiance in his voice. "What will you do if I refuse, Yhwach?"
Yhwach, exuding an air of authority, replied calmly, "I will honor your decisions. The choices is yours, Ichigo. I will not resort to force. You have my word."
With determination, Ichigo declared, "I will take on the role of your successor. But I have a few conditions, Yhwach."
"Go on…" Yhwach encouraged, his tone both patient and regal.
"Earlier, you mentioned I could request anything from you, correct?" Ichigo pressed, his mind weighing his options.
"Indeed, Ichigo," Yhwach confirmed, his offer still stand.
"Firstly… can I call you Almighty-ossan?" Ichigo asked.
Yhwach was taken aback, blinking in surprise at the unexpected request. Even Quilge looks surprised. Yhwach felt something unpredictable stirring within him as he listened to Ichigo's request.
In my mind, I hear White Zangetsu chuckling and Yhwach-tousan sighed in amusement.
Huh? Did my request sounds weird?