Author Notes: I wondered why Pernida- the Left Hand of the Soul King referred to itself as a Quincy...maybe it's being independent...or maybe, the Soul King was much shader than initially intended.
So I'm coming up with my own interpretation of the character, which foreshadows the importance of another character in this fanfic.
A lot of the Soul King's background is revealed here- at least my interpretation.
Chapter 32: ß- the Final Letter- D2-C-B-A1
Askin looked as Kazui's form bulged out and swelled into an amorphous mass of deranged eyes of interchanging rings of murky dark yellows and brighter yellows, grinning mouths, and a constantly retreating and extruding amount of tentacles, hooves, claws, wings, tails, snouts, etc.
"Yuck...Kelch der Restaurierung (Chalice of Restoration).," he said with a sigh before holding forth his white, simple chalice in front of him, one with a blue Quincy mark. Flooding out from within the confides of the container, was blue Reishi that poured out and washed the floor around them.
Kazui was then restored to normal and Tsuki got up.
"Seems like whatever's happening outside was going to turn you into an unrecognizable freak..., which end up screwing me over...," Askin remarked.
"This changes nothing...," Tsuki remarked with a snarl.
"Thanks for that...," Kazui spoke with gratitude with a bow.
"Time to knock you out kiddo with my Schwert der Verbannung (Sword of Banishment)...huh?," Askin said before noticing Kazui's smirk.
"Getsumen Gō: Tsuki Jinrō Fuku (Moonface 5: Moon Werewolf Garb).," Kazui declared as the fifth flame entered Kazui's body, causing him to generate a blue Reishi fur coat with a cowl of a tri-horned skull over his head.
Askin went for a slash, but the edges of the coat grabbed it and tossed him into several kilometers away, causing both the chalice and sword to dissipate.
"Ok then...Heiliger Exorzismus aus Gottes Urteil (Sacred Exorcism of God's Judgment).," he said as he drew his staff and summoned a Quincy star over Kazui, generating an energy pillar made of blue light around the boy.
"That should banish some of his Re...ishi...huh...," Askin said before the sleeves of the coat generated claws that shredded the pillar.
He then summoned the two wings and propelled them to Kazui's left and right.
"On my right, I invoke Duality, Confusion, Concealment, Cruelty, Ruin, Despair, Rejection, Desolation, Pollution, and Paranoia- Böswilligkeit (Malevolence).," Askin recited as each of the spheres of his right "wing" glowed purple with each utterance of the description spoken aloud.
"On my left, I invoke Unity, Wisdom, Understanding, Kindness, Discipline, Acceptance, Eternity, Splendor, Foundation, and Belief- Wohlwollen (Benevolence).," he recited again as each of the spheres of the left "wing" glowed with an even brighter light with each declaration of the phase spoken aloud.
"Gottes Dualität (God's Duality).," Askin concluded as the two "wings enveloped Kazui and exploded in a ray of light that resembled a Kabbalah.
"It targets your good and evil Reishi and nullifies both until you're nothing except nonexistence-," Askin said before he noticed that Kazui was still there.
"I'll be damned...Vollständig-Finale: Gottes Versagen (God's Failure).," he said as he enveloped himself in a dark purple light, shedding his monk robes to reveal his upper torso covered in the word, Erbsünde (Original Sin), his hair turning white, a tree trunk replacing his lower torso and a gnarled tree branch protruded from his respective shoulder blade, bearing black fruit. He wore a veil over the lower half of his face with purple lens goggles to cover his eyes.
"I see...if I touch you...I'm cursed with something that will doom me...if you toss the fruit, it'll also cause the causality leading to my doom...what if I didn't have to touch you to defeat you...," Kazui observed aloud, which made Askin chuckle.
"Shoulda know.," Askin said with resigned surrender.
"Tsuki no Gōon (Moon Roar).," Kazui declared as the cowl manifested a lower jaw and emitted a powerful roar shockwave that completely obliterated the "D".
