The Sixth District, Tsunayashiro Estate.
Keiko returned to her residence and pushed open the door, intending to continue her medical studies. However, the moment the door opened, she froze.
There was someone in her room.
As the head of one of the Five Noble Houses, having someone enter her private quarters without permission was a grave offense. But upon seeing the figure, Keiko's heart sank. Standing there was a large, bald monk wearing a white captain's haori. It bore no number on the back, but rather a daphne flower pattern.
This was... the Zero Division.
And it wasn't just any member; it was the "Monk of Perception," Ichibe Hyosube.
Why was he here? Then again, Keiko had anticipated this moment. As she had thought before, the moment she decided to create a path between the two worlds, she had to accept the risk. Before the channel was established, even the Soul King might not have known where she went, but once the connection was made, he could peer into the other world through the Garganta.
Fine. Since she had been discovered, there was no use hiding.
"The Soul King sent you, didn't he?" Keiko said softly.
Ichibe was somewhat surprised by her composure. He expected at least a flicker of shock, not this air of "I knew this was coming." He simply nodded. "Correct. The new head of the Five Noble Houses—and of the Tsunayashiro clan, no less. Your position is quite unique, so the Soul King wishes to see you."
Even Ichibe didn't fully understand why the Soul King wanted this meeting. While Ichibe had the power to observe all phenomena in the Soul Society, he didn't watch 24/7; he had his own duties. He was curious about the command, but there was no reason to disobey.
"Come with me," Ichibe said. "The Soul King wants an audience."
Usually, the Zero Division required the Tenchuren to descend from the Royal Palace, but the Tsunayashiro clan was an exception. They possessed their own method for entering the Royal Realm—after all, the Soul King ended up in his current state precisely because of the Tsunayashiro ancestor.
Keiko accompanied Ichibe to the Royal Palace. Located high above the Seireitei in a separate dimension, the concentration of Reishi here was far higher than in the Soul Society. This was the first time any of Beltz's three bodies had stepped foot here.
They walked in silence until they reached the inner sanctum of the palace, the Dairigyo. Keiko saw no other members of the Zero Division along the way; it seemed this mission was entrusted solely to the Monk.
Inside the sanctum, Ichibe looked toward the center, where the Soul King sat sealed within a crystal. "This is the Soul King."
Keiko stared at the figure—limbs severed, organs removed, a human pillar trapped in crystal. She whispered, "How cruel."
If the Soul King truly saw the future and allowed the Tsunayashiro ancestor to backstab and seal him for the stability of the worlds, Keiko could only call him a true saint. To cut off his hands and feet wasn't enough; they had to carve out his heart and liver, leaving only this empty shell. Truly... cruel.
"Well, it is for the stability of the three worlds," Ichibe said with a sigh. "In this way, he serves as the lynchpin."
Keiko didn't respond. Ichibe continued, "The Soul King wishes to speak with you privately. I will take my leave."
The Monk walked out, leaving Keiko alone with the Soul King.
"I have the Oken within me, so say what you need to say," Keiko stated. She knew the Soul King was sealed in a state of paradox—neither moving forward nor backward, existing in a spiral between life and death. Theoretically, he shouldn't have a conscious mind, yet he occasionally communicated his thoughts through the Oken in the Zero Division's bodies.
Since Keiko contained numerous Soul King fragments and had consumed the Oken, she could communicate with him just like the Zero Division.
"That Garganta connects to another world..."
The Soul King's voice echoed directly in Keiko's mind—ethereal and toneless.
Keiko nodded. "Yes. It's my ability, though I don't know why I have it. That world is different from these three; it's extremely stable and doesn't require constant balancing acts."
The three worlds were precarious. One had to balance Reishi and Kishi, then balance the three realms against Hell. If one equilibrium failed, everything could collapse.
"Shall we make a deal?" the voice asked.
"What kind of deal?"
"I can give you my power—everything I am now. In exchange, you must make the three worlds as stable as that other world."
"How could I do that?" Keiko scoffed. "You overestimate me."
The Soul King didn't answer. Keiko's self-deprecating smile faded as she grew serious. "Fine. I accept."
