"???"
"Look! The transparent screen… it's flashing again!!!"
"Is this hinting that there's more new ranking content coming?"
Likewise, inside the First Division headquarters, the Shinigami captains' eyes lit up one after another.
Everyone's gaze locked onto the transparent screen at once.
Their expressions shifted—from relaxed to intensely curious, with a trace of surprise mixed in!
So soon!
A new ranking segment was appearing again!
So then…
Would it be another rundown of other top-tier powerhouses in the Bleach world who still hadn't appeared on screen?
Or would it be something completely unexpected—some brand-new dimensional world?!
Yes.
The captains' thoughts—especially Mayuri Kurotsuchi's and Kisuke Urahara's—were exactly aligned!!!
Because of Yhwach's Almighty.
That nearly "rule-breaking" absurd ability that went beyond the framework of the Bleach world's laws.
His horizon—and his way of thinking—
Had likewise stopped being confined to a single, three-realms dimension.
In Mayuri's view,
Since the Bleach world could be carved out of an ancient era of chaos—split into the Three Realms by the old Soul King using the Soul King's power—
Then the entire universe should be the same!
There ought to be countless dimensional worlds of all sizes as well!
Therefore,
Looking at it from that angle,
What was about to be broadcast next had a very high probability of being—
A completely new dimensional world that none of them had known about beforehand!
A ranking focused on the people, stories, and events happening inside it!
Right now,
Mayuri's instincts were screaming, strongly convinced that this was exactly the case!!!
"Heh heh…"
Shunsui Kyōraku lifted off his straw hat.
That rugged, stubbly middle-aged face of his split into an excited grin as he said expectantly, "True enough—about the Bleach world, it seems like there aren't that many secrets left unrevealed, are there?"
"And if the ranking video that plays in a moment is from an entirely new dimensional world…"
"Then the atmosphere of watching it will instantly be filled with freshness!!!"
His words earned immediate agreement from everyone present.
A new world.
A new ranking.
Just thinking about it was already irresistibly appealing!
Especially because a new dimensional world would inevitably possess a power system different from the Bleach world's!
To these Shinigami captains,
That was practically a treasure trove of discovery!
Who knows—
After watching the new ranking,
Maybe everyone would gain new insights from it, raise their power, and each become a Transcendent?
"Mm…"
"If it really is a ranking about a new world…"
"Then… I'm sure other dimensional worlds also have powerhouses on the level of Soul King Yhwach, don't they?"
White eyebrows drooping,
Even the Captain-Commander showed interest.
His aged, murky eyes brightened with anticipation.
Even though
He loathed Yhwach to the bone!
He despised that evil man who nearly destroyed Soul Society!
But…
The old man had to admit it.
Soul King Yhwach's battle power was terrifyingly strong—beyond dispute, the absolute ceiling of the entire Bleach world!
Precisely because of that,
He was even more eager to see—
What would the strongest of other worlds be like?
———
Meanwhile,
In Hueco Mundo, within Las Noches.
Aizen's trio, the Espada, and the entire Arrancar army—
Reacted almost the same way.
At this moment, staring at the transparent screen in the center of the palace that kept flashing,
Everyone narrowed their eyes into slits, curiosity and anticipation leaking out unmistakably!
And atop the throne,
Aizen's pitch-black eyes were the same.
No longer utterly calm and unmoved—rather, they shone with an even more excited gleam than before, after seeing Ichigo Kurosaki's son, Kazui Kurosaki, appear!
"Yare yare…"
"Aizen-taichō… tell me, what do you think the next new dimensional world will use as its main 'element'?"
Gin Ichimaru asked with a smile.
The Bleach world revolved around souls!
Shinigami, Hollows, humans, and pure-blood Quincy surviving and competing with one another!
So then,
In other dimensional worlds,
Would there also be Shinigami or Hollows?
Or would it be…
Entirely new races, with different identities for the strong?
All of it—
Filled Gin with curiosity!
He couldn't wait to witness the arrival of the new ranking!!!
"Gin…"
"Just wait and see."
"A new discovery, new elements, and a power system different from Zanpakutō, Hollowfication, or Schrift."
"Perhaps, as viewers, we'll gain new insights during what comes next—and break through dimensional limits!"
Compared to the Shinigami captains—
Who each wanted to get stronger and become Transcendents—
Aizen's vision was bigger.