As some of the Reishi took the form of a "D" for Kazui to absorb, the rest began to reform into another shape.
What Kazui didn't know...was that some of the particles of Askin's Vollständig-Finale was already taking affect...having entered Kazui's body.
Slowly chains began to encroach Kazui's heart.
Gottes Sünde (God's Sin)..., Askin's voice whispered, inaudible to Kazui, but Tsuki heard it aloud, making him suspicious of what it meant.
Outside the Kurosaki Residence
Akuzu arrived just before Ichika began her attack.
"I won't let you interfere with Lord Third's Rei-Ken training.," he declared aloud.
"Idiot...," Ichika said as she did a face palm in annoyance.
"So I was right to worry. A Zanpakuto is one thing, but he'll be too dangerous with a Rei-Ken...," Chalchu observed as he began to walk towards the household.
Akuzu and Ichika readied their respective weapons.
To Kazui's surprise, it wasn't a huge, gray hand with an eye with two pupils with golden irises according to rumors, but instead was a woman wearing a blue mantle with odd engravings that resembled his mother's Shun Shun Rikka rather than a Quincy Cross over white, billowing robes with long sleeves, wore a blue Reishi crown of thorns that hovered over her head, weathered brown sandals, and wore a blue-green wreath with bluebells around her neck.
However, the most striking feature to Kazui at least, was the fact she had back length-blue hair with prominent hair intakes- very much like Aoihana Senzai, from his class.
Though, he noticed on closer inspection that Aoihana had black iris eyes like the rest of her family, while this woman had golden irises.
Maybe there's a connection., Kazui thought to himself.
"I am Pernida Parnkgjas. I am falsely known as the C- Compulsory...when it actually means "Change"...," she explained politely.
Kazui imagined her transforming into an angelic horror with several halos and wings.
"Not that sort of change...," she explained as she generated a Reishi flower that fired an blue arrow.
Kazui tried to dodge, but suddenly was stopped in place, causing it to hit him in the chest.
"Gottes Akzeptanz (God's Acceptance). All those who are in my vicinity shall accept their path and suffer in order to bring change in one's character. I myself will share the burden.,"
Kazui internally felt it was unfair, but outwardly spoke uncharacteristically,
"I understand..."
"Not...," Kazui said as he looked at Tsuki, who stared apprehensively.
The wolf spat out a magatama, which released the skeletal Espada- Baraggan Louisenbairn.
"Tch...I am not a cheap trick to be used to change the route of a battle.," the former God-King said as he released a Respira onto the "C".
Suddenly, the area transformed into an angelic paradise where animals of all sizes were at peace with one another.
"Gottes Unschuld (God's Innocence). I create an immaculate realm where all control, corruption, decay, impurity, and malignancy is nullified.," she explained.
Barragan pulled out his axe and charged at her with the intent to split her in half, when she summoned a mirror with an exterior resembling the Quincy cross.
"Gottes Offenbarung (God's Revelation) and Gottes Demut (God's Humility). I show your inner goodness and you abandon arrogance to accept humility.," she explained.
Barragan stopped, dropped his axe and stood motionless.
"If there are Aspects of Death. Then there are for Life- Companionship, Youth, Protection, Heart, Hope, Preservation, Restraint, Logic, Charity and Patience.," she explained as the flowers in the area released blue Reishi spheres.
"We took you in and you're standing like a dolt, you useless fuck!," Tsuki shouted as he had Barragan retreated back into the magatama.
"Gottes Nächstenliebe (God's Charity). I send you Reishi in order to empower you.," she explained as Kazui suddenly felt better as the spheres entered his body.
"That's nice-," Kazui said before Pernida said-
"Gottes Keuschheit (God's Chasity)- you cannot move with the Reishi still inside you...," the blue haired woman explained.
"That's so cheap-," Kazui
"Gottes Sanftmut (God's Gentleness)- you will become docile.," she declared.
"Ok...," Kazui said with a dazed expression.