She had only been posturing to negotiate, but the Soul King seemed to know her too well. He knew she wouldn't walk away from this offer. And he was right—how could she? The Soul King was offering his power. Even as an empty shell, his power was so vast that Yhwach couldn't fully absorb it. Yhwach had absorbed only a portion before claiming his power was over-saturated, with the excess leaking out.
Keiko had no reason to refuse such power. Regardless of whether she could fulfill the request, she had to agree first.
"If you can do it, I will give you all my current power," the Soul King repeated.
Keiko's expression darkened. "I can't do it without that power first." She wasn't about to do the work for free. If she waited until the condition was met, what would she need his power for then?
"My right leg is at..."
The Soul King provided a location, surprising Keiko. She nodded. "Understood."
While she couldn't have the power within the crystal yet, she now knew the location of a specific part. The right leg... it should be on the same level as the left and right arms. The fragments Keiko had already absorbed from the Tsunayashiro collection were roughly equivalent in volume to the arms, perhaps slightly more. However, distinct "parts" carried special abilities. If the left arm represented "Progress" and the right represented "Stillness," the right leg surely symbolized something specific. Using it as a down payment was acceptable.
"Then, the deal is struck," the Soul King said softly.
In that moment, Keiko felt a connection form with something in the void. The Oken power within her surged, extending into the vacuum. It was a contract. If she stabilized the three realms like the One Piece world, the Soul King's power would be hers. If she failed, the Soul King would reclaim all her power. Since her current strength was largely derived from his fragments, losing it would set her back centuries.
But how to do it? The Soul King offered a suggestion.
When he originally split the worlds, he created the World of the Living, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo—for humans, Shinigami, and Hollows. He left no place for the Quincies. The Soul King's right leg represented "Connection." By properly utilizing its power, she could link a portion of the two universes together.
She could establish the One Piece world as the "Fourth Realm" of the cycle. By using that stable fourth world, she could anchor and stabilize the other three.
The Soul King also added a hidden clause: Yhwach must be involved. If she agreed to this, the Soul King would reveal the locations of many more fragments.
Keiko was genuinely tempted. She understood why the Soul King wanted his "son" involved. After waiting a million years, he finally found a potential solution and was eager to see it through. He was giving Yhwach a chance to compete with Keiko.
"That's still not enough. I need to finish the 'Path of the Three Non-Entries'."
Keiko thought it over. The risk was worth the power. Linking the two universes wasn't a bad idea; she had planned to move to the One Piece world anyway. As for Yhwach, he was an enemy she had to face eventually. She had only thought of fleeing because she believed even a fused version of herself couldn't beat the "Almighty."
But with the Soul King's power, what would she have to fear from Yhwach? Even if he awakened the Almighty, she would have the strength to stand against him. And if she had the Soul King's power, why would she let Yhwach go? He himself was a massive mass of Soul King power. If the worlds were to be stabilized, Yhwach had to be dealt with anyway.
"Fine! I promise!" Keiko finally agreed.
She knew she still had the power to break the contract if necessary. At worst, she would just lose the Soul King's power, sever the link between worlds, and flee to the One Piece world forever. Her goal was freedom—to come and go as she pleased without being threatened. If she couldn't have that, she could at least live comfortably in the One Piece world with Liltotto. She still held the initiative.
The Soul King seemed satisfied. Ichibe reappeared at the door. He didn't know what they had discussed, but he was confident in his own strength and didn't care.
"Follow me."
Ichibe didn't lead her out, but rather to another area of the Royal Palace: The Path of the Three Non-Entries (Fuirisando). This place carried the weight and memories of all things throughout eternity. Those who couldn't handle the power would be crushed into rotting stone.
This, too, was part of the deal. Walking this path would further activate the Soul King's power within her, making her stronger and deepening her connection to him. In the future, she wouldn't need Ichibe to bring her here; she would be able to communicate with the Soul King from the Soul Society to an extent.
She stepped onto the path. With the first step, a crushing pressure descended from the heavens into her body. Only those who transcend Shinigami can walk this path.
In other words, by the end of this road... Keiko would transcend the Shinigami.
As she stepped forward, her eyes shuddered. In the next moment, four pupils were etched into her gaze.