What he wanted wasn't merely standing at the pinnacle of the Bleach world!
He wanted to cross dimensions—
And hold dominion-like power in other worlds as well!
And moreover,
With the Hōgyoku inside him,
Aizen even felt that as long as he watched—
Once he witnessed the powers of other worlds, perhaps the Hōgyoku could fully materialize what he desired in his heart!
So that Aizen—
Simply by watching,
Could take the lead in Las Noches by a step ahead of everyone else!
And effortlessly learn the different abilities and powers of another world!!!
———
After that,
Under the gaze of viewers across the entire world—
Filled with delight and extreme anticipation—
The transparent screen finally stopped flashing.
Next, as the image froze, several brand-new lines of subtitles slowly surfaced:
[Taking Stock of the Pirate World]
[Fifteen Different Kings]
The subtitles appeared,
Clear as day, presented before every viewer.
Three seconds later,
The entire Bleach world erupted into an uproar!
Shouts of astonishment surged like a tidal wave, kicking up a shock far greater than any previous reveal!
"Holy—what?!"
"Pirate… world?"
"I've never even heard of it before! So there really are new dimensional worlds!"
"Pirates… like sea bandits? That doesn't sound that strong."
"That world actually has fifteen 'king-level' powerhouses in total?! That's terrifying!"
"Don't tell me… every single one of them is a monster on the level of the Quincy King—Yhwach?!"
For a time,
The strong of the Bleach world—
Because of the subtitles' reveal—
Found their emotions turning extremely complicated.
There was surprise, there was upheaval—
And right on its heels came calm analysis… and a faint worry toward the unknown.
Yes.
Those words—"king-level powerhouse"—
Inevitably made the Bleach world's audience think of Yhwach.
He was the Quincy King, and his battle power was world-ending!
So if—
The audience's understanding wasn't off—
Then this so-called Pirate World…
Was truly terrifying.
Fifteen of them!
Fifteen powerhouses whose combat power rivaled Yhwach!
That was far too frightening, wasn't it?
———
The World of the Living.
In the outskirts of Karakura Town, inside a general store.
"Shopkeeper…"
"What do you think about the Pirate World?"
Tessai Tsukabishi withdrew his gaze and immediately turned to Kisuke Urahara beside him.
As partners for a hundred years,
Tessai knew very well that, across the entirety of the Bleach world—
If even Kisuke Urahara didn't understand something,
Then no one else could possibly know it!
Therefore, what he said next would be crucial.
About this—
Brand-new Pirate World… did it truly exist?!
And nearby,
After hearing Tessai's question,
Yoruichi and Isshin Kurosaki also wiped their expressions clean.
With expectation in their eyes, all of them fixed their gaze squarely on Kisuke Urahara.
The Pirate World.
A completely new dimensional world, filled with the unknown!
Maybe only someone as brilliant as Kisuke Urahara could infer some clues?
However…
His answer—
Left them disappointed, but also proved the subtitles weren't lying.
"The Pirate World really exists!"
It was just that, before now, nobody had known about it.
Shaking his head,
Kisuke Urahara said seriously, "The Pirate World… I've never heard of it before. But… I do believe the word 'pirate' isn't as simple as ordinary sea robbers!"
"And in that world, there should also be experts everywhere."
"As for the so-called fifteen kings—while they might not all be as strong as Yhwach…"
"At the very least, they won't be weak!!!"
Facing everyone's eyes,
Kisuke poured out his thoughts in one breath.
And like everyone else—
He, too, was extremely excited by the Pirate World's reveal!!!
After all,
The Bleach world's "map" was mainly island-based.
Other than Karakura Town, Naruki City, and a few other famous places,
Those edge-region cities really did sit by the coast—
And there were often so-called "pirates" and "sea bandits" running rampant!!!
But in this world,
Those pirates were human—most of them ordinary people, and their combat power was very weak!
A single Gillian-class Hollow showing up—
Could easily devour everyone's souls!
Therefore,
Taking that into account,
Kisuke subconsciously concluded that
The strong in that Pirate World couldn't possibly be that weak!
Even if that world was also centered on humans, they must possess additional power—or extraordinary fortune!
Otherwise…
They wouldn't deserve to use the word—
"Kings"!
(End of Chapter)
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