"Gottes Freundschaft (God's Friendship)- you will cease combat.," she suggested.
Kazui lowered his battle pose.
"Gottes Zuneigung (God's Affection)- you will embrace me as your salvation-," she spoke before her words were gargled by liquid.
Kazui then did a wink as the first flame of Tsuki's tail emitted a torrent of water that hit the "C", sending her several feet away.
"Getsumen Ichi: Tsuki Umi (Moonface One: Moon Sea).," Kazui said a serpentine wave of water levitated above him.
"Vollständig- Haniel-Freude An Gott (Joy of God).," Pernida declared as she was engulfed by a blue light, which ended with a Quincy Cross at the top of the illuminating pillar. Emerging from it, was Pernida were a pope hat, holding a staff with the Quincy Star on one end, and a sphere with the Quincy symbol protruding from it. She had wings with several eyes with golden iris pupils within them.
She placed the sphere on the ground and tapped it with the staff.
"Gottes Vergebung (God's Forgiving).," she commanded as the sphere emitted a bluish white wave that shot towards Kazui.
The serpentine torrent, sensing it would brainwash Kazui into surrendering, washed it away and hit the "C" straight on.
"Gottes Mariä Himmelfahrt (God's Dormition).," Pernida said, causing the water to dissipate as the former entered another transformation via light.
"Vollständig-Finale: Gottes Herz (God's Heart).,"she said as her clothes burst away and she swelled up into a sphere of light. It grew and grew until it was a winged planet with a ring covered in golden iris eyes.
Kazui and Tsuki looked up in horrified awe.
"Gottes Absicht (God's Purpose).," said the entity said as the ring spun around as the eyes flashed with beams of lights, which converged into a single ray that shot down at Kazui.
"Jeez, this is going to make feel another Lotus Eater Machine effect if I don't stop it.," Kazui said as the seventh flame from Tsuki's seventh tail went into Kazui's Zanpakuto.
"Getsumen Shichi: Tsuki Ame (Moonface 7: Moon Rain).," the boy declared as he summoned a large bluish moon like cloud over Pernida.
It shivered for a moment before it rained down countless arrow projectiles and destroyed the physical exterior of the form.
The "C" fell to the ground, in her normal state, her form being to break apart.
"...I am to be another prisoner once again like with Jiemei...," she lamented.
Kazui, curious asked,
"What does that mean?"
"...I had lived my life...then...I felt I was pulled back...and re-awoke as hand with an eye...a forceful implantation from the Soul King Jiemu...," the "C" answered.
"Who is the Soul King...?," Kazui asked, with Tsuki looking sullen.
"He is the son of Ugaya Fū- the Cormoranti Soul King with his consort Tamayori, the Yorishiro Kami, who had three other brothers- Hikoitsu, Inai, Mikeiri and he, himself born Hikoho. Ugaya-Fū, himself, was the son of Hoori, the Hunter Soul King, who was brother to Hoderi, the Fisherman Kami, and consort to Toyotama, the Ryū-Hime (Dragon Princess)- daughter of Watatsumi Ryūjin, the Water Dragon Kami. Hoori himself was son of Ninigi, the Weapon Bearer Soul King, who was the consort to Konohana Sakuya- the Tree Blossom Princess Kami of Mt. Fuji, who is sister to Iwa-Naga- the Rock Princess Kami, daughter of Ōyamatsumi, the mountain God, elder brother to Sun Soul Queen, Amaterasu and Sea Storm God, Susanoo. Ninigi was the son of Oshiho-Mimi, a Rainbow Kami and Takuhadachiji, a Smith Kami. And Oshiho-Mimi was son of Amaterasu and Susanoo.," explained Pernida in a long-winded tangent.
"Meaning...?," Kazui asked in confusion.
