The Supreme Soul, Starting with Death

What right do those who have never truly opened their eyes to see the world have to boast of their bravery? A group of students who can't even guarantee their graduation, how many of them can stand up when facing a captain releasing spiritual pressure? Facing an enraged captain-commander, how many of them can avoid fainting?

Aizen's smile vanished for a moment, his eyes showing obvious surprise. He then couldn't help but point at Urahara Kisuke, shake his head, and laugh helplessly.

"You, you said I've changed a lot lately, but aren't you also hiding your sharp edge, Kisuke? You always pretend to be harmless, watching those mediocre people jump around in front of you. It must be tough for you. Don't worry, I won't let those people affect my mood."

Seeing Urahara Kisuke squinting, looking somewhat disbelieving, Aizen thought for a moment and, for the first time ever, pulled out a bit of his true feelings.

"I suppose it's a common flaw among geniuses. I used to think that the world was only as big as I could see, and that I was the most special one in the world, the one who could best represent death and humanity, so I should be a role model."

"I hope that everyone, whether enemy or colleague, god or mortal, can see the unique aspects of humanity through me at a glance."

"If I choose gentleness, then even a man-eating demon, upon seeing me, should understand the softness in the human heart."

"If I choose arrogance, even the gods in heaven, in the moment they lower their gaze, should understand that there is arrogance in the human heart that is no less than that of the gods."

"However, after clearly realizing the vastness of the world, I felt somewhat lost, doubting whether my judgment was correct, whether I was..."

Aizen abruptly stopped speaking, swallowing back the words he hadn't finished, closing his mind again, and shaking his head with a smile.

"Anyway, Kisuke, don't worry. I'm just trying to find my place in the world again. I'll be fine once I've figured it out."

Looking at Aizen's smile, Kisuke Urahara fell silent. He was always sensitive to things like emotions and the mind, and he could vaguely sense that the self-important Aizen from just now was more "real" and more sincere than the Aizen he usually faced.

and so……

"Senior, I have no intention of interfering with your decision, but I think you may not realize that the person sitting in front of you right now..."

With his thumb pointing back, Kisuke Urahara revealed his true colors for the first time in front of Aizen. His smile was sharp, his eyes arrogant, and his heart was absolutely certain that he was no ordinary person.

"This guy named Kisuke Urahara is a genius who is absolutely no less than you! So, senior, when you're looking for your place, maybe you could try a different approach: not 'my place,' but 'our place'!"

Urahara Kisuke stared at Aizen, who was staring wide-eyed, with an expression of absolute confidence.

"Even if you want to ascend to the position of a god, as long as you wish for 'us' to stand there, I can definitely walk to your side! As long as you want, you don't have to be 'alone'!"

Hearing Urahara Kisuke's "vow," Aizen realized for the first time that his expression was so out of control. The corners of his mouth seemed to be turning up uncontrollably, and laughter seemed to be about to burst out of his throat. He quickly rubbed his face hard, but he couldn't restore a peaceful smile. He could only cover his mouth and make the calmest sound possible.

"Speaking of which, that Miss Shihouin has been hiding over there watching us for days. Kisuke, aren't you going to go and comfort her?"

"Ha, since you put it that way, I'll go take a look."

Kisuke Urahara stood up, his long bangs casting shadows that obscured the sharpness in his eyes, but the smile on his lips remained as proud as ever.

"Senior, my promise is valid anytime, as long as you reach out to me!"

After saying that, Kisuke Urahara turned and left.

Chapter 191 From this day forward, we are enemies.

"Oh, so you finally decided to leave your precious senior behind and come over to comfort your poor childhood sweetheart?"

Yoruichi's gaze was so cold it sent chills down one's spine. Kisuke Urahara shuddered, quickly abandoning his previous arrogant demeanor, forcing a fawning smile, and cautiously rubbing his hands together.

"Haha, it's just that I felt it would be a disservice to your efforts if I came to find you, since you've been hiding so well, Yoruichi."

Yoruichi Shihōin rolled her eyes. What a load of crap! She couldn't stand the loneliness on the very first day she came along. She deliberately kicked pebbles and stepped on fallen leaves, making all sorts of noises, but Keishū-kun just pretended not to notice and refused to come looking for her no matter what.

