Nefir stared at the scene before her, both shocked and terrified.
The man whose limbs were locked by the mechanical arms was not being torn apart at all. On the contrary—he was pulling the mechanical arms inward, toward the center of his own body.
"What's going on? Increase output!"
Her first instinct was that the machine's power was insufficient. Otherwise, how could Kurosaki Rei still be alive, staring at everyone on the execution ground with that mocking smile?
The mechanical arms used to execute Kurosaki Rei were the Tiandong Type-II, a next-generation exoskeleton model that had sold extremely well on the market. Each arm could output up to 800 kilograms of force, and under overload conditions, even exceed a thousand kilograms.
Some had calculated that the ancient Eastern punishment of being torn apart by five horses exerted roughly 375 kilograms of force on the human body, with peak tearing force possibly reaching 600 kilograms.
But horses and mechanical arms were worlds apart.
Each mechanical arm acting on Kurosaki Rei carried 800 kilograms of force. In theory, he should have been torn to pieces instantly!
"It… it's already at maximum output!"
The executioner wiped cold sweat from his forehead. He had kept increasing the power, to the point where the mechanical arms were overheating—yet Kurosaki Rei on the machine was still intact.
What they were witnessing completely violated their understanding of science.
After capturing Kurosaki Rei, they had thoroughly examined him. X-ray and full-body scans confirmed that he was a purely Old Era human—no mechanical skeletal implants whatsoever. How could he possibly withstand such terrifying tensile force?
Nefir had heard that in the Old Era, some strongmen could brace two stone pillars weighing over three hundred kilograms each with their arms. But setting aside the fact that they were merely preventing the pillars from falling, just in terms of tonnage, those strongmen were massive in size—nothing like Kurosaki Rei.
Because his restraint suit had been removed for the execution, Kurosaki Rei lay on the machine wearing nothing but a pair of briefs. His physique was clearly visible—well-proportioned and balanced, not at all like the bloated, monstrous build people associated with extreme strongmen.
On the execution platform, Kurosaki Rei slowly drew his limbs inward, like a gigantic winch tightening steel cables.
The mechanical claws embedded into his wrists and ankles tore flesh and drew blood, yet they could not hinder his movements in the slightest.
Yes.
He was born with divine strength.
Earlier, when he mentioned that comic to Nefir, she had misunderstood him. He wasn't the one relying on technique due to lack of strength—
He was the one with overwhelming strength.
The motors of the mechanical arms let out shrieking, mournful roars. Overheated components began spewing black smoke. The surrounding guards also realized something was terribly wrong.
They didn't know how Kurosaki Rei was doing it, but the execution could not fail.
One by one, they chambered their weapons and aimed at Kurosaki Rei on the machine. If the execution failed, they would execute him on the spot.
"Don't shoot!"
At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit standing on the high platform shouted. His expression was excited—borderline deranged.
"So this is the truth… this is the truth!"
Like a believer witnessing a god, his gaze burned with fanaticism as he stared at Kurosaki Rei.
"Genetic evolution! He must have used a successful gene serum! My god—someone actually succeeded! Suppress him, I want a live sample!"
Hearing the man's words, Kurosaki Rei found it laughable.
Only he knew the truth best.
There was no resistance organization behind him. No genius scientist. No gene serum.
He had been like this since childhood.
He had never used any technology.
Bang—!
As Kurosaki Rei exerted even more force, one of the mechanical arms finally failed. Its joint shattered under the opposing force, snapping apart.
His right arm was free.
Because he was fixed to the execution platform, it was actually difficult for him to fully exert his strength. If the mechanical arms had remained stationary, even his innate strength wouldn't have been enough to break them.
But the arms themselves were also pulling—helping him escape.
The instant his right hand was freed, Kurosaki Rei ignored the pain, twisted his body, and grabbed the broken mechanical arm, smashing it downward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a flash of sparks and explosions, smoke billowed.
A figure rose from the dust, joints cracking as he moved.
He couldn't tear apart the incredibly resilient restraint suit, but when pitted against rigid, exoskeleton-grade mechanical arms, the thing that broke first was never going to be him.
Crouch.
Sprint.
Leap.
Like flight.
Stepping on the head of an armored guard rushing toward him, he bounded and weaved across the execution ground like an elegant dancer.
Dozens of meters vanished in an instant.
His gaze locked onto the black-robed elder standing atop the high wall. In his hand, he gripped a broken mechanical arm—like Odin grasping the spear of destiny.
"Fire! Fire!"
The black-robed elder completely lost his composure. He grabbed the suited man's arm and shouted, cursing his stupidity inwardly.
Capture him alive?
Hesitation would get everyone here killed!
He had never imagined that this was the true reason the ten martial arts grandmasters were slain. A monster like Kurosaki Rei—such a martial arts prodigy, coupled with godlike strength—how could those relying on external tools ever stand a chance?
Where did Lu Feng find this freak?
Or had he really injected Kurosaki Rei with some unknown gene serum?
The sound of air tearing apart rang out.
The black-robed elder stopped thinking.
The fanatic expression on the suited man's face froze as warm, crimson liquid splattered across his body. Terror seized him as he screamed:
"Kill him!"
Continuous gunfire erupted.
But the figure within the field moved like a dancing wraith.
Fast—too fast!
Muzzles spewed fire, like scythes of the Grim Reaper swung loose—yet they couldn't catch their prey.
No.
As soldiers fell one after another, realization finally dawned on them—
The man named Kurosaki Rei was the true god of death here.