"You are Abe no Ashi's descendant through your Shiba bloodline, and Abe no Juha/Lord Yhwach's descendant through the Kurosaki family. Who are Jiemei's sons along with Abeseimei; who is Ugaya-Fū's son, who is Hoori's son, who is Ninigi's son, who is Oshiho's son and who is Amaterasu and Susanno's offspring. Basically Amaterasu and Susanoo are their great, great, great, great, grandparents.,"
"So I'm actually a divine descendant...neat...," Kazui said with a sigh.
"Hikoho didn't want to be an avatar to the gods, so he tricked them that they weren't needed anymore and had them travel to a higher plane while locking the way back. He then took Quincies from other times and implanted them as replacement limbs and organs to make himself strong enough to rid the Kami of other verses along with three other supporting Soul Kings, from the other quadrants of the world. He then slowly began to warp the Balancers and the Quincy into his own ideologies before he, himself along with his family would leave for the realm of divinity, having grown tired of his rule..., but he was then betrayed by his own son, Abeseimei, who wanted to rule forever, having killed his own mother, Ahira-Himeta and blamed it on his brother, Abe no Juha, tricking him into utilizing false teachings to the Quincy in order to "absolve him of his sins"- when in actuality, it would destroy the balance. Abeseimei would then mutilate his own father and the four other Soul Kings, making them lynchpins to maintain his Demiurge rule over humanity, having perverted the teachings of his father even further by aiding the Dio Hueco alter the Preta into Hollows, causing an even further division.," Pernida explained.
"So I need to kill him to set things right...?," Kazui asked, but Pernida had dissipated into blue Reishi.
You have a strong mind..., but you need a strong heart to empower your body and a strong soul to withstand tragedy..., Pernida's voice replied as some of the Reishi took the form of a "C", which was absorbed into Kazui.
I feel like Aoihana looking like Pernida feels important...for some reason..., Kazui thought to himself.
Chains slowly encroached onto Kazui.
The remaining Reishi took the form of a tall young looking, green iris eyed man with a thin build and long blonde hair, which descended past his shoulders, and blonde eyelashes. His usual attire was a variation of the Sternritter's typical white uniform, which consisted of the order's signature hooded-cloak, a calf-length trench coat, commensurate of his rank with dark green fur that ran down from his left collar to the front of the coat, a green belt with a golden belt buckle, along with white trousers and shoes.
"Congratulations for managing to get to the point that you may even receive the "A", but you cannot do so with your Zanpakuto...no matter how much you wish...I am the closest to the original divinity through my heritage from my father. It won't be an easy matter.," he explained calmly and rationally.
"...I assume not. It's gonna take every ability of my Shikai to take you down...," Kazui said modestly.
"That alone is still arrogance...when I said I am the closest to the original divinity through my father...I meant not by might..., but by inheritance.," said the blond man.
"I am Jugram Haschwalth. The Balance.," the "B" spoke.
"Kazui Kurosaki- Substitute Soul...no...a Soul Reaper/Quincy Hybrid.," Kazui replied as he took a battle stance.
"That's...an unbalanced answer...like describing a mix-breed...that's not a goal...," Jugram said with repressed contempt as he summoned a long-handled cruciform broadsword in one hand and a bulky, heavy shield, composed of a gold Quincy Zeichen with its ground-facing limb extended past the others and solidified Reishi between the limbs, giving it an angular appearance.
"Freund Schild (Sacrifice Shield). Schwert Belohnen (Rewarding Sword).," the man declared, which made Kazui give a puzzled look.
"...Soul Reapers all have names for their weapons and you look at me like I'm odd for doing the same?," Jugram asked slightly harshly.
"No, I was wondering why you have opposing names...except for Askin...they've been really mono-focused.," Kazui observed.
This made Jugram chuckle for the sheer simple observation.
"I believe in balance, if one's life is saved by fortune it will be terminated with an equal amount of misfortune. If one suffers misfortune, then they should be saved by fortune. It's a duality. The scales must tip to one side or the other...if both are equal, something is wrong. The scales must be on your side or on my side. There is no gray area.," he said philosophically.