Over the past few days, Yoruichi's pent-up anger had swelled into a volcano about to erupt. If Urahara Kisuke couldn't give her a reasonable explanation, she would explode on the spot and kill him.

As friends for over a hundred years, Kisuke Urahara could certainly read Yoruichi's eyes. He scratched the back of his head, hesitated for a moment, and then his expression became serious.

"Yoruichi, I think you should go home first. We can talk about it when we get back."

Yoruichi's gaze was instantly ignited, as if it would erupt at any moment. Urahara Kisuke, enduring the piercing gaze, simply smiled and offered no further explanation. This, in turn, calmed Yoruichi's anger. She frowned and looked at the large pit dug by the Hollows not far away.

"Is what you dug up so eerie that I can't even look at it?"

Urahara Kisuke remained silent. Yoruichi Shihouin glanced at Aizen again, only to meet Aizen's smiling gaze. Seeing Aizen nod at her with a smile, Yoruichi's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

"Kisuke, I know I'm not very bright and sometimes I can't understand what you're thinking, but we're friends, aren't we? Even if I don't understand, I'll still support you. Is there anything you can't tell me?"

But sometimes, understanding is the most important thing.

Kisuke Urahara sighed inwardly, remaining silent. In the silence, Yoruichi Shihouin clenched her fist.

At that moment, Aizen's smiling voice rang out.

"Kisuke! Often, perspective determines one's potential. Being honest might help Miss Shihouin soar even higher. Miss Shihouin, if you don't mind, why don't you come and have a seat?"

Hearing this, Yoruichi Shihouin was somewhat tempted, but after a brief moment of hesitation, she regained her usual cheerful demeanor, lightly punched Kisuke Urahara in the chest, and turned away gracefully.

"Kisuke, I'm waiting at home for your explanation."

After saying that, Yoruichi Shihouin didn't even glance at Aizen before instantly leaving with Shunpo.

Kisuke Urahara rubbed his chest, remained silent for a moment, and slowly walked back to sit down next to Aizen.

"Senior, your rating in my heart has dropped."

"Hmm? Why? I was just worried you two would start fighting, and I wanted to ease the tension. Besides, didn't Miss Shihouin leave as you wished?"

"Could it be that I misunderstood, and the senior is looking forward to rivals rather than teammates?"

"Hmm~ The heir of the Shihouin family shouldn't be some little girl who needs protection, right? Wouldn't it be better to let her fly higher and farther? Kisuke, you're not worried that she'll surpass you, are you?"

"It seems I misunderstood. What senior needs is not an opponent, but an enemy."

"Speaking of which, before meeting you, Kisuke, I never felt threatened by anyone my age. Kisuke, do you feel any sense of urgency from that Shihouin lady, like she's about to be overtaken?"

"The senior is really strict. Does he give up on those who can't keep up?"

"By the way, Kisuke, if I were to invite you now, would 'you' come to my side?"

"It's a real shame, it seems like you're not planning to save a spot for my friend."

The two were talking to themselves, and the conversation seemed impossible, but they were indeed "exchanging ideas".

Finally, the two fell silent, and after a moment, they both laughed again. Kisuke Urahara took out a fruit and handed it to him.

"Thanks, senior. Since you're willing to show me your true self, I can't let you down. From today onwards, we're enemies. After I defeat you, we'll invite Yoruichi over for a drink."

Aizen smiled as he took the small, obviously sour fruit, took a bite with a grin, his face scrunched up from the sourness, and then nodded in satisfaction.

"Before I defeat you, Kisuke, there will always be a place reserved for you by my side."

The atmosphere returned to harmony, and the two chatted happily about their daily lives.

Kisuke Urahara understood just how proud Aizen was, so proud that he wouldn't accept anyone unworthy of his presence except for "Kisuke Urahara".

Therefore, Kisuke Urahara has no intention of going to Aizen's side. He wants to defeat Aizen and drag this excessively arrogant guy to his side.