Alarms blared endlessly.
Openings appeared along the surrounding high walls, and rows of lasers swept across the plaza. In an instant, the remaining soldiers were sliced cleanly in half.
Only Nefir, who had lost control of her bladder and collapsed limply on the ground, survived by sheer luck.
She raised her head in terror, expecting to see Kurosaki Rei cut down—
But instead, she saw him at the apex of his leap.
Their eyes met for a fleeting instant, then passed by.
All she saw was the man's weary, bored killing intent.
In the next moment, as despair filled Nefir's eyes, eight objects trailing blazing exhaust plummeted from the sky.
The suited man, who had been retreating toward the safe zone with a cruel grin, suddenly looked absurdly stunned—
One of the missiles landing near Kurosaki Rei's projected position had changed trajectory.
It was coming straight for him.
With a deafening roar, the entire execution ground was swallowed whole…
...
[Explorer, welcome to Terminal Space]
A low female voice echoed in Kurosaki Rei's ears, causing him to open his eyes.
He looked around in confusion. All he saw was darkness.
He touched his head.
Wasn't his skull pierced?
He wasn't dead?
[Explorer, do you wish to sign a contract with Terminal Space?]
The voice sounded again. This time, in addition to the sound, faint blue text appeared before his eyes.
Terminal Space?
What was this place?
Had the resistance rescued him?
But he knew his own situation well. He didn't know any resistance force—and he certainly didn't believe they had the capability to save someone from the company's headquarters prison.
"Where is this place?" Kurosaki Rei asked cautiously.
His first suspicion was that he hadn't died, but had been captured alive.
In recent years, the company's virtual helmets had become extremely advanced. Rumor had it that the latest optical-brain engines reached a realism of 95%.
Was he in a virtual dive?
[Explorer, in your original world, you have already reached the end. Terminal Space has granted you new life.]
Kurosaki Rei fell silent, feeling the physicality of his body.
He wasn't unfamiliar with the company's virtual helmets. No matter how immersive they claimed to be, there was still a clear gap compared to reality.
He was certain—this was his real body.
The company's technology shouldn't be capable of this.
So… had he truly come to another world?
"A contract?" he asked calmly. "What do I need to do? And what can you give me?"
Outwardly composed, his heart nonetheless beat with a strange rhythm.
He sensed that he might truly have encountered something supernatural.
If he really had arrived in another world… could he finally achieve the wish he never could in that era where martial arts had declined?
[After signing the contract, Terminal Space will dispatch you to various world planes to carry out missions. You will gain World Exploration Progress, and rewards will be issued based on mission completion.]
Kurosaki Rei grinned. "Sounds interesting. Will there be opponents worth fighting?"
Terminal Space fell silent for several seconds before replying:
[You will encounter challenges beyond anything you have ever faced.]
Kurosaki Rei nodded. "Good. I'm in. As long as becoming an 'Explorer' lets me travel between worlds, right?"
[You must first pass the Trial World to become a formal Explorer. Based on your evaluation in the trial, your contractual benefits within Terminal Space may increase—or decrease.]
"Fair enough," Kurosaki Rei said. "What if I die in the trial world?"
[Then you simply die.]
Four simple words.
Kurosaki Rei understood the nature of this place.
Cruel—but it might allow him to fulfill his desire.
[The Trial World will begin shortly. Please prepare…]
Kurosaki Rei wanted to ask more questions, but Terminal Space had already initiated the transfer. His body suddenly felt light, followed by violent disorientation.
...
When Kurosaki Rei opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting on the steps of a dilapidated wooden house.
The empty street held only a few emaciated figures dressed in rags.
The summer sun poured down, the heat oppressive enough to feel like it could dry everything to husks.
[Explorer, please check your mission]
After confirming that the surroundings were temporarily safe, Kurosaki Rei called out in his mind, "Terminal."
A translucent light-blue menu instantly appeared before him, filled with various pieces of information.
[Mission World: Bleach (God of Death)]
[World Type: Derivative]
[World Difficulty: lv.3 ~ ???]
World Overview:
The Spirit King falls, the three realms are fixed. A thousand years of grudges—this is the trial of the end.
Shinigami (Death Gods):
High-reishi lifeforms living in the Soul Society, fighting Hollows to maintain the balance of the three realms.
Zanpakutō:
A system created by Ōetsu Nimaiya. After a Shinigami communicates with their Asauchi and learns its true name, they can continuously develop abilities and grow stronger.
Hollows:
Souls of the dead whose inner desires corrode their spirits, transforming them into Hollows. Hollows have their own evolutionary paths.
Quincy:
A faction descended from Yhwach, the progenitor of Quincy. Their ideology is the complete eradication of Hollows, putting them in opposition to the Shinigami.
[Current World Exploration Progress: 0]
[Current Location: Soul Society · North Rukongai · District 80]
[Notice: The Trial World has automatically granted the Explorer proficiency in the world's common language.]
[Warning: Explorers are forbidden from disclosing any information about Terminal Space in any form. Violators will be erased!]
Kurosaki Rei scanned through the world overview, astonished to realize that this so-called derivative world was actually a manga that had existed in his original reality.
With the passage of time, very few people in his world still read comics. He himself had only done so as a child, sneaking into a storage room to browse his master's collection after training.
His master didn't own many books—but by coincidence or fate, Bleach was among them.
He had some understanding of this world, though he didn't yet know which point in the timeline he was in.
Steadying his breathing, Kurosaki Rei began checking his task details.