"Then that wouldn't be fun. If it's that obvious, then a fight would be fun.," Kazui replied with a sigh.
"It does just have to do with combat. Good and Evil...they're opposing sides...as in Light and Dark...yet one is meaningless without a counterpart...for both are connected...just as I'm connected to the Father...and while he rests...I become the Apex...," he said as his pupils divided into three in each eye.
"You can read the future...that's...," Kazui said with his eyes obscured.
"Unfair...?," Jugram asked.
"Actually it's interesting, you're playing by the rules...therefore...Getsumen Rokū: Kyōki no Fukurō (Moonface Six: Lunacy Owl).," the orange haired boy replied as the sixth flame on Tsuki's tail went into Kazui's sword, generating a silver owl head above him.
"Then I play by my own rules...sounds like opposing ideas.," Kazui said with a laugh, showing his own understanding of balance.
"Order versus Chaos..., which will the scales tip towards?," Jugram said as he rushed forward.
He slashed Kazui with a golden energy slash with four points curving back: one on top, one on the bottom, and one on each side, which for some reason, caused himself to be damaged instead to Kazui's surprise.
But, then the damage was absorbed into the shield and redirected it at Kazui.
When Kazui went for a golden crescent energy slash, he was injured immensely instead to his added shock.
Before Kazui could realize, Jugrams' eyes made a chime noise, causing Kazui to be instantly healed.
"The Balance- I can take the misfortune that occurs within my sphere of influence and disperse it to those that have experienced good fortune and visa versa, which I believe will maintain balance in the world.," Jugram explained.
"In one hand, I hold the ultimate defense...all the "misfortune" that would occur to me, will personally be redirected into my Freund Schild. Consequently, all "good fortune" that my opponent experiences in inflicting wounds upon me will be wreaked back upon them in equal magnitude as "misfortune", and the "misfortune" that he experiences merely gets deflected and absorbed into my Freund Schild, causing my opponent to experience even more "misfortune.," he spoke with confidence, noting the shield.
"In the other, ...the ultimate offense...Schwert Belohnen is a sword that gives my enemy good fortune when I strike them- causing me pain instead...and you striking me will lead to you having bad fortune.," he added, showing the sword.
"The tipping point is that I possess the Almighty that allow to see the future and set up a counter...eh?," Jugram explained before his sword and shield turned into a candy cane and cookie respectively before his very eyes to his confusion, going against what he saw in the futures he saw himself, and his eyes popped out and grew wings before Jugram's regular eyes grew back.
"This cycle will repeat until you're on top...Order stinks because it favors those in charge...Chaos doesn't make sense, defense, offense, privilege- all meaningless before unpredictability.," Kazui said with a shrug.
Jugram feeling slightly humiliated enveloped himself in a white pillar of light, that divided into a blue and a red light.
Out from it, emerged not one, but two warriors- one benign appearing and the other malign looking.
"Vollständig-Metatron-Gottes Held (God's Hero).," said the first, which looked like a Stechhelm helmet wearing, white armored paladin with angelic wings with several eyes with green iris pupils, holding a lance, having a yellow Reishi plume growing from his helmet and the Quincy symbol in the center of his breastplate.
"Vollständig-Finale-Gottes Erzfeind (God's Archenemy).," said the second, which looked like a Barbute helmet with curved horns, black armor wearing barbarian, with leathery wings with several reptilian eyes with slits, having a purple Reishi cape, holding a bastard sword and a symbol strongly resembling the Shun Shun Rikka.
The two being embodiments of Jugram's dual nature.
"Gerechte Welle (Righteous Wave).," said the first, who charged in with his lance covered in a white Reishi.
"Kriminelle Welle (Criminal Wave).," said the second, who rushed in with his sword covered in black Reishi.
"Kyōki Tsuki (Mad Moon).," Kazui said as the Owl released a truly bizarre crescent wave, one part being spirals, the second being a monochrome checkerboard, the third being covered in cartoony grins and black pie-slice cut eyes, and the last being a mass of good.