Aizen realized how naive Urahara Kisuke was, so naive that he thought ordinary people could keep up with them, and that as long as they relied on friendship and trust, ordinary people could reach their level.

Therefore, Aizen decided to help this adorable junior by making him realize, through some appropriate "trials," just how vast the gap is between geniuses and mediocre people.

As long as Kisuke Urahara is not completely defeated, he still has the right to come to his side, and he welcomes his junior who has come to understand the world to come to his side at any time.

Of course, if Kisuke Urahara is completely defeated by a small "trial," then it would mean that Kisuke Urahara is just an ordinary person, and he can only walk his own path.

Both of them saw through each other's hearts and understood each other's thoughts, and on this basis, they decided to become each other's rivals and enemies.

As he munched on the sour fruit, Aizen smiled broadly. Life had finally become interesting again, and he had finally rekindled his long-lost enthusiasm. What pleased him even more was that Urahara Kisuke, who had been gradually sliding into mediocrity by Yoruichi Shihouin and by friendship, had finally rekindled his passion.

Aizen was eager to see what changes a Kisuke Urahara, who no longer concealed his brilliance, would bring to the stagnant Soul Society.

In this vast world, he might really need a companion. If he could help Kisuke Urahara mature at the cost of Soul Society before leaving the "beginner village," Aizen would be willing to put in more effort for it.

As they chatted and laughed, Aizen had already woven several scenarios in his mind for Urahara Kisuke, imagining how Urahara Kisuke would step into his own scenario and face choices, and how he would break his own scenario and bring him unexpected surprises. Aizen's smile became even gentler.

The two looked at each other, and Urahara Kisuke's face was also showing a gentle smile that evoked "maternal" feelings. When they saw the smile on the other's face and the calculation in his eyes, they were both slightly taken aback.

"You really value your time, senior."

"Kisuke, you're not bad either."

Yes, I'm even happier now.

Both of them.

Chapter 192 Kisuke Urahara's First Move

"This is really..."

Gazing at the enormous skeleton buried at the bottom, both Aizen and Kisuke Urahara were momentarily lost in thought.

It wasn't because of the opponent's enormous size. In the records of Soul Society, it's not uncommon for Hollows to be over fifty meters tall, and even super-giant individuals over seventy meters have been occasionally discovered. What truly amazed them was the "prehistoric life" itself.

Before humans and the Spirit King appeared, there really existed such a vast life form. How did these life forms live on this planet?

What did they eat? How did they reproduce? How did they grow strong? Did they possess civilization? Did they have language? Did they become extinct? If not, where do their descendants live today? What are they like?

What about their souls? Theoretically, souls have no lifespan limit. Have their souls traversed a long history and are now sleeping in some corner of the world?

Wouldn't they be affected by Hollows? Was it because there were no Hollows in the world at that time, or were these beings like Quincy, possessing the ability to fight against Hollows as living beings?

This enormous petrified skeleton, simply lying there quietly, brought a tremendous shock and countless questions to the two thoughtful individuals.

Aizen jumped into the deep pit, squatted down, and gently stroked the skeleton, as if touching an entire distant, unknown era.

Kisuke Urahara also jumped down. He gently stroked the skull, trying to find any trace of spiritual energy and read the echoes of that era.

Unfortunately, time is too merciless, and the cold fossil is now completely empty.

Everyone knows that a large number of life forms need a sufficient supply of food. The fact that such a large number of life forms could be nurtured in that distant era shows that the world at that time must have been incredibly prosperous, with an abundance of plants and animals in both quantity and variety.

What destroyed such a prosperous world?

What caused all these enormous creatures to disappear into the dust of history?

Longing, fear, curiosity, excitement, desire...

In the silence, intense emotions surged within them.

"Kisuke, do you think we can go back to that era and witness all of this with our own eyes?"

Traveling through time and returning to the past sounds like a joke, but if one could possess the power of the Spirit King, the legendary omnipotent power, is it really impossible?

Kisuke Urahara continued to quietly touch the echoes of that long history. He did not question the possibility of returning to the past, but simply asked a calm question.

Which era?

Aizen was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a wry smile.

Yes, even if one possesses the power of the Spirit King, which era should one travel to?