The wave managed to slice the two warriors in vertically, who then proceeded to fall to the ground.
Just as Kazui was about to sigh, two of the respective halves rose up and merged into one- this time with Jugram's physical body under a close helm helmet, with a mix of divine and demonic features mixed together with one wing being white with multiple blue sclera eyes while the other was leathery with crimson reptilian slit eyes. He had a striped black-white plum growing from the two of his helmet, the center symbol of the breastplate showed the Shun Shun Rikka like symbol exclusively.
"Order and Chaos are two sides of the same coin...Gefallener Engel (Fallen Angel)," Jugram declared as he summoned a black/white Reishi sword.
"Getsumen Yōn: Tsuki Jikan (Moonface 4: Moontime).," Kazui said in desperation as he stopped time, summoning the fourth flame from Tsuki's tail just in time, causing the space to turn silverly white with Jugram frozen in time.
He then walked to Jugram, looking ashamed as he uttered
"Getsumen Nana: Kuroi Tsuki (Moonface 9: Black Moon)."
A black wave engulfed the entire mind-space, and quickly dissipated as the silverly white dimmed as the space returned to normal.
All that remained was two flickers of blue Reishi, one took the form of a "B", which was assimilated into Kazui.
Tsuki then spoke with a serious tone as the atmosphere got heavier to Kazui's surprise.
"Go all out with Bankai...go all out with immediately...this isn't a type of fight to drag out...," the lupine spoke aloud, looking with narrowed eyes.
Kazui tried to come up with an excuse, but he reluctantly nodded.
Chains continued to tighten around Kazui's heart.
The final flicker of Reishi swelled and flared, engulfing the area in blue Reishi, while emitting a strong Reiatsu.
It then solidified into a is a tall man with a long face, broad chin, and pronounced cheekbones. He had long black hair, which reached to his lower back, and reddish-brown iris eyes with thin eyebrows. He had well-kept mutton chops and a connected mustache, but was otherwise clean-shaven. His usual attire consisted of a white, double-breasted trench coat, which has the Vandenreich symbol on the middle, with large buttoned cuffs and lapels, white trousers, and trench boots. Over this, he wore a tattered, ankle-length maroon-black cloak, which had a red ribbon near the neck and is fastened to the left with a single large button.
It was a Reiatsu that made the others seem like nothing...
Wait, if this happened outside in the real world...it would mean I'd lose ten times over..., but it also means I can win! This is my mind, so if I'm going to win- I just have to believe..., Kazui thought with confidence.
"Bankai: Mugen no Tsuki no Kami: Tsukiyomi (Infinite Moon God: Tsukuyomi).," Kazui shouted as Tsuki began to change and morph.
However, suddenly his chest began to feel an immense weight, causing Tsuki to vanish for some unknown reason.
"Gottes Sünde...is a power that restrains one's abilities by creating a chain that binds the enemy even after defeat, unless they surpass the originator in power...this was all still an amusement for self-preservation..., which I won't indulge so easily...," the man said with a deep voice.
"...Eh, heh, heh, heh...Timeout...?," Kazui asked.
"A predator does not hold back against its prey.," the man said as he generated a blue Reishi large broadsword with two protrusions jutting out diagonally on either side form the sword's cross-guard resembling the Vandenreich insignia in one hand. In the other, he solidified his Reishi into an ornate sword, reminiscent of a Dadao, with a relatively long handle and a cross-guard shaped like a bird.
He then proceeded to slash Kazui's throat diagonally from the right and left.
The boy then fainted on the ground, with the man walking away and dissipating into Reishi.
"You will need to learn the full history of the 200 years ago in order to comprehend the true power of the Quincy...including the -Ë, Ï, ſ and the Ω...," he spoke before he completely vanished.
Next Chapter: ß- the Final Letter-Ë, Ï, ſ and the Ω 1
